Hanks v. State

717 So. 2d 523, 23 Fla. L. Weekly Supp. 401, 1998 Fla. LEXIS 1326, 1998 WL 394179

• Court: Supreme Court of Florida
• Decided: July 16, 1998
• Docket: No. 91794
• Status: Published

Opinions

PER CURIAM.

We have for review the decision in State v. Hanks, 700 So.2d 779 (Fla. 2d DCA 1997), which the district court certified to be in conflict with the opinion in Galloway v. State, 680 So.2d 616 (Fla. 4th DCA 1996), concerning the issue of whether additional sentencing points for carrying or possessing a firearm during the commission of a crime may be added to a defendant’s sentencing score where the defendant is convicted of carrying a concealed weapon or possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. We have jurisdiction. Art. V, § 3(b)(4), Fla. Const.

Recently, we resolved this conflict in White v. State, 714 So.2d 440, 23 Fla. L. Weekly S 311 (Fla.1998), wherein we held that it is error for a trial court to assess additional sentencing points for possessing a firearm where the sole underlying crime is carrying a concealed firearm or possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. In other words, rule 3.702(d)(12) of the Florida Rules of Criminal Procedure and section 921.0014, Florida Statutes (1993), do not contemplate the addition of sentencing points for carrying or possessing a firearm where the carrying or possession of a firearm is the essential element of the underlying offense. In so holding, we approved the Fourth District’s opinion in Galloway.

Therefore, in accordance with our decision in White, we quash the decision below. We also decline to address petitioner’s remaining point on review as it is beyond the scope of the conflict issue and has been rendered moot by our disposition of this case.¹

It is so ordered.

HARDING, C.J., and OVERTON, SHAW, KOGAN and ANSTEAD, JJ., concur. WELLS, J., dissents with an opinion.

1 . Petitioner argues that the district court lacked jurisdiction of the State’s appeal because the alleged error did not render the sentence illegal, nor was the sentence outside of the sentencing guidelines.