State v. Campos

447 P.2d 20, 79 N.M. 611
New Mexico Supreme Court·Decided November 8, 1968·No. 8159·Published·Cited by 14 cases

Opinion

OPINION

MOISE, Justice.

Appellants Phil Cordova and Jose Campos, together with one Gilberto Campos, were charged with breaking and entering, and in a second count, with larceny. All three were convicted and appealed from the sentences imposed. Gilberto Campos has since died and, accordingly, his appeal need not be considered.

Appellant Cordova argues that the proof relied upon to establish his guilt is purely circumstantial and since it is not incompatible with innocence on any rational theory, or incapable of explanation on any reasonable hypothesis, it was error for the court not to have directed a verdict of acquittal at the close of the State’s case. That such is the correct rule of law applicable in this state cannot be doubted. See State v. Easterwood, 68 N.M. 464, 362 P.2d 997 (1961).

We are constrained to hold that in this argument appellant is correct. The proof pointing to appellant Cordova is as follows: On the evening of the crime, appellant was with the Campos brothers at a bar in Santa Rosa. During the evening he helped a Mr. Felix Silva from the bar and sat with him in the back seat of his car for some minutes. Mr. Silva’s wallet was later found in the Volkswagen used in connection with the crime. Mrs. Silva saw appellant leave the bar in the Volkswagen with the Campos brothers. He was wearing a dark suit. One of the men who ran from the scene was wearing a dark suit and was seen to slip and his knees hit the ground where there was caliche mud. Appellant’s suit had white spots on it like caliche, and a tear at the knee. Appellant was seen about town at a time after the offense had been committed. Although the evidence is incriminating and amply supports a reasonable suspicion that he participated in the crime, as claimed by the state, nevertheless it falls short of meeting the test of State v. Easter-wood, supra. In this connection we would call attention to our decision in State v. Seal, 75 N.M. 608, 409 P.2d 128 (1965), where proof, equally, if not more damaging to defendant was held insufficient to support conviction. It follows that the cause must be reversed as to appellant Cordova.

We next consider the appeal of appellant Joe Campos. He first claims error because the trial court denied his motion for a bill of particulars. The motion was timely filed and sought particulars as to what items of personal property were claimed to have been taken, from whom taken, and when taken; also the denominations and quantity of money allegedly taken. In addition, particulars as to the witnesses who would be called by the State were sought.

The applicable statute is § 41-6-8, N.M. S.A.1953. It reads, in material part:

“(1) When an indictment or information charges an offense in accordance with the provision of section 42-607 [41-6-7], but fails to inform the defendant of the particulars of the offense sufficiently to enable him to prepare his defense, or to give him such information as he is entitled to under the Constitution of this state, the court may, of its own motion, and shall, at the request of the defendant, order the district attorney to furnish a bill of particulars containing such information as may be necessary for these purposes; or the district attorney may of his own motion furnish such bill of particulars.
“(2) When the court deems it to be in the interest of justice that facts not set out in the indictment or information or in any previous bill of particulars should be furnished to the defendant, it may order the district attorney to furnish a bill of particulars containing such facts. In determining whether such facts and, if so, what facts, should be so furnished, the court shall consider the whole record and the entire course of the proceedings against the defendant.”

The information as filed contained two counts, in the first of which breaking and entering the O. K. Clothiers Store, owned and operated by Mrs. Evaristo Gallegos, with intent to commit larceny, is charged; the second count charges that defendants did steal and carry away certain articles of personal property of a value of approximately $1,566.65, and money totaling approximately $302.46, being the property of Mrs. Evaristo Gallegos. However, only Count II was submitted to and decided by the jury.

There can be no question that Count II was intended to charge a violation of § 40A-16-1, N.M.S.A.1953, wherein it is stated that “larceny consists of the stealing of anything of value which belongs to another” and, further, that “whoever commits larceny when the value of the thing stolen is over one hundred dollars ($100) but not more than twenty-five hundred dollars ($2,-500) is guilty of a fourth degree felony.”

That Count II of the information is sufficient under § 41-6-7, N.M.S.A.1953, cannot be questioned. The section reads:

“(1) The indictment or information may charge, and is valid and sufficient if it charges, the offense for which the dcfendant is being prosecuted in one [1] or more of the following ways:
“(a) By using the name given to the offense by the common law or by a statute.
“(b) By stating so much of the definition of the offense, either in terms of the common law or of the statute defining the offense or in terms of substantially the same meaning, as is sufficient to give the court and the defendant notice of what offense is intended to be charged.
“(2) The indictment or information may refer to a section or subsection of any statute creating the offense charged therein, and in determining the validity or sufficiency of such indictment or information regard shall be had to such reference.”

Defendants were charged with a fourth degree felony of larceny. We do not understand appellant’s complaint that they were entitled to know from whom they are charged with stealing. The information clearly states that the property was owned by Mrs. Evaristo Gallegos. We do not believe that anything more is required. As to the argument that they were entitled to know the place from which they are charged with stealing, we would point out that guilt or innocence does not turn on whether the place was a house, a store, or some particular type of edifice. It should suffice that the offense charged is alleged to have occurred in Guadalupe County, State of New Mexico. See § 41-6-12, N.M.S.A. 1953. See also, Kyler v. State, 94 Ga.App. 321, 94 S.E.2d 429 (1956).

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State v. Campos, 447 P.2d 20, 79 N.M. 611 (N.M. 1968).

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