IN RE BEFORE THE THIRD STATEWIDE GRAND JURY, STATE OF FLORIDA. JOHN B. MATHES, GEORGE KELLEY AND VANLEY HUBBARD, PETITIONERS,
v.
WILLIAM F. ROBERTS, SHERIFF, PINELLAS COUNTY, FLORIDA, RESPONDENT

Fla. 2d DCA | 1978-05-19
Nos. 78-772 to 78-774
BOARDMAN, C. J., and SCHEB and DANAHY, JJ., concur.
360 So. 2d 4 Florida District Court of Appeal, Second District (1978) Positive Treatment
Cited by 6 cases

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Holding

The court held that the grant of immunity was sufficient to compel testimony and that imposing both civil and criminal contempt for the same act was permissible.


Headnotes

[1] A grant of immunity is sufficient to compel testimony if it protects the witness from prosecution for any crime related to the testimony, except for perjury committed in…

[2] A witness's fear of future prosecution for perjury due to potential inconsistencies with other witnesses' testimony does not invalidate a grant of immunity sufficient to…

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Facts & Procedural History

Petitioners refused to testify before a grand jury after being granted immunity, leading to civil and criminal contempt charges. They sought writs of …

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Opinion of the Court
PER CURIAM.

PER CURIAM.

Petitioners seek writs of habeas corpus challenging their incarceration by orders of the presiding judge of the Third Statewide Grand Jury. In considering their petitions, we have had the benefit of briefs from all parties involved.

The presiding judge advised petitioners that immunity had been conferred upon them, and directed them to answer questions before the grand jury. They refused and so the judge found them in both civil and criminal contempt, imposing a $500 fine against each petitioner for the criminal contempt and imprisoning them during the grand jury session for their civil contempt. However, the court stated the petitioners could purge themselves of civil contempt by appearing and testifying before the Third Statewide Grand Jury. Petitioners declined to comply with the contempt orders which they contend are illegal.

Two points raised by petitioners merit discussion: First, whether petitioners were granted sufficient immunity to compel their testimony; and second, whether it was beyond the authority of the presiding judge to hold petitioners guilty of both civil and criminal contempt for the same act.

The extent of immunity conferred is apparent from the following colloquy between the court, counsel, and Petitioner Kelley:

MR. MEROS: Yes. We, of course, were not present when the immunity was granted. The immunity that is granted, as I understand it, is transactional immunity for past occurrences and use immunity for past occurrences or prior occurrences, if I may state that.

THE COURT: Which included as I understood from the attorney any perjury-

MR. MEROS: Past perjury. Yes, sir. THE COURT: Yes, sir. Right. Past perjury. We don’t have any present yet.

MR. MEROS: And on that basis, that understanding, Your Honor, I have no objections to Your Honor proceeding with the questioning.

THE COURT: All right. Mr. Kelley, under the law, when immunity is given to you, sir, by the State, which has been done in this case as set forth by the Assistant State Attorney here, you cannot be prosecuted for any crime whatsoever in the past. You cannot be prosecuted by the use of any matter that’s brought to you in this courtroom, any testimony that you may have before the Grand Jury. I understand it’s complete transactional immunity for testimony.

MR. ATWATER: Any question we ask.

THE COURT: Any transaction, any matter that would be related to your testimony, you cannot be prosecuted for that crime.

The only matter that you could be prosecuted for, if you do testify, that is if you falsely testify, you could be prosecuted for perjury, if you testify falsely, in a false manner before the Grand Jury. Except for that, you will be completely free of any and all crimes whatsoever bearing in any way upon your testimony.

The colloquy which took place between the court, counsel and petitioners Mathes and Hubbard was substantially the same and conferred immunity in terms at least as broad as those outlined ábove.

As is apparent, the grant of immunity to each petitioner specifically exempted him from any charges arising out of prior criminal conduct including charges of perjury by inconsistent statements. Immunity from prosecution for future perjury (i. e., perjury committed in giving the compelled testimony) was not granted and is not required. See McDonald v. State, 321 So. 2d 453 (Fla. 4th DCA 1975). However, petitioners contend that even if they testify truthfully in the future, they fear prosecution for perjury because testimony from other witnesses may be inconsistent with their testimony. This possibility exists in every case and to hold this as a sufficient reason to allow a witness to refuse to testify would effectively bar the state from ever compelling testimony. This we refuse to do. We hold the grant of immunity was sufficient. The imposition of both criminal and civil contempt was authorized in this case. In making this determination, we must look to the purpose for which the contempt orders were directed. The purpose of the criminal contempt was to punish refusal to obey a direct order of the presiding judge. The purpose of the civil contempt was to coerce petitioners to testify after being granted sufficient immunity. As recognized in In re Tierney, 328 So. 2d 40 (Fla. 4th DCA 1976), civil and criminal penalties for the same acts of contempt are permissible given the distinct purposes involved. We think both contempt adjudications were appropriate here.

The point raised relating to bail on appeal is moot in light of our disposition, and the remaining points are without merit.

Accordingly, we deny the petitions for writs of habeas corpus.

BOARDMAN, C. J., and SCHEB and DANAHY, JJ., concur.


Cases With Similar Vibessemantic neighbors from the corpus


Citator

Cited By

  • In re Investigative Subpoena of Linda Getty, 427 So. 2d 380 (Fla. 4th DCA 1983)
    …to the present case. Relying on Harris, the court in Pend-ley, the fourth decision on the subject (of which we are aware), held that Rule 3.840, not Rule 3.830,5 should have been followed. In the fifth case, In Re Before Third Statewide Grand Jury, 360 So. 2d 4 (Fla. 2d DCA 1978), the court held that the trial court properly found the recalcitrant witnesses in both civil and criminal contempt and affirmed the sentences of confinement for the duration of the grand jury session, which could be purged by answ…
  • Yarbro v. State, 402 So. 2d 599 (Fla. 2d DCA 1981)
    …djudications of contempt can be denominated as ‘criminal’ as distinguished from ‘civil’ we need not consider the applicability of the constitutional prohibition against double jeopardy.” Id. at 45-46. Cf. In re Before the Third Statewide Grand Jury, 360 So. 2d 4, 6 (Fla. 2d DCA 1978) (“[Cjivil and criminal penalties for the same acts of contempt are permissible given the distinct purposes involved.”) Additionally, this court has implied that criminal contempt should remain an alternative to the substantive…
  • Hope v. State, 449 So. 2d 1319 (Fla. 2d DCA 1984)
    …red by the court to testify, and having been given the opportunity to exit the grand jury room and consult with, and having consulted with, his attorney. Similar conduct has been found to be contemptuous. See In re Before Third Statewide Grand Jury, 360 So. 2d 4 (Fla. 2d DCA 1978). Defendant argues that the trial court erred in denying defendant’s motion for recusal of the trial judge. The record does not support defendant’s contention that the trial judge improperly prejudged the case and was prejudiced a…

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