Opinion ID: 889185
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: The State's Motion to Add Witnesses

Text: ¶ 151 Wholly aside from the substitutions of Rose's appointed counsel, another event occurring in early July 2002 bears on the instant discussion. Section 46-11-401(2), MCA, requires the prosecution to include endorsed on the information or indictment the names of the witnesses for the prosecution, if known. When the prosecutor filed the Information on January 23, 2002, he endorsed ten witnesses:  RCSO Lt. Bruce Hennell  RCSO Deputy Zae Hudson  RCSO Sgt. Kevin McConnell  RCSO Deputy Steve Holton  Marcus Daly Hospital employees  RCSO Detention Officer Lt. Andy Kollmer  RCSO Detention Center personnel  John H. Beck  Geneviere Indreland  Kermit Indreland ¶ 152 Although the prosecution may disclose additional witnesses at the omnibus hearing, see §§ 46-13-110(3)(e) and 46-15-322(1)(a), MCA, there is no record that such witnesses were mentioned at the March 6, 2002 omnibus hearing in this case. However, on July 8, a mere 21 days before trial, the State filed a motion to add 13 new witnesses to the Information. The following witnesses were listed in the motion:  Sgt. Detective Pete Clarkson, RCSO  Detective Sterling Maus, RCSO  Detective Jim Chinn, RCSO  Officer Donald Wilks, RCSO  Officer Rick Hardy, RCSO  Kirk Davies, Missoula, MT  Dr. Brett Bender, Marcus Daly ER, Hamilton, MT  Dr. Frederick M. Ilgenfritz, Marcus Daly ER, Hamilton, MT  Dr. Walker J. Ashcraft, Marcus Daly, Hamilton, MT  Mary Wojciechowski, RN, Marcus Daly Hospital, Hamilton, MT  Brian Finkle, Ph.D., Cameron, MT  John Hyslip, Risk Manager, Pathways Treatment Center, Kalispell, MT 59901  Mark Dalby, Ravalli County, MT The District Court granted the State's motion on July 9. Defense counsel filed the motion to continue the trial two days later. ¶ 153 The prosecutor offered no justification for not endorsing these witnesses sooner, and it is difficult to conceive of a meritorious explanation for why the prosecution apparently was unaware, prior to July 8, 2002, that Kirk Davies (one of the victims of the charged offenses), five members of the Ravalli County Sheriff's Office, and four healthcare professionals from Marcus Daly Hospital had relevant testimony to provide at Rose's trial. In any event, the point here is that even if Mansch had stayed on as Rose's counsel, the State's endorsement of 13 new witnesses 21 days before trial likely would have necessitated a continuance. For this reason, I cannot agree with the State's assertion that there would have been no delay but for Rose's request for new counsel.