State v. Aguilar

650 P.2d 32, 98 N.M. 510
CourtNew Mexico Court of Appeals
DecidedJuly 20, 1982
Docket5580
StatusPublished
Cited by17 cases

This text of 650 P.2d 32 (State v. Aguilar) 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
State v. Aguilar, 650 P.2d 32, 98 N.M. 510 (N.M. Ct. App. 1982).

Opinion

OPINION

DONNELLY, Judge.

Defendant appeals both his conviction for aggravated assault with a firearm, and the sentence imposed by the trial court. The issues before us are: (1) whether it was fundamental error to allow testimony relating to defendant’s possession of a firearm, because the gun and evidence of its seizure had been ordered suppressed; and (2) whether defendant can be required to serve a mandatory prison sentence after he has served in excess of one year on probation for the same offense. Other issues listed in the docketing statement but not briefed are deemed abandoned. State v. Gonzales, 96 N.M. 556, 632 P.2d 1194 (Ct.App.1981).

This is the third time this cause has been before this court, and the proceedings herein have been lengthy and extensive. On November 29, 1979, defendant was indicted upon the charge appealed from here. Following his conviction, the trial court sentenced him to two years imprisonment, one year for aggravated assault and one year for the firearm enhancement, suspended the entire sentence, and ordered that he be placed on probation for two years. At the original sentencing hearing, the trial court further declared unconstitutional the mandatory penalty provisions of the firearm enhancement statute, § 31-18-16, N.M.S.A. 1978 (Repl.1981).

In the first appeal of this case, the state appealed both the trial court’s ruling that the mandatory sentencing provision of the firearm enhancement statute was unconstitutional and the court’s suspension of the mandatory sentence. The Court of Appeals dismissed the appeal, finding that the state had no right of appeal therein. On review by certiorari, the Supreme Court reversed the dismissal of the appeal and ordered the cause reinstated on the Court of Appeals docket for decision on the merits. State v. Aguilar, 95 N.M. 578, 624 P.2d 520 (1981).

On remand, the trial court’s ruling that the mandatory sentencing provisions of § 31-18-16, supra, was an unconstitutional violation of the separation of powers doctrine was held erroneous by this court on August 11, 1981, in light of the decision in State v. Mabry, 96 N.M. 317, 630 P.2d 269 (1981). State v. Aguilar, No. 5082 (N.M.Ct.App. Aug. 11, 1981). We also held that the trial court erroneously suspended the mandatory sentence required under § 31-18-16, supra. The memorandum issued by this court provided, “The cause is remanded with instructions to vacate the sentence imposed and to resentence defendant in accordance with § 31-18-16 and State v. Mabry."

Following the remand of this cause by the Court of Appeals, the trial court vacated defendant’s prior sentence, and on January 8, 1982, imposed a sentence of eighteen months imprisonment for the assault, which he suspended, plus an additional one year sentence which was not suspended, for the firearm enhancement, less credit for three days presentence confinement.

I. Claim of Fundamental Error

Defendant became involved in a confrontation with another motorist in Albuquerque and brandished a gun at the other driver. During the argument, defendant’s revolver discharged, sending a bullet into defendant’s own car, but not striking the victim.

Following the incident, a police officer went to defendant’s home, but defendant did not answer the door. Apparently an officer looked in defendant’s car outside his home and found a gun and ammunition, which he seized without obtaining a search warrant.

Prior to trial, defendant successfully moved the court to suppress the .38 caliber revolver, five live rounds and one spent round of ammunition, all taken from defendant’s automobile.

Defendant contends that testimony about the gun was tainted fruit of an illegal search and seizure, and evidence concerning defendant’s possession or use of the weapon was erroneously admitted. This point is without merit since defendant seeks to raise the issue for the first time on appeal. No objections on grounds of prior suppression were raised at trial to any of the testimony claimed as error. To preserve a claim of error for appellate review involving the admissibility of evidence, a party must make a timely objection. N.M. R.Evid. 103(a)(1), N.M.S.A.1978. A reviewing court will not reverse the trial court on grounds the trial court was neither first asked to consider nor had the opportunity to review. State v. Parrillo, 94 N.M. 98, 607 P.2d 636 (Ct.App.), cert. denied, 94 N.M. 629, 614 P.2d 546 (1979); N.M.R.Crim. App.P. 308, N.M.S.A.1978.

Defendant notes that his trial counsel raised suppression of the gun at the close of the state’s case in chief. However, defendant’s trial counsel only said at that time, “[T]he defense moves for a partial directed verdict regarding m^re specifically the firearm enhancement provision of this charge. . . . First of all, . . . there was no evidence produced in this matter of a pistol other than testimony. Furthermore, your honor, that gun was suppressed in a suppression motion your honor heard earlier last month.” The court properly denied the motion. Because the court suppressed the gun as physical evidence, it does not necessary follow that independent testimony regarding its existence was also improper. State v. Marshall, 359 So.2d 78 (La.1978).

Although conceding that he interposed no objection to the evidence below, defendant argues nevertheless that the admission of such testimony constituted fundamental error which may be raised at any time. See State v. Stevens, 96 N.M. 753, 635 P.2d 308 (Ct.App.), rev’d on other grounds, 96 N.M. 627, 633 P.2d 1225 (1981). This argument must also fail; admission of the testimony complained of does not constitute error.

On direct examination by the state, Mary Loy, an eyewitness, testified that she was in a car which was stopped directly behind the victim’s pickup. She stated that she observed defendant approach the victim’s pickup with a gun and saw defendant fire the pistol into the air.

Thereafter, defendant testified and denied ever having approached the victim’s pickup truck. Defendant asserted that he stopped his car on a side street, that somehow his gun fell out of his car and accidently fired when he picked it up.

Defendant also testified extensively about his efforts to attempt to get his gun back from the police who had seized it and stated that he worked as a security guard and used it in his employment. He was cross-examined on his attempts to retrieve the weapon, and during closing arguments the State discussed defendant’s attempts to retrieve the gun from the police.

Evidence by witnesses concerning defendant’s use of a weapon during the commission of a crime is admissible, even though the weapon in question may have been subsequently ordered suppressed because of an illegal search and seizure. State v. Marshall, supra.

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Bluebook (online)
650 P.2d 32, 98 N.M. 510, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-aguilar-nmctapp-1982.