KENNETH MURPHY, APPELLANT,
v.
STATE OF FLORIDA, APPELLEE

Fla. 2d DCA | 2000-11-22
No. 2D00-2577
PATTERSON, C.J., and CAMPBELL, THREADGILL, PARKER, ALTENBERND, FULMER, WHATLEY, NORTHCUTT, GREEN, CASANUEVA, SALCINES, STRINGER and DAVIS, JJ., Concur.
773 So. 2d 1174 Florida District Court of Appeal, Second District (2000)

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Synopsis

Kenneth Murphy appealed the denial of his motion to correct an illegal sentence under Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.800(a), claiming he was entitled to resentencing under Heggs v. State after the 1995 sentencing guidelines were declared unconstitutional. The court affirmed the denial because Murphy's 130-month sentence fell within the 1994 guidelines range, but permitted him to pursue a Rule 3.850 motion challenging the voluntariness of his plea.


Holding

Murphy was not entitled to resentencing under Heggs because his 130-month sentence was within the 1994 guidelines range, but he was permitted to file a timely Rule 3.850 motion challenging the voluntary and intelligent nature of his plea, with a two-year filing period from the Heggs decision.


Headnotes

[1] A defendant is not entitled to resentencing under Heggs v. …

[2] A motion to correct an illegal sentence under rule 3.800(a) is not the proper vehicle to challenge the voluntary and intelligent nature of a plea.

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Key Quotes

“resentencing is not required because the 130-month prison sentence Murphy received is still within the 1994 guidelines range”

Establishes the court's holding that Murphy did not qualify for resentencing under Heggs

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Facts & Procedural History

On January 12, 1999, Murphy entered into a plea agreement to be sentenced under the 1995 sentencing guidelines for offenses committed on May 6, 1997, …

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Opinion of the Court
BLUE, Judge.

EN BANC

BLUE, Judge.

Kenneth Murphy appeals the summary denial of his motion to correct illegal sentence filed pursuant to Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.800(a), which alleged that he is entitled to relief under the supreme court’s decision in Heggs v. State, 759 So. 2d 620 (Fla.2000). Murphy states in his motion that on January 12, 1999, he entered into a plea agreement to be sentenced to the bottom of the 1995 guidelines for offenses committed on May 6, 1997. Murphy claims that since the 1995 guidelines were declared unconstitutional, he should be resentenced to the bottom of the 1994 guidelines.

The trial court noted in its order denying Murphy’s motion that under the 1994 guidelines, Murphy’s guidelines range would be from 84.225 to 140.375 months in prison. We agree with the trial court that, as the law now stands, resentencing is not required because the 130-month prison sentence Murphy received is still within the 1994 guidelines range. See Heggs, 759 So. 2d at 627. Although Murphy is not entitled to relief pursuant to Heggs, this is a case where it appears Murphy’s sentence would be reduced by almost four years if he were to receive the bottom of the 1994 guidelines.

Although we affirm, it is without prejudice to Murphy filing a timely and legally sufficient motion under rule 3.850 challenging the voluntary and intelligent nature of his plea. See McMahon v. State, 25 Fla. L. Weekly D1852, — So. 2d -, 2000 WL 1062343 (Fla. 2d DCA Aug. 4, 2000); Kleppinger v. State, 760 So. 2d 1045 (Fla. 2d DCA 2000). We certify conflict with the First District Court of Appeal. See Booker v. State, 771 So. 2d 1187 (Fla. 1st DCA 2000) (holding that defendant cannot state 3.850 claim to withdraw plea based on Heggs unless the sentence would have been a departure under the 1994 guidelines).

As to the timeliness, we adopt the Fourth District’s holding that an “[ajppel-lant should have two years from the issuance of the supreme court’s opinion in Heggs ” in which to file this claim because the facts on which the claim is based could not have been known earlier. See Jenkins v. State, 771 So. 2d 37, 38 (Fla. 4th DCA 2000). We recede from any suggestion to the contrary that may be found in McMahon.

Affirmed; conflict certified. PATTERSON, C.J., and CAMPBELL, THREADGILL, PARKER, ALTENBERND, FULMER, WHATLEY, NORTHCUTT, GREEN, CASANUEVA, SALCINES, STRINGER and DAVIS, JJ., Concur.


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