STATE v. TRIPLETT (2026)

The State of Florida challenges the order granting in part the motion to dismiss filed by Lashawn Triplett ¹ whereby the trial court dismissed the charges of accessory after the fact to a capital felony and false report to law enforcement authorities concerning a capital felony.² The underlying facts and issues raised by the State in this appeal are identical to those raised in the case against the co-defendant, Johnny Wesley, in State v. Wesley, No. 6D2024-1651 (Fla. 6th DCA June 12, 2026). Adopting the reasoning expressed in our opinion in State v. Wesley, we likewise affirm in part the final order of dismissal as to the charge of accessory after the fact to a capital felony, reverse the final order of dismissal in part as to the charge of false report to law enforcement authorities concerning a capital felony, and remand to the trial court with directions to reinstate that count in the amended information.

AFFIRMED in part; REVERSED in part; and REMANDED for further proceedings.

FOOTNOTES

1.   The State filed a separate appeal of a substantially similar order regarding the case against Triplett's co-defendant, Johnny Wesley. See State v. Wesley, No. 6D2024-1651 (Fla. 6th DCA June 12, 2026). This Court granted the State's motion to have these two cases travel together because Wesley and Triplett are co-defendants, the orders on appeal are substantially similar, and the arguments presented in each case are identical.

2.   The trial court declined to dismiss a third charge for tampering with physical evidence that Appellees did not challenge and is not a subject of these appeals.

PER CURIAM.

TRAVER, C.J., and STARGEL and NARDELLA, JJ., concur.