Trader v. State
The Fourth DCA reversed Trader's convictions for child sex crimes because the trial court denied his motion to sever charges involving two different victims abused at different times over a three-to-four-year period. Applying settled Florida Supreme Court precedent, the court held that offenses must be 'episodically' connected to be properly joined, and separate abuse of different victims over years does not meet that standard. The case was remanded for severed trials.
Key facts
- Trader was convicted of child sexual abuse crimes involving two different victims who were abused at separate times over a three-to-four-year period.
- The trial court denied Trader's motion to sever the charges against the two victims, proceeding instead with a single, joined trial.
- +2 more key facts with a free trial
Why it matters
This decision reaffirms and applies the well-established rule from Garcia and Shermer that joinder of child sex abuse charges involving separate victims abused at different times is improper, even where the offenses… — full analysis with a trial
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