State v. Temoney

414 A.2d 240, 45 Md. App. 569, 1980 Md. App. LEXIS 288
CourtCourt of Special Appeals of Maryland
DecidedMay 12, 1980
Docket995, September Term, 1979
StatusPublished
Cited by24 cases

This text of 414 A.2d 240 (State v. Temoney) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Special Appeals of Maryland primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Temoney, 414 A.2d 240, 45 Md. App. 569, 1980 Md. App. LEXIS 288 (Md. Ct. App. 1980).

Opinion

*571 Weant, J.,

delivered the opinion of the Court.

On 14 June 1979, a jury in the Circuit Court for Prince George’s County found the appellee, James Tony Temoney, guilty of first degree rape, first degree sexual offense, robbery with a deadly weapon, and carrying a dangerous weapon openly with intent to injure. At the sentencing disposition on 30 July 1979, the appellee was committed to the jurisdiction of the Division of Correction for the balance of his natural life for the first degree rape and the first degree sexual offense, these life sentences to run consecutively; as to the robbery with a deadly weapon charge, Mr. Temoney received a twenty year sentence to run consecutively to the two life sentences; and finally, he was given a three year sentence for the weapon offense, which was to be served concurrently with the twenty year sentence for armed robbery. Thereafter, both the appellee and the State noted timely appeals to this Court.

In his appeal Mr. Temoney argues as follows:

I. The trial court erred in refusing to grant a continuance.
II. The trial court erred in denying [his] motion to dismiss for denial of a speedy trial and due process.
III. The court erred in allowing into evidence statements induced by hypnosis.
IV. The trial court erred in its instructions on hypnosis evidence.
V. The evidence was insufficient to convict [him] of the crimes charged.
VI. The photographic array used to identify [him] was prejudicial and suggestive.
VII. Trial counsel’s representation was ineffective and a denial of his sixth amendment rights.

The State not only rejects each of the above arguments as being unmeritorious, but further contends in its own appeal that "[t]he trial court improperly refused to sentence *572 Temoney under the mandatory provisions of Maryland Code, Article 27, Section 643B (c).”

For purposes of clarity we will outline the facts pertinent to each argument as we address it. Moreover, we will speak to the appellee’s contentions first, since that response will dictate whether we need discuss the merits of the State’s argument.

— Mr. Temoney’s appeal —

I.

The appellee asserts three grounds for his claim that the trial court erred in refusing to grant his requested continuance, and that therefore a reversal of his convictions is required. First, he opines that it was error for the trial judge not to refer the matter of a continuance over to the administrative judge as required by Maryland Rule 746. 1 But see Guarnera v. State, 20 Md. App. 562, 573 n. 1, 318 A.2d 243, 248 n. 1, cert. denied, 272 Md. 742 (1974). Because Mr. Temoney did not raise this particular objection at trial, he has failed to preserve it for appeal. Maryland Rule 1085.

Second, while conceding that according to Maryland Rule 746 "a continuance may only be granted upon a showing of extraordinary cause,” the appellee argues that he did in fact show extraordinary cause in that his counsel, in placing his reasons for the continuance on the record, 2 stated that he was "just not properly prepared for this trial.” In responding to this argument, we find Walter v. State, 4 Md. App. 373, 243 A.2d 626 (1968) to be helpful; there we stated at pages 376-77, 243 A.2d at 627-28:

It is elementary that a continuance is within the sound discretion of the trial court, Bright v. State, *573 1 Md. App. 657, 232 A.2d 544. The appellants urge however the right to counsel is so fundamental that the action of the court deprived them of counsel. In Ungar v. Sarafite, 376 U.S. 575, 84 S. Ct. 841, 11 L. Ed. 2d 921, the Supreme Court of the United States considered the problem involving the denial of a continuance which allegedly deprived the accused of his right to engage counsel and at 376 U.S. 589, 84 S. Ct. 849 the Court said:
"The matter of continuance is traditionally within the discretion of the trial judge, and it is not every denial of a request for more time that violates due process even if the party fails to offer evidence or is compelled to defend without counsel. Avery v. Alabama, 308 U.S. 444, 84 L. Ed. 377, 60 S. Ct. 321. Contrariwise, a myopic insistence upon expeditiousness in the face of a justifiable request for delay can render the right to defend with counsel an empty formality. Chandler v. Fretag, 348 U.S. 3, 99 L. Ed. 4, 75 S. Ct. 1. There are no mechanical tests for deciding when a denial of a continuance is so arbitrary as to violate due process. The answer must be found in the circumstances present in every case, particularly in the reasons presented to the trial judge at the time the request is denied. Nilva v. United States, 352 U.S. 385, 1 L. Ed. 2d 415, 77 S. Ct. 431; Torres v. United States, 270 F.2d 252 (C.A. 9th Cir.); cf. United States v. Arlen, 252 F.2d 491 (C.A. 2d Cir.).”

The circumstances in the case subjudice do not convince us that the trial court’s "denial of a continuance [was] so arbitrary as to violate due process.” Had Mr. Temoney chosen to dismiss his counsel for the alleged improper preparedness and then sought a continuance to seek new *574 counsel, the trial court would not necessarily have been required to grant the requested delay. Guarnera, 20 Md. App. 562, 318 A.2d 243. Thus, we are disinclined to hold that the appellee showed extraordinary cause, and that therefore the trial court clearly abused its discretion in failing to grant the requested continuance.

Finally, because of the State’s alleged failure to provide discovery, the appellee argues that the only remedy available was the granting of a continuance. A review of the record indicates that, like this Court, the trial court was not persuaded that Mr. Temoney was prejudiced by having to go to trial as scheduled. See Powell v. State, 23 Md. App. 666, 329 A.2d 413 (1974).

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Bluebook (online)
414 A.2d 240, 45 Md. App. 569, 1980 Md. App. LEXIS 288, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-temoney-mdctspecapp-1980.