State v. LEYSHON

710 S.E.2d 282, 211 N.C. App. 511, 2011 N.C. App. LEXIS 898
Court of Appeals of North Carolina·Decided May 3, 2011·No. COA10-1144·Published·Cited by 22 cases

Opinion

THIGPEN, Judge.

Defendant Curtis Leyshon appeals from a conviction of driving while license revoked. Five principal issues are presented on appeal: (1) whether the trial court erred by appointing counsel and by proceeding without appointed counsel; (2) whether Defendant’s due process rights were violated when the Division of Motor Vehicles (“DMV”) revoked his driver’s license; (3) whether Defendant’s due process rights were violated when he did not receive a hearing before the trial court ordered him committed for an examination to determine his capacity to proceed, and whether the trial court violated Defendant’s due process rights by committing him when he was only charged with a misdemeanor; (4) whether the trial court erred by not taking judicial notice of the Federal Register; and (5) whether the trial court violated Defendant’s right to a speedy trial. We conclude that Defendant’s argument regarding DMV’s revocation of his driver’s license is not properly before us, and his contention that the trial court violated his due process rights by committing him when he was only charged with a misdemeanor is moot. For all other issues, we find no error. On or about 26 January 2007, Defendant received a citation for driving while license revoked in Watauga County, North Carolina. On or about 13 June 2007, Defendant was found guilty of driving while license revoked in Watauga County District Court. Defendant appealed his conviction to the Watauga County Superior Court.

On 7 January 2008, the trial court held a hearing to determine whether Defendant waived or asserted his right to counsel. Defendant failed to respond to the trial court’s inquiry. On 14 July 2008, the trial court held another hearing to determine whether Defendant waived or asserted his right to counsel. Defendant stated, “I’m not waiving my right to assistance of counsel[,]” but when the court appointed counsel, Defendant stated, “I refuse his counsel.” *513 When asked by the trial court if he understood that he was charged with driving while license revoked, Defendant responded, “I know the charge[.]” After leaving the courtroom, Defendant was charged with disorderly conduct, littering, and resisting arrest for his behavior in the lobby.

On 13 July 2009, the trial court held another hearing to determine whether Defendant waived or asserted his right to counsel. When asked if he desired to represent himself, Defendant responded, “If the Court has jurisdiction, yes, sir. Until then I can’t make an informed decision.” The trial court explained that jurisdiction had already been determined, but Defendant refused to answer the court’s question. Eventually the court stated, “[m]ark him down [as] he is going to represent himself, madam clerk, and ’ll start his case later on today.” Defendant continued to challenge the court’s jurisdiction until the court decided to refer Defendant for an evaluation to determine whether he had the capacity to proceed. Accordingly, the trial court entered an order committing Defendant for up to 60 days to determine whether or not he had the capacity to proceed in regard to the charges pending against him.

On 3 August 2009, the North Carolina Division of Mental Health (Central Regional Hospital) issued a Forensic Evaluation concluding that Defendant was capable to proceed. The Forensic Evaluation also concluded that Defendant had no mental disorder, had a good knowledge of the legal system and a specialized knowledge of Motor Vehicle Law, clearly understood the consequences of maintaining his position, and knew that there was a method for resolving things at a minimal cost, but rejected that in favor of “standing up for what he believes in.”

On 8 March 2010, Defendant was tried in Watauga County Superior Court for driving while license revoked. At trial, Defendant proceeded pro se. Defendant began by making numerous motions, including a request that the court take judicial notice of the Federal Register. The court denied Defendant’s request, explaining that “[w]e are not under the federal registry.” The State presented testimony by Trooper Searcy, the officer who issued the citation to Defendant, which Defendant requested not be transcribed. At the end of the State’s evidence, Defendant made a motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim. The State summarized the evidence as follows:

First we showed that the Defendant drove a motor vehicle; That the Defendant drove a motor vehicle on a highway, Highway 105; *514 And at the time he drove the motor vehicle his driver’s license was suspended; And that he had been provided notice of that in that the notice was deposited in the US Mail at least four days before the alleged driving; That the notice was mailed in an envelope with postage prepaid; That the notice was addressed to the Defendant at his address as shown by the records of the Department of Motor Vehicles. That is all included in State’s Exhibit 1 that has been admitted. We say and contend that we have come forth by showing each and every element and Defendant’s motion to dismiss should be denied.

The court subsequently denied Defendant’s motion to dismiss. Defendant then testified on his own behalf and requested that his testimony not be transcribed.

On 9 March 2010, the jury found Defendant guilty of driving while license revoked. The trial court imposed a suspended sentence of 120 days with 30 months supervised probation. Defendant appeals.

On appeal, Defendant argues: (I) the trial court erred by forcing assistance of counsel and by proceeding without appointed counsel; (II) the trial court did not comply with N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-1242 because it did not make sufficient inquiry into whether Defendant understood the proceedings and did not advise him of a range of permissible punishments; (III) his due process rights were violated when DMV revoked his driver’s license and when the trial court ordered an examination to determine his capacity to proceed; (IV) the trial court erred by not taking judicial notice of the Federal Register; and (V) the trial court violated his right to a speedy trial.

I. Assistance of Counsel

Defendant contends the trial court erred by appointing counsel against Defendant’s wishes and by proceeding without Defendant’s appointed counsel. Defendant first argues the trial court violated his right to proceed without counsel when it appointed counsel at the 14 July 2008 hearing after Defendant stated he would refuse counsel and had previously waived his right to assistance of counsel at the 19 July 2007 hearing. We disagree.

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

State v. LEYSHON, 710 S.E.2d 282, 211 N.C. App. 511, 2011 N.C. App. LEXIS 898 (N.C. Ct. App. 2011).

710 S.E.2d 282 (State v. LEYSHON) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

Related

State v. Wilder
Court of Appeals of North Carolina, 2026
State v. Fuller
Court of Appeals of North Carolina, 2025
State v. Jones
Court of Appeals of North Carolina, 2024
State v. Moore
Court of Appeals of North Carolina, 2023
State v. Harvin
Supreme Court of North Carolina, 2022
State v. Simpkins
Supreme Court of North Carolina, 2020
State v. Simpkins
826 S.E.2d 845 (Court of Appeals of North Carolina, 2019)
State v. Forte
817 S.E.2d 764 (Court of Appeals of North Carolina, 2018)
State v. Schumann
810 S.E.2d 379 (Court of Appeals of North Carolina, 2018)
State v. Santifort
809 S.E.2d 213 (Court of Appeals of North Carolina, 2017)
State v. Blakeney
782 S.E.2d 88 (Court of Appeals of North Carolina, 2016)
State v. Reaves
775 S.E.2d 693 (Court of Appeals of North Carolina, 2015)
State v. Reese
Court of Appeals of North Carolina, 2015
People v. Kammeraad
858 N.W.2d 490 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 2014)
State v. Haizlip
Court of Appeals of North Carolina, 2014
State v. Mee
756 S.E.2d 103 (Court of Appeals of North Carolina, 2014)