Oliver v. State

534 So. 2d 1224, 13 Fla. L. Weekly 2660, 1988 Fla. App. LEXIS 5400, 1988 WL 130482
CourtDistrict Court of Appeal of Florida
DecidedDecember 9, 1988
DocketNo. 88-1132
StatusPublished

This text of 534 So. 2d 1224 (Oliver 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
Oliver v. State, 534 So. 2d 1224, 13 Fla. L. Weekly 2660, 1988 Fla. App. LEXIS 5400, 1988 WL 130482 (Fla. Ct. App. 1988).

Opinion

PER CURIAM.

The appellant, Robert D. Oliver, challenges the sentence imposed upon him after a guilty plea. We find that the trial court erred in departing from the sentencing guidelines and, accordingly, reverse.

After the appellant pled guilty to causing serious bodily injury while driving under the influence, the trial court adjudicated him guilty and sentenced him to a departure sentence of five years imprisonment. At the sentencing hearing, the trial court announced its intent to exceed the guidelines range based on the appellant’s lengthy traffic record. The trial court stated, “I considered only the traffic convictions for which you were either convicted and — or adjudication withheld, but at any rate, were not scored on the guidelines scoresheet.” The trial court’s sole written reason for departure was the appellant’s “lengthy record of prior traffic convictions among them three DUI’s.” The court stated that “these convictions were not scored, nor could they be scored on the guidelines scoresheet.” This timely appeal followed.

Under the sentencing guidelines, prior record includes criminal traffic offenses which must be scored as misdemeanors. Fla.R.Crim. P. 3.701(d)(5)(a)(4). The trial court’s explanation that it considered only those offenses for which the appellant was convicted or adjudication withheld indicates that they could have been scored as prior record. See Fla.R. Crim. P. 3.701(d)(2). Using certain prior convictions as grounds for departure; rather than scoring them on the guidelines scoresheet, is an invalid reason for depar[1225]*1225ture. See Borden v. State, 479 So.2d 823 (Fla. 5th DCA 1985). See also, Hendrix v. State, 475 So.2d 1218 (Fla.1985). We, accordingly, reverse the appellant’s sentence and remand for resentencing within the guidelines range indicated by an accurate scoresheet reflecting any traffic offenses which should be properly scored. See Shull v. Dugger, 515 So.2d 748 (Fla.1987).

Reversed and remanded with instructions.

SCHEB, A.C.J., and RYDER and SCHOONOVER, JJ., concur.

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

Related

Hendrix v. State
475 So. 2d 1218 (Supreme Court of Florida, 1985)
Shull v. Dugger
515 So. 2d 748 (Supreme Court of Florida, 1987)
Borden v. State
479 So. 2d 823 (District Court of Appeal of Florida, 1985)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
534 So. 2d 1224, 13 Fla. L. Weekly 2660, 1988 Fla. App. LEXIS 5400, 1988 WL 130482, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/oliver-v-state-fladistctapp-1988.