Goddard v. State

Section 812.019(2), Florida Statutes, imposes criminal sanctions upon “any person who initiates, organizes, plans, finances, directs, manages, or supervises the theft of property and traffics in such stolen property.” Appellant was found guilty by jury of violating that statutory prohibition. The only issue raised on appeal which merits discussion is appellant’s contention that Section 812.019(2), Florida Statutes, was not intended to apply to him, a common thief who individually stole the goods in question1 and then trafficked in same.2 We disagree.

It is a well-settled rule that where the…