“[I]t is not the province of a federal habeas court to reexamine state-court determinations on state-law questions.”
How later courts described this case
- “[I]t is not the province of a federal habeas court to reexamine state-court determinations on state-law questions.”
- stating the language in § 2254(d)(1) “requires an examination of the state-court decision at the time it was made”
- holding errors of state law are not cognizable in federal habeas review
- “[T]he Double Jeopardy Clause does no more than prevent the sentencing court from prescribing greater punishment than the legislature intended.”
Written by the judges who cited it.
The opinion
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
MIDDLE DISTRICT OF FLORIDA
JACKSONVILLE DIVISION
THEODORE MOSS, III,
Petitioner,
v. Case No. 3:19-cv-881-MMH-JBT
SECRETARY, FLORIDA
DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS,
et al.,
Respondents.
________________________________
ORDER
I. Status
Petitioner Theodore Moss, III, an inmate of the Florida penal system,
initiated this action on July 29, 2019, by filing a Petition for Writ of Habeas
Corpus under 28 U.S.C. § 2254 (Petition; Doc. 1).1 In the Petition, Moss
challenges a 2013 state court (Duval County, Florida) judgment of conviction
for first-degree murder and armed burglary. He raises nine grounds for relief.
See Petition at 5-19. Respondents submitted a memorandum in opposition to
the Petition. See Response (Doc. 12). They also submitted exhibits. See Docs.
12-1 through 12-26. Moss filed a notice that he would not submit a brief in
1 For purposes of reference to pleadings and exhibits, the Court will cite the
document page numbers assigned by the Court’s electronic docketing system.
reply, but instead would rely on his assertions in the Petition. See Notice (Doc.
15). This action is ripe for review.
II. Relevant Procedural History
On June 7, 2012, the State of Florida charged Moss by indictment with
first-degree murder (count one) and armed burglary (count two). Doc. 12-1 at
57-58. Moss exercised his right to proceed to a jury trial, and on February 7,
2013, a jury found him guilty as to counts one and two. Id. at 124-26. On April
4, 2013, the trial court sentenced Moss to concurrent terms of life
imprisonment with mandatory minimum sentences of life imprisonment on
both counts. Id. at 133-40. A week later, on April 11, 2013, the trial court
resentenced Moss to concurrent terms of life imprisonment with twenty-five-
year mandatory minimum sentences on both counts. Id. at 148-54.
On direct appeal, Moss, with the benefit of counsel, filed an initial brief,
arguing that the trial court erred when it gave: an independent forcible felony
instruction (ground one); an instruction imposing a presumption of intent to
commit an unlawful act involving force or violence (ground two); and
conflicting instructions on the duty to retreat (ground three). Doc. 12-3 at 18-
31. The State filed an answer brief, Doc. 12-4, and Moss filed a reply brief, Doc.
2
12-5. The First DCA affirmed Moss’s convictions and sentences on February
26, 2014, Doc. 12-6 at 5, and issued the mandate on April 14, 2014, id. at 3.
Moss filed a pro se state petition for writ of habeas corpus raising two
grounds of ineffective assistance of appellate counsel on November 17, 2014.
Doc. 12-10. The First DCA denied the petition on the merits on December 10,
2014, Doc. 12-11, and later denied Moss’s motion for rehearing, Doc. 12-12 at
4.
On March 8, 2016, Moss filed a pro se motion for postconviction relief
under Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.850. Doc. 12-13 at 7-12. In his Rule
3.850 Motion, Moss alleged one ground for relief: counsel was ineffective when
he did not make sufficient motions for judgment of acquittal. Id. On May 5,
2016, the circuit court summarily denied Moss’s Rule 3.850 Motion. Id. at 15-
17. The First DCA per curiam affirmed the denial of relief without a written
opinion on October 7, 2016, Doc. 12-16 at 5, and issued the mandate on January
13, 2017, id. at 3.
Moss has also filed four motions under Florida Rule of Criminal
Procedure 3.800(a) since his convictions and sentences became final on direct
appeal. Docs. 12-8; 12-17 at 5-8; 12-20 at 5-14; 12-24 at 5-10. The circuit court
either dismissed or denied relief on each Rule 3.800(a) Motion. Docs. 12-9; 12-
3
17 at 9-10; 12-20 at 20-22; 12-24 at 16. The First DCA per curiam affirmed the
circuit court’s orders on Moss’s 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Rule 3.800(a) Motions. Docs.
19 at 4; 23 at 5; 26 at 4. Moss did not pursue an appeal of the circuit court’s
order denying his 1st Rule 3.800(a) Motion. Response at 10.
III. One-Year Limitations Period
This action was timely filed within the one-year limitations period. See
28 U.S.C. § 2244(d).
IV. Evidentiary Hearing
In a habeas corpus proceeding, the burden is on the petitioner to
establish the need for a federal evidentiary hearing. See Chavez v. Sec’y, Fla.
Dep’t of Corr., 647 F.3d 1057, 1060 (11th Cir. 2011). “In deciding whether to
grant an evidentiary hearing, a federal court must consider whether such a
hearing could enable an applicant to prove the petition’s factual allegations,
which, if true, would entitle the applicant to federal habeas relief.” Schriro v.
Landrigan, 550 U.S. 465, 474 (2007); Jones v. Sec’y, Fla. Dep’t of Corr., 834
F.3d 1299, 1318-19 (11th Cir. 2016). “It follows that if the record refutes the
applicant’s factual allegations or otherwise precludes habeas relief, a district
court is not required to hold an evidentiary hearing.” Schriro, 550 U.S. at 474.
The pertinent facts of this case are fully developed in the record before the
4
Court. Because the Court can “adequately assess [Moss’s] claim[s] without
further factual development,” Turner v. Crosby, 339 F.3d 1247, 1275 (11th Cir.
2003), an evidentiary hearing will not be conducted.
V. Governing Legal Principles
A. Standard of Review
The Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 (AEDPA)
governs a state prisoner’s federal petition for habeas corpus. See Ledford v.
Warden, Ga. Diagnostic & Classification Prison, 818 F.3d 600, 642 (11th Cir.
2016). “‘The purpose of AEDPA is to ensure that federal habeas relief functions
as a guard against extreme malfunctions in the state criminal justice systems,
and not as a means of error correction.’” Id. (quoting Greene v. Fisher, 565 U.S.
34, 38 (2011) (quotation marks omitted)). As such, federal habeas review of
final state court decisions is “‘greatly circumscribed’ and ‘highly deferential.’”
Id. (quoting Hill v. Humphrey, 662 F.3d 1335, 1343 (11th Cir. 2011) (quotation
marks omitted)).
The first task of the federal habeas court is to identify the last state court
decision, if any, that adjudicated the claim on the merits. See Marshall v. Sec’y,
Fla. Dep’t of Corr., 828 F.3d 1277, 1285 (11th Cir. 2016). The state court need
not issue a written opinion explaining its rationale in order for the state court’s
5
decision to qualify as an adjudication on the merits. See Harrington v. Richter,
562 U.S. 86, 100 (2011). Where the state court’s adjudication on the merits is
unaccompanied by an explanation, the United States Supreme Court has
instructed:
[T]he federal court should “look through” the
unexplained decision to the last related state-court
decision that does provide a relevant rationale. It
should then presume that the unexplained decision
adopted the same reasoning.
Wilson v. Sellers, 138 S. Ct. 1188, 1192 (2018). The presumption may be
rebutted by showing that the higher state court’s adjudication most likely
relied on different grounds than the lower state court’s reasoned decision, such
as persuasive alternative grounds that were briefed or argued to the higher
court or obvious in the record it reviewed. Id. at 1192, 1196.
If the claim was “adjudicated on the merits” in state court, § 2254(d) bars
relitigation of the claim unless the state court’s decision (1) “was contrary to,
or involved an unreasonable application of, clearly established Federal law, as
determined by the Supreme Court of the United States;” or (2) “was based on
an unreasonable determination of the facts in light of the evidence presented
in the State court proceeding.” 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d); Richter, 562 U.S. at 97-98.
6
The Eleventh Circuit describes the limited scope of federal review pursuant to
§ 2254 as follows:
First, § 2254(d)(1) provides for federal review for
claims of state courts’ erroneous legal conclusions. As
explained by the Supreme Court in Williams v. Taylor,
529 U.S. 362, 120 S. Ct. 1495, 146 L.Ed.2d 389 (2000),
§ 2254(d)(1) consists of two distinct clauses: a
“contrary to” clause and an “unreasonable application”
clause. The “contrary to” clause allows for relief only
“if the state court arrives at a conclusion opposite to
that reached by [the Supreme] Court on a question of
law or if the state court decides a case differently than
[the Supreme] Court has on a set of materially
indistinguishable facts.” Id. at 413, 120 S. Ct. at 1523
(plurality opinion). The “unreasonable application”
clause allows for relief only “if the state court identifies
the correct governing legal principle from [the
Supreme] Court's decisions but unreasonably applies
that principle to the facts of the prisoner’s case.” Id.
Second, § 2254(d)(2) provides for federal review for
claims of state courts’ erroneous factual
determinations. Section 2254(d)(2) allows federal
courts to grant relief only if the state court’s denial of
the petitioner’s claim “was based on an unreasonable
determination of the facts in light of the evidence
presented in the State court proceeding.” 28 U.S.C. §
2254(d)(2). The Supreme Court has not yet defined §
2254(d)(2)’s “precise relationship” to § 2254(e)(1),
which imposes a burden on the petitioner to rebut the
state court’s factual findings “by clear and convincing
evidence.” See Burt v. Titlow, 571 U.S. ---, ---, 134 S.
Ct. 10, 15, 187 L.Ed.2d 348 (2013); accord Brumfield v.
Cain, 576 U.S. ---, ---, 135 S. Ct. 2269, 2282, 192
L.Ed.2d 356 (2015). Whatever that “precise
7
relationship” may be, “‘a state-court factual
determination is not unreasonable merely because the
federal habeas court would have reached a different
conclusion in the first instance.’”[2] Titlow, 571 U.S. at
---, 134 S. Ct. at 15 (quoting Wood v. Allen, 558 U.S.
290, 301, 130 S. Ct. 841, 849, 175 L.Ed.2d 738 (2010)).
Tharpe v. Warden, 834 F.3d 1323, 1337 (11th Cir. 2016). Also, deferential
review under § 2254(d) generally is limited to the record that was before the
state court that adjudicated the claim on the merits. See Cullen v. Pinholster,
563 U.S. 170, 182 (2011) (stating the language in § 2254(d)(1) “requires an
examination of the state-court decision at the time it was made”).
Thus, “AEDPA erects a formidable barrier to federal habeas relief for
prisoners whose claims have been adjudicated in state court.” Burt v. Titlow,
134 S. Ct. 10, 16 (2013). “Federal courts may grant habeas relief only when a
state court blundered in a manner so ‘well understood and comprehended in
existing law’ and ‘was so lacking in justification’ that ‘there is no possibility
fairminded jurists could disagree.’” Tharpe, 834 F.3d at 1338 (quoting Richter,
562 U.S. at 102-03). This standard is “meant to be” a “difficult” one to meet.
Richter, 562 U.S. at 102. Thus, to the extent that the petitioner’s claims were
2 The Eleventh Circuit has described the interaction between § 2254(d)(2) and
§ 2254(e)(1) as “somewhat murky.” Clark v. Att’y Gen., Fla., 821 F.3d 1270, 1286 n.3
(11th Cir. 2016).
8
adjudicated on the merits in the state courts, they must be evaluated under 28
U.S.C. § 2254(d).
B. Exhaustion/Procedural Default
There are prerequisites to federal habeas review. Before bringing a §
2254 habeas action in federal court, a petitioner must exhaust all state court
remedies that are available for challenging his state conviction. See 28 U.S.C.
§ 2254(b)(1)(A). To exhaust state remedies, the petitioner must “fairly
present[]” every issue raised in his federal petition to the state’s highest court,
either on direct appeal or on collateral review. Castille v. Peoples, 489 U.S. 346,
351 (1989) (emphasis omitted). Thus, to properly exhaust a claim, “state
prisoners must give the state courts one full opportunity to resolve any
constitutional issues by invoking one complete round of the State’s established
appellate review process.” O’Sullivan v. Boerckel, 526 U.S. 838, 845 (1999).
In addressing exhaustion, the United States Supreme Court explained:
Before seeking a federal writ of habeas corpus, a state
prisoner must exhaust available state remedies, 28
U.S.C. § 2254(b)(1), thereby giving the State the
“‘“opportunity to pass upon and correct” alleged
violations of its prisoners’ federal rights.’” Duncan v.
Henry, 513 U.S. 364, 365, 115 S. Ct. 887, 130 L.Ed.2d
865 (1995) (per curiam) (quoting Picard v. Connor, 404
U.S. 270, 275, 92 S. Ct. 509, 30 L.Ed.2d 438 (1971)). To
provide the State with the necessary “opportunity,”
the prisoner must “fairly present” his claim in each
9
appropriate state court (including a state supreme
court with powers of discretionary review), thereby
alerting that court to the federal nature of the claim.
Duncan, supra, at 365-366, 115 S. Ct. 887; O’Sullivan
v. Boerckel, 526 U.S. 838, 845, 119 S. Ct. 1728, 144
L.Ed.2d 1 (1999).
Baldwin v. Reese, 541 U.S. 27, 29 (2004).
A state prisoner’s failure to properly exhaust available state remedies
results in a procedural default which raises a potential bar to federal habeas
review. The United States Supreme Court has explained the doctrine of
procedural default as follows:
Federal habeas courts reviewing the constitutionality
of a state prisoner’s conviction and sentence are guided
by rules designed to ensure that state-court judgments
are accorded the finality and respect necessary to
preserve the integrity of legal proceedings within our
system of federalism. These rules include the doctrine
of procedural default, under which a federal court will
not review the merits of claims, including
constitutional claims, that a state court declined to
hear because the prisoner failed to abide by a state
procedural rule. See, e.g., Coleman,[3] supra, at 747–
748, 111 S. Ct. 2546; Sykes,[4] supra, at 84–85, 97 S.
Ct. 2497. A state court’s invocation of a procedural
rule to deny a prisoner’s claims precludes federal
review of the claims if, among other requisites, the
state procedural rule is a nonfederal ground adequate
to support the judgment and the rule is firmly
established and consistently followed. See, e.g.,
3 Coleman v. Thompson, 501 U.S. 722 (1991).
4 Wainwright v. Sykes, 433 U.S. 72 (1977).
10
Walker v. Martin, 562 U.S. --, --, 131 S. Ct. 1120, 1127–
1128, 179 L.Ed.2d 62 (2011); Beard v. Kindler, 558
U.S. --, --, 130 S. Ct. 612, 617–618, 175 L.Ed.2d 417
(2009). The doctrine barring procedurally defaulted
claims from being heard is not without exceptions. A
prisoner may obtain federal review of a defaulted
claim by showing cause for the default and prejudice
from a violation of federal law. See Coleman, 501 U.S.,
at 750, 111 S. Ct. 2546.
Martinez v. Ryan, 132 S. Ct. 1309, 1316 (2012). Thus, procedural defaults may
be excused under certain circumstances. Notwithstanding that a claim has
been procedurally defaulted, a federal court may still consider the claim if a
state habeas petitioner can show either (1) cause for and actual prejudice from
the default; or (2) a fundamental miscarriage of justice. Ward v. Hall, 592 F.3d
1144, 1157 (11th Cir. 2010). In order for a petitioner to establish cause,
the procedural default “must result from some
objective factor external to the defense that prevented
[him] from raising the claim and which cannot be
fairly attributable to his own conduct.” McCoy v.
Newsome, 953 F.2d 1252, 1258 (11th Cir. 1992)
(quoting Carrier, 477 U.S. at 488, 106 S. Ct. 2639).[5]
Under the prejudice prong, [a petitioner] must show
that “the errors at trial actually and substantially
disadvantaged his defense so that he was denied
fundamental fairness.” Id. at 1261 (quoting Carrier,
477 U.S. at 494, 106 S. Ct. 2639).
Wright v. Hopper, 169 F.3d 695, 706 (11th Cir. 1999).
5 Murray v. Carrier, 477 U.S. 478 (1986).
11
In the absence of a showing of cause and prejudice, a petitioner may
receive consideration on the merits of a procedurally defaulted claim if the
petitioner can establish that a fundamental miscarriage of justice, the
continued incarceration of one who is actually innocent, otherwise would
result. The Eleventh Circuit has explained:
[I]f a petitioner cannot show cause and prejudice,
there remains yet another avenue for him to receive
consideration on the merits of his procedurally
defaulted claim. “[I]n an extraordinary case, where a
constitutional violation has probably resulted in the
conviction of one who is actually innocent, a federal
habeas court may grant the writ even in the absence
of a showing of cause for the procedural default.”
Carrier, 477 U.S. at 496, 106 S. Ct. at 2649. “This
exception is exceedingly narrow in scope,” however,
and requires proof of actual innocence, not just legal
innocence. Johnson v. Alabama, 256 F.3d 1156, 1171
(11th Cir. 2001).
Ward, 592 F.3d at 1157. “To meet this standard, a petitioner must ‘show that
it is more likely than not that no reasonable juror would have convicted him’
of the underlying offense.” Johnson v. Alabama, 256 F.3d 1156, 1171 (11th Cir.
2001) (quoting Schlup v. Delo, 513 U.S. 298, 327 (1995)). Additionally, “‘[t]o be
credible,’ a claim of actual innocence must be based on reliable evidence not
presented at trial.” Calderon v. Thompson, 523 U.S. 538, 559 (1998) (quoting
Schlup, 513 U.S. at 324). With the rarity of such evidence, in most cases,
12
allegations of actual innocence are ultimately summarily rejected. Schlup, 513
U.S. at 324.
C. Ineffective Assistance of Trial and Appellate Counsel
“The Sixth Amendment guarantees criminal defendants the effective
assistance of counsel. That right is denied when a defense attorney’s
performance falls below an objective standard of reasonableness and thereby
prejudices the defense.” Yarborough v. Gentry, 540 U.S. 1, 5 (2003) (per
curiam) (citing Wiggins v. Smith, 539 U.S. 510, 521 (2003), and Strickland v.
Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687 (1984)).
To establish deficient performance, a person
challenging a conviction must show that “counsel’s
representation fell below an objective standard of
reasonableness.” [Strickland,] 466 U.S. at 688, 104 S.
Ct. 2052. A court considering a claim of ineffective
assistance must apply a “strong presumption” that
counsel’s representation was within the “wide range”
of reasonable professional assistance. Id., at 689, 104
S. Ct. 2052. The challenger’s burden is to show “that
counsel made errors so serious that counsel was not
functioning as the ‘counsel’ guaranteed the defendant
by the Sixth Amendment.” Id., at 687, 104 S. Ct. 2052.
With respect to prejudice, a challenger must
demonstrate “a reasonable probability that, but for
counsel’s unprofessional errors, the result of the
proceeding would have been different. A reasonable
probability is a probability sufficient to undermine
confidence in the outcome.” Id., at 694, 104 S. Ct. 2052.
It is not enough “to show that the errors had some
13
conceivable effect on the outcome of the proceeding.”
Id., at 693, 104 S. Ct. 2052. Counsel’s errors must be
“so serious as to deprive the defendant of a fair trial, a
trial whose result is reliable.” Id., at 687, 104 S. Ct.
2052.
Richter, 562 U.S. at 104. The Eleventh Circuit has recognized “the absence of
any iron-clad rule requiring a court to tackle one prong of the Strickland test
before the other.” Ward, 592 F.3d at 1163. Since both prongs of the two-part
Strickland test must be satisfied to show a Sixth Amendment violation, “a
court need not address the performance prong if the petitioner cannot meet the
prejudice prong, and vice-versa.” Id. (citing Holladay v. Haley, 209 F.3d 1243,
1248 (11th Cir. 2000)). As stated in Strickland: “If it is easier to dispose of an
ineffectiveness claim on the ground of lack of sufficient prejudice, which we
expect will often be so, that course should be followed.” Strickland, 466 U.S. at
697.
Claims of ineffective assistance of appellate counsel are governed by the
same standards applied to trial counsel under Strickland. See Tuomi v. Sec’y,
Fla. Dep’t of Corr., 980 F.3d 787, 795 (11th Cir. 2020); Philmore v. McNeil, 575
F.3d 1251, 1264 (11th Cir. 2009). The Eleventh Circuit has instructed:
In assessing an appellate attorney’s performance, we
are mindful that “the Sixth Amendment does not
require appellate advocates to raise every non-
14
frivolous issue.” Id. at 1130-31.[6] Rather, an effective
attorney will weed out weaker arguments, even
though they may have merit. See id. at 1131. In order
to establish prejudice, we must first review the merits
of the omitted claim. See id. at 1132. Counsel's
performance will be deemed prejudicial if we find that
“the neglected claim would have a reasonable
probability of success on appeal.” Id.
Philmore, 575 F.3d at 1264. Thus, appellate counsel's performance is
prejudicial if the omitted claim would have a reasonable probability of success
on appeal. Id. at 1265.
A state court’s adjudication of an ineffectiveness claim is accorded great
deference.
“[T]he standard for judging counsel’s representation is
a most deferential one.” Richter, - U.S. at -, 131 S. Ct.
at 788. But “[e]stablishing that a state court’s
application of Strickland was unreasonable under §
2254(d) is all the more difficult. The standards created
by Strickland and § 2254(d) are both highly
deferential, and when the two apply in tandem, review
is doubly so.” Id. (citations and quotation marks
omitted). “The question is not whether a federal court
believes the state court’s determination under the
Strickland standard was incorrect but whether that
determination was unreasonable - a substantially
higher threshold.” Knowles v. Mirzayance, 556 U.S.
111, 123, 129 S. Ct. 1411, 1420, 173 L.Ed.2d 251 (2009)
(quotation marks omitted). If there is “any reasonable
argument that counsel satisfied Strickland’s
deferential standard,” then a federal court may not
6 Heath v. Jones, 941 F.2d 1126, 1130 (11th Cir. 1991).
15
disturb a state-court decision denying the claim.
Richter, - U.S. at -, 131 S. Ct. at 788.
Hittson v. GDCP Warden, 759 F.3d 1210, 1248 (11th Cir. 2014); Knowles v.
Mirzayance, 556 U.S. 111, 123 (2009). In other words, “[i]n addition to the
deference to counsel’s performance mandated by Strickland, the AEDPA adds
another layer of deference — this one to a state court’s decision — when we are
considering whether to grant federal habeas relief from a state court’s
decision.” Rutherford v. Crosby, 385 F.3d 1300, 1309 (11th Cir. 2004). As such,
“[s]urmounting Strickland’s high bar is never an easy task.” Padilla v.
Kentucky, 559 U.S. 356, 371 (2010).
VI. Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law
A. Ground One
Moss alleges the trial court erred when it gave an independent forcible
felony instruction to the jury. Petition at 5; Doc. 12-3 at 21. According to Moss,
the instruction “‘does not apply when it is claimed that the acts with which the
defendant is charged are themselves committed in appropriate self-defense.’”
Doc. 12-3 at 21 (citing Shepard v. Crosby, 916 So. 2d 861, 864 (Fla. 4th DCA
2005)). Moss contends his claim of self-defense applied to counts one and two;
therefore, no independent forcible felony warranted the instruction. Id.
According to Moss, the instruction deprived him of his only defense at trial. Id.
16
at 22. Moss argued this issue on direct appeal, id. at 21-22; the State filed an
answer brief, Doc. 12-4 at 20-33; and the First DCA per curiam affirmed Moss’s
convictions without a written opinion, Doc. 12-6 at 5.
Respondents argue that Moss’s claim is not cognizable in a federal
petition for writ of habeas corpus because it concerns solely state law. Response
at 25. They note Moss did not cite to any federal authority in his initial brief,7
and state court jury instructions normally concern issues of state law Id.
Respondents also assert the First DCA addressed the claim as fundamental
error, which does not raise a federal claim. Id. at 26.
Upon review of the record, the Court concludes that Moss’s claim in
ground one is not cognizable on federal habeas review. In his initial brief, Moss
argued the independent forcible felony instruction did not comply with Florida
case law that defined the appropriate use of the instruction. Doc. 5-3 at 21.
Moss did not allege the error violated his federal constitutional rights. Further,
the record shows counsel did not object to the independent forcible felony
instruction, Doc. 12-2 at 448-56, so the First DCA likely rejected Moss’s claim
because the instruction did not constitute fundamental error, Doc. 5-4 at 17-
7 In his Petition, Moss adopts the argument presented in ground one of his
initial brief in its entirety and without elaboration. Petition at 5.
17
18. See State v. Delva, 575 So. 2d 643, 644 (Fla. 1991) (“Instructions . . . are
subject to the contemporaneous objection rule, and, absent an objection at trial,
can be raised on appeal only if fundamental error occurred.”). “[T]he
fundamental error question is an issue of state law, and state law is what the
state courts say it is.” Pinkney v. Sec’y, DOC, 876 F.3d 1290, 1299 (11th Cir.
2017). Because Moss presents a state law claim, it is not cognizable on federal
habeas review.
Nevertheless, even if Moss fairly presented a federal claim to the state
court, he is still not entitled to relief. In its appellate brief, the State addressed
the claim on the merits, Doc. 12-4 at 20-33; therefore, the appellate court may
have affirmed Moss’s convictions based on the argument presented by the
State. If the appellate court addressed the merits of the claim, the state court’s
adjudication is entitled to deference under AEDPA. After a review of the record
and the applicable law, the Court concludes that the state court’s adjudication
of this claim was not contrary to clearly established federal law, did not involve
an unreasonable application of clearly established federal law, and was not
based on an unreasonable determination of the facts in light of the evidence
presented in the state court proceedings. Therefore, Moss is not entitled to
relief on the basis of this claim.
18
Even assuming the appellate court’s adjudication of the claim is not
entitled to deference, Moss’s claim is without merit. “State court jury
instructions ordinarily comprise issues of state law and are not subject to
federal habeas corpus review absent fundamental unfairness.” Jones v. Kemp,
794 F.2d 1536, 1540 (11th Cir. 1986); see also Wilson v. Sec’y, Fla. Dep’t of
Corr., No. 19-10320-C, 2020 WL 12880803, at *7 (11th Cir. Apr. 20, 2020), cert.
denied sub nom. Wilson v. Dixon, 142 S. Ct. 1171 (2022). As such, on federal
habeas review, the petitioner must demonstrate that “the ailing instruction by
itself so infected the entire trial that the resulting conviction violates due
process.” Henderson v. Kibbe, 431 U.S. 145, 154 (1977) (quotations omitted).
Moss challenges the following instruction:
A person is justified in using deadly force if he
reasonably believes that such force is necessary to
prevent
1. imminent death or great bodily harm to
himself or another, or
However, the use of deadly force is not justifiable
if you find:
1. THEODORE MOSS was attempting to
commit, committing, or escaping after the
commission of Murder in the First Degree;
or
2. THEODORE MOSS initially provoked the
use of force against himself, unless:
19
a. The force asserted toward the
defendant was so great that he
reasonably believed that he was in
imminent danger of death or great
bodily harm and had exhausted every
reasonable means to escape the danger,
other than using deadly force on [the
victim].
b. In good faith, the defendant withdrew
from physical contact with [the victim]
and clearly indicated to [the victim]
that he wanted to withdraw and stop
the use of deadly force, but [the victim]
continued or resumed the use of force.
Doc. 12-1 at 99 (emphasis added). Under Florida law, the independent forcible
felony instruction applies only if the State charges the defendant with an
independent forcible felony other than the felony for which the defendant
asserts self-defense. Martinez v. State, 981 So. 2d 449, 454 (Fla. 2008). “For
that reason, Florida appellate courts have held that an instruction is erroneous
if it lists the forcible felony with which the defendant is charged as the one that
keys the exception which locks out self-defense.” Pinkney, 876 F.3d at 1296
(citing Zuniga v. State, 869 So. 2d 1239, 1240 (Fla. 2d DCA 2004)); see also
Martinez, 981 So. 2d at 453-54; Giles v. State 831, So. 2d 1263, 1265 (Fla. 4th
DCA 2002). Here, Moss asserted he murdered the victim in self-defense, but
20
the trial court included first-degree murder as the independent forcible felony
in the instruction. Accordingly, the trial court gave an erroneous instruction.8
Nevertheless, the Court finds the instruction did not render Moss’s trial
fundamentally unfair. While Moss contends the instruction deprived him of his
only defense, the record demonstrates Moss also relied on an accidental
discharge defense. During opening statements, defense counsel emphasized
that Moss did not know that he shot the victim, and that the firearm’s
discharge occurred unintentionally. Doc. 12-2 at 64. Counsel repeated those
assertions during his closing argument. Id. at 490, 493. Moreover, the trial
court instructed the jury on excusable homicide, whereby “the killing occurs by
accident and misfortune in the heat of passion, upon any sudden and sufficient
provocation . . . .” Doc. 12-1 at 90. Accordingly, the erroneous instruction did
not deprive Moss of his only defense at trial.
Further, Moss did not present a credible self-defense theory. The State
theorized Moss shot the victim because of a botched drug transaction during
which the victim sold rabbit food, instead of marijuana, to Moss. During trial,
Moss testified he approached the victim’s vehicle, a blue Buick, to discuss the
8 In its answer brief, the State conceded the trial court erred when it gave the
independent forcible felony instruction. Doc. 12-4 at 24.
21
botched drug transaction with the victim. Doc. 12-2 at 315. When he arrived at
the Buick, the victim opened the driver’s door and cursed at him. Id. The victim
reached for a gun on the side of his seat near the open door. Id. at 315-16. Moss
reached for the gun. Id. at 316. The victim tried to hit Moss, so Moss hit the
victim in the head with the gun. Id. Moss testified the gun discharged when he
hit the victim in the head. Id. Moss dropped the gun next to the Buick and
returned to his vehicle, a gold Murano. Id. at 316-17.
In contrast to Moss’s version of events, Kirkland Lattimore, a resident of
the apartment complex where the incident occurred, testified that when the
victim arrived at the complex, Moss walked quickly to the Buick. Id. at 110.
Lattimore noticed Moss had a gun when he arrived at the Buick. Id. at 90.
Moss reached into the vehicle and struck the victim with the gun. Id.
Lattimore then heard a gunshot. Id. at 93. As Moss ran back to the Murano,
he said, “dumb-ass.” Id. at 93-94. When Lattimore approached the Buick, he
observed it was running and the victim still wore a seatbelt. Id. at 95.
Jessica Stapleton testified her then-boyfriend, Marquis Washington,
received a telephone call from Moss on the day of the incident, April 30, 2011.
Id. at 155. Moss asked Stapleton and Washington to pick him up from a “game
room.” Id. After they picked Moss up, they drove to a Hess gas station so
22
Washington and Moss could buy marijuana. Id. at 156-57. After the
transaction, Moss became upset when he realized the marijuana was rabbit
food. Id. at 160. They drove to an apartment complex to ask Lattimore about
purchasing marijuana. Id. at 161. Shortly after they arrived at the complex,
the victim drove into the complex’s parking lot. Stapleton noticed Moss exit the
Murano and approach the Buick. Id. at 163. She then saw “the defendant
fighting and the victim not fighting back.” Id. Stapleton testified when Moss
returned to the Murano, he had a black gun. Id. at 164.
When law enforcement officers arrived at the scene, the victim was
seated in the driver’s seat of the Buick. Id. at 185, 188. The Buick’s windows
were closed, the driver’s door was open, and the keys were in the ignition. Id.
at 186. Officers found $1,134.01 in cash and a Pet Smart receipt inside the
victim’s shorts. Id. at 199. They did not recover a gun from the Buick, but they
recovered a .45 caliber casing in the front passenger door. Id. at 218, 229.
Officers also obtained the victim’s cellphone records that indicated Moss called
the victim multiple times on April 30th. Id. at 254-55.
The medical examiner, Dr. Valerie Rao, testified the victim had two
significant injuries to his forehead and eyelids from a blunt object. Id. at 279.
The victim also sustained a gunshot wound to the left side of his scalp. Id. Dr.
23
Rao opined that the gun was fired at close range based on stippling around the
gunshot wound. Id. at 295-96. Dr. Rao also testified that either the blunt force
injuries or the gunshot wound could have caused the victim’s death. Id. at 280,
292.
In rebuttal, the State also presented the testimony of Detective Mechele
Soehlig, who interviewed Moss about the murder. During the interview, Moss
claimed he arranged the transaction between the victim and Washington, and
Washington promised Moss would receive money for arranging the
transaction. Id. at 409. Moss admitted he brought the gun to the victim’s car.
Id. at 414. He initially hit the victim with his fists. Id. at 413. Moss then saw
the victim reach for a gun, he hit the victim in the head again, and the gun
discharged. Id. 413-14.
Ernest McNeil, an inmate who knew Moss prior to both men’s
incarceration, testified he had contact with Moss while they were both out of
custody. Id. at 428, 436. In discussing the botched drug transaction, Moss told
McNeil that “he took care of his problem” and made a slashing motion across
his throat. Id. at 437-38. McNeil also testified Moss was attempting to sell a
black .45 caliber firearm at that time. Id. at 438-39. Given the totality of the
evidence, Moss did not present a credible self-defense theory. Therefore, the
24
instruction did not render Moss’s trial fundamentally unfair. Accordingly, even
if this claim were cognizable on federal habeas review, Moss is not entitled to
federal habeas relief on ground one.
B. Ground Two
In ground two, Moss contends the trial court erred when it gave a special
jury instruction that imposed a presumption of intent to commit an unlawful
act involving force or violence when a person unlawfully and by force attempts
to enter another person’s occupied vehicle. Petition at 7; Doc. 12-3 at 23.
According to Moss, the instruction confused the jury by “bootstrap[ing]”
unlawful entry into a vehicle with intent to commit an unlawful act and by
giving the benefit of Stand Your Ground9 to the victim. Doc. 12-3 at 24-25. Moss
argues the erroneous instruction negated his only defense at trial. Id. at 25.
Moss raised this issue on direct appeal, id. at 23-25; the State filed an answer
brief, Doc. 12-4 at 34-42; and the First DCA per curiam affirmed Moss’s
convictions without a written opinion, Doc. 12-6 at 5.
Respondents argue that Moss raises a state law claim that is not
cognizable in a federal petition for writ of habeas corpus. Response at 38. They
are correct. Insofar as Moss argues the trial court erred when it instructed the
9 Fla. Stat. §§ 776.012, 776.013, 776.031, 776.032.
25
jury on a presumption that violated Florida law, his claim presents a state law
issue that is not cognizable on federal habeas review. The purpose of a federal
habeas proceeding is to review the lawfulness of Moss’s custody to determine
whether that custody is in violation of the Constitution or laws or treaties of
the United States. See Swarthout v. Cooke, 562 U.S. 216, 219 (2011) (holding
errors of state law are not cognizable in federal habeas review); Estelle v.
McGuire, 502 U.S. 62, 67-68 (1991) (“[I]t is not the province of a federal habeas
court to reexamine state-court determinations on state-law questions.”);
Coleman v. Thompson, 501 U.S. 722, 730 (1991). Thus, insofar as Moss’s claim
in ground two alleges the trial court erred under Florida law when it instructed
the jury, such claim provides no basis for federal habeas relief. See Estelle, 502
U.S. at 67-68.
Even assuming Moss fairly presented a federal claim on direct appeal,
Moss’s claim is still without merit. In its appellate brief, the State addressed
this claim on the merits, Doc. 12-4 at 34-42; therefore, the appellate court may
have affirmed Moss’s convictions based on the State’s argument. If the
appellate court did so, the state court’s adjudication is entitled to deference
under AEDPA. After a review of the record and the applicable law, the Court
concludes that the state court’s adjudication of this claim was not contrary to
26
clearly established federal law, did not involve an unreasonable application of
clearly established federal law, and was not based on an unreasonable
determination of the facts in light of the evidence presented in the state court
proceedings. Therefore, Moss is not entitled to relief on the basis of this claim.
Even assuming the appellate court’s adjudication of the claim is not
entitled to deference, Moss is not entitled to federal habeas relief. Moss
challenges the following instruction:
A person who unlawfully and by force enters or
attempts to enter another’s occupied vehicle is
presumed to be doing so with the intent to commit an
unlawful act involving force or violence.
Doc. 12-1 at 100. The trial court derived the instruction from Florida Statutes
section 776.013(4). Florida’s standard jury instructions also include the
instruction. See Fla. Std. Instr. (Crim.) 3.6(f).
On the record before the Court, Moss has not demonstrated the
instruction rendered his trial fundamentally unfair. The instruction did not
deprive Moss of his only defense at trial. As stated above in discussing ground
one, Moss also raised an accidental discharge defense at trial. Moreover, the
State presented sufficient evidence that Moss unlawfully and by force entered
the victim’s vehicle to warrant the instruction. Lattimore witnessed Moss
reach inside the victim’s vehicle and strike the victim with a gun. Doc. 12-2 at
27
93. Detective Soehlig testified Moss admitted to approaching the victim’s
vehicle with a gun and hitting the victim while he still sat inside his Buick. Id.
at 413-14. Moreover, when officers discovered the victim, he was still in the
driver’s seat of the Buick and the driver’s door was open. Id. at 185-86, 188.
Given such evidence, the instruction did not render his trial fundamentally
unfair. Accordingly, Moss is not entitled to federal habeas relief on ground two.
C. Ground Three
Next, Moss alleges the trial court fundamentally erred when it gave
conflicting jury instructions on the duty to retreat. Petition at 8; Doc. 12-3 at
25. According to Moss, the trial court erroneously instructed the jury on the
justifiable use of deadly force, which imposes a duty to retreat unless “a
reasonably cautious and prudent person would have believed that the danger
could be avoided only through the use of that force.” Doc. 12-3 at 26 (quotations
omitted). Moss contends that the Florida statutes governing self-defense do not
include the phrase, “could be avoided only through the use of that force.” Id. at
26. Moss further argues the instruction confused the jury because the trial
court also gave a Stand Your Ground instruction, which does not impose a duty
to retreat. Id. at 29. Moss argued this issue on direct appeal, id. at 25-31; the
28
State filed an answer brief, Doc. 12-4 at 43-56; and the First DCA per curiam
affirmed Moss’s convictions without a written opinion, Doc. 12-6 at 5.
Respondents contend that Moss raises a state law claim. Response at 44.
According to Respondents, the concepts of reversible error and fundamental
error are issues of state law. Id. Respondents are correct. See Pinkney, 876
F.3d at 1296. To the extent Moss argues the trial court fundamentally erred
when it gave conflicting jury instructions on Florida self-defense law, his claim
presents a state law issue that is not cognizable on federal habeas review. See
Estelle, 502 U.S. at 67-68.
Nevertheless, even if Moss fairly presented a federal claim on direct
appeal, he is still not entitled to federal habeas relief. In its appellate brief, the
State addressed the claim on the merits, Doc. 12-4 at 43-56; therefore, the
appellate court may have affirmed Moss’s convictions based on the argument
presented by the State. If the appellate court addressed the merits of the claim,
the state court’s adjudication is entitled to deference under AEDPA. After a
review of the record and the applicable law, the Court concludes that the state
court’s adjudication of this claim was not contrary to clearly established federal
law, did not involve an unreasonable application of clearly established federal
law, and was not based on an unreasonable determination of the facts in light
29
of the evidence presented in the state court proceedings. Therefore, Moss is not
entitled to relief on the basis of this claim.
Even assuming the appellate court’s adjudication of the claim is not
entitled to deference, Moss’s claim is without merit. Moss challenges the
following instruction:
In deciding whether defendant was justified in
the use of deadly force, you must judge him by the
circumstances by which he was surrounded at the time
the force was used. The danger facing the defendant
need not have been actual; however, to justify the use
of deadly force, the appearance of danger must have
been so real that a reasonably cautious and prudent
person under the same circumstances would have
believed that the danger could be avoided only through
the use of that force. Based upon appearances, the
defendant must have actually believed that the danger
was real.
Doc. 12-1 at 100. Initially, the Court notes that the Florida Supreme Court has
determined the instruction used in the instant case “accurately and correctly”
explains the duty to retreat “with regard to the factually complex situations
where the jury must unwind the facts to determine who was the initial
aggressor.” State v. Floyd, 186 So. 3d 1013, 1020-21 (Fla. 2016). It has also held
that the organization of the justifiable use of deadly force instruction and the
Stand Your Ground instruction is not confusing. Id. at 1021.
30
The instruction did not erroneously impose a duty to retreat on Moss.
Rather, the paragraph following the contested instruction explains that Moss
had no duty to retreat if he was in a place that he had a right to be and was
not engaged in unlawful activity. Doc. 12-1 at 100. Further, for the reasons
stated in rejecting ground one, the Court finds the instruction did not render
Moss’s trial fundamentally unfair. Accordingly, Moss is not entitled to federal
habeas relief on ground three.
D. Ground Four
As ground four, Moss contends appellate counsel was ineffective when
he failed to raise on direct appeal the claim that Moss’s resentencing violated
double jeopardy. Petition at 10; Doc. 12-10 at 5. According to Moss, the trial
judge initially sentenced him to concurrent terms of life imprisonment with
mandatory minimum terms of life imprisonment for counts one and two. Doc.
12-10 at 5. Moss asserts that the State filed a Florida Rule of Criminal
Procedure Rule 3.800(b) Motion, requesting the trial judge impose mandatory
minimum sentences pursuant to Florida Statutes section 775.087(2)(a)3. Id.
According to Moss, the trial judge subsequently held a resentencing hearing
and imposed twenty-five-year minimum mandatory sentences for counts one
and two. Id. Moss argues his appellate counsel should have asserted that the
31
imposition of the minimum mandatory sentences violated the principle of
double jeopardy. Id. at 6. Moss raised this issue in a state petition for writ of
habeas corpus, id. at 5-7, and the First DCA denied Moss’s petition on the
merits, Doc. 12-11 at 2.
As there is a qualifying state court decision, the Court will address the
claim in accordance with the deferential standard for federal court review of
state court adjudications. After a review of the record and the applicable law,
the Court concludes that the state court’s adjudication of this claim was not
contrary to clearly established federal law, did not involve an unreasonable
application of clearly established federal law, and was not based on an
unreasonable determination of the facts in light of the evidence presented in
the state court proceedings. Therefore, Moss is not entitled to relief on the basis
of this claim.
Even assuming the appellate court’s adjudication of the claim is not
entitled to deference, Moss’s claim is without merit. “Resentencing violates the
double jeopardy clause only when it disrupts the defendant’s legitimate
expectations of finality.” United States v. Young, 953 F.2d 1288, 1291 n.3 (11th
Cir. 1992). The Florida Supreme Court has determined that when a trial court
fails to pronounce a nondiscretionary minimum mandatory sentence, the
32
defendant has no legitimate expectation of finality in that sentence, “at least
until the reviewing court has issued a mandate or the time for filing an appeal
has run.” Dunbar v. State, 89 So. 3d 901, 906 (Fla. 2012). As a result, the later
addition of a minimum mandatory sentence pursuant to Florida Statutes
section 775.087 (“the 10-20-Life statute”) does not violate double jeopardy. Id.
at 904.
Here, the record demonstrates the trial judge resentenced Moss because
he did not consider the jury’s specific findings and impose minimum mandatory
sentences within the range mandated by the 10-20-Life statute.10 Doc. 12-1 at
145, 204-05. The trial judge also resentenced Moss before the expiration of the
time to file an appeal.11 Such a resentencing does not violate double jeopardy.
See Dunbar, 89 So. 3d at 906. Therefore, appellate counsel was not ineffective
for failing to raise a meritless issue on appeal. Shere v. Sec’y, Fla. Dep't of
Corr., 537 F.3d 1304, 1311 (11th Cir. 2008). Accordingly, Moss is not entitled
to federal habeas relief on ground four.
10 Section 775.087(2)(a)3 provides if the convicted person discharged a firearm
causing death or great bodily harm during the commission of a qualifying offense “the
convicted person shall be sentenced to a minimum term of imprisonment of not less
than 25 years and not more than a term of imprisonment of life in prison.” (emphasis
added).
11 The trial judge sentenced Moss on April 4, 2013, and resentenced him on
April 11, 2013. Docs. 12-1 at 133-40, 148-54
33
E. Ground Five
In ground five, Moss contends his sentence is illegal because the trial
judge granted the State’s Rule 3.800(b) motion and resentenced him to twenty-
five-year minimum mandatory sentences for counts one and two. Petition at
12; Doc. 12-8 at 2-3. Moss argues the State can only file a Rule 3.800(b) motion
to correct a sentencing error that would benefit a defendant; therefore, the trial
judge improperly corrected his sentences based on the State’s Rule 3.800(b)
motion. Doc. 12-8 at 3-4. Moss raised this claim in his 1st Rule 3.800(a) motion
filed on April 14, 2015. Doc. 12-8. The state court denied the motion, Doc. 12-9
at 2, and Moss did not appeal the court’s order.
Respondents argue Moss has failed to exhaust state remedies as to this
claim, and as such, the claim is procedurally defaulted. Response at 54-55. The
record before the Court establishes that Moss has not exhausted his state
remedies as to this claim because he failed to raise the claim in a procedurally
correct manner. Moss has not shown either cause excusing the default or actual
prejudice resulting from the bar. Moreover, he has failed to identify any fact
warranting the application of the fundamental miscarriage of justice
exception. As such, the claim in ground five is procedurally barred.
34
Nevertheless, even if his claim was not procedurally barred, Moss is still
not entitled to relief. Insofar as Moss argues the trial court did not correctly
apply Rule 3.800(b), his claim presents a state law issue that is not cognizable
on federal habeas review. See Estelle, 502 U.S. at 67. Therefore, Moss is not
entitled to federal habeas relief on ground five.
F. Ground Six
Next, Moss alleges counsel was ineffective when he made insufficient
motions for judgment of acquittal. Petition at 16; Doc. 12-13 at 7. According to
Moss, counsel should have argued that the State presented only circumstantial
evidence that Moss murdered the victim with premeditated intent. Doc. 12-13
at 10. Moss raised a similar claim in state court as the sole ground of his Rule
3.850 Motion. Doc. 12-13 at 7-12. In denying relief, the circuit court explained:
In his Motion, the Defendant claims that counsel
rendered ineffective assistance in that counsel failed
to move for a judgment of acquittal. The record rebuts
this allegation. The record of the court docket
establishes that on February 7, 2013[,] the Defendant
made and renewed his Motions for Judgment of
Acquittal. [Exhibit A][12]
Accordingly, this Court finds the defendant has
not established error on the part of counsel that
prejudiced his case. Strickland, 446 U.S. [at] 668.
12 Doc. 12-13 at 18-30.
35
Doc. 12-13 at 16. The First DCA per curiam affirmed the denial of relief
without a written opinion. Doc. 12-16 at 5.
The state circuit court’s decision suggests the state court may have
misunderstood the claim that Moss raised in his Rule 3.850 Motion. Moss
alleged that counsel “was ineffective for failing to adequately move for a
judgment of acquittal.” Doc. 12-13 at 7 (emphasis added). The state court
appears to have considered the claim as if Moss alleged counsel failed to move
for a judgment of acquittal entirely. Doc. 12-13 at 16. In denying relief, the
state court did not assess the adequacy of the motions, but merely attached a
copy of the docket sheet as an exhibit to establish that counsel had moved for
a judgment of acquittal. Id. at 18-30. In light of the fact that the state court’s
denial of relief appears to have rested only on its determination that counsel
was not ineffective because he had moved for a judgment of acquittal and
because the First DCA did not provide a written opinion, the Court presumes
the First DCA affirmed the denial of relief based on the state court’s finding.
Wilson, 138 S. Ct. at 1192. However, based on the above, it does not appear as
if deference should be owed to this adjudication.
Nevertheless, under a de novo review, Moss is not entitled to relief
because he cannot demonstrate prejudice. See Berghuis v. Thompkins, 560
36
U.S. 370, 390 (2010) (“Courts can, however, deny writs of habeas corpus under
§ 2254 by engaging in de novo review when it is unclear whether AEDPA
deference applies, because a habeas petitioner will not be entitled to a writ of
habeas corpus if his or her claim is rejected on de novo review.”). The State
presented ample evidence of premeditation at trial. Witness testimony
provided a motive for Moss to shoot the victim based on the botched drug
transaction. Doc. 12-2 at 160, 409, 437-38. Moss’s cell phone records reflect that
he made multiple calls to the victim throughout the day. Id. at 255. Moss last
called the victim at 3:31 p.m. Id. According to witness testimony, the shooting
occurred sometime after 4:00 p.m. Id. at 85-86. A resident of the complex
testified before he heard the gunshots that day, a loud, angry male voice yelled,
“There he is right there.” Id. at 141.
According to Detective Soehlig, Moss admitted to carrying a gun when
he approached the victim’s Buick to discuss the botched drug transaction. Id.
at 414. Moreover, after Moss shot the victim, Lattimore heard Moss say,
“dumb-ass.” Id. at 93-94. The State argued Moss’s comment demonstrated his
intent to murder the victim. Id. at 500. Such evidence could certainly support
a conclusion that Moss had premeditated intent to shoot the victim.
37
The Court also notes that after denying the defense’s initial motion for
judgment of acquittal, the trial judge stated: “I believe there was enough
evidence in the record where a proper inference could be drawn and I was
prepared to deny the Motion for Judgment of Acquittal based on that since I
draw that inference in favor of the state.” Doc. 12-2 at 300-01. Even if counsel
had made Moss’s proposed argument, the trial judge would not have granted
the motion. Therefore, counsel’s alleged failure to make sufficient motions for
judgment of acquittal did not prejudice the defense. Accordingly, Moss is not
entitled to federal habeas relief on ground six.
G. Ground Seven
In ground seven, Moss contends his sentence is illegal because he
received twenty-five-year mandatory minimum sentences pursuant to the 10-
20-Life statute without specific jury findings. Petition at 16; Doc. 12-20 at 7.
Moss asserts the jury never found that he actually possessed a firearm during
the commission of the offense. Doc. 12-20 at 8-9. According to Moss, the trial
court could not impose the mandatory minimum sentences without a jury
finding he actually possessed a firearm. Id.
38
Moss raised this claim in his 3rd Rule 3.800(a) motion filed on January
4, 2018. Doc. 12-20 at 5-14. The state court denied the motion, stating in
pertinent part:
In the instant Motion Defendant argues his
sentence is illegal and wants correction. The record
does not support Defendant’s allegation that his
sentence is illegal.
On February 7, 2013, Defendant was found
guilty by [a] jury of First Degree Murder and Armed
Burglary. On April 4, 2013, after a full hearing,
Defendant was adjudicated guilty and the trial court
sentenced him to life without parole with the life
minimum mandatory imprisonment provisions of
section 775.087(2)(a), Florida Statutes. On April 5,
2013, the State filed a motion to correct sentence. On
April 11, 2013, Defendant’s sentence of April 4, 2013[,]
was vacated and set aside per oral court order.
Defendant’s sentence was corrected and modified.
Defendant was sentenced to life without parole. It was
further ordered that the twenty-five (25) year
minimum mandatory imprisonment provisions of
section 775.087(2)(a), Florida Statutes, imposed for
Count One and Count Two, be concurrent for each
count. A notice of appeal was filed and on April 14,
2014, the First District Court of Appeal issued a
mandate affirming Defendant’s sentence and
conviction. The record reflects Defendant [was]
properly sentenced.
Id. at 20-21 (record citations omitted). The First DCA per curiam affirmed the
denial of relief without a written opinion. Doc. 12-23 at 5.
39
To the extent that the First DCA denied this claim on the merits, the
Court will address the claim in accordance with the deferential standard for
federal court review of state court adjudications. After a review of the record
and the applicable law, the Court concludes that the state court’s adjudication
of this claim was not contrary to clearly established federal law, did not involve
an unreasonable application of clearly established federal law, and was not
based on an unreasonable determination of the facts in light of the evidence
presented in the state court proceedings. Therefore, Moss is not entitled to
relief on the basis of this claim.
Even assuming the appellate court’s adjudication of the claim is not
entitled to deference, Moss’s claim is without merit. Moss appears to raise a
claim that his sentence is illegal because the jury did not find a fact that
increased his sentences for counts one and two in violation of Alleyne v. United
States, 570 U.S. 99 (2013). To impose the twenty-five-year minimum
mandatory sentence pursuant to section 775.087(2)(a)3, a defendant must have
“discharged a ‘firearm’ . . . and, as the result of the discharge, death or great
bodily harm was inflicted upon any person.” Here, the indictment charged
Moss with first-degree murder, specifying in pertinent part:
[D]uring the commission of the aforementioned
Murder in the First Degree the said THEODORE
40
MOSS carried or had in his possession a firearm, and
during the commission of the aforementioned Murder
in the First Degree the said THEODORE MOSS did
discharge a firearm and as a result of the discharge,
death or great bodily harm was inflicted upon any
person, contrary to the provisions of Section(s)
782.04(1)(a) and 775.087(2)(a)(3) Florida Statutes.
Doc. 12-1 at 57. The indictment similarly charged Moss with armed burglary
Id. The jury found Moss guilty of counts one and two “as charged in the
Indictment,” with a special finding that Moss “discharged a firearm causing
death or great bodily harm during the commission of the offense.” Id. at 124,
126. Therefore, Moss’s convictions and sentences complied with Alleyne.
To the extent Moss asserts that his minimum mandatory sentences are
illegal because the jury did not find he actually possessed a firearm during the
offenses, such a claim is without merit. The State did not pursue a principal
theory during trial, and the evidence demonstrated Moss actually possessed
and discharged a gun. Accordingly, Moss is not entitled to federal habeas relief
on ground seven.
H. Ground Eight
Moss also contends his sentence is illegal because it contains a
discrepancy between the oral pronouncement and the written judgment and
sentence. Petition at 18; Doc. 12-24 at 7. Moss alleges the trial judge sentenced
41
him for armed burglary with battery. Doc. 12-24 at 7. However, according to
Moss, the jury did not find him guilty of armed burglary with battery, only of
armed burglary. Id. Moss raised this claim as ground one of his 4th Rule
3.800(a) motion filed on November 5, 2018. Doc. 12-24 at 7. The state court
dismissed the motion, id. at 16, and the First DCA per curiam affirmed the
state court’s order without a written opinion, Doc. 12-26 at 4.
Respondents argue that Moss’s claim is not cognizable in a federal
petition for writ of habeas corpus because it concerns solely a state law issue.
Response at 69. According to Respondents, the sentencing documents include
references to Florida Statutes section 810.02(2)(a) because of the State’s
abandoned theory that Moss battered the victim during the burglary’s
commission. Id. As such, they assert Moss requests the correction of a
scrivener’s error. Id. at 68.
Moss’s allegation of a discrepancy between the oral pronouncement of his
sentence and the written judgment and sentence does not involve a question of
federal law. Moss neither identified in ground one of his 4th Rule 3.800(a)
motion, nor in his Petition, the manner in which the discrepancy violates his
federal constitutional rights. Therefore, his claim is not cognizable on federal
42
habeas review. See Estelle, 502 U.S. at 67 (1991). Accordingly, Moss is not
entitled to federal habeas relief on ground eight.
I. Ground Nine
Last, Moss alleges his sentence is illegal because it violates double
jeopardy. Petition at 19; Doc. 12-24 at 7. Moss contends the trial court filed a
corrected judgment and sentence that identified the relevant statutory
subsections for count two as Florida Statutes sections 810.02(2)(A) and
810.02(2)(B). Doc. 12-24 at 7. According to Moss, the subsections identify the
offenses of armed burglary with an assault or battery and armed burglary with
a dangerous weapon. Id. Moss argues the imposition of a sentence for both
offenses violates double jeopardy because the charges require the same
elements and involve a single criminal episode with one victim. Id. at 8-9.
Respondents argue Moss failed to exhaust his state remedies as to this
claim, and as a result, this claim is procedurally defaulted. Response at 71, 73.
In support, Respondents assert Moss raised the instant claim in his 4th Rule
3.800(a) motion that the state court dismissed because it did not have
jurisdiction to consider the claims while the appeal of Moss’s 3rd Rule 3.800(a)
motion was pending. Id. at 72. They further assert that even if Moss raised his
claim after the disposition of his appeal, the state court would have dismissed
43
it because double jeopardy claims are not cognizable in Rule 3.800(a) motions.
Id. at 72.
Upon consideration of the record, the Court concludes that Moss’s claim
has not been exhausted because Moss failed to raise the claim in a procedurally
correct manner. Moreover, since Moss failed to raise the double jeopardy claim
in his Rule 3.850 motion and any subsequent motion would be untimely, he
cannot cure the default. Moss has not shown either cause excusing the default
or actual prejudice resulting from the bar. Further, he has failed to identify
any fact warranting the application of the fundamental miscarriage of justice
exception. As such, the claim in ground nine is now procedurally barred.
Even assuming this claim is not procedurally barred, Moss is not entitled
to relief. The Eleventh Circuit has stated:
“The Double Jeopardy Clause of the Fifth
Amendment provides that no person shall be ‘subject
for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life
or limb.’” Jones v. Thomas, 491 U.S. 376, 380, 109 S.Ct.
2522, 2525, 105 L.Ed.2d 322 (1989) (quoting U.S.
Const., amend. V). In addition to protecting against
multiple prosecutions for the same offense, the Clause
also prohibits “multiple punishments for the same
offense imposed in a single proceeding.” Id. at 381, 109
S.Ct. at 2525 (internal quotation marks omitted).
In the context of multiple punishments, the
purpose of double jeopardy is simply to “ensur[e] that
the total punishment did not exceed that authorized
44
by the legislature.” Id. (quoting United States v.
Halper, 490 U.S. 435, 450, 109 S.Ct. 1892, 1903, 104
L.Ed.2d 487 (1989)); Missouri v. Hunter, 459 U.S. 359,
366, 103 S.Ct. 673, 678, 74 L.Ed.2d 535 (1983) (“[T]he
Double Jeopardy Clause does no more than prevent
the sentencing court from prescribing greater
punishment than the legislature intended.”). []
Therefore, in enforcing the federal double-jeopardy
guarantee, we “must examine the various offenses for
which a person is being punished to determine
whether, as defined by the legislature, any two or more
of them are the same offense.” United States v. Dixon,
509 U.S. 688, 745, 113 S.Ct. 2849, 2881, 125 L.Ed.2d
556 (1993). In effect, we ask whether the offenses are
“sufficiently distinguishable to permit the imposition
of cumulative punishment.” Id. at 745, 113 S.Ct. at
2881–82 (quotation marks omitted). Where no clear
legislative intent has been expressed, we apply the
“same-elements test” of Blockburger, which provides
that two statutes are not the “same offense” for
purposes of double jeopardy if “each provision requires
proof of a fact which the other does not.” Blockburger,
284 U.S. at 304, 52 S.Ct. at 182.[13]
Stoddard v. Sec’y, Dep’t of Corr., 600 F. App’x 696, 703-04 (11th Cir. 2015) (per
curiam) (alterations in original) (footnote omitted).
Moss’s convictions do not violate double jeopardy. A jury found Moss
guilty of first-degree murder and armed burglary. Doc. 12-1 at 124-26. The trial
court sentenced Moss for both counts. Id. at 148-54. First-degree murder and
armed burglary each require proof of facts which the other does not. Fla. Stat.
13 Blockburger v. United States, 284 U.S. 299 (1932).
45
§§ 782.04(1)(a)1, 810.02(2)(a)-(b). While both counts arose from the same
incident, Florida courts have found “sufficient intent that the legislature
intended multiple punishments when both a murder and a felony occur during
a single criminal episode.” State v. Enmund, 476 So. 2d 165, 167 (Fla. 1985);
see also Fallada v. Dugger, 819 F.2d 1564, 1572 (11th Cir. 1987) (finding that
a defendant can be convicted of both felony murder and the underlying felony).
Accordingly, for all of the foregoing reasons, Moss is not entitled to federal
habeas relief on the claim in ground nine.
VII. Certificate of Appealability
Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)(1)
If Moss seeks issuance of a certificate of appealability, the undersigned
opines that a certificate of appealability is not warranted. The Court should
issue a certificate of appealability only if the petitioner makes “a substantial
showing of the denial of a constitutional right.” 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)(2). To make
this substantial showing, Moss “must demonstrate that reasonable jurists
would find the district court’s assessment of the constitutional claims
debatable or wrong,” Tennard v. Dretke, 542 U.S. 274, 282 (2004) (quoting
Slack v. McDaniel, 529 U.S. 473, 484 (2000)), or that “the issues presented were
‘adequate to deserve encouragement to proceed further,’” Miller-El v. Cockrell,
46
537 U.S. 322, 335-36 (2003) (quoting Barefoot v. Estelle, 463 U.S. 880, 893 n.4
(1983)).
Where a district court has rejected a petitioner’s constitutional claims on
the merits, the petitioner must demonstrate that reasonable jurists would find
the district court’s assessment of the constitutional claims debatable or wrong.
See Slack, 529 U.S. at 484. However, when the district court has rejected a
claim on procedural grounds, the petitioner must show that “jurists of reason
would find it debatable whether the petition states a valid claim of the denial
of a constitutional right and that jurists of reason would find it debatable
whether the district court was correct in its procedural ruling.” Id. Upon
consideration of the record as a whole, the Court will deny a certificate of
appealability.
Therefore, it is now
ORDERED AND ADJUDGED:
1. The Petition (Doc. 1) is DENIED, and this action is DISMISSED
WITH PREJUDICE.
2. The Clerk of the Court shall enter judgment denying the Petition
and dismissing this case with prejudice.
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3. If Moss appeals the denial of the Petition, the Court denies a
certificate of appealability. Because the Court has determined that a certificate
of appealability is not warranted, the Clerk shall terminate from the pending
motions report any motion to proceed on appeal as a pauper that may be filed
in this case. Such termination shall serve as a denial of the motion.
4, The Clerk of the Court is directed to close this case and terminate
any pending motions.
DONE AND ORDERED at Jacksonville, Florida, this 3rd day of
May, 2022.
United States District Judge
Jax-9
C: Theodore Moss, III, #J49547
Counsel of record
48