Opinion
No. 77820.
February 20, 1992.
Appeal from the Circuit Court, Escambia County.
Robert A. Butterworth, Atty. Gen. and Bradley R. Bischoff, Tallahassee, for petitioner.
Ted A. Stokes, Milton, for respondent.
The State of Florida petitions this Court to review Watts v. State, 578 So.2d 437 (Fla. 1st DCA 1991), in which the First District Court of Appeal reversed Watt's sentencing as a habitual offender. The district court certified the following question as being of great public importance:
WHETHER SECTION 775.084(1)(a)1, FLORIDA STATUTES (SUPP. 1988), WHICH DEFINES HABITUAL FELONY OFFENDERS AS THOSE WHO HAVE "PREVIOUSLY BEEN CONVICTED OF TWO OR MORE FELONIES," REQUIRES THAT EACH OF THE FELONIES BE COMMITTED AFTER CONVICTION FOR THE IMMEDIATELY PREVIOUS OFFENSE.Id. at 438-39.
We have jurisdiction. Art. V, § 3(b)(4), Fla. Const.
We answered this same certified question in the negative in our decision in State v. Barnes, 595 So.2d 22 (Fla. 1992). Accordingly, we quash that portion of the district court's decision reversing Watt's sentencing as a habitual offender and remand this case for further proceedings consistent with our opinion in Barnes.
It is so ordered.
SHAW, C.J. and McDONALD, BARKETT, GRIMES, KOGAN and HARDING, JJ., concur.