SUPREME COURT FINDS FLORIDA BATTERY NOT A VIOLENT CRIME FOR ARMED CAREER CRIMINAL PURPOSES

Curtis Johnson plead guilty in Federal Court to possession of ammunition by a convicted felon.The United State attorney argued that he should be sentenced as an armed career criminal with a possible sentence of fifteen years to life. The U. S. attorney claimed and the District Court accepted the claim Johnson had convictions for three violent felonies.

A “violent felony” is defined as “any crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year” that:

“(i) has as an element the use, attempted use, or threatened use of physical force against the person of another; or

“(ii) is burglary, arson, or extortion, involves use of explosives, or otherwise involves conduct that presents a serious potential risk of physical injury to another.” §924(e)(2)(B).

Johnson had convictions for aggravated battery, burglary, and battery. On appeal he challenged the designation of the battery as a violent felony. Battery is generally a misdemeanor but in Florida a conviction for battery with a prior conviction for battery can be a felony. Battery is defined under Florida law as either:

1. [a]ctually and intentionally touches or strikes another person against the will of the other,” or “2. [i]ntentionally causes bodily harm to another person.

There is no evidence that Johnson caused bodily harm to anyone. Therefore for Johnson to be an armed career criminal, one guilty of intentionally touching or striking another person against his or her will must be guilty of a violent felony. The use of physical force must mean something more than touching another person against his/her will.

The Supreme Court held that “in the context of a statutory definition of ‘violent felony,’ the phrase ‘physical force’ means violent force–that is, force capable of causing physical pain or injury to another person.” Battery under Florida law which involved an unwanted touching does not necessarily involve a violent force resulting in injury and therefore Johnson cannot be sentenced as an armed career criminal.