IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE
VERNON MONTGOMERY, § § No. 242, 2019 Defendant Below, § Appellant, § § v. § Court Below–Superior Court § of the State of Delaware STATE OF DELAWARE, § § Cr. ID 1710001043A (N) Plaintiff Below, § 1710001043B Appellee. §
Submitted: January 10, 2020 Decided: April 3, 2020
Before SEITZ, Chief Justice; TRAYNOR and MONTGOMERY-REEVES, Justices.
ORDER
Upon careful consideration of the parties’ briefs and the record on appeal, it
appears to the Court that:
(1) In February 2019, a Superior Court jury found Montgomery guilty of
first degree robbery, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony
(“PFDCF”), and wearing a disguise during the commission of a felony (“WDDCF”).
Immediately following the jury’s verdict, Montgomery proceeded to a bench trial on
related person-prohibited charges and was found guilty of possession of a firearm
by a person prohibited (“PFBPP”) and possession of ammunition by a person
prohibited (“PABPP”). The Superior Court deferred sentencing, pending a presentence investigation. On May 24, 2019, the Superior Court sentenced
Montgomery to an aggregate of twenty years of Level V incarceration, followed by
decreasing levels of supervision. This is Montgomery’s direct appeal.
(2) At approximately 3:20 pm on October 2, 2017, a black male—later
identified as Montgomery—walked into a WSFS Bank located on Union Street in
Wilmington. Montgomery carried a black backpack and wore glasses, a ski mask,
dark pants, a dark hoodie, and a neon construction vest. Montgomery approached
WSFS employee Jonathan Dalacki and ordered him to hand over the contents of his
cash drawer. Dalacki gave Montgomery the cash from his drawer, which included
a money pack with a Global Positioning System (GPS) tracking device hidden
inside. Montgomery grabbed additional cash, including a second money pack
containing a GPS tracking device, from another bank employee’s cash drawer.
Montgomery then left the building and fled in the direction of West Third Street. A
bank employee called 911 and reported the robbery.
(3) Almost immediately, the Wilmington Police Department began
receiving location information from the GPS tracking devices. Through the
Wilmington communications center (“WILCOM”), police dispatch was then able to
relay that location information, along with information dispatch received from the
911 call, in real time to police officers on patrol. Via these transmissions, the
following information was relayed: (i) the trackers were headed eastbound on West
2 Fourth Street; (ii) the trackers were travelling at a speed that suggested they were in
a vehicle; (iii) the trackers were then stationary on the 1000 block of West Fourth
Street; (iii) the suspect was a tall black man wearing glasses and a neon-colored
construction jacket with hood; and (iv) the suspect had a gun.
(4) The police quickly cordoned off the 1000 block of West Fourth Street,
stopping traffic. Corporal Johnny Whitehead, Officer Kecia Rosada, and other
responding Wilmington police officers began canvassing the area on foot. Corporal
Whitehead approached a Chrysler 200 automobile from the rear and observed
Montgomery, with his hands on the wheel, staring straight ahead. Montgomery’s
failure to acknowledge the police presence struck Corporal Whitehead as peculiar
because the occupants of the other stopped vehicles appeared visibly surprised by
the roadblock. Corporal Whitehead then reversed course and approached the car’s
driver’s side window. Montgomery continued to stare straight ahead with his hands
on the steering wheel, ignoring Corporal Whitehead’s presence. Standing at
Montgomery’s window, Corporal Whitehead noted that Montgomery’s appearance
matched the general description of the suspect as a tall black male. Corporal
Whitehead also observed latex gloves located in a cup in the vehicle’s center
console.
(5) Contemporaneously, Officer Rosada approached Montgomery’s
vehicle from the front. From her vantage point, she could see a neon article of
3 clothing in Montgomery’s lap. She gestured to Corporal Whitehead in its direction.
After Corporal Whitehead saw the neon vest, he ordered Montgomery out of the car
at gunpoint and placed him in restraints. Corporal Whitehead then opened a bag that
was on the front passenger side floorboard and found a large quantity of cash and a
handgun.
(6) The police impounded the vehicle and obtained a search warrant for it.
The search yielded a black hooded sweatshirt, a traffic-safety vest, a ski mask, a cup
containing blue plastic gloves, and two backpacks. Inside one of the backpacks, the
police located a loaded 9-millimeter handgun, work gloves, two GPS units, and
$7,385.00 in cash.
(7) Montgomery was a person prohibited from possessing a firearm or
ammunition for a firearm because he had a prior felony conviction for armed
robbery. On November 13, 2017, a Superior Court grand jury indicted Montgomery
on first degree robbery, PFDCF, WDDCF, PFBPP, and PABPP. The Superior Court
set a trial date for April 17, 2018.
(8) On February 7, 2018, and with the assistance of counsel, Montgomery
filed an out-of-time motion to suppress the evidence seized from his car on the
grounds that the search warrant was based in part on an improper warrantless search
of Montgomery’s backpack. On February 12, 2018, Montgomery requested to
proceed pro se. At the request of defense counsel, on March 13, 2018, the Superior
4 Court ordered a psychological evaluation to determine Montgomery’s competency
to stand trial and waive the assistance of counsel. A completed evaluation was filed
with the court in May 2018. After engaging in a colloquy with Montgomery to
ensure that his waiver of the assistance of counsel was knowing and voluntary, the
court granted his request to proceed pro se on June 21, 2018.
(9) Montgomery then filed an addendum to the motion to suppress, arguing
that his initial detention was also illegal. Montgomery also filed a motion to suppress
his post-Miranda statement, as well as several other motions, letters, and responsive
pleadings. The Superior Court held a hearing on the outstanding motions on August
10, 2018. At the conclusion of the hearing, the Superior Court denied Montgomery’s
motion to suppress.1 A new trial date was set for December 4, 2018.
(10) On October 15, 2018, Montgomery filed a motion to dismiss, claiming
a violation of his right to a speedy trial. The court denied the motion because it
found that (i) Montgomery had not previously raised concerns about his right to a
speedy trial but, rather, had been focused on presenting and arguing the merits of the
motion to suppress; and (ii) any delay was not attributable to the State but to the
defense. After the State indicated a conflict with the December 4, 2018 trial date,
the court moved up the trial date to November 27, 2018.
1 The court also ruled on various other motions that are not at issue in this appeal. 5 (11) On November 27, 2018, the parties appeared for trial. At that time, the
court learned that, due to an incident at the prison, correctional officers had
confiscated Montgomery’s legal papers and they had not yet been returned to him.
Montgomery renewed his motion for dismissal of the indictment again asserting a
violation of his right to a speedy trial. The Superior Court continued the trial until
February 5, 2019.
(12) On November 28, 2018, prison personnel appeared before the Superior
Court to explain why Montgomery’s legal materials had been confiscated.
Witnesses testified—and video evidence from the prison later confirmed—that a
response team was called after Montgomery refused to obey a correctional officer’s
order. The response team forcibly removed Montgomery from his cell and other
prison officers removed Montgomery’s personal belongings, including his legal
paperwork. In ruling on Montgomery’s renewed motion to dismiss based on a
violation of his right to a speedy trial, the Superior Court concluded that the latest
delay was attributable to Montgomery. The court also found that Montgomery’s
case had not been compromised because of the delay in his trial date and denied the
motion.
(13) On January 18, 2019, Montgomery filed a motion to sever the PFBPP
and PABPP charges from the other counts of the indictment. The Superior Court
6 granted the motion and ordered separate trials on the first degree robbery, PFDCF,
and WDDCF counts (“the A case”) and the PFBPP and PABBP (“the B case”).
(14) Montgomery’s jury trial in the A case began on February 5, 2019.
During the first day of trial, an allegation of juror misconduct arose. After the trial
judge individually questioned each juror about the allegation, the court found that
the jury had not been tainted and did not excuse any juror in connection with the
allegation.2 The case proceeded to trial. Montgomery admitted that he had
committed the bank robbery but argued that he did so under duress. The jury rejected
Montgomery’s defense of duress and found Montgomery guilty as charged.
Montgomery proceeded to a bench trial in the B case and was found guilty of those
charges as well. Montgomery then filed a motion for a new trial in the A case,
arguing that the jury was impermissibly tainted due to juror misconduct. The
Superior Court denied the motion. This appeal followed.
(15) On appeal, Montgomery argues that: (i) his initial detention was illegal;
(ii) the police did not have probable cause to conduct a warrantless search of his
backpack; (iii) the Superior Court abused its discretion when it denied his motion to
dismiss for violation of his Sixth Amendment right to a speedy trial; and (iv) the
Superior Court erred in denying his motion for a new trial based on juror misconduct.
2 One juror was excused for an unrelated reason. 7 (16) In assessing Montgomery’s challenge to the denial of his motion to
suppress as amended on the grounds that his detention and the warrantless search of
his backpack violated the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution, we
review such constitutional claims de novo.3 We review the court’s findings of
historical fact under the deferential “clearly erroneous” standard.4 However, we
review its conclusion as to probable cause—that is, its application of the law of
search and seizure to those historical facts—de novo.5
(17) Montgomery argues that he was illegally detained because: (i) the
police did not have reasonable articulable suspicion to detain him; (ii) assuming they
did, however, his detention was illegal because Corporal Whitehead did not ask the
questions permitted by 11 Del. C. § 1902; and (iii) his detention exceeded two hours
and therefore was prohibited by 11 Del. C. § 1902.
(18) The Fourth Amendment requires that searches and seizures be
reasonable.6 In the absence of individualized articulable suspicion of wrongdoing,
a search or seizure is ordinarily unreasonable.7 But the United States Supreme Court
3 Wheeler v. State, 135 A.3d 282, 295 (Del. 2016). Montgomery argues that Article I, § 6 of the Delaware Constitution affords greater protections than the Fourth Amendment in this case. This Court has recognized that the Delaware Constitution: (i) provides greater protection for the individual when determining whether a seizure has occurred, (ii) does not allow for the good-faith exception to the exclusionary rule, and (iii) requires more than probable cause for the issuance of a nighttime search warrant. Id., at 298 n. 71. None of these circumstances are present in this case. 4 Lopez v. State, 861 A.2d 1245, 1248 (Del. 2004). 5 Donald v. State, 903 A.2d 315, 318 (Del. 2006). 6 City of Indianapolis v. Edmond, 531 U.S. 32, 37 (2000). 7 Id. 8 has recognized that there are “limited circumstances in which the usual rule does not
apply.”8 For example, this usual rule does not apply when a search not based on
individualized suspicion is “designed to serve special needs, beyond the normal need
for law enforcement.”9 In the absence of individualized articulable suspicion, courts
measure the reasonableness of a seizure by balancing the individual’s liberty interest
against the public interests.10 The United States Supreme Court has identified three
factors to consider when determining the reasonableness of such a seizure: (i) the
gravity of the public concerns served by the seizure, (ii) the degree to which the
seizure advances the public interest, and (iii) the severity of the interference with
individual liberty.11
(19) In connection with his argument that his detention was illegal,
Montgomery contends that the police could not legally detain all of the vehicles
traveling on the 1000 block of West Fourth Street. But balancing the individual’s
liberty interest against the public interests, the courts have found that there are
certain circumstances where a group seizure may be appropriately tailored to
comport with the protections of the Fourth Amendment—for example, immigration
8 Id. 9 Id. (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). 10 Brown v. Texas, 443 U.S. 47, 50 (1979). 11 Id. at 50-51. 9 checkpoints12 and DUI checkpoints.13 And the United States Supreme Court has
noted that “the Fourth Amendment would almost certainly permit an appropriately
tailored roadblock set up to … catch a dangerous criminal who is likely to flee by
way of a particular route.”14
(20) Here, the police had real time tracking information indicating that the
money stolen from the WSFS bank by a man wielding a handgun was likely traveling
in a vehicle that was stopped somewhere on the 1000 block of West Fourth Street.
Under the circumstances, we are comfortable concluding that the cordoning off of
the 1000 West Fourth Street to briefly detain15 the vehicles traveling there was
appropriately tailored to the circumstances: the gravity of the public concern over an
armed robber on the lam, the degree to which the seizure advanced the public interest
in apprehending the bank robber, and the relatively minor interference with the
stopped individuals’ liberty interests.16 Moreover, after the vehicle stop, Corporal
Whitehead developed individualized articulable suspicion that Montgomery was
12 United States v. Martinez-Fuerte, 428 U.S. 543 (1976). 13 Michigan Dep’t of State Police v. Sitz, 496 U.S. 444 (1990). 14 Edmond, 531 U.S. at 44. 15 The audio of the WILCOM recording reflects that the total time between the bank robbery and Montgomery’s detention was less than ten minutes. Compare United States v. Paetsch, 782 F.3d 1162, 1172 (10th Cir. 2015) (upholding the constitutionality of a roadblock established to capture a bank robbery suspect under almost identical circumstances where the police detained twenty- nine people for twenty-nine minutes until they developed individualized suspicion in the defendant). 16 See id. at 1168. 10 committing or had committed a crime.17 In fact, that suspicion rapidly rose to the
level of probable cause. After all, Montgomery (i) was in a car in the area where the
police knew that the GPS trackers were stopped, (ii) met the general description of
the suspect, and (iii) had plastic gloves similar to those used to conceal fingerprints
in his immediate vicinity.18 Corporal Whitehead also knew that the bank robber had
worn some sort of neon-colored jacket, and he could see a brightly-colored item of
clothing located next to Montgomery. Montgomery’s initial detention did not
violate the Fourth Amendment.
(21) Turning to Montgomery’s claim that his detention ran afoul of 11 Del.
C. § 1902 because Corporal Whitehead did not ask Montgomery for identification
or inquire as to his business abroad or destination, we have previously observed that
the statute is a permissive one.19 The police were simply not required to ask
Montgomery his name, purpose, and business abroad. And as discussed in greater
detail infra, the police quickly developed probable cause to arrest Montgomery,
which we find that they did at the scene. Because they arrested Montgomery at the
17 See Woody v. State, 765 A.2d 1257, 1262-63 (Del. 2001) (“There must be an objective justification for making the stop but reasonable suspicion is a less demanding standard than probable cause and requires a showing considerably less than preponderance of the evidence.”) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). 18 See Idaho v. Gascon, 812 P.2d 239, 241 (Idaho 1991) (upholding a detention where the police knew a bank had been robbed, had a general description of the suspect, and were situated at a place likely for the suspect to make an escape). 19 Buckingham v. State, 482 A.2d 327, 333 (Del. 1984) (“It should be noted that the statutory language of § 1902(a) specifies that the officer ‘may’ demand of a person answers to the enumerated inquiries. The mandatory term ‘shall’ is not used.”). 11 scene and that arrest was supported by probable cause, his contention that the police
violated 11 Del. C. § 1902(c) by detaining him for more than two hours is without
merit.
(22) Montgomery next argues that the search of his backpack was an
improper warrantless search. But we agree with the Superior Court’s conclusion
that Corporal Whitehead’s reasonable articulable suspicion had blossomed into
probable cause to arrest Montgomery when he viewed the fluorescent traffic vest in
Montgomery’s constructive possession.20 Because Montgomery was arrested as he
fled from the scene of the robbery, there was a reasonable probability that evidence
of the crime—that is, either the money or the firearm—would be found in the
vehicle. Thus, the police had probable cause to search Montgomery’s vehicle and,
under the automobile exception to the warrant requirement, they were permitted to
do so without first obtaining a warrant.21 Further, once the police had probable cause
to search the vehicle, they had “probable cause to conduct a probing search of all
compartments and containers within the vehicle” that may have concealed the
20 Admittedly, the Superior Court muddied the waters somewhat by later finding that Corporal Whitehead had probable cause when he opened Montgomery’s backpack and saw the handgun and money. But in our view, applying the law to the facts found by the Superior Court, we find that the Superior Court correctly found in the first instance that Corporal Whitehead had probable cause to arrest Montgomery when he saw the neon construction vest in Montgomery’s possession. 21 Tatman v. State, 494 A.2d 1249, 1251 (Del. 1985) (“So long as the police have probable cause to believe that an automobile is carrying contraband or evidence, they may lawfully search the vehicle without a warrant.”). 12 objects of the search.22 Accordingly, the search of Montgomery’s backpack was not
an illegal warrantless search.
(23) Montgomery next contends that the Superior Court abused its
discretion when it denied his motion for dismissal based upon the violation of his
right to a speedy trial. To determine if a defendant’s right to a speedy trial has been
violated, we apply the four-factor balancing test adopted by the United States
Supreme Court in Barker v. Wingo.23 The four factors are: (i) the length of the delay,
(ii) the reason for the delay, (iii) the defendant’s assertion of his right to a speedy
trial, and (iv) prejudice to the defendant. The factors are related, and no one factor
is conclusive.24
(24) A defendant’s right to a speedy trial “attaches as soon as the defendant
is accused of a crime through arrest or indictment, whichever occurs first.”25 The
first Barker factor, the length of the delay, is a threshold factor.26 We have
previously determined that if the delay between arrest or indictment and trial exceeds
22 Ledda v. State, 564 A.2d 1125, 1129 (Del. 1989). See also Wyoming v. Houghton, 526 U.S. 295 (1999) (holding that police offers with probable cause to search a car for contraband may inspect passengers’ belongings found in the car that are capable of concealing the object of the search); California v. Acevedo, 500 U.S. 565 (1991) (holding that the Fourth Amendment does not require the police to obtain a warrant to open a sack in a movable vehicle because they lack probable cause to search the entire car). 23 407 U.S. 514 (1972) (adopted by this Court in Johnson v. State, 305 A.2d 622, 623 (Del. 1973)). 24 Id. at 530. 25 Middlebrook v. State, 802 A.2d 268, 273 (Del. 2002). 26 Barker, 407 U.S. at 530. 13 one year, we will consider the additional Barker factors.27 In this case, the delay
between Montgomery’s arrest and trial date (October 2, 2017 to February 5, 2019)
is greater than one year. Therefore, an examination of the additional Barker factors
is appropriate.
(25) We turn to the reason for the delay. The United States Supreme Court
has found that “different weights should be assigned to different reasons.”28
Deliberate attempts by the State to delay a trial should be weighed heavily in the
defendant’s favor.29 It follows that a defendant who prolongs the proceedings cannot
then blame the State for the resultant delay.30
(26) Here, the record reflects that the initial trial date of April 17, 2018, was
continued after the court, at the request of defense counsel, ordered Montgomery to
undergo a psychological evaluation to determine whether he was competent to stand
trial or proceed pro se. Thereafter, the reasons for the delay were largely attributable
to Montgomery’s actions. After it was determined that Montgomery was competent,
the court scheduled a motions hearing for August 10, 2018, to address the many
motions Montgomery had filed. Montgomery filed several additional motions at that
hearing. At the conclusion of the hearing, the court denied the motion to suppress
27 Dabney v. State, 953 A.2d 159, 165 (Del. 2008). 28 Barker, 407 U.S. at 531. 29 Id. 30 Cooper v. State, 2011 WL 6039613, at *7 (Del. Dec. 5, 2011) (“The Court also considers whether the defendant acted inconsistently with his assertion of the speedy trial right.”). 14 and Montgomery subsequently indicated a desire to challenge that ruling by filing
more motions, including: (i) a motion for reargument; (ii) a motion for the
certification of an interlocutory appeal; and (iii) a motion for the opportunity to
negotiate with the State regarding a stipulated plea arrangement. By contrast, the
State made only one request that could be perceived as trying to delay the
proceedings—a request to reschedule the December 4, 2018 trial date because of
witness unavailability. In response, however, the court rescheduled the trial date to
the earlier date of November 27, 2018. Finally, the reason that trial could not
proceed on November 27, 2018, was attributable to Montgomery’s failure to obey
the commands of correctional officers. This factor weighs against Montgomery.
(27) The third Barker factor examines the defendant’s assertion of the right
to a speedy trial. Montgomery first raised the issue of his right to a speedy trial in a
letter addressed to the Superior Court dated May 23, 2018. At that time, the court
had not yet granted Montgomery’s motion to proceed pro se nor had it held a hearing
on Montgomery’s motion to suppress.31 Montgomery filed a formal motion to
dismiss based on a violation of his right to a speedy trial on October 15, 2018. This
factor weighs in Montgomery’s favor.
31 In his letter to the court asserting his right to a speedy trial, Montgomery refers to the many motions he wishes for the court to consider. 15 (28) The final factor, prejudice to the defendant, “should be assessed in the
light of the interests of defendants which the speedy trial right was designed to
protect.”32 The United States Supreme Court has identified three of these interests:
“(i) to prevent oppressive pretrial incarceration; (ii) to minimize anxiety and concern
of the accused; and (iii) to limit the possibility that the defense will be impaired.”33
(29) The first interest, to prevent oppressive pre-trial incarceration, weighs
in favor of Montgomery because he was incarcerated during the delay. Montgomery
does not allege he suffered from undue anxiety or concern due to his incarceration.
With respect to the third interest, Montgomery claims that his defense was
prejudiced because he had lost touch with witnesses who could corroborate his
duress defense but he does not explain how those witnesses would have been located
if the trial had not been delayed.34
(30) Giving due weight to the Barker test factors, we conclude that, under
the circumstances present here, Montgomery’s Sixth Amendment right to a speedy
trial was not violated.
(31) Montgomery’s final argument is that the Superior Court erred in
denying his motion for a new trial due to juror misconduct. We review the denial of
32 Barker, 407 U.S. at 532. 33 Id. 34 In fact, the record—cited by Montgomery—shows that Montgomery had already lost contact with these witnesses by the time of the suppression hearing held on August 10, 2018. 16 a motion for a new trial based on an allegation of juror misconduct for an abuse of
discretion.35 This Court also reviews the Superior Court’s “decisions on the mode
and depth of investigative hearings into allegations of juror misconduct and on the
remedy for such misconduct for abuse of discretion.”36 In the juror misconduct
context, a defendant is entitled to a new trial “only if the error complained of resulted
in actual prejudice or so infringed upon defendant’s fundamental right to a fair trial
as to raise a presumption of prejudice.”37 When a judge determines that the jury may
have been exposed to an extraneous influence that raises a serious question of
possible prejudice, we have maintained that “the trial judge should conduct a voir
dire of jurors to ascertain the extent of their exposure to the extraneous influence
and to assess its prejudicial effect.”38
(32) The record reflects that, on the first day of trial, Alternate Juror Number
2 sent a note to court indicating that she had overheard Juror Number 5 say that
Montgomery struck men from the jury panel because he was guilty.39 The Superior
Court promptly notified the parties and ended the proceedings early that day to
investigate the allegation further. Upon individual questioning by the trial judge,
35 Massey v. State, 541 A.2d 1254, 1257 (Del. 1988). 36 Caldwell v. State, 780 A.2d 1037, 1058 (Del. 2001) (internal quotation marks and citations omitted). 37 Hughes v. State, 490 A.2d 1034, 1043 (Del. 1985). 38 Dixon v. State, 2014 WL 4952360, at *3 (Del. Oct. 1, 2014). 39 The Superior Court noted that Montgomery had not, in fact, excused all of the men on the panel. 17 the reporting juror indicated that a female juror sitting in the front row had made the
comment. The reporting juror confirmed that, despite what she had overheard, she
was keeping an open mind as to Montgomery’s guilt or innocence.
(33) The trial judge proceeded to voir dire each juror individually. Juror
Number 5 denied making any comment regarding Montgomery’s guilt. No other
juror reported hearing a comment made by any other juror about the jury selection
process. One juror reported hearing someone say the word, “guilty,” but he could
not discern who said it or in what context it was said. Another juror reported,
“Somebody jokingly said guilty, you know, but I think it was a joke.”40 Like the
previous juror, this juror could not identify who said it and reiterated that he believed
that the comment was made in jest.41 After interviewing the jurors, the trial judge
was satisfied that the facts did not warrant striking any juror from the panel.
Moreover, the trial judge’s voir dire of each juror reflected that each juror could
continue to be impartial, keep an open mind as to the evidence, and render a fair
verdict.
(34) Under the circumstances, the uncorroborated off-hand comment made
by an unidentified juror that was disclosed to the trial court did not amount to actual
prejudice to Montgomery. Further, Montgomery has not shown that there were
40 Trial Transcript (2/5/19) at p. 229. 41 Id. at p. 230 (“It was said in jest. Hope it doesn’t go six weeks, that kind of thing.”). 18 egregious circumstances of juror taint that would give rise to a presumption of
prejudice. For these reasons, Montgomery’s claim that the Superior Court abused
its discretion in denying his motion for a new trial based upon juror misconduct must
fail.
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED that the judgment of the Superior
Court is AFFIRMED.
BY THE COURT:
/s/ Gary F. Traynor Justice