Opinion ID: 863136
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: facts

Text: ¶2. Stewart was jointly tried with Dexter Swanagan; however, Swanagan has not presented issues on appeal for this Court to review. Therefore, we will only address those facts necessary to Stewart's appeal. Steve Rogers and Fred Taylor lived adjacent to each other on Black Bayou Road. On June 30, 1997, Rogers was working at his cousin's. Around lunchtime, Rogers received a telephone call from his cousin's daughter. As a result of the call, Rogers was suspicious of strange men going up to houses and knocking on their doors where there ain't no vehicles. Subsequently, Rogers went to check on his house and get some lunch. ¶3. When Rogers arrived at his house he noticed a vehicle in his driveway. Upon applying his brakes he passed his driveway and was able to see three people standing in Taylor's yard in possession of items, as well as observing several items laying on the lawn. Once Rogers viewed the individuals and personal property in Taylor's yard he proceeded to his house. ¶4. Rogers arrived at his house and removed the keys from the vehicle which was parked in his yard. Thereafter, Rogers went inside his house and called the sheriff's department. Rogers also retrieved a gun. Rogers then proceeded back outside where he witnessed two men running across his land to a wooded area, and a third man was located in the grass by a fence. Rogers witnessed the third man jump the fence. Eventually, Rogers was able to apprehend the third man, who was taken into the custody of the sheriff's department and later identified as Stewart. Subsequently, the owner of the house, Taylor, was notified of the alleged burglary and identified the personal property that was located on his lawn as his. Taylor also confirmed that all of the items were located in his house when he left for work that morning. It was also discovered that the car that was located in Roger's driveway belonged to Stewart. ¶5. Prior to trial, Stewart had written a letter to the clerk of the court explaining the presence of what he felt were problems between him and his attorney. At the conclusion of this letter, Stewart asked the clerk to reappoint him a lawyer. No formal motion was ever filed. Subsequently, on the day of trial Stewart made two requests for a continuance and new counsel. These requests were denied by the trial judge. Subsequently, Rogers was indicted and found guilty of the crime of burglary of a dwelling house.