State v. Torres

111 Wash. App. 323
Court of Appeals of Washington·Decided April 23, 2002·No. No. 19668-2-III·Published·Cited by 19 cases

Opinion

Sweeney, J.

This is a prosecution for first degree assault. Rosalio Torres, Jr., assigns error to the court’s refusal to dismiss the case because the court failed to set his trial within the requirements of the speedy trial rule, CrR 3.3. The court continued the trial to accommodate scheduled polygraph training of the State’s witness. However, the record is inadequate for us to pass upon the propriety of that ruling. Mr. Torres, through his attorney, stipulated, however, to the consolidation of this case with a companion prosecution, and that is a tenable ground for continuing the trial. Mr. Torres also challenges the sufficiency of the evidence supporting the inclusion in his offender score of a prior Utah juvenile conviction. We agree that the documents presented do not meet the minimum requirements for proving a prior conviction. We therefore affirm the conviction, vacate the sentence, and remand for resentencing.

FACTS

Rosalio Torres, Jr., was charged with first degree assault. His brother, Jesus Torres, faced a lesser charge arising out of the same incident. Mr. Torres1 was arraigned on April 28, 2000. The last day for a speedy trial was June 28. Appointed counsel Arthur J. Bieker informed the court that he would be out of town for the two weeks between June 12 and June 26. Trial was set for June 26.

On June 9, both brothers’ defense counsel assented to the State’s proposed motion to consolidate the two prosecutions for trial. Specifically, Mr. Bieker told the court: “We think we’re in a position where we want them tried together.” [328] Report of Proceedings (RP) (June 9, 2000) at 2. The trials were not consolidated at this time.

Sometime during the following week, the State moved for continuance of Jesus’s trial date, because its investigator was scheduled for polygraph training on June 26. The court continued the trial until July 10. July 10 is beyond Rosalio’s 60-day period.

On June 23, the State moved to continue Rosalio’s trial and to consolidate it with Jesus’s. The State explained about the investigating officer’s training, and the fact that another court had already found this to be good cause in Jesus’s case. Mr. Bieker argued in favor of the continuance:

Your Honor, it’s my position as counsel that we can’t go forward except with the other co-defendant.... My client has been of a mind to resist any continuances beyond the already-scheduled speedy trial date. But the Court has found good cause in the other matter. And tactically we need the brother in our defense.

RP (June 23, 2000) at 4. The court ruled that the motion to consolidate was reason enough, absent prejudice, to continue Rosalio’s trial. The court also found good cause “due to the absence [of] the officer on the given trial date.” RP (June 23, 2000) at 5. The court continued Rosalio’s trial until July 10 (the week of July 3 was a nontrial week).

Mr. Torres objected: “What about my speedy trial right? Ain’t I supposed to be charged and convicted within 60 days?” RP (June 23, 2000) at 5. Mr. Torres told the court that Mr. Bieker had not communicated with him during the previous 60 days, that he did not consent to consolidation, and that he did not want his current lawyer to represent him any more.

The court instructed Mr. Bieker and Mr. Torres to get together and talk things over. Then, if Mr. Torres still wanted a separate trial or to change counsel, the court would hear a motion at the final pretrial scheduled for June 28.

[329] The June 28 hearing was postponed to July 7. The record contains a June 28 filing by Mr. Torres in the form of a pro se motion to dismiss. In it, Mr. Torres tells the court that he and Mr. Bieker met and decided to continue the representation. Mr. Torres never moved to sever.

On July 7, Mr. Torres attempted to renew his speedy trial motion. A different judge declined to hear it, because two previous courts had ruled on the good cause question. Both defendants agreed to try the case on stipulated facts on July 10.

On July 10, Mr. Torres changed his mind about trying the case on stipulated facts. But counsel were unprepared for a full trial because they were expecting a trial on stipulated facts. The court nevertheless ordered the jury trial to proceed the next day.

Mr. Torres was convicted of first degree assault with a deadly weapon.

The court included in his offender score a juvenile conviction for attempted murder in Utah in 1989. With the deadly weapon enhancement, the standard range was 144 to 184 months. The court sentenced Mr. Torres to 184 months.

I. SPEEDY TRIAL — DELAY TO ACCOMMODATE A POLICE WITNESS’S TRAINING SCHEDULE

Unavailability of a material prosecution witness is grounds to delay the trial for a reasonable time. State v. Day, 51 Wn. App. 544, 549, 754 P.2d 1021 (1988).

Mr. Torres argues that the court made no inquiry whatsoever on the record, and entered no written findings before granting the continuance. He contends that the State should have been required to show that the training was out of the ordinary, that it was essential, and it could not be rescheduled. The State responds that the court did not abuse its discretion in granting a continuance for officer training. Both CrR 3.3(d)(8) and CrR 3.3(h)(2) permit a [330] continuance unless the defendant is substantially prejudiced.

Standard of Review

The decision to grant a continuance under CrR 3.3 rests in the sound discretion of the trial court and will not be disturbed absent a manifest abuse of discretion. State v. Kokot, 42 Wn. App. 733, 735, 713 P.2d 1121 (1986). The defendant must show that the court abused its discretion and that he was prejudiced. Discretion is abused if it is exercised on untenable grounds or for untenable reasons. State v. Melton, 63 Wn. App. 63, 66, 817 P.2d 413 (1991).

Speedy Trial

The constitutional right to a speedy trial does not mandate trial within 60 days. State v. White, 94 Wn.2d 498, 501, 617 P.2d 998 (1980) (citing State v. Mack, 89 Wn.2d 788, 576 P.2d 44 (1978)). CrR 3.3(a), however, charges the court with the responsibility to ensure compliance with its speedy trial requirements. Under CrR 3.3(c)(1)), Mr. Torres’s speedy trial date was June 28.

Two sections of CrR 3.3 permit the court to continue the trial past 60 days. CrR 3.3(h)(2) permits a delay when necessary in the “administration of justice.” Section (h)(2) applies on or before the date set for trial. CrR 3.3(d)(8) provides for a five-day extension to be granted on or after the set trial date (when the trial is not begun on the date set). Section (d)(8) requires a showing of “unforeseen circumstances” beyond the control of the parties or the court. State v. Selam, 97 Wn. App. 140, 142, 982 P.2d 679 (1999).

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State v. Torres, 111 Wash. App. 323 (Wash. Ct. App. 2002).

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