Burns v. State

Phillip Burns challenges his judgment of conviction and sentences for attempted second degree murder and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. We affirm the convictions without comment, but vacate his sentences because the trial court believed, given our prior precedent, that the sentences imposed pursuant to section 775.087(2), Florida Statutes, had to be consecutive sentences. As Burns discharged a firearm striking a single victim and as both offenses arose out of a single criminal episode, consecutive sentences were permissible but not required. See Williams v. State, 186 So.3d 989…