Commonwealth of Virginia v. Richard Phillips

COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA
Present: 	Judges Frank, Humphreys and Senior Judge Bumgardner
Argued by teleconference
COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA
MEMORANDUM OPINION* BY
v. 	Record No. 1463-07-2 	JUDGE ROBERT P. FRANK
NOVEMBER 28, 2007
RICHARD PHILLIPS
FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF CHESTERFIELD COUNTY
William R. Shelton, Judge
Eugene Murphy, Senior Assistant Attorney General (Robert F.
McDonnell, Attorney General, on briefs), for appellant.
(Angela D. Whitley for appellee).
The Commonwealth, appellant, appeals, pursuant to Code § 19.2-398, the trial court’s order
dismissing an indictment against Richard Phillips for a violation of Phillips’ Sixth Amendment right
to a speedy trial. For the reasons stated, we affirm this appeal.
BACKGROUND
Phillips was indicted for aggravated sexual battery on September 16, 2002. On December
11, 2006 the Commonwealth moved to nolle prosse that indictment and on January 16, 2007 the
Commonwealth re-indicted Phillips for aggravated sexual battery and obtained a new indictment
for object sexual penetration. In a letter opinion dated June 8, 2007, the trial court found a Sixth
Amendment speedy trial violation and dismissed both indictments by order entered June 11, 2007.
The issue before this Court is limited to whether the trial court erred in dismissing the new
indictment for object sexual penetration.
* Pursuant to Code § 17.1-413, this opinion is not designated for publication.

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The Commonwealth argues the trial court erred by dismissing the indictment for object
sexual penetration because, unlike the charge for aggravated sexual battery, this indictment was
first issued in January 2007. However, the Commonwealth did not present this specific
argument to the trial court. At Phillips’ hearing on his motion to dismiss, the Commonwealth
addressed only the 2002 indictment for aggravated sexual battery, the nolle prosse of that
indictment, and the effect of the nolle prosse on speedy trial issues. It is clear, therefore, that,
despite having had the opportunity to do so, the Commonwealth did not raise below the claim
now argued on appeal.
Rule 5A:18 provides in pertinent part that “[n]o ruling of the trial court . . . will be
considered as a basis for reversal unless the objection was stated together with the grounds
therefor at the time of the ruling, except for good cause shown or to enable the Court of Appeals
to attain the ends of justice.”
Under this rule, a specific argument must be made to the trial court
at the appropriate time, or the allegation of error will not be
considered on appeal. A general argument or an abstract reference
to the law is not sufficient to preserve an issue. Making one
specific argument on an issue does not preserve a separate legal
point on the same issue for review.
Edwards v. Commonwealth, 41 Va. App. 752, 760, 589 S.E.2d 444, 448 (2003) (en banc)
(citations omitted). Thus, “though taking the same general position as in the trial court, an
appellant may not rely on reasons which could have been but were not raised for the benefit of
the lower court.” West Alexandria Properties, Inc. v. First Va. Mortgage & Real Estate Inv.
Trust, 221 Va. 134, 138, 267 S.E.2d 149, 151 (1980). The main purpose of this rule is to ensure
that the trial court and opposing party are given the opportunity to intelligently address, examine,
and resolve issues in the trial court, thus avoiding unnecessary appeals and reversals. Lee v. Lee,
12 Va. App. 512, 514, 404 S.E.2d 736, 739 (1991) (en banc).

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Although Rule 5A:18 allows exceptions for good cause or to meet the ends of justice,
appellant does not argue that we should invoke these exceptions. See Redman v.
Commonwealth, 25 Va. App. 215, 221, 487 S.E.2d 269, 272 (1997). We will not consider such
an argument sua sponte. Edwards, 41 Va. App. at 761, 589 S.E.2d at 448.
We hold, therefore, that the Commonwealth is barred by Rule 5A:18 from raising this
claim for the first time on appeal. Accordingly, appellant’s appeal is affirmed.
Affirmed.