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721 So. 2d 370

Docket No. 97-4342.

State v. Gray

STATE of Florida, Appellant, v. David GRAY, Appellee.

District Court of Appeal of Florida

Decided October 28, 1998.

District Court of Appeal of Florida · decided 1998-10-28

Cited by 10 later decisions — most recently September 2015

10 state decisions

Key passage — most relied on by later courts

“Only where the court revokes probation must the court impose a sentence. Even when an appellant admits a probation violation, the court is not required to revoke the probation and sentence the offender on the underlying charge.”

quoted by 1 later decision, including 82 So. 3d 828 - Washington v. State

Relies on 488 So. 2d 644 - State v. Blackman

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1998-10-28

View the full empirical analysis of this case →

¶1Robert A. Butterworth, Attorney General, Tallahassee, and Myra J. Fried, Assistant Attorney General, West Palm Beach, for appellant.

¶2Richard L. Jorandby, Public Defender, and Marcy K. Allen, Assistant Public Defender, West Palm Beach, for appellee.

¶3WARNER, Judge.

¶4The state appeals from an order that it characterizes as a downward departure sentence, which was imposed after the court found that the appellee had violated his community control. Since the trial court modified the conditions of appellee's community control but did not revoke it, we conclude that the state may not appeal from such an order. Section 948.06(1), Florida Statutes (1997), provides, in pertinent part, that after a probation violation hearing, the court may "revoke, modify, or continue the probation or community control." Only where the court revokes probation must the court impose a sentence. See id. Even when an appellant admits a probation violation, the court is not required to revoke the probation and sentence the offender on the underlying charge. See id.

¶5Pursuant to Florida Rule of Appellate Procedure 9.140(c)(1), the state can appeal an illegal sentence or a downward departure sentence. However, we can find no authority for the state to appeal a modification of probation since the court does not "sentence" a probationer when it modifies probation. We agree with State v. Blackman,488 So.2d 644, 644 (Fla. 2d DCA 1986), that the rules permit only a defendant to appeal an order *371 revoking or modifying probation; the rules do not allow the state to do so.

¶6Dismissed.

¶7GUNTHER and STEVENSON, JJ., concur.

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