State v. Haase

446 N.W.2d 62, 1989 S.D. LEXIS 161, 1989 WL 111556
CourtSouth Dakota Supreme Court
DecidedSeptember 27, 1989
Docket16183
StatusPublished
Cited by27 cases

This text of 446 N.W.2d 62 (State v. Haase) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering South Dakota 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. Haase, 446 N.W.2d 62, 1989 S.D. LEXIS 161, 1989 WL 111556 (S.D. 1989).

Opinion

PER CURIAM.

Appellant Troy Haase, by his notice of appeal, appeals his convictions for first degree rape and kidnapping. Haase entered a guilty plea to Part II of the Habitual Criminal Information. The latter is not on appeal. Two concurrent sentences were imposed on appellant. Haase does not argue that his kidnapping conviction is invalid and he cites no authorities urging its illegality. State v. Michalek, 407 N.W.2d 815 (S.D.1987). We affirm.

FACTS

The victim in this case lived in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Victim, as part of her daily routine, would walk along the same route every evening after work. During the course of her evening walk on September 14, 1987, the victim was seized by a man she later identified as Haase. Haase ran up behind her, grabbed her, and placed his hand over her mouth. Haase verbally assaulted the victim with various profanities and threats on her life, dragged her to his waiting car and pushed her inside. Victim struggled all the way, using keys to try to scrape Haase and attempted to knee appellant in his crotch. Haase then forced himself on top of the victim and began to remove her clothing. He literally attempted to rip off her clothes. He succeeded in removing the right shoulder of victim’s sweatshirt and the strap on her bodysuit. Because she was wearing a one piece “leotard” Haase became frustrated and muttered something to the effect that “this isn’t going to work.”

Forcing the victim to remain in the car, Haase drove from the city street in Sioux Falls, where the abduction took place, to an abandoned farmstead south of the city in Lincoln County. As he drove in Sioux Falls, Haase physically restrained victim and slammed her foot down when she propelled her foot up in the air attempting to draw attention to her plight. * Once at the farmstead, Haase resumed stripping the victim’s clothes off of her, beginning with her shoes, and compelled the victim into performing acts of oral sex and sexual intercourse. Haase then drove the victim back into Sioux Falls. Victim jumped out of the car near a stoplight in the vicinity of her apartment.

Victim then reported the incident to the authorities and the ensuing investigation led to Haase. Haase was subsequently indicted in Minnehaha County for one count *64 of kidnapping and one count of first degree rape. Prior to trial, Haase filed a motion to dismiss the rape charge contending that the rape occurred in Lincoln County and, as a result, the circuit court in Minnehaha County had no jurisdiction to try the offense. However, Haase withdrew this motion to dismiss at the pretrial motions hearing.

During trial, at the close of state’s case, Haase again moved for a dismissal of the rape charge for lack of jurisdiction. This motion was denied by the trial court. At the close of all the evidence, Haase made a final motion to dismiss the rape charge due to lack of jurisdiction. Again, the trial court denied the motion.

The jury returned a verdict finding Haase guilty of both first degree rape and kidnapping. Judgment and sentence were entered accordingly and this appeal followed. State and Haase both briefed one issue for our consideration.

ISSUE

Did the trial court err in denying Haase’s motion to dismiss the charge of first degree rape?

Haase argues that trial of the rape charge in Minnehaha County denied him his state constitutional and statutory right to trial in the county where the offense occurred (i.e. Lincoln County). S.D. Const, art. VI, § 7; SDCL 23A-16-3.

A. Waiver of venue objection.

State contends that Haase waived any objection to trial of the rape charge in Minnehaha County by withdrawing his pretrial motion to dismiss the charge and by couching his objection in terms of “jurisdiction” rather than “venue.” State’s argument points out the confusion which often arises in this context between the concepts of “jurisdiction” and “venue.”

“Jurisdiction” is made up of two components, i.e., (a) “personal jurisdiction” and (b) “subject-matter jurisdiction.” See, Honomichl v. State, 333 N.W.2d 797 (S.D. 1983). A court must have both personal and subject-matter jurisdiction before it may act on a criminal charge. Id. A court acquires “personal jurisdiction” by the accused’s presence before the court, irrespective of the events procuring his presence. State v. Arnold, 379 N.W.2d 322 (S.D. 1986). “Subject-matter jurisdiction” entails the power of a court to hear a case, determine the facts, apply the law and set a penalty. Zelenka v. State, 83 Wis.2d 601, 266 N.W.2d 279 (1978). “Subject-matter jurisdiction cannot be conferred by agreement, consent, or waiver.” Honomichl, 333 N.W.2d at 799. A judgment rendered by a court without jurisdiction to pronounce it is wholly void and without any force or effect whatever. State v. Mee, 67 S.D. 589, 297 N.W. 40 (1941). Jurisdiction may be challenged at any time during the pendency of the proceedings and for the first time on appeal. SDCL 23A-8-3(3); Honomichl, supra.

“Venue” is another matter. It refers to the county in which the prosecution is to be brought. State v. Greene, 86 S.D. 177, 192 N.W.2d 712 (1971). Generally, this will be the county in which the offense is alleged to have been committed. S.D. Const, art. VI, § 7; SDCL 23A-16-3. However, unlike jurisdiction which cannot be conferred by waiver, {Honomichl, supra ) the right to venue of a prosecution in the county where the offense was committed can be waived by a defendant and the prosecution may proceed in another county. State v. Nilles, 397 N.W.2d 475 (S.D.1986); Croan v. State, 295 N.W.2d 728 (S.D.1980); State v. Ross, 47 S.D. 188, 197 N.W. 234 (1924). Were the rule otherwise, a change in venue would not be possible. See, Croan, supra; In re Nelson, 19 S.D. 214, 102 N.W. 885 (1902). In summation, subject matter jurisdiction cannot be waived, but venue can be waived.

In this instance, state asserts that an objection to venue of a prosecution in a county, other than that where the offense was committed, is waived by failure to raise the objection prior to trial. Explicitly, failure to raise a defense or objection, which must be raised prior to trial, does constitute a waiver of the defense or objection. SDCL 23A-8-9.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
446 N.W.2d 62, 1989 S.D. LEXIS 161, 1989 WL 111556, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-haase-sd-1989.