PAUL FRANKLIN HILLMAN, APPELLANT,
v.
STATE OF FLORIDA, APPELLEE
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Paul Hillman appealed his convictions for burglary and aggravated assault, challenging jury instructions on the elements of burglary. The court found the jury instructions defined burglary in a circular manner and constituted fundamental error, entitling Hillman to a new trial on the burglary counts.
The trial court committed fundamental error by providing circular jury instructions that defined burglary by reference to intent to commit a burglary. Hillman is entitled to a new trial on the burglary counts (counts 5 and 6).
[1] A jury instruction defining burglary by referencing the intent to commit a "burglary" is circular and constitutes fundamental error.
[2] A conviction for burglary requires proof of intent to commit an underlying offense, not merely the intent to commit a burglary.
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Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligence“it is circular to define burglary by indicating the need to show intent to commit a burglary rather than intent to commit an underlying offense”
Establishes the fundamental legal error in the jury instructions that warranted reversal
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Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceOn June 7, 2003, in the early morning hours, Hillman and Victor Smith kicked in a bedroom door at Silvera's home where two victims were sleeping. They…
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GRIFFIN, J.
Appellant, Paul F. Hillman [“Hillman”], appeals his convictions and sentences for two counts of burglary and one count of aggravated assault with a firearm.
The State charged Hillman by information with twelve crimes based on an incident that occurred in a residence during the early morning hours on June 7, 2003. The relevant offenses charged for purposes of this appeal were count four (aggravated assault with a firearm), count five (burglary of a dwelling with assault or battery on Rasheed Silvera), and count six (burglary of a dwelling with assault or battery on Brandy Griffin).
The charges were based on evidence that on the evening in question, the two victims, Rasheed Silvera [“Silvera”] and Brandy Griffin [“Griffin”], were asleep in Silvera’s home. They were awakened when Hillman and Victor Smith [“Smith”] kicked in the bedroom door, pointed a gun at Silvera and Griffin, and ordered them to roll over and lie quietly. Silvera and Griffin recognized Hillman’s voice.
The jury found Hillman guilty of counts four, five, six, eleven, and twelve. The jury also made a special finding that Hill-man did not possess a firearm. Hillman filed a motion for new trial claiming that count four should be reduced to aggravated assault because the jury expressly found no firearm. The motion also asserted that count six was a lesser included offense of count five and convictions for both count five and six violate double jeopardy. The trial court denied the motion. At sentencing, the trial court did not sentence Hillman under count six based on double jeopardy but did allow the conviction to stand.
On appeal, Hillman first argues that the trial court committed fundamental error when it instructed the jury in a circular fashion on the elements of burglary in support of counts five and six. The instructions that were given informed the jury that it could find the defendant guilty of burglary if it found that he had entered the home with the intent to commit a “burglary” therein. The State properly concedes that the instructions were improper, as they defined burglary in a circular fashion. This court and other district courts'have held that it is circular to define burglary by indicating the need to show intent to commit a burglary rather than intent to commit an underlying offense. See Stone v. State, 899 So. 2d 421, 422 (Fla. 5th DCA 2005); Bruce v. State, 879 So. 2d 686, 687 (Fla. 4th DCA 2004). In Stone, we held the error to be fundamental. Hill-man is entitled to a new trial on counts 5 and 6.1
REVERSED and REMANDED.
SAWAYA and TORPY, JJ., concur. . Although rendered moot by our disposition, we note for the trial court's benefit that the verdict will support only one burglary conviction.
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Citator
Cited By
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Rivera v. State, 992 So. 2d 361 (Fla. 5th DCA 2008)…ning is proved, if the evidence does not establish that it was done with an intent to commit burglary, the defendant must be found not guilty.” The State properly concedes that giving such a circular instruction constituted error. Hillman v. State, 920 So. 2d 48, 50 (Fla. 5th DCA 2005); Stone v. State, 899 So. 2d 421, 422 (Fla. 5th DCA 2005); Lee v. State, 958 So. 2d 521, 522 (Fla. 2d [*363] DCA 2007); Viveros v. State, 699 So. 2d 822, 824 (Fla. 4th DCA 1997).2 We REVERSE Rivera’s conviction for burglary o…
Authorities Cited
- Bruce v. State, 879 So. 2d 686 (Fla. 4th DCA 2004)
- Stone v. State, 899 So. 2d 421 (Fla. 5th DCA 2005)