DERRICK S. ELLIS, APPELLANT,
v.
STATE OF FLORIDA, APPELLEE
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Trial court erred in imposing life sentences for second-degree felonies when the 1989 sentencing guidelines prohibited sentences exceeding the statutory maximum of 15 years per count.
A trial court cannot impose sentences exceeding the statutory maximum penalty for second-degree felonies under the sentencing guidelines in effect in 1989.
[1] Under the sentencing guidelines in effect in 1989, a trial court lacked authority to impose sentences exceeding the statutory maximum penalty for second-degree felonies,…
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Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceDerrick Ellis was convicted of three second-degree felonies and initially sentenced as a habitual felony offender, which was reversed on direct appeal…
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PALMER, J.
Derrick S. Ellis (defendant) appeals the trial court’s summary denial of his rule 3.800 motion, in which he argued that the court erred in imposing a sentence which exceeds the applicable statutory maximum penalty. See Fla. R.Crim. P. 3.800. We reverse. The defendant was convicted of and sentenced for committing three second degree felonies. On direct appeal, his sentencing as an habitual felony offender was reversed,1 and thereafter the defendant was resentenced to a term of life imprisonment on all three convictions. The defendant then filed a rule 3.800(a) motion seeking post-conviction relief in which he correctly pointed out that, in imposing the life imprisonment terms, the trial court exceeded the statutory maximum penalty allowed for second degree felonies. However, the trial court summarily denied the motion and this appeal followed. On appeal, the State commendably concedes error. In that regard, although subsequent versions of Florida’s sentencing guidelines authorize the trial court to impose a guidelines sentence which exceeds the applicable statutory maximum penalty,2 the sentencing guidelines in effect in 1989, the year the defendant committed his crimes, did not allow a sentence to exceed the statutory maximum penalty. See Fla. R.Crim. P. 3.701(d)(10). Accordingly, the trial court could not properly impose sentences greater than 15 years on each count.
REVERSED and REMANDED for RESENTENCING.
SHARP, W., and MONACO, JJ., concur. . See Ellis v. State, 608 So. 2d 514 (Fla. 5th DCA 1992).
. See Fla. R.Crim. P. 3.703(d)(28).
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Authorities Cited
- Ellis v. State, 608 So. 2d 514 (Fla. 5th DCA 1992)