State v. Horne

Decision Date20 May 1981
Docket Number80-1976,Nos. 80-1527,s. 80-1527
Citation399 So.2d 49
PartiesThe STATE of Florida, Appellant, v. Anthony HORNE, Appellee. The STATE of Florida, Appellant, v. Johnny YOUNG, Appellee.
CourtFlorida District Court of Appeals

Janet Reno, State Atty. and Ira N. Loewy, Asst. State Atty., for the State in Case No. 80-1527.

Brown, Huysman & Matthews and Michael J. Wrubel, Miami, for Anthony Horne.

Jim Smith, Atty. Gen. and Calianne P. Lantz, Asst. Atty. Gen., for the State in Case No. 80-1976.

James P. Ryan, North Miami, for Johnny Young.

Before SCHWARTZ and NESBITT, JJ., and VANN, HAROLD R. (Ret.), Associate Judge.

PER CURIAM.

These cases, which we dispose of in a single opinion, are state appeals of orders dismissing criminal informations upon the granting of sworn motions filed under Fla.R.Crim.P. 3.190(c)(4). Egregious error has been presented and both orders are reversed.

In each case, 1 the record before us clearly shows both (a) that the sworn motion did not itself demonstrate that "the undisputed facts do not establish a prima facie case of guilt against the defendant" so that dismissal would not be justified even if the state had merely demurred or not responded at all to the motion, 2 and (b) that, in fact, the prosecution filed an appropriate sworn traverse which, under Fla.R.Crim.P. 3.190(d), mandatorily required that the motion be denied. 3 While it is indeed regrettable that it is appropriate so to characterize the rulings below, they may thus be regarded only as embodying inexplicable and totally unjustified failures or refusals to follow the law. They are therefore reversed for reinstatement of the informations and further consistent proceedings.

In order to minimize the delay in the prosecution of these cases which has already unwarrantedly occurred, no motions for rehearing will be entertained and the mandates shall issue forthwith.

Reversed and remanded.

1 Horne is an armed robbery case. The defendant was discovered hiding under a bed after escaping, in a hail of gun fire, from a fast food establishment which along with an unknown coperpetrator who was not apprehended he had held up while wielding a handgun. The sworn motion was based on an affidavit by Horne that the accomplice had been a hitch-hiker whom he had picked up shortly before the robbery and who had "coerced" him to commit the crime at the point of a gun. The dismissal was apparently based on the conclusion that the accomplice had disappeared, and that the state could not therefore rebut this "explanation," which was thus to be accepted as a matter of law notwithstanding that the circumstances of the offense showed completely to the contrary. It is unnecessary to dwell upon the unsupportability of this ruling.

In Young, the defendant was arrested soon after the burglary of a retail store. The...

To continue reading

Request your trial
9 cases
  • State v. Patel, 83-626
    • United States
    • Florida District Court of Appeals
    • July 26, 1984
    ...I agree with the majority that only a prima facie case need be shown by the state in the context of a (c)(4) motion. State v. Horne, 399 So.2d 49 (Fla. 3d DCA 1981). However, viewing the record in this case in the most damaging light to Patel, I do not think it prima facie establishes consc......
  • State v. Terma
    • United States
    • Florida District Court of Appeals
    • December 17, 2008
    ...1021, 1021-22 (Fla. 4th DCA 2006); Arnal, 941 So.2d at 559; State v. Elliott, 941 So.2d 567, 568 (Fla. 1st DCA 2006); State v. Horne, 399 So.2d 49 (Fla. 3d DCA 1981). Because material facts are disputed, "denial of the motion to dismiss is mandatory" and, we find that the trial court erred ......
  • State v. Thompson, 80-821
    • United States
    • Florida District Court of Appeals
    • June 9, 1981
    ...3.190(d), mandatorily required that the motion be denied. State v. Johnson, 398 So.2d 500 (Fla. 3d DCA 1981); State v. Horne, 399 So.2d 49 (Fla. 2d DCA 1981) State v. Alford, 395 So.2d 201 (Fla. 4th DCA 1981); State v. Evans, 394 So.2d 1068 (Fla. 4th DCA 1981); State v. Lawler, 384 So.2d 12......
  • State v. Teehan, 88-3022
    • United States
    • Florida District Court of Appeals
    • February 6, 1990
    ...See State v. McQuay, 403 So.2d 566 (Fla. 3d DCA 1981); State v. Schular, 400 So.2d 781 (Fla. 3d DCA 1981); State v. Horne, 399 So.2d 49 (Fla. 3d DCA 1981); State v. Johnson, 398 So.2d 500 (Fla. 3d DCA Reversed and remanded. ...
  • Request a trial to view additional results

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