Court Opinion

ID: 3213955
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-06-16 16:02:55.977602+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:45:59.403082
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 UNDER ARIZONA RULE OF THE SUPREME COURT 111(c), THIS DECISION IS NOT PRECEDENTIAL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.

                 WILLIAM BRYCE BRENNAN, Appellant.

                             No. 1 CA-CR 15-0494
                              FILED 6-16-2016

           Appeal from the Superior Court in Maricopa County
                        No. CR2011-107328-001
           The Honorable Annielaurie Van Wie, Judge Pro Tem

                                  AFFIRMED

                                   COUNSEL

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

By Janelle A. McEachern, Chandler
Counsel for Appellant

                       MEMORANDUM DECISION

Judge John C. Gemmill delivered the decision of the Court, in which
Presiding Judge Andrew W. Gould and Judge Margaret H. Downie joined.
                            STATE v. BRENNAN
                            Decision of the Court

G E M M I L L, Judge:

¶1             William Bryce Brennan appeals his conviction and sentence
for forgery. Brennan’s counsel filed a brief in compliance with Anders v.
California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967), and State v. Leon, 104 Ariz. 297 (1969), stating
that she has searched the record and found no arguable question of law and
requesting that this court examine the record for reversible error. Brennan
was afforded the opportunity to file a pro se supplemental brief but did not
do so. See State v. Clark, 196 Ariz. 530, 537, ¶ 30 (App. 1999). For the
following reasons, we affirm.

                 FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

¶2            “We view the facts and all reasonable inferences therefrom in
the light most favorable to sustaining the convictions.” State v. Powers, 200
Ariz. 123, 124, ¶ 2 (App. 2001).

¶3            On the night of August 30, 2010, J.M. met with William Bryce
Brennan, known to her as “Bryce.” J.M. agreed to let Brennan stay at her
house that night, and left Brennan at her home the following day. Brennan
stayed an additional night and left the next day.

¶4              On September 12, 2010, J.M. checked her Wells Fargo online
bank account and discovered a cashed check written to Brennan for $100.00.
The check was not in her handwriting and did not bear her signature. J.M.
testified that she had never written a check to Brennan. She determined the
check was removed from the middle of her checkbook and called the police.

¶5            On September 20, 2010, Sergeant J.L. of the Arizona State
University Police Department spoke to Brennan over the phone. When
questioned about the forged check, Brennan said “I did it,” and agreed to
submit to an interview. On October 19, 2010, Sergeant J.L. met Brennan in
Maricopa County and escorted him to an interview room, where he read
Brennan his Miranda warnings.

¶6             During the interview, Brennan stated he pulled the check
from the middle of J.M.’s checkbook, wrote his name on the check, filled
out the dollar amount, and directed a co-worker at Walmart to sign it.
Sergeant J.L. testified the Walmart was located in Maricopa County and that
contact with the Walmart manager revealed there was no one employed
there by the name Brennan gave him. Brennan was later charged with one
count of forgery.

                                       2
                            STATE v. BRENNAN
                            Decision of the Court

¶7           Brennan was tried in absentia. The State used Brennan’s
booking photo to identify him as the perpetrator. An eight-member jury
convicted Brennan of forgery and found three aggravating factors: (1)
Brennan was on probation when he committed the offense, (2) he had a
prior felony conviction, and (3) he committed the offense for pecuniary
gain.

¶8           Brennan was present at sentencing and had an opportunity to
speak. He was sentenced to a presumptive term of 4.5 years and received
198 days of presentence incarceration credit.

¶9            Brennan timely appeals. This court has jurisdiction under
Article 6, Section 9, of the Arizona Constitution and Arizona Revised
Statutes (“A.R.S.”) sections 12-120.21(A)(1), 13-4031 and 13-4033.

                               DISCUSSION

¶10             The record reflects Brennan received a fair trial. He was
represented by counsel at all stages of the proceedings against him and the
jury verdict is supported by substantial evidence.

¶11             We have examined the record regarding Brennan’s absence
and we find no error by the trial court in proceeding in absentia. Although
Brennan was not present for trial, the court may infer a defendant’s absence
was voluntary and try the defendant in absentia in accordance with Arizona
Rule of Criminal Procedure (“Rule”) 9.1. See State v. LeMaster, 137 Ariz. 159,
162-163 (App. 1983) (holding the trial court did not err in inferring
defendant’s absence at trial was voluntary when the defendant was advised
of the terms and conditions of his release, was informed trial would proceed
if he failed to appear, was advised of the trial date, and had not informed
his counsel on his whereabouts). Brennan signed a release order that
established the terms of his release, confirmed his right to be present at the
proceedings, and warned him the court could proceed with trial in absentia
if he failed to appear.

¶12             Brennan was present at a trial management conference when
the trial court set the final trial management conference (FTMC) and the
initial trial date. He did not appear at the FTMC, and a failure to appear
bench warrant was issued for his arrest and affirmed thereafter as trial was
briefly postponed. Brennan did not appear for trial. Although the record
does not reveal whether Brennan had notice of the continued trial date, the
court did not err, on this record, in proceeding to try Brennan in absentia.

                                      3
                            STATE v. BRENNAN
                            Decision of the Court

See State ex rel. Romley v. Superior Court, 183 Ariz. 139, 144-145 (App. 1995)
(holding an escaped defendant who did not contact his attorney could be
found voluntarily absent, even when he did not have notice of the
continued trial date). Further, the preliminary and final jury instructions
emphasized that Brennan’s absence was not to be considered by the jury as
evidence in the case. No reversible error occurred by trial in absentia.

                               CONCLUSION

¶13           We have reviewed the entire record for reversible error and
find none, and we therefore affirm the conviction and resulting sentence.
See Leon, 104 Ariz. at 300.

¶14            After the filing of this decision, defense counsel’s obligations
pertaining to Brennan’s representation in this appeal have ended. Defense
counsel need do no more than inform Brennan of the outcome of this appeal
and his future options, unless, upon review, counsel finds “an issue
appropriate for submission” to the Arizona Supreme Court by petition for
review. See State v. Shattuck, 140 Ariz. 582, 584–85 (1984). On the court’s
own motion, Brennan has 30 days from the date of this decision to proceed,
if he wishes, with a pro se motion for reconsideration. Brennan also has 30
days from the date of this decision to proceed, if he prefers, with a pro se
petition for review.

                                   :AA

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