State v. Lewis

222 S.W.3d 284, 2007 Mo. App. LEXIS 548, 2007 WL 968636
CourtMissouri Court of Appeals
DecidedApril 3, 2007
DocketED 86961
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 222 S.W.3d 284 (State v. Lewis) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Missouri Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Lewis, 222 S.W.3d 284, 2007 Mo. App. LEXIS 548, 2007 WL 968636 (Mo. Ct. App. 2007).

Opinion

GARY M. GAERTNER, Sr., Judge.

Appellant, Mark E. Lewis (“Defendant”), appeals the judgment of the Circuit Court of Audrain County convicting him, after a jury trial, of child molestation in the first degree, section 566.067, RSMo 2000. 1 Defendant was sentenced as a pri- or and persistent offender to a term of thirty years’ imprisonment. We affirm. 2

Defendant began living with Abigail Lewis (“Mother”) and her three children in 2000. Mother has two sons, A.L.M. and M.J., and a daughter, A.M. (“Victim”). Victim was born in April of 1996. On October 14, 2003, Victim informed Mother that Defendant had touched her in between her legs and made her put “it in her mouth for a second.” After this discussion with Victim, Mother called the Division of Family Services. Mother separated from Defendant that day and applied for an order of child protection to keep Defendant away from Victim.

On December 22, 2003, Defendant was charged by complaint with child molestation in the first degree. On December 30, 2003, Defendant requested a public defender. On the same day, Defendant’s bond was set at $50,000. On December 31, 2003, the public defender determined that Defendant was non-indigent. On January 5, 2004, a $50,000 bond was posted on Defendant’s behalf. Then, on January 28, 2004, an indigency hearing was held. At this time, the associate circuit judge denied Defendant’s appeal of the public defender’s determination that he was non-indigent.

On February 25, 2004, a counsel status hearing was held. The associate circuit judge found that Defendant had committed a non-written waiver of his right to counsel. On May 3, 2004, Defendant appeared at his arraignment and pled not guilty. On July 2, 2004, Defendant informed the trial court that he did not have enough money saved up to hire an attorney.

*286 On July 15, 2004, another hearing was held by the trial court pertaining to Defendant’s counsel status. During the hearing, Defendant stated that he still had contacted a number of lawyers, but had not hired one due to a lack of funds. Defendant also stated that he was earning $300-$400 per week and was paying $74 per month in child support. A public defender who was present at the hearing informed the trial court that his office originally declined to represent Defendant because a $50,000 bond was posted on Defendant’s behalf. Defendant asserted that money was never exchanged between him and the bondsman. Defendant was then advised by the trial court of the dangers of self-representation.

On January 20, 2005, the State filed a second amended information contending that Defendant was a prior and persistent offender. On January 24, 2005, Defendant was tried by a jury. Defendant represented himself at the trial. Victim testified that Defendant had touched her privates. A.L.M., Victim’s brother, testified that on more than five occasions when Mother was at work, Defendant would make him and his brother M.J. go outside, leaving Defendant and Victim alone in the house. Cindy Mackey, a clinical social worker, testified that Victim confirmed that Defendant “had touched and rubbed her vagina and put his penis in her mouth and in her rectum.” After all of the evidence was presented, the jury found Defendant guilty of child molestation in the first degree. On February 28, 2005, Defendant was sentenced as a prior and persistent offender to a term of thirty years of imprisonment. This appeal by Defendant followed.

For purposes of this appeal, we will consolidate Defendant’s first and second points on appeal into one point on appeal. In this point on appeal, Defendant contends the trial court plainly erred in refusing to appoint counsel to represent Defendant and forcing him to proceed to trial pro se. Defendant claims that he was financially unable to retain counsel, and never impliedly or expressly waived his right to counsel.

Defendant concedes that, because he did not preserve this point for review, we review for plain error. See State v. Cole, 71 S.W.3d 163, 170 (Mo.banc 2002). Under plain error review, we will only reverse the decision of the trial court if there was a plain error affecting a substantial right that results in manifest injustice or a miscarriage of justice. State v. Miller, 162 S.W.3d 7, 16 (MoApp. E.D.2005).

A person is eligible for representation by a public defender

when it appears from all of the circumstances of the case including his ability to make bond, his income and the number of persons dependent on him for support that the person does not have the means at his disposal ... to obtain counsel in his behalf and is indigent. Section 600.086.1.

A court’s finding of non-indigency renders a defendant ineligible for public defender services and places on him the burden of obtaining counsel. State ex rel. Tanzey v. Richter, 762 S.W.2d 857, 858 (Mo.App. E.D.1989).

A “[djefendant’s refusal to sign a written waiver will not, however, provide him with a means to avoid a trial on the charge against him.” Id. Accordingly, “[a] non-indigent defendant who wants counsel but refuses to hire one will be allowed to proceed pro se.” Id. Nevertheless, the defendant should be warned of the perils of self-representation so that he may knowingly make the choice to proceed pro se. Id.

*287 A criminal defendant is guaranteed the right to counsel. State v. West, 949 S.W.2d 914, 915 (Mo.App. E.D.1997). The right to counsel can be impliedly waived by a defendant who fails to retain counsel within a reasonable time. Id.

The guidelines for determining indigen-cy, as it relates to one’s eligibility for public defender services, states: “A defendant may be considered indigent if his/her gross pay and other sources of income do not exceed the federal poverty guideline as issued in the Federal Register by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.” 18 CSR 10-3.010(2)(A)(2002). 3 The federal poverty guidelines for the year 2003 for a one-person household are $8,980 per year and for a two-person household are $12,120 per year. Annual Update of the HHS Poverty Guidelines, 68 Fed.Reg. 6456 (Feb. 7, 2003). The federal poverty guidelines for the year 2004 for a one-person household are $9,310 per year and for a two-person household are $12,490 per year. Annual Update of the HHS Poverty Guidelines, 69 Fed.Reg. 7336 (Feb. 13, 2004). The federal poverty guidelines are not dispositive in determining indigency, but rather are one of several factors the trial court should consider.

Those additional factors to consider when determining if a defendant is indigent are the defendant’s debts, bond, spouse’s income, parent’s income, mortgage, and assets. 18 CSR 10-3.010(2)(B).

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222 S.W.3d 284, 2007 Mo. App. LEXIS 548, 2007 WL 968636, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-lewis-moctapp-2007.