Daniels v. State

Apr 15, 1991
90-746
Reporters:
,
Before:
Wigginton, Miner, Wolf (per curiam)

PER CURIAM.

Appellant Daniels asserts that the trial ‍‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‍court erred: (1) in imposing three consecutive 15-year minimum mandatory sentences for offenses which arose from the same incident; (2) in denying his motions for judgment of aquittal; and (3) in permitting improper comments in the presence of ‍‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‍the jury. We AFFIRM each of the three points raised but certify the following question, on the first point, as one of great public importance:

GIVEN THE LEGISLATIVE INTENT UNDERLYING CHAPTER 88-131, LAWS OF FLORIDA, AND THE COURT‘S DECISIONS ‍‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‍IN STATE V. ENMUND, 476 So.2d 165 (FLA. 1985), AND STATE V. BOATWRIGHT, 559 So.2d 210 (FLA. 1990), DOES A TRIAL JUDGE HAVE THE DISCRETION, UNDER SECTIONS 775.021(4) AND 775.084, FLORIDA STATUTES (SUPP. 1988), TO IMPOSE CONSECUTIVE LIFE TERMS, EACH WITH A FIFTEEN YEAR MINIMUM ‍‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‍MANDATORY TERM OF INCARCERATION, FOR FIRST DEGREE FELONIES COMMITTED BY AN HABITUAL VIOLENT FELONY OFFENDER?

WIGGINTON, MINER and WOLF, JJ., concur.