State v. Watts

OVERTON, Justice.

The State of Florida petitions this Court to review Watts v. State, 578 So.2d 487 (Fla. 1st DCA 1991), in which the First District Court of Appeal reversed Watt’s sentencing as a habitual offender. The district court certified the following question as being of great public importance:

WHETHER SECTION 775.084(l)(a)l, FLORIDA STATUTES (SUPP.1988), WHICH DEFINES HABITUAL FELONY OFFENDERS AS THOSE WHO HAVE “PREVIOUSLY BEEN CONVICTED OF TWO OR MORE FELONIES,” REQUIRES THAT EACH OF THE FELONIES BE COMMITTED AFTER CONVICTION FOR THE IMMEDIATELY PREVIOUS OFFENSE.

Id. at 438-39.1

We…