Court Opinion

ID: 2688775
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-08-01 14:52:26.187485+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:56:45.509812
License: Public Domain

FILED BY CLERK
                                                                            JUN 28 2013
                                                                             COURT OF APPEALS
                                                                               DIVISION TWO
                             IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
                                 STATE OF ARIZONA
                                   DIVISION TWO

IN RE BOND FORFEITURE IN COCHISE )                   2 CA-CV 2012-0161
COUNTY CAUSE NO. CR201100916     )                   DEPARTMENT B
                                 )
                                 )                   OPINION
                                 )
                                 )
                                 )

         APPEAL FROM THE SUPERIOR COURT OF COCHISE COUNTY

                                 Cause No. CR201100916

                           Honorable John F. Kelliher, Jr., Judge

                                       AFFIRMED

T.S. Hartzell                                                                       Tucson
                                                                     Attorney for Appellant
                                                                    Azteca Bail Bonds, LLC

Edward G. Rheinheimer, Cochise County Attorney
 By Roger H. Contreras                                                               Bisbee
                                                                     Attorneys for Appellee
                                                                           State of Arizona

K E L L Y, Judge.

¶1              Appellant Azteca Bail Bond, LLC, (Azteca) challenges the trial court’s

judgment forfeiting a $75,000 appearance bond it had posted on behalf of a criminal

defendant. Azteca argues the trial court erred by ordering forfeiture because the bond

was void and unenforceable under article II, § 22 of the Arizona Constitution. We affirm.
                          Factual and Procedural Background

¶2            We view the facts in the light most favorable to upholding the court’s

ruling. In re Bond Forfeiture in Pima Cnty. Cause No. CR-20031154, 208 Ariz. 368, ¶ 2,

93 P.3d 1084, 1085 (App. 2004). In December 2011, Dane Kendrick was arrested and

indicted on eight felony charges. Neither the state nor the court was aware at Kendrick’s

initial appearance that he had been on release for felony charges in Pima County at the

time he allegedly committed the Cochise County offenses. The magistrate determined

Kendrick was eligible for release and set an appearance bond of $75,000.

¶3            In January 2012, surety Azteca posted the bond. After Kendrick failed to

appear at pre-trial conferences in March and April, the trial court issued a warrant for his

arrest. The court also issued an order to show cause why the bond should not be forfeited

to the state. Azteca filed a motion to exonerate the bond, arguing it was void because the

court had “ignored the mandate” of article II, § 22 and had been without authority to order

Kendrick’s release. After a hearing, the court denied Azteca’s motion, finding that the

state “has the discretion to pursue a request that no bail be afforded an accused” and that

“Kendrick’s release on bail was not without authority.” It ordered the $75,000 bond

forfeited. This appeal followed.

                                        Discussion

¶4            Azteca argues the trial court erred as a matter of law by ordering the

$75,000 bond forfeited. It contends, as it did below: (1) the court exceeded its authority,

as limited by article II, § 22 of the Arizona Constitution, when it set bail for Kendrick

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without first determining whether he was on release, and (2) the court erred by concluding

the state did not have a duty to notify the court of Kendrick’s release status prior to bond

being set.    As a result, Azteca contends the bond in this case was “void and

unenforceable.”

¶5            We review a trial court’s order forfeiting an appearance bond for an abuse

of discretion. Bond Forfeiture in Pima Cnty. Cause No. CR-20031154, 208 Ariz. 368,

¶ 2, 93 P.3d at 1085.      But we review its legal conclusions de novo, including the

interpretation of constitutional language. State v. Lee, 226 Ariz. 234, ¶ 9, 245 P.3d 919,

922 (App. 2011); City of Tucson v. Clear Channel Outdoor, Inc., 218 Ariz. 172, ¶ 27, 181
P.3d 219, 229 (App. 2008). We interpret constitutional provisions by determining the

“‘intent of the electorate that adopted it.’” See Lee, 226 Ariz. 234, ¶ 9, 245 P.3d at 922,

quoting Heath v. Kiger, 217 Ariz. 492, ¶ 9, 176 P.3d 690, 693 (2008). The plain language

of the provision is the best reflection of that intent. Id.

¶6            Article II, § 22 provides, in relevant part:

              A. All persons charged with crime shall be bailable by
              sufficient sureties, except:

              ....

              2. For felony offenses committed when the person charged is
              already admitted to bail on a separate felony charge and where
              the proof is evident or the presumption great as to the present
              charge. . . .

¶7            “Although there is no right to bail, because of the potential for a

compromise of personal liberty, there is a presumption in favor of bail.” Simpson v.

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Owens, 207 Ariz. 261, ¶ 26, 85 P.3d 478, 487 (App. 2004). Because a defendant is

presumed innocent, the state bears the burden of proving an exception to the right to bail,

including the burden “to demonstrate the proof is evident or the presumption great that

the accused committed the offense at issue.”         Id. ¶¶ 27, 47 (discussing article II,

§ 22(A)(1)); see also Martinez v. Superior Court, 26 Ariz. App. 386, 387, 548 P.2d 1198,

1199 (App. 1976) (state has “burden of showing that the right to bail is limited rather than

absolute”). “[I]f the state alleges a defendant is not entitled to bail under the Arizona

Constitution, due process requires that the defendant receive a full hearing at which the

defendant may be represented by counsel, cross-examine witnesses, and present

evidence.” Segura v. Cunanan, 219 Ariz. 228, ¶ 1, 196 P.3d 831, 833 (App. 2008).

¶8            Once the state has proven an exception to the right to bail pursuant to article

II, § 22—including that proof of the new offense is evident or the presumption great—the

court does not have discretion to admit the accused to bail.          State v. Garrett, 16
Ariz. App. 427, 429, 493 P.2d 1232, 1234 (1972). In Garrett, the state sought special

action relief after the trial court set bond for the defendant—who already had been

admitted to bail on other felony offenses—arguing he was not bailable pursuant to article

II, § 22. Id. at 428, 493 P.2d at 1233. This court quashed the order setting bond, finding

the state had established the proof was evident and the presumption great as to the present

charge and the court had released the defendant “solely upon the theory that the

constitutional provision was not mandatory.” Id. at 429, 493 P.2d at 1234. We reasoned

that allowing the trial court to release the defendant after the state had proven the bail

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exception would “completely subvert [the provision’s] purpose and relegate bail

determination to the conditions that existed prior to the time that the constitutional

provision was approved by the people.” Id. In State v. Swinburne, this court clarified that

when an accused is released without authority, the bond is void ab initio and a surety is

not estopped to assert its invalidity. 121 Ariz. 404, 405, 590 P.2d 943, 944 (App. 1979)

(forfeiture improper where trial court had no authority to release capital defendant when

proof evident and presumption great).

¶9            Azteca argues article II, § 22, as interpreted by Garrett, “impose[d] a duty

on the . . . [trial] court[] to determine [whether Kendrick was] on release for a felony

offense before setting bail” and suggests the court was required to hold him until it had

determined whether the proof was evident or the presumption great. The provision’s

language and relevant case law, however, do not support Azteca’s argument; instead, both

require the court to presume Kendrick was bailable unless the state proved otherwise. See

Lee, 226 Ariz. 234, ¶ 9, 245 P.3d at 922 (plain language of constitutional provision best

reflection of electorate’s intent); Simpson, 207 Ariz. 261, ¶¶ 26-27, 85 P.3d at 487. And

although Garrett clarified that the court would not have had the authority to release

Kendrick had the state proven an exception to the right to bail, it did not impose a burden

on the court to determine a defendant’s release status in the absence of such proof. 16
Ariz. App. at 428-29, 493 P.2d at 1233-34. Similarly, in Swinburne, we set aside the

bond only after the state had proven the proof was evident and the presumption great as to

the defendant’s capital charge. 121 Ariz. at 404-05, 590 P.2d at 943-44.

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¶10           Azteca also argues the court erred by finding “the State ha[d] the discretion

to pursue a request that no bail be afforded an accused” because the finding implied the

state was not required to determine whether an accused was on release and “exempted the

state from the requirements of the Arizona Constitution.”           At the hearing, Azteca

conceded the state did not have a duty “to seek a hearing to prove the proof is evident, the

presumption great” pursuant to article II, § 22. See State v. Murphy, 113 Ariz. 416, 418,

555 P.2d 1110, 1112 (1976) (court generally cannot interfere with prosecutor’s exercise

of discretion in criminal justice system unless acting illegally or in excess of powers).

Nonetheless, it argued the state must inform the court if it “declines to attempt to prove

the proof evident and the presumption great” when a defendant is on release. On appeal,

Azteca phrases the requirement as “a burden [on the state,] which includes informing the

trial court that the no-bail provision may apply” and “that a defendant may not be entitled

to bail” based on his release status. It argues the state is required to follow whatever

procedures are necessary to enforce the provision because Garrett determined article II,

§ 22 was “mandatory.” Once again, Azteca’s argument misconstrues the meaning of

“mandatory” as it is used in Garrett. That case held the trial court was mandated to deny

bail after the state had proven an exception to the right to bail; it did not provide the court

a basis to impose additional procedural requirements on the state. 16 Ariz. App. at 428-

29, 493 P.2d at 1233-34; see also State ex rel. Romley v. Ballinger, 209 Ariz. 1, ¶ 6, 97
P.3d 101, 102 (2004) (inferior courts may not supplement or supersede state supreme

court’s power to enact court rules).

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¶11           Azteca argued at the hearing below that “it’s not the job of the bond

company . . . to go look up everything” about an accused’s status. However, “[i]t is well

settled in this jurisdiction that a surety assumes the risk of a defendant’s failure to

appear.” Bond Forfeiture in Pima Cnty. Cause No. CR-20031154, 208 Ariz. 368, ¶ 4, 93
P.3d at 1085-86. “[W]e know of no authority that imposes a duty on the state to seek out

a surety and furnish it information about a criminal defendant . . . .” Id. “To the contrary,

no one but the surety had any duty to ascertain the wisdom or folly of contracting with the

defendant to post a bond that would secure his appearance in court.” Id.

¶12           Azteca has not established the trial court acted “without authority” when it

released Kendrick. See Swinburne, 121 Ariz. at 405, 590 P.2d at 944. Therefore, the

bond is valid, and the court did not err in ordering its forfeiture.

                                         Disposition

¶13           For the foregoing reasons, the trial court’s judgment is affirmed.

                                                /s/ Virginia C. Kelly
                                                VIRGINIA C. KELLY, Judge

CONCURRING:

/s/ Garye L. Vásquez
GARYE L. VÁSQUEZ, Presiding Judge

/s/ Philip G. Espinosa
PHILIP G. ESPINOSA, Judge

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