Opinion ID: 1119431
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: baca's refusal to testify

Text: 47. Campos next contends that he was denied his constitutional right to confront a witness against him. His assertion is based on the fact that, during the trial, Bernie Baca refused to answer several questions posed by Campos. Baca even maintained his silence under threat of contempt by the court. Rather than force the court to find Baca in contempt, Campos voluntarily abandoned his cross-examination of Baca and agreed to allow the judge as factfinder to read Baca's prior statements. Campos therefore acquiesced in the admission of Baca's prior statements despite his continued refusals to testify on the stand. Acquiescence in the admission of evidence, however, constitutes waiver of the issue on appeal. State v. Attaway, 114 N.M. 83, 87, 835 P.2d 81, 85 (Ct.App.1992), aff'd, 117 N.M. 141, 870 P.2d 103 (1994). Campos contends that we should still review his claim under the fundamental error doctrine because he asserts a fundamental right is at stake. However, Campos's voluntary abandonment of cross examination and his agreement to the admission of the prior statements invited the error which Campos now alleges was fundamental. The doctrine of fundamental error cannot be invoked to remedy the defendant's own invited mistakes. State v. Bankert, 117 N.M. 614, 622, 875 P.2d 370, 376 (1994). Accordingly, this argument is without merit.