State v. Flores

772 P.2d 589, 160 Ariz. 235, 32 Ariz. Adv. Rep. 46, 1989 Ariz. App. LEXIS 102
CourtCourt of Appeals of Arizona
DecidedApril 11, 1989
Docket1 CA-CR 12012
StatusPublished
Cited by31 cases

This text of 772 P.2d 589 (State v. Flores) 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. Flores, 772 P.2d 589, 160 Ariz. 235, 32 Ariz. Adv. Rep. 46, 1989 Ariz. App. LEXIS 102 (Ark. Ct. App. 1989).

Opinions

OPINION

GREER, Presiding Judge.

Defendant Flores was convicted by a jury of second degree burglary, a class 3 felony, and public sexual indecency, a class 1 misdemeanor. He was acquitted on a misdemeanor theft count. The facts adduced at trial were brief and follow.

FACTS

Early one morning, the victim went to investigate movements in her apartment and discovered defendant standing in the kitchen area stroking his exposed penis. The victim ran past the intruder, pushed him to the side, and moved toward her purse where a can of mace was attached to her key chain. Before she could get to the purse, however, defendant ran out of the apartment. She then noticed her wallet was missing from her purse.

After the victim contacted the apartment manager, the police were notified, who arrived about twenty minutes later and interviewed the victim. The victim provided police with a physical description of defendant. She indicated he was possibly a groundskeeper because of his clothing and the fact that an unattended lawn mower was near her apartment. A lawn crew was assembled, and the victim positively identified defendant as the intruder. Shortly after the incident, the victim’s wallet was found in a laundry room. About the same time of the incident, a witness had seen defendant in the area of this laundry room.

After the jury returned its verdicts, defendant agreed to admit to two prior felony convictions in exchange for dismissal of the allegation that defendant committed the present offenses while on parole. The trial court accepted defendant’s admissions and imposed the presumptive term of 11.25 years for the burglary conviction and 159 [237]*237days in jail for the misdemeanor conviction of public sexual indecency, to be served concurrently. Defendant was credited with time served.

On appeal, defendant contends:

(1) the prosecutor improperly commented on the defendant remaining silent;
(2) the trial court should have allowed an exculpatory hearsay statement into evidence;
(3) the use of defendant’s prior convictions was improper because no showing was made defendant was represented by counsel on these priors; and
(4) the trial court should have granted defendant’s motion for judgment of acquittal on the public sexual indecency count, as the evidence was insufficient.

COMMENT ON DEFENDANT REMAINING SILENT

During cross-examination of the investigating officer, defense counsel questioned the sufficiency and procedure of the officer’s investigations. During redirect examination, the following exchange transpired:

Q. Officer Juharos, did you take prints from other areas of the door as well as the area 22 inches up?
A. Yes.
Q. And where were they taken from?
A. Up around the handle, inside and outside on the frame.
Q. And when you arrested the defendant, was he read his Miranda rights?
A. Yes, he was read his Miranda rights at the station.
Q. Okay.
PROSECUTOR: No further questions.
THE COURT: Any recross. '
DEFENSE COUNSEL: No, Your Hon- or.

Defense counsel moved for a mistrial based on this exchange, claiming a violation of Doyle v. Ohio, 426 U.S. 610, 96 S.Ct. 2240, 49 L.Ed.2d 91 (1976). The trial court offered a cautionary instruction, which was refused by defense. counsel, and then denied the motion for mistrial.

A prosecutor is prohibited from suggesting an accused is guilty simply because he invoked his Miranda rights. State v. Moore, 112 Ariz. 271, 540 P.2d 1252 (1975). However, in this case, as in Moore, no evidence established the defendant’s election to remain silent or his refusal to cooperate with the police; hence, we find no error.

Most jurors today surely know it is common police practice to inform a suspect of his Miranda rights and the fact that the defendant here, who was voluntarily turning himself in, giving the gun to the police, was in fact read his Miranda rights should come as no surprise. Under the circumstances, this was neither error nor prejudicial.

Id., 112 Ariz. at 274, 540 P.2d at 1255. Later, in State v. Mann, 117 Ariz. 517, 519, 573 P.2d 917, 919 (App.1977), the court stated that, in situations where the prosecution has made reference to defendant being aware of the Miranda rights, the test for error is whether the remarks called the jury’s attention to the fact the defendant has not testified in his own behalf.

In this case, it is clear the prosecutor’s question and the answer by the witness did not focus the jury’s attention on defendant’s alleged exercise of his right to remain silent. Although it is probative of no relevant fact and, therefore, preferable to avoid such reference, mere mention of the fact the defendant was advised of his Miranda rights under these circumstances was not reversible error. Moore, 112 Ariz. 271, 540 P.2d 1252.

EXCULPATORY HEARSAY STATEMENT

During trial, defense counsel made an offer of proof. A civilian witness overheard defendant tell a police officer at the scene he saw someone go between buildings and over the fence at about the time of the incident. The trial court granted the state’s motion in limine, precluding defense counsel from eliciting this statement. Defendant contends that, in light of the testimony indicating defendant was aware [238]*238of his Miranda rights, it was imperative the jury be allowed to hear defendant’s statement when confronted by the police. Defendant asserts the prosecutor’s questioning about the Miranda rights opened the door to the proffered testimony, even though defendant’s statement was made prior to the Miranda warnings. We disagree.

A trial court’s ruling on the admissibility of evidence will not be disturbed absent an abuse of discretion. State v. Robles, 135 Ariz. 92, 94, 659 P.2d 645, 647 (1983). Defendant argues for the first time on appeal that his statement was admissible as an excited utterance. Because this argument is raised for the first time on appeal, we need not address it. State v. Burton, 144 Ariz. 248, 697 P.2d 331 (App.1985). Even if not waived, however, no evidence indicated that defendant was excited or startled when confronted by police. As such, we cannot conclude the trial court abused its discretion in precluding the admissibility of the statement. See State v. Conn, 137 Ariz. 152, 669 P.2d 585 (App. 1982), aff'd in part and remanded on other grounds, 137 Ariz. 148, 669 P.2d 581 (1983); State v. Rivera,

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
772 P.2d 589, 160 Ariz. 235, 32 Ariz. Adv. Rep. 46, 1989 Ariz. App. LEXIS 102, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-flores-arizctapp-1989.