Opinion ID: 1173371
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Irregularities in the Grand Jury proceedings

Text: The defendant next argues Refusal to disclose [to the Grand Jury] the fact of the Public Defender's prior representation and the reasons for his removal from the case constitute[d] prosecutorial misconduct and a denial of [the defendant's] right to a fair trial and impartial presentation of the evidence. Defendant cites Crimmins v. Superior Court, 137 Ariz. 39, 668 P.2d 882 (1983) in support of his claim, and insists that, by withholding evidence, the prosecutor controlled the result of the grand jury proceeding. We need not reach this question, however, because Crimmins, supra, does not apply to this case. In Crimmins, the appellant brought a petition for special action prior to his trial challenging the grand jury proceedings. In the instant case, the defendant did not challenge the determination of probable cause until the instant appeal. He waived his right to challenge the determination of probable cause by failing to act in a timely manner. Rule 12.9, Arizona Rules of Criminal Procedure, 17 A.R.S. As we have stated: Pursuant to 17 A.R.S., Rules of Criminal Procedure, rule 12.9.a, a grand jury proceeding may be challenged only by a motion for a new finding of probable cause. Subsection b. of the same rule states that such a motion may be filed no later than twenty-five days after the transcript and minutes of the grand jury proceeding have been filed. A defendant waives his objections to the grand jury proceeding by failing to comply with the timeliness requirement. State v. Smith, 123 Ariz. 243, 247-48, 599 P.2d 199, 203-04 (1979) (citation omitted). We find no error.