midpage

Nixon v. StateNixon v. State

District Court of Appeal of Florida
Mar 3, 2006
5D05-3766
Reporters:
,
Before:
Palmer, Griffin, Monaco

PALMER, J.

Donald Nixon filed a petition seeking a belated appeal, alleging under oath that he had requested his trial counsel to pursue a direct appeal but no appeal was filed. ‍‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‍The State contacted trial counsel, who stated that Nixon did not ask him to file an appeal. Since there were “disputed facts“, this court appointed a commissioner to hold a hearing and resolve the facts.

According to the commissioner‘s report and recommendation, Nixon testified at the hearing that he never requested ‍‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‍that his counsel file a notice of appeal on his behalf. Accordingly, the commissioner recommended that the instant petition for belated appeal be denied.

Based upon the commissioner‘s recommendation, we deny Nixon‘s petition for belated appeal. In light of the assertion made by Nixon in his petition, under penalty of ‍‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‍perjury, that he had requested his trial counsel to pursue an appeal, we direct that a certified copy of this opinion be forwarded to the appropriate institution, pursuant to section 944.279(1) of the Florida Statutes (2004), which subjects a prisoner to disciplinary procedures if he knowingly or with reckless ‍‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‍disregard for the truth brings false information or evidence before the court. See Miller v. State, 917 So.2d 261 (Fla. 5th DCA 2005).

PETITION DENIED.

GRIFFIN and MONACO, JJ., concur.

Case Details

Case Name: Nixon v. State
Court Name: District Court of Appeal of Florida
Date Published: Mar 3, 2006
Citations: 921 So. 2d 819; 2006 WL 504060; 5D05-3766
Docket Number: 5D05-3766
Court Abbreviation: Fla. Dist. Ct. App.
Log In