Court Opinion

ID: 3167138
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-01-05 15:01:55.865813+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:02:36.767688
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 UNDER ARIZONA RULE OF THE SUPREME COURT 111(c), THIS DECISION IS NOT PRECEDENTIAL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.

                      ERIC ALDEN MILLER, Appellant.

                             No. 1 CA-CR 15-0028
                               FILED 1-5-2016

           Appeal from the Superior Court in Maricopa County
                        No. CR2012-110150-001
            The Honorable Brian D. Kaiser, Judge Pro Tempore

                                  AFFIRMED

                                   COUNSEL

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

Maricopa County Public Defender's Office, Phoenix
By Joel M. Glynn
Counsel for Appellant
                             STATE v. MILLER
                            Decision of the Court

                       MEMORANDUM DECISION

Presiding Judge Diane M. Johnsen delivered the decision of the Court, in
which Judge Kent E. Cattani and Judge John C. Gemmill joined.

J O H N S E N, Judge:

¶1            This appeal was timely filed in accordance with Anders v.
California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967), and State v. Leon, 104 Ariz. 297 (1969),
following Eric Miller's convictions of four counts of aggravated driving or
actual physical control while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or
drugs, each a Class 4 felony. Miller's counsel has searched the record on
appeal and found no arguable question of law that is not frivolous. See
Smith v. Robbins, 528 U.S. 259 (2000); Anders, 386 U.S. 738; State v. Clark, 196
Ariz. 530 (App. 1999). Miller was given the opportunity to file a
supplemental brief but did not do so. Counsel now asks this court to search
the record for fundamental error. After reviewing the entire record, we
affirm Miller's convictions and sentences.

                 FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

¶2             While driving in a parking lot, Miller collided with another
car.1 The owner of the other car testified she noticed an odor of alcohol
from Miller and called 911. Officers discovered Miller at a nearby
residence. After speaking with Miller and conducting a field sobriety test,
officers arrested him for driving under the influence of intoxicating liquor
("DUI"). About two hours after the accident, two breathalyzer tests
measured Miller's blood alcohol level at .198 and .197. A criminalist
testified that Miller's blood alcohol level would have been at least .200
within two hours of driving. Miller testified his driver's license was
suspended on the day of the accident and that he had two prior DUI
convictions. As noted, the jury convicted Miller of four counts of
aggravated driving or actual physical control while under the influence of
intoxicating liquor or drugs, under Arizona Revised Statutes ("A.R.S.")

1      Upon review, we view the facts in the light most favorable to
sustaining the jury's verdicts and resolve all inferences against Miller. State
v. Fontes, 195 Ariz. 229, 230, ¶ 2 (App. 1998).

                                       2
                            STATE v. MILLER
                           Decision of the Court

sections 28-1381(A)(1), (A)(2) (2016), -1383(A)(1), (A)(2) (2016).2 The court
sentenced Miller to four months' incarceration with 88 days of presentence
incarceration credit, to be followed by five years' probation.

¶3            Miller timely appealed. We have jurisdiction pursuant to
Article 6, Section 9, of the Arizona Constitution, and A.R.S. §§ 12-
120.21(A)(1) (2016), 13-4031 (2016) and -4033 (2016).

                               DISCUSSION

¶4             The record reflects Miller received a fair trial. He was
represented by counsel at all stages of the proceedings against him. The
court allowed counsel to waive Miller's presence at two pretrial hearings,
where it granted Miller's motion to continue and instructed Miller's counsel
to submit affidavits signed by Miller acknowledging waiver of time and
pending court dates. Miller also failed to appear at an evidentiary hearing
on his motion to dismiss. The court properly found that Miller voluntarily
absented himself from that hearing. Under Arizona Rule of Criminal
Procedure 9.1, "a defendant may waive the right to be present at any
proceeding by voluntarily absenting himself or herself," and "[t]he court
may infer that an absence is voluntary if the defendant had personal notice
of the time of the proceeding, the right to be present at it, and a warning
that the proceeding would go forward in his or her absence should he or
she fail to appear." Ariz. R. Crim. P. 9.1. Miller was present when the court
announced the date for the evidentiary hearing, Miller's counsel informed
the court that he had spoken with Miller the day before and had expected
Miller at the hearing, and Miller had been informed at two prior status
conferences that if he failed to appear, a warrant could be issued and the
trial could take place in his absence.

¶5            The court held appropriate pretrial hearings. It did not
conduct a voluntariness hearing; however, the record did not suggest a
question about the voluntariness of Miller's statements to police. See State
v. Smith, 114 Ariz. 415, 419 (1977); State v. Finn, 111 Ariz. 271, 275 (1974).

¶6             The State presented both direct and circumstantial evidence
sufficient to allow the jury to convict. The jury was properly comprised of
eight members and two alternates. The court properly instructed the jury
on the elements of the charges, the State's burden of proof and the necessity
of a unanimous verdict. The jury returned a unanimous verdict, which was

2      Absent material revision after the date of an alleged offense, we cite
a statute's current version.

                                      3
                             STATE v. MILLER
                            Decision of the Court

confirmed by juror polling. The court received and considered a
presentence report, addressed its contents during the sentencing hearing
and imposed a legal sentence for the crimes of which Miller was convicted.

                               CONCLUSION

¶7            We have reviewed the entire record for reversible error and
find none, and therefore affirm the convictions and resulting sentences. See
Leon, 104 Ariz. at 300.

¶8            After the filing of this decision, defense counsel's obligations
pertaining to Miller's representation in this appeal have ended. Defense
counsel need do no more than inform Miller of the outcome of this appeal
and his future options, unless, upon review, counsel finds "an issue
appropriate for submission" to the Arizona Supreme Court by petition for
review. See State v. Shattuck, 140 Ariz. 582, 584-85 (1984). On the court's
own motion, Miller has 30 days from the date of this decision to proceed, if
he wishes, with a pro per motion for reconsideration. Miller has 30 days
from the date of this decision to proceed, if he wishes, with a pro per petition
for review.

                                   :ama

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