State v. Amos
State v. Amos
Opinion of the Court
Daniel Lee Amos (Amos) appeals from judgments affirming a jury verdict finding him guilty of armed burglary in violation of sec. 943.10(1)(a), Stats., and on his no contest plea to escape in violation of sec. 946.42(3)(a), Stats.
On appeal, Amos makes the following claims. First, the trial court erred in failing to suppress the seizure of himself and his property. Second, the trial court erred in allowing the jury to hear evidence of Amos's attempt to suborn perjury as such evidence was inadmissible and prejudicial. Third, the trial court denied Amos his due process and confrontation rights of presenting, and confronting witnesses. Fourth, the trial court denied Amos a fair trial when it refused to give his theory of defense instruction. Fifth, the trial court violated Amos's double jeopardy rights when it sua sponte and without notice modified his sentence after it had begun. Because the trial courts did not err in any of Amos's above claims, we affirm.
Delbert and Agnes Anderson resided at 1Í03 Kriedeman Drive in the city of Stoughton, Dane county, Wisconsin. On November 23,1985, they arrived home at approximately 5:45 p.m. After Agnes entered the home through the back door, she bent down to take her boots off when she heard footsteps coming from the living room. An intruder ran past her, pushing her in the back of the head and pushed her down. The intruder ran out the back door through the garage. Next, Agnes called out to her husband that an intruder had been in their home. Agnes called the police. After the police arrived, they searched the Andersons' home to determine if anyone else was inside. No one else was inside. The police found one of the Andersons' kitchen knives beside Mrs. Anderson's jewelry and jewelry box, a camera and camera equipment and other items in a black plastic garbage
The police found a lighted flashlight in the snow behind the Andersons' residence, along with a set of footprints tracked in the snow from boots that had a waffled or lug pattern. They followed this singular set of tracks across the back of the Andersons' property to the front of the next door neighbor's property and around the back of another residence located on Kriedeman Drive. This house was the residence of Cathy Jo Nelson (Nelson).
The police surrounded the building and waited for authorization to enter. The Stoughton chief of police advised the officers to telephone the residence and if there was no response, to use the police squad public address system. If there was still no response, the officers were instructed to enter the premises to search the property. The police authorities on the scene had the dispatcher telephone the Nelson residence. After failing to receive a response, they used a squad car's public address system, which also failed to result in a response. Finally, they entered the residence to search the premises.
First, the police tipped over a davenport in the living room where they found Amos lying face down. The
At the police station, Amos was advised of his Miranda rights.
The jury found Amos guilty of armed robbery, and the jury's verdict was affirmed by the trial court. He pleaded no contest to the escape charge, which the trial court accepted as voluntarily made. The trial court found him guilty of the escape charge. The trial court sentenced Amos to eight years on the armed burglary conviction consecutive to any sentence he was then serving, with a credit for 726 days for presentence incarceration. For the escape charge, the trial court sentenced him to two years consecutive to the armed burglary sentence and any other previous sentence with a credit of 726 days of presentence incarceration.
The sentence was entered on November 19, 1987. On December 4, 1987, after being notified by a parole/ probation agent that Amos was not entitled to any sen
I. SUPPRESSION OF THE TWO SEARCHES AND SEIZURES
First, Amos argues that the search of the Nelson property, the seizure of his person and the subsequent seizure of the boots were violations of his federal and state rights against illegal searches and seizures.
Despite the statement Amos made to the police at the time of his arrest that he had been at the Nelson residence for only forty minutes before the police found him, Amos testified at trial that he was living at Nelson's home for the two weeks since the day after his escape from Oakhill until the time of his arrest. Amos argues that he had a reasonable expectation of privacy in Nelson's home. The State argues that because he was an escapee at the time of his arrest, he had no expectation of privacy in Nelson's home.
We agree with and adopt the view of the Second Circuit Court of Appeals that an escapee has no legitimate expectation of privacy in a residence where he or she is hiding from lawful authority at the time of a warrantless exigent circumstances search.
Also, Amos contests the later warrantless reentry and retrieval of his wet boots, which were partially hidden between the mattress and box spring of a bed in Nelson's home. Since probable cause and exigent circumstances were present, the police made a warrantless entry without violating Amos's fourth amendment search and seizure rights. Evidence that is reasonably believed to be in imminent danger of removal or destruction is a well-recognized exception justifying warrantless entry allowing immediate police action where there is a " 'compelling need for official action and no time to secure a warrant.' "
In this case, the record indicates that the police officers were concerned with the fact that the boots were probably still wet and whether the boots had the same waffle or lug pattern on the soles as that found in the snow. The exigent circumstances as noted above made the second warrantless intrusion into Nelson's home necessary. Thus, the search and seizure of the boots was constitutionally proper and the trial court and postcon-viction motion judges' denial of suppression was proper. This is especially true since an escapee, like Amos, can
II. SUBORNATION OF PERJURY
Next, Amos argues that the trial court abused its discretion in allowing into evidence information concerning his attempt to suborn pequry. Amos contacted a person who he thought would give him an alibi. The conversation was tape recorded and it stated that Amos attempted to purchase a false alibi from "Dave."
Prior to and at trial Amos made in limine motions to prohibit the State from employing the tape recorded evidence of the subornation of perjury attempt. Amos argued that the evidence was irrelevant. If the evidence was found to be relevant, Amos argued that the evidence was inadmissible because it was too prejudicial to be received into evidence as it would confuse the jury. Further, he argued that the evidence constituted impeachment by extrinsic evidence on a collateral issue. The State argued that if Amos testified on cross-examination, they would introduce the tape to impeach his credibility to show his consciousness of guilt.
The trial court held that the evidence of the suborning perjury was relevant because it "goes to the defendant's credibility." Thereafter, without waiving
Appellate courts will not find an abuse of discretion for receipt of evidence on relevance grounds if there is a reasonable basis for the trial court's determination.
Amos also contends that the use of this evidence constituted extrinsic evidence impeaching his exculpatory testimony. Generally, a witness may not be impeached on the basis of specific instances of collateral facts introduced by extrinsic evidence because such evidence has a tendency to confuse issues, waste time, and focus the jury's attention on trivial matters.
The attempt to suborn perjury occurred while this action was pending and, as such, is available to the State to show consciousness of guilt even though this was extrinsic evidence of collateral facts. The trial court's ruling allowing the use of this evidence was not an abuse of discretion.
Finally, Amos argues that this "other crimes" evidence was so prejudicial that it undermined Amos's constitutional right to a fair trial. Tried courts and this court must apply a two-step analysis to determine whether "other acts" evidence is admissible. First, the court must find that the evidence fits within one of the exceptions to sec. 904.04(2), Stats.
We note that the trial court failed to follow this two-step analysis. We have already determined that the subornation of pexjury evidence fits within one of the exceptions to sec. 904.04(2), Stats., since this evidence shows Amos's consciousness of guilt.
Under the second prong of the two-step analysis, we hold that the probative value of the evidence far outweighs any prejudice resulting from such evidence for two reasons. First, the prejudice of the subornation evidence was ameliorated by the other facts noted in the stipulation. Those facts included: Amos advised "Dave" that he did not commit the burglary, that he was only doing it because he was scared that he would be convicted, and that another person committed the crime. All of these facts were consistent with Amos's trial testimony. Second, in the trial court's instructions to the jury, the court gave the jury a cautionary instruction. The instruction was not directed specifically to this evidence, yet it was sufficiently broad and general to apply to this evidence.
III. CONFRONTATION RIGHTS
Next, Amos contends that he was denied his right to a fair trial. First, Amos argues that the trial court refused to allow defense witness Barry Livingston (Livingston) to testify concerning a jail house conversation because it was hearsay. Second, Amos also argues that the trial court erred in refusing to allow testimony of attorney Ted N. Frank (Frank) or use of a letter written by Frank
The fundamental right of a defendant to present witnesses on one's own behalf is based on the due process clause of the fourteenth amendment and the sixth amendment's right to compel witnesses on one's own behalf to defend against the state's accusations.
In this case, the trial court refused to allow Livingston to testify that another cellmate (who was also a police informant) told Amos: "Dan you are in trouble. You are going to lose the trial. You better get yourself some help. I have an alibi witness I can get for you." The trial court did allow Livingston to testify that Amos appeared nervous as a result of the conversation. The trial court's evidentiary ruling in refusing to allow the above hearsay into evidence was a mechanistic employment of the hearsay rule. The trial court erred because Amos was not trying to prove the truth of the above statement through Livingston's testimony. Rather, he was trying to show that the statements were made and what Livingston noted as Amos's reaction to the statements. " 'The hearsay rule does not prevent a witness from testifying as to what he heard; it is rather a restriction on the proof of fact through extrajudicial
Even though the tried court erred in refusing to allow Livingston to testify concerning what he had heard, the jury did hear his testimony that Amos was nervous and upset as a result of the conversation. This testimony may corroborate Amos's testimony that he felt pressured by the cellmate's statements. Yet, it does not in any way exculpate Amos from his attempt to bribe someone to give him an alibi for the time that the burglary occurred on November 23,1985. Thus, even though the trial court erred in its evidentiary ruling, such error was not so critical to his defense as to deny him a fair trial.
Amos also argues that the trial court denied him a fair trial when it denied him the right to have Frank testify on his behalf, and when it denied the receipt into evidence of a letter Frank wrote to Amos refusing to represent him because of a conflict of interest. The letter was hearsay.
Amos next contends that the trial court committed reversible error because it refused to accept his proposed written instruction tendered at the beginning of the trial. Further, Amos argues that the trial court also erred when it rejected the amended theory of defense instruction made during the trial that Ralph Axelson committed the burglary.
A trial court has wide discretion in presenting instructions to the jury. If its instructions adequately cover the law applied to the facts, a reviewing court will not find error in refusing special instructions even though the refused instructions would not be erroneous.
The trial court employed Wisconsin Jury Instruction — Criminal 141 which states: "The identification of the defendant is in issue in this case .... If you find that the crime alleged was committed, before you may find the defendant guilty, you must be satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant is the person who committed the crime." That is a correct statement of the
V. RESENTENCING
On November 19, 1987, Judge William D. Byrne, sentenced Amos to eight years on the burglary charge and two years on the escape charge, both consecutive to each other and consecutive to a preexisting sentence Amos was then serving. Judge Byrne also gave Amos 726 days presentence incarceration credit to both sentences. Both sentences were consecutive to the burglary sentence he was then serving, which the trial court recognized would be completed on November 24. On November 23, a probation/parole agent wrote to Judge Byrne informing him that Amos was not entitled to any presentence incarceration credit. On December 4, without notice to Amos and without any hearing, the trial court sua sponte entered an amended order vacating the original sentence and resentencing Amos to the same sentence without the 726 days presentence incarceration credit. This occurred after Amos commenced serving the burglary sentence involved in this case.
On July 22, 1988, Judge Nichol heard Amos's post-conviction motion for sentence modification to reinstate the 726 day presentence incarceration credits. Judge Nichol denied the motion but he found that Amos was entitled to five days presentence incarceration credit. This credit was based on the five days that Amos was held on bond on the charges of burglary and escape after his maximum release date for the previous burglary sentence he was serving.
A. Sentence Credit
A convicted person should be given sentence credit for presentence incarceration for time spent in custody in connection with the course of conduct for which sentence was imposed.
Amos was arrested on charges of burglary and escape on November 23, 1985. He was convicted on the burglary charge on August 28, 1987, and on the escape charge on August 31, 1987. He was sentenced for those crimes on November 19, 1987. At the time of the initial bail hearing for the burglary and escape charge, he was completing a sentence for a previous burglary conviction for which he was incarcerated at Oakhill. The record reflects that Amos did not complete the sentence for that earlier burglary until November 24, 1987. The completion of the prison sentence for that previous burglary
With respect to Amos's claim that Judge Byrne denied him his due process rights because he received no notice of hearing concerning the modification of his sentence, we note that Amos's argument is correct on this point. Amos, however, did receive due process with his postconviction motion where he was given an opportunity to be heard " 'at a meaningful time and in a meaningful manner.' ',
B. Double Jeopardy
Amos next contends that the sua sponte elimination of the 726 days of presentence incarceration credit violated his double jeopardy rights. Under the double jeopardy clause, no punishment can be increased once
The trial court's sentence modification eliminating the original 726 days of presentence incarceration occurred after Amos had commenced the burglary sentence involved in this case, therefore, double jeopardy proscripts were implicated. But in this case, the sentence was modified to eliminate presentence incarceration credit that he was not entitled to and the same sentence existed before the modification as after. Thus, double jeopardy was not implicated.
Finally, Amos argues that because of the State's acquiescence in the 726 days of presentence credit at trial, the State's conduct should serve as an equitable bar to sentence modification because of waiver.
By the Court. — Judgments and orders affirmed.
Amos married Nelson after his arrest and before his trial.
Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436 (1966).
See United States Const, amend. IV; Wis. Const, art. I, sec. 11.
State v. Pires, 55 Wis. 2d 597, 603-04, 201 N.W.2d 153, 156-57 (1972) (quoting Coolidge v. New Hampshire, 403 U.S. 443, 454-55 [1971]).
55 Wis. 2d at 604, 201 N.W.2d at 157.
Id.
See United States v. Roy, 734 F.2d 108, 110-12 (2d cir. 1984), cert. denied, 475 U.S. 1110 (1986). This case analyzed whether an escapee has a legitimate expectation of privacy in the passenger compartment or trunk of a car. The second circuit held that there was no legitimate expectation of privacy. See also United States v. Payner, 447 U.S. 727, 731 (1980); Rakas v. Illinois, 439 U.S. 128, 133-34 (1978); Jones v. United States, 362 U.S. 257, 267 (1960).
Roy, 734 F.2d at 110-12 (citing Katz v. United States, 389 U.S. 347, 361 [1967] (Harlan, J., concurring)).
State v. Peardot, 119 Wis. 2d 400, 404, 351 N.W.2d 172, 175 (Ct. App. 1984) (quoting Michigan v. Tyler, 436 U.S. 499, 509 [1978]). See also United States v. Kulcsar, 586 F.2d 1283, 1287 (8th Cir. 1978).
Peardot, 119 Wis. 2d at 404, 351 N.W.2d at 175.
See Roy, 734 F.2d at 111 ("an escapee [is] in constructive custody for the purposes of determining his legitimate expectations of privacy").
While in the Dane county jail, Amos discussed his case with a fellow inmate who was a police informant. The police informant advised that he could contact a truck driver named "Dave" who, for a price, would give Amos an alibi for the time of the armed burglary. This fellow inmate telephoned "Dave" who was deputy sheriff David Mahoney.
State v. Denny, 120 Wis. 2d 614, 626, 357 N.W.2d 12, 18 (Ct. App. 1984).
Sec. 904.01, Stats.
Rogers v. State, 93 Wis. 2d 682, 688, 287 N.W.2d 774, 776 (1980).
248 Wis. 578, 583, 22 N.W.2d 510, 512 (1946).
Id. (quoting Scott v. State, 211 Wis. 548, 556, 248 N.W. 473, 476 [1933]).
Secs. 904.03 and 906.08(2), Stats. State v. Sonnenberg, 117 Wis. 2d 159, 176, 344 N.W.2d 95, 103 (1984).
3A J. Wigmore, Evidence sec. 1005(c) (Chadbourne rev. ed. 1970); 4 J. Wigmore, Evidence sec. 1070 (Chadbourne rev. ed. 1972).
See supra note 17 and accompanying text.
Sonnenberg, 117 Wis. 2d at 172, 344 N.W.2d at 101.
Sec. 904.04(2), Stats.
State v. Shillcutt, 116 Wis. 2d 227, 236, 341 N.W.2d 716, 720 (Ct. App. 1983).
State v. Bettinger, 100 Wis. 2d 691, 698, 303 N.W.2d 585, 589 (1981).
State v. Conley, 141 Wis. 2d 384, 399-400, 416 N.W.2d 69, 75 (Ct. App. 1987).
Id. at 400, 416 N.W.2d at 75. See State v. Shilleutt, 116 Wis. 2d 227, 235-36, 341 N.W.2d 716, 719-20 (Ct. App. 1983).
See Chambers v. Mississippi, 410 U.S. 284, 294-98 (1973).
Id. at 302.
Id; State v. Sharlow, 110 Wis. 2d 226, 233, 327 N.W.2d 692, 696 (1983).
State v. Curbello-Rodriguez, 119 Wis. 2d 414, 427, 351 N.W.2d 758, 765 (Ct. App. 1984) (quoting Dutton v. Evans, 400 U.S. 74, 88 [1970]).
United States v. Valenzuela-Bernal, 458 U.S. 858, 867 (1982); Shadow, 110 Wis. 2d at 235, 327 N.W.2d at 697.
See sec. 908.01(3), Stats.
See sec. 905.03(3), Stats.
See S.C.R. 20.22 (1986).
State v. Roubik, 137 Wis. 2d 301, 308-09, 404 N.W.2d 105, 108 (Ct. App. 1987).
Turner v. State, 64 Wis. 2d 45, 51, 218 N.W.2d 502, 505 (1974).
See State v. Pruitt, 95 Wis. 2d 69, 81, 289 N.W.2d 343, 348-49 (Ct. App. 1980).
Sec. 973.155(1), Stats.
See State v. Beets, 124 Wis. 2d 372,369 N.W.2d 382 (1985); State v. Gavigan, 122 Wis. 2d 389, 362 N.W.2d 162 (Ct. App. 1984).
Mathews v. Eldridge, 424 U.S. 319, 333 (1976) (quoting Armstrong v. Manzo, 380 U.S. 545, 552 [1965]).
United States v. Benz, 282 U.S. 304, 307 (1931).
State v. North, 91 Wis. 2d 507, 509-10, 283 N.W.2d 457, 458-59 (Ct. App. 1979).
See Struzik v. State, 90 Wis. 2d 357, 367-68, 279 N.W.2d 922, 926-27 (1979).
Concurring Opinion
(concurring). I write separately for two reasons. First, to explain my rationale for joining in the court's decision on the critical issue of whether the exclusionary rule, crafted to vindicate Fourth Amendment rights, Stone v. Powell, 428 U.S. 465, 482-483 (1976), should be expanded to shelter an escaped con
rH
Amos' challenge to the entries of Nelson's home and the seizure of his property presents an issue of first impression in Wisconsin.
The fundamental purpose of the Fourth Amendment's prohibition against unreasonable searches and seizures, and the counterpart found in article I, section 11 of the Wisconsin Constitution, is to protect "the privacy and security of individuals against arbitrary invasions by government officials." State v. Boggess, 115 Wis. 2d 443, 448-449, 340 N.W.2d 516, 520 (1983). The exclusionary rule that bars trial use of evidence obtained in violation of the Fourth Amendment is a judicially-constructed mechanism designed to deter illegal police activity, United States v. Janis, 428 U.S. 433, 446 (1976); Linkletter v. Walker, 381 U.S. 618, 636-637 (1965), though empirical support for the rule's efficacy in that regard is problematic. Janis, 428 U.S. at 449-454. What is clear, however, is that imposition of the exclusionary rule "exacts a substantial social cost" since
It is now settled that " 'Fourth Amendment rights are personal rights which, like some other constitutional rights, may not be vicariously asserted,' " Id. at 133-134 (quoting Alderman v. United States, 394 U.S. 165, 174 [1969]), because "[c]onferring standing to raise vicarious Fourth Amendment claims would necessarily mean a more widespread invocation of the exclusionary rule during criminal trials," Id. at 137. Thus, Amos may not assert Nelson's interest in the "privacy and security," Boggess, 115 Wis. 2d at 448, 340 N.W.2d at 520, of her home. Rather, the critical question here is whether the
In order for an expectation of privacy to be "legitimate," there must be "more than a subjective expectation of not being discovered." Rakas, 439 U.S. at 143 n. 12. A person who is on the searched premises unlawfully has no "legitimate" expectation of privacy in those premises. Id. at 143-144 n. 12 ("A burglar plying his trade in a summer cabin during the off season may have a thoroughly justified expectation of privacy, but it is not one which the law recognizes as 'legitimate.' ").
When the police entered Nelson's home, Amos was a fugitive from justice; he was not lawfully in Nelson's home. See United States v. Roy, 734 F.2d 108, 110-111 (2d Cir. 1984). Indeed, he could not lawfully be any place but the institution from which he had escaped. Id. at 111. He had no "legitimate expectation of privacy" in Nelson's home, see Payner, 447 U.S. at 731, and thus the exclusionary rule gives him no refuge, see Jones v. United States, 362 U.S. 257, 267 (1960) (The exclusionary rule may not be asserted by "those who, by virtue of their wrongful presence, cannot invoke the privacy of the premises searched."), overruled on other grounds, United States v. Salvucci, 448 U.S. 83 (1980) (rejecting the automatic standing rule in Jones). Cf. Griffin v. Wisconsin, 483 U.S. 868 (1987) (A probationer in legal custody of Department of Health and Social Services is subject to warrantless search of his home by probation
HH HH
The majority's discussion of Chambers is superfluous. A Chambers analysis is appropriate only when a defendant's theory of defense is stymied by the mechanistic application of a technical rule of hearsay. See 410 U.S. at 302. Here, as the majority recognizes, majority at 276, Livingston's testimony about what Amos' cellmate told Amos was not hearsay because it was not being introduced for the truth of its assertion. See Rule 908.01(3), Stats. Chambers is not material to our decision.
Although arguing that his arrest was unlawful, Amos does not contend that the trial court lacked personal jurisdiction over him. See State v. Smith, 131 Wis. 2d 220, 236, 388 N.W.2d 601, 608 (1986) ("A defendant cannot claim immunity from prosecution 'simply because his appearance in court was precipitated by an unlawful arrest,' nor does an illegal arrest serve as a defense to a valid conviction." [quoting United States v. Crews, 445 U.S. 463, 474 (1980)]). Rather, he contends that the fruits of the entries should be suppressed. See Smith, 131 Wis. 2d at 240-241, 388 N.W.2d at 610.
Innocent persons subjected to illegal searches gain no succor from the exclusionary rule irrespective of how flagrant and outrageous the Fourth Amendment violation, see Oaks, 37 U. Chi. L. Rev. at 736-739; it offers them no "Reparation" for their "ruptured privacy." See Linkletter, 381 U.S. at 637.
Prior to Rakas, this analysis was a "standing" inquiry. Rakas, 439 U.S. at 140; State v. Fillyaw, 104 Wis. 2d 700, 710, 312 N.W.2d 795, 800 (1981), cert. denied, 455 U.S. 1026 (1982).
Reference
- Full Case Name
- STATE of Wisconsin, Plaintiff-Respondent, v. Daniel Lee AMOS, Defendant-Appellant
- Cited By
- 22 cases
- Status
- Published