Smith v. StateSmith v. State
Smith appeals his convictions and sentences for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill1 and possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony (specifically, the aggravated assault charge).2 He was sentenced to two concurrent three-year terms of imprisonment. We affirm the firearm conviction, reverse the aggravated assault conviction and sentence, and remand for resentencing on the firearm offense.
The record establishes that on April 5, 1987 Smith drove to a gas station and entered a store. After leaving the store, he walked up to the victim, pulled out a gun, and held it at the victim‘s side or arm. He spoke to the victim for approximately five minutes, and then got back into his car and drove away. The two criminal charges relate to the same five-minute interval during which Smith held a gun on the victim. The aggravated assault conviction was established by proof that Smith pointed a firearm at the victim. The use of a firearm in the commission of a felony conviction encompasses solely the same assault with the gun.
One of the two convictions must be vacated because multiple convictions in this case violate
In Missouri v. Hunter, 459 U.S. 359, 103 S.Ct. 673, 74 L.Ed.2d 535 (1983), the Court held that the federal double jeopardy provision does not prevent multiple punishments for the same offense in the context of a single trial, if the state legislature or Congress expressly authorizes it. One implication of language used by the Court in Missouri v. Hunter is that if a legislature does not expressly authorize multiple punishments for the same crime in a single trial setting, the federal double jeopardy provision will bar it.3 However, such a case involving state law has yet to be decided. In Missouri v. Hunter, express intent for multiple punishments was found, and the United States double jeopardy provision was held inapplicable:
We are not bound by the Missouri Supreme Court‘s legal conclusion that these two statutes violate the double jeopardy clause, and we reject its legal conclusion.
459 U.S. at 369, 103 S.Ct. at 673.
In Florida the state legislature has expressly stated it intends to apply a Blockburger
Carawan‘s principle of lenity was subsequently rejected by the Florida legislature when it enacted section 7, Chapter 88-131, Laws of Florida. But this amendment does not apply to offenses committed prior to its July 1, 1988 effective date.4 The offenses in this case predate the statutory amendment. Thus Carawan and section 775.021(4) bar conviction for both offenses in this case.5 Even if the amendment were applicable to this case, the strict Blockburger test would bar conviction and punishment for both crimes.
The next question to be resolved is which is the “lesser sentence” or “lesser crime” to be reversed. See State v. Barton, 523 So.2d 152, 153 (Fla. 1988). Possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony is a second degree felony for which the potential maximum term of imprisonment cannot exceed fifteen years. Aggravated assault is a third degree felony for which the potential maximum term of imprisonment is five years. See
Under these circumstances, the aggravated assault conviction should be vacated because it is the lesser “degree” crime. This is because under the possession count Smith could have been sentenced up to a term of fifteen years, if the guidelines so permitted or if reasons for departure existed. Whereas five years is the statutory maximum for the aggravated assault crime. This is the generally accepted method of distinguishing the greater from the lesser crime in a Carawan situation. In Isaac v. State, 134 So.2d 38, 39 (Fla. 2d DCA 1961), overruled on other grounds, Skov v. State, 292 So.2d 64 (Fla. 2d DCA), cert. denied, 298 So.2d 165 (Fla. 1974), the court stated: “The character of the offense is determined by the nature of the punishment; the maximum punishment to which accused is liable to be subjected is the test by which the degree of the crime must be determined.” (emphasis supplied)
This dilemma was also addressed by our sister court in Gibbons v. State, 540 So.2d 144, 145 (Fla. 4th DCA 1989). The state argued that the “nature of the punishment” imposed for the two crimes should be taken into account in determining which is the lesser offense in applying the analysis set forth in Barton. The Fourth District rejected this view, holding that the “appropriate yardstick is the offense, not the punishment.” In his dissent, Judge Stone disagreed:
Notwithstanding the wording in Barton, there is no reason why the trial judge, at the state‘s request, should not be allowed to impose judgment on the count that would result in the defendant receiving the toughest sentence. Nor is there any reason to allow the defendant to benefit from the lesser sentence simply because one of the two convictions cannot stand under Carawan.
Gibbons, 540 So.2d at 146. While we sympathize with Judge Stone‘s viewpoint, we believe that the supreme court‘s language
WHEN ONE OF TWO CONVICTIONS MUST BE REVERSED UNDER SECTION 775.021(4), SHOULD THE TRIAL COURT IMPOSE JUDGMENT ON THE COUNT THAT WOULD RESULT IN THE DEFENDANT RECEIVING THE LONGEST OR MOST SEVERE SENTENCE UNDER THE GUIDELINES OR OTHER APPLICABLE STATUTES (WITHOUT REGARD TO A POSSIBLE DEPARTURE SENTENCE) RATHER THAN THE LESSER DEGREE CRIME, WHICH CARRIES THE LEAST STATUTORY MAXIMUM SENTENCE?
Accordingly, we affirm Smith‘s conviction for possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony and we reverse his conviction and sentence for aggravated assault. Because the aggravated assault conviction is vacated and it was calculated in the scoresheet used at sentencing, we remand for resentencing on the conviction for possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony.
AFFIRMED in part; REVERSED in part; and REMANDED.
COBB, J., concurs in result; concurs with certification of question to supreme court.
COWART, J., dissents with opinion.
COWART, Judge, dissenting.
At one place the defendant pointed one gun one time at one person. Based on this one nuclear indivisible act, the defendant was convicted and sentenced for two offenses: (1) aggravated assault with a firearm (
The defendant‘s conviction for the ancillary1 offense of use of a firearm in the commission of a felony (
SUPREME COURT:
Hall v. State, 517 So.2d 678 (Fla. 1988).
FIFTH DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL:2
Kelly v. State, 14 F.L.W. 1678 (Fla. 5th DCA July 13, 1989); Curry v. State, 539 So.2d 573 (Fla. 5th DCA 1989); Brown v. State, 538 So.2d 116 (Fla. 5th DCA 1989), rev. denied, 545 So.2d 1366 (Fla. 1989); Crayton v. State, 536 So.2d 399 (Fla. 5th DCA 1989); Willingham v. State, 535 So.2d 718 (Fla. 5th DCA 1989); Neal v. State, 527 So.2d 966 (Fla. 5th DCA 1988); Cardwell v. State, 525 So.2d 1025 (Fla. 5th DCA 1988); Wright v. State, 519 So.2d 1157 (Fla. 5th DCA 1988).
FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL:3
Hammonds v. State, 14 F.L.W. 1793 (Fla. 1st DCA Aug. 2, 1989; Musico v. State, 545 So.2d 964 (Fla. 1st DCA 1989); Grantham v. State, 545 So.2d 945 (Fla. 1st DCA 1989); Vance v. State, 545 So.2d 398 (Fla. 1st DCA 1989); Kelley v. State, 543 So.2d 286 (Fla. 1st DCA 1989); Payne v. State, 538 So.2d 1302 (Fla. 1st DCA 1989), jurisdiction accepted, 544 So.2d 201 (Fla. 1989); Ellison v. State, 538 So.2d 90 (Fla. 1st DCA 1989); Denmark v. State, 538 So.2d 68 (Fla. 1st DCA 1989), rehearing denied, 544 So.2d 266 (Fla. 1st DCA 1989); Heath v. State, 532 So.2d 9 (Fla. 1st DCA 1988), rev. denied, 541 So.2d 1173 (Fla. 1989); Hartley v. State, 531 So.2d 990 (Fla. 1st DCA 1988); Neal v. State, 531 So.2d 410 (Fla. 1st DCA 1988); Rose v. State, 530 So.2d 401 (Fla. 1st DCA 1988); Hogan v. State, 529 So.2d 1127 (Fla. 1st DCA 1988); Middleton v. State, 529 So.2d 357 (Fla. 1st DCA 1988); cause dismissed, 534 So.2d 401 (Fla. 1988); Payne v. State, 528 So.2d 546 (Fla. 1st DCA 1988); Larry v. State, 527 So.2d 883 (Fla. 1st DCA 1988); Bradshaw v. State, 528 So.2d 473 (Fla. 1st DCA 1988); Burgess v. State, 524 So.2d 1132 (Fla. 1st DCA 1988); Cooper v. State, 524 So.2d 738 (Fla. 1st DCA 1988); McKinnon v. State, 523 So.2d 1238 (Fla. 1st DCA 1988), quashed, 540 So.2d 111 (Fla. 1989).
SECOND DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL:
Emmons v. State, 546 So.2d 69 (Fla. 2d DCA 1989); Green v. State, 545 So.2d 359 (Fla. 2d DCA 1989); Marion v. State, 526 So.2d 1077 (Fla. 2d DCA 1988).
THIRD DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL:
Dixon v. State, 546 So.2d 1194 (Fla. 3d DCA 1989); Ambroa v. State, 547 So.2d 294 (Fla. 3d DCA 1989); Sands v. State, 547 So.2d 293 (Fla. 3d DCA 1989); State v. Finney, 550 So.2d 1141 (Fla. 3d DCA 1989); Joseph v. State, 547 So.2d 249 (Fla. 3d DCA 1989); Jones v. State, 546 So.2d 126 (Fla. 3d DCA 1989); Holsey v. State, 544 So.2d 342 (Fla. 3d DCA 1989); Gonzalez v. State, 543 So.2d 386 (Fla. 2d DCA 1989); Morales v. State, 541 So.2d 1289 (Fla. 3d DCA 1989); Anderson v. State, 541 So.2d 797 (Fla. 3d DCA 1989); Mozqueda v. State, 541 So.2d 777 (Fla. 3d DCA 1989); Ahlberg v. State, 541 So.2d 775 (Fla. 3d DCA 1989); Dowding v. State, 541 So.2d 771 (Fla. 3d DCA 1989); Barnes v. State, 541 So.2d 166 (Fla. 3d DCA 1989); Tundidor v. State, 541 So.2d 165 (Fla. 3d DCA 1989); Bouie v. State, 540 So.2d 925 (Fla. 3d DCA 1989); Sarduy v. State, 540 So.2d 203 (Fla. 3d DCA 1989); Smith v. State, 539 So.2d 601 (Fla. 3d DCA 1989); Williams v. State, 539 So.2d 35 (Fla. 3d DCA 1989); Jean v. State, 538 So.2d 153 (Fla. 3d DCA 1989); Hurd v. State, 536 So.2d 361 (Fla. 3d DCA 1988); Pastor v. State, 536 So.2d 356 (Fla. 3d DCA 1988), jurisdiction accepted, 545 So.2d 869 (Fla. 1989); Viera v. State, 532 So.2d 743 (Fla. 3d DCA 1988), rev. denied, 542 So.2d 991 (Fla. 1989); Anderson v. State, 530 So.2d 1104 (Fla. 3d DCA 1988); Monsanto v. State, 530 So.2d 952 (Fla. 3d DCA 1988); Perez v. State, 528 So.2d 129 (Fla. 3d DCA 1988); Evans v. State, 528 So.2d 125 (Fla. 3d DCA 1988); Torres v. State, 527 So.2d 272 (Fla. 3d DCA 1988), rev. denied, 536 So.2d 246 (Fla. 1988); Henderson v. State, 526 So.2d 743 (Fla. 3d DCA 1988).
FOURTH DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL:
Higgins v. State, 545 So.2d 973 (Fla. 4th DCA 1989); Williams v. State, 546 So.2d 1120 (Fla. 4th DCA 1989); Gunn v. State, 546 So.2d 115 (Fla. 4th DCA 1989); Wright v. State, 546 So.2d 96 (Fla. 4th DCA 1989); Mitchell v. State, 543 So.2d 292 (Fla. 4th DCA 1989); Peterson v. State, 542 So.2d 417 (Fla. 4th DCA 1989); Cherry v. State, 540 So.2d 146 (Fla. 4th DCA 1989); Prescott v. State, 529 So.2d 302 (Fla. 4th DCA 1988); Sapp v. State, 522 So.2d 1006 (Fla. 4th DCA 1988).
Reaching the conclusion that the defendant in this case cannot be convicted of both the underlying felony offense of aggravated assault with a firearm (
If the legislature made petit theft a first degree felony punishable by thirty years confinement under
There are many unclassified, uncharted, and little understood relationships between
This is a classic aggravated assault case in which a defendant threatens another person with a deadly weapon. The punishment for the misdemeanor threat (assault) (
As the sentence in this case was based on a guidelines sentence scoresheet scoring both convictions, not only should the conviction for the ancillary firearms offense (
Notes
[S]imply because two criminal statutes may be construed to proscribe the same conduct under the Blockburger test does not mean that the double jeopardy clause precludes the imposition in a single trial, of cumulative punishments pursuant to those statutes. The rule of statutory construction noted in Whalen [v. United States, 445 U.S. 684, 100 S.Ct. 1432, 63 L.Ed.2d 715 (1980)] is not a constitutional rule requiring courts to negate clearly expressed legislative intent. Thus far, we have utilized that rule only to limit a federal court‘s power to impose convictions and punishments when the will of Congress is not clear. Here, the Missouri Legislature has made its intent crystal clear. Legislatures, not courts, prescribe the scope of punishments.
Where as here, a legislature specifically authorizes cumulative punishment under two statutes, regardless of whether those two statutes proscribe the `same’ conduct under Blockburger, a court‘s task of statutory construction is at an end and the prosecutor may seek and the trial court or jury may impose cumulative punishment under such statutes in a single trial.
But see: Harper v. State, 537 So.2d 1131 (Fla. 1st DCA 1989).The double jeopardy issue [under the state constitution] has not been raised in any case in which the legislature clearly, unambiguously and precisely stated an intent to punish the exact offense under separate statutory provisions and we do not reach this question today.
515 So.2d at 164. Similarly, we do not reach any state constitutional issue in this case.
As has often been pointed out in the past, the vexatious legal problem in this case, the 68 cases cited above, hundreds of other cases and cases that will be considered in the future could be easily eliminated if the legislature would merely repeal section 790.07 which attempts to make the use of a weapon or firearm in the commission of a felony a separate criminal offense and make the “use of a weapon or firearm” as an aggravating factor to enhance the punishment for the underlying felony. See Bradley v. State, 540 So.2d 185, 186-187 (Fla. 5th DCA 1989); and the separate opinions in Flarity v. State, 527 So.2d 295, 298 (Fla. 5th DCA 1988); Bing v. State, 492 So.2d 833, 836 (Fla. 5th DCA 1986); Gotthardt v. State, 475 So.2d 281, 284 (Fla. 5th DCA 1985); O‘Brien v. State, 454 So.2d 675, 679 (Fla. 5th DCA 1984).