LACE MELITTA HEFLIN
v.
STATE OF FLORIDA
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A sentence of life imprisonment is sufficiently definite and constitutionally valid.
[1] A sentence of life imprisonment is sufficiently definite under the law and constitutionally valid, as the Legislature's prescription of such a sentence demonstrates an in…
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Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligence“[T]he Legislature, by prescribing a sentence of life imprisonment, intends that the defendant remain in prison for the rest of his life. The term 'life' is sufficiently definite so that it can be understood and applied.”
Court's citation to Ratliff v. State in support of affirming the life sentence
Lace Melitta Heflin was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment in Highlands County Circuit Court. She appealed the sentence.…
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SIXTH DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL
STATE OF FLORIDA
Case No. 6D2025-3039 Lower Tribunal No. 2016-CF-000914
LACE MELITTA HEFLIN, Appellant,
v.
STATE OF FLORIDA, Appellee.
Appeal pursuant to Fla. R. App. P. 9.141(b)(2) from the Circuit Court for Highlands County. David V. Ward, Judge.
May 1, 2026
PER CURIAM.
AFFIRMED. See Ratliff v. State, 914 So. 2d 938, 940 (Fla. 2005) (“[T]he Legislature, by prescribing a sentence of life imprisonment, intends that the defendant remain in prison for the rest of his life. The term 'life' is sufficiently definite so that it can be understood and applied.").
TRAVER, C.J., and WOZNIAK and MIZE, JJ., concur.
Lace Melitta Heflin, Ocala, pro se.
James Uthmeier, Attorney General, Tallahassee, and Cerese Crawford Taylor, Chief Assistant Attorney General, Tampa, for Appellee.