JOHN WILDIE, APPELLANT,
v.
STATE OF FLORIDA, APPELLEE
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John Wildie was convicted of breaking and entering with intent to commit larceny of a motor vehicle, assault and battery, and larceny of a motor vehicle. The appellate court affirmed the convictions on the merits but vacated the sentence because it improperly imposed probation following imprisonment for a crime committed before the effective date of the statute authorizing such sentences.
The court affirmed the convictions, finding the evidence sufficient as to both the substantive charges and appellant's identity. However, the court held that a sentence for an offense occurring prior to July 1, 1974 cannot validly impose a period of probation following imprisonment under Chapter 74-112, Laws of Florida (1974), and vacated the sentence for resentencing.
[1] A sentence for an offense committed prior to the effective date of a statute authorizing probation after a period of imprisonment may not validly impose such probation.
[2] When a sentence for an offense committed prior to the effective date of a statute authorizing probation is improperly structured with a probationary period following impr…
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Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligence“The punishment in effect at the time of the crime is that under which a convicted person should be sentenced.”
Establishes the controlling rule that crimes must be sentenced under the law in effect when committed, not when sentenced.
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Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceAppellant was convicted on three counts: breaking and entering a dwelling with intent to commit larceny of a motor vehicle, assault and battery, and l…
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OWEN, Judge.
Appellant was convicted on each count of a three-count information charging (1) breaking and entering a dwelling with intent to commit a felony, to wit: larceny of a motor vehicle, (2) assault and battery, and (3) larceny of a motor vehicle.
Appellant seeks reversal of the judgments on the grounds that the evidence was insufficient to support a finding that appellant had procured a breaking and entering with the intent to commit larceny of a motor vehicle, and that the evidence of identity of appellant was insufficient. Our review of the briefs and record satisfies us that neither point has merit and the judgments are severally affirmed.
On the count of breaking and entering with intent to commit a felony, appellant was sentenced to fifteen years in prison with the proviso that after he had served three years of that term he would be placed on probation for a period of twelve years. A sentence of this type, authorized by Ch. 74-112, Laws of Fla. (1974),1 would be appropriate as to offenses occurring after its effective date, July 1, 1974. Although appellant was not sentenced until November 5, 1974, the offense of which he stands convicted occurred on January 2, 1974. The punishment in effect at the time of the crime is that under which a convicted person should be sentenced. Castle v. State, 305 So. 2d 794 (Fla.App. 4th 1974).
Appellant, relying upon Owens v. State, 306 So. 2d 176 (Fla. App. 4th 1975) and cases therein cited, contends that the portion of the sentence providing for probation is void and should be stricken. Appellant’s contention is correct to -the extent that a sentence for an offense occurring prior to the effective date of Ch. 74-112, Laws of Fla. (1974), may not validly impose a period of probation following the period of imprisonment specified, and that in the cases upon which appellant relies the courts did strike as void that portion of the sentence providing for probation after the prison term has been served.
However, none of these cases will be helpful to appellant because he was not sentenced to three years’ imprisonment followed by twelve years of probation, but rather was sentenced to fifteen years in prison with the proviso that after serving three years he would be placed on probation for twelve years.
Thus, simply striking as void that portion of the sentence which divides the fifteen years’ imprisonment (so as to allow for the last twelve years to be on probation) has no ef- feet beyond making the sentence simply one for fifteen years’ imprisonment.
We could strike that portion of the sentence as. surplusage and leave it at that. However, it is apparent from the record of the sentencing proceeding that the trial court felt that appellant was entitled to some leniency rather than the maximum sentence. We think that justice would'be better served by vacating the sentence and remanding to the trial court for the imposition of a proper sentence, thereby affording to the trial court the opportunity to exercise his sound discretion as to the leniency, if any, to which he deems appellant entitled.
Judgment affirmed; sentence vacated and the cause remanded for imposition of an appropriate sentence in accordance with the views herein expressed.
CROSS and DOWNEY, JJ., concur. . Amending Fla.Stat. § 948.01(4) (1973).
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Citator
Cited By
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Pannier v. State, 384 So. 2d 44 (Fla. 3d DCA 1980)…having further determined that it conclusively appears therefrom that petitioner is entitled to no relief, the denial of his motion is affirmed. Castle v. State, 305 So. 2d 794 (Fla. 1st DCA 1974), affirmed 330 So. 2d 10 (Fla.1976); Wildie v. State, 326 So. 2d 198 (Fla. 4th DCA 1976).…
Authorities Cited
- Darion Northrup Castle v. State, 305 So. 2d 794 (Fla. 4th DCA 1974)
- Owens v. State, 306 So. 2d 176 (Fla. 4th DCA 1975)