City of Farmington v. Sandoval

561 P.2d 945, 90 N.M. 246
CourtNew Mexico Court of Appeals
DecidedMarch 1, 1977
Docket2816
StatusPublished
Cited by27 cases

This text of 561 P.2d 945 (City of Farmington v. Sandoval) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New Mexico Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
City of Farmington v. Sandoval, 561 P.2d 945, 90 N.M. 246 (N.M. Ct. App. 1977).

Opinion

OPINION

WOOD, Chief Judge.

The municipal court convicted defendant of violating two Farmington ordinances. He appealed to the district court. After an evidentiary hearing, defendant was again convicted of the ordinance violations. Defendant now appeals the district court judgment. He claims: (1) the evidence was insufficient for conviction, and (2) the district court improperly imposed a sentence greater than the sentence imposed by the municipal court. Because the second claim has not been previously decided by New Mexico appellate courts, Farmington’s motion for summary affirmance is denied.

The Evidence Claim

Defendant’s brief makes no effort to review the evidence. The brief states: “Defendant will, without briefing the matter, have the Court of Appeals decide whether or not there wras sufficient evidence to support conviction based on the record.”

We need not decide whether the civil or criminal appellate rules apply to this case. Civil Appellate Rule 9(d) states:

“A contention that a finding of fact is not supported by substantial evidence will not ordinarily be entertained unless the party so contending shall have stated in his initial brief the substance of all evidence bearing upon the proposition, with proper references to the transcript.”

Criminal Appellate Rule 501(a)(3) requires “a short résumé of all facts relevant to the issues presented for review, with appropriate references to the record proper and transcript of proceedings.” Whichever of the quoted rules apply, defendant violated the rule.

The consequence of the rule violation is that we will not review the evidence; rather, we accept the findings of the trial court. Perez v. Gallegos, 87 N.M. 161, 530 P.2d 1155 (1974); Lacy v. Holiday Management Company, 85 N.M. 460, 513 P.2d 394 (1973); General Services Corp. v. Board of Com’rs, 75 N.M. 550, 408 P.2d 51 (1965); Irwin v. Lamar, 74 N.M. 811, 399 P.2d 400 (1964).

The trial court found that 1) defendant operated a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor and 2) defendant failed to give immediate notice of an accident. The trial court also found that these two actions were violations of specific ordinances which were in full force and effect. These are the facts before this Court.

The Sentence Claim

The municipal court sentence for the driving under the influence offense was a $150.00 fine and a thirty-day jail sentence. Twenty days of the sentence was suspended on condition that the fine be paid in sixty days. The sentence for failure to give notice was a $100.00 fine.

The district court- sentence for the driving under the influence offense was a fine of $150.00 and a twenty-day jail sentence. The sentence for failure to give notice was a $100.00 fine.

The difference between the sentences was the jail term. Because the district court did not suspend any of the jail term it imposed, the effect was an increase in the amount of jail time required to be served. This was an increase in the sentence. See State v. Soria, 82 N.M. 509, 484 P.2d 351 (Ct.App.1971).

Defendant’s claim is that he “[could] not be subjected to greater punishment” in appealing his municipal court conviction to the district court.

Section 38-1-11, N.M.S.A.1953 (2d Repl. Vol. 6, Supp.1975) states:

“If the judgment of the municipal court in the action is affirmed or rendered against the defendant on appeal, the district court shall enter judgment imposing the same, a greater or a lesser penalty as that imposed in the municipal court in the action.” (Emphasis added.)

The statute authorizes the greater penalty imposed in this case. The question is whether the statute is constitutional.

In North Carolina v. Pearce, 395 U.S. 711, 89 S.Ct. 2072, 23 L.Ed.2d 656 (1969), the defendant had been convicted and sentenced to prison; the conviction was reversed and upon retrial defendant was again convicted. The sentence imposed after retrial was greater than the original sentence. Pearce, supra, holds that the greater sentence was neither a violation of double jeopardy nor a denial of equal protection of the law. Colten v. Kentucky, 407 U.S. 104, 92 S.Ct. 1953, 32 L.Ed.2d 584 (1972) reaffirmed the Pearce holding that a greater penalty on reconviction did not amount to double jeopardy. See also Chaffin v. Stynchcombe, 412 U.S. 17, 93 S.Ct. 1977, 36 L.Ed.2d 714 (1973).

Defendant would have us disregard Pearce, Colten and Chaffin, supra, and apply California decisions holding that the greater sentence amounts to double jeopardy. See People v. Henderson, 60 Cal.2d 482, 35 Cal.Rptr. 77, 386 P.2d 677 (1963); Application of Ferguson, 233 Cal.App.2d 79, 43 Cal.Rptr. 325 (1965). For the reasons stated in Pearce, supra, we hold a greater sentence on retrial is not a violation of double jeopardy.

North Carolina v. Pearce, supra, also discussed whether a greater sentence on retrial would be contrary to due process. The concern was with vindictiveness against a defendant for having successfully attacked his first conviction. To avoid both vindictiveness and the apprehension of vindictiveness (see Michigan v. Payne, 412 U.S. 47, 93 S.Ct. 1966, 36 L.Ed.2d 736 (1973)), Pearce outlined certain requirements which must be met to insure that the greater sentence does not violate due process. Discussion of these requirements is unnecessary in this case because our factual situation differs from Pearce, supra.

Pearce, supra, involved a retrial in the same court after reversal of the original conviction. This case involves an “appeal” from the municipal court to the district court. Although characterized as an “appeal”, the district court proceeding is a trial do novo. Section 38 — 1—13, N.M.S.A.1953 (2d Repl.Vol. 6); see N.M.Const., Art. VI, § 27. A trial de novo is a trial “anew”, as if no trial whatever had been had in the municipal coutt. Section 21-10-1, N.M.S.A. 1953 (Repl.Vol. 4). If the district court were in any way bound by the proceedings in the municipal court “it would not be a trial de novo, or a trial anew.” Southern Union Gas Company v. Taylor, 82 N.M. 670, 486 P.2d 606, 607 (1971).

The de novo trial in the district court is a trial in a court different from the court which imposed the original sentence.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Matheny v. Clark
New Mexico Court of Appeals, 2024
Padilla v. Torres
548 P.3d 31 (New Mexico Supreme Court, 2024)
Contreras v. Miller Bonded, Inc.
2014 NMCA 011 (New Mexico Court of Appeals, 2013)
City of Farmington v. Pinon-Garcia
2013 NMSC 46 (New Mexico Supreme Court, 2013)
City of Artesia v. Billips
New Mexico Court of Appeals, 2012
Cedrins v. Richardson
New Mexico Court of Appeals, 2010
State v. Foster
2003 NMCA 099 (New Mexico Court of Appeals, 2003)
State v. Hoffman
839 P.2d 1333 (New Mexico Court of Appeals, 1992)
Zengerle v. City of Socorro
737 P.2d 1174 (New Mexico Court of Appeals, 1987)
Lewis v. Lewis
739 P.2d 974 (New Mexico Court of Appeals, 1987)
State v. Hicks
731 P.2d 982 (New Mexico Court of Appeals, 1986)
Chadwick v. Public Service Co. of NM
731 P.2d 968 (New Mexico Court of Appeals, 1986)
Olguin v. Manning
727 P.2d 556 (New Mexico Court of Appeals, 1986)
State v. Johnson
722 P.2d 681 (New Mexico Court of Appeals, 1986)
State v. Lyon
706 P.2d 516 (New Mexico Court of Appeals, 1985)
State v. Sparks
694 P.2d 1382 (New Mexico Court of Appeals, 1985)
State v. Sisneros
687 P.2d 736 (New Mexico Supreme Court, 1984)
State v. Haar
673 P.2d 1342 (New Mexico Court of Appeals, 1983)
Doe v. City of Albuquerque
631 P.2d 728 (New Mexico Court of Appeals, 1981)
State v. Reese
570 P.2d 614 (New Mexico Court of Appeals, 1977)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
561 P.2d 945, 90 N.M. 246, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/city-of-farmington-v-sandoval-nmctapp-1977.