Karstetter v. Love

674 P.2d 1066, 9 Kan. App. 2d 194, 1984 Kan. App. LEXIS 275
CourtCourt of Appeals of Kansas
DecidedJanuary 19, 1984
DocketNo. 55,339
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 674 P.2d 1066 (Karstetter v. Love) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Kansas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Karstetter v. Love, 674 P.2d 1066, 9 Kan. App. 2d 194, 1984 Kan. App. LEXIS 275 (kanctapp 1984).

Opinion

Spencer, J.:

This appeal is from denial of writs of habeas corpus sought by appellants Karstetter and Housel on separate petitions, consolidated for hearing below and before this court.

Appellants have been charged with violations of the Kansas Securities Act, K.S.A. 17-1252 et seq. and are defendants in criminal proceedings now pending in Ford County. Further proceedings in that case have been stayed pending this appeal.

Although couched in somewhat different language, the principal and dispositive issue presented on this appeal is whether [195]*195appellants’ detention at and for the purposes of the preliminary hearing, under summonses issued without a prior showing of probable cause, was unlawful and, if so, whether the trial court erred in denying their petitions for writs of habeas corpus.

The pending proceedings against appellants were commenced with the filing of a twelve-count complaint and the issuance of summons for each of them on August 4, 1982. The preliminary hearing was scheduled for September 29, 1982. At that time appellants appeared in person and by their retained counsel, who then moved to dismiss the case prior to the hearing, contending that under the standards set forth in Wilbanks v. State, 224 Kan. 66, 579 P.2d 132 (1978), neither Karstetter nor Housel was required to appear for the preliminary hearing because the summonses directing their appearances had been issued without a prior showing of probable cause, all as required by K.S.A. 22-2302. The State conceded this had been done and further admitted the charges as set forth in the complaint had been phrased in the terms of the general statutory language. However, the State resisted the motion to dismiss, contending appellants were not then in fact detained as there had been no arrest warrant issued, and a showing of probable cause as a prerequisite to issuance of the summonses under the statute was not required. Inquiry was then made by defense counsel as to whether appellants were free to go, to which the court replied, “They are being detained for preliminary hearing,” and “I would view them under arrest . . . .” The motion to dismiss was denied. The State then presented its evidence and rested, whereupon the hearing was continued to November 8, 1982, when Karstetter and Housel presented evidence and rested. The court then found the evidence presented to be sufficient and both Karstetter and Housel were bound over for trial. On that same date, appellants filed their separate petitions for writs of habeas corpus.

We find the State’s argument that appellants were not unlawfully detained within the purview of K.S.A. 60-1501 untenable. Although the provisions of 22-2302 permit the issuance of summons in lieu of an arrest warrant when so requested by the prosecuting attorney, the statute also provides: “If a defendant fails to appear in response to the summons, a warrant shall issue.” Emphasis supplied. The clear language of the statute [196]*196requires that the magistrate find probable cause prior to the issuance of either a warrant or a summons, both of which may be issued on the same complaint. If these appellants had ignored the summonses which directed their appearances, it is most probable they would soon thereafter have been arrested. Furthermore, when they did appear, the court expressly stated they could not leave and that they should consider themselves under arrest. Obviously, at that point, they were being detained without a prior showing of probable cause and habeas corpus would then have been proper to terminate further illegal detention. See Henderson v. Schenk, 6 Kan. App. 2d 562, 631 P.2d 246 (1981).

However, appellants’ petitions for writs of habeas corpus were not filed until the last day of the preliminary hearing and were not considered until after probable cause had been shown and they had been bound over for trial. Appellants did not at any time request the preliminary hearing be stayed until their status in court could be determined. Consequently, when finally their applications were heard, their detention was no longer illegal. State v. Hammond, 4 Kan. App. 2d 643, 609 P.2d 1171, rev. denied 228 Kan. 807 (1980). See also State v. Stephenson, 217 Kan. 169, Syl. ¶ 1, 535 P.2d 940 (1975); State v. Einhorn, 213 Kan. 271, 275, 515 P.2d 1036 (1973); State v. James Earley, 192 Kan. 167, 169-71, 386 P.2d 189 (1963); State v. Boster, 4 Kan. App. 2d 355, 356-57, 606 P.2d 1035 (1980). The court did not err in refusing to grant the writs of habeas corpus for lack of showing of probable cause prior to the issuance of summonses.

In January, 1981, the State caused a subpoena duces tecum to be issued to Karstetter ordering him to produce all books and records in his possession in anywise relating to Century Oil Producers, Inc. On February 12, Karstetter’s attorney transmitted the documents with a letter indicating they were the working papers of the corporation, and sought to invoke Karstetter’s right against self-incrimination. On February 23, the State requested additional documents and information, which were produced. The subpoenaed documents were later used at the preliminary hearing; however, a record of that hearing has not been provided.

Karstetter argues he properly invoked his right against self-incrimination and his right to immunity pursuant to K.S.A. 17-1265(d). He contends the use of the documents during the [197]*197preliminary hearing violated his constitutional rights and he should therefore be discharged.

K.S.A. 17-1265(d) provides:

“No person is excused from attending and testifying or from producing any document or record before the commissioner, or in obedience to the subpoena of the commissioner or any officer designated by him, or in any proceeding instituted by the commissioner, on the ground that the testimony or evidence (documentary or otherwise) required of him may tend to incriminate him or subject him to a penalty or forfeiture; but no individual may be prosecuted or subjected to any penalty ar forfeiture for or on account of any transaction, matter, or thing concerning which he is compelled, after claiming his privilege against self-incrimination, to testify or produce evidence (documentary or otherwise), except that the individual so testifying shall not be exempt from prosecution and punishment for perjury committed in so testifying.” Emphasis supplied.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
674 P.2d 1066, 9 Kan. App. 2d 194, 1984 Kan. App. LEXIS 275, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/karstetter-v-love-kanctapp-1984.