RONALD VINCENT SMITH AND ROY KINCHEN, APPELLANTS,
v.
THE STATE OF FLORIDA, APPELLEE

Fla. 3d DCA | 1967-05-31
Nos. 66-530, 66-531
Before HENDRY, C. J., and PEARSON and SWANN, JJ.
199 So. 2d 503 Florida District Court of Appeal, Third District (1967) Positive Treatment
Cited by 2 cases

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Synopsis

Smith and Kinchen were convicted of robbery after a non-jury trial. On appeal, they challenged the admission of a pistol into evidence, arguing that the state attorney had misled their counsel about the pistol's ownership in violation of a discovery order, depriving them of a fair trial.


Holding

The admission of the pistol was not so prejudicial as to require a new trial. Although the state's misleading discovery statement was acknowledged, the appellate court found that under Florida Statute § 924.33, the error did not injuriously affect the substantial rights of the appellants.


Key Quotes

“the state attorney, in compliance with a court order on discovery, misled the defense counsel as to the ownership of the pistol”

Establishes the foundational error: the state's misleading discovery disclosure about the pistol's ownership

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Facts & Procedural History

On November 24, 1965, appellants robbed a gas station attendant, Walter Kennedy, at gunpoint, taking money from his pockets and the cash drawer. Polic…

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Opinion of the Court
PER CURIAM.

PER CURIAM.

The appellants were tried together in a non-jury trial and found guilty of robbery. On this appeal the single point presented urges that the court committed reversible error by admitting into evidence a certain pistol. The state attorney, in compliance with a court order on discovery, misled the defense counsel as to the ownership of the pistol.

There is no dispute of fact under this point, inasmuch as the state admits that pursuant to a discovery order, the counsel for appellant was informed that a pistol discovered at the scene of a crime was the property of the alleged victim of the robbery. At the trial appellants, as defendants, maintained that they did not assault or threaten the victim and that the effect of their actions toward him was misapprehended by the prosecuting witness. They maintained that they did not have a gun and that their approach to him was peaceful. At the trial no proof was offered concerning ownership of the pistol. However, it was shown by testimony that there was no gun kept at the gas station for the purpose of protection. It was further shown that the victim did not own any gun. Appellants contend that as a result of this surprise, they were deprived of a fair trial, and that a new trial should be granted.

*504The State contends that the proof of guilt was strong and that the ownership of the pistol was not a material issue. Walter Kennedy testified that he was the night attendant at a gasoline station. On the night of November 24, 1965, he was grabbed from behind by the neck by the appellants. One of them stated: “This is a robbery.” Mr. Kennedy then went on to testify that he was dragged into the station and held at gun point. He was forced' to give the robbers the money in his pockets and one of the appellants took the money from the cash drawer. While this testimony, is in conflict with that given by appellants, there is no conflict as to the fact that two police officers discovered the robbery in progress. Upon being informed by Mr. Kennedy that he was robbed, the officers cautiously approached the station. They found money strewn over the floor. Some money was stuffed into one of the appellants’ pockets. The appellants were crouching behind a three-foot wall.

We have examined the record fully and find that the admission into evidence of the pistol, after the unintentionally misleading statement to the defendants’ attorney, was not so prejudicial to the defendants as to require a new trial. The courts of this State are specifically enjoined by § 924.33 Fla.Stat., F.S.A. that “[n]o judgment shall be reversed unless the appellate court after an examination of all the appeal papers is of the opinion that error was committed which injuriously affected the substantial rights of the appellant.” Cf., Palmieri v. State, Fla.1967, 198 So.2d 633 [opinion released May 3, 1967].

Affirmed.

PEARSON, Judge

(dissenting).

I would hold that the misleading -information given to the appellants’ counsel by the State pursuant to the discovery procedure was material and that it prejudiced the right of the defendant to a fair trial. It is important that this error was committed by the -State and not by the judge, inasmuch as it is entirely probable that court-appointed counsel for the appellants was misled into believing that he had a far different case to defend than the case which was actually presented. I would therefore reverse and remand for a new trial. Cf. Miller v. Pate, 386 U.S. 1, 87 S.Ct. 785, 17 L.Ed.2d 690 (1967).

Dissent
PEARSON, Judge

PEARSON, Judge

(dissenting).

I would hold that the misleading -information given to the appellants’ counsel by the State pursuant to the discovery procedure was material and that it prejudiced the right of the defendant to a fair trial. It is important that this error was committed by the -State and not by the judge, inasmuch as it is entirely probable that court-appointed counsel for the appellants was misled into believing that he had a far different case to defend than the case which was actually presented. I would therefore reverse and remand for a new trial. Cf. Miller v. Pate, 386 U.S. 1, 87 S.Ct. 785, 17 L.Ed.2d 690 (1967).


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Citator

Cited By

  • Farnell v. State, 214 So. 2d 753 (Fla. 2d DCA 1968)
    …riminal case will not be reversed because of the admission of evidence which was clearly not prejudicial to the defendant, although it may have been irrelevant or immaterial. Luke v. State, Fla.App.1967, 204 So. 2d 359; Smith v. State, Fla.App.1967, 199 So. 2d 503; Farley v. State, 1924, 88 Fla. 159, 101 So. 239; Winnemore v. State, Fla.App.1963, 150 So. 2d 277; Bowden v. State, Fla.App.1962, 137 So. 2d 621; McClendon v. State, Fla. 1967, 196 So. 2d 905. It is the corollary rule that the admission of irreleva…

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