State v. Nelson

The State of Florida has filed an Emergency Petition for Writ of Certiorari and Motion for Extension of Speedy Trial Period challenging a pretrial order excluding three Drug Enforcement Agents from testifying at trial: Special Agents Dennis Hocker, Charles Noonan, and Dan Maho-ney. The respondent, Christopher Adam Slade, argues that the facts of this case closely resemble State v. Sowers, 763 So.2d 394 (Fla. 1st DCA 2000). The trial court in Sowers excluded the testimony of a key prosecution witness after conducting a Richardson1 hearing. Id. at 396. In this case, however, the trial court did…