Learn About the Law
Get help with your legal needs
FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
Danni COMACHO, Appellant, v. STATE of Florida, Appellee.
Danni Comacho appeals the summary denial of his motion for postconviction relief filed pursuant to Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.850. Comacho was charged with trafficking in twenty-eight grams or more of heroin under section 893.135(1)(c), Florida Statutes (Supp.1996). At trial, conflicting evidence was presented regarding the amount of heroin that Comacho possessed. In accordance with State v. Weller, 590 So.2d 923 (Fla.1991), and Standard Jury Instructions in Criminal Cases (97-1), 697 So.2d 84, 89 (Fla.1997), the trial court should have instructed the jury on trafficking in lesser amounts of heroin, but the trial court believed that Comacho was not entitled to this instruction.
Comacho alleges that his trial counsel was ineffective for not objecting to the trial court's failure to instruct the jury on trafficking in amounts less than twenty-eight grams. Comacho has made a facially sufficient claim of ineffective assistance of counsel. We reverse and remand on this claim and affirm the remaining claims without comment. On remand, the trial court must either conduct an evidentiary hearing or attach record documents that conclusively refute Comacho's claim.
Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded.
COVINGTON, Judge.
STRINGER, J., and THREADGILL, EDWARD F., Senior Judge, Concur.
Thank you for your feedback!
As the largest network of trusted legal brands, we help firms build authority across the platforms consumers and AI systems rely on most. Our network helps attorneys strengthen visibility, credibility, and preference where legal decisions begin.
Docket No: No. 2D02-81.
Decided: March 27, 2002
Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida,Second District.
Search our directory by legal issue
Enter information in one or both fields (Required)
Harness the power of our directory with your own profile. Select the button below to sign up.
Learn more about FindLaw’s newsletters, including our terms of use and privacy policy.
Get help with your legal needs
FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
Search our directory by legal issue
Enter information in one or both fields (Required)