Robin A. Jones, Deputy Public Defender, argued the cause for appellant. With her on the brief was Sally L. Avera, Public Defender. Rolf C. Moan, Assistant Attorney General, argued the cause for respondent. With him on the brief were Hardy Myers, Attorney General, and Michael D. Reynolds, Solicitor General. At trial, defendant filed a motion to dismiss on speedy trial grounds.
Defendant assigns error to the trial court's denial of that motion.
A trial was set for April 12, 1988. Defendant failed to appear, and a bench warrant was issued for his arrest. Defendant's case was removed from inactive status in September 1996, following a traffic stop earlier that year. As noted above, defendant did not appear for trial in 1988. After his failure to appear, he also failed to turn himself in on the bench warrant, to contact the court about the case, or to let the court know where he was.