State v. Crump

484 P.2d 329, 82 N.M. 487
CourtNew Mexico Supreme Court
DecidedApril 26, 1971
Docket9143
StatusPublished
Cited by58 cases

This text of 484 P.2d 329 (State v. Crump) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New Mexico Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Crump, 484 P.2d 329, 82 N.M. 487 (N.M. 1971).

Opinion

OPINION

OMAN, Justice.

Defendant was convicted of robbery, kidnapping, and an attempt to commit murder. He was sentenced for each offense, and he appealed. We reverse the judgment of conviction and sentence for kidnapping, but otherwise affirm.

Defendant first claims he was deprived of his constitutional right to a speedy trial. This right is guaranteed by both the United States Constitution and the New Mexico Constitution. Klopfer v. North Carolina, 386 U.S. 213, 87 S.Ct. 988, 18 L.Ed.2d 1 (1967); Raburn v. Nash, 78 N.M. 385, 431 P.2d 874 (1967); State v. Polsky, N.M. App., 82 N.M. 393, 482 P.2d 257, decided February 5, 1971.

The acts constituting the offenses with which defendant was charged and convicted occurred on July 13, 1967. He immediately fled the jurisdiction; was apprehended in Michigan on August 2, 1967 by the authorities in that state for a crime committed there; was incarcerated in the Michigan Penitentiary; was so imprisoned when indicted by a New Mexico Grand Jury on February 21, 1969; was returned to New Mexico on about March 24 or 25, 1970; two attorneys were appointed to represent him on March 25 and 26, 1970; and his trial commenced on April 20, 1970.

We agree with the State’s contention that the period prior to the filing of the indictment on February 21, 1969 is not to be considered in determining whether there was a violation of defendant’s constitutional right to a speedy trial. Oden v. United States, 410 F.2d 103 (5th Cir. 1969), cert. denied, 396 U.S. 863, 90 S.Ct. 138, 24 L.Ed.2d 116 (1969); Harlow v. United States, 301 F.2d 361 (5th Cir. 1962), cert. denied, 371 U.S. 814, 83 S.Ct. 25, 9 L.Ed.2d 56 (1962); Hoopengarner v. United States, 270 F.2d 465 (6th Cir. 1959); State v. Polsky, supra, and cases cited therein.

Defendant, in taking the opposite position, relies upon the case of Smith v. United States, 360 U.S. 1, 79 S.Ct. 991, 3 L.Ed.2d 1041 (1959), wherein the sole and precise question decided was whether the petitioner’s alleged violation of the Federal! Kidnapping Act had to be presented by indictment, as required by the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States and Rule 7(a), Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, but in which the court stated: “ * * * Moreover, if, contrary to sound judicial administration in our federal system, arrest and incarceration are followed by inordinate delay prior to indictment, a defendant may, under appropriate circumstances, invoke the protection of the Sixth Amendment.”

Nothing further is said in the opinion about the Sixth Amendment, about what constitutes an inordinate' delay, or about what are appropriate circumstances under which to invoke the protection of the Sixth Amendment. However, it does appear the quoted language, in the context in which it was used, suggests the right to a speedy trial has application to times and events preceding the institution of formal charges against an accused. Nevertheless, as stated by the Court of Appeals in State v. Polsky, supra: “ * * * we agree with the jurisdictions which have clearly and expressly passed upon this question, and which have held the constitutional right to a speedy trial arises, or becomes applicable, only upon the initiation of formal prosecution proceedings. * * * ”

As shown above, defendant was imprisoned in Michigan when indicted in New Mexico on February 21, 1969, and was still so imprisoned when removed from that State to be returned to New Mexico to stand trial for the crimes he had committed here on July 13, 1967. Insofar as the record shows, he was not furnished a copy of the New Mexico indictment until about March 25, 1970 upon his arrival in New Mexico. However, he had told the Michigan authorities on August 2, 1967, he was wanted in New Mexico for murder, thereby indicating he believed he had killed his victim. This is clearly inconsistent with his present claim that by reason of his denial of a speedy trial witnesses were lost to him who could have established an alibi as to h'is presence in Arizona on July 13, 1967.

The claimed loss of alibi witnesses finds support only in an affidavit by one of his appointed counsel attached to a motion to dismiss the indictment for the reason that he had been deprived of his right to a speedy trial. Obviously the information concerning these claimed witnesses as to defendant’s presence in Arizona on July 13, 1967 came from defendant himself. Undoubtedly the attorney was very diligent in his efforts to locate the claimed witnesses and any information which would have established an alibi, but his failure cannot be attributed to the State of New Mexico. If every unsupported claim by an accused of the loss of witnesses favorable to him, by reason of delay of the State in failing to bring the accused to trial sooner, were to be accepted as the truth and as a denial of his right to a speedy trial, it would be a rare case in which a defendant could not successfully assert such a defense. Compare State v. Polsky, supra.

“ * * * The right of a speedy trial is necessarily relative. It is consistent with delays and depends upon circumstances. It secures rights to a defendant. It does not preclude the rights of public justice. * * *” Beavers v. Haubert, 198 U.S. 77, 25 S.Ct. 573, 49 L.Ed. 950 (1905), See also, Harrison v. United States, 392 U.S. 219, 88 S.Ct. 2008, 20 L.Ed.2d 1047 (1968), (footnote 4 at 221) ; United States v. Ewell, 383 U.S. 116, 86 S.Ct. 773, 15 L.Ed.2d 627 (1966); Hoag v. New Jersey, 356 U.S. 464, 78 S.Ct. 829, 2 L.Ed.2d 913 (1958).

The guarantee of a speedy trial is to prevent undue and oppressive incarceration prior to the trial, to minimize anxiety and concern accompanying public accusation, and to limit the possibility that long delay will impair the ability of the accused to defend himself. United States v. Ewell, supra.

Defendant was tried in less than thirty days after his return to New Mexico. His prior incarceration was by the State of Michigan, and not New Mexico. He could hardly have suffered anxiety and concern over the charges before he was returned to New Mexico, when he claims to have first learned of the charges. This is particularly true, since he understood he was wanted for murder in New Mexico, and this understanding necessarily came from his acts and not any charges filed against him.

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Bluebook (online)
484 P.2d 329, 82 N.M. 487, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-crump-nm-1971.