Cannon v. State
Cannon v. State
Opinion of the Court
Cannon appeals his sentence on the ground that the sentencing score included four points pursuant to section 921.0011(3) because Cannon was out on bond when he committed the theft offense for which he was sentenced. We agree the points should not have been included.
Section 921.0014(l)(b) provides that four points should be added to a sentencing score if at the time an offender commits an offense before the court for sentencing, any form of “legal status” existed, regarding the offender. “Legal status” is defined in section 921.0011(3), inter alia, as an offender who violates any condition of a supersedeas bond;
In Annunziata v. State, 697 So.2d 997 (Fla. 5th DCA 1997), this court held that a defendant could not be assessed legal status points for being out on bond when he or she commits a new crime. We concluded that section 921.0011(3)(g) did not expand the rule to encompass an offender’s pre-trial bond status, pointing out that the sentencing guidelines are to be strictly construed in favor of the defendant.
The state argues the sentence was proper because the sentencing judge was not bound by the plea agreement. In any event, the inclusion of the four points was error.
Accordingly, we vacate the sentence and remand for resentencing.
Sentence VACATED; and REMANDED for Resentencing.
. § 921.001 l(3)(d), Fla. Stat.
. § 921.001 l(3)(g), Fla. Stat.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.