Jent v. State
Jent v. State
Opinion
This appeal is from an order of the circuit court of Walker County revoking appellant's probation for violation of a condition of his probation.
On October 22, 1984, appellant pleaded guilty to a charge of theft in the second degree and attempting to receive stolen property. Appellant was sentenced to one term of two years and one term of twelve months, respectively, the sentences to run concurrently.
Pursuant to a split sentence arrangement, the appellant served eleven months in the Walker County Jail, with the remaining thirteen months to be served on probation. While on probation, the appellant was found to have violated a condition of his probation, and therefore, his probationary sentence was revoked.
Appellant's probation officer testified that he had received information that appellant was on a drunken spree, had hit his father on the head with a 2 X 4 board, and "was generally out of control." The probation officer testified that he saw appellant's father shortly after the incident and that he was bloodied "and had a knot on his head." Appellant was arrested shortly thereafter. The probation officer testified that the appellant was visibly intoxicated.
Appellant was taken to the Walker County Jail, where he was served with a copy of his probation violation report. Appellant's probation was revoked by an order of the Circuit Court of Walker County, hence this appeal.
"(c) At any time during the period of probation or suspension of execution of sentence, the court may issue a warrant *Page 125 and cause the defendant to be arrested for violating any of the conditions of probation or suspension of sentence.
"(d) Except as provided in chapter 15 of Title 12 of this Code, any probation officer, police officer or other officer with power of arrest, upon the request of the probation officer, may arrest a probationer without a warrant. In case of an arrest without a warrant, the arresting officer shall have a written statement by said probation officer setting forth that the probationer has, in his judgment, violated the conditions of probation, and said statement shall be sufficient warrant for the detention of said probationer in the county jail or other appropriate place of detention until such probationer shall be brought before the court. . . ."
It is undisputed that the arresting officer did not have a warrant or a written statement by the probation officer setting out the probation violations as required by §
"An officer may arrest any person without a warrant, on any day and at any time, . . .:
". . .
"(4) When he has reasonable cause to believe that the person arrested has committed a felony, although it may afterwards appear that a felony had not in fact been committed; or
"(5) On a charge made, upon reasonable cause, that the person arrested has committed a felony."
"The arrest of a defendant without a warrant is lawful where the arresting officer unquestionably had reasonable cause to believe that the person arrested had committed a felony." Aaronv. State,
In the instant case, the arresting officer had been informed that appellant was on a violent drunken binge, and that he had attacked his father with a 2 X 4. The appellant's father was found with a bloody head injury and appellant was found nearby in a state of intoxication.
The arresting officer, examining these circumstances, had reasonable cause to believe that the appellant had committed a felony, thereby justifying his arrest.
"THE COURT: Mr. Jent, have you been served with a copy of your violation?
"MR. JENT: Yes, sir."
Armstrong v. State,
*Page 126"THE COURT: Roy, you have been in court since you were what, fifteen?
"WITNESS: Yes, sir.
"THE COURT: Seven years and you have been in court solidly for that length of time.
"WITNESS: Yes, sir."
However, the court continued:
"THE COURT: It is the order of the Court that your probation be revoked based on the testimony of Mr. Pound and Mr. Jent that he violated his probation by consuming alcoholic beverages."
The court's statement that it relied on the testimony presented at the hearing, and not on any personal knowledge of the judge, is conclusive. Being recognized in court by an observant judge is an implied risk common to all individuals who have frequent run-ins with the justice system and it does not infringe on their constitutional rights. We are convinced from our reading of the record that the judge based his order of revocation solely on the testimony presented at the hearing.
"Q: Were you explained the conditions that enabled you to be on probation and what you were to do and not to do?
"A: Yes, sir. I sure can. [sic]
"Q: Can you tell us what you were told not to do.
"A: Yes, sir. I don't supposed to be drinking, don't supposed to be smoking pot, don't supposed to associate with no people who drinks and supposed to report in every month.
"Q: During your probation have you drank any?
"A: Yes, sir."
Appellant, by his own admission, violated a condition of his probation. Prohibiting the use of intoxicating liquors has been held to be a valid condition of probation. Jones v. State,
"Hearsay evidence is testimony in court, or written evidence, of a statement made out of court, the statement being offered as an assertion to show the truth of matters asserted therein, and thus resting for its value upon the credibility of the out-of-court asserter."
The evidence relied on at the hearing consisted of the appellant's admission that he had violated a condition of his probation and the probation officer's observance of the appellant in a state of intoxication. The testimony was direct and conclusive and did not constitute hearsay evidence.
"`As a practical matter, the running of the period of probation must be considered tolled when a warrant of arrest for violation of probation is issued by the court', or when a probation officer has prepared a written statement in conformance with Section15-22-54 (d) and delivered it to an officer with arrest powers along with a request to arrest the *Page 127 probationer." 455 So.2d at 162, quoting Peoples v. State,439 So.2d 774 ,775 (Ala.Cr.App. 1983).
Section
"Such probation officer shall forthwith report such arrest and detention to the court and submit in writing a report showing in what manner the probationer has violated probation. Thereupon, the court, after a hearing, may revoke the probation or suspension of execution of sentence and shall proceed to deal with the case as if there had been no probation or suspension of execution of sentence."
This court has interpreted that statute as follows:
"We think the clear intent of Section15-22-54 (c) and (d) is to require that an official act sufficient to begin revocation proceedings be done before the end of the probation period. The probation period is not tolled until this act occurs."
(Emphasis in original). Watkins, supra, at 162.
In Watkins, this court noted that there was testimony that a warrant was issued, but, as in the instant case, there was no warrant or writing in the record before us. The state made no argument that the running of Watkins's probation was tolled.
Based on our decisions in Watkins and Peoples, supra, we must remand this case for a hearing to determine whether a warrant or written statement sufficient to begin revocation proceedings was submitted prior to the expiration of the probationary sentence. If no such warrant was issued or written statement in conformance with §
REMANDED WITH DIRECTIONS.*
All the Judges concur.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Roy Jent v. State.
- Cited By
- 5 cases
- Status
- Published