DUGGANS v. STATE (2019)

Appellant seeks review of the trial court's denial of his “Motion to Correct an Illegal Sentence,” filed pursuant to Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.850. On November 9, 2018, in accordance with the mailbox rule, appellant filed his relevant notice of appeal.¹ The notice of appeal incorrectly states the lower court rendered the order appealed on October 10, 2018. Applying Florida Rule of Appellate Procedure 9.020(h),² we determine the lower court rendered the order under appeal on September 28, 2018, as the trial court's signed, written order denying the motion to correct illegal sentence was filed with the lower court clerk on that date. We reach this conclusion based on the lower court clerk's filing stamp, dated September 28, 2018.

Because the notice of appeal was filed more than 30 days after rendition of the order, this court is without appellate jurisdiction. See Fla. R. App. P. 9.110(b); see also Fla. R. Crim. P. 3.850(k). Thus, we dismiss this appeal for lack of jurisdiction, without prejudice for the filing of a petition for belated appeal pursuant to Florida Rule of Appellate Procedure 9.141(c). See, e.g., Watkins v. State, 217 So.3d 1135 (Fla. 3d DCA 2017).

Dismissed.

FOOTNOTES

1.   The mailbox rule provides a motion, petition, or notice of appeal is deemed “filed” when an inmate places it in the hands of prison officials. Haag v. State, 591 So.2d 614, 617 (Fla. 1992). As articulated in Thompson v. State, 761 So.2d 324, 326 (Fla. 2000), we presume timeliness, of the filing of a legal document submitted by an inmate, according to the date contained in the certificate of service, if any, showing that the pleading was placed in the hands of prison or jail officials for mailing on that date, provided said date is on or before the filing deadline.

2.   Fla. R. App. P. 9.020(h) – Rendition (of an Order). An order is rendered when a signed, written order is filed with the clerk of the lower tribunal. See In re Amendments to the Fla. R. App P., 256 So.3d 1218 (Fla. 2018) (adopting amendments to the Florida Rules of Appellate Procedure, relettering subdivision (i) of rule 9.020 to (h) ); see also Guy v. Plaza Home Mortg., Inc., 260 So. 3d 280 (Fla. 4th DCA 2018).

MILLER, J.