Thomas v. State

In this criminal appeal, appellant Calvin Thomas challenges his judgment of conviction for armed robbery with upward departure sentence. We affirm the judgment and sentence, finding the trial court’s imposition of an upward departure sentence supported by a valid reason — appellant’s escalating course of criminal conduct ranging from crimes against property to violent crimes against persons. Keys v. State, 500 So.2d 134 (Fla.1986); Lee v. State, 537 So.2d 704 (Fla. 1st DCA 1989).

In doing so, we also write to certify the following question of great public importance to the Florida Supreme…