Opinion
No. 4D07-2646.
August 15, 2007. Rehearing Denied September 19, 2007.
Appeal of order denying rule 3.800(a) motion from the Circuit Court for the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit, St. Lucie County; James W. McCann, Judge; L.T. Case No. 562000CF003501A.
Ellis Huewitt, Punta Gorda, pro se.
No appearance required for appellee.
We affirm the trial court's order denying defendant's motion to correct illegal sentence. The record reflects that appellant committed the underlying offense after the October 1, 1998 effective date of the Criminal Punishment Code (CPC). The CPC permits a court to sentence a criminal defendant up to the statutory maximum without the need for written reasons or a departure. Fla.R.Crim.P. 3.704; § 921.0024(2), Fla. Stat. (1999); see also Moore v. State, 882 So.2d 977, 984 (Fla. 2004). Thus, appellant could be sentenced up to the statutory maximum for his offense without an "upward departure."
SHAHOOD, C.J., GUNTHER and TAYLOR, JJ., concur.