Opinion ID: 1289006
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: The Stun Belt

Text: The trial in this case began on February 25, 2003. That morning, just prior to voir dire, the bailiff informed Youngblood's counsel that Youngblood was wearing a stun belt under his suit jacket for security purposes. [8] Neither Youngblood's counsel nor the prosecutor had previous knowledge that the device was to be employed. Emphasizing that his client had no history of violent or threatening behavior associated with court proceedings, Youngblood's counsel objected to the use of the stun belt and asked the Circuit Court to conduct an evidentiary hearing concerning its necessity. The Circuit Court indicated that it also had no previous knowledge that the stun belt was to be employed. Nevertheless, the Court ruled that Youngblood would be required to wear the stun belt during the voir dire process because: (1) a large number of people had reported for jury service, and space in the courtroom was limited, (2) the stun belt was underneath Youngblood's jacket and not readily apparent to those in the courtroom and (3) in addition to the charges set for trial, Youngblood was facing a felony murder charge in an unrelated case. The Circuit Court further ruled, however, that Youngblood would not be required to wear the stun belt during the remainder of the trial. [9] As the Circuit Court explained: First of all, we became aware of it this morning when [the bailiff] ... described that this was a part of his security packet this morning.    [Youngblood] is wearing a nice dark business suit and a tie and white shirt, and I understand the procedure outlined to me by [the bailiff], he was allowed to come to the courtroom just with you [his counsel] so that he would not project any degree of custody.    [T]his use of this stun belt in that limited setting, I believe, is very justifiable just given the crush of the public and the fact that everybody is intermingling and that the voir dire box is right next to the seat of the defendant, and persons walk right through the heart of the well of the court.    [Youngblood] is faced with not only this prosecution, which is two counts of first degree sexual assault which carry with them upon conviction heavy penalties, he also stands charged and pending trial for a count of felony murder [.]    So it was very much a crush of people and a very busy morning [during voir dire], yet the defendant was able to be there totally unimpeded by any security measures that would be obvious to any observer. I could see no sign of a security device upon the person of the defendant. I am sure none of the jurors were able to ascertain as much. [10] When the number of people in the courtroom substantially lessened following the voir dire process, the Circuit Court ruled that Youngblood would not be required to wear the stun belt during the remainder of the trial. Syllabus point 3 of State v. Brewster, 164 W.Va. 173, 261 S.E.2d 77 (1979), states: A criminal defendant has the right, absent some necessity relating to courtroom security or order, to be tried free of physical restraints. Syl., State v. Holliday, 188 W.Va. 321, 424 S.E.2d 248 (1992); syl. pt. 2, State v. Billups, 179 W.Va. 353, 368 S.E.2d 723 (1988); syl. pt. 1, State v. McKinney, 178 W.Va. 200, 358 S.E.2d 596 (1987). As the opinion in Brewster states: It cannot be doubted that physical restraints on a defendant at trial may create a substantial prejudice against him. Not only may physical restraints suggest to the jury that the defendant is a dangerous and violent person, but they may also suggest that he has engaged in past criminal acts and may lead the jury to infer that he is capable of having committed the crime for which he is being tried. 164 W.Va. at 180, 261 S.E.2d at 81-82. On the other hand, as long recognized, the use of physical restraints or other security precautions, not ordinarily required during a criminal trial, may be warranted in certain circumstances where the safety of the participants and the public would otherwise be compromised. The employment of such restraints and precautions rests within the sound discretion of the circuit court, subject to this Court's admonitions in the past that the circuit court conduct an evidentiary hearing, in advance of trial, to determine whether the circumstances of the case justify greater than normal security measures. In Brewster, for example, this Court remanded the case to the trial court for an evidentiary hearing to determine if there were sufficient facts to warrant trying the defendant in handcuffs. 164 W.Va. at 183, 261 S.E.2d at 83. See also, syl. pt. 3, State v. Allah Jamaal W., 209 W.Va. 1, 543 S.E.2d 282 (2000), holding that whether to physically restrain a witness for the defendant at trial is within the discretion of the circuit court; State v. Holliday, supra , discussing when physical restraints are justified and emphasizing the role of the evidentiary hearing; and syl. pt. 6, State v. Peacher, 167 W.Va. 540, 280 S.E.2d 559 (1981), recognizing circuit court discretion concerning courtroom security and holding that an evidentiary hearing should be conducted in that regard. In State v. Linkous, 177 W.Va. 621, 355 S.E.2d 410 (1987), prospective jurors were in the courtroom just before the beginning of the defendant's murder trial. The defendant arrived in the courtroom handcuffed to another prisoner, and the handcuffs were taken off. Consequently, the defendant's attorney moved for a new jury panel, asserting that the existing panel would be prejudiced by having seen the defendant in handcuffs. The trial court in Linkous, however, denied the motion. Upon appeal, this Court affirmed, noting as follows: This case involves only an initial appearance in handcuffs which were removed shortly after he was brought into the courtroom. Most courts that have dealt with this question conclude that ordinarily it is not reversible error nor grounds for a mistrial to proceed to try a criminal defendant with a jury panel that may have seen him in handcuffs for a brief period of time prior to trial. (citations omitted) 177 W.Va. at 624, 355 S.E.2d at 413. Tracking the above language, syllabus point 2 of Linkous holds: Ordinarily, it is not reversible error nor grounds for a mistrial to proceed to try a criminal defendant with a jury panel that may have seen him in handcuffs for a brief period of time prior to trial. State v. Carey, 210 W.Va. 651, 658, 558 S.E.2d 650, 657 (2001); State v. Billups, supra, 179 W.Va. at 355-56, 368 S.E.2d at 725-26. In the case now to be determined, we are concerned that neither Youngblood's counsel nor the prosecutor nor the Judge were told by law enforcement personnel prior to the proceedings that Youngblood would be wearing the stun belt. Although Youngblood's counsel stated to the Circuit Court that his client's suit jacket appeared to be somewhat puffed out, the record indicates that the presence of the stun belt was first made known through the disclosure of the bailiff immediately prior to voir dire. Such undisclosed actions by law enforcement personnel undermine the authority of a circuit court to exercise its discretion upon the necessity of the physical restraint in judicial proceedings before it. As this Court noted in State v. Peacher, supra , the discretion concerning the employment of physical restraints and various security precautions during a criminal trial is the court's and must be exercised, not delegated 167 W.Va. at 560, 280 S.E.2d at 573. Moreover, as this Court said in Brewster: Since the preliminary decision to use physical restraints is ordinarily made by the custodial authorities, the State must share the burden of advising the court on this issue in advance of the trial, so that a proper record can be made. 164 W.Va. at 182 n. 5, 261 S.E.2d at 82 n. 5. Nevertheless, without compromising the above principles, this Court is of the opinion that the circumstances herein do not warrant the granting of relief to appellant Youngblood. Here, after conducting two in camera hearings, the Circuit Court concluded that Youngblood would wear the stun belt during the voir dire process and not during the remainder of the trial. In so ruling, the Circuit Court did not simply adopt the plan of the custodial authorities. Instead, the Court placed upon the record: (1) a description of Youngblood's clothing, (2) the Court's observation that the stun belt was not readily apparent under his suit jacket and (3) the fact that Youngblood was facing an unrelated charge of felony murder in addition to the charges for which he was indicted in this case. Moreover, the Circuit Court stated on the record that Youngblood entered the courtroom without shackles and without law enforcement officers in close proximity to him and that, therefore, the stun belt had served to preclude the jury from making improper inferences about Youngblood in terms of the security measures utilized at trial. Finally, the Circuit Court commented, at length, about the relative smallness of the courtroom where the trial would be conducted and the security problems it posed in the face of 68 individuals reporting for jury service that morning plus other individuals present that day. Although an evidentiary hearing should have been conducted as requested by Youngblood's counsel, this Court concludes that, in view of the reasons set forth by the Circuit Court during the in camera hearings, the limited wearing of the stun belt herein did not rise to the level of an abuse of the Circuit Court's discretion. Accordingly, this assignment of error is without merit. [11]