Richard S. Honeycutt v. State
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DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA FOURTH DISTRICT July Term 2011 RICHARD S. HONEYCUTT, Appellant, v. STATE OF FLORIDA, Appellee. No. 4D10-5098 [December 14, 2011] WARNER, J. We affirm the denial of appellant s motion to correct a n illegal sentence. He claims that the court illegally enhanced his aggravated battery conviction pursuant to section 775.087(1), Florida Statutes, by reason of the use of a weapon, when his aggravated battery conviction was not subject to reclassification because the use of a weapon was an essential element of the crime. However, based upon the record, the sentence was not illegally enhanced, because the use of a weapon was not an essential element in this case. We thus affirm. Appellant was charged with attempted second degree murder. The information alleged that h e used a knife and specifically referred to section 775.087(1), indicating that the state was seeking an enhancement of the sentence under that statute. At trial, the jury was instructed on the lesser offense of aggravated battery pursuant to section 784.045(1)(a)1., defining the crime as [i]ntentionally or knowingly caus[ing] great bodily harm, permanent disability, or permanent disfigurement. Th e jury was not instructed on aggravated battery pursuant to section 784.045(1)(a)2., which consists of the use of a deadly weapon. For purposes of enhancement, a special interrogatory asked the jury to determine whether the appellant used a knife during the incident, to which it answered yes. Lareau v. State, 573 So. 2d 813, 815 (Fla. 1991), states: [S]ection 775.087(1) permits reclassification and the consequential enhancement of penalties for the crime of aggravated battery causing great bodily harm, section 784.045(1)(a), when a weapon is use d to commit the crime. That is what occurred in this case. Affirmed. POLEN and STEVENSON, JJ., concur. * * * Appeal of order denying rule 3.800 motion from the Circuit Court for the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit, Palm Beach County; Amy L. Smith, Judge; L.T. Case No. 2002CF014032AXX. Richard S. Honeycutt, Monticello, pro se. No appearance required for appellee. Not final until disposition of timely filed motion for rehearing. 2
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