ZACKERY SHABAZZ PETERSON, APPELLANT,
v.
STATE OF FLORIDA, APPELLEE

Fla. 1st DCA | 1999-09-22
No. 98-1871
BARFIELD, C.J., BOOTH and WOLF, JJ., concur.
743 So. 2d 1134 Florida District Court of Appeal, First District (1999) Positive Treatment
Cited by 2 cases

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Synopsis

In this direct criminal appeal, the First District Court of Appeal reversed Peterson's conviction for simple possession of marijuana and his habitual felony offender sentence for possession with intent to sell, finding a double jeopardy violation under Paccione v. State and an illegal sentence under Nelson v. State, while affirming convictions for tampering with evidence and drug paraphernalia possession.


Holding

Peterson's conviction for simple possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana is vacated as violating double jeopardy under Paccione v. State. The habitual felony offender sentence for possession with intent to sell is reversed as illegal because the 1993 amendments to the habitual offender statute do not authorize habitualization for drug possession offenses. The convictions for tampering with physical evidence and drug paraphernalia possession are affirmed.


Headnotes

[1] Dual convictions for possession of marijuana with intent to sell and simple possession of the same marijuana violate double jeopardy principles.

[2] Double jeopardy violations arising from dual convictions for possession with intent to sell and simple possession of marijuana constitute fundamental error that can be ra…

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Key Quotes

“a defendant's double jeopardy rights were violated by conviction of both possession with the intent to sell marijuana and simple possession of the same quantity of marijuana”

Establishes the controlling precedent from Paccione that dual convictions violate double jeopardy

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Facts & Procedural History

Peterson was convicted of possession of marijuana with intent to sell, tampering with physical evidence, simple possession of less than 20 grams of ma…

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Opinion of the Court
PER CURIAM.

PER CURIAM.

In this direct criminal appeal, appellant challenges his convictions and sentences for the offenses of possession of marijuana with the intent to sell, tampering with physical evidence, possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia. His appointed public defender initially filed a brief pursuant to Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 87 S.Ct. 1396, 18 L.Ed.2d 493 (1967).

Following our independent review of the record, we directed the parties, in accordance with State v. Causey, 503 So. 2d 321 (Fla.1987), to file supplemental briefs addressing the following two issues: (1) whether appellant’s dual convictions for both possession of marijuana with the intent to sell and simple possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana violated principles of double jeopardy; and (2) whether the habitual felony offender sentence imposed on appellant for the offense of possession of marijuana with the intent to sell constituted an “illegal” sentence. We construe the arguments presented by the state in its supplemental answer brief as concessions of error, reverse as to the issues upon which supplemental briefing was ordered, and affirm in all other respects.

In Paccione v. State, 698 So. 2d 252 (Fla.1997), the Florida Supreme Court held that a defendant’s double jeopardy rights were violated by conviction of both possession with the intent to sell marijuana and simple possession of the same quantity of marijuana. This court has repeatedly held that such double jeopardy violations constitute fundamental error which can be raised for the first time on appeal. See, e.g., Austin v. State, 699 So. 2d 314, 316 (Fla. 1st DCA 1997) (criminal division en banc). As in Paccione, appellant in this case was convicted of both possession of marijuana with the intent to sell and simple possession of the same quantity of marijuana. Under Paccione, appellant’s conviction for the offense of simple possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana must be vacated.

Since the 1993 amendments to the habitual offender statute, habitualization for offenses relating to the purchase or possession of a controlled substance has not been authorized. See § 775.084(l)(a) 3., Fla.Stat. (1997); Oliver v. State, 734 So. 2d 1083 (Fla. 1st DCA 1999).

In Nelson v. State, 719 So. 2d 1230 (Fla. 1st DCA 1998) (general division en banc), this court held that a habitual offender sentence for an offense for which habitualization is not statutorily authorized constitutes an “illegal” sentence which can be challenged for the first time on appeal. Appellant’s written sentence for the offense of possession of marijuana with the intent to sell reflects that he was sentenced as a habitual felony offender for that offense. Under Nelson, appellant’s habitual felony offender sentence for that offense is illegal. The case must be reversed and the case remanded for resentencing on that offense.

In summary, we vacate appellant’s conviction for simple possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana, reverse appellant’s habitual felony offender sentence for the offense of possession of marijuana with the intent to sell, and remand for resentencing on that offense. Finding no basis for reversal of appellant’s convictions and sentences for the offenses of tampering with physical evidence and possession of drug paraphernalia, we affirm those convictions and sentences.

BARFIELD, C.J., BOOTH and WOLF, JJ., concur.


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Citator

Cited By

  • Scippio v. State, 855 So. 2d 202 (Fla. 1st DCA 2003)
    …plea. We reverse. The state concedes the first issue, and correctly so, because a habitual offender sentence on possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell is illegal. See, e.g., § 775.084(1)(a)3, Fla. Stat. (2000); Peterson v. State, 743 So. 2d 1134, [*203] 1135 (Fla. 1st DCA 1999). Appellant is entitled to relief despite the fact that he agreed to habitualization as part of his plea. See Bover v. State, 797 So. 2d 1246 (Fla.2001). Appellant’s second issue also requires reversal. Appellant ha…
  • Mills v. State, 949 So. 2d 1186 (Fla. 1st DCA 2007)
    …sentence was in error on two grounds. First, section 775.084(l)(a)(3), Florida Statutes (2004), specifically prohibits imposition of an habitual felony offender sentence for the charge of possession of a controlled substance. See Peterson v. State, 743 So. 2d 1134 (Fla. 1st DCA 1999). Second, because the offenses of battery on a law enforcement officer and resisting arrest with violence arose from the same criminal episode, Appellant’s consecutive sentence for Count III is in error. See Hale v. State, 630 So.…

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