State v. Van Lear, 73886

• Decision Date: 25 June 1991
• Docket Number: No. 73886,No. 1,73886,1
• Citation: 813 P.2d 555
• Parties: 1991 OK CIV APP 70 STATE of Oklahoma, Appellee, v. Anthony VAN LEAR, Defendant, and Dorothy F. Eden, Appellant
• Court: United States State Court of Criminal Appeals of Oklahoma. Court of Civil Appeals of Oklahoma

Page 555

813 P.2d 555

1991 OK CIV APP 70

STATE of Oklahoma, Appellee, v. Anthony VAN LEAR, Defendant and Dorothy F. Eden, Appellant.

No. 73886.

Released for Publication by Order of the Court of Appeals of Oklahoma, Division No. 1 Court of Appeals of Oklahoma, Division No. 1.

June 25, 1991.

Appeal from the District Court of Oklahoma County; Leamon Freeman, Judge.

REVERSED AND REMANDED WITH INSTRUCTIONS.

Robert H. Macy, Dist. Atty., and Aletia C. Haynes, Asst. Dist. Atty., Oklahoma City, for appellee.

Chris Eulberg, Eulberg & Brink, Oklahoma City, for appellant.

MEMORANDUM OPINION

ADAMS, Presiding Judge:

Dorothy Eden, a professional bondsman, appeals a trial court order denying her remittitur of a forfeited bond. The facts are undisputed. Eden posted bond for Defendant Anthony Van Lear. Van Lear did not appear as directed, and the trial court declared forfeiture. Eden received an Order of Forfeiture and the appropriate notice on February 1, 1989. On May 3, 1989, Eden deposited the amount of the bond in cash with the court clerk. On June 28, 1989, Van Lear was returned to the custody of the Oklahoma County Sheriff without expense to the State. Eden filed a Motion for Remittitur on the same day.

The trial court denied the motion, ruling Eden had not deposited the face amount of the bond timely, i.e. ninety-one days from notice of forfeiture, and was not entitled to remittitur. In doing so, the trial court counted the day notice was received as the first day. The parties agree that if the day notice was received is excluded, Eden deposited the face amount of the bond on the ninety-first day.

Eden's entitlement to remittitur is controlled by 59 O.S.Supp.1988, § 1332. Subsection D of that statute provides:

If the defendant is not returned to custody within ninety (90) days from receipt of the order and judgment of forfeiture from the court clerk, or mailing of the notice if no receipt is made, the bondsman shall deposit cash or other valuable securities in the face amount of the bond with the court clerk ninety-one (91) days from the receipt of the order and judgment of forfeiture from the court clerk, or mailing of the notice if no receipt is made.

Citing Winn v. Nilsen, 670 P.2d 588 (Okla.1983), Eden contends the trial court erred in not excluding February 1 in calculating the date on which her deposit was due. We agree. As recognized by the State, Winn reiterated the general principle that, in computing time, "the day or event that marks...