State v. Starks
State v. Starks
Opinion of the Court
The defendant was found guilty of shooting at John R. Farmer with intent to kill, wound, or maim and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. He was sentenced to imprisonment for concurrent terms of 2 to 5 years and 2 to 3 years. He has appealed and contends the judgment should be reversed because the trial court failed to sustain his motion for a mistrial made at the close of the trial.
The evidence shows the shooting took place in Omaha, Nebraska at about 1:15 a.m. on February 13, 1976. Farmer, a police officer assigned to the vice and narcotics unit as an undercover investigator, was driving an unmarked Buick car and was not in uniform. Farmer stopped for a traffic light at the intersection of 30th and Binney Streets. When an
After crossing the intersection at Hamilton Street, Farmer turned the Buick to the northeast and stopped across the center traffic lanes of 30th Street. The defendant pulled up close to the Buick and fired 4 or 5 shots at the car. Farmer at this time was south of the Buick using it for cover. O’Connor fired one shot from his riot gun at the defendant. The defendant passed to the right of the Buick and continued south on 30th Street. O’Connor followed the defendant and apprehended him after going 6 or 7 blocks. A pistol with one live round and five spent rounds was found under the front seat of the defendant’s automobile.
After the jury had been instructed and was leaving the courtroom the trial court directed a deputy sheriff to place the defendant in custody. The defendant then moved for a mistrial which motion was overruled. The record shows the following: “MR. FRANK: Your Honor, at this time the Defendant will move for the Court to declare a mistrial on the grounds that after the instructions were read to the jury, at approximately twelve twenty P.M. this date, while the jury was still — while at least part of the jury was still in the Courtroom the Court, through Judge Tesar, very loud, boisterous manner directed the Deputy to place my client under arrest, and place him in custody pending the outcome of the decision. I will point out to the Court that my client
We find no prejudicial error. The motion was supported only by the statement of counsel and there was no showing that any juror understood the statement of the trial court as a comment on the guilt of the defendant. The record does not show the defendant was deprived of a fair and impartial trial by any improper remarks of the trial court made in the presence of the jury.
It is generally held that it is within the sound discretion of the trial court to remand a defendant to custody during trial because the dangers of releasing a defendant on bail during the course of a trial are substantially greater than those existing before trial. United States v. Bentvena, 288 F. 2d 442. After the trial has commenced the defendant does not have the same right to bail that existed before the trial began. The provision in section 29-901, R. R. S. 1943, that a recognizance shall be continuous ‘‘until final judgment” relates to the obligation of the surety and does not mean that all defendants shall be free on bail until final judgment.
A trial court has broad powers to insure the orderly and expeditious process of a trial, and this includes the power to revoke bail and remit the defendant to custody. Bitter v. United States, 389 U. S. 15, 88 S. Ct. 6, 19 L. Ed. 2d 15. However, the power should be exercised only when it is necessary to avoid interference with the progress or order of the trial.
Here there was no showing of prejudice. In the absence of prejudice, an erroneous revocation of bail does not affect the merits of the case. United States v. Allison, 414 F. 2d 407.
Upon a consideration of the entire record we are satisfied a miscarriage of justice did not occur. The judgment of the District Court is affirmed.
Affirmed.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.