State v. Contreras

2007 NMCA 045, 156 P.3d 725, 141 N.M. 434
CourtNew Mexico Court of Appeals
DecidedFebruary 26, 2007
DocketNo. 25,526
StatusPublished
Cited by44 cases

This text of 2007 NMCA 045 (State v. Contreras) 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. Contreras, 2007 NMCA 045, 156 P.3d 725, 141 N.M. 434 (N.M. Ct. App. 2007).

Opinion

OPINION

BUSTAMANTE, Judge.

{1} A jury convicted Richard Anthony Contreras (Defendant) on several drug charges after he sold cocaine to an undercover police officer. Following trial, the district court sentenced Defendant to twenty-six years and six months imprisonment based in part on its finding that Defendant was a habitual offender with three prior felony convictions. Defendant raises several issues on appeal, including his contention that the district court improperly enhanced his sentence based on the 1989 conviction of his brother, Robert Anthony Contreras. We agree with Defendant that the district court erred in this regard. We therefore vacate Defendant’s sentence and remand to the district court for resentencing. In all other respects, we affirm.

BACKGROUND

{2} The facts of this case are not in dispute. On July 19, 2001, Defendant met with undercover agents John Vigil and Albert Mora of the New Mexico State Police at a motel in Doña Ana County. After the agents made contact with Defendant through one of Defendant’s acquaintances, Defendant introduced himself to the agents and got into their truck. Defendant then directed the agents to a residence. While en route to the residence, Defendant told the agents several things about himself, including that he had recently been released from prison. Upon arrival, Defendant and Agent Mora went into the residence while Agent Vigil remained in the truck. Defendant’s supplier arrived at the residence several minutes later.

{3} Defendant left Agent Mora for a minute and then returned. Defendant then asked Agent Mora to follow him into the restroom. Once in the restroom, Defendant showed Agent Mora a clear plastic bag containing what the agent believed to be approximately one-half ounce of cocaine. Defendant dumped the cocaine onto a counter top, separated some of it and placed the separated portion into another plastic bag for Agent Mora. Agent Mora gave Defendant $120 cash in exchange for the cocaine, which Agent Mora believed to weigh slightly over four grams. Defendant kept the remainder of the cocaine.

{4} Once the transaction was complete, Defendant and Agent Mora came out of the residence and got back into the truck where Agent Vigil was waiting. The agents drove Defendant back to the motel where they originally met and dropped him off. Defendant told the agents where they could find him if they needed any more cocaine. The agents later verified that a “Richard Contreras” had recently been released from prison and acquired a mug shot of him from the Corrections Department. A forensic laboratory technician confirmed that the substance Defendant sold to Agent Mora was cocaine.

{5} Defendant was indicted on March 7, 2003, and charged with trafficking cocaine, contrary to NMSA 1978, § 30-31-20(A)(2) (1990) (amended 2006); conspiracy to commit cocaine trafficking, contrary to NMSA 1978, § 30-28-2 (1979) and Section 30-31-20(A)(2); and possession of cocaine, contrary to NMSA 1978, § 30-31-23 (1990) (amended 2005). Several weeks later, Defendant was arraigned and entered a plea of not guilty. On April 14, 2003, Defendant’s attorney entered his appearance. The case went to trial on September 22, 2003.

{6} Anticipating a defense of mistaken identity, the State made a pretrial motion to allow the agents to testify regarding their verification of Defendant’s comment that he had recently been released from prison. The court indicated that it would be inclined to allow such testimony if Defendant were to assert mistaken identity. Defense counsel noted immediately in his opening statement that “a lot of time had passed” and “a lot of memories have faded” since the alleged drug deal took place. He went on to state that “[t]he agent involved in this case was involved in some 171 eases, there’s so many cases that ... he could have made a mistake. His memory could be faulty and he may not have ... the right defendant in this case.”

{7} Agent Vigil testified at the trial and identified Defendant in the courtroom. On direct examination, Agent Vigil stated that he had been sitting next to Defendant in the truck on the day of the alleged drug deal and that he clearly saw Defendant’s face. Shortly thereafter, the following exchange took place between the prosecutor and Agent Vigil:

Q: What did the defendant tell you when you got back to the Townhouse [motel]?
A: I can’t really recall the conversation, but we just talked about odd things. He mentioned stuff about himself, him spending time in prison.

Defense counsel objected and the court sustained the objection. However, defense counsel revisited the issue of mistaken identity on cross-examination:

Q: And some two years later you’re saying that based on that one time that you saw him that you can identify him, Richard Contreras, as being one in the same [as the] person in the courtroom today?
A: Correct.
Q: Out of 171 people who were arrested, can you point out one individual?
A: Correct.
Q: Quite a memory; isn’t it?
A: Well, sir, number one, we’ve got to do a report as soon as we can get it done. And during our investigation we try [to] obtain all these photos of these individuals.

Defense counsel later asked:

Q: So in the year you had this undercover operation going you only made contact with a Richard Contreras [on] July 19, 2001, and no other time?
A: That is correct.

{8} Following this exchange, the State asked for a bench conference. The State renewed its pretrial motion, arguing that Defense Counsel had raised the issue of mistaken identity, thereby opening the door to introduction of the agents’ testimony regarding their verification of Defendant’s comments about his release from prison. Defense counsel responded that the court should not allow such testimony because it would be more prejudicial than probative. The district court granted the State’s motion, ruling that defense counsel’s opening statement and questions on cross-examination clearly put identity at issue.

{9} On redirect examination, the State asked Agent Vigil how he was able to identify Defendant. Agent Vigil testified that his memory of the events of July 19, 2001, was good. He also stated that he was able to identify Defendant because they were sitting next to each other in the truck and they were talking to each other. Additionally, Agent Vigil explained that Defendant had said his name was Richard Contreras and that he had been in prison, which Agent Vigil later verified.

{10} Agent Mora testified following Agent Vigil. On direct examination, Agent Mora explained in further detail how the agents verified Defendant’s identity:

Q: How were you able to verify that Mr. Contreras had been in prison?
A: Due to the fact that he provided me his full name, Richard Contreras, and advised me he spent time [in prison]. I had our intelligence center contact Albuquerque and obtain a photograph of Mr.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
2007 NMCA 045, 156 P.3d 725, 141 N.M. 434, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-contreras-nmctapp-2007.