Black v. State

724 So. 2d 996, 1998 WL 881758
CourtCourt of Appeals of Mississippi
DecidedDecember 18, 1998
Docket97-KA-00714 COA
StatusPublished
Cited by7 cases

This text of 724 So. 2d 996 (Black v. State) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Mississippi primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Black v. State, 724 So. 2d 996, 1998 WL 881758 (Mich. Ct. App. 1998).

Opinion

724 So.2d 996 (1998)

Richard BLACK, Appellant,
v.
STATE of Mississippi, Appellee.

No. 97-KA-00714 COA

Court of Appeals of Mississippi.

December 18, 1998.

*997 David Lee Daniels, Tupelo, Attorney for Appellant.

Office of the Attorney General by Pat Flynn, Attorney for Appellee.

BEFORE THOMAS, P.J., DIAZ AND SOUTHWICK, JJ.

THOMAS, P.J., for the Court:

¶ 1. Richard Black appeals his conviction of burglary, count one; armed robbery, count two; and aggravated assault, count three. Black was sentenced as an habitual offender to the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections to serve a term of seven years on count one, twenty years on count two, and twenty years on count three, with all three sentences to run consecutively. Feeling aggrieved, Black appeals on the following issues of error:

I. THE TRIAL COURT COMMITTED REVERSIBLE ERROR IN DENYING DEFENDANT'S MOTION TO DISMISS FOR VIOLATION OF HIS RIGHT TO SPEEDY TRIAL
II. THE TRIAL COURT COMMITTED REVERSIBLE ERROR, IN REFUSING *998 DEFENDANT'S CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE INSTRUCTION
III. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN SENTENCING THE DEFENDANT PURSUANT TO MISSISSIPPI CODE ANNOTATED, § 99-19-81

Finding no error, we affirm.

FACTS

¶ 2. During the evening hours of January 20, 1995, the Marshall Durbin, Inc. processing plant in Tupelo, Mississippi was burglarized. While making his normal rounds, John Anderson, a security guard with Marshall Durbin, discovered an intruder in the business office. Anderson was searching for a light switch when he was struck in the face with some type of heavy rod or stick with such force as to render Anderson temporarily unconscious. As a result of the blow, considerable damage was inflicted to the bone structure of Anderson's face. Anderson regained consciousness sometime later and managed to make his way back outside where an employee aided him and called the police. He was treated in the emergency room for a long laceration to his face and hospitalized that night for observation. Anderson later underwent reconstructive surgery to repair both the ceiling and the floor of his orbid, the area surrounding the eye socket. Dr. Duong testified that in order to repair Anderson's orbid, bone was taken from Anderson's hip and transplanted to his damaged orbid.

¶ 3. At trial Anderson testified to the events of January 20, 1995. Anderson testified that he was on duty at the entrance gate to the Marshall Durbin plant checking in the night shift employees when a man approached the plant entrance at around 7:25 p.m. and identified himself as Richard Black. Anderson testified that Black looked familiar but that he did not know his name. Anderson questioned Black. Black produced a Marshall Durbin I.D. and stated that he had been transferred from the day shift to the night shift. After producing proper I.D., Black was allowed to enter the plant.

¶ 4. At around 7:30 p.m., Anderson began his security checks at the plant and noticed some suspicious activity in the business office. Anderson testified that the main door was unlocked and had signs of forced entry. He entered the office and spotted another open office door at the end of the hallway. Anderson testified he heard some noise down the hallway and called out, "Who's back there?" A man answered and said, "It's me Richard Black, I've caught a drunk that was breaking in the office." Anderson called out, "Where is he?" and Black answered, "I've got him back here." As Anderson was looking for a light switch, Black approached him. Anderson testified a light was shining from the hallway and that he could identify the man as Richard Black. Anderson further testified that as he turned back around, Black struck him in the face with some object and that he fell to the floor and lost consciousness. Anderson later discover that his wallet was missing and that approximately $60 was in the wallet.

¶ 5. Anderson testified that while he was in the hospital, he was asked to view a photo lineup and to try to identify his assailant. Anderson declined to make an identification at that time due to the swelling in his eyes. He further testified that a few weeks later he did view a photo lineup and that by that time the swelling had subsided and he was able to identify the person who had hit him on January 20, 1995. Anderson identified Richard Black from the lineup. Anderson also positively identified Richard Black at trial as the person who had assaulted him.

ANALYSIS

I.

THE TRIAL COURT COMMITTED REVERSIBLE ERROR IN DENYING DEFENDANT'S MOTION TO DISMISS FOR VIOLATION OF HIS RIGHT TO SPEEDY TRIAL

¶ 6. Black argues that his statutory right to a speedy trial was violated as protected under Miss.Code Ann. § 99-17-1 (Rev.1994). We must note from the outset that Black has advanced convoluted speedy trial arguments to this Court. In his brief, Black bases his argument on § 99-17-1. However, at trial *999 Black presented a motion to dismiss on United States constitutional grounds. In addition, we note that the orders setting trial are not included in the clerk's papers, and therefore, this Court is placed in the arduous position of reviewing an incomplete record. We have, however, constructed a case chronology from the dates stated in the briefs and from the record as submitted to this Court.

            Chronological Order of Events for Speedy Trial Analysis
                                                                            Delay Following
Date                     Event                                                 the Event
01/20/95     Commission of the crime.                                               0
02/03/95     Arrest.                                                               112
05/26/95     Filing of indictment.                                                 314[1]
04/04/96     Arraignment. Order appointing Roy Farrell as Black's
             counsel. Trial set for 08/07/96.                                      123
08/05/96     Motion for continuance by Farrell. Farrell had a death in
             the family and would have been unable to proceed at trial
             on 08/07/96. Case was continued until the next regular
             term of court. Although it is unclear from the record
             when the new trial date was set, all indications point to
             11/19/96.                                                               2
08/07/96     No trial occurred.                                                     76
10/22/96     Order substituting counsel entered because Farrell was
             leaving the office of the public defender. Wayne Housley
             was substituted as Black's new counsel.                                28
11/19/96     No trial occurred. Order entered continuing for cause
             until the next regular term of court.                                  97
02/24/97     Motion by Housley to withdraw due to a conflict of interest.
             The motion was granted and David Daniels was substituted
             for Housley. Again it is unclear from the record
             when trial was reset, however trial was set for 05/28/97.              93
05/28/97     Trial began. Motion to dismiss for speedy trial violation
             filed and denied. Black was convicted on all three counts
             and sentenced. 

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Bluebook (online)
724 So. 2d 996, 1998 WL 881758, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/black-v-state-missctapp-1998.