Opinion ID: 1110731
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: denial of motions to dismiss for violation of right to a speedy trial

Text: ¶ 58. The standard of review for a speedy trial claim focuses on the fact question of whether the trial delay arose from good cause. DeLoach v. State, 722 So.2d 512, 516 (Miss.1998). If substantial credible evidence exists from which a finding of good cause may fairly have been made, we will leave the finding undisturbed. Folk v. State, 576 So.2d 1243, 1247 (Miss.1991). Defendants in criminal cases are guaranteed the right to a speedy trial by the sixth and fourteenth amendments to the United States Constitution and Article 3, Section 26 of the Mississippi Constitution of 1890. Watts v. State, 733 So.2d 214, 235 (Miss.1999). Flora alleges a violation of both his constitutional and statutory right to a speedy trial.
¶ 59. The Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution provides: [i]n all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial. U.S. CONST. amend. VI. The Sixth Amendment is applicable to the states through the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. U.S. CONST. amend. XIV; see Klopfer v. North Carolina, 386 U.S. 213, 223, 87 S.Ct. 988, 18 L.Ed.2d 1 (1967). ¶ 60. In 1972, the United States Supreme Court established a balancing test to determine whether a defendant has been deprived of his Sixth Amendment right to a speedy trial. Barker v. Wingo, 407 U.S. 514, 92 S.Ct. 2182, 33 L.Ed.2d 101 (1972). The four factors to be considered are: (i) length of the delay, (ii) reason for the delay, (iii) defendant's assertion of his right, and (iv) prejudice to the defendant. In regard to these four factors, the Court admonished that they are related factors and must be considered together with such other circumstances as may be relevant. Id. at 533, 92 S.Ct. 2182. ¶ 61. This Court has adopted and applied these factors on several occasions. Hersick v. State, 904 So.2d 116, 121 (Miss. 2004); State v. Woodall, 801 So.2d 678, 680-81 (Miss.2001); Perry v. State, 637 So.2d 871, 874 (Miss.1994); Flores v. State, 574 So.2d 1314, 1321 (Miss.1990). No mathematical formula exists according to which the Barker weighing and balancing process must be performed. Beavers v. State, 498 So.2d 788, 790 (Miss.1986).
¶ 62. The constitutional right to a speedy trial attaches at the time of arrest, indictment, or information, when a person has been accused. It is a triggering mechanism and unless there is delay which is presumptively prejudicial, there is no need for further inquiry under Barker. We recognize a delay of eight months to be presumptively prejudicial. Hersick, 904 So.2d at 121 (citing Smith v. State, 550 So.2d 406, 408 (Miss.1989)), Flora was arrested on September 11, 2001, was indicted on December 11, 2001, and waived arraignment on February 19, 2002. The trial began on December 1, 2003, far more than eight months later. Flora's constitutional right to a speedy trial attached on September 11, 2001, because it was at this time actual restraints were imposed by the State against [Flora] through an arrest and institution of criminal charges. Price v. State, 898 So.2d 641, 648 (Miss.2005). Thus the delay of more than two years was presumptively prejudicial, and the burden shifts to the prosecution to produce evidence justifying the delay and to persuade the trier of fact of the legitimacy of these reasons. State v. Ferguson, 576 So.2d 1252, 1254 (Miss.1991). This factor weighs in favor of Flora, and we must proceed to consider the other three factors.
¶ 63. A total of 810 days elapsed from the date of Flora's arrest on September 11, 2001, to December 1, 2003, the date on which the trial began. Several occurrences may justify a delay in a criminal case, one of these being well-taken motions for continuance. In the case at bar, several motions for continuance were made: some by agreement; some by the State, and some by Flora. The record is difficult to follow regarding the number of motions for continuance, who filed the motions, when they were filed, and what period of time each covered. The trial court's computerized court docket information shows only that this case was continued on April 11, 2002; May 22, 2002; August 1, 2002, August 17, 2002, and November 4, 2003, and states no facts about any of these [2] . Also shown within the docket information are Flora's motions to dismiss and demands for a speedy trial which are discussed infra. ¶ 64. The first hearing on these motions was held by the trial court on January 24, 2003, and the transcript of that hearing provides the information for our speedy trial analysis. First, defense counsel gave a brief overview of actions taken on Flora's behalf, without specificity beyond the months on which the motions for speedy trial and to dismiss were filed. She pointed out that there are two cases involved, in two separate actions, one for capital murder and the present one for murder, and the arguments she makes are for both. She mentioned generally the court granting motions for continuances ore tenus to the prosecution, and that the prosecution and the court had ignored all requests for speedy trial. She concluded by asking the trial court to dismiss the case, release Flora on his own recognizance, or allow the trial to go forward on February 3, 2003. At that point, the prosecutor provided more specific information, including that when Flora waived arraignment in February 2002, the case was continued to the June 10, 2002, term of court. On March 7, 2002, and June 6, 2002, Flora requested more time for investigation and discovery, and trial was continued to the August term. On August 5, the defense requested another continuance, which was granted to September 23, 2002. On that date the State requested more time for a psychological evaluation of a then co-defendant. On November 20, 2002, Flora filed his first request for a speedy trial, although the trial date had already been set by the court for December 2, 2002. Ultimately that trial setting was continued until February 3, 2003, because the trial court judge had a scheduling conflict with another special setting case. At the January 16 docket setting, the trial court granted the prosecutor's motion for continuance, over Flora's objection that although the prosecutor announced ready for trial of other cases also scheduled on February 3, those defendants had not been incarcerated as long as Flora. The record is silent as to whether any date certain was set for the trial. At the January 24, 2003, hearing the trial court considered the arguments of counsel and reviewed the history of the case to that point. Before announcing his ruling on the motions, without specifically addressing any particular motion, the trial court noted that Flora was facing the most serious charges that could be leveled against any defendant. One is capital murder, the second is murder, and the third is armed robbery [3] , and went on to say: And obviously it takes time on the part of the defendant to prepare the case, the defendant's attorneys to prepare the case defending the defendant; and it takes also a lot of time for the State to get ready to prosecute the case. And so with that understanding, and in consideration of the nature of the charges, the seriousness of the charges, as well as the necessary continuances which were requested by the defendant to have an opportunity to get everything ready for the defense, and then for the State on that occasion that has been mentioned which related to the codefendant, and for these reasons the Court is of the opinion that there has been no denial of a speedy trial, no violation of the speedy trial requirements of the State. And so the case, you know, will, of course, proceed as soon as the Court can get to it. This Court has a tremendous volume of criminal cases, and we can only try so many cases in a period of time. But every effort will be made to try this case as soon as possible.... The Court is of the opinion that there is no factual basis or legal basis for supporting the defendant's demand for speedy trial, and the same for the motion to dismiss.... So the Court is going to deny each of these motions and each of these causes that have been raised by the defendant. At that point the trial court asked if there was anything else to be considered, to which Flora's attorney answered No, your honor. ¶ 65. On March 7, 2003, a second hearing was held, this time regarding the State's motion for continuance requested the previous day. The court granted the State's motion, which included need to secure DNA testing, weapons analysis, and the absence of a key witness, Subrenda Levy. This motion was granted until the next term of court on a date to be assigned by the court administrator [4] and defense counsel acquiesced. On May 8, 2003, Flora filed his third demand for a speedy trial, and on May 15, the State requested more time in order to get blood samples tested in addition to needing more time to find a material witness to their case. On May 23, a third hearing was conducted, this time regarding the blood samples from Flora for testing, and the trial judge granted the blood testing. The transcript does not reveal that there was any specific accounting for the days of delay caused by the time necessary to get the samples and testing done. On June 13, the court ordered the same from witness Subrenda Levy. On September 12, 2003, Flora renewed his demand for a speedy trial, actually in a fourth case, in which Flora was charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. However, that case was also set for trial September 22, and the hearing involved various matters on all four of the Flora cases, including severance. With regard to the present case, the prosecutors pointed out that they had been waiting more than six months for DNA results from Reliagene, which were needed specifically for the murder case, and that a date certain setting appeared to be necessary to get the testing completed. There was no ruling from the court at the close of the hearing, other than to instruct the attorneys to get with the court administrator to select a date, and trial was subsequently set for December 1, 2003. On October 17, 2003, defense counsel informed the court he was unavailable on that day, and requested a continuance, but it was denied. From then until the December 1, 2003, trial, there were various motions for, and responses and supplements to, discovery from both Flora and the State. On October 20, Flora filed six motions in limine, and on the following day filed motions for funding for DNA expert to assist, and for additional discovery. In November there were more motions and numerous orders. Although on the record before us we are unable to allocate a specific number of days of delay to each party, we are persuaded that sufficient good cause was shown related to matters beyond the control of the State, for us to uphold the decision by the trial court. ¶ 66. We cannot say that the trial court abused its discretion in denying Flora's motions. We do, however, urge the trial courts and prosecutors of this State to guard against becoming complacent with regard to making a clear record to allow proper review of speedy trial claims. This Court should not be expected to simply accept at face value the claims of crowded dockets, backlogged laboratory testing, and other similar logistical problems, which undeniably exist. Under the facts and circumstances in the record before us, the reason for the delay factor weighs in favor of Flora.
¶ 67. This factor weighs in favor of Flora. It is undisputed that Flora asserted his constitutional and statutory right to a speedy trial on several occasions beginning with his demand for speedy trial and first motion to dismiss, on November 20, 2002, some 14 months after his arrest. His second demand was made on January 17, 2003; and his third on May 8, 2003, together with his second motion to dismiss. However, Flora's assertion of his right to a speedy trial is a ground for reversal or dismissal only if, after viewing together and evaluating all factors of the Barker analysis, we conclude that his right to a speedy trial was violated. Stark v. State, 911 So.2d 447, 453 (Miss.2005).
¶ 68. To assist in analyzing this factor, the Barker Court identified three interests protected by the right to a speedy trial to be considered when determining whether the defendant has been prejudiced by the delay in bringing him or her to trial. These interests are: (a) prevent oppressive pretrial incarceration, (b) minimize anxiety and concern of the accused, and (c) limit the possibility that the defense will be impaired. Barker, 407 U.S. at 532, 92 S.Ct. 2182. Of these, the most serious is the last, because the inability of a defendant adequately to prepare his case skews the fairness of the entire system. Id. In State v. Magnusen, 646 So.2d 1275, 1284 (Miss.1994), this Court found presumptive prejudice from a fifteen-month delay between arrest and trial but no actual prejudice and weighed the prejudice factor against the defendant. We look to such questions as whether witnesses have died or become unavailable, documents or other evidence have been destroyed, or memories have dimmed so that the accused is at a disadvantage which would not have attended him at a prompt trial. Jaco v. State, 574 So.2d 625, 632 (Miss.1990); see Perry v. State, 419 So.2d 194, 200 (Miss.1982); Wells v. State, 288 So.2d 860, 863 (Miss.1974). ¶ 69. While there are certainly societal disadvantages of a lengthy pretrial incarceration, this case does not present a situation in which the incarceration was oppressive, especially when one considers the complexities of preparation for multiple charges filed against multiple defendants, in four separate cases, plus the heavy case-load in the offices of both the Hinds County Public Defender who represented Flora, and the Hinds County District Attorney who prosecuted the case, as well as the Hinds County Circuit Court. There were a number of continuances filed, or agreed to, by Flora. Furthermore, no proof exists of extraordinary anxiety or of loss of evidence or witnesses. Flora attempts to use prosecutorial misconduct in support of his speedy trial claim. This claim is without merit as we agree with the trial court's conclusion that the reasons given for the State's continuances were for good cause. As to Flora's allegation that the prosecutor deliberately misrepresented the fact that the DNA testing was being done, the record reflects that, at that time, the state crime lab was without an analyst who could perform the DNA testing, and upon learning of this, the prosecutor promptly proceeded to take the steps necessary to obtain testing from Reliagene. This unquestionably caused delay, but the record does not reflect that the State's failure to obtain timely testing was done to purposefully disadvantage Flora, nor that Flora's ability to defend against the charges was affected. Ultimately, all witnesses were available for trial. This factor weighs in favor of the State, as no actual prejudice existed. Under the totality of the circumstances, and upon examination and analysis of the Barker factors, we conclude that Flora's constitutional right to a speedy trial was not violated. See Hersick, 904 So.2d at 125.
¶ 70. Flora also alleges a statutory violation of his right to a speedy trial, under Miss.Code Ann. Section 99-17-1 (Supp.2000), which provides: [u]nless good cause be shown, ... all offenses for which indictments are presented to the court shall be tried no later than two hundred seventy days (270) after the accused has been arraigned. Therefore, we simply start Flora's statutory speedy trial clock two months later, on February 19, 2002, when he waived arraignment and entered his not guilty plea. However, the same analysis of good cause shown and continuances duly granted is applicable in the statutory context as in the constitutional context. After thoroughly reviewing the record, we are convinced that fewer than 270 days must be counted against the State. The only intervals where it appears that, arguably, a noteworthy amount of time ran against the State was between the waiver of arraignment and Flora's first continuance, which amounted to sixteen days; between the State's first motion for continuance on September 23, until December 2, 2002, the first date set for trial, which was seventy days; between the state's second motion for continuance on January 16, until the March 7, 2003 hearing on that and other motions, which was fifty days; and between March 7, until May 15, 2003, which was sixty-nine days, for a total of 205 days. Considering the record as a whole, we conclude that while the length of the delay was substantial, and while Flora undisputedly asserted both his statutory and constitutional right to a speedy trial, the reasons for the delay were legitimate and good cause was shown. In light of Mississippi's current case law on this point, we hold that Flora was not denied his statutory or constitutional right to a speedy trial. This issue is without merit.