JOHN PRESTON LAROCCO, PETITIONER,
v.
STATE OF FLORIDA, RESPONDENT

Fla. 4th DCA | 1973-04-27
No. 72-242
REED, C. J., concurs., MAGER, J., dissents, with opinion.
276 So. 2d 538 Florida District Court of Appeal, Fourth District (1973) Positive Treatment
Cited by 3 cases

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Synopsis

In this probation revocation case, the Florida District Court of Appeal reversed the trial court's revocation of LaRocco's probation, finding that the state failed to contradict his unequivocal testimony that his probation supervisor had lifted weekend restrictions. The court held that absent clear contradiction of the petitioner's exculpatory testimony, the proofs were insufficient as a matter of law to support revocation.


Holding

Probation revocation must be reversed when the state is unable to flatly contradict the petitioner's unequivocal testimony that would, if true, explain and justify his conduct and leave him blameless of violation. The proofs were insufficient as a matter of law to support the revocation.


Headnotes

[1] A probation revocation order is improper when the state fails to present sufficient evidence to contradict the probationer's testimony that the restrictions were lifted b…

[2] A probationer's uncontradicted testimony that probation restrictions were lifted by their supervisor may justify conduct that would otherwise constitute a violation.

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Key Quotes

“the state was unable to flatly contradict the petitioner's testimony which testimony, if true, would explain and justify his conduct and leave him blameless of violation”

This statement articulates the core legal standard requiring that to revoke probation, the state must contradict exculpatory testimony; if it cannot, revocation cannot stand.

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Facts & Procedural History

LaRocco was on probation with restrictions requiring him to stay in his house by 11:00 p.m. and remain within Orange County. He admitted being outside…

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Opinion of the Court
WALDEN, Justice.

WALDEN, Justice.

Petitioner’s probation was revoked. It is our opinion that the trial court departed from the essential requirements of law in so adjudicating in light of the failure of proofs evident in this cause.

The dispositive findings were that he was outside Orange County and not in his *539house by 11:00 p. m. during the course of a certain weekend, contrary to probation restrictions.

Petitioner freely admitted the two infractions, but testified unequivocally that his'probation supervisor had lifted the restrictions for the weekends. This testimony was never contradicted by the supervisor. The supervisor admitted that petitioner had called him about lifting the restrictions “ * * * and probably, as he had done more than once, asking when it was going to be terminated.”

The following are additional representative excerpts from the supervisor’s testimony: |

"Q Do you have any specific recollection, Mr. Limpus, of ever telling John Preston Larocco that he could only adhere to his probation conditions during the week, that he would not adhere to them on the weekends, that he could leave the county, that he could stay out past eleven p. m. ?
“A No, sir, I don’t. There were cases when John called me about staying out past his curfew for, on a specific night, and we settled on a specific time, and when that occurred, I allowed it; but that was in the case where he had to call me in advance —it was for a certain night and up to a certain hour — because this was later on in the probation where he showed that he was going to behave himself.
I did not give him blanket authority to violate his curfew or stay out past his curfew and I certainly didn’t give him blanket authority to leave the geographical limits of Orange County. I never recall his asking me to leave for any specific purpose, but, of course, on occasion we would do this. I don’t recall specifically with John.
5k ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡
“Q Yes. In other words, you don’t recall the conversation either the last week of December or the first week of January that you had with John?
“A I remember talking to John, because we talked quite a bit on the phone occasionally, but I, I don’t remember the gist of that particular conversation on that date, no, I don’t.
“Q. All right, sir. As I understand it, you could have had this conversation, but your recollection is you do not recall one way or the other?
“A About Sides’ probation being did you say lifted or—
“Q No; restrictions being lifted.
“A Which restrictions?
“Q On weekends, the curfew.
“A That could have occurred, yes, that could have occurred; hut I just simply can’t recall that specific conversation.
“Q And you don’t recall whether or not John asked you if his could be lifted also?
“A I would say it would probably follow. That would be a question that would certainly follow; but again, as I say, I do recall some conversation with John about when was his probation going to be terminated.
“Q This conversation you do not recall, as I understand it?
“A No, I can’t clearly recall it.
“Q One way or the other?
“A One way or the other.” (Emphasis supplied.)

We are mindful of the standards that govern probation revocation proceedings. See Crossin v. State, Fla.App.1971, 244 So.2d 142; McNeely v. State, Fla.App.1966, 186 So.2d 520; Brill v. State, Fla.1947, 159 Fla. 682, 32 So.2d 607. Here, *540though, it is our considered opinion that the proofs are insufficient as a matter of law inasmuch as the state was unable to flatly contradict the petitioner’s testimony which testimony, if true, would explain and justify his conduct and leave him blameless of violation.

Certiorari is granted and the order revoking petitioner’s probation is quashed.

Granted, with directions.

REED, C. J., concurs.

MAGER, J., dissents, with opinion.

MAGER, Justice

(dissenting):

I must respectfully dissent inasmuch as petitioner has not demonstrated that the circuit court departed from the essential requirements of the law.

A probation revocation hearing was held before the criminal court of record. A review of the record reflects that the testimony adduced before the trial court was conflicting. The trial court exercised its function by evaluating the probative force of the conflicting testimony finding that the petitioner violated the terms and conditions of his probation. An appeal was taken to the circuit court which affirmed the decision of the criminal court of record.

It is not the function of a writ of certio-rari to review and resolve conflicting evidence; nor will the reviewing court determine the sufficiency of the evidence if there was some evidence to support the judgment complained of “since to do so would confound the supervisory power of the reviewing court with its appellate jurisdiction”. 5 Fla.Jur. Certiorari, Sec. 29, pp. 523-524.

The record clearly reflects the existence of some evidence to support the probation revocation order entered by the criminal court of record and approved by the circuit court; the record does not, in my opinion, reflect such an absence of evidence to amount to a departure from the essential requirements of the law.

Accordingly, certiorari should be denied. I would, by way of caveat, suggest that the Florida Probation and Parole Commission adopt a more precise method by which written conditions of probation recommended by the commission and approved by the court may otherwise be modified; the oral waiver or modification is a most undesirable procedure which only invites uncertainty and conflict.

Dissent
MAGER, Justice

MAGER, Justice

(dissenting):

I must respectfully dissent inasmuch as petitioner has not demonstrated that the circuit court departed from the essential requirements of the law.

A probation revocation hearing was held before the criminal court of record. A review of the record reflects that the testimony adduced before the trial court was conflicting. The trial court exercised its function by evaluating the probative force of the conflicting testimony finding that the petitioner violated the terms and conditions of his probation. An appeal was taken to the circuit court which affirmed the decision of the criminal court of record.

It is not the function of a writ of certiorari to review and resolve conflicting evidence; nor will the reviewing court determine the sufficiency of the evidence if there was some evidence to support the judgment complained of “since to do so would confound the supervisory power of the reviewing court with its appellate jurisdiction”. 5 Fla.Jur. Certiorari, Sec. 29, pp. 523-524.

The record clearly reflects the existence of some evidence to support the probation revocation order entered by the criminal court of record and approved by the circuit court; the record does not, in my opinion, reflect such an absence of evidence to amount to a departure from the essential requirements of the law.

Accordingly, certiorari should be denied. I would, by way of caveat, suggest that the Florida Probation and Parole Commission adopt a more precise method by which written conditions of probation recommended by the commission and approved by the court may otherwise be modified; the oral waiver or modification is a most undesirable procedure which only invites uncertainty and conflict.


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Citator

Cited By

  • King v. State, 349 So. 2d 738 (Fla. 2d DCA 1977)
    …icted and unim-peached testimony explains his conduct and leaves him blameless, particularly when similarly exonerated by the “victim” of the alleged offense, the trial court is not authorized to revoke or modify his probation. See Larocco v. State, 276 So. 2d 538 (Fla.4th DCA 1973). In view whereof, it may be assumed that the trial court looked more at appellant’s having driven, without a license in making its determination of guilt than to the evidence relating to a “stolen” car or “unlawful possession” th…
  • Franklin v. State, 345 So. 2d 1082 (Fla. 4th DCA 1977)
    …icted, and his testimony about disarming the assailant was actually confirmed by the State’s witnesses. Under these circumstances we find the proof presented at the hearing was not sufficient to sustain the revocation of probation. Larocco v. State, 276 So. 2d 538 (Fla.4th DCA 1973). Accordingly, the order of revocation of probation and the judgment and sentence are reversed with directions that the order of probation of November 3, 1971 be reinstated. DOWNEY, J., concurs. DAUKSCH, J., concurs specially, w…
  • Tedder v. State, 306 So. 2d 488 (Fla. 1974)
    …the United States Supreme Court, holds due process must be afforded a probationer in revocation proceedings. Here, there was no evidentiary showing of intentional violation by Tedder of the probation order. See also, Larocco v. State (Fla.App.1973), 276 So. 2d 538, and Hardison v. Texas (Tex.Cr.App.), 450 S.W. 2d 638 (1970). Manifest in the context of this cause is the presence of involuntary servitude. Tedder had been given his liberty under a probation order contingent upon his pecuniary ability to make in…

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