Robert Silvia v. State of Mississippi
Robert Silvia v. State of Mississippi
Opinion of the Court
¶ 1. Robert Silvia was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections. Silvia'was also ordered to pay a $10,000 fine and $6,500 in restitution to the Crime Victims’ Compensation Fund. Upon denial of his post-trial motions, Silvia filed an appeal, asserting the trial court erred by: (1) denying his motion to suppress; (2) failing to conduct a competency hearing; and (3) failing to grant his motion for a directed verdict or judgment notwithstanding the verdict. We consider Silvia’s second issue, the lack of a competency hearing, to be dispositive in this case. .Since we reverse and remand for a new trial based on the competency issue, we need not address his other ’two issues on appeal.
FACTS
¶ 2. On June 10, 2010, Mandy Barthelot informed the Walthall County Sheriff’s Department that she was concerned about her mother, Darlene Barthelot. Mandy, who lived in Louisiana, had not heard from Darlene, and her attempts to reach her mother through Silvia, Darlene’s boyfriend of seventeen years,
¶ 3. Deputy Billy Wayne Thornhill reported to Darlene arid Silvia’s home in Jayess, Mississippi. Gavin Fulkerson, a neighbor, informed Deputy Thornhill that he had not seen Darlene in several days, and Silvia had told him and Mandy conflicting stories as to Darlene’s whereabouts. Fulkerson told Députy Thornhill
¶ 4. After knocking on the door and receiving no response, Deputy Thornhill walked around the house and knocked on the windows. Deputy Thornhill testified he thought someone was in the house because he heard a noise from inside and saw a white car parked next to the house. Based upon Mand/s and Fulkerson’s concerns and the fact that Darlene had missed work for several days, Deputy Thornhill contacted Toney Rushing, an investigator, to get permission to enter the house. Deputy Thornhill then entered the house to search for Darlene. Deputy Thornhill eventually located Darlene’s body inside a large deep freezer in the kitchen. Darlene’s body was covered with a comforter and packs of frozen food. Deputy Thorn-hill lifted the corner of the comforter and saw long dark-colored hair and a human shoulder. Deputy Thornhill testified he then replaced the comforter, contacted Investigator Rushing, and secured the crime scene. A search warrant for Silvia’s house was subsequently obtained.
¶ 5. An alert was issued regarding Silvia’s car. Deputy Hollis Gatlin testified he stopped Silvia’s car and, as Silvia exited the ear, Silvia “told me he had done something really bad, and that he had lost his job, and his wife was going to leave him, so he shot her.” Silvia was transported to the sheriffs department. Because Silvia was intoxicated when he was arrested, he was not interviewed until the next day, June 11, 2010. Silvia waived his Miranda
¶ 6. At trial, Silvia admitted to shooting Darlene; however, he testified he did not remember pulling the trigger. Silvia testified he and Darlene had been experiencing financial trouble since he lost his job and emotional stress since Darlene’s daughter died in a car accident. Darlene had wanted to separate, suggesting they foreclose on their home and sell their belongings. Silvia said Darlene offered him $1,000 to go home to Massachusetts. He testified that this occurred approximately two days prior to Darlene’s death. Silvia admittedly became angry and began drinking more heavily, stating the anger kept building and building inside of him. Silvia was also angry that Darlene had been in communication with her ex-husband concerning her daughter’s death and insurance policy.
¶ 7. When questioned about the actual shooting, Silvia testified that he was sitting in the living room with Darlene, and the next thing he remembered, he was standing in the doorway holding a shotgun and Darlene was dead. He stated he had no memory of shooting her. Darlene had been shot once in the neck and once in the abdomen. Silvia said he covered her body with a comforter, then went to sleep. The next day, Silvia moved Darlene’s body to the deep freezer, then attempted to clean the crime scene, including one of the couple’s dogs that had blood on it. Silvia stated he ran out of money, so he pawned the shotgun and a piece of Darlene’s jewelry, then proceeded to drink heavily and watch pornographic movies.
DISCUSSION
¶ 8. Silvia contends that the trial court erred by failing to conduct a competency
¶ 9. On June 18, 2014, the State filed a motion to supplement the record with either a transcript of the competency hearing or, if no transcript was found, a statement of evidence in accordance with Mississippi Rule of Appellate Procedure 10(c). This Court granted the State’s motion. We ordered the trial court to determine whether the competency-hearing transcript was available and, if not, to conduct a hearing to determine whether the record could be supplemented pursuant to Rule 10(c). We ordered the transcript or the Rule 10(c) statement of evidence to be filed in the trial court within sixty days of June 24, 2014, the date of our order. We also gave the trial court sixty days to notify this Court if no transcript or Rule 10(c) statement could be made available.
¶ 10. According to the supplemental volume, the hearing was held in the trial court on August 11, 2014. The trial judge, the assistant district attorney (Timothy Jones), Silvia, and Silvia’s appellate counsel at the time (Phillip Broadhead), were present. During the hearing, Jones stated, “the State admits that there was no pretrial psychological hearing.” Since no hearing had been conducted, Broadhead asked the trial court to “make a finding to the Court of Appeals [that the] record cannot be supplemented according to [Rule] 10(c).” The trial court responded in the affirmative and asked Broadhead to prepare an order. Broadhead agreed. The order dated August 28, 2014, states that “no transcript of a competency hearing can be found, and further, the record cannot be supplemented pursuant to [Rule] 10(c).” We note that there is a copy of Dr. Smallwood’s mental examination of Silvia in the supplemental volume, which was filed with this Court on September 2, 2014. However, the record is unclear if the trial court received a copy of this report prior to Silvia’s trial. The only copy of the mental examination in the record was submitted at the hearing conducted pursuant to this Court’s June 24, 2014 order.
¶ 11. Uniform Rule of Circuit and County Court 9.06 states:
If before or during trial the court, of its own motion or upon motion of an attorney, has reasonable ground to believe that the defendant is incompetent to stand trial, the court shall order the defendant to submit to a mental examination by some competent psychiatrist selected by the court....
In Sanders v. State, 9 So.3d 1132, 1136 (¶ 16) (Miss. 2009), the Mississippi Supreme Court held that the “plain language” of Rule 9.06 requires “a competency hearing once a trial court orders a psychiatric evaluation to determine competency to stand trial.” The supreme court also recently held that “when a motion for a mental examination has been granted, such an examination must occur, and then a separate competency hearing must be conducted before trial begins.” Coleman v. State, 127 So.3d 161, 166 (¶ 14) (Miss. 2013) (emphasis in original). The State contends that a competency hearing was not required because it did not have a reasonable
¶ 12. In Smith v. State, 149 So.3d 1027, 1035 (¶ 19) (Miss. 2014), the supreme court reversed and remanded for an evidentiary hearing to determine whether the trial court ordered Smith’s mental examination for the purpose of determining his competence to stand trial. The court found “significant ambiguity” regarding the reason for Smith’s mental examination. Id. The court stated that “if, after the evidentiary hearing, the trial court determines that the purpose of the court-ordered mental evaluation was to determine Smith’s competency to stand trial, Smith’s conviction cannot stand_” Id.
¶ 13. In this case, it is clear the trial court ordered the mental examination to determine whether Silvia was “mentally competent to stand trial and to make a rational defense, and whether ... he was mentally capable of distinguishing between right and wrong” at the time he committed the crime. The trial court attempted to schedule the competency hearing, but for reasons-unclear in the record, the hearing never occurred. Accordingly, we must reverse and remand for a competency- hearing and, if Silvia is found competent to stand trial, a -new trial.
¶ 14. THE JUDGMENT OF THE WALTHALL COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT IS REVERSED, AND THIS CASE IS REMANDED FOR FURTHER PROCEEDINGS CONSISTENT WITH THIS OPINION. ALL COSTS OF THIS APPEAL ARE ASSESSED TO WALT-HALL COUNTY.
. Darlene was separated from her husband, George, when she met Silvia. Silvia testified Darlene and George finally signed their divorce papers shortly before Darlene died.
. Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 86 S.Ct. 1602, 16 L.Ed.2d 694 (1966).
Dissenting Opinion
dissenting:
¶ 15. I respectfully dissent from the majority’s decision.
¶ 16. The appellant and majority assert that this ease must be reversed because no on-the-record competency hearing was held by the trial court. However, the record clearly reflects the receipt of the evaluation report,
¶ 17. The transcript of the docket call in March 2011 shows that the defense counsel reported to the court, on the record, that Silvia received his psychological evaluation the week prior to that docket call.
¶ 18. According to the transcript from the April 5, 2011 docket call, the defense filed a singular motion to suppress,
¶ 19. Moreover, the record fails to contain evidence that would raise a reasonable question as to Silvia’s competency to stand trial, or to his sanity at the time of the offense, to necessitate the trial court ordering a" competency hearing sua sponte, absent a mechanical operation of Uniform Rule Circuit and County Court 9.06.
¶20. A constitutional violation occurs only where the trial court fails to conduct a competency hearing where the evidence before the trial court raised a bona fide
¶ 21. In reviewing the evidence before the trial court, the record herein reflects that Silvia raised no insanity defense, and abandoned (pretrial) pursuit of any insanity defense at trial.
¶ 22. I willingly embrace precedent establishing that “[t]he due-process right to a fair tidal is violated by a court’s failure to hold a proper competency hearing where there is substantial evidence that a defendant is incompetent.” Filiaggi v. Bagley, 445 F.3d 851, 858 (6th Cir. 2006); United States, v. Makris, 535 F.2d 899, 909 (5th Cir. 1976). However, this is not a case where the trial court refused to hold a competency hearing or denied the defense’s request for a delay in conducting such a hearing. The record shows the evaluation was completed and the county received the bill; and the defense counsel stated at docket call that defense would provide a copy of the mental-evaluation report to the trial court. The report itself acknowledged an order to provide the trial court with a copy of the mental-evaluation report.
¶ 23. In the context of the procedural history and facts of this case, to find error based upon a mechanical application of procedural rules fails to consider that the transcripts from the docket calls show that the trial court was apprised that the mental evaluation was completed and that the defense and trial court received a copy. The report itself acknowledged that the trial court ordered that a copy be provided to the trial judge. Also, the defense requested no hearing on the report or the competency issue, and the substantial evidence in the record showed Silvia’s competence to stand trial. See URCCC 9.06. For example, prior to testifying in his own defense, Silvia inquired of the court whether any of his prior convictions would be used against him for impeachment, and after advisement by the trial court on his reason not to testify, the trial court recessed. Silvia consulted with his attorney. When the trial court reconvened, Silvia told the trial court that he elected to testi
¶ 24. The evidence in the record shows that Silvia’s testimony was consistent with the autopsy that found Darlene suffered two gunshots to her head, which were fired from a close range. Silvia also provided two pretrial interviews to law enforcement. His Miranda.-rights waiver was admitted into evidence, without any objection by the defense, as the State’s exhibit twelve. The defense raised no issue as to whether Silvia intelligently or voluntarily waived his rights. In the second interview, Silvia admitted to knowing that he must have shot Darlene twice because a live round remained in the gun. Silvia recalled loading the gun with three live rounds. The record shows that the trial court received no information that, objectively considered, should reasonably have raised a doubt about Silvia’s competence to stand trial or alerted the trial judge about any possibility that Silvia lacked the ability or understanding to consult with his counsel or understand the proceedings. See Wade v. State, No. CIV.A. 13-5890, 2015 WL 225226, at *14 (E.D.La. Jan. 15, 2015); see also Lokos v. Capps, 625 F.2d 1258 (5th Cir. 1980).
¶25. I respectfully acknowledge that this dissent must address the application of the recent case of Smith v. State, 149 So.3d 1027, 1035 (¶ 19) (Miss. 2014), and I submit that the facts of Smith are distinct from this case. In Smith, the Mississippi Supreme Court found the defendant’s rights were violated where the trial court ordered a mental examination and then accepted his guilty plea without acknowledgment that the examination had been conducted or completed. Id. The defendant in Smith stated during his guilty-plea colloquy that he had been treated for depression and “psychosis or something like that.” Id. at 1030 (¶ 3). The trial court nonetheless accepted Smith’s guilty plea and sentenced him without acknowledging whether the mental evaluation had been completed and without conducting a competency hearing. Id. Smith subsequently filed a motion for post-conviction relief alleging that the trial court erred because the mental examination had never been performed. Id. at (¶4). Smith also argued that the trial court erred by failing to hold a competency hearing. Id. The supreme court agreed. Id. at 1035 (¶ 19), In so doing, the supreme court explained that when the evidence raises a sufficient doubt as to the defendant’s competency to stand trial, the defendant is deprived of due process of law if the trial court fails to conduct a separate competency hearing. Id. at 1033 (¶ 15).
¶ 27. Sanders v. State, 9 So.3d 1132, 1139 (¶ 25) (Miss. 2009), is also distinguishable from the instant case since the trial court in Sanders ordered a mental examination, and afterwards the defendant sufficiently raised the defense of insanity at trial. In Sanders, the defense also provided the State with written notice of such prior to trial. Id. Since the trial court ordered a mental examination', and since Sanders provided the State and the trial court with pretrial notice of his insanity defense, the defense sufficiently raised the issue of sanity and competency. In the present case, however, Silvia gave no pretrial notice of an insanity defense and raised no such defense at trial. Moreover, the defense raised no evidence at trial reasonably questioning Silvia’s sanity or competency. The defense also raised no objection to the Miranda warnings, and the defense counsel clearly consulted effectively with Silvia during the trial.
¶ 28. In Pate v. Robinson, 383 U.S. 375, 376-77, 86 S.Ct. 836, 15 L.Ed.2d 815 (1966), the defense counsel, throughout the proceedings, insisted on a lack of competence of the defendant. The United States Supreme Court found no waiver of the defendant’s right to a competency hearing therein based on counsel’s failure to request a hearing, explaining that the evidence introduced at trial showed a reasonable question of competency, theréby entitling him to a competency hearing. Id. at 385-86, 86 S.Ct. 836. In contrast, Silvia’s counsel told the judge he received the evaluation results but chose only to raise a Fourth Amendment suppression motion. Silvia’s counsel did not request a hearing even after the trial court’s recognition of Silvia’s right to a hearing and opportunity to request one, and neither the evidence nor the defense raised an issue of competency or M’Naghten
¶ 29. A criminal defendant is presumed competent. Billiot v. State, 454 So.2d 445, 463 (Miss. 1984). Clearly, the evidence before the trial court, and in this appeal, raises no reasonable question or bona fide doubt as to Silvia’s competence to stand trial. The record instead reflects abundant evidence of his competence to stand trial. Moreover, the report of the mental evaluation provided that Dr. Smallwood found Silvia was competent and ready to stand trial, and also determined that Silvia was sane at the time of the offense.' Dr. Smallwood opined that no further forensic evaluations were needed. As stated, the. trial court recognized Silvia’s right to a hearing, and the face of the record of the docket calls shows that the trial court and the' defense received the report of the mental evaluation. To reverse Silvia’s conviction for the failure of the trial court in this case to hold a competency hearing on the record, after documentation of receipt of the mental-evaluation report and a conscious choice by Silvia’s counsel to not
. On- June 26, 2014, this Court ordered the trial court to conduct a hearing on the record to determine whether the record can be supplemented with either the pretrial-competency-hearing transcript (though no pretrial competency hearing occurred) or a Mississippi Rule of Appellate Procedure 10(c) statement. Exhibit D to the hearing regarding this ' Court's order contains the report of Silvia's mental evaluation performed on January 25, 2011. The report explained that the mental evaluation examined Silvia’s competency to stand trial and also his sanity at the time of the offense charged. The report reflects that the trial court stipulated that copies be sent to the court, the defense attorney, and the district attorney. The report also reflects that during the evaluation, Silvia was informed that a copy of the report would be provided to the trial court and to his attorney. In the report, Dr. Smallwood stated that she found Silvia mentally competent to stand trial and to make a rational defense, and that on the date of the charged crime of murder, Silvia was mentally capable of distinguishing between right and wrong. Dr. Smallwood also provided that no further-forensic evaluation was needed, and that Silvia appeared ready to cooperate with his attorney in the preparation of his case. The billing invoice for the report and evaluation is dated March 8, 2011.
. The transcript of the March 2011 docket call is consistent with documentation in the record of the date of the billing invoice: March 8, 2011.
. The defense filed a motion to suppress the results of the Search performed of Silvia’s home by sheriff’s department, including Darlene’s body. The defense claimed that the sheriff’s department entered Silvia’s home without a warrant and that no exigent circumstances existed to serve as an exception to the requirement that law enforcement obtain a warrant before entering the home.
.Discussing competence to stand trial.
. See M'Naghten's Case, 8 Eng. Rep. 718 (1843). The report of the mental evaluation reflects Dr. Smallwood's determination that, to a reasonable degree of medical certainty, Silvia was "mentally competent to stand trial and make rational defense,” and that on the date of the murder, Silvia "was mentally capable of distinguishing between right and wrong.”
. See M’Naghten’s Case, 8 Eng. Rep. 718 (1843).
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Robert SILVIA A/K/A Robert Wayne Silvia, Appellant v. STATE of Mississippi, Appellee
- Cited By
- 3 cases
- Status
- Published