Court Opinion

ID: 2827986
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-08-18 16:15:54.17599+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:31:29.280878
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 UNDER ARIZONA RULE OF THE SUPREME COURT 111(c), THIS DECISION IS NOT PRECEDENTIAL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.

                    MAURICE L. JOHNSON, Appellant.

                             No. 1 CA-CR 15-0073
                              FILED 8-18-2015

           Appeal from the Superior Court in Maricopa County
                        No. CR2011-148351-001
            The Honorable Jerry Bernstein, Judge Pro Tempore

                                  AFFIRMED

                                   COUNSEL

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

Maricopa County Public Defender’s Office, Phoenix
By Terry J. Adams
Counsel for Appellant
                            STATE v. JOHNSON
                            Decision of the Court

                       MEMORANDUM DECISION

Judge Kenton D. Jones delivered the decision of the Court, in which
Presiding Judge Margaret H. Downie and Judge Jon W. Thompson joined.

J O N E S, Judge:

¶1            Maurice L. Johnson appeals his convictions of one count of
possession of a dangerous drug and one count of possession of drug
paraphernalia. After searching the entire record, Johnson’s defense counsel
has identified no arguable question of law that is not frivolous. Therefore,
in accordance with Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967), and State v. Leon,
104 Ariz. 297 (1969), defense counsel asks this Court to search the record for
fundamental error. Johnson filed a supplemental brief in propria persona.
After reviewing the record, we find no error. Accordingly, Johnson’s
convictions and sentences are affirmed.

                 FACTS1 AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

¶2           On May 18, 2011, a Tempe police detective observed Johnson
crossing the street without using a crosswalk near the intersection of
McClintock Drive and Apache Boulevard. The detective approached
Johnson and asked for identification. Johnson stated his identification was
at his apartment but gave the name “Luis Jackson” and a date of birth and
advised the detective he was from Florida. The detective called a dispatcher
by radio to check Florida and Arizona records using the information
Johnson provided. The query returned no record.

¶3            The detective asked Johnson again about his name and called
for backup. Soon thereafter, Johnson took off running. After a short chase,
the detective caught Johnson and placed him under arrest.

¶4           Upon arrival at the jail, Johnson was subject to a strip search
whereby the detective discovered a clear plastic baggie protruding from
Johnson’s rectum. Inside the baggie was a piece of black plastic wrapped

1      We view the facts in the light most favorable to sustaining the jury’s
verdict and resolve all reasonable inferences against the defendant. State v.
Harm, 236 Ariz. 402, 404 n.2, ¶ 2 (App. 2015) (quoting State v. Valencia, 186
Ariz. 493, 495 (App. 1996).

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                           STATE v. JOHNSON
                           Decision of the Court

around crystal shards of what the detective believed to be
methamphetamine. The black plastic and the substance were impounded
and later sent to the Arizona Department of Public Safety Crime Laboratory
which confirmed by chemical testing that the substance was
methamphetamine.

¶5           On November 7, 2011, an information was filed in the trial
court charging Johnson with one count of possession or use of
methamphetamine, a dangerous drug, and one count of possession of drug
paraphernalia — a baggie — used to pack, repack, store, contain, or conceal
methamphetamine. At a preliminary hearing, Johnson was ordered to
undergo a competency evaluation pursuant to Arizona Rule of Criminal
Procedure 11. On October 9, 2012, the Rule 11 court declared Johnson
incompetent, but he received restoration treatment and was declared
competent upon re-evaluation in May 2013. The court ordered another
Rule 11 evaluation in October 2013, and Johnson was again declared
competent in January 2014. A jury trial was scheduled for February 2014.

¶6            After Johnson failed to appear for the second day of trial, the
trial court found his appearance was waived through his voluntary
absence. A bench warrant issued, and trial proceeded in his absence.
Johnson was ultimately found guilty of both counts. After a fourth Rule 11
evaluation found him competent, the trial court proceeded to sentencing
where the State proved Johnson had three prior felony convictions.
Johnson was sentenced to a slightly mitigated prison term of 3.5 years for
possession of a dangerous drug, and a presumptive prison term of 1.75
years for possession of drug paraphernalia. Johnson timely appealed, and
we have jurisdiction pursuant to Arizona Revised Statutes (A.R.S.) sections
12-120.21(A)(1),2 13-4031, and -4033(A)(1).

                               DISCUSSION

¶7            Within his supplemental brief, Johnson argues errors in the
State’s presentation of the facts. On appeal, we do not retry conflicts in the
evidence and affirm the jury’s verdicts so long as they are supported by
substantial evidence. State v. Robles, 128 Ariz. 89, 90 (App. 1980). First,
Johnson contends he accepted an offer to plead guilty of false reporting to
law enforcement, and this trial resulted in double jeopardy. Our search of

2     Absent material revisions from the relevant date, we cite a statute’s
current version.

                                      3
                           STATE v. JOHNSON
                           Decision of the Court

the record reveals no such plea bargain. No agreement was reached at the
settlement conference, nor by the expiration of the State’s plea offer.

¶8             Johnson also contends the record does not support a finding
that he was arrested on May 18, 2011. Reasonable evidence was presented
at trial to support a finding that Johnson was arrested on May 18, 2011, and
we therefore find no merit in Defendant’s contention. It also warrants
noting that while Johnson does not assert a date upon which he believes the
offense occurred, no benefit inures to the State by asserting May 18, 2011 as
the date of arrest, and no benefit inures to Johnson by asserting it is not.
Charges were brought against Johnson later that year, well within the
seven-year statute of limitations. See A.R.S. § 13-107(B)(1).

¶9             Having reviewed the entire record for reversible error, we
find none. See Leon, 104 Ariz. at 300 (“An exhaustive search of the record
has failed to produce any prejudicial error.”). Under Arizona law, “[a]
person shall not knowingly . . . [p]ossess or use a dangerous drug.” A.R.S.
§ 13-3407(A)(1). It is also “unlawful for any person to use, or to possess
with intent to use, drug paraphernalia to . . . pack, repack, store, contain,
conceal, inject, ingest, inhale or otherwise introduce into the human body a
drug in violation of this chapter.” A.R.S. § 13-3415(A). Reasonable
evidence was presented to support the jury’s verdicts that Johnson
possessed methamphetamine and that he used a plastic baggie to store it,
in violation of A.R.S. §§ 13-3407(A) and -3415.

¶10           All of the proceedings were conducted in compliance with the
Arizona Rules of Criminal Procedure. The jury was properly comprised of
eight jurors, and the record shows no evidence of jury misconduct. See
A.R.S. § 21-102(B); Ariz. R. Crim. P. 18.1(a). The record demonstrates
Johnson was represented by counsel at all stages of the proceedings, and
Johnson was present for all critical stages, except the second day of trial.
Not only was Johnson’s release from jail conditioned upon his appearance
at all proceedings, the trial court also gave him notice of the trial date and
a warning that trial would proceed if the defendant failed to appear. These
circumstances are sufficient to find a knowing waiver of a defendant’s right
to appear, and we find no error in the trial court’s finding that Johnson
voluntarily absented himself. See State v. Superior Court (Ochoa), 183 Ariz.
139, 144-45 (App. 1995).

¶11            At sentencing, Johnson was given an opportunity to speak,
and the trial court stated on the record the evidence, materials, and factors
it considered in imposing sentence. Furthermore, the sentences imposed
were within the statutory limits. See A.R.S. § 13-703(I).

                                      4
                           STATE v. JOHNSON
                           Decision of the Court

                              CONCLUSION

¶12             Johnson’s convictions and sentences are affirmed. After the
filing of this decision, defense counsel’s obligations pertaining to Johnson’s
representation in this appeal have ended. Defense counsel need only
inform Johnson of the outcome of this appeal and his future options, unless,
upon review, counsel finds an issue appropriate for review by our supreme
court. State v. Shattuck, 140 Ariz. 582, 584-85 (1984).

¶13            Johnson has thirty days from the date of this decision to
proceed, if he wishes, with an in propria persona petition for review by our
supreme court. See Ariz. R. Crim. P. 31.19(a). Upon the Court’s own
motion, we grant Johnson thirty days from the date of this decision to file
an in propria persona motion for reconsideration.

                                    :ama

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