Robert Ryan v. State of Florida
CourtDistrict Court of Appeal of Florida
Date FiledApril 13, 2022
Docket2D21-1572
StatusPublished
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Full Opinion
DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL OF FLORIDA
SECOND DISTRICT
ROBERT RYAN,
Appellant,
v.
STATE OF FLORIDA,
Appellee.
No. 2D21-1572
April 13, 2022
Appeal pursuant to Fla. R. App. P. 9.141(b)(2) from the Circuit
Court for Polk County; Mark F. Carpanini, Judge.
Robert Ryan, pro se.
Ashley Moody, Attorney General, Tallahassee, and Jonathan
Tannen, Assistant Attorney General, Tampa, for Appellee.
PER CURIAM.
Robert Ryan appeals the postconviction court's order denying
his motion to correct illegal sentence pursuant to Florida Rule of
Criminal Procedure 3.800(a). We affirm in part, reverse in part, and
remand for resentencing.
Background
In 1993, Ryan pleaded nolo contendere in case number 92-CF-
5097 to three charges and received concurrent sentences, the
longest being for twenty-seven years' imprisonment followed by
fifteen years' probation for armed robbery. While imprisoned, Ryan
was charged in case number 94-CF-1189 with armed robbery,
armed kidnapping, and armed sexual battery. He pleaded nolo
contendere and the trial court sentenced him on all counts to
concurrent sentences of thirty-five years' imprisonment followed by
fifteen years' probation.
In October 2016, the trial court revoked Ryan's probation in
both cases and resentenced him to fifty years' imprisonment on all
four convictions—the armed robbery charge from case number 92-
CF-5097 and the three charges from case number 94-CF-1189—
with the sentences in case number 94-CF-1189 to run
concurrently.
In February 2021, Ryan filed the instant motion to correct
illegal sentence challenging his original probationary split sentences
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in both cases and his current sentences imposed upon the
revocation of his probation. He alleged the sentences are illegal
because they exceed the statutory maximum pursuant to section
775.082(3)(a), (b), Florida Statutes (1991). He argued that, under
the sentencing regime applicable to him, the life felonies are limited
to forty years' imprisonment and the first-degree felonies
punishable by life are limited to thirty years' imprisonment. The
postconviction court summarily denied Ryan's motion, finding that
the sentences were legal.1
Analysis
"A court may at any time correct an illegal sentence imposed
by it, or an incorrect calculation made by it in a sentencing
scoresheet, when it is affirmatively alleged that the court records
demonstrate on their face an entitlement to that relief . . . ." Fla. R.
1 The State has conceded error regarding Ryan's current
sentences for armed kidnapping and armed sexual battery in case
number 94-CF-1189, but has requested that we remand without
prejudice to its right "to raise any procedural bars that may be
supported by the record, including that the motion should be
dismissed as successive." Because the postconviction court's order
did not deny the motion as successive or otherwise mention the
previous motions, and the State has cited no authority that
supports its request, we decline to do so.
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Crim. P. 3.800(a)(1). A sentence is illegal within the meaning of rule
3.800(a) if it imposes a "punishment that no judge under the entire
body of sentencing statutes could possibly inflict under any set of
factual circumstances." Carter v. State, 786 So. 2d 1173, 1181 (Fla.
2001) (quoting Blakley v. State, 746 So. 2d 1182, 1187 (Fla. 4th
DCA 1999)).
Ryan's original sentences are no longer in effect because his
probation was revoked, and the trial court imposed new sentences.
See § 948.06(1), Fla. Stat. (1991) (stating that if probation is
revoked, "the court shall adjudge the probationer or offender guilty
of the offense charged and proven or admitted, unless he has
previously been adjudged guilty, and impose any sentence which it
might have originally imposed before placing the probationer or
offender on probation or into community control"); Shields v. State,
296 So. 3d 967, 972 (Fla. 2d DCA 2020) ("And as we have shown, a
sentencing after a revocation of probation is, for all intents and
purposes, just a resentencing on the original offense.").
Accordingly, this opinion addresses only Ryan's current sentences.
In case number 94-CF-1189, Ryan was convicted of armed
kidnapping. Kidnapping is a "felony of the first degree, punishable
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by imprisonment for a term of years not exceeding life or as
provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084." § 787.01(2), Fla.
Stat. (1991). However, the use of a firearm enhanced the
kidnapping offense to a life felony. See § 775.087(1)(a), Fla. Stat.
(1991). Pursuant to section 775.082, a life felony committed after
October 1, 1983, was punishable "by a term of imprisonment for life
or by a term of imprisonment not exceeding 40 years." §
775.082(3)(a). Therefore, "[w]hen a court opt[ed] for a term of years
instead of a life sentence . . . it [could] not impose a sentence longer
than forty years." Kellar v. State, 712 So. 2d 1133, 1133 (Fla. 1st
DCA 1998). Accordingly, the fifty-year sentence for armed
kidnapping is illegal. See Griffin v. State, 934 So. 2d 614, 615 (Fla.
4th DCA 2006).
Similarly, Ryan's sentence in case number 94-CF-1189 for
armed sexual battery is illegal. Ryan was convicted of armed sexual
battery, "a life felony, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s.
775.083, s. 775.084, or s. 794.0115." § 794.011(3), Fla. Stat.
(Supp. 1992). As discussed above, pursuant to section 775.082, a
life felony committed after October 1, 1983, was punishable "by a
term of imprisonment for life or by a term of imprisonment not
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exceeding 40 years[.]" § 775.082(3)(a). Accordingly, the fifty-year
sentence for armed sexual battery is an illegal sentence because the
trial court imposed a sentence for a term of years and therefore
could not exceed forty years. See Kellar, 712 So. 2d at 1133.
We affirm the postconviction court's order insofar as it
concluded that Ryan's fifty-year sentences for armed robbery in
both cases are legal. Robbery with a firearm is a "felony of the first-
degree, punishable by imprisonment for a term of years not
exceeding life imprisonment or as provided in s. 775.082, s.
775.083, or s. 775.084." § 812.13(2)(a), Fla. Stat. (Supp. 1992).
Therefore, a fifty-year sentence for armed robbery is permissible.
See Franke v. State, 997 So. 2d 424, 426 (Fla. 2d DCA 2008).
Accordingly, we reverse in part and direct the trial court on
remand to resentence Ryan to a legal sentence for armed
kidnapping and armed sexual battery in case number 94-CF-1189.
In all other respects, the order on appeal is affirmed.2
Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded.
2 Ryan's Eighth Amendment challenge to the applicable
sentencing statutes is not cognizable in a rule 3.800(a) motion. See
Thomas v. State, 778 So. 2d 429, 430 (Fla. 5th DCA 2001).
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LaROSE, LUCAS, and ATKINSON, JJ., Concur.
Opinion subject to revision prior to official publication.
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