Kevin Saffold v. State of Alabama

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Rel: 07/08/2011 Notice: T h i s o p i n i o n i s s u b j e c t t o formal r e v i s i o n b e f o r e p u b l i c a t i o n i n t h e advance s h e e t s o f Southern R e p o r t e r . R e a d e r s a r e r e q u e s t e d t o n o t i f y t h e R e p o r t e r o f D e c i s i o n s , Alabama A p p e l l a t e C o u r t s , 300 D e x t e r A v e n u e , M o n t g o m e r y , A l a b a m a 3 6 1 0 4 - 3 7 4 1 ((334) 2 2 9 - 0 6 4 9 ) , o f a n y t y p o g r a p h i c a l o r o t h e r e r r o r s , i n o r d e r t h a t c o r r e c t i o n s may b e made b e f o r e t h e o p i n i o n i s p r i n t e d i n Southern R e p o r t e r . ALABAMA COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OCTOBER TERM, 2010-2011 CR-10-0403 Kevin Saffold v. S t a t e o f Alabama Appeal KELLUM, The from H o u s t o n C i r c u i t (CC-09-1374.70) Judge. appellant, Kevin S a f f o l d , appeals court's revocation ofh i s probation. in Court d e g r e e . The c i r c u i t the circuit The r e c o r d i n d i c a t e s t h a t S e p t e m b e r 2 0 0 9 S a f f o l d was c o n v i c t e d in the f i r s t from of theft of property court sentenced S a f f o l d t o20 CR-10-0403 years' imprisonment; ordered to serve 3 s u s p e n d e d , a n d was The court various On had years' Saffold court-ordered 18, of degree and with the count a l s o sought to of of State a revoke circuit court conducted Saffold's On he with the balance the was revoked revocation hearing, $19,155.64 the a ground o f f e n s e s ; namely, instrument of a This m o n e y s . On brief forgery appeal contends (2) that the entered at second The b a s e d on his 2010, which At the an three device. O c t o b e r 28, hearing court his probation and in not adequately set forth the 2 to Saffold the Saffold, conclusion order revoking followed. (1) that without the the first circuit circuit court conducting court's specific evidence a order revoking h i s probation i s d e f i c i e n t because, S a f f o l d says, did in seeking that Saffold's probation circuit Saffold erroneously of a motion the S t a t e were p r e s e n t . probation. appeal, on forged court-ordered that hearing, and total filed possession t o pay of a criminal failure d e f e n s e c o u n s e l , and pay based new possession one split, moneys. 2010, charged counts was imprisonment, to Saffold's probation been State sentence p l a c e d on s u p e r v i s e d p r o b a t i o n f o r 3 y e a r s . ordered August revoke the relied i t on CR-10-0403 or the s p e c i f i c reasons f o r revoking by Rule 27.6(b), A l a . R. Crim. his probation as required P. "'The general r u l e s of p r e s e r v a t i o n a p p l y to p r o b a t i o n r e v o c a t i o n h e a r i n g s . P u c k e t t v . S t a t e , 680 So. 2d 980, 983 ( A l a . C r i m . App. 1996), citing T a y l o r v . S t a t e , 600 So. 2d 1 0 8 0 , 1081 (Ala. Crim. App. 1 9 9 2 ) . T h i s C o u r t "has r e c o g n i z e d , i n p r o b a t i o n revocation proceedings, o n l y two e x c e p t i o n s to the g e n e r a l r u l e t h a t i s s u e s not p r e s e n t e d to the t r i a l c o u r t a r e w a i v e d on a p p e a l : (1) t h e r e q u i r e m e n t t h a t t h e r e be an a d e q u a t e w r i t t e n o r d e r o f r e v o c a t i o n . . . , and (2) t h e r e q u i r e m e n t t h a t a r e v o c a t i o n hearing a c t u a l l y be h e l d . " P u c k e t t , 680 So. 2d a t 9 8 3 . ' " Bauer v. State, 2004)(quoting App. 1998)). 891 So. Owens v . This 2d State, court has 10 04 , 728 So. 1 00 6 2d raise f o r the first requirement court advise the r i g h t to request the an attorney probation-revocation 249, 250 (Ala. App. 2000). See A a defendant allegation counsel t h a t the to to raise circuit represent f o r the court the (Ala. Crim. a third exception the defendant of h i s or her Law the defendant during v. S t a t e , 778 So. exception to fourth first Supreme C o u r t time on erred in failing defendant 3 App. a p p e a l -- p r e s e r v a t i o n r u l e r e c e n t l y a n n o u n c e d by our allows 680 Crim. t i m e on to represent proceedings. Crim. 673, also recognized t h a t a d e f e n d a n t can that (Ala. during appeal to 2d the also the appoint probation- CR-10-0403 revocation proceedings. S e e E x p a r t e D e a n , 57 S o . 3 d 169 ( A l a . 2010). Saffold revocation challenged hearing and probation-revocation However, the the the issues the fall this of f o r the first requirement; Court which the allowed was not hearing In App. the State hearing presented an o p p o r t u n i t y sufficient 1998), this v. to State, court the c i r c u i t time they on are, that the c i r c u i t court's appeal. to therefore, hearing, conducted no on court f a i l e d to Saffold October witnesses and specifically 28, Saffold t o be h e a r d on t h e a l l e g e d as r e q u i r e d by § Hollins probation- f o r review. conduct a probation-revocation that the w i t h i n one o f t h e f o u r e x c e p t i o n s Regarding h i s contention argues of adequacy order general-preservation properly before sufficiency constitute a So. 2d at was not violations, probation-revocation 15-22-24, A l a . Code 737 2010, 1056, 1975. 1057 ( A l a . Crim. held: " S e c t i o n 1 5 - 2 2 - 5 4 , A l a . Code 1975, r e q u i r e s a hearing as a p r e r e q u i s i t e t o t h e r e v o c a t i o n of probation. This s t a t u t o r y requirement i s mandatory a n d j u r i s d i c t i o n a l . S t o r y v . S t a t e , 572 S o . 2 d 510 ( A l a . C r . App. 1 9 9 0 ) . A d d i t i o n a l l y , t h e a p p e l l a n t was d e n i e d h i s c o n s t i t u t i o n a l r i g h t t o d u e p r o c e s s by the revocation of h i s probation without a h e a r i n g . The m i n i m a l d u e p r o c e s s t o b e a c c o r d e d a 4 CR-10-0403 p r o b a t i o n e r b e f o r e h i s p r o b a t i o n c a n be revoked i n c l u d e s w r i t t e n n o t i c e of the claimed v i o l a t i o n s of probation, disclosure to the p r o b a t i o n e r of the e v i d e n c e a g a i n s t h i m , an o p p o r t u n i t y t o be h e a r d i n p e r s o n and t o p r e s e n t w i t n e s s e s and documentary e v i d e n c e , the r i g h t t o c o n f r o n t and t o cross-examine adverse w i t n e s s e s , a n e u t r a l and d e t a c h e d h e a r i n g body s u c h as a t r a d i t i o n a l p a r o l e b o a r d , and a written statement by the factfinder as to the e v i d e n c e r e l i e d on a n d t h e r e a s o n s f o r r e v o k i n g p r o b a t i o n . R u l e 2 7 . 5 a n d 2 7 . 6 , A l a . R. C r i m . P. See A r m s t r o n g v . S t a t e , 294 A l a . 1 0 0 , 312 S o . 2 d 620 ( 1 9 7 5 ) ; H e r n a n d e z v . S t a t e , 673 S o . 2 d 477 ( A l a . C r . A p p . 19 9 5 ) . " At the discussion October 28, 2010, hearing, the following occurred: "[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Your Honor, t h i s i s Mr. Saffold. I b e l i e v e the key r e a s o n f o r f i l i n g to r e v o k e h i s p r o b a t i o n was new c h a r g e s i n D a l e C o u n t y . Y o u r H o n o r , i t i s my u n d e r s t a n d i n g he h a s n o t e v e n b e e n i n d i c t e d o n t h o s e c h a r g e s . A n d he a s s e r t s h i s i n n o c e n c e on t h o s e c h a r g e s . "THE COURT: P o s i t i o n of the State? "[PROSECUTOR]: J u d g e , t h e p o s i t i o n o f t h e S t a t e i s t h a t t h e d e f e n d a n t g o i n g b a c k t o 1985 h a s b e e n i n one m a n n e r o r a n o t h e r f o r t h e o f f e n s e s h e ' s been c h a r g e d w i t h new o f f e n s e s . I f t h e C o u r t i s n o t g o i n g t o r e v o k e h i m t o d a y , I w o u l d a s k he b e h e l d p e n d i n g r e v o c a t i o n o n d i s p o s i t i o n o f t h o s e c a s e s . We would c e r t a i n l y a s k t h a t he n o t b e r e l e a s e d . " C e r t a i n l y , i f he's been c h a r g e d w i t h t h o s e I d o n ' t know t h e s t a t u s o f them as t o w h e t h e r o r n o t there i s an i n d i c t m e n t yet or not. But on the p r e s u m p t i o n t h a t he i s g o i n g t o b e p r o s e c u t e d on those t h i s i s j u s t another saga i n a t w e n t y - f i v e y e a r h i s t o r y o f Mr. S a f f o l d b e i n g b e f o r e t h i s C o u r t . 5 CR-10-0403 He's o b v i o u s l y n o t g e t t i n g t h e m e s s a g e b y p r o b a t i o n . The S t a t e w o u l d a s k t h a t i t be r e v o k e d . "[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: W e l l , Y o u r Honor, [ S a f f o l d ] does have a h i s t o r y . And t h e l e g a l system has t a k e n c h a r g e o r he h a s p a i d h i s d e b t t o s o c i e t y t h r o u g h whatever orders that the l e g a l system p r i o r t o t h i s has i n i t i a t e d o r h a s o r d e r e d . They a r e a s k i n g t h a t h i s p r o b a t i o n be r e v o k e d . J u d g e , on c h a r g e s t h a t he has n o t even been i n d i c t e d on. A n d I h o n e s t l y d o n ' t know what t h e s p e e d a n d [ t h e p r o s e c u t o r ] would p r o b a b l y k n o w b e t t e r t h a n I d o how q u i c k l y c a s e s move i n D a l e C o u n t y . I d o n ' t t h i n k h e s h o u l d b e h e l d h o s t a g e t o t h a t t y p e o f s p e e d . He made b o n d . Y o u r Honor, on t h o s e o t h e r c a s e s . He's n o t g o i n g t o r u n anywhere. "THE COURT: monies, has he? He's not paid "[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: any court-ordered Sir? "THE COURT: H e ' s n o t p a i d a n y Court-ordered monies. Able t o pay bond, b u t n o t pay any court-ordered monies. " [ S A F F O L D ] : May I S p e a k , If Judge? "THE COURT: Y o u c a n c o n s u l t w i t h y o u d e s i r e t o s p e a k , y o u may. your counsel. " [ S A F F O L D ] : I was r e l e a s e d on M a r c h 3 0 , 2 0 1 0 . And I r e p o r t e d t h e s e months s i n c e I have been o u t , and e v e r s i n c e I ' v e been r e - s e n t e n c e d by t h e C o u r t . I was paying thirty dollars a month on t h e r e s t i t u t i o n . T h e f i n e was s e t a t o n e h u n d r e d d o l l a r s a month. one the "Now, I c o u l d n ' t n e c e s s a r i l y a f f o r d t o p a y t h e h u n d r e d d o l l a r s a month. And I d i d n ' t p a yf o r b o n d i n g f e e . My f a m i l y came t o g e t h e r a n d made 6 CR-10-0403 the arrangements w i t h t h e bonding a r e p a y i n g p a y m e n t s a s we s p e a k . company. A n d t h e y " I ' v e b e e n o n b o n d many t i m e s . E v e n t h o u g h I ' v e b e e n i n t r o u b l e many t i m e s , I ' v e n e v e r f a i l e d t o d o w h a t t h e C o u r t h a s a s k e d me t o do o n b o n d . I ' v e b o n d e d o u t f o r a h a l f m i l l i o n d o l l a r s a n d came b a c k a n d w e n t t o t r i a l o n t h e c a s e . So t h e r e i s n o t h i n g i n my c o u r t t o s a y I w o n ' t c o n f o r m w i t h t h e C o u r t ' s condition. " A n d , a g a i n , t h i s c h a r g e I'm b e i n g h e l d f o r , I ' v e made b o n d o n i t . A n d I i n t e n d t o g o t o c o u r t a n d p r o v e my i n n o c e n c e . "THE COURT: Dale County? "[SAFFOLD]: So y o u made b o n d o n t h e c h a r g e s i n Yes, s i r . "[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Y o u r Honor, i f t h e C o u r t remembers, he s e r v e d a t h r e e - y e a r s p l i t . "THE COURT: H e ' s made b o n d County. D i d you hear that, defense]? on c h a r g e s i n D a l e [counsel f o r the " [ D E F E N S E C O U N S E L ] : Y e s , S i r , I'm a w a r e o f t h a t . "THE COURT: D o e s before the Court? that change "[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: J u d g e , d o e s n o t c h a n g e my p o s i t i o n . been THE COURT: I t d o e s n ' t . W e l l , indicted. your position as h i s a t t o r n e y , i t y o u s a i d he h a s n ' t "[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: He's n o t been indicted. "[SAFFOLD]: I was a r r e s t e d on t h e c h a r g e s , J u d g e , a n d I p o s t e d b o n d i n o r d e r t o come down h e r e 7 CR-10-0403 and have t h i s case r e s o l v e d . I c o u l d have s t a y e d i n D a l e C o u n t y J a i l . B u t I w a n t e d t o come down h e r e a n d address the issue. "THE COURT: Y o u w e r e i n D a l e C o u n t y j a i l until y o u p o s t e d t h e b o n d a n d t h e n y o u w a n t e d t o come h e r e and answer t h i s ? "[SAFFOLD]: Y e s , s i r , t h a t i s c o r r e c t . But t h e C o u r t t h e r e a l s o t o o k i n t o c o n s i d e r a t i o n my p r e v i o u s h i s t o r y . They t o o k i n t o c o n s i d e r a t i o n I h a d t h i s p r o b a t i o n . A n d t h a t i s p r o b a b l y why h e l o w e r e d t h e b o n d f r o m s i x t y t h o u s a n d down t o t e n t h o u s a n d , s o I w o u l d b e a b l e t o make b o n d . B u t a l l t h e s e t h i n g s was addressed i n t h e bond h e a r i n g i n Dale County about my p r e v i o u s h i s t o r y . "All I'm a s k i n g f o r i s t h e p r e s u m p t i o n of i n n o c e n c e u n t i l p r o v e n g u i l t y i s w h a t I am a s k i n g . And I have p e r s o n a l d e a l i n g s w i t h t h e P r o b a t e C o u r t , t h i n g s t h a t I am r e q u i r e d t o t e n d t o o n t h e o u t s i d e . In o t h e r w o r d s , I have a p l a n t h a t I need t o p u r s u e . " "THE COURT: I k n o w s o m e t h i n g about probate p r o c e d u r e s , and i t i s n o t n e c e s s a r y f o r you t o be p r e s e n t a t t h e h e a r i n g f o r t h e P r o b a t e Judge t o a d j u d i c a t e your p r o p e r t y i n t e r e s t i n [ a n e s t a t e ] . " no to to " [ S A F F O L D ] : W e l l , I mean, I ' v e b e e n served t i c e . A n d I r e s p o n d e d s a y i n g I w a n t e d t o be t h e r e p r o t e c t my i n t e r e s t , b e c a u s e I h a v e p e o p l e t r y i n g g e t me t o ffoorrffeeiitt t h a t . o "THE COURT: I'm n o t g o i n g t o c o n s i d e r t h a t . I t i s n o t n e c e s s a r y . Judge C o o l e y i s g o i n g t o p r o t e c t your i n t e r e s t i f your i n t e r e s t i s v a l i d s u b j e c t t o any the claims of the estate. That i s not acceptable. 8 CR-10-0403 "[SAFFOLD]: I j u s t mentioned t h a t t o s a y I have t i e s i n t h e community a n d I i n t e n d t o be h e r e f o r the d u r a t i o n o f t h e p r o c e e d i n g s . "THE COURT: W e l l , y o u w i l l b e , b e c a u s e I'm g o i n g to keep you i n t h e Houston County jail pending pending f o r m a l n o t i f i c a t i o n from Dale County as t o whether or n o t you a r e g o i n g t o be i n d i c t e d on t h o s e c h a r g e s . A s s o o n a s we h e a r f r o m t h a t , i f y o u a r e i n d i c t e d on t h o s e c h a r g e s , t h e n , y o u ' l l be r e l e a s e d to Dale County and they can bond you out i f they choose. "[SAFFOLD]: E x c u s e me, J u d g e , i f you don't mind. I w a n t e d t o -¬ "THE COURT: No. S t e p b a c k . Officer, put himi n the box." (R. 3-9.) "'A hearing associated parties argue with ordinarily full are afforded (in person trials, i s defined, as a p r o c e e d i n g an o p p o r t u n i t y t o adduce 575, matters S o . 2 d 8 7 5 , 878 (I960)." not i n which the proof o r by c o u n s e l ) as t o t h e i n f e r e n c e s from t h e e v i d e n c e . ' F i o r e l l a v. S t a t e , 121 i n 40 A l a . A p p . Ex p a r t e Anderson, and t o flowing 587, 590, 999 So. 2 d 578 ( A l a . 2 0 0 8 ) . In 2006), D.L.B. this defendant revocation v. State, Court 941 So. 2 d addressed c h a l l e n g e d whether hearing. In a he D.L.B., 9 similar 324 (Ala. Crim. issue had received the App. i n which a defendant, the probationwhile on CR-10-0403 p r o b a t i o n , was a r r e s t e d o n new c r i m i n a l court conducted from both conclusion a brief defense of counsel the hearing, defendant's probation State. D.L.B., arguing that probation hearing Court 941 the without that hearing a t which and the The i t heard prosecutor. the c i r c u i t 2 d a t 3 2 5 . The circuit first court At the revoked court the conducting with agreed and reversed defendant erroneously a § 15-22-54, circuit arguments b a s e d on t h e argument p r e s e n t e d So. complied charges. by the appealed, revoked his probation-revocation A l a . Code 1975. T h i s t h e judgment o f t h e c i r c u i t court, holding: " A l t h o u g h t h e J u l y 13, 2005, h e a r i n g p u r p o r t e d t o be a p r o b a t i o n - r e v o c a t i o n h e a r i n g , t h e c o u r t announced that i t was r e v o k i n g D.L.B.'s p r o b a t i o n without hearing testimony from any S t a t e ' s w i t n e s s e s and w i t h o u t a l l o w i n g D.L.B. a n o p p o r t u n i t y t o b e h e a r d . B e c a u s e t h e c i r c u i t c o u r t r e v o k e d D.L.B.'s p r o b a t i o n b a s e d on t h e r e p r e s e n t a t i o n s o f t h e p r o s e c u t o r , r a t h e r t h a n on e v i d e n c e p r e s e n t e d t o t h e c o u r t i n the form of witness testimony or other legal e v i d e n c e , D.L.B. was d e n i e d t h e r i g h t t o a h e a r i n g where he c o u l d be h e a r d a n d p r e s e n t w i t n e s s e s a n d d o c u m e n t a r y e v i d e n c e a n d where he c o u l d c o n f r o n t a n d cross-examine adverse witnesses." D.L.B., In 941 S o . 2 d a t 3 2 6 . the i n s t a n t case, proceeding a s i n D.L.B., we c a n n o t s a y t h a t t h e h e l d on O c t o b e r 28, 2 0 1 0 , c o n s t i t u t e d a p r o b a t i o n - 10 CR-10-0403 revocation had been hearing. arrested testify The p r o s e c u t o r o n new and presented charges against charges no other Saffold. represented but called evidence Saffold that no w i t n e s s e s regarding was not presented Saffold none. was question adduce committing t h e new o f f e n s e s Although, i n fact unlike afforded new afforded an witnesses because the State the defendant an o p p o r t u n i t y in D.L.B., t o be h e a r d , proof by violated documentary charges and had not terms the and h e d i d n o t c o m m i t t h e new that way h i s probation. witness and testimony conditions opportunity t o b e h e a r d was c u t s h o r t w h e n t h e c i r c u i t interrupted him and ordered in proceedings the proceedings of of [Saffold] the of transcript box." was denied The Accordingly, we court t o conduct to a court t o "put that we m u s t the conclude probation-revocation the circuit court's and remand t h i s case f o r t h e a probation-revocation 11 The Saffold's indicates Therefore, reverse that i n the court record his right revocation of Saffold's probation circuit indicates an o f f i c e r ended a t t h a t p o i n t . Saffold hearing. we w h e t h e r S a f f o l d was f u l l y a f f o r d e d a n o p p o r t u n i t y t o evidence that to the o p p o r t u n i t y t o confront and t o cross-examine adverse a f t e r he d e n i e d Saffold hearing i n CR-10-0403 accordance Ala. with R. C r i m . 15-22-54, a 1975, and Rule are reversing the c i r c u i t Saffold's probation conduct A l a . Code 27.6, P. B e c a u s e we of § on t h e b a s i s probation-revocation that hearing court's revocation the court failed i n compliance to with § 1 5 - 2 2 - 5 4 , A l a . C o d e 1 9 7 5 , a n d R u l e 2 7 . 6 , we n e e d n o t a d d r e s s Saffold's circuit second court's we r e m i n d contention p e r t a i n i n g t o t h e adequacy o f the order revoking the c i r c u i t court Saffold's probation. that Rule 2 7 . 6 ( f ) , A l a . R. P., p r o v i d e s t h a t , w h e n r e v o k i n g p r o b a t i o n , make a w r i t t e n s t a t e m e n t relied Welch, " [ t ] h e judge Crim. shall or state f o r the record the evidence upon and t h e r e a s o n s R E V E R S E D AND However, f o r revoking probation." REMANDED. P . J . , a n d Windom, B u r k e , 12 and J o i n e r , J J . , concur.

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