JEFFERY LEE CAIN
v.
STATE OF FLORIDA

Fla. 4th DCA | 2026-07-31
No. 2025-3573
Heisey, J., Kuntz, C.J., May, J., Shaw, J.
2026 FL 9806 Florida District Court of Appeal, Fourth District (2026)

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Holding

Trial courts may impose investigatory costs only when requested by the State or the investigating law enforcement agency.


Headnotes

[1] Investigatory costs may be imposed by a trial court only when requested by the State or the investigating law enforcement agency; absent such a request, the costs must be…

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Key Quotes

“Trial courts may impose investigatory costs, but only when requested by the State or agency involved.”

Court citing Desrosiers v. State, 286 So. 3d 297, 300 (Fla. 4th DCA 2019)

Facts & Procedural History

Jeffery Lee Cain was sentenced and the trial court imposed $50 in investigative costs. The investigating law enforcement agency did not request these …

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Opinion of the Court

DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA

FOURTH DISTRICT

JEFFERY LEE CAIN, Appellant,

v.

STATE OF FLORIDA, Appellee.

No. 4D2025-3573

[July 31, 2026]

Appeal from the Circuit Court for the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit, St. Lucie County; Michael Carlton Heisey, Judge; L.T. Case No. 562024CF001909AXXXSL.

Daniel Eisinger, Public Defender, and Ian Seldin, Assistant Public Defender, West Palm Beach, for appellant.

James Uthmeier, Attorney General, Tallahassee, and Jessenia J. Concepcion, Senior Assistant Attorney General, West Palm Beach, for appellee.

PER CURIAM.

ON CONFESSION OF ERROR

The defendant appeals from the circuit court's order denying his Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.800(b)(2) motion to correct sentencing errors. The defendant argues the circuit court erred by imposing $50 for investigative costs at sentencing because the investigating law enforcement agency did not request these costs nor prove its entitlement to receive them. The State concedes error and we agree.

“Trial courts may impose investigatory costs, but only when requested by the State or agency involved.” Desrosiers v. State, 286 So. 3d 297, 300 (Fla. 4th DCA 2019) (citing Chambers v. State, 217 So. 3d 210, 214 (Fla. 4th DCA 2017)). If these costs are not requested by the State or the investigating law enforcement agency, these costs must be stricken and cannot be imposed on remand. Id.; see also Richards v. State, 288 So. 3d 574, 577 (Fla. 2020). Thus, we reverse the $50 investigative cost

imposition, and remand for the circuit court to strike the $50 investigative cost imposition.

Reversed and remanded.

KUNTZ, C.J., MAY and SHAW, JJ., concur.

* * *

Not final until disposition of timely-filed motion for rehearing.


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