From Casetext: Smarter Legal Research

Marsh v. State

District Court of Appeal of Florida, Second District
Aug 27, 2003
852 So. 2d 945 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 2003)

Summary

holding that the trial court was required to conduct hearing on defendant's motion for postconviction DNA testing after the state denied having any physical evidence suitable for DNA testing

Summary of this case from Spaziano v. State

Opinion

Case No. 2D03-1589.

Opinion filed August 27, 2003.

Appeal pursuant to Fla.R.App.P. 9.141(b)(2) from the Circuit Court for Polk County; Judith J. Flanders, Judge.


Roy J. Marsh challenges the summary denial of his motion for postconviction DNA testing filed pursuant to Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.853. We reverse and remand for further proceedings.

In 1987, a jury found Marsh guilty of sexual battery, engaging a child in sexual activity, and incest. In his motion, Marsh sought DNA testing of all the physical evidence that was gathered during the investigation of this case. The trial court concluded that the motion was facially sufficient and ordered the State to respond to Marsh's motion pursuant to Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.853(c)(2). The State responded by pointing out that, according to the investigating law enforcement agency, it did not have custody of any evidence in the case. The State further claimed that it "has ascertained that no physical evidence suitable for DNA testing was submitted at trial." As proof of this, the State attached the individual evidence listing for these cases. Based on this response, the trial court denied Marsh's motion without an evidentiary hearing finding that no physical evidence containing DNA existed.

Where a defendant claims that DNA evidence exists, but the State denies the claim, a factual dispute results and an evidentiary hearing is required. Borland v. State, 848 So.2d 1288 (Fla. 2d DCA 2003). Because in this case the State's response created a factual dispute, the trial court should have conducted a hearing. Accordingly, we reverse and remand for the trial court to conduct a hearing on Marsh's motion.

Reversed and remanded.

WHATLEY and CANADY, JJ., Concur.

NOT FINAL UNTIL TIME EXPIRES TO FILE REHEARING MOTION AND, IF FILED, DETERMINED.


Summaries of

Marsh v. State

District Court of Appeal of Florida, Second District
Aug 27, 2003
852 So. 2d 945 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 2003)

holding that the trial court was required to conduct hearing on defendant's motion for postconviction DNA testing after the state denied having any physical evidence suitable for DNA testing

Summary of this case from Spaziano v. State
Case details for

Marsh v. State

Case Details

Full title:ROY J. MARSH, Appellant, v. STATE OF FLORIDA, Appellee

Court:District Court of Appeal of Florida, Second District

Date published: Aug 27, 2003

Citations

852 So. 2d 945 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 2003)

Citing Cases

Alley v. State

200 Nashville, Tennessee 37203 (615) 736-5047 FAX (615)736-5265 TABLE OF CONTENTS 40-30-304 TABLE OF…

Spaziano v. State

The lower court's denial of Spaziano's request for an evidentiary hearing is not supported by case law. See,…