State v. Johnson

675 S.W.2d 891, 1984 Mo. App. LEXIS 4711
Procedural entryThis page is a short order in State v. Johnson. Read the opinion of the Court — 1982 Mo. App. LEXIS 3431
Missouri Court of Appeals·Decided July 3, 1984·No. No. WD 32,692·Published

Opinion

TURNAGE, Chief Judge.

Ivan Johnson was found guilty by a jury of rape and sodomy and punishment was fixed at 7 years imprisonment on each count. The court entered judgment assessing the same punishment with the sentences to run concurrently.

Johnson contends that he was denied a speedy trial under § 545.780, RSMo 1978. He further contends he was denied a speedy trial in violation of his state and federal constitutional rights; that the state failed to disclose the details of the victim’s involvement in the sale of marijuana; and that the court committed plain error in allowing Johnson’s witnesses to appear in leg irons. Affirmed.

Johnson does not challenge the sufficiency of the evidence. It will suffice to say that the victim had met Johnson prior to the night that he entered her home and committed the rape and sodomy of which she testified. There was evidence that Johnson’s fingerprints were found in the victim’s kitchen on a glass recovered immediately after her report of the incident.

Johnson was arraigned on October 3, 1979. At that time Johnson was represented by his own attorney and, following an application for a change of judge, the attorney filed an application to withdraw. In February of 1980, the court advised Johnson to either retain an attorney or apply for a public defender.

On March 6, 1980, Johnson appeared on this charge while he was in jail on a charge of receiving stolen property. The court appointed the public defender to represent him.

Johnson again appeared on this charge in July of 1980, and the court noted that the public defender had withdrawn because of a conflict in representing a co-defendant of Johnson’s in the stolen property case. The court stated that the conflict had been resolved and again appointed the public defender. On October 6, 1980, Johnson appeared with the public defender who advised the court that although the conflict involving a co-defendant on the stolen property charge had been resolved, the public defender represented one of Johnson’s co-defendants in a burglary charge pending against Johnson. Before requesting that he be allowed to withdraw, the public defender moved to dismiss the charge against Johnson because a trial had not been held within 180 days as required by § 545.780. The public defender stated that he did not say that Johnson had been prejudiced by the delay, but that he was entitled to dismissal because of the failure to bring him to trial within the 180 days. The court found that any delay in getting the case tried was caused by Johnson. The court allowed the public defender to withdraw.

On December 4, 1980, another attorney was appointed to represent Johnson, and on December 23 that attorney filed another motion to dismiss under § 545.780. That motion was likewise denied.

In January of 1981, the state filed a first amended information. On February 2, 1981, Johnson and his attorney appeared and his attorney said that some of Johnson’s witnesses were out-of-state and some were in Missouri prisons. Counsel stated that he was not ready for trial because his witnesses were not there. The court set the case for trial on March 2, 1981.

On March 2, Johnson and his attorney appeared and counsel stated that he was not ready because there were a number of witnesses that he wanted to appear. He stated that two who were in prison were then en route, but that he had been unable to contact the other witnesses because Johnson’s relatives were to furnish the addresses but had failed to do so. Counsel stated that he had an appointment with [894]*894Johnson’s brother prior to trial at which time addresses were to be supplied to him, but the brother failed to keep the appointment. Counsel stated to the court in all candor that he was having difficulty preparing a defense because he had received conflicting versions of the incident from Johnson and other members of his family. Counsel stated that he did not know which way to go in preparing a defense. Johnson told the judge that he was not satisfied with his attorney and counsel moved for leave to withdraw but this was denied. No specific information was supplied to the court regarding particular witnesses Johnson wanted to appear but was unable to contact.

The record reveals that while this case was pending prior to trial, the prosecutor filed five motions requesting that the case be set for trial.

Johnson first contends that he is entitled to have the charge dismissed because of the failure to try him within 180 days after arraignment as required by § 545.780. The court in State v. Collins, 669 S.W.2d 933 (Mo. banc 1984), held that § 545.780 has no teeth and that dismissal of an indictment or information is purely a matter for the discretion of the trial judge. The court further stated, “one who would challenge this exercise of discretion must meet the very substantial burden of demonstrating an abuse of discretion. Counsel should realize that success on appeal is very unlikely if the trial judge declines to dismiss the case.”

Although the delay in this case is longer than that in Collins there are striking similarities. As in Collins, Johnson had other charges pending against him while this charge was pending, and the trial judge stated that Johnson had been tried on at least one of the other charges. There was a change of counsel as occurred in Collins. This court is unable to say that the trial judge abused his discretion in refusing to dismiss this case under § 545.780.

Johnson further contends that his right to a speedy trial under Article 1, § 18(a) of the Missouri Constitution and under the Sixth Amendment of the United States Constitution was denied. The resolution of this question requires the balancing process described in Barker v. Wingo, 407 U.S. 514, 92 S.Ct. 2182, 33 L.Ed.2d 101 (1972), and State v. Bolin, 643 S.W.2d 806 (Mo. banc 1983). The first factor to be balanced is the length of delay which was described in Barker as a triggering mechanism to engage the balancing process. The delay in this case was 515 days between arraignment and trial which may be described as presumptively prejudicial. Bo-lin, supra at 814. That being so, it is necessary to turn to the remaining factors to be balanced.

The second factor is the reason for the delay. As in Bolin, there is no contention that the prosecutor or the trial court attempted to delay the trial in order to hamper the defense. Although the delay in this case was well over a year, there was a withdrawal of the private attorney who represented Johnson, and difficulty in obtaining a public defender to represent him because of conflicts involving other charges against Johnson. Further, the state filed five motions requesting this case be set for trial. This factor weighs in favor of the state.

The next factor is the assertion by the defendant of his right to a speedy trial. The record does not reveal any attempt by Johnson to have the case tried. This factor weighs in favor of the state.

The final factor is the question of prejudice. The subfactors to be considered under this heading are, “(1) prevention of oppressive pretrial incarceration; (2) minimization of anxiety and concern of the accused; and (3) limitation of the possibility that the defense will be impaired.” Bolin at 815[15, 16].

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

State v. Johnson, 675 S.W.2d 891, 1984 Mo. App. LEXIS 4711 (Mo. Ct. App. 1984).

675 S.W.2d 891 (State v. Johnson) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

Related

Barker v. Wingo
407 U.S. 514 (Supreme Court, 1972)
State v. Murphy
592 S.W.2d 727 (Supreme Court of Missouri, 1979)
State v. Bolin
643 S.W.2d 806 (Supreme Court of Missouri, 1983)
State v. Collins
669 S.W.2d 933 (Supreme Court of Missouri, 1984)