State v. Jones

999 So. 2d 1156, 2009 WL 81301
CourtLouisiana Court of Appeal
DecidedJanuary 14, 2009
Docket41,672-KA
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 999 So. 2d 1156 (State v. Jones) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Louisiana Court of Appeal primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Jones, 999 So. 2d 1156, 2009 WL 81301 (La. Ct. App. 2009).

Opinion

999 So.2d 1156 (2009)

STATE of Louisiana, Appellee,
v.
Derrick S. JONES, Appellant.

No. 41,672-KA.

Court of Appeal of Louisiana, Second Circuit.

January 14, 2009.

*1157 Annette F. Roach, for Appellant.

Jerry L. Jones, District Attorney, Stephen T. Sylvester, Assistant District Attorney, for Appellee.

Before BROWN, WILLIAMS and STEWART, JJ.

WILLIAMS, J.

The defendant, Derrick S. Jones, was charged by bill of information with four counts of second degree kidnapping, in violation of LSA-R.S. 14:44.1. Following a trial by jury, he was convicted as charged, and this court affirmed the defendant's convictions and sentences. State v. Jones, 41,672 (La.App.2d Cir.2/28/07), 954 So.2d 187.

In the original appeal, the defendant's appellate counsel filed a brief asserting no non-frivolous issues, pursuant to Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 87 S.Ct. 1396, 18 L.Ed.2d 493 (1967) and State v. Mouton, 95-0981 (La.4/28/95), 653 So.2d 1176, and moved to withdraw as attorney of record. We granted counsel's motion to withdraw and affirmed the defendant's convictions and sentences. Thereafter, the defendant filed a pro se application for writ of certiorari with the Louisiana Supreme Court, arguing, inter alia, the trial court erred in denying his motion for mistrial and/or new trial "based on the testimony of Juror Phyllis Calloway, who stated that she did not respond that she was the victim of domestic violence during voir dire."[1] The Court granted the defendant's writ application, vacated the defendant's convictions and sentences and remanded the matter to this court. State v. Jones, XXXX-XXXX (La.4/25/08), 979 So.2d 1272.

In accordance with the Court's instructions, this court ultimately issued an order that all of the voir dire testimony be transcribed so that it may be examined for any general voir dire regarding domestic abuse to which Ms. Benton/Calloway might have responded.[2] After reviewing the supplemental record, we found that there appeared to be significant discrepancies in Ms. Benton/Calloway's testimony during voir dire and at the motion for new trial regarding whether she has been a victim of domestic abuse. Accordingly, in the interests of justice, we remanded this matter to the trial court, directing the court to appoint an attorney for the defendant and order the case be rebriefed. State v. Jones, 41,672 (La.App.2d Cir.9/17/08), 999 So.2d 1152, 2008 WL 4225961.

*1158 DISCUSSION

Motion for New Trial

The defendant contends the trial court erred in denying his motion for new trial. He argues that he was denied a fair trial guaranteed to him by the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution and Art. I, § 16 of the Louisiana Constitution. Specifically, he argues that Ms. Benton/Calloway's failure to answer voir dire questions truthfully regarding whether she had been a victim of domestic abuse denied him his right to a fair trial. The defendant notes that the prospective juror's past history was not available to him prior to trial, and despite questioning, Ms. Benton/Calloway was not forthcoming with the information. The defendant argues that this court cannot arbitrarily assess the response of "Domestic" by "a Juror" to Ms. Benton/Calloway, and even so, this alone would not show that Ms. Benton/Calloway was truthful in her dealings with the trial court. The defendant categorizes Ms. Benton/Calloway's responses to questions at the hearing on the motion for new trial as "evasive and very argumentative," and argues that she never came forward with her history of domestic abuse, despite extensive questioning of other jurors about prior domestic abuse problems or being a victim of a crime. The defendant further contends that he was prejudiced by "jury deception and implied bias," and notes that he "still had a peremptory challenge available" at the time Ms. Benton/Calloway was chosen as juror number eleven.[3] In the alternative, the defendant argues that the case should be remanded for a new hearing so that he may be afforded the opportunity to question Ms. Benton/Calloway to show she was biased against men engaging in any activity that could be perceived as domestic abuse.

The denial of a motion for new trial is not subject to appellate review except for error of law. LSA-C.Cr.P. art. 858; State v. Quiambao, 36,587 (La.App.2d Cir.12/11/02), 833 So.2d 1103, writ denied, XXXX-XXXX (La.5/16/03), 843 So.2d 1130; State v. Horne, 28,327 (La.App.2d Cir.8/21/96), 679 So.2d 953, writ denied, 96-2345 (La.2/21/97), 688 So.2d 521. The decision to grant or deny a new trial rests in the sound discretion of the trial court. State v. Brisban, XXXX-XXXX (La.2/26/02), 809 So.2d 923. Generally, a motion for new trial will be denied unless the defendant establishes that he or she has suffered some injustice. LSA-C.Cr.P. art. 851; State v. Burrell, 561 So.2d 692 (La. 1990), cert. denied, 498 U.S. 1074, 111 S.Ct. 799, 112 L.Ed.2d 861 (1991); State v. Quiambao, supra; State v. Horne, supra.

LSA-C.Cr.P. art. 851 provides, in pertinent part:

The motion for a new trial is based on the supposition that injustice has been done the defendant, and, unless such is shown to have been the case the motion shall be denied, no matter upon what allegations it is grounded.
The court, on motion of the defendant, shall grant a new trial whenever:
* * *
(4) The defendant has discovered, since the verdict or judgment of guilty, a prejudicial error or defect in the proceedings that, notwithstanding the exercise of reasonable diligence by the defendant, was not discovered before the verdict or judgment; or
*1159 (5) The court is of the opinion that the ends of justice would be served by the granting of a new trial, although the defendant may not be entitled to a new trial as a matter of strict legal right.

LSA-C.Cr.P. art. 797 provides, in pertinent part:

The state or the defendant may challenge a juror for cause on the ground that:
* * *
(2) The juror is not impartial, whatever the cause of his partiality. An opinion or impression as to the guilt or innocence of the defendant shall not of itself be sufficient ground of challenge to a juror, if he declares, and the court is satisfied, that he can render an impartial verdict according to the law and the evidence;
* * *
(4) The juror will not accept the law as given to him by the court....
* * *

The defendant must prove that he was not aware of the juror's status when he accepted him and that he could not have discovered this information by the exercise of due diligence. LSA-C.Cr.P. art. 851(4); State v. Herrod, 412 So.2d 564 (La.1982); State v. Neal, 550 So.2d 740 (La.App. 2d Cir.1989), writ denied, 556 So.2d 55 (La.1990). When a motion for new trial is based on newly discovered evidence, the motion must contain allegations of facts sworn to by the defendant or his counsel showing the specific nature of the error or defect complained of and that the error was not discovered before or during trial, despite the exercise of reasonable diligence. LSA-C.Cr.P. art. 855; State v. Herrod, supra; State v. Neal, supra.

In State v. Neal, supra

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

Related

State v. Zeno
155 So. 3d 4 (Louisiana Court of Appeal, 2014)
State v. Watson
135 So. 3d 693 (Louisiana Court of Appeal, 2013)
State v. Lewis
110 So. 3d 644 (Louisiana Court of Appeal, 2013)
State v. Culp
17 So. 3d 429 (Louisiana Court of Appeal, 2009)
State v. Williams
15 So. 3d 348 (Louisiana Court of Appeal, 2009)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
999 So. 2d 1156, 2009 WL 81301, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-jones-lactapp-2009.