Mr. Purdy, convicted of felony murder, was sentenced in 1997 to life in prison without the possibility of parole. After the U.S. Supreme Court found it unconstitutional to sentence juveniles to life sentences without the possibility of parole, a trial court resentenced Mr. Purdy to 40 years in prison. The trial court, however, ruled it did not have jurisdiction to consider an additional nine-year sentence given to Mr. Purdy for armed robbery and carjacking. The Fifth District Court of Appeal ruled the entire sentencing arrangement should have been considered. The 5th DCA also certified the issue as one of great public importance for this Court’s review.

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