STATE OF FLORIDA v. BARRY MICHAEL SCHULTZ , 238 So. 3d 288 ( 2018 )


Menu:
  •        DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA
    FOURTH DISTRICT
    STATE OF FLORIDA,
    Appellant,
    v.
    BARRY MICHAEL SCHULTZ,
    Appellee.
    No. 4D16-227
    [February 14, 2018]
    Appeal and cross-appeal from the Circuit Court for the Fifteenth
    Judicial Circuit, Palm Beach County; Jack S. Cox, Judge; L.T. Case No.
    2011CF002959AXX.
    Pamela Jo Bondi, Attorney General, Tallahassee, and Richard
    Valuntas, Assistant Attorney General, West Palm Beach, for appellant.
    Carey Haughwout, Public Defender, and Ian Seldin, Assistant Public
    Defender, West Palm Beach, for appellee.
    BELANGER, ROBERT E., Associate Judge.
    Appellant, the State of Florida, appeals the downward departure
    sentence imposed by the trial court below. Appellee, Barry Michael
    Schultz, cross appeals his convictions for trafficking in oxycodone. This
    Court has jurisdiction under Florida Rules of Appellate Procedure
    9.140(b)(1)(A) and (c)(1)(N). For the reasons discussed, we affirm the
    conviction, but we reverse the departure sentence and remand for
    resentencing.
    A jury found Schultz guilty of 55 counts of drug trafficking. Given the
    number of charges, the defendant scored 2549 sentencing points. The
    lowest permissible sentence under the criminal punishment code was
    1890.75 months in prison, approximately 157.5 years. At sentencing, the
    State requested concurrent life sentences on each count, with concurrent
    25 year mandatory minimum sentences. In contrast, the defense
    requested that Schultz be concurrently sentenced to the bottom of the
    guidelines as opposed to the life sentence sought by the State.       The
    defense had no objection to the scoresheet and requested that his
    mandatory minimums run concurrently. The trial court then sentenced
    Schultz to the 25 year minimum mandatory sentence on each count to run
    concurrently. The State objected to the sentences arguing that there was
    no basis for a departure from the bottom of the guidelines. Nevertheless,
    the trial court proceeded with the sentence as imposed. Thereafter, the
    State gave notice of appeal.
    On appeal, the State argues that, under State v. Murray, 
    161 So. 3d 1287
     (Fla. 4th DCA 2015), the trial court erred in sua sponte entering a
    downward departure sentence on Schultz’s convictions. It argues that the
    trial court failed to articulate any basis for the departures and that no
    evidence was presented at the sentencing hearing to support a departure.
    The State further argues that the trial court failed to articulate in writing
    the basis for the downward departures pursuant to section 921.002(3),
    Florida Statutes (“Any sentence imposed below the lowest permissible
    sentence must be explained in writing by the trial court judge.”).
    “Whether there is a valid legal ground for a downward departure is a
    question of law, to be reviewed de novo.” Wynkoop v. State, 
    14 So. 3d 1166
    , 1171 (Fla. 4th DCA 2009) (citing State v. Walker, 
    923 So. 2d 1262
    ,
    1264 (Fla. 1st DCA 2006)). “A trial court’s legal ground for a departure
    must be valid and supported by competent substantial evidence.” 
    Id.
     at
    1171-72 (citing State v. Schillaci, 
    767 So. 2d 598
    , 600 (Fla. 4th DCA 2000)).
    Murray is exactly on point. Murray held that “[d]epartures below the
    lowest permissible sentence established by the code must be articulated
    in writing by the trial court judge and made only when circumstances or
    factors reasonably justify the mitigation of the sentence.” 
    Id.
     at 1289-90
    (citing § 921.002(1)(f), Fla. Stat. (2013); § 921.002(3), Fla. Stat. (2013)
    (“Any sentence imposed below the lowest permissible sentence must be
    explained in writing by the trial court judge.”)). In Murray, this Court
    concluded that, in the absence of written or oral findings, a downward
    departure sentence was improper and remanded for resentencing within
    the guidelines. Id. at 1290. Based upon the holding in Murray, we
    determine that the trial court here erred in sua sponte entering a
    downward departure sentence on Schultz’s convictions without
    articulating any basis for the departures. Notably, as in Murray, Schultz
    did not file a motion for downward departure, but merely requested a
    sentence at the bottom of the guidelines. Thus, no evidence was presented
    at the sentencing hearing to support a departure. Further, the trial court
    failed to articulate in writing the basis for the downward departures
    pursuant to section 921.002(3), Florida Statutes (2016) (“Any sentence
    imposed below the lowest permissible sentence must be explained in
    writing by the trial court judge.”). Therefore, the trial court erred by not
    2
    stating it was departing, not orally articulating reasons for doing so, and
    failing to enter a written order memorializing the reasons for departure.
    See Murray, 161 So. 3d at 1290. As such, we reverse and remand the
    departure sentence for resentencing within the guidelines.
    Schultz’s arguments on cross appeal are without merit and require no
    further discussion.
    Accordingly, we affirm Schultz’s conviction, but we reverse the
    departure sentence and remand for resentencing within the guidelines.
    Affirmed in part, reversed in part and remanded with instructions.
    CIKLIN and KLINGENSMITH, JJ., concur.
    *         *        *
    Not final until disposition of timely filed motion for rehearing.
    3
    

Document Info

Docket Number: 16-0227

Citation Numbers: 238 So. 3d 288

Filed Date: 2/14/2018

Precedential Status: Precedential

Modified Date: 2/14/2018