State v. Bustamante

581 P.2d 460, 91 N.M. 772
CourtNew Mexico Court of Appeals
DecidedJune 27, 1978
Docket3243
StatusPublished
Cited by7 cases

This text of 581 P.2d 460 (State v. Bustamante) 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. Bustamante, 581 P.2d 460, 91 N.M. 772 (N.M. Ct. App. 1978).

Opinion

OPINION

WOOD, Chief Judge.

Convicted of two counts of trafficking in heroin (distribution) and one count of distribution of marijuana, defendant appeals. Issues listed in the docketing statement, but not briefed, are deemed abandoned. State v. Ortiz, 90 N.M. 319, 563 P.2d 113 (Ct.App. 1977). We (1) answer four issues summarily, discuss (2) the agency theory in a distribution charge, and (3) the sentence provision for distribution of a small amount of marijuana for no remuneration.

Issues Answered Summarily

(a) The indictment was not invalid because the heroin offenses were charged in the alternative. State v. Gurule, 90 N.M. 87, 559 P.2d 1214 (Ct.App.1977). Defendant sought, and obtained, a statement of facts and thus had notice of the crime charged. State v. Gurule, supra. The failure of the indictment to refer to § 54-11-20(B), N.M. S.A.1953 (Repl.Vol. 8, pt. 2, Supp.1975) did not render the indictment invalid. See State v. Ferris, 80 N.M. 663, 459 P.2d 462 (Ct.App.1969); see also State v. Nixon, 89 N.M. 129, 548 P.2d 91 (Ct.App.1976).

(b) The jury was instructed as to the elements of the heroin offenses in substantial compliance with U.J.I.Crim. 36.10. Certain definitions, taken from the statute, were included in the instruction. Having adequately instructed on the elements of the heroin charge and the meaning of the terms used, refusal of defendant’s requested instruction was not error. State v. Blakley, 90 N.M. 744, 568 P.2d 270 (Ct.App.1977).

(c) Defendant sought production of a report. The report concerned a survey made to determine the feasibility of conducting a study which would review and evaluate crime laboratories across the nation. The state police laboratory participated in the survey to this extent—it was sent ten samples for analysis and correctly analyzed those samples. Defendant sought to require the State to produce this report. Defendant was supplied the name and address of the organization which conducted the survey. The trial court instructed defendant to contact the organization and if a report existed, the trial court would require its production. Defendant’s complaint is that the trial court did not require the State to produce the report. The showing to the trial court was that the State did not have the report. It was not error to refuse to require the State to produce a report which was not within the possession, custody or control of the State. Rule of Crim. Proc. 27(a)(5).

(d) Defendant sought to have attorney Karelitz prohibited from prosecuting the case for the State. Karelitz and defense counsel Martinez had a discussion, in a coffee shop, about a “drug bust” in Las Vegas. Defendant’s claim is based on this discussion. This issue does not involve the situation discussed in State v. Chambers, 86 N.M. 383, 524 P.2d 999 (Ct.App.1974). Karelitz never represented defendant and never discussed the case with defendant. The discussion was between the attorneys; the discussion occurred, however, before Karelitz was employed by the district attorney.

Karelitz and Martinez agree that certain possible legal defenses to drug charges were discussed and that Karelitz told Martinez where to find jury instructions in connection with the defenses. This discussion of legal concepts did not disqualify Karelitz from prosecuting the case.

Karelitz informed the trial court that no facts of the case were discussed. Martinez did not assert the contrary. Martinez stated: “I did tell Mr. Karelitz what the State Police and the agents and the informants had done in the Las Vegas area, generally the different types of activity, methods of operation that they had engaged in”. Martinez argued to the trial court that with this knowledge, Karelitz could anticipate the defense. Defendant’s brief asserts that Karelitz did in fact anticipate the defense at trial. The transcript references do not support this claim; rather, these references show no more than questioning one would expect from a prosecutor in this type of case.

The trial court did not conduct an evidentiary hearing and did not make a factual determination as to what was discussed by the attorneys. We point out that the trial court was not asked to do so. See State v. Mata, 88 N.M. 560, 543 P.2d 1188 (Ct.App. 1975). All we have is the assertions of counsel and these assertions are insufficient to show Karelitz acquired, from Martinez, any factual information concerning defendant’s case.

Agency Theory of Distribution

Defendant contends the trial court erred in permitting the prosecution to proceed on a theory of “distribution” rather than “sale”. Both theories were included in the alternative charges for the two heroin offenses. The “distribution” theory was included in the prosecutor’s statement of facts, furnished to defendant several days in advance of trial. On the morning of trial, defendant requested the prosecution be required to elect its trafficking theory, and was told the theory was “distribution”. “THE COURT: All right, that satisfies you, Mr. Martinez?” “MR. MARTINEZ: Yes, Your Honor, we are going to trial on the distribution charge.” There was no error in going to trial on a distribution charge.

Defendant complains of the refusal of four requested instructions directed to a “sale” theory. One of the refused instructions defined “sale”, another would have told the jury that if defendant acted as agent for the police officers in obtaining the heroin, he could not be convicted of selling heroin. Since defendant was not being tried for selling, refusal of these instructions was proper.

A third refused instruction defined agency. A fourth refused instruction would have told the jury that if defendant acted as agent for the police officers in obtaining the heroin, he could not be convicted of distributing heroin. Refusal of these instructions was proper; agency is not a defense to the distribution charge. This is shown by the definitions in § 54—11—2, N.M.S.A.1953 (Repl.Vol. 8, pt. 2, Supp. 1975). Paragraph (J) defines “distribute” in terms of “deliver”.. Paragraph (G) defines deliver as follows:

G. “deliver” means the actual, constructive or attempted transfer from one person to another of a controlled substance whether or not there is an agency relationship [.]
(Our emphasis.)

See United States v. Marquez, 511 F.2d 62 (10th Cir. 1975).

Sentence for Distributing a Small Amount of Marijuana for no Remuneration

Defendant was charged with violation of § 54-11-22(A)(1), N.M.S.A.1953 (Repl.Vol. 8, pt. 2, Supp.1975). This statute reads:

A.

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Related

State v. Jackson
2004 NMCA 057 (New Mexico Court of Appeals, 2004)
State v. Mathis
808 P.2d 972 (New Mexico Court of Appeals, 1991)
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642 P.2d 178 (New Mexico Court of Appeals, 1982)
Chadwick v. Superior Court
106 Cal. App. 3d 108 (California Court of Appeal, 1980)
State v. Gallegos
588 P.2d 1045 (New Mexico Court of Appeals, 1978)

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Bluebook (online)
581 P.2d 460, 91 N.M. 772, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-bustamante-nmctapp-1978.