Rodriques Lamar Johnson v. State of Indiana , 2017 Ind. App. LEXIS 355 ( 2017 )

FILED
Aug 18 2017, 8:59 am
CLERK
Indiana Supreme Court
Court of Appeals
and Tax Court
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE
Marietto V. Massillamany Curtis T. Hill, Jr.
Massillamany & Jeter LLP Attorney General of Indiana
Fishers, Indiana Lyubov Gore
Deputy Attorney General
Indianapolis, Indiana
IN THE
COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
Rodriques Lamar Johnson, August 18, 2017
Appellant-Defendant, Court of Appeals Case No.
48A02-1611-CR-2580
v. Appeal from the Madison Circuit
Court
State of Indiana, The Honorable Thomas Newman
Appellee-Plaintiff. Jr., Judge
Trial Court Cause No.
48C03-1205-FD-946
Robb, Judge.
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 48A02-1611-CR-2580 | August 18, 2017 Page 1 of 12
Case Summary and Issue
[1] Following a jury trial, Rodriques Johnson was convicted of arson, a Class B
felony, and sentenced to ten years in the Indiana Department of Correction.
Johnson appeals his conviction, raising one issue for our review: whether his
constitutional right to a speedy trial was violated. Concluding his right to a
speedy trial was not violated, we affirm.
Facts and Procedural History
[2] Johnson lived with his mother in a house belonging to the Anderson Housing
Authority until they moved out sometime in April or early May of 2012. On
May 21, 2012, Johnson threw a brick through the kitchen window of the house.
He then lit pieces of paper on fire and threw them through the window.
[3] Two Anderson Housing Authority employees, Nathan Ballinger and Willie
Beasley, were inside the house at the time. Johnson told them to “get the f***
out.” Transcript, Volume I at 235. William Hofer, another Anderson Housing
Authority employee, tried to enter the house to extinguish the fire, but Johnson
blocked him. Johnson then sat in a nearby lot until the police and fire
departments arrived a short time later. Ballinger, Beasley, and Hofer provided
statements to the officers and Johnson was arrested at the scene. The Anderson
Housing Authority spent $5,300.41 repairing the house.
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[4] On May 22, 2012, Johnson was charged with arson, a Class D felony, and
criminal mischief, a Class A misdemeanor.1 A jury trial was initially scheduled
for September 18, 2012, but was delayed numerous times. The trial date was
first moved to February 26, 2013, because of court congestion. Johnson then
requested a competency evaluation and the trial court set a competency hearing
for May 6, 2013. At the hearing, Johnson was deemed competent to stand trial.
Meanwhile, the trial date was moved to June 26, 2013, because of court
congestion. The trial date was later moved to September 17, 2013, also because
of court congestion.
[5] A month before his September 2013 trial date, Johnson filed a motion for
continuance, which the trial court granted, and the trial was rescheduled for
December 10, 2013. Then, a month before his December 2013 trial date,
Johnson filed another motion for continuance, which the trial court granted,
pushing the trial date to February 18, 2014. Johnson’s counsel then withdrew
from Johnson’s case and Johnson was appointed new counsel sometime after
the second motion for continuance. Court congestion caused another delay and
the trial date was moved to June 3, 2014. One month before that trial date,
Johnson filed a motion to vacate the trial date and set the case for a
dispositional hearing. The trial court scheduled a dispositional hearing for June
1
The State later filed an amended information charging Johnson with arson as a Class B felony, and
dismissed the criminal mischief charge during the trial.
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16, 2014, but the parties failed to reach a plea agreement and a new trial date
was set for September 23, 2014.
[6] Less than one month before the September trial date, Johnson filed a motion for
another competency evaluation. The State objected, Johnson responded, and
the trial court took the matter under advisement. Johnson then filed a motion
to be allowed to present the defense of mental disease or defect. Following a
hearing, the trial court granted Johnson’s competency evaluation request and
appointed doctors to evaluate Johnson. After a competency hearing on July 22,
2015, Johnson was deemed competent to stand trial and a trial date was
scheduled for December 1, 2015. The trial was later rescheduled to December
14, 2015, but the record is unclear as to why it was changed.
[7] On December 14, 2015, Johnson’s counsel requested to withdraw from the
case. The trial court granted the request and appointed Johnson new counsel.
On May 2, 2016, the trial court set a new trial date for September 27, 2016.
Four days before the trial date, Johnson filed a motion for a third competency
evaluation, as well as another motion for continuance. The State objected to
both motions and the trial court denied both motions. At trial, Johnson orally
requested the trial court reconsider the competency determination and made
another motion for continuance. The trial court denied the requests.
[8] The jury found Johnson guilty of arson and the trial court sentenced Johnson to
ten years in the Indiana Department of Correction. This appeal followed.
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Discussion and Decision
I. Standard of Review
[9] “The Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution and Article 1, section
12 of the Indiana Constitution guarantee the right to a speedy trial.” Wilkins v.
State, 901 N.E.2d 535, 537 (Ind. Ct. App. 2009), trans. denied. The standard of
review for a speedy trial issue, which is a pure question of law, is de novo.
Cundiff v. State, 967 N.E.2d 1026, 1027 (Ind. 2012).
II. Johnson’s Speedy Trial Rights
[10] Johnson claims the 1,579 day delay between his arrest and trial violated his
right to a speedy trial under the United States and Indiana Constitutions. The
analysis of a claim involving a speedy trial right is the same under both the state
and federal constitutions. Sweeney v. State, 704 N.E.2d 86, 102 (Ind. 1998), cert.
denied, 527 U.S. 1035 (1999). The inquiry into whether there was a speedy trial
violation involves “a balancing test, in which the conduct of both the
prosecution and the defendant are weighed.” Barker v. Wingo, 407 U.S. 514,
530 (1972). Barker dictates the factors to be considered are: 1) the length of the
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. Id.
A. Length of Delay
[11] The length of the delay acts as a triggering mechanism; a delay of more than a
year post-accusation is “presumptively prejudicial” and triggers the Barker
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analysis. Vermillion v. State, 719 N.E.2d 1201, 1206 (Ind. 1999) (citing Doggett v.
United States, 505 U.S. 647, 652 n.1 (1992)). If the length of the delay meets this
threshold, “the court must then consider, as one factor among several, the
extent to which the delay stretches beyond the bare minimum needed to trigger
judicial examination of the claim.” Doggett, 505 U.S. at 652.
[12] As the State concedes, there is no doubt the delay in bringing Johnson’s case to
trial exceeded one year. Johnson was arrested and charged on May 22, 2012.
Johnson’s trial occurred on September 27, 2016. The delay is therefore
presumptively prejudicial. Moreover, the delay was more than four times
longer than the threshold requirement of one year. As a result, this factor
weighs against the State, but the other Barker factors must also be considered.
B. Reason for Delay
[13] When considering the reason for delays, we look at “whether the government
or the criminal defendant is more to blame for that delay.” Doggett, 505 U.S. at
651 (1992). In Barker, the Court determined that
different weights should be assigned to different reasons. A
deliberate attempt to delay the trial in order to hamper the
defense should be weighted heavily against the government. A
more neutral reason such as negligence or overcrowded courts
should be weighted less heavily but nevertheless should be
considered since the ultimate responsibility for such
circumstances must rest with the government rather than with the
defendant.
407 U.S. at 531.
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[14] Johnson concedes the State did not delay the trial in order to hamper the
defense. See Appellant’s Brief at 14. Johnson also concedes his two changes of
counsel contributed to the delays. Id. However, Johnson argues the State
acquiesced in many of the delays. As a result, Johnson contends this factor
weighs in his favor. We disagree.
[15] The following chart shows the relevant delays in this case, along with the
reason, and whether the defendant is responsible, for each delay following the
initial trial date of September 18, 2012:
Delayed until: Reason: Attributed to
Defendant:
February 26, 2013 Court congestion
June 26, 2013 Johnson’s competency Yes
hearing on May 6, 2013
Court congestion
September 17, 2013 Court congestion
December 10, 2013 Johnson’s continuance Yes
February 18, 2014 Johnson’s continuance Yes
June 3, 2014 Court congestion
September 23, 2014 Johnson’s motion to set Yes
case for disposition (no
agreement was reached)
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December 1, 2015 Johnson’s second Yes
psychiatric evaluation
December 14, 2015 Changed by request Unclear
September 27, 2016 Johnson’s change of Yes
counsel
[16] Court congestion resulted in delays totaling slightly less than thirteen months.
As Barker provides, these delays must be considered against the State, but are
weighed less heavily than deliberate attempts to delay the trial. Meanwhile,
every other delay in this case, which lasted over four years, is attributable to
Johnson: Johnson requested, and was granted, two psychiatric evaluations;
Johnson filed, and was granted, two motions for continuance; Johnson
requested a dispositional hearing although no agreement was reached; and
Johnson’s counsel withdrew from the case immediately before trial. Johnson’s
own actions delayed the case for more than three years.
[17] Further, the State objected to some of the delays caused by Johnson. The State
objected to Johnson’s motion for a second psychiatric evaluation, specifically
noting the previous delays in the case. Appellant’s Appendix, Volume II at 48.
The State also objected to Johnson’s motions for a third continuance and a
third competency hearing, which Johnson made just days before trial. Both
motions were denied.
[18] In sum, while the delays due to court congestion are considered against the
State, Johnson caused over three additional years of delay and attempted to
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delay trial even further while the State objected to further delays. As a result,
this factor weighs against Johnson.
C. Assertion of Right
[19] “In order to claim a constitutional violation of the right to a speedy trial,
defendant must assert such right.” Lee v. State, 684 N.E.2d 1143, 1146 (Ind.
1997). Johnson concedes he never “formally asserted” his right to a speedy
trial. Appellant’s Br. at 15. Instead, Johnson argues it was clear he was
unhappy about the delays. Johnson points to a competency report filed with
the court by Dr. Frank Krause. In the report, Dr. Krause described Johnson as
“quite agitated and uncooperative, as he began to express anger about his
charges and how long he had been incarcerated.” Appellant’s App., Vol. II at
178. Johnson also points to a comment made by his counsel at a competency
hearing on May 6, 2013. Johnson’s counsel stated Johnson “indicated to me in
conversations here today that he wants to go to trial.” Tr., Vol. I at 6. Johnson
contends these comments show his displeasure with the delay of his case. As a
result, Johnson argues this factor is a “toss-up” between favoring him or the
State. Appellant’s Br. at 15. We disagree.
[20] Dr. Krause noted in his report that Johnson was displeased with his
incarceration, and Johnson’s counsel mentioned he wanted to go to trial.
Johnson never articulated his displeasure with his incarceration, or his desire to
go to trial, as an assertion of his right to a speedy trial. Johnson also did not
object on constitutional grounds to the setting of any trial date and never
asserted his right to a speedy trial until this appeal.
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[21] Further, Johnson’s actions throughout this case show he did not desire a speedy
trial. Dr. Krause explained to Johnson that cooperating with him would help
the case progress faster, but Johnson refused to answer Dr. Krause’s questions.
Appellant’s App., Vol. II at 178. As noted above, Johnson delayed the case
himself by requesting numerous psychiatric evaluations, continuances, and a
dispositional hearing. After more than four years, Johnson attempted to delay
this case even longer by filing another motion for continuance and another
motion for a competency hearing just four days before his trial date.
[22] In sum, not only did Johnson fail to assert his right to a speedy trial until after
his trial, he took active steps to avoid one. As a result, this factor weighs
heavily against Johnson.
D. Prejudice to Johnson
[23] “The final factor in the Barker test, prejudice, is assessed in light of the three
interests which the right to a speedy trial was designed to protect: (i) to prevent
oppressive pretrial incarceration; (ii) to minimize anxiety and concern of the
accused; and (iii) to limit the possibility that the defense will be impaired.”
Sweeney, 704 N.E.2d at 103 (citing Barker, 407 U.S. at 532). The most
important of the three is limiting the possibility of defense impairment. Barker,
407 U.S. at 532. The burden is on the defendant to show actual prejudice to
prove a speedy trial deprivation. Sturgeon v. State, 683 N.E.2d 612, 617 (Ind. Ct.
App. 1997), trans. denied.
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[24] Johnson concedes there is no indication the delay in this case “directly
undermined or impaired the defense.” Appellant’s Br. at 15. In fact, Johnson
concedes the evidence against him was “overwhelming” and this case was a
“slam dunk” for the prosecution from the start. Id. at 12. Rather, Johnson’s
only claim of prejudice is that his comments to Dr. Krause show he suffered
anxiety and stress because of the delays. See supra ¶ 19. As a result, he argues
this factor weighs in his favor. We disagree.
[25] Although Johnson waited a considerable amount of time for trial and may have
suffered anxiety in awaiting trial, the majority of the delays were caused by his
own actions. See supra ¶ 16. Further, as noted above, Johnson has conceded
the most important factor that his defense was not impaired and makes no
allegation concerning oppressive pretrial incarceration. Accordingly, we find
this factor weighs against Johnson.
[26] In sum, considering Johnson caused the majority of the delays, never asserted
his right to a speedy trial before this appeal, and failed to show he was
prejudiced by the delays, we hold his constitutional right to a speedy trial was
not violated.
Conclusion
[27] Johnson’s constitutional right to a speedy trial was not violated. Accordingly,
we affirm.
[28] Affirmed.
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Vaidik, C.J., and Bailey, J., concur.
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