Opinion ID: 2055888
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: issues

Text: Defendant contends that the trial court committed reversible error by denying Defendant's motion for a continuance to depose witness Thomas Dowdle. Defendant asserts that Dowdle, who implicated Defendant in the Wolfe robbery, was not made available for a deposition until immediately prior to the trial, which did not allow Defendant adequate time either to prepare to question the witness or to use the deposition intelligently at trial. On March 3, 1980, Defendant filed a discovery motion. The State responded by giving Defendant a copy of witness Dowdle's statement implicating Defendant in the crimes. Dowdle was incarcerated in Columbus, Ohio from April 1980 until immediately prior to the July 21, 1980 trial. On June 27, Defendant moved for a continuance in order to permit him to depose Dowdle. Defendant noted the difficulties in scheduling such a deposition because Dowdle was in Ohio and also argued that additional time would be required to prepare for trial following the deposition. The trial court overruled this motion. On July 1, Defendant filed a notice that he intended to depose Dowdle as soon as Dowdle was available in the Jefferson County Jail. Dowdle was not moved to that facility until July 18, at which time Defendant renewed his motion for a continuance. The trial court again denied the motion. At the outset of the trial, Defendant renewed his motion for a continuance and also requested that, if the motion were overruled, Dowdle not be permitted to testify. The trial court overruled the motion and Dowdle testified at trial, over Defendant's objection. A motion for a continuance based on non-statutory grounds may be granted in the trial court's discretion. Ind.R. Trial Procedure, TR. R. 53.4, White v. State, (1975) 263 Ind. 302, 330 N.E.2d 84, Minton v. State, (1978) 269 Ind. 39, 378 N.E.2d 639. An abuse of discretion may be demonstrated only by a showing among other requirements, that the defendant would be harmed by a denial of the requested continuance. King v. State, (1973) 260 Ind. 422, 296 N.E.2d 113. In the instant case, Defendant has failed to meet that burden. Defendant received a copy of Dowdle's statement and acknowledged that one reason for seeking to depose Dowdle was to prepare an attack upon his credibility. Defense counsel's cross examination of Dowdle effectively challenged the witness' credibility, his recall of detail surrounding his contact with Dier, and his motivations for testifying. In light of this record and without a showing of the specific manner in which a continuance could have averted harm to the defendant, we cannot say that there was any abuse. Defendant also requested that, if the continuance were overruled, Dowdle not be permitted to testify. This remedy is sometimes available, as a sanction, when it is shown that the State has deliberately refused to comply with the Court's discovery order. Gregory v. State, (1972) 259 Ind. 295, 300, 286 N.E.2d 666, 670. Defense counsel acknowledged the State's superhuman effort of going through the red tape    to try to make Mr. Dowdle available to use. A sanction against the State was clearly not in order.