Opinion
No. 1507-2.
August 14, 1975.
[1] Criminal Law — Trial — Time of Trial — Pretrial Confinement — What Constitutes. CrR 3.3(c), which requires a trial within 60 days after a preliminary appearance if the defendant is "unable to obtain pretrial release," applies only when pretrial confinement is based on the charge upon which trial is pending.
Appeal from a judgment of the Superior Court for Thurston County, No. C-4779, Robert J. Doran, J., entered June 20, 1974.
David D. Cullen (of Mooney, Cullen Holm), for appellant.
Patrick D. Sutherland, Prosecuting Attorney, and Ed Schaller, Jr., Deputy, for respondent.
Affirmed.
Prosecution for violation of the controlled substances act, assault, and robbery. The defendant appeals from a conviction and sentence.
The sole issue raised on this appeal is whether defendant was denied his constitutional right to a speedy trial because he was not brought to trial within 60 days from his preliminary appearance under CrR 3.3 (c). We hold that, under the circumstances of this case, the 90-day rule of CrR 3.3 (b) applies and, therefore, his trial within 76 days of his preliminary appearance satisfied the requirements of that rule.
CrR 3.3 (c) provides:
"(c) Priority over Civil Cases. Criminal trials shall take precedence over civil. A defendant unable to obtain pretrial release shall have priority and the charge shall be brought to trial within 60 days following the preliminary appearance."
The pertinent dates and events are as follows:
January 4, 1974 Defendant was arrested.
January 7, 1974 Information was filed charging defendant with conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance, second-degree assault and attempted armed robbery.
January 8, 1974 Defendant first appeared in court. Counsel was appointed and pleas of not guilty were entered.
January 9, 1974 Defendant moved for release on personal recognizance or in the alternative for reduced bail. He also commenced serving a 55-day sentence on a previous district court conviction.
January 10, 1974 The State noted the case for trial setting.
January 14, 1974 The court set the case for trial to commence on March 25, 1974.
January 16, 1974 An order was entered reducing defendant's bail to $1,500.
March 4, 1974 Defendant completed his district court sentence.
March 19, 1974 Defendant moved to dismiss on the ground that he was denied his right to a speedy trial under CrR 3.3(c).
March 20, 1974 Defendant's motion to dismiss was heard and denied. Defendant posted bail and was released from custody.
March 23, 1974 Defendant was arrested on an unrelated felony charge.
March 25, 1974 Trial commenced. (76 days from defendant's preliminary appearance and 80 days from his arrest.)[1] It is clear from the record that defendant was serving a district court sentence on a previous conviction from January 9, 1974, to March 4, 1974. Under these circumstances the defendant was not "[a] defendant unable to obtain pretrial release," under CrR 3.3 (c). That rule refers to the ability to obtain pretrial release because of the pendency of the current criminal charges and is not invoked because of an inability to obtain release due to other matters. Therefore, the "90 day rule," CrR 3.3 (b), is applicable here. State v. Keith, 13 Wn. App. 127, 534 P.2d 128 (1975). Defendant was tried within the 90 days allowable under CrR 3.3 (b). His right to speedy trial was not denied.
CrR 3.3 (b) provides:
"(b) Time Limit. A criminal charge shall be brought to trial within 90 days following the preliminary appearance."
Affirmed.
WIEHL and COCHRAN, JJ. Pro Tem., concur.
Petition for rehearing denied October 6, 1975.
Review denied by Supreme Court December 15, 1975.