STATE of Idaho, Plaintiff-Respondent, v. Kenneth MOEN et al., Defendants-Appellants.
No. 10554.
Supreme Court of Idaho.
Dec. 16, 1971.
491 P.2d 858 | 94 Idaho 477
W. Anthony Park, Atty. Gen., Martin R. Ward, Deputy Atty. Gen. and Charles P. Brumbach, Asst. Atty. Gen., Boise, for respondent.
DONALDSON, Justice.
This is an appeal by three defendants—Kenneth Moen, Earl S. Carver, and Patrick Joseph Kinner (also known as Ernest Larry Ware)—who were convicted of the crime of escape by one charged with a felоny.1 After a jury trial held in the District Court of the Fifth Judicial District in and for the County of Twin Falls in July, 1969, they were sentenced to imprisonment for terms not to exceed five years. The defendants appeal their convictions on the ground that they were denied a fair and impartial trial in several respects.
In the presence of the panel of prospective jurors, counsel for the defendants requested that the defendants’ handcuffs be removed. The trial judge asked the advice of the sheriff, who advised against it, and the motion was denied.
Immediately after opening statements were made, the prosecuting attorney introduced certified copies of executive warrants issued by the Governor of Nevada; these warrants had been issued upon the request of the State of Idaho for a robbery committed in Twin Falls County. Also introduced with the warrants was an exemplified copy of the minutes of a Nevada court proceeding in which the validity of these warrants was upheld. Counsel for the defendants did not object to this evidence.
On direct examination, the sheriff testified that at thе time of their escape these defendants were being held in the Twin Falls County Jail on a charge of robbery and that subsequently they had been arrested for a burglary committed after their escape. On the defendants’ motion, the trial court instructed the jury to disregard any mention of the burglary charge. The court did not instruct them to disregard the testimony concerning the rоbbery charge because it was relevant to show that these defendants were charged with a felony at the time of escape, which was an element of the crime for which they were being tried, but the court did advise the
I.
The appellants’ first contention is that they were denied a fair and impartial trial because they were forced to wear handcuffs at trial. Prior to voir dire examination, but in the presеnce of the entire panel of prospective jurors, the following dialogue between court and counsel took place:
“DEFENSE COUNSEL: Your Honor, the defendants have asked if it‘s at all possible that they have their handcuffs removed?
THE COURT: I will ask the advice of Sheriff Corder.
PROSECUTING ATTORNEY: The sheriff advises against it.
THE COURT: Very well. Your motion will be denied.”
The law applicable to the issue raised by the appellants is concisely summarized in 23 C.J.S. Criminal Law § 977 (1961):
“During the trial accusеd should, as a general rule, be free from shackles, except in so far as the trial court, in its sound discretion, deems them necessary to prevent the escape of accused or his forcible release, to restrain him from doing violence to others, or from injuring himself, or to prevent such misconduct as would obstruct the work of the court; and such exceptions apply particularly while accused is being brought into or taken from court. If accused is shackled without such necessity, it is reversible error, unless it is clear that no prejudice in the minds of the jury was caused thereby.”
Furthermore, when reasonable precautions are taken to retain custody of the accused, the fact that they indicate to the jury that the defendant is a prisoner and perhaps a dangerous character does not deprive him of a fair trial. People v. Ross, 67 Cal.2d 64, 60 Cal.Rptr. 254, 429 P.2d 606 (1967), rev‘d on other grounds, 391 U.S. 470, 88 S.Ct. 1850, 20 L.Ed.2d 750 (1968); People v. Burwell, 44 Cal.2d 16, 279 P.2d 744 (1955), cert. denied, 349 U.S. 936, 75 S.Ct. 788, 99 L.Ed. 1265 (1955).
Although the sheriff has some initial responsibility for determining whether an accused should be handcuffed during a jury trial, the trial judge must, in fulfilling his duty to preside over the trial, decide the question for himself. People v. Mendola, 2 N.Y.2d 270, 159 N.Y.S.2d 473, 140 N.E.2d 353 (1957); State v. McKay, 63 Nev. 118, 165 P.2d 389 (1946), rehearing denied, 63 Nev. 118, 167 P.2d 476 (1946). In exercising his discretion, the judge need not rely only upon evidence formally offered and admitted at trial. His knowledge may properly stem from official records or what law enforcement officers have told him. State v. McKay, supra. In addition, the trial court may take judicial notice of facts generally known within the limits of its jurisdiction. State v. McKay, supra; Makley v. State, 49 Ohio App. 359, 197 N.E. 339 (1934). However, the information relied upon should be shown on the
Two separate issues are raised in connection with the trial court‘s refusal to remove the defendants’ handcuffs: (A) Was the failure to remove the handcuffs an abuse of discretion? If not (as we hold), then the fact that the defendants were initially brought before the jury panel handсuffed clearly does not constitute prejudicial error. (B) Was the consideration and denial of the motion to remove the defendants’ handcuffs in the presence of the jury panel—prejudicial error in this case? We hold that it was not.
A.
The fact that the trial court in this case did not follow the procedure outlined above does not entitle the defendants to a new trial upon the ground that the court prejudicially abused its discretion where, as here, the record itself sufficiently justifies the court‘s refusal to order the handcuffs removed. People v. Mendola, supra. As the New York Court of Appeals said in Mendola:
“It may be that in determining whether handcuffs are reasonably necessary in a given case, the better practice would be for the trial judge to take testimony as to the nеcessity for the handcuffs and state for the record his reasons for confirming the decision of the Sheriff in that respect. Such procedure would undoubtedly facilitate a review by the appellate courts of the trial court‘s determination. However that may be, the fact that the trial court has not followed what might be considered the ‘better praсtice’ before approving the Sheriff‘s action, cannot serve to justify the ordering of a new trial upon the ground that the trial court has prejudicially abused its discretion as a matter of law where, as here, it appears from the record itself that the Sheriff had reasonable cause for handcuffing the accused. The fact that we are unable to determine from the record how detailed a knowledge of the facts of the escape and of defendant‘s compulsive urge to escape from custody the trial court possessed, is not dispositive. What is dispositive is the fact that the record reveals sufficient evidence to justify the trial court‘s refusal to order the handcuffs removed from Mendola.” 159 N.Y.S.2d at 478, 140 N.E.2d at 356.
Turning our attention to the record presented on this appeal, we note that the situation with which the trial court was faced strongly dictated that it refuse to remove the defendants’ handcuffs. These defendants were on trial for having escaped from the Twin Falls County Jail. Only two days before this trial, in the same jurisdiction, they had been convicted of burglary, thereby giving them a strong motive for making another escape attempt. In addition, the very fact that there were three defendants here made the risk of an
“It is too obvious for argument that hardly any other matter can better be relegated to the discretion of the trial court than that of safeguarding the court, counsel, jury, and spectators, and assuring the continued presence and attendance of the accused at the trial. Absent incontrovertible evidence of hurt, the trial court should be permitted to use such means, to secure the named ends, as the nature of the case, the known criminal record, character, associates in crime, and reputation of the accused shall reasonably call for * * *.” McDonald v. United States, 89 F.2d 128, 136 (8th Cir. 1937), cert. denied, 301 U.S. 697, 57 S.Ct. 925, 81 L.Ed. 1352 (1937).
The trial judge can observe firsthand the defendant‘s demeanor; he can take into account the mood of others both insidе and outside the courtroom, and the degree of security provided by the physical facilities where the particular trial is being held. An appellate court should not lightly second-guess a trial court in regard to such matters. Again emphasizing that shackling the accused at trial is the exception and not the rule, we find no error in the court‘s refusal to removе the defendants’ handcuffs in this case.
B.
As for the fact that the jury panel was present when the motion to remove the handcuffs was made and denied, we first point out that defense counsel at trial (who is not representing appellants on this appeal) invited error by raising the handcuffs issue in the presence of the panel of prospective jurors; in doing so, he not only called the jurors’ attention to the fact that the defendants were wearing handcuffs at the time, but he also insured that from that point onward the jury would know that the sheriff and the court had made a deliberate judgment that it was necessary to keep the defendants in shackles. As pointed out above, defense counsel should not have raised the issue in the presence of the jury panel. But we do not rest our decision on the part that defense counsel played in instigating the trial court‘s error. What is determinative is that the error was not prejudicial in this case. A new trial will not be granted where, as here, consideration of the record as a whole reveals that justice has been done and thаt no other verdict could properly have been rendered. State v. Puckett, 88 Idaho 546, 401 P.2d 784 (1965); State v. Dong Sing, 35 Idaho 616, 208 P. 860 (1922); State v. Marren, 17 Idaho 766, 107 P. 993 (1910);
II.
Appellants contend that the trial court erred when it allowed the prosecution to introduce into evidence the Nevada executive warrants and court minutes but refused to allow defendants to challenge the legality of their custody. The state contends that this evidence was properly admitted, even though it indicated other criminal acts committed by the defendants,
In State v. Handran, 92 Idaho 579, 448 P.2d 193 (1968), this Court held that irregularity in the proceedings leading tо imprisonment does not justify escape. Under this rule, the legality of custody is not an issue in a prosecution for escape; therefore, evidence offered on this issue is immaterial, and it is equally immaterial when offered by the state (as here) as when offered by the defendant (as in Handran and here). However, the Nevada warrants were admissible to show that the dеfendants were charged with a felony at the time of their escape. See
III.
Appellants allege that two prejudicial comments were made by the trial judge. Upon the state‘s objection to certain exhibits offered by the defense, the following colloquy took place between the court and defense counsel:
“THE COURT: Perhaps you could advise us of the purpose of these, Mr. Anderson?
MR. ANDERSON (DEFENSE COUNSEL): Well, the purpose, Your Honor, is that eventually we hope to be able to show the Court that the sheriff was not holding these men lawfully at the time thеy escaped from jail. And we are trying to determine the authority that he was holding them on at the time.
THE COURT: Well, I will overrule the objection * * * Exhibits 1, 2, 3, and 4 will be admitted for whatever they are worth.”
Appellants contend that the emphasized words tell the jury that their exhibits were of little or no value. Whether the judge‘s comment had that effect we do not have to decide, for these exhibits should not have been admitted for the purpose stated by defense counsel. As we pointed out above, legality of custody is not an issue in a prosecution for escape; hence, these exhibits were immaterial, and the defendants were not prejudiced in any way by the judge‘s comment.
“THE COURT: Very well. Ladies and Gentlemen of the jury, there are some matters which the defendant‘s counsel wishes to call to the Court‘s attention which do not concern you or your duties in determining this case. While this is being done the jury will be excused and you will remain in the jury room subject to call. I expect that it probably will not be very long, but in the meantime if you will bear in mind the admonition that I have given to you just prior to our noon recess, and that was to the effect that you should not discuss this case among yourselves or with others or to discuss any of the facts or what purports to be the facts on this case, nor are you to determine the outcome of this case or the guilt or innocence of the accused until it is finally submitted to you.”
Appellants’ contention that the emphasized words constitute a prejudicial comment by the trial judge is wholly without merit.
Judgments affirmed.
McFADDEN and SHEPARD, JJ., and MAYNARD, District Judge, concur.
HAGAN, District Judge (dissenting).
I would agree with the law as stated in the majority opinion on the subjеct of recalcitrant defendants, but I disagree with its application in this case. Neither the defendants, nor their counsel, had an opportunity to make a showing, even if the burden were on them, of the lack of need for restraints, outside of the view and hearing of the jury panel. They were initially brought before the jury panel handcuffed. The motion to dispensе with the restraints was made, heard and denied in the presence of the jury panel. It was at this point the presumption of innocence was damaged.