Gilbreth v. State of Florida
CourtDistrict Court of Appeal of Florida
Date FiledJuly 1, 2026
Docket2D2025-2048
StatusPublished
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Full Opinion
DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL OF FLORIDA
SECOND DISTRICT
AARON WILLIAM GILBRETH,
Appellant,
v.
STATE OF FLORIDA,
Appellee.
No. 2D2025-2048
July 1, 2026
Appeal from the County Court for Hillsborough County; Jack N. Gutman,
Judge.
Blair Allen, Public Defender, and Caroline S. Cassidy, Assistant Public
Defender, Bartow, for Appellant.
James Uthmeier, Attorney General, Tallahassee, and Tayna Alexander,
Assistant Attorney General, Tampa, for Appellee.
PER CURIAM.
Aaron William Gilbreth appeals his judgment and sentences for
resisting an officer without violence and criminal mischief. Appellate
counsel initially filed an Anders1 brief. See In re Anders Briefs, 581 So.
2d 149 (Fla. 1991). We struck that brief and directed counsel to file an
initial brief addressing whether the trial court erred in denying Mr.
1 Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967).
Gilbreth's Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.800(b)(2) motion to
correct sentencing error. The State has conceded error on that issue.
Mr. Gilbreth entered pleas to both misdemeanor charges in a single
case. The trial court sentenced him to twelve months of probation on
count one and to a concurrent six-month term of probation on count
two. At sentencing, the court orally imposed "standard court costs and
costs of prosecution." The written judgment for costs, however, imposed
two separate $50 "Cost of Prosecution SAO Revenue" assessments under
section 938.27(8), Florida Statutes (2025), resulting in a total
prosecution cost of $100.
Mr. Gilbreth filed a timely rule 3.800(b)(2) motion arguing that the
cost of prosecution had been improperly imposed twice. The trial court
did not enter a written order ruling on the motion, and it was therefore
deemed denied. See Fla. R. Crim. P. 3.800(b)(2)(B).
The State's concession of error is well taken. Section 938.27(8)
provides that costs for the state attorney "must be set in all cases at no
less than $50 per case when a misdemeanor . . . is charged" and permits
a higher amount only "upon a showing of sufficient proof of higher costs
incurred." Nothing in the record reflects that the State sought
prosecution costs above the statutory minimum, that the trial court
made findings supporting a higher amount, or that the court orally
pronounced an increased cost of prosecution. See Kee v. State, 385 So.
3d 139, 139–40 (Fla. 4th DCA 2024) ("When the trial court fails to make
the appropriate factual findings regarding prosecution costs above the
statutory minimum or orally announce a higher amount at sentencing,
prosecution costs will be reduced to the mandatory minimum amount."
(citing Desrosiers v. State, 286 So. 3d 297, 300 (Fla. 4th DCA 2019))).
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Accordingly, we affirm Mr. Gilbreth's judgment and sentences in all
respects but reverse the denial of his rule 3.800(b)(2) motion and remand
with instructions for the trial court to strike one of the duplicative $50
cost-of-prosecution assessments.
Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded with instructions.
KHOUZAM, ATKINSON, and LABRIT, JJ., Concur.
Opinion subject to revision prior to official publication.
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