660 A.2d 959 | Md. Ct. Spec. App. | 1995
Lead Opinion
On 15 June 1994, appellant, Robert Dedo, was convicted, on an agreed statement of facts, by the Circuit Court for Wicomico County (Simpson, J.) of one count of felonious possession of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD). Appellant was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment.
ISSUES
I. Did the [suppression hearing] judge err in refusing to suppress evidence seized in the course of an illegal search of appellant’s truck?
III. Is appellant’s sentence illegal because the trial court refused to award credit for some time spent on home detention?
TV. Must the docket entries and the commitment record be corrected to reflect the two-year sentence the lower court imposed?
FACTS
On 15 August 1993, Corporal James Wilson of the Maryland Natural Resources Police was assigned to “cover” the annual turtle race at Cedar Hill Park in Wicomico County. Corporal Wilson testified that, at approximately 12:00 p.m., he was approached by an informant who advised him that appellant was “involved in distributing LSD on the park grounds.” The informant explained that appellant was “wearing a flowered shirt, multi-colored, brown khaki shorts, and that the LSD that he was, in fact, distributing was in his shirt pocket.” Corporal Wilson relayed this information to Wicomico County Sheriffs Deputies Mike Nicholas and Claude Holland, who were stationed near the park gate. He also described for them a truck appellant had been observed driving (a blue Chevrolet S-10 pickup with distinctive rims).
Deputy Holland testified that, several minutes after talking to Corporal Wilson, he observed appellant’s truck near the entrance to the park. Deputy Holland explained that as he and Sergeant Nicholas
Appellant was charged with one count of felonious possession of LSD, one count of possession of LSD, and one count of possession of drug paraphernalia. On 22 October 1993, appellant filed a motion to suppress the evidence seized from his vehicle, claiming that the officers did not have probable cause to search his truck. The judge who heard the motion denied it. Thereafter, appellant elected a court trial and was convicted of one count of felonious possession of LSD. The State nol prossed the remaining counts.
DISCUSSION
I.
Appellant argues that the circuit court erred in denying his motion to suppress the evidence recovered from his vehicle. Specifically, appellant contends that, “because the officers did not adequately demonstrate the [informant’s] reliability in the past or independently corroborate any of the incriminating information the [informant] reported on the day in question, they lacked probable cause for the search.” We disagree.
In making our independent constitutional review of whether probable cause existed sufficient to validate the warrantless search of appellant’s vehicle, we observe that a search “conducted without the benefit of a warrant supported by probable cause is per se unreasonable under the fourth amendment, subject to only a few exceptions.” Gamble v. State, 318 Md. 120, 123, 567 A.2d 95 (1989) (citing Schneckloth v. Bustamonte, 412 Ú.S. 218, 219, 93 S.Ct. 2041, 2043-44, 36 L.Ed.2d 854
Probable cause has been defined as the “ ‘fair probability that contraband or evidence of a crime will be found in a particular place.’ ” Id. (quoting Illinois v. Gates, 462 U.S. 213, 238, 103 S.Ct. 2317, 2332, 76 L.Ed.2d 527 (1983)). The test for probable cause based on an informant’s tip is the totality of the circumstances. Id. at 230, 103 S.Ct. at 2328. As explained in Green v. State, 77 Md.App. 477, 551 A.2d 127 (1989) however, “Although Illinois v. Gates, supra, adopted a ‘totality of the circumstances’ analysis for assessing the existence of probable cause, an informant’s veracity, reliability and status remain highly relevant in determining whether probable cause has been established where the police rely upon an informant’s tip.” Id. at 485, 551 A.2d 127. Accord Draper v. United States, 358 U.S. 307, 79 S.Ct. 329, 3 L.Ed.2d 327 (1959) (probable cause to make warrantless arrest where police independently corroborated informant’s story, even though corroborating detail was of entirely innocent activity).
In the case sub judice, Corporal Wilson testified that he was approached by an informant while monitoring the annual turtle races at Cedar Hill Park. Corporal Wilson explained that he knew the informant, that the informant was reliable, and that the informant had provided information to him “[ajpproximately a dozen times” in the past regarding appellant’s involvement in the distribution of drugs. In addition, Corporal Wilson testified that the informant, on three prior occasions, had supplied him with information that resulted in arrests and convictions. Under the totality of the circum
In addition, there was adequate corroboration of the informant’s information to provide the officers with probable cause to search appellant’s vehicle. The informant stated that appellant was distributing LSD on park grounds, that appellant was wearing a flowered shirt, and that the LSD was in appellant’s shirt pocket. Corporal Wilson then relayed this information to Officers Holland and Nicholas, giving them a description of the appellant’s distinctive vehicle. The officers thereupon located appellant and his vehicle at the entrance to the park. When first approached by the deputies, appellant was seated in the driver’s position and the engine was running. A flowered shirt similar to the one described by the informant was observed on the seat of the vehicle.
Viewing the facts in a light “most favorable to the State as the prevailing party on the motion,” Riddick, 319 Md. at 183, 571 A.2d 1239, yet performing an independent review of the constitutionality of the search, Riddick, 319 Md. at 183, 571 A.2d 1239; Perkins, 83 Md.App. at 346, 574 A.2d 356, we hold that there was probable cause sufficient to justify the warrant-less search of appellant’s vehicle. The totality of the circumstances indicate that Deputy Holland and Sergeant Nicholas reasonably believed, and had probable cause to ‘believe, that contraband or evidence of a crime would be found in appellant’s vehicle and that it was necessary to conduct the search at the time they did. Accordingly, the evidence retrieved from the truck was properly admitted into evidence.
II.
Appellant contends that, because the trial judge failed to inform him that he had a right to take part in the selection of his jury or that the jurors would be drawn from the community, he did not knowingly and voluntarily waive his right to a
[COURT]: Mr. Dedo [appellant], you have the absolute right to be tried by a jury. Do you understand that?
[APPELLANT]: Yes, sir.
[COURT]: In a jury trial, twelve people would hear the evidence. After hearing the evidence, they would all have to agree upon their verdict. They would all have to be convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that you are guilty before a jury would find you guilty. Do you understand that?
[APPELLANT]: Yes, sir.
[COURT]: Understanding that, do you want to be tried by a jury, or do you want to waive your right to a jury trial and be tried by the Court?
[APPELLANT]: By the Court, sir.
[COURT]: I find the defendant knowingly and voluntarily waives his right to a trial by jury----
It is well established that “‘[a]n accused comes to trial cloaked in the Sixth Amendment right to be tried by a jury, and he may lose that right only upon a waiver of it in the constitutional sense.’ ” Bruce v. State, 328 Md. 594, 607, 616 A.2d 392 (1992) (quoting Smith v. State, 17 Md.App. 217, 226 n. 11, 301 A.2d 54 (1973)), cert. denied, — U.S. —, 113 S.Ct. 2936, 124 L.Ed.2d 686 (1993); Johnson v. Zerbst, 304 U.S. 458, 58 S.Ct. 1019, 82 L.Ed. 1461 (1938). Maryland Rule 4-246 governs the waiver of a jury in the circuit court. Subparagraph (b) of that rule provides:
Procedure for Acceptance of Waiver—A defendant may waive the right to a trial by jury at any time before the commencement of trial. The court may not accept the waiver until it determines, after an examination of the defendant on the record in open court conducted by the*450 court, the State’s Attorney, the attorney for the defendant, or any combination thereof, that the waiver is made knowingly and voluntarily.
Our cases, as well as the plain language of Rule 4-246, establish that for a waiver to be effective, the court must be satisfied that the defendant has given up that right both voluntarily and knowledgeably. Martinez v. State, 309 Md. 124, 134, 522 A.2d 950 (1987); see also Marsh v. State, 98 Md.App. 686, 694, 635 A.2d 26, cert. granted, 334 Md. 729, 641 A.2d 225 (1994). Whether there has been an intelligent waiver of a jury trial is to be decided by the facts and circumstances of each case. Tibbs v. State, 323 Md. 28, 31, 590 A.2d 550 (1991); Dortch v. State, 290 Md. 229, 428 A.2d 1220 (1981). The questioner need not recite any fixed litany or incantation in order to determine if the right has been properly abandoned. Tibbs, 323 Md. at 31, 590 A.2d 550; Martinez, 309 Md. at 134, 522 A.2d 950.
In State v. Hall, 321 Md. 178, 582 A.2d 507 (1990), the defendant was advised of his right to a jury trial “where twelve people would hear the evidence,” all of whom would have to be convinced beyond a reasonable doubt before he could be found guilty. The trial judge also advised the defendant that if he waived his right to a jury trial, the court would hear the evidence and have to be convinced beyond a reasonable doubt before he could be found guilty.
On appeal, the defendant argued that he did not knowingly and voluntarily waive his right to a jury trial. The Court disagreed, holding that
the record ... demonstrates that the court could fairly be satisfied that [the defendant] had the requisite knowledge of the jury trial right, that the waiver was voluntary, and that the requirements of [Rule 4-246] were satisfied. Moreover,*451 the court was not required to advise [the defendant], as he contends, as to the details of the jury selection process.
Id. at 183, 582 A.2d 507.
In the instant case, appellant, on the record, acknowledged his understanding that he had an absolute right to a jury trial, that the jury would have been composed of twelve people, and that each juror would have had to find him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. As explained in Hall, Md.Rule 4-246(b) does not mandate that the trial judge advise appellant “as to the details of the jury selection process,” i.e., that appellant could take part in the jury selection process and that the jurors would be drawn from the community. Hall, 321 Md. at 183, 582 A.2d 507. We have no doubt that, under these circumstances, appellant realized what he was doing and that he knowingly and voluntarily waived his right to a jury trial.
III.
After appellant was convicted, the following exchange occurred between the court and the participants:
[COURT]: ... Are we ready for sentencing today?
[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Your Honor, as a result of some discussions with [the prosecutor] which I think you are aware and as a result of [appellant’s] ... having some insurance available until the end of August, we would be asking for a deferral of sentence and any type of arrangement to assure that he comes back would be agreeable to the defendant.
[COURT]: All right.
[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Just for the record, I will show [the prosecutor], this is his last appointment where he is insured.
[COURT]: It is my understanding the State has no objection?
[STATE]: With some qualifications, Your Honor. I believe there have been some discussions about—
*452 [COURT]: He will be placed on home detention pending scheduling of the sentence.
[COURT]: ... The defendant will be ordered on home detention how [sic] that is arranged.
[STATE]: And with the stipulation that he have electronic monitoring, and the defense would request that as well. Your Honor, I would ask—
[COURT]: You want electronic monitoring and any violation of the home detention will result in him being incarcerated pending sentencing.
[STATE]: Your Honor, I further request that [appellant] be directed to report immediately to that office.
[COURT]: All right. He "will be ordered to report there directly after court.
Appellant argues that he is entitled to credit against his sentence, pursuant to Md.Ann.Code, Art. 27, § 638C(a) (1992 Replacement Volume),
It is apparent from the record that, after judgment was entered, appellant requested a postponement of sentencing for medical reasons. The circuit court granted the post
In Balderston v. State, 93 Md.App. 364, 612 A.2d 335 (1992), the defendant requested and was granted, as a condition of probation, home confinement. The defendant subsequently violated his probation and the remainder of his original sentence was reinstated. The defendant argued, however, that home confinement is tantamount to imprisonment, or at least custodial confinement, and that he is entitled to credit against the remainder of his sentence, pursuant to section 638C(a), for the time he spent in home confinement.
This Court, relying on Maus v. State, 311 Md. 85, 532 A.2d 1066 (1987),
[VJoluntary home detention, a situation in which a defendant can leave his home to go to work, and has freedom of movement and association within his home, cannot be considered “custodial,” or the equivalent of custody. On the contrary, the reason appellant requested that he be permitted to participate in home confinement is because it is not the equivalent of custody, i.e., he could tend to his responsibilities and maintain his job. Thus, we reject appellant’s argument that voluntary home confinement is the equivalent*454 of “custody,” and hold that, contrary to his claim, he is not entitled, as a matter of right, to sentencing credit for the 45 days he spent in voluntary home confinement.
Id. 93 Md.App. at 370, 612 A.2d 335 (emphasis in the original; footnote omitted). Accord Schlossman v. State, 105 Md.App. 277, 659 A.2d 371 (1995).
We believe the reasoning of Balderston is equally applicable to the case sub judice. It is apparent from the record that home detention was granted to appellant, at his request, so that he could maintain a doctor’s appointment, presumably while he was still covered by medical insurance. Although the record does not disclose what restrictions, if any, were imposed on appellant, it is clear that the operation of the home monitoring would allow appellant, at the least, to leave his house to visit the doctor. Accordingly, as explained in Balderston, the reason appellant requested home detention is because it is not the equivalent of custody,
Appellant suggests that Balderston is distinguishable from the instant case in that he was subject to home confinement prior to sentencing, whereas in Balderston the defendant was sentenced to home confinement as a condition of his probation. Specifically, appellant contends that, unlike Balderston, the purpose of his home confinement was “strictly a means of securing his appearance at sentencing.” We discern no meaningful difference between home confinement instituted prior to sentencing and home confinement as a condition of probation. It is beyond cavil that a defendant is not awarded credit, pursuant to Md.Ann. Code, Art. 27, § 638C(a), for time spent free on bond, although the purpose of posting the bond is also to secure the defendant’s appearance at a subsequent hearing or trial. We believe the same applies to a defendant placed in home confinement as a means of securing his appearance at sentencing.
In People v. Ramos, 138 Ill.2d 152, 149 Ill.Dec. 273, 561 N.E.2d 643 (1990), the defendant, after arrest on a charge of residential burglary, was released on a recognizance bond with home detention as a condition of the bond. Under the condition of home detention, the defendant was not to leave his
The trial judge subsequently sentenced the defendant to four years’ imprisonment, whereupon the defendant requested that his prison sentence be reduced by the 168 days he spent in home confinement following his release on bond. The trial judge denied the defendant’s request.
On appeal,- the Supreme Court of Illinois held that the “defendant’s period of home confinement was not ‘time spent in custody’ within the' meaning of the [Illinois sentencing credit] statute.”
Home confinement, though restrictive, differs in several important respects from confinement in a jail or prison. An offender who is detained at home is not subject to the regimentation of penal institutions and, once inside the residence, enjoys unrestricted freedom of activity, movement, and association. Furthermore, a defendant confined to his residence does not suffer the same surveillance and lack of privacy associated with becoming a member of an incarcerated population.
Id. at 277, 561 N.E.2d at 647. Notwithstanding the fact that appellant was given home detention as a condition of his bail to ensure that he appeared for trial, the court concluded that the term “custody” does not “ ‘include the period of time during which the defendant was released on bail,’ ” even when home detention is imposed. Id. at 276, 561 N.E.2d at 646 (quoting People ex rel. Morrison v. Sielaff, 58 Ill.2d 91, 316 N.E.2d 769 (1974)).
[T]wo defendants convicted of the same crime and given the same sentence, two months in a Wicomico County Department of Corrections home detention program. One [defendant A] posted bond for his pretrial release; the other [defendant B] was unable to do so and, as a result, spent two months before sentencing in the very same home detention program. If the second hypothetical defendant [B] is not entitled to credit for those two months under § 638C(a), he, in effect, received punishment twice as severe as the first defendant [A]. There is no compelling state interest— indeed, there is not even a rational basis—for such disparate infringements on this fundamental right to one’s personal liberty.
At the outset, we note that the circumstances surrounding appellant’s home confinement are very different from those set forth in the unconvincing scenario supra. Appellant was given home confinement after he was convicted, at his request, in order to facilitate a personal need and to tend to certain private insurance matters before sentencing; he was not given home confinement pretrial in lieu of bond. Accordingly, appellant’s scenario fails to portray accurately the circumstances of this case for any purpose, let alone comparability. Specifically, appellant obviously cannot be likened to defendant A; nor is he defendant B because appellant was on bond pretrial in the instant case.
We fail to see an equal protection problem.
. Appellant also argues, relying on North Carolina v. Pearce, 395 U.S. 711, 718, 89 S.Ct. 2072, 2077, 23 L.Ed.2d 656 (1969), that he is “denied his double jeopardy protection against multiple punishment for a single offense, which is implicated “whenever punishment already endured is not fully subtracted from any new sentence imposed.’ ” In Pearce, the defendant was convicted of assault with intent to rape and sentenced to prison for a term of twelve to fifteen years. After a post-conviction proceeding, the court reversed his conviction. The defendant was thereupon retried, convicted, and sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment which, when added to the time the defendant had already spent in prison, the parties agreed amounted to a longer total sentence than that originally imposed.
The Supreme Court, in addressing the defendant’s claim that he should be credited with the time served under the original sentence, concluded:
*459 We hold that the constitutional guarantee against multiple punishments for the same offense absolutely requires that punishment already exacted must be fully “credited” in imposing sentence upon a new conviction for the same offense.
Id. at 718-19, 89 S.Ct. at 2077. As summarized in Donaldson v. State, 305 Md. 522, 505 A.2d 527 (1986):
[The double jeopardy clause of the fifth amendment] forbids that “any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb,” and it flows to the states through the fourteenth amendment. The clause ordinarily protects against a second prosecution for the same offense after an acquittal or a final conviction, against multiple punishments for the same offense, and against an increase in the punishment imposed upon a conviction.
Id. at 530, 505 A.2d 527 (citations omitted).
In the case sub judice, there has been but one prosecution and one punishment. Although Pearce states, as appellant contends, that double jeopardy protection is implicated whenever “punishment already endured is not fully subtracted from any new sentence imposed,” such is only the case where a second prosecution threatens to extend punishment beyond that which was originally imposed during the first prosecution. See Pearce, 395 U.S. at 718-19, 89 S.Ct. at 2077. In the instant case, as explained supra, appellant voluntarily requested home detention so that he could tend to medical and insurance needs. The circuit court granted his request, not to exact punishment for the crime of which he was convicted, but to allow him that freedom to tend to those needs balanced against the objective of ensuring his appearance at sentencing. Accordingly, appellant was not denied credit for punishment already exacted, see id. at 718, 89 S.Ct. at 2077, and the protections afforded by the double jeopardy clause are not applicable.
Appellant also argues that, pursuant to Md.Ann.Code, Art. 27, § 645-11 (1992 Replacement Volume), he is entitled to a “diminution of the period of his confinement based on the
(b) Qualifications for participants.—In Wicomico County, when an individual who has no other charges pending in any jurisdiction is sentenced to the custody of the Director of the Wicomico County Department of Corrections, the court may, at the time of sentencing or at any time during the individual’s incarceration, prescribe that the individual may participate in [home detention].
(e) Violations of trust or conditions.—(1) In the event of any violation of trust or conditions prescribed by the court or the Wicomico County Department of Corrections for participation in [home detention], a prisoner may be removed from [home detention] and any earned diminution of the period of the prisoner’s confinement may be canceled ....
Md.Ann.Code, Art. 27, § 645-II(b) & (e)(1).
Although subsection (e) may, as appellant suggests, contemplate diminution of a defendant’s sentence for time served in home detention, it is clear that subsection (a) provides that this section is not invoked until the “time of sentencing or at any time during the individual’s- incarceration.” Appellant was given home detention on 15 June 1994, approximately three months prior to sentencing.
Lastly, appellant contends that, because home confinement manifests “the essential features of incarceration, the exercise of sound discretion compelled awarding him credit for
What we have said to this point is only that a defendant who has received home confinement for any presentence purpose is not entitled by statute to a formulaic, day-for-day credit against the sentence ultimately imposed. A trial court may, however, generally consider how the defendant performed while under a presentence home confinement order in fashioning an appropriate sentence for that defendant.
IV.
Notwithstanding the sentencing transcript’s indication that appellant was to be sentenced to two years’ imprisonment, the docket entries and the commitment record show a three-year sentence. Appellant argues that this Court should direct the circuit court to amend the docket entries and the commitment record to conform to the sentencing transcript and reflect the two-year sentence imposed. We shall oblige.
As explained in Savoy v. State, 336 Md. 355, 360 n. 6, 648 A.2d 683 (1994): “The accuracy of [the] docket entry is belied by the transcript. Ordinarily, when there is a conflict between the transcript and the docket entries, unless it is shown to be in error, it is the transcript that prevails.” See also Waller v. Maryland Nat’l Bank, 332 Md. 375, 379, 631 A.2d 447 (1993); Roberts v. State, 219 Md. 485, 488, 150 A.2d 448 (1959); Shade v. State, 18 Md.App. 407, 411, 306 A.2d 560 (1973). Although the State asserts that the sentencing transcript is in error, it points to no evidence to that end, other than the fact that the sentencing judge signed the commit
JUDGMENT AFFIRMED. THE CIRCUIT COURT IS DIRECTED TO AMEND THE DOCKET ENTRIES AND COMMITMENT RECORD IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS OPINION. COSTS TO BE PAID ONE HALF BY APPELLANT AND ONE HALF BY WICOMICO COUNTY.
. Although the docket entries and commitment record indicate that appellant was sentenced to three years' imprisonment, the sentencing transcript indicates a two-year sentence. This discrepancy is discussed in issue IV infra.
. Deputy Holland explained that he was familiar with appellant's vehicle because he had "received many complaints in reference to that vehicle” prior to 15 August 1993.
. Sergeant Nicholas did not testify.
. But see Robinson v. State, 67 Md.App. 445, 508 A.2d 159, cert. denied, 307 Md. 261, 513 A.2d 314 (1986) (it is no longer required that a recitation on the record of the reasonable doubt standard is a precondition for a trial court’s acceptance of a waiver of a jury trial).
. Section 6380(a) provides in pertinent part:
(a) Credit for time spent in custody before conviction or acquittal.— Any person who is convicted and sentenced shall receive credit against the term of a definite or life sentence or credit against the minimum and maximum terms of an indeterminate sentence for all time spent in the custody of any state, county or city jail, correctional institution, hospital, mental hospital or other agency as a result of the charge for which sentence is imposed or as a result of the conduct on which the charge is based, and the term of a definite or life sentence or the minimum and maximum terms of an indeterminate sentence shall be diminished thereby.
. The Court of Appeals in Maus held that the defendant's commitment to a drug rehabilitation program as a condition of his probation was not "custody” within the meaning of section 638C(a) because (1) it was not punishment imposed by the sentencing court, but was chosen by the defendant, and (2) the drug rehabilitation program was a private facility and so there was no custody in a public institution as required by section 638C(a). Maus v. State, 311 Md. 85, 105, 532 A.2d 1066 (1987).
. In People v. Ramos, 138 Ill.2d 152, 149 Ill.Dec. 273, 561 N.E.2d 643 (1990), the Supreme Court of Illinois explained that home confinement is not equivalent to confinement in a jail or prison because an "offender who is detained at home is not subject to the regimentation of penal institutions” but "once inside the residence, enjoys unrestricted freedom of activity, movement, and association.” Id. at 277, 561 N.E.2d at 647.
. Section 5-8-7(b) of the Illinois Unified Code of Corrections states:
The offender shall be given credit on the determinate sentence or maximum term and the minimum period of imprisonment for time spent in custody as a result of the offense for which the sentence was imposed, at the rate specified in Section 3-6-3 of this Code.
Ill.Rev.Stat. ch. 38, para. 1005-8-7(b) (1987).
. Section I of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution provides in part: "No State shall ... deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.” Although the Maryland Constitution does not contain an express equal protection clause, "we have long held that equal protection is implicitly guaranteed by the due
. We note that it is similarly not unfair for the State to allow credit for involuntary, court-required imprisonment or treatment, but not to allow it for home confinement which, as here, has been requested by the individual who subsequently seeks credit for the time spent in the home confinement. See Maus v. State, 311 Md. 85, 107, 532 A.2d 1066 (1987).
. The sentencing hearing was held on 4 September 1994.
. The State argues that the judge is presumed to know what he was signing.
Concurrence Opinion
concurring.
I agree with everything in Judge Harrell’s opinion, but wish to underscore that the holding in Part III does not prohibit the imposition of a sentence that includes a full credit for any home detention that preceded the sentence. If the sentencing judge decides that it is appropriate to do so, he or she may grant a day-for-day credit to a defendant who had been placed on home detention as a condition of pretrial release.