Title: State v. McCutcheon

State: arizona

Issuer: Arizona Supreme Court

Document:

159 Ariz. 44 (1988) 764 P.2d 1103 STATE of Arizona, Appellee, v. Terry Lyn McCUTCHEON, Appellant. No. CR-87-0021-AP. Supreme Court of Arizona, En Banc. September 15, 1988. Robert K. Corbin, Atty. Gen. by William J. Schafer, III, David A. Powell, Ronald L. Crismon, Susanna C. Pineda, Asst. Attys. Gen., Phoenix, for appellee. Ross P. Lee, Former County Public Defender, Dean W. Trebesch, Maricopa County Public Defender by James H. Kemper, Deputy County Public Defender, Phoenix, for appellant. MOELLER, Justice. JURISDICTION On an earlier appeal to this court, the defendant was granted a new trial. State v. McCutcheon, 150 Ariz. 317, 723 P.2d 666 (1986). On retrial, he was found guilty of one count of armed burglary, seven counts of armed robbery, and nine counts of kidnapping. At the time of the offenses, he was on parole. Pursuant to A.R.S. § 13-604.02 (formerly § 13-604.01) he was sentenced to seven life sentences on the armed robbery convictions and to lesser terms on the remaining ten counts, all to be served concurrently. We have jurisdiction pursuant to A.R.S. § 13-4031 and Ariz. Const. art. 6, § 5(3). The basic facts of the offenses are set forth in this court's earlier opinion, and it is unnecessary to restate them for purposes of considering the single issue which is before us now. Defendant's only contention on appeal is that the prosecutor's closing argument contained an impermissible comment on defendant's failure to testify. During closing argument, the prosecutor stated: Defendant did not object to this statement in the trial court, but raises it for the first time on appeal. Defendant correctly asserts that it is constitutional error for the prosecution to comment on the defendant's decision not to testify in his own defense. Griffin v. California, 380 U.S. 609, 85 S. Ct. 1229, 14 L. Ed. 2d 106 (1965). Arizona also has a statute precluding such comment. A.R.S. § 13-117(B) (formerly § 13-163(B)). However, to be impermissible, the prosecutor's comments must be calculated to direct the jurors' attention to the defendant's exercise of his fifth amendment privilege. State v. Gillies, 135 Ariz. 500, 510, 662 P.2d 1007, 1017 (1983). The defendant contends that we have previously found statements similar to the ones here to be impermissible. He cites State v. Rhodes, 110 Ariz. 237, 517 P.2d 507 (1973), State v. Cannon, 118 Ariz. 273, 576 P.2d 132 (1978), and State v. Gillies, 135 Ariz. 500, 662 P.2d 1007 (1983). In State v. Rhodes, we reversed the trial court's denial of a mistrial because the prosecutor directly commented on the defendant's failure to explain incriminating evidence "off of that witness stand." 110 Ariz. at 238, 517 P.2d at 508. In Cannon, we found error where the prosecutor stated: "There is just one question that we leave with you to go into the jury room, and that question was the question that was never answered by the defendant; where was the defendant on Friday night, July 25?" 118 Ariz. at 274, 576 P.2d at 133. We reversed because the statement was a direct comment on the defendant's failure to take the stand. In Gillies, the prosecutor stated: 135 Ariz. at 510, 662 P.2d at 1017. We held that this argument was permissible because it directly rebutted defense counsel's argument that the evidence presented had no real connection to the defendant. The statements in Cannon and Rhodes were reversible because they called the jury's attention to the fact that the defendant had not personally presented his defense from the stand. Reading the prosecution's statement at issue here in context makes it clear that the prosecutor was not commenting on defendant's failure to testify but was, instead, arguing that the defendant could be guilty, on an accomplice theory, of crimes personally committed by his accomplice. There was no impermissible comment on defendant's failure to testify. DISPOSITION We have also reviewed the entire record for fundamental error pursuant to our duty under A.R.S. § 13-4035. Having found none, the defendant's convictions and sentences are affirmed. GORDON, C.J., FELDMAN, V.C.J., and CAMERON and HOLOHAN, JJ., concur.