State of Minnesota v. Michael Douglas Metsala

This opinion will be unpublished and
may not be cited except as provided by
Minn. Stat. § 480A.08, subd. 3 (2012).
STATE OF MINNESOTA
IN COURT OF APPEALS
A13-2199
State of Minnesota,
Respondent,
vs.
Michael Douglas Metsala,
Appellant.
Filed July 28, 2014
Reversed and remanded
Johnson, Judge
Hennepin County District Court
File No. 27-CR-10-53915
Lori Swanson, Attorney General, St. Paul, Minnesota; and
Michael O. Freeman, Hennepin County Attorney, Linda K. Jenny, Assistant County
Attorney, Minneapolis, Minnesota (for respondent)
Melissa Sheridan, Assistant State Public Defender, Eagan, Minnesota (for appellant)
Considered and decided by Johnson, Presiding Judge; Hooten, Judge; and Harten,
Judge.

Retired judge of the Minnesota Court of Appeals, serving by appointment
pursuant to Minn. Const. art. VI, § 10.
UNPUBLISHED OPINION
JOHNSON, Judge
After a court trial on stipulated facts, a Hennepin County judge found Michael
Douglas Metsala guilty of two counts of ineligible possession of a firearm. On appeal,
Metsala seeks a new trial on the ground that he did not waive his right to testify, his right
to compel the testimony of favorable witnesses for his defense, or his right to cross-
examine the state’s witnesses. The state concedes that Metsala did not make the
necessary waivers. Therefore, we reverse and remand for a new trial.
FACTS
Metsala is prohibited by state law from possessing firearms based on a federal
felony drug conviction from 2003, for which he was sentenced to 48 months in prison. In
June 2010, Bloomington police found a handgun at Metsala’s business and another
handgun at Metsala’s home when executing search warrants. While in custody, Metsala
admitted that the guns belonged to him.
The state charged Metsala with two counts of ineligible possession of a firearm, in
violation of Minn. Stat § 624.713, subds. 1(2), 2(b) (2010). Metsala moved to suppress
the handguns and statements he made to the police. The district court denied the motion.
In light of the district court’s ruling, the parties agreed to present the case to the district
court on a stipulation, pursuant to rule 26.01, subdivision 3, of the Minnesota Rules of
Criminal Procedure. The transcript of the trial indicates that Metsala waived his right to a
jury trial. But nothing in the record indicates that Metsala waived his right to testify, his
right to compel the testimony of favorable witnesses for his defense, or his right to cross-
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examine the state’s witnesses. The district court found Metsala guilty on both counts.
Metsala appeals.
DECISION
Metsala argues only that the district court erred by not obtaining a complete
waiver of the type required by rule 26.01, subdivision 3, of the Minnesota Rules of
Criminal Procedure. Specifically, Metsala argues that he never effectively waived his
right to testify, his right to compel the testimony of favorable witnesses for his defense,
or his right to cross-examine the state’s witnesses.
“When a defendant waives a jury trial or agrees to a trial on stipulated facts, the
Minnesota Rules of Criminal Procedure require that the defendant make an express
waiver of specified trial rights.” State v. Knoll, 739 N.W.2d 919, 921 (Minn. App. 2007)
(citing Minn. R. Crim. P. 26.01, subds. 1, 3). Those specified rights include the rights to:
“(1) testify at trial; (2) have the prosecution witnesses testify in open court in the
defendant’s presence; (3) question those prosecution witnesses; and (4) require any
favorable witnesses to testify for the defense in court.” Minn. R. Crim. P. 26.01, subd. 3;
see also Knoll, 739 N.W.2d at 922. Strict compliance with the rules is required; if a
defendant does not expressly waive, in writing or orally on the record, all rights listed in
rule 26.01, subdivision 3, the conviction must be reversed, and the case must be
remanded for a new trial. State v. Antrim, 764 N.W.2d 67, 70-71 (Minn. App. 2009);
Knoll, 739 N.W.2d at 921.
In response to Metsala’s appeal, the state filed a one-paragraph brief in which it
“concedes that the necessary waivers . . . were not obtained from Appellant.” The state
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agrees that “Appellant’s convictions . . . should be reversed by this Court and this matter
should be remanded to the district court for a new trial.”
Because it is undisputed that Metsala did not make a complete waiver of the trial
rights listed in rule 26.01, subdivision 3, we reverse and remand for a new trial.
Reversed and remanded.
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