Lebron v. State

127 So. 3d 597, 2012 WL 6601219, 2012 Fla. App. LEXIS 21774
District Court of Appeal of Florida·Decided December 19, 2012·No. No. 4D11-2270·Published·Cited by 2 cases

Opinion

POLEN, J.

We reverse the defendant’s conviction and sentence for delivery of cocaine because we find that the trial court erred in the following: (1) by sustaining the State’s hearsay objection to testimony that was admissible non-hearsay; (2) by sustaining the State’s relevancy objection to testimony of LeBron’s work history, which was being offered to demonstrate the defendant’s lack of predisposition to commit the crime charged; (3) by refusing to instruct the jury that the State had to prove delivery to the detective, as was specifically alleged in the information; and (4) improperly initiating a plea dialogue. We are not persuaded by the defendant’s other argu[600]*600ments on appeal.1

I. Factual Background

The State charged LeBron with delivery of cocaine, specifically alleging delivery to the undercover detective who was in the car with the confidential informant and LeBron during the transaction at issue. LeBron’s defense was that (1) he was entrapped by the informant, and (2) he delivered the cocaine to the informant, and not to the detective as was alleged in the information.

Before the start of the trial, the court initiated the following discussion:

THE COURT: State, have you made a plea offer in this case?
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THE STATE: No, I haven’t made an offer just with this case.
THE COURT: Where does he score?
THE STATE: He scores 48.9 points combined but that is on both cases. The score sheet is prepared with both open cases.
THE COURT: Okay. [Defense Counsel], is your client interested in entering in any type of plea in this case here today?
DEFENSE COUNSEL: No. But just out of curiosity, that is a combined score, does he score under 44 on the one delivery case?
THE STATE: He would.
DEFENSE COUNSEL: So was there, just for the record, for no other reason, an offer based on that individual score?
THE STATE: No. Both combined.
THE COURT: I can’t force them to make an offer, [Counsel].
What I can tell you is if your client pled today on this case, I would be inclined to give him probation, if that is where he scores on the delivery of cocaine case.
I would have to look at the facts, but that would be where I would go. But I can’t make him any promises to what would happen with the next case.
DEFENSE COUNSEL: Understood.
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THE COURT: 14.85 months Florida State Prison. That is the bottom of the guidelines on the delivery case?
Mr. LeBron, do you want that? Do you want the bottom of the guidelines because if you do I will give you the bottom of the guidelines right now.
MR. LEBRON: Bottom of the guidelines is?
THE COURT: 14.8 months.
MR. LEBRON: I would have to talk to my attorney.
THE COURT: Well, now is the time. If you want the bottom of the guidelines, you can have it now,„ otherwise we are going forward.
DEFENSE COUNSEL: I don’t recommend it.
MR. LEBRON: No.
THE COURT: All right. It is your decision to make, Mr. LeBron. I am not trying to twist your arm.

The case then proceeded to trial.

The undercover detective testified that the informant had a pending charge, and when the informant was arrested, he named two targets: LeBron and a juvenile. The informant called LeBron and arranged for a deal with LeBron about a week and a half before November. Le-[601]*601Bron agreed to the deal, but did not show up; so nothing happened at that time.

On November 30, the detective was undercover as a passenger of a car driven by the informant. LeBron pulled up next to them and got into the backseat behind the informant. The detective testified that LeBron dropped a baggy of cocaine over the armrest and it landed in the detective’s lap.

After the State rested, LeBron testified on his own behalf. He said that he worked for a bank for the last three years. Seven years before this trial, while in high school, he lived with his father who had a drug problem. During this time period, LeBron was arrested multiple times. As a result, he had nine felony convictions. After Le-Bron’s stepfather entered his life, LeBron got a job with an alarm company and then went to work in banking.

When LeBron said he had been working for the last five years, the State made a relevancy objection. Defense counsel argued that LeBron’s work history went to the issue of predisposition for his entrapment defense, but the court sustained the objection.

LeBron testified that he met the informant four years prior, and the two became acquaintances. They became close, and the informant started asking if LeBron could get him cocaine. LeBron testified that he was trying to leave that lifestyle and did not want to get in any more trouble. The informant, nonetheless, kept pursuing this for months.

LeBron testified that the informant knew LeBron was going through a tough financial situation, and that the informant kept telling him “well, wouldn’t this help you out with the move, wouldn’t this help you out with your financial situation.” Le-Bron testified that the informant requested drugs repeatedly and LeBron always said no. LeBron said he eventually succumbed to the pressure and arranged for a meeting. LeBron added that he did not show up to the meeting, however, because it was not something he wanted to do. After missing this initial meeting, LeBron said that the informant continued to call him.

When defense counsel began to question LeBron about what the informant would say to him, the State made a hearsay objection. At side bar, defense counsel said that he should be allowed to “get it in with the [confidential informant] how much the confidential informant persuaded him.” Counsel continued: ‘Tour Honor, in all due respect how can I move forward on an entrapment defense if my client can’t testify to the actions and words and inducement of the confidential informant?” The court sustained the State’s objection and limited testimony to the conversations had on the day of the transaction and the week leading up to the transaction. The court allowed this limited testimony based on the rule of completeness, because the State had previously inquired into these conversations.

LeBron testified that he “eventually succumbed” to the pressure; and on November 30, he drove up and gave the baggie to the informant (not to the detective), and the informant then paid LeBron. LeBron stated that he was not given any money by the detective, and was not talking to her, even though she asked about money.

In closing argument, defense counsel relied primarily on the claim that LeBron was entrapped; but counsel also specifically argued to the jury that it had to acquit LeBron if the State did not prove that he delivered the cocaine to the detective, as was alleged in the information.

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Lebron v. State, 127 So. 3d 597, 2012 WL 6601219, 2012 Fla. App. LEXIS 21774 (Fla. Ct. App. 2012).

127 So. 3d 597 (Lebron v. State) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

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