State v. HudsonState v. Hudson
We have for review Hudson v. State, 682 So.2d 657 (Fla. 3d DCA 1996), which expressly and directly conflicts with the opinions in White v. State, 618 So.2d 354 (Fla. 1st DCA 1993), Sims v. State, 605 So.2d 997 (Fla. 2d DCA 1992), and Martin v. State, 608 So.2d 571 (Fla. 5th DCA 1992), on the issue of whether the imposition of minimum mandatory terms under the habitual offender statute is permissive or mandatory. We have jurisdiction pursuant to
Jimmy Hudson was charged by information with armed robbery, aggravated battery, and grand theft. The State filed a notice of its intent to seek an enhanced penalty under Florida‘s habitual offender statute. Hudson entered a written plea agreement whereby the State would nolle prosequi the aggravated battery and grand theft charges and Hudson agreed to plead guilty to armed robbery in exchange for a twelve-year sentence should he be found to qualify as an habitual violent felony offender. After hearing testimony and argument of counsel and reviewing the presentence investigation report and certified copies of Hudson‘s prior judgments and sentences, the court ordered that Hudson be sentenced as an habitual violent felony offender and sentenced him to twelve years in prison.
There was no mention of a minimum mandatory sentence in the written plea agreement, at the sentencing colloquy, or in the sentencing documents. After Hudson began serving his sentence, the Department of Corrections wrote to the trial judge and stated that although the sentencing documents did not refer to a mandatory term, they had set up Hudson‘s record to show a twelve-year mandatory sentence pursuant to the habitual offender statute. The trial court held a hearing regarding the letter. Hudson stated that he did not want to vacate his plea; the State recommended that the sentence stay as ordered. The court remanded Hudson to the Department of Corrections under the terms of the bargained sentence.
Hudson subsequently filed a motion to correct illegal sentence, alleging that the trial court improperly amended his sentence to add a minimum mandatory term pursuant to the habitual violent felony offender statute.1 The judge ruled that the sentence previously imposed would remain in effect and denied the motion to correct the sentence.
Hudson appealed to the Third District Court of Appeal, which found that the trial court had never imposed a minimum mandatory provision and affirmed the trial court‘s ruling. Hudson, 682 So.2d at 658. However, the district court noted that the affirmance was without prejudice to Hudson to challenge the sentence again should the Department of Corrections seek to enforce a mandatory term. Id. The district court also stated that the sentence was not illegal because the imposition of minimum mandatory terms under the habitual offender statute is permissive, not mandatory. In a footnote, the district court recognized conflict on this point with the decisions in White, Sims, and Martin. The district court further noted that the Fourth District Court of Appeal has also held that the imposition of mandatory minimum terms is discretionary. See Green v. State, 615 So.2d 823 (Fla. 4th DCA 1993). The State sought review by this Court based upon express and direct conflict.
This Court has repeatedly held that sentencing under the habitual offender statute is permissive, not mandatory. Walsingham v. State, 602 So.2d 1297 (Fla.1992); Burdick v. State, 594 So.2d 267 (Fla.1992). This discretion extends to sentencing under both
In White, one of the conflict cases cited by the district court in the instant case, the First District Court of Appeal acknowledged the holding in Burdick and its applicability to
We do not agree with the interpretation imposed by the conflict cases. In Burdick, we explained that even though
As we explained in Burdick, “[i]t is a well-established rule of statutory construction that when a statute is reenacted, the judicial construction previously placed on the statute is presumed to have been adopted in the reenactment.” Id. at 271. Thus, the legislature has at least tacitly approved the Court‘s interpretation of
Clearly a court has discretion to choose whether a defendant will be sentenced as an habitual felony offender. Consistent with Burdick and its progeny, we conclude that the court‘s sentencing discretion extends to determining whether to impose a mandatory minimum term. Cf. State v. Eason, 592 So.2d 676 (Fla.1992) (rejecting State‘s argument that trial court was required to sentence habitual violent felony offender to life term without eligibility for release for fifteen years; approving sentence of twenty-five years imposed by trial court and affirmed by district court).
Accordingly, we approve the decision below and disapprove the conflict cases to the extent they are inconsistent with this opinion.
It is so ordered.
KOGAN, C.J., and OVERTON, SHAW and ANSTEAD, JJ., concur.
WELLS, J., dissents with an opinion, in which GRIMES, J., concurs.
WELLS, Justice, dissenting.
I must dissent because I can find no logical basis for simply eliminating by judicial fiat the plain language of
The majority cites to Burdick v. State, 594 So.2d 267 (Fla.1992), in which this Court converted “shall” to “may” in
However, it cannot reasonably be deduced from Burdick that this Court should rewrite
1. In the case of a life felony, or a felony of the first degree, for life, and such offender shall not be eligible for release for 15 years.
2. In the case of a felony of the second degree, for a term of years not exceeding 30, and such offender shall not be eligible for release for 10 years.
3. In the case of a felony of the third degree, for a term of years not exceeding 10, and such offender shall not be eligible for release for 5 years.
Noting the lack of minimum mandatory provisions in the habitual felony offender provisions in
section 775.084(4)(a)(1) -(3), we believe our interpretation of the minimum mandatory provisions in the habitual violent felony offender statute,section 775.084(4)(b)(1) through (4)(b)(3), as being, in fact, mandatory, is consistent with the legislative intent to distinguish habitual offenders from habitual violent offenders and to further enhance the latter‘s sentences.
Judge Mickle, writing for the First District, is undoubtedly on point as to legislative intent. I believe the legislature should state this at its next session, in view of the majority‘s opinion.