Shimeek Gridine Re-Sentenced - Saved from 50 Years of Prison
In 2015, the Florida Supreme Court ordered that Shimeek Gridine (whose name was incorrect in all court proceedings) be resentenced in light of the United States Supreme Court holds in Graham and Miller.
“On April 21, 2009, when Gridine was fourteen years old, he was charged as an adult with attempted first-degree murder, attempted armed robbery, and aggravated battery. Without entering into any agreement with the State regarding his sentencing, Gridine pleaded guilty to all three counts. The trial court accepted Gridine's pleas[1] and adjudicated him guilty as charged.[2] The trial court imposed prison terms of seventy years for the attempted first-degree murder conviction, and twenty-five years for the attempted armed robbery conviction. Both of Gridine's sentences were imposed with minimum mandatory prison terms of twenty-five years.” Gridine v. State, 175 So. 3d 672 (Fla. 2015)
On December 8th, after seven years and three lawyers advocating for an agreed upon disposition - Belkis brought the case to a close when Shimeek was resentenced. She shared the following:
In 2009, Shimeek Gridine, a 14-year-old boy, along with his 12-year-old “friend,” made an inept attempt to rob a man. As the disbelieving victim turned away from them, Shimeek fired a shotgun, pelting the side of his head and shoulder. The victim was treated at a local hospital and released the same day.
A few days after the incident, the child’s family turned him in. Shimeek was prosecuted as an adult. He took full responsibility for his actions and pleaded guilty to attempted murder in the first degree and attempted armed robbery.
The Department of Juvenile Justice recommended he be sentenced to a maximum risk residential commitment program where he would serve 18-36 months. The Department of Corrections recommended he be sentenced to 6 yrs in prison followed by community control and probation.
Judge Soud, the presiding judge, said being 14 did not excuse Shimeek’s actions or warrant a shorter sentence. He sentenced him to 70 years in prison, with a twenty-five year minimum mandatory. Shimeek was to be released when he was at least 77, several years beyond his life expectancy.
Attorneys for Shimeek later argued his sentence was a cruel and unusual punishment that violated his Eighth Amendment rights. Judge Soud rejected that argument and said the sentence was justified based on Shimeek’s actions.
Shimeek appealed to the 1st District Court of Appeal, who also rejected his appeal. His lawyers asked for a rehearing on the issue, and a different three judge panel again denied his request, but this time, they asked the Florida Supreme Court to weigh in on whether a 70-year sentence is functionally a life sentence for a 14-year-old barred by the U.S. Supreme Court ruling.
In 2015, the Florida Supreme Court found Shimeek’s sentence violated the limits on juvenile sentences and remanded the case for resentencing.
Since then, two of the greatest advocates I’ve ever had the privilege to meet worked day in and day out to prepare for his re-sentencing. Fast forward a few years, Diana [Johnson, Juvenile Division Chief for the Public Defenders Office of the Fourth Judicial Circuit of Florida] entrusted me to take over the fight. The road has been a long one; full of tears, anger, frustration, hopelessness, and today…hundreds of pro bono hours later, elation.
None of the attorneys who worked tirelessly on this case sought financial compensation, we instead demanded our payment in a just sentence.
Today, we obtained a 50-year reduction in Shimeek’s sentence.