Platt v. State

• Decision Date: 06 February 1976
• Docket Number: No. 1--1074A153,1--1074A153
• Citation: 341 N.E.2d 219,168 Ind.App. 55
• Parties: Gordon PLATT, Defendant-Appellant, v. STATE of Indiana, Plaintiff-Appellee.
• Court: Indiana Appellate Court

Page 219

341 N.E.2d 219

168 Ind.App. 55

Gordon PLATT, Defendant-Appellant, v. STATE of Indiana, Plaintiff-Appellee.

No. 1--1074A153.

Court of Appeals of Indiana, First District.

Feb. 6, 1976.

Rehearing Denied March 15, 1976.

Harriette Bailey Conn, Public Defender, Eugene C. Hollander, Deputy Public Defender, for defendant-appellant.

Theodore L. Sendak, Atty. Gen., Walter F. Lockhart, Deputy Atty. Gen., for plaintiff-appellee.

Before ROBERTSON, C.J., and LOWDERMILK and LYBROOK, JJ.

PER CURIAM.

Appellant-defendant Platt is appealing the denial of his petition for post-conviction relief under Ind. Rules of Procedure, Post-Conviction Remedy Rule 1 (PCR 1). The issues raised by Platt include inadequate counsel; prejudice because of being present in the courtroom in chains and shackles; denial of a speedy trial; and, he was convicted under a statute that is unconstitutional for vagueness and overbreadth. Additionally, Platt asserts he was denied procedural due process for three reasons during the PCR process.

We find no error and accordingly affirm the trial court's decision.

Platt has the burden of establishing grounds for his post-conviction relief by a preponderance of the evidence. Here, where Platt is appealing from a negative judgment, reversal can be obtained only upon demonstration that the evidence is without conflict and leads to but one reasonable conclusion and that the trial court reached the opposite conclusion. Willoughby v. State (1975), Ind.App., 330 N.E.2d 120; Fraley v. State (1975), Ind.App., 323 N.E.2d 239.

As to the inadequacy of counsel there must be 'strong and convincing' proof to overcome the presumption that an attorney discharged his full duty. Langley v. State (1968), 250 Ind. 29, 232 N.E.2d 611; Schmittler v. State (1950), 228 Ind. 450, 93 N.E.2d 184. There was testimony at Platt's PCR hearing to refute, directly or by inference, the allegations of specific instances of incompetence and inadequacy of counsel.

In a similar vein there was conflicting testimony as to whether or not Platt appeared in court wearing chains and shackles.

The evidence on both of the foregoing issues was not without conflict. Therefore, the trial court could have reasonably reached the conclusion that it did.

Platt's assertion that he was denied a speedy trial in violation of Ind. Rules of Crim. Procedure, Rule 4, is supported only by meager information concerning the dates involved. In any event, the record provides testimony by Platt's trial counsel that Platt's 'instructions were to continue the case as long as possible'. Under CR. 4(A), prior to the 1973 amendment, the six month period began to run anew from each delay chargeable to the defendant. Ford v. State (1975), Ind.App., 332 N.E.2d 221; Summerlin v. State (1971), 256 Ind. 652, 271 N.E.2d 411. There was no denial of a speedy trial.

Platt's challenge to the constitutionality of IC 1971, 35--17--5--3 (Burns Code Ed.) (theft by deception) consists of two parts--vagueness and overbreadth.

A statute will not be found unconstitutionally vague if individuals of ordinary intelligence would comprehend it to adequately inform them of the conduct to be proscribed. Sumpter v. State (1974), Ind., 306 N.E.2d 95; Stanley v. State (1969), 252 Ind. 37, 245 N.E.2d 149. We find the language of the statute sufficiently explicit to adequately inform persons of ordinary intelligence of the conduct to be proscribed.

Also, the mere bare assertion, without citations or reference to the wording found offensive, that the statute is unconstitutional for overbreadth presents nothing for the court to review. It is, therefore, deemed waived by authority of Ind. Rules of Procedure, Appellate Rule 8.3(A)(7).

Additionally, the overbreadth doctrine extends no further than protection of first amendment freedoms. Vacendak v. State, Ind., 340 N.E.2d 352, decided January 22, 1976 citing Moose Lodge v. Irvis (1972), 407 U.S. 163, 92 S.Ct. 1965, 32 L.Ed.2d 627.

Of the alleged procedural due process errors occurring in the conduct of the PCR hearing, two of the three issues are waived because Platt did not preserve the alleged errors for appeal by timely objection at the hearing. Bennett v. State (1973), Ind.App., 304 N.E.2d 827; Dudley v. State (1970), 255 Ind. 176, 263 N.E.2d 161. Additionally, waiver is predicated...