Chipman v. State

Decision Date02 July 2004
Docket NumberNo. 2D03-5433.,2D03-5433.
PartiesBrian Michael CHIPMAN, Appellant, v. STATE of Florida, Appellee.
CourtFlorida District Court of Appeals

WHATLEY, Judge.

Brian Michael Chipman challenges the order of the trial court summarily denying his motion for postconviction relief filed pursuant to Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.850. Chipman raised four grounds for relief in his motion. We affirm the trial court's order as it relates to three of the grounds raised. We reverse and remand for further proceedings on the remaining ground.

Chipman pleaded guilty to grand theft auto.1 In his motion, he alleged that the vehicle was stolen in Texas and that he had been convicted of the same charge there. As the trial court found in its order, Chipman "stole a car in Texas, drove it to Florida and continued to use it while in Florida." Chipman alleged that his Florida conviction was barred by double jeopardy considerations. He also alleged that the State of Florida lacked jurisdiction to try him for grand theft auto because the offense occurred in Texas. Chipman also accused the State of withholding "evidence favorable to the defendant" by not advising him that he had a "right to be convicted in the county and state where the crime was committed." Chipman is not entitled to relief on any of these three claims.

In State v. McNab, 642 So.2d 41 (Fla. 5th DCA 1994), McNab failed to return a rental vehicle in Florida and was arrested driving it in Pennsylvania where he pleaded guilty to, inter alia, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. McNab was charged with grand theft auto in Florida, and the trial court dismissed the information "on the basis that McNab had committed only one theft and thus there could only be one prosecution by one state, even if the crime crossed state lines." 642 So.2d at 41. In reversing the order of the trial court and remanding for further proceedings, the Fifth District stated:

[W]hen a defendant in a single act violates the peace and dignity of two sovereigns by breaking the laws of each, he has committed two distinct offenses for double jeopardy purposes. Since the states are separate sovereigns and equal to each other in power, dignity, and authority, each has the power independently to determine what is an offense against its authority and to punish such offenses.

642 So.2d at 42 (emphasis in original).

In the present case, Chipman violated section 812.014(2)(c)(6), Florida Statutes (2001). His prosecution for grand theft auto was not barred by double jeopardy considerations, and the State of Florida had jurisdiction to try him for the offense.

Chipman also claimed that his plea was involuntarily entered because counsel advised him to plead guilty and that she would then win the case on appeal. Although his claim is poorly drafted, Chipman alleged that he would not have pleaded but for this advice. The trial court found that the claim was facially insufficient because Chipman did not allege any facts to show that he was misadvised. However, we conclude that Chipman sufficiently alleged his plea was involuntarily entered based on misadvice of counsel where there was no apparent basis for an appeal of his guilty plea, especially as concerns any double jeopardy claim. We reverse the order of the trial court as it relates to this claim, and we remand for the trial court to consider it. If the trial court again summarily denies the claim, it shall attach those portions of the record that conclusively refute it.

Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded for further proceedings.

SALCINES and SILBERMAN, JJ., Concur.

SALCINES, J., Concurs with opinion.

SALCINES, Judge, Specially concurring.

I fully agree with this unanimous opinion but merely add that successive prosecutions in separate sovereignties based on the same facts and arising out of the same misconduct in violation of the different sovereignties are...

To continue reading

Request your trial
2 cases
  • Mills v. State, 2D02-5693.
    • United States
    • Florida District Court of Appeals
    • 2 July 2004
  • O'Hallaren v. State
    • United States
    • Florida District Court of Appeals
    • 7 May 2013
    ...and Rebecca Rock McGuigan, Assistant Attorney General, Daytona Beach, for Appellee.PER CURIAM. AFFIRMED. See Chipman v. State, 875 So.2d 827 (Fla. 2d DCA 2004).GRIFFIN, COHEN and BERGER, JJ., ...

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT