Court Opinion

ID: 3216429
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-06-23 16:06:00.928476+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:40:14.008881
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 UNDER ARIZONA RULE OF THE SUPREME COURT 111(c), THIS DECISION IS NOT PRECEDENTIAL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.

                        SERGIO ACOSTA, Appellant.

                             No. 1 CA-CR 15-0523
                               FILED 6-23-2016

           Appeal from the Superior Court in Maricopa County
                        No. CR 2014-005944-001
           The Honorable Richard L. Nothwehr, Commissioner

                       AFFIRMED AS CORRECTED

                                   COUNSEL

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

Maricopa County Public Defender’s Office, Phoenix
By Kathryn L. Petroff
Counsel for Appellant

Sergio Acosta, Buckeye
Appellant
                            STATE v. ACOSTA
                           Decision of the Court

                      MEMORANDUM DECISION

Judge Patricia K. Norris delivered the decision of the Court, in which
Presiding Judge Jon W. Thompson and Judge Maurice Portley joined.

N O R R I S, Judge:

¶1            Sergio Acosta timely appeals from his convictions and
sentences for promoting prison contraband, a class 5 felony under Arizona
Revised Statutes (“A.R.S.”) section 13-2505 (Supp. 2015) (“contraband
charge”), and attempting to commit tampering with evidence, a class 1
misdemeanor under A.R.S. §§ 13-1001 (2010), -2809 (2010) (“tampering
charge”). After searching the record on appeal and finding no arguable
question of law that was not frivolous, Acosta’s counsel filed a brief in
accordance with Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 87 S. Ct. 1396, 18 L. Ed.
2d 493 (1967), and State v. Leon, 104 Ariz. 297, 451 P.2d 878 (1969), asking
this court to search the record for fundamental error. This court granted
counsel’s motion to allow Acosta to file a supplemental brief in propria
persona, and Acosta did so. We reject the arguments raised in Acosta’s
supplemental brief and, after reviewing the entire record, find no
fundamental error. Therefore, we affirm Acosta’s convictions and sentences
as corrected.

             FACTS AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND1

¶2            On May 17, 2014, Acosta was serving a sentence of
imprisonment at the Arizona State Prison Complex Lewis. Two corrections
officers, Officers C.S. and N.M., entered the dormitory setting of the
detention areas, called the “pod,” containing Acosta’s bed to perform a
search.

¶3            Officer C.S. entered Acosta’s “bedding location” and told
Acosta that he was going to strip search him in the bathroom. As Officer
C.S. and Acosta began to walk to the bathroom, Officer C.S. saw Acosta take
a cellphone out of his pocket, put it in his right hand, and start to run
towards the bathroom. Officer C.S. ran after him and saw Acosta throw the
cellphone in the toilet and flush it. Officer C.S. told Acosta to “get against

              1We   view the facts in the light most favorable to sustaining
the jury’s verdict and resolve all reasonable inferences against Acosta. State
v. Guerra, 161 Ariz. 289, 293, 778 P.2d 1185, 1189 (1989).

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                             STATE v. ACOSTA
                            Decision of the Court
the wall.” While Acosta was against the wall, “another inmate came from
behind” and pushed Officer C.S. Officer C.S. radioed Officer N.M for help.
Officer N.M., who had been standing by Acosta’s bed, came to his
assistance. The Officers retrieved the cellphone from the toilet.

¶4            At trial, Acosta admitted to possessing the cellphone, but
asserted it did not belong to him. He testified he was watching T.V. at
another inmate’s bedding area, called a “house,” when some of the inmates
yelled “two time” to alert the other inmates to the Officers’ probable search.
Acosta then looked towards the doors at the entrance of the pod and noticed
another inmate, J.V., “stepping out” of his “house.” Acosta had not given
J.V. permission to be in his “house.” When Acosta walked over to his
“house,” he saw a cellphone on his table, inside a cup.

¶5            Because he believed other inmates might stab him if he
“snitched” on J.V., he placed his “hand over the cup so the phone wasn’t
showing” as Officers C.S. and N.M. approached him. When Officer C.S.
ordered him to go to the bathroom for the strip search, he “picked up the
cup by the top, still covering it, and [] stood up.” When he was unable to
discreetly hand the cellphone to another inmate, Acosta ran and threw the
cellphone in the toilet. Acosta testified he believed he had no other choice
than to do what he did because if he snitched on J.V., he would face
consequences from the other inmates.

¶6            An eight-person jury found Acosta guilty on the contraband
and tampering charges. At sentencing, the superior court found Acosta had
one historical prior felony conviction. See A.R.S. § 13-105(22)(a)(i) (Supp.
2015).2 The superior court sentenced Acosta to 2.25 years’ imprisonment in
the Arizona Department of Corrections on the contraband charge, see A.R.S.
§ 13-703(I) (Supp. 2015), to be served consecutive to his sentence of
imprisonment in the Maricopa County Superior Court, cause no. CR#2007-
030016-001 (the “2007 imprisonment offense”), and six months’
imprisonment in Maricopa County Jail for the tampering charge, to be

              2Although     the Arizona Legislature amended some of the
statutes cited in this decision after the date of Acosta’s offenses in 2014, the
revisions are immaterial to our resolution of this appeal. Thus, we cite to
the current version of the statutes.

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                             STATE v. ACOSTA
                            Decision of the Court
served concurrent with the sentence imposed by the court on the
contraband charges.3 See A.R.S. § 13-707 (2010).

                                  DISCUSSION

   I.        Supplemental Brief

        A.      Arguments Pertaining to J.V.’s Privilege against Self-
                Incrimination and J.V.’s Alleged Letter

                1.    Background

¶7             Before trial, Acosta notified the State he intended to call J.V.
as a witness. The State moved to have the court appoint counsel for J.V.,
noting Acosta had also provided it “with a copy of a letter allegedly written
by [J.V.], in which he admits to possessing a cell phone while incarcerated
in DoC-Lewis.” The prosecutor explained, however, that before he had
received the letter, he had conducted a telephonic interview with J.V., and
during the interview, “[J.V.] denied knowing [Acosta] and denied knowing
anything about this case.” The prosecutor further explained that should J.V.
be called as a witness, he “will necessarily open himself up to criminal
liability.” Specifically, Acosta could be charged with possession of prison
contraband, “by admitting to possessing a phone while in prison,” see
A.R.S. § 13-2505, or, in the alternative, “if he testifies consistently with what
he told the State, possibly perjury or other charges relating either to his
testimony or the statements he allegedly made in the letter,” which,
assuming he wrote it, he signed under penalty of perjury. See A.R.S. § 13-
2702(a)(2) (2010).

¶8             The superior court appointed counsel for J.V. Acosta moved
in limine to prevent J.V. from invoking his Fifth Amendment privilege
against self-incrimination, or to require J.V. to invoke his Fifth Amendment
privilege in the presence of the jury. At a hearing before trial, Acosta
questioned J.V. about his possession of the cellphone, the telephonic
interview, and the letter. J.V. invoked the Fifth Amendment in response to
each question. The superior court found J.V. was entitled to invoke his Fifth
Amendment privilege on all questions relating to his conversation with the

                3Because
                       the superior court imposed concurrent sentences on
the contraband and the tampering charges, we assume the Maricopa
County Jail will grant Acosta six months’ credit on the tampering charge
for the time Acosta serves on the contraband charge in the Arizona
Department of Corrections.

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                             STATE v. ACOSTA
                            Decision of the Court
prosecutor and the letter, based on the specific danger of prosecution J.V.
faced if compelled to testify, and excused him as a witness.

              2.     The Privilege Against Self-Incrimination

¶9            Acosta argues the superior court should have granted his
motion to prevent J.V. from asserting his Fifth Amendment privilege
against self-incrimination, or required J.V. to assert the privilege in the
presence of the jury. We disagree with both arguments.

¶10            First, as an initial matter, to assert the Fifth Amendment
privilege against self-incrimination, “a witness must demonstrate a
reasonable ground to apprehend danger from being compelled to testify.”
State v. Rosas-Hernandez, 202 Ariz. 212, 216, ¶ 11, 42 P.3d 1177, 1181 (App.
2002) (citation omitted). Although a defendant has a Sixth Amendment
right to compel the testimony of a witness whose testimony is “material and
favorable to the defense,” “[t]here is no Sixth Amendment right to compel
a witness to testify if the facts support that the witness has properly claimed
the Fifth Amendment privilege.” Id. at ¶ 10 (citations omitted). As discussed
above, see supra ¶ 7, J.V. faced a real danger of being prosecuted for either
promoting prison contraband under A.R.S. § 13-2505 or perjury. See A.R.S.
13-2702(a)(2) (a person commits perjury by making a false unsworn
statement regarding a material issue subscribed to “as true under penalty
of perjury, believing it to be false.”). Under these circumstances, the
superior court did not abuse its discretion when it allowed J.V. to assert the
privilege. See Rosas-Hernandez, 202 Ariz. at 216, ¶ 10, 42 P.3d at 1181.

¶11             Second, the superior court may completely excuse a witness
from testifying when it “possesses extensive knowledge about the case”
and “determines that a witness could legitimately refuse to answer
essentially all relevant questions.” State v. Harrod, 218 Ariz. 268, 276, ¶¶ 20-
21, 183 P.3d 519, 527 (2008) (quotations and citation omitted). Extensive
knowledge can be demonstrated when the superior court has heard “the
state's entire case and a portion of defendant's.” Id. at 276, ¶ 21, 183 P.3d at
527 (quotations and citation omitted). Moreover, “[a] trial court does not
necessarily have to personally question the witness, conduct a hearing, or
allow counsel to call the witness to the stand if the court possesses extensive
knowledge of [a] case.” Id. (quotations and citation omitted).

¶12           Here, the superior court had extensive knowledge of the
case—not only was it familiar with the positions taken by the parties in the
case, but it also held a hearing in which J.V. invoked the privilege in
response to all questions regarding his conversation with the prosecutor
and the letter. Accordingly, the superior court did not abuse its discretion

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                              STATE v. ACOSTA
                             Decision of the Court
in permitting J.V. to invoke his Fifth Amendment privilege outside the
presence of the jury. See id. at 275-76, ¶ 19, 183 P.3d at 526-27 (“A trial court's
decision whether to allow a party to call a witness before the jury who will
assert his Fifth Amendment privilege is reviewed for an abuse of
discretion.”).

               3.     The Letter

¶13           Next, Acosta argues the superior court should have admitted
into evidence the letter purportedly written by J.V. In that letter, J.V.
confessed to “possession” of the cellphone, dropping it in a cup, and
leaving it in “Acosta’s house” when he saw the “C.O.s walking in with
gloves.” The superior court ruled the letter was inadmissible under Arizona
Rule of Evidence 804(b)(3) because “there was no external evidence that
clearly indicated the trustworthiness of the statements in the letter.” See
State v. Garza, 216 Ariz. 56, 66 n.9, ¶ 41, 163 P.3d 1006, 1016 n.9 (2007)
(“[S]tatements against interest by unavailable non-party declarants, which
are governed by Rule 804(b)(3), are admissible only if there is some external
evidence of reliability.”) (emphasis omitted) (citation omitted).

¶14            The superior court did not abuse its discretion in refusing to
admit the letter into evidence. See State v. Franklin, 232 Ariz. 556, 559, ¶ 10,
307 P.3d 983, 986 (App. 2013) (“Rulings regarding the admissibility of
hearsay evidence are reviewed for an abuse of discretion.”) (citations
omitted). As discussed above, see supra ¶ 7, in a telephonic interview with
the prosecutor, J.V. denied knowing anything about the case. Additionally,
as the superior court pointed out, the only evidence Acosta introduced to
show J.V. had written the letter focused on information contained in the
letter (J.V.’s unit number and J.V.’s purported signature) and on the
envelope (Lewis Prison return address). Thus, because Acosta did not
present any external evidence of reliability as to the letter, the superior court
did not abuse its discretion in refusing to admit the letter into evidence.

       B.      Rule 20 Motion and Prejudice

¶15            Acosta argues the superior court should not have denied his
Rule 20 motion because the State failed to prove, first, the cellphone was a
working “communication device,” and second, the crime happened in a
correctional facility. Exercising de novo review, we reject this argument.
State v. Bon, 236 Ariz. 249, 251, ¶ 5, 338 P.3d 989, 991 (App. 2014) (denial of
a Rule 20 motion reviewed de novo) (citations omitted).

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                              STATE v. ACOSTA
                             Decision of the Court
¶16            Section 13-2505 does not require the State to establish the
cellphone was capable of making calls. Under the statute, “contraband
means any article whose use or possession would endanger the safety,
security or preservation of order in a correctional facility, including but not
limited to the articles that the statute lists by name.” State v. Hines, 232 Ariz.
607, 611, ¶ 13, 307 P.3d 1034, 1038 (App. 2013) (citation omitted). The statute
specifically lists “wireless communication device” as an example of
“contraband.” See A.R.S. § 13-2501(1) (Supp. 2015).

¶17           Here, the State presented substantial, uncontradicted
evidence that the item Acosta attempted to flush down the toilet was a
cellphone—thus, a wireless communication device. Ariz. R. Crim. P. 20
(judgment of acquittal is appropriate only “if there is no substantial
evidence to warrant a conviction); State v. West, 226 Ariz. 559, 562, ¶ 16, 250
P.3d 1188, 1191 (2011) (“Substantial evidence . . . is such proof that
reasonable persons could accept as adequate and sufficient to support a
conclusion of defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.”) (quotations
and citations omitted). Therefore, the cellphone was contraband within the
meaning of the statute, regardless of whether it was a working wireless
communication device.

¶18           Next, the State presented substantial evidence that the
incident occurred in a “correctional facility.” The superior court granted the
State’s motion to reopen its case and present additional evidence that Lewis
was a correctional facility. Officer C.S. then testified the incident occurred
in the Arizona prison complex where he works (Lewis)—a place of
confinement for individuals convicted of an offense. See A.R.S. § 13-2501(2)
(“’Correctional Facility’ means any place used for the confinement or
control of a person . . . Charged with or convicted of an offense”).

¶19            Acosta additionally argues the superior court “showed unfair
prejudice to the defense” by permitting the State to present the additional
evidence through C.S.’s testimony because C.S. had been in the courtroom
“listening to what he needs to say/do in order to get a conviction.” We
reject this argument. First, “[t]rial courts have broad discretion in deciding
whether to reopen a case and admit additional evidence.” State v. Patterson,
203 Ariz. 513, 514, ¶ 5, 56 P.3d 1097, 1098 (App. 2002) (citation omitted).
Second, before the State rested, N.M. and C.S. had already testified they
were correction officers who worked in a state prison complex and they
were directed to perform the strip search of Acosta, an inmate, while at
work. Third, C.S. was serving as the State’s “representative” and was
entitled to be in the courtroom throughout the trial. See Ariz. R. Evid. 615(b)
(rule requiring court to exclude trial witnesses at a party’s request “does
not authorize” exclusion of “an officer or employee of a party that is not a

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                             STATE v. ACOSTA
                            Decision of the Court
natural person, after being designated as the party's representative by its
attorney”).

       C.     Prosecutorial Misconduct

              1.     State’s Closing Argument

¶20          Acosta argues, as he did in the superior court, that
prosecutorial misconduct occurred “when the prosecutor used excerpts
from a Pixar movie, (‘Up’) to attack the defense in their closing arguments.”
We disagree.

¶21            “Prosecutors have wide latitude in their closing arguments to
the jury.” State v. Edmisten, 220 Ariz. 517, 524, ¶ 23, 207 P.3d 770, 777 (App.
2009) (quotations and citation omitted). Reversal of a conviction is
warranted when: “(1) misconduct is indeed present; and (2) a reasonable
likelihood exists that the misconduct could have affected the jury's verdict,
thereby denying defendant a fair trial.” State v. Anderson, 210 Ariz. 327, 340,
¶ 45, 111 P.3d 369, 382 (2005) (quotations and citations omitted).

¶22             At closing, the State compared “a dog [] focusing on things
he’s not supposed to be focusing on,” with defense counsel’s closing
argument that focused on ownership of the cellphone, or indicia of
ownership—factors that are irrelevant for a conviction under the
contraband statute, which penalizes possession of contraband, regardless
of ownership. Although the State may not comment on the integrity of
opposing counsel in closing arguments, “[c]riticism of defense theories and
tactics is a proper subject of closing argument.” State v. Ramos, 235 Ariz. 230,
238, ¶ 25, 330 P.3d 987, 995 (App. 2014) (quotations and citation omitted).
The State’s reference to the film offered a critique of Acosta’s defense
arguments and was not improper. See id. at 237-38, ¶¶ 24-25, 330 P.3d at
994-95 (comments, such as opposing counsel had “rais[ed] distractions or
red herrings,” did no “more than criticize defense tactics”).

              2.     Alleged Threats to J.V.

¶23            Acosta argues “[p]rosecutorial misconduct occurred when
the prosecutor threatened [J.V.]” by telling him that if he testified—and
denied he wrote the letter—the State would prosecute him for perjury, but
alternatively, if J.V. testified—and admitted he wrote the letter—the State
would charge J.V. with promoting prison contraband. None of these
statements constituted prosecutorial misconduct.

¶24          As discussed above, see supra ¶¶ 7-8, Acosta challenged J.V.’s
right to invoke his privilege against self-incrimination, and the State

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                             STATE v. ACOSTA
                            Decision of the Court
explained the prosecution dangers J.V. faced if he testified. Thus, the State
properly informed J.V. of the possible consequences of his testimony. See
State v. Jones, 197 Ariz. 290, 301-02, ¶ 21, 4 P.3d 345, 356-57 (2000). (“There
is no per se prosecutorial misconduct when the prosecutor merely informs
the witness of the possible effects of his testimony.”) (citation omitted).

              3.     State’s Reference to Target Search

¶25            Finally, Acosta argues the superior court should have
granted a mistrial because the State engaged in prosecutorial misconduct
when it disobeyed the superior court’s pre-trial ruling not to “label[]” the
search a “target search” and not “to present it to the jury as such.” The court
did not abuse its discretion in refusing to grant a mistrial. See State v.
Williamson, 236 Ariz. 550, 559, ¶ 27, 343 P.3d 1, 10 (App. 2015) (appellate
court reviews “denial of a motion for a mistrial for an abuse of discretion”)
(citation omitted).

¶26            “A mistrial is one of the most dramatic remedies and should
be granted only when it appears that justice will be thwarted unless the jury
is discharged and a new trial granted.” Id. at 560, ¶ 29, 343 P.3d at 11
(quotations and citation omitted). As we have previously stated, “the trial
judge is in the best position to assess the impact of a witness's statements
on the jury.” State v. Welch, 236 Ariz. 308, 314, ¶ 21, 340 P.3d 387, 393 (App.
2014). We consider, “(1) whether the jury has heard something it should not
hear, and (2) the probability that the jury was influenced by what it heard,”
Williamson, 236 at 560, ¶ 29, 343 P.3d at 11 (citation omitted), in weighing
whether a court should have granted a motion for a mistrial.

¶27            Before trial, Acosta moved in limine to preclude “any
reference” to a “target search” of Acosta, including any evidence that
Officers C.S. and N.M. had been ordered by their supervisor to perform the
target search. The superior court granted the motion in part; it allowed the
State to present evidence the “prison guards” were directed to perform the
search, but prohibited the State from introducing evidence asking “why”
Acosta was the target of the search:

              There are limits to the admissibility of the
              supervisor’s directions. Prison guards will be
              allowed to indicate that they were directed to
              perform the search, but are not to include other
              statements regarding allegations of ownership
              of a cell phone or why Defendant was the target
              of the search.

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                            STATE v. ACOSTA
                           Decision of the Court
¶28           At trial, the State asked C.S. if he was “directed to perform a
target search of someone named Sergio Acosta,” to which C.S. answered,
“Yes, I was,” after the court overruled Acosta’s objection to the question.
And, in closing, the State twice used the term “target search” when
summarizing the facts leading up to the search.

¶29          The State’s references to “target search” complied with the
superior court’s ruling. The ruling permitted the State to ask Officer C.S. if
he was directed to perform the search, which the State did. And, the ruling
precluded the State from asking the officers “why” Acosta was the target of
the search, which the State obeyed. Therefore, based on the record, the State
did not engage in prosecutorial misconduct when it referenced the target
search.

   II.    Anders Review

¶30           We have reviewed the entire record for reversible error and
find none. See Leon, 104 Ariz. at 300, 451 P.2d at 881. Acosta received a fair
trial. He was represented by counsel at all stages of the proceedings and
was present at all critical stages.

¶31           The evidence presented at trial was substantial and supports
the verdicts. The jury was properly comprised of eight members and the
court properly instructed the jury on the elements of the charges, Acosta’s
presumption of innocence, the State’s burden of proof, and the necessity of
a unanimous verdict. The superior court received and considered a
presentence report, Acosta was given an opportunity to speak at
sentencing, and he did, and his sentences were within the range of
acceptable sentences for his offenses.

¶32           We do note that although properly sentenced, the sentencing
minute entry contains two errors. First, the minute entry mistakenly reflects
that on the tampering charge Acosta was charged under A.R.S. § 123-2809,
when in fact he was charged under A.R.S. § 13-2809. Second, the minute
entry does not reflect that the court sentenced Acosta on the tampering
charge pursuant to A.R.S. § 13-707 (2010), the statute that governs the length
of sentences for misdemeanor convictions. Thus, we correct the sentencing
minute entry to reflect that on the tampering charge Acosta was charged
under A.R.S. § 13-2809 and sentenced under A.R.S. § 13-707.

                              CONCLUSION

¶33          We decline to order briefing and affirm Acosta’s convictions
and sentences as corrected.

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                            STATE v. ACOSTA
                           Decision of the Court
¶34           After the filing of this decision, defense counsel’s obligations
pertaining to Acosta’s representation in this appeal have ended. Defense
counsel need do no more than inform Acosta 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. State v. Shattuck, 140 Ariz. 582, 584-85, 684 P.2d 154, 156-57 (1984).

¶35            Acosta has 30 days from the date of this decision to proceed,
if he wishes, with an in propria persona petition for review. On the court’s
own motion, we also grant Acosta 30 days from the date of this decision to
file an in propria persona motion for reconsideration.

                                  :AA

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