Court Opinion

ID: 4403142
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-06-04 16:02:08.234099+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:52:21.102691
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 UNDER ARIZONA RULE OF THE SUPREME COURT 111(c), THIS DECISION IS NOT PRECEDENTIAL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.

                        DAVID COLLIER, Appellant.

                             No. 1 CA-CR 18-0590
                                FILED 6-4-2019

           Appeal from the Superior Court in Maricopa County
                        No. CR2016-143913-001
               The Honorable Joseph P. Mikitish, Judge

                                  AFFIRMED

                                   COUNSEL

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

Maricopa County Public Defender’s Office, Phoenix
By Paul J. Prato
Counsel for Appellant
                             STATE v. COLLIER
                             Decision of the Court

                       MEMORANDUM DECISION

Presiding Judge Paul J. McMurdie delivered the decision of the Court, in
which Judge Randall M. Howe and Judge Jennifer B. Campbell joined.

M c M U R D I E, Judge:

¶1            David Collier appeals his convictions of possession of
dangerous drugs (methamphetamine) for sale, a Class 2 felony; possession
or use of dangerous drugs (trifluoromethylphenylpiperazine), a Class 4
felony; possession or use of narcotic drugs (morphine), a Class 4 felony;
possession or use of narcotic drugs (cannabis), a Class 4 felony; misconduct
involving weapons (12-gauge shotgun), a Class 4 felony; possession or use
of marijuana (less than two pounds), a Class 6 felony; and possession of
drug paraphernalia, a Class 6 felony, and the resulting sentences. Collier’s
counsel filed a brief in accordance with Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738
(1967), and State v. Leon, 104 Ariz. 297 (1969), certifying that, after a diligent
search of the record, he found no arguable question of law that was not
frivolous. Collier was allowed to file a supplemental brief but did not do so.
Counsel asks this court to search the record for arguable issues. See Penson
v. Ohio, 488 U.S. 75 (1988); State v. Clark, 196 Ariz. 530, 537, ¶ 30 (App. 1999).
After reviewing the record, we affirm Collier’s convictions and sentences.

              FACTS AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

¶2             On September 13, 2016, Mesa Police officers observed Collier
make a wide turn. Because of the wide turn, the officers made a traffic stop.
During the traffic stop, Collier consented to a search of his person and the
car. Officers recovered three stacks of money from Collier’s person and two
plastic baggies in the glove box. The police also executed a search warrant
on Collier’s home based on probable cause from a two-week police
surveillance of his home.

¶3             After the search, officers arrested Collier. Detective Daniel
Badone read Collier the Miranda 1 warnings and questioned him. During
questioning, Collier admitted he had methamphetamine at his home and
that the police would find it in a large bin in his living room. Badone found

1      Miranda v. Arizona, 396 U.S. 868 (1969).

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                           STATE v. COLLIER
                           Decision of the Court

and seized the methamphetamine where Collier explained it would be
found. In searching the remainder of Collier’s home, other officers found
morphine tablets, marijuana, pills stamped with a cartoon mushroom,
methamphetamine, a shotgun, and electronic scales. Officers sent the seized
substances to a lab, which confirmed the drugs were methamphetamine,
trifluoromethylphenylpiperazine, marijuana, and morphine.

¶4              The State charged Collier as described above. On the first day
of trial, Collier moved to change his counsel. The superior court denied the
motion, explaining it could not be considered because his attorney did not
file it on his behalf, and it was not filed at least 20 days before trial.
Additionally, Collier filed a motion to suppress evidence, which the
superior court denied because it too was not filed at least 20 days before
trial.

¶5            At trial, Badone testified to his encounter and interrogation of
Collier. The State presented the videotaped interrogation of Collier where
he stated that he sold methamphetamine to support his heroin habit, and
that he owned the shotgun to protect himself. Finally, the State called a
forensic scientist who testified regarding the nature of the seized
substances.

¶6            During the lunch recess on the third and final day of trial,
Collier fled, and a bench warrant was issued for his arrest. Before
deliberation, the superior court instructed the jury that they should not
consider Collier’s absence as part of the evidence and to not speculate about
his absence.

¶7            The jury returned a guilty verdict on all seven counts. During
the aggravation phase of the trial, the jury found one aggravating
circumstance: Collier committed the crime of possession of a dangerous
drug for sale as consideration for the receipt, or in the expectation of the
receipt, of anything of pecuniary value. After Collier was arrested in
another matter, Collier was sentenced to the presumptive prison terms of
10 years for count 1, 4.5 years for counts 2, 3, 4, and 5, and 1.75 years for
counts 6 and 7. The court ordered he sentences to run concurrently and gave
Collier 103 days’ presentence incarceration credit. Collier timely appealed.

                               DISCUSSION

¶8           As a preliminary matter, although Collier was absent during
the conclusion of his trial and sentencing took place more than 90 days after
his conviction, Collier did not forfeit his right to appeal. Under A.R.S.

                                      3
                            STATE v. COLLIER
                            Decision of the Court

§ 13-4033(C), a defendant may not appeal his conviction “if the defendant’s
absence prevents sentencing from occurring within ninety days after
conviction and the defendant fails to prove by clear and convincing
evidence at the time of sentencing that the absence was involuntary.” In the
instant case, Collier was convicted on March 7, 2018, and after his arrest, he
appeared in court on May 10, 2018. The court set the initial sentencing
hearing for June 13, 2018, but it was ultimately continued until July 23, 2018,
because his counsel was scheduled for trial in a separate matter. Because
Collier was in custody on May 10, 2018, less than 90 days after his
conviction, we conclude Collier’s absence did not prevent sentencing from
taking place within 90 days. Accordingly, we proceed to consider Collier’s
appeal.

¶9           We have read and considered counsel’s brief and have
reviewed the record for any arguable issues. See Leon, 104 Ariz. at 300. We
find none.

¶10             Counsel represented Collier at all stages of the proceedings.
Collier chose not to be present for his closing argument but was present at
all other relevant stages of the proceedings against him. After Collier
absconded, the trial was completed in absentia under Arizona Rule of
Criminal Procedure 9.1. The record reflects the superior court afforded
Collier all his constitutional and statutory rights, and the proceedings were
conducted in accordance with the Arizona Rules of Criminal Procedure.
The court conducted appropriate pretrial hearings, and the evidence
presented at trial and summarized above was sufficient to support the
jury’s verdicts. Collier’s sentences fall within the range prescribed by law,
with proper credit given for presentence incarceration.

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                           STATE v. COLLIER
                           Decision of the Court

                              CONCLUSION

¶11            Collier’s convictions and sentences are affirmed. After the
filing of this decision, defense counsel’s obligations pertaining to Collier’s
representation in this appeal will end after informing Collier of the outcome
of this appeal and his future options, unless counsel’s review reveals an
issue appropriate for submission to the Arizona Supreme Court by petition
for review. See State v. Shattuck, 140 Ariz. 582, 584–85 (1984).

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

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