Hagan v. State, 99-236.
| Decision Date | 29 December 1999 |
| Docket Number | No. 99-236.,99-236. |
| Citation | 746 So.2d 1241 |
| Parties | Larry D. HAGAN v. STATE of Florida, Appellee. |
| Court | Florida District Court of Appeals |
Nancy A. Daniels, Public Defender, Carl S. McGinnes, Assistant Public Defender, Tallahassee, for Appellant.
Robert A. Butterworth, Attorney General, Sherri Tolar Rollison, Assistant Attorney General, Tallahassee, for Appellee.
We affirm appellant's conviction and sentence, but reverse the restitution order and remand for redetermination of the amount of restitution, because the state failed to carry its burden of proving the amount of the victim's loss, as required by section 775.089(7), Florida Statutes (1997).
It is well established that in determining the amount of restitution, the trial court is not tied to the fair market value as the sole standard, but may exercise such discretion as is required to further the purpose of restitution, which is to compensate the victim and to serve the rehabilitative, deterrent, and retributative goals of the criminal justice system. Once it is determined that the victim's loss is equal to the fair market value, and that restitution in such amount will adequately compensate the victim and promote the purpose of restitution, the amount of restitution should then be established through direct testimony on the fair market value of the item at the time of the offense, or through evidence of (1) the original cost, (2) the manner in which the item was used, (3) the general condition and quality of the item, and (4) the percentage of depreciation. See State v. Hawthorne, 573 So.2d 330, 332-33 (Fla.1991); Mansingh v. State, 588 So.2d 636, 638 (Fla. 1st DCA 1991) (on reh'g).
In the instant case, the victim testified as to the purchase price and present value of his stolen sofa and end table, but he provided only purchase price amounts for the television and compact discs. On remand, the state must produce evidence of the fair market value of those items at the time of the offense, either through direct testimony, or through evidence of the four above factors.
AFFIRMED in part, REVERSED in part, and REMANDED for further proceedings.
I would affirm the decision of the trial court as to restitution. In State v. Hawthorne, 573 So.2d 330 (Fla.1991), the Florida Supreme Court held that there is no rigid standard of proof for restitution cases. See id. at 332. The trial court has discretion to take into account any appropriate factor in arriving at a fair amount which will adequately compensate the victim for his or her loss. See id. at 333. The trial court "is not tied to fair market value as the sole standard for determining restitution amounts, but rather may exercise such discretion as required to further the purposes of restitution." Id. In addition, when restitution is part of a plea bargain, it should be liberally construed in favor of making the victim whole. See Hercule v. State, 655 So.2d 1256, 1257 (Fla. 3d DCA 1995).
While it is the state's burden to present evidence to support the value of restitution, see Glaubius v. State, 688 So.2d 913, 915-916 (Fla.1997), where reasonable evidence exists, the appellate court should not interfere with the reasonable exercise of discretion by the trial court. See Hercule, 655 So.2d at 1258. I find the trial court's determination to be logical and reasonable based on the evidence presented. I would, therefore, find no abuse of discretion.
The majority finds fault with the valuations as to the television and compact discs because only the purchase price amounts were presented. Under the circumstances, these amounts were sufficient.
As to the compact discs, there were over 100 CDs which varied in price from $6.99 to $30 with an average price of $9.00. The trial judge valued the CDs at $500. While appel...
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