Court Opinion

ID: 9380192
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-03-17 16:08:54.763743+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:17:23.262889
License: Public Domain

March 13, 2023

                                                     Supreme Court

                                                     No. 2020-192-C.A.
                                                     (P2/17-1272ADV)

             State                    :

                 v.                   :

     Edward Delossantos.              :

          NOTICE: This opinion is subject to formal revision
          before publication in the Rhode Island Reporter. Readers
          are requested to notify the Opinion Analyst, Supreme
          Court of Rhode Island, 250 Benefit Street, Providence,
          Rhode Island 02903, at Telephone (401) 222-3258 or
          Email      opinionanalyst@courts.ri.gov,      of     any
          typographical or other formal errors in order that
          corrections may be made before the opinion is published.
                                                            Supreme Court

                                                            No. 2020-192-C.A.
                                                            (P2/17-1272ADV)

                State                     :

                  v.                      :

        Edward Delossantos.               :

      Present: Suttell, C.J., Goldberg, Robinson, Lynch Prata, and Long, JJ.

                                   OPINION

      Justice Robinson, for the Court. The defendant, Edward Delossantos,

appeals from a judgment of conviction and commitment following a jury trial in

the Providence County Superior Court. On appeal, the defendant challenges the

trial court’s decision to grant his request to represent himself at his criminal trial,

arguing that the request was untimely and that the waiver of his right to the

assistance of counsel was not made voluntarily, knowingly, and intelligently. The

defendant also appeals from the trial court’s denial of his motion for a new trial.

For the reasons set forth in this opinion, we perceive no error in the trial court’s

decision to grant the defendant’s request to represent himself nor in its denial of

the defendant’s motion for a new trial.

                                          -1-
                                           I

                                  Facts and Travel

      This case ultimately stems from an altercation that took place in

Woonsocket, Rhode Island, in October of 2016.                That altercation involved

defendant and two other adults and resulted in criminal charges being brought

against defendant. The facts relative to that altercation and the eventual charges

against him will be more fully explained as we summarize the trial testimony of

the various witnesses.

      On May 17, 2017, defendant was charged by information with the following

offenses: assault with a dangerous weapon, to wit, a motor vehicle (Count One);

operating a motor vehicle without the consent of its owner (Count Two); domestic

assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, to wit, a shod foot (Count Three);

domestic simple assault (Count Four); simple assault (Count Five); and vandalism

(Count Six). A three-day jury trial was held in November of 2019. We relate

below the salient aspects of what transpired at the trial.

                                           A

                               The First Day of Trial

      On November 12, 2019, the first day of trial, prior to jury selection, the trial

justice asked defendant whether he wanted to accept the state’s offer regarding a

plea agreement. The defendant stated that he chose not to accept the state’s offer,

                                         -2-
and the trial justice then addressed him as follows: “So that you understand, you

could get anywhere, if you’re convicted, from zero years to serve up to six years to

serve. Do you understand that, sir?” The defendant responded: “Yes, I understand

that, your Honor.” The jury selection process then commenced.

                                         B

                            The Second Day of Trial

                       1. The Testimony of Veronica Flores

      On November 13, 2019, the second day of trial, Veronica Flores testified

that, at the time of the October 2016 incident, she had been in a relationship with

defendant since 2011 and was living in Woonsocket with him and their two

daughters. She further testified that on October 4 she and defendant had an

argument at the house where they both lived, which culminated with defendant

departing in her car. Veronica stated that the next day, October 5, her sister,

Sabrina Flores,1 picked her up and drove to BJ’s Distribution Center in Uxbridge,

Massachusetts, where both sisters were scheduled to work on the same shift.

      Veronica testified that she and Sabrina returned from the Distribution Center

around 12:45 a.m. on October 6 and that Sabrina parked her car on a side street

near the home where Veronica and defendant lived. Veronica further testified that,

1
       The two complaining witnesses in this case are sisters with the same last
name. We shall hereinafter refer to Veronica Flores and Sabrina Flores by their
first names. We do so for the sake of simplicity, and we intend no disrespect.

                                       -3-
as they were preparing to get out of the car, Sabrina warned her that defendant was

“walking down right now.” She added that she and Sabrina locked the car doors.

She further stated that defendant proceeded to punch the passenger-side window of

Sabrina’s car.

      Veronica further testified that, after she and Sabrina had exited Sabrina’s

car, defendant “whipped a muffin” at Sabrina’s face and then started “throwing

punches.” She stated that defendant then returned to her car (which he had taken

on the previous day) and “got a kitchen knife.” She testified that defendant

“stabbed the knife like right into the tire of [Sabrina’s] car * * * inches away from

[Sabrina’s] leg.” She added that defendant then “shoved” Sabrina, causing her to

fall “head first * * * into the tire of her car.” Veronica testified that defendant

punched her in the head and punched Sabrina in the face.             Veronica further

testified that defendant shoved her into a fence and that, while wearing sneakers,

he kicked her “all over [her] body.” Veronica stated that a man “came out of

nowhere * * * holding a stick or something and was trying to fight off him, or from

him being on top of us and still like us just fighting in general.” She added that the

man “tried to intervene;” she also testified that he said that he had called the police.

It was further Veronica’s testimony that defendant then departed in her car, without

her permission.

                                         -4-
                         2. The Testimony of Sabrina Flores

      Sabrina testified that she had parked her car on a side street near where

Veronica and defendant lived. She further testified that, while looking into her

rearview mirror, she saw defendant walking towards her car and that he then

started “pounding on the side of the car” with “a closed fist.” She stated that he

yelled at the sisters, telling them to “[g]et out of the car.” It was further Sabrina’s

testimony that, after the sisters exited the car, defendant threw a muffin “[v]ery

hard” at her face. She added that defendant then walked “swiftly like he was in a

rush” towards Veronica’s car, where he “opened the driver’s side door and he

pulled out * * * a kitchen knife.” Sabrina testified that defendant then “slammed

the door shut, and * * * walked faster towards my car on the driver’s side,” where

he stabbed her front left tire, causing the knife to break into three pieces. Sabrina

further testified that defendant “got even more aggravated” and then pushed her

into her car, causing her to fall to the ground.

      Sabrina testified that, while lying on the ground or trying to get up, she

noticed that defendant “had pushed Veronica and punched her, and she had fell

into the black fence.” She further testified that defendant, who was wearing

sneakers, then kicked Veronica in “her torso area.” Sabrina stated that she helped

Veronica get up from the ground. She then described what happened next: “That’s

when it got more physical. We kind of took that altercation and it navigated

                                          -5-
towards the middle of the street.” She added that, during the altercation, defendant

punched the sisters with a closed fist “probably about five or six times.”

      Sabrina further testified that “as we were all fighting, * * * we heard a voice

from the distance.” She added that “[i]t just happened to be a neighbor of * * *

Veronica’s that was coming down the street.” Sabrina described the neighbor as

“aggravated,” and she said that he “had a bat or like a pole of some sort in his

hand” and that he said that he had called the police.

      Sabrina testified that defendant then “walked towards the car” and that she

and Veronica “tried to stop him from going.” Sabrina further stated: “[Defendant]

turned on the car, he went to go pull away, he noticed that I was in the front of it,

and he kind of -- he pressed on the gas * * *.” Sabrina further testified that she

then put her “hands on the hood” and pushed herself “to the side to step out of the

way of the vehicle.” She added that defendant then drove off “pretty quickly.”

                        3. The Testimony of Robert Lescault

      Robert Lescault, the intervening neighbor referred to by both Veronica and

Sabrina, testified that, during the early morning hours of October 6, 2016, he was

awakened from sleep by the sound of a “loud bang.” He testified that he “got up

and ran to the window,” from which he saw two females and one male “tussling

around.” Mr. Lescault further stated: “I saw the two females trying to keep the

male from jumping into a truck. And once they started doing that, he grabbed

                                        -6-
them both and he started swinging at them and punching at them like they were

males.” He testified that he then grabbed “a wooden stick” and “ran down towards

them.” He further testified that, as he was running towards the altercation, he

witnessed defendant hit Veronica and Sabrina with a closed fist.

      Mr. Lescault also testified that defendant “charged” at him and “threw three

punches” at him. He added that defendant then “went back toward the truck to try

to get back into the truck, and the females continued to keep him out of the truck.”

Mr. Lescault testified that “[t]he smallest female tried to pull [defendant] out of the

truck, and he grabbed her by the hair and started punching her in the face.” He

added that the woman whom he described as “the smallest female” “fell back

towards the fence area in front of that building, and the other taller female was like

in between the front fender of the truck and the door being opened, and she was

reaching over the door and grabbing him.” Mr. Lescault stated that defendant then

“stepped back out and he struck [the taller female] over the door, and she fell back,

she stumbled down the sidewalk and kind of into the road, and that’s when he shut

the door and tried to take off and almost ran her over.”

                                         -7-
               4. Defendant’s First Request to Represent Himself2

      At that juncture, the state having rested, the trial justice asked defendant

whether he wished to testify on his own behalf.3 In response, defendant stated: “I

haven’t had time to come to an agreement to testify.” The trial justice responded:

                  “No, sir, you have had time. We’ve done nothing
            but delay, delay, delay.

                   “* * *

                    “We have wasted an inordinate amount of time
            today with this jury. First, with your insistence that you
            have your attorney verify for himself that witnesses were
            here. I allowed him to do that. Second, with the idea
            that you might possibly want to entertain a plea. Despite
            the fact that the time had come and gone for that, I
            allowed him to do that. We spent some time this
            afternoon going through a voir dire that you insisted on
            being present for. So this isn’t something new. This case
            was reached for trial yesterday and you’ve known about
            it for a month now.

                   “I will give you ten minutes to speak to your
            attorney, but we’re going to have an answer from you
            today because this jury is not here at your pleasure, your
            disposal, for you to take as long as you think is possible.

2
      All of the colloquies between the trial justice and defendant or his counsel
took place out of the presence of the jury.
3
       Because of the special relevance of the colloquies between the trial justice
and defendant to the legal issues before us, we shall quote from those colloquies
verbatim more extensively than might otherwise be the case. See State v. Cruz, 109
A.3d 381, 390 (R.I. 2015) (“[T]he presence of a detailed colloquy between a trial
justice and a defendant on the record assists the trial justice in ascertaining the
knowing and intelligent nature of a defendant’s waiver.”).

                                       -8-
             You can have a conversation with him, but I’m going to
             want an answer this afternoon. Do you understand that?”

      The defendant replied that he understood, and he then stated: “You’re

actually trying to make me testify at the last minute, but I was never prepared for

none of this.”

      In response, the trial justice stated:

                    “I’m not trying to make you do anything. I’m
             actually just trying to determine whether or not it’s your
             desire to testify. When you tell me you haven’t had
             enough time to consider it, my point to you is this. You
             had enough time. We went through this yesterday.
             We’ve been going at it all day today with really long
             breaks in between. The idea of you testifying is not
             something new, nor is the information that was testified
             to by the witnesses because the statements were here.

                     “I do understand, sir -- and I mean this with all
             sincerity -- that you wanted to see whether or not the
             witnesses were coming. That’s fair. I get that because
             quite often witnesses don’t appear. But, they did. They
             testified. You knew what they were going to testify to
             because you’ve had all the discovery. So, your decision
             as to whether or not you would testify isn’t something
             that’s just been thrown on you out of the blue without
             you having had any time to think about it. That’s the
             point.

                   “It doesn’t matter to me one way or the other
             whether you testify. I’m not going to force you to do a
             single thing, but what I am not going to allow is this
             continued unnecessary delay that we seem to be having.
             So, I’m going to give you time to talk to your attorney.”

                                          -9-
      The court recessed for approximately ten minutes. The trial justice asked

defense counsel whether defendant was going “to testify or * * * waive his right to

do so.” Defense counsel stated: “I believe he wants to testify, but I would ask the

Court to engage him in colloquy.” The record reflects the following exchange

between the trial justice and defendant:

             “THE COURT: * * * I don’t know whether it’s against
             the advice of counsel or not. You certainly don’t have to
             disclose that. But, Mr. Delossantos, it is absolutely your
             right to testify. There’s no question about it. And, I’m
             not going to anticipate specifically what conversations
             you’ve had with [the defense attorney], but more often
             than not counsel will advise their client to hold onto their
             right to remain silent because once you get up on the
             stand, you’re also subject to cross-examination,
             something that [the defense attorney] has no control over
             at that point in time.
                    Knowing all this, knowing that you have the right,
             as I told this jury repeatedly and will again at the end, to
             sit there and say and do absolutely nothing, is it your
             desire to take the stand or your desire to remain in silence
             and leave the State to its burden of proof? Which do you
             want to do?

             “THE DEFENDANT: I don’t know what I want to do.

             “THE COURT: Do you want to testify or do you not
             want to testify?

             “THE DEFENDANT: I want to start off as firing my
             lawyer. I don’t believe this is being processed as a fair
             trial on my behalf.

             “THE COURT: Okay, you’re certainly allowed to
             discharge [the defense attorney], but you will continue
             representing yourself at this point. We don’t -- it’s not

                                        - 10 -
like you get to fire him and we start all over again from
the beginning, okay? We’re going to finish this trial one
way or the other.

“THE DEFENDANT: All right.

“THE COURT: You can do it with the assistance of [the
defense attorney], who I can tell you is a more than
capable attorney, someone who has -- when I practiced,
I’ve had cases against him, and I found him to be one of
the better ones out there. But, you’re entitled to your
opinion, and I don’t know what your relationship is like
with him. All I am telling you is that you can certainly
discharge him, but you’re going to finish the trial by
yourself.
      So, what’s it that you want to do, sir?

“THE DEFENDANT: I don’t know.

“THE COURT: I need an answer from you. Let’s start
first with [the defense attorney]. Are you asking that he
be released from representing you as counsel?
       That’s a yes or no.

“THE DEFENDANT: Yes.

“THE COURT: Okay, so then you’re prepared to
continue this trial representing yourself?

“THE DEFENDANT: I believe so. You’re saying that’s
my only choice.

“THE COURT: Well, the trial is --

“THE DEFENDANT: That’s my only choice. You’re
not giving me no other choice.

“THE COURT: Okay, Mr. Delossantos, that’s the second
time I told you not to interrupt me when I’m talking. The
third time, I assure you, will be the last.

                         - 11 -
       You absolutely can represent yourself. I’m not
telling you that you can’t. But, what I am telling you is
we’ve started this trial, we have selected a jury, the State
has completed the presentation of its case. We don’t
now, at this point, fire counsel and start all over again. Is
that what you were hoping was going to happen?

“THE DEFENDANT: No, that was never.

“THE COURT: Okay, so what was it that you were
thinking when you said you wanted to fire [the defense
attorney]? What did you think was going to happen if I
said yes?

“THE DEFENDANT: I don’t know. I didn’t know if we
were going to start all over. I didn’t know. I just feel
he’s not helping me as much as I need him.

“THE COURT: Well, sometimes when counsel gives you
advice, just because you don’t like it doesn’t mean it’s
not good advice, okay? So, as you just said, you were
hoping you would get to start over. I’m telling you the
law doesn’t allow for that, okay? The jury has been
sworn, we’ve started these proceedings, we’re more than
halfway done. So, you can either continue and finish this
case representing yourself or [the defense attorney] will
continue to represent you. What’s it going to be?
Knowing full off that [the defense attorney] has a law
degree, has a number of years of experience in the Public
Defender’s Office, has represented murderers that I know
he’s gotten acquitted, so he’s certainly capable and
competent. But, if you think you know better, that’s your
choice.

“THE DEFENDANT: I don’t know. I don’t know.

“THE COURT: Okay, I need an answer from you, sir.

“***

                           - 12 -
            “THE COURT: I’ve got a jury waiting, they’re going to
            come down, so I need a decision from you.

            “THE DEFENDANT: I just told you, I don’t feel like this
            has been a fair trial. You’re trying to make me --

            “THE COURT: You’re entitled to your opinion, sir.

            “THE DEFENDANT: Yes.

            “THE COURT: I need an answer from you. Do you
            want to proceed with [the defense attorney] or do you
            want to represent yourself for the remainder of the trial?
            There’s two options. Tell me which one you are taking.

            “THE DEFENDANT: I will proceed with [the defense
            attorney].

            “THE COURT: Fantastic.
                   Number two, you have a right to testify in this
            matter. You absolutely do. You can present evidence on
            your own behalf and let the jury hear from you. You also
            have the right to remain silent. You have the right to sit
            there, say and do nothing, and leave the State up to their
            burden of proof. I know that you’ve had conversations
            with [the defense attorney] about it. He said, as a matter
            of fact, he’s had a few discussions during the day. I need
            an answer from you right now whether or not you want to
            testify or whether you want to remain silent. Which is it?

            “THE DEFENDANT: I want to testify.”

                         5. The Testimony of Defendant

      The defendant then testified that, upon arriving home from work on October

5, 2016, having been driven there by a friend, he was not able to enter the house

because he did not have his keys. He further testified that he left the house and

                                      - 13 -
“came back hours later” and saw that Veronica’s car was there. He stated that he

started to bang and kick on the door “to get in the house” and that, after fifteen to

twenty minutes, Veronica opened the door. The defendant testified that he and

Veronica started to argue and that she told him to leave the house. He stated that

he packed a bag and started to leave the house, at which point Veronica and

Sabrina tried to grab him to prevent him from leaving. The defendant also denied

taking Veronica’s car without permission; putting his hands on anyone; kicking

anyone; or using a knife to puncture a tire. At the close of defendant’s direct

testimony, the court adjourned for the day.

                                         C

                             The Third Day of Trial

      November 14, 2019 was the third and final day of trial. As proceedings

began on that day, defendant advised the trial justice that he now wished to

discharge his attorney and represent himself. The trial justice advised defendant

against representing himself, explaining that there are certain rules of evidence and

procedures that must be followed in the courtroom. She asked defendant if he had

attended law school or if he had ever practiced law. When defendant replied that

he had neither attended law school nor practiced law, the trial justice again pointed

out that defendant’s attorney had attended law school and had practiced law. The

trial justice again cautioned defendant against representing himself; and she

                                       - 14 -
specifically advised him that, if he did, he would be held to the same standards as

an attorney.

      Next, the trial justice further explained to defendant that, if he did elect to

represent himself, he would still be subject to cross-examination and would be

responsible for apprising the court of any additional evidence that he might wish to

present. She then asked him whether he felt he was in a better position than his

attorney to give a closing argument. The defendant answered in the affirmative.

The trial justice then explained to defendant: “I’m concerned, too, about the

appearance that might make to the jury. [The defense attorney] has been with you

throughout, and to use the metaphor, to change horses midstream may not be in

your best interest.” The trial justice again repeated her concerns about defendant

representing himself and provided him fifteen minutes to meet with his attorney to

see if defendant could “iron out whatever perceived differences” he had with his

attorney.

      After meeting with his attorney, defendant informed the court that he still

wished to represent himself. The trial justice stressed the “inherent disadvantage to

someone making this decision,” and she emphasized her responsibility for ensuring

that defendant was making the decision to represent himself voluntarily,

knowingly, and intelligently. In response to the trial justice’s questions, defendant

stated that: (1) he had a tenth-grade education; (2) he could read and write the

                                       - 15 -
English language; and (3) he had no “physical ailments or mental health ailments

that might affect [his] ability to participate” in the trial.

       In response to a question posed by the trial justice regarding his previous

involvement with the criminal justice system, defendant said that he had been in

attendance at a trial in Massachusetts and that he also had some knowledge of the

trial process through watching television.           The trial justice emphasized to

defendant that his trial was unlike the trials on television because “[t]he stakes are

real, and they’re real for you.” She asked the defendant whether he understood

this, and he answered in the affirmative.

       The trial justice then asked defendant to tell her what he understood would

happen for the rest of the trial, specifically inquiring as to what defendant

understood his obligations would be. The defendant stated that he was going to

have to “[f]ight for [his] life and prove [himself] not guilty.” When the trial justice

asked defendant how he planned to do that, he replied: “With evidence.” The trial

justice then explained:

              “[W]hat I’m getting at right now is that you want to
              represent yourself at the very end of these proceedings,
              and I’m concerned about your ability to do so and the
              fact that [you’re] making this waiver, as I said,
              intelligently and knowingly. And, I am just trying to
              point out to you that whatever you may think about [the
              defense attorney] personally, he does have the training
              and experience. He knows what the rules of evidence
              are. He knows how to make a closing argument. He
              prepared his last night. We went over the jury

                                           - 16 -
             instructions. All these things, as I said, he has the
             training and experience to do, and I’m concerned that
             you don’t have that.”

The defendant replied: “I don’t.” The trial justice then sought confirmation from

defendant that, even knowing of his attorney’s training and experience and his own

lack of same, he nevertheless still wished to represent himself. The defendant once

again expressed his desire to represent himself.

      The trial justice then informed defendant that she would like his attorney “to

stay as, what we call, standby counsel so [defendant] could consult him if [he had]

any questions.” When asked if that is something to which he would be agreeable,

defendant replied in the negative. The trial justice explained to defendant that the

attorney “would be available if [defendant] had a question about law or procedure

or rules of evidence.” The trial justice continued:

             “I can’t force you to have him sit with you. I would
             advise you if you’re going to undertake this
             representation, which, once again, I think is a bad
             decision, I’ll be very candid with you. I think you’re
             making a mistake. But, you have the right to do that. I
             just need to make sure that you’re doing this voluntarily
             and that you know what the consequences are of
             representing yourself. So, if you are going to do that, and
             you acknowledge that [the defense attorney] has certain
             knowledge and experience that you don’t have, what
             reason do you have for him not sitting there with you to
             assist you if you need it?”

The defendant answered: “Just the lack of approach.”

                                        - 17 -
      The trial justice then asked defendant whether anyone had forced him to

make the decision about representing himself. He replied: “No, I just see it as my

life on the line. * * * I am fighting for my life.” The trial justice continued:

             “I can disagree with your decision, but it’s your decision
             to make. I just need to make sure that you have done it
             after thinking about all of the ramifications, the
             consequences, really the pitfalls of trying to represent
             yourself. You’ve indicated to me you have thought about
             it and that this is your desire?”

The defendant confirmed that he had thought about his decision, “from last night to

today.”

      The trial justice then sought to further clarify what defendant’s

responsibilities would be. She said to him:

             “[Y]ou will be responsible for doing your closing
             statement. You will be responsible -- you’re going to be
             asked questions on cross-examination, and you will be
             responsible for making any objections, any motions that
             need to be made, but I need to know whether or not you
             want [the defense attorney] to stay with you and assist
             you in that endeavor?”

The defendant ultimately changed his mind and agreed to have his attorney remain

as standby counsel.

      The trial justice permitted defendant to proceed pro se, and the trial

continued with defendant (who had already testified on his own behalf) being

cross-examined by the prosecutor. After the cross-examination was completed, the

trial justice explained to the jury that defendant was now representing himself.

                                         - 18 -
During the remainder of the trial, the trial justice reminded defendant several times

that standby counsel was there to assist him, and she encouraged him to take

advantage of his standby counsel’s assistance.

      Prior to the presentation of closing arguments, the trial justice granted

defendant approximately an hour to confer with his standby counsel. The trial

justice also told defendant that she would entertain a request for standby counsel to

present the closing argument if defendant so desired. The defendant declined, and

he proceeded to present his own closing argument. Thereafter, the trial justice

requested that defendant’s standby counsel assist him in reviewing the exhibits.

      After closing arguments and the jury instructions, jury deliberations

commenced. At the conclusion of the deliberations, which lasted for one hour and

twenty minutes, the jury found defendant not guilty on Count One (assault with a

dangerous weapon) and guilty on the remaining counts. On November 22, 2019,

defendant filed a motion for a new trial; that motion was denied on January 3,

2020.4 On February 21, 2020, defendant was sentenced.5 He thereafter filed a

timely notice of appeal to this Court.6

4
      The defendant was represented by counsel with respect to the motion for a
new trial and at the sentencing hearing.
5
       The defendant was sentenced as follows: on Count Two five years, with
three years to serve, with probation; on Count Three six years, with three years to
serve, with probation; on Count Four one year to serve; on Count Five one year to

                                          - 19 -
                                          II

                                  Issues on Appeal

      On appeal, defendant contends that the waiver of his right to the assistance

of counsel was not valid because it was not timely and because it was not made

voluntarily, knowingly, and intelligently. The defendant also contends that the

trial justice erred when she denied his motion for a new trial.

                                         III

                               Standards of Review

                                          A

             The Standard as to the Waiver of the Right to Counsel

      We have stated that “‘[w]ith respect to a trial justice’s determination as to

whether or not a criminal defendant’s waiver of his or her Sixth Amendment right

to counsel is knowing, voluntary, and intelligent,’ this Court reviews this

constitutional inquiry de novo.” State v. Cruz, 109 A.3d 381, 389 (R.I. 2015)

(quoting State v. Sampson, 24 A.3d 1131, 1139 (R.I. 2011)); see also State v.

Brumfield, 900 A.2d 1151, 1153 (R.I. 2006); State v. Laurence, 848 A.2d 238, 253

serve; and on Count Six one year to serve.           The sentences were all to run
concurrently.
6
      The defendant filed a notice of appeal on February 25, 2020, prior to the
January 28, 2021 entry of the judgment of conviction. This premature notice of
appeal is considered to be timely. See State v. Franco, 225 A.3d 623, 628 n.5 (R.I.
2020).

                                        - 20 -
(R.I. 2004). However, “[e]ven when the de novo standard is applied to issues of

constitutional dimension, we still accord a hearing justice’s findings of historical

fact, and inferences drawn from those facts, great deference in conducting our

review.” Thornton v. State, 948 A.2d 312, 316 (R.I. 2008); see also State v. Eddy,

68 A.3d 1089, 1098 (R.I. 2013); Cruz, 109 A.3d at 389; Laurence, 848 A.2d at

253.

                                          B

              The Standard Relevant to the Motion for a New Trial

       In reviewing defendant’s contention based on the “interest of justice”

provision in Rule 33 of the Superior Court Rules of Criminal Procedure, we review

the trial justice’s ruling on the constitutional issue in a de novo manner. See Price

v. Wall, 31 A.3d 995, 999 (R.I. 2011) (“This Court will * * * review a ruling

concerning a defendant’s constitutional rights de novo.”).

       In reviewing the trial court’s decision concerning a new trial motion as to the

weight of the evidence, this Court affords “great weight to a trial justice’s ruling on

a motion for a new trial if he or she has articulated sufficient reasoning in support

of the ruling.” State v. Espinal, 943 A.2d 1052, 1058 (R.I. 2008); see also State v.

Muralles, 154 A.3d 925, 932 (R.I. 2017); State v. Robat, 49 A.3d 58, 71 (R.I.

2012). As such, “this Court will not disturb a trial justice’s decision on a motion

for a new trial unless ‘the trial justice committed clear error or * * * he or she

                                        - 21 -
overlooked or misconceived material and relevant evidence [relating] to a critical

issue in the case.’” Muralles, 154 A.3d at 932 (quoting State v. DiCarlo, 987 A.2d

867, 871 (R.I. 2010)).

                                         IV

                                      Analysis

                                          A

              The Waiver of the Right to the Assistance of Counsel

      We have stated that “[t]he Sixth Amendment to the United States

Constitution and article 1, section 10, of the Rhode Island Constitution provide that

in all criminal prosecutions, the accused enjoys the right to the assistance of

counsel.” Laurence, 848 A.2d at 252. It should be further noted, however, that

“[t]he Sixth Amendment also allows a defendant in a criminal trial to represent

himself, provided that his waiver of counsel is valid.” Id.; see also Faretta v.

California, 422 U.S. 806, 819 (1975) (“The Sixth Amendment does not provide

merely that a defense shall be made for the accused; it grants to the accused

personally the right to make his defense.”); State v. Chabot, 682 A.2d 1377,

1379-80 (R.I. 1996).

      We have stated that “a defendant may proceed pro se if he or she wishes

only so long as the waiver of his or her right to counsel is valid.” State v. Withers,

172 A.3d 765, 771 (R.I. 2017); see also State v. Segrain, 252 A.3d 1255, 1273-74

                                        - 22 -
(R.I. 2021). We have also stated that, “[i]n order for a waiver to be valid, a

defendant must waive his or her right to counsel voluntarily, knowingly, and

intelligently.” Cruz, 109 A.3d at 390. In other words, a waiver is valid only when

the defendant “knows what he or she is doing and his or her choice is made with

eyes open.” Chabot, 682 A.2d at 1380 (brackets and emphasis omitted) (quoting

Faretta, 422 U.S. at 835). When determining whether such a waiver was valid,

“this Court employs a two-prong analysis * * *.” Cruz, 109 A.3d at 390. First, the

Court must “determine whether the waiver was voluntary * * *.” Id. (internal

quotation marks omitted). Next, the Court “must determine whether the waiver

was knowing and intelligent.” Id. (internal quotation marks omitted).              In

conducting the “constitutional inquiry” as to whether a waiver was valid, “this

Court examines the totality of the circumstances.” Id.

                     1. The Timeliness of Defendant’s Waiver

      The defendant asserts on appeal that his waiver of his right to the assistance

of counsel was invalid because his request to proceed pro se was not timely made.

The defendant relies heavily on the case of United States v. Betancourt-Arretuche,

933 F.2d 89 (1st Cir.), cert. denied, 502 U.S. 959 (1991), in support of his

argument that a request to proceed pro se is timely only when such a request is

made prior to the jury being empaneled and sworn. However, this Court has never

opted to follow the First Circuit’s rather bright-line approach in that regard and has

                                        - 23 -
not adopted a strict temporal requirement as to when the waiver of the right to the

assistance of counsel must be asserted in order for it to be valid. This Court has

specifically endorsed an approach whereby we conduct a fact-specific

“examination of the totality of the circumstances, in light of the particular stage of

the proceedings at the time the waiver is proposed * * *.” State v. Spencer, 783

A.2d 413, 417 (R.I. 2001); see also Cruz, 109 A.3d at 390; Laurence, 848 A.2d at

253.

       It is our opinion, after carefully scrutinizing the trial transcript and especially

the extensive colloquies between the trial justice and defendant, that defendant’s

decision in the midst of the trial to discharge his attorney (a decision that he made

after having been unequivocally advised by the trial justice that such a decision

would be unwise) was not rendered invalid because it was made at a relatively

advanced stage of the proceedings.7 The defendant had been made aware of the

trial justice’s advice to the contrary, and yet he opted to represent himself (albeit

with standby counsel being present). Having reviewed the record in its entirety,

we perceive no error in the trial justice’s decision allowing defendant to discharge

his attorney when and as she did.

7
       It should be recalled that the trial justice specifically informed defendant
that, if he decided to discharge his attorney, that would not result in the trial
starting all over again.

                                          - 24 -
               2. Voluntary, Knowing, and Intelligent Waiver

              i. The requirement that the waiver be voluntary

      The defendant further contends that his waiver of counsel was not

voluntarily, knowingly, and intelligently made because the trial justice did not

“identify the specific disadvantages” that he would face by waiving his right to

counsel. It is the state’s position that “[t]he record supports the Superior Court’s

conclusion that [defendant] knowingly, voluntarily, and intelligently waived his

right to counsel * * *.”

      Even though defendant’s appellate argument focuses primarily on the

“knowingly” and “intelligently” requirements, we shall nonetheless first briefly

address the issue of whether defendant’s waiver was made voluntarily. See Cruz,

109 A.3d at 390. This Court has recognized that “a defendant may demonstrate a

voluntary waiver of the constitutional right to counsel by his or her actions.” State

v. Souto, 210 A.3d 409, 418 (R.I. 2019); see generally State v. Thornton, 800 A.2d

1016 (R.I. 2002).

      In the instant case, the record indicates that, on the second day of trial,

defendant first requested and then ultimately declined to dismiss his attorney.

However, on the third and final day, after acknowledging the trial justice’s

numerous warnings, defendant nonetheless elected to dismiss his attorney. He

unequivocally stated: “[I]t’s my right to [waive counsel].”            Furthermore,

                                       - 25 -
immediately prior to granting defendant’s request to proceed pro se, the trial

justice asked defendant in plain English: “Has anybody forced you into making

this decision?” To that question, defendant replied: “No.”

      For these reasons, and taking into account the colloquies that we have

extensively quoted, we are more than satisfied that defendant’s waiver was made

voluntarily.

       ii. The requirement that the waiver be knowing and intelligent

      A waiver is valid only if a defendant “knows what he is doing and his choice

is made with eyes open.” Faretta, 422 U.S. at 835 (quoting Adams v. United States

ex rel. McCann, 317 U.S. 269, 279 (1942)); see also Cruz, 109 A.3d at 390.

Accordingly, a criminal defendant “should be made aware of the dangers and

disadvantages of self-representation.” Faretta, 422 U.S. at 835.

      This Court in State v. Chabot, 682 A.2d 1377 (R.I. 1996), pointed to six

factors that a trial justice may use as a guide in determining whether a particular

defendant’s request for self-representation was made voluntarily, knowingly, and

intelligently. The following are the factors referred to in Chabot:

               “(1) the background, the experience, and the conduct of
               the defendant at the hearing, including his age, his
               education, and his physical and mental health; (2) the
               extent to which the defendant has had prior contact with
               lawyers before the hearing; (3) the defendant’s
               knowledge of the nature of the proceeding and the
               sentence that may potentially be []imposed; (4) the
               question of whether standby counsel has been appointed

                                        - 26 -
             and the extent to which he or she has aided the defendant
             before or at the hearing; (5) the question of whether the
             waiver of counsel was the result of mistreatment or
             coercion; and (6) the question of whether the defendant is
             trying to manipulate the events of the hearing.” Chabot,
             682 A.2d at 1380; see also Segrain, 252 A.3d at 1274
             n.23.

      Although the Court requires the consideration of the Chabot factors only in

cases in which there is a concern about a defendant’s competence,8 it is still the

better practice for those factors to be considered in other cases involving the

waiver of counsel. See Cruz, 109 A.3d at 391 (“[W]e recommend, but do not

require, the consideration of the Chabot factors under a trial justice’s analysis of

the totality of circumstances even in cases in which a defendant is considered

competent.”); see also State v. Briggs, 787 A.2d 479, 486 (R.I. 2001) (“While not

mandatory, the factors set forth in Chabot may be used as a guide in determining a

valid waiver of counsel.”). In the instant case, while the trial justice was not

required to utilize the Chabot factors in her assessment of the totality of the

circumstances, the record reflects the conscientious and laudably patient manner in

which she took virtually all of those factors into account. As a result of the trial

justice’s several colloquies with defendant, the well-developed record makes the

following points clear.

8
      No issue has been raised as to the instant defendant’s competence.

                                       - 27 -
      At the time of the trial, defendant had a tenth-grade education, could read

and write the English language, and had no past or present mental health ailments.

As for defendant’s previous experience with lawyers, he was represented by his

attorney throughout the first two days of trial and had previously attended a trial in

Massachusetts. The defendant had been made aware of both the nature of the

proceedings and the potential penalties that could be imposed. Additionally, there

is no indication (and defendant does not so argue) that his waiver was the result of

mistreatment or coercion.     The defendant also had the benefit of having his

previous attorney remain as standby counsel. In addition, the trial justice granted

defendant an hour to meet with his standby counsel to prepare the closing

argument that defendant would deliver; and, even though defendant at that point

was representing himself, immediately prior to the time for closing argument, the

trial justice stated that she would “at least entertain” a request that standby counsel

“do the closing argument.”9 Standby counsel also assisted defendant in reviewing

9
      Immediately prior to the presentation of closing arguments, the trial justice
spoke as follows to defendant:

             “Okay, so before we bring the jury down * * * I just
             wanted to check in with you. [Standby counsel] had
             come before the lunch break and said -- or, I should say,
             he asked me that if you were to have a change of heart
             and you wanted him to do the closing argument, would I
             allow it? My original inclination was no because you
             have already made your decision. But, upon further
             consideration, I just indicated to [standby counsel] that if

                                        - 28 -
the exhibits. Although we have no way of knowing defendant’s private thoughts,

there is no indication in the record to the effect that defendant’s request to waive

his right to counsel was an attempt to manipulate the proceedings. See Chabot, 682

A.2d at 1380. On the second day of trial, following defendant’s initial request to

represent himself, the trial justice made sure that defendant understood that the trial

would proceed irrespective of whether he chose to proceed pro se or be represented

by counsel. In spite of having been made aware of this, defendant still elected to

represent himself the next day.

      Significantly, the trial justice on several occasions also “made [defendant]

aware of the dangers and disadvantages of self-representation * * *.” Chabot, 682

A.2d at 1380 (quoting Faretta, 422 U.S. at 835). The record reflects laudably

candid warnings by the trial justice concerning the dangers that self-represented

defendants often encounter and also about the possibility that the jury might draw a

negative inference from the fact that, in the midst of the trial, defendant’s attorney

was no longer actively representing him.10               The defendant repeatedly

             that was something you wanted, I would at least entertain
             the request. But, I don’t know where your head is at. So,
             are you planning to do this closing yourself or would you
             like [standby counsel] to do it?”

The defendant declined, explaining that he was “planning on closing [him]self.”
10
       With respect to defendant’s desire to represent himself late in the course of
the trial, the trial justice went out of her way to advise him about how the jury

                                        - 29 -
acknowledged the trial justice’s warnings and nonetheless elected to waive

counsel. Accordingly, we are satisfied that defendant made his waiver “with eyes

open.” Faretta, 422 U.S. at 835 (quoting Adams, 317 U.S. at 279).

      For these reasons, after careful and thoughtful de novo consideration of the

totality of the circumstances at the time of defendant’s waiver, we are satisfied that

the record establishes defendant’s voluntary, knowing, and intelligent waiver of his

right to the assistance of counsel. As such, we conclude that defendant’s waiver of

that right was valid.11

                                          B

                              Motion for a New Trial

      The defendant also asserts on appeal that the trial justice improperly denied

his motion for a new trial. He specifically argues that “[t]he interest of justice

requires that [defendant] be given a new trial because the trial justice erroneously

might react to such a decision.       For example, she addressed the following
observation to him:

             “Mr. Delossantos, I’m concerned, too, about the
             appearance that might make to the jury. [The defense
             attorney] has been with you throughout, and to use the
             metaphor, to change horses midstream may not be in
             your best interest.”
11
      The trial justice is to be commended for having engaged in numerous
exceedingly careful and articulate colloquies with defendant concerning “the
consequences of waiving the right to counsel and proceeding pro se.” State v.
Laurence, 848 A.2d 238, 254 (R.I. 2004).

                                        - 30 -
permitted him to proceed pro se mid-trial, and did not make him aware of the

perils of doing so.”12 Earlier in this opinion (see Part IV, section A supra), we

have discussed at considerable length the following issues: (1) the timeliness of

defendant’s waiver of the right to the assistance of counsel; (2) the requirement

that the waiver of counsel be voluntary; and (3) the requirement that the waiver be

knowing and intelligent.     At the end of that discussion, we concluded that

defendant’s waiver of his right to the assistance of counsel was valid. After a

careful review of what we have written in Part IV, section A of this opinion, it

continues to be our belief that our analysis and conclusions are fully consistent

with the interest of justice; and we therefore conclude that the trial justice did not

err in denying defendant’s “interest of justice” motion for a new trial. See State v.

L’Heureux, 787 A.2d 1202, 1209-10 (R.I. 2002).

      We are likewise satisfied that the trial justice correctly undertook the

required analysis in addressing the defendant’s weight of the evidence challenge

pursuant to Rule 33 of the Superior Court Rules of Criminal Procedure. See State

v. Morales, 895 A.2d 114, 121 (R.I. 2006). In carrying out that responsibility, the

trial justice found Veronica Flores to be “absolutely credible” and “very strong and

intelligent.” She also found Sabrina Flores and Robert Lescault to be credible. As

12
        Rule 33 of the Superior Court Rules of Criminal Procedure provides in
pertinent part as follows: “On motion of the defendant the court may grant a new
trial to the defendant if required in the interest of justice.”

                                        - 31 -
for the defendant’s credibility, the trial justice summarized her assessment as

follows:

             “[Y]ou got up on that stand and lied, the jury thought you
             lied, and I certainly thought you did too. Your story
             didn’t make sense. It was inconsistent with the facts, the
             physical evidence, as well as that of any eye witnesses
             * * *.”

The trial justice also stated that she “absolutely agree[d] with the jury’s verdict up

to and including the acquittal on Count 1.” Nothing in the record leads us to

conclude that the trial justice was either clearly wrong or that she overlooked or

misconceived material and relevant evidence in her denial of the defendant’s

“weight of the evidence” motion for a new trial. See Muralles, 154 A.3d at 932.

                                          V

                                    Conclusion

      For the reasons set forth in this opinion, we affirm the judgment of the

Superior Court. The record may be returned to that tribunal.

                                        - 32 -
                                             STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
                                         SUPREME COURT – CLERK’S OFFICE
                                               Licht Judicial Complex
                                                 250 Benefit Street
                                               Providence, RI 02903

                                     OPINION COVER SHEET

Title of Case                            State v. Edward Delossantos.

                                         No. 2020-192-C.A.
Case Number
                                         (P2/17-1272ADV)

Date Opinion Filed                       March 13, 2023

                                         Suttell, C.J., Goldberg, Robinson, Lynch Prata, and
Justices
                                         Long, JJ.

Written By                               Associate Justice William P. Robinson III

Source of Appeal                         Providence County Superior Court

Judicial Officer from Lower Court        Associate Justice Maureen B. Keough

                                         For State:

                                         Virginia M. McGinn
                                         Attorney General Department
Attorney(s) on Appeal
                                         For Defendant:

                                         Megan F. Jackson
                                         Office of the Public Defender

SU-CMS-02A (revised November 2022)