Opinion ID: 2519777
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Remaining Claims by Defendant.

Text: {41} Defendant also challenges the jury instruction for kidnapping. He raises this argument for the first time on appeal. Because he did not object to the instruction at trial or tender an instruction, the claim of error has not been preserved. See State v. Varela, 1999-NMSC-045, ¶¶ 25-26, 128 N.M. 454, 993 P.2d 1280 (holding that to preserve an issue for appeal, it is essential that a party make a timely objection that specifically apprises the trial court of the claimed error and invokes an intelligent ruling thereon). We require a party to object at trial and invoke a ruling from the trial court in order to alert the trial court to a claim of error so that it has an opportunity to correct any mistake, Gomez, 1997-NMSC-006, ¶ 29, 122 N.M. 777, 932 P.2d 1, and to provide an adequate record for the appellate court, State v. Lucero, 116 N.M. 450, 453, 863 P.2d 1071, 1074 (1993). Under our rules of criminal procedure and appellate procedure, objections to instructions cannot be raised for the first time on appeal. See Rule 5-608(D) NMRA 2002 (requiring counsel to tender a correct written instruction to preserve claim of failing to instruct on any issue); Rule 12-216 NMRA 2002 (describing preservation requirements for appellate review). However, this Court may exercise its discretion to review for fundamental error under Rule 12-216(B). {42} The doctrine of fundamental error should be applied sparingly, to prevent a miscarriage of justice, and not to excuse the failure to make proper objections in the court below. With regard to a criminal conviction, the doctrine is resorted to only if the defendant's innocence appears indisputable or if the question of his [or her] guilt is so doubtful that it would shock the conscience to permit the conviction to stand. State v. Clark, 108 N.M. 288, 301, 772 P.2d 322, 335 (1989) (citation omitted), overruled on other grounds by State v. Henderson, 109 N.M. 655, 789 P.2d 603 (1990), overruled on other grounds by Clark v. Tansy, 118 N.M. 486, 882 P.2d 527 (1994). If there is substantial evidence ... to support the verdict of the jury, we will not resort to fundamental error. State v. Rodriguez, 81 N.M. 503, 505, 469 P.2d 148, 150 (1970). Defendant has not established fundamental error: he has not demonstrated how the challenged jury instruction resulted in a miscarriage of justice by putting the question of his guilt in doubt.
{43} On appeal, Defendant has challenged the sufficiency of the evidence for all of his convictions. [T]he test to determine the sufficiency of evidence in New Mexico... is whether substantial evidence of either a direct or circumstantial nature exists to support a verdict of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt with respect to every element essential to a conviction. State v. Sutphin, 107 N.M. 126, 131, 753 P.2d 1314, 1319 (1988) (relying on Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 99 S.Ct. 2781, 61 L.Ed.2d 560 (1979)); accord Sanders, 117 N.M. at 456, 872 P.2d at 874. A reviewing court must view the evidence in the light most favorable to the state, resolving all conflicts therein and indulging all permissible inferences therefrom in favor of the verdict. Sutphin, 107 N.M. at 131, 753 P.2d at 1319. This court does not weigh the evidence and may not substitute its judgment for that of the fact finder so long as there is sufficient evidence to support the verdict. Id. In support of this claim, Defendant contends that the prosecution presented no evidence to disprove his testimony that he left the motel room when the victims were still alive. Defendant misapprehends the burden on the State at trial and the nature of appellate review for sufficiency of evidence. An appellate court does not evaluate the evidence to determine whether some hypothesis could be designed which is consistent with a finding of innocence. Sutphin, 107 N.M. at 130-31, 753 P.2d at 1318-19; accord State v. Sosa, 2000-NMSC-036, ¶ 8, 129 N.M. 767, 14 P.3d 32. The jury heard evidence regarding the Defendant's version of the facts and was free to reject that testimony. Salazar, 1997-NMSC-044, ¶ 46, 123 N.M. 778, 945 P.2d 996. {44} After a thorough examination of the evidence presented at trial and the applicable law, we have determined that Defendant's claims are without merit. We conclude that there was sufficient evidence to support Defendant's convictions for three counts of first degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, kidnapping, conspiracy to commit kidnapping, two counts of false imprisonment, armed robbery, conspiracy to commit armed robbery, unlawful taking of a motor vehicle, and three counts of tampering with evidence.
{45} On appeal, Defendant contends that his counsel provided ineffective assistance in preparing for the trial and at trial. Following his conviction, Defendant had filed a pro se motion with the trial court alleging ineffective assistance of counsel. In his motion, Defendant raised several claims of ineffective assistance including that his attorney failed to offer DNA studies as evidence; failed to summon a co-defendant, Ricardo Martinez-Rodriguez, to testify; failed to object to part of the prosecutor's closing argument; failed to meet or speak more often with Defendant for trial preparation; and failed to investigate adequately Defendant's claim that Defendant had been detained by the Immigration and Naturalization Service on a day that a witness had reported seeing him in Albuquerque. The trial court conducted an evidentiary hearing during which it reviewed each of these claims. {46} A defendant has a right to effective assistance of counsel under the Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution. To establish a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, a defendant must show that his or her attorney failed to exercise the skill of a reasonably competent attorney and that the defendant was prejudiced by the failure. Lytle v. Jordan, 2001-NMSC-016, ¶ 25, 130 N.M. 198, 22 P.3d 666 (relying upon the test from Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687, 104 S.Ct. 2052, 80 L.Ed.2d 674 (1984)); accord Williams v. Taylor, 529 U.S. 362, 391, 120 S.Ct. 1495, 146 L.Ed.2d 389 (2000) (reaffirming that the test from Strickland is to be used for resolving virtually all claims of ineffective assistance of counsel). There is a strong presumption of effective assistance of counsel. Lytle, 2001-NMSC-016, ¶ 50, 130 N.M. 198, 22 P.3d 666. A defendant must show the prejudice he or she suffered as a result of the alleged incompetence, and that prejudice must be of sufficient magnitude to call into question the reliability of the trial results. Duncan v. Kerby, 115 N.M. 344, 348, 851 P.2d 466, 470 (1993). To determine whether there was prejudice, a reviewing court must consider the totality of evidence presented. State v. Price, 104 N.M. 703, 709, 726 P.2d 857, 863 (Ct.App.1986). A claim of ineffective assistance of counsel does not present an opportunity for hindsight review. Lytle, 2001-NMSC-016, ¶ 50, 130 N.M. 198, 22 P.3d 666; State v. Hester, 1999-NMSC-020, ¶ 16, 127 N.M. 218, 979 P.2d 729 (The mere fact that the defense was not successful does not equate to a finding of ineffective assistance of counsel.). {47} The trial court determined that the first claim about the DNA testing did not raise a significant issue. As to the second issue, evidence was presented that the attorney for the co-defendant Martinez-Rodriguez indicated that because his case was on appeal he would not honor the subpoena. The trial court concluded that Martinez-Rodriguez was unavailable and therefore could not have been produced by Defendant's attorney. The trial court determined that Defendant's claim regarding the closing argument mischaracterized what the prosecutor had said. As to the claim of ineffective preparation, the trial court observed that the trial attorney had been fully prepared and fully aware of the evidence against Mr. Reyes. The trial court was unable to fully resolve the final claim because Defendant did not waive attorney-client privilege for the trial court to determine whether Defendant had, in fact, told his attorney about the alleged detention by INS. Having reviewed all of Defendant's claims, the trial court denied the motion based on what it had observed of Defendant's attorney at trial and in the light of all the evidence presented at trial. {48} Defendant has failed to show that his trial attorney failed to exercise the skill, judgment, and diligence of a reasonably competent attorney in defending him. State v. Gonzales, 113 N.M. 221, 229-30, 824 P.2d 1023, 1031-32 (1992). Furthermore, Defendant has offered no evidence to show prejudicethat but for the alleged deficiencies of the attorney, there was a reasonable probability that the outcome of the trial would have been different. The evidence against Defendant was overwhelming. The Supreme Court stated in Strickland: Although we have discussed the performance component of an ineffectiveness claim prior to the prejudice component, there is no reason for a court deciding an ineffective assistance claim to approach the inquiry in the same order or even to address both components of the inquiry if the defendant makes an insufficient showing on one. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 697, 104 S.Ct. 2052. Failure to prove either prong of the test defeats a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel. See State v. Baca, 1997-NMSC-045, ¶ 21, 124 N.M. 55, 946 P.2d 1066. Defendant having proved neither, we reject his claim of ineffective assistance of counsel.
{49} Defendant claims that the trial court erred when it twice excluded evidence that Defendant wanted to use for impeachment purposes. In each instance the trial court found that the proffered evidence was only marginally relevant and that any probative value was substantially outweighed by a danger of unfair prejudice and confusion of the issues. See Rule 11-403 NMRA 2002. Defendant also challenges the qualifications of one of the jurors. Defendant raises these claims pursuant to State v. Franklin, 78 N.M. 127, 129, 428 P.2d 982, 984 (1967) (advising appellate counsel to advance a defendant's arguments even if their merits are questionable) and State v. Boyer, 103 N.M. 655, 659, 712 P.2d 1, 5 (Ct.App.1985) (recognizing that an attorney should present a client's contentions even if counsel has no faith in them). We have considered Defendant's arguments on both issues. Finding them to be without merit, we do not discuss them.