State v. Fiene

363 N.W.2d 385, 219 Neb. 397, 1985 Neb. LEXIS 938
Nebraska Supreme Court·Decided March 1, 1985·No. No. 84-330·Published

Opinion

Grant, J.

Defendant, Kevin R. Fiene, was arrested and tried in the county court for Dawson County for driving an automobile [398] while under the influence of alcoholic liquor or while having ten-hundredths of one percent or more of alcohol in his body fluids. A determination that Fiene violated either, or both, of such charges would constitute a violation of Neb. Rev. Stat. § 39-669.07 (Reissue 1984). See State v. Wenzel, 215 Neb. 395, 338 N.W.2d 772 (1983). On July 28, 1983, Fiene was found guilty, by written court order (filed July 29, 1983) of “DRIVING WHILE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOLIC LIQUOR, 39-669.07 (W M.O.).” Fiene was sentenced to probation, including a fine and a 60-day driver’s license suspension.

This county court order was timely appealed to the district court on August 2, 1983. The county court approved Fiene’s appeal bond filed the same day. This appeal by Fiene fully complied with the requirements of Neb. Rev. Stat. § 29-611 (Reissue 1979).

By memorandum opinion and order dated August 30, 1983, the district court held that the county court had improperly admitted evidence as to a test taken of Fiene’s breath at the time of his arrest (for reasons not relevant to this appeal), and ordered

that this matter be reversed and remanded to the County Court; that the County Court enter an opinion determining whether it based its finding of guilt upon the admission of the breath test or upon the testimony of the officer; that if the Court relied upon the breath test as the determining factor for guilt, this matter shall be dismissed; that if the Court relied on other evidence, excluding the evidence of the breath test, for the determination of guilty, the finding of guilt by the Court shall be reimposed and the sentence of the County Court carried out.

While this reversal and remand presented various problems arising from the fact that it does not directly “affirm, modify, or vacate the judgment, or... remand the case to the county... court for a new trial,” as required by Neb. Rev. Stat. § 29-613 (Reissue 1979), the order did effectively transfer jurisdiction of the case to the county court.

It is at this point that confusion, introduced by defendant’s [399] pleading, enters the case. As stated above, the district court, on August 30, 1983, had remanded the case to county court. The case has passed out of the jurisdiction of the district court. Nonetheless, on September 1,1983, defendant filed a “Motion for New Trial” in the district court. The efficacy of such a motion is, at best, questionable. See In re Estate of Weinberger, 207 Neb. 711, 300 N.W.2d 818 (1981). For the purposes of this opinion, however, and since no party questions the validity of the procedure, it will be assumed the matter proceeded properly. The confusion continued when the district court, by order filed on November 18, 1983, ordered:

NOW on this 4th day of November, 1983, this matter comes on for hearing having been taken under advisement by the Court. The Court being duly advised finds that the Motion For New Trial should be, and hereby is overruled. That the Defendant shall pay the costs of this action in the sum of $347.70 if the conviction is not set aside in the County Court of Dawson County, Nebraska.
SO ORDERED this 18th day of November, 1983.

Fiene’s attorney was sent a “Notice of Judgment” by the clerk of the district court on November 22, 1983. The clerk’s certificate stated, in part, “Order entered oh Nov. 4, 1983 and filed in office of [sic] Nov. 18 1983.”

The county court then entered an order stating, among other things:

NOW on this 9th day of November, this matter comes on for hearing on the Court’s own motion. The Defendant’s motion for new trial being overruled by the Honorable John R Murphy; gives this court jurisdiction of the case.
The District Court’s order filed August 30, 1983, reversed and remanded this case for an opinion of this Court on whether it relied upon the breath test or other evidence for the determination of guilt of the defendant.

The order concluded by stating that “the original sentence imposed by this Court is hereby ratified and reimposed.” On the same date (but filed November 14, 1983) the county court entered its sentencing order, again placing defendant Fiene on probation with the same fine and suspension as earlier imposed.

[400] The two November 9, 1983, orders of the county court were made, after the remand of the district court, on the county court’s own motion. Neither defendant Fiene nor his attorney was present or notified.

This order of sentencing by the county court presents various problems to any reviewing court. It is questionable if a sentence may be “reimposed, ” and, in any event, a defendant may not be sentenced in absentia unless he has waived his appearance. State v. Ernest, 200 Neb. 615, 264 N.W.2d 677 (1978). Nonetheless, the county court did have jurisdiction to enter the order. If the order was wrong, it should have been challenged on appeal to the district court.

On December 7, 1983, defendant’s attorney filed, in the county court, a “Written Notice Of Appeal,” stating:

COMES NOW the Defendant, Kevin R. Fiene, and gives his written notice of his intention to appeal the judgment entered by this Court on the 9th day of November, 1983.
The Defendant continues his cash bond of $100.00 as previously deposited herein. The Defendant, in addition to the cash bond, further undertakes to the Court that he will appear at the District Court of Dawson County, Nebraska, forthwith and from day to day thereafter until the final disposition of the appeal and to answer the complaint against him and to abide by the judgment of the District Court and not depart therefrom without leave.

There was no bond set by the court on this appeal (as required by § 29-611), but apparently the bond was unilaterally set by defendant’s counsel.

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State v. Fiene, 363 N.W.2d 385, 219 Neb. 397, 1985 Neb. LEXIS 938 (Neb. 1985).

363 N.W.2d 385 (State v. Fiene) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

Related

State v. Ernest
264 N.W.2d 677 (Nebraska Supreme Court, 1978)
Estate of Weinberger v. Medlin
300 N.W.2d 818 (Nebraska Supreme Court, 1981)
State v. Wenzel
338 N.W.2d 772 (Nebraska Supreme Court, 1983)