State v. Duarte

2007 NMCA 012, 149 P.3d 1027, 140 N.M. 930
CourtNew Mexico Court of Appeals
DecidedDecember 7, 2006
Docket25,878
StatusPublished
Cited by81 cases

This text of 2007 NMCA 012 (State v. Duarte) 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. Duarte, 2007 NMCA 012, 149 P.3d 1027, 140 N.M. 930 (N.M. Ct. App. 2006).

Opinion

OPINION

SUTIN, Judge.

{1} Defendant James F. Duarte was arrested at a sobriety roadblock. Among other convictions, he was convicted of driving while intoxicated (DWI) under NMSA 1978, § 66-8-102(C)(l), (G) (2004) (amended 2005). He asserts district court error (1) in not suppressing evidence because the police officer lost a videotape of field sobriety tests, thus depriving Defendant of evidence and prejudicing his right to a fair trial; (2) in not excluding evidence because of the State’s late disclosure of witnesses and documents, prejudicing his ability to adequately prepare for trial; (3) in admitting results of a breath alcohol test because Defendant was not advised of his right to independent testing as required under NMSA 1978, § 66 — 8—109(B) (1993); and (4) in admitting evidence that was obtained after the police officer improperly exercised discretion in questioning Defendant outside of the narrow confines of instructions the officer was to follow at the roadblock, resulting in an unlawful seizure in violation of the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution. We affirm.

BACKGROUND

{2} Officer Cory Crayton arrested Defendant at what is commonly called a DWI roadblock after the following circumstances occurred. Defendant first denied, but then later admitted drinking; the officer saw an open bottle of beer between Defendant’s feet; Defendant looked for but could not find any registration or insurance documents; Defendant spilled the beer as he stepped out of the vehicle; Defendant admitted that he had drunk about three inches from the open bottle of beer and that he and a friend had drunk a six-pack; the officer learned that the vehicle registration had expired, and that the vehicle was not insured; Defendant smelled of alcohol and had bloodshot, watery eyes; and Defendant did not perform well on field sobriety tests. After Defendant was arrested, he was given two breathalyzer tests, which produced results of 0.13 breath alcohol content.

DISCUSSION

A. Lost Videotape

{3} The denial of a motion to sanction by dismissal or suppression of evidence is reviewed for abuse of discretion. State v. Riggs, 114 N.M. 358, 361, 838 P.2d 975, 978 (1992). “An abuse of discretion occurs when the ruling is clearly against the logic and effect of the facts and circumstances of the case. We cannot say the trial court abused its discretion by its ruling unless we can characterize it as clearly untenable or not justified by reason.” State v. Caudillo, 2003-NMCA-042, ¶ 12, 133 N.M. 468, 64 P.3d 495 (internal quotation marks and citation omitted).

{4} Because Officer Crayton’s audio equipment did not work during the field sobriety tests that were first administered, a second set of field sobriety tests was given to Defendant, this time using video equipment. However, the video of the second set of field sobriety tests was lost. At trial, the officer testified on direct examination as to the results of the first set of field sobriety tests. He did not testify on direct examination as to the results of the second set of tests. On cross-examination, he testified that he did not know how Defendant did on the second round of tests and that he based his arrest of Defendant on the first round of tests and not on the second.

{5} The day before trial, Defendant filed a motion in which he claimed prejudice because the State had not produced and was unable to produce the videotape but had a duty to do so. Acknowledging the district court’s discretion in granting a remedy for losing evidence, Defendant suggested that the court should dismiss or exclude all evidence that might have been impeached if the tape had not been lost, relying on State v. Chouinard, 96 N.M. 658, 661-62, 634 P.2d 680, 683-84 (1981), which enunciates a test to determine if a deprivation of evidence violates a defendant’s due process right.

{6} Defendant’s motion was heard on the morning of trial. The State admitted that it had a duty to preserve the tape and that the tape was material. The State argued that the loss of the tape was unintentional and that Defendant was not prejudiced. Defense counsel examined Officer Crayton on the customary use of, and purpose for using, the video equipment. Both defense counsel and the court questioned the officer in regard to customary practice of preserving videotapes and on the loss of the tape in question. Defense counsel stated that he was not making an issue out of the tape being intentionally lost or kept from him.

{7} The district court determined that the loss of the videotape was not intentional. While noting that a video can fairly significantly impeach an officer, the court stated that it was not going to dismiss the case, and indicated to defense counsel that he “Undoubtedly ... [was] going to make some hay with the jury over this videotape being lost[,]” and that the court would allow defense counsel to “question thoroughly about why and how it could have been lost,” because “that’s clearly impeachment.” Defense counsel followed up by acknowledging that dismissal was an extreme remedy but arguing that “certainly [the] sobriety test could be suppressed based upon the fact, by [the prosecutor’s] admission, it’s a material piece of evidence.” After being critical about the State’s “loose” handling of the evidence, the court again indicated that defense counsel could question the officer at length about how and why he lost the videotape, stating “those things are not lost on the jury.”

{8} On appeal, Defendant contends that because the State conceded that it had a duty to preserve the evidence and that the evidence was material, the only issue before the district court was whether Defendant was prejudiced. Defendant argues “extreme prejudice” because the officer “could not remember much of what happened,” and Defendant argues that he was “severely prejudiced” because he was not able to effectively cross-examine the officer regarding the administration and scoring of the field sobriety tests, particularly given the fact that the officer was unable to state what the standards for administering the tests were and what instructions he gave to Defendant.

{9} The State argues lack of prejudice because the officer did not testify regarding the tests that were videotaped, Defendant was allowed to extensively cross-examine the officer about the lost tape and to argue the significance of that to the jury, and, notwithstanding the officer’s weak recollection of standards and instructions, the officer was able to describe the first field sobriety testing.

{10} Chouinard sets out a three-part test to determine whether deprivation of evidence is reversible error for denial of a fair trial and thus a denial of due process: “1) The State either breached some duty or intentionally deprived the defendant of evidence; 2) The improperly suppressed evidence must have been material; and 3) The suppression of this evidence prejudiced the defendant.” 96 N.M. at 661, 634 P.2d at 683 (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). In discussing the manner in which a court is to analyze the issue and the relief for a defendant when the test is met, Chouinard stated:

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
2007 NMCA 012, 149 P.3d 1027, 140 N.M. 930, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-duarte-nmctapp-2006.