Sufficiency Of Circumstantial Evidence

403 Florida cases classified under this topic · sorted by citation count · see the citation graph · browse and sort

• Elliott v. State
  187 So. 2d 44· Fla. 1st DCA· 1966-06-02 ·cited 1×
  The court held that the circumstantial evidence was sufficient to sustain the conviction, and the jury's finding of a lesser offense did not warrant reversal.
• Presson v. State
  146 So. 2d 598· Fla. 1st DCA· 1962-11-01 ·cited 1×
  The appellate court affirmed a conviction for receiving stolen property, with one judge dissenting. The dissent argued that the circumstantial evidence was insufficient to exclude reasonable hypotheses of innocence, a requirement for conviction based solely on circumstantial evid
• Shaw v. State
  108 So. 2d 766· Fla. 3d DCA· 1959-01-08 ·cited 1×
  This case involves an appeal from a conviction for grand larceny. The appellate court affirmed the conviction, finding that the circumstantial evidence presented at trial was sufficient to support the jury's verdict.
• Sellers v. MRS. Virginia Flat
  155 Fla. 821· Fla.· 1945-04-17 ·cited 1×
  This case concerns a suit for specific performance of a real estate contract where the sellers refused to convey, alleging fraud by the broker and lack of mutuality, after the buyer assigned their interest to a third party.
• Wakilii Brown v. Comm'r, Ala. Dep't of Corr.
  11th Cir.· 2026-08-21
  The admission of Brown's statement to his aunt that he "hurt" the victims did not violate his federal due-process right because the statement was not a crucial, critical, and highly significant part of the trial record—it occupied less than one percent of the evidence, was used o
• Devonte Rodney Baker v. State
  Fla. 4th DCA· 2026-04-29
  The State's evidence was insufficient to prove Baker's identity as the perpetrator of the first tire-slashing incident based solely on a victim's observation of a silhouette and a hunch. Additionally, absent any identification of the object used to slash the tires, the State fail
• Mathis v. State
  Fla. 4th DCA· 2026-04-08
  The evidence was legally sufficient to sustain the conviction for second-degree murder under a principals theory, and the trial court did not abuse its discretion in instructing the jury on principals liability where the defendant's own defense theory placed another person at the
• Fernard George Ramcald, Jr. v. State
  Fla. 1st DCA· 2025-07-09
  The trial court abused its discretion in revoking probation because the State failed to produce substantial evidence showing that Appellant sent or caused the email to be sent to the victim. The evidence presented consisted only of the victim's inference rather than testimony wit
• Brinegar v. State
  Fla. 1st DCA· 2021-10-13
  The appellate court affirmed the conviction of Michael G. Brinegar for shooting into an occupied dwelling and using a firearm while under the influence. The court found sufficient circumstantial evidence to support the jury's finding that Brinegar was "under the influence" at the
• Duxbury v. State
  264 So. 3d 392· Fla. 5th DCA· 2019-02-22
  The trial court properly denied Duxbury's motion to suppress his post-Miranda statements because no explicit, implicit, or de jure threat of job loss was made, rendering Garrity inapplicable. The court also properly denied his motion for judgment of acquittal on attempted sexual
• J.A.B. v. State
  89 So. 3d 1113· Fla. 4th DCA· 2012-06-13
  A minor appeals an adjudication of delinquency for two counts of battery committed against a female student. The court reversed the adjudication for the second battery count due to insufficient circumstantial evidence, while affirming the first count and rejecting the appellant's
• Eriby v. State
  71 So. 3d 179· Fla. 1st DCA· 2011-09-27
  The court held that the circumstantial evidence presented by the State was sufficient to sustain a conviction for first-degree murder and was inconsistent with the defendant's theory of events.
• Young v. State
  19 So. 3d 1130· Fla. 4th DCA· 2009-10-14
  Michael Young was convicted of attempted burglary of a structure and resisting an officer without violence. The appellate court reversed the attempted burglary conviction due to insufficient circumstantial evidence, mirroring an earlier decision regarding his co-defendant, but af
• Cano v. State
  955 So. 2d 614· Fla. 3d DCA· 2007-04-25
  Rolando Mel Cano appeals his convictions for murdering his wife and her elderly aunt, and for felony animal cruelty related to a family pet's death. Cano, who confessed to all killings, challenges only the animal cruelty conviction and a single prosecutorial comment, but the appe
• Frederick v. State
  931 So. 2d 967· Fla. 3d DCA· 2006-05-24
  Frederick was convicted of armed burglary, two counts of kidnapping with a firearm, armed robbery, and resisting an officer following a McDonald's restaurant break-in. The appellate court affirmed his burglary and robbery convictions but reversed the two kidnapping convictions, f
• Rommel Clark v. State
  891 So. 2d 1199· Fla. 4th DCA· 2005-02-02
  Rommel Clark appealed his cocaine possession conviction and sentence, challenging the sufficiency of circumstantial evidence and arguing that his sentence scoresheet contained mathematical errors resulting in an excessive sentence. The court affirmed the conviction but reversed a
• C.J.W. v. State
  778 So. 2d 397· Fla. 2d DCA· 2001-01-19
  C.J.W., a juvenile, was adjudicated delinquent for criminal mischief based on circumstantial evidence after an unauthorized entry into a clubhouse and damage to a candy machine. The appellate court reversed the adjudication, finding the circumstantial evidence insufficient to sup
• Shaffer v. State
  753 So. 2d 758· Fla. 4th DCA· 2000-03-22
• Donnie L. Adkins v. State
  738 So. 2d 961· Fla. 2d DCA· 1999-06-04
  Donnie Adkins was convicted of felon in possession of a firearm and possession of cocaine. The court reversed the firearm conviction, finding the State's circumstantial evidence insufficient to prove Adkins had knowledge of the gun in the vehicle, and remanded for resentencing on
• Levory William Hickmon v. State
  728 So. 2d 1211· Fla. 5th DCA· 1999-03-19
  The court held that a defendant's insistence on proceeding to a speedy trial, foregoing discovery, does not invalidate a conviction when the state committed no misconduct.
• Cooper v. State
  674 So. 2d 901· Fla. 2d DCA· 1996-05-31
  Florida appellate court affirmed Cooper's robbery conviction based on eyewitness identification, but reduced statutory costs by striking $47 lacking statutory authority.
• Donovan Reid v. State
  616 So. 2d 185· Fla. 3d DCA· 1993-04-06
  The court affirmed convictions for attempted murder and robbery, but reversed the conviction for possession of a controlled substance due to insufficient evidence.
• State v. Kester
  612 So. 2d 584· Fla. 3d DCA· 1992-12-08
  Florida sought certiorari review of an appellate court's reversal of a trial court's denial of a DUI defendant's motion to dismiss. The State of Florida Supreme Court held that circumstantial evidence (the defendant's vehicle at the accident scene, paint matching, physical signs
• Byrd v. State
  574 So. 2d 233· Fla. 4th DCA· 1991-01-30
  The court held that the circumstantial evidence presented was sufficient to support the conviction for second-degree murder, as it was inconsistent with any reasonable hypothesis of innocence.
• A.F. v. State
  568 So. 2d 94· Fla. 2d DCA· 1990-10-12
  A.F., a juvenile, appealed his adjudication of delinquency for armed burglary and grand theft. The Florida appellate court affirmed, finding that circumstantial evidence was sufficient to establish guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, including evidence that A.F. was present at the s
• Perez v. State
  565 So. 2d 743· Fla. 3d DCA· 1990-07-03
  The court held that the jury must reasonably conclude guilt based on circumstantial evidence, and sufficient evidence existed to support the denial of the motion for judgment of acquittal.
• Johnson v. State
  516 So. 2d 14· Fla. 3d DCA· 1987-11-10
  Percy Johnson appealed his convictions for burglary, petit theft, and sexual battery following a jury verdict. The Third District Court of Appeal affirmed the convictions, finding sufficient evidence to support the jury's verdict and no trial error in the court's evidentiary ruli
• Judias Buenoano v. State
  478 So. 2d 387· Fla. 1st DCA· 1985-10-29
  Judias Buenoano was convicted of first-degree murder and grand theft for allegedly drowning her severely disabled son, Michael, and fraudulently collecting over $100,000 in life insurance proceeds. The appellate court affirmed the convictions, finding sufficient circumstantial ev
• Toranco v. State
  471 So. 2d 1355· Fla. 3d DCA· 1985-07-02
  Eduardo Toranco was convicted after a bench trial of burglary of a structure with a firearm and robbery with a firearm. He appealed on grounds of double jeopardy, evidentiary error regarding a witness's prior inconsistent statement, and insufficiency of circumstantial evidence, b
• Sullivan v. State
  455 So. 2d 485· Fla. 5th DCA· 1984-08-09
• Guarnera v. State
  436 So. 2d 313· Fla. 1st DCA· 1983-08-10
  The court held that the evidence presented was sufficient to exclude every reasonable hypothesis of innocence, and that the appeal was timely filed.
• Latulas v. State
  419 So. 2d 815· Fla. 3d DCA· 1982-09-28
  Circumstantial evidence consisting solely of the defendant's exculpatory statement and the medical examiner's testimony is insufficient to support a manslaughter conviction.
• Camina v. Parliament Ins. Co.
  417 So. 2d 1093· Fla. 3d DCA· 1982-08-10
  Court reversed directed verdict for store owner, holding that circumstantial evidence of a thawed, dirty, and splattered ice cream condition on the floor was sufficient to raise a jury question on constructive notice of a dangerous condition.
• Burgess v. State
  369 So. 2d 686· Fla. 1st DCA· 1979-04-19
  Willie Lee Burgess appeals his murder in the second degree conviction following a shooting at a bar in Ocala. The appellate court affirmed the conviction, finding the evidence sufficient to support a jury verdict despite its circumstantial nature.
• Smart v. State
  340 So. 2d 538· Fla. 3d DCA· 1976-12-20
  The court held that the defendant's speedy trial rights were not violated and the circumstantial evidence was sufficient to support the conviction.
• Moye v. State
  334 So. 2d 335· Fla. 1st DCA· 1976-06-30
  Johnny Bee Moye was convicted of false imprisonment, assault with intent to commit sexual battery, and aggravated battery. The appellate court reversed his conviction for false imprisonment, finding the circumstantial evidence insufficient to meet the legal standard required for
• Tanksley v. State
  332 So. 2d 76· Fla. 2d DCA· 1976-05-12
  Brandon Tanksley appeals his conviction for possession of heroin, arguing insufficient evidence. The appellate court reversed, holding that a fingerprint on a drug-containing envelope, combined with the defendant's presence at the scene and denial of possession, does not establis
• United States v. Jones
  508 F.2d 1271· 4th Cir.· 1975-01-07
  The court held that the circumstantial evidence was sufficient for a jury to find the defendant guilty of federal kidnapping, including that the victim was alive when transported across state lines.
• United States v. Morgan
  469 F.2d 83· 6th Cir.· 1972-11-01
  The jury's verdict is supported by substantial evidence, and the sentences were not excessive.
• United States v. Harvey
  445 F.2d 283· 10th Cir.· 1971-07-16
  The court held that the circumstantial evidence was sufficient to support the defendant's conviction for unlawful interstate transportation of a stolen automobile.
• Watts v. State
  247 So. 2d 16· Fla. 2d DCA· 1971-04-14
  The court held that circumstantial evidence, while suggesting probability of guilt, was also consistent with a reasonable hypothesis of innocence, thus insufficient to sustain conviction.
• Williams v. State
  238 So. 2d 137· Fla. 1st DCA· 1970-07-30
  The court held that the trial court did not err in denying the motion to quash the indictment, admitting evidence of prior convictions, allowing inquiry into the defendant's failure to take a lie detector test, or in its rulings on the sufficiency of evidence and closing argument
• Surber v. State
  226 So. 2d 829· Fla. 2d DCA· 1969-09-24
  Raymond Surber was convicted of breaking and entering a TV store with intent to commit theft after a jury trial. On appeal, Surber challenged the sufficiency of the circumstantial evidence, but the court affirmed, finding the evidence amply supported the guilty verdict.
• United States v. Parks
  384 F.2d 714· 4th Cir.· 1967-10-25
  The court held that circumstantial evidence was sufficient to support the inference that the defendant knew the goods were stolen.
• Brown v. State
  181 So. 2d 562· Fla. 3d DCA· 1966-01-04
  Samuel Brown appeals his conviction for unlawful possession of containers for use in bottling or packaging alcoholic beverages. The court reversed the conviction, finding that the circumstantial evidence presented was insufficient to exclude every reasonable hypothesis of innocen
• United States v. Vandam
  309 F.2d 578· 6th Cir.· 1962-11-07
  The court held that the seizure of the firearm was legal as incident to a lawful arrest, and subsequent procedural violations did not render the evidence inadmissible.
• James v. United States
  281 F.2d 915· 5th Cir.· 1960-09-07
  The court held that the circumstantial evidence was sufficient to support the jury's verdict and the trial court's decision to submit the case to the jury.
• Smith v. State
  76 So. 2d 493· Fla.· 1954-11-16
  Fred Smith was convicted of stealing 12 hogs in Jackson County, Florida and sentenced to two years in prison. He appealed on the ground that the evidence was insufficient to sustain the conviction. The Florida Supreme Court affirmed the conviction, finding the circumstantial evid
• Stiles v. United States
  216 F.2d 612· 6th Cir.· 1954-10-21
  The court held that the circumstantial evidence presented was sufficiently substantial to sustain the jury's verdict of guilty on all counts.