Court Opinion

ID: 3172955
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-01-28 15:01:52.83373+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:01:36.338568
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 UNDER ARIZONA RULE OF THE SUPREME COURT 111(c), THIS DECISION IS NOT PRECEDENTIAL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.

                     CRAIG TANNER HARRINGTON,
                              Appellant.

                             No. 1 CA-CR 14-0846
                               FILED 1-28-2016

            Appeal from the Superior Court in La Paz County
                        No. S1500CR201200204
                The Honorable Jerry G. Landau, Judge

                                  AFFIRMED

                                   COUNSEL

Arizona Attorney General’s Office, Phoenix
By William Scott Simon
Counsel for Appellee

David Goldberg, Ft. Collins, Colorado
Counsel for Appellant
                         STATE v. HARRINGTON
                           Decision of the Court

                       MEMORANDUM DECISION

Judge Peter B. Swann delivered the decision of the court, in which Presiding
Judge Kenton D. Jones and Judge Samuel A. Thumma joined.

S W A N N, Judge:

¶1            Craig Tanner Harrington appeals his convictions and
sentences for two counts of misconduct involving weapons, one count of
possession of drug paraphernalia, one count of possession of marijuana,
and one count of misdemeanor theft. He argues that the trial court erred in
denying his motion to suppress evidence police seized from his home
because the warrant authorizing the search was not supported by probable
cause. He also contends that the court committed fundamental error in
admitting other acts evidence. We conclude that the warrant was
supported by probable cause and that the court properly denied
Harrington’s motion to suppress. We also conclude that the court did not
fundamentally err in admitting other acts evidence. We therefore affirm
Harrington’s convictions and sentences.

                 FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

¶2             In rural Bouse, Arizona, Deputy Nelson stopped Harrington
while he was driving a vehicle with no license plate. Based on previous
contacts with Harrington, Nelson knew Harrington’s license was
suspended and arrested him. Believing that Harrington was violent and a
flight risk, Nelson handcuffed him, patted him down, and found two small
baggies containing marijuana in his pants pocket. From the inventory
search of the vehicle, Nelson discovered various items associated with
firearms, including a spent casing, a rifle round, a holster, and a rifle scope.
Because Nelson knew that Harrington was a convicted felon prohibited
from lawfully possessing firearms, he drafted an affidavit for a search
warrant to search Harrington’s residence for guns. A Justice of the Peace
issued the warrant.

¶3           Nelson and other officers, including Sergeant Epps, served
the warrant and discovered in Harrington’s home a motorcycle chassis that
had been reported stolen, .38 caliber ammunition, 12-gauge shotgun shells,
a BB gun, and two pipes, one of which contained methamphetamine
residue. The officers also observed a video surveillance system, a police
scanner, walkie-talkies, a motorcycle, and a detached motorcycle fender

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                         STATE v. HARRINGTON
                           Decision of the Court

together with other vehicle parts. In a shed adjacent to the home, Nelson
discovered a .38 caliber revolver and a 12-gauge shotgun.

¶4             The state charged Harrington with two counts of misconduct
involving weapons, a Class 4 felony, and one count each of: possession of
drug paraphernalia; possession of marijuana; and theft, all Class 6 felonies.1
Before trial, Harrington moved to suppress the evidence discovered at his
home, arguing that the search warrant was not supported by probable
cause. After holding an evidentiary hearing on the motion, the court denied
it.

¶5          The jury convicted Harrington on all charges, and the court
imposed concurrent terms of imprisonment. Harrington timely appeals.

                               DISCUSSION

I.     THE TRIAL COURT PROPERLY                  DENIED      DEFENDANT’S
       MOTION TO SUPPRESS.

¶6             Harrington contends the search warrant should not have
issued because it was not properly supported by probable cause.
Specifically, he argues the affidavit was devoid of information linking him
to the address of the home searched. Harrington also contends that items
found in his car when he was arrested were lawful to possess, and therefore
did not support a reasonable belief that he or his home were connected to
illegal activity. As a result, Harrington asserts the search of his residence
violated his Fourth Amendment rights, and the evidence discovered
pursuant to the search was inadmissible. We review de novo a trial court’s
determination as to whether probable cause supports a search warrant
affidavit. State v. Buccini, 167 Ariz. 550, 555 (1991).

¶7            The Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution
requires a showing of probable cause before a search warrant may issue.
U.S. Const. amend. IV; see also A.R.S. § 13-3913 (“No search warrant shall
be issued except on probable cause, supported by affidavit . . . .”). A
magistrate must find probable cause to issue the warrant, and the facts and
supporting information must be presented to the magistrate under oath.
A.R.S. §§ 13-3913, -3914.

1      The state also charged Harrington with a third count of misconduct
involving weapons and one count of possession of dangerous drugs but
dismissed these charges before trial. Additionally, the state amended the
theft count to allege only a misdemeanor.

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                          STATE v. HARRINGTON
                            Decision of the Court

¶8             To determine whether probable cause exists, the magistrate
must “make a practical, common-sense decision whether, given all the
circumstances set forth in the affidavit before him, . . . there is a fair
probability that contraband or evidence of a crime will be found in a
particular place.” Illinois v. Gates, 462 U.S. 213, 238 (1983). In other words,
if, after considering all the information in an affidavit, a magistrate
reasonably believes a crime was committed and evidence of that crime can
be found in a specified location, the magistrate may issue a search warrant
for that location. It is the trial court’s duty “to ensure that the magistrate
had a ‘substantial basis for . . . conclud[ing]’ that probable cause existed.”
Id. at 238-39 (alterations in original) (citation omitted). In doing so, the trial
court must presume the search warrant was valid and require the
defendant to prove its invalidity. See State v. Crowley, 202 Ariz. 80, 83, ¶ 7
(App. 2002); see also State v. Ault, 150 Ariz. 459, 467 (1986) (“Doubtful or
marginal affidavits should be considered in light of the preference of
validity accorded search warrants.”) (citation omitted).

¶9             With these principles in mind, we conclude the search
warrant was supported by probable cause, and Harrington did not satisfy
his burden to prove otherwise. In Deputy Nelson’s application for the
warrant, he avowed that he observed the vehicle Harrington was driving at
the time of the arrest “in Harrington’s possession (and parked at the
[address of the residence to be searched])” over the course of the past four
months. Indeed, Nelson not only stated in the affidavit that the vehicle was
owned by “Steven Harrington,” but he also avowed that he had observed
the vehicle parked at the home approximately 15 minutes before he stopped
Harrington.2 Nelson further avowed that, during his post-arrest inventory
search of the vehicle, he discovered ammunition, a holster, and a rifle scope.
Finally, Nelson avowed that he had personal knowledge of Harrington’s
prohibited-possessor status. In sum, Harrington, a known prohibited
possessor, was stopped while driving a vehicle not exhibiting a license
plate, at a time when his driver’s license was known to be suspended. At
the time of the stop, multiple indicia of gun possession were found within
the vehicle, and the vehicle was observed parked outside what was
believed to be Harrington’s residence within fifteen minutes of Deputy
Nelson’s stop and for four months before the stop.

2     The evidence at trial established that Steven, Harrington’s cousin,
had sold the vehicle to Harrington three or four weeks before the traffic
stop.

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                         STATE v. HARRINGTON
                           Decision of the Court

¶10            These facts support a reasonable belief that Harrington
unlawfully possessed firearms at his residence. Based on the vehicle’s
presence at the home for four months, one could reasonably infer he resided
there or at least had access to the property.3 Further, the abstract lawfulness
of the items discovered in the vehicle is inconsequential; ammunition, a
holster, and a rifle scope are clearly associated with firearms, which
Harrington was forbidden to possess. Because no weapons were found in
the vehicle, common sense dictated that the firearms related to the items
found in the car were likely at Harrington’s home where he had been
observed with the vehicle, 15 minutes before the traffic stop. Accordingly,
considering Nelson’s affidavit—as we must—“in light of the preference of
validity accorded search warrants[,]”probable cause supported issuing a
search warrant for the house to find the weapons Harrington was forbidden
by law to possess. See Ault, 150 Ariz. at 467. The trial court properly denied
the motion to suppress.

II.    THE ADMISSION OF OTHER ACTS EVIDENCE WAS NOT
       FUNDAMENTAL ERROR.

¶11            Harrington argues that the court committed fundamental
error when it allowed other acts evidence in violation of Ariz. R. Evid.
404(b).     Specifically, Harrington points to Nelson’s testimony that
Harrington’s violent character and potential flight risk were the reasons
Nelson handcuffed Harrington during the traffic stop. Harrington also
asserts fundamental error occurred when the court allowed Nelson to
testify that the police scanner found at Harrington’s residence would be
helpful in the rural community to monitor law enforcement activity “and
to avoid us.” Harrington further challenges Deputy Epps’ affirmative
response to the prosecutor’s question whether walkie-talkies and video
surveillance systems are commonly found in “drug houses.”             (Epps
answered, “I’ve seen it many times” and explained the use for such items
is “[t]o alert people in the area that [] law enforcement is approaching.”)
Finally, Harrington contends it was fundamental error to allow Epps to
testify that the motorcycle and motorcycle parts found inside the residence
were consistent with the home being used as a “chop shop” operation.

¶12            Because Harrington did not object to the foregoing testimony,
we review only for fundamental error. State v. Karr, 221 Ariz. 319, 321, ¶ 10
(App. 2008). Fundamental error is “error going to the foundation of the
case, error that takes from the defendant a right essential to his defense, an

3      Nelson testified at the suppression hearing that he knew Harrington
lived at the address of the home that was searched.

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                         STATE v. HARRINGTON
                           Decision of the Court

error of such magnitude that the defendant could not possibly have
received a fair trial.” State v. Henderson, 210 Ariz. 561, 567, ¶ 19 (2005)
(citation omitted). “To prevail under this standard of review, a defendant
must establish both that fundamental error exists and that the error in his
case caused him prejudice.” Id. at ¶ 20. Prejudice must be apparent from
the record and may not be based on speculation. State v. Munninger, 213
Ariz. 393, 397, ¶ 14 (App. 2006).

¶13           Rule 404(b) provides that “evidence of other crimes, wrongs,
or acts is not admissible to prove” a defendant’s character or “to show
action in conformity therewith.” Such evidence may be admissible,
however, when offered to prove “motive, opportunity, intent, preparation,
plan, knowledge, identity, or absence of mistake or accident.” Ariz. R. Evid.
404(b). “The list of ‘other purposes’ in Rule 404(b) . . . is not exclusive; if
evidence is relevant for any purpose other than that of showing the
defendant’s criminal propensities, it is admissible even though it refers to
his prior bad acts.” State v. Jeffers, 135 Ariz. 404, 417 (1983).

¶14           Here, Nelson’s testimony concerned his reasoning for
handcuffing Harrington. The officer testified regarding Harrington’s
known violence and reputation as a flight risk. The officer’s response did
not suggest evidence of any specific crime, wrong, or acts by Harrington.
The testimony was not, as Harrington implies, evidence of other offenses
committed by Harrington. Cf. State v. Thomas, 71 Ariz. 423, 425 (1951)
(admission “of evidence as to other unrelated, independent offenses” is
reversible error). Nonetheless, Harrington contends the testimony was
improperly admitted because it showed him to be a “bad person.”

¶15          We need not determine whether error occurred on this basis
because any theoretical error in admitting the testimony did not rise to the
level of fundamental error.4 Harrington defended the weapons and theft

4      To the extent Harrington challenges the testimony’s relevance, we
agree that it was not relevant for determining his guilt as to the charged
offenses. Although the State argues the testimony illustrated Nelson’s
rationale for placing Harrington in handcuffs, and was therefore admissible
under Rule 404(b) to prove something besides Harrington’s character and
propensity, Nelson’s perception of Harrington as a known violent person
who posed a flight risk was simply not material to determining whether
Harrington unlawfully possessed the firearms and a stolen motorcycle part.
However, for the same reasons that we conclude fundamental error did not

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                        STATE v. HARRINGTON
                          Decision of the Court

charges on the basis that he did not know about the presence of the firearms
and stolen motorcycle chassis, all of which he argued could have belonged
to someone else. Nelson’s testimony therefore did not go to the
“foundation” of Harrington’s case. Similarly, Harrington cannot meet his
burden of establishing that prejudice resulted from Nelson’s brief, isolated
testimony. The State did not rely on Harrington’s violent nature or his
being a known flight risk. We find no prejudice and therefore no
fundamental error.

¶16            The testimony regarding the police scanner, walkie-talkies
and motorcycle parts as commonly found in drug houses or chop shops
simply was not other acts evidence under Rule 404(b). This testimony did
not refer to any specific crime, wrong, or acts committed by Harrington,
and was not improper propensity evidence of his character. Indeed,
regarding the surveillance system, the State argued in closing that “we’re
not saying that if you have a surveillance system, you’re a criminal, but
we’re saying when things start adding up, then it becomes a concern.”
Further, if the testimony had pertained to other acts character evidence, it
was nonetheless admissible under Rule 404(b) for a non-propensity
purpose because the challenged testimony served to rebut Harrington’s
defense that he was unaware firearms were in the residence and that the
motorcycle frame was stolen.5 No error, much less fundamental error,
occurred.

occur in admitting the testimony under Rule 404(b), fundamental error also
did not result from the testimony’s irrelevance.

5     Harrington admitted to possession of marijuana and drug
paraphernalia.

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                        STATE v. HARRINGTON
                          Decision of the Court

                            CONCLUSION

¶17          For the foregoing reasons, we affirm Harrington’s convictions
and sentences.

                                  :ama

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