Opinion
No. 2566.
September 19, 1969. Rehearing Denied October 22, 1969.
L.B. Vocelle and C. Wendell Harris of Vocelle Harris, Vero Beach, for relators.
Earl Faircloth, Atty. Gen., Tallahassee, and J. Terrell Williams, Asst. Atty. Gen., West Palm Beach, for respondent.
In this original proceeding the relators, Jack Lurie and his son, Terry Lurie, seek writ of prohibition to restrain further proceedings in certain criminal cases pending against them in the Court of Record of Brevard County. The issue is whether F.S. 1967, Section 932.29, F.S.A., entitles relators to immunity from prosecution of the charges pending against them.
One Arnold Rosenbaum had been charged and tried in the Court of Record of Brevard County on a two-count information, the first count charging possession of stolen property, to-wit: a 1966 Cadillac automobile, and the second count charging him with making a false statement on application for an automobile title certificate. A mistrial was declared and a new trial date set. Prior to the new trial date, the Assistant County Solicitor of Brevard County caused witness subpoenas to be served upon Jack Lurie and Terry Lurie requiring their appearance before the assistant county solicitor in his office to be questioned under oath.
Each of the relators appeared pursuant to the subpoena and each was placed under oath and interrogated. The certified transcript of the testimony appearing in the record contains a caption to the effect that the statements were taken in the investigation of the case pending against Arnold Rosenbaum. Otherwise, there is nothing to show at any time before or during their interrogation that either of the relators was given any explanation by the assistant county solicitor as to the nature, purpose or scope of the subject matter of the investigation. The interrogation of each of the relators included not only matters which were relevant to the charges then pending against Rosenbaum, but also matters which were clearly relevant to the subject matter of larceny, i.e., the operation of a stolen car ring in Brevard County. The inquiry also covered in some detail other activities of Rosenbaum and particularly the relators' acquisition of two automobiles from Rosenbaum.
Nearly one year thereafter, the County Solicitor of Brevard County filed an information against Jack Lurie charging him with receiving a certain stolen automobile from Rosenbaum and with aiding Rosenbaum in the concealment of stolen property, contrary to F.S. 1967, Section 811.16, F.S.A. A similar information, but involving a different automobile, was filed against Jack Lurie and Terry Lurie, jointly. Each of the relators claimed immunity under F.S. 1967, Section 932.29, F.S.A., and sought to have the informations dismissed on that basis. Upon denial of their respective motions, relators filed in this court their suggestion for writ of prohibition.
The law is well settled that the immunity statute (F.S. Section 932.29, F.S.A.) applies to protect a witness who is required to testify in an investigation, proceeding or trial only when the subject matter of such investigation, proceeding or trial is one or more of the five categories of crimes specifically enumerated in the statute. State ex rel. Mitchell v. Kelly, Fla. 1954, 71 So.2d 887. The cited case also held that once the statute becomes applicable, the immunity effected is not confined to immunity for the crimes specifically enumerated therein but extends to any transaction, matter or thing concerning which the witness may so testify or produce evidence, when the same is responsive to questions which are relevant to such subject matter and the testimony so given in such inquiry constitutes a link in the chain of evidence needed to prosecute such witness for the offense charged. Our inquiry in this case is limited to a determination of whether the subject matter of the investigation was such as to make the statute applicable in the first instance, because if so, the record clearly discloses that the testimony given by each of the relators meets the second part of the test set forth in State ex rel. Mitchell v. Kelly, supra.
There is judicial precedent for determining the subject matter of the inquiry or investigation from the nature and scope of the interrogation actually conducted rather than determining it from that which is initially stated to the witness. See Brizzie v. State, Fla.App. 1960, 120 So.2d 27. In the instant case the assistant county solicitor stated, when called as a witness during a hearing on relators' motion to dismiss, that the sole purpose of taking the statements was to attempt to locate witnesses who had personal dealings with Arnold Rosenbaum in connection with stolen cars, and to find more witnesses to present at the second trial of Rosenbaum. We do not consider that this postinquisitorial label necessarily is determinative of the true subject matter of the inquiry or investigation. We have therefore examined the record and particularly the testimony given by relators while appearing before the assistant county solicitor under witness subpoena. Such examination satisfies us that the subject matter of the inquiry or investigation was larceny, one of the five enumerated crimes under the immunity statute. Such being the case, relators were immune from the present prosecution.
Our decision in this case turns on our finding from the record that the subject matter of the investigation was larceny, and not merely receiving stolen property. We point this out lest our decision be interpreted as implying, if not holding, that the crime of receiving stolen property is included within the category of larceny as the same is used in the immunity statute. Such a holding would conflict with Brizzie v. State, supra, a conflict which we desire to avoid in this case. In deference to our learned colleague who dissents we recognize that the "subject matter" of the county solicitor's interrogation of relators is in a penumbral area and not so sharply defined as to leave no room for disagreement.
The rule nisi is made absolute and the writ will issue by separate order if it is necessary.
WALDEN, J., concurs.
DOWNEY, JAMES C., Associate Judge, dissents with opinion.
The issue here is controlled by a determination of the "subject matter" of the county solicitor's interrogation of the defendants. The record reflects that one, Arnold Rosenbaum, had been informed against for possession of stolen property and making a false statement on application for a title certificate. Rosenbaum was tried and a mistrial declared as a result of the jury being unable to agree on a verdict. The case was reset for trial and in the interim the county solicitor, seeking to strengthen the state's case, interviewed the defendants in this case pursuant to a subpoena. In testimony before the trial court in the case at bar, the solicitor described his purpose in conducting the interview in the following fashion:
"Q What was the purpose of your taking the statements from the two defendants here today?
"A The sole purpose of taking the statements was to attempt to locate witnesses who had had personal dealings with Arnold Rosenbaum, in connection with stolen cars. And the purpose, if I could expand a little bit more, we were attempting to find more witnesses to present at the trial of Arnold Rosenbaum, which was at that time, I believe, set for some time in September of 1967.
"* * *.
"Q Would it be correct to say that the sole purpose, then, for your interrogating these witnesses at that time, the two statements taken, was purely in a course of an investigation of a crime or an alleged crime committed by some other person?
"A Yes, sir, that's right. As a matter of fact, there had already been one trial of Arnold Rosenbaum, which was on July the 5th, I believe, of 1967, that resulted in a mistrial, a hung jury; and this was merely an investigation done in the course of preparation for the subsequent trial."
Clearly the stated purpose of the interrogation of defendants was to shore up the state's case; to find additional witnesses so that the state would prevail in the second trial of Rosenbaum.
The solicitor's statement of purpose, while to be considered, is not the real test of the "subject matter" of the interrogation; that determination must ultimately be made by reading the transcript thereof. After several careful readings of the transcript, I feel the trial judge was correct in his conclusion that the "subject matter" of the county solicitor's interrogation did not involve any of the five crimes included in the immunity statute, F.S. 1967, Section 932.29, F.S.A. This being true, the immunity statute never came into play.
In order to find that the solicitor's interrogation involved the larceny statute, it seems to me one must put an inordinate amount of weight and emphasis upon the use of the words, "in connection with stolen cars", and the local background giving rise to Rosenbaum's arrest. When taken in context with the other testimony of the solicitor and a reading of the actual interrogation of the defendants, the assertion that the interrogation involved the larceny statute becomes more imaginary than real.
I believe the trial court correctly refused to grant immunity to the defendants and that the Rule Nisi should be discharged and the Suggestion for Writ of Prohibition denied.
Accordingly, I dissent.