Malave v. State

727 So. 2d 1002 (1999)

Freddie L. MALAVE, Petitioner,
v.
STATE of Florida, Respondent.

No. 99-0377.

District Court of Appeal of Florida, Fourth District.

February 10, 1999.

Richard L. Jorandby, Public Defender, Jo Ann Baron, and Benjamin W. Maserang, Assistant Public Defenders, West Palm Beach, for petitioner.

Robert A. Butterworth, Attorney General, Tallahassee, and Myra J. Fried, Assistant Attorney General, West Palm Beach, for respondent.

PER CURIAM.

The petition for writ of habeas corpus is granted. At the January 29, 1999 hearing which the trial court set to allow petitioner to explain his failure to appear in court, petitioner testified that the person with whom he had arranged to give him a ride to court had taken a detour which caused petitioner to be late. The January 29 hearing did not resolve the question of whether petitioner's failure to appear was willful or merely negligent and the trial court did not make any finding that the failure to appear was willful. See Wilson v. State, 669 So. 2d 312 (Fla. 5th DCA 1996). Petitioner's bond shall be reinstated and he shall be released forthwith.

FARMER and STEVENSON, JJ., concur.

GROSS, J., dissents with opinion.

GROSS, J., dissenting.

The transcript of the hearing demonstrates that the trial court found that petitioner's efforts were insufficient to ensure his arrival in court on time. The failure to make adequate travel arrangements is tantamount to a finding of wilfulness sufficient to support the court's order.