THE STATE OF FLORIDA, APPELLANT,
v.
DAN PARRISH, APPELLEE
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The State appealed a trial court's downward departure from sentencing guidelines in sentencing a defendant who violated probation and committed new crimes. The appellate court reversed, holding that while drug rehabilitation may be considered, it should be in addition to—not instead of—a guideline-range sentence, particularly given the defendant's escalating criminal activity.
A trial court abuses its discretion when it deviates downward from sentencing guidelines by imposing drug rehabilitation in lieu of a guideline-range prison sentence. Drug rehabilitation should be imposed in addition to, not instead of, a guideline-range sentence, especially where the defendant demonstrates escalating criminal activity.
[1] A trial court may revoke probation and sentence a defendant to a term in prison exceeding the original bargain when the defendant violates the terms of probation entered…
[2] A downward departure sentence is inappropriate when a defendant's escalating criminal activity warrants a sentence within the guidelines range.
Previewing 2 of 4 headnotes on this case. FLexlaw’s editorially structured points of law — every proposition, pinpointed — are reserved for members.
Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligence“when a defendant violates the terms of his probation on which he was placed pursuant to a plea bargain, a trial court may revoke that probation and sentence the defendant to a term in prison in excess of the provisions of the original bargain”
Establishes that probation violations can result in sentences exceeding the original plea bargain
Previewing 1 of 3 key quotes on this case — the court’s exact language, pinpointed for members.
Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceDefendant Parrish plea-bargained a manslaughter charge and received 366 days imprisonment plus ten years probation (within the 7-12 year guideline ran…
The full statement of facts, procedural history, and disposition for this case are member content.
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PER CURIAM.
The State of Florida appeals the trial court’s downward departure from the sentencing guidelines in sentencing the defendant, Dan Parrish. We agree with the State’s position and reverse.
Originally, defendant plea bargained a manslaughter charge and was sentenced to 366 days imprisonment followed by ten years probation. The maximum guidelines sentence was seven to twelve years imprisonment. While on his second year of probation, defendant was charged by information with grand theft, resisting without violence, and burglary. After his arrest, an affidavit of violation of probation was filed and the trial court ordered a TASC drug evaluation, to test the defendant for substance abuse.
The sentencing hearing included both the case for the probation violation as well as the case involving the new substantive charges. Defendant pled guilty to the probation violation and no contest to the charges in the information, and the trial court adjudicated him guilty of all charges in both cases. Over the State’s objection, the trial court then sentenced defendant to 364 days in county jail, with no credit for time served, and early termination upon a successful completion of a drug rehabilitation program. The maximum guidelines sentence for the probation violation alone was seventeen years imprisonment. The court noted on the record that the drug evaluation supported the guidelines deviation. See § 397.12, Fla.Stat. (1989).
First, we observe that when a defendant violates the terms of his probation on which he was placed pursuant to a plea bargain, a trial court may revoke that probation and sentence the defendant to a term in prison in excess of the provisions of the original bargain. Bilyou v. State, 404 So. 2d 744, 746 (Fla.1981); State v. Segarra, 388 So,2d 1017, 1018 (Fla.1980).
Second, we agree with the State’s position that the downward departure sentence for the probation violation and new substantive offenses constituted an inappropriate deviation. A mechanical application of Scates v. State, 603 So. 2d 504 (Fla.1992), may support the defendant’s contention that the downward departure was appropriate because of the drug evaluation. However, an analysis of Scates and the underlying statutes upon which the supreme court based its decision, discloses that the Legislature intended trial courts to have discretion to tailor sentences based on drug evaluations “for individuals capable of rehabilitation ... in lieu of, or in addition to, imposition of criminal penalties.” 603 So. 2d at 505 (quoting § 397.10, Fla. Stat. (1989)). Here, we find the trial court abused its discretion in referring the defendant to a drug rehabilitation program in lieu of a prison sentence within the guidelines range, especially in light of the defendant’s escalating criminal activity, and that the rehabilitation should have been in addition to a sentence within the guidelines.
For the foregoing reasons, we reverse and remand for resentencing within the guidelines.
Cases With Similar Vibessemantic neighbors from the corpus
Citator
Cited By
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Echols v. State, 660 So. 2d 782 (Fla. 4th DCA 1995)…nt violates the terms of his probation on which he was placed pursuant to a plea bargain, the trial court may revoke the probation and sentence the defendant to a term in prison in excess of the provisions of the original bargain); State v. Parrish, 616 So. 2d 1135 (Fla. 3d DCA 1993). [*786] Appellant additionally asserts error in the trial court’s award of 161 days credit for county jail time served “between the date of arrest as a violator and date of resentenc-ing.”3 Appellant claims entitlement to 241 days…
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Landeverde v. State, 769 So. 2d 457 (Fla. 4th DCA 2000)…he offender into community control.” § 948.06(1), Fla. Stat. (1997). This is so even when a defendant violates terms of probation on which he or she was placed pursuant to a plea bargain. Bilyou v. State, 404 So. 2d 744 (Fla.1981); State v. Parrish, 616 So. 2d 1135 (Fla. 3d DCA 1993). When sentencing a defendant after revocation of probation or community control, a trial court may, under certain circumstances, consider new facts relevant to the underlying offense that were not previously considered by the cou…
Authorities Cited
- Carrick A. Scates v. State, 603 So. 2d 504 (Fla. 1992)
- State v. Segarra, 388 So. 2d 1017 (Fla. 1980)
- Bilyou v. State, 404 So. 2d 744 (Fla. 1981)