Brown v. State, s. 76-2501
| Decision Date | 02 May 1978 |
| Docket Number | Nos. 76-2501,76-2522,76-2550 and 76-2582,s. 76-2501 |
| Citation | 358 So.2d 92 |
| Parties | Alvin David BROWN, a/k/a Calvin Carter, Anthony Jerome Collins, Herbert Marlin Johnson, and Sam Williams a/k/a Paul Adams, Appellants, v. STATE of Florida, Appellee. |
| Court | Florida District Court of Appeals |
Richard L. Jorandby, Public Defender, Frank B. Kessler, Asst. Public Defender and Joseph R. Atterbury, Legal Intern, West Palm Beach, for appellants.
Robert L. Shevin, Atty. Gen., Tallahassee and Joy B. Shearer, Asst. Atty. Gen., West Palm Beach, for appellee.
This case involves a conviction obtained against 4 co-defendants for robbery with a firearm. All 4 defendants were sentenced to a mandatory 3 year term under Fla.Stat. § 775.087(2) (1975) without the benefit of a presentence investigation. We reverse, finding merit in two of the four points on appeal.
The facts reveal that the State could only identify the appellant, Williams, as being the actual possessor of one of two guns involved in this robbery. Nonetheless, all three of the remaining defendants were, like Williams, sentenced to the mandatory 3 years, minimum jail sentence, under § 775.087(2) Fla.Stat. (1975). It was error to do so under this statute.
The State argues that the jury instruction, and sentence, was proper under § 777.011 Fla.Stat. (1975), which permits any aider or abettor to be treated as, and punished as, a principal in the first degree. We might well have agreed with this contention on the date of the convictions, however, the argument has since been rejected by our Supreme Court which recently held that vicarious possession will not suffice and that actual possession must be the test to invoke the provisions of § 775.087(2). Earnest v. State, 351 So.2d 957 (Fla.1977). We agree that it is somewhat doubtful if the foregoing is procedurally preserved for our review; however, in the light of our decision on the ensuing point, we remand with directions to the trial court to proceed in accordance with the foregoing as to all defendants, except Williams.
Turning now to the trial judge's ruling that a presentence investigation is not permissible under the same § 775.087(2) because of the following wording:
"Notwithstanding the provisions of § 948.01, adjudication of guilt or IMPOSITION OF SENTENCE shall not be suspended, DEFERRED . . . prior to serving such minimum sentence." (emphasis supplied.)
We find this to be in error also. Once again the question has since...
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Whitehead v. State
...insufficient to impose the mandatory three year minimum jail sentence under Section 775.087(2), Florida Statutes (1981). Brown v. State, 358 So.2d 92 (Fla. 4th DCA), cert. denied, 364 So.2d 881 (Fla.1978); Earnest v. State, 351 So.2d 957 (Fla.1977). A finding of actual possession may be bas......
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Willingham v. State
...be direct. Jenkins v. State, 448 So.2d 1060 (Fla. 4th DCA 1984), reversed on other grounds, 466 So.2d 1068 (Fla.1985); Brown v. State, 358 So.2d 92 (Fla. 4th DCA), cert. denied, 364 So.2d 881 (Fla.1978). A plain reading of section 775.087(1) would be to require proof that Willingham actuall......
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Brown v. State
...appellant Brown possessed a firearm will not support a minimum three-year sentence under section 775.087 for Rieder. Brown v. State, 358 So.2d 92 (Fla. 4th DCA 1978). Accordingly, each appellant's conviction and sentence for the robbery of the Breeze-In-Market is reversed and those cases ar......
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Collins v. State, 78-2106
...the juvenile division. The order denying the motion in arrest of judgment is affirmed. The conviction was previously affirmed, 358 So.2d 92 (Fla. 4th DCA 1978). CROSS and ORFINGER, JJ., concur. 1 If the judge finds, after a waiver hearing as provided in s. 39.09, that any child who is 14 ye......