State v. S.M.M.

The State appeals from an order dismissing its delinquency petition charging S.M.M. with one count of possession of cocaine. This is one of a number of cases pending before us from the same juvenile delinquency division in the Florida’s Ninth Judicial Circuit, decided adversely to the State by the same judge. In each case, the State did not have witnesses present at a duly noticed trial or evidentiary hearing, and the trial judge declined to continue the trial or hearing to allow the State another chance to produce its witnesses. We have reviewed each case applying an abuse of discretion…