HENRY v. STATE (2020)

Tommie Steven Henry petitions this court for a writ of habeas corpus after the Circuit Court ordered him held without bond pending trial on one count of attempted first-degree murder with a firearm, a life felony, shooting into an occupied vehicle, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.¹ We grant the petition.

Henry was denied bond at his first appearance hearing. Subsequently, Henry's counsel filed a motion requesting either that Henry be released on his own recognizance or that a reasonable bond be set. The trial court denied the motion without a hearing.

A petition for writ of habeas corpus is the appropriate vehicle for challenging an order denying pretrial release. See Greenwood v. State, 51 So. 3d 1278, 1279 (Fla. 2d DCA 2011). In this case, although Henry is charged with an offense punishable by life in prison and the State demonstrated that the proof of guilt is evident and the presumption is great at his first appearance hearing, Henry is still entitled to a full hearing at which he may come forward to present testimony of witnesses or other evidence pertaining to his guilt and his amenability to bond. See Rosa v. State, 21 So. 3d 115 (Fla. 5th DCA 2009).

Accordingly, we grant the petition for writ of habeas corpus and direct the trial court to hold a hearing at which it shall afford Henry an opportunity to present evidence with regard to bond.

PETITION GRANTED AND REMANDED WITH INSTRUCTIONS.

FOOTNOTES

1.   Orange County Circuit Court Case No. 2019-CF-6088.

PER CURIAM.

ORFINGER, WALLIS and LAMBERT, JJ., concur.