Opinion ID: 1236325
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: S00A1046 Derrick Perry v. The State.

Text: Derrick Perry was arrested in August 1997, indicted in January 1998 and re-indicted in March 1999. In June 1999 he filed an out-of-time motion for speedy trial pursuant to OCGA § 17-7-170. [21] He remained incarcerated from his arrest in August 1997 until August 1999 when he was released on bond. The state concedes that the two-year delay between arrest and the date of trial is presumptively prejudicial. Perry adopts the reasons for delay of trial asserted by Michael Jackson. He additionally argues that the state delayed trial because it lacked a credible case against him, and that a reasonable inference from the delay is that the state is attempting to force him to testify in exchange for leniency. Neither of these latter arguments is supported by the record. However, to the extent that Perry argues that the delay was a result of the state waiting to indict Nolton and Mosely, then later offering to sever them from the case, the delay is weighted against the state. Perry's demand for a speedy trial pursuant to OCGA § 17-7-170 was not made until 22 months after he had been arrested. As in the case of his co-defendants, even were his demand sufficient to trigger his Sixth Amendment right, the delay is weighted against him. While Perry's pre-trial incarceration of nearly two years is clearly burdensome, he has offered no proof of sub-standard conditions or other oppressive factors beyond those that necessarily attend imprisonment. [22] Finally, he claims prejudice in that his alibi defense may be impaired by the delay of trial. However, the record shows that in February 1999, Perry gave notice of his alibi defense, identifying five witnesses who would provide alibi testimony on his behalf. We conclude that Perry has failed to establish that his defense would be seriously prejudiced by the delay in this case. Balancing the Barker factors, we conclude that the trial court did not err in denying Perry's motion to dismiss the indictment against him.