Court Opinion

ID: 3211130
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-06-09 06:06:42.617315+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:03:32.118950
License: Public Domain

This opinion will be unpublished and
                        may not be cited except as provided by
                        Minn. Stat. § 480A.08, subd. 3 (2014).

                             STATE OF MINNESOTA
                             IN COURT OF APPEALS
                                   A15-0914

                                 State of Minnesota,
                                     Respondent,

                                         vs.

                                James William Kralik,
                                     Appellant.

                                Filed April 25, 2016
                          Affirmed in part and remanded
                                 Halbrooks, Judge

                             Scott County District Court
                              File No. 70-CR-14-4214

Lori Swanson, Attorney General, St. Paul, Minnesota; and

Ronald Hocevar, Scott County Attorney, Todd P. Zettler, Assistant County Attorney,
Shakopee, Minnesota (for respondent)

Cathryn Middlebrook, Chief Appellate Public Defender, Steven P. Russett, Assistant
Public Defender, St. Paul, Minnesota (for appellant)

      Considered and decided by Bjorkman, Presiding Judge; Halbrooks, Judge; and

Smith, John, Judge.


 Retired judge of the Minnesota Court of Appeals, serving by appointment pursuant to
Minn. Const. art. VI, § 10.
                         UNPUBLISHED OPINION

HALBROOKS, Judge

       Appellant challenges his convictions of first-degree aggravated robbery, first-

degree burglary, and second-degree assault, arguing that he was denied due process of

law when the district court declined to order a Minn. R. Crim. P. 20.01 competency

examination after he tested positive for methamphetamine and THC during the trial.

Because we conclude that, on this record, the district court did not err by declining to

order a rule 20.01 competency examination, we affirm the conviction. But because the

district court erroneously imposed a no-contact order as part of appellant’s executed

sentence, we remand to the district court to vacate the no-contact order.

                                         FACTS

       On March 11, 2014, police officers responded to a report of an alleged assault.

J.T.B. and his girlfriend were at home when a group of men barged in unannounced and

began beating J.T.B. and demanding money. Appellant James William Kralik was later

identified as one of the men who had participated in the attack on J.T.B. According to

Kralik’s roommate, Kralik and J.T.B. had combined their money in order to purchase

drugs. J.T.B. was entrusted with delivering approximately $1,100 to the supplier. J.T.B.

testified that the supplier left with the money but never returned with the drugs.

According to J.T.B., Kralik held him responsible for losing the money. In the course of

the attack, Kralik brandished a knife and used a tire iron to hit J.T.B. on his legs, chest,

and face. Both J.T.B. and his girlfriend identified Kralik from a photo line-up as one of

the men who participated in the attack. And Kralik was subsequently arrested.

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       Kralik was charged with first-degree aggravated robbery and first-degree burglary.

After he posted bail and was released pending trial, he failed to appear for court on two

separate instances—for an omnibus hearing and the first day of trial. When Kralik failed

to appear for trial, Kralik’s counsel contacted him, and Kralik advised his attorney that he

was ill and would provide a doctor’s note. The trial started the following day, which was

a Friday. The district court advised Kralik that it would limit trial on Friday to jury

selection in order to give him an opportunity to recuperate over the weekend. Before jury

selection started, the state amended the complaint to add a third count—second-degree

assault with a deadly weapon. The district court then confirmed with Kralik his decision

not to accept the state’s 39-month plea offer. Kralik reiterated that he was declining the

state’s offer and advised the district court that he did not need additional time to consult

with his attorney. Following completion of jury selection, the jury was dismissed for the

weekend.

       On Monday, the district court observed that Kralik fell asleep during the victim’s

cross-examination. On Tuesday, Kralik fell asleep again. In response, the prosecutor

asked the district court to order a urine test to detect whether Kralik was under the

influence of any controlled substances.      Kralik’s attorney did not raise competency

concerns but agreed that a drug test was a good idea for “possible appeal ramifications,”

noting that a positive drug test might be grounds for a mistrial if Kralik was incapable of

assisting counsel.

       Kralik tested positive for methamphetamine and THC. Upon learning the results,

the district court engaged Kralik in a lengthy discussion on the record in order to assess

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his capacity to continue but did not order a formal rule 20.01 competency evaluation.

The district court determined that Kralik seemed fully functional, and the trial continued.

Kralik waived his right to testify and asked the district court to instruct the jury on his

right to do so. Following deliberation, the jury found him guilty on all three counts.

       At sentencing, Kralik sought a durational departure, asking the district court to

sentence him to the state’s original offer of 39 months. Kralik claimed that he had been

incapacitated and unable to participate in the proceedings or to assist in his defense. The

district court denied Kralik’s motion, sentenced him to 93 months for first-degree

robbery, and ordered him to have no contact with J.T.B. This appeal follows.

                                     DECISION

                                             I.

       Kralik argues that he was denied due process of law when the district court failed

to order a competency exam after (1) the district court knew of his long-term drug

addiction, (2) he failed to appear on his scheduled trial date, (3) and he fell asleep twice

during his trial. “A defendant has a due process right not to be tried or convicted of a

criminal charge if he or she is legally incompetent.” Bonga v. State, 797 N.W.2d 712,

718 (Minn. 2011). The test for determining whether a defendant is competent to stand

trial is “whether he has sufficient present ability to consult with his lawyer with a

reasonable degree of rational understanding—and whether he has a rational as well as

factual understanding of the proceedings against him.” Dusky v. United States, 362 U.S.

402, 402, 80 S. Ct. 788, 789 (1960) (per curiam); see also Minn. R. Crim. P. 20.01, subd.

2 (“A defendant is incompetent and must not plead, be tried, or be sentenced if the

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defendant lacks ability to: (a) rationally consult with counsel; or (b) understand the

proceedings or participate in the defense due to mental illness or deficiency.”). “The

prosecutor, defense attorney, and the court share the duty to protect the right of a

defendant not to be tried or convicted while incompetent.” Bonga, 797 N.W.2d at 718

(citing Minn. R. Crim. P. 20.01, subd. 2).

       Kralik contends that the district court erred when it declined to order a rule 20.01

competency exam after his drug test confirmed that he had methamphetamine and THC

in his system. Thus, the proper inquiry is not just whether Kralik was competent; it is

whether the district court followed the correct procedure after a question of competency

arose. The question is “whether the [district] court, in fulfilling its protective duty,

should have conducted further inquiry.” Id. (quotation omitted). “A decision on the need

for further inquiry depends entirely on the surrounding circumstances. . . .” Id. at 720

(quotation omitted).

       If evidence concerning a defendant’s mental capacity is undisputed, “we review

the record to determine whether the district court gave proper weight to the information

suggesting incompetence when it came to its conclusion that there was not sufficient

doubt of the defendant’s competency so as to require further inquiry.” Id. (quotation

omitted). This court must determine whether “the inferences that were to be drawn from

the undisputed evidence and whether, in light of what was then known, the failure to

make further inquiry into [the defendant’s] competence to stand trial, denied him a fair

trial.” Drope v. Missouri, 420 U.S. 162, 174-75, 95 S. Ct. 896, 905 (1975).

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       Because the parties do not dispute the evidence relevant to Kralik’s competency—

his history as an addict, his failure to show up on the first day of his trial, and the fact that

he fell asleep during portions of the trial—this court determines whether the record

supports the district court’s conclusion that a rule 20.01 competency evaluation was

unnecessary following a positive result on the court-ordered drug test. Several facts in

the record support a conclusion that Kralik was able to rationally consult with counsel

and understand the proceedings.

       First, when the results of the urine test were disclosed, the district court stated:

              Each and every time that I’ve spoken to Mr. Kralik on Friday,
              again yesterday (Monday), he has appeared to me to be fully
              functional. He appears to me to be responsive. I asked him a
              number of questions yesterday in regard to his Fifth
              Amendment rights. He looked me in the eye when I spoke to
              him. He gave appropriate responses and answers.

The district court also engaged Kralik in a lengthy colloquy about the results:

              THE COURT: Earlier, before I had you tested for drugs or
              anything in your system, I made some observations of you.
              And you agreed with my observations. Do you remember
              that?

              THE DEFENDANT: Yes, sir.

              THE COURT: Okay. I know that on Friday we picked our
              jury. And I know that you participated in that because I
              watched you do it. Would you agree with that?

              THE DEFENDANT: Yes, sir.

              THE COURT: Okay. As you stand here today, do you believe
              that you are under the influence of any chemicals as you stand
              here today?

              THE DEFENDANT: That inhibits me in any way, no.

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             THE COURT: Okay. You know you’re standing trial?

             THE DEFENDANT: Yes, sir.

             THE COURT: You’ve watched, because I’ve watched you.
             You’ve watched the jury? Yes?

             THE DEFENDANT: Yes, sir.

             ....

             THE COURT: Do you feel like, as you stand here today, that
             you’ve been able to participate with your lawyer?

             THE DEFENDANT: Yes, I do.

             ....

             THE COURT: Okay. And so as you stand here today, do you
             believe that you’re clear headed and that you understand the
             proceedings?

             THE DEFENDANT: Yes, sir.

The district court noted that Kralik appeared to be fully functioning because he did not

have glassy eyes, appear to be agitated, or have involuntary movements.

      Second, with regard to Kralik’s Fifth Amendment rights, nothing in the record

indicates that he was unaware of his rights or was acting irrationally. When the district

court advised Kralik of possible implications of his decision not to testify, Kralik

responded, “I understand. I understand everything.” The district court appropriately and

thoroughly advised Kralik of his Fifth Amendment rights:

             THE COURT: All right. Mr. Kralik, . . . [y]ou have an
             absolute right to testify in this trial. If you choose to testify,
             nobody can keep you off the witness stand. I can’t. Mr.

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              Swanson can’t. Your family can’t. Nobody can keep you off
              the stand. Do you understand that?

              THE DEFENDANT: Yes, sir.

              THE COURT: Okay. You also have a Fifth Amendment
              right against self-incrimination. . . . Do you understand that?

              THE DEFENDANT: Yes, sir.

              THE COURT: Even if I said you need to testify, or your
              lawyer told you to testify, you don’t have to. And you’d
              never hear me tell you to testify.

              THE DEFENDANT: Yes, sir.

              THE COURT: You can discuss with Mr. Swanson what he
              thinks statistically is a good idea, but in the end, this is your
              case. This is your trial. This is your life. You get to decide.

       Third, Kralik maintains that the district court should have considered his failure to

appear on the first day of trial as an indication that he lacked the capacity to continue.

But the district court judge spoke on the phone with Kralik that day, and Kralik explained

that he was on the way to the doctor and would be providing a doctor’s note. Kralik did

provide a note. On Friday, when trial commenced, the district court advised Kralik that

they were going to limit the day to selecting a jury so that he could recuperate from any

illness over the weekend. The district court stated, “[W]e’re going to start opening

statements and testimony on Monday because I want you to feel well enough so that you

can assist [your attorney] in your defense; is that fair?” Kralik responded affirmatively.

During jury selection, the district court observed Kralik participating in his defense.

       Fourth, Kralik confirmed that he was rejecting the state’s plea offer of 39 months

and declined the district court’s offer to provide him with additional time to consult with

                                              8
his attorney. Kralik maintained his innocence throughout trial; as a result, the fact that he

rejected the plea agreement did not raise competency concerns.             At sentencing, the

district court referred to a seven-page letter that Kralik had written to the district court in

which he maintained his innocence. Kralik only argued incapacity when he moved the

district court for a downward durational departure consistent with the state’s original 39-

month offer after he was found guilty.

       Fifth, there are no competency concerns raised by Kralik’s decision not to testify.

The state filed a notice that it intended to impeach Kralik with his previous convictions.

Kralik’s decision not to testify was, if anything, consistent with his trial strategy.

       Kralik’s attorney did not raise competency concerns during trial, and the district

court thoroughly advised Kralik of his rights and took due precautions to ensure that

Kralik received a fair trial. Based on our review of the record, we conclude that the

district court did not err by determining that a rule 20.01 competency examination of

Kralik was not necessary.

                                              II.

       Kralik argues, and the state agrees, that the district court erred by imposing a no-

contact order as part of his executed sentence. Exclusive authority to define crimes and

the range of sentences for their violation rests with the legislature.             Minn. Stat.

§ 609.095(a) (2012). Minnesota courts “do not have inherent authority to impose terms

or conditions of sentences for criminal acts and must act within the limits of their

statutory authority when imposing sentences.” State v. Pugh, 753 N.W.2d 308, 311

(Minn. App. 2008), review denied (Minn. Sept. 23, 2008). “Consequently, a district court

                                               9
may not impose a no-contact order as part of an executed sentence unless the order is

expressly authorized by statute.” Id.

       Kralik received an executed sentence for first-degree aggravated robbery under

Minn. Stat. § 609.245, subd. 1 (2012), which provides that a person “may be sentenced to

imprisonment for not more than 20 years or to payment of a fine of not more than

$35,000, or both.” Because a no-contact order is not expressly authorized by the statute,

we direct the district court to vacate that order.

       Affirmed in part and remanded.

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