Cabrera v. StateCabrera v. State
Humberto Cabrera appeals the judgment and sentences imposed pursuant to a jury verdict finding him guilty of sexual battery on a mentally defective person, two counts of battery and two counts of lewd and lascivious behavior. Of the several issues Cabrera raises, we write to address two: (1) whether his convictions for the two counts of lewd and lascivious behavior violate the Double Jeopardy Clauses of the Florida and federal constitutions, and (2) whether his designation as a sexual predator should be reversed. We answer the first question in the affirmative and reverse one conviction of lewd and lascivious behavior; as to the second, Cabrera‘s failure to preserve the issue precludes appellate review. We will briefly explain our conclusions. Regarding the other issues raised by Cabrera, we affirm without discussion.1
While Cabrera and his mentally challenged victim were together in a swimming pool, Cabrera committed the two alleged acts of lewd and lascivious behavior. Specifically, count four of the information alleged that Cabrera touched the breasts of the victim and count five alleged that he touched the buttocks of the victim. The State charged that each act was committed in violation of
If any man and woman, not being married to each other, lewdly and lasciviously associate and cohabit together, or if any man or woman, married or unmarried, engages in open and gross lewdness and lascivious behavior, they shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in
s. 775.082 ors. 775.083 .
The evidence reveals that Cabrera and the victim were in the pool a relatively short period of time—approximately thirty minutes. The victim‘s mother, who was present at the pool, testified that the inappropriate touching occurred within a span of minutes. Cabrera alleges that he was improperly convicted of both counts because the touching occurred during one criminal episode and therefore, his multiple convictions violate double jeopardy principles.
In Hunsicker v. State, 881 So.2d 1166 (Fla. 5th DCA 2004), we explained the analysis that should be employed to determine whether two convictions arise from a single criminal episode:
“The prevailing standard for determining the constitutionality of multiple convictions for offenses arising from the same criminal transaction is whether the Legislature `intended to authorize separate punishments for the two crimes.‘” Gordon v. State, 780 So.2d 17, 19 (Fla. 2001) (quoting M.P. v. State, 682 So.2d 79, 81 (Fla.1996)); see also Cruller v. State, 808 So.2d 201, 203 (Fla.2002). If the Legislature did not clearly express
its intention to authorize separate punishments, the courts must resort to the test of statutory construction established in Blockburger v. United States, 284 U.S. 299, 52 S.Ct. 180, 76 L.Ed. 306 (1932), now codified in section 775.021(4), Florida Statutes (2002) . Cruller; Gordon; M.P. The court in Cruller emphasized that if there is a clear expression of legislative intent to require two separate punishments analysis ends and we do not resort to the Blockburger test. In accordance with Cruller, we begin our search for clear legislative intent by examining the language, structure, and legislative history of section 800.04. Cruller, 808 So.2d at 203.
Our examination of the language, structure and legislative history of
Regarding the alleged erroneous sexual predator designation, this court held in Nicholson v. State, 846 So.2d 1217 (Fla. 5th DCA 2003), that an erroneous designation as a sexual predator under
AFFIRMED in part, REVERSED in part, and REMANDED.
PLEUS and PALMER, JJ., concur.
SAWAYA, C.J., concurs specially with opinion.
SAWAYA, C.J. concurring specially.
Although I concur with the majority opinion, I write to explain my reluctant concurrence regarding the issue raised by Cabrera concerning his designation as a sexual predator. Cabrera contends that his sexual predator designation should be reversed, arguing that he was denied due process because he was not afforded a hearing and the State failed to establish the necessary requirements to qualify him for the designation. The State contends that Cabrera raises a sentencing error that
This issue has been addressed by this court and the Second District Court, and divergent views have emerged. In Nicholson v. State, 846 So.2d 1217 (Fla. 5th DCA 2003), this court held that an erroneous designation under
I reach this conclusion based on the provisions of
The district court had jurisdiction to review the order under
Florida Rule of Appellate Procedure 9.140(b)(1)(C) , which grants appellate jurisdiction over criminal court orders “entered after final judgment or finding of guilt.” See alsoart. V, § 4(b)(1), Fla. Const. (granting district courts authority to review interlocutory orders to the extent provided by rules of the Supreme Court). The designation of an offender as a sexual predator is based on the offender‘s conviction for one of the crimes specified in the Act.§ 775.21(4)(c), Fla. Stat. (Supp.1998) . The order designating a defendant a sexual predator is thus entered after final judgment or a finding of guilt. See Thomas v. State, 716 So.2d 789 (Fla. 4th DCA 1997) (holding that an order designating a defendant a sexual predator was “entered after defendant was convicted and sentenced” and “is therefore appealable as an order entered after a `finding of guilt,’ pursuant torule 9.140(b)(1)(C) “); Downs v. State, 700 So.2d 789 (Fla. 2d DCA 1997) (same).
Robinson, 873 So.2d at 1208-09.3
The provisions of
In Nicholson, this court properly observed that
A sexual predator designation more closely fits within the definition of “conviction,” which means “a determination of guilt resulting from plea or trial....”
While part of
Although the defendant clearly states that he is objecting solely to the public notification portion of his classification as a sexual predator, he argues generally
that the trial court was without authority to designate him a sexual predator because the determination was not made contemporaneous to his initial sentencing. We find this claim unmeritorious. As stated in Fletcher v. State, 699 So.2d 346, 347 (Fla. 5th DCA 1997), the sexual predator designation is not an impermissible modification of an offender‘s sentence “because the designation `sexual predator’ is neither a sentence nor a punishment.” See Collie v. State, 710 So.2d 1000, 1006 (Fla. 2d DCA 1998).
There are numerous cases where the courts have upheld designation orders rendered long after the defendant was sentenced for the underlying offense.4 This is
I also note that the alternative remedies available to a defendant who has not properly preserved a sentencing error may not be available to a defendant who has not properly preserved an erroneous designation. If an unpreserved sentencing error is appealed and the defendant has not availed himself of the procedure established in
Our court has decided to adopt the second district‘s interpretation of the limited nature of rule 3.800(a) proceedings:
Rule 3.800 is intended to provide relief for a narrow category of cases in which the sentence imposes a penalty that is simply not authorized by law. It is concerned primarily with whether the terms and conditions of the punishment for a particular offense are permissible as a matter of law. It
is not a vehicle designed to re-examine whether the procedure employed to impose the punishment comported with statutory law and due process. Unlike a motion pursuant to rule 3.850, the motion can be filed without an oath because it is designed to test issues that should not involve significant questions of fact or require a lengthy evidentiary hearing.
Id. at 172-73 (emphasis added) (quoting Judge v. State, 596 So.2d 73, 76-77 (Fla. 2d DCA 1991), review denied, 613 So.2d 5 (Fla.1992)).6 Therefore, because a sexual predator designation is not a sentence that imposes a penalty or punishment,
The remedy provided by
A motion filed pursuant to rule 3.850 is untimely if filed more than two years after the conviction and sentence become final.
Fla. R.Crim. P. 3.850(b) . If the conviction and sentence are not appealed, they become final 30 days after they are entered. Ramos v. State, 658 So.2d 169 (Fla. 3d DCA 1995). Walk‘s conviction and sentence became final on 4 January 1995. Consequently, the motion was time-barred.
Id. at 933-34. Moreover, “claims which were or could have been raised on direct appeal are procedurally barred in a rule 3.850 motion.” Schwab v. State, 814 So.2d 402, 406 n. 4 (Fla.2002) (citation omitted); see also Lopez v. Singletary, 634 So.2d 1054, 1056 (Fla.1993) (“Postconviction motions are not to be used as second appeals.“) (citation omitted). Because a defendant has a right to directly appeal an erroneous designation pursuant to
I conclude that an erroneous sexual predator designation is not a sentencing error or an error arising out of a civil proceeding. I also conclude that Cabrera has alleged a fundamental error in a criminal proceeding and that this court should resolve the issue on the merits in the instant
Notes
Defendant appeals an order in which the trial court found him to be a sexual predator pursuant to section 775.21, Florida Statutes (Supp.1996). The state moves to dismiss the appeal on the ground that the order is not appealable. The state‘s motion to dismiss, which contains no argument, simply states that the order is not appealable under either section 924.06, Florida Statutes (1993) or rule 9.140(b), Florida Rules of Appellate Procedure.
Rule 9.140(b)(1)(C) provides that a defendant may appeal “orders entered after final judgment or finding guilt, including orders revoking or modifying probation or community control, or both.” The order in the present case was entered after defendant was convicted and sentenced. It is therefore appealable as an order entered after a “finding of guilt,” pursuant to rule 9.140(b)(1)(C). The motion to dismiss appeal is denied.
Id. at 789.
This court has adopted the same rationale. In Pisarri v. State, 724 So.2d 635 (Fla. 5th DCA 1998), the trial court, approximately thirteen months after the defendant was sentenced, entered an order finding that the defendant was a sexual predator. The defendant attempted to file a mandamus petition to require that his name be excluded from the mandatory list of sexual predators maintained by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. In affirming the denial of that petition, this court held:
If the trial court erroneously found appellant to be a sexual predator, an appeal from that order would have been the appropriate remedy. The fact that some time intervened between appellant‘s sentencing and the court‘s determination that appellant was a sexual predator would not, in and of itself, make that finding erroneous.
Id. at 636 (citations omitted).
Similarly, in Milks v. State, 848 So.2d 1167 (Fla. 2d DCA), review granted, 859 So.2d 514 (Fla.2003), the state sought to have the defendant declared a sexual predator several months after he was sentenced. When the trial court subsequently entered the order designating him a sexual predator, the defendant appealed and the state argued that the court did not have jurisdiction to hear the appeal since the time to appeal the sentence and conviction had expired. The Second District Court rejected that argument and held:
The State has argued that this court lacks jurisdiction to review the order designating Mr. Milks a sexually violent predator because it was entered months after Mr. Milks entered a plea to the charges against him. See Coblentz v. State, 775 So.2d 359, 360 (Fla. 2d DCA 2000). We conclude that we have jurisdiction in this direct appeal of the trial court‘s order to review whether the sexual predator designation violates constitutional principles of separation of powers or procedural due process either pursuant to Florida Rule of Appellate Procedure 9.140(b)(1)(D) or by way of certiorari.
Id. at 1168 n. 1 (citation omitted). Another analogous case is Walker v. State, 718 So.2d 217 (Fla. 4th DCA 1998), wherein the defendant was designated a sexual predator after he was sentenced. The court upheld the designation and stated:
The sexual predator designation “is neither a sentence nor a punishment but simply a status resulting from the conviction of certain crimes.” Fletcher v. State, 699 So.2d 346, 347 (Fla. 5th DCA 1997). Section 775.21(4)(b)2, Florida Statutes (Supp.1996), like section 775.21(4)(a)2, allows trial courts to designate offenders who committed their current offenses between October 1, 1995, and October 1, 1996, as sexual predators after they have been sentenced for the current offense. See Collie v. State, 710 So.2d 1000 (Fla. 2d DCA 1998).
Id. at 218.
To be illegal within the meaning of rule 3.800(a) the sentence must impose a kind of punishment that no judge under the entire body of sentencing statutes could possibly inflict under any set of factual circumstances. On the other hand, if it is possible under all the sentencing statutes—given a specific set of facts—to impose a particular sentence, then the sentence will not be illegal within rule 3.800(a) even though the judge erred in imposing it.
Id. at 1178 (quoting Blakley v. State, 746 So.2d 1182, 1186-87 (Fla. 4th DCA 1999)). A sexual predator designation is not a punishment and therefore does not fit within this definition.