State of Louisiana Versus Carlos Manuel

STATE OF LOUISIANA NO. 24-K-417

VERSUS FIFTH CIRCUIT

CARLOS MANUEL COURT OF APPEAL

STATE OF LOUISIANA

September 20, 2024

Linda Wiseman
First Deputy Clerk

IN RE STATE OF LOUISIANA

APPLYING FOR SUPERVISORY WRIT FROM THE TWENTY-FOURTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT,
PARISH OF JEFFERSON, STATE OF LOUISIANA, DIRECTED TO THE HONORABLE DONALD L. FORET,
DIVISION "H", NUMBER 22-6147

Panel composed of Judges Susan M. Chehardy,
Stephen J. Windhorst, and Timothy S. Marcel

WRIT GRANTED FOR LIMITED PURPOSE

The State of Louisiana (the State) seeks this Court’s supervisory review of
the trial court’s August 30, 2024 ruling denying its Petition for Rule to Show
Cause/Motion for Bond Forfeiture (“Motion”). In the instant writ application, the
State argues that the trial court erred in denying its Motion on the basis that the
defendant had been deported. The State contends that it satisfied all of the elements
required by La. C.Cr.P. art. 336 to forfeit the bail undertaking in this case and
therefore, the trial court was required to order the forfeiture of the bail undertaking
under the law. Attached in support of the application is the transcript of the August
30, 2024 hearing and exhibits filed in the trial court record.

Unless one of three circumstances identified in La. C.Cr.P. art. 338 are
presented1, a trial court shall order forfeiture of bond where the state presents proof
in a contradictory hearing of: (1) the bail undertaking, (2) the power of attorney, if
any, (3) notice to the defendant and the surety as required by article 334, and (4)

1
La. Code Crim. Proc. Ann. art. 338
A. A judgment decreeing the forfeiture of a bail undertaking shall not be rendered if it is proven, at or prior to the
hearing on a rule to show cause, that the defendant, principal on the bail undertaking, failed to appear in court
because of any of the following:
(1) The defendant was serving in the armed forces of the United States.
(2) The defendant was a member of the Louisiana National Guard called to duty pursuant to R.S. 29:7.
(3) The defendant was prevented from appearing due to a state of emergency declared by the governor.
B. There shall be a rebuttable presumption that the calling of the defendant to duty pursuant to R.S. 29:7
prevented the defendant, principal on the bail undertaking, from attending court.

1

proof that more than one hundred eighty days have elapsed since the notice of
warrant for arrest was sent. La. C.Cr.P. art. 336(A).

Our review of the transcript of the August 30, 2024 hearing reflects that the
State sought to introduce “the entire record of these proceedings, including the
bond instrument, as well as, the notices to the defendant and surety” at the onset of
the forfeiture hearing. However, there is no indication that the trial court admitted
the exhibits into evidence. Exhibits and attachments not properly and officially
offered and admitted into evidence cannot be considered, even if it is physically
filed into the trial court record. State v. Leggett, No. 18-K-647, 2019 WL 1246911
(La. App. 5 Cir. Mar. 18, 2019); State v. Whitley, 14-737 (La. App. 5 Cir. 3/25/15),
169 So.3d 658, 660 n.1 (citing Denoux v. Vessel Mgmt. Services, Inc., 07-2143
(La. 5/21/08), 983 So.2d 84, 88). Documents attached to memoranda do not
constitute evidence and cannot be considered as such on appeal. Denoux, supra.

Accordingly, we grant the writ application for the limited purpose of
remanding this matter to the trial court for reopening the hearing on the State’s
motion, so as to allow the State the opportunity to properly offer, file and introduce
the exhibits and to have the trial court rule on their admissibility accordingly.

Gretna, Louisiana, this 20th day of September, 2024.

TSM
SMC
SJW

2

SUSAN M. CHEHARDY CURTIS B. PURSELL

CHIEF JUDGE CLERK OF COURT

SUSAN S. BUCHHOLZ
FREDERICKA H. WICKER
CHIEF DEPUTY CLERK
JUDE G. GRAVOIS
MARC E. JOHNSON
STEPHEN J. WINDHORST LINDA M. WISEMAN
JOHN J. MOLAISON, JR.
FIRST DEPUTY CLERK
SCOTT U. SCHLEGEL
TIMOTHY S. MARCEL FIFTH CIRCUIT
MELISSA C. LEDET
JUDGES 101 DERBIGNY STREET (70053)
DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL STAFF
POST OFFICE BOX 489
GRETNA, LOUISIANA 70054 (504) 376-1400

(504) 376-1498 FAX
www.fifthcircuit.org

NOTICE OF DISPOSITION CERTIFICATE OF DELIVERY
I CERTIFY THAT A COPY OF THE DISPOSITION IN THE FOREGOING MATTER HAS BEEN
TRANSMITTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH UNIFORM RULES - COURT OF APPEAL, RULE 4-6 THIS
DAY 09/20/2024 TO THE TRIAL JUDGE, THE TRIAL COURT CLERK OF COURT, AND AT LEAST ONE OF
THE COUNSEL OF RECORD FOR EACH PARTY, AND TO EACH PARTY NOT REPRESENTED BY
COUNSEL, AS LISTED BELOW:

24-K-417
E-NOTIFIED
24th Judicial District Court (Clerk)
Honorable Donald L. Foret (DISTRICT JUDGE)
David B. Wheeler (Relator) Thomas J. Butler (Relator)

MAILED
Elda Mejia Torres (Respondent) Carlos Manuel (Respondent) Honorable Paul D. Connick, Jr. (Relator)
In Proper Person In Proper Person District Attorney
11 Kerney Court N/A Twenty-Fourth Judicial District
Laplace, LA 70068 , LA 200 Derbigny Street
Gretna, LA 70053