Court Opinion

ID: 9738216
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 19:45:18.013684+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:24:04.520938
License: Public Domain

KIRSCH, Judge,
dissenting.
I fully concur with the majority’s resolution of the speedy trial issue. I believe, however, that in reversing the trial court order allowing the belated filing of the habitual offender enhancement, the majority contravenes controlling precedent set down by our supreme court, impermissibly invades the discretionary province reserved to the trial court, and misconstrues the statutory *181requirements for belated filings. For such reasons, I respectfully dissent.
In Haymaker v. State, 667 N.E.2d 1113 (Ind.1996), our supreme court held that the defendant’s failure to seek a continuance upon the entry of the trial court’s order allowing a belated habitual offender enhancement constituted a waiver of the issue for appeal. Although the majority attempts to distinguish Haymaker on the basis that there the State was amending an already-filed habitual offender enhancement pursuant to IC 35-34-l-5(c), as opposed to adding one pursuant to IC 35-34-l-5(e), as here, our supreme court specifically rejected this distinction, saying “even if 35-34-l-5(e) were to apply, defendant has waived this issue for appeal.” Id. at 1114. Here, by failing to seek a continuance upon the trial court’s order allowing the belated filing, Attebury waived the issue for appeal.
Waiver notwithstanding, the trial court was within its discretion in allowing the belated filing. In Haymaker, our supreme court said, “The purpose of this statute [IC 35 — 34—1—5(e) ] is to allow a defendant sufficient time to prepare a defense for an habitual offender charge.” Here, when the State sought leave to file the habitual offender enhancement belatedly, the trial court heard arguments from counsel regarding the reasons for the belated filing. In response to the court’s questioning, the State said that the reason for the belated filing was the ongoing plea negotiation process in which the State had offered to forego the filing if agreement could be reached regarding the underlying offense. The court then ascertained that the defendant had known for several months that the State would file the enhancement if he rejected the offer. On this basis, the trial court allowed the belated filing.
By using the phrase “may permit” in IC 35-34-l-5(e), the legislature gave the trial court the discretion to allow or disallow a belated habitual offender enhancement upon a showing of good cause by the State. See Haltom v. Bruner & Meis, Inc., 680 N.E.2d 6, 9 (Ind.Ct.App.1997) (Use of “may” in statutes ordinarily indicates permissive condition and discretion). Trial courts are presumed to know and follow the law. Boone County Rural Elec. Membership Corp. v. Layton, 664 N.E.2d 735, 739 (Ind.Ct.App.1996), tram, denied (citing Scott v. State, 632 N.E.2d 761, 768 (Ind.Ct.App.1994)). By permitting the filing following its inquiry into the reasons for the delay, the court impliedly found that good cause had been shown and that no prejudice to the defendant would result. The trial court was acting within its discretion. By reversing the trial court’s order without finding an abuse of that discretion, the majority impermissibly substitutes its discretion for that of the trial court.
The majority concludes that the trial court erred in allowing the belated filing without making a specific finding of good cause for the untimely addition. “As the statute clearly requires a finding of good cause, it is incumbent upon the trial court to so find.” Op. at 179. IC 35-34-l-5(e) requires that the State make a showing of good cause for the belated filing. There is no requirement that the trial court make an express finding to such effect. Having imposed a requirement not set out in the statute, the majority concludes that the trial court committed reversible error by failing to satisfy it, holding that the trial court erred in allowing the belated filing “without making a finding of good cause for the untimely addition.” Op. at 180.
Attebury sustained no prejudice as a result of the belated filing. The trial court allowed the filing only after ascertaining that Atte-bury had known for several months of the State’s intention to file the habitual offender enhancement if plea negotiations were unsuccessful. Upon the trial court’s order allowing the filing, Attebury, while objecting to the filing in order to preserve the issue for appeal, plead guilty to the habitual offender count. Having admitted to the truthfulness of the habitual offender allegations, Attebury cannot argue that he was surprised by the amendment or needed additional time to prepare a defense.
The majority finds prejudice solely from the lateness of the filing, saying “The untimely addition of such a count significantly alters the defense’s strategy, not only as to the habitual count, but also as to substantive *182counts.” Op. at 180. The majority does not explain why it believes such a significant strategic alteration automatically flows from the belated filing, and Attebury makes no claim of such alteration on either the habitual or the underlying count. As stated above, the purpose of the statute is to allow the defendant time to prepare a defense to the habitual count. Attebury failed to seek a continuance to prepare such a defense and admitted the truth of the habitual offender allegations. The purpose of the statute has been satisfied.
The trial court complied with all statutory requirements and acted within its sound discretion in allowing the belated filing of the habitual offender count. Attebury sustained no prejudice from the belated filing and waived the issue for appeal by failing to seek a continuance. I would affirm the trial court in all respects.