Court Opinion

ID: 9642311
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 17:54:29.727859+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:10:45.773451
License: Public Domain

DENIAL OF STATE’S MOTION FOR LEAVE TO FILE MOTION FOR REHEARING
McCORMICK, Judge.
On original submission, a panel of this Court held that appellant was denied his constitutional right to a speedy trial. The panel concluded that, because of the lapse of time, appellant was prejudiced “in that at least one possible witness, a co-defendant, died during the delay before appellant was even aware that his testimony might be crucial to his defense.”
In arriving at this result, the panel has speculated as to possible harm when the record fails to show that there was a viable defense which the dead witness would have supported. Nor does the record support a reasonable conclusion that the witness’ testimony could have helped appellant prevail on that unknown defensive theory. A careful examination of the evidence does not support the conclusion that the absence of *404the deceased co-defendant’s testimony in any way prejudiced the appellant.
In reviewing the evidence, it must be kept in mind that appellant has never, either prior to, during, or after trial, asserted a defensive theory other than that he did not commit the offense.
In reviewing the speedy trial claim, the panel majority attempted to apply the balancing process of Barker v. Wingo, 407 U.S. 514, 92 S.Ct. 2182, 33 L.Ed.2d 101 (1972). The four factors to be weighed in determining whether a defendant has been denied his speedy trial right are:
(1) length of delay;
(2) the reason for the delay;
(3) the defendant’s assertion of his right; and
(4) prejudice to the defendant.
The Supreme Court regards none of the four factors as either a necessary or sufficient condition to the finding of a deprivation of speedy trial. Rather, the factors are to be considered together, and each case is to be judged on an ad hoc basis. Barker v. Wingo, 407 U.S. at 530, 533, 92 S.Ct. at 2192-2193. See also United States v. Eight Thousand Eight Hundred and Fifty Dollars, — U.S. —, 103 S.Ct. 2005, 76 L.Ed.2d 143 (1983).
The crucial factor is the fourth one. Barker designated three types of possible prejudice: (1) oppressive pre-trial incarceration; (2) anxiety and concern of the accused; and (3) a possibility that the defense will be impaired.
The first two forms of harm are not material factors in this cause. The appellant was already incarcerated in the federal penitentiary for a different offense, and he was simultaneously receiving credit for State prison incarceration on other convictions unrelated to the case at bar. As the panel majority noted, it is possible that the appellant might have benefited from overlap of the prior incarceration with the punishment in the present cause. On the other hand, the fact that the appellant had already been in prison for months may have affected the term of years assessed in the appellant’s favor. The trial court did find the enhancement paragraph true. Thus, the range of punishment applicable under V.T.C.A., Penal Code, Section 12.42(b), ranged up to life imprisonment, and the appellant’s ten year term must be considered light.
The panel majority also recognizes that the appellant could not have had concern and anxiety over the original indictment since he did not know that such an indictment existed. If the appellant had any anxiety over this crime during this time, it was strictly due to a guilty conscience.
The decisive question is whether the delay impaired the appellant’s defense. The alleged prejudice in this cause arose from the unavailability at trial of a co-defendant, Larry Modest, who died during the period of delay. The panel majority stresses that the appellant need not show actual prejudice as a result of Modest’s absence, but that only “some showing” of harm is necessary. However, “some showing” is not satisfied by mere conjecture of possible defenses. Archie v. State, 511 S.W.2d 942, 944 (Tex.Cr.App.1974), cited by the panel majority, held that “a rather weak claim” was not sufficient, and further required that the defendant at least make a “specific contention of prejudice.” The appellant was at least obliged to (1) present a specific defensive theory which Modest’s testimony might support, and (2) show that there was a reasonable likelihood that Modest’s testimony could have helped the appellant prevail on that defensive theory.
The appellant testified at the motion hearing that Modest would have been able to testify that the appellant was not present at the time the offense occurred. On cross-examination the appellant hedged slightly: “I didn’t say I know he would have. I say he could have.” However, the appellant never shifted his position that Modest’s testimony would have gone to the defensive theory that the appellant was not present at the offense. There are several reasons why the appellant’s speculation about Modest’s testimony does not even constitute a prima facie showing of harm.
*405First, the appellant denied that he was ever with Modest on May 25, the date of the offense. Yet the appellant maintains that Modest could testify that the appellant was not present at the rape. Since, by the appellant’s own admission, Modest would not be testifying as a regular alibi witness, i.e. stating that he was with the appellant at some other place, the appellant obviously is contending that Modest would acknowledge his own participation in the gang rape but deny the appellant’s participation. That thesis is wholly implausible.
Obviously, Modest would have invoked his privilege against self-incrimination. If it did not happen on direct testimony, it certainly would have happened on cross-examination of Modest by the State. That being the case, it is likely that the trial court would have anticipated the appearance of the Fifth Amendment question during cross-examination and precluded Modest’s direct testimony. See Mendoza v. State, 552 S.W.2d 444, 450 (Tex.Cr.App.1977). The panel majority does not even mention the Fifth Amendment impediment to Modest’s supposed testimony.
Second, even if Modest were to testify that the appellant was not present at the rape, such testimony would have to overcome testimony to the contrary by the complainant and by Jimmy Nalley, Jr., who was present during the offense. The testimony by both the complainant and Nalley made it clear that the appellant was not merely a participant, but indeed was the instigator. It was the appellant who first attacked the complainant, grabbing her hair with such force that he pulled her earring out, and then beat her head against the floor of the van. The appellant pinned the complainant down with his knees, then raped her. Modest and the other men in the van then took their turns — except Nalley, who abstained from the rape but did nothing to stop it.
The likelihood that Modest’s supposed testimony could prevail in a “swearing match” against the complainant and Nalley is minimal, in view of the strength of the identification testimony. Nalley stated that he had known the appellant for several months. The complainant did not know the appellant personally. However, she was in the back of the van with him for some twenty minutes before the rape began, and she got a good view of the appellant during this time. When detectives later showed the complainant a photo spread, she immediately recognized the appellant’s picture.
There is yet another factor which negates any reasonable possibility that Modest could have convinced the jury that the appellant was not present: The van belonged to the appellant.
The record before us does not support the conclusion that appellant was prejudiced by the delay. In applying the balancing factors of Barker v. Wingo, supra, speculation of possible harm should not be placed on the scales. The evidence presented does not tilt in favor of the appellant. The State’s motion for rehearing should be granted, and the judgment affirmed. Because the majority refuses to do so, I dissent.
W.C. DAVIS and CAMPBELL, JJ., join in this dissent.