State v. Dixon

622 P.2d 501, 127 Ariz. 554
CourtCourt of Appeals of Arizona
DecidedFebruary 25, 2006
Docket2 CA-CR 2006, 2 CA-CR 2016-2
StatusPublished
Cited by49 cases

This text of 622 P.2d 501 (State v. Dixon) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Arizona primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Dixon, 622 P.2d 501, 127 Ariz. 554 (Ark. Ct. App. 2006).

Opinion

OPINION

RICHMOND, Judge.

This is a consolidated appeal from two separate convictions, and the sentences imposed. In 2 CA-CR 2006 appellant challenges his conviction of unlawful sale of a narcotic drug with two prior felony convictions. He bases his appeal on four allegations of error: 1) the denial of a 12-person jury; 2) failure to preclude his impeachment by prior felony convictions; 3) enhanced sentencing based on insufficient proof of a prior felony conviction; 4) denial of his right to allocution prior to sentence pronouncement.

In 2 CA-CR 2016 appellant attacks his conviction of theft with one prior felony conviction. His appeal is based on six allegations of error: 1) failure to preclude his impeachment by prior felony convictions; 2) admission of testimony referring to “mug number” and “mug envelope”; 3) jury instruction on a permissive inference; 4) failure to submit separate theft verdicts to the jury; 5) denial of his right to allocution before sentence pronouncement; 6) denial of his motion to suppress evidence.

We affirm.

RIGHT TO A 12-PERSON JURY

In 2 CA-CR 2006 appellant was charged with one count of unlawful sale of a narcotic drug, a non-dangerous felony with two prior non-dangerous felonies. For this charge he was subject to a possible maximum prison sentence of 28 years. A.R.S. §§ 13-604, 13-701. The court determined that appellant was not entitled to a 12-per-son jury and empaneled an eight-person jury. A.R.S. § 21-102, Arizona Constitution Art. 2, § 23.

Appellant contends the provision guaranteeing a 12-person jury when the possible sentence is 30 years or more must be interpreted in light of the criminal code existing when that provision was adopted by amendment in 1972. Under the old code a prisoner was eligible for parole after serving one-third of his sentence, or after 10 years of a 30-year sentence. From this he *558 argues the intent of Art. 2, § 23 is to provide a 12-person jury any time a person may suffer commitment without parole eligibility for 10 years or more. Under the present criminal code, effective October 1, 1978, parole eligibility for appellant’s maximum 28-year sentence would be 18% years. See A.R.S. § 13-604(D). Consequently, appellant maintains, he had a right to a 12-person jury. We do not agree.

The constitutional provision bases the right to a 12-person jury on the maximum sentence, not parole eligibility. The court acted correctly. See State v. Smith, 126 Ariz. 534, 617 P.2d 42 (1980).

Alternatively, appellant argues that the passage of the new criminal code, A.R.S. § 13-101 et seq., is void as unconstitutional and could not be used to determine his right to a 12-person jury. He bases the claim of unconstitutionality on two theories. The first is that one of the new code’s purposes was to restrict the availability of a 12-person jury and did not include that purpose in its title as required by Arizona Constitution Art. 4, Pt. 2, § 13. The latter provision is intended to prevent surprise as to the subjects the act governs. See State v. Sutton, 27 Ariz.App. 134, 551 P.2d 583 (1976), aff’d in part, rev’d in part on other grounds, 115 Ariz. 417, 565 P.2d 1278 (1977). It is to be interpreted liberally to uphold the act’s constitutionality on any legal basis. State v. Sutton, 115 Ariz. 417, 565 P.2d 1278 (1977). Sentencing is a matter reasonably expected to be dealt with in a criminal code and such purpose is described in A.R.S. § 13-101(6). That the right to a 12-person jury is indirectly affected by the sentencing changes does not render them void. See State v. Harold, 74 Ariz. 210, 246 P.2d 178 (1952).

Appellant’s second theory is that the sentencing provisions are unconstitutional because they effectively amend Art. 2, § 23 without complying with Art. 21 governing constitutional amendments. This theory, however, is based on a false premise that the sentencing scheme somehow changes the right to a 12-person jury guaranteed by Art. 2, § 23. The constitutional provision is clearly addressed to the total possible authorized sentence in a criminal case. See State v. Parker, 22 Ariz.App. Ill, 524 P.2d 506 (1974). That the new code reduced appellant’s maximum possible sentence from life imprisonment to 28 years does not controvert or amend Art. 2, § 23.

IMPEACHMENT BY PRIOR CONVICTIONS

In both cases the court denied appellant’s motion to preclude his impeachment by prior convictions pursuant to A.R.S. 17A Rules of Evidence, rule 609(a). Appellant attacks the denials on two alternative theories. First, he claims that reversal is required because the court failed to make an on-the-record determination that the probative value of such evidence outweighs its prejudicial effect. See State v. Cross, 123 Ariz. 494, 600 P.2d 1126 (App.1979). Failure to make the finding on the record, however, does not mandate an automatic reversal. State v. Ellerson, 125 Ariz. 249, 609 P.2d 64 (1980). Although an on-the-record finding based on specific facts and circumstances is preferred, a record which shows that the court did weigh the probative value and the prejudicial effect in exercising its discretion will suffice.

In 2 CA-CR 2006, the motion to preclude was given a full hearing. That the court excluded the prior narcotics conviction while allowing the use of one prior burglary conviction and two prior grand theft convictions for impeachment indicates it weighed the probative value against the prejudicial effect.

In 2 CA-CR 2016, defense counsel submitted his motion to preclude on a memorandum, waiving his right to a hearing on the issue. The court denied the motion as to the narcotics conviction and granted it as to the burglary and grand theft convictions. Again, the exclusion of prior convictions for offenses similar to the matter on trial indicates the court meaningfully weighed the factors required by rule 609(a). Such a record will suffice despite the absence of a specific finding. See State v. Ellerson, supra.

*559 Appellant’s alternative theory is that the state failed to carry its burden of proof. See State v. Becerill, 124 Ariz. 535, 606 P.2d 25 (App.1979).

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Bluebook (online)
622 P.2d 501, 127 Ariz. 554, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-dixon-arizctapp-2006.