Court Opinion

ID: 891391
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-06-05 18:04:10.618688+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:18:52.479889
License: Public Domain

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 1        IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO

 2 STATE OF NEW MEXICO,

 3          Plaintiff-Appellee,

 4 v.                                                                                     No. 32,402

 5 JOE SILVA,

 6          Defendant-Appellant.

 7 APPEAL FROM THE DISTRICT COURT OF MCKINLEY COUNTY
 8 Grant L. Foutz, District Judge

 9 Gary K. King, Attorney General
10 Santa Fe, NM

11 for Appellee

12 Bennett J. Baur, Acting Chief Public Defender
13 Nina Lalevic, Assistant Appellate Defender
14 Santa Fe, NM

15 for Appellant

16                                 MEMORANDUM OPINION

17 SUTIN, Judge.
 1        Defendant Joe Silva appeals from the judgment and order partially suspending

 2 his sentence. [RP 215] Defendant was convicted, after a jury trial, of trafficking (by

 3 possession with intent to distribute) and possession of a firearm by a felon. [Id.] In

 4 a calendar notice, this Court proposed to affirm Defendant’s convictions. [CN 1]

 5 Defendant has filed a memorandum in opposition that we have duly considered.

 6 [MIO] Unpersuaded, however, we affirm Defendant’s convictions.

 7 DISCUSSION

 8 Issue 1:     Sufficiency of the Evidence

 9        Defendant contends that the evidence was not sufficient to support a guilty

10 verdict of trafficking controlled substances with intent to distribute, as the

11 methamphetamine amounted to 0.48 grams, and the State did not meet the burden of

12 proof to establish intent to transfer. [DS 7] In his memorandum in opposition,

13 Defendant does not provide us with facts or authorities that we did not consider in

14 proposing summary affirmance on this issue in the calendar notice. [MIO 1-6]

15 Moreover, we note that Defendant relies on State v. Franklin, 78 N.M. 127, 129, 428

16 P.2d 982, 984 (1967), and State v. Boyer, 103 N.M. 655, 658-60, 712 P.2d 1, 4-6 (Ct.

17 App. 1985), in continuing to maintain that the evidence presented at trial does not

18 support his convictions. [MIO 6] We disagree and affirm.

                                             2
 1         As we discussed in the calendar notice, “[s]ubstantial evidence review requires

 2 analysis of whether direct or circumstantial substantial evidence exists and supports

 3 a verdict of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt with respect to every element essential

 4 for conviction. We determine whether a rational fact[-]finder could have found that

 5 each element of the crime was established beyond a reasonable doubt.” State v. Kent,

 6 2006-NMCA-134, ¶ 10, 140 N.M. 606, 145 P.3d 86 (citations omitted). “In reviewing

 7 the sufficiency of the evidence, we must view the evidence in the light most favorable

 8 to the guilty verdict, indulging all reasonable inferences and resolving all conflicts in

 9 the evidence in favor of the verdict.” State v. Cunningham, 2000-NMSC-009, ¶ 26,

10 128 N.M. 711, 998 P.2d 176.

11        The jury was instructed that in order to convict Defendant of trafficking a

12 controlled substance by possession with intent to distribute, the State must prove each

13 of the following elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt: (1) Defendant had

14 methamphetamine in his possession; (2) Defendant knew it was methamphetamine;

15 (3) Defendant intended to transfer it to another; and (4) this happened in New Mexico

16 on or about December 21, 2010. [RP 159] The jury was further instructed that a

17 person is in possession of methamphetamine when he knows it is on his person or in

18 his possession and he exercises control over it; that even if the substance is not in his

19 physical presence, he is in possession if he knows where it is and he exercises control

                                               3
 1 over it; that two or more people can have possession of a substance at the same time;

 2 and a person’s presence in the vicinity of the substance or his knowledge of the

 3 existence or the location of the substance, is not, by itself, possession. [RP 160]

 4 Finally, the jury was instructed that the State must prove that Defendant acted

 5 intentionally when he committed trafficking a controlled substance with intent to

 6 distribute. [RP 164]

 7        Regarding the intent-to-distribute element of the charge, the State presented one

 8 of the investigating officers, Officer Salazar, who testified that the officers found a

 9 clear plastic baggie containing six other individually wrapped smaller baggies of

10 methamphetamine in a truck registered to Defendant’s mother and was listed on

11 Defendant’s contact sheet for Probation and Parole as his “personal vehicle.” [RP 126

12 (CD 2:58:02 PM); DS 5-6] The State presented evidence from which the jury could

13 reasonably infer that Defendant drove the truck and that he had placed the drugs and

14 the firearm in the truck because the keys to the truck were found on Defendant’s bed

15 and Defendant’s mother initially told the officers that Defendant was probably at

16 home because the truck was there. [RP 143 (CD 10:53:50 AM)] Officer Salazar

17 testified that he took photos of the baggies and weighed them. [RP 126 (CD 2:59:26

18 PM)] The photos were admitted into evidence. [RP 126 (CD 3:01:15 PM)]                In

19 addition, the officer testified that each of the smaller baggies had dollar signs on it.

                                              4
 1 [RP 126 (CD 3:01:20 PM)] The officer also testified that, based on his narcotics

 2 training and experience, the methamphetamine was to be sold, and it was not only for

 3 personal use. [RP 127 (CD 3:07:44 PM)] Further, the officer testified that, depending

 4 on the user, each baggie could have “a lot of hits to it[.]” [RP 128 (CD 3:14:52 -

 5 3:15:56 PM)]       The laboratory witness confirmed that the baggies contained

 6 methamphetamine. [RP 140 (CD 10:32:25 AM - 10:32:30 AM)]

 7        While Defendant presented witnesses who testified that Defendant’s mother

 8 actually owned the truck, and that other persons may have driven the truck and placed

 9 the drugs there, the jury rejected Defendant’s version of the events, which it is entitled

10 to do. See State v. Mora, 1997-NMSC-060, ¶ 27, 124 N.M. 346, 950 P.2d 789 (“The

11 reviewing court does not weigh the evidence or substitute its judgment for that of the

12 fact[-]finder as long as there is sufficient evidence to support the verdict.”), overruled

13 on other grounds by Kersey v. Hatch, 2010-NMSC-020, 148 N.M. 381, 237 P.3d 683;

14 see also State v. Rojo, 1999-NMSC-001, ¶ 19, 126 N.M. 438, 971 P.2d 829 (“Contrary

15 evidence supporting acquittal does not provide a basis for reversal because the jury

16 is free to reject Defendant’s version of the facts.”).

17        We hold that substantial evidence supports Defendant’s conviction for

18 possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute. Accordingly, we affirm.

                                               5
 1 Issue 2:      Ineffective Assistance of Counsel

 2        Defendant contends that his counsel provided ineffective assistance by not

 3 requesting the lesser-included jury instruction of possession of a controlled substance.

 4 [DS 7] In his memorandum, Defendant has not provided facts or authorities that we

 5 did not consider in proposing to affirm on this issue on direct appeal in the calendar

 6 notice. [MIO 6-9] We remain persuaded, therefore, that affirmance on direct appeal

 7 is the appropriate and correct disposition.

 8        As we discussed in the calendar notice, there is a two-fold test for proving

 9 ineffective assistance of counsel; the defendant must show (1) that counsel’s

10 performance fell below that of a reasonably competent attorney and (2) that defendant

11 was prejudiced by the deficient performance. See State v. Hester, 1999-NMSC-020,

12 ¶ 9, 127 N.M. 218, 979 P.2d 729. The burden of proof is on the defendant to prove

13 both prongs. Id. Counsel is presumed competent. State v. Jacobs, 2000-NMSC-026,

14 ¶ 48, 129 N.M. 448, 10 P.3d 127.

15        In this case, the tape log indicates that the prosecutor and defense counsel had

16 initially prepared to instruct the jury on the lesser-included offense of possession of

17 a controlled substance. [RP 131 (CD 3:47:28 PM -3:48:41 PM)] The district court

18 agreed that the evidence would support a lesser-included offense instruction should

19 Defendant choose to have one given. [Id.; see also RP 133-34 (CD 9:06:49 AM -

                                              6
 1 9:07:53 AM); RP 136 (CD 9:20:35 AM)]             Immediately prior to trial, however,

 2 defense counsel informed the district court and the prosecutor that defense counsel

 3 and Defendant would choose whether they wanted the “step-down” instruction after

 4 they discussed the matter. [Id.] The next morning, when asked by the district court,

 5 defense counsel reported that “after much discussion” Defendant had decided not to

 6 take the lesser-included offense instruction. [RP 136 (CD 10:15:09 AM)] Thereafter,

 7 Defendant and the State withdrew their tendered instructions on the lesser-included

 8 possession charge. [RP 179, 180, 182-83, 184]

 9        We deny Defendant relief on direct appeal. First, defense counsel and

10 Defendant’s discussion regarding the pros and cons of requesting the lesser-included

11 jury instruction is not a matter of record. See State v. Roybal, 2002-NMSC-027, ¶ 19,

12 132 N.M. 657, 54 P.3d 61 (“When an ineffective assistance claim is first raised on

13 direct appeal, [the appellate courts] evaluate the facts that are part of the record. If

14 facts necessary to a full determination are not part of the record, an ineffective

15 assistance claim is more properly brought through a habeas corpus petition, although

16 an appellate court may remand a case for an evidentiary hearing if the defendant

17 makes a prima facie case of ineffective assistance.”). Second, it appears that defense

18 counsel and Defendant decided not to request the lesser-included instruction as a

19 matter of trial strategy. State v. Baca, 1997-NMSC-059, ¶ 25, 124 N.M. 333, 950

                                              7
 1 P.2d 776 (stating that “a prima facie case is not made when a plausible, rational

 2 strategy or tactic can explain the conduct of defense counsel” (internal quotation

 3 marks and citation omitted)). Apparently, Defendant hoped to convince the district

 4 court and the jury that the State did not prove the elements of the trafficking charge

 5 beyond a reasonable doubt and that the district court would grant a directed verdict or

 6 that the jury would acquit Defendant on the greater charge. In this regard, Defendant

 7 twice moved for a directed verdict, asserting that the State had not proved all of the

 8 elements of either the trafficking or the firearm offense, because the State did not

 9 demonstrate that Defendant was present when the drugs and firearm were found in the

10 truck; the truck, the drugs, and the firearm were not, Defendant contended, in

11 Defendant’s possession; and Defendant was not trafficking because the amount of

12 drugs found only indicated personal use, not the intent to transfer or sell. [RP 143

13 (CD 10:52:53 AM); RP 148 (CD 11:31:21 AM -11:31:51 AM)]

14        Specifically, in Baca, our Supreme Court held that a defendant failed to

15 demonstrate ineffective assistance of counsel when a reasonable attorney may have

16 concluded, as a matter of strategy, not to request a lesser-included offense instruction.

17 1997-NMSC-059, ¶ 30. Since, on direct appeal, we will not second-guess the trial

18 strategy and tactics of defense counsel, it appears that Defendant must pursue the

19 issue, if at all, in a collateral, post-conviction habeas corpus proceeding. See State v.

                                               8
 1 Martinez, 1996-NMCA-109, ¶ 25, 122 N.M. 476, 927 P.2d 31 (stating that “[t]his

 2 Court has expressed its preference for habeas corpus proceedings over remand when

 3 the record on appeal does not establish a prima facie case of ineffective assistance of

 4 counsel”); see also Baca, 1997-NMSC-059, ¶ 25 (“A record on appeal that provides

 5 a basis for remanding to the trial court for an evidentiary hearing on ineffective

 6 assistance of counsel is rare. Ordinarily, such claims are heard on petition for writ of

 7 habeas corpus[.]”).

 8        Accordingly, we affirm this issue on direct appeal.

 9 Issue 3:    Whether the District Court Erred in Not Sua Sponte Instructing the
10 Jury on the Lesser-Included Offense

11        In his memorandum, Defendant continues to argue that the district court

12 committed reversible error by not sua sponte instructing the jury on the lesser-

13 included offense of possession of controlled substances, because the evidence

14 supported the instruction. [DS 8; MIO 9-11] As such, Defendant points out that the

15 presence of the six small baggies in the truck supports the lesser-included possession

16 instruction, because the jury could reasonably infer that Defendant purchased the six

17 small baggies of methamphetamine for his personal use, rather than intended to sell

18 them to others. [MIO 8] Relying on Franklin and Boyer, Defendant contends that

19 “[k]nowing the significant sentencing differences between trafficking and possession,

20 trial counsel could not have been making a strategic decision in purposely choosing

                                              9
 1 not to accept the lesser[-]included offense instruction.” [MIO 8] We are not

 2 persuaded.

 3        As we discussed in Issue 2, defense counsel and Defendant deliberately chose,

 4 as a matter of defense tactics, not to take the lesser-included offense instruction. [RP

 5 136 (CD 10:15:09 AM); RP 179, 180, 182-83, 184] Moreover, as discussed earlier,

 6 the district court and the prosecutor were otherwise prepared to instruct the jury on the

 7 lesser-included offense. Under the circumstances, it is not for the district court to

 8 interfere with Defendant’s and defense counsel’s specifically chosen trial strategy

 9 decision to require the State to prove and the jury to convict Defendant of the

10 trafficking charge or acquit him altogether on Count 1. As we more fully discussed

11 in Issue 2, the record proper indicates that, after much discussion, defense counsel and

12 Defendant decided to use this strategy. See Baca, 1997-NMSC-059, ¶ 25 (finding no

13 ineffective assistance of counsel in defense counsel’s failure to request a lesser-

14 included offense instruction and such failure could have been made for reasonable,

15 strategic reasons). Moreover, as previously discussed, Defendant twice moved for

16 a directed verdict, asserting that the State had not proved all of the elements of either

17 the trafficking or the firearm offenses, because the State did not demonstrate that

18 Defendant was present when the drugs and firearm were found in the truck; the truck,

19 the drugs, and the firearm were not, according to Defendant, in Defendant’s

                                              10
 1 possession; and Defendant was not trafficking because the amount of drugs found

 2 only indicated personal use rather than intent to transfer or sell. [RP 143 (CD

 3 10:52:53 AM); RP 148 (CD 11:31:21 AM-11:31:51 AM)] The jury rejected these

 4 defenses, convicting Defendant of trafficking with intent to distribute, which we have

 5 determined was supported by substantial evidence presented at trial.

 6        We affirm the district court on this issue.

 7 Issue 4:      Defendant’s Use of Methamphetamine Prior to Trial

 8        In his memorandum, Defendant continues to contend that the district court erred

 9 in allowing the jury trial to start, knowing that Defendant had used methamphetamine

10 at least forty-eight hours prior to trial. [DS 8; MIO 11-12] We remain persuaded that

11 the district court did not err in proceeding with trial in this case.

12        “The failure to observe procedures adequate to protect a defendant’s right not

13 to be tried or convicted while incompetent to stand trial deprives him of his due

14 process right to a fair trial.” State v. Flores, 2005-NMCA-135, ¶ 15, 138 N.M. 636,

15 124 P.3d 1175 (alteration, internal quotation marks, and citation omitted). We review

16 questions of constitutional law and constitutional rights, such as due process

17 protections, de novo. State v. DeGraff, 2006-NMSC-011, ¶ 6, 139 N.M. 211, 131

18 P.3d 61.

                                               11
 1        The record proper indicates that when defense counsel expressed concern about

 2 Defendant’s agitated behavior on the morning of trial, the district court allowed

 3 defense counsel to question Defendant about his competency to proceed. [RP 98 (CD

 4 9:19:09 AM)] Defense counsel asked Defendant if he had used drugs recently, to

 5 which Defendant apparently responded: “Yes, but I am sober right now, used meth 2

 6 days ago, smoked it.” [RP 98 (CD 9:19:55 AM - 9:20:02 AM)] Defense counsel

 7 further asked how long the effects of methamphetamine lasts, and Defendant

 8 apparently said: “About 13 hours, I used on Sunday.” [RP 98 (CD 9:20:27 - 9:20:37

 9 AM)] Defense counsel further questioned Defendant about his awareness of the role

10 of counsel, whether he knew why he was in court, whether he knew about the charges

11 and his potential exposure if convicted, as well as Defendant’s awareness of his

12 decision to reject a plea offer. [RP 98 (CD 9:20:49 AM - 9:22:05 AM)] Defense

13 counsel then asked Defendant: “So you are completely sober and wish to proceed[?]”

14 [RP 98 (CD 9:22:11 AM)] Defendant responded, “Yes[.]” [RP 98 (CD 9:22:20 AM)]

15 The district court then asked Defendant, “Are you ready to go forward?” [RP 98 (CD

16 9:22:21 AM)] Defendant replied, “Yes sir[.]” [RP 98 (CD 9:22:27 AM)] After a

17 brief recess, the district court, the prosecutor, and defense counsel proceeded to voir

18 dire the jury. [RP 98, 100]

                                             12
 1        We hold that the district court observed procedures adequate to protect

 2 Defendant’s right not to be tried or convicted while incompetent to stand trial.

 3 Moreover, after asking Defendant questions designed to probe Defendant’s

 4 competency, defense counsel did not further object to proceeding to trial. As such,

 5 both the district court and defense counsel were satisfied with Defendant’s behavior

 6 and his responses to the questions, indicating that Defendant was competent to

 7 proceed to trial. Under the circumstances, we hold that Defendant was not deprived

 8 of his due process right to a fair trial due to his incompetency. Therefore, the district

 9 court did not err in proceeding with trial.

10        We affirm the district court on this issue.

11 CONCLUSION

12        For the foregoing reasons, we affirm Defendant’s convictions.

13        IT IS SO ORDERED.

14                                          __________________________________
15                                          JONATHAN B. SUTIN, Judge

16 WE CONCUR:

17 _______________________________
18 TIMOTHY L. GARCIA, Judge

                                              13
1 _______________________________
2 M. MONICA ZAMORA, Judge

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