Court Opinion

ID: 4317429
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-10-02 16:02:12.041854+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:45:13.414837
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 UNDER ARIZONA RULE OF THE SUPREME COURT 111(c), THIS DECISION IS NOT PRECEDENTIAL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.

                        ROBERT SAFLEY, Appellant.

                             No. 1 CA-CR 18-0220
                               FILED 10-2-2018

            Appeal from the Superior Court in Navajo County
                        No. S0900CR201500999
                             S0900CR201600504
                 The Honorable Dale P. Nielson, Judge

                                  AFFIRMED

                                   COUNSEL

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

Emery K. La Barge Attorney at Law, Snowflake
By Emery K. La Barge
Counsel for Appellant
                             STATE v. SAFLEY
                            Decision of the Court

                       MEMORANDUM DECISION

Judge Michael J. Brown delivered the decision of the Court, in which
Presiding Judge Kenton D. Jones and Judge Jon W. Thompson joined.

B R O W N, Judge:

¶1            Robert Safley appeals his convictions and sentences for child
molestation and two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
Safley’s counsel filed a brief in compliance with Anders v. California, 386 U.S.
738 (1967), and State v. Leon, 104 Ariz. 297 (1969), advising that after
searching the record on appeal, he found no meritorious grounds for
reversal. Safley was given the opportunity to file a supplemental brief but
did not do so.

¶2              Our obligation is to review the entire record for reversible
error. See State v. Clark, 196 Ariz. 530, 537, ¶ 30 (App. 1999). We view the
facts in the light most favorable to sustaining the conviction and resolve all
reasonable inferences against Safley. See State v. Guerra, 161 Ariz. 289, 293
(1989).

¶3            In September 2015, law enforcement was alerted to a possible
child molestation incident involving Safley and a 13-year-old girl (“Sister”).
Safley’s father was in a relationship with Sister’s grandmother at the time,
and she regarded Safley as “an uncle.” Several weeks earlier, Sister and her
10-year-old brother (“Brother”) stayed overnight at Safley’s small cabin.

¶4             During their visit, Safley showed Sister and Brother two “R-
rated” movies, which Sister testified were inappropriate and “sexually
crude.” While they were watching the movies, Sister sat in a chair, Brother
was on the couch, and Safley initially sat on an ottoman. At some point
Safley moved to the chair to sit behind Sister, positioning himself with one
leg on each side of her. Sister testified that Safley’s crotch was touching her
buttocks and there was no space between his front and her back. Sister
further testified that during one of the movies she felt light rocking behind
her and that Safley told her he just had an orgasm. Safley then went to the
bathroom to change his shorts.

¶5           After the movies, Sister moved to the couch to sleep next to
Brother. Safley suggested Brother sleep on the bed and revealed that the

                                       2
                             STATE v. SAFLEY
                            Decision of the Court

couch converted to a pull-out bed. Safley then suggested he and Sister sleep
on the pull-out bed together. Brother moved to the bed, and Safley got into
the pull-out bed with Sister. Sister testified that Safley gradually moved
closer to her, making her uncomfortable, so she moved back to the chair
and slept there for the remainder of the night.

¶6            After a three-day trial, a jury found Safley guilty on all three
charges. The superior court sentenced him to 12 years for the felony child
molestation charge, and six months for each of the misdemeanor charges of
contributing to the delinquency of a minor, with 33 days of presentence
incarceration credit. Safley timely appealed.

¶7            After a thorough review of the record, we find no reversible
error. Clark, 196 Ariz. at 541, ¶ 50. The record reflects Safley was present
and represented by counsel at all critical stages of the proceedings against
him. Although he was not present at several case management conferences,
Safley’s counsel waived his presence. The evidence presented supports the
convictions, and the sentences imposed fall within the range permitted by
law. As far as the record reveals, these proceedings were conducted in
compliance with Safley’s constitutional and statutory rights and the
Arizona Rules of Criminal Procedure. Therefore, we affirm Safley’s
convictions and the resulting sentences.

¶8             Unless defense counsel finds an issue that may be
appropriately submitted to the Arizona Supreme Court, his obligations are
fulfilled once he informs Safley of the outcome of this appeal and his future
options. See State v. Shattuck, 140 Ariz. 582, 584-85 (1984). Safley has 30 days
from the date of this decision to proceed, if he wishes, with a pro per motion
for reconsideration or petition for review.

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

                                         3