Court Opinion

ID: 4191506
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-08-01 16:04:53.842088+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:39:57.126947
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 UNDER ARIZONA RULE OF THE SUPREME COURT 111(c), THIS DECISION IS NOT PRECEDENTIAL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.

                  EDWARD ALLEN TACKETT, Appellant.

                             No. 1 CA-CR 16-0524
                               FILED 8-1-2017

           Appeal from the Superior Court in Maricopa County
                        No. CR2013-452489-001
                 The Honorable M. Scott McCoy, Judge

                                  AFFIRMED

                                   COUNSEL

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

Maricopa County Public Defender’s Office, Phoenix
By Jeffrey L. Force
Counsel for Appellant

Edward Allen Tackett, Eloy
Appellant Pro Se
                           STATE v. TACKETT
                           Decision of the Court

                      MEMORANDUM DECISION

Judge Paul J. McMurdie delivered the decision of the Court, in which
Presiding Judge Kenton D. Jones and Judge Patricia K. Norris1 joined.

M c M U R D I E, Judge:

¶1              Edward Allen Tackett appeals his convictions for three counts
of aggravated assault, Class 2 dangerous felonies (counts 1-3); one count of
aggravated assault, a Class 3 dangerous felony (count 4); two counts of
endangerment, Class 6 dangerous felonies (counts 5-6); and the resulting
sentences. Tackett’s counsel filed a brief in accordance with Anders v.
California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967), and State v. Leon, 104 Ariz. 297 (1969),
certifying that, after a diligent search of the record, he found no arguable
question of law that was not frivolous. Tackett was given the opportunity
to file a pro se supplemental brief, and did so. In the pro se brief, Tackett
raised the following issues: (1) whether he was entitled to a directed verdict
pursuant to Arizona Rule of Criminal Procedure 20; (2) did the superior
court err by allowing the State to call a police officer “to speak as an
uncharged victim” at sentencing; (3) did the prosecuting attorney commit
prosecutorial misconduct; (4) was the superior court judge biased against
Tackett and were improper aggravating factors used at sentencing; (5) did
the superior court erroneous impose presumptive sentences; (6) whether
Tackett was competent to commit the crimes and to stand trial; and (7) did
the court err by entering a post-sentencing amendment to the sentencing
order. Counsel asked this court to search the record for reversible error. See
State v. Clark, 196 Ariz. 530, 537, ¶ 30 (App. 1999).

¶2            Our obligation in this appeal is to review “the entire record
for reversible error.” Clark, 196 Ariz. at 537, ¶ 30. We have jurisdiction
pursuant to Article 6, Section 9, of the Arizona Constitution, and Arizona
Revised     Statutes   (“A.R.S.”)     sections  12-120.21(A)(1),   13-4031,

1      The Honorable Patricia K. Norris, a retired Judge of the Arizona
Court of Appeals, has been authorized to sit in this matter pursuant to
Article VI, Section 3 of the Arizona Constitution.

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                           STATE v. TACKETT
                           Decision of the Court

and -4033(A)(1).2 After reviewing the record, we affirm Tackett’s
convictions and sentences.

             FACTS3 AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

¶3            On October 29, 2013, Tackett fired shots at Buckeye police
officers who were in full uniform. He also fired shots at his parents who
were brought to the scene to talk to him. Officer H., Sergeant V., M.T.,
Tackett’s father, and Officer Mc., took cover behind an SUV in a parking lot
when Tackett opened fire. Two rounds fired by Tackett hit a steel beam next
to the SUV and two others hit the vehicle itself. Lieutenant A. and K.T.,
Tackett’s mother, took cover further back behind the SUV, but a bullet hit
the vehicle next to them.

¶4            A SWAT team was called to the scene. During the SWAT team
negotiations, Tackett was rambling and whispering to himself and saying
he was hearing voices that were telling him they were trying to trick him.
Tackett was diagnosed with Schizophrenia before the incident, and his
serious mental illness was confirmed and testified to by three psychologists
during trial.

¶5            On February 18, 2014, Tackett was found incompetent to
stand trial pursuant to A.R.S. § 13-4510 and committed to the Maricopa
County Correctional Health Services Restoration (“RTC”) Program. On
April 15, 2014, the court found Tackett had been restored to competency,
and appointed a “Court Clinical Liaison to monitor [his] continuity of care,
medication, and treatment.” On June 23, 2015, the court granted Tackett’s
motion to re-evaluate Tackett’s competency to stand trial pursuant to
Arizona Rule of Criminal Procedure 11. On August 18, 2015, the superior
court again found Tackett incompetent and ordered him into the RTC
Program. On October 20, 2015, the court found Tackett had again been
restored to competency.

¶6          A jury found Tackett guilty as noted above. The jury likewise
concluded that Tackett had not proven by clear and convincing evidence

2       Absent material revision after the date of an alleged offense, we cite
to the current version of applicable statutes or rules.

3       We view the evidence in the light most favorable to sustaining the
convictions and resulting sentences. See State v. Guerra, 161 Ariz. 289, 293
(1989).

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                           STATE v. TACKETT
                           Decision of the Court

that he was guilty except insane pursuant to A.R.S. § 13-502. For each of the
six counts, the jury subsequently found three aggravating circumstances:
the offenses were (1) dangerous; (2) committed with a deadly weapon; and
(3) involved the threatened infliction of serious physical injury.

¶7             On July 22, 2016, Tackett was sentenced to the presumptive
sentences of 10.5 years’ imprisonment for counts 1-3, a mitigated sentence
of five years’ imprisonment for count 4, a mitigated sentence of 1.5 years’
imprisonment for count 5, and a presumptive sentence of 2.25 years’
imprisonment for count 6. All sentences were ordered to be served
concurrently. The superior court gave Tackett credit for 996 days of
presentence incarceration. Subsequently, the court amended the sentencing
minute entry to include the language of A.R.S. § 13-1204(C) (a person
convicted of an aggravated assault against a peace officer “shall be
sentenced to imprisonment for not less than the presumptive sentence” and
is not eligible for “release on any basis until the sentence imposed is
served”). Tackett timely appealed.

                              DISCUSSION

¶8            We have read and considered counsel’s brief and have
reviewed the record for fundamental error. See Leon, 104 Ariz. at 300. We
find none. In his supplemental brief, however, Tackett raises several issues
that we address below.

A.    Judgment of Acquittal pursuant to Rule 20.

¶9           Tackett argues in his supplemental brief that the superior
court erred by not sua sponte entering a judgment of acquittal.

¶10           “A motion for judgment of acquittal may be granted only if
no substantial evidence supports the conviction.” State v. Escalante-Orozco,
241 Ariz. 254, 282, ¶ 105 (2017) (quotation omitted). Substantial evidence
exists if “reasonable persons may fairly differ as to whether certain
evidence establishes a fact in issue.” Id.

¶11           We have reviewed the record and find substantial evidence
supports the verdicts. The superior court did not err by not sua sponte
entering a judgment of acquittal.

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                             STATE v. TACKETT
                             Decision of the Court

B.     State’s Witness at Sentencing.

¶12          Tackett further argues that the superior court erred by
allowing the State to call Officer S. “to speak as an uncharged victim” at
sentencing, which resulted in a harsher sentence.

¶13            Two police officers testified at the sentencing hearing: Officer
H., who was the victim of count 1, and Officer S., who was not named as a
victim in the indictment. Officer S. testified at the sentencing hearing as a
witness because she was present at the scene, and bullets shot by Tackett
were landing “just feet away from where [she] was at, where [she] was
shielding behind.” However, Officer S. statement was similar to Officer H.’s
statement. The court’s consideration of S.’s statement could not have been
“so unduly prejudicial” to render the sentencing hearing fundamentally
unfair. See State v. Roque, 213 Ariz. 193, 211, ¶ 56 (2006).

C.     Prosecutorial Misconduct - Improper Statements.

¶14           Tackett contends the prosecuting attorney made many
improper personal opinion statements to the jury regarding Tackett’s state
of mind, what the prosecutor “would do in the jury’s case,” or “if [Tackett]
killed an officer or someone.” Tackett also argues the prosecutor made
similarly improper statements during the sentencing hearing.

¶15            A conviction tainted by alleged prosecutorial misconduct will
be reversed only “if (1) misconduct is indeed present; and (2) a reasonable
likelihood exists that the misconduct could have affected the jury’s verdict,
thereby denying [the] defendant a fair trial.” State v. Velazquez, 216 Ariz.
300, 311, ¶ 45 (2007) (alteration in original). “The defendant must show that
the offending statements were so pronounced and persistent that they
permeate[d] the entire atmosphere of the trial and so infected the trial with
unfairness as to make the resulting conviction a denial of due process.” State
v. Gallardo, 225 Ariz. 560, 568, ¶ 34 (2010) (alteration in original) (quotations
omitted).

¶16           However, pursuant to Rule 31.13, each argument on appeal
shall contain “citations to the . . . parts of the record relied on.” Ariz. R.
Crim. P. 31.13(c)(1)(vi). Tackett does not specifically designate the arguably
prejudicial statements or provide citations to the record. Tackett has
therefore waived this argument on appeal. See State v. King, 226 Ariz. 253,
257, ¶ 11 (App. 2011) (failing to develop argument usually results in waiver
on appeal); see also State v. Bolton, 182 Ariz. 290, 298 (1995) (“Failure to argue
a claim on appeal constitutes waiver of that claim.”). Waiver aside, the
record reflects the prosecutor’s questions during trial and closing argument

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                            STATE v. TACKETT
                            Decision of the Court

focused on the witnesses’ testimony and trial evidence. There was no
prosecutorial misconduct.

D.     Judicial Bias and Ruling on Defense Objections at Sentencing
       Regarding Aggravating Factors.

¶17            Tackett argues the superior court was biased against him at
sentencing because it failed to rule when defense counsel objected to the
State raising an aggravating factor not found by the jury.

¶18            “[T]he defendant must allege a type of [judicial] bias that
would implicate his due process rights, such as bias based on a ‘direct,
personal, substantial pecuniary interest,’ in order to constitute [structural]
error.” State v. Granados, 235 Ariz. 321, 325, ¶ 11 (App. 2014). “Other types
of bias, such as ‘[p]ersonal bias or prejudice, . . . would not be [a] sufficient
basis for imposing a constitutional requirement under the Due Process
Clause.’” Id. (alteration in original).

¶19           Failure to rule on an objection does not show substantial
pecuniary interest, or personal bias or prejudice. We review rulings on
objections, or lack thereof, for abuse of discretion. State v. Payne, 233 Ariz.
484, 513, ¶ 118 (2013).

¶20           At sentencing, the State argued the court should consider
“multiple victims” as an aggravating factor because this factor was inherent
in the jury verdict. Tackett’s counsel objected that this aggravator was not
specifically found by the jury, nor was it raised in a sentencing
memorandum. Based on the record, the court did not rule on defense
counsel’s objection. However, defense counsel did not request a ruling be
made or clarified. See State v. Mays, 96 Ariz. 366, 370 (1964) (“If counsel did
not understand the court’s ruling, the failure to specify distinctly is not error
where no request is made to be more specific.”). Therefore, we hold the
superior court did not abuse its discretion. See id. (we may conclude the
superior court erred in failing to rule only after an attorney insisted a ruling
be made and the court subsequently “failed or refused to make one, or . . .
made a ruling [which] . . . was erroneous”).

¶21          Moreover, the statutory and constitutional scheme allows the
court to impose an aggravated sentence upon a jury finding “a single
aggravating factor.” State v. Bonfiglio, 228 Ariz. 349, 355, ¶ 22 (App. 2011)
(quoting State v. Martinez, 210 Ariz. 578, 585, ¶ 26 (2005)). Once the jury
finds at least one aggravating factor beyond a reasonable doubt, the
sentencing judge may “find and consider additional factors relevant to the
imposition of a sentence up to the maximum prescribed in that statute.” Id.

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                           STATE v. TACKETT
                           Decision of the Court

¶22            Here, the jury found three aggravating factors. Even if the
State raised an additional aggravating factor not found by the jury, it was
permissible for the court to consider it. Because the court did not impose an
aggravated sentence and because it did not factor in “multiple victims” as
an aggravating circumstance on the record, Tackett was not prejudiced by
the court’s lack of ruling on the objection or by the sentence imposed. See
State v. Richardson, 175 Ariz. 336, 339 (App. 1993).

E.    Presumptive Sentences.

¶23           Tackett next argues the superior court abused its discretion
when it imposed presumptive sentences for counts 1-3 and 6, and that
“sufficient evidence clearly supported mitigation of all counts.” Tackett
requests his case be remanded for resentencing to mitigated sentences on
all counts.

¶24           “A sentence within statutory limits will not be disturbed
unless the trial court abused its discretion by acting arbitrarily or
capriciously.” State v. Olmstead, 213 Ariz. 534, 535, ¶ 4 (App. 2006).
“Although the trial court must give due consideration to all mitigating
evidence, the weight to be given any factor asserted in mitigation falls
within the trial court’s sound discretion.” State v. Vermuele, 226 Ariz. 399,
403, ¶ 15 (App. 2011); Olmstead, 213 Ariz. at 535, ¶¶ 5–6 (mere numbers of
aggravating or mitigating circumstances are not the sole basis for the
superior court’s decision because it considers also the nature of the
circumstances to justify imposition of a lesser term).

¶25           In Olmstead, we upheld the superior court’s imposition of the
presumptive sentence although the court found only mitigating, but no
aggravating factors. 213 Ariz. at 535, ¶ 6. Here, the jury found three
aggravating factors beyond a reasonable doubt for each count. The court
considered all mitigating circumstances on the record and explained as to
counts 1-3 and 6 that “mitigation here is very powerful,” although the court
could “not [] say that there isn’t aggravation.” We conclude the court acted
within its discretion.

F.    Tackett’s Competency to Commit the Crimes and to Stand Trial.

      1.     Competency to Commit the Crimes.

¶26          Tackett argues he was legally incompetent to commit the
crimes charged because he suffered from a serious mental illness and was
off his medications and hallucinating for two weeks prior to the incident.

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                           STATE v. TACKETT
                           Decision of the Court

Tackett also argues the “convictions and evidence against him was based
only on police reports.”

¶27          However, three psychologists testified to their expert
opinions regarding Tackett’s competency to commit the crimes. The jurors
determined, as to all counts, that Tackett had not proven by clear and
convincing evidence that he was guilty except insane. Sufficient evidence
supported the jury findings.

       2.     Competency to Stand Trial.

¶28           Tackett contends the superior court erred when it found him
competent to stand trial at the first and the second competency hearings
because Tackett’s mental disease caused permanent incompetency.
However, Tackett concedes in his supplemental brief he could be restored
to competency to stand trial with treatment, but contends his competency
“could not be maintained for any significant length of time without his
medications.” Tackett does not argue he was not treated or medicated prior
to or during trial such that he was not competent to stand trial. We find no
error.

¶29            Tackett also argues the court erred by finding him competent
to stand trial “based on one county employee doctor’s opinion ‘only.’”
Weighing of the evidence is solely within the province of the fact finder. See
State v. Williams, 209 Ariz. 228, 231, ¶ 6 (App. 2004). Because the record
contains competent evidence supporting the superior court’s ruling, no
fundamental error occurred. See id. (“Reversible error based on
insufficiency of the evidence occurs only where there is a complete absence
of probative facts to support the conviction.”).

G.     Court’s Amendment of the Sentencing Minute Entry.

¶30         Tackett also argues the court erred by amending the
sentencing minute entry to expressly include the language required by

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                           STATE v. TACKETT
                           Decision of the Court

A.R.S. § 13-1204(C),4 without giving Tackett notice he was prosecuted
under subsection (C), which according to Tackett enhanced his sentence.

¶31            An amendment to an allegation is reviewed for an abuse of
discretion. State v. Johnson, 198 Ariz. 245, 247, ¶ 4 (App. 2000). Whether a
trial court applied the correct sentencing statute is reviewed de novo. State
v. Hollenback, 212 Ariz. 12, 16, ¶ 12 (App. 2005).

¶32           Tackett was given sufficient notice of the charges against him,
as all parties were aware that some of the named victims were police
officers. Moreover, we do not agree with Tackett that subsection (C)
enhanced his sentence. For each of the six counts, the jury found three
aggravating factors. Tackett could have received aggravated sentences, but
the superior court found mitigating factors sufficient to impose the
presumptive sentences for the counts involving police officers. The court
did not error by including the statutory language in its minute entry.

¶33            To conclude, Tackett was present and represented by counsel
at all stages of the proceedings against him. The record reflects the superior
court afforded Tackett all of his constitutional and statutory rights, and the
proceedings were conducted in accordance with the Arizona Rules of
Criminal Procedure. The court conducted appropriate pretrial hearings,
and the evidence presented at trial and summarized above was sufficient
to support the jury’s verdicts. Tackett’s sentences fall within the range
prescribed by law, with proper credit given for presentence incarceration.

                              CONCLUSION

¶34             Tackett’s convictions and sentences are affirmed. After the
filing of this decision, defense counsel’s obligations pertaining to Tackett’s
representation in this appeal will end after informing Tackett of the

4      Section 13-1204(C) provides:

       A person who is convicted of intentionally or knowingly
       committing aggravated assault on a peace officer while the
       officer is engaged in the execution of any official duties
       pursuant to subsection A, paragraph 1 or 2 of this section shall
       be sentenced to imprisonment for not less than the
       presumptive sentence authorized under chapter 7 of this title
       and is not eligible for suspension of sentence, commutation or
       release on any basis until the sentence imposed is served.

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                            STATE v. TACKETT
                            Decision of the Court

outcome of this 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
the court’s own motion, Tackett has 30 days from the date of this decision
to proceed, if he desires, with a pro se motion for reconsideration or petition
for review.

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

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