Court Opinion

ID: 4033852
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-09-15 13:09:10.192453+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:07:09.368433
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. 33,489

 5 JOSE CONTRERAS,

 6          Defendant-Appellant.

 7 APPEAL FROM THE DISTRICT COURT OF DOÑA ANA COUNTY
 8 Douglas R. Driggers, District Judge

 9 Hector H. Balderas, Attorney General
10 Maris Veidemanis, Assistant Attorney General
11 Santa Fe, NM

12 for Appellee

13 Bennett J. Baur, Chief Public Defender
14 Tania Shahani, Assistant Appellate Defender
15 Santa Fe, NM

16 for Appellant

17                                 MEMORANDUM OPINION

18 ZAMORA, Judge.

19   {1}    Defendant, Jose Contreras appeals from his convictions for aggravated driving

20 under the influence (DWI), contrary to NMSA 1978, Section 66-8-102(D)(3) (2010),
 1 careless driving, contrary to NMSA 1978, Section 66-8-114(B) (1978), and possession

 2 of a controlled substance, contrary to NMSA 1978, Section 30-31-23(D) (2011).

 3 Defendant argues that: (1) the State presented insufficient evidence to sustain his

 4 convictions, (2) the jury was not properly instructed on the essential elements for the

 5 aggravated DWI charge, (3) his convictions for aggravated DWI and careless driving

 6 violate the prohibition against double jeopardy, and (4) he received ineffective

 7 assistance of counsel.

 8 BACKGROUND

 9   {2}   On February 26, 2011, Doña Ana County Sheriff’s Deputies Martha Aguilera

10 and Adrian Chavez were dispatched to an automobile accident. Upon arriving at the

11 scene of the accident, Deputy Aguilera observed Defendant outside of the vehicle.

12 Defendant told Deputy Aguilera that he had been driving the vehicle and that he was

13 drunk. During an investigatory detention, Defendant consented to a patdown for

14 weapons and Defendant informed Deputy Aguilera that he had cocaine in his right

15 front coin pocket. With Defendant’s permission, Deputy Aguilera retrieved a folded

16 dollar bill from Defendant’s pocket. Inside the dollar bill was a small, clear plastic

17 baggie containing a white powdery substance later identified as cocaine.

18   {3}   Deputy Chavez arrived at the scene of the accident after Deputy Aguilera. He

19 interviewed Defendant about the accident. Defendant stated that he was driving to his

                                              2
 1 mother’s house when he lost control of the vehicle. Deputy Chavez asked Defendant

 2 if anything—another vehicle, a person, or an animal—was on the road causing him

 3 to crash. Defendant denied that anyone or anything else was involved in the accident.

 4   {4}   A jury convicted Defendant of aggravated DWI, careless driving, and

 5 possession of a controlled substance. This appeal followed.

 6 DISCUSSION

 7 Sufficiency of the Evidence

 8   {5}   Defendant claims that the State presented insufficient evidence to sustain his

 9 convictions. “In reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence, we must view the evidence

10 in the light most favorable to the guilty verdict, indulging all reasonable inferences

11 and resolving all conflicts in the evidence in favor of the verdict.” State v. Holt, 2016-

12 NMSC-011, ¶ 20, 368 P.3d 409 (internal quotation marks and citations omitted). “In

13 that light, the [appellate c]ourt[s] determine[] whether any rational trier of fact could

14 have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt.” Id.

15 (internal quotation marks and citation omitted).

16 Aggravated DWI

17   {6}   In this case, the jury was instructed that in order to convict Defendant of

18 aggravated DWI for refusing to submit to a chemical test, the State had to show that

19 on February 26, 2011, “[D]efendant operated a motor vehicle[, D]efendant was under

                                               3
 1 the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs to such a degree [D]efendant was

 2 incapable of safely driving[, and D]efendant refused to submit to chemical testing[.]”

 3 Deputy Aguilera testified that when she arrived on the scene of the accident,

 4 Defendant told her that he was drunk and that he had been driving the vehicle when

 5 it crashed. Deputy Aguilera observed that Defendant had watery eyes and slurred

 6 speech. According to Deputy Aguilera, Defendant was incapable of performing field

 7 sobriety tests because “he could barely stand on his own two feet.” Defendant twice

 8 refused to take a breath test, saying “I’m too drunk, I had 20.” This evidence is

 9 sufficient to support Defendant’s conviction for aggravated DWI.

10 Careless Driving

11   {7}   In order to convict Defendant of careless driving, the State had to show that on

12 February 26, 2011, “[D]efendant operated the motor vehicle in a careless,

13 inattentive[,] or imprudent manner without due regard for the width, grade curves,

14 corner, traffic, weather, road conditions and all other attendant circumstances.”

15 According to Deputy Chavez’s testimony, Defendant admitted that he was driving the

16 night of the accident. When he was asked for an explanation of how he lost control of

17 the vehicle, Defendant responded by saying “he was drunk.” When asked, Defendant

18 denied there being anything else on the road that night that contributed to the accident.

19 The State also produced photographs of the vehicle after the accident, which showed

                                               4
 1 that Defendant’s vehicle initially struck a pole, ripping the front tire away from the

 2 vehicle and continued into a fence. We conclude that this evidence is sufficient to

 3 support Defendant’s conviction for careless driving.

 4 Possession of a Controlled Substance (Cocaine)

 5   {8}   Defendant challenges his conviction for possesion of a controlled substance

 6 pursuant to State v. Franklin, 1967-NMSC-151, 78 N.M. 127, 428 P.2d 982.

 7 Defendant claims that he should not have been convicted because the cocaine did not

 8 belong to him; however, Defendant acknowledges that this assertion was not stated

 9 on the record.

10   {9}   With regard to possession of cocaine, the jury was instructed that in order to

11 find Defendant guilty of possession of cocaine, the State was required to prove beyond

12 a reasonable doubt that on February 26, 2011, Defendant “had cocaine in his

13 possession;” and “knew it was cocaine or believed it to be cocaine.” The jury was also

14 given the following definition of “possession”:

15               A person is in possession of cocaine when he knows it is on his
16         person or in his presence and he exercises control over it.

17                 A person’s presence in the vicinity of the [substance] or his
18         knowledge of the existence or the location of the [substance] is not, by
19         itself, possession.

20 UJI 14-3130 NMRA.

                                              5
 1   {10}   Deputy Aguilera testified that Defendant told her he had cocaine concealed in

 2 a dollar bill in his right front coin pocket and gave her permission to remove it. The

 3 substance discovered in the dollar bill was a white powdery substance, that was later

 4 tested and identified as cocaine. Based on these facts, we conclude that there was

 5 sufficient evidence to support Defendant’s conviction for possession of cocaine.

 6   {11}   To the extent that Defendant relies on his own testimony to support a different

 7 result, “[t]he question is not whether substantial evidence would have supported an

 8 opposite result but whether such evidence supports the result reached.” State v. James,

 9 1989-NMCA-089, ¶ 11, 109 N.M. 278, 784 P.2d 1021.

10 The Aggravated DWI Jury Instruction

11   {12}   Defendant argues that he did not receive a fair trial because the jury was not

12 provided a proper jury instruction for DWI. Defendant acknowledges that he did not

13 object to the DWI instruction as it was given and asks us to review the DWI

14 instruction for fundamental error. See State v. Cunningham, 2000-NMSC-009, ¶ 11,

15 128 N.M. 711, 998 P.2d 176 (holding that where a defendant did not object to the jury

16 instructions as given, the appellate court reviews only for fundamental error).

17 Fundamental error exists “if there has been a miscarriage of justice, if the question of

18 guilt is so doubtful that it would shock the conscience to permit the conviction to

19 stand, or if substantial justice has not been done.” State v. Caldwell, 2008-NMCA-

                                               6
 1 049, ¶ 22, 143 N.M. 792,182 P.3d 775 (internal quotation marks and citation omitted);

 2 see State v. Barber, 2004-NMSC-019, ¶ 17, 135 N.M. 621, 92 P.3d 633 (explaining

 3 that fundamental error includes both “cases with defendants who are indisputably

 4 innocent, and cases in which a mistake in the process makes a conviction

 5 fundamentally unfair notwithstanding the apparent guilt of the accused”).

 6   {13}   Under fundamental error review, a conviction cannot be upheld if an error

 7 implicates “a fundamental unfairness within the system that would undermine judicial

 8 integrity if left unchecked.” Barber, 2004-NMSC-019, ¶ 18 (internal quotation marks

 9 and citation omitted). Thus, we must determine whether the departure from the

10 language of the uniform jury instruction caused such a “fundamental unfairness” in

11 Defendant’s trial. See id. When we analyze jury instructions for fundamental error,

12 “we seek to determine whether a reasonable juror would have been confused or

13 misdirected by the jury instruction.” State v. Benally, 2001-NMSC-033, ¶ 12, 131

14 N.M. 258, 34 P.3d 1134 (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). In order for

15 such an instruction to mislead, it must “omit essential elements or be so confusing

16 . . . that a court cannot be certain that the jury found the essential elements.” Caldwell,

17 2008-NMCA-049, ¶ 24 (internal quotation marks and citations omitted).

                                                7
 1   {14}   The uniform jury instruction that states the essential elements of the crime of

 2 aggravated DWI while under the influence of alcohol or drugs and refusing to submit

 3 to chemical testing as defined by Section 66-8-102(D) provides:

 4                For you to find the defendant guilty of aggravated driving while
 5          under the influence of [intoxicating liquor] [or drugs] [as charged in
 6          Count ____], the state must prove to your satisfaction beyond a
 7          reasonable doubt each of the following elements of the crime:

 8                 1.     The defendant operated a motor vehicle;

 9                 2.     At that time the defendant was under the influence of
10          [intoxicating liquor; that is, as a result of drinking liquor the defendant
11          was less able to the slightest degree, either mentally or physically, or
12          both, to exercise the clear judgment and steady hand necessary to handle
13          a vehicle with safety to the person and the public;]

14                 [or]

15                [drugs to such a degree that the defendant was incapable of safely
16          driving a vehicle;]

17                 3.     The defendant refused to submit to chemical testing; and

18               4.    This happened in New Mexico, on or about the ____ day of
19          __________, ____.

20 UJI 14-4508 NMRA. The district court gave the following jury instruction submitted

21 by the State:

22                  For you to find [D]efendant guilty of aggravated driving while
23          under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs as charged in Count
24          2, the [S]tate must prove to your satisfaction beyond a reasonable doubt
25          each of the following elements of the crime:

                                                8
 1                1.    [D]efendant operated a motor vehicle;

 2                 2.    At that time [D]efendant was under the influence of
 3          intoxicating liquor or drugs to such a degree that [D]efendant was
 4          incapable of safely driving a vehicle;

 5                3.    [D]efendant refused to submit to chemical testing;

 6                4.    This happened in New Mexico, on or about the 26th day of
 7          February, 2011.

 8 (Emphasis added.) Comparing the instruction given in this case with the uniform jury

 9 instruction, it appears that the instruction was completed using the impairment

10 language set forth for driving under the influence of drugs instead of the impairment

11 language set forth for intoxicating liquor. See UJI 14-4508.

12   {15}   Generally, the uniform jury instructions are to be used without substantive

13 modification. State v. Ellis, 2007-NMCA-037, ¶ 10, 141 N.M. 370, 155 P.3d 775

14 (“District courts must give uniform jury instructions as written.”), rev’d on other

15 grounds by 2008-NMSC-032, 144 N.M. 253, 186 P.3d 245. However, departure from

16 the language of a uniform jury instruction, does not necessarily rise to the level of

17 fundamental error. See Jackson v. State, 1983-NMSC-098, ¶ 5, 100 N.M. 487, 672

18 P.2d 660 (“[T]here may be fundamental error if the instruction given differs materially

19 from the required instruction.”). Rather, “[a] jury instruction is proper, and nothing

20 more is required, if it fairly and accurately presents the law.” State v. Laney, 2003-

21 NMCA-144, ¶ 38, 134 N.M. 648, 81 P.3d 591. “For fundamental error to exist, the

                                              9
 1 instruction given must differ materially from the uniform jury instruction, omit

 2 essential elements, or be so confusing and incomprehensible that a court cannot be

 3 certain that the jury found the essential elements under the facts of the case.”

 4 Caldwell, 2008-NMCA-049, ¶ 24 (internal quotation marks and citations omitted).

 5   {16}   In the present case, the given instruction fairly represents the elements of

 6 aggravated DWI by refusing a chemical test; that on February 26, 2011, Defendant

 7 was driving in the State of New Mexico, under the influence of intoxicating liquor or

 8 drugs, and refused to submit to chemical testing. See Section 66-8-102(D)(3); UJI 14-

 9 4508.

10   {17}   We fail to see any material difference, missing elements, or language lending

11 itself to juror confusion that would rise to the level of fundamental error. See State v.

12 Reed, 2005-NMSC-031, ¶ 52, 138 N.M. 365, 120 P.3d 447 (“The doctrine of

13 fundamental error applies only under exceptional circumstances and only to prevent

14 a miscarriage of justice.”); Barber, 2004-NMSC-019, ¶¶ 8, 14 (“Each case will of

15 necessity, under such a rule, stand on its own merits. . . . The doctrine of fundamental

16 error is to be resorted to in criminal cases only for the protection of those whose

17 innocence appears indisputably, or open to such question that it would shock the

18 conscience to permit the conviction to stand.”(internal quotation marks and citations

19 omitted)).

                                              10
 1 Double Jeopardy

 2   {18}   Defendant argues that his convictions for aggravated DWI and careless driving

 3 violate the prohibition against double jeopardy because the same evidence formed the

 4 basis on both convictions. “A double jeopardy challenge is a constitutional question

 5 of law which we review de novo.” State v. Swick, 2012-NMSC-018, ¶ 10, 279 P.3d
6 747. The Fifth Amendment of the United States Constitution, made applicable to New

 7 Mexico by the Fourteenth Amendment, “prohibits double jeopardy and . . . functions

 8 in part to protect a criminal defendant against multiple punishments for the same

 9 offense.” Id. (internal quotation marks and citations omitted). Double jeopardy cases

10 involving multiple-punishments are classified as either double-description cases,

11 “where the same conduct results in multiple convictions under different statutes,” or

12 unit-of-prosecution cases, “where a defendant challenges multiple convictions under

13 the same statute.” Id. The present case is a double-description case because Defendant

14 challenges two convictions under different statutes for what he claims is the same

15 conduct.

16   {19}   Double-description cases involve a two-part analysis. See Swafford v. State,

17 1991-NMSC-043, ¶ 12, 112 N.M. 3, 810 P.2d 1223. “First we consider whether the

18 conduct underlying the [offenses] was unitary[.]” Swick, 2012-NMSC-018, ¶ 11; State

19 v. Melendrez, 2014-NMCA-062, ¶ 7, 326 P.3d 1126. “[R]eviewing whether conduct

                                              11
 1 is unitary in the double jeopardy context, we indulge in all presumptions in favor of

 2 the verdict.” State v. Herrera, 2015-NMCA-116, ¶ 12, 362 P.3d 167 (internal

 3 quotation marks and citation omitted). “If the conduct is not unitary, . . . there is no

 4 double jeopardy violation.” State v. Contreras, 2007-NMCA-045, ¶ 20, 141 N.M. 434,

 5 156 P.3d 725 (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). If the conduct is unitary,

 6 we must determine “whether the legislature intended to create separately punishable

 7 offenses.” Swafford, 1991-NMSC-043, ¶ 25.

 8   {20}   Turning to the first prong of our analysis, whether the conduct was unitary, we

 9 review the elements of the charged offenses. See State v. Vance, 2009-NMCA-024,

10 ¶ 13, 145 N.M. 706, 204 P.3d 31. Then we consider whether the facts presented at trial

11 are sufficient to support the elements of both crimes. See id. “The proper analytical

12 framework is whether the facts presented at trial establish that the jury reasonably

13 could have inferred independent factual bases for the charged offenses.” Id. (internal

14 quotation marks and citation omitted); see State v. Olsson, 2014-NMSC-012, ¶ 37,

15 324 P.3d 1230 (“In a double description case the primary inquiry is whether the facts

16 presented at trial establish that the jury reasonably could have inferred independent

17 factual bases for the charged offenses.” (internal quotation marks and citation

18 omitted)).

                                              12
 1   {21}   At trial, the State produced evidence of aggravated DWI including Deputy

 2 Aguilera’s testimony that Defendant had watery eyes, slurred speech, was barely able

 3 to stand up, admitted to drinking and driving, was unable to perform field sobriety

 4 tests, and refused to take a breath test, because he was “too drunk.” The State

 5 produced evidence of careless driving including photographs of the accident, which

 6 depicted Defendant’s damaged vehicle, along with Deputy Chavez’s testimony that

 7 Defendant admitted that he was driving and lost control of the vehicle, as well as

 8 Defendant’s denial that there were any other factors contributing to the accident.

 9 Defendant’s argument concentrates on his inability to drive safely as the unitary

10 conduct. The crime of careless driving and that of driving an automobile under the

11 influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs are distinct offenses and are established by

12 different evidence. Cf. State v. Sisneros, 1938-NMSC-049, ¶ 19, 42 N.M. 500, 82 P.2d
13 274 (noting that a case involving the crimes of reckless driving and driving an

14 automobile while under the influence of intoxicating liquor, “[a] conviction of one

15 would not be a bar to a prosecution for committing the other offense. While the

16 evidence of intoxication might bear upon the question of whether the defendant was

17 guilty of reckless driving, it does not necessarily prove it; but is a circumstance to be

18 considered by the jury in deciding the issue.”).

                                              13
 1   {22}   Based on the evidence, the jury reasonably could have inferred independent

 2 factual bases for the aggravated DWI charge and the careless driving charge. As a

 3 result, we conclude that Defendant’s conduct was not unitary. See Vance, 2009-

 4 NMCA-024, ¶ 13. Therefore, under the first Swafford inquiry, double jeopardy

 5 principles were not violated. See State v. Saiz, 2008-NMSC-048, ¶ 35, 144 N.M. 663,

 6 191 P.3d 521, abrogated on other grounds by State v. Bellanger, 2009-NMSC-025,

 7 ¶ 36 n.1, 146 N.M. 351, 210 P.3d 783.

 8 Ineffective Assistance of Counsel

 9   {23}   Defendant claims that he received ineffective assistance of counsel because trial

10 counsel failed to: (1) investigate potential defenses, (2) secure witnesses, (3) preserve

11 issues, and (4) strike a juror who knew Defendant for possible bias. “We review

12 claims of ineffective assistance of counsel de novo.” State v. Dylan J., 2009-NMCA-

13 027, ¶ 33, 145 N.M. 719, 204 P.3d 44.

14   {24}   “The Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution, applicable to the

15 states through the Fourteenth Amendment, guarantees . . . the right to the effective

16 assistance of counsel.” Patterson v. LeMaster, 2001-NMSC-013, ¶ 16, 130 N.M. 179,

17 21 P.3d 1032 (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). “When an ineffective

18 assistance claim is first raised on direct appeal, we evaluate the facts that are part of

19 the record.” State v. Roybal, 2002-NMSC-027, ¶ 19, 132 N.M. 657, 54 P.3d 61. “A

                                               14
 1 prima facie case of ineffective assistance is made by showing that defense counsel’s

 2 performance fell below the standard of a reasonably competent attorney and, due to

 3 the deficient performance, the defense was prejudiced.” Patterson, 2001-NMSC-013,

 4 ¶ 17 (internal quotation marks and citation omitted).

 5   {25}   In arguing that he received ineffective assistance of counsel, Defendant

 6 allegedly relies on several facts, but does not cite to the record to support his

 7 assertions. Thus, Defendant has not met his burden to show ineffective assistance. See

 8 Muse v. Muse, 2009-NMCA-003, ¶ 72, 145 N.M. 451, 200 P.3d 104 (“We will not

 9 search the record for facts, arguments, and rulings in order to support generalized

10 arguments.”); see also Santa Fe Expl. Co. v. Oil Conservation Comm’n, 1992-NMSC-

11 044, ¶ 11, 114 N.M. 103, 835 P.2d 819 (holding that where a party fails to cite any

12 portion of the record to support its factual allegations, the appellate courts need not

13 consider its argument on appeal). However, “[i]f facts beyond those in the record on

14 appeal could establish a legitimate claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, [the

15 d]efendant may assert it in a habeas corpus proceeding where an adequate factual

16 record can be developed for a court to make a reasoned determination of the issues.”

17 State v. Crocco, 2014-NMSC-016, ¶ 24, 327 P.3d 1068.1

          1
14          Prior to filing the docketing statement in this Court, Defendant filed a petition
15 for writ of habeas corpus in the district court, challenging his alleged illegal sentence
11 and confinement. Defendant asserted that he had received ineffective assistance of
12 counsel because trial counsel failed to: conduct a proper investigation, investigate

                                               15
 1 CONCLUSION

 2   {26}   For the foregoing reasons, we affirm.

 3   {27}   IT IS SO ORDERED.

 4
 5                                           M. MONICA ZAMORA, Judge

 6 WE CONCUR:

 7
 8 MICHAEL E. VIGIL, Chief Judge

 9
10 JAMES J. WECHSLER, Judge

11   potential defenses, secure witnesses, and preserve issues. The district court entered an
12   order on Defendant’s petition for writ of habeas corpus and found that Defendant was
13   entitled to partial habeas relief based on trial counsel’s failure to file a timely
14   docketing statement. Defendant’s remaining claims were dismissed without prejudice,
15   and the order provided that Defendant may “file a successive petition raising these
16   issues (if not addressed in the direct appeal) and any other remaining claims after
17   Mandate in his direct appeal.”

                                               16