COLLIN CHRISTIE, APPELLANT,
v.
STATE OF FLORIDA, APPELLEE

Fla. 1st DCA | 1999-06-30
No. 98-4239
ERVIN and WOLF, JJ.,' CONCUR.
737 So. 2d 1157 Florida District Court of Appeal, First District (1999) Positive Treatment
Cited by 6 cases

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Synopsis

Collin Christie appealed the denial of his motion for postconviction relief under Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.850, raising four claims including inadequate jury trial waiver inquiry, ineffective assistance of counsel, and illegal sentences. The appellate court affirmed dismissal of the jury waiver claims but reversed and remanded the claims regarding ineffective counsel preventing testimony and illegal sentences for further proceedings.


Holding

The court affirmed dismissal of the jury trial waiver claims but reversed as to the ineffective counsel claim regarding prevented testimony and the illegal sentence claim, finding both legally sufficient and not refuted by the trial court's order, thus requiring remand for further proceedings.


Headnotes

[1] A claim that the trial court failed to conduct an adequate inquiry before accepting a waiver of the right to a jury trial should be raised on direct appeal, not in a moti…

[2] An ineffective assistance of counsel claim based on inadequate advice regarding waiver of the right to a jury trial is legally insufficient if it does not allege facts de…

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Key Quotes

“The claim that the trial court failed to conduct an adequate inquiry should have been raised on direct appeal.”

Establishes that inadequate jury trial waiver inquiry claims are procedurally barred from postconviction review and must be raised on direct appeal.

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Facts & Procedural History

Christie was convicted after waiving his right to a jury trial. He sought postconviction relief claiming the trial court failed to adequately inquire …

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Opinion of the Court
■ WEBSTER, J.

WEBSTER, J.

Appellant seeks review of an order denying his motion for postconviction relief, filed pursuant to Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.850. He contends that the trial court erroneously denied claims (1) that the trial court failed to conduct an adequate inquiry before accepting a waiver of his right to a jury trial; (2) that trial counsel was ineffective in failing adequately to advise him regarding waiver of his right to a jury trial; (3) that trial counsel was ineffective in preventing him from testifying in his own behalf; and (4) that he received illegal sentences.

We affirm as to the two claims related to waiver of a jury trial. The claim that the trial court failed to conduct an adequate inquiry should have been raised on direct appeal. See, e.g., Upton v. State, 644 So. 2d 181 (Fla. 1st DCA 1994) (reversing a conviction on direct appeal because the trial court failed to conduct an adequate inquiry before accepting the defendant’s waiver of his right to a jury trial), aff'd, 658 So. 2d 86 (Fla.1995). The claim that trial counsel was ineffective in failing adequately to advise appellant regarding waiver of his right to a jury trial is legally insufficient because it does not include allegations of fact which, if true, would establish a reasonable probability that the outcome of appellant’s trial would have been different but for the alleged ineffectiveness of counsel. See, e.g., Ragsdale v. State, 720 So. 2d 203 (Fla.1998); State v. Stirrup, 469 So. 2d 845 (Fla. 3d DCA 1985).

The remaining two claims are, however, legally sufficient, and are not refuted by the order or attachments to it. Accordingly, we are constrained to reverse as to those claims, and to remand them for further proceedings.

Appellant alleged that his trial counsel refused to permit him to testify, notwithstanding his insistence that he be permitted to present his version of the relevant events. Appellant also outlined what his testimony would have been, and how he was prejudiced by not being permitted to present it. Those allegations were legally sufficient. Oisorio v. State, 676 So. 2d 1363 (Fla.1996).

Appellant also alleged that his sentences exceeded the statutory maximum for the third-degree felonies of which he was convicted. This allegation was, like wise, legally sufficient under either rule 3.850 or rule 3.800(a). See, e.g., Davis v. State, 661 So. 2d 1193 (Fla.1995) (a sentence which exceeds the maximum established by law for an offense is “illegal”).

In summary,. we affirm as to the two claims related to waiver of a jury trial. We reverse as to the claim that trial counsel was ineffective in preventing appellant from testifying and the claim that the sentences imposed were illegal. As-to the latter two claims, we remand for further proceedings. If the trial court concludes that the record conclusively establishes that appellant is entitled to no relief because of those 'Claims, it shall attach to its order denying relief the portions of the record that support its decision. Otherwise, it shall hold a hearing.

AFFIRMED IN PART;' REVERSED IN PART; and REMANDED, with directions.

ERVIN and WOLF, JJ.,' CONCUR.


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Citator

Cited By

  • Peoples v. State, 251 So. 3d 291 (Fla. 1st DCA 2018)
  • Collin Christie v. Moore, 763 So. 2d 1221 (Fla. 1st DCA 2000)
    …[*1222] PER CURIAM. Collin Christie unsuccessfully moved the trial court for postconviction relief. In Christie v. State, 737 So. 2d 1157 (Fla. 1st DCA 1999), this court affirmed in part and reversed in part and remanded for further proceedings. The trial court conducted an evidentiary hearing and announced at the conclusion thereof that relief would be denied. Christie seeks a belate…
  • …y the Court finds that Defendant’s claim is facially insufficient because he fails to allege there is a reasonable probability that but for counsel’s omissions, the outcome of his trial would have been different. See, e.g., Christie v. State, 737 So. 2d 1157 (Fla. 1st DCA 1999) (Postconviction claim that trial counsel was ineffective in failing to adequately advise defendant was legally insufficient absent allegations that outcome of trial would have been different but for alleged ineffectiveness of cou…

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