State v. Cookson

657 A.2d 1154, 1995 Me. LEXIS 81
CourtSupreme Judicial Court of Maine
DecidedMay 4, 1995
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 657 A.2d 1154 (State v. Cookson) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Judicial Court of Maine primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Cookson, 657 A.2d 1154, 1995 Me. LEXIS 81 (Me. 1995).

Opinion

GLASSMAN, Justice.

Brian D. Cookson appeals from the judgment entered in the Superior Court (Knox County, Marsano, /.). after the jury’s verdict finding him guilty of arson, 17-A M.R.S.A. § 802(1)(A) (1983).1 He contends, inter alia, that (1) the trial court erred in denying his motion to dismiss the indictment with prejudice for the State’s failure to bring him to trial within the time limit as prescribed by the Interstate Compact on Detainers (ICD), 34-A M.R.S.A. § 9604 (1988);2 (2) the trial court erroneously admitted hearsay testimony as an adoptive admission of Cookson; and (3) the evidence is insufficient to support the jury’s verdict. Contrary to Cookson’s contentions, we hold there was no violation of the Interstate Compact on Detainers and based on the evidence submitted to it the jury rationally could find beyond a reasonable doubt that Cookson was guilty of the charged offense. We agree, however, that there was an insufficient factual foundation for the trial court to admit the challenged testimony as an adoptive admission of Cook-son. Accordingly, we vacate the judgment.

On June 18,1991, a fire partially destroyed the Remnant Rug Rack located in Rockland. Fire investigators later determined that the fire had been deliberately set using a combustible liquid. There was no eyewitness and no forensic evidence to connect any suspects to the fire. On December 17, 1992, Brian Cookson was indicted on one count of arson and one count of conspiracy to commit arson.3 At the time of the indictment, Cook-son was incarcerated in Danbury, Connecticut. The trial court determined that Cook-son was indigent and an attorney was appointed for him. On March 1, 1993, the Knox County District Attorney filed a request for temporary custody of Cookson. On April 30, 1993, Cookson notified the District Attorney that he was invoking his right to a [1156]*1156speedy resolution of the charges and Cook-son complied with the formal requirements for a final disposition pursuant to 34-A M.R.S.A. § 9603(1) (1988).4

Cookson was delivered into the custody of Maine authorities on June 15,1993. On July 21, 1993, Cookson filed two motions: a discovery motion, requesting copies of any plea agreements executed between the state and/or the federal government and two potential state witnesses, and a motion seeking at the State’s expense copies of the transcripts of the testimony of a state witness in two prior unrelated proceedings.5 After a hearing, on August 27, 1993, the trial court granted both motions. On October 18, 1993, Cookson filed a motion to dismiss the indictment on the ground that the State failed to bring him to trial within the 120-day time limit prescribed by 34-A M.R.S.A. § 9604. After a hearing, the Superior Court (Krav-chuk, J.) determined that the 120-day period had been tolled for the 36 days between the filing of Cookson’s motions on July 21, 1993, and the decision of the court on those motions on August 27, 1993. Cookson’s first trial began on October 26, 1993, 131 days after Cookson was delivered to the Maine authorities, and resulted in a mistrial. The second trial resulted in a judgment entered on the jury verdict finding him guilty of arson, and Cookson appeals.

Cookson first contends that the trial court erred by denying his motion to dismiss the indictment with prejudice based on the State’s violation of 34-A M.R.S.A. § 9604. The State and Cookson agree that Cookson was not brought to trial within 120 days of his arrival in Maine as required by section 9604. The State contends that the trial court properly determined that the 120-day period was tolled for the period of time required to decide Cookson’s discovery motions. Cook-son contends, however, that because his motions did not require a hearing and could have been decided ex parte by the trial court, the 36 days between the filing and the court’s decision should not toll the 120-day period. Accordingly, Cookson argues that the indictment should have been dismissed with prejudice pursuant to 34-A M.R.S.A. § 9605(3) (1988).6 We disagree.

The purpose of the ICD is to provide a speedy and orderly disposition of outstanding charges against persons already incarcerated in other jurisdictions. 34-A M.R.S.A. § 9601. Once the appropriate officer of the jurisdiction in which an untried indictment is pending has obtained temporary custody of a prisoner, “trial shall be commenced within 120 days of the arrival of the prisoner in the receiving state.” 34-A M.R.S.A. § 9604(3). The ICD also provides that the 120-day time period “shall be tolled whenever and for as long as the prisoner is unable to stand trial.” 34 M.R.S.A. § 9606.

We have previously stated that a defendant is unable to stand trial during “all those periods of delay occasioned by the defendant.” State v. Rose, 604 A.2d 24, 25 (Me.1992) (quoting United States v. Taylor, 861 F.2d 316, 321 (1st Cir.1988)). A defendant waives the 120-day limitation during the time it takes to resolve matters raised by him. Taylor, 861 F.2d at 321.

We have never stated that on a motion by the defendant the State must provide and pay for a transcript of a state witness’s testimony in an unrelated proceeding without a hearing to determine whether the transcript is necessary to an adequate defense. A defendant’s need for a transcript unrelated to [1157]*1157his own trial depends on the facts and circumstances of each case. To receive the requested transcripts at the state’s cost, Cookson was required to demonstrate that it was “essential or necessary to an adequate defense.” State v. Anaya, 456 A.2d 1255, 1268 (Me.1988). In Anaya, we stated that a defendant was required to demonstrate to the satisfaction of the trial court that public funds for expert witnesses were justified as necessary for an adequate defense. Id. In this case, to justify the expenditure of public funds the trial court properly heard the motion before determining whether the transcripts were essential to Cookson’s defense. Because the delay was occasioned by Cook-son, the trial court properly determined there had been no violation of section 9604(3). Rose, 604 A.2d at 25.

Cookson next contends that over his objection certain hearsay evidence was erroneously admitted through the testimony of Dennis O’Brian, a witness for the State, as an adoptive admission of Cookson. We agree. M.R.Evid. 801(d)(2)(B) provides that a statement is not hearsay if “the statement is offered against a party and is ... a statement of which he has manifested his adoption or belief in its truth.” The burden of proof is on the proponent to show that an adoption was intended. Field & Murray, Maine Evidence § 801.6 at 8-19 (1992). We have previously recognized that the “adoptive admission of a defendant charged with a crime is tantamount to a confession stripped of constitutional safeguards against self-incrimination.” State v. Marr, 536 A.2d 1108, 1110 (Me.1988). A defendant’s mere presence when a statement is made is insufficient to support a finding of adoption. State v. Anderson, 409 A.2d 1290, 1299 (Me.1979).

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Bluebook (online)
657 A.2d 1154, 1995 Me. LEXIS 81, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-cookson-me-1995.