Court Opinion

ID: 4661162
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-02-18 16:02:45.241543+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:02:11.720040
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 UNDER ARIZONA RULE OF THE SUPREME COURT 111(c), THIS DECISION IS NOT PRECEDENTIAL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.

                 MARIO VINCENT MICALIZZI, Appellant.

                             No. 1 CA-CR 20-0111
                              FILED 2-18-2021

           Appeal from the Superior Court in Mohave County
                        No. S8015CR201801587
              The Honorable Richard D. Lambert, Judge

                                  AFFIRMED

                                   COUNSEL

Arizona Attorney General’s Office, Phoenix
By Brian Coffman
Counsel for Appellee

Mohave County Legal Advocate, Kingman
By Jill L. Evans
Counsel for Appellant
                           STATE v. MICALIZZI
                           Decision of the Court

                      MEMORANDUM DECISION

Judge Samuel A. Thumma delivered the decision of the Court, in which
Presiding Judge Kent E. Cattani and Chief Judge Peter B. Swann joined.

T H U M M A, Judge:

¶1           Defendant Mario Vincent Micalizzi appeals his convictions
and sentences for two counts of aggravated assault, and one count each of
escape, resisting arrest and possession of a dangerous drug
(methamphetamine). Because he has shown no error, Micalizzi’s
convictions and sentences are affirmed.

                 FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

¶2            Mohave County Sheriff Detective M.A. conducted a traffic
stop of an SUV Micalizzi was driving. Responding to M.A.’s questioning,
Micalizzi said there was nothing illegal in the vehicle and consented to a
search of the SUV. M.A. began the search on the driver’s side. In a “void”
under the steering column, M.A. found a sunglasses case containing
syringes and methamphetamine. M.A. seized the case and returned to his
patrol vehicle.

¶3             As M.A. was securing the case, Micalizzi darted to the SUV
and, with M.A. close behind, jumped into the driver’s seat. M.A. reached
into the SUV, grabbed Micalizzi’s shirt, and commanded him “to get out.”
Refusing to comply, Micalizzi turned on the SUV’s ignition and repeatedly
slammed the driver’s door on M.A.’s arm. M.A. let go and “jumped off it”
when he saw Micalizzi shift the SUV into gear. Micalizzi then sped away,
leaving his license with M.A.

¶4             The State charged Micalizzi with two counts of aggravated
assault, one a Class 2 dangerous felony, the other a Class 4 felony; escape
in the first degree, a Class 4 felony; resisting arrest, a Class 6 felony; and
possession of dangerous drugs, a Class 4 felony.1 Before trial, Micalizzi
moved to suppress evidence of the methamphetamine found in the SUV,

1 The indictment also charged Micalizzi with possession of drug
paraphernalia. The State dropped the charge before trial.

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                           STATE v. MICALIZZI
                           Decision of the Court

contending M.A.’s search violated his Fourth Amendment rights. After an
evidentiary hearing, the court denied the motion to suppress.

¶5             The jury found Micalizzi guilty on all counts. The court
imposed concurrent prison terms, the longest being 10.5 years. This court
has jurisdiction over Micalizzi’s timely appeal under Article 6, Section 9 of
the Arizona Constitution and Arizona Revised Statutes (A.R.S.) §§ 12-
120.21(A)(1), 13-4031 and 13-4033(A) (2021).2

                               DISCUSSION

I.     Micalizzi Has Not Shown the Court Erred in Denying His Motion
       to Suppress.

¶6            Micalizzi argues the court erred in denying his motion to
suppress because he did not consent to M.A.’s search of the SUV.3 The
exclusionary rule prohibits the introduction of evidence seized in violation
of a person’s Fourth Amendment rights. State v. Hackman, 189 Ariz. 505, 508
(App. 1997). The Fourth Amendment prohibits law enforcement from
making unreasonable searches and seizures. Terry v. Ohio, 392 U.S. 1, 9
(1968). In general, a warrantless search is per se unreasonable under the
Fourth Amendment, subject to various exceptions to the warrant
requirement. State v. Branham, 191 Ariz. 94, 95 (App. 1997). A search
following consent is one such exception. State v. Davolt, 207 Ariz. 191, 203 ¶
29 (2004).

¶7            A ruling on a motion to suppress will not be reversed absent
“clear and manifest error.” State v. Newell, 212 Ariz. 389, 396 ¶ 22 (2006).
This court only considers the evidence submitted at the suppression
hearing, State v. Blackmore, 186 Ariz. 630, 631 (1996), and the superior court
determines the credibility of witnesses, State v. Ossana, 199 Ariz. 459, 461
¶ 7 (App. 2001).

¶8           At the suppression hearing, Micalizzi testified that, although
he gave M.A. consent to search his person, he did not consent to a search of

2Absent material revisions after the relevant dates, statutes and rules cited
refer to the current version unless otherwise indicated.

3 Although Micalizzi also asserts the State failed to prove his consent was
voluntary, he makes no substantive argument supporting that assertion.
Micalizzi therefore waived any challenge to the voluntariness of his
consent. See State v. Bolton, 182 Ariz. 290, 298 (1995) (“Failure to argue a
claim on appeal constitutes waiver of that claim.”).

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                            STATE v. MICALIZZI
                            Decision of the Court

the SUV. M.A., however, testified to the contrary: “I first asked if I could
search his person, which he consented. After searching his person, I then
asked if I could search the vehicle, which he then consented.” The superior
court presumably found M.A. more credible, and Micalizzi has not shown
that finding was error.

¶9             The record otherwise supports a finding that Micalizzi
consented to a search of the SUV. See State v. Fornof, 218 Ariz. 74, 76 ¶ 8
(App. 2008) (this court views evidence from the suppression hearing “in the
light most favorable to upholding the trial court’s factual findings”). M.A.
testified at the suppression hearing that Micalizzi “could see [the search]
from [where] he was” and Micalizzi did not “say anything.” The court
found Micalizzi, based on his live testimony, “does not seem like a person
who’s intimidated or scared or anything like that.” Micalizzi’s failure to
timely object to the search as it proceeded is explained by the reasonable
inference that he consented to the search. Consistent with M.A.’s testimony,
his written report memorializing the incident expressly indicated Micalizzi
consented to both a search of his person and a search of the SUV.

¶10           The court’s determination that Micalizzi consented to M.A.’s
search of the SUV was supported by substantial evidence. Accordingly, the
court did not err by denying the motion to suppress. See State v. Berryman,
178 Ariz. 617, 623 (App. 1994) (finding of fact cannot be clearly erroneous if
substantial evidence supports it, even though substantial conflicting
evidence also exists) (citing Moore v. Title Ins. Co. of Minnesota, 148 Ariz. 408,
413 (App. 1985)).

II.    Sufficient Evidence Supports Micalizzi’s Conviction                    for
       Possession of a Dangerous Drug (Methamphetamine).

¶11           Micalizzi contends the evidence was insufficient to support
his conviction for possession of a dangerous drug. He specifically argues
no evidence established he knew methamphetamine was in the SUV, or that
he otherwise had dominion and control over the drug. See A.R.S. § 13-
105(34) (“Possess” means “knowingly to have physical possession or
otherwise to exercise dominion or control over property.”). Micalizzi points
to the hidden location where M.A. found the drugs and the fact someone
else was the registered owner of the SUV.

¶12           This court’s review of the sufficiency of evidence is limited to
whether substantial evidence supports the verdict. State v. Scott, 177 Ariz.
131, 138 (1993); see also Ariz. R. Crim. P. 20(a)(1) (directing courts to enter
judgment of acquittal “if there is no substantial evidence to support a

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                            STATE v. MICALIZZI
                            Decision of the Court

conviction”). 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.” State v. Mathers, 165 Ariz. 64,
67 (1990) (quoting State v. Jones, 125 Ariz. 417, 419 (1980)).

¶13            Sufficient trial evidence properly allowed the jury to
determine that Micalizzi possessed the methamphetamine. First, he was the
driver of the SUV, and the drugs were located under the steering column.
Micalizzi was also unaccompanied. See State v. Cox, 214 Ariz. 518, 520 ¶ 10
(App. 2007) (“Constructive possession exists when the prohibited property
‘is found in a place under [the defendant’s] dominion [or] control and under
circumstances from which it can be reasonably inferred that the defendant
had actual knowledge of the existence of the [property].’”) (citing cases). In
addition, upon seeing M.A. return from the SUV with the sunglasses case,
Micalizzi immediately ran to the SUV and then fled. Under these
circumstances, the jury could reasonably infer Micalizzi knowingly
possessed the methamphetamine. See In re William G., 192 Ariz. 208, 213
(App. 1997) (“We recognize that absent a person’s outright admission
regarding his state of mind, his mental state must necessarily be ascertained
by inference from all relevant surrounding circumstances.”).4

III.   Micalizzi Has Not Shown the Superior Court Erred by Granting
       the State’s Motion to Amend the Escape Charge, and Sufficient
       Evidence Supports His Escape Conviction.

¶14           Micalizzi argues the superior court abused its discretion and
violated his right to notice of the charges by allowing the State to amend
the escape count on the first day of trial. See State v. Johnson, 198 Ariz. 245,
247 ¶ 4 (App. 2000) (order granting motion to amend indictment reviewed
for abuse of discretion). In moving to amend, the State noted the indictment
alleged Micalizzi “escaped or attempted to escape from custody from a
correctional facility.” The State referred to a ”scrivener’s error” in the
allegation and asked that it be corrected to allege Micalizzi “escaped or
attempted to escape from custody or from a correctional facility” to comply
with the escape statute. The State also explained, “This case is completely
about custody. There’s no issue at all of the defendant being in a

4 The superior court instructed the jury it could properly make such an
inference based on Micalizzi’s flight. See State v. Cutright, 196 Ariz. 567, 570,
¶ 12 (App. 1999) (“Instructing on flight is appropriate when a defendant’s
conduct manifests a consciousness of guilt.”) overruled on other grounds by
State v. Miranda, 200 Ariz. 67 (2001). Micalizzi does not challenge that
instruction on appeal.

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                            STATE v. MICALIZZI
                            Decision of the Court

correctional facility.” Over Micalizzi’s objection, the court granted the
State’s motion.

¶15           An indictment may be amended to “correct mistakes of fact
or remedy formal or technical defects.” Ariz. R. Crim. P. 13.5(b). Because
the Sixth Amendment requires adequate pretrial notice of criminal charges,
see U.S. Const. amend. VI, “[a] defect may be considered formal or technical
when its amendment does not operate to change the nature of the offense
charged or to prejudice the defendant in any way,” State v. Bruce, 125 Ariz.
421, 423 (1980). “In determining whether the offense was changed or the
defendant prejudiced,” a reviewing court considers whether the
amendment violated a defendant’s “right to ‘notice of the charges’” and
whether the defendant had an “‘ample opportunity to prepare to defend
against them.’” Johnson, 198 Ariz. at 248 ¶ 8 (quoting State v. Barber, 133
Ariz. 572, 577 (App. 1982)).

¶16            The applicable escape statute provides, in relevant part: “A
person commits escape in the first degree by knowingly escaping or
attempting to escape from custody or a juvenile secure care facility, juvenile
detention facility or an adult correctional facility by [u]sing or threatening the
use of physical force against another person.” A.R.S. § 13-2504(A)(1)
(emphasis added). Given this statutory language, the pre-amended
indictment contained a typographical error in Count 3 by omitting the word
“or” before “from an adult correctional facility.” The resulting phrase,
“escape from custody from a correctional facility,” is non-sensical because,
by statute, the term “custody” “does not include detention in a correctional
facility.” A.R.S. § 13-2501(3). At best, “escape from custody from a
correctional facility” is a clumsy construction that is clarified by reading the
escape statute, which the pre-amended indictment expressly and correctly
identified. See State v. Waggoner, 144 Ariz. 237, 239 (1985) (indictment’s
reference to sentence enhancement statute is adequate notice of State’s
intent to seek enhanced sentence). Moreover, Micalizzi was present at the
pre-trial suppression hearing and thus had actual notice that the escape
charge was based on an allegation he escaped from “custody,” not from
custody “from a correctional facility.” See State v. Montes Flores, 245 Ariz.
303, 307 ¶ 17 (App. 2018) (“Even when the nature of the offense is changed,
if the defendant receives ‘constitutionally adequate notice’ of the
modification, he is not prejudiced and the Sixth Amendment is not violated.
In this inquiry, the issue is whether the defendant ‘received actual notice of
the charges’ from any source.”) (citation omitted). For these reasons, the
amendment to the indictment did not change the nature of the escape
charge, nor did it prejudice Micalizzi’s defense. The superior court did not
abuse its discretion.

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                           STATE v. MICALIZZI
                           Decision of the Court

¶17            Alternatively, Micalizzi argues no evidence established he
was in custody when he left the scene of the traffic stop, meaning there was
insufficient evidence to support his escape conviction. As relevant here,
“custody” is defined as “the imposition of actual or constructive restraint
pursuant to an on-site arrest.” A.R.S. § 13-2501(3). Here, M.A. testified that,
as he used both hands to try and pull Micalizzi out of the SUV, he told
Micalizzi he was under arrest and to “stop.” The evidence therefore
sufficiently establishes that Micalizzi was “in custody,” and substantial
evidence supports his conviction for escape. See State v. Stroud, 209 Ariz.
410, 413 ¶ 11 (2005) (an officer telling “he was under arrest” while grabbing
defendant’s shirt collar before defendant “broke free” constitutes sufficient
evidence of “custody” for purposes of escape conviction).

IV.    Micalizzi Has Not Shown the Jury Instructions on the Aggravated
       Assault Charges Amounted to Fundamental Error.

¶18           Count 1 alleged Micalizzi committed aggravated assault with
a dangerous instrument by intentionally placing M.A. in reasonable
apprehension of imminent physical injury. See A.R.S. §§ 13-1203(A)(2),
-1204(A)(2). Count 2 alleged Micalizzi committed aggravated assault by
physically injuring M.A. knowing he was a peace officer. See A.R.S. §§ 13-
1203(A)(1), -1204(A)(8)(a). The superior court instructed the jury as follows:

              The crime of assault requires the proof that the
              defendant:

              1. Intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly
              caused a physical injury to another person; or

              2. Intentionally plac[ed] another person in
              reasonable apprehension of imminent physical
              injury.

              [] The crime of aggravated assault requires
              proof of the following:

              1. The defendant committed an assault, and

              2. The assault was aggravated by at least one of
              the following factors:

              - The defendant used a deadly weapon or
              dangerous instrument;

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                            STATE v. MICALIZZI
                            Decision of the Court

              - The defendant knew or had reason to know
              that the person assaulted was a peace officer.

Micalizzi argues the instructions improperly amended the indictment such
that the jury could have convicted him of aggravated assault offenses that
were not charged. He also claims the instructions resulted in the possibility
of non-unanimous verdicts as to each aggravated assault offense.

¶19              Micalizzi did not object to the jury instructions in superior
court, thus he bears the burden on appeal of establishing fundamental
error. State v. Escalante, 245 Ariz. 135, 138 ¶ 1 (2018). Satisfying that burden
requires Micalizzi to prove either error resulting in prejudice, or that the
error “was so egregious that he could not possibly have received a fair
trial.” Id. at 140 ¶ 12, 142 ¶ 21.

¶20            This court considers opening statements and closing
arguments when evaluating the propriety of a trial court’s jury instructions.
State v. Johnson, 205 Ariz. 413, 417 ¶ 11 (App. 2003). During the opening
statements and closing arguments, the prosecutor clearly explained the
different elements exactly as charged separately in Counts 1 and 2. Thus,
the prosecutor ameliorated any purported confusion caused by the
aggravated assault instructions. Micalizzi does not rely on the record to
contend otherwise. Instead, he merely speculates that the court’s
instructions resulted in an unfair trial or otherwise prejudiced him. Such
speculation is insufficient to satisfy his burden under fundamental error
review. See Escalante, 245 Ariz. at 144 ¶ 31 (“imaginative guesswork”
insufficient under fundamental error review to show prejudice).

                               CONCLUSION

¶21           Micalizzi’s convictions and resulting sentences are affirmed.

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

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