State of Florida v. Kenneth Purdy
State of Florida v. Kenneth Purdy
Opinion of the Court
We accepted review of the Fifth District Court of Appeal's decision in Purdy v. State , --- So.3d ----, 42 Fla. L. Weekly D272 (Fla. 5th DCA Jan. 27, 2017), to answer the following certified question:
WHEN A JUVENILE OFFENDER IS ENTITLED TO A SENTENCE REVIEW HEARING, IS THE TRIAL COURT REQUIRED TO REVIEW THE AGGREGATE SENTENCE THAT THE JUVENILE OFFENDER IS SERVING FROM THE SAME SENTENCING PROCEEDING IN DETERMINING WHETHER TO MODIFY THE OFFENDER'S SENTENCE BASED UPON DEMONSTRATED MATURITY AND REHABILITATION?
Purdy v. State , --- So.3d ----, ----, 42 Fla. L. Weekly D967, D967 (Fla. 5th DCA Apr. 28, 2017) (certifying question). We have jurisdiction. See art. V, § 3(b)(4), Fla. Const. We answer the certified question in the negative and quash the Fifth District's decision, which held that chapter 2014-220, Laws of Florida, requires modification of the overall sentence whenever a juvenile establishes rehabilitation at a statutorily required sentence review hearing.
BACKGROUND
I. Legal Context
In
Graham v. Florida
,
Two years later, in
Miller v. Alabama
,
In response, the Florida Legislature adopted chapter 2014-220, Laws of Florida, codified in sections 775.082, 921.1401, and 921.1402 of the Florida Statutes, to address the Eighth Amendment principles articulated in
Graham
and
Miller
. Although the effective date of these statutes was prospective as of July 1, 2014, this Court later unanimously held that
Miller
applied retroactively,
see
Falcon v. State
,
Significantly, in this case, the parties present and argue the certified question as one of statutory construction, which is answered by the plain language of the relevant statutes.
See
Holly v. Auld
,
Questions of statutory interpretation are reviewed de novo.
See
Borden v. East-European Ins. Co.
,
II. Relevant Statutes
Sections 775.082, 921.1401, and 921.1402, Florida Statutes (2015), now provide special sentencing rules for juveniles convicted of "certain serious felonies" identified in those statutes. Ch. 2014-220 (title);
see also
§ 921.1402, Fla. Stat. (2015) ("Review of
sentences for persons convicted
of specified offenses
while under the age of 18 years.") (emphasis added).
To fully understand chapter 2014-220, it is important to first recognize that the Legislature grafted its juvenile sentencing fix into the preexisting general statute that set the penalties applicable to each felony offense, by degree-section 775.082, Florida Statutes. Immediately prior to the enactment of chapter 2014-220, section 775.082(1) provided that the only sentences available for a capital felony were death or life. § 775.082, Fla. Stat. (2013). Section 775.082(2) dealt with the death penalty.
With the enactment of chapter 2014-220, the Legislature amended section 775.082(1) to provide new sentencing options for juveniles convicted of capital offenses. For example, a new subsection (1)(b)1 now provides:
A person who actually killed, intended to kill, or attempted to kill the victim and who is convicted under s. 782.04 [the homicide statute] of a capital felony, or an offense that was reclassified as a capital felony, which was committed before the person attained 18 years of age shall be punished by a term of imprisonment for life if, after a sentencing hearing conducted by the court in accordance with s. 921.1401, the court finds that life imprisonment is an appropriate sentence. If the court finds that life imprisonment is not an appropriate sentence, such person shall be punished by a term of imprisonment of at least 40 years. A person sentenced pursuant to this subparagraph [for a capital felony] is entitled to a review of his or her sentence in accordance with s. 921.1402(2)(a).
§ 775.082(1)(b) 1., Fla. Stat. (2015). Section 921.1402(2)(a) then provides in pertinent part that "[a] juvenile sentenced under s. 775.082(1)(b) 1. [for a capital felony] is entitled to review of his or her sentence after 25 years." § 921.1402(2)(a), Fla. Stat. (2015) (emphasis added). The only sentence referenced as eligible for review in this subsection is the sentence "under s. 775.082(1)(b) 1.," which is the sentence on the capital felony for a person who "actually killed, intended to kill, or attempted to kill the victim." § 775.082(1)(b) 1., Fla. Stat. (2015). This formula continues in similar fashion for the other enumerated serious felonies: other homicide offenses and any nonhomicide offense classified as a "life felony" or as a "first-degree felony punishable by life" (commonly referenced by trial courts and in sentencing documents as an "F1-PBL"). § 921.1402(2)(b)-(d), Fla. Stat. (2015). Chapter 2014-220 did not add any special juvenile sentencing provisions for lower-level offenses. For example, section 775.082 still simply provides that a felony of the second degree is to be punished "by a term of imprisonment not exceeding 15 years." § 775.082(3)(d), Fla. Stat. (2017). And, no review mechanism is provided for first-degree felonies (except for F1-PBLs), second-degree felonies, or third-degree felonies.
The new juvenile sentencing provisions seem complex because the sentencing rules for life felonies and F1-PBLs are complex. Life felonies committed before October 1, 1983, are punishable "by a term of imprisonment for life or a term of at least 30 years." § 775.082(3)(a) 1., Fla. Stat. (2017). Life felonies committed on or after October 1, 1983, but before July 1, 1995, are punishable "by a term of imprisonment for life or by a term of imprisonment not exceeding 40 years." § 775.082(3)(a) 2., Fla. Stat. (2017). Life felonies committed on or after July 1, 1995, are generally punishable "by a term of imprisonment for life or by imprisonment for a term of years not exceeding life imprisonment." § 775.082(3)(a) 3., Fla. Stat. (2017). However, there are additional sentencing rules for some life felonies committed after September 1, 2005, and July 1, 2008. § 775.082(3)(a) 4., Fla. Stat. (2017). F1-PBLs are punishable "by imprisonment for a term of years not exceeding life imprisonment." § 775.082(3)(b) 1., Fla. Stat. (2017).
The new juvenile sentencing rules for life felonies and F1-PBLs are categorized based upon whether the underlying offense is a homicide offense or nonhomicide offense and the length of sentence imposed. For example, a juvenile sentenced for a nonhomicide life felony to a term-of-years sentence of more than 20 years is entitled to review of that sentence after 20 years and, for longer sentences, is entitled to a second review 10 years after the initial review. §§ 775.082(3)(c), 921.1402(2)(d), Fla. Stat. (2015). As seen in these examples, and in the text itself, the review provisions added by the Legislature are clearly and unequivocally linked to those offenses specified in chapter 2014-220. Although a review mechanism is provided for some term-of-years sentences, this is only because life felonies and F1-PBLs can be punished by a term-of-years sentence, and because a juvenile can now be sentenced to a term-of-years sentence for a capital offense. §§ 775.082(1)(b), 775.082(3)(a) 5., 775.082(3)(b)2., 775.082(3)(c)., Fla. Stat. (2015).
III. Procedural History of the Case
Kenneth Purdy was convicted in 1997 of first-degree murder (a capital felony), armed robbery (an F1-PBL), and armed carjacking (an F1-PBL). He was sentenced to life without parole for the murder (the only sentence available at the time) and to 112.7 months (approximately 9.4 years) for the armed robbery and armed carjacking convictions, to run concurrently with one another but consecutive to the life sentence. Purdy was 17 at the time he committed the offenses. Purdy's convictions and sentences became final in 1998.
In 2015, Purdy filed a motion pursuant to Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.800, arguing that his life sentence violated
Miller
. Purdy did not seek relief on the sentences imposed consecutively to the life sentence. The trial court granted the relief requested and resentenced Purdy to 40 years for the murder conviction pursuant to chapter 2014-220, in accordance with
Horsley
, with no change to the 112.7-month sentences. Consistent with sections 921.1402(2) and (4), Florida Statutes (2015), the trial court later conducted the required review and determined that Purdy was "rehabilitated and that it reasonably believed [Purdy] to be fit to reenter society."
Purdy
, --- So.3d at ----, 42 Fla. L. Weekly at D272. Based upon this determination, the judge reduced the 40-year sentence to 20 years, 6 months and 13 days-the amount of time already served on that sentence-followed by 10 years of probation. Determining that the statute did not authorize review of the other sentences, Purdy was returned to prison to begin serving the 112.7-month sentences. Because probation is tolled during incarceration,
Evans v. Singletary
,
On appeal, the Fifth District reversed and remanded for the trial court to conduct another review hearing, holding that a trial court is required to review a juvenile offender's aggregate sentence at a sentence review hearing in order to determine whether to modify the sentence based on maturity and rehabilitation.
Purdy
, --- So.3d at ----, 42 Fla. L. Weekly at D273. The textual basis for this holding is unclear. The Fifth District also certified the question as one of great public importance.
ANALYSIS
Because the plain language of section 921.1402, Florida Statutes, only provides for review of the sentence imposed for Purdy's murder conviction pursuant to the new provisions added by chapter 2014-220 as sections 775.082(1)(b) and 921.1402(2)-and because no other provision authorizes resentencing on consecutive sentences-the trial court was correct in determining that the statute does not provide any basis for resentencing for the 112.7-month sentences.
See
Holly
,
On appeal, we have been presented with arguments pointing to several gaps and anomalies in the statutory scheme enacted to address the Eighth Amendment issues associated with juvenile sentencing. First, by limiting the review provisions to sentences imposed on crimes that carry a potential life sentence, chapter 2014-220 failed to address all potential Eighth Amendment violations.
Henry
,
Second, because the statute limits the review provisions and does not deal with the overall sentence, there will be other cases, like this one, where the sentencing court is required to consider whether the
offender "is rehabilitated and is reasonably believed to be fit to reenter society" even though the offender will continue to be incarcerated irrespective of the outcome of the hearing. Amicus points out that the continued incarceration of an offender on offenses arising from a single criminal episode under these circumstances-long after a judicial determination that the juvenile offender is rehabilitated-may raise additional Eighth Amendment issues.
Third, by limiting the review provisions to certain serious offenses, the Legislature has placed juveniles convicted of serious violent felonies in a better position than juveniles who commit less serious nonviolent offenses. For example, section 775.082(1)(b) provides that a juvenile convicted of homicide (a capital offense) but who did not "actually kill, intend to kill, or attempt to kill the victim" is entitled to review of his or her sentence-and potential release from prison-after 15 years. § 775.082(1)(b). By contrast, a juvenile convicted of one count of sale or delivery of a controlled substance within 1000 feet of a school commits a first-degree felony and can be sentenced to 30 years in prison with no review and no opportunity for early release. §§ 893.13(1)(c)1., 775.082(3)(b)1., Fla. Stat. (2015).
But the existence of these limitations in the coverage of section 921.1402 provides no basis for a judicial expansion of the statute that ignores the unambiguous statutory provisions.
See, e.g.,
State v. Weeks
,
CONCLUSION
Because the plain language of the juvenile sentencing statutes does not provide for aggregation of sentences at judicial sentence review, we answer the certified question in the negative, quash the Fifth District's decision below, and remand for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.
It is so ordered.
CANADY, C.J., and POLSTON, J., concur.
LEWIS, J., concurs in result.
PARIENTE, J., dissents with an opinion, in which LABARGA, J., concurs.
QUINCE, J., dissents.
While the 2015 version of the Florida Statutes applies to the case at issue and is therefore the version cited in this opinion, the current 2018 version of the Florida Statutes is the same for sections 921.1401, 921.1402, and 775.082.
Cognizant of these issues, we observe that our decision today only addresses the statutory construction issue presented and does not foreclose Purdy from challenging his consecutive 112.7-month sentences in the trial court on Eighth Amendment grounds.
Dissenting Opinion
The narrow certified question in this case is whether the trial court should have considered Purdy's aggregate sentence resulting from criminal acts that arose from one criminal episode that occurred at the same time on the same day. I would answer that question in the affirmative because failing to consider a juvenile defendant's aggregate prison sentence for crimes that arose from a single criminal episode when determining whether the sentence is constitutional violates the Eighth Amendment.
In 1997, Kenneth Purdy was sentenced to life without parole for a 1995 first-degree murder and a consecutive sentence of 9.4 years for armed robbery and armed kidnapping (concurrent with each other but not to the first-degree murder), all of which arose from the same criminal episode that occurred on the same day at the same time. At his resentencing hearing in 2015, conducted pursuant to the United States Supreme Court's opinion in
Miller v. Alabama
,
The result reached by the plurality today ignores and cannot be reconciled with the United States Supreme Court's opinions in
Graham v. Florida
,
Purdy's sentence was the result of a single criminal episode, for which he has been found rehabilitated. Accordingly, I would conclude, based upon this Court's opinion in Henry , that sections 775.082(1)(b) and 921.1402 required the trial court to consider and modify Purdy's aggregate sentence at the resentencing hearing. §§ 775.082(1)(b), 921.1402, Fla. Stat. (2015). Because the plurality's analysis is one that the Legislature clearly did not contemplate or intend and is unconstitutional under the Eighth Amendment, I dissent.
ANALYSIS
It is well-established that juvenile offenders have "diminished culpability" relative to adults.
Roper v. Simmons
,
It was against this backdrop that the Legislature adopted chapter 2014-220, Laws of Florida.
See
§§ 775.082, 921.1401,
921.1402, Fla. Stat. (2015) ; plurality op. at 725. Chapter 2014-220 provides for "sentence review proceedings to be conducted after a specified period of time by the original sentencing court for juvenile offenders convicted of
certain
offenses." Ch. 2014-220, Laws of Fla. (emphasis added);
see
§ 921.1402(2), (6), Fla. Stat. (2015). "If the court determines ... that the juvenile offender has been rehabilitated and is reasonably believed to be fit to reenter society," section 921.1402(7) provides that "the court
shall
modify the sentence and impose a term of probation of at least 5 years."
Consistent with the United States Supreme Court's opinions in Graham and Miller and this Court's subsequent opinions in Henry and Horsley , courts reviewing sentences under section 921.1402 must have the authority to modify a juvenile's aggregate sentence, in order to preserve the statute's constitutionality. As we have previously explained:
This Court has an obligation to construe a statute in a way that preserves its constitutionality. See State v. Harris ,356 So.2d 315 , 316-17 (Fla. 1978) (construing section 812.021(3), in a constitutional manner where the statute was procedurally flawed); see also Fla. Dep't of Children & Families v. F.L. ,880 So.2d 602 , 609 (Fla. 2004) (stating that the Court has an obligation to construe a statute in a way that preserves its constitutionality). It is this Court's duty to "save Florida statutes from the constitutional dustbin whenever possible." Doe v. Mortham ,708 So.2d 929 , 934 (Fla. 1998). This Court is bound to "resolve all doubts as to the validity of the statute in favor of its constitutionality, provided the statute may be given a fair construction that is consistent with the federal and state constitutions as well as with legislative intent." Heart of Adoptions, Inc. v. J.A. ,963 So.2d 189 , 207 (Fla. 2007) (citation omitted).
Perry v. State
,
As a consequence of its interpretation of the statute, the plurality opinion correctly concedes that proportionality concerns may arise, stating "by limiting the review provisions to certain serious offenses, the Legislature has placed juveniles convicted of serious violent felonies in a better position than juveniles who commit less serious nonviolent offenses." Plurality op. at 729. However, a "sentence lacking any legitimate penological justification is by its nature disproportionate to the offense."
Graham
,
Our conclusion that Landrum's sentence is unconstitutional is also compelled by the "precept of justice that punishment for crime should be graduated and proportioned to [the] offense." Graham v. Florida ,560 U.S. 48 , 59,130 S.Ct. 2011 ,176 L.Ed.2d 825 (2010) (internal quotation omitted). Upholding Landrum's sentence would violate this precept, as a juvenile convicted of the lesser offense of second-degree murder would receive a harsher sentence than a juvenile convicted of first-degree murder.
Landrum v. State
,
Despite the undeniable proportionality concerns, the plurality declares itself bound by the strict language of chapter 2014-220, concluding that "the existence of these limitations," or anomalies, "in the coverage of section 921.1402 provides no basis for a judicial expansion of the statute that ignores the unambiguous statutory provisions." Plurality op. at 729. Of course, in reaching this conclusion, the plurality ignores that we have stated time and again that "a sterile literal interpretation should not be adhered to when it would lead to absurd results."
State v. Hackley
,
Contrary to the plurality's assertions, a constitutional interpretation of sections 775.082(1)(b) and 921.1402 is possible. By interpreting section 921.1402 in a way that permits sentencing courts to review the offender's "sentence" under subsection (7)-which includes the entire sentence for any one criminal episode, not just the sentence for a particular crime within a criminal episode-this Court can preserve the statute's constitutionality. Moreover, this interpretation is consistent with both this Court's and the United States Supreme Court's juvenile sentencing jurisprudence.
In
Henry
, this Court held that
Graham
applies with equal force to aggregate sentences that do "not afford any 'meaningful opportunity to obtain release based on demonstrated maturity and rehabilitation.' "
Henry
,
THIS CASE
In 1995, at the age of seventeen, Purdy committed several crimes during the course of one criminal episode. Consequently, Purdy's entire sentence-life in prison without the possibility of parole plus 9.4 years-arose from the same criminal episode. Thus, when the trial court deemed Purdy to be "rehabilitated" and "fit to reenter society" this determination was not the byproduct of the trial court's consideration of only the offense of first-degree murder, but rather, the trial court's consideration of all of the crimes which Purdy committed that day. Accordingly, I would conclude, as this Court has done previously, that section 775.082(1)(b) afforded the trial court the authority to review and modify Purdy's aggregate prison sentence.
CONCLUSION
It is an anomaly that Kenneth Purdy, who has proven to the courts of this State that he has moved past his previous crimes and is ready to be a contributing member of society, must continue to be imprisoned. That anomaly is unconstitutional. I would, instead, read the applicable statutes as the Fifth District Court of Appeal did-to require the trial court to review and allow it to modify a juvenile offender's aggregate sentence for multiple convictions arising out of the same criminal episode. I would thus answer the certified question in the affirmative and approve the result reached by the Fifth District. But, since the plurality decision does not reach that result, I urge the Legislature to review the unconstitutional incongruities demonstrated by this case.
LABARGA, J., concurs.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- STATE of Florida, Petitioner, v. Kenneth PURDY, Respondent.
- Cited By
- 6 cases
- Status
- Published