Shaw v. State
Shaw v. State
Dissenting Opinion
dissenting:
I dissent. I would affirm.
Shaw was arrested and charged with two counts of burglary, two counts of possession of burglary tools, one count of forgery, one count of uttering a forged instrument, and one count of resisting an officer with violence. Trial was set for 22 February 1983, but pursuant to plea bargaining Shaw changed his plea to guilty on that date.
It was agreed by Shaw, the State and the trial court that Shaw would receive a sentence of not more than a total of nine years in the seven cases pending against him. Shaw requested a continuance on sentencing so that he could get his personal affairs in order. The trial court postponed sentencing until 2 March 1983, and Shaw was released on his own recognizance.
Between 22 February and 2 March, Shaw committed another burglary for which he was arrested and incarcerated. On the sentencing date, the trial court noted Shaw’s conduct while he was free on recognizance and refused to follow the plea agreement. Shaw was sentenced to five years on each of the seven counts, with five of the sentences to run consecutively, and two to run concurrently, for a total of 25 years.
Shaw subsequently filed a 3.850 motion, asking the trial court either to abide by the terms of the plea agreement or to allow him to withdraw his plea. The motion was denied by the trial court without a hearing.
I do not find from the record that the trial court accused, tried, convicted and punished Shaw for the “bad news” it heard about him. I do not find that Shaw’s constitutional rights were violated. I do not find that the trial court committed error.
Under these circumstances the trial court did not abuse its discretion. I would affirm.
Opinion of the Court
Shaw appeals the trial court’s denial of his Rule 3.850 motion. The issue is whether Shaw should have been permitted to withdraw his guilty plea when the trial court refused to follow a plea agreement. We reverse.
Shaw pled guilty on February 22, 1983, in exchange for a nine year sentence. At Shaw’s request his sentencing was postponed until March 2, 1983, and Shaw was allowed to remain free on bond. The trial court’s only condition on honoring the plea agreement was that Shaw be present for sentencing on March 2, 1983. Shaw was there on time, albeit he was accompanied by the local constabulary. It seems that Shaw was arrested on a new charge during the intervening week. The judge proceeded to accuse Shaw on the “bad news” he heard about him, try Shaw on the “bad news”, convict him, and punish him, all without regard to Shaw’s presumption of innocence or other constitutional safeguards attendant to the new charge. The judge refused to honor the nine year sentence agreement and sentenced Shaw to twenty-five years.
The trial court must either sentence Shaw to nine years or allow him to withdraw his guilty plea. LaBaissiere v. State, 429 So.2d 96 (Fla. 2d DCA 1983); Nichols v. State, 403 So.2d 1089 (Fla. 1st DCA 1981); Richmond v. State, 375 So.2d 1132 (Fla. 1st DCA 1979).
The denial of Shaw’s motion for post-conviction relief is REVERSED. The trial court is directed to sentence Shaw pursuant to the nine year agreement or permit him to withdraw his guilty plea.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.