Opinion ID: 800579
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Enumerated-Offense Prong

Text: In New Mexico, aggravated assault (deadly weapon) is defined as unlawfully assaulting or striking at another with a deadly weapon. N.M. Stat. § 30-3-2(A). Assault is in turn defined as (A) an attempt to commit a battery upon the person of another; (B) any unlawful act, threat or menacing conduct which causes another person to reasonably believe that he is in danger of receiving an immediate battery; or (C) the use of insulting language toward another impugning his honor, delicacy or reputation. Id. § 30-3-1. Under the Model Penal Code, a defendant commits aggravated assault if he or she (a) attempts to cause serious bodily injury to another, or causes such injury purposely, knowingly, or recklessly under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to the value of human life, or (b) attempts to cause or purposely or knowingly causes bodily injury to another with a deadly weapon[.] Model Penal Code § 211.1(2). We have recognized the Model Penal Code definition of aggravated assault as the generic definition for the purpose of deciding whether a crime with that label is a crime of violence, at least in states which have merged the crimes of assault and battery. McFalls, 592 F.3d at 717. Professor LaFave likewise explains that, in jurisdictions like New Mexico that retain a distinct crime of assault in which the fear of injury is sufficient for conviction, there must be an actual intention to cause apprehension. 2 Wayne R. LaFave, Substantive Criminal Law § 16.3(b) (2d ed. 2003). As the government acknowledges, New Mexico's definition of aggravated assault is broader than the Model Penal Code based definition. United States Rule 28(j) Letter of Sept. 20, 2011. The New Mexico version of aggravated assault differs from the generic version most significantly in the mens rea it attaches to the element of bodily injury or fear of injury. Unlike the Model Penal Code or LaFave definitions, the New Mexico statute does not require specific intent to injure or to frighten the victim. See, e.g., State v. Manus, 93 N.M. 95, 597 P.2d 280, 284 (1979), overruled on other grounds, Sells v. State, 98 N.M. 786, 653 P.2d 162 (1982); State v. Morales, 132 N.M. 146, 45 P.3d 406, 414-15 (2002). Instead, aggravated assault in New Mexico requires general criminal intent, which consists of conscious wrongdoing or the purposeful doing of an act that the law declares to be a crime. State v. Campos, 122 N.M. 148, 921 P.2d 1266, 1277 n. 5 (1996). [3] New Mexico's definition of aggravated assault is also broader than the generic version because the underlying assault can be committed solely by using insulting language. Neither the Model Penal Code nor LaFave recognize insult to honor or reputation as the basis for an assault conviction. [4] Because the New Mexico definition of aggravated assault is broader than the Model Penal Code definition, which we have recognized as the generic definition of that crime, we conclude that Rede-Mendez's conviction was not categorically a crime of violence under the enumerated-offense prong of U.S.S.G. § 2L1.2.