Case Title: Neal v. State

Citation: 787 P.2d 764

Docket Number: 

State: nevada

Court: Nevada Supreme Court

Date: 1990-02-20T00:00:00Z

Document:
787 P.2d 764 (1990) Marvin Clyde NEAL, Appellant, v. The STATE of Nevada, Respondent. No. 19318. Supreme Court of Nevada. February 20, 1990. David Parraguirre, Public Defender, and Jane McKenna, Deputy Public Defender, Washoe County, for appellant. Brian McKay, Atty. Gen., Carson City, Mills Lane, Dist. Atty., and Gary H. Hatlestad, Deputy Dist. Atty., Washoe County, for respondent. PER CURIAM: After proceeding in proper person at his jury trial, appellant Marvin Clyde Neal was found guilty of embezzlement. NRS 205.300. After reviewing Neal's numerous assignments of error, we conclude that the prosecutor improperly commented at trial on his post-arrest, post-Miranda silence. We also hold that the repetitiveness of the prosecutorial misconduct so prejudiced Neal's defense as to require reversal of his conviction and a new trial. Neal was charged with embezzling funds from a 7-11 convenience store. At trial, Neal testified that he had been robbed and denied any wrongdoing. As the sole witness to the alleged robbery, Neal's credibility was crucial to his defense. On cross-examination, the following exchange took place: In his closing argument, the prosecutor again attacked Neal's credibility by referring to his post-arrest, post-Miranda silence and stating: The prosecution is forbidden at trial to comment upon a defendant's election to remain silent following his arrest and after being advised of his rights as required by Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 86 S. Ct. 1602, 16 L. Ed. 2d 694 (1966). See Doyle v. Ohio, 426 U.S. 610, 96 S. Ct. 2240, 49 L. Ed. 2d 91 (1976). This court has repeatedly condemned such prosecutorial misconduct[2], and noted the enormous expense borne by the state each time such misconduct necessitates a retrial. McGuire v. State, 100 Nev. 153, 155, 677 P.2d 1060, 1062 (1984). Unfortunately, as this case illustrates, the problem continues. We cannot conclude that the error in this case was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. Neal's credibility was critical to his defense, the prosecutor's improper comments deliberate and repetitious. Absent those comments, it is not clear that the jury would have reached the same conclusion. Thus, we are compelled to reverse Mr. Neal's conviction and to order a new trial. See Mahar, 102 Nev. 488, 490, 728 P.2d 439, 441 (1986); Chapman v. California, 386 U.S. 18, 24, 87 S. Ct. 824, 828, 17 L. Ed. 2d 705 (1967). Because we hold that a reversal and retrial are required due to the prosecutor's improper questions and comments, we need not reach Neal's remaining contentions. Accordingly, we reverse Neal's conviction of embezzlement and remand the case to the district court for a new trial. [1] Neal testified that after the robbers left, they instructed him not to notify the police or any authorities for forty-eight hours. [2] See, e.g., Mahar v. State, 102 Nev. 488, 489-90, 728 P.2d 439, 440-41 (1986); McGee v. State, 102 Nev. 458, 461, 725 P.2d 1215, 1217 (1986); Aesoph v. State, 102 Nev. 316, 321-22, 721 P.2d 379, 382-83 (1986); McGuire v. State, 100 Nev. 153, 157, 677 P.2d 1060, 1063 (1984); Bernier v. State, 96 Nev. 670, 671-72, 614 P.2d 1079, 1080 (1980); and Vipperman v. State, 92 Nev. 213, 214-16, 547 P.2d 682, 683-84 (1976).