Sargent v. State

• Decision Date: 25 November 1986
• Docket Number: 8 Div. 543
• Citation: 515 So.2d 726
• Parties: Mary Frances SARGENT, alias v. STATE.
• Court: Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals

Page 726

515 So.2d 726

Mary Frances SARGENT, alias v. STATE.

8 Div. 543.

Court of Criminal Appeals of Alabama.

Nov. 25, 1986.

Rehearing Denied Dec. 30, 1987.

Curtis M. Simpson, Florence, for appellant.

Charles A. Graddick, Atty. Gen., and Fred F. Bell, Asst. Atty. Gen., for appellee.

TYSON, Judge.

Mary Frances Sargent, alias Francis Bridges Sargent, was charged by indictment with issuing a worthless check contrary to the provisions of § 13A-8-4, Code of Alabama 1975 as amended, by turning over a check in the amount of $33.92, drawn on the account H.N. Sargent and delivered to the Rhonda Uniform Shop. This was in payment for a Body Briefer combination bra and girdle and one bra of the total value of $33.92 and, in exchange therefor, took the aforesaid property. The jury pronounced the appellant guilty of the offense of "theft of property in the second degree as charged in the indictment".

Thereafter, a sentencing hearing was held and the appellant was sentenced to five years' imprisonment in the penitentiary. This appeal follows.

Because reversible error occurred in two particulars, this court need not herein set out the facts of this case, nor do we express an opinion thereon.

I

During the course of trial, the State sought to prove, pursuant to provisions of C. Gamble, McElroy's Alabama Evidence § 69.01(1)-(6), as revised, to show a plan, design, scheme or system with reference to this appellant's conduct.

Thereafter, the State, through the testimony of Mrs. Juanita Akins, who serves as the Clerk of the Civil Division of the District Court in Colbert County, placed in evidence some 39 cases wherein, during the years 1971-1979, this appellant had purportedly issued checks which had been returned as worthless because of a lack of funds or on which an account had been closed. Mrs. Akin testified that she was the official custodian as clerk of the records of the court. However, the circuit court fell into error by allowing into evidence these prior convictions. Mrs. Akin was allowed to testify over initial objection by defense counsel that these were true and correct copies of the official records of the court. However, each of these 38 or 39 cases in which she testified were simply "case action summary sheets" or "trial docket sheets" showing the orders or judgment of the court entered in the aforesaid cases. Not one of the foregoing had been reduced to a judgment or minute entry, nor were any of these certified by the circuit clerk as being official minute entries of the court. Reversible error, thus, occurs.

Appellant's counsel (R. 60-61) had objected to the introduction of this evidence and asked that this objection be preserved for the record.

As noted by this court in Palmer v. State, 54 Ala.App. 707, 312 So.2d 399 (1975), this court stated:

"In Childers v. Holmes, 207 Ala. 382, 92 So. 615, we find:

'... The defendants' objection raised the question. They objected "because it was not the proper manner to prove a conviction." The proper manner was not by this witness, but by a certified copy of the record showing it, or by the oral testimony of the person convicted. The court erred in overruling that objection to the question. Sections 4008, 4009, Code 1907; Thompson v. State, 100 Ala. 70, 14 South. 878; Murphy v. State, 108 Ala. 10, 18 South. 557; rule 33 (circuit court) p. 1527, 2 Code 1907.'

"In Murphy v. State, 108 Ala. 10, 18 So. 557, we find the rule stated thusly:

'A defendant who avails himself of the right to testify in his own behalf may be cross-examined generally and be compelled to disclose all facts within his knowledge which could be elicited if he was merely a witness, and not a defendant, material to the issue, and is subject to all legal questions which may affect his credibility. It is competent to show, for the purpose of affecting his credibility, that a witness has been convicted of a felony (and a defendant who has been examined is subject to this rule); but the court record of his conviction, or a properly certified copy thereof, is the primary evidence to establish the fact. It cannot be proven by parol evidence in the first instance. Thompson v. State, 100 Ala. 70, 14 So. 878; Thomas v. State, 100 Ala. 53, 14 So. 621.'

"Thus, it is clear here that allowing the circuit clerk to read the purported trial docket sheet as proof of the appellant's prior conviction of the possession of Marihuana, was prejudicial error. Wright v. State, 38 Ala.App. 64, 79 So.2d 66, cert. denied 262 Ala. 420, 79 So.2d 74; Patton v. State, 39 Ala.App. 308, 98 So.2d 621, and authorities therein cited.

"The trial docket is not a record, and the memoranda (the Judge's bench notes entered thereon by the Judge) operated only as a directive to the clerk as to what judgments and orders should be entered on the court's record. Winn et al. v. McCraney et al., 156 Ala. 630, 46 So. 854; Calvert v. State, 26 Ala.App. 189, 155 So. 389.

"While in Ellis v. State, 244 Ala. 79, 11 So.2d 861, the use of a trial docket was said to be merely cumulative since the witness had admitted the prior offense, and such was deemed not to be prejudicial error, such cannot be said of the case at bar. Here, the trial docket sheet, and the circuit clerk's testimony were offered as part of the State's case in chief to show the prior conviction. As noted by the authorities above, such was erroneous. See Title 7, Section 393, Code of Alabama 1940."

As noted in the foregoing authorities, the proper way to prove a prior conviction of a crime is by introducing a certified copy of the official minute entry, showing a valid prior conviction of the defendant of the offense or by the admission of the defendant himself. See Thomas v. State, 395 So.2d 1105 (Ala.Crim.App.1981); Kidd v. State, 398 So.2d 349 (Ala.Crim.App.1981), cert. denied, 398 So.2d 353 (Ala.1981); Sturdivant v. State, 439 So.2d 184 (Ala.Crim.App.1983); Thomas v. State, 435 So.2d 1319 (Ala.Crim.App.1981), rev'd 435 So.2d 1324, on remand, 435 So.2d 1326, appeal after remand, 435 So.2d 1327, (reversal on other grounds).

It is appropriate at this point to observe that Jefferson County, Alabama has had a statute passed which permits the use of trial docket sheets, duly certified by the official custodian, and attested to in open court by such custodian as the official judgment or minute entry. See Act No. 1037 Acts of Alabama, 1971 Legislature. This Act was specifically upheld by this court in Julius v. State, 407 So.2d 141, (Ala.Crim.App.1980), judgment reversed on other grounds, 407 So.2d 152, (Ala.1981) on remand 407 So.2d 152 (Ala.Crim.App.1981).

Similarly, Montgomery County, Alabama has also had an Act passed as Act No. 86-297, Acts of Alabama 1986, Regular Session, establishing a similar system for Montgomery County. No such Act exists for other counties.

However, for the errors hereinabove noted, this cause must be reversed and remanded for a new trial.

II

Further error also occurred during the trial of this cause when the State was permitted, over objection of the defendant, to establish some 12 prior arrests which had been made for issuing checks which were either returned as being insufficient or on accounts which had been closed, none of which had been reduced to judgments of conviction, but were simply arrest records.

The rule governing the use of such is well stated in this court's opinion in Headley v. State, 51 Ala.App. 148, 283 So.2d 458 (197...