Summary
In Wagner v. State, 197 So.3d 517 (Ala. 2015), Wagner raised the argument that his waiver did not comply with Rule 27.6(c), Ala. R. Crim. P., in his motion for a new hearing.
Summary of this case from Mulkey v. StateOpinion
1140768.
09-25-2015
Ex parte State of Alabama. (In re Carless Ledon WAGNER v. STATE of Alabama).
Luther Strange, atty. gen., and Andrew Brasher, deputy atty. gen., and Audrey Jordan, asst. atty. gen., for petitioner. Lisa A. Wilson of Wilson & Shelton, LLC, Rainsville, for respondent.
Luther Strange, atty. gen., and Andrew Brasher, deputy atty. gen., and Audrey Jordan, asst. atty. gen., for petitioner.
Lisa A. Wilson of Wilson & Shelton, LLC, Rainsville, for respondent.
MAIN, Justice.
This case involves the propriety of a probation-revocation hearing. The petitioner, the State of Alabama, filed in the DeKalb Circuit Court (“the trial court”) a petition to revoke the probation of Carless Ledon Wagner based on allegations that Wagner, on March 19, 2014, violated two conditions of his probation. On March 29, 2014, the trial court held a probation-revocation hearing; at the end of the hearing, the trial court revoked Wagner's probation and “order[ed] [Wagner] to serve the remainder of [his] sentence in the custody of the Department of Corrections.” Wagner appealed to the Court of Criminal Appeals; that court reversed the trial court's judgment, finding that Wagner had not received a probation-revocation hearing “in compliance with § 15–22–54, Ala.Code 1975, and Rule 27.6(c), Ala. R.Crim. P.” Wagner v. State, 197 So.3d 511, 516 (Ala.Crim.App.2015). The State petitioned this Court for a writ of certiorari; we granted the petition. We reverse and remand.
I. Facts and Procedural History
In 2007, Wagner pleaded guilty in the trial court to one count of first-degree rape and one count of first-degree burglary. The trial court sentenced Wagner to 2 terms of 20 years' imprisonment, to be served concurrently; the sentences were split, and the trial court ordered Wagner to serve 5 years' imprisonment followed by 5 years' probation.
On March 19, 2014, Wagner's probation officer, Jonathan Phillips of the State of Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles, conducted a home visit at Wagner's residence. After noting suspicious behavior on the part of Wagner and another person present at the residence, Jody Daniel Phillips, Officer Phillips told Wagner “to report to court referral to drug test.” The result of the drug test was that Wagner tested positive for methamphetamine. On March 20, 2014, Officer Phillips filed a delinquency report, charging Wagner with violating two terms of his probation: (1) “condition number 2” of his probation, alleging in his report that Wagner had “fail[ed] to avoid injurious or vicious habits,” and (2) “condition number 3” of his probation, alleging in his report that Wagner had “fail[ed] to avoid persons of disreputable or harmful character.” As to the second charge, Officer Phillips specifically alleged that Wagner had violated his probation by failing to avoid a person of disreputable or harmful character, namely, Jody Phillips, who, the report states, “is a convicted felon a known drug user.” Officer Phillips's delinquency report recommended “that Wagner be brought before the [trial] court to give just cause as to why his probation should not be revoked.” Officer Phillips's report also required Wagner to attend in-patient drug treatment “until the [trial] court makes it's [sic] final decision.”
On March 24, 2014, the State filed a petition to revoke Wagner's probation “for violation of the terms of the ... probation as set out in [Officer Phillips's] DELINQUENCY REPORT....” (Capitalization in original.) The trial court set a hearing for April 7, 2014, at which Wagner was to appear “and show cause why [his] ... probation should not be revoked and the unserved portion of [his] sentence ordered into effect.” Wagner did not appear at that hearing; approximately one week later, law-enforcement officers arrested Wagner for violating his probation, and Wagner subsequently made an initial appearance before the trial court.1 At that time, the trial court set Wagner's probation-revocation hearing for May 29, 2014. The trial court conducted Wagner's probation-revocation hearing on May 29, 2014, and, on June 3, 2014, the trial court entered the following order, revoking Wagner's probation:
“This matter came for a hearing on the 29th day of May 2014 regarding the State's Petition to Revoke [Wagner's] Probation. Carless Wagner was present with his appointed attorney, Chris Runyan, Esq.; and Robert Johnston, Esq., was present on behalf of the State of Alabama.
“Mr. Wagner was convicted on or about November 30, 2007, for Rape in the First Degree and Burglary in the First Degree. He was sentenced to twenty (20) years with a split to serve five (5) years, and after serving the initial five year portion he was placed on five (5) years of probation. Mr. Wagner has been on probation since March 8, 2012.
“The State of Alabama filed this petition to revoke because on or about March 19, 2014, Probation Officer Jonathan Phillips conducted a visit to Mr. Wagner's home. Officer Phillips noted that [Wagner] ‘was acting suspicious when he exited a small building that had a camera at the front door.’ The only other person at the residence with Mr. Wagner was another convicted felon Jody Daniel Phillips. Mr. Wagner was sent for a drug screen and tested positive for methamphetamine. At the [probation-revocation] hearing, Mr. Wagner
admitted to the charges contained in the State's petition.
“After considering the original charges, reviewing the pleadings filed, conducting a hearing, considering the arguments advanced at the hearing, and applying the law to the facts, it is hereby ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED AS FOLLOWS:
“1. That the Defendant, Carless Wagner's probation is hereby REVOKED, and he shall serve the remainder of his sentence in the custody of the Alabama Department of Corrections.
“2. That [Wagner] is entitled to jail credit for the time he spent in the DeKalb County Detention Center awaiting this hearing.”
(Emphasis added; capitalization in original.)
Wagner moved the trial court for a new hearing, arguing, in relevant part, that “[he] was denied his right to a hearing as required by Alabama Code [1975,] § 15–24–54[,2] and Rule 27.6 of the Alabama Rules of Criminal Procedure. Moore v. State, 54 So.3d 442 (Ala.Crim.App.2010), D.L.B. v. State, 941 So.2d 324 (Ala.Crim.App.2006).” The trial court denied the motion. Wagner then appealed to the Court of Criminal Appeals. In an opinion authored by Judge Burke, the Court of Criminal Appeals reversed the trial court's order. See Wagner, supra. The Court of Criminal Appeals overruled the State's application for a rehearing. The State then petitioned this Court for a writ of certiorari to review the Court of Criminal Appeals' decision, which this Court granted.
II. Analysis
The issue presented for our review is straightforward: Whether Wagner's probation-revocation hearing complied with Rule 27.6(c), Ala. R.Crim. P. Wagner claims that it did not; the State claims that it did.3 We agree with the State.
Rule 27.6, Ala. R.Crim. P., addresses the revocation of probation. Rule 27.6(a) provides that “[a] hearing to determine whether probation should be revoked shall be held before the sentencing court within a reasonable time after the probationer's initial appearance.” It cannot be disputed that such a probation-revocation hearing was held; the transcript of that hearing appears in the record on appeal. The sole issue for our determination is whether the trial court satisfied the conditions of Rule 27.6(c), entitled “Admissions by the Probationer,” during Wagner's hearing.4
Rule 27.6(c) provides, in toto:
“Before accepting an admission by a probationer that the probationer has violated a condition or regulation of probation or an instruction issued by the probation officer, the court shall address the probationer personally and shall determine that the probationer understands the following:
“(1) The nature of the violation to which an admission is offered;
“(2) The right under section (b) to be represented by counsel;
“(3) The right to testify and to present witnesses and other evidence on probationer's own behalf and to cross-examine adverse witnesses under subsection (d)(1); and
“(4) That, if the alleged violation involves a criminal offense for which the probationer has not yet been tried, the probationer may still be tried for that offense, and although the probationer may not be required to testify, that any statement made by the probationer at the present proceeding may be used against the probationer at a subsequent proceeding or trial.
“The court shall also determine that the probationer waives these rights, that the admission is voluntary and not the result of force, threats, coercion, or promises, and that there is a factual basis for the admission.”5
We now address whether the trial court complied with the provisions of Rule 27.6 before it accepted Wagner's admissions.
A. Did Wagner understand the nature of the violation to which Wagner's admissions were offered?
It is without question that the trial court notified Wagner of “[t]he nature of the violation[s] to which [his] admission[s] [were] offered.” Rule 27.6(c)(1). The following exchange occurred during the May 29, 2014, probation-revocation hearing, at which Wagner was present with his attorney:
“[THE COURT]: Mr. Runyan [Wagner's counsel], have you received a copy and has your client received a copy of this petition to revoke?
“MR. RUNYAN: Yes, Your Honor, we have.
“THE COURT: And let me go through these charges with you, and we'll go from there.
“Charge No. 1 is that [Wagner] failed to avoid injurious or vicious habits. It says that they—probation officer's authorization of arrest has not be issued, but he will be requiring Wagner to attend The Bridge6 until his revocation court date.
“The details of that offense were: On March 19th, 2014, the officer conducted a home visit on Mr. Wagner. He was acting suspicious when he exited a small building that had a camera at the front door. Wagner met the officer at the vehicle and was reluctant to move toward the building with him. When he got to the building he noticed another person inside who was identified as Jody Daniel Phillips. Phillips was acting paranoid and wouldn't stop putting his hand behind his back. Phillips also had a severe case of dry mouth, which follows the use of meth[amphetamine ]. [Officer Phillips] [t]old Wagner to report to court referral to drug test. ‘Wagner's drug screen confirmed my suspicion. Wagner was positive for meth[amphetamine].’
“....
“THE COURT: Charge No. 2 is Failure to Avoid Persons of Disreputable or Harmful Character. [The delinquency report] [s]ays, [o]n March 19th, the officer contacted [sic] a home visit on Wagner. ‘[Wagner] was acting suspicious when he exited a small building that had a camera at the front door’ and, again, goes through the same facts but adds that [Jody] Phillips is a convicted felon and known drug user.”
Little analysis is required here. After the trial court made clear the probation violations of which Wagner was being accused, Wagner's attorney “admit[ted] that charge]” each time. Nothing in the record shows that Wagner was not notified of the charges against him or that he did not understand the nature of those charges.
B. Did Wagner understand that he had the right under Rule 27.6(b) to be represented by counsel?
Rule 27.6(b) provides that “[t]he probationer is entitled to be present at the hearing and to be represented by counsel.” It is without dispute that Wagner was present at the hearing and that he was represented by court-appointed counsel.
C. Did Wagner understand that he had the right to testify and to present witnesses and other evidence on his own behalf and to cross-examine adverse witnesses under Rule 27.6(d)(1) ?
The trial court posed the following questions to the defense during the hearing: (1) “Do you have any evidence to offer as to why the Court should not revoke [Wagner's] probation?”; (2) “Is there anything you [Wagner] would like to add?”; and (3) “Would you [Wagner] like to put on any witnesses to support your position?”
As to questions (1) and (2), Wagner, through counsel, answered, in toto:
“Your Honor, [Wagner] entered his guilty plea on November the 30th, 2007. He was released on probation [on] March 8th, 2012. He was in compliance [with his probation conditions] for 2 years and 11 days and was reporting to his probation officer. He was complying with notification requirements. And until this hiccup that we're here for now, he's been in total compliance.”
As to question (3), Wagner, through counsel, answered, in toto: “We have no witnesses, Your Honor.” Also, with regard to Wagner's right “to cross-examine adverse witnesses,” we note that the State called no witnesses. The only person to speak on behalf of the State was DeKalb County Assistant District Attorney Robert Johnston; he was not called as a witness, and his statements during the hearing are not considered evidence. See, e.g., Barrett v. Roman, 181 So.3d 364, 373 (Ala.Civ.App.2015) (“Of course, statements of counsel are not evidence. Hicks v. Jackson Cnty. Comm'n, 990 So.2d 904, 905 n. 1 (Ala.Civ.App.2008).”). Thus, Wagner was not denied his right “to testify and to present witnesses and other evidence on [his] own behalf and to cross-examine adverse witnesses.”
D. Was Wagner informed that any statement made by him at the present proceeding may be used against him at a subsequent proceeding or trial?
This Court cannot find in the hearing transcript where the trial court advised Wagner that any statement made by him during the probation-revocation hearing could be used against him at a subsequent proceeding or trial. However, this Court finds that omission to be harmless error because, for all that appears, Wagner's probation violations do not involve criminal offenses for which Wagner could be subsequently tried. See Rule 27.6(c)(4). During the hearing, Wagner admitted only to (1) “fail[ing] to avoid injurious or vicious habits” and (2) “fail[ing] to avoid persons of disreputable or harmful character.” These are undoubtedly poor personal choices but not, as best we can determine from our research, criminal offenses (other than the fact that they constitute violations of Wagner's probation in this case ) for which Wagner could be prosecuted. Thus, the trial court's failure to advise Wagner of this particular right is nothing more than harmless error, i.e., error that did not “injuriously affect[ ] [Wagner's] substantial rights” in this case. See Rule 45, Ala. R.App. P.:
“No judgment may be reversed ... unless in the opinion of the court to which the appeal is taken or application is made, after an examination of the entire cause, it should appear that the error complained of has probably injuriously affected substantial rights of the parties.”
E. Did the court determine that Wagner waived these rights, that the admission was voluntary and not the result of force, threats, coercion, or promises, and that there was a factual basis for the admission?
First, as noted above, Wagner was asked by the trial court (1) whether he had any witnesses to offer; (2) whether he had any evidence to present; and (3) a rather open-ended and far-reaching question regarding whether Wagner “had anything to add.” Thus, the trial court gave Wagner three opportunities to make any argument, present any evidence, or offer any witnesses as to any allegations that he was not voluntarily admitting to the probation violations but that, instead, his admissions were the result of “force, threats, coercion, or promises.” See Rule 27.6(c). The question must be asked: How many opportunities is the trial court required to give a probationer to present a defense as to any aspect or issue regarding his or her probation-revocation hearing? Are three opportunities offered to the probationer to address the trial court in some manner regarding any alleged violation of his or her legal rights not more than enough? We conclude that the trial court provided Wagner ample opportunities to address the trial court regarding the voluntary nature of his admissions. We find it particularly notable that, as Wagner states in his appellate brief, “Wagner never spoke [during the hearing].” Wagner's brief, at 18 (emphasis in original). Now, however, Wagner seeks redress because he allegedly was stripped of virtually all of his statutory rights with regard to his probation-revocation hearing. We find this argument unavailing.
Furthermore, there certainly existed a factual basis for Wagner's admissions, even beyond Wagner's own admissions of guilt.7 The trial court had before it the firsthand account of the probation violations Officer Phillips observed at Wagner's residence in the form of Officer Phillips's delinquency report. The facts stated in that report were read aloud during the hearing, and Wagner did not dispute them or object in any manner. Wagner's only defense was, in effect, “I did right for a while so please give me another chance.” The trial court rejected that plea for mercy because one of Wagner's underlying convictions was for the crime of first-degree rape; his plea of “please give me another chance” rings hollow in light of the fact that Wagner was convicted of first-degree rape and first-degree burglary, that he served only five years' in prison, and that he still would not conform his behavior to the laws of this State.8
In sum, Wagner received a hearing that substantially conformed to the requirements of Rule 27.6(c), certainly to the extent that the spirit of the rule was fully complied with. Thus, the judgment of the Court of Criminal Appeals is due to be reversed.
III. Conclusion
We reverse the judgment of the Court of Criminal Appeals and remand the cause to that court for proceedings consistent with this opinion.
Note from the reporter of decisions: On December 18, 2015, on remand from the Alabama Supreme Court, the Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed, without opinion.
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STUART, BOLIN, SHAW, WISE, and BRYAN, JJ., concur.
MOORE, C.J., and PARKER and MURDOCK, JJ., dissent.
MURDOCK, Justice (dissenting).
Because I believe that the Court of Criminal Appeals reached the correct result and that this Court should not reverse that court's decision, I respectfully dissent.
Rule 27.6(c), Ala. R.Crim. P., is not particularly complicated or involved. It states:
“(c) Admissions by the Probationer. Before accepting an admission by a probationer that the probationer has violated a condition or regulation of probation or an instruction issued by the probation officer, the court shall address the probationer personally and shall determine that the probationer understands the following:
“(1) The nature of the violation to which an admission is offered;
“(2) The right under section (b) to be represented by counsel;
“(3) The right to testify and to present witnesses and other evidence on probationer's own behalf and to cross-examine adverse witnesses under subsection (d)(1); and
“(4) That, if the alleged violation involves a criminal offense for which the probationer has not yet been tried, the probationer may still be tried for that offense, and although the probationer may not be required to testify, that any statement made by the probationer at the present proceeding may be used against the probationer at a subsequent proceeding or trial.
“The court shall also determine that the probationer waives these rights, that the admission is voluntary and not the result of force, threats, coercion, or promises, and that there is a factual basis for the admission.”
As the main opinion indicates, all the requirements prescribed in Rule 27.6(c), Ala. R.Crim. P., must be met before a court can accept an admission by a probationer that he or she has violated a condition of his or her probation. Meeting these requirements should, in most cases, be simple and straightforward. As the Court of Criminal Appeals concluded, however, the record in this case clearly reveals that all these requirements were not met in this case.
I have one overarching concern: I do not believe that the trial court complied with the plain meaning of the requirement stated in Rule 27.6(c) that “the court shall address the probationer personally and shall determine that the probationer understands ” certain prescribed rights. In this case, the trial court addressed all of its questions to Wagner's counsel. Wagner's counsel answered all of the trial court's questions. Wagner's appellate brief notes that “Wagner never spoke ” during the hearing. I cannot conclude that a court's posing questions to, and accepting answers from, counsel constitutes “address[ing] the probationer,” much less “address[ing] the probationer personally” as required by Rule 27.6(c). This is not the manner by which the rule requires the trial court to “determine that the probationer understands” the matters at issue.
By way of analogy, the operative language of Rule 14.4, Ala. R.Crim. P., concerning the trial court's acceptance of guilty pleas, is in all material respects identical to the language in Rule 27.6(c). Rule 14.4(a) provides that the court shall not accept a plea of guilty without first “addressing the defendant personally.” This language has been construed in accordance with its plain meaning as requiring that the trial court question the defendant personally. See Fleming v. State, 972 So.2d 835, 836 (Ala.2007) (noting that Rule 14.4(a) states that the trial court must, in the Court's words, “personally address a defendant who is pleading guilty”). In Brewster v. State, 624 So.2d 217, 220 (Ala.Crim.App.1993), the Court of Criminal Appeals reversed a guilty-plea conviction where the defendant had signed written forms pursuant to Rule 14.4(d) purportedly waiving his rights and pleading guilty but the trial court had failed to comply with Rule 14.4(d). The court explained that that rule specifically retains the requirement of Rule 14.4(a) that the court must “personally address the defendant.” See also Bozeman v. State, 686 So.2d 556, 558 n. 1 (Ala.Crim.App.1996) (noting that if a trial court uses forms to comply with Rule 14.4, it must “ ‘specifically question[ ] the defendant on the record as to each item in the form. Committee Comments, Rule 14.4.(a).’ ” (quoting Alford v. State, 651 So.2d 1109, 1112 (Ala.Crim.App.1994) )).
The final sentence of Rule 27.6(c) specifically requires the court to “determine that the probationer waives” the rights prescribed in the rule and that the probationer's admission is “voluntary,” that it is not the result of “force, threats, coercion, or promises,” and that there is “a factual basis for the admission.” Again, these requirements were not met in the present case by the trial court's conducting the colloquy with Wagner's counsel rather than with Wagner himself.
In addition to the fact that the trial court's statements and inquiries were not actually addressed to “the probationer personally,” the trial court omitted certain matters specifically enumerated in Rule 27.6(c). Among other things, the obligation of the court under Rule 27.6(c)(3) to inform Wagner of his right to “cross-examine adverse witnesses” was not satisfied in this case. The court's question to Wagner's counsel as to whether he had “any evidence to offer as to why the court should not revoke his probation” does not suffice. Simply asking whether a probationer wants to introduce any evidence is not the same as advising the probationer that he or she has the right to “cross-examine adverse witnesses” offered by the State.
Based on the foregoing and on my agreement with the rationale set out in the main opinion of the Court of Criminal Appeals, I respectfully dissent.
MOORE, C.J., concurs.