Opinion ID: 377984
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: The Denial of Appellant's Motion for a Continuance

Text: 33 Appellant argues that the trial court abused its discretion in denying his motion for a continuance which was based upon the unavailability of James Stout, Robert Demand and Donnie Dickens. Walker contends these witnesses would have impeached the testimony of Mathews that Stout, Demand and Dickens belonged to appellant's organization. 34 Whether to grant a continuance is within the trial judge's discretion and will be disturbed on appeal only upon a clear showing of abuse of discretion. United States v. Cueto, 611 F.2d 1056, 1060 (5th Cir. 1980). 35 Here, we find no abuse of discretion. In moving for a continuance based on the unavailability of witnesses, a movant must show that: 36 due diligence has been exercised to obtain the attendance of the witness, that substantial favorable evidence would be tendered by the witness, that the witness is available and willing to testify, and that the denial of the continuance would materially prejudice the defendant. 37 United States v. Miller, 513 F.2d 791, 793 (5th Cir. 1975). Furthermore, the motion for continuance must be filed as early as possible. United States v. Albert, 595 F.2d 283, 286 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, 444 U.S. 963, 100 S.Ct. 448, 62 L.Ed.2d 375 (1979). 38 Appellant's motion for continuance was not brought until the day of the trial, fifty-one days after his arraignment and twenty-seven days from the assignment of the case for trial. Although appellant alleged that he and his attorney had made diligent efforts to locate the witnesses, he offered no evidence in support of this allegation. 39 Appellant made no showing at the time of the motion that the witnesses would offer material evidence substantially favorable to him. At most, the witnesses would have offered impeachment testimony denying their membership in appellant's organization. However, the record shows that on cross-examination, Mathews denied ever saying that any of the witnesses were members of appellant's organization. Thus, even had these witnesses been available, their testimony would not have been relevant in the impeachment of Mathews. Nor would their testimony have been substantially favorable to appellant since it would have been only of a cumulative nature on a collateral issue. 40 Viewing the evidence in this case in a light most favorable to the government, 5 we conclude that the trial court did not commit reversible error. 41 AFFIRMED.