Court Opinion

ID: 4156041
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-03-28 16:03:22.442267+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:37:49.002193
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 UNDER ARIZONA RULE OF THE SUPREME COURT 111(c), THIS DECISION IS NOT PRECEDENTIAL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.

                  FRANKIE TOMMY ACOSTA, Appellant.

                  Nos. 1 CA-CR 16-0097, 1 CA-CR 16-0319
                              (Consolidated)
                            FILED 3-28-2017

           Appeal from the Superior Court in Maricopa County
              Nos. CR2014-125609-001, CR2005-006385-004
            The Honorable Jerry Bernstein, Judge Pro Tempore

                                  AFFIRMED

                                   COUNSEL

Arizona Attorney General’s Office, Phoenix
By Elizabeth B. N. Garcia
Counsel for Appellee

Maricopa County Public Defender’s Office, Phoenix
By Rena Glitsos
Counsel for Appellant
                             STATE v. ACOSTA
                            Decision of the Court

                      MEMORANDUM DECISION

Judge Patricia A. Orozco delivered the decision of the Court, in which
Presiding Judge Samuel A. Thumma and Judge Maurice Portley joined.1

O R O Z C O, Judge:

¶1            Frankie Tommy Acosta appeals his convictions and sentences
for aggravated assault, a class 3 dangerous felony (Count 1); assault, a class
3 misdemeanor and domestic violence offense (Count 2); and misconduct
involving weapons, a class 4 felony (Count 3).2 Because Acosta has shown
no reversible error, we affirm.

                              BACKGROUND

¶2            On the morning of May 26, 2014, while shopping at Walmart,
Kelly Daley saw Acosta and his girlfriend, A.O.3, arguing. Daley was
concerned for A.O., because she looked “really, really scared” and “afraid
of [Acosta],” so Daley followed them as they left the store. When Acosta
started yelling at A.O. in the parking lot, Daley called 9-1-1. Then Daley
saw Acosta choke A.O.

1      The Honorable Patricia A. Orozco and Honorable Maurice Portley,
Retired Judges of the Court of Appeals, Division One, have been authorized
to sit in this matter pursuant to Article VI, Section 3 of the Arizona
Constitution.

2      Acosta was granted leave to file a delayed notice of appeal on the
revocation of his probation previously imposed in CR2005-006385-004 DT.
Acosta’s opening brief, however, fails to comply with Arizona Rule of
Criminal Procedure 31.13(c)(1)(vi), requiring the brief to contain “the
contentions of the appellant with respect to the issues presented . . . with
citations to the authorities, statutes and parts of the record relied on.”
Accordingly, Acosta has waived any challenge to the revocation of his
probation and resulting sentence, and therefore we decline to address it.

3       We use the victims’ initials to protect their identity and privacy. See
State v. Maldonado, 206 Ariz. 339, 341 n.1, ¶ 2 (App. 2003).

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¶3              At the same time, A.S. and his family drove into the Walmart
parking lot and saw Acosta grab A.O. by the throat, pick her up, slam her
against a car, and shove her into a white sport utility vehicle. In an attempt
to assist, A.S. stopped his car in the middle of the aisle and approached the
couple. As A.S. took a few steps forward, he told Acosta “hey, homie, you
need to stop.” Acosta turned around and pointed a gun at A.S.’s head and
then his chest. A.S. retreated with his hands in the air, saying “hey man,
I’ve got my kids with me.” As A.S. backed away, Acosta charged at him,
then turned, walked away, got into the white SUV, and sped off. A.S. took
down the license plate of the white SUV. When the police arrived, they
interviewed Daley and A.S., and took their written statements. Two
Walmart security cameras captured video, but not audio, of the entire
encounter from two different angles.

¶4             Acosta was charged with aggravated assault of victim A.S.
(Count 1); misdemeanor assault of victim A.O. (Count 2); and misconduct
involving weapons (Count 3). Given these charges, a petition to revoke
Acosta’s probation imposed in CR2005-006385-004 DT was filed. A jury
found Acosta guilty of aggravated assault. Based upon that conviction the
court found Acosta in automatic violation of his probation for the 2005
conviction. The trial court found Acosta guilty of misdemeanor assault.4
In a later proceeding, Acosta pled guilty to misconduct involving weapons,
which had been severed from the other two counts at the beginning of trial.5
Acosta was sentenced to 11.5 years’ imprisonment for Count 1; 30 days’
incarceration for Count 2, with credit for time served; two years’ probation
for Count 3 to be served upon release on Count 1; and four years’
imprisonment for the probation violation to be served consecutive to the
sentence in Count 1. Acosta was granted 734 days’ credit for time served.

4      Pursuant to the comment of Arizona Rule of Criminal Procedure 18.1
“[a] defendant has a right to a jury trial when charged with . . . an offense
which carries a sentence more severe than 6 months in jail[.]” Since Count
2 was amended to a class 3 misdemeanor, Acosta was only facing thirty
days in jail, therefore the court considered the evidence presented. The jury
was only asked to reach a verdict on Count 1.

5      See State v. Burns, 237 Ariz. 1, 15, ¶ 39 (2015) (holding that unless the
parties have stipulated to a defendant’s status as a prohibited possessor, a
court can conduct a bifurcated trial to adjudicate any charge that requires
evidence of a prior felony conviction).

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                            STATE v. ACOSTA
                           Decision of the Court

¶5           Acosta timely appealed his convictions and sentences.6 Upon
leave of court, he filed a delayed appeal from the finding of a probation
violation, and the appeals were consolidated. We have jurisdiction
pursuant to Article VI, Section 9, of the Arizona Constitution and Arizona
Revised Statutes (A.R.S.) sections 12-120.21.A.1, 13-4031 and -4033.A.1.7

                               DISCUSSION

¶6            We review the trial court’s determination of admissibility of
impeachment evidence for an abuse of discretion. State v. Sucharew, 205
Ariz. 16, 23, ¶ 19 (App. 2003). We will reverse the court’s determination
“only when [it] constitute[s] a clear, prejudicial abuse of discretion.” State
v. Ayala, 178 Ariz. 385, 387 (App. 1994).

    I.   Preclusion of Written Witness Statements

¶7           Acosta contends the trial court abused its discretion in
precluding the written statements A.S. and Daley made to police, arguing
they were admissible for impeachment as extrinsic evidence under Arizona
Rules of Evidence 613 and 806. Specifically, Acosta asserts the court
“applied the wrong standard for determining the admissibility of extrinsic
evidence of prior inconsistent statements.”

¶8            A.S.’s testimony revealed two statements inconsistent with
his written statement, and defense counsel impeached him with both. On
direct examination, A.S. testified a third person came out of the white SUV
before Acosta pointed the gun at him. A.S. stated this unidentified young
male “was trying to warn me, when I first got out of my vehicle, just to leave
the situation alone and just get back in my vehicle and go.” On cross-
examination, defense counsel showed A.S. his written statement, which he
reviewed and authenticated. Upon questioning, A.S. admitted that
although he testified the third person exited the white SUV before Acosta
pulled the gun on him, his written statement stated the third person came

6      Since Acosta pled guilty to Count 3, he is precluded from appealing
that conviction and sentence on direct appeal. See Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 13-
4033.B (“In noncapital cases a defendant may not appeal from a judgment
or sentence that is entered pursuant to a plea agreement or admission to a
violation of probation.”).

7      Absent material revisions after the time the offense was committed,
statutes and rules cited refer to the current version unless otherwise
indicated.

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                            STATE v. ACOSTA
                           Decision of the Court

out after Acosta pointed the gun, and the security video confirmed his
written account.

¶9            Additionally A.S. testified that Acosta pointed the gun at him
once. He said that initially Acosta pointed the gun at his head, then “[i]t
was lowered, appeared to be down towards my chest. But it could have
been just lowered, you know . . . .” On cross-examination, defense counsel
challenged him on his written statement, which indicated Acosta pointed
the gun at him twice. A.S.’s written statement stated Acosta “choked [A.O.]
and slammed her against the vehicle [then] pointed a gun to my head [then]
chest, he continued to throw her into the vehicle watching both me and her
very nervously he then pointed the gun back at me.” When questioned,
A.S. admitted the written statement was wrong and confirmed that the
security video did not show a second pointing of the gun after Acosta
shoved A.O. into the SUV.

¶10           Daley’s testimony revealed one statement inconsistent with
her written statement, and likewise defense counsel impeached her with it.
On direct examination, Daley testified that she saw Acosta “pull something
out, do something, and he was holding his arm out” and “waving it
around.” Based upon the crowd’s reaction, she stated she believed Acosta
pulled out a gun. On cross-examination, defense counsel showed Daley her
written statement, which she reviewed and authenticated.             Upon
questioning, Daley admitted that her written statement did not say she saw
Acosta’s arm movements. She further admitted she did not see exactly
what happened between Acosta and A.S. because she was hiding behind a
car.

¶11          After impeaching both A.S. and Daley, Acosta moved to
admit the written statements provided to police, but the State objected on
the grounds that the statements were part of the police report. A bench
conference followed:

      THE COURT: You are trying to get it in under what basis,
      what exception?

      MR. CLARK [Acosta’s counsel]: Well, it’s a statement of a
      witness that they wrote in their own handwriting that I asked
      them each individually on the stand if that statement was
      accurate and that that is something that they related to the
      police. Yes. Now we have differing statements and I want to
      - - in some respects we have statements that are different.

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                           STATE v. ACOSTA
                          Decision of the Court

      With respect to [A.S.], when he was on the stand he said stuff
      that was different than what he wrote.

      THE COURT: But he said - - and you read from those reports,
      and he said those were - -

      MR. CLARK: I did.

      THE COURT: So maybe I’m - - so how is that going to
      impeach if he said they were accurate and you read from the
      statements? What purpose are you trying to get it in? Under
      what basis?

      MR. CLARK: Well, I don’t want the State to come up here
      [and] argue his different version of events when in fact when
      it was fresh in his mind he wrote in his own handwriting what
      he saw and observed.

      THE COURT: I am saying you basically read from it so we
      already know about that, correct?

      MR. CLARK: I did.

      ....

      THE COURT: See, what I’m saying is that before you
      establish that, and he said it was accurate, so how is it
      impeaching it? It’s a recently fabricated statement. He said
      basically, yeah, that was what I said or that’s what I wrote.

      MR. CLARK: Under 806 I can do it by attacking under
      supporting declarant’s credibility.

      THE COURT: He’s saying that’s what he said. It’s not
      impeaching it. Do you understand what I am saying?

      MR. CLARK: I know. My only concern is he said something
      inconsistent on direct.

      THE COURT: But you already impeached him and he didn’t
      deny it. Ordinarily I’d say yes, but I’m saying, yes, he said,
      that’s what I wrote.

Upon which, the court denied Acosta’s request.

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                             STATE v. ACOSTA
                            Decision of the Court

¶12           Evidence of A.S. and Daley making prior statements
inconsistent with their trial testimony is admissible both for impeachment
and substantive evidence as non-hearsay. Ariz. R. Evid. 801(d)(1)(A). And
the superior court allowed such evidence to be admitted during cross-
examination. The question here, however, is whether the superior court
was also required to admit the prior inconsistent written statements in the
form of Exhibit 18.

¶13         Contrary to Acosta’s assertion, Rule 806 is inapplicable here.
Under the Rule,

       [w]hen a hearsay statement . . . has been admitted in evidence,
       the declarant’s credibility may be attacked . . . by any evidence
       that would be admissible for those purposes if the declarant had
       testified as a witness. The court may admit evidence of the
       declarant’s inconsistent statement . . . regardless of when it
       occurred or whether the declarant had an opportunity to
       explain or deny it.

(Emphasis added.)

¶14           We interpret Rule 806 “to specifically permit impeachment of
hearsay statements by absent declarants.” State v. Hernandez, 191 Ariz. 553,
557, ¶ 10 (App. 1998) (emphasis added). Here, both A.S. and Daley testified;
thus, Acosta incorrectly attempted to admit their written statements under
Rule 806. We find no error.

¶15             Next, Acosta contends the trial court erred in precluding the
written statements under Rule 613. Because Acosta failed to move the
written statements into evidence under Rule 613 grounds or object to the
court’s preclusion on that basis, we apply fundamental error review. State
v. Henderson, 210 Ariz. 561, 567, ¶ 19 (2005). Acosta thus carries the burden
of showing not only fundamental error, but also that he was prejudiced by
it. Id. at ¶ 20. Fundamental error is error that goes to the foundation of the
case, deprives a defendant of a right essential to his defense, and is of such
magnitude that he could not possibly have received a fair trial. Id. at ¶ 19.

¶16           Under Rule 613(b), “[e]xtrinsic evidence of a witness’s prior
inconsistent statement is admissible only if the witness is given an
opportunity to explain or deny the statement and an adverse party is given
an opportunity to examine the witness about it, or if justice so requires.”
Acosta cites to State v. Woods, 141 Ariz. 446, 687 P.2d 1201 (1984), for the
proposition that extrinsic evidence containing prior inconsistent statements
is admissible, even when the witness admits the inconsistency. Acosta

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                            STATE v. ACOSTA
                           Decision of the Court

argues the trial court erred as a matter of law because it did not engage in
any analysis under Woods other than focusing on the fact that A.S. and
Daley authenticated their written statements and admitted the
inconsistencies. Acosta asserts the court should have assessed whether
admitting the writings would have assisted the jury in evaluating the
credibility of witnesses. Acosta’s reliance on Woods is misplaced.

¶17           In Woods, the defendant’s accomplice testified at trial. 141
Ariz. at 449. The accomplice’s testimony was inconsistent in some respects
with his previously recorded statements given to a private investigator. Id.
at 451. The defendant argued the trial court erred in precluding the
admission of the taped statements even though the accomplice admitted all
the inconsistences when cross-examined. Id. The court discussed situations
wherein admission of extrinsic evidence of inconsistent statements should
be allowed despite the consumption of time; when the inconsistency
addressed a key element of whether the defendant was guilty. Id. at 451,
453. However, the court held it was not an abuse of discretion in that case
to preclude the tape because the key part of the accomplice’s testimony was
consistent with the recorded statement; the defendant killed the victim and
the accomplice had no prior knowledge of defendant’s intention to kill. Id.
at 453. The court held that whether the jury believed either of the
accomplice’s versions “was collateral to a determination of defendant’s
guilt or innocence. Under either version defendant was guilty.” Id. at 451.

¶18            Acosta’s main contention is that he pulled the gun on A.S. in
self-defense, fearing for his safety because A.S. approached him from
behind. And because it was A.S.’s word against Acosta’s in this regard,
Acotsa argues the written statements should have been admitted to help
assess their credibility. The credibility of A.S. and Acosta and the weight to
be given to their testimony are questions exclusively for the trier-of-fact.
See State v. Cox, 217 Ariz. 353, 357, ¶ 27 (2007).

¶19           Acosta testified that he and A.O. were arguing because he was
trying to take her to a drug rehabilitation facility. Acosta grabbed A.O. in
the parking lot to get her into the SUV. Acosta testified that when he was
putting A.O. in the SUV, he became aware of someone approaching him
from behind. He testified he grabbed the gun in A.O.’s purse, turned
around, and pointed it at A.S. because he feared for his life and only wanted
to scare him away. Acosta admitted he pointed the gun at A.S. twice; his
arm “[w]ent up and down.” Although he maintains he feared for his life,
Acosta admitted that A.S. did not threaten him in any manner, nor did A.S.
have any weapons. Acosta admitted that he initially lied to police, telling
them the gun he pointed at A.S. was just a pellet gun resembling a Glock,

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                            STATE v. ACOSTA
                           Decision of the Court

when in fact it was a real gun. Further, Acosta only admitted that he
pointed the gun at A.S. when confronted with the video evidence.

¶20             Two security videos were played for the jury. Although the
video quality was grainy and they did not have audio, it was daylight and
the incident was unmistakably captured. Acosta appears as he and A.O.
exit Walmart. Acosta is in a red shirt and red hat. He grabs A.O. by the
throat, drags her to the parked white SUV, and shoves her into the door.
Then, A.S. is seen getting out of his dark-colored minivan in the middle of
the aisle and walking toward Acosta and A.O., who are near the SUV. A.S.
does not run or charge at Acosta, and it does not appear he is yelling or
approaching in any aggressive manner. Almost immediately, when A.S. is
still several feet away from them, he begins walking backwards and puts
his hands up. Acosta is seen charging after A.S., even as A.S. is retreating
with his hands in the air. No gun is visible in Acosta’s hands. Acosta then
turns, walks to the white SUV, gets in, and drives away.

¶21           Overwhelming evidence supports Acosta’s convictions.
Whether the jury believed A.S.’s written statement (a third person exited
the SUV after Acosta pointed the gun at him and Acosta pointed the gun at
him twice) or his trial testimony (a third person exited the SUV before Acosta
pointed the gun at him, and Acosta pointed the gun at him once) is collateral
to a determination of Acosta’s guilt. Here, under either version, Acosta is
guilty of aggravated assault. Likewise, whether the jury believed Daley’s
written statement (she did not see any of Acosta’s arm movements) or her
trial testimony (she saw Acosta “pull something out, do something, and he
was holding his arm out” and “waving it around.”) is inconsequential.

¶22            On this record, the superior court did not abuse its discretion
by not admitting the written statements in addition to the verbal testimony
of the prior inconsistent statements. Thus, Acosta has shown no error.

                              CONCLUSION

¶23          Because Acosta has shown no reversible error, we affirm his
convictions and sentences.

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

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