Title: State v. Wheeler

State: kansas

Issuer: Kansas Supreme Court

Document:

195 Kan. 184 (1965)
403 P.2d 1015
STATE OF KANSAS, Appellee,
v.
RICHARD WHEELER, Appellant.
No. 44,023

Supreme Court of Kansas.
Opinion filed July 10, 1965.
Harold Pfalzgraf, of Wellington, argued the cause for appellant.
Charles E. Watson, County Attorney, of Wellington, argued the cause, and Robert C. Londerholm, Attorney General, and Charles N. Henson, Assistant Attorney General, of Topeka, were with him on the briefs for appellee.
The opinion of the court was delivered by
FATZER, J.:
The defendant's Richard Wheeler, was found guilty by a jury of unlawful possession of a pistol pursuant to the provisions of G.S. 1961 Supp., 21-2611 (now K.S.A. 21-2611), and was sentenced to confinement as an habitual criminal.
After the conviction and imposition of sentence, the defendant indicated his desire to appeal. Instead of the court appointing the attorney who tried the case, it appointed The Honorable John A. Potucek to represent the defendant on appeal. Following Mr. Potucek's election as judge of the district court of the twenty-fifth judicial district, Mr. Harold Pfalzgraf consented to argue the case in the Supreme Court as a personal courtesy to Judge Potucek. The abstract and briefs recite the factual situation, and those pertinent to the appeal follow.
On November 21, 1963, police officers acting on information, apprehended the defendant operating his automobile in an erratic manner. He was arrested for driving while under the influence of intoxicating liquor. A subsequent search disclosed an open bottle in the vehicle and a pistol on his person underneath his belt and shirt.
*185 We need not relate the facts pertaining to the liquor offense, but suffice it to say he entered a plea of guilty and a fine and jail sentence were imposed. There was no appeal from that conviction.
On January 2, 1964, a complaint was filed, charging the defendant with the unlawful possession of a firearm having a barrel less than twelve inches long after having previously been convicted of grand larceny in the state of Oklahoma. (K.S.A. 21-2611.)
At the trial on April 15, 1964, several witnesses testified, but we confine our discussion to the testimony of the defendant. He testified he served ten years in his country's service, part of that time as a tail gunner in the Army Air Force Bomber Group during World War II, and that he was the holder of two Purple Hearts, some air medals and many other citations. He was discharged from the service because of psychological problems and has received some phychiatric treatments. He testified he was an alcoholic and drank to overcome mental anxiety, however, he had drunk only one time since his release from prison in March, 1963. He further testified that he was to make application for treatment at the Larned State Hospital following the serving of the sentence for driving while under the influence of intoxicating liquor.
The defendant acknowledged two prior convictions for felonies, one for grand larceny of an automobile in Oklahoma and another for concealing mortgaged property in Kansas.
After completion of his cross-examination by the state, the following colloquy occurred between the court and the defendant:
At the close of all the evidence, the district court instructed the jury in writing and it returned a verdict of guilty as charged.
Following the overruling of his motion for a new trial, the defendant was sentenced under the provisions of the habitual criminal statute (G.S. 1949, 21-107a, now K.S.A. 21-107a) to confinement at hard labor in the Kansas State Penitentiary for a term of not less than fifteen years.
*186 The defendant contends the district court erred in failing to instruct the jury as to the defendant's state of intoxication as affecting his mental capacity at the time of the alleged offense; that it abused its discretion in conducting a cross-examination of the defendant, thereby assuming the position of an advocate, and in failing to stop the proceeding on its own initiative and make inquiry as to the mental condition of the defendant.
In this jurisdiction we follow the established principle of law that a defendant's voluntary intoxication does not relieve or excuse him of responsibility for his acts. (State v. Guthridge, 88 Kan. 846, 129 Pac. 1143; Richardson v. Business Men's Protective Ass'n, 129 Kan. 700, 284 Pac. 599.)
An intoxication instruction is essential only when intent is a necessary element of the crime. Intoxication may be used to indicate a state of mind whereby an accused, because of his intoxication, is unable to formulate an intent. However, the statute in question (K.S.A. 21-2611) does not require intent as a prerequisite for its application. It merely requires that the accused have a previous conviction for certain specified offenses among which is grand larceny and ownership, possession or control of a pistol having a barrel less than twelve inches long. (K.S.A. 21-2610 and 21-2611.)
In State v. Anderson, 172 Kan. 402, 241 P.2d 742, we fully discussed the district court's function in giving instructions, and said:
For additional decisions supporting this authority, see: Jukes v. North American Van Lines, Inc., 181 Kan. 12, 23, 309 P.2d 692; State v. Cushinberry, 180 Kan. 448, 452, 304 P.2d 561; State v. Inverarity, 150 Kan. 160, 92 P.2d 45; State v. Brown, 145 Kan. 247, 65 P.2d 333.
We have examined the district court's instructions to the jury, and while they were general in form, none were erroneous as a matter *187 of law. The defendant concedes he made no request for an additional instruction with respect to his state of intoxication, nor did he make any objection to the court's instructions to the jury. No error can be predicated upon omission to give any particular instruction when no request therefor was made. (State v. Jones, 187 Kan. 496, 357 P.2d 760, 88 A.L.R.2d 1269.) Moreover, intoxication had no relationship to the issue before the district court.
The defendant argues that when the district court examined him, it assumed the position of advocate, thereby creating prejudice to his substantial rights by spoken word, facial expression and tone of voice.
This court has consistently followed the rule stated in State v. Keehn, 85 Kan. 765, 118 Pac. 851, where it was said:
Our later decisions are in accord with this rule. (State v. Miller, 127 Kan. 487, 274 Pac. 245; State v. Jones, supra.)
Defendant relies upon State v. Winchester, 166 Kan. 512, 203 P.2d 229 and State v. Bean, 179 Kan. 373, 295 P.2d 600, to support his contention. In those cases the district court went far beyond that of the district court in the instant case. In those cases, this court set out their distinguishing features and held an abuse of discretion had occurred.
The colloquy between the district court and defendant clearly indicates the judge was eliciting the truth as to material matters in the furtherance of justice. There is a total absence of improper questions, bias or an attempt to discredit the witness. We find nothing in the record to sustain defendant's contention that the judge sought to assume the role of an advocate, nor does it support defendant's contention that the judge created prejudice by spoken word, facial expression or tone of voice. In State v. Keehn, supra, it was said:
It is lastly claimed the district court abused its discretion and erred in failing to stop the proceedings and order an inquiry into the defendant's mental condition. K.S.A. 62-1531, in pertinent part, provides that whenever any person under indictment or information, and before or during trial is found by the court or commission to be insane and unable to comprehend his position and make his defense, the court shall commit him to a state hospital for the dangerous insane until he shall recover, at which time he shall be returned to the court and placed on trial upon said indictment or information.
The policy of law in this state is not to try insane defendants but we have never heretofore construed K.S.A. 62-1531 as being applicable to alcoholic persons. However, when a proper showing of insanity is made, the law in effect makes the application for a inquiry for the defendant and no formal application is necessary under such circumstances. (State v. Detar, 125 Kan. 218, 263 Pac. 1071; State v. Badders, 141 Kan. 683, 42 P.2d 943; State v. Collins, 162 Kan. 34, 174 P.2d 126.) In an analogous case, State v. Kelly, 192 Kan. 641, 391 P.2d 123, we analyzed the same question here urged, and it was said:
Throughout the trial, the district court had ample opportunity to observe the conduct, attitude and demeanor of the defendant, and it had the right to exercise its sound judicial discretion in determining whether those characteristics were such as to warrant a conclusion that the defendant was capable to comprehend his position and make his defense.
In fairness to the district court it was never intimated or claimed before or during the trial that the defendant's condition, if one existed, was the result of insanity. Defendant's counsel candidly admits that the defendant is not insane as that term is generally used. We have thoroughly searched the record and find no evidence which substantiates a reasonable claim the defendant's mental condition was such that he was unable to comprehend his position or make his defense, and we conclude the district court did not abuse its discretion in failing to inquire into his mental condition.
Defendant advances other arguments which we have carefully considered. Our analysis finds they are without merit, and it is unnecessary to discuss them.
We find nothing in the evidence or contentions which support the defendant's position, or justify a conclusion that the district court abused its discretion or committed reversible error.
The judgment is affirmed.