Opinion ID: 1192145
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Appellants' remaining contentions.

Text: Although we need not do so, we briefly discuss the two remaining contentions raised by appellants' against their convictions. First, Hayes argues that he was denied his sixth amendment right to effective assistance of counsel due to conflicts of interest inherent in trial counsel Carl Martillaro's joint representation of appellants at trial. While ineffective assistance claims are ordinarily heard during post-conviction proceedings following direct appeal, we have considered such claims relating to conflicts of interest on direct appeal. See, e.g., Mannon v. State, 98 Nev. 224, 645 P.2d 433 (1982). Hayes is correct that there were both potential and actual conflicts of interest in counsel Carl Martillaro's joint representation of appellants at trial. Most importantly, it would have been in Hayes' interest to argue that he was merely guilty of possession and that it was only Richmond who was trafficking. This argument could have been persuasive to the jury. The evidence of trafficking was somewhat stronger against Richmond in part because most of the records of transactions in the notebooks appear to have been in Richmond's handwriting, not Hayes'. Certainly if Martillaro had not been representing Richmond, Martillaro could have sought to cast Richmond, not Hayes, as the trafficker. The problem here is that appellants each specifically waived their right to representation by conflict-free counsel and specifically requested Martillaro to represent them jointly. Although we strongly discourage such joint representation of criminal defendants, we will not bar such joint representation as a matter of law in all cases. Accordingly, criminal co-defendants may waive their right to conflict-free representation by insisting on joint representation by a single attorney, despite the obvious potential conflicts. Harvey v. State, 96 Nev. 850, 853, 619 P.2d 1214, 1216 (1980). In procuring such a waiver, however, the district court should fully explain ... the nature of the conflict, the disabilities which it may place on [counsel] in [his or her] conduct of [the] defense and the nature of any potential claims which appellants will be waiving. Kabase v. District Court, 96 Nev. 471, 473, 611 P.2d 194, 195-96 (1980) (citations omitted). Additionally, the trial court should address each defendant personally, explain the dangers of joint representation, and inquire as to facts which might reveal conflicts. If actual or potential conflicts exist, each defendant must voluntarily, knowingly and understandingly decide on the joint representation. Harvey, 96 Nev. at 854, 619 P.2d at 1217 (citations omitted). Here, the district court fully complied with Kabase and Harvey in procuring the waiver of conflict-free representation from both appellants. At the arraignment, immediately after Martillaro stated he was representing appellants jointly, the court sua sponte raised the conflicts problem. The court did the following: questioned each appellant individually; specifically and strongly advised both appellants against joint representation and offered to appoint substitute counsel at state expense; explained the general risks of joint representation; and offered each appellant the time to think it over, an offer which appellants declined. Most importantly, the court specifically warned Hayes that joint representation would preclude him from claiming that the larger quantities of narcotics were Richmond's, not his. After questioning by the court, each appellant stated a desire for joint representation by Martillaro. During the course of trial, actual conflicts may arise which are of a much greater type, magnitude, or frequency than the potential conflicts of interest foreseen at the time of the waiver of conflict-free counsel. If this occurs, this court may be justified in setting aside the waivers. See Carter v. State, 102 Nev. 164, 717 P.2d 1111 (1986) (holding that district court may order a mistrial due to severe actual conflicts of interest manifested at trial, despite previous waivers of the right to conflict-free representation). In the present case, however, based on the record before us, the important actual conflicts which arose during trial related only to Hayes' potential defense that Richmond was the one trafficking; although serious, these actual conflicts were not greater than anticipated. Thus, we conclude that the waiver is binding on the facts of this case. The other contention raised by Hayes applies both to Hayes and Richmond. Hayes argues that the convictions for both trafficking and possession for the purpose of sale violated the constitutional prohibition against double jeopardy. Alternatively, Hayes contends that the convictions violated the applicable criminal statutes in NRS Chapter 453 governing these counts. We need not reach the constitutional issue, because the State correctly concedes that our recent decision in Vidal v. State, 105 Nev. 98, 769 P.2d 1292 (1989) mandates reversal on statutory grounds. NRS 453.337 authorizes various sentences for possession for purposes of sale, [u]nless a greater penalty is provided in NRS ... 453.3395. NRS 453.337(2) (emphasis added). In Vidal, we held that this language precludes any conviction for possession for purposes of sale where the defendant is subject to a greater punishment under NRS 453.3395 based on a charge of trafficking of the same controlled substance. Since Hayes and Richmond were in jeopardy of greater sentences under NRS 453.3395(1) than under NRS 453.337(2), Vidal mandates reversal of appellants' convictions for possession of narcotics for purposes of sale.