ERNEST GAMBLE, PETITIONER,
v.
STATE OF FLORIDA, RESPONDENT
AI-generated. These summaries, headnotes, and key points are machine-generated and may contain errors or omissions. Always verify against the full opinion text below. Not legal advice.
The Florida District Court of Appeal quashed a circuit court's affirmance of a trespass conviction where the defendant was convicted and sentenced for a first-degree misdemeanor despite being charged with only a second-degree misdemeanor. The court held that convicting a defendant for a more serious offense than charged constitutes fundamental error requiring reversal.
A court commits fundamental error requiring reversal when it adjudicates and sentences a defendant for a first-degree misdemeanor when the charging document alleges only a second-degree misdemeanor and the state fails to amend the information or allege the elements elevating the offense.
[1] A defendant cannot be convicted and sentenced for a first-degree misdemeanor offense when the charging instrument only alleged a second-degree misdemeanor and the state f…
[2] A court commits fundamental error by adjudicating and sentencing a defendant for a first-degree misdemeanor when the state failed to allege the element that elevates the…
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“it was fundamental error mandating reversal for the court to adjudicate and sentence a defendant for a first-degree misdemeanor when the state failed to allege the element making the offense a first-degree misdemeanor”
Establishes the legal standard that convicting and sentencing for an offense more serious than charged is fundamental error
Previewing 1 of 3 key quotes on this case — the court’s exact language, pinpointed for members.
Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceGamble was charged by information with violating Florida's general trespass statute as a second-degree misdemeanor. On the morning of trial, the state…
The full statement of facts, procedural history, and disposition for this case are member content.
Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligence© FLexlaw, Inc. — AI-generated enrichments are proprietary. All rights reserved.
Explore caselaw by topic → Browse Miscarriage Of Justice cases and more on FLexlaw
PER CURIAM.
We grant this petition for writ of certiorari and quash the order of the circuit court affirming petitioner’s conviction in the county court for trespass of an occupied structure, a first-degree misdemeanor. Petitioner was charged in county court by information with violation of section 810.08(1), Florida Statutes (1993), the general trespass statute. The information specifically charged the petitioner with a second-degree misdemeanor. The information alleged, in pertinent part, as follows:
did unlawfully and wilfully, without being authorized, licensed or invited, enter upon or remain in a structure or conveyance, the property of FERRIN SIGNS, contrary to Florida Statute 810.08(1). (2 DEG MISD).
On the morning of trial, the state announced that it was proceeding under section 810.08(2)(b), Florida Statutes (1993), a first-degree misdemeanor. Petitioner initially objected, after which the court, counsel for the state, and counsel for the defense conferred discussing, among other things, an appropriate jury instruction. At that point, petitioner’s counsel stated to the court that he didn’t “have a problem” with a jury instruction as to whether his client entered an occupied structure, the first-degree misdemeanor, but he did thereafter continue his objection to his chent’s being prosecuted with the first-degree misdemeanor. In addition, the state made no attempt to amend the information, either in writing or orally, notwithstanding the specific language of the information: “(2 DEG MISD) ” (emphasis added).
After being convicted of trespass into an occupied structure, a first-degree misdemeanor, petitioner appealed to the circuit court where the state expressly conceded error. Notwithstanding the state’s concession of error, the circuit court affirmed the petitioner’s conviction and sentence.
Petitioner argues that in affirming his conviction, notwithstanding the state’s express concession of error, the circuit court departed from the essential requirements of law resulting in a miscarriage of justice, since it resulted in his being convicted and sentenced for an offense more serious than charged. In Jenkins v. State, 617 So. 2d 836 (Fla. 4th DCA 1993), we held that it was fundamental error mandating reversal for the court to adjudicate and sentence a defendant for a first-degree misdemeanor when the state failed to allege the element making the offense a first-degree misdemeanor. See also Zettle v. State, 538 So. 2d 121 (Fla. 1st DCA 1989); Wright v. State, 617 So. 2d 837 (Fla. 4th DCA 1993).
We agree with appellant and the state at the circuit court level when it conceded error. We therefore grant the petition for writ of certiorari, quash the affirmance by the circuit court, and remand to the county court to readjudicate and resentenee the petitioner for second-degree misdemeanor trespass, as charged in the information.
REVERSED AND REMANDED WITH DIRECTIONS.
GLICKSTEIN, STEVENSON and SHAHOOD, JJ., concur.
Cases With Similar Vibessemantic neighbors from the corpus
Citator
Authorities Cited
- Mac Ray Wright v. State, 617 So. 2d 837 (Fla. 4th DCA 1993)
- Jenkins v. State, 617 So. 2d 836 (Fla. 4th DCA 1993)
- Zettle v. State, 538 So. 2d 121 (Fla. 1st DCA 1989)