Stone v. Wren

• Decision Date: 22 August 1974
• Docket Number: CA-CIV,No. 1,1
• Citation: 525 P.2d 296,22 Ariz.App. 165
• Parties: Michael Ray STONE and John R. Macey, Petitioners, v. The Honorable Laurence T. WREN, Judge of the Superior Court, Respondent, John P. TAYLOR, County Attorney for the County of Navajo, State of Arizona, Real Party in Interest. 2783.
• Court: Arizona Court of Appeals

Page 296

525 P.2d 296

22 Ariz.App. 165

Michael Ray STONE and John R. Macey, Petitioners, v. The Honorable Laurence T. WREN, Judge of the Superior Court, Respondent, John P. TAYLOR, County Attorney for the County of Navajo, State of Arizona, Real Party in Interest.

No. 1 CA-CIV 2783.

Court of Appeals of Arizona, Division 1, Department B.

Aug. 22, 1974.

Rehearing Denied Sept. 17, 1974.

Review Denied Oct. 15, 1974.

Shultz & Worischeck, P.A. by Charles C. Diettrich, Phoenix, for petitioners.

John F. Taylor, Navajo County Atty., Holbrook, for real party in interest.

OPINION

STEVENS, Judge.

This is a special action to review the order of the trial court denying petitioners' motion to dismiss the indictment. The motion was based upon the denial of the right to a speedy trial. Appellate review and intervention is appropriate in these circumstances to provide petitioners with an effective and speedy remedy. Boccelli v. State, 109 Ariz. 287, 508 P.2d 1149 (1973); Williams v. Superior Court, 21 Ariz.App. 239, 517 P.2d 1286 (1974). This Court issued an order on 18 June 1974, granting a temporary stay of any further proceedings relating to the petitioners in this matter in the Superior Court of Navajo County. The order was continued in effect subsequent to the hearing on this petition on 28 June 1974, pending final disposition by this Court.

Michael Ray Stone and John R. Macey (petitioners) were indicted for the possession of marijuana for sale and arrested on 2 November 1973. Stone was arraigned on 7 November 1973 and Macey was arraigned on 12 November 1973. The State filed its motion to set for trial on 1 May 1974. This motion was opposed and countered by the motion to dismiss with prejudice for the denial of the right to a speedy trial. This motion was denied on 30 May 1974 and petitioners initiated this special action to test the validity of that ruling. The time limits defining the right to a speedy trial are set out in Rule 8.2, Rules of Criminal Procedure, 17 A.R.S. The applicable subsection provides:

'c. Defendants Released from Custody. Every person released under Rule 7 shall be tried by the court having jurisdiction of the offense within 120 days from the date of his initial appearance before a magistrate on the complaint, indictment or information, or within 90 days from the date of his arraignment before the trial court, whichever is the lesser.'

Rule 8.4 provides for certain periods to be excluded from the computation of the above time periods as follows:

'a. Delays occasioned by or on behalf of the defendant, including, but not limited to, delays caused by an examination and hearing to determine competency, the defendant's absence or incompetence, or his inability to be arrested or taken into custody in Arizona.

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c. Delays necessitated by congestion of the trial calender (sic), but only when the congestion is attributable to extraordinary circumstances, in which case the presiding judge shall promptly notify the Chief Justice of the Arizona Supreme Court of the circumstances.

d. Delays resulting from continuances in accordance with Rule 8.5, but only for the time periods prescribed therein.'

The chronological sequence of events is necessary to determine the case. Stone was arraigned on 7 November 1973 and Macey on 13 November 1973. On 3 December 1973 petitioners filed a request for a change of judge and the prehearing conference was held. On 14 December 1973 the omnibus hearing was set for 10 January 1974. On 31 December the petitioners made a motion for a continuance and the omnibus hearing was set on 7 February by stipulation. On 7 and 8 February 1974 the omnibus hearing was held and various motions were made and argued. On 27 March the various defense motions were denied. On 1 May the State filed a motion to set for trial and petitioners filed a motion in opposition and a motion to dismiss.

Rule 8.2(c), Rules of Criminal Procedure, requires that a person be tried within 90 days from the date of his...