State ex rel. Danforth v. Bondurant

566 S.W.2d 478, 1978 Mo. LEXIS 375
CourtSupreme Court of Missouri
DecidedApril 28, 1978
DocketNo. 59587
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 566 S.W.2d 478 (State ex rel. Danforth v. Bondurant) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Missouri primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State ex rel. Danforth v. Bondurant, 566 S.W.2d 478, 1978 Mo. LEXIS 375 (Mo. 1978).

Opinion

MORGAN, Chief Justice.

Having issued a writ of certiorari, we now decide whether or not respondent judge exceeded his jurisdiction, in a habeas corpus proceeding, by discharging one Richard P. Marin from custody authorized by an extradition (rendition) warrant issued by the Governor of Missouri.

In 1974, Marin was a resident of Colorado and an automobile salesman in Pueblo, where he was charged with fraud in effecting sales — a misdemeanor under that state’s law. The specific charge being that Marin violated C.R.S.1973, §§ 18-5-301 (1963 C.R.S. 40-5-301 as amended) by selling a 1969 GMC truck after he had the odometer thereon turned back. He entered a plea of nolo contendere, was sentenced to six months confinement and immediately granted probation (parole). Thereafter, the court discovered that Marin had two prior felony convictions and changed the judgment to require that he actually be incarcerated as mandated by the provisions of that state’s Habitual Criminal Act, C.R.S. 1963, § 39-11-201(2) as amended. His conviction and sentence were upheld by the District Court for Pueblo County and his petition for review was denied by the Supreme Court of Colorado. Apparently to avoid imprisonment, he left Colorado and settled in Arizona; but, when authorities were on the verge of securing his extradition there, he fled to Missouri.

In August, 1975, Marin was arrested in Missouri under procedures in keeping with § 548.131, RSMo 1969, and released on his own recognizance pending a request for extradition, which was soon forthcoming.

The “demand” from the Governor of Colorado to the Governor of Missouri was accompanied by a number of documents, including: (1) a copy of the original information against Marin charging him with the crime of fraud in effecting sales, (2) a copy of the original summons issued, (3) supporting affidavits authored by the clerk of Pueblo County, the trial judge and the principal investigator in Marin’s case, (4) a copy of the judgment of conviction and sentence, (5) a copy of the opinion of the District Court affirming the conviction, (6) a copy of the bench warrant for his arrest, (7) a copy of the order of the Colorado Supreme Court which denied review and (8) written authentication from the Governor of Colorado that Marin (a) was convicted of the crime of fraud in effecting sales under the law of Colorado, (b) was present in the state of Colorado at the time the crime, for which he was convicted, was committed, (c) thereafter violated the terms of his bond and (d) leaving his sentence unsatisfied because he fled from justice and took refuge in Missouri.

[480]*480Following a hearing and the Governor’s issuance of a rendition warrant, Marin was advised of his right “to apply for a writ of habeas corpus” as provided in § 548.101, RSMo 1969. Upon his election to do so, the proceeding now being reviewed followed.

In Application of Evans, 512 S.W.2d 238 (Mo.App.1974), the court, while acting in an original proceeding in habeas corpus, as was the trial court in the instant case, delineated its powers and limitations, 1. c. 240, as follows:

The scope of our review of extradition proceedings in habeas corpus is narrowly limited to the question of whether the Governor of Missouri exceeded his authority in honoring Georgia’s requisition and issuing the rendition warrant. State ex rel. Anderson v. Weinstein, 359 S.W.2d 355 (Mo.App.1962). We are expressly prohibited by § 548.201, RSMo 1969, V.A. M.S., from inquiring into the guilt or innocence of the petitioner as to the alleged crime and cannot inquire into the motives underlying the institution of the Georgia charge. State ex rel. Anderson v. Weinstein, supra. The conclusions of the Governor of Missouri, as expressed in the extradition warrant, constitute prima facie evidence of such findings. Hagel v. Hendrix, 302 S.W.2d 323 (Mo.App.1957). Nevertheless, it is within our prerogative in habeas corpus proceedings to review an arrest pursuant to the issuance of the Governor’s rendition warrant to determine whether the Governor exceeded his authority. Hagel v. Hendrix, supra. Thus, in the instant case, we are authorized to inquire into the sufficiency of the affidavit giving rise to the criminal charge of the demanding state [Hayes v. O’Connell, 263 S.W.2d 66 (Mo.App.1953)] and can determine if the petitioner is a fugitive from justice [Ex Parte Arrington, 270 S.W.2d 39 (Mo. banc 1954)].

In turn, we recognize that the scope of review of a habeas corpus proceeding by certiorari is the same in Missouri as it was at common law and is based solely upon “the absence or an excess or usurpation of jurisdiction on the part of the court from which the proceedings were removed.” State ex rel. Barker v. Wurdeman, 254 Mo. 561, 163 S.W. 849 at 850 (banc 1914).

In 1953, the Uniform Criminal Extradition Act was adopted in Missouri. § 548.-031, RSMo 1969, thereof, sets out the necessary criteria of a “demand” upon the Governor for extradition. Its precise wording is crucial to an examination of this case, and it reads as follows:

No demand for the extradition of a person charged with crime in another state shall be recognized by the governor unless in writing alleging, except in cases arising under section 548.061, [not herein applicable] that the accused was present in the demanding state at the time of the commission of the alleged crime, and that thereafter he fled from the state, and accompanied by a copy of an indictment found or by information supported by affidavit made before a magistrate there, together with a copy of any warrant which was issued thereupon, or by a copy of a judgment of conviction or of a sentence imposed in execution thereof, together with a statement by the executive authority of the demanding state that the person claimed has escaped from confinement or has broken the terms of his bail, probation or parole. The indictment, information or affidavit made before the magistrate must substantially charge the person demanded with having committed a crime under the law of that state; and the copy of indictment, information, affidavit, judgment of conviction or sentence must be authenticated by the executive authority making the demand. (Emphasis added.)

The ultimate question, and one dis-positive of this case, is whether the Governor of Missouri may approve and direct the extradition of a person from this state predicated on the alternative presentation, emphasized above, i. e., “a copy of a judgment of conviction.” Obviously, the statute in simple terms provides such documentation is sufficient, and absent some “legal” reason to the contrary should dictate the result.

[481]*481The trial court ruled otherwise and relied on the holding of this court in Rummerfield v. Watson, 335 Mo. 71, 70 S.W.2d 895

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Bluebook (online)
566 S.W.2d 478, 1978 Mo. LEXIS 375, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-ex-rel-danforth-v-bondurant-mo-1978.