State v. Allen, Unpublished Decision (10-6-1997)
State v. Allen, Unpublished Decision (10-6-1997)
Opinion of the Court
Defendant-appellant, Roger E. Allen, Jr., appeals his convictions on two counts of burglary in violation of R.C.
On July 16, 1996 a complaint was filed in Washington Court House Municipal Court charging appellant with committing a burglary which occurred on July 16, 1996. Appellant was arrested and incarcerated on that same day. On August 2, 1996, appellant was indicted, in case number 960104, by the Fayette County Grand Jury on one count of aggravated burglary and one count of burglary.1 Also on August 2, 1996, appellant was indicted, in case number 960108, by the Fayette County Grand Jury on one count of aggravated burglary and one count of theft.2 Both indictments were served upon appellant on August 5, 1996.
The trial court set both cases for trial on October 9, 1996, finding that appellant had been incarcerated since July 16, 1996. On October 3, 1996, appellant's counsel filed a motion to withdraw; counsel stated that it was his understanding that appellant had hired another attorney to represent him in both cases. An entry permitting appellant's counsel to withdraw was filed on October 3, 1996. On October 9, 1996, the day trial was to begin, appellant's newly-retained attorney filed a notice of appearance and a motion for a continuance in both cases.3 The record contains a waiver of speedy trial which was filed on October 9, 1996 and signed by appellant. On the speedy trial waiver, case number 960108 has been crossed out and appellant's initials are located by each case number.4 A pretrial hearing was held for both cases on October 14, 1996 and a trial was scheduled for both cases on November 21, 1996.
On December 3, 1996, a trial notice was filed indicating that a pretrial hearing was held for both cases on November 21, 1996 and a jury trial was scheduled for both cases on December 18, 1996.5 On December 18, 1996, a jury was brought to the courtroom, roll call was taken, and two oaths were administered to the jurors. At that point, appellant's counsel informed the trial court that appellant desired to waive his right to a jury trial and have the case decided by the trial court. The trial court then dismissed the jury. A written waiver of trial by jury dated December 18, 1996 was signed by appellant and filed in both cases on December 20, 1996.6
Following a bench trial, the trial court found appellant guilty of two counts of burglary in connection with the two counts contained in case number 960104, and guilty of aggravated burglary and not guilty of theft with respect to the two counts contained in case number 960108. On December 27, 1996, appellant filed a motion to dismiss the indictment in case number 960108 for violation of his right to a speedy trial. On January 8, 1997, a judgment entry of conviction was filed and appellant was sentenced accordingly.7 Appellant now appeals, setting forth the following assignments of error:
Assignment of Error No. 1:
PREJUDICIAL ERROR OCCURS WHEN THE TRIAL COURT DOES NOT PROPERLY CONDUCT THE IN-COURT INQUIRY REGARDING A JURY WAIVER, CONTRA R.C.
2945.05 , AND THE SIXTH AND FOURTEENTH AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION.
Assignment of Error No. 2:
WHERE THE RECORD REVEALS THE ACCUSED HAS A CONFLICT WITH HIS ATTORNEY AND WHERE SUBSTANTIAL VIOLATIONS OF COUNSEL'S DUTIES ARE SHOWN, THE ACCUSED HAS NOT RECEIVED EFFECTIVE LEGAL ASSISTANCE AT TRIAL, CONTRA THE SIXTH AND FOURTEENTH AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION, AND THE VERDICT AND SENTENCE ARE CONTRARY TO LAW.
Assignment of Error No. 3:
THE TRIAL COURT COMMITS PREJUDICIAL ERROR IN OVERRULING A MOTION TO DISMISS FOR A SPEEDY TRIAL, WHEN THE RECORD REVEALS THE ACCUSED DID NOT CONSENT TO A WAIVER IN OPEN COURT.
In his first assignment of error, appellant contends that the trial court erred by failing to properly conduct an in-court inquiry regarding his jury waiver in violation of R.C.
R.C.
In all criminal cases pending in courts of record in this state, the defendant may waive a trial by jury and be tried by the court without a jury. Such waiver by a defendant, shall be in writing, signed by the defendant, and filed in said cause and made a part of the record thereof. * * * Such waiver of trial by jury must be made in open court after the defendant has been arraigned and has had opportunity to consult with counsel.
In addition, Crim.R. 23(A) states that before trial begins, a defendant may "knowingly, intelligently and voluntarily waive in writing his right to trial by jury" and may also waive his right to a trial by jury during trial "with the approval of the court and the consent of the prosecuting attorney."
The standard for reviewing courts when determining whether a trial court complied with R.C.
The trial court is not required to "interrogate a defendant in order to determine whether he or she is fully apprised of the right to a jury trial." State v. Jells (1990),
The written waiver need not be actually signed in open court "as long as the signed writing has been made a part of the record and the waiver is reaffirmed in open court." State v. Walker (1993),
In this case, after appellant's counsel informed the trial court that appellant wished to waive his right to trial by jury, the trial court addressed appellant as follows:
JUDGE: Yes. Okay Mr. Allen [appellant] you do not desire a jury trial in this case?
ALLEN: No your Honor I do not.
JUDGE: Okay * * *.
The record also contains a written waiver signed by appellant and dated the date of the trial. The written waiver was subsequently filed with the court clerk and is a part of the record. Additionally, appellant was represented by counsel and had an opportunity to consult with his attorney prior to executing the waiver.
After carefully reviewing the record, we find that appellant's waiver of his right to a jury trial was valid under the circumstances and that the trial court properly accepted such waiver. See Jells,
In his second assignment of error, appellant contends that he was denied the effective assistance of counsel at trial. Appellant argues that he had a conflict with his attorney and that his attorney did not completely investigate the case, was unprepared, was unfamiliar with the rules of evidence, and did not effectively cross-examine the state's witnesses against him. A defendant who claims ineffective assistance must show (1) deficient performance by counsel, and (2) resulting prejudice. Strickland v. Washington (1984),
The performance inquiry requires the reviewing court to ask whether, under the totality of the circumstances, "counsel's representation fell below an objective standard of reasonableness." Id. at 688,
The burden to prove ineffectiveness of trial counsel lies with the appellant. State v. Hamblin (1988),
The record indicates that on December 16, 1996 at the pretrial hearing, appellant expressed dissatisfaction with his attorney's representation and requested, on the record, to represent himself in the proceedings. At the time, appellant's attorney was not present so the trial court continued the hearing until later that afternoon to provide appellant with an opportunity to discuss the matter with his attorney. When the pretrial hearing began later that afternoon with both appellant and his attorney present, appellant was given an opportunity to speak and at no time did he renew his request to represent himself.
Furthermore, the record does not support appellant's assertion that his attorney did not fully investigate the case, prepare for the case, or effectively cross-examine the state's witnesses. During trial, appellant's attorney demonstrated his familiarity with the case and the record reveals that appellant's attorney's cross-examination of the state's witnesses involved an attempt to discredit their testimony and identify inconsistencies between their direct testimony and statements made during cross-examination. Appellant's attorney also attempted to establish, through cross-examination of the witnesses, that the state had failed to prove the elements of the crimes with which appellant was charged.
After carefully reviewing the record, we find that trial counsel's representation was neither professionally unreasonable nor prejudicial to appellant. See Strickland at 687,
In his third assignment of error, appellant contends that the trial court erred by overruling his motion to dismiss the indictment contained in case number 960108. Appellant argues that he did not consent to waive his right to a speedy trial in case number 960108 in open court and that such case should be dismissed.
R.C.
R.C.
2945.71 applies where an accused was in jail at the time an indictment was returned against him and was thereafter detained in jail solely because of that indictment. If the accused is detained as a result of prior convictions or indictments other than those from which he seeks a discharge, R.C.2945.71 is inapplicable.
State v. Bowman (1987),
The record indicates that appellant was held in jail in lieu of bail on an indictment in case number 960104 as well as case number 960108. Since appellant was not being held solely on the indictment in case number 960108, from which he now seeks a discharge, the "triple-count" provision found in R.C.
We need not reach appellant's argument regarding the effectiveness of the continuances in terms of R.C.
Judgment affirmed.
KOEHLER and WALSH, JJ., concur.
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