WILLIAM DORTON
v.
STATE

Fla. 5th DCA | 2018-05-28
No. 5D18-649
Florida District Court of Appeal, Fifth District (2018)

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Holding

Rule 3.850 postconviction relief motions are unavailable to defendants acquitted by reason of insanity.


Headnotes

[1] A defendant acquitted by reason of insanity is not eligible for postconviction relief under Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.850, which applies only to convictions or…

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Key Quotes

“Rule 3.850(a) plainly applies only to 'claims for relief from judgment or release from custody by a person who has been tried and found guilty or has entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere.'”

Court's explanation of the statutory language barring Dorton's relief claim

Facts & Procedural History

Dorton was charged with attempted felony murder, found not guilty by reason of insanity, and committed to the Department of Children and Families. He …

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Opinion of the Court

PER CURIAM. William Dorton appeals the summary denial of his motion for postconviction relief filed pursuant to Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.850. We affirm.

Dorton was charged with attempted felony murder. He was found not guilty by reason of insanity and committed to the custody of the Department of Children and

Families. He subsequently filed a motion for postconviction relief, alleging ineffective assistance of counsel. The trial court considered the matter on the merits and denied the motion.

Rule 3.850(a) plainly applies only to “claims for relief from judgment or release from custody by a person who has been tried and found guilty or has entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere.” Because Dorton was found not guilty by reason of insanity,

he has no claim for relief under rule 3.850.

AFFIRMED.

ORFINGER, EVANDER and EISNAUGLE, JJ., concur.


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