People v. Chism

189 N.W.2d 435, 32 Mich. App. 610, 1971 Mich. App. LEXIS 1952
CourtMichigan Court of Appeals
DecidedApril 22, 1971
DocketDocket 9278
StatusPublished
Cited by10 cases

This text of 189 N.W.2d 435 (People v. Chism) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Michigan Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
People v. Chism, 189 N.W.2d 435, 32 Mich. App. 610, 1971 Mich. App. LEXIS 1952 (Mich. Ct. App. 1971).

Opinion

Fitzgerald, P. J.

Defendant appeals by right from a jury conviction and life sentence on a charge of murder in the first degree. 1

On August 16, 1967, a package was mailed to the residence of Mrs. Paul Puyear in the city of Mar *615 shall, Michigan. Dne to standing instructions, the package was rerouted and delivered to the Puyears’ business address, a restaurant called the Tasty Cafe.

Ñola Puyear attempted to open the package and it exploded, killing her instantly and doing substantial damage to the Tasty Cafe. An investigation at the scene turned up the wrapper of the package with the address written in red on it, pieces of masking tape, and metal fragments from a “Fiske” battery. Also found at the scene was a pill bottle and its contents and wrapper. It appears that this pill bottle, with pills containing sodium hydroxide (lye), had been mailed to the deceased some months earlier. An examination of the reassembled bomb wrapper indicated that the package had been mailed in Marshall.

Subsequent investigation led to the arrest of defendant; a search of his home resulted in the seizure of masking tape, a “Fiske” battery, and a red pencil similar to that-used to address the package. From a comparison of the handwriting of defendant and the handwriting on the package wrapper and the pill wrapper, there was expert testimony that the writing was done by one and the same person. There was also testimony to the effect that the defendant was desirous of buying the Tasty Cafe from the Puyears.

Chism testified, while denying that he sent the bomb or the pills, that he purchased dynamite in 1966.

Helpfully, the Court has been assisted by excellent briefs by both defendant and the people, setting forth the issues raised and furnishing cogent arguments for both sides. The issues will be considered seriatim.

*616 I. Was appellant denied his constitutional right to a speedy trial?

Mainstay of defendant’s appeal is that the delay from his arrest on October 11, 1967, to his trial on January 20-30, 1970, was such a denial of his constitutional right to a speedy trial that it requires the reversal of his conviction and his discharge. He argues that the fact that the delay was caused by his appeal of the lower court’s denial of his petition for counsel does not excuse the delay, mainly because' the state cannot require a defendant to sacrifice one constitutional right (speedy trial) to enforce another (assistance of counsel). Defendant also argues that his lack of a formal demand for trial does not cure the error because he was without counsel for most of that time.

In opposition, the people argue that it was defendant who caused the delay because he invoked the appellate process prior to trial. It is also pointed out that defendant never made the required formal motion for trial. 9

Defendant was arrested on October 11, 1967, according to the record. On October 18, 1967, defendant petitioned for the appointment of counsel as an indigent. On October 18 and 27,1967, and December 26, 1967, the court heard testimony relative to his financial status. Prior to this, the court appointed counsel for the preliminary examination which was held on November 16, 1967. On January 9, 1968, the lower court entered its finding denying appointed counsel for the trial. A formal order to such effect was filed on January 12, 1968, and counsel was appointed for the appealing of this order on January 18, 1968. On February 10,1968, the appointed counsel filed an application for leave to appeal with this Court.

*617 Thereafter, on March 29, 1968, an order was entered granting leave to appeal, granting leave to intervene amicus curiae to the Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan, and shortening the time for the filing of briefs to one-half the regular period.

On July 1, 1968, defendant filed a motion and stipulation to advance the hearing date which was denied by order on July 10, 1968. Oral argument before this Court was had on November 13, 1968, and an opinion was entered on April 23,1969, reversing the lower court and granting appointed counsel. See People v. Chism (1969), 17 Mich App 196. On April 25, 1969, the lower court appointed counsel for defendant.

While this appeal was in progress, defendant filed pro se a motion to dismiss for denial of a speedy trial on June 20, 1968. On July 24, 1968, the prosecutor filed an answer to this motion which was served on defendant on August 19,1968. A hearing was not held on this motion on April 10, 1969, and the dismissal motion was denied by order entered April 21, 1969.

In April, the lower court informed defendant that trial could be held in either May or August of 1969, but defendant wished to make some pretrial motions first. On June 19, 1969, this time through counsel, defendant made a motion to quash for a denial of speedy trial which was denied by order on August 18, 1969.

On September 19, 1969, defendant made a motion for immediate trial and the case was set for trial in October, 1969. A motion for a continuance was filed by defendant after additional witnesses, opposed by defendant, were indorsed. Finally, the case was tried January 20-30, 1970.

*618 Thus, the record shows that there was a 27-month interval between arrest and trial (October 1967 to January 1970), and of this time 14 months were taken up in appeals to this Court (February 1968 to April 1969).

Defendant is correct in his contention that a defendant cannot be compelled to sacrifice one constitutional right to enforce another. Simmons v. United States (1968), 390 US 377 (88 S Ct 967, 19 L Ed 2d 1247); People v. Marsh (1968), 14 Mich App 518. However, neither of the above cases dealt with the instant fact situation. Indeed, it appears that this situation (loss of speedy trial due to invoking the appellate process) is one of first impression in Michigan, if not the country.

There is no doubt that the constitutional right to a speedy trial is guaranteed to citizens in state prosecutions through the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. Klopfer v. North Carolina (1967), 386 US 213 (87 S Ct 988, 18 L Ed 2d 1); Duncan v. Louisiana (1968), 391 US 145 (88 S Ct 1444, 20 L Ed 2d 491). The right to a speedy trial is also guaranteed to Michigan citizens by MCLA § 768.1 (Stat Ann 1954 Rev § 28.1024).

However, the flaw in defendant’s position, and which is dispositive of the issue, is the fact that the delay was caused by his repeated recourse to the appellate process.

It appears that the invoking of appellate machinery serves to modify the speedy trial right. In People v. Den Uyl (1948), 320 Mich 477, the Court, in granting a writ of mandamus requiring the conclusion, within 60 days, of a preliminary examination which had been continued eight times, said:

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

JONATHAN OSORIO v. STATE OF FLORIDA
244 So. 3d 1115 (District Court of Appeal of Florida, 2018)
State v. Roseboro, No. Cr5-81771 (Oct. 4, 1990)
1990 Conn. Super. Ct. 3178 (Connecticut Superior Court, 1990)
State v. Sugar
495 A.2d 90 (Supreme Court of New Jersey, 1985)
Gray v. State
441 A.2d 209 (Supreme Court of Delaware, 1982)
State v. Swain
269 N.W.2d 707 (Supreme Court of Minnesota, 1978)
Chism v. Koehler
392 F. Supp. 659 (W.D. Michigan, 1975)
State v. Koucoules
343 A.2d 860 (Supreme Judicial Court of Maine, 1974)
People v. Chism
211 N.W.2d 193 (Michigan Supreme Court, 1973)
People v. Bledsoe
208 N.W.2d 545 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 1973)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
189 N.W.2d 435, 32 Mich. App. 610, 1971 Mich. App. LEXIS 1952, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-chism-michctapp-1971.