State v. Armendariz

2006 NMSC 36, 2006 NMSC 036, 140 N.M. 182
CourtNew Mexico Supreme Court
DecidedAugust 28, 2006
Docket28,320
StatusPublished
Cited by89 cases

This text of 2006 NMSC 36 (State v. Armendariz) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New Mexico Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Armendariz, 2006 NMSC 36, 2006 NMSC 036, 140 N.M. 182 (N.M. 2006).

Opinions

OPINION

MAES, Justice.

{1} This is a direct appeal taken from the imposition of a life sentence plus thirteen years for Defendant’s convictions of first degree murder, attempted murder, aggravated battery, tampering with evidence, and possession of a firearm by a felon. Those convictions stem from the shooting death of New Mexico State police officer Damacio Montaño and the non-fatal shooting of Erie Montaño outside the Two Minute Warning bar in Los Lunas, New Mexico. Defendant presents two issues for this Court’s review. First, Defendant argues that the trial court erred when it refused to allow him to present specific conduct evidence to support his contention that the decedent was the first aggressor. Second, Defendant asserts that his convictions for aggravated battery and attempted murder violate double jeopardy protections. Finding no merit in Defendant’s claims, we affirm.

I. Background

{2} Although several conflicting stories detailing the events surrounding the shooting were presented at trial, it is clear that there was a series of altercations throughout the evening at the Two Minute Warning bar. These events culminated in the forcible removal of many individuals from the bar and with the bar owner locking the entrance to the establishment when violence erupted. Defendant was at the bar that night with his friend, Nestor Chavez, and several female companions. Brothers Damacio and Eric Montaño, two off-duty police officers, along with Damacio’s wife, Lina Montaño, were also at the bar that night. When fighting broke out inside the establishment between various individuals, Damacio and Eric, along with the bar’s bouncers, began removing people from the bar. At some point, Defendant, Nestor Chavez, and their companions either left or were escorted out of the bar.

{3} Once outside, Defendant, Nestor Chavez, and two of the women who were with them that night gathered inside Defendant’s car. Shortly thereafter, Damacio approached the car. Again, there was conflicting testimony regarding why Damacio approached the car and what prompted his interaction with Defendant and Nestor. Eric Montaño testified that he and his brother were approaching yet another fight in the parking lot when they were intercepted by Nestor Chavez, who began punching them. The defense witnesses presented a very different picture, testifying that it was only after Damacio charged toward Defendant’s car that Nestor got out of the car and began struggling with Damacio. While Eric Montaño and others testified that Damacio was merely trying to restrain Nestor in a typical law enforcement fashion, the defense presented witness testimony that Damacio, a large man, was actually beating up Nestor, and that Eric walked up and also began beating Nestor.

{4} In any event, after some period of chaotic altercation between the Montaño brothers, Nestor Chavez, Defendant, and their female companions, Defendant retreated briefly and returned with a gun. Again, there was conflicting testimony regarding whether the Montaño brothers at that point identified themselves as police officers and whether Damacio made any sudden movements toward Defendant. What is clear is that Defendant opened fire, shooting Eric Montaño once and Damacio seven times. While Eric Montaño survived the shooting, Damaeio’s wounds were fatal.

{5} Defendant was charged with ten crimes: first degree murder, two counts of conspiracy to commit murder, attempted murder, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, two counts of tampering with evidence, two counts of conspiracy to commit tampering with evidence, and possession of a firearm by a felon. Two essentially different stories were presented to the jury at Defendant’s trial regarding the interaction between Damacio and Defendant. Defendant maintained that it was Damacio, with the help of his brother Eric, who initiated the altercation and that Defendant armed himself and ultimately shot both men in defense of Defendant’s friend, Nestor Chavez. The State presented testimony that it was Defendant and Nestor Chavez who instigated the altercation and that police officers Damacio and Eric Montaño were merely trying to restrain Defendant and Nestor when the violence escalated to the point of the shooting. Defendant was convicted of first degree murder, attempted murder, aggravated battery, tampering with evidence, and possession of a firearm by a felon.

II. Discussion

A. Trial Court’s Exclusion of Victim’s Prior Conduct

{6} Defendant argues that the trial court improperly excluded testimony from Damacio’s widow, Lina Montaño. In general, we review a trial court’s admission or exclusion of evidence for abuse of discretion. State v. Woodward, 121 N.M. 1, 4, 908 P.2d 231, 234 (1995). An abuse of discretion arises when the evidentiary ruling is clearly contrary to logic and the facts and circumstances of the case. Id.

{.7} Shortly before trial commenced, the State moved to exclude “any evidence of or reference to alleged domestic violence between decedent Damacio Montaño and his widow, Lina Montaño.” That motion was filed in response to co-defendant Nestor Chavez’s request for any documentation filed in the Fifth Judicial District Court related to possible incidences of domestic violence between Damacio Montaño and his wife. In the motion, the State argued that any such evidence was irrelevant under the New Mexico Rules of Evidence and that the prejudicial effect of any such information or its tendency to confuse the issues or mislead the jury would outweigh its possible probative value.

{8} The trial court heard argument from counsel on the issue during a pretrial conference. Defense counsel argued in support of the admission of alleged incidences of domestic violence, stating, “[m]y defense is centered around that, and if I don’t even have that much, then I’ve got even less. I was going to bring up that Damacio Montaño had a propensity for the violence ... [a]nd I did want to paint Mr. Damacio in the most accurate light as possible, that he was a violent, aggressive man and obviously a drunk, violent, aggressive man who had an alcohol level of 1.4 in him at the time.” The State again argued relevancy and prejudice and questioned the accuracy of Defendant’s assertions. Prior to ruling on the motion, the trial court agreed to conduct a suppression hearing in chambers to accurately determine the substance of Lina Montaño’s possible testimony.

{9} At the suppression hearing, Lina Montaño testified that there were two incidents of domestic violence between her and Damacio, one of which occurred while she was pregnant with her first child, or shortly thereafter, and one of which resulted in the termination of Damaeio’s employment with the Artesia Police Department. She described the incidents as involving pushing and slapping. After the second incident, Lina obtained a temporary restraining order against her husband. Lina consistently maintained that Damacio did not have any problems with alcohol and was not intoxicated during either domestic dispute, and that she had never seen her husband fight anyone. She also indicated that she and Damacio had received counseling and had not had any additional domestic disputes since the second incident.

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Bluebook (online)
2006 NMSC 36, 2006 NMSC 036, 140 N.M. 182, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-armendariz-nm-2006.