State v. Reed

133 N.W.2d 591, 178 Neb. 370, 1965 Neb. LEXIS 517
Nebraska Supreme Court·Decided March 5, 1965·No. 35821·Published·Cited by 3 cases

Opinion

White, C. J.

The district court ordered forfeiture and subsequently entered judgment for the full amount of a bail bond in the sum of $5,000. The surety Resolute Insurance Company appeals. Frank Reed was charged With a felony, appeared on the first day of trial, September 30, 1963, *372 departed during the noon recess, and has never appeared or been returned to the jurisdiction of the court since. On the same date, September 30, 1963, pursuant to the requirements of section 29-1106, R. R. S. 1943, the bail bond was forfeited. A representative of the insurance company was present in court on September 30,1963. On the motions of both parties, hearing was held and evidence adduced on November 26, 1963, on the issue of whether the insurance company was entitled to a remission of all or part of the amount of the bond under the terms of section 29-1107, R. R. S. 1943, which vests discretion in the district court to* remit if it appears that the interests of justice do not require the enforcement of the forfeiture. The court refused remission, entered judgment for $5,000, and on the overruling of a motion for a new trial on March 10, 1964, the insurance company appeals.

The bond provided that Reed appear on September 30, 1963, at 9 a.m., and from day to* day, and from term to term, until final judgment or as directed by the court, and should not depart said court without leave.

We examine the nature of this obligation, the liability imposed, and the reasons therefor. They are well stated in State v. Morse, 171 Neb. 87, 105 N. W. 2d 572, wherein it is stated: “If the surety on a bail bond fails to deliver his principal into the custody of the proper officer of the law or to procure his attendance in court as the bond requires, the liability of the makers of the bond for the penalty thereof becomes absolute and the bond should.be forfeited. A bail bond is: a contract between the surety and the State that if the latter will release the principal from custody, the surety will undertake that the principal will appear personally at any specified time and place to- answer the charge made against him; and upon failure of the principal, to so appear, the makers of the bond become absolute debtors of the State in the amount of the penalty of the bond. When a surety makes a bail bond it assumes the risk involved if its *373 faith in the principal is misplaced. State v. Honey, 165 Neb. 494, 86 N. W. 2d 187.”

There is no duty on the part of the State to prove damages. State v. Konvalin, 165 Neb. 499, 86 N. W. 2d 361. The giving of the bond transfers custody to the surety who becomes the keeper or jailer of the accused, the surety’s dominance is a continuation of the original imprisonment, the State may not interfere with the surety’s control, and the surety may discharge. itself from liability at any time by surrendering the accused. State v. Liakas, 165 Neb. 503, 86 N. W. 2d 373.

The obligation on the bond having become absolute, an allowable sound discretion is vested in the district court to remit in whole or in part. § 29-1107, R. R. S. 1943; State v. Konvalin, supra. It does not appear that the district court abused this, discretion. On the record before us, there is an entire failure of justice solely because of surety’s failure to' perform its obligation. Its representative was in court when Reed appeared, did not surrender him up, the State had no authority to interfere, and the trial, Reed disappearing, became a nullity. His appearance at all times during this criminal trial was a necessity to the processes of justice. The breach was the substantial equivalent, or perhaps worse, than no appearance at all. The contract of the surety is identical with that of the principal. There is no showing here of a sufficient excuse for failing to keep the continuing condition of appearance in the bond or that there was no design to evade justice. The opposite appears. The principal became a fugitive from justice and has made a successful effort to evade the law. Mere hardship or expense to the surety will not excuse. The risk, with which the State may not interfere, is: on the surety. State v. Liakas;, supra. We point out that it is obvious that the State has been prejudiced and it does not appear when, if ever, a trial may be had. The difficulties arising from witness’ vanishing and reviving the testimony are obviously prejudicial to the State’s right in *374 any indefinite delay of a criminal trial. It defies common sense to remit part of this bond because of Reed’s token appearance for trial for a few hours. The principal and the surety’s breach in this case were total and not “partial.” On the record before üs, it would have been an abuse of discretion to relieve from the total violation of the clear and mandatory provision of the surety’s obligation.

Surety cites m case supporting its position. In the Nebraska cases cited by surety, the defendant was produced and stood trial in a short period of time after the original default. The State had its trial and justice was served. No case is cited nor has: our research produced a case where a defendant has absconded in the middle of a trial and became a fugitive from justice, and not reappeared, where relief or remission was granted. The general rule is that escape within the time for trial affords no excuse to the surety. 8 Am. Jur. 2d, Bail and Recognizance, § 99, p. 840.

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State v. Reed, 133 N.W.2d 591, 178 Neb. 370, 1965 Neb. LEXIS 517 (Neb. 1965).

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