Title: State v. Buffum
Citation: 125 Ariz. 488, 610 P.2d 1049
Docket Number: 4894
State: Arizona
Issuer: Arizona Supreme Court
Date: April 21, 1980

125 Ariz. 488 (1980) 610 P.2d 1049 The STATE of Arizona, Appellee, v. Vernon Miller BUFFUM, Appellant. No. 4894. Supreme Court of Arizona, In Banc. April 21, 1980. Robert K. Corbin, Atty. Gen., by William J. Schafer III and Georgia B. Ellexson, Asst. Attys. Gen., Phoenix, for appellee. Thomas A. Moran, Yuma, for appellant. CAMERON, Justice. Defendant was charged by indictment with seven counts of sexual conduct with a minor under fifteen years of age, A.R.S. § 13-1405; and seven counts of child molestation, A.R.S. § 13-1410. Both offenses are Class Two Felonies, A.R.S. § 13-1405(B) and A.R.S. § 13-1410, with a presumptive sentence of seven years imprisonment. A.R.S. § 13-701(B). The victim was an eleven year old girl who lived with her mother, and defendant was the common law husband of the girl's mother. We have jurisdiction pursuant to Rule 47(e)(5), Rules of the Supreme Court, 17A A.R.S. We need consider only one question on appeal and that is whether the defendant was entitled to a twelve-person jury. At the commencement of the trial, the defendant raised the question of the number of jurors contending that the defendant was entitled to a twelve-person jury. The prosecutor agreed stating that to play if safe, there should be a jury of twelve. The court disagreed stating: The defendant was convicted of five counts of sexual conduct with a minor under fifteen years of age and three counts of child molestation. He was sentenced to seven years on each count to be served concurrently. He appeals. Our Constitution reads: And our statute reads: The defendant on appeal contends that since this was a case involving a potential punishment in excess of thirty years, a twelve-person jury was required. The State, in its answering brief, candidly admits that this is true and we agree. Our Constitution, Art. 2, § 23, and our statute, A.R.S. § 21-102, specifically refer to cases and not counts or charges. In the instant case, if found guilty on each count and if sentenced to serve the presumptive seven years on each count to be served consecutively, A.R.S. § 13-708, the defendant could have received a total of 98 years. As the Arizona Court of Appeals has pointed out: Reversed and remanded for new trial. STRUCKMEYER, C.J., HOLOHAN, V.C.J., and HAYS and GORDON, JJ., concur.