ASHFORD v. STATE (2024)

ON APPELLANT'S MOTION TO STRIKE INITIAL BRIEF AND TO PERMIT THE FILING OF A RULE 3.800(b)(2) MOTION TO CORRECT ILLEGAL SENTENCE

While this appeal is pending, Appellant Erester Ashford has filed before us a motion to strike his initial brief so that he may file in the trial court a rule 3.800(b)(2) motion to correct illegal sentence. In short, Ashford seeks to file such a motion based on the United States Supreme Court's June 21, 2024 opinion in Erlinger v. United States, 602 U.S. 821, 144 S.Ct. 1840, 219 L.Ed.2d 451 (2024). We deny Ashford's motion to strike his initial brief.

Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.800(b)(2) allows either the State or a defendant to file a motion to correct sentencing error while an appeal is pending. However, that opportunity is limited, as the rule expressly requires that any such motion “must be served before the party's first brief is served.” See Fla. R. Crim. P. 3.800(b)(2) (emphasis added). Thus, the plain language of rule 3.800(b)(2) “contemplates an end point after which time the trial court no longer has concurrent jurisdiction to correct sentencing errors during the pendency of an appeal.” See Collando-Pena v. State, 141 So. 3d 229, 231 (Fla. 1st DCA 2014).

Here, Ashford filed and served his initial brief on May 22, 2024.^* It was not until September 23, 2024, that Ashford filed his motion to strike his initial brief. Because Ashford has already served his initial brief in this case, “the rule 3.800(b)(2) remedy is foreclosed.” See Paige v. State, 921 So. 2d 9 (Fla. 1st DCA 2005). Striking Ashford's initial brief as he requests would in effect “circumvent the express time frames designated by the rule.” See Hill v. State, 890 So. 2d 368, 369 (Fla. 4th DCA 2004). This we will not do.

As a result, Ashford's motion is denied.

It is so ordered.

FOOTNOTES

FOOTNOTE.   The State filed and served its answer brief on June 20, 2024.

Soud, J.

MacIver and Pratt, JJ., concur.