Adkins v. Com., 1443-90-3

• Decision Date: 21 January 1992
• Docket Number: No. 1443-90-3,1443-90-3
• Citation: 13 Va.App. 519,414 S.E.2d 188
• Court: Virginia Court of Appeals
• Parties: Jeffrey Scott ADKINS v. COMMONWEALTH of Virginia. Record

Page 188

414 S.E.2d 188

13 Va.App. 519

Jeffrey Scott ADKINS v. COMMONWEALTH of Virginia.

Record No. 1443-90-3.

Court of Appeals of Virginia.

Jan. 21, 1992.

Thomas W. Dixon, Jr., Staunton (Nelson, McPherson, Summers & Santos, on brief), for appellant.

Marla Lynn Graff, Asst. Atty. Gen. (Mary Sue Terry, Atty. Gen., on brief), for appellee.

Present: BARROW, COLEMAN and MOON, JJ.

COLEMAN, Judge.

Jeffrey Scott Adkins was convicted in a jury trial of breaking and entering in violation of Code § 18.2-90, four counts of robbery in violation of Code § 18.2-58, four counts of use of a firearm during the commission of a felony in violation of Code § 18.2-53.1, and sodomy by force in violation of Code § 18.2-67.1. ¹ In this appeal, he contends that the trial court erred by refusing to dismiss these ten indictments against him because the Commonwealth failed to provide him a speedy trial within the time specified by Code § 19.2-243. Because Adkins was held continuously in custody from his arrest until trial, the Commonwealth was obligated to commence his trial within five months from the date of his preliminary hearing. The Commonwealth failed to commence Adkins' trial within five months. Unless the reasons for the delay are attributable to Adkins, the prosecution is barred. We find no evidence in the record to support the trial court's finding that the delay in trying Adkins was attributable to him. Accordingly, we reverse his convictions for these offenses and dismiss the indictments.

Code § 19.2-243 provides, in pertinent part:

Where a general district court has found that there is probable cause to believe that the accused has committed a felony, the accused, if he is held continuously in custody thereafter, shall be forever discharged from prosecution for such offense if no trial is commenced in the circuit court within five months from the date such probable cause was found by the district court.

The district court held the preliminary hearing for Adkins on December 7, 1989, and found probable cause that Adkins committed the robbery (four counts), breaking and entering (one count), use of a firearm during the commission of a felony (four counts), and sodomy by force (one count). Thus, pursuant to Code § 19.2-243, the Commonwealth had five months--until May 7, 1990--in which to bring Adkins, who remained in custody throughout the pre-trial period, to trial.

Code § 19.2-243 delineates circumstances which will excuse the Commonwealth's delay in trying an accused within the five month time period. The specified reasons for excusable delay listed in the statute are not exclusive; other similar circumstances may excuse delay in trying the accused within the designated time. See Stephens v. Commonwealth, 225 Va. 224, 230, 301 S.E.2d 22, 25 (1983). When an accused asserts that he has been denied a speedy trial, the burden is on the Commonwealth to explain and excuse the delay. Godfrey v. Commonwealth, 227 Va. 460, 463, 317 S.E.2d 781, 782 (1984).

Here, the trial court, at a hearing held on May 24, 1990, found that a fifty day delay was attributable to Adkins' motion to suppress evidence. Based on that finding, the trial court held that no statutory speedy trial violation had occurred. The trial court based its finding on testimony presented at the speedy trial hearing from Sergeant Ken Hite of the Augusta County Sheriff's Department. Sergeant Hite testified that he was present at a January 22, 1990, bench conference at which defense counsel informed the trial judge that he intended to file suppression motions and asked the court to schedule a suppression hearing. Hite testified that the trial judge mentioned the possibility of a problem concerning a speedy trial, but that defense counsel stated that a speedy trial would not be an issue. No order was entered following the January 22, 1990, bench conference.

"In assessing responsibility for delay in trying a defendant, we must confine our review to the record that comes before us." Cantwell v. Commonwealth, 2 Va.App. 606, 611, 347 S.E.2d 523, 525-26 (1986). "Representations of counsel, or even of the trial judge [of the reasons for the delay], if not supported by the record, are insufficient. Memories are too fragile to supply authoritatively what the record fails to reveal." Godfrey, 227 Va. at 464, 317 S.E.2d at 783.

The record contains no orders or docket entries explaining the reason for the delay in beginning the trial or supporting the trial judge's finding that the fifty day delay was attributable to Adkins. No orders were entered granting continuances or showing why the case was not scheduled for trial within five months. Sergeant Hite's testimony at the May 24, 1990, hearing--a hearing that took place after the five month period expired--does not provide a record to support the judge's ruling. Representations of counsel or recollections of the trial judge not supported...