G.L. v. State

G.L. appeals his adjudication of delinquency and sentence, arguing that the trial court abused its discretion by disregarding the recommendation by the Department of Juvenile Justice (“DJJ”) without stating its reasons. We agree and reverse.

G.L. was found with three bags of cannabis that he admittedly intended to sell. The State filed a petition for delinquency, alleging that G.L. possessed cannabis with intent to sell within 1,000 feet of a school.1 The court accepted G.L.’s guilty plea to the lesser-included offense of possession of marijuana under 20 grams.2 The DJJ issued a…