Opinion ID: 2637449
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Excludable Delay

Text: [¶ 9] Taylor claims that the record does not show that the stipulated continuance was supported by his affidavit or with his express consent and the rule does not allow the delay to be excluded from time calculations. The motion submitted to the court indicated that the parties had stipulated to and were jointly requesting a continuance for the purpose of further discussing a plea agreement. Under these circumstances, unless the defendant provides evidence that the stipulation was over his objections, the delay is excludable but not attributable to the defendant. Such a motion falls under W.R.Cr.P. 48(b)(4)(B)(iii) for due administration. Obviously a stipulated continuance to pursue plea negotiations is to the benefit of the defendant and does not result in prejudice to him. The stipulation was entered into on October 30, 1998. His trial date changed from November 2 to November 30, 1998, a difference of 28 days. Excluding this time period, the time between arraignment and trial was 137 days. [¶ 10] The record also shows that new counsel was appointed on November 6, 1998, and the trial remained scheduled for November 30, still under the 120-day time limit. Taylor's trial was eleventh in the stack and did not take place on November 30. Nothing in the record tells us the reason why trial did not take place. On December 4, 1998, Taylor made another handwritten motion to the court for speedy trial. On December 7, 1998, a new schedule was released setting his trial for January 4, 1999, a period still within the 120-day time limit because of the excludable delay. His trial was sixth in the stack. On December 21, the record shows a motion to revoke and forfeit bond. Its stated grounds were that since his release on bond, Taylor had been arrested and convicted of two separate assault and batteries under the Family Violence Protection Act. A bench warrant issued for his arrest on that same day. [¶ 11] On December 31, 1998, a new trial schedule issued from the court scheduling Taylor's trial for February 1, 1999. Although fifth in the stack, trial did occur on that date. On January 22, 1999, his new attorney filed two motions and argued them along with Taylor's last speedy trial motion before the trial court on January 27, 1999. At that hearing, the prosecutor argued that the delay was in the due administration of justice because of the stack system. The trial court denied the motion to dismiss on speedy trial violation grounds without comment. [¶ 12] In this appeal, the State contends that delay due to a crowded docket is excludable for the due administration of justice as provided by W.R.Cr.P. 48(b)(4)(B)(iii). The time period at issue is 137 days. Both parties rely upon Germany v. State, 999 P.2d 63 (Wyo.2000); however, Taylor correctly points out that delay caused by a crowded docket using a stack system was excluded in that case for reasons not present in his case. As Germany decided, both the Court and the State made the efforts required by W.R.Cr.P. 48(b) to notify Germany that its crowded docket required a continuance, and he had the opportunity to object and show prejudice. Id. at 66-67. Taylor asserts that did not happen in this case, and our review reveals nothing in the record to contradict his assertion. W.R.Cr.P. 48(b)(4)(B)(iii) plainly requires that the court grant a continuance to extend for the due administration of justice, and that did not occur. [¶ 13] Our review of the record does not indicate that the seventeen-day delay was caused by a crowded docket or deliberate maneuvering by the State. The record does show that, between his arraignment and trial, the defendant was arrested on other charges, and criminal proceedings ensued against him, necessitating a change in counsel. Although the burden for bringing the defendant to trial in a timely manner rests with the State, Estrada v. State, 611 P.2d 850, 854 (Wyo. 1980), the rule does not require a court-ordered continuance before excluding delay attributable to either a change in counsel or proceedings against the defendant on other charges. W.R.Cr.P. 48(b)(3)(B); W.R.Cr.P. 48(b)(3)(E). We find that the delay was attributable to these actions of defendant, and when that is the case, no speedy trial violation will be found to have occurred. See Dean v. State, 865 P.2d 601, 614 (Wyo.1993), superseded on other grounds by Vigil v. State, 926 P.2d 351 (Wyo.1996).