Kraus v. State
Kraus v. State
Opinion of the Court
John Kraus appeals an order denying his motion to correct illegal sentence under Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.800(a). We affirm in part and reverse in part.
Defendant-appellant Kraus entered into a plea agreement in Miami-Dade County circuit court ease number 01-14126 (“the 2001 case”) and case number 96-5770 (“the 1996 case”). In the 2001 case the agreement called for a fifteen-year sentence with a mandatory minimum sentence of fifteen years both as a habitual violent felony offender (HVFO) and habitual felony offender (HFO). In the 1996 case, the plea agreement called for a fifteen-year sentence. The trial court approved the agreement and imposed sentence accordingly.
With regard to the 2001 case, the defendant contends that he does not actually qualify as an HVFO. We reject this claim. For purposes of habitualization as an HVFO, the trial court relied on the defendant’s earlier conviction in the 1996 case. The 1996 case included a conviction for armed robbery, which is an enumerated offense. See § 775.084(1)(b)1.c., Fla. Stat. (2001).
In this case the defendant agreed to be sentenced as an HFO as well as an HVFO. The defendant argues that he does not qualify as an HFO. Although the trial court did not have the benefit of it at the time, the Florida Supreme Court has recently held that a defendant may only be sentenced under a single classification within the habitual offender statute. See Clines v. State, 912 So.2d 550 (Fla. 2005). In light of Clines, we strike the defendant’s classification as an HFO.
The State in its response points out that on certain counts in both cases, the sentence exceeds the legal maximum. In the 2001 case, the sentence on count one is within the legal maximum, but in count two exceeds the legal maximum. We remand for reduction of the sentence on count two to the legal maximum. The defendant need not be present.
In the 1996 case, the defendant received a non-habitual offender sentence. The
Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded for further proceedings consistent herewith.
. The crime date for the 2001 case was May 2001.
070rehearing
On Rehearing Granted
The court grants the amended motion for rehearing filed by defendant-appellant Kraus, to clarify our ruling.
As stated in the court’s earlier opinion, the defendant qualifies as a habitual violent felony offender (HVFO) in Miami-Dade County Circuit Court number OX-14126 (“the 2001 case”). In that case, resentencing is to occur as follows. On count one (burglary of an occupied dwelling) the sentence of fifteen years as an HVFO will remain the same. However, the fifteen-year mandatory minimum sentence on count one exceeds the legal maximum. See § 775.084(4)(b)2., Fla. Stat. (2001). On count one the mandatory minimum sentence must be reduced to ten years.
On count two (grand theft) the fifteen-year sentence exceeds the legal maximum. See id. § 775.084(4)(b)3. The fifteen-year sentence must be reduced to ten years as an HVFO. Similarly, the fifteen-year mandatory minimum sentence on count two exceeds the legal maximum. See id. The fifteen-year mandatory minimum sentence on count two must be reduced to five years.
With regard to Miami-Dade County Circuit Court case number 96-5770 (“the 1996 ease”), we modify our prior ruling. On counts one (armed robbery) and three (shooting or throwing a deadly missile) the fifteen-year sentences will remain the same. On count two (aggravated assault with a deadly weapon) the sentence must be reduced to five years. On count four (tampering with a witness), the trial court had imposed a suspended sentence of fifteen years. The sentence must be reduced to one year suspended.
As stated in our prior opinion, the defendant need not be present for resentencing.
Rehearing granted.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.