STATE OF FLORIDA, APPELLANT,
v.
JOSEPH SYLVIO, APPELLEE
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The State appeals a sentencing where the trial court withheld adjudication without placing the defendant on probation. The court holds that a withhold of adjudication is unauthorized by law unless accompanied by probation, and reverses and remands for re-sentencing.
A withhold of adjudication is not authorized by law unless the trial court also places the defendant on probation. The sentence of 'withhold and waive' without probation must be reversed.
[1] A trial court may withhold adjudication of guilt only if the defendant is placed on probation.
[2] A sentence of withholding adjudication without imposing probation is not authorized by law.
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Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligence“Adjudication of guilt may be withheld if the trial judge places the defendant on probation.”
Establishes the legal requirement that withholding adjudication must be accompanied by probation
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Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceJoseph Sylvio pled guilty to possession of cocaine, a third degree felony. The State offered an adjudication with 184 days in jail and credit for time…
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POLEN, C.J.
Joseph Sylvio pled guilty to possession of cocaine, a third degree felony. § 893.13(6)(a), Fla. Stat. (2002). The State had offered Sylvio an adjudication with 184 days in jail and credit for 184 days time served, but Sylvio rejected the offer. The matter proceeded to a plea hearing and sentencing. Sylvio’s trial counsel informed the court that Sylvio had been advised by his out-of-state counsel1 to request a withhold instead of an adjudication. The trial court sentenced Sylvio to a “withhold and waive.” The State objected, questioning whether the sentence was legal since the court had not also placed Sylvio on probation. We agree with the State’s contention and find the sentence meted out below was not authorized by the law. As noted above, this issue has been preserved for appellate review. Cf. State v. Hewitt, 702 So. 2d 633, 636 (Fla. 1st DCA 1997) (State’s argument that trial court erred in with holding adjudication -without also ordering probation, did not attempt to establish the sentence was “illegal,” but rather that it was unauthorized by the law, and thus had to be preserved; on the facts, court found this argument had not been preserved for appellate review).
Adjudication of guilt may be withheld if the trial judge places the defendant on probation. See State v. Seward, 543 So. 2d 398 (Fla. 4th DCA 1989); State v. Scarantino, 543 So. 2d 399 (Fla. 4th DCA 1989); see also State v. McFadden, 772 So. 2d 1209, 1211 (Fla.2000)(“Trial courts may withhold adjudication of guilt after a plea has been accepted or after a verdict of guilty has been rendered and place the defendant on probation provided that the requirements of section 948.01(2), Florida Statutes, are met”)(emphasis added); Fla. R.Crim. P. 3.670. Sylvio’s sentence of withhold and waive, without also placing him on probation, is not authorized by the law, and, therefore, must be reversed.
The trial court has two sentencing alternatives, from which it may choose in its discretion, on remand. First, the court may reinstate the withhold of adjudication if the court also places Sylvio on probation. We note the court may impose probation on Sylvio with a condition that he serve 184 days (or less), with credit for the days which he has already served. See Seward, 543 So. 2d at 399. In the alternative, the trial court may adjudicate Sylvio guilty with credit for time served.
REVERSED and REMANDED for re-sentencing.
GUNTHER and TAYLOR, JJ., concur. . While out on bond on this case, Sylvio was arrested on a federal charge and was currently being held in a federal prison in Pennsylvania. However, he was present at the instant plea and sentencing hearing.
Cases With Similar Vibessemantic neighbors from the corpus
Citator
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State v. Tribble, 984 So. 2d 639 (Fla. 4th DCA 2008)…on and place the defendant on probation. State v. Sweetman, 302 So. 2d 164, 167 (Fla. 4th DCA 1974). “Only if the trial court places the defendant on probation may the court withhold such adjudication of guilt.” Id. at 166. See also State v. Sylvio, 846 So. 2d 1271, 1272 (Fla. 4th DCA 2003). Several years later, we more fully explained the interplay of the statutes in Thomas v. State, 356 So. 2d 846 (Fla. 4th DCA), cert. denied, 361 So. 2d 835 (Fla. 1978). “Withholding or suspending adjudication or sentence i…
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State v. Manos, 983 So. 2d 58 (Fla. 4th DCA 2008)…PER CURIAM. Reversed. By withholding adjudication upon the plea, the trial court was obligated to impose some form of probation. See § 948.01, Fla. Stat. (2007); and State v. Sylvio, 846 So. 2d 1271 (Fla. 4th DCA 2003). STONE, FARMER and KLEIN, JJ., concur.…
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State v. Dorch, 984 So. 2d 632 (Fla. 4th DCA 2008)…sentencing appellee Michael Dorch to probation on a third degree felony. We reverse. A trial court cannot withhold adjudication without imposing some form of probation. See State v. Manos, 983 So. 2d 58 (Fla. 4th DCA 2008); State v. [*633] Sylvio, 846 So. 2d 1271 (Fla. 4th DCA 2003). Reversed and remanded. WARNER and TAYLOR, JJ., concur.…
Authorities Cited
- State v. McFADDEN, 772 So. 2d 1209 (Fla. 2000)
- State v. Scarantino, 543 So. 2d 399 (Fla. 4th DCA 1989)
- State v. Hewitt, 702 So. 2d 633 (Fla. 1st DCA 1997)
- State v. Seward, 543 So. 2d 398 (Fla. 4th DCA 1989)