GARY JEROME BELL, PETITIONER,
v.
STATE OF FLORIDA, RESPONDENT

Fla. 4th DCA | 1978-08-09
No. 78-878
ANSTEAD and LETTS, JJ., concur.
361 So. 2d 818 Florida District Court of Appeal, Fourth District (1978) Caution
Cited by 9 cases

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Synopsis

Bell sought a writ of certiorari challenging the denial of an adversary preliminary hearing after the state failed to file formal charges within 21 days of arrest. The Fourth District Court of Appeal held that Florida's criminal procedure rule guarantees such a hearing regardless of whether the defendant has been released on bond or has already received a non-adversary probable cause determination.


Holding

The court held that Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.131(b)(1) applies to all defendants regardless of custody status or whether they have already received a non-adversary probable cause determination. The rule grants defendants the right to an adversary preliminary hearing when the state fails to file an information or indictment within 21 days of arrest, and this right cannot be eliminated by subsequent filing of formal charges.


Headnotes

[1] A defendant is entitled to an adversary preliminary hearing when the state fails to file an information or indictment within 21 days of arrest, even if a non-adversary pr…

[2] The right to an adversary preliminary hearing, triggered by the state's failure to file an accusatory pleading within 21 days of arrest, is not extinguished by the subseq…

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Key Quotes

“The sole question before us is whether or not Fla.R.Crim.P. 3.131(b)(1) applies to one who has already obtained a non-adversary probable cause determination, and who is not in custody. We hold that it does so apply.”

Establishes the court's core holding that the rule applies to all defendants regardless of custody status or prior probable cause determination.

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Facts & Procedural History

Bell was arrested and charged with several felony offenses including attempted murder in the first degree, aggravated battery, resisting arrest with v…

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Opinion of the Court
MOORE, Judge.

MOORE, Judge.

This is a petition for writ of certiorari and, in the alternative, a petition for writ of mandamus wherein petitioner contests the validity of an order denying his motion for an adversary preliminary hearing. We treat the petition as one for a writ of common law certiorari.

Petitioner was arrested and charged with several felony offenses, including attempted murder in the first degree, aggravated battery, resisting arrest with violence and delivery of cannabis.

Pursuant to Fla.R. Crim.P. 3.131(a)(1) petitioner appeared before a magistrate who determined in a non-adversary proceeding that probable cause existed, and that the petitioner should be held to answer the charges. Thereafter, petitioner was released on bond. The state failed to file an information or indictment officially charging the petitioner with the crimes specified within 21 days from the date of arrest; but did file such an accusatory pleading on the 23rd day.

Petitioner contends that he is entitled to an adversary preliminary hearing pursuant to Fla.R. Crim.P. 3.131(b)(1).

As we can see no useful purpose to be served by such an adversary hearing in view of our present speedy trial rules and liberal discovery rules we, nevertheless, reluctantly agree with petitioner. The respondent, State, contends that no undue restraint has been placed upon the petitioner’s liberty because he was released on bond; that Fla.R.Crim.P. 3.131(b)(1) exceeds the dictates of Gerstein v. Pugh, 420 U.S. 103, 95 S.Ct. 854, 43 L.Ed.2d 54 (1975); that the relief sought has been realized through the non-adversary probable cause determination, bonding procedures and the taking of discovery depositions; and that the error, if any, is non-fundamental resulting in no irrevocable injury to petitioner.

We agree with respondent’s position; however, it is clearly permissible for a state to expand upon the rights of individuals and the Supreme Court of Florida appears to have done so. The sole question before us is whether or not Fla.R.Crim.P. 3.131(b)(1) applies to one who has already obtained a non-adversary probable cause determination, and who is not in custody.

We hold that it does so apply. In the first section of Rule 3.131 the Supreme Court has clearly distinguished the rights of those in custody from the rights of those on pre-trial release. It has not done so in the second section of the Rule which gives all defendants a right to an adversary preliminary hearing when the state fails to file an information or an indictment within 21 days from the date of arrest. This right is not eliminated upon the filing of an information or indictment. Due process requires that, at some point in time, a defendant has the right either to be formally charged with the commission of crime or removed from under the cloud of informal accusations. Our Supreme Court has arbitrarily determined that period of time to be 21 days following arrest after which the right to an adversary preliminary hearing springs into existence, and cannot be eliminated by the subsequent filing of a formal accusatory pleading. .

The denial of an adversary hearing under the circumstances of this case constitutes a departure from the essential requirements of law for which no remedy is available upon plenary appeal.

We are fully cognizant of Cameron v. State, 338 So. 2d 817 (Fla.1976) which was decided subsequent to the adoption of the present rule. That case, however, was decided on its own peculiar facts and involved a defendant who had entered a plea of nolo contendere subsequent to being denied an adversary preliminary hearing. See Cameron v. State, 291 So. 2d 222 (Fla. 4th DCA 1974).

Certiorari is GRANTED, the temporary stay order issued by this Court is vacated and this cause is REMANDED with instruction to grant petitioner’s motion for preliminary hearing.

ANSTEAD and LETTS, JJ., concur.


Cases With Similar Vibessemantic neighbors from the corpus


Citator

Cited By

  • Santopolo v. State, 443 So. 2d 1059 (Fla. 2d DCA 1984)
    …, petitioner contends that the trial court’s order denying his request for an adversary preliminary hearing represents a departure from the essential requirements of the law. He cites Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.133(b)(1) and Bell v. State, 361 So. 2d 818 (Fla. 4th DCA 1978), in support of his position. We disagree and therefore deny the petition but do so with opinion. Petitioner was arrested on August 30, 1983. He remained in custody for twenty-one days without an information or indictment being f…
  • Dumlar v. State, 808 So. 2d 272 (Fla. 1st DCA 2002)
    …r a summons to appear before the appropriate court at a time certain. Such release does not, however, void further prosecution by information or indictment but does prohibit any restraint on liberty other than appearing for trial. In Bell v. State, 361 So. 2d 818 (Fla. 4th DCA 1978), the court held that a defendant was entitled to a hearing on facts similar to those in the case at bar. However, in Santopolo v. State, 443 So. 2d 1059 (Fla. 2d DCA 1984), the court reached a contrary conclusion when the defenda…
  • Kennedy v. Crawford, 479 So. 2d 758 (Fla. 3d DCA 1985)
    …(1975). Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.133(a) sets forth the procedure for implementing the constitutional mandate of Gerstein v. Pugh and, in certain instances, gives to an arrestee greater rights than Gerstein v. Pugh demands. Bell v. State, 361 So. 2d 818 (Fla. 4th DCA 1978). The Rule provides that in all cases where a defendant is in custody, a nonad-versary probable cause determination must be held before a magistrate within seventy-two hours of the defendant’s arrest.2 Fla.R.Crim.P. 3.133(a)(1). I…
    1 / 3

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