State v. Cutnose

532 P.2d 889, 87 N.M. 300
CourtNew Mexico Court of Appeals
DecidedFebruary 12, 1975
Docket1587
StatusPublished
Cited by14 cases

This text of 532 P.2d 889 (State v. Cutnose) 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. Cutnose, 532 P.2d 889, 87 N.M. 300 (N.M. Ct. App. 1975).

Opinions

OPINION

WOOD, Chief Judge

Cutnose, Foster and Upshaw were convicted of criminal trespass. Section 40A-14-1, N.M.S.A.1953 (2d Repl. Vol. 6). Cutnose was also convicted of assault. Section 40A-3-1, N.M.S.A.1953 (2d Repl. Vol. 6). The events on which the convictions were based occurred at the Public Health Service Hospital in McKinley County, New Mexico. Seven issues are raised in the appeal; three are dispositive. They are: (1) jurisdiction, (2) applicability of the criminal trespass statute, and (3) excusing a prospective juror.

Jurisdiction

Defendants contend New Mexico courts had no jurisdiction over their persons or over the offenses charged. There are three claims.

Two of the three claims are identical to those raised in State v. Cutnose, 87 N.M. 307, 532 P.2d 896 (Ct.App.1974). These two claims are made on the basis of 18 U.S.C.A. §§ 1151 and 1153 (Supp.1974) and on the basis of the Navajo Tribal Code. The answer is the same as in John Paul Cutnose. Defendants introduced no evidence in support of their pretrial motions. The evidence at trial did not establish an absence of trial court jurisdiction. Specifically, there is no factual basis for these two claims.

The third claim is that the hospital where the alleged offenses occurred was a “needful building” under 18 U.S.C.A. § 7(3) (1969) and thus under the exclusive jurisdiction of the United States.

18 U.S.C.A. § 7(3), supra, states:

“The term ‘special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States’ * * * includes:
“(3) Any lands reserved or acquired for the use of the United States, and under the exclusive or concurrent jurisdiction thereof, or any place purchased or otherwise acquired by the United States by consent of the legislature of the State in which the same shall be, for the erection of a fort, magazine, arsenal, dockyard, or other needful building.” (Our emphasis.)

There is nothing in this record showing the hospital was on land reserved or acquired for the use of the United States and under its jurisdiction. Assuming the hospital was a needful building, there is nothing showing it was acquired by the United States with the consent of the New Mexico Legislature. See, Bowen v. Johnston, 306 U.S. 19, 59 S.Ct. 442, 83 L.Ed. 455, (1939); Battle v. United States, 209 U.S. 36, 28 S.Ct. 422, 52 L.Ed. 670 (1908); compare the provisions appearing at Chapter 7, Article 2, N.M.S.A.1953 (Repl. Vol. 2, pt. 2).

Defendants have failed to demonstrate a lack of jurisdiction in the district court. State v. Cutnose, supra.

Applicability of the Criminal Trespass Statute

Defendants were convicted of violating § 40A-14-1, supra. They contend that section does not apply to offenses against public property. Section 40A-14-1, supra, provides:

“Criminal trespass consists of unlawfully, and with malicious intent, entering or remaining upon the lands of another knowing that such consent to enter or remain is denied or withdrawn by the owner or occupant thereof.”

On its face, § 40A-14-1, supra, seems applicable to the factual situation in this case — remaining on public property knowing that consent has been withdrawn. Section 40A-14-1, supra, seems applicable because it does not distinguish between public and private property. A consideration of the legislative history, however, shows the Legislature did not intend § 40A-14— 1, supra, to apply to public property. Rather, the Legislature has enacted specific statutes concerning trespass upon public property.

Over the years, the Legislature enacted a plethora of statutes pertaining to trespass. They begin with a prohibition against footpaths in 1851, and cover a variety of subject matters. These early statutes, similar to § 40A-14— 1, supra, made no distinction between public and private property. These statutes may be found in Chapter 40, Article 47, N.M.S.A.1953 (Orig. Vol. 6). Among these early statutes, there are two specific enactments concerning public property. Laws 1901, ch. 4, § 1 dealt with wrongful entry of public structures, Laws 1931, ch. 153, § 2 prohibited the injury of engineering works of the state, counties and municipalities. See §§ 40-47-24 and 40^-7-10, supra. Laws 1959, ch. 82 repealed § 40-47-24, supra, and enacted a new provision pertaining to wrongful entry of public facilities.

The Report of Criminal Law Study Interim Committee, 1961-62 recommended that the various trespass statutes be reduced to two — a criminal trespass statute and a statute concerning wrongful entry of a public facility. This recommendation was followed. The Criminal Code enacted in 1963 (see § 40A-1-1 et seq., N.M.S.A. 1953 (2d Repl. Vol. 6)) contained two trespass statutes. One was a general statute on criminal trespass; the latter dealt 'with wrongful entry of a public facility. Sections 40A-14 — 1 and 40A-14-2, N.M.S.A. 1953 (1st Repl. Vol. 6). The legislative history of trespass statutes shows a consistent pattern of general trespass statutes and special trespass statutes for public property.

This pattern has continued. The two statutes recommended by the Criminal Law Study Interim Committee, supra, dealt only with entry. In enacting the two statutes, the Legislature added “remaining upon” provisions to the criminal trespass statute, which is § 40A-14 — 1, supra. No parallel provision was added to the public facility statute which dealt only with the wrongful entry of a public facility. See § 40A-14-2, supra. From enactment of the Criminal Code in 1963, until 1969, there was no specific statute prohibiting remaining upon public property without consent. Laws 1969, ch. 61 repealed § 40A-14-2, supra, and enacted the statute compiled as § 40A-14-5, N.M.S.A.1953 (2d Repl. Vol. 6). This statute dealt with both entry and remaining upon public property. Thus in 1969 there was a general criminal trespass statute and a specific statute dealing with trespass upon public property.

The “remaining upon” portion of § 40A-14—5, supra, was held to be unconstitutional in State v. Jaramillo, 83 N.M. 800, 498 P.2d 687 (Ct.App.1972). Since Jaramillo, the Legislature has not enacted a trespass statute dealing with remaining upon public property. The State contends this inaction shows a legislative intent that the provisions of the general criminal trespass should apply. We disagree.

In determining whether the general provisions of § 40A-14 — 1, supra, apply to public property, we must interpret § 40A-14 — 1, supra, “as the Legislature understood it at the time it was enacted.” Montoya v. City of Albuquerque, 82 N.M. 90, 476 P. 2d 60 (1970). “In determining legislative intent we consider prior statutes in pari materia.” State v. Vickery, 85 N.M. 389, 512 P.2d 962 (Ct.App.1973).

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State v. Cutnose
532 P.2d 889 (New Mexico Court of Appeals, 1975)

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Bluebook (online)
532 P.2d 889, 87 N.M. 300, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-cutnose-nmctapp-1975.