State v. Barr, 947 So. 2d 1277

ROTHENBERG, Judge.

In this consolidated appeal, The State of Florida (“State“) ‍​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​​​​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‍appeals the downward departure sentences imposed by the trial court, over State objection, in case numbers F04-37885 and F05-14. As the record reflects that the trial court failed to provide any reasons for its downward departure from the sentencing guidelines, either in writing or by ‍​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​​​​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‍orally pronouncing its reasons at sentencing, we reverse. See State v. Payne, 684 So.2d 863, 864 (Fla. 2d DCA 1996)(holding that when a trial court enters a downward departure from the sentencing guidelines, it must provide valid written reasons for doing so); State v. Sherrill, State v. Sherrill, 678 So.2d ‍​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​​​​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‍7, 7 (Fla. 3d DCA 1996)(same); see also Pease v. State, 712 So.2d 374, 376-77 (Fla.1997)(holding that failure to provide valid written reasons for entering a departure downward from the sentencing guidelines may be affirmed if the trial court orally pronounces a valid basis for the sentence ‍​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​​​​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‍on the record).

Upon remand, the defendant may elect to withdraw his plea or be sentenced within the recommended sentencing guidelines.

Reversed and remanded.

Case Details

Case Name: State v. Barr

Court Name: District Court of Appeal of Florida

Date Published: Feb 7, 2007

Citations: 947 So. 2d 1277; 3D06-1439, 3D06-1437

Docket Number: 3D06-1439, 3D06-1437

Court Abbreviation: Fla. Dist. Ct. App.