TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - An appellate court has reversed a man's burglary of a dwelling conviction because the bicycle he allegedly tried to take was actually parked on a mulch bed.
A three-judge panel of the First District Court of Appeal ruled unanimously on Monday.
Florida's definition of dwelling includes attached porches. The bike was on mulch covered by an overhang outside the front door of a townhouse. Prosecutors argued the mulch bed should be considered an attached porch.
The court disagreed. It said the area was "open to the general public" and not part of the victim's house. The decision noted that the townhouse's mailbox was right next to where the bike was parked.
The case is Colbert v. State of Florida, No. 1D11-117.
(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
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