Chad Pifer appeals an order denying his claims for postconviction relief. He also challenges his resentencing on remand.
1
We affirm, but we write to address an issue that was raised in the trial court by way of a motion to correct a sentencing error pursuant to Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.800(b)(2). The issue involves Pifer’s resentencing, on remand, by a suc
In December 2005, Pifer entered a plea in eighteen separate cases involving burglary, dealing in stolen property, grand theft, possession of paraphernalia, and resisting arrest without violence. Pifer was adjudicated guilty and sentenced. The judgments and sentences were affirmed on appeal.
Pifer v. State,
In February 2008, Pifer filed a motion to correct illegal sentence, which was summarily denied. Pifer appealed the summary denial of his motion, and this court reversed and remanded for reconsideration.
Pifer v. State,
This appeal ensued. During the pen-dency of this appeal, Pifer filed a motion to correct sentencing error pursuant to rule 8.800(b)(2). In the motion, Pifer did not assert a specific error in the corrected sentencing order that was entered on remand. Rather, Pifer challenged only the fact that he was resentenced by a successor judge without the showing of necessity required by Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.700(c)(1). The judge who resen-tenced Pifer denied his rule 3.800(b)(2) motion in a lengthy order explaining that she had more recent familiarity with Pi-fer’s cases than did the judge who original ly sentenced Pifer and that Pifer had an opportunity to object before resentencing but failed to do so.
On appeal, Pifer argues that the post-conviction court erred in denying the ore tenus motion to withdraw plea and also that he must be afforded a new sentencing hearing because he was resentenced by a successor judge without a showing that a substitution of judges was necessary. We affirm the denial of the motion to withdraw plea without further discussion.
We also affirm on the issue concerning Pifer’s resentencing by a successor judge. Our decision on this issue turns on whether resentencing by the successor judge is a sentencing error as contemplated by rule 3.800(b)(2). Although Pifer raised this issue in a rule 3.800(b)(2) motion, he did not contemporaneously object to resentencing by the successor judge. In fact, during the resentencing hearing the judge asked all the attorneys if they wanted to make any additional arguments concerning resentencing and asked Pifer if he wished to say anything before she pronounced the sentence, and neither defense counsel nor Pifer expressed any concern about the successor judge presiding over resentencing.
If resentencing by á successor judge without a showing of necessity is a “sentencing error,” the error can be preserved by a rule 3.800(b)(2) motion. If it is not, absent a proper objection,'this court may
Explaining that. “[a]ppellate courts have disagreed on what kind of errors constitute ‘sentencing errors’ subject to [rule 3.800(b) ],” the supreme court has provided a framework for determining whether a particular error constitutes a sentencing error.
Jackson v. State,
Here, the resentencing by a successor judge without a showing of necessity,
if
error at all, was an error in the sentencing process, not in the sentencing order. As such, Pifer’s rule 3.800(b)(2) motion could not preserve this claim of error. It can be reviewed only for fundamental error.
See Jackson,
“‘[F]or an error to be so fundamental that it can be raised for the first time on appeal, the error must be basic to the judicial decision under review and equivalent to a denial of due process.’”
Hopkins v. State,
We thus affirm on this issue because we find that Pifer did not adequately preserve this issue and fundamental error did not occur.
In reaching this conclusion, we are mindful that this court has previously considered such a claim cognizable under rule 3.800(b)(2).
See Boyd v. State,
Affirmed.
Notes
.
Pifer v. State,
. This motion concerned the sentence imposed in only one of the eighteen cases (case number 2005-CF-2488).
