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English v. State

District Court of Appeal of Florida, Fifth District
Apr 17, 2009
7 So. 3d 637 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 2009)

Opinion

No. 5D09-419.

April 17, 2009.

3.850 Appeal from the Circuit Court for Volusia County, James R. Clayton, Judge.

Demetris English, Jasper, pro se.

No Appearance for Appellee.


Demetris English appeals the dismissal of his motion for postconviction relief filed pursuant to Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.850. The trial court correctly dismissed the motion because it failed to include the required oath, see Anderson v. State, 627 So.2d 1170 (Fla. 1993), but failed to allow English at least one opportunity to amend the pleading. Under most circumstances, this failure to allow an opportunity to amend would constitute a reversible abuse of discretion. Spera v. State, 971 So.2d 754, 755 (Fla. 2007). However, English's own pleadings demonstrate the futility of amendment. English entered a plea and was sentenced on October 5, 2006. Thus, his judgment and sentence necessarily were final for rule 3.850 purposes on November 4, 2006. Because English did not file his motion until December 15, 2008, the trial court properly dismissed the motion without leave to amend.

The certificate of service on the motion for postconviction relief is dated November 13, 2008. Even if that earlier date were utilized, the motion was untimely.

AFFIRMED.

SAWAYA, EVANDER and COHEN, JJ., concur.


Summaries of

English v. State

District Court of Appeal of Florida, Fifth District
Apr 17, 2009
7 So. 3d 637 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 2009)
Case details for

English v. State

Case Details

Full title:Demetris ENGLISH, Appellant, v. STATE of Florida, Appellee

Court:District Court of Appeal of Florida, Fifth District

Date published: Apr 17, 2009

Citations

7 So. 3d 637 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 2009)