State v. Karlen

1999 SD 12, 589 N.W.2d 594, 1999 S.D. LEXIS 25
CourtSouth Dakota Supreme Court
DecidedFebruary 3, 1999
DocketNone
StatusPublished
Cited by44 cases

This text of 1999 SD 12 (State v. Karlen) 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. Karlen, 1999 SD 12, 589 N.W.2d 594, 1999 S.D. LEXIS 25 (S.D. 1999).

Opinions

GILBERTSON, Justice (on reassignment).

[¶ 1.] Karlen appeals his conviction of two counts of second degree rape, three counts of unauthorized distribution of a substance with moderate potential for abuse and three counts of sexual contact without consent with person capable of consenting. We affirm as to issues one, two and four and reverse and remand with instructions as to issue three.

FACTS

[¶ 2.] Trey Karlen was business manager and publicity director for the South Dakota State University (SDSU) Theater. On August 15, 1996, he was indicted in Brookings County on a thirteen-count indictment. The charged crimes, which occurred between October 31, 1994, and July 8, 1996, involved male victims associated with the SDSU theater community. The indictment included five counts of sexual contact without consent with person capable of consenting; three counts of second degree rape; and five counts of unauthorized distribution of a substance with moderate potential for abuse. Karlen pled not guilty to all charges. On December 19, 1996, following a hearing on the parties’ motions, counts eleven (unauthorized distribution of a substance with moder[597]*597ate potential for abuse) and twelve (sexual contact without consent with person capable of consenting) of the indictment were dismissed.

[¶ 3.] On January 4,1997, the state’s attorney notified Karlen that the State intended to dismiss the charges in the indictment. The charges were formally dismissed on January 6, 1997. One week later, Karlen was indicted on fourteen counts. The crimes charged included three counts of second degree rape;1 six counts of sexual contact without consent with person capable of consenting;2 and five counts of unauthorized distribution of a substance with moderate potential for abuse.3 Karlen pleaded not guilty to all counts.

[¶4.] The trial on these charges commenced on September 2, 1997. Karlen was found guilty on two counts of second degree rape, three counts of unauthorized distribution of a substance with moderate potential for abuse,4 and three counts of sexual contact without consent with person capable of consenting.

[¶ 5.] In this appeal, Karlen raises the following issues:

1. Whether the trial court erred in denying Karlen’s motion to dismiss.
2. Whether the trial court erred in not granting Karlen a continuance because of the unavailability of a witness.
3. Whether the trial court erred in granting a motion to quash a subpoena issued by the defense on Henry Fulda.
4. Whether the trial court erred in denying Karlen’s motion for a judgment of acquittal as to Count IV.

STANDARD OF REVIEW

[¶ 6.] We review a trial court’s findings of fact under the clearly erroneous standard. State v. Westerfield, 1997 SD 100, ¶ 8, 567 N.W.2d 863, 866. A trial court’s eviden-tiary rulings “are presumed correct and are reviewed under an abuse of discretion standard.” State v. Larson, 1998 SD 80, ¶ 10, 582 N.W.2d 15, 17 (citation omitted). “The construction of [a] statute and its application to [the] facts present questions of law, which we review de novo.” State v. Springer-Ertl, 1997 SD 128, ¶ 4, 570 N.W.2d 39, 40. “In reviewing the denial of a motion for judgment of acquittal, the ultimate question is whether the evidence was sufficient to sustain the conviction.” Larson, 1998 SD 80 at ¶ 9, 582 N.W.2d at 17.

DECISION

[¶ 7.] 1. The trial court did not err in denying Karlen’s motion to dismiss.

[¶ 8.] Karlen claims the trial court should have dismissed the charges because the 180-day rule was violated. He also claims the charges should have been dismissed, because he was denied his right to a speedy trial. We disagree with both claims.

[¶ 9.] a, 180-Day Rule.

[¶ 10.] SDCL 23A-44-5.1, which is the 180-day rule, provides, in pertinent part:

(1) Every person indicted, informed or complained against for any offense shall be brought to trial within one hundred eighty days, and such time shall be computed as provided in this section.
(2) Such one hundred eighty day period shall commence to run from the date the [598]*598defendant has .first appeared before a judicial officer on an indictment, information or complaint.

[¶ 11.] Karlen contends the State’s dismissal of the August 15, 1996, indictment and its decision to reindict him on January 13, 1997, caused the 180-day rule violation. He claims that the trial would have been held within the 180-day time frame had the dis-mjssal and reindictment not occurred.5 We find these claims to be without merit. By using either date, Karlen cannot establish an 180-day rule violation.6

[¶ 12.] This Court has adopted a two-part test for determining the date from which the 180-day period begins to run when an initial indictment has been dismissed and the defendant is reindicted. State v. Lowther, 434 N.W.2d 747, 751 (S.D.1989); see also State v. Tiedeman, 433 N.W.2d 237, 239-40 (S.D.1988) (applying the Pennsylvania court’s two-pronged test to determine the date on which the 180-day period begins to run). The 180-day period commences when the defendant has first appeared on the reindietment if “(1) the earlier indictment was properly dismissed by a competent judicial officer and (2) the record does not reveal evidence of a prosecutorial attempt to circumvent the 180-day rule.” Lowther, 434 N.W.2d at 751 (citing Tiedeman, 433 N.W.2d at 239) (other citations omitted). ■

[¶ 13.] After closely reviewing the record, we find no evidence to show the original indictment was improperly dismissed. Moreover, nothing in the record reveals that the State dismissed the charges in the original indictment to circumvent the 180-day rule. The record shows that both prongs of Lowtker have been satisfied. Therefore, we con-elude the 180-day period commenced when Karlen first appeared on the reindictment, which was February 5,1997.

[¶ 14.] Moreover, a review of the record reveals that much of the delay was attributable to Karlen. At the February 5, 1997, arraignment, the State indicated it was ready to proceed with trial at any time the court and Karlen’s counsel, David Gienapp, would be available. The trial was tentatively set to begin on May 13. The date was tentative, because Gienapp was involved in another trial that he felt might conflict with the May trial date. The conflict did, in fact, arise. On April 14, Gienapp, by letter, informed the court and the prosecutor that he would be unavailable for the May trial dates because of the conflict. On April 25, the court, Karlen, one of Gienapp’s associates, and the prosecutor, held a telephonic conference to determine the manner in which the parties should proceed. The court informed the parties it was treating Gienapp’s April 14 letter as a motion for a continuance and, thus, granted the continuance. The court then tolled the 180-day rule until the date of trial, which was set for September 2, 1997. Clearly, this demonstrates the delay was not the result of the State’s actions and that the 180-day rule was not violated.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
1999 SD 12, 589 N.W.2d 594, 1999 S.D. LEXIS 25, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-karlen-sd-1999.