Holt v. State
Holt v. State
Opinion of the Court
John Kevin Holt appeals his convictions and sentences for capital sexual battery (count I), lewd, lascivious or indecent act (count II), lewd or lascivious molestation on a person under twelve by a person over eighteen (count III), and lewd or lascivious molestation on a person twelve to sixteen by a person over eighteen (count IV). After a jury found him guilty of all charges, the trial court imposed life imprisonment on counts I and III and fifteen years on counts II and IV, all to run consecutive. We affirm Holt’s convictions on the four counts but vacate his sentences and remand for resentencing before a different judge.
In this case, Holt has repeatedly denied committing the crimes charged and has persisted in maintaining his innocence. As such, the established law compels us to conclude that it was improper for the trial court to consider Holt’s protestations of innocence and failure to show remorse in determining what sentence to impose.
A trial court generally has discretion to impose any sentence within the minimum and maximum allowed by law. Nusspickel v. State, 966 So.2d 441, 444 (Fla. 2d DCA 2007); see also § 921.002(l)(f), (g), Fla. Stat. (2008). This discretion is limited, however, by constitutional principles of
Even in the face of overwhelming evidence, a person in Holt’s position is constitutionally entitled to plead not guilty, demand a trial, and despite a unanimous jury verdict, continue to decline to incriminate himself. See Holton, 573 So.2d at 292.
Convictions affirmed; sentences vacated and remanded for resentencing before a different judge.
Concurring Opinion
concurring specially.
I acknowledge the line of cases cited by the majority opinion. It is the law. The effect of this law is to require judges to be careful what they say in sentencing.
Whether a criminal defendant is remorseful for what he or she has done has long been a proper factor for a judge to consider in imposing sentence. As we wrote in St. Val v. State, 958 So.2d 1146, 1146-47 (Fla. 4th DCA 2007),
[i]f a defendant is remorseful, it means that he is sorry he committed the crime for which he is to be sentenced. One who so regrets his acts may not commit such acts in the future. This is the type of factor that judges have historically taken into consideration in imposing sentence.
Given the state of the case law, careful judges will not discuss a defendant’s lack of remorse during a sentencing hearing.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.