Haskett v. State

• Decision Date: 21 March 1979
• Docket Number: No. 1-1278A350,1-1278A350
• Citation: 179 Ind.App. 655,386 N.E.2d 1012
• Parties: Jerry HASKETT, Appellant (Defendant Below), v. STATE of Indiana, Appellee (Plaintiff Below).
• Court: Indiana Appellate Court

Page 1012

386 N.E.2d 1012

179 Ind.App. 655

Jerry HASKETT, Appellant (Defendant Below), v. STATE of Indiana, Appellee (Plaintiff Below).

No. 1-1278A350.

Court of Appeals of Indiana, First District.

March 21, 1979.

Donald R. Peyton of Peyton & Giddings, Lebanon, for appellant.

Theo. L. Sendak, Atty. Gen., Joel Schiff, Deputy Atty. Gen., Indianapolis, for appellee.

ROBERTSON, Judge.

Defendant-appellant Jerry Haskett (Haskett) alleges five specifications of error in appealing his conviction by a jury of the offense of failure to appear, Ind. Code 35-44-3-6.

Haskett first alleges error in the summary denial of his motion for a change of venue upon the authority of Hanrahan v. State, (1968) 251 Ind. 325, 241 N.E.2d 143. The Hanrahan court held the trial court abused its discretion in failing to provide a hearing on a change of venue motion filed pursuant to Ind. Rules of Procedure, Criminal Rule 12. We are constrained to point out, however, that Hanrahan has not been applied where the motion is untimely, Epps v. State, (1977) Ind., 369 N.E.2d 404, or where the denial does not rest solely upon the movant's credibility. Stacks v. State, (1978) Ind.App., 372 N.E.2d 1201.

Pauper counsel was appointed on April 5, 1978, and Haskett pled not guilty on July 7, 1978. The venue motion was not filed until July 18, 1978, and was therefore not within the ten day requirement of CR. 12. As such, it was incumbent upon Haskett to support his motion with specific allegations concerning the cause of delay, the reasons why the factual foundation of the motion could not have been discovered with due diligence within ten days of the plea, and when such facts were actually discovered. Rex v. State, (1976) Ind.App., 355 N.E.2d 282. Absent such a showing, it has been held that no error results from the denial of a hearing. See Zelmer v. State, (1978) Ind.App., 380 N.E.2d 618; Rex, supra.

We believe Haskett has failed to comply with CR. 12 and the above-cited cases. The exhibits relied upon by Haskett in his motion for change of venue due to prejudicial publicity were dated from sometime in October, 1973, through early April, 1978. Haskett was represented by counsel in April of 1978 but failed to file until July 18, 1978. The motion contained no allegations of why it could not have been filed within ten days of July 7. Additionally, the factual basis was clearly present for a timely motion, and the trial court had the benefit of a memorandum in support of the motion with relevant exhibits appended thereto. As such, we are unable to conclude that the trial court erred in the summary denial of the motion. ¹

Haskett next alleges error in the denial of his request to take depositions in Florida at State expense. The ostensible purpose was to substantiate Haskett's defense for failure to appear due to medical reasons. It is settled, however, that orders with respect to discovery in Favor of the defendant are not of constitutional dimension such discovery is not required by due process. State ex rel. Grammer v. Tippecanoe Circuit Court, (1978) Ind.,377 N.E.2d 1359. Discovery rulings are within the discretion of the trial court and a reversal is proper only where an abuse has been shown. Vaughn v. State, (1978) Ind., 378 N.E.2d 859. In exercising its discretion, the trial court must balance the privileges between the parties. Grammer, supra. Since our trial rules provide for written depositions (TR. 31), and in light of the high cost to the State to transport Haskett's attorney to Florida, we hold the trial court did not abuse its discretion. ²

Haskett's next issue challenges the exclusion of certain testimony. Facts relating to the issue are that Haskett's attorney, in the presence of a probation officer, and on the day before the trial spoke by telephone to officials at a Florida hospital. The probation officer was asked on cross-examination what she heard those officials say. The trial court sustained an objection based on hearsay. We see no error in the ruling the proffered evidence was clearly hearsay as defined in Harvey v. State, (1971) 256 Ind. 473, 269 N.E.2d 759, and Haskett does not attempt to bring it within an exception to the general hearsay rule.

For purposes of discussion we shall combine Haskett's final two issues. The first is whether his conduct constitutes an offense under IC 35-44-3-6, and, secondly, whether the evidence was sufficient to support the conviction.

Haskett was convicted of rape, let to bail, and ordered to appear for sentencing on January 20, 1978. He had also missed certain appointments with the probation officer prior to the 20th of January. On the 12th of January, Haskett called from somewhere north of Nashville, Tennessee, and said he had car trouble and that he would be home that night or the following morning. On the 23rd of January, a warrant, pursuant to IC 35-44-3-6, was issued. Haskett finally surrendered to the Sheriff on the 3rd of April, 1978.

IC 35-44-3-6 provides:

(a) A person who, having been released from lawful detention on condition that he appear at a specified time and place in connection with a charge of a crime, intentionally fails to appear at that time and place commits failure to appear, a Class A misdemeanor. However, the offense is a Class D felony if the charge was a felony charge.

(b) It is no defense that the accused person was not convicted of the crime with which he was originally charged.

(c) This section does not apply to obligations to appear incident to release under suspended sentence or on probation or parole. (as added by Acts 1976, P.L. 148, SEC. 4. Amended by Acts 1977, P.L. 340, SEC. 64.)

Lawful detention...