City v. Hitshew , 2013 MT 116N ( 2013 )


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  •                                                                                                April 30 2013
    DA 12-0447
    IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF MONTANA
    2013 MT 116N
    CITY OF MISSOULA,
    Plaintiff and Appellee,
    v.
    BRET A. HITSHEW,
    Defendant and Appellant.
    APPEAL FROM:            District Court of the Fourth Judicial District,
    In and For the County of Missoula, Cause No. DC-12-100
    Honorable Karen S. Townsend, Presiding Judge
    COUNSEL OF RECORD:
    For Appellant:
    Wade Zolynski, Chief Appellate Defender, Koan Mercer, Assistant
    Appellate Defender, Helena, Montana
    For Appellee:
    Timothy C. Fox, Montana Attorney General, Katie F. Schulz, Assistant
    Attorney General, Helena, Montana
    Jim Nugent, Missoula City Attorney, Gary L. Henricks, Assistant City
    Attorney, Missoula, Montana
    Submitted on Briefs: April 10, 2013
    Decided: April 30, 2013
    Filed:
    __________________________________________
    Clerk
    Justice Laurie McKinnon delivered the Opinion of the Court.
    ¶1     Pursuant to Section I, Paragraph 3(d), Montana Supreme Court Internal Operating
    Rules, this case is decided by memorandum opinion and shall not be cited and does not serve
    as precedent. Its case title, cause number, and disposition shall be included in this Court’s
    list of noncitable cases published in the Pacific Reporter and Montana Reports.
    ¶2     On May 18, 2011, Bret Hitshew and his girlfriend, Cheryl Westerland, were eating
    lunch at Taco Treat, located inside the Nickle Ante Casino in Missoula, when Hitshew’s
    former girlfriend appeared and confronted them. Hitshew and Westerland decided to leave,
    but first stopped to cash out with the casino attendant. As they did, Hitshew’s ex-girlfriend
    began screaming obscenities at Westerland. Hitshew and Westerland left and got into a 1988
    Oldsmobile Delta 88 owned by Hitshew’s mother, with Hitshew driving. The ex-girlfriend
    followed in her car and eventually rammed the Oldsmobile. Officers with the Missoula City
    Police Department responded to the scene. Upon determining that Hitshew’s driver’s license
    was suspended or revoked, one of the officers cited him with violating § 61-5-212, MCA.
    ¶3     Hitshew appeared in Missoula Municipal Court on June 20, pleaded not guilty, and
    requested a public defender. Brian Yowell was appointed. Yowell and the Missoula City
    Attorney signed an Omnibus Hearing Memorandum on September 26. Among other things,
    the form expressly indicates that the defendant will not be asserting an affirmative defense.
    On October 25, the Municipal Court set a bench trial for December 14 at 9:00 a.m.
    ¶4     On December 13, Yowell realized that he had commitments in district court which
    conflicted with the time set for Hitshew’s trial in the Municipal Court. As a result, the
    Public Defender’s Office reassigned Hitshew’s case to Kelly Henkel at approximately 3:45
    2
    p.m. on December 13. After being assigned the case, Henkel met with Hitshew, became
    aware of a possible compulsion defense, and learned of two possible witnesses.
    ¶5     The next morning, Henkel appeared with Hitshew in the Municipal Court and moved
    for a continuance so that Yowell could represent Hitshew at trial. She explained the timing
    of her appointment, the shortcomings of her trial preparation, Hitshew’s willingness to have
    any delay attributed to him for speedy trial purposes, and his desire to raise a compulsion
    defense (namely, that he had driven while his license was suspended in order to avoid being
    assaulted by his ex-girlfriend). Henkel acknowledged that she could proceed with the trial
    that morning, but she asserted that she did not believe it would be in Hitshew’s best interests
    for her to do so. The City opposed the continuance because Hitshew had not given proper
    notice of an affirmative defense. Moreover, the City had its witnesses (the two City police
    officers) present, and they were on overtime. The City indicated that it was prepared to
    proceed.
    ¶6     The Municipal Court denied the requested continuance, but stated that it would allow
    Hitshew to present his compulsion defense. The City presented the testimony of the two
    police officers. Thereafter, Hitshew presented the testimony of a witness Henkel had
    located, who stated that she heard yelling and saw a woman push Hitshew in the back before
    he and Westerland left the casino. Hitshew also testified in his own defense. But at no point
    did he state that he believed he might suffer death or serious bodily harm if he did not drive
    away from the casino. See § 45-2-212, MCA. Nor did he testify that he had asked the
    proprietors of the casino to call the police. At the conclusion of trial, the court found
    Hitshew guilty. The court noted that it did not accept his compulsion defense because he had
    3
    taken the time to check out with the casino attendant before leaving and because, by his own
    admission, he had driven to the restaurant before the encounter with his ex-girlfriend. The
    court sentenced him to a fine, costs, and six months in jail with all but 16 days suspended.
    ¶7     Hitshew appealed to the Fourth Judicial District Court, Missoula County, arguing
    (1) that the Municipal Court abused its discretion when it denied his motion to continue and
    (2) that he received ineffective assistance of counsel. The District Court rejected both
    claims, and Hitshew now appeals to this Court. He raises only the question whether the
    Municipal Court abused its discretion in denying his motion to continue.
    ¶8     Section 46-13-202, MCA, governs continuances. All motions for continuance are
    addressed to the discretion of the trial court and must be considered in the light of the
    diligence shown on the part of the movant. Section 46-13-202(3), MCA. Moreover, in
    reviewing a continuance, an abuse of discretion can be present only when the trial court’s
    ruling has prejudiced the defendant. State v. DaSilva, 
    2011 MT 183
    , ¶ 24, 
    361 Mont. 288
    ,
    
    258 P.3d 419
    . Here, Hitshew has failed to demonstrate that he was prejudiced by the
    Municipal Court’s ruling. Henkel presented Hitshew’s defense of compulsion. She called a
    witness whom Yowell had not previously discovered. As the District Court concluded,
    Henkel’s representation was not ineffective, and Hitshew has not challenged that conclusion
    on his appeal to this Court. Moreover, he has failed to explain, beyond conclusory
    allegations, how Henkel (or Yowell) would have been better prepared for trial or what
    additional, noncumulative evidence Henkel (or Yowell) would have presented in support of
    his defense, had the Municipal Court granted the requested continuance.
    4
    ¶9     We have determined to decide this case pursuant to Section I, Paragraph 3(d) of our
    Internal Operating Rules, which provides for noncitable memorandum opinions. Having
    reviewed the record and the parties’ briefs, we conclude that Hitshew has failed to establish
    prejudice resulting from the Municipal Court’s denial of his motion to continue.
    ¶10    Affirmed.
    /S/ LAURIE McKINNON
    We Concur:
    /S/ MIKE McGRATH
    /S/ BETH BAKER
    /S/ MICHAEL E WHEAT
    /S/ BRIAN MORRIS
    5
    

Document Info

Docket Number: 12-0447

Citation Numbers: 2013 MT 116N

Filed Date: 4/30/2013

Precedential Status: Precedential

Modified Date: 10/30/2014