HERMAN ROTH, APPELLANT,
v.
THE STATE OF FLORIDA, APPELLEE
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The court held that attempted first-degree murder is properly scored under a Category 1 guidelines scoresheet, not Category 9.
[1] Inchoate offenses are included within the category of the offense attempted, solicited, or conspired to, as modified by Chapter 777.
[2] The exclusion of capital murder from a category 1 scoresheet signifies that the offense itself is unscorable under the guidelines, not that related inchoate offenses must…
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Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceThe defendant pleaded guilty to attempted first-degree murder and witness tampering, receiving a sentence within the recommended guidelines range base…
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COPE, Judge.
Herman Roth appeals an order denying his motion to correct illegal sentence, filed pursuant to Fla.R.Crim.P. 3.800. We affirm.
Roth entered into a plea agreement with the State. He agreed to plead guilty to attempted first degree murder with a firearm, and one count of tampering with a witness. The agreed sentence was to be twelve years for attempted murder, and a five year concurrent sentence for the charge of witness tampering. The State agreed to drop other charges against Roth.
At sentencing a category 1 guidelines scoresheet was prepared. It reflected a recommended range of twelve to seventeen years. At the hearing regarding the plea, the trial court was informed of the particulars of the plea, and of the guidelines range.1 Roth was sentenced in accordance with the plea agreement.
Roth filed a motion to correct illegal sentence under Rule 3.800. He contends that attempted murder must be scored under a category 9 scoresheet, rather than a category 1 scoresheet. The fourth district court of appeal has so held. See Tarawneh v. State, 588 So. 2d 1006 (Fla. 4th DCA 1991), review denied, 598 So. 2d 78 (Fla. Feb. 17, 1992). Contra Hayles v. State, 596 So. 2d 1236 (Fla. 1st DCA 1992); Orr v. State, 17 F.L.W. D866 (Fla. 5th DCA Apr. 3,1992). He argues that under the category 9 scoresheet, he would have had a recommended sentencing range of five and one-half to seven years. He contends that his sentence is illegal.
In response, the State first contends that Roth’s appeal is procedurally barred. We disagree. See Viqueira v. Roth, 591 So. 2d 1147 (Fla. 3d DCA 1992); Scalf v. Singletary, 589 So. 2d 986 (Fla. 2d DCA 1991).
On the merits, we affirm. For purposes of this appeal we assume, but do not decide, that the use of an incorrect scoresheet would require that the defendant be permitted to withdraw his plea. Assuming that is so, Roth is not entitled to relief because, contrary to Roth’s contention, the correct scoresheet was used.
In our view, the category 1 score-sheet is the correct scoresheet for attempted first degree murder, not category 9. The category 1 scoresheet is entitled “Category 1: Murder, Manslaughter.” Fla. R.Crim.P. 3.988(a). The Committee Notes to Rule 3.701 state that “[ijnchoate offenses are included within the category of the offense attempted, solicited, or conspired to, as modified by Ch. 777.” Fla. R.Crim.P. 3.701 Committee Note (c). Thus, attempted first degree murder would fall within the scope of the category 1 score-sheet, which by definition covers murder and manslaughter. Roth argues, however, that the category 1 scoresheet is inapplicable. He reaches that conclusion because the category 1 scoresheet contains the notation “Chapter 782 — Homicide (except subsection 782.-04(1)(a) — Capital Murder).” Fla.R.Crim.P. 3.988(a). Roth argues, in accordance with the Tarawneh decision, that the exclusion of capital murder from the category 1 scoresheet means that attempted capital murder cannot be scored on the category 1 scoresheet, but must instead be scored on the category 9 scoresheet, “All Other Felony Offenses.” Fla.R.Crim.P. 3.988(i).
The exclusion for capital murder is noted on the category 1 scoresheet because “[tjhe guidelines do not apply to capital felonies.” Fla.R.Crim.P. 3.701 Committee Note (c). The capital felony exclusion signifies only that no scoresheet should be prepared for such an offense, because the offense cannot be scored. By contrast, inchoate offenses — including attempted first degree murder — are covered by the guidelines and a guidelines scoresheet is to be prepared for sentencing purposes.
We conclude that the category 1 score-sheet exception for subsection 782.04(l)(a) is intended to exclude that offense only, because it is unscorable. All scorable offenses in chapter 782, including attempted first degree murder, are to be scored on a category 1 scoresheet. Cf. Fla.R.Crim.P. 3.701 Committee Note (c) (“Only one category is proper in any particular case. Category 9, ‘All Other Felony Offenses,’ should be used only when the primary offense at conviction is not included in another, more specific category.”).
In so ruling we agree with Hayles and Orr, and certify direct conflict with Taraw-neh v. State.
Affirmed; conflict certified.
. Defense counsel indicated that the range was twelve to thirty years, which may be a transcription error. The 12-17 year range is reflected on the actual scoresheet.
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Jones v. State, 610 So. 2d 105 (Fla. 3d DCA 1992)…se classifications are repeated on the Category 4 scoresheet itself. See Fla.R.Crim.P. 3.988(d). . For the treatment of inchoate offenses see committee note (c) to Rule 3.701, Fla.R.Crim.P.; Hayles v. State, 608 So. 2d 13 (Fla.1992); Roth v. State, 601 So. 2d 613 (Fla. 3d DCA1992). .That is so because the opinion's discussion of the scoresheet issues in the case refers to Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.988(d). Rule 3.988(d) is the citation for the Category 4 score-sheet. See Puffinberger v. State, 581…
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Walfrido Hernandez v. State, 613 So. 2d 924 (Fla. 3d DCA 1993)…in the court’s cater-gorization of the offense for sentencing purposes. Solicitation to commit murder, as an inchoate offense, falls within the scope of the category 1 scoresheet which, by definition, covers murder and manslaughter. Roth, v. State, 601 So. 2d 613 (Fla. 3d DCA1992); Fla.R.Crim.P. 3.701(c). The trial court failed to set forth reasons for exceeding the guideline sentence because it did not recognize that it was imposing a departure sentence. On this point, the State correctly concedes error.…
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Hamilton v. State, 603 So. 2d 606 (Fla. 3d DCA 1992)…ed pursuant to Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.800. He asserts that his conviction of attempted first degree murder should have been scored on a Category 9 scoresheet instead of a Category 1 score-sheet. We affirm on authority of Roth v. State, 601 So. 2d 613 (Fla. 3d DCA 1992). As was done in Roth, we certify direct conflict with Tarawneh v. State, 588 So. 2d 1006 (Fla. 4th DCA 1991), review denied, 598 So. 2d 78 (Fla.1992). We agree with defendant that the offense categories for sentencing guideline…
Previewing 3 of 8 citing cases — full citator treatment, depth of discussion, and citing context are member features.
Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceAuthorities Cited
- Viqueira v. Roth, 591 So. 2d 1147 (Fla. 3d DCA 1992)
- Scalf v. Singletary, 589 So. 2d 986 (Fla. 2d DCA 1991)
- Saud Tarawneh v. State, 588 So. 2d 1006 (Fla. 4th DCA 1991)
- Hayles v. State, 596 So. 2d 1236 (Fla. 1st DCA 1992)