Ceasar Gonzalez v. the State of Florida
CourtDistrict Court of Appeal of Florida
Date FiledDecember 1, 2021
Docket3D21-1753
StatusPublished
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Full Opinion
Third District Court of Appeal
State of Florida
Opinion filed December 1, 2021.
Not final until disposition of timely filed motion for rehearing.
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No. 3D21-1753
Lower Tribunal No. F17-83
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Ceasar Gonzalez,
Appellant,
vs.
The State of Florida,
Appellee.
An Appeal under Florida Rule of Appellate Procedure 9.141(b)(2) from
the Circuit Court for Miami-Dade County, Teresa M. Pooler, Judge.
Ceasar Gonzalez, in proper person.
Ashley Moody, Attorney General, for appellee.
Before EMAS, LINDSEY and GORDO, JJ.
PER CURIAM.
Following this Court’s affirmance of his convictions and sentences on
direct appeal, appellant, Ceasar Gonzalez, filed a motion for postconviction
relief alleging ineffective assistance of counsel. See Gonzalez v. State, 271
So. 3d 80 (Fla. 3d DCA 2019); Fla. R. Crim. P. 3.850. The trial court denied
the motion by way of a final order, stating it was insufficient to support the
relief requested. Pursuant to Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.850(f)(2),
“[i]f the motion is insufficient on its face, and the motion is timely filed under
this rule, the court shall enter a nonfinal, nonappealable order allowing the
defendant [sixty] days to amend the motion.” A trial court abuses its
discretion when it summarily denies a timely 3.850 motion, without permitting
amendment. See Ramirez v. State, 324 So. 3d 1025, 1025 (Fla. 3d DCA
2021); Spera v. State, 971 So. 2d 754, 761 (Fla. 2007) (“[W]hen a
defendant’s initial rule 3.850 motion for postconviction relief is determined to
be legally insufficient for failure to meet either the rule’s or other pleading
requirements, the trial court abuses its discretion when it fails to allow the
defendant at least one opportunity to amend the motion.”). Thus, we reverse
and remand for further proceedings consistent herewith.
Reversed and remanded.
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