Butler v. State

374 So.3d 914

Elliot Shawn BUTLER, Appellant,

v.STATE of Florida, Appellee.

No. 2D22-3034

District Court of Appeal of Florida, Second District.

November 29, 2023

Appeal from the Circuit Court for Pinellas County; Philip J. Federico, Judge.

Howard L. Dimmig, II, Public Defender, and Jean Marie Henne, Special Assistant Public Defender, Bartow, for Appellant.

Ashley Moody, Attorney General, Tallahassee, and James A. Hellickson, Assistant Attorney General, Tampa, for Appellee.

LaROSE, Judge.

Elliot Shawn Butler appeals his judgment and sentence for robbery. See § 812.13(1), (2)(c), Fla. Stat. (2018). We have jurisdiction. See Fla. R. App. P. 9.030(b)(1)(A). Mr. Butler raises two issues: (1) whether the trial court erred by conducting a Nelson¹ hearing outside his presence; and (2) whether the trial court failed to conduct a proper Faretta² inquiry into his ability to make an intelligent and knowing waiver of counsel. We find no merit as to both issues.

I. Background

On an early morning in late October 2018, a man walked into a Sunoco gas station and asked the clerk for a carton of cigarettes. The clerk went to the back of the station to retrieve the product. When the clerk returned, the man demanded that the clerk hand over all the cigarettes. The clerk complied; the man took the cigarettes and drove off. The clerk memorized the man’s license plate and later identified Mr. Butler as the culprit.

The State charged Mr. Butler with robbery. When defense counsel³ announced that he was ready for trial, Mr. Butler complained that counsel never discussed the details of the case with him. The trial court held a Nelson hearing. Mr. Butler testified that counsel failed to adequately use the money he paid for an investigator. Mr. Butler also alleged that counsel failed to locate three witnesses who could support his theory that the clerk gave him the cigarettes in exchange for drugs. Mr. Butler also repeated that counsel had not discussed the case with him. At counsel’s request, the trial court continued the trial so counsel and Mr. Butler could confer.

Trial began the next day. At the end of the first day, after the jury left the courtroom, the trial court admonished Mr. Butler to stop disrupting the courtroom, arguing with counsel while the microphone was on, interrupting counsel, and diverting attention away from the jury. The trial court explained that Mr. Butler could discuss matters with his counsel outside the jury’s presence. The trial court noted that the jury had been sworn and counsel had to decide what questions to ask the witnesses. The trial court also stated that Mr. Butler did not have to be satisfied with counsel, but counsel’s strategy would either work in his favor or Mr. Butler can dispute the strategy in a later proceeding.

Mr. Butler said he understood. But he then complained that counsel failed to impeach the clerk with alleged prior inconsistent statements. The trial court remarked that counsel did so. Mr. Butler asserted that there were more inconsistent statements to address. The trial court explained that counsel may make strategic decisions on when and how to impeach a witness.

Mr. Butler retorted, "Your Honor, you saw my attorney. He didn’t even speak properly. He held up everything. He paused for minutes at a time. He was not prepared. He is not prepared to represent me, your Honor." As the trial court began to respond, Mr. Butler interrupted, claiming he felt prejudiced. Counsel started to talk, and the trial court told counsel and Mr. Butler to be quiet. Mr. Butler continued to state that counsel did not question the clerk thoroughly. Counsel disagreed. The trial court adjourned the proceedings, stating it would address the matter the following morning.

But Mr. Butler continued, asserting that there was "something mentally wrong" with counsel, "[h]e’s lazy," and cannot argue motions. The trial court repeated that they were "done for tonight." It ordered Mr. Butler to leave the courtroom. He left, stating that "I feel great prejudice, man. It’s not justice…. There’s something mentally wrong with [counsel]. You saw that."

The trial court then questioned counsel, "just for the record," about his qualifications. Counsel had been a lawyer since 2008. He had been on the list of court-appointed lawyers since about 2013. Counsel had conducted some seventeen jury trials, including serious felonies. Counsel stated that he was not currently suffering from any "physical or mental difficulties," except for his hip. Counsel stated that he was trying to do what Mr. Butler wanted yet "trying to balance" what he thought was best and important for the defense.

When trial resumed the next day, Mr. Butler asked to cross-examine the witnesses himself; counsel could "sit back and guide [him]." The trial court inquired further if Mr. Butler wanted to represent himself. Mr. Butler responded, "At this time, yes."

The trial court explained that if he wanted to represent himself, it needed to question him about his background and experience and explain the dangers of self-representation. The trial court observed: "The problem for you is, if you [represent yourself], you lose -- you likely will lose your right to challenge your lawyer’s appropriateness of his representation because if you’re your own lawyer, you can’t complain about the lawyer because you’re not a lawyer, right?" Mr. Butler asked if he could raise ineffectiveness of counsel if he represented himself. The trial court explained that self-representation would complicate Mr. Butler’s ability to raise such a postconviction claim. But the trial court did not give a "definitive answer [whether he could pursue an ineffective assistance claim] because every case is different."

Mr. Butler had continued concerns with his counsel’s efforts. "My dilemma is my attorney is having trouble formulating his sentences to even explain things to the jury, you know. And so much [sic] things is [sic] going untouched that should be brought forth to the jury so they can understand." The trial court cautioned Mr. Butler:

Well, then that’s something eventually that you, if you get convicted, … then you will have an opportunity in a sepa-rate forum, if it gets to that point, to raise those issues. If you want to take over self-representation now, then, like I said, the balance of the trial is conducted by you. You don’t get to blame your attorney for anything you do from this point forward. So it’s your call. I mean, there’s more questions I have got to ask you but—

….

… I’m not guaranteeing you either way. I’m just telling you that you are complicating the issue of a 3.850 down the road if you self-represent.

….

… I’m not trying to get you to go one way or another although I always tell clients who are not lawyers you’re at a disadvantage if you represent yourself but –

Mr. Butler replied, "Okay. I want to withdraw that and let [counsel] do his thing." The trial continued with counsel representing Mr. Butler until the end. The jury convicted Mr. Butler, and the trial court sentenced him to prison.

II. Discussion

1. Nelson Hearing

Mr. Butler argues that the trial court denied him due process by conducting a Nelson hearing in his absence. The State contends that (1) Mr. Butler’s general and equivocal allegations were insufficient to trigger a Nelson hearing and (2) a request for a Nelson hearing during the trial is untimely.

[1, 2] We "review[ ] a trial court’s conduct regarding a Nelson inquiry or hearing under an abuse of discretion standard." Holland v. State, 308 So. 3d 1038, 1041 (Fla. 4th DCA 2020). We review an alleged violation of the right to be present at a crucial stage of a criminal proceeding for harmless error. Sims v. State, 135 So. 3d 1098, 1101 (Fla. 2d DCA 2013).

[3, 4] "A defendant has a right to be present at [all crucial] stages [of the trial] where his absence might frustrate the fairness of the proceedings." Id. at 1100 (citing Faretta v. California, 422 U.S. 806, 819 n.15, 95 S.Ct. 2525, 45 L.Ed.2d 562 (1975)). A Nelson hearing, where the trial court assesses counsel’s competence, is such a crucial stage of the proceeding. See id. at 1101. Although a better course may have been for the trial court to question counsel with Mr. Butler present, we cannot conclude that the trial court violated any of Mr. Butler’s rights.

[5, 6] "A Nelson hearing is required only when the defendant makes a ‘clear and unequivocal’ statement [before the commencement of trial] that he wishes to discharge appointed counsel, the discharge request is based on a claim of incompetence, and the alleged ineffectiveness arises from counsel’s current representation." Laramee v. State, 90 So. 3d 341, 344 (Fla. 5th DCA 2012) (quoting Blanding v. State, 939 So. 2d 173, 175 (Fla. 1st DCA 2006)); see also Nelson v. State, 274 So. 2d 256, 258 (Fla. 4th DCA 1973) ("[W]here a defendant, before the commencement of trial, makes it appear to the trial judge that he desires to discharge his court appointed counsel, the trial judge, in order to protect the indigent’s right to effective counsel, should make an inquiry of the defendant as to the reason for the request to discharge."). "A trial judge’s inquiry into a defendant’s complaints of incompetence of counsel can be only as specific and meaningful as the defendant’s complaint." Davila v. State, 829 So. 2d 995, 996 (Fla. 3d DCA 2002) (citing Lowe v. State, 650 So. 2d 969, 975 (Fla. 1994)).

[7] Here, Mr. Butler generally complained that there was "something" mentally wrong with counsel, that counsel was "lazy," and that he felt prejudiced. Read in context, Mr. Butler’s complaints centered on counsel’s alleged failure to fully impeach the clerk’s testimony. Mr. Butler did not ask to dismiss counsel. Indeed, when Mr. Butler returned for the second trial day, he requested only that counsel remain on standby while he questioned the witnesses, including the clerk. Mr. Butler’s comments amounted to general dissatisfaction with counsel’s trial preparation, witness...