Michael Craig Bowers v. State of Florida
CourtDistrict Court of Appeal of Florida
Date FiledNovember 18, 2022
Docket2D21-2597
StatusPublished
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Full Opinion
DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL OF FLORIDA
SECOND DISTRICT
MICHAEL CRAIG BOWERS,
Appellant,
v.
STATE OF FLORIDA,
Appellee.
No. 2D21-2597
November 18, 2022
Appeal from the County Court for Polk County; Robert E. Griffin,
Judge.
Howard L. Dimmig, II, Public Defender, and Megan Olson,
Assistant Public Defender, Bartow, for Appellant.
Ashley Moody, Attorney General, Tallahassee, and Jonathan S.
Tannen, Assistant Attorney General, Tampa, for Appellee.
ATKINSON, Judge.
Michael Craig Bowers appeals his conviction and sentence for
one count of offer of prostitution, lewdness, or assignation in
violation of section 796.07(2)(e), Florida Statutes (2021). We affirm
his conviction without further discussion. Bowers also argues that
the trial court erred by imposing a $5,000 civil penalty pursuant to
section 796.07(6). The State concedes this error. We agree with
Bowers and accept the State's concession. Therefore, we reverse
Bowers' sentence and remand for the trial court to strike the civil
penalty.
In relevant part, Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.800(b)(2)
provides, "If an appeal is pending, a defendant or the state may file
in the trial court a motion to correct a sentencing error." "[I]f the
trial court does not file an order ruling on the motion within 60
days, the motion shall be deemed denied." Fla. R. Crim. P.
3.800(b)(2)(B). "Once the sixty days has passed with no action on
the motion, the trial court's jurisdiction ends." Cammalleri v. State,
270 So. 3d 369, 371 (Fla. 4th DCA 2019) (quoting Wilson v. State,
846 So. 2d 1201, 1203 (Fla. 4th DCA 2003)).
Bowers filed his motion to correct sentencing error on
November 17, 2021. The trial court purported to grant the motion
and correct the sentencing error on January 24, 2022โover sixty
days from the date Bowers filed his motion. Therefore, the trial
court did not have jurisdiction to grant Bowers' motion, and the
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motion was deemed denied. See Cammalleri, 270 So. 3d at 371; see
also Fla. R. Crim. P. 3.800(b)(2)(B).
Bowers was charged with second-degree misdemeanor offer of
prostitution, lewdness, or assignation in violation of section
796.07(2)(e). A first-time violation of section 796.07(2)(e) is "[a]
misdemeanor of the second degree . . . punishable as provided in s.
775.082 or s. 775.083[, Florida Statutes (2020)]." ยง 796.07(4)(a)1.
Sections 775.0821 and 775.0832 do not provide that a second-
degree misdemeanor is punishable by a civil penalty of any amount.
In relevant part, section 796.07(6) provides, "[a] person who
violates paragraph (2)(f) shall be assessed a civil penalty of $5,000 if
the violation results in any judicial disposition other than acquittal
or dismissal." (Emphasis added.) However, Bowers was not
1 In relevant part, section 775.082 provides, "For a
misdemeanor of the second degree, [a person may be sentenced to
and punished] by a definite term of imprisonment not exceeding 60
days." ยง 775.082(4)(b).
2 In relevant part, section 775.083 provides, "Fines for
designated crimes . . . shall not exceed: . . . (e) $500, when the
conviction is of a misdemeanor of the second degree . . . . [or] (g)
[a]ny higher amount specifically authorized by statute."
ยง 775.083(1)(e), (g).
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charged with violating section 796.07(2)(f).3 Because Bowers was
not charged with violating section 796.07(2)(f) and the relevant
statutes do not provide for assessment of a $5,000 civil penalty for
violation of section 796.07(2)(e), the trial court erred by imposing a
$5,000 civil penalty in its first corrected costs order.
Affirmed in part; reversed in part; remanded.
STARGEL and LABRIT, JJ., Concur.
Opinion subject to revision prior to official publication.
3 Section 796.07(2)(f) provides that "[i]t is unlawful: . . . (f) [t]o
solicit, induce, entice, or procure another to commit prostitution,
lewdness, or assignation."
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