Court Opinion

ID: 4153287
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-03-16 16:02:49.794418+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:33:50.836241
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  UNDER ARIZONA RULE OF THE SUPREME COURT 111(c), THIS DECISION IS NOT PRECEDENTIAL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.

                        PATRICK B YAZZIE, Appellant.

                              No. 1 CA-CR 16-0178
                                FILED 3-16-2017

            Appeal from the Superior Court in Maricopa County
                       No. CR2015-124544-001 DT
              The Honorable Jacki Ireland, Judge Pro Tempore

                                   AFFIRMED

                                    COUNSEL

Office of the Attorney General, Phoenix
By Joseph T. Maziarz
Counsel for Appellee

Maricopa County Public Defender’s Office, Phoenix
By Lawrence Blieden
Counsel for Appellant
                            STATE v. YAZZIE
                           Decision of the Court

                      MEMORANDUM DECISION

Judge James P. Beene delivered the decision of the Court, in which
Presiding Judge Diane M. Johnsen and Judge Margaret H. Downie joined.

B E E N E, Judge:

¶1             This appeal was timely filed in accordance with Anders v.
California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967) and State v. Leon, 104 Ariz. 297 (1969)
following Patrick Yazzie’s conviction for possession of dangerous drugs, a
Class 4 felony. Yazzie’s counsel searched the record on appeal and found
no arguable question of law that is not frivolous. State v. Clark, 196 Ariz.
530 (App. 1999). Yazzie was given the opportunity to file a supplemental
brief in propria persona but did not do so. Counsel now asks this Court to
search the record for fundamental error. After reviewing the entire record,
we affirm Yazzie’s conviction and sentence.

                FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY1

¶2             Unrelated to Yazzie’s arrest, officers surveilled a motel room
where Yazzie worked. Officers noticed Yazzie, stopped him, and asked for
his identification. After producing identification, officers asked Yazzie
whether he had anything illegal in his possession. Yazzie produced a
methamphetamine pipe from his pocket, and shortly thereafter, a small
plastic bag of methamphetamine from his other pocket.

¶3            A jury convicted Yazzie of possession of dangerous drugs, but
found him not guilty of possession of drug paraphernalia. Based on two
prior felonies, the superior court sentenced Yazzie to a slightly-aggravated
four-year prison sentence, with 42 days of presentence incarceration credit.

¶4            Yazzie timely appealed. We have jurisdiction pursuant to
Article 6, Section 9 of the Arizona Constitution, and Arizona Revised

1      We view the facts in the light most favorable to upholding the jury’s
verdict and resolve all inferences against Yazzie. See State v. Fontes, 195
Ariz. 229, 230, ¶ 2 (App. 1998).

                                     2
                              STATE v. YAZZIE
                             Decision of the Court

Statutes (“A.R.S.”) sections 12-120.21(A)(1) (2017), 13-4031 (2017) and 13-
4033(A)(1) (2017).2

                                DISCUSSION

¶5            The record reflects no fundamental error in pretrial
proceedings. Yazzie rejected the State’s plea offer after a Donald
advisement, and his case proceeded to trial. State v. Donald, 198 Ariz. 406
(App. 2000). The superior court held appropriate pretrial hearings,
including a hearing on Yazzie’s prior felony convictions and how they were
to be referred to at trial pursuant to Rule 609 of the Arizona Rules of
Evidence.

¶6             The record also reflects Yazzie received a fair trial. He was
represented by counsel at all stages of the proceedings against him and was
present at all critical stages, except when he failed to appear for the first half
of voir dire. Although Yazzie was not present during this time, he was still
represented by counsel and the State proceeded in absentia. See Court v.
Rose, 231 Ariz. 500, 504, ¶ 9 (2013). Yazzie admitted to his prior felony
convictions during trial. Ariz. R. Crim. P. 17.6. The superior court did not
conduct a voluntariness hearing; however, voluntariness of Yazzie’s
statements to police were not raised by counsel nor did the evidence at trial
suggest Yazzie’s statements were involuntary. State v. Fassler, 103 Ariz. 511,
513 (1968).

¶7            The State presented direct and circumstantial evidence
sufficient for a reasonable jury to convict Yazzie. Although the jury
acquitted Yazzie for possession of drug paraphernalia, and convicted him
of possession of a dangerous drug, there is no fundamental error. We do
not reweigh the evidence. State v. Guerra, 161 Ariz. 289, 293 (1989). Based
on the elements of the offenses, the jury could reasonably convict Yazzie of
one of the charged offenses and not the other. See State v. Zakhar, 105 Ariz.
31, 32-33 (1969); State v. Williams, 233 Ariz. 271, 274, ¶ 10 (App. 2013); State
v. Barr, 183 Ariz. 434, 439 (App. 1995).

¶8            The jury was properly comprised of eight members with two
alternates. The superior court properly instructed the jury on the elements
of the charges. The key instructions concerning burden of proof,
presumption of innocence, reasonable doubt, and the necessity of a
unanimous verdict were also properly administered. The jury returned a

2      Absent material revisions after the date of an alleged offense, we cite
a statute’s current version.

                                        3
                             STATE v. YAZZIE
                            Decision of the Court

unanimous verdict. The superior court received a presentence report, and
properly sentenced Yazzie based on his two prior felony convictions, while
taking into account mitigating factors.

                               CONCLUSION

¶9           We reviewed the entire record for reversible error and find
none; therefore, we affirm the conviction and resulting sentence.

¶10            After the filing of this decision, defense counsel’s obligation
pertaining to Yazzie’s representation in this appeal will end. Defense
counsel need do no more than inform Yazzie of the outcome of this appeal
and his future options, unless, upon review, counsel finds “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 the Court’s
own motion, Yazzie has 30 days from the date of this decision to proceed,
if he wishes, with a pro per motion for reconsideration. Further, Yazzie has
30 days from the date of this decision to proceed, if he wishes, with a pro per
petition for review.

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

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