Florida Statutes

Fla. Stat. § 777.04 (2025)

Attempts, solicitation, and conspiracy.

✓ 2025 Florida Statutes — current through the 2025 Regular Session

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777.04 Attempts, solicitation, and conspiracy.—

(1) A person who attempts to commit an offense prohibited by law and in such attempt does any act toward the commission of such offense, but fails in the perpetration or is intercepted or prevented in the execution thereof, commits the offense of criminal attempt, ranked for purposes of sentencing as provided in subsection (4). Criminal attempt includes the act of an adult who, with intent to commit an offense prohibited by law, allures, seduces, coaxes, or induces a child under the age of 12 to engage in an offense prohibited by law.

(2) A person who solicits another to commit an offense prohibited by law and in the course of such solicitation commands, encourages, hires, or requests another person to engage in specific conduct which would constitute such offense or an attempt to commit such offense commits the offense of criminal solicitation, ranked for purposes of sentencing as provided in subsection (4).

(3) A person who agrees, conspires, combines, or confederates with another person or persons to commit any offense commits the offense of criminal conspiracy, ranked for purposes of sentencing as provided in subsection (4).

(4)(a) Except as otherwise provided in ss. 104.091(2), 379.2431(1), 828.125(2), 849.25(4), 893.135(5), and 921.0022, the offense of criminal attempt, criminal solicitation, or criminal conspiracy is ranked for purposes of sentencing under chapter 921 and determining incentive gain-time eligibility under chapter 944 one level below the ranking under s. 921.0022 or s. 921.0023 of the offense attempted, solicited, or conspired to. If the criminal attempt, criminal solicitation, or criminal conspiracy is of an offense ranked in level 1 or level 2 under s. 921.0022 or s. 921.0023, such offense is a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

(b) If the offense attempted, solicited, or conspired to is a capital felony, the offense of criminal attempt, criminal solicitation, or criminal conspiracy is a felony of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.

(c) Except as otherwise provided in s. 893.135(5), if the offense attempted, solicited, or conspired to is a life felony or a felony of the first degree, the offense of criminal attempt, criminal solicitation, or criminal conspiracy is a felony of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.

(d) Except as otherwise provided in s. 104.091(2), s. 379.2431(1), s. 828.125(2), or s. 849.25(4), if the offense attempted, solicited, or conspired to is a:

1. Felony of the second degree;

2. Burglary that is a felony of the third degree; or

3. Felony of the third degree ranked in level 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 under s. 921.0022 or s. 921.0023,

the offense of criminal attempt, criminal solicitation, or criminal conspiracy is a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.

(e) Except as otherwise provided in s. 104.091(2), s. 379.2431(1), s. 849.25(4), or paragraph (d), if the offense attempted, solicited, or conspired to is a felony of the third degree, the offense of criminal attempt, criminal solicitation, or criminal conspiracy is a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

(f) Except as otherwise provided in s. 104.091(2), if the offense attempted, solicited, or conspired to is a misdemeanor of the first or second degree, the offense of criminal attempt, criminal solicitation, or criminal conspiracy is a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

(5) It is a defense to a charge of criminal attempt, criminal solicitation, or criminal conspiracy that, under circumstances manifesting a complete and voluntary renunciation of his or her criminal purpose, the defendant:

(a) Abandoned his or her attempt to commit the offense or otherwise prevented its commission;

(b) After soliciting another person to commit an offense, persuaded such other person not to do so or otherwise prevented commission of the offense; or

(c) After conspiring with one or more persons to commit an offense, persuaded such persons not to do so or otherwise prevented commission of the offense.

History.—s. 8, sub-ch. 11, ch. 1637, 1868; RS 2594; GS 3517; RGS 5403; CGL 7544; s. 701, ch. 71-136; s. 1, ch. 72-245; s. 1, ch. 73-142; s. 12, ch. 74-383; s. 5, ch. 75-298; s. 1, ch. 83-98; s. 2, ch. 86-50; s. 170, ch. 91-224; s. 4, ch. 93-406; s. 14, ch. 95-184; s. 1195, ch. 97-102; s. 17, ch. 97-194; s. 2, ch. 2002-214; s. 2, ch. 2003-59; s. 204, ch. 2008-247.

Note.—Former s. 776.04.

Arrestable Offenses under F.S. 777.04

M = misdemeanor · F = felony · degree: F=1st S=2nd T=3rd

§777.04(1)PUBLIC ORDER CRIMESCRIMINAL ATTEMPT BURGLARY FELONY OF 3RD DEGREEF · 3rd

§777.04(1)PUBLIC ORDER CRIMESCRIMINAL ATTEMPT CAPITAL FELONYF · 1st

§777.04(1)PUBLIC ORDER CRIMESCRIMINAL ATTEMPT LIFE FELONYF · 2nd

§777.04(1)PUBLIC ORDER CRIMESCRIMINAL ATTEMPT FELONY SECOND DEGREEF · 3rd

§777.04(1)PUBLIC ORDER CRIMESCRIMINAL ATTEMPT FELONY THIRD RANKED LVL 3-10F · 3rd

§777.04(1)PUBLIC ORDER CRIMESCRIMINAL ATTEMPT FELONY THIRDM · 1st

§777.04(1)PUBLIC ORDER CRIMESCRIMINAL ATTEMPT RANKED OFFENSE LEVEL 1 OR 2M · 1st

§777.04(1)PUBLIC ORDER CRIMESCRIMINAL ATTEMPT MISDEMEANOR FIRSTM · 2nd

§777.04(1)PUBLIC ORDER CRIMESCRIMINAL ATTEMPT MISDEMEANOR SECONDM · 2nd

§777.04(1)PUBLIC ORDER CRIMESCRIMINAL ATTEMPT FIRST DEGREE FELONYF · 2nd

§777.04(2)PUBLIC ORDER CRIMESCRIMINAL SOLICITATION MISDEMEANOR SECONDM · 2nd

§777.04(2)PUBLIC ORDER CRIMESCRIM SOLICITATION BURGLARY FELONY OF 3RD DEGF · 3rd

§777.04(2)PUBLIC ORDER CRIMESCRIMINAL SOLICITATION CAPITAL FELONYF · 1st

§777.04(2)PUBLIC ORDER CRIMESCRIMINAL SOLICITATION LIFE FELONYF · 2nd

§777.04(2)PUBLIC ORDER CRIMESCRIMINAL SOLICITATION FIRST DEGREE FELONYF · 2nd

§777.04(2)PUBLIC ORDER CRIMESCRIMINAL SOLICITATION FELONY SECOND DEGREEF · 3rd

§777.04(2)PUBLIC ORDER CRIMESCRIMINAL SOLICITATION FELONY 3RD RANK LVL 3-10F · 3rd

§777.04(2)PUBLIC ORDER CRIMESCRIMINAL SOLICITATION FELONY THIRDM · 1st

§777.04(2)PUBLIC ORDER CRIMESCRIMINAL SOLICITATION MISDEMEANOR FIRSTM · 2nd

§777.04(2)PUBLIC ORDER CRIMESCRIMINAL SOLICITATION RANKED OFFENSE LVL 1, 2M · 1st

§777.04(3)PUBLIC ORDER CRIMESCRIMINAL CONSPIRACY FELONY 3RD RANKED LVL 3-10F · 3rd

§777.04(3)PUBLIC ORDER CRIMESCRIMINAL CONSPIRACY BURGLARY FELONY OF 3RD DEGF · 3rd

§777.04(3)PUBLIC ORDER CRIMESCRIMINAL CONSPIRACY LIFE FELONYF · 2nd

§777.04(3)PUBLIC ORDER CRIMESCRIMINAL CONSPIRACY CAPITAL FELONYF · 1st

§777.04(3)PUBLIC ORDER CRIMESCRIMINAL CONSPIRACY FELONY SECOND DEGREEF · 3rd

§777.04(3)PUBLIC ORDER CRIMESCRIMINAL CONSPIRACY FELONY THIRDM · 1st

§777.04(3)PUBLIC ORDER CRIMESCRIMINAL CONSPIRACY RANKED OFFENSE LVL 1 OR 2M · 1st

§777.04(3)PUBLIC ORDER CRIMESCRIMINAL CONSPIRACY MISDEMEANOR FIRSTM · 2nd

§777.04(3)PUBLIC ORDER CRIMESCRIMINAL CONSPIRACY MISDEMEANOR SECONDM · 2nd

§777.04(3)PUBLIC ORDER CRIMESCRIMINAL CONSPIRACY FIRST DEGREE FELONYF · 2nd

§777.04(4a)PUBLIC ORDER CRIMESREMOVEDM · 1st

§777.04(4a)PUBLIC ORDER CRIMESRENUMBERED. SEE REC # 8411M · 1st

§777.04(4b3)PUBLIC ORDER CRIMESRENUMBERED. SEE REC # 8412F · 1st

§777.04(4b3)PUBLIC ORDER CRIMESREMOVEDF · 1st

§777.04(4c)PUBLIC ORDER CRIMESRENUMBERED. SEE REC # 8413F · 2nd

§777.04(4c)PUBLIC ORDER CRIMESRENUMBERED. SEE REC # 8414F · 2nd

§777.04(4c)PUBLIC ORDER CRIMESREMOVEDF · 2nd

§777.04(4d)PUBLIC ORDER CRIMESRENUMBERED. SEE REC # 8415F · 3rd

§777.04(4d)PUBLIC ORDER CRIMESREMOVEDF · 3rd

§777.04(4d)PUBLIC ORDER CRIMESRENUMBERED. SEE REC # 8416F · 3rd

§777.04(4d)PUBLIC ORDER CRIMESRENUMBERED. SEE REC # 8417F · 3rd

§777.04(4e)PUBLIC ORDER CRIMESRENUMBERED. SEE REC # 8418M · 1st

§777.04(4e)PUBLIC ORDER CRIMESREMOVEDM · 1st

§777.04(4f)PUBLIC ORDER CRIMESRENUMBERED. SEE REC # 8419M · 2nd

§777.04(4f)PUBLIC ORDER CRIMESRENUMBERED. SEE REC # 8420M · 2nd

§777.04(4f)PUBLIC ORDER CRIMESREMOVEDM · 2nd

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 609 cases (48 in the last 5 years), 1975–2026 · leading case: Harriman v. State, 174 So. 3d 1044 (Fla. 1st DCA 2015).

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Harriman v. State, 174 So. 3d 1044 (Fla. 1st DCA 2015). · cites it 25× “The abandonment defense relied upon by appellant in the present case is set forth in the “Attempts, solicitation, and conspiracy” statute, section 777.04, Florida Statutes. Subsection (5) provides: It is a defense to a charge of criminal attempt, criminal solicitation, or…”

Connolly, Jr. v. State, 172 So. 3d 893 (Fla. 3d DCA 2015). · cites it 9× “During the solicitation, defendant commanded, encouraged, hired or 41 I also include a discussion of the crime of solicitation, as it helps to further demonstrate why the majority’s analogy is misguided. 124 requested another person to engage in specific conduct which would…”

Calvin Weatherspoon v. State of Florida, 214 So. 3d 578 (Fla. 2017). · cites it 6× “Rather, the information erroneously and confusingly cited to the attempt statute (section 777.04, Florida Statutes), and the premeditated murder statute, (section 782.”

Longval v. State, 914 So. 2d 1098 (Fla. 4th DCA 2005). · cites it 17× “The first district wrote that "the only authorization for the abandonment defense in Florida is section 777.”

State v. Gray, 654 So. 2d 552 (Fla. 1995). · cites it 4× “; see also § 777.04(1), Fla. Stat. (1991). [1] He recognized that the crime of felony murder is based on a legal fiction that implies malice aforethought from the actor's intent to commit the underlying felony.”

Nurse v. State, 658 So. 2d 1074 (Fla. 3d DCA 1995). · cites it 15× “510(b) is not exclusively defined by the attempt statute [§ 777.04, Fla. Stat. (1991)], but may also, in our view, be supplemented by caselaw for lesser included offense purposes.”

Brooks v. State, 762 So. 2d 879 (Fla. 2000). · cites it 4× “See § 777.04(1), Fla. Stat. (1995). Even if we accepted the theory asserted by Brooks that someone other than Brooks or Brown removed the sandwich bag containing the crack cocaine after the shooting occurred, [22] there is competent, substantial evidence showing that Brooks…”

Carroll v. State, 680 So. 2d 1065 (Fla. 3d DCA 1996). · cites it 12× “The First District Court of Appeal has taken the position that abandonment can only be a defense in Florida where the defendant is charged with criminal attempt, criminal solicitation, or criminal conspiracy under section 777.04, Florida Statutes. Dixon v.”

Bryan Turner v. Mike Williams, 65 F.4th 564 (11th Cir. 2023). · cites it 2× “26 Fla. Stat. § 777.04 states: “A person who agrees, conspires, combines, or confederates with another person or persons to commit any offense commits the offense of criminal conspiracy.”

Ramirez v. State, 371 So. 2d 1063 (Fla. 3d DCA 1979). · cites it 6× “The defendants were charged by information in the Circuit Court for the Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida with: (1) conspiracy to unlawfully possess over one hundred pounds of marijuana [§ 777.04(3), Fla. Stat. (1977)], (2) unlawful possession of over one hundred pounds of…”

Fleming v. State, 374 So. 2d 954 (Fla. 1979). · cites it 6× “13(2)(a), Florida Statutes; (IV) attempted robbery of Purolator Security, section 777.04(1), Florida Statutes; (V) kidnapping of Johnson, section 787.”

Merritt v. State, 712 So. 2d 384 (Fla. 1998). · cites it 6× “On appeal, Merritt argued that the offense of attempted battery of a law enforcement officer does not exist.”

Show all 609 citing cases →

— 777.04(1) — 136 cases

State v. Gray, 654 So. 2d 552 (Fla. 1995). “; see also § 777.04(1), Fla. Stat. (1991). [1] He recognized that the crime of felony murder is based on a legal fiction that implies malice aforethought from the actor's intent to commit the underlying felony.”

Brooks v. State, 762 So. 2d 879 (Fla. 2000). “See § 777.04(1), Fla. Stat. (1995). Even if we accepted the theory asserted by Brooks that someone other than Brooks or Brown removed the sandwich bag containing the crack cocaine after the shooting occurred, [22] there is competent, substantial evidence showing that Brooks…”

Fleming v. State, 374 So. 2d 954 (Fla. 1979). “13(2)(a), Florida Statutes; (IV) attempted robbery of Purolator Security, section 777.04(1), Florida Statutes; (V) kidnapping of Johnson, section 787.”

Berger v. State, 259 So. 3d 933 (Fla. 5th DCA 2018).

Calvin Weatherspoon v. State of Florida, 214 So. 3d 578 (Fla. 2017). “Rather, the information erroneously and confusingly cited to the attempt statute (section 777.04, Florida Statutes), and the premeditated murder statute, (section 782.”

— 777.04(2) — 36 cases

Connolly, Jr. v. State, 172 So. 3d 893 (Fla. 3d DCA 2015). “During the solicitation, defendant commanded, encouraged, hired or 41 I also include a discussion of the crime of solicitation, as it helps to further demonstrate why the majority’s analogy is misguided. 124 requested another person to engage in specific conduct which would…”

Metcalf v. State, 614 So. 2d 548 (Fla. 4th DCA 1993).

Hayles v. State, 608 So. 2d 13 (Fla. 1992).

State v. Waskin, 481 So. 2d 492 (Fla. 3d DCA 1985).

In Re: Stand. Jury Instructions in Crim. Cases-Report 2018-04., 257 So. 3d 370 (Fla. 2018).

— 777.04(3) — 64 cases

Ramirez v. State, 371 So. 2d 1063 (Fla. 3d DCA 1979). “The defendants were charged by information in the Circuit Court for the Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida with: (1) conspiracy to unlawfully possess over one hundred pounds of marijuana [§ 777.04(3), Fla. Stat. (1977)], (2) unlawful possession of over one hundred pounds of…”

Ashenoff v. State, 391 So. 2d 289 (Fla. 3d DCA 1980).

Boyd v. State, 389 So. 2d 642 (Fla. 2d DCA 1980).

State v. Mena, 471 So. 2d 1297 (Fla. 3d DCA 1985).

— 777.04(4) — 15 cases

Streeter v. State, 416 So. 2d 1203 (Fla. 3d DCA 1982).

State Ex Rel. Washington v. Rivkind, 350 So. 2d 575 (Fla. 3d DCA 1977).

Greene v. State, 714 So. 2d 554 (Fla. 2d DCA 1998).

Damoulakis v. State, 814 So. 2d 1204 (Fla. 2d DCA 2002).

— 777.04(4)(a) — 38 cases

Williams v. State, 784 So. 2d 524 (Fla. 4th DCA 2001).

State v. Hogan, 451 So. 2d 844 (Fla. 1984).

Anderson v. State, 865 So. 2d 640 (Fla. 2d DCA 2004).

Henderson v. State, 903 So. 2d 999 (Fla. 5th DCA 2005).

Duke v. State, 444 So. 2d 492 (Fla. 2d DCA 1984).

— 777.04(4)(b) — 60 cases

Smith v. State, 211 So. 3d 176 (Fla. 3d DCA 2016).

Adams v. State, 901 So. 2d 275 (Fla. 5th DCA 2005).

Rincon v. State, 996 So. 2d 922 (Fla. 4th DCA 2008).

— 777.04(4)(c) — 77 cases

Cortez Hatten v. State of Florida, 203 So. 3d 142 (Fla. 2016).

Goree v. State, 411 So. 2d 1352 (Fla. 3d DCA 1982).

Ahmad R. Milton v. State of Florida, 161 So. 3d 1245 (Fla. 2014).

Massey v. State, 348 So. 2d 1244 (Fla. 1st DCA 1977).

State Ex Rel. Washington v. Rivkind, 350 So. 2d 575 (Fla. 3d DCA 1977).

— 777.04(4)(d) — 29 cases

Boyd v. State, 880 So. 2d 726 (Fla. 2d DCA 2004).

Rozmestor v. State, 381 So. 2d 324 (Fla. 5th DCA 1980).

Gillman v. State, 346 So. 2d 586 (Fla. 1st DCA 1977).

Aylin v. State, 362 So. 2d 435 (Fla. 1st DCA 1978).

Perez v. State, 431 So. 2d 274 (Fla. 5th DCA 1983).

— 777.04(4)(e) — 12 cases

Mendenhall v. State, 48 So. 3d 740 (Fla. 2010).

Brown v. State, 661 So. 2d 309 (Fla. 1st DCA 1995).

Cronin v. State, 656 So. 2d 213 (Fla. 1st DCA 1995).

Pearson v. State, 660 So. 2d 406 (Fla. 1st DCA 1995).

Kaufman v. State, 696 So. 2d 1214 (Fla. 4th DCA 1997).

— 777.04(4)(f) — 1 case

Smith v. State, 661 So. 2d 912 (Fla. 1st DCA 1995).

— 777.04(4a) — 1 case

State v. Benson, 19 Fla. Supp. 2d 103 (Fla. Cir. Ct. 1985).

— 777.04(5) — 10 cases

Harriman v. State, 174 So. 3d 1044 (Fla. 1st DCA 2015). “The abandonment defense relied upon by appellant in the present case is set forth in the “Attempts, solicitation, and conspiracy” statute, section 777.04, Florida Statutes. Subsection (5) provides: It is a defense to a charge of criminal attempt, criminal solicitation, or…”

Carroll v. State, 680 So. 2d 1065 (Fla. 3d DCA 1996). “The First District Court of Appeal has taken the position that abandonment can only be a defense in Florida where the defendant is charged with criminal attempt, criminal solicitation, or criminal conspiracy under section 777.04, Florida Statutes. Dixon v.”

Longval v. State, 914 So. 2d 1098 (Fla. 4th DCA 2005). “The first district wrote that "the only authorization for the abandonment defense in Florida is section 777.”

State v. Nessim, 587 So. 2d 1344 (Fla. 3d DCA 1991).

Williams v. State, 383 So. 2d 722 (Fla. 1st DCA 1980).

— 777.04(5)(a) — 12 cases

State v. Par., 405 So. 2d 1080 (La. 1981).

Longval v. State, 914 So. 2d 1098 (Fla. 4th DCA 2005). “The first district wrote that "the only authorization for the abandonment defense in Florida is section 777.”

Bates v. State, 465 So. 2d 490 (Fla. 1985).

In Re: Stand. Jury Instructions in Crim. Cases—report 2016-01, 213 So. 3d 680 (Fla. 2017).

— 777.04(5)(b) — 2 cases

In Re: Stand. Jury Instructions in Crim. Cases—report 2016-01, 213 So. 3d 680 (Fla. 2017).

Peacock v. State, 498 So. 2d 545 (Fla. 1st DCA 1986).

— 777.04(5)(c) — 5 cases

State v. Bauman, 425 So. 2d 32 (Fla. 4th DCA 1983).

In Re Stan. Jury Instr. in Crim. Cases, 543 So. 2d 1205 (Fla. 1989).

Etheridge v. State, 415 So. 2d 864 (Fla. 2d DCA 1982).

In Re: Stand. Jury Instructions in Crim. Cases - Report 2019-06 (Fla. 2019).

Washington v. Sec'y, Dep't of Corr. (M.D. Fla. 2021).

— 777.04(a) — 1 case

Greene v. State, 714 So. 2d 554 (Fla. 2d DCA 1998).

— 777.04(b) — 1 case

Kennedy v. State, 915 So. 2d 269 (Fla. 4th DCA 2005).

— 777.04(c) — 2 cases

Dillard v. State, 820 So. 2d 994 (Fla. 4th DCA 2002).

Frederick Bernard Thomas v. State of Florida (Fla. 4th DCA 2021).

— 777.04(d) — 4 cases

State v. Perez, 449 So. 2d 818 (Fla. 1984).

Massey v. State, 348 So. 2d 1244 (Fla. 1st DCA 1977).

Greene v. State, 714 So. 2d 554 (Fla. 2d DCA 1998).

Ladd v. State, 714 So. 2d 533 (Fla. 1st DCA 1998).

— 777.04(e) — 1 case

Hayes v. State, 748 So. 2d 1042 (Fla. 3d DCA 1999).

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