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JOSHUA GLOSTON, Appellant, v. STATE OF FLORIDA, Appellee.
Appellant, Joshua Gloston, appeals the order summarily denying his Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.850 motion. We affirm the order as to all claims, except Appellant's Claim 6. That claim asserts that defense counsel failed to investigate the existence of a potential alibi witness who Appellant claimed he disclosed to counsel. Appellant claims that this witness would have placed him with that witness on a bus, rather than at the hotel where and at the time the crime was committed. The documents attached to the order of summary denial certainly are relevant to Claim 6 and suggest that the testimony of the alibi witness may not refute Appellant's presence at the crime scene, given that Appellant's DNA was found there. However, the attached documents do not conclusively refute Claim 6. See Smith v. State, 150 So. 3d 1207 (Fla. 5th DCA 2014).
Accordingly, we reverse and remand as to Claim 6 for the court to either attach documents conclusively refuting Claim 6 or to conduct an evidentiary hearing with regard to that claim. We affirm the balance of the order in its entirety.
REVERSED AND REMANDED, with instructions.
EDWARDS, J.
HARRIS and MACIVER, JJ., concur.
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Docket No: Case No. 5D23-391
Decided: March 31, 2023
Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida, Fifth District.
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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.
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