An unpublished opinion of the North Carolina Court of Appeals does not constitute
controlling legal authority. Citation is disfavored, but may be permitted in accordance
with the provisions of Rule 30(e)(3) of the North Carolina Rules of Appellate Procedure.
NO. COA13-1054
NORTH CAROLINA COURT OF APPEALS
Filed: 1 April 2014
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
v. Pitt County
Nos. 09 CRS 12865
09 CRS 61279
DONTE MAURICE PARKER
Appeal by defendant from judgments entered 18 March 2013 by
Judge Quentin T. Sumner in Pitt County Superior Court. Heard in
the Court of Appeals 23 January 2013.
Attorney General Roy Cooper, by Assistant Attorney General
Lareena J. Phillips, for the State.
Assistant Public Defender James F. Hedgpeth, Jr., for
defendant.
HUNTER, JR., Robert N., Judge.
Defendant Donte Maurice Parker (“Defendant”) appeals from
judgments revoking his probation and activating his sentences.
Defendant argues that the trial court (i) erred by proceeding
without an indictment; (ii) erred by proceeding without a
hearing; (iii) abused its discretion by finding Defendant
violated the conditions of probation; (iv) did not provide
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sufficient notice; and (v) erred by failing to apprise Defendant
of his right to counsel. After careful review, we affirm in
part and reverse and remand in part.
I. Facts & Procedural History
On 24 November 2009, Defendant was charged with Habitual
Misdemeanor Assault in 09 CRS 61279 and indicted on 11 January
2010. On 21 September 2010, Defendant pled guilty to the
charge. Defendant received a suspended sentence of 19 to 23
months imprisonment and was placed on supervised probation for
36 months.
Defendant was also charged on 24 November 2009 with Driving
While Impaired in 09 CRS 12865 and indicted on 22 February 2010.
Defendant pled guilty to this charge on 7 February 2011 and
received a suspended sentence of 34 to 41 months imprisonment
and an active split sentence of 12 months. Defendant was placed
on supervised probation for 30 months.
Defendant’s supervised probation under both charges
required Defendant to commit no criminal offense, pay court
costs and other fees, submit to officer supervision with the
Intensive Probation Program for six months, and comply with
curfew requirements.
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On 27 February 2013, Defendant’s probation officer Rodney
Glover (“Officer Glover”) issued a probation violation report in
09 CRS 61279 as well as an “Authority to Arrest” form for that
offense. Another violation report concerning 09 CRS 12865 was
filed on 12 March 2013. The reports stated that Defendant
violated his curfew on 16 and 28 October 2012, that Defendant
was in arrears with court costs and/or supervision fees in both
09 CRS 61279 and 09 CRS 12865, and that Defendant was convicted
of Driving While License Revoked (“DWLR”) on 25 January 2013.
Defendant signed the report in 09 CRS 61279, which listed a
hearing date of 11 March 2013. The report in 09 CRS 12865
listed a hearing date of 18 March 2013 and Defendant did not
sign the document. The report read “Offender In Cuffs 2-22-13”
at the signature line.
On 18 March 2013, 09 CRS 12865 was called for hearing in
Pitt County Superior Court. Defendant completed a waiver of his
right to counsel and proceeded pro se. The following exchange
occurred when discussing Defendant’s choice to proceed pro se:
[THE STATE]: Number 23 is present, your
Honor, which is Donte Parker. He originally
filled out an affidavit and decided he
wanted to waive. Once again, the underlying
charge is habitual driving while impaired,
and the sentence is thirty - suspended
sentence is 34 to 41 months, your Honor.
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THE COURT: Mr. Parker?
THE DEFENDANT: Yes, sir.
THE COURT: You changed your mind, you don’t
want a lawyer then?
THE DEFENDANT: No, sir.
THE COURT: Sign a waiver, please, sir. Do
you understand the sentence that you’re
under?
THE DEFENDANT: Yes, sir.
THE COURT: 34 to 41 months?
THE DEFENDANT: Yes, sir.
Defendant admitted to the probation violation on 28 October
2012, to being in arrears on his court and supervision costs,
and to being convicted of DWLR. Defendant did not admit the
curfew violation on 16 October 2012 and said he was working that
evening. The State withdrew the 16 October 2012 violation. The
trial court revoked Defendant’s probation in both 09 CRS 12865
and 09 CRS 61279 and activated Defendant’s sentences in both
cases. Defendant filed written notice of appeal on 28 March
2013.
II. Jurisdiction & Standard of Review
N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7A–27(b) (2013) vests jurisdiction in
this Court to hear appeals “[f]rom any final judgment of a
superior court.” As a judgment activating a probationer’s
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sentence is a “final judgment,” we have jurisdiction to hear the
instant appeal. See N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A–1347(a) (2013) (“When
a superior court judge, as a result of a finding of a violation
of probation, activates a sentence or imposes special probation,
either in the first instance or upon a de novo hearing after
appeal from a district court, [a] defendant may appeal under
[N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7A–27].”).
However, Defendant’s written notice of appeal did not
indicate which court he appealed to, and Defendant did not serve
a copy of the Notice of Appeal on the State, in violation of
N.C. R. App. P. 4 (providing that written notice of appeal must
be served upon all adverse parties and must state the court to
which appeal is taken). Failure to comply with Rule 4
constitutes a jurisdictional default, which “precludes the
appellate court from acting in any manner other than to dismiss
the appeal.” Dogwood Dev. & Mgmt. Co. v. White Oak Transp. Co.,
362 N.C. 191, 197, 657 S.E.2d 361, 365 (2008). Accordingly, we
dismiss Defendant’s appeal, but, in our discretion, we allow
Defendant’s petition for writ of certiorari to review the merits
of his arguments pursuant to N.C. R. App. P. 21.
Defendant raises five arguments on appeal. Defendant first
argues that the trial court lacked jurisdiction to hear the
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probation revocation. The argument is without merit, as the
State produced an indictment to establish jurisdiction.
Second, Defendant argues that his probation was revoked in
violation of the Fourteenth Amendment and N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-
1345 (2013). Defendant did not raise this issue at his
probation revocation hearing. “[A] party’s failure to properly
preserve an issue for appellate review ordinarily justifies the
appellate court’s refusal to consider the issue on appeal.”
Dogwood, 362 N.C. at 195–96, 657 S.E.2d at 364. Appellate
courts may suspend the requirements of the Rules of Appellate
Procedure when necessary to “prevent manifest injustice to a
party.” N.C. R. App. P. 2. Such suspensions must be made
cautiously, and only in exceptional circumstances. See Dogwood,
362 N.C. at 196, 657 S.E.2d at 364. We grant Defendant’s
request under Rule 2 to prevent manifest injustice in his case.
“It is well settled that de novo review is ordinarily
appropriate in cases where constitutional rights are
implicated.” Piedmont Triad Reg’l Water Auth. v. Sumner Hills,
Inc., 353 N.C. 343, 348, 543 S.E.2d 844, 848 (2001). Under de
novo review, we examine the case with new eyes. “The word de
novo means fresh or anew; for a second time, and an appeal de
novo is an appeal in which the appellate court uses the trial
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court’s record but reviews the evidence and law without
deference to the trial court’s rulings.” Parker v. Glosson, 182
N.C. App. 229, 231, 641 S.E.2d 735, 737 (2007) (quotation marks
and citations omitted).
Third, Defendant argues the trial court erred in finding
that Defendant willfully violated the terms of his probation. A
trial court’s probation revocation is reviewed for an abuse of
discretion. State v. Young, 190 N.C. App. 458, 459, 660 S.E.2d
574, 576 (2008). “Abuse of discretion results where the court’s
ruling is manifestly unsupported by reason or is so arbitrary
that it could not have been the result of a reasoned decision.”
State v. Hennis, 323 N.C. 279, 285, 372 S.E.2d 523, 527 (1988).
Fourth, Defendant argues that the trial court did not
provide sufficient notice of his probation violations at the
hearing. As this is an alleged violation of a statutory
mandate, we review the matter de novo. State v. Wilkins, ___
N.C. App. ___, ___, 737 S.E.2d 791, 793 (2013).
Finally, Defendant argues the trial court did not properly
inquire into his waiver of counsel. This is an issue of law
also reviewed de novo. State v. Watlington, 216 N.C. App. 388,
393–94, 716 S.E.2d 671, 675 (2011).
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III. Analysis
a. Due Process Claims
Prior to a probation revocation, the trial court must hold
a hearing, unless the probationer waives the hearing. N.C. Gen.
Stat. § 15A-1345(e). Section 15A-1345(e) also requires that
“[t]he State must give the probationer notice of the hearing and
its purpose, including a statement of the violations alleged.
The notice, unless waived by the probationer, must be given at
least 24 hours before the hearing.” “The purpose of the notice
mandated by this section is to allow the defendant to prepare a
defense and to protect the defendant from a second probation
violation hearing for the same act.” State v. Hubbard, 198 N.C.
App. 154, 158, 678 S.E.2d 390, 393 (2009). Further, “[a]
probationary judgment does not have to be formally introduced
into evidence at the revocation hearing if the record indicates
. . . that the judge has the order before him, and where
reference is made in the judgment to specific conditions that
defendant allegedly violated.” State v. Hogan, 27 N.C. App. 34,
35, 217 S.E.2d 712, 712–13 (1975).
Defendant alleges that he was denied a probation violation
hearing for 09 CRS 61279, as only 09 CRS 12865 was called for
hearing and Defendant thereafter received judgments for both 09
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CRS 61279 and 09 CRS 12865. We agree and our review of the
record provides no indication that the trial court considered 09
CRS 61279 or the probation revocation report relating to that
charge.
Officer Glover provided Defendant with notice of a 11 March
2013 hearing at 9 A.M. in the 09 CRS 61279 probation violation
report, which would meet the 24-hour statutory notice
requirement had the matter been considered at the hearing for 09
CRS 12865. The 09 CRS 61279 probation violation report was
signed by Defendant and filed on 27 February 2013, indicating an
acknowledgment that a hearing would come on for 11 March 2013.
Both probation violation reports noted that Defendant violated
curfew on 10/16/12 and 10/28/12, that Defendant owed court
costs, and that Defendant was convicted of DWLR on 25 January
2013. The two probation violation reports were also nearly
identical in showing that Defendant violated his curfew on two
occasions and was arrested for DWLR.
However, at the 09 CRS 12865 hearing, the trial court did
not explicitly call 09 CRS 61279 for hearing, refer to 09 CRS
61279 during the hearing, or refer to the 09 CRS 61279 probation
violation report. Without an indication that Defendant waived
his probation revocation hearing in 09 CRS 61279 or any indicia
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that the court considered the matter at the 18 March 2013
hearing, it is not clear that Defendant received the probation
revocation hearing that he was entitled to by statute. As such,
we reverse the trial court’s judgment in 09 CRS 61279 and remand
for a probation revocation hearing. Accordingly, we do not
address Defendant’s remaining arguments concerning 09 CRS 61279.
b. Notice of 09 CRS 12865
Defendant argues that he had insufficient notice of the 09
CRS 12865 hearing because he did not sign the revocation form.
We disagree.
“It is not a requisite to the validity of the service of
the notice that the defendant sign it.” State v. Langley, 3
N.C. App. 189, 191, 164 S.E.2d 529, 530 (1968). In Langley,
Defendant refused to sign the probation report and the notice of
the hearing did not include the date, time, and place of court
for the probation revocation. Id. However, this Court upheld
this service of notice, as the statute only required the
probation officer to “‘inform the probationer in writing of his
intention to pray the court to revoke probation or suspension
and to put the suspended sentence into effect, and shall set
forth in writing the grounds upon which revocation is prayed.’”
Id. (quoting N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15-200.1 (1967) (repealed by 1977
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N.C. Sess. Laws ch. 711, § 33 and recodified at N.C. Gen. Stat.
§ 15A-1345))). Further, “when a defendant voluntarily appears
at the appointed time and place and participates in the hearing
as the defendant did in this case, he is not prejudiced by the
failure of the written notice to contain such information.” Id.
In State v. King, this Court held that where a probation
officer appeared in court to testify to the same facts contained
in the unsigned probation violation report, the information was
subject to cross examination. 34 N.C. App. 717, 719, 239 S.E.2d
587, 588 (1977). As such, the defendant was provided with the
opportunity to cross-examine the information, as the defendant
participated in the hearing, testified, and put on evidence.
Id.
Here, Defendant did not sign his probation revocation
report. However, Defendant voluntarily appeared and
participated in his probation revocation hearing. The 09 CRS
12865 report, filed on 12 March 2013, listed a hearing date of
18 March 2013. The notice provided was well before the 24-hour
notice required under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-1345(e). At the
hearing, Defendant testified, had the opportunity to present
evidence, and also received the opportunity to cross-examine
testimony from his probation officer, Officer Glover. The
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alleged violations of his probation listed were re-announced in
court, and Defendant admitted all of the allegations except a
curfew violation on 16 October 2012. The court waived the 16
October 2012 curfew violation and found Defendant in willful
violation of his probation. As Defendant participated in the
hearing and had the opportunity to cross-examine the contents of
the probation violation report, Defendant was not prejudiced by
the lack of his signature on the 09 CRS 12865 report.
c. Right to Counsel
Before permitting a defendant to proceed pro se, a trial
court must (i) advise the defendant of his right to counsel,
(ii) ensure the defendant “[u]nderstands and appreciates the
consequences of his decision,” and (iii) ensure the defendant
“[c]omprehends the nature of the charges and proceedings and the
range of permissible punishments.” N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-1242
(2013); see also N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7A-457 (2013) (requiring such
a waiver made by an indigent person to be in writing).
“Compliance with the dictates of this section has been held to
fully satisfy the constitutional requirement that waiver of
counsel be knowing and voluntary.” State v. Warren, 82 N.C.
App. 84, 87, 345 S.E.2d 437, 439 (1986). The critical issue of
this statutory mandate “is whether the statutorily required
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information has been communicated in such a manner that
defendant’s decision to represent himself is knowing and
voluntary.” State v. Carter, 338 N.C. 569, 583, 451 S.E.2d 157,
164 (1994).
Here, Defendant was asked by the trial court whether he
wanted the services of a lawyer and he declined those services.
Defendant was asked whether he understood the sentence he faced,
which the trial court clarified by explaining the 34 to 41 month
length of the activated sentence. The transcript clearly shows
that Defendant (i) knew he had a right to counsel, (ii)
understood his charges and the range of punishment, and (iii) by
implication understood the consequences of his decision to waive
his right to counsel.
Defendant further argues that the waiver form was invalid
because it was not signed and thus not certified by the Clerk of
Court. However, the Clerk of Court’s signature does not certify
Defendant’s waiver, nor does its absence invalidate a waiver.
Defendant signed the waiver and Judge Sumner certified it for
the trial court. See Warren, 82 N.C. App. at 89, 345 S.E.2d at
441 (“When a defendant executes a written waiver which is in
turn certified by the trial court, the waiver of counsel will be
presumed to have been knowing, intelligent, and voluntary,
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unless the rest of the record indicates otherwise.” (emphasis
added)). The relevant statutes do not require certification by
the clerk, nor does any previous case require the clerk’s
signature for a certification to be valid. See N.C. Gen. Stat.
§§ 7A-457, 15A-1242. Lastly, the waiver form contains a
signature box for the judge in the section entitled “CERTIFICATE
OF JUDGE.” Conversely, the clerk’s signature is listed only as
an authenticating device, namely that the signing defendant was
sworn and that the defendant subscribed to the statement before
the clerk. Accordingly, we hold that Defendant was properly
apprised of his right to counsel, and that he completed a
validly certified waiver of that right.
IV. Conclusion
For the foregoing reasons we
AFFIRM IN PART, REVERSE AND REMAND IN PART.
Judges STROUD and DILLON concur.
Report per Rule 30(e).
State v. Parker
Combined Opinion