Stephen Michael PATE, Appellant,
v.
STATE of Florida, Appellee.
District Court of Appeal of Florida, Second District.
*614 WHATLEY, Judge.
Stephen Michael Pate ("Pate") appeals the denial of his motion to correct illegal sentence. By order dated November 12, 2004, without notice to the State, the circuit court originally granted the motion and reduced Pate's concurrent forty-year sentences to twenty-seven years and ordered his immediate release. On November 19, 2004, following the State's oral motion, the circuit court issued an order staying its order of November 12, 2004, and on January 10, 2005, that court issued a second order denying the motion to correct sentence by which it reinstated the forty-year sentences. On appeal, Pate correctly argues that the stay order of November 19, 2004, and the order of January 10, 2005, violated the constitutional protection against double jeopardy. We reverse.
"Once a sentence has been imposed and the person begins to serve the sentence, that sentence may not be increased without running afoul of double jeopardy principles." Ashley v. State,
While the State's lack of notice and opportunity to be heard with respect to the November 12, 2004, resentencing constituted reversible error reviewable by certiorari or appeal, see State v. Hohl,
Accordingly, the order of January 10, 2005, denying Pate's motion to correct sentence, is reversed; the order of November 12, 2004, is reinstated, and Pate shall be released.
Reversed.
ALTENBERND and CASANUEVA, JJ., Concur.
