State v. Chapman, 06ca009038 (2-25-2008)
State v. Chapman, 06ca009038 (2-25-2008)
Opinion of the Court
{¶ 3} On June 13, 2006, Mr. Chapman entered a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity. On June 28, 2006, the trial court referred Mr. Chapman to a psychologist for an evaluation of his mental condition and his competency to stand trial, but it appears an evaluation was never conducted. On August 7, 2006, Mr. Chapman's counsel withdrew and the trial court immediately appointed Mr. Chapman new counsel. On September 15, 2006, Mr. Chapman moved to reinstate his right to a speedy trial and also moved to dismiss the charge against him.
{¶ 4} On September 22, 2006, the trial court held a hearing on Mr. Chapman's motion to dismiss. The trial court noted that Mr. Chapman had requested discovery and that he had pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. It also noted that his insanity plea incorporated a motion for competency, requiring the court to schedule and arrange for a competency and insanity evaluation by a *Page 3 psychologist. The trial court concluded, based on Mr. Chapman's request for discovery and his plea of not guilty by reason of insanity, that his speedy trial time limit had been tolled. The trial court, therefore, denied his motion to dismiss.
{¶ 5} Following the trial court's denial of his motion to dismiss, Mr. Chapman changed his plea to no contest. After the trial court ensured that Mr. Chapman's plea was knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily entered, it found him guilty of robbery and sentenced him to two years in prison. Mr. Chapman has appealed, assigning one error.
{¶ 7} Section
{¶ 8} Section
{¶ 9} Mr. Chapman has not contested the trial court's finding that his discovery motion and plea of not guilty by reason of insanity tolled his speedy trial time period. He has, therefore, abandoned any error regarding the trial court's finding on those issues. See Uncapher v.Baltimore Ohio R.R. Co.,
{¶ 10} This Court is required to affirm the trial court's judgment if any valid grounds are determined on appeal to support it. McKay v.Cutlip,
{¶ 11} From the time Mr. Chapman was arrested to the time he filed a motion for discovery, 13 days passed. Another 27 days passed between the time the State complied with the discovery motion and the time Mr. Chapman entered his not guilty by reason of insanity plea. Mr. Chapman did not file his motion to reinstate his right to a speedy trial until September 15, 2006, and did not change his plea to no contest until September 22, 2006, the same day he was found guilty. Even if the clock began to run again when Mr. Chapman's first counsel withdrew, only 46 days passed between that day and Mr. Chapman's conviction. Adding those days to the 40 that had already passed, would still leave Mr. Chapman short of the 90 day time period for him to receive a speedy trial.
{¶ 12} Because Mr. Chapman's discovery motion and not guilty by reason of insanity plea tolled his speedy trial period, whether Mr. Chapman's counsel had authority to waive his right to a speedy trial is immaterial. Mr. Chapman's conviction must be affirmed for the reasons stated by the trial court. His assignment of error is overruled.
*Page 6Judgment affirmed.
The Court finds that there were reasonable grounds for this appeal.
We order that a special mandate issue out of this Court, directing the Court of Common Pleas, County of Lorain, State of Ohio, to carry this judgment into execution. A certified copy of this journal entry shall constitute the mandate, pursuant to App.R. 27.
Immediately upon the filing hereof, this document shall constitute the journal entry of judgment, and it shall be file stamped by the Clerk of the Court of Appeals at which time the period for review shall begin to run. App.R. 22(E). The Clerk of the Court of Appeals is instructed to mail a notice of entry of this judgment to the parties and to make a notation of the mailing in the docket, pursuant to App.R. 30.
Costs taxed to appellant.
*Page 1SLABY, P. J. and MOORE, J., CONCUR.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- State of Ohio v. Curtis C. Chapman
- Cited By
- 1 case
- Status
- Unpublished