Court Opinion

ID: 2772158
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-01-22 15:02:09.717646+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:27:45.999237
License: Public Domain

NOTICE: NOT FOR OFFICIAL PUBLICATION.
 UNDER ARIZONA RULE OF THE SUPREME COURT 111(c), THIS DECISION IS NOT PRECEDENTIAL
                 AND MAY BE CITED ONLY AS AUTHORIZED BY RULE.

                                    IN THE
             ARIZONA COURT OF APPEALS
                                DIVISION ONE

                       STATE OF ARIZONA, Appellee,

                                        v.

                     JULIO CESAR MACIAS, Appellant.

                             No. 1 CA-CR 13-0792
                               FILED 1-22-2015

           Appeal from the Superior Court in Maricopa County
                        No. CR 2012-006246-001
           The Honorable Richard L. Nothwehr, Judge Pro Tem

                                  AFFIRMED

                                   COUNSEL

Arizona Attorney General’s Office, Phoenix
By Joseph T. Maziarz
Counsel for Appellee

Maricopa County Office of the Legal Advocate, Phoenix
By Kerri L. Chamberlin
Counsel for Appellant
                             STATE v. MACIAS
                            Decision of the Court

                      MEMORANDUM DECISION

Presiding Judge Margaret H. Downie delivered the decision of the Court,
in which Judge Andrew W. Gould and Judge Samuel A. Thumma joined.

D O W N I E, Judge:

¶1            Julio Macias appeals his convictions for aggravated assault
and resisting arrest. Pursuant to Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967),
and State v. Leon, 104 Ariz. 297, 451 P.2d 878 (1969), defense counsel has
searched the record, found no arguable question of law, and asked that we
review the record for reversible error. See State v. Richardson, 175 Ariz. 336,
339, 857 P.2d 388, 391 (App. 1993). Defendant was given the opportunity to
file a supplemental brief in propria persona, but he has not done so.

                 FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

¶2          Phoenix police officers responded to a 911 call at an apartment
complex around 4:30 a.m. Officer Miller entered the caller’s apartment and,
through the walls, heard a female crying. Officers saw lights in Macias’
apartment and heard crying and screaming coming from inside. An officer
knocked on Macias’ door for several minutes, stating: “Phoenix police.”
Though the apartment blinds were drawn, Sergeant Bryant saw two
shadows within.

¶3            Mrs. Macias opened the apartment door. She “had red puffy
eyes” and appeared to have been crying. When asked if others were in the
apartment, Mrs. Macias informed officers her husband was also inside.
Officer Blanco and Sergeant Bryant investigated, announcing themselves as
“Phoenix police” as they explored the apartment. Officer Blanco found
Macias behind a closet door, instructed him to come out, and placed a hand
on Macias’ shoulder or arm, escorting him out of the closet.

¶4            Macias pulled away from Officer Blanco and pushed Sergeant
Bryant. Sergeant Bryant fell backward into a bed and then onto the floor.
Macias put Officer Blanco in a headlock. Macias bit Officer Blanco’s finger,
and Sergeant Bryant received an abrasion on his wrist. Officer Miller came
to assist, and all three officers struggled to restrain Macias. Macias
maintained the headlock and actively fought with the officers, “turning,
kicking his legs and pulling his arms underneath him.” Throughout the

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                             STATE v. MACIAS
                            Decision of the Court

struggle, the officers instructed Macias to “stop resisting” and put his hands
behind his back. The officers were able to restrain Macias only after using
physical defense tactics and multiple Taser deployments.

¶5            The State charged Macias with two counts of aggravated
assault (victims Officer Blanco and Sergeant Bryant), class four felonies in
violation of Arizona Revised Statutes (“A.R.S.”) section 13-1204, and one
count of resisting arrest, a class six felony, in violation of A.R.S. § 13-2508.
A jury convicted Macias on all three counts. The superior court sentenced
Macias to concurrent terms of probation for each count.

                               DISCUSSION

¶6             We have read and considered the briefs submitted by counsel
and have reviewed the entire record. Leon, 104 Ariz. at 300, 451 P.2d at 881.
We find no reversible error. All of the proceedings were conducted in
compliance with the Arizona Rules of Criminal Procedure, and the
sentences imposed were within the statutory range. Macias was present at
all critical phases of the proceedings and was represented by counsel. The
jury was properly impaneled and instructed. The jury instructions were
consistent with the offenses charged. The record reflects no irregularity in
the deliberation process.

¶7             “We view the evidence in the light most favorable to
sustaining the verdicts and resolve all inferences against appellant.” State
v. Nihiser, 191 Ariz. 199, 201, 953 P.2d 1252, 1254 (App. 1997). The record
includes substantial evidence to support the jury’s verdicts. See State v.
Tison, 129 Ariz. 546, 552, 633 P.2d 355, 361 (1981) (In reviewing for
sufficiency of evidence, “[t]he test to be applied is whether there is
substantial evidence to support a guilty verdict.”). “Substantial evidence is
proof that reasonable persons could accept as sufficient to support a
conclusion of a defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.” State v.
Spears, 184 Ariz. 277, 290, 908 P.2d 1062, 1075 (1996). Substantial evidence
“may be either circumstantial or direct.” State v. Henry, 205 Ariz. 229, 232,
¶ 11, 68 P.3d 455, 458 (App. 2003).

¶8             To prove counts one and two, the State was required to prove
Macias (1) intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly caused a physical injury,
and (2) Macias knew or had reason to know the person assaulted was a
police officer. A.R.S. §§ 13-1203, -1204(A)(8)(a).

¶9            Officer Blanco was escorting Macias from the closet when
Macias pulled away and then put his arm around Officer Blanco’s neck,
placing him in a chokehold. Macias continued to struggle with the officers,

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                             STATE v. MACIAS
                            Decision of the Court

biting Officer Blanco’s finger in the process. Officer Blanco testified about
the injury caused by the bite, and the jury saw photographs of the wound.

¶10            Sergeant Bryant testified Macias pushed him backwards with
enough force to cause him to fall. Sergeant Bryant tried to assist in Macias’
arrest, and all three officers testified Macias continued fighting them to the
point they were required to use force. Sergeant Bryant suffered an abrasion
to his wrist, and the jury saw photos of his injury.

¶11         The officers testified they knocked on the front door for
several minutes, announcing themselves as “Phoenix police.” They
continued to announce themselves as “Phoenix police” while going
through the apartment. All three officers were wearing standard issue
uniforms, displaying badges and their utility belts; the jury saw
photographs of the uniforms worn at the time.

¶12           As to count three, the State was required to prove (1) a peace
officer sought to arrest Macias or another person, (2) Macias knew or had
reason to know the person seeking to make the arrest was a peace officer
acting under official authority, (3) Macias intentionally prevented or
attempted to prevent the peace officer from making the arrest, and (4) the
means Macias used to prevent arrest involved either the use or threat of use
of physical force or any other substantial risk of physical injury to either the
peace officer or another. A.R.S. § 13-2508(A)(1)-(2).

¶13           All three officers testified they worked as police officers for
the Phoenix Police Department on the night in question. Officer Blanco
testified he attempted to arrest Macias after Macias pushed Sergeant
Bryant. As discussed supra, the officers announced themselves as Phoenix
police several times, and the jury saw photographs of the officers’ uniforms.
Macias stated, “I want to be one of you guys” during his struggle with the
officers, and Macias testified this meant he “wanted to be in law
enforcement.”

¶14            The officers all described actions by Macias that prevented
them from making an arrest. Macias pulled away from, maintained a
headlock on, and bit Officer Blanco; he pushed Sergeant Bryant, causing
him to fall; and continued “actively fighting” with officers on the ground.
Macias continued struggling despite officers directing him to “stop
resisting.”

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                            STATE v. MACIAS
                           Decision of the Court

                              CONCLUSION

¶15            We affirm Macias’ convictions and sentences. Counsel’s
obligations pertaining to Macias’ representation in this appeal have ended.
Counsel need do nothing more than inform Macias of the status of the
appeal and his future options, unless counsel’s review reveals an issue
appropriate for submission to the Arizona Supreme Court by petition for
review. State v. Shattuck, 140 Ariz. 582, 584-85, 684 P.2d 154, 156-57 (1984).
On the court’s own motion, Macias shall have thirty days from the date of
this decision to proceed, if he desires, with an in propria persona motion for
reconsideration or petition for review.

                                   :ama

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