Pierce v. State

NORTHCUTT, Judge.

Mason Pierce appeals a restitution order entered after a hearing in Pierce’s absence. We reverse.

Pierce entered no contest pleas in two cases involving the same victim. When accepting the pleas, the circuit court ordered $15 in restitution in one case and reserved jurisdiction to determine restitution in the other. At the subsequent hearing, the assistant public defender who had represented Pierce at the change-of-plea proceeding was present, but Pierce was not. The public defender was unaware of Pierce’s whereabouts and did not know whether Pierce had received notice of the…