Womack v. State

Womack v. State, No. 2962, September Term, 2018. CRIMINAL LAW — WAIVER OF COUNSEL — KNOWING AND INTELLIGENT WAIVER The circuit court did not strictly comply with Rule 4-215 prior to appellant’s discharge of counsel, and despite the court’s attempt to fix the initial failure to comply with the Rule, subsequent advisements did not “cure” the initial error. Although advisements under Rule 4-215(a) may be given in a piecemeal fashion, compliance with the Rule must be established before a valid waiver. We are not suggesting that, if a trial court fails to strictly comply with Rule 4-215, the error can never be cured.

It would be illogical to hold that a circuit court that fails to strictly comply with Rule 4-215 prior to a defendant’s discharge of counsel can never remedy that failure, but instead must proceed with a trial that is guaranteed to be reversed on appeal. Rather, we construe Rule 4-215 to permit a court to “cure” an initial failure to comply with Rule 4-215 with subsequent advice to the defendant after the defendant has discharged counsel, but only if the court gives the defendant a chance to reconsider the discharge of counsel after the full advice is given. Circuit Court for Baltimore City Case No. 114112032-037 REPORTED IN THE COURT OF SPECIAL APPEALS OF MARYLAND No. 2962 September Term, 2018 ______________________________________ LASER WOMACK v. STATE OF MARYLAND ______________________________________ Meredith, Graeff, Harrell, Glenn T., Jr. (Senior Judge, Specially Assigned), JJ. ______________________________________ Opinion by Graeff, J. ______________________________________ Filed: January 30, 2020 Pursuant to Maryland Uniform Electronic Legal Materials Act (§§ 10-1601 et seq. of the State Government Article) this document is authentic. 2020-01-30 11:23-05:00 Suzanne C. Johnson, Clerk Appellant, Laser Womack, was convicted in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City of one count of second-degree murder and two counts of attempted second-degree murder. The court sentenced appellant to 30 years on the second-degree murder conviction.

On the attempted second-degree murder convictions, it imposed consecutive 25-year sentences, all suspended on one conviction and all but ten years suspended on the other conviction. On appeal,1 appellant presents three questions for this Court’s review, which we have rephrased slightly, as follows: 1. Did the circuit court commit reversible error when it failed to strictly comply with Rule 4-215? 2. Did the circuit court commit plain error by allowing the prosecutor to make improper and prejudicial remarks during his opening statement and closing arguments? 3.

Did the circuit court commit plain error with its response to a jury note during deliberations? For the reasons set forth below, we answer the first question in the affirmative, and therefore, we shall reverse the judgments of the circuit court.2 1 At a post-conviction hearing on November 28, 2018, the parties agreed that the Office of the Public Defender had rendered ineffective assistance of counsel by not noting a timely appeal upon appellant’s request that it do so. Appellant was granted permission to note a belated appeal, which he did on December 14, 2018. 2 Based on our resolution of the first issue, and because the other issues may not arise on retrial, we will not address the second and third issues presented. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND3 On March 25, 2014, shortly after 10:00 p.m., Johniece Sheppard, Alisha Gibson, and Marcus Munford were shot inside a rowhouse in Baltimore City.4 Ms. Sheppard was shot eight times, and she died from her injuries.

Ms. Gibson and Mr. Munford also were shot multiple times, but they survived. The shooting occurred at the residence of Sherry Wallace. Ms. Wallace had known appellant for approximately 20 years. Appellant lived around the corner with a man known as “Nice.” Ms. Gibson testified at trial that, on the evening of the shooting, appellant walked into Ms. Wallace’s house at approximately 10:00 p.m. with two men, one of whom was DeShawn Richardson.

One of the men asked Ms. Gibson and the others where the drugs were located. All three replied that they did not know. Appellant, who had gone upstairs and talked with Tajuan Barnes, Ms. Wallace’s son, advised Mr. Richardson and the other man that there was no one upstairs. Mr. Richardson and the other man then shot Ms. Gibson, Ms. Sheppard, and Mr. Munford, repeatedly.

Ms. Gibson recalled Mr. Barnes speaking to her after the shooting. She stated that, when he asked who shot her, she told him “Laser” because it was “the only name [she] could say at the time.” She testified that she did not see appellant shoot anyone or 3 Because the sole issue is whether the circuit court complied with Maryland Rule 4-215, we will provide only a brief summary of the facts. 4 Mr. Munford’s name is spelled “Mumford” in the briefs and in various locations in the record. We use the spelling given by Mr. Munford during his trial testimony and that used on the indictments and in his medical records. -2- have a gun in his possession. He arrived at the house with Mr. Richardson and the other shooter, however, and left with them after the shooting.

On March 26, 2014, appellant was arrested and interviewed by Baltimore City Police Detective Raymond Yost. Appellant denied any knowledge of the shooting. The next day, however, appellant told a captain at Central Booking, where he was being detained, that he wished to speak to Detective Yost again. In his second interview, appellant admitted that he was present at the shooting.

He explained that, on March 25, 2014, he went to Ms. Wallace’s house to visit Mr. Barnes. At the time, Mr. Richardson and “Nice” were at the house appellant shared with “Nice.” When appellant came downstairs from visiting Mr. Barnes, however, Mr. Richardson and “Nice” were there and had guns drawn on Ms. Sheppard, Ms. Gibson, and Mr. Munford. Mr. Richardson told appellant to leave, and appellant “went out back[.]” He then heard shots fired. Appellant was charged, in multiple indictments, of first-degree murder of Ms. Sheppard, attempted first-degree murder of Ms. Gibson, attempted first-degree murder of Mr. Munford, three counts of conspiracy to commit murder, three counts of use of a firearm in the commission of a crime of violence, and three counts of wearing, carrying, and transporting a handgun.

At the end of all the evidence, the State declined to send the three counts of wearing, carrying, and transporting a handgun to the jury. The remaining charges, as well as the lesser included offenses of second-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder, were sent to the jury. The jury acquitted appellant of first-degree murder of Ms. Sheppard, attempted first-degree murders of Ms. Gibson and Mr. Munford, conspiracy to murder the three victims, and use of a firearm in the commission -3- of a crime of violence against the three victims. The jury convicted appellant of the second-degree murder of Ms. Sheppard and attempted second-degree murder of Ms. Gibson and Mr. Munford.

This appeal followed. DISCUSSION Appellant contends that his convictions should be reversed because the circuit court failed to strictly comply with Maryland Rule 4-215 before it allowed him to discharge his assigned public defender at a pretrial hearing on January 23, 2015. He asserts three errors in this regard. First, appellant argues that the prosecutor, as opposed to the court, advised him regarding the majority of the charges he was facing.

Second, appellant contends that no one accurately informed him of the nature of several of the charges against him, i.e., the three charges of use of a firearm in the commission of a crime of violence and the charge of conspiracy to murder Mr. Munford. Third, appellant asserts that no one accurately informed him of the penalties he faced for multiple charges, including failing to advise: (a) regarding the penalties he faced with respect to the charges relating to Mr. Munford, and (b) that the penalties for convictions on the charges of use of a firearm in the commission of a crime of violence would include mandatory minimum sentences of five years without parole, and for each subsequent violation, the sentence would be consecutive to the sentence imposed for the crime of violence. The State does not argue that the court complied with the Rule at the January 2015 hearing, implicitly conceding that there was not compliance at that time. It argues, however, that the court “cured any initial errors” at a subsequent hearing in December -4- 2015.

It asserts that strict compliance with Rule 4-215(a) may be found even when the required advisements are given “in a piecemeal and cumulative fashion over the course of multiple appearances,” and therefore, reversal is not required. Appellant disagrees, for two reasons. First, he notes that the cases in which the Court of Appeals held that piecemeal satisfaction of the Rule is permitted involved satisfaction of the Rule prior to the circuit court’s acceptance of the defendant’s waiver of the right to counsel. In this case, however, the curative steps that the court took to remedy its deficient advisements on January 23, 2015, occurred months after the court accepted appellant’s waiver of his right to counsel, and therefore, he asserts that these curative advisements were ineffective.

Second, appellant contends that, even at the later hearing, the court did not strictly comply with Rule 4-215(a)(3) because it did not advise him that, if he was convicted of multiple counts on the charges of use of a firearm in the commission of a crime of violence, he was subject to mandatory consecutive sentences. A. Maryland Rule 4-215 The Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution and Article 21 of the Maryland Declaration of Rights guarantee that, “[i]n all criminal prosecutions,” the defendant shall have the right to counsel. U.S. Const., amend. VI; Md. Decl. of Rights, art. 21; Broadwater v. State, 401 Md. 175, 179 (2007).

To implement and protect “this fundamental right to counsel,” the Court of Appeals adopted Rule 4-215, governing the waiver of counsel in criminal cases. Knox v. State, 404 Md. 76, 87 (2008). The Rule -5- explicates the method by which the right to counsel may be waived by those defendants willing to represent themselves, . . . and the necessary litany of advisements that must be given to all criminal defendants before any finding of express or implied waiver of the right to be represented by counsel may be valid. Broadwater, 401 Md. at 180 (footnote omitted).

The function of the Rule is “‘to ensure that [the decision to waive counsel] is “made with eyes open”’ and that the defendant has undertaken waiver in a ‘knowing and intelligent’ fashion.” Id. at 181 (quoting State v. Brown, 342 Md. 404, 414 (1996)). Rule 4-215 is a “precise rubric.” Parren v. State, 309 Md. 260, 280 (1987). The Court of Appeals has held that the Rule’s procedures are “mandatory,” subject to “strict compliance,” and a “departure from [those] requirements . . . constitutes reversible error.” Pinkney v. State, 427 Md. 77 , 87–88 (2012). Accord Broadwater, 401 Md. at 182 (“Strict, not substantial, compliance with the advisement and inquiry terms of the Rule is required in order to support a valid waiver.”).

Subsection (e) governs discharge of counsel. It provides as follows: (e) Discharge of Counsel--Waiver. If a defendant requests permission to discharge an attorney whose appearance has been entered, the court shall permit the defendant to explain the reasons for the request. If the court finds that there is a meritorious reason for the defendant's request, the court shall permit the discharge of counsel; continue the action if necessary; and advise the defendant that if new counsel does not enter an appearance by the next scheduled trial date, the action will proceed to trial with the defendant unrepresented by counsel.

If the court finds no meritorious reason for the defendant's request, the court may not permit the discharge of counsel without first informing the defendant that the trial will proceed as scheduled with the defendant unrepresented by counsel if the defendant discharges counsel and does not have new counsel. If the court permits the defendant to discharge counsel, it shall comply with subsections (a)(1)-(4) of this Rule if the docket or file does not reflect prior compliance. -6- Thus, in the situation presented here, where the court finds that a defendant does not have a meritorious reason to discharge counsel, the court must advise the defendant that “trial will proceed as scheduled with the defendant unrepresented by counsel if the defendant discharges counsel and does not have new counsel.” Md. Rule 4-215(e). If the “court permits the defendant to discharge counsel, it shall comply with subsections (a)(1)-(4) of this Rule if the docket or file does not reflect prior compliance.” Id. Subsection (a) of Rule 4-215 provides that “the court shall”: (1) Make certain that the defendant has received a copy of the charging document containing notice as to the right to counsel.

(2) Inform the defendant of the right to counsel and of the importance of assistance of counsel. (3) Advise the defendant of the nature of the charges in the charging document, and the allowable penalties, including mandatory penalties, if any. (4) Conduct a waiver inquiry pursuant to section (b) of this Rule if the defendant indicates a desire to waive counsel. (Emphasis added.)5 5 Subsection (b) provides: If a defendant who is not represented by counsel indicates a desire to waive counsel, the court may not accept the waiver until after an examination of the defendant on the record conducted by the court, the State’s Attorney, or both, the court determines and announces on the record that the defendant is knowingly and voluntarily waiving the right to counsel.

If the file or docket does not reflect compliance with section (a) of this Rule, the court shall comply with that section as part of the waiver inquiry. The court shall ensure that compliance with this section is noted in the file or on the docket. At any subsequent appearance of the defendant before the court, the docket or file notation of compliance shall be prima facie proof of the defendant’s express waiver of counsel. After there has been an express waiver, no postponement of a scheduled trial or hearing date will be -7- The sole contention on appeal in this case is that the court failed to comply with subsection (a)(3), which requires the court to advise the defendant of the nature of the charges and the allowable penalties.

This provision “exists to ensure that a defendant is made aware of all pending charges and associated penalties.” Brye v. State, 410 Md. 623, 637 (2009). Violations of this provision are not subject to a harmless error analysis. Moten v. State, 339 Md. 407, 409 (1995). Accord Brye, 410 Md. at 637 .

With that case law in mind, we address more specifically the facts and contentions of this case. B. Initial Advice Prior to Discharge of Counsel On January 23, 2015, appellant’s trial was scheduled to commence. He appeared with assigned counsel from the Office of the Public Defender. At the outset of the hearing, defense counsel asked for a postponement.

She informed the court that she thought that the case was going to be resolved with a plea, but negotiations had stalled. Counsel then stated, and appellant confirmed, that he wanted to discharge counsel. The court placed appellant under oath and proceeded to ask him a series of questions about his age, his education level, and his mental state. The court confirmed that appellant had received a copy of the charging document.

The following colloquy then ensued: granted to obtain counsel unless the court finds it is in the interest of justice to do so. Md. Rule 4-215(b). -8- THE COURT: All right. And since this hasn’t been done on the record, so what is – Madame State, if you have the indictment, what is Mr. Womack charged with? [PROSECUTOR]: Your Honor, Mr. Womack is charged with murder in the first degree and under the indictment ending in 32 [relating to Ms. Sheppard]; murder in the first degree, handgun, wear, carry. Under the – THE COURT: Well, hang on one second.

He’s charged with first degree murder. Is this premeditated murder? [PROSECUTOR]: Yes. THE COURT: Sir, do you understand the nature and elements of first degree murder? [APPELLANT]: Yes, sir. THE COURT: All right.

And the maximum penalty is life. Do you understand that? [APPELLANT]: Yes, sir. THE COURT: All right. What’s the next count? [PROSECUTOR]: The next count in that, in the indictment ending in 32 is handgun crime of violence.

THE COURT: All right. So that carries with it what, a maximum penalty of 20 years, the first five is without the possibility of parole? [PROSECUTOR]: That is correct. THE COURT: Sir, do you understand the nature and elements of that particular charge? [APPELLANT]: Yes, sir. THE COURT: And you understand the penalties? [APPELLANT]: Yes, sir. -9- THE COURT: Okay. [PROSECUTOR]: The next count in that indictment is wear, carry and transporting a handgun.

THE COURT: All right. And that carries with it a maximum penalty of three years. Do you understand that charge? [APPELLANT]: Yes, sir. THE COURT: And do you understand the penalties? [APPELLANT]: Yes, sir.

THE COURT: Okay. [PROSECUTOR]: The next indictment is the indictment ending in 33 and he is charged with conspiracy to murder Ms. [Johniece] Sheppard. THE COURT: Okay. And that carries with it a maximum penalty of life as well. [PROSECUTOR]: That is correct. THE COURT: Sir, do you – [APPELLANT]: Your Honor, Your Honor, I never received any documentations of me being – having a conspiracy to a murder of the victim that she just said and I have both the motion – THE COURT: Well, what I’m doing here right now, Mr. Womack, is I just need to know that you one; understand the nature and elements of the charges and you understand the penalties. [APPELLANT]: Yes, sir.

THE COURT: I’m not going to address any sort of defenses or other issues you may have. Do you understand that? [APPELLANT]: Yes, sir. THE COURT: Do you understand the charge of conspiracy to commit murder? -10- [APPELLANT]: Yes, sir. THE COURT: You know the nature and elements of that charge? [APPELLANT]: Yes, sir.

THE COURT: You understand you could receive a sentence of life. Do you understand that? [APPELLANT]: Yes, sir. THE COURT: Your next – the next charge? [PROSECUTOR]: The next indictment is the indictment ending in 34 where he’s charged with the attempted murder of Ali[sh]a Gibson. THE COURT: This is separate and apart; right? [PROSECUTOR]: It’s part of the same indictment, but it’s a separate victim.

THE COURT: There’s one alleged victim who was unfortunately murdered and now we have an attempted murder. Okay. And that’s attempted first degree murder? [PROSECUTOR]: Yes. THE COURT: And that carries also with it a penalty of – a maximum penalty of life.

Do you understand that, sir? [APPELLANT]: Yes, sir. THE COURT: And again, do you understand the nature and elements of attempted first degree murder? [APPELLANT]: Yes, sir. THE COURT: Okay. [PROSECUTOR]: And also in that indictment is handgun crime of violence and wear, carry and transport a handgun. -11- THE COURT: Is that the conspiracy? [PROSECUTOR]: No. That’s for the attempted murder. THE COURT: For that particular count.

Okay. And for that particular attempted murder, sir, you’re also charged with use of a handgun in commission of a crime of violence. You understand that count as well? [APPELLANT]: Yes, sir. THE COURT: And you understand you could receive a maximum of 20 years on that, the first five without parole? [APPELLANT]: Yes, sir.

THE COURT: Okay. And then there’s also the wear, carry and transport a handgun which is also another three years. [APPELLANT]: Yes. THE COURT: Do you understand that charge? What else, [prosecutor]? [PROSECUTOR]: Under the indictment ending in 035 he is charged with conspiracy to murder Ms. [Alisha] Gibson.

THE COURT: Is this the same for the attempted murder? [PROSECUTOR]: Yes. THE COURT: Okay. So again, sir, you understand you’re charged in a separate count for conspiracy to commit – to attempt to commit second – or first degree murder. Do you understand that charge?

And that carries with it a maximum penalty of life. You understand that? [APPELLANT]: Yes, sir. [PROSECUTOR]: Under the indictment ending in 036 he is charged with the attempted murder of Marcus Mu[n]ford. THE COURT: Okay. All right.

And that is a third separate victim; is that right? And, sir, again, do you understand that particular charge and the penalty for that charge? -12- [APPELLANT]: Yes, sir. THE COURT: Okay. [PROSECUTOR]: He’s also charged with handgun commission in a crime of violence and wear, carry in that indictment. And – THE COURT: All right.

And, sir, you understand again those charges – the charges themselves, the elements of them are the same. We’re talking about different victims. You understand that, sir? [APPELLANT]: Yes, sir. THE COURT: Okay.

And he’s also charged with conspiracy in that one as well? [PROSECUTOR]: Yes. THE COURT: Okay. What else? [PROSECUTOR]: That’s all, Your Honor. THE COURT: So, sir, I have no idea if you’re going to be found guilty of anything in this case, but if you go to trial and you are found guilty, you could be charged [sic] and you could receive a sentence of six life sentences. [APPELLANT]: Yes, sir.

THE COURT: They could be consecutive. And on top of that it appears you have 23 years, 20, 46 years, 69 years consecutive to that. That’s for the handgun charges. Do you understand that?

Do you have any questions about your charges that you are facing? Natures [sic] or elements or the penalties? At that juncture, appellant asked the court how he could be charged with murder and weapons crimes when the surviving victims both gave statements saying that he was not the shooter and did not have a gun. The court responded that appellant might have defenses to the charges, but the issue at the hearing was whether he understood “what [he -13- was] facing.” Appellant replied: “I most definitely do.” The court proceeded to further advise appellant about his right to counsel and the assistance trained counsel could offer him prior to and during trial.

At the end of that colloquy, the court found that appellant had “the intelligence [and] capacity to appreciate the consequences of the decision [to waive counsel]” and asked what he was asking the court to do. Appellant replied that he wanted to “strike [the] appearance” of his assigned counsel. The court then asked appellant about the reasons for his request to discharge his counsel. Appellant stated that he believed that defense counsel was “in cahoots” with the prosecutor and lacked faith in his chances of winning at trial.

The court found that appellant’s reason for requesting to discharge his attorney was not meritorious. The court then advised appellant that it was the policy of the Office of the Public Defender not to assign a new attorney if an indigent defendant fired his assigned attorney. The court emphasized that if appellant discharged his attorney, he would be obligated to hire private counsel or represent himself at trial, and that his trial date would not be postponed to allow him to find new counsel. Appellant stated that he understood, and he wished to discharge his counsel.

The court granted appellant’s request to discharge his attorney. It then granted the State’s unopposed request for a five-day postponement of trial to January 28, 2015.6 6 The State requested the postponement to determine if it could try appellant and his co-defendant, Mr. Richardson, jointly. It ultimately did not try appellant and Mr. Richardson together. -14- As indicated, appellant contends, and the State does not argue to the contrary, that the court did not strictly comply with Rule 4-215(a)(3) at the January 23, 2015, hearing, when appellant discharged his counsel. We agree that there was not strict compliance with the Rule at that