ALGIN TERRELL FLOYD, APPELLANT,
v.
STATE OF FLORIDA, APPELLEE

Fla. 2d DCA | 1964-11-13
No. 4868
SMITH, C. J., and SHANNON and ANDREWS, JJ., concur.
170 So. 2d 599 Florida District Court of Appeal, Second District (1964) Positive Treatment
Cited by 4 cases

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Holding

The court held that the five-year sentence for attempted breaking and entering was excessive, as the maximum authorized sentence for an attempted offense is half of the greatest punishment for the completed offense.


Facts & Procedural History

Appellant was convicted of attempted breaking and entering with intent to commit a misdemeanor, possession of burglarious tools, and trespass. He rece…

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Opinion of the Court
PER CURIAM.

*600PER CURIAM.

The appellant was convicted of Attempted Breaking and Entering with Intent to Commit a Misdemeanor, Possession of Bur-glarious Tools, and Trespass. He was sentenced to five years on the first two counts and thirty days on the third, the sentences to run concurrently.

The appellant contends the evidence on all three counts was insufficient to sustain a conviction, but a perusal of the record shows this argument to be without merit.

It is further alleged that a sentence of five years for Attempted Breaking and Entering with Intent to Commit a Misdemeanor is in excess of that authorized by law. Fla.Stat., Sec. 810.05, F.S.A. provides:

“Whoever breaks and enters or enters without breaking any dwelling or store house, or any building, ship, vessel, or railroad car with intent to commit a misdemeanor, shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison or county jail not exceeding five years, or by fine not exceeding five hundred dollars.”

And Fla.Stat., Sec. 776.04(3), F.S.A., provides, in part:

“ * * * In no case shall the punishment by imprisonment exceed one-half of. the greatest punishment which might have been inflicted if the offense attempted had been committed.”

It is apparent from the statutes that the maxim sentence which could have been imposed for the attempted crime was two and one-half years. Therefore this case is remanded to the trial court in order that a proper sentence may be imposed.

Affirmed in part and reversed in part.

SMITH, C. J., and SHANNON and ANDREWS, JJ., concur.

ON REHEARING

PER CURIAM.

The court, sua sponte, ordered ai rehearing because of a conflict between this opinion and that of the District Court, of Appeal, First District, in Williams v. State, Fla.App.1958, 101 So.2d 877. In the-Williams case the First District referred' to the offense of Attempted Breaking and Entering with Intent to Commit Petit Larceny as a misdemeanor under Fla.Stat.,. Sec. 776.04(3), F.S.A. This statute provides, in part:

“(3) If the offense attempted to be committed is punishable by imprisonment in the state prison for a term of less than five years, or by imprisonment in the county jail, or by fine, the-person convicted of such attempt shall' be punished by imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding one year, or by fine not exceeding three hundred dollars.”

It is implicit in our above opinion that, this offense is a felony because we applied’. Fla.Stat., Sec. 776.04(2), F.S.A., to determine the maximum sentence which could be imposed. This statute provides:

“(2) If the offense attempted to be-committed is punishable by imprisonment in the state prison for life, or for five years or more, the person convicted of such attempt shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison not exceeding five years, or in the county jail not exceeding one year.”

Fla.Stat., Sec. 810.05, F.S.A., which is-quoted in our original opinion, provides that Breaking and Entering with Intent to Commit a Misdemeanor is punishable by a sentence “not exceeding five years.” The question then is whether the words “not exceeding five years” place the attempt of this offense within the purview of Subsection (2) or Subsection (3) of Fla.Stat., Sec. 776.04.

*601In Turknett v. State, 1934, 116 Fla. 562, 156 So. 538, the Florida Supreme Court -stated, hy way of dictum, that Attempted Breaking and Entering with Intent to 'Commit a Misdemeanor would be punish.able by imprisonment not exceeding two .and one-half years. This dictum supports • our view that the attempt of this offense -is punishable under Fla.Stat., Sec. 776.04 ,(2), F.S.A.

Having reconsidered the issue, and realizing that this does create a conflict with •the Williams case, supra, we have decided rto adhere .to our original opinion.

■SMITH, C. J., and SHANNON and ANDREWS, JJ., concur.

Other
PER CURIAM.

PER CURIAM.

The court, sua sponte, ordered ai rehearing because of a conflict between this opinion and that of the District Court, of Appeal, First District, in Williams v. State, Fla.App.1958, 101 So. 2d 877. In the-Williams case the First District referred' to the offense of Attempted Breaking and Entering with Intent to Commit Petit Larceny as a misdemeanor under Fla.Stat.,. Sec. 776.04(3), F.S.A. This statute provides, in part:

“(3) If the offense attempted to be committed is punishable by imprisonment in the state prison for a term of less than five years, or by imprisonment in the county jail, or by fine, the-person convicted of such attempt shall' be punished by imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding one year, or by fine not exceeding three hundred dollars.”

It is implicit in our above opinion that, this offense is a felony because we applied’. Fla.Stat., Sec. 776.04(2), F.S.A., to determine the maximum sentence which could be imposed. This statute provides:

“(2) If the offense attempted to be-committed is punishable by imprisonment in the state prison for life, or for five years or more, the person convicted of such attempt shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison not exceeding five years, or in the county jail not exceeding one year.”

Fla.Stat., Sec. 810.05, F.S.A., which is-quoted in our original opinion, provides that Breaking and Entering with Intent to Commit a Misdemeanor is punishable by a sentence “not exceeding five years.” The question then is whether the words “not exceeding five years” place the attempt of this offense within the purview of Subsection (2) or Subsection (3) of Fla.Stat., Sec. 776.04. In Turknett v. State, 1934, 116 Fla. 562, 156 So. 538, the Florida Supreme Court -stated, hy way of dictum, that Attempted Breaking and Entering with Intent to 'Commit a Misdemeanor would be punish.able by imprisonment not exceeding two .and one-half years. This dictum supports • our view that the attempt of this offense -is punishable under Fla.Stat., Sec. 776.04 ,(2), F.S.A. Having reconsidered the issue, and realizing that this does create a conflict with •the Williams case, supra, we have decided rto adhere .to our original opinion.

SMITH, C. J., and SHANNON and ANDREWS, JJ., concur.


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Citator

Cited By

  • State v. Fitz, 202 So. 2d 841 (Fla. 1967)
    …ally): This matter is before us on conflict certiorari, the conflict being between the decision of the lower court, Fitz v. State, Fla.App., 196 So. 2d 762, and the decisions of Edge v. State, Fla.App., 170 So. 2d 596, and Floyd v. State, Fla.App., 170 So. 2d 599. The respondent was convicted and sentenced to serve a two-year sentence of imprisonment upon a conviction of attempting to break and enter a building with intent to commit a misdemeanor, and petitioner urges that the maximum sentence authorized is…
  • Fitz v. State, 196 So. 2d 762 (Fla. 1st DCA 1967)
    …dant in accordance with the provisions of Section 776.04(3) ; otherwise the judgment appealed is affirmed. Affirmed in part and reversed in part. WIGGINTON and CARROLL, DONALD, K., JJ., concur. . Edge v. State, 170 So. 2d 596, and Floyd v. State, 170 So. 2d 599 (1965). . Williams v. State, 101 So. 2d 877 (1958).…

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