Court Opinion

ID: 3216394
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-06-23 15:06:25.023918+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:04:23.134131
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 UNDER ARIZONA RULE OF THE SUPREME COURT 111(c), THIS DECISION IS NOT PRECEDENTIAL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.

                          MARK SETTLE, Appellant.

                             No. 1 CA-CR 15-0714
                               FILED 6-23-2016

           Appeal from the Superior Court in Maricopa County
                          No. CR 1991-090890
                 The Honorable Pamela S. Gates, Judge

                                  AFFIRMED

                                   COUNSEL

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

Maricopa County Public Defender’s Office, Phoenix
By Paul J. Prato
Counsel for Appellant

Mark Settle, Phoenix
Appellant
                            STATE v. SETTLE
                           Decision of the Court

                      MEMORANDUM DECISION

Presiding Judge Margaret H. Downie delivered the decision of the Court,
in which Judge Kent E. Cattani and Judge Donn Kessler joined.

D O W N I E, Judge:

¶1            Mark Dawson Settle appeals the superior court’s
determination that he violated the terms of his probation and the resulting
disposition. Pursuant to Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967), and State
v. Leon, 104 Ariz. 297 (1969), defense counsel searched the record, found no
arguable question of law, and asked us to review the record for reversible
error. See State v. Richardson, 175 Ariz. 336, 339 (App. 1993). Settle filed a
supplemental brief in propria persona that we have considered. For the
following reasons, we affirm.

                 FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

¶2             Pursuant to a 1992 plea agreement, Settle pled guilty to: (1)
child molestation, a class 2 felony and dangerous crime against children;
and (2) attempted sexual conduct with a minor, a class 3 felony and
dangerous crime against children. He was sentenced to 12 years’
imprisonment for child molestation and placed on lifetime probation for
the attempted sexual conduct with a minor offense. Upon his release from
prison, Settle’s terms of probation required him to comply with conditions
prescribed by the Maricopa County Adult Probation Department (“APD”),
including a Sex Offender Behavior Agreement (“Agreement”).

¶3            APD filed its first probation revocation petition in 2012. After
Settle admitted one of the alleged violations, the court continued him on
probation. In 2014, Settle filed a pro se petition to modify his probation
terms, arguing, among other things, that he had “an admirable record of
absolutely no reports of community concern, and but in 9 years, a single
incident in June 2012 of adult felon association.” The superior court denied
the motion, ruling that the APD “has responded reasonably to concerning
behaviors by the Defendant.” Settle thereafter sought a discharge from
lifetime probation or, alternatively, removal of his sex offender terms. APD
responded in opposition, expressing concerns about recent behaviors by
Settle. The superior court denied Settle’s requests.

                                      2
                             STATE v. SETTLE
                            Decision of the Court

¶4            In August 2015, the APD filed a probation revocation petition
alleging several violations, including: (1) unsuccessful discharge from a sex
offender treatment program because Settle “did not internalize treatment
material and was not receptive to feedback[;]” (2) possession of children’s
movies; and (3) possession of a smart phone with internet access. At the
ensuing probation violation hearing, evidence was presented that APD
officers found 33 children’s videos in an entertainment center in Settle’s
living room. Settle testified that although he knew his roommate kept the
videos there and had “free access” to them, he never viewed the movies.
Settle’s roommate confirmed that the videos belonged to him, though Settle
“could have access to them if he wanted to.” The roommate never observed
Settle viewing the movies.

¶5              The superior court found that Settle violated Condition 9 of
the Agreement, which required him to obtain APD approval “before
possessing children’s clothing, toys, games, videos, etc.”1 The court
reinstated Settle on lifetime probation, ordered him to spend four months
in jail, and increased his level of supervision to intensive probation.

¶6           Settle timely appealed. We have jurisdiction pursuant to
Arizona Revised Statutes (“A.R.S.”) sections 12-120.21(A)(1), 13-4031 and
-4033(A)(1).

                               DISCUSSION

¶7             We have reviewed the entire record but found no reversible
error. Settle was present and represented by counsel at all critical phases of
the proceedings, which were conducted in compliance with the Rules of
Criminal Procedure. The superior court’s findings were supported by the
record, and the disposition ordered was within the statutory range. See
A.R.S. §§ 13-901(F), (G) (court may require up to one year in jail as a
condition of probation); -902(E) (court may order lifetime probation for sex
offenders); -914(A)(2), (C) (court may order intensive probation for
technical violations); see also Ariz. R. Crim. P. 27.8(c)(2) (court may revoke,
modify, or continue probation upon finding a violation has occurred).

¶8           The State is required to prove a probation violation by a
preponderance of the evidence. See Ariz. R. Crim. P. 27.8(b)(3). It was
undisputed that the children’s videos were present in Settle’s home and that

1      The court found that the State failed to prove the allegation relating
to the smart phone. The State did not pursue the alleged discharge from
sex offender treatment.

                                      3
                             STATE v. SETTLE
                            Decision of the Court

he had unrestricted access to them. Based on the evidence presented, the
superior court could also conclude that Settle knew about the videos.
Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to affirming, see State v.
Tatlow, 231 Ariz. 34, 39–40, ¶ 15 (App. 2012), a reasonable trier of fact could
conclude that Settle violated Condition 9. See State v. Moore, 125 Ariz. 305,
306 (1980) (We uphold the disposition “unless it is arbitrary or unsupported
by any theory of evidence.”).

¶9            Settle suggests Condition 9 is unconstitutionally vague
because “common movies, cannot be deemed (children[’]s) merely because
a child (may) find them of interest too.” Whether a probation term is
unconstitutionally vague is a question we review de novo. See State v.
McGill, 213 Ariz. 147, 159, ¶ 53 (2006). The relevant inquiry is whether an
ordinary person would be able to understand what the probation term
requires or prohibits. See State v. Elmore, 174 Ariz. 480, 483 (App. 1992)
(“Probation terms violate due process rights if a person of ordinary
intelligence cannot understand what conduct is required or prohibited.”).
At issue were Disney films, which an ordinary person would consider
children’s videos, notwithstanding their potential appeal to adults as well.
An ordinary person reading Condition 9 would understand that the Disney
videos fell squarely within its prohibitions. Moreover, an APD officer
discussed the Agreement with Settle — including Condition 9 — on
multiple occasions. Each time, Settle signed the Agreement — affirming
that he understood the terms of probation, as well as the fact he should
consult his probation officer if he was unclear about anything. Settle also
had the ability to seek clarification from the superior court. See Ariz. R.
Crim. P. 27.3 (probationer may ask court to modify or clarify any condition
or regulation).

¶10           Finally, Settle contends the APD sought to revoke his
probation for retaliatory reasons and generally acted out of malice. The
record does not support this contention. Settle made similar claims in
numerous filings with the superior court. Each time, the court found them
to be without merit, and credited APD’s explanation that it “recognized
Settle’s behaviors as potentially placing him back into an Offense Cycle and
implemented certain restrictions in line with both treatment and probation
objectives.” A reasonable trier of fact could reach this conclusion.2

2      The presentence investigation report presented in connection with
the 1992 sentencing includes a statement by Settle that he is unable “to
control himself” and “has to be very careful about controlling his

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                             STATE v. SETTLE
                            Decision of the Court

                              CONCLUSION3

¶11            We affirm the orders of the superior court. Defense counsel’s
representation obligations in this appeal have ended. Counsel need do
nothing more than inform Settle of the status of the appeal and his future
options, unless counsel’s review reveals an issue appropriate for
submission to the Arizona Supreme Court by petition for review. See State
v. Shattuck, 140 Ariz. 582, 584–85 (1984). On this Court’s own motion, and
if he so desires, Settle may proceed with an in propria persona motion for
reconsideration or petition for review within 30 days of this decision.

                                 :AA

environment in order to prevent further molestations from occurring.”
After his release from prison, Settle was released to the Sexually Violent
Predator Program at the Arizona State Hospital. At the time of the 2015
revocation proceedings, he was classified as a Level 3 sex offender — the
“highest risk” category.
3       Settle also argues his placement on intensive probation was not
supported by evidence and was excessive. But because the court properly
found a probation violation, it had the discretion to order intensive
probation. See State v. Woodruff, 196 Ariz. 359, 360, ¶ 8 (App. 2000)
(generally, anyone eligible for standard probation is also eligible for
intensive probation); see also State v. Perkins, 159 Ariz. 381, 383 (App. 1988)
(“[I]ntensive probation is a statutory option within the discretion of the trial
court in imposing probation.”).

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