Rich v. State
Rich v. State
Opinion of the Court
Meldon Rich appeals the denial of a petition styled “Emergency Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus.” We affirm.
Rich is serving two concurrent terms of life imprisonment following his conviction for first degree felony murder and sexual battery with physical force. His conviction and sentence were affirmed by this court. Rich v. State, 791 So.2d 465 (Fla. 1st DCA 2001).
Rich filed an emergency petition for a writ of habeas corpus in the circuit court of Escambia County on September 22, 2008.
Rich claims in his petition that he was convicted of a non-existent crime, and hence, fundamental error occurred. More particularly, Rich claims that because the prosecution argued that Rich strangled the victim to death and then sexually battered her, the prosecution did not prove sexual battery. Sexual battery cannot be committed on a deceased person. Jones v. State, 569 So.2d 1234 (Fla. 1990); Owen v. State, 560 So.2d 207 (Fla. 1990), vacated on other grounds, State v. Owen, 696 So.2d 715 (Fla. 1997). The cir
AFFIRMED.
. Rich's emergency petition reflects that at the time of its filing Rich was in custody in Hamilton County. A petition for habeas corpus should be filed in the circuit where the movant is located. See Heard v. Fla. Parole Comm’n, 811 So.2d 808 (Fla. 1st DCA 2002). Rich's petition should have been dismissed below because it was filed in a circuit which did not have jurisdiction over him.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.