State v. Gregory, 17633
| Decision Date | 24 June 1992 |
| Docket Number | No. 17633,17633 |
| Citation | 832 S.W.2d 526 |
| Parties | STATE of Missouri, Plaintiff-Respondent, v. Earl GREGORY, Sr., Defendant-Appellant. |
| Court | Missouri Court of Appeals |
William L. Webster, Atty. Gen., Breck K. Burgess, Robin H. Grissom, Asst. Attys. Gen., Jefferson City, for plaintiff-respondent.
John L. Woodward, Timothy Evans, Woodward and Associates Law Firm, P.C., Cuba, for defendant-appellant.
Following nonjury trial, defendant was convicted of three felonies. He was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment for sodomy, five years for use of a child in a sexual performance with that sentence to run consecutive to the sentence for sodomy and three years for incest to run concurrent with the five-year sentence. Defendant appeals, presenting three points relied on.
For his first point defendant states that the trial court "committed plain error" because the court reopened the evidence on its own motion twenty-eight days after the parties had concluded the presentation of evidence and ordered the state to produce two witnesses whose testimony had previously been presented by video tape under § 491.680, RSMo 1986. Defendant contends that by doing so the trial court assumed the role of prosecutor preventing him from having a fair and impartial trial and denying him due process of law resulting in the miscarriage of justice.
No objection was made when the court reopened the evidence nor when the testimony was presented. Failure to object at the earliest opportunity to the admission of evidence constitutes a waiver of the contention. State v. Jackson, 768 S.W.2d 614, 617 (Mo.App.1989). Absent an objection in the trial court, such a contention is not preserved for appellate review. State v. Pospeshil, 674 S.W.2d 628, 632 (Mo.App.1984).
However, as defendant is urging, under Rule 30.20 this court may consider "plain errors affecting substantial rights ... in the discretion of the court when the court finds a manifest injustice or miscarriage of justice has resulted therefrom." The record shows that no miscarriage of justice or injustice resulted here.
Defendant had previously objected to the testimony by way of video tapes claiming that it denied his right of confrontation. For a discussion of that right pertaining to § 491.680, RSMo 1986, see State v. Naucke, 829 S.W.2d 445 (Mo. banc 1992).
The trial judge reopened the evidence, determining that defendant's right to confrontation with his accusers may have been denied. In view of defendant's previous objection and his failure to object when evidence was reopened and the evidence heard, it appears that presenting the witnesses in person was in accordance with defendant's wishes. Point one is denied.
In his second point defendant contends the trial court abused its discretion in refusing a request for a continuance. Defendant had been examined by Dr. Byron English pursuant to motion filed by the prosecuting attorney requesting "that the court order a psychiatric examination of the defendant". In a report dated July 7, 1989, Dr. English and another psychologist concluded that defendant did not suffer from mental disease or defect and had the capacity to understand the proceeding against him and to assist in his defense.
English was not initially listed as a witness on the information. The trial was set and commenced on January 28, 1991. On January 7, 1991 the state sought to file an amended information listing Dr. English and other additional witnesses. On January 18, 1991, the trial court denied defendant's objection to English being listed as a witness.
On January 23, 1991, defendant, through his attorney, filed a motion stating that the attorney was absent from his practice from January 7 to January 15 and consulted with defendant at the earliest opportunity which was January 21, 1991. The attorney stated that defendant requested that the deposition of the additional witnesses be taken and asked for a continuance because due to his attorney's scheduling, the depositions could not be taken prior to trial commencing on January 28. The motion asked the trial court to deny the state leave to endorse additional witnesses but if they were added that the case be continued from its January 28 setting allowing time to take the depositions.
Granting...
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