State v. Treis, 980383.
| Citation | 1999 ND 136,597 N.W.2d 664 |
| Decision Date | 13 July 1999 |
| Docket Number | No. 980383.,980383. |
| Parties | STATE of North Dakota, Plaintiff and Appellee, v. Michael F. TREIS, Defendant and Appellant. |
| Court | North Dakota Supreme Court |
Stephen J. Rice, State's Attorney, Grafton, for plaintiff and appellee.
Michael F. Treis, pro se, Hunter; defendant and appellant.
[¶ 1] Michael Treis appealed from his judgment of conviction after a bench trial for the offense of falsely stating or representing that one has been or is an investigative officer or employed by an investigative or security officer or agency. We affirm, concluding, despite errors in the judgment and errors in correcting the judgment, the defendant was tried for and convicted of the offense charged in the amended complaint; the statutory exception claimed by the defendant did not apply to him; and the defendant was not deprived of constitutional or statutory rights.
[¶ 2] On September 26, 1996, Treis went to the office of the Clerk of District Court in Walsh County, the Walsh County Sheriff's Office, and the Park River Police Department. As a result of those visits, a criminal complaint was signed on October 3, 1996, charging Tries with "providing private investigative service without a licence," in violation of N.D.C.C. §§ 43-30-05 and 43-30-10, a class B misdemeanor. Although an arrest warrant was issued on October 4, 1996, Tries was not found and arrested until May 27, 1998.
[¶ 3] In August 1998, Tries personally signed subpoenas for ten persons, and served them. The district court told Tries he could not personally issue subpoenas, but on his request appropriate subpoenas could be issued for him.
[¶ 4] On August 11, 1998, the complaint was amended, changing the charge to "falsely stating or representing that one has been or is an investigative officer or employed by an investigative or security officer or agency," in violation of N.D.C.C. § 43-30-10.
[¶ 5] On October 30, 1998, the case was tried to the district court. A deputy clerk of court testified Treis entered the office of the Clerk of District Court in Walsh County on the afternoon of September 26, 1996, and requested some file information, representing himself to be a private investigator. The deputy clerk testified Tries was unable to present an investigator's license when asked to do so. A deputy sheriff testified Treis came to the Walsh County Sheriff's Office that afternoon saying he was a private investigator, retained by a Fargo law firm to investigate an eviction of some third parties. The deputy testified he asked Tries for identification as an investigator, but Tries produced none. The chief of police testified Treis came to the Park River Police Department that day and represented himself as a private investigator working for a Fargo law firm. The executive director of the North Dakota Private Investigation and Security Board testified Treis was not and never had been licensed.
[¶ 6] Treis testified he was trying to help a friend's wife, who had been evicted from her home. Treis also claims the existence of a large conspiracy against him, driven by the "mafia" in Walsh County. Treis acknowledged he was not licensed as a private investigator, but denied representing he was.
[¶ 7] At the conclusion of the bench trial, the district court found Tries guilty as charged in the amended complaint. The written judgment of conviction, entered on December 2, 1998, reflected Tries had been convicted of the original charge, "following a plea of guilty." Tries appealed. On December 9, 1998, an amended judgment of conviction was entered. The amended judgment deleted the erroneous reference to a plea of guilty, but continued to reflect conviction of the original charge. On March 22, 1999, this Court granted a temporary remand for the correction of the judgment. On March 24, 1999, a second amended judgment of conviction was filed, reflecting the correct charge for which Tries had been convicted.
[¶ 8] The district court had jurisdiction under N.D.C.C. § 27-05-06. This Court has jurisdiction under N.D. Const. art. VI, § 6, and N.D.C.C. § 28-27-01.
[¶ 9] Our evidentiary standard of review for a criminal bench trial is the same as if the case had been tried to a jury. State v. Nehring, 509 N.W.2d 42, 44 (N.D.1993) (citing State v. Johnson, 425 N.W.2d 903 (N.D.1988)). In cases challenging a conviction, we do not weigh conflicting evidence, nor do we judge the credibility of witnesses; instead, we look only to the evidence and its reasonable inferences most favorable to the verdict to see whether substantial evidence exists to warrant conviction. State v. Overby, 497 N.W.2d 408, 414 (N.D.1993). Although a finding of guilt may be based solely on circumstantial evidence, the evidence must be probative enough to establish guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. City of Wahpeton v. Wilkie, 477 N.W.2d 215, 217 (N.D. 1991).
[¶ 10] Although N.D.R.Crim.P. 23(d) provides "[i]n a case tried without a jury, the court shall make a general finding of guilty or not guilty," if the court before announcing its verdict makes rulings on matters of law, those rulings are fully reviewable. See N.D.R.App.P. 35(c) (); State v. Rasmussen, 524 N.W.2d 843, 844 (N.D.1994) ().
[¶ 11] Treis argues he was denied due process because he was not allowed his Sixth Amendment right to obtain witnesses in his favor. The Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution, applied to the states through the Fourteenth Amendment, states in part, "In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right ... to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor." This right is not absolute, and the defendant must show the testimony would have been both favorable and material to his defense. United States v. Valenzuela-Bernal, 458 U.S. 858, 867, 102 S.Ct. 3440, 73 L.Ed.2d 1193 (1982). Treis claims the district court did not allow him to issue subpoenas, and when the court did allow the issuance of subpoenas, it was limited. Whether the district court's refusal to issue a subpoena violates the Sixth Amendment is a question of law, and our standard of review for a claimed violation of a constitutional right is de novo. State v. Messner, 1998 ND 151, ¶ 8, 583 N.W.2d 109 (citing State v. Wicks, 1998 ND 76, ¶ 17, 576 N.W.2d 518); United States v. Soape, 169 F.3d 257, 267 (5th Cir.1999).
[¶ 12] The district court would not allow Tries to issue subpoenas that did not comply with N.D.R.Crim.P. 17(b). The district court issued subpoenas on behalf of Treis, but with limits. The district court said "the defendant was advised that unless his attorney saw fit to subpoena individuals as witnesses that the defendant would have to present to this court in an in camera proceeding the factual basis that would make the testimony of particular witnesses relevant before it would issue them in a manner that would cause the State of North Dakota to be burdened with the witness fees and costs." Treis never made that effort. The court did, however, provide Treis with subpoenas signed by the court, provided that Treis pay the witness fees and costs. The district court took reasonable steps to insure Treis was afforded due process. The district court's actions and ruling regarding subpoenas did not violate Treis's Sixth Amendment rights to compulsory process.
[¶ 13] Treis argues the district court erred in convicting him of an offense not charged in the amended complaint. In the original complaint, dated October 3, 1996, Treis was charged with "providing private investigative service without a license," in violation of N.D.C.C. §§ 43-30-05 and 43-30-10. The complaint was amended in August 1998 to one count of "falsely stating or representing that one has been or is an investigative officer or employed by an investigative or security officer or agency." N.D.C.C. § 43-30-10.
[¶ 14] N.D.C.C. § 43-30-05 provides:
A person may not provide private investigative or security services without a license issued by the board. Notwithstanding any other law or ordinance, a person may not be required to obtain a license to provide private investigative or security services in this state other than the license required by this chapter.
[¶ 15] N.D.C.C. § 43-30-10 provides for a penalty or injunction:
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