Warren Staples v. State of Florida
Warren Staples v. State of Florida
Opinion of the Court
Warren Staples seeks review of the decision of the Fifth District Court of Appeal
FACTS
On August 28, 2012, Petitioner Warren Staples pleaded guilty to one count of traveling to meet a minor under section 847.0135(4)(b), Florida Statutes (2011).
From November 2012 to March 2013, Petitioner attended a sex offender treatment program with ITM Group. However, on March 22, 2013, Petitioner was discharged from the program for refusing to admit to any sexual misconduct necessitating treatment.
At the violation of probation hearing, Petitioner’s therapist, Jack Stultz, testified that Petitioner was first admitted into the program on a trial basis to determine his amenability for treatment. This trial period typically lasts for two months but was extended in Petitioner’s case to give him an opportunity to admit responsibility for any deviant or inappropriate behaviors to be addressed as part of the program.
Petitioner testified that he entered his guilty plea because he felt it was in his
At the conclusion of the testimony, the trial court initially struggled to reconcile Petitioner’s lack of notice of the admission requirement with the probation condition that Petitioner successfully complete the sex offender treatment program.
The Fifth District affirmed the revocation:
On appeal, Staples argues that his dismissal from the sex offender treatment program based on his repeated refusal to admit to engaging in deviant sexual behavior cannot constitute a willful and substantial violation of probation where he was never advised, prior to the entry of his plea, that his admission to such behavior would be required. Although Staples may not have been aware of this requirement at the time of the entry of his plea, the record reflects that he was made aware of the necessity to acknowledge his offending behavior months before he was dismissed from the program. Upon learning of the full consequences of his plea, Staples’ reme*32 dy was to either file a written motion to withdraw his plea, or a motion to vacate his judgment and sentence pursuant to Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.850. Because Staples did neither, we conclude that the trial court could properly revoke his probation.
Staples, 161 So.3d at 562 (footnotes omitted). The district court found that given the treatment program’s requirement that an offender admit sexual misconduct in order to complete the program, it was Petitioner’s “decision to refuse to take the steps necessary to complete the treatment program” and accepting Petitioner’s argument “would, in essence, excuse [Petitioner] from performance of a legislatively mandated probation condition.” Id. at 563. Petitioner appeals this decision on the basis of conflict jurisdiction.
ANALYSIS
Petitioner argues that the trial court abused its discretion when it found that Petitioner willfully and substantially violated his probation by refusing to admit to some type of deviant behavior to be addressed by the sex offender treatment program. Whether a violation of probation is willful and substantial and has been demonstrated by the greater weight of the evidence, is a question of fact for the trial court. State v. Carter, 835 So.2d 259, 262 (Fla. 2002). The decision to revoke probation based on a willful and substantial violation is reviewed for an abuse of discretion. Id. However, where the issue presented is a question of law, the standard of review is de novo. Adams v. State, 979 So.2d 921, 925 (Fla. 2008); Lawson v. State, 969 So.2d 222, 229 (Fla. 2007). While we will need to determine whether the trial court abused its discretion, the conflict issue here presents the legal question of whether a refusal to admit sexual misconduct can constitute a violation of probation. As such, this initial question of law is reviewed de novo.
I. The Conflict Issue
The trial court and the Fifth District in the instant case found the refusal to admit wrongdoing to be a violation of the probation condition requiring successful completion of a sex offender treatment program because such refusal results in the offender’s discharge from the program .he was required to successfully complete. See Mills, 840 So.2d at 467 (“Mills did not express any interest in successfully completing a [sex] offender program in which he would have to admit his guilt. Successful completion, of the program, however, was dependent on such an acknowledgment. Therefore, the court did not abuse its discretion in finding a violation.”); Arias v. State, 751 So.2d 184, 186 (Fla. 3d DCA 2000) (finding that probationer’s refusal to accept full responsibility for his criminal conduct “obviously precludes his successful completion of this program”); Archer v. State, 604 So.2d 561, 563 (Fla. 1st DCA 1992) (“Archer adamantly maintained at the hearing that he had no sexual problem and expressed.no willingness to ... comply with the condition of probation.”). Courts following this approach have found the refusal to admit wrongdoing a willful and substantial violation because upon becoming aware of the admission requirement, the offender should have made a motion to withdraw the plea or vacate the judgment. Staples, 161 So.3d at 562; Mills, 840 So.2d at 466-67; Archer, 604 So.2d at 563. Having done neither, the offender can have his or her probation revoked by the trial court, regardless of whether the offender was made aware of the requirement prior to the entry of the plea. Staples, 161 So.3d at 562; Mills, 840 So.2d at 466-67; Archer, 604 So.2d at 563.
We reject the rule from Bennett, Bell, and Diaz that requiring an offender to admit sexual misconduct is an impermissible third-party condition that- cannot serve as the basis of a revocation. Instead, we recognize the admission requirement not as a probation condition on its own but as an internal, program-specific requirement that may or may not cause’an offender to violate the “successful completion” condition of sex offender probation.
II. This Case
This Court reviews the trial court’s revocation of probation for an abuse of discretion and must affirm the revocation unless “the trial court acted in an arbitrary, fanciful or unreasonable manner.” Carter, 835 So.2d at 262. Here, the trial court found that even if Petitioner did not have notice that he would be required to admit guilt as a condition of his probation, under Mills, Petitioner’s best recourse upon discovering the requirement was to move to set aside his plea on that basis. Thus, the trial court found that the State presented sufficient evidence that Petitioner willfully and substantially violated his probation. The Fifth District affirmed, also finding that Petitioner’s proper remedy was to file a motion to withdraw his plea or vacate his judgment and sentence. Staples, 161 So.3d at 562. Both courts are correct that Petitioner could have moved to set aside his plea or vacate his judgment and sentence.
As to whether the violation was substantial, Dr. Stultz testified that a client would not be amenable to treatment in the ITM program if that client were not willing to admit that he or she has a problem. Arias, 751 So.2d at 186 (finding that probationer’s refusal to accept full responsibility for his criminal conduct “obviously precludes his successful completion of this program”). Therefore, Petitioner’s refusal to admit the need for help completely foreclosed his ability to successfully complete ITM’s sex offender treatment program. Further, this Court has previously found a violation of sex offender probation to be substantial based on the importance of treatment to the sex offender and society. Adams, 979 So.2d at 928 (“[S]ex offender probation and the treatment programs are essential not only to [the offender’s] well-being and rehabilitation, but also to the protection of society and any potential future victims.”).
Regarding willfulness, a probationer cannot willfully violate a condition of probation unless that probationer has adequate notice of what conduct is prohibited. Lawson, 969 So.2d at 230. Here, Dr. Stultz testified that ITM extended Petitioner’s trial period by about three months in order to give Petitioner an opportunity to identify any deviant or inappropriate behaviors that needed to be addressed as part of the program. Petitioner rejected
CONCLUSION
We disapprove Bennett, Bell, and Diaz to the extent that they are inconsistent with our decision. We approve the Fifth District’s decision in Staples v. State, 161 So.3d 661 (Fla. 5th DCA 2014), affirming the trial court’s revocation of Petitioner’s probation.
It is so ordered.
. Petitioner was also charged with solicitation of a minor via computer, § 847.0135(3)(b), Fla. Stat. (2011), and attempted lewd or lascivious battery, §§ 800.04(4)(a), 777.04. However, the State entered a nolle prosequi on those counts.
. Admitting fault or some form of deviant sexual misconduct is a required part of ITM Group's sex offender treatment program.
.Dr. Stultz opined that a client is not amenable to treatment if that client is not willing to admit that he or she has a problem.
. Petitioner began treatment with another therapist in the ITM Group, but was transferred to Dr. Stultz after a change in employment required that he attend night sessions instead. Petitioner provided the only testimony about his attendance while being treated by the first therapist in November and December and stated that he could not remember having any absences.
. Notably, this record does not demonstrate that any such programs exist. Dr. Stultz only testified that he knew other programs existed but did not know what their requirements were. Petitioner testified that no one indicated to him whether other programs not including the admission requirement existed.
. The trial judge's first impression was that the probation order "leaves out any requirement for admitting. And although [Petitioner's probation officer] and ITM might have said he has to admit[,] I can’t violate somebody for orders created by probation or by counseling services. I can only violate for orders created by, in this case, Judge Polodna and this Court." He also stated, "Probation doesn’t have the authority to create conditions of probation. I can’t violate him for a condition of probation that probation tells the defendant he has to do.”
. See Kiess v. State, 642 So.2d 1141, 1142 (Fla. 4th DCA 1994) ("Violation of a condition which is imposed by a probation officer, rather than an express condition of the trial court, cannot serve as a basis for revocation of probation.”),
. Respondent argües that these cases are distinguishable in several ways. First, he asserts that they are distinguishable because they each require the probationer to accept responsibility for or admit to the crime charged; whereas in this case, Petitioner was required only to admit wrongdoing or deviant sexual behavior in general. However, it is not clear from the record in this case whether Petitioner was required to admit guilt or simply acknowledge deviant behavior. Further, if this factor distinguishes the conflict cases, it also distinguishes the veiy case upon which Respondent himself relies because the offender in Mitts was also required to "take responsibility for his offending behaviors” and “admit his guilt.” Mills, 840 So.2d at 466; see also Arias, 751 So.2d at 186-87.
Respondent also argues that the cases are distinguishable because they involve probationers who were not on sex offender probation but instead received, as special conditions of their probation, conditions with language similar to the successful completion condition of sex offender probation. However, Respondent does not explain why such fact precludes the reasoning from being applied similarly to other types of probation cases. See Adams, 979 So.2d at 926-27 (applying principle from drug offender probation case to sex offender probation case).
Lastly, Respondent argues that Bell and Diaz are distinguishable because the conditions in both cases required something less than "completion” of treatment. Bell, 643 So.2d at 674 (requiring that offender "submit to” counseling); Diaz, 629 So.2d at 261 (requiring offender to "receive” treatment or counseling). However, in neither case was that fact relevant to the way the district court decided the willful and substantial violation issue. As such, the conflict cases cited by Petitioner are not distinguishable on the bases offered by Respondent.
Dissenting Opinion
dissenting.
In this case the defendant entered a best interest plea so that he was not required to admit the crime to which he pled guilty—traveling to meet a minor. More importantly, he was not required to admit—and did not actually admit in court— that he engaged in sexually deviant behavior. While I agree that the defendant need not be put on notice of every program-specific requirement of probation, I disagree with the majority’s attempt to characterize the substantial requirement, that is admitting to sexually deviant behavior, as merely “an internal, program-specific requirement” of probation. Majority op. at 33. Without notice of this substantial probation requirement to admit to sexually deviant behavior he did not admit to in court, the ■ defendant could not have willfully and substantially violated his probation by later failing to admit to such behavior in a sex offender probation treatment program, and his probation should not have been revoked on that basis. See State v. Meeks, 789 So.2d 982, 987 (Fla. 2001) (A violation of probation “must always be willful and substantial to produce a revocation.”) (emphasis omitted).
Additionally, I dissent because I disagree with the majority’s conclusion that the defendant’s proper remedy to avoid violating ■ his probation when the State failed to convey this substantial probation requirement was moving to withdraw his plea. Majority op. at 34. In this case where the defendant lacked notice of the probation requirement in the first place, that remedy would have improperly shifted the burden of proof in a violation of probation proceeding from the State to the defendant. Accordingly, I dissent.
Sex offender probation under section 948.30(l)(c), Florida Statutes (2011), requires “[ajctive participation and successful completion of’ a sex offender treatment program. However; as the majority acknowledges, the statute does not further define the “successful completion” requirement as mandating that the defendant admit sexual misconduct. Majority op. at 30.
We explained in Lawson v. State that an essential part of due process in the revocation of probation is that “the probation order must [ ] adequately place the probationer on notice of conduct that is both required and prohibited during the probationary period.” 969 So.2d 222, 230 (Fla. 2007). As the majority points out, in Lawson we recognized that due process considerations do not require that the probation
I have no quarrel with the majority’s rejection of a bright-line rule that a trial court must advise a defendant of every program specific requirement that will subject him or her to revocation. Id. at 33. I disagree, however, that the requirement that one admit to engaging in sexually deviant behavior when one was not required to admit such behavior in court can be characterized as an “internal, program specific requirement,” not warranting notice prior to the entry of the plea. Id.
The issue we considered in Lawson was whether the State was required to put the defendant on notice of the number of attempts the defendant would have to successfully complete a drug treatment program, which is precisely the type of program specific requirement that does not need to be specified when imposing the condition of probation. 969 So.2d at 228. Certainly in the present case, it is reasonable to conclude that the probationer was on notice that to successfully complete his probation, he would have to actually attend the sex offender treatment program.
In stark contrast to the issue in Lawson, it is not a reasonable construction of the probation condition at issue here that the probationer was on notice that “successfully completing” the treatment program would also require admitting to sexual misconduct—something the probationer was “not required to admit” in court. See majority op. at 31. Thus, under this Court’s precedent in Lawson, due process considerations do not allow the revocation of Staples’s probation for noncompliance of a critical, yet unspecified, aspect of a probation condition that Staples—or any reasonable person—did not have notice of and would not have been expected to know could “subject him or her to revocation.” 969 So.2d at 235.
In short, if the condition of probation required the defendant to admit that he engaged in sexually deviant behavior, then that requirement should have been communicated to him before the time of the plea. This communication is even more critical when considering that in this case, although the defendant pled guilty, he asserted that it was a best interest plea, and he “was not required to admit in court that he had actually committed the charged offense.” Majority op. at 31.
Withdrawal of Plea is an Improper Remedy
I also disagree with the majority’s conclusion that the defendant’s proper remedy in this case for avoiding a violation of his probation “was to file a motion to withdraw his plea or vacate his judgement and sentence.” Majority op. at 34 (citing Staples v. State, 161 So.3d 561, 562 (Fla. 5th DCA 2014)). It defies logic to require a defendant to withdraw his plea to avoid violating a probation condition that was never communicated to him when that remedy is, as the Fifth District explained, typically available for a defendant who does “not understand the consequences of his plea.” Staples, 161 So.3d at 564; see also Mills v. State, 840 So.2d 464, 466 (Fla. 4th DCA 2003); Archer v. State, 604 So.2d 561, 563 (Fla. 1st DCA 1992). A defendant cannot plausibly lack an understanding of the consequences of his plea when those consequences were never communicated to him so that he could form such an understanding in the first place.
Further, such a remedy inverts the burden of proof in a violation of probation proceeding, where the State must prove,
Under the specific facts of this case, I would conclude that the defendant’s failure to admit that he engaged in sexually deviant behavior did not constitute a willful and substantial violation of probation because he did not have notice before he entered his plea that “successful completion” of a sex offender treatment program would require admitting to sexual misconduct. If the requirement of admitting that he engaged in sexually deviant behavior was a prerequisite of “successful completion” of a “sex offender treatment program,” then that condition should have been communicated to the defendant before he entered his plea. Accordingly, I would approve the conflict decisions in Bennett v. State, 684 So.2d 242 (Fla. 2d DCA 1996), Bell v. State, 643 So.2d 674 (Fla. 1st DCA 1994), and Diaz v. State, 629 So.2d 261 (Fla. 4th DCA 1993), and quash the Fifth District’s decision in Staples v. State, 161 So.3d 561 (Fla. 5th DCA 2014).
LABARGA, C.J., and PERRY, J., concur.
Reference
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- Warren STAPLES, Petitioner, v. STATE of Florida, Respondent
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