BLL v. State, 2D99-3772.

Decision Date04 August 2000
Docket NumberNo. 2D99-3772.,2D99-3772.
Citation764 So.2d 837
PartiesB.L.L., a Child, Appellant, v. STATE of Florida, Appellee.
CourtFlorida District Court of Appeals

James Marion Moorman, Public Defender, Bartow, and Megan Olson, Assistant Public Defender, Bartow, for Appellant.

Robert A. Butterworth, Attorney General, Tallahassee, and Diana K. Bock, Assistant Attorney General, Tampa, for Appellant.

FULMER, Judge.

The trial court adjudicated B.L.L. delinquent for the offenses of engaging in an affray, disrupting a school function, and battery on a school board employee. B.L.L. argues that the evidence was insufficient to sustain the charge of battery on a school board employee and that the trial court erred in entering a single commitment order for the three offenses. We find merit to both points and reverse.

We agree with B.L.L.'s assertion that the evidence did not show that B.L.L. had the intent to strike a school employee. Section 784.081, Florida Statutes (1997), reclassifies the offense of simple battery from a misdemeanor of the first degree to a felony of the third degree when the victim of the battery is an employee of a school district and "the person committing the offense knows or has reason to know the identity or position or employment of the victim." At the adjudicatory hearing, all witnesses concurred that B.L.L. was attempting to hit a student and struck the school employee unintentionally. The State argued that the doctrine of transferred intent applied and the trial court relied on that theory to find B.L.L. guilty. This was error because "the doctrine only operates to transfer the defendant's intent as to the intended victim to the unintended victim." D.J. v. State, 651 So.2d 1255, 1256 (Fla. 1st DCA 1995). Applying the doctrine of transferred intent, because B.L.L. intended to hit a fellow student, the trial court could adjudicate B.L.L. of simple battery only.

The single commitment order entered referenced the three charges in this case and a second case involving a violation of community control. B.L.L. argues, and the State agrees, that on remand the trial court should be directed to enter separate disposition orders for each offense. See D.P. v. State, 730 So.2d 414, 416 (Fla. 5th DCA 1999)

.

Accordingly, we reverse the adjudication for battery on a school board employee and remand for the trial court to reduce that charge to simple battery and to enter separate disposition orders for each offense.

Reversed and remanded.

ALTE...

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4 cases
  • State v. Higgins, (SC 16403)
    • United States
    • Connecticut Supreme Court
    • 29 Julio 2003
    ...offense was committed; or "(2) a different person or property was injured, harmed, or otherwise affected." 24 Cf. B.L.L. v. State, 764 So.2d 837 (Fla. App. 2000) (where statute enhancing severity of crime of battery when victim is school employee required knowledge that victim is school emp......
  • State v. Higgins
    • United States
    • Connecticut Supreme Court
    • 29 Julio 2003
    ...offense was committed; or "(2) a different person or property was injured, harmed, or otherwise affected." 24. Cf. B.L.L. v. State, 764 So. 2d 837 (Fla. App. 2000) (where statute enhancing severity of crime of battery when victim is school employee required knowledge that victim is school e......
  • Sagner v. State, 4D00-836.
    • United States
    • Florida District Court of Appeals
    • 11 Julio 2001
    ...prosecutions but held that it was inapplicable to enhance the severity of the crime against an unintended victim. See B.L.L. v. State, 764 So.2d 837 (Fla. 2d DCA 2000)(where defendant intended to hit a fellow student and not a school employee, the defendant could only be adjudicated of simp......
  • State v. Fender, 2D99-3642.
    • United States
    • Florida District Court of Appeals
    • 4 Agosto 2000

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