ORLANDO HERNANDEZ, APPELLANT,
v.
STATE OF FLORIDA, APPELLEE

Fla. 2d DCA | 2010-05-07
No. 2D08-5033
ALTENBERND, J., and FULMER, CAROLYN K., Senior Judge, Concur.
33 So. 3d 143 Florida District Court of Appeal, Second District (2010) Positive Treatment
Cited by 7 cases

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Synopsis

Orlando Hernandez appeals the revocation of his probation and resulting sentences for burglary and grand theft. The trial court based the revocation solely on Hernandez's arrest for an armed robbery, without finding by a preponderance of the evidence that he committed the offense, violating constitutional and statutory protections against revocation based solely on arrest.


Holding

A probation revocation cannot be based solely on an arrest. The proper standard requires that a preponderance of the evidence establish that the probationer committed the charged offense. Probation revocation based solely on an arrest violates Florida statutes and constitutional protections.


Headnotes

[1] A probation revocation order based solely on a probationer's arrest for a new offense is improper.

[2] The proper standard for finding a violation of probation based on a new law violation is whether a preponderance of the evidence establishes that the probationer committe…

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Key Quotes

“The proper standard for finding a new law violation is whether a preponderance of the evidence establishes that the probationer committed the charged offense or offenses.”

Establishes the correct legal standard for probation revocation based on new offenses

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Facts & Procedural History

Hernandez was serving a thirty-six-month probation sentence for burglary and grand theft. His probation condition required he 'live and remain at libe…

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Opinion of the Court
SILBERMAN, Judge.

SILBERMAN, Judge.

Orlando Hernandez appeals from the revocation of his probation and resulting sentences for burglary of a structure and grand theft. Because the trial court found that Hernandez violated his probation based solely on his arrest for a new offense, we reverse the revocation order and resulting sentences and remand for further proceedings.

Hernandez was on thirty-six months’ probation for burglary of a dwelling and grand theft. Condition five of his probation required that he “live and remain at liberty without violating the law.” At his revocation hearing, Hernandez admitted to violating condition five by being arrested on July 23, 2008, for an armed robbery that occurred on April 16, 2008. Defense counsel specified that Hernandez was admitting the arrest but “not admitting to any facts or circumstances of that Condition Five violation.”

The State requested that the trial court consider testimony regarding the seriousness of the armed robbery charge for purposes of sentencing on the revocation. The defense contended that none of the facts of the armed robbery should be considered in sentencing on the revocation because Hernandez had not admitted guilt or been convicted on the new offense. The trial court stated, “Well, if he admits to being arrested and to a Condition Five, he’s not admitting guilt to the offense; to the substantive of offense [sic]. I can still take testimony concerning sentencing.”

After hearing testimony, the trial court accepted Hernandez’s admission to being arrested, revoked his probation, and imposed concurrent sentences of forty-two months in prison. The written order reflects that the court found a violation of condition 5 based on Hernandez’s admission as to his arrest. Hernandez correctly contends that we must reverse because his arrest cannot be the sole basis for the revocation of his probation.

“The proper standard for finding a new law violation is whether a preponderance of the evidence establishes that the probationer committed the charged offense or offenses.” Robinson v. State, 907 So.2d 1284, 1287 (Fla. 2d DCA 2005). In Robinson, this court reversed a revocation of probation where “the trial court stated that the issue was whether Mr. Robinson was arrested for the new law violations, not whether he was guilty or not guilty of the charges.” Id. at 1286. This court has recognized that “ e[t]he Florida Statutes do not authorize, nor would our constitution permit, a permanent revocation of probation based solely upon proof of an arrest during the probationary period.’ ” Sharpston v. State, 895 So.2d 1225, 1226 (Fla. 2d DCA 2005) (quoting Hines v. State, 358 So.2d 183, 185 (Fla.1978)). Here, the trial court revoked Hernandez’s probation based solely upon his arrest.

The State contends that the testimony at the revocation hearing concerning the armed robbery, which was presented for sentencing purposes, is sufficient to prove by a preponderance of the evidence that Hernandez committed the armed robbery. However, it is clear that the parties and the trial court were operating under an incorrect standard that an arrest was sufficient for the trial court to find a violation of probation. See Robinson, 907 So.2d at 1287. As acknowledged in Sharpston, 895 So.2d at 1226, our constitution and statutes do not allow a revocation of probation based solely upon an arrest. Moreover, just as occurred in Robinson, the trial court here “never reached the *145ultimate issue of whether the State had proven the violation by the greater weight of the evidence.” Robinson, 907 So.2d at 1287.

Because the trial court incorrectly revoked Hernandez’s probation based on his admission that he had been arrested, we reverse the revocation order and resulting sentences and remand for further proceedings. On remand, the State may attempt to prove a violation based on the same circumstances if the probationary period has not expired. See Sharpston, 895 So.2d at 1226.

Reversed and remanded.

ALTENBERND, J., and FULMER, CAROLYN K., Senior Judge, Concur.


Cases With Similar Vibessemantic neighbors from the corpus


Citator

Cited By

  • Cerny v. State, 65 So. 3d 609 (Fla. 2d DCA 2011)
    …So. 3d 1186, 1188 (Fla. 2d DCA 2009); Reeves v. State, 366 So. 2d 1229, 1230 n. 2 (Fla. 2d DCA 1979); Scott v. State, 937 So. 2d 746, 748-49 (Fla. 4th DCA 2006), provided that Mr. Cerny’s probationary terms have not expired, see Hernandez v. State, 33 So. 3d 143, 145 (Fla. 2d DCA 2010); Humbert v. State, 933 So. 2d 726, 728 (Fla. 2d DCA 2006); Sharpston v. State, 895 So. 2d 1225, 1226 (Fla. 2d DCA 2005). Reversed and remanded. DAVIS, J., Concurs. ALTENBERND, J., Concurs specially. . Mr. Cerny received a…
  • Person v. State, 83 So. 3d 940 (Fla. 3d DCA 2012)
    …pport a probation violation. While the court found that there was probable cause for his arrest on that charge, a mere arrest is obviously insufficient to establish a violation. See Hines v. State, 358 So. 2d 183, 185 (Fla.1978); Hernandez v. State, 33 So. 3d 143 (Fla. 2d DCA 2010); Sharpston v. State, 895 So. 2d 1225 (Fla. 2d DCA 2005). 2. The claimed violation by Person’s failure to attend a substance abuse evaluation cannot stand because there is no such standard condition of probation, and none was clea…
  • Shantel A. Brown v. State (Fla. 3d DCA 2020)
    …community control/probation by possessing marijuana and resisting arrest, as the record fails to support the allegations. The arrest report and Appellant’s testimony, without more, are insufficient to prove the violations. See Hernandez v. State, 33 So. 3d 143, 144 (Fla. 2d DCA 2010). While Appellant’s testimony corroborated the time and place of the arrest, Appellant denied the basis for the arrest. Accordingly, we reverse and remand the case with instructions to the trial court to remove the findings…

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