Court Opinion

ID: 9913184
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-12-27 00:01:34.374772+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:07:42.555878
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 UNDER ARIZONA RULE OF THE SUPREME COURT 111(c), THIS DECISION IS NOT PRECEDENTIAL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.

                 MICHAEL JOSEPH NEWTON, Appellant.

                             No. 1 CA-CR 23-0070
                              FILED 12-26-2023

           Appeal from the Superior Court in Yavapai County
                        No. P1300CR202101551
               The Honorable Krista M. Carman, Judge

                                  AFFIRMED

                                   COUNSEL

Arizona Attorney General’s Office, Phoenix
By Alice Jones
Counsel for Appellee

The Zickerman Law Office PLLC, Flagstaff
By Adam Zickerman
Counsel for Appellant
                            STATE v. NEWTON
                            Decision of the Court

                       MEMORANDUM DECISION

Judge Andrew M. Jacobs delivered the decision of the Court, in which
Presiding Judge Michael J. Brown and Chief Judge David B. Gass joined.

J A C O B S, Judge:

¶1              Michael Joseph Newton (“Defendant”) appeals, under Anders
v. California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967), and State v. Leon, 104 Ariz. 297 (1969), from
his convictions arising from a domestic violence incident. Defense counsel
identified no issue for appeal but requested that this court 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). Defendant had the opportunity to file a pro
per brief but did not do so. Our review of the record reveals no arguable
issues. See Smith v. Robbins, 528 U.S. 259 (2000); Anders, 386 U.S. 738; Clark,
196 Ariz. at 537 ¶ 30. We therefore affirm.

                 FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

¶2            On October 28, 2021, Defendant got into a physical fight with
his then-fourteen-year-old great-nephew. The incident occurred in the
presence of the victim’s brother and sister, as well as Defendant’s sister,
who is the grandmother of the children. During the scuffle, Defendant
slapped, punched, and headbutted the victim, resulting in a bloody nose
and a chipped tooth. Afterwards, Defendant took the children to school,
whereupon a school counselor noticed the victim’s sister’s emotional
distress and approached the victim with questions about the incident. On
November 8, the school counselor reported the incident to the police.
Defendant was arrested later that day.

¶3            On November 12, 2021, Defendant was charged with five
offenses: Count 1 Aggravated Assault Per Domestic Violence, Count 2
Aggravated Assault, and Counts 3 through 5 Disorderly Conduct Per
Domestic Violence. Following a three-day trial, Defendant was convicted
on all counts, albeit of simple assault instead of aggravated assault as to
Count 1. The superior court suspended Defendant’s sentence, instead
placing him on supervised probation for three years and requiring him to
perform 35 hours of community service or restitution. Defendant timely
appealed.

                                       2
                           STATE v. NEWTON
                           Decision of the Court

                              DISCUSSION

¶4          We find no reversible error. The record reflects that
Defendant, who was present at all stages, was afforded all constitutional
and statutory rights and that the proceedings were conducted in
accordance with the applicable procedural rules.

¶5            The verdicts were supported by substantial evidence. For the
aggravated assault charged in Count 1, the state was required to prove
Defendant intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly caused a fracture of any
body part to another person. A.R.S. §§ 13-1203(A)(1), -1204(A)(3). For the
lesser included offense of assault, the state merely needed to prove
Defendant intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly caused physical injury to
another person. A.R.S. § 13-1203(A)(1). For the aggravated assault charged
in Count 2, the state was required to prove that Defendant intentionally,
knowingly, or recklessly assaulted a minor under fifteen years of age.
A.R.S. §§ 13-1203(A)(1), -1204(A)(6).

¶6            For Count 1, the state was unable to prove Defendant
committed aggravated assault by intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly
chipping his nephew’s tooth with a headbutt. The jury instead convicted
Defendant of simple assault. The evidence supported this charge, because
the jury saw evidence of the victim’s chipped tooth and other injuries and
heard testimony from the victim and other family members. For Count 2,
sufficient evidence supported Defendant’s conviction for aggravated
assault, because of the facts showing assault, and because Defendant’s
nephew was under the age of 15 at the time of the incident.

¶7            For Counts 3 through 5, the state was required to prove that
Defendant committed disorderly conduct by intentionally or knowingly
disturbing the peace or quiet of his family by fighting his nephew. A.R.S. §
13-2904(A)(1). Specifically, the state was required to prove that Defendant
“knowingly disturbed the [victims’] peace.” State v. Burdick, 211 Ariz. 583,
585 ¶ 8 (App. 2005). Here, evidence showed the fight between Defendant
and his nephew happened in the presence of Defendant’s other nephew,
niece, and his sister. This fight disturbed the peace because it traumatized
them.

¶8            The court entered lawful sentences on all counts. Count 1 was
a class 1 misdemeanor under A.R.S. § 13-1203(A)(1), (B). The sentences for
class 1 misdemeanors are a maximum of six months imprisonment. A.R.S.
§ 13-707(A)(1). Here, the suspended sentence was incarceration for 120
days, which is less than the presumptive sentence of six months. Count 2

                                     3
                            STATE v. NEWTON
                            Decision of the Court

was a class 6 felony under A.R.S. §§ 13-1203(A)(1), -1204(A)(6), (F). For first
time felony offenders, the sentences for class 6 felonies fall between 4
months and 2 years imprisonment. A.R.S. § 13-702(D). For Count 2,
Defendant was also given a suspended sentence of incarceration for 120
days, which was the low end of the presumptive range. Counts 3 through
5 were class 1 misdemeanors under A.R.S. § 13-2904(A)(1), (B). As noted,
class 1 misdemeanors are subject to sentences that carry a maximum of six
months imprisonment. A.R.S. § 13-707(A)(1). Defendant’s suspended
sentence of 120 days fell below that range. The state also alleged, and the
jury found, that the victim suffered physical, emotional, or financial harm
as to Count 2. While this is an aggravating factor set forth in A.R.S. § 13-
701(D), because A.R.S. § 13-702(B) requires the state to prove at least two
aggravating factors to aggravate a sentence (which it did not do), this factor
had no bearing on Defendant’s sentence. The court did not err in
suspending Defendant’s sentence and placing him on three years of
supervised probation.

                               CONCLUSION

¶9            We affirm Defendant’s convictions and sentence.

¶10             Defense counsel’s obligations pertaining to this appeal have
come to an end. See State v. Shattuck, 140 Ariz. 582, 584-85 (1984). Unless
upon review counsel discovers an issue appropriate for petition for review
to the Arizona Supreme Court, counsel must only inform Defendant of the
status of this appeal and his future options. Id. Defendant has 30 days from
the date of this decision to file a petition for review in propria persona. See
Ariz. R. Crim. P. 31.21(b)(2)(A). On the court’s own motion, Defendant has
30 days from the date of this decision in which to file a motion for
reconsideration. See Ariz. R. Crim. P. 31.20(c). A timely motion for
reconsideration will extend the deadline to file a petition for review. See
Ariz. R. Crim. P. 31.21(b)(2)(A).

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

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