Court Opinion

ID: 4394600
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-05-07 17:02:01.638365+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:52:04.107727
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 UNDER ARIZONA RULE OF THE SUPREME COURT 111(c), THIS DECISION IS NOT PRECEDENTIAL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.

                    BRIAN LEE PINTARICH, Appellant.

                             No. 1 CA-CR 18-0439
                               FILED 5-7-2019

           Appeal from the Superior Court in Mohave County
                        No. S8015CR201700157
              The Honorable Richard D. Lambert, Judge

                                  AFFIRMED

                                   COUNSEL

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

Mohave County Legal Advocate’s Office, Kingman
By Jill L. Evans
Counsel for Appellant
                          STATE v. PINTARICH
                           Decision of the Court

                      MEMORANDUM DECISION

Judge Kenton D. Jones delivered the decision of the Court, in which
Presiding Judge Lawrence F. Winthrop and Judge Maria Elena Cruz joined.

J O N E S, Judge:

¶1            Brian Pintarich appeals his convictions and sentences for one
count of possession of a dangerous drug for sale (methamphetamine), one
count of possession of a narcotic drug (heroin), one count of possession of
marijuana, and three counts of possession of drug paraphernalia. After
searching the entire record, Pintarich’s defense counsel identified no
arguable question of law that is not frivolous. Therefore, in accordance with
Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967), and State v. Leon, 104 Ariz. 297
(1969), defense counsel asks this Court to search the record for fundamental
error. Pintarich was granted an opportunity to file a supplemental brief in
propria persona and did so. After reviewing the entire record, we reject the
arguments raised in Pintarich’s supplemental brief and find no error.
Accordingly, Pintarich’s convictions and sentences are affirmed.

                FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

¶2             On February 2, 2017, law enforcement officers found and
detained Pintarich while executing a search warrant at a residence in
Kingman.1 The search of Pintarich’s room revealed methamphetamine,
heroin, marijuana, a spoon with heroin on it, multiple sizes of Ziploc bags,
a pipe used to smoke methamphetamine, a small digital scale, and a
portable counterfeit detector for U.S. currency. When questioned, Pintarich
admitted possessing heroin and methamphetamine. Pintarich explained he
had obtained the methamphetamine the day before but had not yet paid for
it. He also told the detective he was not regularly employed but performed
odd jobs to help pay his rent.

¶3          The State charged Pintarich with one count of possession of a
dangerous drug for sale (methamphetamine), one count of possession of a

1      “We view the facts in the light most favorable to sustaining the
convictions with all reasonable inferences resolved against the defendant.”
State v. Harm, 236 Ariz. 402, 404, ¶ 2 n.2 (App. 2015) (quoting State v.
Valencia, 186 Ariz. 493, 495 (App. 1996)).

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                          STATE v. PINTARICH
                           Decision of the Court

narcotic drug for sale (heroin), one count of possession of marijuana (less
than two pounds) for sale, and three counts of possession of drug
paraphernalia.

¶4            At the close of the State’s case, Pintarich moved
unsuccessfully for judgment of acquittal, and the jury convicted him of one
count of possession of a dangerous drug for sale (methamphetamine), one
count of the lessor-included offense of possession of a narcotic drug
(heroin), one count of the lessor-included offense of possession of
marijuana, and three counts of possession of drug paraphernalia. The trial
court sentenced Pintarich as a non-dangerous, non-repetitive offender to
concurrent presumptive terms of ten years’ imprisonment for possession of
a dangerous drug for sale (methamphetamine); two-and-a-half years’
imprisonment for possession of a narcotic drug (heroin); one year’s
imprisonment for possession of marijuana; and one year’s imprisonment
for each count of possession of drug paraphernalia. The court also credited
Pintarich with 130 days of presentence incarceration. Pintarich timely
appealed, and we have jurisdiction pursuant to Arizona Revised Statutes
(A.R.S.) §§ 12-120.21(A)(1),2 13-4031, and -4033(A)(1).

                              DISCUSSION

I.    Conflict of Interest

¶5           Within his supplemental brief, Pintarich argues the trial judge
erred when he declined to recuse himself based upon his prior association
with the case agent and the sergeant who testified. Before trial, the judge
advised:

      [W]hen I was a prosecutor, I worked really closely with [the
      sergeant]. And then also a lesser amount, but also I worked
      with [the case agent] as well. But I don’t think that that’s
      going to affect my impartiality in any way. But I just want to
      get it on the record that I worked with both of those officers,
      especially [the sergeant].

Pintarich’s counsel did not object to the judge’s decision to remain on the
case. Because there was no objection, we review the decision for
fundamental error. See State v. Henderson, 210 Ariz. 561, 567, ¶ 19 (2005)
(citing State v. Bible, 175 Ariz. 549, 572 (1993)).

2      Absent material changes from the relevant date, we cite the current
version of statutes and rules.

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                             STATE v. PINTARICH
                              Decision of the Court

¶6             “A trial judge is presumed to be free of bias and prejudice.”
State v. Ramsey, 211 Ariz. 529, 541, ¶ 38 (App. 2005) (quoting State v. Hurley,
197 Ariz. 400, 404, ¶ 24 (App. 2000)). “Bias and prejudice means a hostile
feeling or spirit of ill-will, or undue friendship or favoritism” toward one
of the parties. State v. Myers, 117 Ariz. 79, 86 (1977). Pintarich does not cite
any evidence indicating the trial judge exhibited any bias in favor of the
State or its witnesses to rebut the presumption of judicial impartiality. Our
review of the record likewise reveals no suggestion of bias. Accordingly,
we find no error in the judge’s decision to remain on the case.

II.    Plea Agreement

¶7            Pintarich also suggests the State erred by presenting him a
plea agreement encompassing both this case and another criminal case
pending at the time. The record indicates Pintarich wanted to plead guilty
in this case but proceed to trial in the other. However, Pintarich has “no
constitutional right to a plea agreement and the state is not required to offer
one.” State v. Jackson, 209 Ariz. 13, 15, ¶ 6 (App. 2004) (quoting State v.
Secord, 207 Ariz. 517, 520, ¶ 6 (App. 2004)). Accordingly, we reject any
argument that Pintarich has a right to dictate the terms of a plea agreement.

III.   Voir Dire

¶8            Pintarich argues he did not receive a fair and impartial jury
because some jurors were “mildly manipulated or talked into changing
their minds” as to whether they could be fair and impartial. Because
Pintarich’s counsel did not object to any line of questioning during voir
dire, we review this issue for fundamental error. See Henderson, 210 Ariz.
at 567, ¶ 19 (citing Bible, 175 Ariz. at 572). “The purpose of voir dire
examination is to determine whether prospective jurors can fairly and
impartially decide the case at bar and the scope of such examination is
within the sound discretion of the trial judge.” State v. Baumann, 125 Ariz.
404, 409 (1980) (citing State v. Smith, 114 Ariz. 415, 418 (1977); State v. Bullock,
26 Ariz. App. 149, 152 (1976); and Ariz. R. Crim. P. 18.5(c)). The record
reflects the trial court properly and neutrally examined each juror to
determine whether they could be fair and impartial. We find no error.

IV.    Prior Conviction

¶9            Pintarich next argues the trial court improperly used a prior
conviction as an aggravating factor after the State withdrew its request to
prove aggravating factors to the jury. But the court may still consider prior
criminal history as an aggravating factor at sentencing even if the State
withdraws the formal allegation. See State v. Martinez, 209 Ariz. 280, 284-

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                           STATE v. PINTARICH
                            Decision of the Court

85, ¶¶ 16-17 (App. 2004) (noting the court may weigh additional
aggravating and mitigating circumstances to determine the appropriate
sentence within the available range). Where, as here, “no aggravating
factors have been proved to a jury beyond a reasonable doubt,” the
available range extends only up to the presumptive sentence. See State v.
Martinez, 210 Ariz. 578, 583, ¶ 17 (2005) (citing State v. Brown, 209 Ariz. 200,
203, ¶ 12 (2004)). The record reflects the court followed these procedures
and properly considered Pintarich’s prior conviction before sentencing him
to the presumptive term on each conviction.

V.     Sentencing Range

¶10         Pintarich argues the trial court applied the wrong sentencing
range to his conviction for possession of a dangerous drug for sale
(methamphetamine). In advancing this argument, Pintarich relies upon
A.R.S. § 13-702(D), which prescribes sentences for first-time felony
offenders.  However, possession of methamphetamine for sale is
punishable pursuant to A.R.S. § 13-3407(A)(2), (E). This statute prescribes
a presumptive term of ten years and was properly applied by the court here.

VI.    Search Warrant

¶11           Pintarich also questions the basis of the search warrant.
Because he fails to develop any argument on this issue, we reject it
summarily as waived. See State v. Cons, 208 Ariz. 409, 416, ¶ 18 (2004)
(citations omitted).

VII.   Ineffective Assistance of Trial Counsel

¶12            Finally, Pintarich suggests he did not receive effective
assistance of counsel at trial. A claim for ineffective assistance of counsel
may only be brought in post-conviction relief proceedings under Arizona
Rule of Criminal Procedure 32, and our supreme court has directed that
“[a]ny such claims improvidently raised in a direct appeal . . . will not be
addressed by appellate courts regardless of merit.” State v. Spreitz, 202 Ariz.
1, 3, ¶ 9 (2002).

VIII. Fundamental Error Review

¶13             Further review reveals no fundamental error. See Leon, 104
Ariz. at 300 (“An exhaustive search of the record has failed to produce any
prejudicial error.”). A person is guilty of possession of a dangerous drug
for sale if he knowingly possesses methamphetamine with the intent to sell
it. A.R.S. §§ 13-3401(6)(b)(xxxviii), -3407(A)(2). A person is guilty of

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                            STATE v. PINTARICH
                             Decision of the Court

possession of a narcotic drug if he knowingly possesses heroin. See A.R.S.
§§ 13-3401(20)(ttt), (21)(m), -3408(A)(1). A person is guilty of possession of
marijuana if he knowingly possesses marijuana. A.R.S. § 13-3405(A)(1).
And, a person is guilty of possession of drug paraphernalia if he possesses
“with intent to use, drug paraphernalia to . . . process, prepare, test,
analyze, pack, repack, store, contain, conceal, inject, ingest, inhale or
otherwise introduce into the human body a[n] [illegal] drug.” A.R.S. § 13-
3415(A). The record contains sufficient evidence upon which the jury could
determine beyond a reasonable doubt that Pintarich was guilty of the
charged offenses.

¶14           All the proceedings were conducted in compliance with the
Arizona Rules of Criminal Procedure. So far as the record reveals, Pintarich
was represented by counsel at all stages of the proceedings. See State v.
Conner, 163 Ariz. 97, 104 (1990) (right to counsel at critical stages) (citations
omitted). Pintarich did not appear for the final pretrial management
conference or trial but does not suggest any error in the decision to proceed
in absentia. We likewise find no error, as Pintarich was advised of the trial
date and warned the trial could go forward if he failed to appear. See Ariz.
R. Crim. P. 9.1 (“[A] defendant’s voluntary absence waives the right to be
present at any proceeding. The court may infer that a defendant’s absence
is voluntary if the defendant had actual notice of the date and time of the
proceeding, notice of the right to be present, and notice that the proceeding
would go forward in the defendant’s absence.”); accord State v. Muniz-
Caudillo, 185 Ariz. 261, 262 (App. 1996) (citing State v. Tudgay, 128 Ariz. 1, 2
(1981)). Moreover, the jury was instructed not to consider Pintarich’s
absence when deciding whether the State had proved its case beyond a
reasonable doubt.

¶15          The jury was properly comprised of twelve jurors, and the
record shows no evidence of jury misconduct. See Ariz. Const. art. 2, § 23;
A.R.S. § 21-102(A); Ariz. R. Crim. P. 18.1(a). The trial court properly
instructed the jury on the elements of the charged offenses, the State’s
burden of proof, and Pintarich’s presumption of innocence. At sentencing,
Pintarich was given an opportunity to speak, and the court stated on the
record the evidence and materials it considered and the factors it found in
imposing the sentences. See Ariz. R. Crim. P. 26.9, 26.10. Additionally, the
sentences imposed were within the statutory limits. See A.R.S. §§ 13-702(D),
-3407(E).

                               CONCLUSION

¶16           Pintarich’s convictions and sentences are affirmed.

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                           STATE v. PINTARICH
                            Decision of the Court

¶17            Defense counsel’s obligations pertaining to Pintarich’s
representation in this appeal have ended. Defense counsel need do no more
than inform Pintarich of the outcome of this appeal and his future options,
unless, upon review, counsel finds an issue appropriate for submission to
our supreme court by petition for review. State v. Shattuck, 140 Ariz. 582,
584-85 (1984).

¶18            Pintarich has thirty days from the date of this decision to
proceed, if he wishes, with an in propria persona petition for review. See Ariz.
R. Crim. P. 31.21. Upon the Court’s own motion, we also grant Pintarich
thirty days from the date of this decision to file an in propria persona motion
for reconsideration. See Ariz. R. Crim. P. 31.20.

                         AMY M. WOOD • Clerk of the Court
                         FILED: AA

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