Opinion ID: 2486429
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 12

Heading: McCRAY's Request Made Through Defense Counsel

Text: We next address McCRAY's claim that the trial court failed to conduct a Faretta inquiry following McCRAY's pro se request submitted through defense counsel after the State presented the testimony of its second witness. In this instance, the record reflects that defense counsel represented to the court that while he was discussing matters with McCRAY in his holding cell, McCRAY expressed a desire to proceed without counsel. However, McCRAY's statement that he wished to represent himself was coupled with his request that defense counsel conduct some type of investigation on the allegedly stolen FDLE case tracking reports to which McCRAY had previously referred. McCRAY apparently wanted defense counsel to bring in law enforcement officers to testify on this issue. When both of McCRAY's comments are jointly considered, the record makes clear that McCRAY still sought to represent himself while simultaneously having counsel assist him. Accordingly, McCRAY did not make an unequivocal request for self-representation, a Faretta hearing was not required, and the trial court did not err in failing to conduct such a hearing.