What did the appeals court decide?

The First District Court of Appeal affirmed the circuit court’s judgment in favor of the State, meaning the lower-court outcome stands.

Why didn’t the court explain its decision?

The court issued a brief per curiam affirmance without a written opinion, so it provided no detailed reasoning in the published entry.

Who is affected by this decision?

The primary parties affected are appellant De’erik Bell and the State of Florida; the appellate ruling leaves the circuit court judgment intact.

Can this decision be challenged further?

A party may seek further review only by filing a timely, authorized motion under Florida Rule of Appellate Procedure 9.330 or 9.331 or by seeking discretionary review in a higher court if permitted.

Bell v. State of Florida

Docket 1D2024-1357

Court of record · Indexed in NoticeRegistry archive · AI-enriched for research

Criminal AppealAffirmed

Filed: Apr 20, 2026 · 1 week ago
Jurisdiction: Florida
Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida
Type: Opinion
Case type: Criminal Appeal
Disposition: Affirmed
Docket: 1D2024-1357

Appeal from the Circuit Court for Bay County (criminal matter).

Summary

The Florida First District Court of Appeal reviewed De’erik Bell’s appeal from a Bay County circuit court decision. The panel issued a short per curiam opinion on April 20, 2026, affirming the lower court’s judgment. No additional opinion or published reasoning accompanied the disposition; the court simply affirmed the judgment below and noted concurrence by all three judges. The opinion advises that the decision is not final until resolution of any timely, authorized post-judgment motions under Florida appellate rules.

Issue Decided

Whether the circuit court’s judgment should be reversed on appeal by the defendant, De’erik Bell.

Court's Reasoning

The court issued a per curiam affirmance without an accompanying written explanation, indicating the appellate panel found no reversible error in the circuit court’s proceedings or disposition. Because no opinion was provided, the court did not state the legal rule or detailed factual application beyond affirming the lower court’s judgment. The concurrence of all three judges reflects unanimous agreement to affirm.

Parties

Appellant: De’erik Bell
Appellee: State of Florida
Judge: Shonna Young Gay
Attorney: Jessica J. Yeary, Public Defender
Attorney: Danielle Jorden, Assistant Public Defender
Attorney: James Uthmeier, Attorney General
Attorney: Amanda Afeazue Uwaibi, Assistant Attorney General

Key Dates

Decision date: 2026-04-20

What You Should Do Next

1
Consider filing post-judgment motions
If there are grounds, the appellant should timely file any authorized motions under Fla. R. App. P. 9.330 or 9.331 to seek rehearing or clarification.
2
Consult appellate counsel about further review
Discuss with counsel whether to pursue discretionary review in the Florida Supreme Court or other remedies, and confirm applicable deadlines.
3
Comply with circuit court orders
Unless and until further relief is granted, comply with the circuit court’s judgment and any related sentencing or supervision requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

What did the appeals court decide?: The First District Court of Appeal affirmed the circuit court’s judgment in favor of the State, meaning the lower-court outcome stands.
Why didn’t the court explain its decision?: The court issued a brief per curiam affirmance without a written opinion, so it provided no detailed reasoning in the published entry.
Who is affected by this decision?: The primary parties affected are appellant De’erik Bell and the State of Florida; the appellate ruling leaves the circuit court judgment intact.
Can this decision be challenged further?: A party may seek further review only by filing a timely, authorized motion under Florida Rule of Appellate Procedure 9.330 or 9.331 or by seeking discretionary review in a higher court if permitted.

The above suggestions and answers are AI-generated for informational purposes only. They may contain errors. NoticeRegistry assumes no responsibility for their accuracy. Consult a qualified attorney before relying on them.

Full Filing Text

FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL
                STATE OF FLORIDA
                 _____________________________

                        No. 1D2024-1357
                 _____________________________

DE’ERIK BELL,

    Appellant,

    v.

STATE OF FLORIDA,

    Appellee.
                 _____________________________


On appeal from the Circuit Court for Bay County.
Shonna Young Gay, Judge.


                        April 20, 2026

PER CURIAM.

    AFFIRMED.

LEWIS, KELSEY, and TREADWELL, JJ., concur.

                 _____________________________

    Not final until disposition of any timely and
    authorized motion under Fla. R. App. P. 9.330 or
    9.331.
               _____________________________
Jessica J. Yeary, Public Defender, and Danielle Jorden, Assistant
Public Defender, Tallahassee, for Appellant.

James Uthmeier, Attorney General, and Amanda Afeazue Uwaibi,
Assistant Attorney General, Tallahassee, for Appellee.




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