One 1970 Mercury Cougar, VIN 0F9111545940 v. Tunica County

115 So. 3d 818, 2012 WL 3932763
CourtCourt of Appeals of Mississippi
DecidedSeptember 11, 2012
DocketNo. 2010-CA-02039-COA
StatusPublished

This text of 115 So. 3d 818 (One 1970 Mercury Cougar, VIN 0F9111545940 v. Tunica County) 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
One 1970 Mercury Cougar, VIN 0F9111545940 v. Tunica County, 115 So. 3d 818, 2012 WL 3932763 (Mich. Ct. App. 2012).

Opinion

LEE, C.J.,

for the Court:

¶ 1. In conjunction with Willie Hampton’s arrest for possession of narcotics, the Tunica County Sheriffs Department seized several items of Hampton’s personal property. The County filed a complaint for forfeiture, which was granted after a five-year delay. Hampton, acting pro se, filed an appeal challenging the delay. The issue was addressed by this Court. After determining there were insufficient facts to make a decision as to the reasonableness of the delay, we remanded the case for a hearing. A hearing was held, and the circuit court found that Hampton’s due-process right to a speedy trial was not violated. Aggrieved with the circuit court’s decision on remand, Hampton now appeals a second time.

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

¶ 2. A warrant was issued for Hampton’s arrest for alleged violations of controlled-substance laws. On March 21, 2000, Hampton was arrested at his home by federal and state law-enforcement agencies. After Hampton was arrested, the Tunica County Sheriffs Department (the County) seized a 1970 Mercury Cougar, two Ford Mustangs, and $355 in cash. Nine days later, the County filed a complaint for forfeiture in the Tunica County Circuit Court. Hampton filed his answer on November 1, 2000. On November 15, 2000, the County asked for a stay of discovery because of Hampton’s ongoing federal narcotics case. The circuit court entered an order staying all discovery until the conclusion of the federal criminal and civil cases.

¶ 8. The next recorded action was on December 17, 2001, when Hampton filed a document entitled “Replevin.” In this motion, Hampton requested that the circuit court dismiss the forfeiture petition. The next action of record occurred three years later on December 20, 2004, when the County filed a new petition for forfeiture. Ten days later, Hampton’s attorney withdrew as counsel. Hampton then filed numerous pro se pleadings in the circuit court. On January 31, 2005, Hampton filed a motion for failure to prosecute. On February 18, 2005, the circuit clerk filed a motion to dismiss for want of prosecution. A hearing was noticed, and the circuit court entered an order on March 8, 2005, granting the forfeiture petition in favor of the County.

¶ 4. Hampton appealed to the Mississippi Supreme Court, and his case was assigned to this Court. Finding insufficient evidence to reach a decision on the alleged speedy-trial violation, we held as follows:

We reverse and remand in order to allow the parties to present a record that would allow analysis by this Court under the Barker standards. On remand, Tu-nica County will have an opportunity to explain the delay[,] and Hampton will have an opportunity to explain why he did not request a hearing for three years. Hampton would also have an opportunity to detail just what actual prejudice he may have suffered.

One 1970 Mercury Cougar, VIN No. 0F9111545940 v. Tunica County, 936 So.2d 988, 992-93 (¶ 19) (Miss.Ct.App.2006). In the opinion, we also noted it was impossible to determine if the delay was reasonable because “the record is silent as to when the [federal] criminal proceedings concluded.” Id. at 992 (¶ 17).

¶ 5. On July 15, 2010, the circuit court held a hearing pursuant to the remand instructions. Hampton’s attorney and the County’s attorney were present at the hearing. Hampton was present via telephone, as he was in prison in Colorado. The County stated for the record the relevant dates of the state and feder[821]*821al proceedings and entered a timeline into evidence. According to the County’s timeline, the federal criminal action resulted in a conviction of life imprisonment on July 11, 2001. However, the circuit court’s order dated November BO, 2000, stayed the action pending a final adjudication of the federal civil action as well as the criminal action. The federal civil action was not dismissed until August 24, 2009. The County argued it was following the circuit court’s order in waiting for the conclusion of both the federal civil and criminal actions, and this was the main reason for the delay. Hampton did not present evidence at the hearing. Instead, he argued the hearing was illegal because he was not physically present. The circuit court concluded that although “some prejudice” may have resulted from the delay, the delay was caused mainly by the federal proceedings and Hampton’s imprisonment in Colorado. The circuit court reaffirmed its original decision.

¶ 6. Hampton now appeals a second time, arguing the circuit court erred by (1) not allowing the presentation of evidence regarding a speedy trial, and (2) not allowing him to be physically present at the hearing. Finding no merit to Hampton’s issues, we affirm the circuit court’s judgment.

STANDARD OF REVIEW

¶ 7. The standard of review regarding claims of speedy-trial violations is as follows:

Review of a speedy trial claim encompasses the fact question of whether the trial delay rose from good cause. Under this Court’s standard of review, this Court will uphold a decision based on substantial!] credible evidence. If no probative evidence supports the circuit court’s finding of good cause, this Court will ordinarily reverse. The [S]tate bears the burden of proving good cause for a speedy trial delay, and thus bears the risk of non-persuasion.

DeLoach v. State, 722 So.2d 512, 516 (¶ 12) (Miss.1998) (internal citations omitted).

DISCUSSION

I. HEARING ON REMAND

¶ 8. Hampton argues the circuit court’s judgment should be reversed a second time because he was prevented from presenting evidence of the Barker factors on remand.

¶ 9. The United States Supreme Court has set out four factors that must be considered in determining whether a defendant’s constitutional right to a speedy trial has been violated. Barker v. Wingo, 407 U.S. 514, 530, 92 S.Ct. 2182, 33 L.Ed.2d 101 (1972). The factors are: (1) the length of the delay, (2) the reason for the delay, (3) the defendant’s assertion of his rights, and (4) whether the defendant has been prejudiced by the delay. Id. Although the issue in Barker was the right to a speedy trial in a criminal prosecution, the United States Supreme Court and this Court have adopted the Barker test for civil forfeiture actions. United States v. Eight Thousand Eight Hundred & Fifty Dollars in U.S. Currency, 461 U.S. 555, 556, 103 S.Ct. 2005, 76 L.Ed.2d 143 (1983); One 1970 Mercury Cougar, 936 So.2d at 992 (¶ 16).

¶ 10. The circuit court held a hearing on the Barker factors pursuant to the remand instructions. However, Hampton argues he is entitled to another hearing because the circuit court refused to allow him to present evidence. Hampton bases this argument on the following statement made by the circuit court judge during the remand hearing: “Mr. Hampton, this proceeding is not that of the merits. We’re [822]*822here procedurally.... We are not here to try your case. We’re not here to involve ourselves with evidence.”

¶ 11. The County was allowed to enter an exhibit into evidence, and there is no indication the circuit court prevented Hampton from doing the same.

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Related

Barker v. Wingo
407 U.S. 514 (Supreme Court, 1972)
United States v. Homer Lee Tucker
8 F.3d 673 (Ninth Circuit, 1993)
DeLoach v. State
722 So. 2d 512 (Mississippi Supreme Court, 1998)
Brown v. State
995 So. 2d 698 (Mississippi Supreme Court, 2008)
Jackson v. State
910 So. 2d 658 (Court of Appeals of Mississippi, 2005)
One 1970 Mercury Cougar, Vin 0F9111545940 v. Tunica County
936 So. 2d 988 (Court of Appeals of Mississippi, 2006)

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115 So. 3d 818, 2012 WL 3932763, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/one-1970-mercury-cougar-vin-0f9111545940-v-tunica-county-missctapp-2012.