State v. Pasko, No. 2D01-253.

CourtCourt of Appeal of Florida (US)
Writing for the CourtDAVIS.
Citation815 So.2d 680
PartiesSTATE of Florida, Appellant, v. Paul PASKO, Appellee.
Docket NumberNo. 2D01-253.
Decision Date03 April 2002

815 So.2d 680

STATE of Florida, Appellant,
v.
Paul PASKO, Appellee

No. 2D01-253.

District Court of Appeal of Florida, Second District.

April 3, 2002.

Rehearing Denied May 3, 2002.


815 So.2d 681
Robert A. Butterworth, Attorney General, Tallahassee, and Ha T. Dao, Assistant Attorney General, Tampa, for Appellant

Donald P. Day, of Berry, Day & McFee, Naples, for Appellant.

DAVIS, Judge.

The State challenges the circuit court's order dismissing the information against Paul Pasko. The information charged Pasko with seventy-seven counts of possession of child pornography, in violation of section 827.071(5), Florida Statutes (1999). We reverse.

The charges arose when Pasko was found to be in possession of seventy-seven photographs of nude female children. In response to the charges, Pasko filed a motion to dismiss pursuant to Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.190(c)(4). He alleged that based on the undisputed facts set forth in his motion, the State would be unable to establish a prima facie case because the pictures did not violate Florida law. The State acknowledged that the facts were undisputed but argued that the pictures did depict "sexual conduct" and thus did violate the statute. The trial judge reviewed the photographs and granted the motion to dismiss. In doing so, he made specific findings that the pictures, as a matter of law, did not depict sexual conduct. The State appeals that order.

On a motion to dismiss, the State is required only to show a prima facie case. State v. Hunwick, 446 So.2d 214 (Fla. 4th DCA 1984). Furthermore, the State is entitled to the most favorable construction of the evidence, and all inferences should be resolved against the defendant. Id. "In sum, only where the most favorable construction to the state would not establish a prima facie case of guilt should a Rule 3.190(c)(4) ... motion to dismiss be granted." Id. at 215-16.

The purpose of a motion to dismiss is to allow a pretrial determination of the law of the case when the facts are not in dispute. Styron v. State, 662 So.2d 965 (Fla. 1st DCA 1995). Accordingly, the standard of our review of the trial court's order is de novo.

We recognize that nudity alone does not constitute sexual conduct. See Schmitt v. State, 590 So.2d 404, 409 (Fla. 1991). However, our review here reveals that the instant photographs and the inferences drawn therefrom do provide the minimum proof necessary to establish a prima facie case of a violation of section...

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29 practice notes
  • State v. Gensler, 3D04-3277.
    • United States
    • Court of Appeal of Florida (US)
    • April 5, 2006
    ...prima facie case, it should not be prevented from prosecuting. Jalbert v. State, 906 So.2d 337 (Fla. 5th DCA 2005); State v. Pasko, 815 So.2d 680, 681 (Fla. 2d DCA 2002)(citing State v. Hunwick, 446 So.2d 214, 215 (Fla. 4th DCA 1984)). A motion to dismiss should rarely be granted, State v. ......
  • Lane v. Mra Holdings, LLC, 6:01-CV-1493-Orl-22KRS.
    • United States
    • United States District Courts. 11th Circuit. United States District Court of Middle District of Florida
    • November 26, 2002
    ...committed." The exposure of Lane's breast did not constitute sexual conduct as that term is defined by this statute. See State v. Pasko, 815 So.2d 680 (Fla. 2nd DCA 2002) ("nudity alone does not constitute sexual conduct"). Accordingly, the publication of Lane's image and likeness in Girls ......
  • State v. Brabson, 2D07-5619.
    • United States
    • Court of Appeal of Florida (US)
    • December 24, 2008
    ...a child. The court granted the motion and dismissed all nineteen counts. We review this matter de novo. See State v. 7 So.3d 1121 Pasko, 815 So.2d 680, 681 (Fla. 2d DCA In criminal cases, motions to dismiss should be granted as sparingly as motions for summary judgment in civil cases. State......
  • State v. Reyan, 3D12–2468.
    • United States
    • Court of Appeal of Florida (US)
    • August 19, 2014
    ...the prosecution in this case is barred by the five-year statute of limitations. We review this question of law de novo.State v. Pasko, 815 So.2d 680 (Fla. 2d DCA 2002). The trial court based its determination in part on O'Malley v. Mounts, 590 So.2d 437 (Fla. 4th DCA 1991). In O'Malley, the......
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29 cases
  • State v. Gensler, No. 3D04-3277.
    • United States
    • Court of Appeal of Florida (US)
    • April 5, 2006
    ...prima facie case, it should not be prevented from prosecuting. Jalbert v. State, 906 So.2d 337 (Fla. 5th DCA 2005); State v. Pasko, 815 So.2d 680, 681 (Fla. 2d DCA 2002)(citing State v. Hunwick, 446 So.2d 214, 215 (Fla. 4th DCA 1984)). A motion to dismiss should rarely be granted, State v. ......
  • Lane v. Mra Holdings, LLC, No. 6:01-CV-1493-Orl-22KRS.
    • United States
    • United States District Courts. 11th Circuit. United States District Court of Middle District of Florida
    • November 26, 2002
    ...committed." The exposure of Lane's breast did not constitute sexual conduct as that term is defined by this statute. See State v. Pasko, 815 So.2d 680 (Fla. 2nd DCA 2002) ("nudity alone does not constitute sexual conduct"). Accordingly, the publication of Lane's image and likeness in Girls ......
  • State v. Brabson, No. 2D07-5619.
    • United States
    • Court of Appeal of Florida (US)
    • December 24, 2008
    ...a child. The court granted the motion and dismissed all nineteen counts. We review this matter de novo. See State v. 7 So.3d 1121 Pasko, 815 So.2d 680, 681 (Fla. 2d DCA In criminal cases, motions to dismiss should be granted as sparingly as motions for summary judgment in civil cases. State......
  • Burgess v. State, No. 2D14–4680.
    • United States
    • Court of Appeal of Florida (US)
    • September 2, 2016
    ...This is Mr. Burgess's timely appeal. II. We review an order on a motion to dismiss under rule 3.190(c)(4) de novo. State v. Pasko, 815 So.2d 680, 681 (Fla. 2d DCA 2002). On appeal, Mr. Burgess argues that we should reconsider our holding in Carroll and hold that section 322.34(5) applies on......
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