Fields v. State, 377 So. 2d 223

PER CURIAM.

On this appeal from a judgment of conviction on a charge of robbery, to which the appellant, a juvenile offender, pleaded nolo contendere while reserving the right to appeal, we are concerned with the admissibility in evidence of confessions and admissions obtained, after Miranda warnings were given, during appellant‘s detention for approximately four hours from the time he was taken downtown for “questioning,” until his ultimate delivery to the intake officer of a juvenile detention center. During this time no attempt was made to notify the appellant‘s parents.

Section 39.03(3)(a), Fla. Stat., relating to juveniles, requires that “[i]f the person taking the child into custody determines ... that the child should be detained ... he shall immediately notify the parents ... and shall, without unreasonable delay, deliver the child to the appropriate intake officer... .” The interrogating officers in the present case were thus charged with an affirmative duty to immediately notify the appellant‘s parents. The appellant‘s confessions and admissions are rendered inadmissible by the officers’ failure to comply with § 39.03(3)(a), Fla. Stat., and the trial judge should have granted the appellant‘s motion to suppress such confessions and admissions. J.E.S. v. State, 366 So.2d 538 (1 DCA 1979); Dowst v. State, 336 So.2d 375 (1 DCA 1976); Weatherspoon v. State, 328 So.2d 875 (1 DCA 1976). Contra, Doerr v. State, 348 So.2d 938 (2 DCA 1977).

Accordingly, the judgment and sentence are reversed, and the case is remanded for further proceedings.

LARRY G. SMITH, Acting C.J., and SHAW and WENTWORTH, JJ., concur.

Case Details

Case Name: Fields v. State

Court Name: District Court of Appeal of Florida

Date Published: Nov 14, 1979

Citations: 377 So. 2d 223; NN-228

Docket Number: NN-228

Court Abbreviation: Fla. Dist. Ct. App.