Garland v. State

Appellant raises a number of issues. We affirm, but address one issue: whether appellant’s sentence of life in prison for crimes he committed when he was a juvenile violates federal and state prohibitions against cruel and unusual punishment.

In October 2001, when he was 15 years old, appellant was charged with two counts of sexual battery on a person less than 12 years of age, a life felony, and one count of sexual battery on a person 12 years of age or older, a second degree felony. See §§ 794.011(2)(b), (5), Fla. Stat. (2001). He pled nolo contendere and was sentenced to 5 years in prison…