Pedrera v. State, 79-1201

Citation401 So.2d 823
Decision Date28 April 1981
Docket NumberNo. 79-1201,79-1201
PartiesRuben PEDRERA, Appellant, v. The STATE of Florida, Appellee.
CourtCourt of Appeal of Florida (US)

Carhart & McGuirk and James McGuirk, Miami, for appellant.

Jim Smith, Atty. Gen., and Steven R. Jacob, Asst. Atty. Gen., for appellee.

Before BARKDULL, SCHWARTZ and DANIEL S. PEARSON, JJ.

PER CURIAM.

On rehearing, the appellant, for the first time, raised the legality of the sentence herein alleging that the imposing of an enhanced sentence on the conviction for aggravated battery was improper under the holding in Bell v. State, 394 So.2d 570 (Fla. 5th DCA 1981).

The State has responded to the allegation by confessing error as to the sentence on the aggravated battery conviction. The State requests that this court return the cause to the trial court, permitting the trial court to re-sentence on all counts, thereby enabling the trial court to sentence the defendant to the same term of imprisonment by merely making the enhanced sentences on the two third degree murder convictions run consecutively rather than concurrently.

Under the facts of the instant case, it does appear that the imposing of an enhanced sentence for the conviction of aggravated battery should be set aside. See: Williams v. State, 358 So.2d 187 (Fla. 4th DCA 1978); Knight v. State, 374 So.2d 1065 (Fla. 3d DCA 1979); Bell v. State, supra.

However, it does not appear that we should extend the prohibition against an enhanced sentence, set forth in the aforementioned cases, to the convictions for third degree murder for the following reason: The use of a firearm is not necessarily an element of third degree murder, as statutorily defined, and the mere fact that a firearm was used in commission of the crime does not make it a necessary element as in the case of aggravated assault, which is statutorily defined to be committed by use of a deadly weapon. Furthermore, there is no enhancement of the crime of third degree murder, whereas aggravated battery is an enhancement of the crime of battery.

Thus, on...

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4 cases
  • Streeter v. State
    • United States
    • Florida District Court of Appeals
    • July 13, 1982
    ...its use constitutes constitutionally prohibited double punishment for the same act. We reject both contentions. See Pedrera v. State, 401 So.2d 823 (Fla. 3d DCA 1981) (use of a firearm is not an essential element of third-degree murder as statutorily defined); State v. Hegstrom, 401 So.2d 1......
  • Gonzalez v. State, 88-2542
    • United States
    • Florida District Court of Appeals
    • October 10, 1990
    ...415 So.2d 808 (Fla. 1st DCA 1982), aff'd., 437 So.2d 150 (1983); Williams v. State, 407 So.2d 223 (Fla. 2d DCA 1981); Pedrera v. State, 401 So.2d 823 (Fla. 3d DCA 1981). We acknowledge conflict with Franklin v. State, 541 So.2d 1227 (Fla. 2d DCA Therefore, the judgment and sentence, except ......
  • Whitehead v. State, 82-1946
    • United States
    • Florida District Court of Appeals
    • April 24, 1984
    ...it is correctly argued that the use of a firearm is not an "essential element" of second degree murder per se, see Pedrera v. State, 401 So.2d 823 (Fla. 3d DCA 1981) (third degree murder), such a determination is required to invoke the application of Sec. 775.087(2). Overfelt v. State, 434 ......
  • Pinkerton v. State, 87-1950
    • United States
    • Florida District Court of Appeals
    • September 22, 1988
    ...2d DCA 1987). See also Webb v. State, 410 So.2d 944 (Fla. 1st DCA), review denied, 421 So.2d 68 (Fla.1982). But see Pedrera v. State, 401 So.2d 823 (Fla. 3d DCA 1981). We vacate the sentence and remand the case for resentencing as a second degree Sentence VACATED. REMANDED. COBB and COWART,......

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