Jimmy Albert Johnson v. State ( 2015 )


Menu:
  • AFFIRM; and Opinion Filed January 21, 2015.
    Court of Appeals
    S      In The
    Fifth District of Texas at Dallas
    No. 05-14-00204-CR
    JIMMY ALBERT JOHNSON, Appellant
    V.
    THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee
    On Appeal from the 59th Judicial District Court
    Grayson County, Texas
    Trial Court Cause No. 044441
    OPINION
    Before Chief Justice Wright, Justice Bridges, and Justice Fillmore
    Opinion by Justice Fillmore
    Jimmy Albert Johnson appeals the trial court’s denial of his motion to dismiss for
    violation of his right to a speedy trial. We affirm the trial court’s judgment.
    Procedural History
    Johnson was arrested on May 8, 1997 1 and charged with aggravated sexual assault of
    M.W., the fourteen-year-old daughter of Johnson’s girlfriend. M.W. was pregnant and had
    reported Johnson was the father of the child.                                  Jason Butscher was appointed to represent
    Johnson. Johnson posted a $5,000 bond on May 23, 1997 and was released from jail. On June 4,
    1
    The record is not clear as to the date of Johnson’s arrest. Johnson relies on an order of the justice of the peace court setting conditions of
    bail to argue he was arrested on November 15, 1996. The State relies on the trial court’s docket sheet to contend Johnson was arrested on May
    16, 1997. However, the trial court’s judgment gives Johnson credit for an incarceration period beginning May 8, 1997. Although we have relied
    on the May 8, 1997 date in this opinion, we note the analysis would not change if Johnson was arrested on November 15, 1996.
    1997, Johnson was indicted for aggravated sexual assault of a child. The trial court subsequently
    placed the case on the July 31, 1997 “first setting” docket.
    Jack McGowen was appointed to represent Johnson on July 7, 1997. 2 The State
    forwarded “all discoverable material in the County Attorney’s file” to McGowen on July 14,
    1997. At the first setting on July 31, 1997, Johnson pleaded not guilty to the charge and the case
    was reset for announcements on August 28, 1997. Both Johnson and McGowen signed the
    “Notice of Agreed Setting.”
    On August 28, 1997, the case was reset for announcements on September 18, 1997.
    McGowen, but not Johnson, signed the “Notice of Agreed Setting.” A handwritten note on the
    notice states “need plea offer.” On September 18, 1997, the case was reset for announcements
    on October 23, 1997. Again, McGowen, but not Johnson, signed the “Notice of Agreed Setting.”
    A-American Bail Bond Company, the surety on Johnson’s bail bond, filed a motion on
    September 29, 1997 seeking to be released from the bond because Johnson had failed to pay the
    bond fee, failed to keep A-American apprised of his whereabouts, and otherwise failed to abide
    by the bonding agreement. A-American represented that Johnson’s last known address was in
    Houston, Texas and requested a warrant be issued for Johnson’s arrest. The trial court issued the
    capias on October 1, 1997, and Johnson was arrested on January 30, 1998.
    The trial court signed a scheduling order on February 9, 1998, setting the case for a
    pretrial hearing on March 5, 1998 and for trial on April 6, 1998. On February 20, 1998, Johnson
    posted a $5,000 bond and was released from jail. The record does not reflect why the case was
    not tried on April 6, 1998 but, on June 3, 1998, the trial court signed a scheduling order setting
    the case for a pretrial hearing on July 2, 1998 and for trial on August 3, 1998.
    2
    Johnson testified during the punishment phase that he was told Butscher had accepted employment with the FBI and could no longer
    represent him.
    –2–
    City Hall Bail Bonds, the surety on Johnson’s second bail bond, filed an affidavit to
    surrender principal on June 10, 1998. The affidavit stated Johnson had failed to make contact on
    an agreed date to pay the bond or on any date for the requested “call in time” and had failed to
    respond to City Hall’s attempts to contact him. City Hall represented that Johnson’s last known
    address was in Houston and requested a warrant be issued for his arrest. The trial court issued a
    capias that day, and Johnson was arrested on April 26, 2001. On May 5, 2001, Johnson again
    posted a $5,000 bond and was released from jail. The trial court signed a scheduling order on
    June 6, 2001 setting the case for a pretrial hearing on July 12, 2001 and for trial on August 27,
    2001.
    On July 25, 2001, Johnson wrote a letter to the trial court complaining about McGowen
    and requesting new counsel. McGowen filed a motion to withdraw from the representation on
    August 15, 2001. On August 27, 2001, the trial court granted McGowen’s motion, appointed
    Butscher to again represent Johnson, and set the case for trial on October 1, 2001. Although the
    record does not reflect why the case was not tried on October 1, 2001, on December 12, 2001,
    the case was set for trial on February 25, 2002.
    Butscher filed a number of motions and an election of punishment prior to the trial
    setting. However, Johnson did not appear for trial on February 25, 2002. On May 14, 2002,
    Liberty Bail Bonds, the surety on Johnson’s third bail bond, filed a motion to be released from
    the bond because Johnson had failed to keep Liberty apprised of his whereabouts and had failed
    to otherwise abide by the bonding agreement. Liberty represented that Johnson’s last known
    address was in North Carolina and requested that a warrant be issued for his arrest. On May 14,
    2002, the trial court issued a capias for Johnson’s arrest. In a June 7, 2002 scheduling order, the
    trial court set the case for trial on July 29, 2002.
    –3–
    The case was next set on the July 13, 2006 plea docket. However, the notice of the
    setting mailed to Johnson in North Carolina was returned as undelivered by the postal service
    because there was “no such number/street.” Johnson did not appear at the July 13, 2006 plea
    docket. On July 21, 2006, the trial court issued a capias for Johnson’s arrest. Johnson was
    arrested on February 15, 2012 and, on February 21, 2012, Mike Dunn was appointed to represent
    him.
    The State filed a motion for high bond, citing to Johnson’s repeated failures to appear in
    court. On March 8, 2012, the trial court granted the motion and set Johnson’s bond at $150,000.
    The trial court also appointed Joe Neal Smith to represent Johnson. The case was set for
    arraignment on March 22, 2012. At the arraignment, both Johnson and his counsel signed a
    “Notice of Agreed Setting” placing the case on the April 26, 2012 plea docket. 3 On April 26,
    2012, both Johnson and his counsel signed another “Notice of Agreed Setting” resetting the case
    for the May 24, 2012 plea docket.
    Johnson wrote a letter to the trial court on July 3, 2012 requesting that he be allowed to
    fire Smith. A note on the letter states “Def. has an atty. Should be filed through atty.” On
    August 22, 2012, Johnson filed a pro se motion for speedy trial. On October 3, 2012, Johnson
    wrote to Smith stating that Smith was fired and that Johnson no longer wanted Smith to represent
    him.
    M.W.’s child, A.W., died in an automobile accident in 2000. The State obtained A.W.’s
    toothbrush and clothes from M.W. and, on November 13, 2012, submitted the items, along with
    DNA samples from Johnson, to a lab for testing. The lab was unable to obtain a DNA sample
    for A.W. from the items and, on March 20, 2013, the State obtained a subpoena to exhume
    A.W.’s body to obtain samples of her DNA. A.W.’s body was exhumed on March 21, 2013.
    3
    Johnson disputes that he actually agreed to reset the case.
    –4–
    Also on March 21, 2013, the trial court granted Smith’s March 5, 2013 motion to withdraw and
    appointed Robert Earl Richardson, Jr. to represent Johnson. On May 9, 2013, the lab issued a
    forensic DNA report stating Johnson could not be excluded as A.W.’s father and that at least
    99.995% of the male population was excluded from the possibility of being A.W.’s father.
    On May 28, 2013, Johnson wrote a letter to the trial court requesting that his case move
    forward. The trial court set the case on the June 20, 2013 plea docket. On June 20, 2013,
    Johnson’s counsel signed a “Notice of Agreed Setting,” placing the case on the June 27, 2013
    plea docket. On June 27, 2013, the case was set for trial on December 16, 2013.
    Johnson, through his counsel, filed a motion to dismiss on November 12, 2013 based on a
    violation of his right to a speedy trial. In support of the motion, Johnson requested the trial court
    take judicial notice of the entire file and attached a register of the actions taken in the case,
    Johnson’s pro se motion for speedy trial filed in August 2012, portions of an investigative report
    relating to exhuming A.W.’s body, and the forensic DNA report. Without conducting a hearing,
    the trial court denied the motion on December 11, 2013. Johnson pleaded guilty on December
    16, 2013, and the trial court subsequently sentenced him to forty years’ imprisonment. The trial
    court certified that Johnson had the right to appeal the denial of the motion to dismiss.
    Analysis
    Focusing on the time period between his February 15, 2012 arrest and December 16,
    2013 plea, Johnson argues the trial court erred by denying his motion to dismiss based on a
    violation of his right to a speedy trial. The Sixth Amendment of the United States Constitution,
    made applicable to the States through the Fourteenth Amendment, provides that “[i]n all criminal
    prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial[.]” U.S. CONST. VI;
    see also Klopfer v. North Carolina, 
    386 U.S. 213
    , 222–23 (1967); Gonzales v. State, 
    435 S.W.3d 801
    , 808 (Tex. Crim. App. 2014). Courts determine a speedy trial claim on an “ad hoc basis” by
    –5–
    analyzing and weighing four factors: (1) the length of the delay, (2) the State’s reason for the
    delay, (3) the defendant’s assertion of his right to a speedy trial, and (4) prejudice to the
    defendant because of the length of delay. Barker v. Wingo, 
    407 U.S. 514
    , 530 (1972); 
    Gonzales, 435 S.W.3d at 808
    . The State has the burden of justifying the length of the delay, while the
    defendant has the burden of proving the assertion of the right and showing prejudice. Cantu v.
    State, 
    253 S.W.3d 273
    , 280 (Tex. Crim. App. 2008). The defendant’s burden on the latter two
    factors “varies inversely” with the State’s degree of culpability for the delay. 
    Id. “Thus, the
    greater the State’s bad faith or official negligence and the longer its actions delay a trial, the less
    a defendant must show actual prejudice or prove diligence in asserting his right to a speedy
    trial.” 
    Id. at 280–81.
    In conducting the balancing test, no single factor is determinative, and the
    conduct of both the prosecutor and the defendant must be weighed. 
    Barker, 407 U.S. at 530
    ,
    533; State v. Munoz, 
    991 S.W.2d 818
    , 821 (Tex. Crim. App. 1999).
    To trigger a speedy trial analysis, the defendant must make an initial showing that “the
    interval between accusation and trial has crossed the threshold dividing ordinary from
    ‘presumptively prejudicial’ delay.” 
    Gonzales, 435 S.W.3d at 808
    (quoting Doggett v. United
    States, 
    505 U.S. 647
    , 651–52 (1992)). Presumptive prejudice “simply marks the point at which
    courts deem the delay unreasonable enough to trigger [further] enquiry.” 
    Id. (quoting Munoz,
    991 S.W.2d at 821–22). If the State prosecuted the defendant with “customary promptness,” the
    defendant has failed to meet the threshold burden. 
    Id. If the
    defendant can make a threshold
    showing of presumptive prejudice, a court must then proceed to consider and weigh each of the
    remaining Barker factors. Id. (citing 
    Munoz, 991 S.W.2d at 821
    –22); see also State v. Jones, 
    168 S.W.3d 339
    , 347 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2005, pet. ref’d) (unless delay is “presumptively
    prejudicial,” courts need not inquire into other Barker factors).
    –6–
    If the right to a speedy trial has been violated, the remedy is dismissal of the charging
    instrument with prejudice. 
    Cantu, 253 S.W.3d at 281
    . Because this is a radical remedy, “courts
    must apply the Barker balancing test with common sense and sensitivity to ensure that charges
    are dismissed only when the evidence shows that a defendant’s actual and asserted interest in a
    speedy trial has been infringed.” 
    Id. “The constitutional
    right is that of a speedy trial, not
    dismissal of the charges.” 
    Id. In reviewing
    the trial court's ruling on a speedy trial claim, we apply a bifurcated
    standard of review. 
    Gonzales, 435 S.W.3d at 808
    . We give almost total deference to historical
    findings of fact of the trial court that the record supports and draw reasonable inferences from
    those facts necessary to support the trial court’s findings. 
    Id. at 808–09.
    As legal questions, we
    review de novo whether there was sufficient presumptive prejudice to proceed to a Barker
    analysis and the weighing of the Barker factors. 
    Id. at 809.
    We do not consider evidence that
    was not before the trial court when it made its ruling. 
    Id. at 809.
    Because the trial court denied
    Johnson’s motion to dismiss, we must presume the trial court resolved any disputed fact issues in
    the State’s favor, and we must defer to the implied fact findings that the record supports. 
    Cantu, 253 S.W.3d at 282
    (citing Zamorano v. State, 
    84 S.W.3d 643
    , 648 (Tex. Crim. App. 2002)). We
    must uphold the trial court’s ruling if it is supported by the record and is correct under the
    applicable law. Shaw v. State, 
    117 S.W.3d 883
    , 889 (Tex. Crim. App. 2003).
    Length of the Delay
    The first Barker factor, length of the delay, is measured from the time the accused is
    arrested or formally accused. 
    Gonzalez, 439 S.W.3d at 809
    (citing United States v. Marion, 
    404 U.S. 307
    , 313 (1971)). Johnson was first arrested on May 8, 1997 and pleaded guilty on
    December 16, 2013, resulting in a delay of over sixteen years. Although there is no “set time
    element,” in general, delay approaching one year is sufficient to trigger a speedy trial inquiry.
    –7–
    
    Cantu, 253 S.W.3d at 281
    ; 
    Shaw, 117 S.W.3d at 889
    . The delay in this case is sufficient to
    trigger analysis of the other the Barker factors. See 
    Zamorano, 84 S.W.3d at 649
    (four year
    delay between arrest and plea hearing clearly triggered analysis of other Barker factors).
    When, as in this case, the length of delay stretches well beyond the bare minimum needed
    to trigger a full Barker analysis, the length of the delay weighs heavily against the State. 
    Shaw, 117 S.W.3d at 889
    ; 
    Zamorano, 84 S.W.3d at 649
    . Further, because “the presumption that
    pretrial delay has prejudiced the accused intensifies over time,” the longer the delay, the more
    the defendant’s prejudice is compounded. 
    Gonzales, 435 S.W.3d at 809
    (quoting 
    Zamorano, 84 S.W.3d at 649
    ); see also 
    Doggett, 505 U.S. at 652
    . Accordingly, this factor weighs heavily in
    favor of finding a speedy trial violation.
    Reason for the Delay
    With respect to the second Barker factor, the reason for the delay, once it has been
    determined that a presumptively prejudicial delay has occurred, the State bears the initial burden
    of providing a justification for the delay. Emery v. State, 
    881 S.W.2d 702
    , 708 (Tex. Crim. App.
    1994). Different reasons for the delay are assigned different weights: an intentional delay for
    tactical reasons is weighed heavily against the State; a neutral reason, such as overcrowded
    courts or negligence, is weighed less heavily against the State; a valid reason is not weighed
    against the State at all; and delay attributable in whole or in part to the defendant may constitute
    a waiver of the speedy trial claim. 
    Munoz, 991 S.W.2d at 822
    (citing 
    Barker, 407 U.S. at 528
    –30
    and Dickey v. Florida, 
    398 U.S. 30
    , 48 (1970) (Brennan, J., concurring)).
    In this case, the delay from May 8, 1997 through February 15, 2012 was largely
    attributable to Johnson. See Cockrell v. State, 
    632 S.W.2d 664
    , 666 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth
    1982, pet. ref’d) (defendant not entitled to dismissal of case based on delays in which was a
    willing participant). He agreed to reset the case three times, requested to be allowed to fire his
    –8–
    attorney shortly before a trial setting on August 27, 2001, failed to appear at a trial setting on
    February 25, 2002, and absconded three times for a total time of over fourteen years. Ignoring
    this conduct, Johnson relies on the delay between his arrest on February 15, 2012 and his guilty
    plea on December 16, 2103 to argue his right to a speedy trial was violated. Although much of
    this almost two-year delay was unexplained, the record reflects that, during this time period, the
    case was set for arraignment or on a plea docket five times. See 
    Munoz, 991 S.W.2d at 824
    (delay caused by good faith plea negotiation should not be weighed against State). Further,
    during that time period, the State, after unsuccessfully attempting to obtain a DNA sample from
    A.W.’s toothbrush and clothes, obtained a search warrant, exhumed A.W.’s body in order to
    obtain a DNA sample, and conducted forensic testing on those samples and samples of Johnson’s
    DNA. See 
    Shaw, 117 S.W.3d at 889
    –90 (reasonable period of time in which to develop its case
    is not held against State). There is, however, no explanation in the record of why this process
    was not started earlier or why it took so long. Although the unexplained time gaps in the almost
    two-year delay following Johnson’s final arrest weighs against the State, we cannot conclude
    they excuse Johnson’s conduct during the previous fifteen years the case was pending. See
    Burton v. State, 
    805 S.W.2d 564
    , 572, 574 (Tex. App.—Dallas 1991, pet. ref’d) (weighing
    unexplained eight-month period of delay against State, but not finding it dispositive of speedy
    trial claim when defendant absconded for four years). Considering all the reasons for delay in
    this case, we conclude they weigh against a finding of a violation of Johnson’s right to a speedy
    trial. See Blaylock v. State, 
    259 S.W.3d 202
    , 209–10 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2008, pet. ref’d)
    (delay due to defendant absconding from supervision “is a valid reason for the delay, or in some
    circumstances a waiver of the speedy trial claim”); Burgett v. State, 
    865 S.W.2d 594
    , 597 (Tex.
    App.—Fort Worth 1993, pet. ref’d) (denying speedy trial claim when defendant evaded justice
    –9–
    for nearly five years even though State took six months to bring case to trial after re-arresting
    defendant) (citing 
    Dickey, 398 U.S. at 48
    (Brennan, J., concurring)).
    Assertion of the Right
    Regarding the third Barker factor, the defendant bears the responsibility to assert his right
    to a speedy trial. 
    Cantu, 253 S.W.3d at 282
    . Whether and how a defendant chooses to assert his
    right “is closely related to the other three factors because the strength of his efforts will be
    shaped by them.” 
    Id. at 282–83.
    “The more serious the deprivation, the more likely a defendant
    is to complain.” 
    Id. at 283
    (quoting 
    Barker, 407 U.S. at 531
    ); see also Shaw, 
    117 S.W.3d 890
    (noting that the longer delay becomes, the more likely it is that defendant who really wanted
    speedy trial would take some action to obtain one). The defendant’s assertion of his right to a
    speedy trial, or the failure to assert the right, “is entitled to strong evidentiary weight in
    determining whether the defendant is being deprived of the right.” 
    Cantu, 253 S.W.3d at 282
    .
    A defendant’s failure to timely seek a speedy trial does not amount to a waiver of the
    right. 
    Shaw, 117 S.W.3d at 890
    (citing 
    Barker, 407 U.S. at 532
    ). However, a defendant’s failure
    to timely demand a speedy trial makes it difficult for the defendant to prevail on a speedy trial
    claim because the failure to timely demand a speedy trial indicates strongly that he did not really
    want a speedy trial and was not prejudiced by not having one. 
    Shaw, 117 S.W.3d at 890
    ; see
    also 
    Barker, 407 U.S. at 536
    (“[B]arring extraordinary circumstances, we would be reluctant
    indeed to rule that a defendant was denied this constitutional right on a record that strongly
    indicates . . . that the defendant did not want a speedy trial.”); Harris v. State, 
    827 S.W.2d 949
    ,
    957 (Tex. Crim. App. 1992) (“[A]ppellant’s lack of a timely demand for a speedy trial indicates
    strongly that he did not really want a speedy trial.”). The longer the delay becomes, the more
    heavily a defendant’s inaction weighs against him. 
    Shaw, 117 S.W.3d at 890
    . Further, this
    –10–
    Barker factor is weighed against a defendant who knew of an indictment and fled the jurisdiction
    to avoid prosecution. See 
    Doggett, 505 U.S. at 653
    ; 
    Burgett, 865 S.W.2d at 598
    .
    Johnson absconded three different times throughout the course of this case and was
    absent for a total of over fourteen years. He also delayed the trial of this case by agreeing to
    have the case reset a number of times, successfully seeking to fire his attorney shortly before a
    trial setting on August 27, 2001, and failing to appear at a trial setting on February 25, 2002. He
    did not assert a right to a speedy trial until over sixteen years after his initial arrest. At that point,
    he sought the dismissal of the claims against him, not a trial. 4 See 
    Cantu, 253 S.W.3d at 283
    (“Filing for a dismissal instead of a speedy trial will generally weaken a speedy-trial claim
    because it shows a desire to have no trial instead of a speedy one.”). The case went to trial one
    month after Johnson filed his motion to dismiss. See Kelly v. State, 
    163 S.W.3d 722
    , 729 (Tex.
    Crim. App. 2005) (third factor did not weigh in defendant’s favor when defendant waited over a
    year to file a motion to dismiss based on failure to receive speedy trial, made assertion only once,
    and trial occurred within two months of motion being filed). Johnson’s conduct throughout this
    case indicates he did not really want this case to proceed to trial. See 
    Shaw, 117 S.W.3d at 890
    .
    This factor weighs heavily in the State’s favor.
    Prejudice
    We finally turn to the fourth Barker factor, the prejudice to Johnson from the delay.
    “Because ‘pretrial delay is often both inevitable and wholly justifiable,’” this factor “examines
    whether and to what extent the delay has prejudiced the defendant.” 
    Cantu, 253 S.W.3d at 285
    (quoting 
    Doggett, 505 U.S. at 656
    ). The prejudice must be assessed in light of the interests that
    the speedy trial right is designed to protect: (1) preventing oppressive pretrial incarceration, (2)
    4
    Although Johnson filed a pro se motion for speedy trial in August 2012, he was represented by an attorney, and the trial court was free to
    disregard that motion. See Robinson v. State, 
    240 S.W.3d 919
    , 922 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007) (because defendant has no right to hybrid
    representation, trial court is free to disregard any pro se motion presented by defendant who is represented by counsel).
    –11–
    minimizing anxiety and concern of the accused, and (3) limiting the possibility that the defense
    will be impaired. Id.; see also 
    Barker, 407 U.S. at 532
    ). Of these three interests, the possibility
    the defense will be impaired by dimming memories and the loss of exculpatory evidence is the
    most serious “because the inability of a defendant adequately to prepare his case skews the
    fairness of the entire system.” 
    Barker, 407 U.S. at 532
    ; see also 
    Doggett, 505 U.S. at 654
    ;
    
    Gonzales, 435 S.W.3d at 812
    .
    Affirmative evidence of particularized prejudice is not essential to every speedy trial
    claim because excessive delay presumptively compromises the reliability of a trial in ways that
    neither party can prove or even identify. 
    Doggett, 505 U.S. at 655
    ; 
    Gonzales, 453 S.W.3d at 812
    . Further, the presumption of prejudice intensifies over time. 
    Doggett, 505 U.S. at 656
    .
    However, the presumption of prejudice to the defendant’s ability to defend himself can be
    “extenuated . . . by the defendant’s acquiescence” in the delay. 
    Id. at 658;
    see also 
    Gonzales, 435 S.W.3d at 815
    .
    In this case, prior to his final arrest in February 2012, Johnson was incarcerated on three
    occasions for a total time of approximately six weeks. After each of his first three arrests,
    Johnson was released after posting a $5,000 bond. After his arrest in February 2012, Johnson
    was held on a $150,000 bond because he had repeatedly absconded when released on a lower
    bond. Johnson failed to post the required bond and was incarcerated until he pleaded guilty on
    December 16, 2013. However, Johnson presented no evidence in connection with his motion to
    dismiss that the incarceration beginning in 2012 caused him any unusual anxiety or concern
    beyond the level normally associated with being charged with aggravated sexual assault of a
    child. See 
    Cantu, 253 S.W.3d at 286
    .
    Most importantly, Johnson presented no evidence in connection with the motion to
    dismiss that his defense was impaired or hampered due to the loss of exculpatory evidence or
    –12–
    dimming memories during the delay. Rather, Johnson contends he was prejudiced because,
    before the State obtained the DNA test results, its case was based solely on M.W.’s testimony
    which he could have impeached by showing M.W. was addicted to crack cocaine when she was
    fourteen years old, was a ninth-grade school dropout, had bad relationships with men and,
    although unmarried, had three children. However, the case was fifteen years’ old at the time of
    Johnson’s final arrest in February 2012, and it was reasonable to provide the State with an
    opportunity to prepare for trial by obtaining the results of the DNA testing, particularly when that
    evidence could have been favorable to Johnson. See 
    Shaw, 117 S.W.3d at 889
    –90. Further,
    allowing the State to obtain evidence to develop its case is not the type of prejudice, such as loss
    of exculpatory evidence and dimming memories, that the right to speedy trial is intended to
    protect. 5 Overall, we conclude this factor does not weigh in favor of finding a violation of
    Johnson’s right to a speedy trial.
    Balancing of Factors
    Balancing the Barker factors, we conclude Johnson’s right to a speedy trial was not
    violated. Although the length of the delay weighs in favor of finding a violation of Johnson’s
    right to a speedy trial, much of the delay was due to Johnson’s conduct and there were valid
    reasons for other delays in trying the case. Further, Johnson failed to assert his right until over
    sixteen years after he was first arrested; once he asserted his right, he sought a dismissal rather
    than a trial; the case proceeded to trial shortly after he filed his motion to dismiss; and he failed
    to demonstrate any prejudice that the right to a speedy trial is intended to prevent. The record in
    5
    See Rhone v. State, No. 05-07-00729-CR, 
    2008 WL 2579681
    , at *3 (Tex. App.—Dallas June 30, 2008, pet. ref’d) (not designated for
    publication) (delay in trial to allow State to obtain DNA evidence that incriminated defendant “is not the kind of impairment, such as loss of
    exculpatory evidence and dimming memories discussed in Barker”); Aimufua v. State, No. 10-00-00223-CR, 
    2003 WL 22996901
    , at *3 & n.1
    (Tex. App.—Waco Dec. 19, 2003, no pet.) (mem. op., not designated for publication) (Although State may not detain a defendant indefinitely
    without sufficient evidence to justify the detention, “we expressly reject any contention that a defendant suffers actionable ‘prejudice’ for
    purposes of a speedy trial claim because the delay has permitted the State to obtain additional incriminating evidence.”).
    –13–
    this case supports a conclusion that Johnson did not really want a speedy trial; he wanted only a
    dismissal of the charges. See 
    Cantu, 253 S.W.3d at 286
    ; 
    Shaw, 117 S.W.3d at 890
    .
    We resolve Johnson’s sole issue against him and affirm the trial court’s judgment.
    /Robert M. Fillmore/
    ROBERT M. FILLMORE
    JUSTICE
    Do Not Publish
    TEX. R. APP. P. 47
    140204F.U05
    –14–
    S
    Court of Appeals
    Fifth District of Texas at Dallas
    JUDGMENT
    JIMMY ALBERT JOHNSON, Appellant                     On Appeal from the 59th Judicial District
    Court, Grayson County, Texas,
    No. 05-14-00204-CR         V.                       Trial Court Cause No. 044441.
    Opinion delivered by Justice Fillmore,
    THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee                        Chief Justice Wright and Justice Bridges
    participating.
    Based on the Court’s opinion of this date, the judgment of the trial court is AFFIRMED.
    Judgment entered this 21st day of January, 2015.
    –15–