Mail Properly Addressed and Sent Is Presumed to Have Been Duly Received

State v. Osorio, Minn.Ct.App., 12/14/2015.  Back in March 2007 the state investigated a claim that Mr. Osorio had sexually abused his minor stepdaughter.  No charges were filed at the time.  Mr. Osorio moved to California a move that the local police knew about.  The local police resubmitted the case or charging about nine months later but again no charges were filed.  

Nearly five years later, in September 2012, the local police received a complaint that Mr. Osorio had sexually assaulted another of his minor daughters.  In May 2013, the state finally charged Mr. Osorio with two counts of criminal sexual conduct in the first degree.  He was not arrested until twenty-one months later, Februry 2015 during which the state knew exactly where Mr. Osoria was. Mr. Osorio moved to dismiss on Barker v. Wingo, 407 U.S. 514 (1972) speedy trial grounds.  The trial court dismissed the charges.  

Mr. Osorio wins the first of the four Barker factors, the length of delay. A twenty-one month delay is presumptively prejudicial. The second factor is the reason for the delay.  The state knew where to find Mr. Osorio during the twenty-one month delay; it just didn't bother to got get him. So, this negligence goes against the state. Two down, two to go.

The third factor is whether and when Mr. Osorio asserted his right to a speedy trial.  Here, the court issued a summons and complaint and mailed them to Mr. Osorio's address in California.  There is nothing of record to refute the presumption that Mr. Osorio got the letter.  Also, he did not claim that he did not get the letter.  This factor goes to the state.  The fourth factor is prejudice to Mr. Osorio that is due to the delay.  About the best that he could do was to speculate that some possibly exculpatory audio recordings had been lost or destroyed during the delay, but he could not establish that this loss or destruction was "due to the delay."  What was left was Mr. Osorio's inaction after he presumably got the summons and complaint.  This one also goes to the state.

To break the tie, the court looks to the seriousness of the alleged offense.  That tips the scales in the state's favor.