Zylanz v. State

SHARER, J. The sole issue in this appeal is whether appellant, Tavony Wayne Zylanz, knowingly and voluntarily waived his right to trial by jury in the Circuit Court for Baltimore County. 1 He posits that his jury trial waiver was “constitutionally flawed because the record does not demonstrate that it was knowing ³⁴³ ly and voluntarily made and because the trial court failed to make any findings on the record that the waiver was constitutionally effective.” We shall hold that the waiver was knowingly and voluntarily made, and affirm. Substantive and procedural law regarding a defendant’s waiver of trial by jury is effectively summarized in Md. Rule 4-246(b): (b) Procedure for acceptance of waiver. A defendant may waive the right to a trial by jury at any time before the commencement of trial. The court may not accept the waiver until it determines, after an examination of the defendant on the record in open court conducted by the court, the State’s Attorney, the attorney for the defendant, or any combination thereof, that the waiver is made knowingly and voluntarily.

In Brady v. United States, 397 U.S. 742, 748 , 90 S.Ct. 1463 , 25 L.Ed.2d 747 (1970), the Supreme Court stated that “[wjaivers of constitutional rights not only must be voluntary but must be knowing, intelligent acts done with sufficient awareness of the relevant circumstances and likely consequences.” For the waiver of a constitutional right to be valid, it must be “an intentional relinquishment or abandonment of a known right....” Johnson v. Zerbst, 304 U.S. 458, 464 , 58 S.Ct. 1019 , 82 L.Ed. 1461 (1938). In Maryland, the Court of Appeals has said that “[f]or a waiver to be valid, the court must be satisfied that the defendant’s election was made knowledgeably and voluntarily.” Martinez v. State, 309 Md. 124, 133 , 522 A.2d 950 (1987). At bottom, the court must “satisfy itself that the waiver is not a product of duress or coercion and further that the defendant has some knowledge of the jury trial right before being allowed to waive it.” State v. Hall, 321 Md. 178, 182-83 , 582 A.2d 507 (1990). Nonetheless, “the questioner need not recite any fixed litany or incantation in order to determine if the right has been properly abandoned.” Dedo v. State, 105 Md.App. 438, 450 , 660 A.2d 959 (1995).

Finally, “whether there has been an intelligent waiver of [the right to] ³⁴⁴ a jury trial is to be decided by the facts and circumstances of each case.” Id. See Tibbs v. State, 323 Md. 28 , 590 A.2d 550 (1991); State v. Hall, 321 Md. 178 , 582 A.2d 507 (1990); Martinez v. State, supra; Kang v. State, 163 Md.App. 22 , 877 A.2d 173 (2005). To put the facts and circumstances of this case in perspective, we set out, in considerable detail, the proceedings of June 21, 2004, when appellant, having previously requested a trial by jury, appeared for trial before the circuit court. After consideration of appellant’s motion for a postponement (which was denied by the court), the following ensued: [DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Mr. Zylanz, you have certain options in the way you can proceed today.

One, you can accept the State’s offer and proceed by way of a not guilty agreed statement of facts to two counts, two of the eight counts. The offer is fourth degree burglary, and that carries a maximum sentence of three years. Do you understand that? [ZYLANZ]: Uh-huh. 2 [DEFENSE COUNSEL]: The second count that they want you to plead to is felony theft. That carries a maximum of [a] potential sentence of 15 years imprisonment and/or a fíne of $25,000.

Do you understand that? [ZYLANZ]: Uh-huh. [DEFENSE COUNSEL]: So if you pled to both of those, the maximum potential sentence could potentially be up to 18 years in jail and/or up to a $25,000 fine. Do you understand that. [ZYLANZ]: Uh-huh. ³⁴⁵ [DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Upon a finding of guilt,, the State will enter a nol pros. That means dismiss the other six counts. Do you understand that? [ZYLANZ]: Uh-huh. [DEFENSE COUNSEL]: You have two other options.

You can proceed by what is known as a bench trial. If you proceed by way of a trial, either a bench trial or a jury trial — that’s your third option — the state would go on all eight charges. Do you understand? [ZYLANZ]: Unh-huh. [sic] [DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Okay. A bench trial is in front of [the judge]. [The judge] would be the trier of fact.

The State would call witnesses and have the burden to prove each element of each charge or each of the eight counts beyond a reasonable doubt. And [the judge] would hear the evidence. You would have the right to call witnesses on you [sic] own behalf and to testify on your behalf and have an opportunity to cross-examine witnesses that the state calls. You would have the opportunity to testify or remain silent.

If you remained silent, [the judge] would not make any adverse inference of your right that you elected to remain silent at trial. But [the judge] would listen to all of the evidence and he would make the decision alone as to your guilt or innocence as to each of the eight counts. Do you understand that? [ZYLANZ]: Uh-huh. [DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Third option is a jury trial. A jury trial is when 12 jurors, they would sit in the jurybox [sic] up there. [ZYLANZ]: Uh-huh. [DEFENSE COUNSEL]: They’re selected from the motor/voter roles [sic] of Baltimore County.

You and I would participate in that jury selection process. They would bring in 30 people. The jurors, they would sit back here and we would go through a process called “voir dire.” [ZYLANZ]: What’s that? ³⁴⁶ [DEFENSE COUNSEL]: We ask them questions, the Judge would ask them questions, and we’d be able to select which jurors hear this case, okay? [ZYLANZ]: (Defendant nodding head.) [DEFENSE COUNSEL]: And they would be triers of fact. They determine, each of them, whether or not you were guilty or innocent beyond a reasonable doubt — guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Each of them would have to be unanimous in their verdict in finding you guilty of each offense beyond a reasonable doubt, or one, or any of the offenses. They could find you guilty of the first one and not guilty of the eight — of the remaining seven or find you guilty of all of them. But they all have to be unanimous. If it’s not unanimous, it what’s called a “hung” jury and you could be retried, or they could come back and say you’re not guilty and that would be the end of the case.

Do you understand that? [ZYLANZ]: Uh-huh. [DEFENSE COUNSEL]: The remaining offenses that you’re charged with are malicious destruction less than [$]500. That carries a maximum potential sentence of 60 days in jail and a $500 fine. Do you understand that? The unlawful taking of a motor vehicle, five years in jail and/or a $5,000 fine.

Unlawful use of a motor vehicle which carries a minimum of six months imprisonment and up to four years in jail. [STATE]: That’s actually not a— [DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Up to four years in jail and 50 to $100 fine. Court’s indulgence. [DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Malicious destruction less than 500, against [sic] you have second count of that. It’s the same penalty, 60 days in jail and/or a $500 fine. And a resisting offense, which is a common law offense, you can be sentenced up to anything that’s not considered cruel or unusual punishment.

And the possession of burglary tools, that has a maximum of three years. ³⁴⁷ The judge can sentence you to all the time or no time. He can make it run concurrent or consecutive. Concurrent means they run together and consecutive means that they would run one on top of the other. He can essentially give you 15 years potentially, I don’t think he will, and then add four years on that for the burglary, and then 40 days for the malicious destruction, and on and on and on.

Do you understand that? [ZYLANZ]: Uh-huh. [DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Do you understand your options as I’ve explained them to you today? [ZYLANZ]: Yes After further discussion with defense counsel, Zylanz advised the court that he wanted a jury trial. The court called for a jury, during which time both counsel left the courtroom, then returned. Upon their return, the court advised Zylanz as follows: All right. Mr. Zylanz, we’re back on the record now.

You’ve elected a jury trial. The jury panel is on their way up. That means the State’s offer or plea bargain is withdrawn. Everything else is on the table.

We’re entering a plea of not guilty as to each and every charge, all the counts. Moments later, defense counsel advised the court that Zylanz had changed his mind, and “would like a bench trial now with no jury, just in front of you.” The discussion continued, as follows: [THE COURT]: You better talk real nice to [the prosecutor], You already made the election. I don’t know [if] the offer still stands. [STATE]: I don’t think he wants the offer, he wants a trial. [DEFENSE COUNSEL]: He wants a trial in front of you. [THE COURT]: Okay. And on all 12 counts.

Make sure he understands that. [DEFENSE COUNSEL]: I’ll do it on the record, Your Honor. Do you understand that what you’re asking is that ³⁴⁸ [the judge] is [sic] going to be a trier of fact. And if he does that, he’s going to go on all eight counts, okay? So he could find you guilty of all eight counts.

And I just want to make sure that you understand it’s not the same as accepting the plea agreement, which I’d have to ask [the prosecutor] if it was still on the table, because you already elected a trial. We have to put it back on the table and go on two counts. No witnesses would testify if you accepted the plea agreement. You won’t be saying anything.

You’ll be found guilty or innocent, most likely guilty, then you have a right to allocution, to tell the Court anything that you wanted to with respect to sentencing. As far as innocense [sic] or guilt, if you do a plea agreement, you won’t be able to testify. If you want a trial, you can have a trial in front of [the judge] with no jurors. [ZYLANZ]: I mean, how — let me understand this. The plea agreement, I can’t say anything. [DEFENSE COUNSEL]: You can