McEachern v. State (701 So. 2d 865, 1997)

SHAW, Justice.

We have for review State v. McEachern, 700 So.2d 1 (Fla. 5th DCA 1997), wherein the court certified the following question:

IS A SENTENCE ENTIRELY SUSPENDED ON THE CONDITION THAT THE DEFENDANT SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE COMMUNITY CONTROL AN ILLEGAL SENTENCE AS CONSTITUTING AN UNAUTHORIZED SENTENCING ALTERNATIVE WHICH MAY BE APPEALED BY THE STATE AND VACATED ON DIRECT APPEAL?

We have jurisdiction. Art. V, § 3(b)(4), Fla. Const. We quash McEachern based on State v. Powell, No. 89,964, — So.2d -, 1997 WL 718233 (Fla. Nov. 20, 1997), wherein we held that as long as there exists a valid reason for a downward departure, a trial court may impose a true split sentence in which the entire period of incarceration is suspended.

It is so ordered.

KOGAN, C.J., OVERTON, HARDING, WELLS and ANSTEAD, JJ., and GRIMES, Senior Justice, concur.