Opinion ID: 2760898
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Stipulation as to Fox’s Prior Conviction

Text: [¶19] Fox next argues that, because the parties’ stipulation to Fox’s prior conviction was never offered in evidence, the evidence was insufficient to support his conviction for aggravated trafficking, which requires proof of a prior drug-related conviction. The State argues, and we agree, that the stipulation obviated the need for proof or findings relating to the prior conviction. [¶20] In a case involving a simple assault that was charged as a felony due to two prior convictions, we held that a stipulation to a prior conviction will 11 “obviat[e] the need for any proof of or findings about the prior conviction[]” where it is “abundantly clear” that the defendant has agreed to stipulate to the existence of his prior conviction. State v. Ireland, 2005 ME 48, ¶ 4, 870 A.2d 119. Here, Fox failed to draw the court’s attention to the failure of proof regarding his prior conviction at any time during trial, including when he made his two motions for judgment of acquittal. He also failed to raise the issue when the court imposed a sentence that was necessarily predicated on proof of the prior conviction. Moreover, the stipulation served to protect Fox’s interests by preventing the jury from learning about his prior criminal conduct. Under these circumstances, it is abundantly clear that Fox agreed, through his attorney, that evidence of his prior conviction need not be presented to the jury. We are not persuaded that Fox’s conviction must be vacated as a result of the State’s administrative oversight in failing to formally introduce the stipulation on the record.