Ballance v. Com., 1791-93-1

• Decision Date: 05 September 1995
• Docket Number: No. 1791-93-1,1791-93-1
• Citation: 21 Va.App. 1,461 S.E.2d 401
• Parties: Kevin Marvin BALLANCE v. COMMONWEALTH of Virginia. Record
• Court: Virginia Court of Appeals

Page 401

461 S.E.2d 401

21 Va.App. 1

Kevin Marvin BALLANCE v. COMMONWEALTH of Virginia.

Record No. 1791-93-1.

Court of Appeals of Virginia,

Norfolk.

Sept. 5, 1995.

Theresa B. Berry, Virginia Beach (Samford & Berry, on briefs), for appellant.

G. Russell Stone, Jr., Asst. Atty. Gen. (James S. Gilmore, III, Atty. Gen., on brief), for appellee.

Present: BAKER, BENTON and WILLIS, JJ.

WILLIS, Judge.

On appeal from his convictions of five counts of forcible sodomy, six counts of aggravated sexual battery, and two counts of taking indecent liberties with minors, Kevin Marvin Ballance contends that the trial court erred in denying his motions for dismissal based on violations of his statutory right to a speedy trial in the cases involving children named Matthew and Joshua. We find no error and affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Ballance was arrested July 9, 1992, on five warrants charging aggravated sexual battery, five warrants charging forcible sodomy, and one warrant charging the taking of indecent liberties with a minor, all involving Matthew. At the same time, Ballance was arrested upon warrants charging sexual offenses committed upon a child named Krystle. His conviction on those charges is not at issue here.

At a September 10, 1992 preliminary hearing, probable cause was found and the charges were certified to the grand jury. On October 5, 1992, the grand jury indicted Ballance on all charges. He was also indicted on one count of aggravated sexual battery and one count of taking indecent liberties against a minor, involving Joshua. All charges were scheduled for trial on November 17, 1992.

On November 17, 1992, the trial court granted Ballance's motion for a continuance until January 11, 1993, so that he could be evaluated for sanity at the time of the offenses and competency to stand trial. On January 6, 1993, the trial court granted Ballance's motion for a continuance until March 3, 1993, to allow his psychiatrist time to complete his evaluations.

On March 3, 1993, Ballance's counsel informed the trial court that a conflict had developed between Ballance and him, and he sought to be removed from the case. The trial court advised Ballance that if it allowed defense counsel to withdraw, the case would be continued on Ballance's motion. Ballance agreed that this should be done. The trial court allowed defense counsel to withdraw and appointed a public defender to represent Ballance. With the concurrence of defense counsel, the trial court continued the case to March 10, 1993, to permit new defense counsel to come into the case and to participate in setting a trial date. On March 10, 1993, in consultation with counsel, the trial court set all charges for trial on May 4, 1993.

Ballance then filed numerous motions, including a motion to sever trial of the charges by victim. On April 20, 1993, a hearing was held on the severance motion, but because Ballance was unsure whether he wanted to pursue the motion, the matter was continued to April 26, 1993. On that date, the trial court granted Ballance's motion for a severance of the charges. Trials were set for May 4, 1993, on the charges involving Krystle, June 16, 1993, on the charges involving Matthew, and July 21, 1993, on the charges involving Joshua.

On June 16, 1993, Ballance was found guilty of all charges involving Matthew. The trial court confirmed the verdicts and set sentencing for July 21, 1993.

On July 15, 1993, Ballance moved to dismiss the charges involving Matthew and Joshua on the ground that his right to a speedy trial, as set forth in Code § 19.2-243, had been violated. On July 21, 1993, the trial court denied that motion, stating, "the only delay in this case has been due to the defendant."

On July 21, 1993, Ballance was found guilty on all charges relating to Joshua. The trial court confirmed the verdicts and continued the case to August 23, 1993, for sentencing. On August 23, 1993, the trial court imposed sentence on the convictions of May 4, 1993 (Krystle), June 16, 1993 (Matthew), and July 21, 1993 (Joshua).

Throughout the entire proceeding, from his arrest on July 9, 1992, to his July 21, 1993, trial, Ballance was held continuously in custody.

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 has been found....

If there was no preliminary hearing in the district court, ... the commencement of the running of the five ... [month period] ... shall be from the date an indictment or presentment is found against the accused.

The provisions of this section shall not apply to such period of time as the failure to try the accused was caused:

* * *

(4) by continuance granted on the motion of the accused or his counsel, or by concurrence of the accused or his counsel in such a motion by the attorney for the Commonwealth....

Ballance concedes that his May 4, 1993, trial on the charges involving Krystle satisfied the requirements of Code § 19.2-243. This appeal does not address that trial or Ballance's convictions on those charges.

Ballance first invoked his statutory speedy trial right by his motion filed July 15, 1993, subsequent to his June 16, 1993, trial on the charges involving Matthew. Citing Brooks v. Peyton, 210 Va. 318, 171 S.E.2d 243 (1969), the Commonwealth contends that by failing to assert his speedy trial right timely, Ballance thereby waived it. In Brooks, the Supreme Court said:

The protection granted an accused under Code § 19.1-191 ¹ is not self-operative. "It may be claimed, or it may be waived." Failure to invoke the provisions of the statute until after final judgment is a waiver of the protection afforded thereunder.

Brooks at 210 Va. at 321, 171 S.E.2d at 246 (citations omitted). We reject this contention. The August 23, 1993, sentencing order was the final judgment with respect to the charges tried June 16, 1993 (Matthew). Therefore, Ballance asserted his statutory speedy trial right timely.

The five month requirement of Code § 19.2-243 translates to 152 and a fraction days. The Commonwealth is required to commence trial within that time. Moten v. Commonwealth, 7 Va.App. 438, 441, 374 S.E.2d 704, 706 (1988). The time elapsing from the finding of probable cause to the initial trial date, even though the accused concurs in the trial date, is not a continuance within the contemplation of subsection (4) of the statute, but counts against the Commonwealth in a calculation of compliance. See Nelms v. Commonwealth, 11 Va.App. 639, 400 S.E.2d 799 (1991). Thus, with respect to the charges involving Matthew, sixty-eight days elapsed from the September 10, 1992, finding of probable cause to the initial November 17 trial date. With respect to the charges involving Joshua, forty-three days elapsed from the October 5, 1992, indictment to the November...