State of Delaware v. Bryan Schoenbeck ( 2014 )

IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS FOR THE STATE OF DELAWARE
IN AND FOR NEW CASTLE COUNTY
STATE OF DELAWARE, )
)
)
v. ) Cr.A. No. 1202020644
)
BRYAN SCHOENBECK, )
)
Defendant. )
Submitted: December 4, 2014
Decided: December 17, 2014
Christina Kontis, Esquire Jonathan Layton, Esquire
Deputy Attorney General Layton & Associates, P.A.
Department of Justice 1823 West 16th Street
820 North French Street, 7th Floor Wilmington, DE 19806
Wilmington, DE 19801 Attorney for Defendant
Attorney for the State of Delaware
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER
ON DEFENDANT’S MOTION TO DISMISS
Defendant Bryan Schoenbeck (“Defendant”) brings this motion to dismiss the
pending charges filed against him on the grounds that his right to a speedy trial, as
guaranteed by the United States and Delaware Constitutions, was violated because of
repeated trial delays. On December 4, 2014, the Court heard argument on the motion from
both the Defendant and the State, and reserved its decision. This is the Court’s Decision on
Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss.
PROCEDURAL HISTORY
On February 26, 2012, Defendant was involved in a motor vehicle accident on New
Linden Hill Road in New Castle County, and was subsequently charged with Driving Under
the Influence (DUI) and Failure to Have Insurance in Possession.
On May 20, 2013, the Justice of the Peace Court held a trial where Defendant was
gound Defendant not guilty of the Failure to Have Insurance charge, but guilty of the DUI
charge, and inter alia, suspended his license for twenty-four months. Defendant appealed the
DUI conviction to this Court. On June 14, 2013, at Arraignment, Defendant pled not guilty
and the case was scheduled for DUI case review. On July 26, 2013, Defendant rejected a
plea offer and demanded a jury trial, which was scheduled for November 19, 2013, and
subsequently continued at the Court’s request. On March 6, 2014, trial was continued for
the second time, at the Court’s request.
On April 10, 2014, another matter that was also scheduled for trial went forward, and
thus trial in this matter was continued for the third time. The matter that went to trial, State
v. John Mwangi (Case No. 1303021871), had been in this Court approximately one month
longer than the matter at hand.
On July 15, 2014, the docket reflects that trial was continued at Defense Counsel’s
request. Defendant avers however, that although counsel was initially present for the call of
the calendar and could not “immediately” address the status of Defendant’s case, Defendant
was in fact ready to proceed with trial.1
1 At the time, Defense counsel was engaged in an office conference in Superior Court.
2
On October 7, 2014 trial was continued for the fifth time. Previously, on May 22,
2014, Defendant filed the present motion to dismiss; however for unknown reasons, the
motion was not scheduled on a motions calendar, and the State did not obtain a copy.
Although the State offered to argue the motion on the papers, given the length of the
motion, the Court provided the State with an opportunity to respond in writing to the
motion.
On December 4, 2014, the Court held a hearing on the motion and reserved decision.
The Court also provided Defendant an opportunity to file an Affidavit describing the
prejudice this case has caused him with respect to his suspended license.
Trial is currently scheduled for December 17, 2014.
PARTIES’ CONTENTIONS
Defendant argues that the two year and ten month delay from the date of arrest to
the date of the present motion violates his right to a speedy trial. Defendant maintains that
the trial has been delayed at the request of the Court and the State, and argues that such
delays have prejudiced him.2 Specifically, Defendant claims that memories of individuals
involved in the case, including his own, have faded, and that he is experiencing anxiety and
concern regarding this matter and how it may affect his future. Defendant also argues that
the delays have prolonged his ability to have his licensed restored, which in turn, has
impacted his livelihood and employment.
The State argues that the length of delay is not unreasonable given the procedural
posture of the matter. While the State concedes that the delay is partially attributable to the
2 While Defendant maintained that he has been prejudiced in the present motion, he described this prejudice
in detail in his Affidavit dated December 11, 2014.
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State, the State maintains that such continuances were granted for neutral reasons and as
such, should weigh less heavily against the State’s favor. The State argues that the matter
should not be dismissed because the prejudice Defendant may have experienced in this case
is no different than the prejudice any other defendant may experience when facing criminal
charges.
DISCUSSION
The Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution provides, in pertinent part,
that “the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial” in all criminal
prosecutions.3 This constitutional right applies to the States through the Due Process Clause
of the Fourteenth Amendment,4 and is also included in Article I, Section VII of the
Delaware Constitution.5
In Barker v. Wingo, the United States Supreme Court established a balancing test for
courts to apply when determining speedy trial claims.6 The Barker test requires speedy trial
claims to be analyzed on a case-by-case basis in conjunction with the following factors: “(1)
the length of delay; (2) the reason for the delay; (3) the defendant’s assertion of the right to a
speedy trial, and; (4) prejudice to the defendant.”7 No single factor is dispositive, and all
3 U.S. CONST. amend. VI.
4 Klopfer v. North Carolina, 386 U.S. 213, 222-23 (1967).
5 DEL. CONST. art. I, § 7.
6 Barker v. Wingo, 407 U.S. 514, 530 (1972).
7 Id. at 407 U.S. at 530.
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factors should be weighed together, keeping in mind the particular circumstances of the
case.8 Therefore, I will evaluate each relevant factor as it applies to this case.
A. Length of Delay
First, the Court must consider the length of delay. A defendant’s right to a speedy
trial attaches “either upon the defendant’s arrest or indictment, depending on which occurs
first.”9 If the length of delay is not presumptively prejudicial, the Court does not have to
consider the remaining Barker factors,10 however, the Delaware Supreme Court has held that
“if the delay between arrest or indictment and trial exceeds one year, the Court generally
should consider the other Barker factors.”11
In this case, Defendant was arrested on February 26, 2012. Trial is currently
scheduled for December 17, 2014. This delay of more than two and one-half years is
presumptively prejudicial. Therefore, I will analyze the remaining Barker factors.
B. Reason for Delay
The second factor, the reason for delay, is known as the ‘flag all litigants seek to
capture,’” as it often will reveal whether the defendant will succeed in the speedy trial
argument.12 The specific circumstances of the case dictate how much weight the Court
8 Middlebrook v. State, 802 A.2d 268, 273 (Del. 2002) (citing Barker, 407 U.S. at 533).
9 State v. Sells, 2013 WL 1654317 at *2 (Del. Com. Pl. April 17, 2013).
10 Hicks v. State, 26 A.3d 214 at *2 (Del. 2011) (TABLE).
11 Cooper v. State, 32 A.3d 988 at *7 (Del. 2011) (TABLE).
12Bailey v. State, 521 A.2d 1069, 1081 (Del. 1987) (quoting United States v. Loud Hawk, 412 U.S. 302, 315
(1986)).
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assigns to the reason for the delay.13 For example, the reason for delay should weigh heavily
against the State if the State causes a delay with the intention of impeding the defense.14 On
the other hand, delays caused by “negligence, overcrowded courts, or excessive caseloads on
prosecutors,” while attributable to the State, should be weighed less heavily against the
State.15 Such reasons for delay are considered to be neutral.16 Finally, valid reasons, such as
missing witnesses, justify the delay, and do not weigh against the State.17
Trial in this matter has been continued on five occasions, four of which were granted
by the Court sua sponte, and thus, are weighed slightly against the State.
The Court finds it important to note that in support of his argument, Defendant
relies on State v. Downs,18 a decision recently issued by the Court in September 2014.
Defendant highlights the fact that in Downs, two of the trial continuances were granted so
that the Office of the Public Defendant could appoint conflict counsel. Although
Defendant concedes that Downs and the present case are distinguishable, Defendant argues
that the Court “still concluded that the defendant was the victim of multiple delays not of his
own doing and, therefore, granted the Motion to Dismiss.”19 In this regard, Defendant’s
13 Id. at *3.
14 Middlebrook, 802 A.2d at 274 (quoting Barker, 407 U.S. at 531).
15Barker, 407 U.S. at 531. (“The defendant has no influence over the decisions necessary to reduce a backlog
in the courts or the caseloads of individual prosecutors.”).
16 Middlebrook, 802 A.2d at 274.
17 Sells, 2013 WL 1654317 at *3; Barker, 407 U.S. at 531.
18 2014 WL 4929507 (Del. Com. Pl. Sept. 26, 2014).
19 Defendant’s Reply in Opposition to the State’s Response to Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss, p. 10.
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reliance on Downs is misplaced. Delaware courts have found that when a court grants the
Office of Public Defender’s request for a continuance in order to appoint conflict counsel,
the continuance is “granted for good cause.”20 In Downs, the Court specifically stated that
although such a continuance weighs slightly against the State, it likewise weighs only slightly
in favor of Defendant.21 Moreover, this second factor was not dispositive in deciding the
Downs defendant’s speedy trial claim, as Defendant suggests.22
C. Defendant’s Assertion of the Right to a Speedy Trial
Next, the Court considers the time in which the defendant asserted the right to a
speedy trial. A defendant’s timeliness in asserting this right plays a crucial role in analyzing a
speedy trial claim because whether and how a defendant asserts this right suggests the
seriousness of the deprivation.23 To that extent, a defendant is responsible to inform the
court of “what he views as an unfair postponement.”24
In this case, Defendant asserted his right to a speedy trial on May 22, 2014, which is
approximately one year since this matter came before the Court, and just over one month
since the third time trial was continued in April 2014. The Court therefore views this factor
in favor of Defendant, however it is not dispositive of the issues before the Court.
D. Prejudice to the Defendant
20 Hicks, 26 A.3d 214 at *2; Middlebrook, 802 A.2d at 273-74;
21 State v. Downs, 2014 WL 4929507 at *3 (Del. Com. Pl. Sept. 26, 2014).
22 Id. at *3, 5.
23Barker, 407 U.S. at 531. (“The strength of his efforts will be affected by the length of the delay, to some
extent by the reason for the delay, and most particularly by the personal prejudice, which is not always readily
identifiable, that he experiences. The more serious the deprivation, the more likely a defendant is to
complain.”)
24 Id.
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The final factor, prejudice to the defendant, is “assessed in the light of the interests of
defendants which the speedy trial right was designed to protect,” which include: “(1)
preventing oppressive pretrial incarceration; (2) minimizing the anxiety and concern of the
accused; and (3) limiting the possibility that the defense will be impaired.25 In the matter at
hand, although the Defendant has only called into question two interests protected by the
speedy trial right, the Court will address all three.26
First, the right to a speedy trial protects a defendant’s interest in preventing
oppressive pretrial incarceration.27 “‘Time spent in jail awaiting trial by one presumed
innocent until proven guilty [is a serious matter, as it] often means loss of a job, disrupts
family life, and enforces idleness.’”28 Defendant here is not currently incarcerated on the
charges before this Court. Therefore, this first interest is not at issue in this matter.
The right to a speedy trial also protects a defendant’s interest in minimizing anxiety
and concern.29 When a trial is delayed, a defendant is presumed to be prejudiced to some
degree “by living under a cloud of anxiety, suspicion, and often hostility” for the duration of
that delay.30 This interest, however, will only weigh in a defendant’s favor when the
defendant has alleged “excessive concern or anxiety.”31
25 Barker, 407 U.S. at 532.
26 See Middlebrook, 802 A.2d at 276; see also Bailey, 521 A.2d at 1082.
27 Middlebrook, 802 A.2d at 276.
28 Downs, 2014 WL 4929507 at *4 (citing Sells, 2013 WL 1654317 at *4).
29 Barker, 407 U.S. at 532.
30 Dabney v. State, 953 A.2d 159, 168 (Del. 2008) (quoting Middlebrook, 802 A.2d at 277).
31 Downs, 2014 WL 4929507 at *4 (citing Cooper, 32 A.3d 988 at *8.
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After reviewing the record in this matter, I find that Defendant has been prejudiced
due to having excessive concerns and anxieties regarding his livelihood and employment.
Defendant provides an Affidavit where he specifically set forth that he is “constantly riddled
with anxiety and concern” over this matter and how it may affect his future, including his
ability to maintain his current employment.32 Defendant has also set forth that if convicted,
he will be sentenced to serve a jail sentence of at least sixty days, which would render him
unable to report to work, and would ultimately result in termination from his employment.
This possibility has hung over Defendant for this traffic violation for greater than two years.
Moreover, Defendant contends that his absence from work for the days in which he had to
attend Court proceedings have “inhibited [his] ability to advance within the corporate
structure.”33 I find that collectively, these concerns and anxieties are excessive and have
therefore prejudiced Defendant.
Finally, the right to a speedy trial protects the defendant’s interest in limiting the
possibility of impairing the defense. The right to a speedy trial protects this interest
“because the inability of a defendant [to] adequately prepare his case skews the fairness of
the entire system.”34 While this kind of prejudice is particularly difficult to prove as “time’s
erosion of exculpatory evidence and testimony can rarely be shown,”35 it is nonetheless the
“most serious” type of prejudice.36
32 Affidavit of Defendant, ¶ 5.
33 Id.
34 Downs, 2014 WL 4929507 at *4
35 Sells, 2013 WL 1654317 at *3 (citing Doggett v. U.S., 505 U.S. 647, 655 (1992)).
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Here, Defendant has alleged that he has been prejudiced by the delay because the
possibility of faded memories, which impact his ability to prepare his defense. In fact,
Defense counsel has maintained that he and Defendant have been prepared to proceed on
every occasion that trial has been continued.
Although the trial delays in this matter have impaired only one out of the three
interests protected by the Sixth Amendment, Defendant has nonetheless suffered prejudice.
Therefore, the fourth factor tips in Defendant’s favor.
E. Balancing of Factors
The balancing of the four Barker factors supports Defendant’s motion as all four
factors tip in favor of Defendant. Therefore, I find that there has been a violation of
Defendant’s right to a speedy trial.
CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss is GRANTED, the case
is hereby Dismissed.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
_________________________________
The Honorable Alex J. Smalls.
Chief Judge
Schoenbeck-Mem OP – Dec 17 2014
36 Barker, 407 U.S. at 532
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