Akins v. State, 691 So. 2d 587 (Fla. 1st DCA 1997). · Go Syfert
Akins v. State, 691 So. 2d 587 (Fla. 1st DCA 1997). Cases Citing This Book View Copy Cite
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An indictment cannot be amended by stipulation to charge a different offense, and a conviction for a nonexistent crime violates due process.

The defendant pleaded guilty to attempted first-degree felony murder, a crime later invalidated by the Florida Supreme Court. Before sentencing, the parties stipulated to substitute attempted first-degree premeditated murder for sentencing purposes. The court addresses whether an indictment can be amended by stipulation to charge a different offense. The court applies the rule that an indictment cannot be amended to charge a different or new offense, even by agreement of the parties, and that a conviction for a nonexistent crime violates due process. Because the trial court lacked jurisdiction to sentence the defendant for the invalidated offense or the substituted offense, the court vacates the conviction and sentence for attempted first-degree felony murder and remands the case.

19 citation events (14 in the last 25 years) across 2 distinct courts.
Cited for
At page 589 Jurisdiction cannot be conferred by agreement of the parties3 citing casesholding that, where the trial court lacked jurisdiction because the indictment charged a nonexistent crime and the parties’ stipulation to amend the indictment to charge a different crime was ineffective, “[a]n ‘invited error’ analysis is inapplicable ... because jurisdiction cannot be conferred on…2 citing courts put it this way
  • Metellus v. State, 817 So. 2d 1009 (Fla. 5th DCA 2002).published
    (noting that "jurisdiction cannot be conferred on the court by agreement of the parties)
  • Akins v. State, 104 So. 3d 1173 (Fla. 1st DCA 2012).published
    See Akins v. State, 691 So.2d 587, 589 (Fla. 1st DCA 1997).
  • Anderson v. State, 93 So. 3d 1201 (Fla. 1st DCA 2012).published
    (holding that, where the trial court lacked jurisdiction because the indictment charged a nonexistent crime and the parties’ stipulation to amend the indictment to charge a different crime was ineffective, “[a]n ‘invited…)
At page 588 Invalidating charges based on superseding indictment defects2 citing casesstating that, “[i]n State v. Gray, ... the court ruled that an indictment or information failing to allege an essential element of a crime did not charge a crime and that this constitutes both denial of due process and fundamental error1 citing court put it this way · 1 listed here
  • Baker v. State, 4 So. 3d 758 (Fla. 1st DCA 2009).published
    (stating that, “[i]n State v. Gray, ... the court ruled that an indictment or information failing to allege an essential element of a crime did not charge a crime and that this constitutes both denial of due process and…)
Other citing cases3 with no pin cite or quoted language on record
Retrieving the full opinion text from the archive…
Aundra AKINS, Appellant,
v.
STATE of Florida, Appellee.
96-300.
District Court of Appeal of Florida, First District.
Apr 16, 1997.
Published opinion
691 So. 2d 587
1997 WL 178846
Per Curiam.
Cited by 11 opinions  |  Published
Pinpoint authority: bottom 48%

[*588] Steven L. Seliger, of Garcia and Seliger, Quincy, for Appellant.

Robert A. Butterworth, Attorney General; Trisha E. Meggs, Assistant Attorney General, Tallahassee, for Appellee.

PER CURIAM.

Appellant raises two issues in this appeal following his guilty plea. We affirm in regard to the second issue without discussion. As explained below, we reverse on the first issue.

Appellant was charged by superseding indictment with first degree murder, attempted first degree felony murder, two counts of attempted robbery with a firearm, and one count of shooting into an occupied vehicle. On January 23, 1995, appellant entered a negotiated plea of guilty to the lesser included offense of second-degree murder on Count I and guilty as charged on Count II, and the State agreed to nol pros Counts III, IV, and V and recommend that appellant's sentence not exceed 40 years on each count with 3-year minimum mandatories on each count concurrent. After the guilty plea was taken but before the sentencing hearing was held on November 14, 1995, the Florida Supreme Court decided State v. Gray, 654 So.2d 552 (Fla.1995), which invalidated the crime of attempted felony murder. At the sentencing hearing, appellant and the state specifically addressed the fact that appellant had pled guilty to first-degree attempted felony murder by jointly stipulating to a substitution of attempted first-degree premeditated murder on Count II for purposes of sentencing. In the instant case, appellant argues that this stipulation was ineffectual to amend the indictment and that appellant thus was convicted of the non-existent crime of attempted felony murder. We agree.

In State v. Gray, 435 So.2d 816 (Fla.1983), the court ruled that an indictment or information failing to allege an essential element of a crime did not charge a crime and that this constitutes both denial of due process and fundamental error.

The state is correct in arguing that ordinarily the test for granting relief based on a defect in the charging document is actual prejudice to the fairness of the trial. However, a conviction on a charge not made by the indictment or information is a denial of due process of law. If the charging instrument completely fails to charge a crime, therefore, a conviction thereon violates due process. Where an indictment or information wholly omits to allege one or more of the essential elements of the crime, it fails to charge a crime under the laws of the state.

Id. at 818 (citations omitted). Accord Jozens v. State, 649 So.2d 322 (Fla. 1st DCA 1995)(reversing conviction and sentence for lewd and lascivious act because information failed to charge a crime and conviction for nonexistent offense is reversible fundamental error). See Smith v. State, 324 So.2d 699, 700 (Fla. 1st DCA 1976).

In the instant case appellant was charged by indictment, and Florida cases have long held that an indictment, unlike an information, cannot be amended, not even by a grand jury, to charge a different, similar, or new offense. Smith v. State, 424 So.2d 726, 729 (Fla.1983)("[A] grand jury has no authority to amend an indictment to charge an additional or different offense," but "may file a completely new indictment regarding the same alleged criminal actions, even though a prior indictment is pending."), cert. denied, 462 U.S. 1145, 103 S.Ct. 3129, 77 L.Ed.2d 1379 (1983). Amending an indict ment by stipulation to charge attempted premeditated murder as was done in the instant case, therefore, is not permissible. See Huene v. State, 570 So.2d 1031, 1032 (Fla. 1st DCA 1990)("An indictment is amended when it is so altered as to charge an additional or different offense from that found by the grand jury."), review denied, 581 So.2d 1308 (Fla.1991). The trial court thus lacked jurisdiction to sentence appellant for attempted first-degree felony murder because this offense was no longer a crime at the time he was sentenced, and the court lacked jurisdiction to sentence appellant for attempted premeditated[*589] murder because an indictment cannot be amended by stipulation of the parties. An "invited error" analysis is inapplicable in the instant case because jurisdiction cannot be conferred on the court by agreement of the parties. Evans v. State, 647 So.2d 180 (Fla. 1st DCA 1994)("The parties cannot, even by stipulation, confer jurisdiction upon a court where no jurisdiction exists.")

We vacate appellant's conviction and sentence for first degree attempted felony murder only. Upshaw v. State, 665 So.2d 303, 304 (Fla. 2d DCA 1995)(vacating convictions for nonexistent crime of attempted first degree felony murder and invalidating defendant's nolo plea because entered "on a material mistake of law"). On remand the state may file an information or indictment that charges a valid offense. See Upshaw, supra; Zanger v. State, 548 So.2d 746, 748 (Fla. 4th DCA 1989). In addition, the state has the option of withdrawing from the entire plea agreement. Williams v. State, 650 So.2d 1054, 1055 (Fla. 1st DCA 1995); Forshee v. State, 579 So.2d 388, 389 (Fla. 2d DCA 1991).

Accordingly, the case is affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded for further proceedings in accordance with this opinion.

MINER, ALLEN and MICKLE, JJ., concur.