STEVEN THOMAS, APPELLANT,
v.
STATE OF FLORIDA, APPELLEE

Fla. 2d DCA | 1974-10-11
No. 73-735
GRIMES, J., concurs., BOARDMAN, J., dissents with opinion.
301 So. 2d 487 Florida District Court of Appeal, Second District (1974) Positive Treatment
Cited by 2 cases

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Synopsis

Steven Thomas appealed his conviction based on a nolo contendere plea to escape, arguing the state failed to comply with statutory notice requirements to his parents. The Second District Court of Appeal reversed the conviction, holding that the state failed to provide adequate proof that notice was actually received by Thomas's parents as required by statute.


Holding

The court held that the state failed to comply with the notice requirements because it did not produce a return receipt or any proof that the parents actually received notice, and the trial court failed to ensure any alternative method of notice was pursued. The failure to comply with the statutory notice requirements renders the judgment and sentence void.


Headnotes

[1] A judgment and sentence against a minor are void if the record does not affirmatively show that the court fulfilled its statutory duty to provide notice to the minor's pa…

[2] Failure to provide actual notice to a minor's parents, obtain a return receipt for mailed notice, or designate another relative or friend to receive notice renders a judg…

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Key Quotes

“The record before us does not show that at the time Thomas entered his plea on May 21, 1973, timely notice had actually been given to his parents”

Establishes the core defect: lack of proof of actual notice to parents

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Facts & Procedural History

Steven Thomas, age 18, entered a nolo contendere plea to a charge of escape. During his May 1, 1973 court appearance, he provided his parents' address…

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Opinion of the Court
HOBSON, Acting Chief Judge.

HOBSON, Acting Chief Judge.

Appellant, Steven Thomas, entered a plea of nolo contendere to a charge of escape in violation of § 944.40 F.S., was ad judged guilty and sentenced to ten years imprisonment.

On May 1, 1973, when Thomas appeared before the lower court for appointment of counsel, he informed the court that he was 18 years old, had never been married, and that his parents’ names were Mr. and Mrs. James E. Thomas. He gave the court the address of his parents, which was recorded by the court reporter as being 123 North Linville, West Lane, Michigan. The next day Assistant State Attorney Aulls sent the notice required by the provisions of § 925.-07 F.S. to James E. Thomas, 123 North Linville, Westland, Michigan.

On May 15, 1973, at a hearing before the court Mr. Aulls stated that he had sent the required notice to the address in West-land given him by Thomas, but had received no reply or proof that the notice had been received. The trial judge made inquiry into the matter, and was twice assured by Thomas that the notice had been sent to the correct address in Westland. The trial judge found it appeared that reasonable notice had been given to the parents, and upon Thomas’ request, named his attorney as his guardian and postponed arraignment. On May 21, 1973, Thomas entered a plea of nolo contendere, and before accepting the plea, the court questioned him regarding the voluntariness of his plea.

On this direct appeal Thomas’ counsel contends that the State has failed to comply with the notice requirements of § 925.-07 F.S.

The record before us does not show that at the time Thomas entered his plea on May 21, 1973, timely notice had actually been given to his parents; Collins v. Wainwright, Fla.1962, 146 So. 2d 97. The State did not produce a return receipt showing the receipt of the notice; Cf. Johnson v. Cochran, Fla.1960, 124 So. 2d 488, or any other proof showing that Thomas’ parents had actual knowledge of the charge. Nor was it shown that the court or other responsible official. asked Thomas to designate some relative or friend for the purpose of receiving such notice. The failure to comply with any of the alternatives in the statute renders the judgment and sentence void. Kinard v. Cochran, Fla. 1959, 113 So. 2d 843; State v. Cochran, Fla.1961, 126 So. 2d 883. A minor’s conviction must be reversed if the record does not affirmatively show that the court fulfilled its duty under the statute. Warren v. State, Fla.App.1st, 1972, 266 So. 2d 114.

The judgment and sentence are reversed, and the cause remanded for further proceedings on the information filed against the appellant.

Reversed and remanded.

GRIMES, J., concurs.

BOARDMAN, J., dissents with opinion.

Dissent
BOARDMAN, Judge

BOARDMAN, Judge

(dissenting).

The uncontroverted facts show that notice was mailed to appellant’s parents by certified mail at the address he provided the court. A return receipt was not received, neither, however, was the letter returned as undelivered. In a similar situation in Snell v. Mayo, Fla. 1956, 84 So. 2d 581, our supreme court held:

. presumptively at least, the notice reached the destination to which it was addressed and sent in due course of mail. (84 So. 2d 581, 582).

I am of the opinion that the presumption exists that the letter in the case sub judice likewise reached its destination.

Further, the trial judge, after ascertaining that no reply was received from the parents and that appellant knew of no other address, appointed the public defender as the appellant's guardian.

For the foregoing reasons, I respectfully dissent and would affirm the decision of the trial court.


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Citator

Cited By

  • Alexander v. State, 341 So. 2d 790 (Fla. 2d DCA 1977)
    …n 925.07, Florida Statutes (1975). Our courts have consistently held that the conviction of a minor must be reversed where the notice requirements of this statute have not been followed. Keene v. Cochran, 146 So. 2d 364 (Fla.1962); Thomas v. State, 301 So. 2d 487 (Fla.2d DCA 1974); Wade v. State, 184 So. 2d 462 (Fla.2d DCA 1966); Milligan v. State, 177 So. 2d 75 (Fla.2d DCA 1965); Ziegler v. State, 180 So. 2d 477 (Fla.3d DCA 1965). However, since the service provisions are only directory, actual knowledge by…

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