Commonwealth Ex Rel. Holcombe v. Strode
Commonwealth Ex Rel. Holcombe v. Strode
Opinion of the Court
This is an appeal from the order of the court below denying appellant’s petition for a writ of habeas corpus and ordering his extradition to New York. Appellant’s sole contention is that his confinement was not in accordance with the Uniform Criminal Extradition Act.
The pertinent facts are as follows. Late in the evening of April 8, 1977, appellant was arrested at a motel in Lycoming County by a representative of the New York State Police acting in conjunction with a Pennsylvania State trooper.
On May 23, 1977, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania withdrew the fugitive complaint that had been filed against appellant on April 9, 1977. That same day, however, the Commonwealth lodged a new fugitive from justice complaint against appellant.
On June 23, 1977, appellant, pursuant to Section 7 of the Act, supra, was formally arrested on a warrant issued by the Governor of Pennsylvania. 19 P.S. § 191.7. Subsequently, on July 7, 1977, appellant filed his petition for a writ of habeas corpus and a hearing was held on July 15, 1977. On July 19, 1977, the petition was denied and extradition ordered. This appeal followed.
Appellant does not challenge the sufficiency of the evidence to order extradition.
Section 15 of the Uniform Criminal Extradition Act, supra, 19 P.S. § 191.15, provides that an alleged fugitive may be committed to custody for up to thirty (30) days pending arrival of the Governor’s warrant. Section 17 of the Act, supra, 19 P.S. § 191.17, states that if the Governor’s warrant has not arrived within the prescribed thirty day period then the fugitive may be recommitted for an additional sixty (60) days to await formal arrest under the Governor’s warrant. In addition, it is well-settled that “[w]here a defendant has been held on detainers or warrant and is discharged, there is no prohibition against rearrest on a new warrant.” Commonwealth ex rel. Coffman v. Aytch, 238 Pa.Super. 584, 587, 361 A.2d 652, 654 (1976). In the instant case, the proceedings which were set in motion on April 8, 1977, were dismissed by the Commonwealth on May 23, 1977, because the necessary requisition documents had not yet arrived from New York within the thirty day allowable period. While the Commonwealth could have sought a sixty day extension under 19 P.S. § 191.17, it instead elected to withdraw the first fugitive complaint and file a second complaint on May 23. Furthermore, appellant was rearrested hnd arraigned on the new complaint that same day. Appellant, relying on Commonwealth ex rel. Coffman v. Aytch, supra, contends that this procedure was improper and requires his discharge. Several reasons compel us to conclude otherwise.
Initially, we find Coffman, supra, distinguishable. In that case, the appellant had been incarcerated on unrelated local charges when on November 20,1973, an Illinois warrant was lodged as a detainer. Although the local charges were dismissed shortly thereafter, Coffman was not arraigned on the Illinois fugitive warrant until nine months after the warrant had been lodged as a detainer. Coffman’s habeas corpus .petition, alleging that the nine month delay violated the Act, supra, was denied. On appeal, we reversed and rejected the Commonwealth’s argument that the ten month
In the instant case, unlike Coffman, appellant was arraigned on April 9, 1977 on the initial fugitive complaint, and on May 23, 1977, on the newly initiated second complaint. Both arraignments occurred well within the statutorily prescribed 90 day period. More importantly, appellant was “discharged” from the initial complaint, albeit momentarily, and rearrested upon the filing of the new complaint pursuant to which a Governor’s warrant was subsequently produced. Under these circumstances, Coffman is inapplicable.
Furthermore, even were we inclined to agree with appellant’s contention that he was incarcerated beyond the thirty days provided for in 19 P.S. § 191.15, we believe appellant’s failure to raise this issue prior to his arrest under the Governor’s warrant precludes relief. Although appellant was represented by counsel from at least April 14, 1977, his petition for a writ of habeas corpus contesting the validity of his detention was not filed until July 7, 1977, or two weeks after his arrest pursuant to the valid Governor’s warrant on June 23, 1977. As Judge Spaeth, citing several decisions from other jurisdictions, has stated: “Absent a violation of the rule of Commonwealth ex rel. Knowles v. Lester, 456 Pa. 423, 321 A.2d 637 (1974), habeas corpus relief is warranted only when sought after the expiration of the prescribed period (whether thirty or, if extended, ninety days) and before a governor’s warrant is executed.” (Cita-
Order affirmed.
. Act of July 8, 1941, P.L. 288, § 1 et seq., 19 P.S. § 191.1 et seq.
. Appellant was immediately arraigned on this new complaint and remanded to jail for failure to post bail in the amount of $10,000.
. “Extradition is a constitutionally mandated process and will be ordered if the subject of the extradition (1) is charged with a crime in the demanding state, (2) is a fugitive from the demanding state, (3) was present in the demanding state at the time of the commission of the crime, and (4) if the requisition papers are in order.” Commonwealth ex rel. Berry v. Aytch, 253 Pa.Super. 312, 316, 385 A.2d 354, 356 (1970).
Concurring Opinion
concurring:
I concur because I agree with the majority that by waiting until his arrest, appellant lost his right to relief. See the last paragraph of the majority’s opinion. We should say no more than that.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- COMMONWEALTH of Pennsylvania Ex Rel. Alfred D. HOLCOMBE v. R. Brinton STRODE. Appeal of Alfred D. HOLCOMBE
- Cited By
- 11 cases
- Status
- Published