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State of Florida v. Leonard Cure
Date: 12-31-2003
Case Number: 03-19405CF10A
Judge: Paul L. Bekman
Court: "Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court, Broward County, Florida
Plaintiff's Attorney: Broward County Florida State's Attorney Harold Pryor
Defendant's Attorney:
Description:
Fort Lauderdale, Florida criminal defense lawyers represented Defendant charged with aggravated assault and felony use of a firearm for allegedly robbing a Walgreen in Dania Beach.
Senate Bill 8 - The Relief of Leonard Cure
WHEREAS, Leonard Cure was arrested on November 20, 2003,
27 for the November 10, 2003, robbery of a Dania Beach Walgreens
28 drug store and was convicted on November 3, 2004, of armed
29 robbery with a firearm and aggravated assault with a firearm,
30 and
31 WHEREAS, Mr. Cure was sentenced to life imprisonment and
32 spent 16 years incarcerated, and
33 WHEREAS, Mr. Cure has maintained his innocence since his
34 arrest and for the entirety of his incarceration, and
35 WHEREAS, on April 2, 2020, the Conviction Review Unit for
36 the State Attorney's Office for the 17th Judicial Circuit issued
37 a 14-page "Conviction Review Unit Memorandum†recommending the
38 modification of Mr. Cure's sentence to allow for his immediate
39 release while the Conviction Review Unit investigated Mr. Cure's
40 case, and
41 WHEREAS, on April 14, 2020, the Circuit Court for the 17th
42 Judicial Circuit modified Mr. Cure's sentence to time served,
43 and Mr. Cure was released, and
44 WHEREAS, on October 16, 2020, the Conviction Review Unit
45 for the State Attorney's Office for the 17th Judicial Circuit
46 issued a "Conviction Review Unit Addendum Memorandum with
47 Independent Review Panel's Findings†reaching the conclusion
48 that the court should "vacate the defendant's judgment and
49 sentence and enter a nolle prosequi as to both counts†due to
50 the finding by the Independent Review Panel that "the case
51 against Mr. Cure is so weak that it gives rise to a reasonable
52 doubt as to his culpability, and that he is most likely
53 innocent,†and
54 WHEREAS, on December 11, 2020, the Circuit Court for the
55 17th Judicial Circuit issued, with the concurrence of the state,
56 an "Agreed Order Vacating Judgment and Sentence†on the basis
57 that Mr. Cure "is most likely innocent,†and
58 WHEREAS, on December 14, 2020, as the result of the
59 Conviction Review Unit report, the state filed a notice of nolle
60 prosequi, and Mr. Cure was exonerated, and
61 WHEREAS, the Legislature acknowledges that the state's
62 system of justice yielded an imperfect result that had tragic
63 consequences in this case, and
64 WHEREAS, the Legislature acknowledges that, as a result of
65 his physical confinement, Mr. Cure suffered significant damages
66 that are unique to him, and that the damages are due to the fact
67 that he was physically restrained and prevented from exercising
68 the freedom to which all innocent citizens are entitled, and
69 WHEREAS, before his conviction for the aforementioned
70 crimes, Mr. Cure had prior convictions for unrelated felonies,
71 and
72 WHEREAS, due to his prior felony convictions, Mr. Cure is
73 ineligible for compensation under chapter 961, Florida Statutes,
74 and
75 WHEREAS, the Legislature apologizes to Mr. Cure on behalf
76 of the state, NOW, THEREFORE,
77
78 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
Senate Bill 8 - The Relief of Leonard Cure
WHEREAS, Leonard Cure was arrested on November 20, 2003,
27 for the November 10, 2003, robbery of a Dania Beach Walgreens
28 drug store and was convicted on November 3, 2004, of armed
29 robbery with a firearm and aggravated assault with a firearm,
30 and
31 WHEREAS, Mr. Cure was sentenced to life imprisonment and
32 spent 16 years incarcerated, and
33 WHEREAS, Mr. Cure has maintained his innocence since his
34 arrest and for the entirety of his incarceration, and
35 WHEREAS, on April 2, 2020, the Conviction Review Unit for
36 the State Attorney's Office for the 17th Judicial Circuit issued
37 a 14-page "Conviction Review Unit Memorandum†recommending the
38 modification of Mr. Cure's sentence to allow for his immediate
39 release while the Conviction Review Unit investigated Mr. Cure's
40 case, and
41 WHEREAS, on April 14, 2020, the Circuit Court for the 17th
42 Judicial Circuit modified Mr. Cure's sentence to time served,
43 and Mr. Cure was released, and
44 WHEREAS, on October 16, 2020, the Conviction Review Unit
45 for the State Attorney's Office for the 17th Judicial Circuit
46 issued a "Conviction Review Unit Addendum Memorandum with
47 Independent Review Panel's Findings†reaching the conclusion
48 that the court should "vacate the defendant's judgment and
49 sentence and enter a nolle prosequi as to both counts†due to
50 the finding by the Independent Review Panel that "the case
51 against Mr. Cure is so weak that it gives rise to a reasonable
52 doubt as to his culpability, and that he is most likely
53 innocent,†and
54 WHEREAS, on December 11, 2020, the Circuit Court for the
55 17th Judicial Circuit issued, with the concurrence of the state,
56 an "Agreed Order Vacating Judgment and Sentence†on the basis
57 that Mr. Cure "is most likely innocent,†and
58 WHEREAS, on December 14, 2020, as the result of the
59 Conviction Review Unit report, the state filed a notice of nolle
60 prosequi, and Mr. Cure was exonerated, and
61 WHEREAS, the Legislature acknowledges that the state's
62 system of justice yielded an imperfect result that had tragic
63 consequences in this case, and
64 WHEREAS, the Legislature acknowledges that, as a result of
65 his physical confinement, Mr. Cure suffered significant damages
66 that are unique to him, and that the damages are due to the fact
67 that he was physically restrained and prevented from exercising
68 the freedom to which all innocent citizens are entitled, and
69 WHEREAS, before his conviction for the aforementioned
70 crimes, Mr. Cure had prior convictions for unrelated felonies,
71 and
72 WHEREAS, due to his prior felony convictions, Mr. Cure is
73 ineligible for compensation under chapter 961, Florida Statutes,
74 and
75 WHEREAS, the Legislature apologizes to Mr. Cure on behalf
76 of the state, NOW, THEREFORE,
77
78 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
Outcome:
Defendant was found guilty and the conviction was affirmed on appeal on September 8, 2016 by the District Court of Appeals, Fourth District.
Plaintiff's Experts:
Defendant's Experts:
Comments:
Defendant settled his claim against Broward County for $817,000.00.
About This Case
What was the outcome of State of Florida v. Leonard Cure?
The outcome was: Defendant was found guilty and the conviction was affirmed on appeal on September 8, 2016 by the District Court of Appeals, Fourth District.
Which court heard State of Florida v. Leonard Cure?
This case was heard in "Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court, Broward County, Florida, FL. The presiding judge was Paul L. Bekman.
Who were the attorneys in State of Florida v. Leonard Cure?
Plaintiff's attorney: Broward County Florida State's Attorney Harold Pryor.
When was State of Florida v. Leonard Cure decided?
This case was decided on December 31, 2003.