HAROLD WILLIAMS, APPELLANT,
v.
STATE OF FLORIDA, APPELLEE
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Harold Williams appealed his sentencing on burglary and grand theft charges, challenging the trial court's authority to extend his probation period at a subsequent restitution hearing and the restitution amount imposed. The Fourth District Court of Appeal reversed and remanded, finding the probation extension violated double jeopardy protections and the restitution award lacked evidence of appellant's ability to pay.
The court reversed the probation extension and restitution award. The trial court lacked authority to increase the probation sentence at a post-sentencing restitution hearing, as this violated Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.800(b) and double jeopardy protections. The restitution award was also reversed because there was no evidence presented regarding Williams's ability to pay the required amount.
[1] A trial court cannot increase a defendant's sentence after the original sentencing hearing has been completed, as such an action violates double jeopardy principles and p…
[2] A defendant may waive their right to be physically present at sentencing by voluntarily agreeing in writing to participate via audio-visual means.
Previewing 2 of 4 headnotes on this case. FLexlaw’s editorially structured points of law — every proposition, pinpointed — are reserved for members.
Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligence“an increase in the sentence at a hearing held later in the day after adjournment of the original sentencing hearing was in contravention of this rule and also was expressly prohibited under the double jeopardy clause”
Establishes the court's rationale that post-sentencing increases to probation terms violate double jeopardy protections
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Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceWilliams entered a guilty/nolo contendere plea with written consent to participate in sentencing by video. The initial sentencing hearing occurred on …
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PER CURIAM.
Appellant complains of errors in his sentencing on burglary and grand theft charges. We agree and reverse.
Appellant and the state jointly filed a Petition to Enter Plea of Guilty/Nolo Con-tendere which specifically provided:
12. I understand that both the entry of my plea and my sentencing may be done using an audio-visual device. This procedure will allow me to see the judge and hear all matters which are discussed in open court, and further, allow the judge to simultaneously see and hear me. I will have an opportunity to see and hear both my attorney, state attorney, and any witnesses that may come forth in these proceedings. I further understand that if my plea and/or sentencing are handled in this matter, a complete record of the proceedings will be made. I freely and voluntarily agree to the use of such audio-visual device for the taking of my plea and/or sentencing.
The sentencing hearing was held on July 23, 1990. Appellant was not physically present but was present by video.
The state and appellant were in dispute about the amount of restitution, and a hearing was set for August 27, 1990. Appellant agreed to waive his presence for this hearing. He was neither personally present nor present by video means. The victim testified as to her total loss as a result of the burglary and grand theft, and the trial court found the total restitution owed to the victim was $17,568.90. Appellant’s counsel objected on the basis that appellant would not have the ability to pay this amount considering the information in the PSI of appellant’s financial status. The trial court responded by .orally ordering that the probation be extended from five years to twelve and a half years, to which appellant’s counsel objected.
Appellant asserts that the trial court had no authority to extend appellant’s probation period at the subsequent restitution hearing when sentence was already imposed at the earlier sentencing hearing. Appellant also asserts that the extension of his “sentence” of probation violates his double jeopardy rights. We agree.
Under Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.800(a) the court is permitted to correct an illegal sentence at any time. Under Rule 3.800(b) the revision of a legal sentence is allowed but only if it reduces the sentence. In Cherry v. State, 439 So. 2d 998 (Fla. 4th DCA 1983), this court held that an increase in the sentence at a hearing held later in the day after adjournment of the original sentencing hearing was in contravention of this rule and also was expressly prohibited under the double jeopardy clause. See also Tessier v. Moe, 485 So. 2d 46 (Fla. 4th DCA 1986); Westover v. State, 521 So. 2d 344 (Fla. 2d DCA 1988). Based on the foregoing, the trial court erred in extending the term of probation from five to twelve and a half years after the sentencing hearing was completed. We remand for correction of the sentence.
Finally, we also reverse the restitution award because there was absolutely no evidence presented on appellant’s ability to pay the amount. When restitution is made a condition of probation that appellant must perform, the trial judge should have some indication that it would not be impossible for appellant to do so. Peters v. State, 555 So. 2d 450 (Fla. 4th DCA 1990).
With respect to the original sentencing hearing, we find no error in sentencing appellant where appellant was “present” by video means, since he specifically agreed in writing to the procedure and thus waived any right to be “personally” present in open court. We distinguish Jacobs v. State, 567 So. 2d 16 (Fla. 4th DCA 1990), because in that case it does not appear that there was any written agreement to the video sentencing. In the instant case the appellant was present by video; saw, heard and was able to speak to the judge; and was able to speak privately with his attorney during the proceeding. He was afforded all of the constitutional protections to which he was entitled. Therefore, we find no fundamental error has occurred where “personal” presence was voluntarily waived.
We find no error in the remaining points raised.
Reverse and remand for resentencing consistent with this opinion.
LETTS, GUNTHER and WARNER, JJ., concur.
Cases With Similar Vibessemantic neighbors from the corpus
Citator
Cited By (12 total)
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Lippman v. State, 633 So. 2d 1061 (Fla. 1994)…ntence in Florida. Larson v. State, 572 So. 2d 1368, 1370 (Fla.1991). Thus, the double jeopardy protection against multiple punishments includes the protection against enhancements or extensions of the conditions of probation. See Williams v. State, 578 So. 2d 846 (Fla. 4th DCA 1991) (finding that extension of probationary period at subsequent restitution hearing when sentence already imposed at earlier sentencing hearing violated double jeopardy). Section 948.06, Florida Statutes (1987), “provides the sole…
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Vasquez v. State, 663 So. 2d 1343 (Fla. 4th DCA 1995)…nnot be added to an existing sentence. The supreme court concluded that: [T]he double jeopardy protection against multiple punishments includes the protection against enhancements or extensions of the conditions of probation. See Williams v. State, 578 So. 2d 846 (Fla. 4th DCA 1991) (finding that extension of probationary period at subsequent restitution hearing when sentence already imposed at earlier sentencing hearing violated double jeopardy). Section 948.06, Florida Statutes (1987), “provides the sole…
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Schiffer v. State, 617 So. 2d 357 (Fla. 4th DCA 1993)…udgment and the imposition of sentence.” A probation revocation hearing constitutes a deferred sentencing proceeding. Green v. State, 463 So. 2d 1139, 1140 (Fla.1985). We have, however, permitted the defendant to waive this right. Williams v. State, 578 So. 2d 846 (Fla. 4th DCA 1991). In Williams, the defendant was present at his sentencing hearing via a video/audio arrangement. We found no fundamental error with the proceedings in that the defendant had signed a written no contest plea specifically agreeing…
Previewing 3 of 12 citing cases — full citator treatment, depth of discussion, and citing context are member features.
Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceAuthorities Cited
- Cherry v. State, 439 So. 2d 998 (Fla. 4th DCA 1983)
- Kamal Peters v. State, 555 So. 2d 450 (Fla. 4th DCA 1990)
- Hasan Jones v. State, 567 So. 2d 16 (Fla. 4th DCA 1990)
- Daniels v. State, 521 So. 2d 344 (Fla. 2d DCA 1988)
- A.R.B. v. State, 485 So. 2d 46 (Fla. 3d DCA 1986)
- Tessier v. MOE, 485 So. 2d 46 (Fla. 4th DCA 1986)