J.Y. v. State
J.Y. v. State
Opinion of the Court
ON MOTION FOR REHEARING AND/OR CERTIFICATION
We deny appellant’s motion for rehearing and/or certification of conflict regarding the constitutionality of section 39.061, Florida Statutes (Supp. 1990), because this issue has not been preserved for appellate review.
Appellant pled guilty to escaping or attempting to escape from a juvenile facility in violation of sections 944.40, Florida Statutes (1989), and 39.061, Florida Statutes (Supp. 1990). Appellant subsequently moved to vacate his guilty plea, claiming that he was not aware that the first district 'had- declared section 39.061 unconstitutional. See D.P. v. State, 597 So.2d 952 (Fla. 1st DCA 1992). The trial court denied the motion without ruling on the 'constitutionality of the statute.
The sole issue raised on appeal regards the constitutionality of section 39.061; however, appellant waived consideration of this issue by entering the guilty plea. In this regard, appellant does not specifically contend that the trial court abused its discretion in denying appellant’s motion to vacate his plea. The fact that appellant was unaware of D.P. does not render the entry of the plea unknowing, unintelligent, or involuntary. Reed v. State, 447 So.2d 933 (Fla. 3d DCA 1984); Manning v. State, 203 So.2d 360 (Fla. 2d DCA 1967).
MOTION DENIED.
. We would note that in B.H. v. State, 622 So.2d 615 (Fla. 5th DCA 1993), this court recently upheld the constitutionality of section 39.061.
Dissenting Opinion
dissenting.
I would grant appellant’s motion for rehearing because I think J.Y. preserved the constitutional issue for the purpose of this appeal, and this court’s disposition of the ease on the merits- is erroneous.
In my view, the record establishes that J.Y. “preserved” the issue of whether or not the juvenile escape statute is constitutional.
J.Y.’s motion to withdraw his plea was orally denied by the court at the May 4 hearing, although apparently no written order was entered. The judge said at that
Public defenders operating with limited resources, including library facilities and access to computer-driven research, understandably may lag a few weeks behind awareness of case law issued by this court as well as other DCAs.
As to the merits of this case, the record shows J.Y. left the Volusia House, a level VI juvenile detention facility on January 17, 1992. This was one of other prior escapes. Prior to the escape, he had been committed to a level VT facility by the juvenile judge.
In D.P. v. State, 597 So.2d 952 (Fla. 1st DCA 1992), the court held that section 39.-061, Florida Statutes (Supp. 1990) is unconstitutional because it impermissibly delegates to a state agency unguided discretion to define what the restrietiveness levels are from which an unauthorized departure may constitute a crime. See § 39.061 and 39.01(61), Fla.Stat. (Supp. 1990). This same statutory scheme was in effect when J.Y. escaped and was adjudicated.
Although not mentioned in Judge Miner’s opinion in D.P., under the statutory scheme in place when J.Y. and D.P. escaped, the juvenile court was then empowered to designate the restrietiveness level to which an offender was to be placed. See § 39.-052(3)(e)3, effective October 1, 1990.
. §§ 944.40 and 39.061, Fla.Stat. (Supp. 1992).
. D.P. v. State, 597 So.2d 952 (Fla. 1st DCA 1992).
. The First District is outside of J.Y.’s public defender'^ office’s jurisdiction.
. This constitutional defect may have been cured by amendments effective October 1, 1992. See § 39.061 and § 39.01(61)(c) and (d), Fla.Stat. (Supp. 1992).
. Section 39.052(3)(e)3, Florida Statutes (Supp. 1990) stated:
The court shall commit the child to the department at the restrietiveness level identified or may order placement at a different restrictiveness level. The court shall state in writing reasons which establish by a preponderance of the evidence why the court is disregarding the assessment of the child and the restrietiveness level recommended by the department. Any party may appeal the court's findings resulting in a modified level of restrietiveness pursuant to this subparagraph.
. State v. Gray, 435 So.2d 816 (Fla. 1983); State v. Wershow, 343 So.2d 605, 610 (Fla. 1977); State
Reference
- Full Case Name
- J.Y., a child v. STATE of Florida
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- Published