Court Opinion

ID: 4364744
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-02-05 17:02:13.112794+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:49:14.305244
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  UNDER ARIZONA RULE OF THE SUPREME COURT 111(c), THIS DECISION IS NOT PRECEDENTIAL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.

                  LIZ JUDITH ROMO ALEMAN, Appellant.

                              No. 1 CA-CR 18-0323
                                FILED 2-5-2019

            Appeal from the Superior Court in Yavapai County
                         No. P1300CR201601595
                  The Honorable Tina R. Ainley, Judge

                                   AFFIRMED

                                    COUNSEL

M. Alex Harris, P.C., Chino Valley
By M. Alex Harris
Counsel for Appellant

Arizona Attorney General's Office, Phoenix
By Michelle L. Hogan
Counsel for Appellee
                           STATE v. ALEMAN
                           Decision of the Court

                      MEMORANDUM DECISION

Presiding Judge James B. Morse Jr. delivered the decision of the Court, in
which Judge Jon W. Thompson and Vice Chief Judge Peter B. Swann joined.

M O R S E, Judge:

¶1            Liz Judith Aleman ("Aleman") appeals her convictions and
sentences for two counts of sale or transportation of narcotic drugs (Counts
1 and 2) and two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia (Counts 3 and
4). For the following reasons, we affirm.

                FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

¶2            On December 21, 2016, a sergeant with the Yavapai County
Sheriff's Office (the "Sergeant") pulled over a car driven by Aleman.
Aleman was the sole occupant of the car.

¶3             Following the traffic stop, the Sergeant asked Aleman for
permission to search the car. Aleman declined the request but agreed to let
the Sergeant "pass [his] dog around" the vehicle. The Sergeant's dog alerted
to the right rear passenger door. The Sergeant subsequently searched the
entire vehicle and discovered a can of air freshener, and 12.5 pounds of
cocaine and 2.5 pounds of heroin that were hidden in vacuum sealed
packages inside the rear passenger and driver-side doors.

¶4             Before trial, Aleman moved to preclude any testimony from
the Sergeant regarding drug-courier profiling and the "modus operandi" of
drug-trafficking organizations. At trial, however, Aleman stipulated that
the Sergeant was "permitted to testify about the importance of his
observation of an air freshener spray can or aerosol that was in the vehicle
in regard to how it can be used as a masking agent in his training and
experience." During the trial, and without objection, the Sergeant testified
that, based on his training and experience, many suspects agree to canine
sniffs because they are confident that the odors of narcotics will be masked
through various methods, including air fresheners. The Sergeant also
testified that the drugs found in Aleman's car were worth approximately
$150,000 wholesale and $545,000 street value.

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                            STATE v. ALEMAN
                            Decision of the Court

¶5          The jury found Aleman guilty on all counts. The court
sentenced Aleman to concurrent terms of four years' imprisonment for
Counts 1 and 2, and 6 months' imprisonment for Counts 3 and 4.

¶6            Aleman timely appealed. We have jurisdiction pursuant to
Article 6, Section 9, of the Arizona Constitution and Arizona Revised
Statutes ("A.R.S.") sections 13-4031 and -4033(A)(1).

                               DISCUSSION

¶7           "We view the facts in the light most favorable to sustaining
the convictions with all reasonable inferences resolved against the
defendant." State v. Harm, 236 Ariz. 402, 404, n.2 (App. 2015).

¶8            Aleman raises two arguments on appeal. First, Aleman
argues that the superior court erred by allowing testimony of expert nature
by the Sergeant without qualifying him as an expert pursuant to Arizona
Rule of Evidence ("Rule") 702. Because the State failed to establish the
Sergeant as an "expert," Aleman asserts that this testimony was
inadmissible. Second, Aleman argues that the superior court erred in
applying an 83% surcharge to her fines. She asserts that the 83% surcharge
is more than authorized by statute.

I.     Waiver

¶9             An appellant's opening brief must include, for each issue, the
applicable standard of appellate review with citations to supporting legal
authority and references to the records on appeal. Ariz. R. Crim. P.
31.10(a)(7). An opening brief must also include significant arguments
setting forth an appellant's position on each issue raised. See State v. Carver,
160 Ariz. 167, 175 (1989). Here, although Aleman mentions Rule 702 in her
opening brief, she does not develop her arguments, cite to relevant legal
authority, provide any record citations, or identify specific statements or
facts to support her claims. Notably, Aleman does not identify, cite to, or
quote any specific testimony by the Sergeant as a basis for her appeal.
Because Aleman's contentions are not sufficiently developed, she has
waived her claims on appeal.1 See State v. Moody, 208 Ariz. 424, 454, ¶ 101,
n.9 (2004) ("Merely mentioning an argument is not enough: 'In Arizona,
opening briefs must present significant arguments, supported by authority,
setting forth an appellant's position on the issues raised. Failure to argue a
claim usually constitutes abandonment and waiver of that claim.'") (citation

1    In her reply brief, Aleman argues for the first time that the State
improperly presented drug-profiling evidence through the Sergeant.

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                             STATE v. ALEMAN
                             Decision of the Court

omitted); see also State v. Linder, 227 Ariz. 69, 70, ¶ 3, n.1 (App. 2010) (finding
waiver of arguments that were raised in a reply brief but not advanced in
the opening brief).

II.    Invited Error

¶10            Even if Aleman's arguments were not waived pursuant to
Arizona Rule of Criminal Procedure 31.10(a)(7), Aleman invited any error
when she stipulated to the admission of the Sergeant's testimony regarding
the relevance of the air freshener. See State v. Parker, 231 Ariz. 391, 405, ¶ 61
(2013) (finding that a defendant's stipulation to admit evidence
"preclude[d] him from asserting on appeal that [the] admission was error");
see also State v. Logan, 200 Ariz. 564, 565-66, ¶¶ 8-9, 15 (2001) (refusing to
consider claims of error in a jury instruction when the trial court gave the
instruction as requested by the defendant). Here, after Aleman initially
moved to preclude certain testimony, the parties agreed, and defense
counsel stipulated that the Sergeant could "testify about the importance of"
the air freshener as a masking agent.

¶11            Because Aleman stipulated to allow the Sergeant's testimony
on the air freshener, Aleman cannot now complain that the court erred by
allowing such testimony. See State v. Walton, 159 Ariz. 571, 583 (1989)
(holding that because the defendant "stipulated to the foundation for
admitting [a] gun into evidence . . . he cannot now complain of insufficient
foundation"). Aleman is "bound by [her] stipulation unless relieved
therefrom by the court," Pulliam v. Pulliam, 139 Ariz. 343, 345 (App. 1984),
and we will not consider her claim regarding the Sergeant's testimony
about masking agents.

III.   Surcharge

¶12            Aleman further argues that the superior court erred by
implementing an 83% surcharge on her fines and fees. She contends that
the surcharge should have totaled 73%. Aleman incorrectly analyzed the
applicable statutes authorizing surcharges. Aleman failed to include A.R.S.
§ 16-954(A), which included an additional 10% surcharge to be imposed on
all criminal fines collected pursuant to A.R.S. § 12-116.01. Because A.R.S.
§§ 12-116.01(A), -116.01(B), -116.01(C), and -116.02(A) apply to Aleman's
fines and fees, the court correctly imposed the statutorily authorized
surcharge.

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                         STATE v. ALEMAN
                         Decision of the Court

                            CONCLUSION

¶13          For the foregoing reasons, we affirm Aleman's convictions
and sentences.

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

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