Adler v. State

382 So. 2d 1298
CourtDistrict Court of Appeal of Florida
DecidedApril 22, 1980
Docket79-134, 79-833
StatusPublished
Cited by26 cases

This text of 382 So. 2d 1298 (Adler v. State) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court of Appeal of Florida primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Adler v. State, 382 So. 2d 1298 (Fla. Ct. App. 1980).

Opinion

382 So.2d 1298 (1980)

Barry Scott ADLER, Appellant,
v.
The STATE of Florida, Appellee.

Nos. 79-134, 79-833.

District Court of Appeal of Florida, Third District.

April 22, 1980.

*1299 Jack R. Blumenfeld, Moran & Gold and William M. Moran, Miami, for appellant.

Jim Smith, Atty. Gen. and James H. Greason, Asst. Atty. Gen., for appellee.

Before HUBBART and NESBITT, JJ., and PEARSON, TILLMAN (Ret.), Associate Judge.

NESBITT, Judge.

In these consolidated appeals, the defendant seeks reversal of the trial court's denial of his motions to: (1) withdraw his plea of guilty prior to imposition of sentence;[1] (2) vacate his guilty plea after adjudication and sentence,[2] and (3) disqualify the trial judge.[3] We affirm the trial court's rulings for the reasons presented.

A recitation of the chronology of the salient events is necessary to understand the defendant's position in the trial court. He was indicted on September 12, 1977 for: (1) murder in the first degree; (2) robbery; and (3) kidnapping, all committed against Robert Topping. Also indicted, as a co-defendant, was Andrew Schell. As the case progressed for trial, it became the subject of plea negotiations. Defendant's counsel sought and obtained a written confirmation of the agreement reached with the state regarding the plea negotiations.[4] On October 25, 1978, pursuant to the agreement, the defendant plead guilty to the above counts as modified. The court accepted the guilty plea and ordered a presentence investigation. The defendant was allowed to remain at large on bail pending sentencing. On November 13, 1978, the state confirmed by letter to defendant's counsel its understanding with respect to the sentencing of the defendant.[5] The sentencing phase was *1300 scheduled for January 8, 1979. On December 19, 1978, the defendant filed his motion to withdraw the plea of guilty prior to imposition of sentence.[6] An evidentiary hearing on the motion was conducted prior to sentencing following which the trial court denied the motion. After allowing the defendant his allocution rights, the court adjudicated and sentenced him for murder in the second degree and kidnapping and imposed consecutive ninety-nine year terms of imprisonment. No adjudication or sentence was imposed as to the robbery count. New counsel was substituted and filed the motion to withdraw the plea of guilty after adjudication.[7] A hearing thereon was scheduled before the original trial judge for April 6, 1979. On March 29, 1979, the motion to disqualify the trial judge[8] was filed. On the appointed date, the motions were summarily denied with the order denying the motion to vacate citing: "that no evidentiary hearing is appropriate or required."

Since the motion to disqualify the trial judge was not made within ten days prior to the hearing as required by Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.230(c), and no good cause was shown for the failure to have timely filed the motion, it was properly denied. Skipper v. State, 114 Fla. 312, 153 So. 853, appeal dismissed 293 U.S. 517, 55 S.Ct. 76, 79 L.Ed. 631 (1934).

The arguments advanced here for a reversal of the motion to withdraw the guilty plea prior to imposition of sentence and the motion to withdraw the plea of guilty after adjudication and imposition of sentence are substantially alike and inter-related. In summary, the defendant contends: (1) his guilty plea was not freely and voluntarily entered because he intended to enter a plea of nolo contendere; (2) the trial court erred in accepting the guilty plea without making the inquiry required by Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.172; (3) the state attorney failed to honor its agreement to make no recommendation regarding the length of defendant's sentence; and (4) good cause was shown for withdrawal of the guilty plea prior to imposition of sentence.

In resolving these matters, we are fully aware that a plea of guilty must be voluntarily and intelligently entered. Boykin v. Alabama, 395 U.S. 238, 89 S.Ct. 1709, 23 L.Ed.2d 274 (1969). The record must affirmatively demonstrate the defendant understood the nature of the plea and the charges and that he was admitting guilt. Henderson v. Morgan, 426 U.S. 637, 96 S.Ct. 2253, 49 L.Ed.2d 108 (1976). A guilty plea must not be influenced by ignorance, mistake or unfilled inducements by the prosecution. Blackledge v. Allison, 431 U.S. 63, 97 S.Ct. 1621, 52 L.Ed.2d 136 (1977). The law favors a trial on the merits. Roberts v. State, 142 So.2d 152 (Fla. 3d DCA 1962). The withdrawal of a guilty plea will not be refused where it is the least evident that the ends of justice will be subserved by allowing a plea of not guilty to be entered in its place. Hill v. State, 110 So.2d 464 (Fla. 2d DCA 1959). A motion to withdraw a plea of guilty prior to imposition of sentence should be liberally construed in favor of the defendant. United States v. Klein, 560 F.2d 1236 (5th Cir.1977), cert. denied 434 U.S. 1073, 98 S.Ct. 1259, 55 L.Ed.2d 777 (1978).

Withdrawal of a guilty plea is not a matter of right but of discretion and will not be set aside absent a showing of abuse. Meaton v. United States, 328 F.2d 379 (5th Cir.1964), cert. denied 380 U.S. 916, 85 S.Ct. 902, 13 L.Ed.2d 801 (1965). The defendant must establish good cause for withdrawal of a guilty plea prior to imposition of sentence, Fla.R.Crim.P. 3.170(f); State v. Braverman, 348 So.2d 1183 (Fla. 3d DCA 1977), cert. denied 358 So.2d 128 (Fla. 1978), and, after *1301 imposition of sentence, establish manifest injustice, Williams v. State, 316 So.2d 267 (Fla. 1975).

Most of the defendant's contentions are dispelled by the plea colloquy which discloses the following:

MR. KESSLER: State your name.
THE DEFENDANT: Barry Scott Adler.
MR. KESSLER: Are you the Barry Scott Adler indicted by this court in the State of Florida versus Barry Scott Adler, 77-27914?
THE DEFENDANT: Yes. I am.
MR. KESSLER: At this time, most respectfully, Mr. Adler is going to withdraw his previously entered plea of not guilty to Counts I, II and III of the Indictment.
The State is going to reduce Count I from first degree to second degree.
MR. STELZER: The State will nolle pros Count IV of the Indictment.
MR. KESSLER: There are other areas. However, for the purpose of the change of plea, I would rather not state them to the Court at this time. They do not affect the taking of the plea in any respect.
THE COURT: Is this an open plea to the Court?
MR. KESSLER: Yes.
We have a letter which indicates the principal areas of our plea agreement. There are other matters that are not indicated in the agreement. However, they do not affect the plea.
Mr.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

HARVEY MICHAEL HILL v. STATE OF FLORIDA
246 So. 3d 392 (District Court of Appeal of Florida, 2018)
Guichard Jean-Baptiste v. State
155 So. 3d 1237 (District Court of Appeal of Florida, 2015)
Griffin v. State
114 So. 3d 890 (Supreme Court of Florida, 2013)
Wright v. State
961 So. 2d 1036 (District Court of Appeal of Florida, 2007)
Tanzi v. State
964 So. 2d 106 (Supreme Court of Florida, 2007)
Wagner v. State
895 So. 2d 453 (District Court of Appeal of Florida, 2005)
Robinson v. State
761 So. 2d 269 (Supreme Court of Florida, 1999)
Lynn v. State
687 So. 2d 39 (District Court of Appeal of Florida, 1997)
Sanders v. State
662 So. 2d 1372 (District Court of Appeal of Florida, 1995)
Hodgdon v. State
662 So. 2d 437 (District Court of Appeal of Florida, 1995)
Parnell v. State
627 So. 2d 1246 (District Court of Appeal of Florida, 1993)
Hunt v. State
613 So. 2d 893 (Supreme Court of Florida, 1992)
Porter v. State
564 So. 2d 1060 (Supreme Court of Florida, 1990)
Arce v. State
543 So. 2d 389 (District Court of Appeal of Florida, 1989)
Lopez v. State
536 So. 2d 226 (Supreme Court of Florida, 1988)
Lee v. State
490 So. 2d 80 (District Court of Appeal of Florida, 1986)
Fortini v. State
472 So. 2d 1383 (District Court of Appeal of Florida, 1985)
Prado-Gonzalez v. State
468 So. 2d 991 (District Court of Appeal of Florida, 1985)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
382 So. 2d 1298, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/adler-v-state-fladistctapp-1980.