State v. Wright

553 P.2d 667, 113 Ariz. 313, 1976 Ariz. LEXIS 301
CourtArizona Supreme Court
DecidedJuly 15, 1976
DocketNo. 3469
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 553 P.2d 667 (State v. Wright) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Arizona 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. Wright, 553 P.2d 667, 113 Ariz. 313, 1976 Ariz. LEXIS 301 (Ark. 1976).

Opinion

STRUCKMEYER, Vice Chief Justice.

Appellant, Rennia Wright, was charged with possession of heroin for sale, in violation of A.R.S. § 36-1002.01. His case was submitted for decision to the Superior Court on the basis of the grand jury transcript and a chemist’s report. After being found guilty, he was sentenced to not less than five nor more than fifteen years imprisonment, and he appeals.

Appellant urges that he was denied due process of law because of the failure to receive a speedy trial as guaranteed by the Arizona and United States constitutions. His position is bottomed on these facts. Appellant was arrested on June 16, 1973 and released on bond two days later. On August 2, 1973, a grand jury returned an indictment charging appellant with possession of heroin for sale and possession of marijuana. His arraignment was held on August 14, 1973, at which time, being represented by counsel, he waived the 60-day requirement of Rule 236, 1956 Arizona Rules of Criminal Procedure, 17 A.R.S., and trial was set for October 1, 1973. On September 28, 1973, the defense made a motion for a trial continuance, which was granted, and the trial was reset for October 24,1973.

On October 2, 1973, appellant was arrested for selling heroin, a violation of A. R.S. § 36-1002.02 (hereafter referred to as the second crime). He was taken into custody and has remained incarcerated ever since.

On October 22, 1973, appellant’s counsel made a motion to withdraw from the case because of a conflict of interest and what was termed a violation of “promises and conditions” made to him by appellant. The motion was granted on October 24, 1973, a public defender was appointed in his stead and the trial was reset for November 8, 1973. Trial was not held on that date. All that the record before us shows is a minute entry on November 13, 1973 continuing the trial until December 3, 1973 because of “good cause appearing.” Trial was not had on December 3, 1973. The next entry in the record is on December 10, 1973. It is an order vacating the trial in accordance with a stay order.

On December 18, 1973, we accepted jurisdiction in a special action. The subject matter of the special action concerned the second crime. This was decided adversely to appellant, see Wright v. Superior Court, 110 Ariz. 265, 517 P.2d 1261 (1974). On January 28, 1974, our mandate issued to the Superior Court to continue with the proceeding against Wright, and on February 5, 1974, his trial was reset for March 26, 1974.

Once again trial was not had on the scheduled date. The next entry in the record indicates that on April 10, 1974 a plea agreement was entered into whereby appellant agreed to plead guilty to possession of heroin for sale and the State agreed to dismiss the charge of possession of marijuana. The Superior Court accepted the plea agreement and sentencing was scheduled [315]*315for May 7, 1974. Instead, on May 9, 1974, the appellant moved to withdraw his plea of guilty. This motion was granted, a plea of not guilty was entered, and the trial was reset for June 12, 1974 for both crimes.1 On May 24, 1974, three names were submitted by the attorneys for a change of judge. On June 12, 1974, the record indicates that the case was assigned to Judge David M. Lurie, but trial on the first crime was not then held. Trial on the second crime was commenced on June 12, 1974, but ended in a mistrial. Second and third trials were held in July, 1974, the second also ending in mistrial, the third ending in a conviction for which appellant was sentenced to ten to twenty years imprisonment.2

On July 5, 1974, the trial for the first crime was set for July 18, 1974. Trial was held on that date for the second crime but not for the first. The next entry of record appears on August 12, 1974, at which time the case was transferred to Division H of the Maricopa County Superior Court. On September 19, 1974, a motion to suppress was filed, and on October 4, 1974 was heard and denied. Trial was reset for October 25, 1974. On October 21, 1974, appellant filed a memorandum in support of a motion for change of judge. A change of judge was accomplished by stipulation on October 25, 1974, but no trial was had on that date. Repeated unexplained delays in the trial dates follow. Minute entries simply indicate the resetting of the trial date without further explanation. On November 26, 1974, trial was reset for January 13, 1975; on January 13, 1975, for February 18, 1975; and on February 18,1975, for March 17,1975 3

On March 17, 1975, appellant made a motion to dismiss the indictment on the grounds that he had not been given a speedy trial. This was denied. It was at this point that appellant submitted his case to the trial court on the basis of the grand jury transcript and a chemist’s report. From the time of appellant’s arrest for the first crime until the finding of guilt, 639 days passed, nearly one year and nine months.

The United States Supreme Court’s decision in Barker v. Wingo, 407 U.S. 514, 92 S.Ct. 2182, 33 L.Ed.2d 101 (1972), is the leading case dealing with the right to a speedy trial. Four factors were delineated by the Court which must be considered in deciding if the constitutional right has been denied. Courts must balance the length of the delay, the reasons for it, the defendant’s assertion of his right, and any prejudice caused thereby. No one factor is controlling. Moore v. Arizona, 414 U.S. 25, 94 S.Ct. 188, 38 L.Ed.2d 183 (1973); State v. Brannin, 109 Ariz. 525, 514 P.2d 446 (1973). In Barker v. Wingo, supra, the United States Supreme Court affirmed when there was a delay of five years. The length of the delay is the least conclusive of the factors and, where substantial, merely acts as a triggering mechanism necessitating analysis of the other factors. Barker v. Wingo, supra, 407 U.S. at 530-531, 92 S.Ct. 2182; State v. McDonald, 111 Ariz. 159, 526 P.2d 698 (1974); State v. Brannin, supra, 109 Ariz. at 528, 514 P.2d 446.

Much of the record in this case consists of minute entries of a summary nature which give no clue as to the underlying reasons for the repeated delays. We will therefore assume that the State was responsible for all the delay except 157 days which were caused by or on behalf of [316]*316appellant.4 No valid reason appears for the delay of the other 482 days. It was plainly excessive. We do not find, however, any indication of a deliberate attempt to prejudice the defense.

The failure of a defendant to demand a speedy trial does not waive the right thereto, Barker v. Wingo, supra, 407 U.S. at 528, 92 S.Ct. 2182; State v. McDonald, supra, 111 Ariz. at 162, 526 P.2d 698; State v. Maldonado, 92 Ariz. 70, 373 P.2d 583 (1962); but it is one factor to be considered along with the others.

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

Related

State v. Leslie
708 P.2d 719 (Arizona Supreme Court, 1985)
State v. Gretzler
612 P.2d 1023 (Arizona Supreme Court, 1980)
State v. Canez
575 P.2d 817 (Court of Appeals of Arizona, 1977)
State v. Parker
567 P.2d 319 (Arizona Supreme Court, 1977)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
553 P.2d 667, 113 Ariz. 313, 1976 Ariz. LEXIS 301, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-wright-ariz-1976.