State v. Tiedeman

433 N.W.2d 237, 1988 S.D. LEXIS 173, 1988 WL 130270
CourtSouth Dakota Supreme Court
DecidedDecember 7, 1988
Docket16079
StatusPublished
Cited by25 cases

This text of 433 N.W.2d 237 (State v. Tiedeman) 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. Tiedeman, 433 N.W.2d 237, 1988 S.D. LEXIS 173, 1988 WL 130270 (S.D. 1988).

Opinions

ACTION

WUEST, Chief Justice.

Walter Tiedeman (Tiedeman) appeals his conviction for grand theft. We affirm.

FACTS

Tiedeman was charged by complaint with third degree burglary and grand theft. Tiedeman made his first appearance on these charges on May 6, 1987, and his preliminary hearing was set for June 3, 1987. Tiedeman appeared on June 3, however, state’s witnesses did not appear and state could not proceed. State moved for a continuance which was denied. Thereupon, Tiedeman moved for a dismissal of the charges which was granted without prejudice.

Tiedeman was subsequently recharged in a second complaint with third degree burglary and grand theft. Tiedeman entered his first appearance on these charges on June 24, 1987, and another preliminary hearing date was set. Prior to the preliminary hearing, however, Tiedeman was indicted by a grand jury for third degree burglary and two counts of grand theft. Therefore, state voluntarily dismissed the second complaint against Tiedeman.

The day before Tiedeman’s trial on the charges in this indictment, state voluntarily [238]*238dismissed the indictment. Tiedeman was subsequently reindicted for the same offenses and his trial on those charges took place on November 3 and 4,1987, (181 days after his May 6 first appearance on criminal charges).

Prior to trial, Tiedeman moved to dismiss his indictment for violation of SDCL 23A-44-5.1 (the 180 day speedy trial rule). The trial court reserved its ruling on the motion and the trial proceeded. The jury found Tiedeman guilty of one count of grand theft. Judgment and sentence were entered accordingly as were findings of fact, conclusions of law and an order denying Tiedeman’s motion to dismiss the indictment.

ISSUE

Whether the trial court erred in denying Tiedeman’s motion to dismiss his indictment for violation of SDCL 23A-44-5.1 (the 180 day rule)?

DECISION

SDCL 23A-44-5.1 provides:

The prosecution shall dispose of all criminal cases by plea of guilty or nolo conten-dere, trial or dismissal within one hundred eighty days from the date the defendant has first appeared before a judicial officer on the complaint or indictment. Any period of delay shall be excluded if the trial court finds good cause for the delay. In the event of the prosecution’s failure to dispose of the action within the time limit required by this section, the action shall be dismissed. (Emphasis added).

Tiedeman contends that the 180 day period of SDCL 23A-44-5.1 began to run with his May 6, 1987, first appearance on criminal charges and, therefore, it lapsed on November 2,1987. Thus, Tiedeman argues that his trial beginning on November 3, 1987, took place beyond the 180 day time period necessitating the dismissal of his indictment.

Tiedeman’s position raises the broad issue of the effect of a dismissal and subsequent refiling of criminal charges on the running of the 180 day period (SDCL 23A-44-5.1). This is an issue of first impression in this court and is not controlled by our holding in State v. Hoffman, 409 N.W.2d 373 (S.D.1987) that a motion for good cause delay must be filed by state to toll the running of the 180 day period. Hoffman, does not address a case where a dismissal and subsequent refiling of criminal charges delays the advancement of the case to trial. Therefore, Hoffman is readily distinguishable from this case.

Given the absence of precedent from which to resolve the present question, we turn to interpretations of the speedy trial rules of our sister states for guidance. Although speedy trial rules as well as the general rules of criminal procedure may vary from state to state, some general observations can be drawn relative to common approaches for counting a speedy trial time period when a dismissal and refiling of criminal charges has taken place.

A compilation of cases addressing this issue appears in Annotation, Application of Speedy Trial Statute to Dismissal or Other Termination of Prior Indictment or Information, 39 A.L.R.4th 899 (1985). See also, Curley v. State, 299 Md. 449, 474 A.2d 502 (1984). Based upon our review of these cases we find that three general approaches exist for counting a speedy trial time period when a dismissal and subsequent refiling of criminal charges occurs. Some courts hold that the speedy trial time period commences with the filing of the first criminal charges and continues to run despite a dismissal and refiling of the charges (Tiedeman’s view). Other courts hold that the speedy trial period is tolled during the time between a dismissal and refiling of charges. Finally, utilizing a third approach, some courts hold that a dismissal of criminal charges stops the speedy trial period and that it commences anew with the refiling of charges. Which of these three approaches is applied by a particular court in a particular case is often dependant upon two fundamental factors: (1) whether the dismissal of charges was at the instance of the prosecution or the defense; and (2) the reason for the dismissal.

[239]*239In this instance, the first charges against Tiedeman were dismissed upon his own motion while subsequent charges were voluntarily dismissed on two occasions by state. Inasmuch as we determine that the first dismissal and refiling of charges is disposi-tive of this matter, we confine the following discussion to that action.

Tiedeman’s June 3, 1987, motion to dismiss was granted due to state’s inability (resulting from the nonappearance of its witnesses) to establish probable cause to bind Tiedeman over for trial. The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania has directly addressed the speedy trial effect of a dismissal of criminal charges at a preliminary hearing and a subsequent refiling of charges in Commonwealth v. Genovese, 493 Pa. 65, 425 A.2d 367 (1981). Charges against Genovese were dismissed after his preliminary hearing due to Commonwealth’s failure to establish a prima facie case against him. Genovese was subsequently recharged and bound over for trial on the refiled charges. The issue raised on appeal was whether the Pennsylvania speedy trial period stopped with the dismissal of charges and commenced anew with the refiling of charges or whether it continued to run throughout the dismissal and refiling of charges. In adopting the former approach, the Pennsylvania court gave consideration to society’s interest in the effective prosecution of criminal cases and stated that its speedy trial rule was not designed to insulate the criminally accused from good faith prosecution delayed through no fault of the state. The court also considered the fact that Genovese had not been confined between the dismissal and refiling of charges.

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State v. Tiedeman
433 N.W.2d 237 (South Dakota Supreme Court, 1988)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
433 N.W.2d 237, 1988 S.D. LEXIS 173, 1988 WL 130270, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-tiedeman-sd-1988.