State v. Griffin

766 P.2d 315, 108 N.M. 55
CourtNew Mexico Court of Appeals
DecidedNovember 17, 1988
Docket10402
StatusPublished
Cited by21 cases

This text of 766 P.2d 315 (State v. Griffin) 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. Griffin, 766 P.2d 315, 108 N.M. 55 (N.M. Ct. App. 1988).

Opinion

OPINION

ALARID, Judge.

Defendant appeals from the amended judgment and sentence finding him to be a habitual offender and increasing his underlying sentence by eight years. Defendant’s underlying conviction for aggravated assault and negligent use of a deadly weapon was affirmed last year by memorandum opinion. State v. Griffin, Ct.App. No. 10,-037 (Filed October 20, 1987). Defendant was charged in a supplemental information with the commission of four prior felonies: 1) involuntary manslaughter, 2) forgery, 3) possession of burglary tools, and 4) unlawful sale of marijuana.

Defendant raises ten issues on appeal. We consolidate and discuss the issues as follows: (I) Whether denial of a jury trial for habitual offender proceedings violated defendant’s constitutional rights; (II) whether the trial court abused its discretion in allowing two previously unidentified state’s witnesses to testify in habitual offender proceedings; (III) whether there was sufficient evidence identifying defendant as the same person convicted of four prior offenses; (IV) whether the trial court erred in finding certain state’s exhibits to be self-authenticating; (V) whether the state established the dates and sequence of prior convictions; (VI) whether defendant was denied effective assistance of counsel; and (VII) whether audio-recording of habitual offender proceedings was required.

FACTS

Before the hearing began, defendant moved for a jury determination of identity and for the proceedings to be taped rather than recorded by computer-aided transcription. Both motions were denied. Defendant also moved to have his defense attorney dismissed but later withdrew his motion. In response to defendant’s objection to the state’s failure to provide a witness list, the trial court granted a short continuance to allow defendant to interview the state’s two witnesses.

Several state’s exhibits were admitted into evidence as self-authenticating over defendant’s objections. These exhibits included the judgments and sentences of all but the forgery conviction, the plea agreement on the involuntary manslaughter conviction, fingerprint records and photographs. Defendant’s objection to state’s exhibit 3-J & S, the judgment and sentence for the prior forgery conviction, was sustained.

State’s witness Michael Cox, the prosecutor on the underlying aggravated assault conviction, testified that he had been present at the involuntary manslaughter plea agreement hearing and that defendant had admitted to having been convicted of the three other prior felonies charged in the supplemental information. Another state’s witness, William Reinig, a fingerprint expert, obtained defendant’s fingerprints during the hearing, compared them with the state’s fingerprint exhibits, and testified that defendant’s fingerprints matched those in the state’s exhibits.

I. Whether denial of a jury trial for habit-, ual offender proceedings violated defendant’s constitutional rights.

Defendant claims he was entitled to a jury determination in his habitual offender proceeding, pursuant to the U.S. Const, amend. VI and N.M. Const, art. II, § 12. We disagree.

Defendant did not preserve the state constitutional claim for review. State v. James, 76 N.M. 376, 415 P.2d 350 (1966) (errors not raised in the trial court cannot be first raised on appeal unless the errors claimed are jurisdictional or fundamental). Defendant has not argued that the state constitutional claim is jurisdictional or fundamental error. Further, this court has held that the determination of identity in a habitual offender proceeding does not involve a fundamental right. State v. Bejar, 104 N.M. 138, 717 P.2d 591 (Ct.App.1985). Accordingly, the state constitutional claim is not before this court. State v. James.

Habitual criminality is a status rather than an offense. Allegations of prior convictions do not constitute a charge of a distinct crime but relate only to punishment to be imposed in the last case in which the accused was convicted of a felony in this state. Lott v. Cox, 75 N.M. 102, 401 P.2d 93 (1965). The proceeding does not involve a determination of guilt of any offense, nor is it a trial in the constitutional sense for purposes of determining competency to stand trial. See State v. Nelson, 96 N.M. 654, 634 P.2d 676 (1981); see also State v. Linam, 93 N.M. 307, 600 P.2d 253, cert. denied, 444 U.S. 846, 100 S.Ct. 91, 62 L.Ed. 2d 59 (1979) (habitual offender proceeding involves only sentencing, not trial of an offense and, therefore, double jeopardy does not attach).

There is no federal sixth amendment right to a jury determination in a habitual offender proceeding. See Spencer v. Texas, 385 U.S. 554, 87 S.Ct. 648, 17 L.Ed.2d 606 (1967); see also Key v. State, 463 A.2d 633 (Del.1983); State v. Losieau, 184 Neb. 178, 166 N.W.2d 406 (1969); Howard v. State, 83 Nev. 53, 422 P.2d 548 (1967). The United States, Supreme Court has held that a defendant must be given reasonable notice of habitual offender proceedings, be present with counsel, be confronted with witnesses against him, and have the right to cross-examine and offer evidence of his own. Specht v. Patterson, 386 U.S. 605, 87 S.Ct. 1209, 18 L.Ed.2d 326 (1967). Beyond that, a state is constitutionally free to adopt such methods for habitual criminal proceedings as are most harmonious with “the particular jurisdiction’s allocation of responsibility between court and jury * * * [and are] best accommodated to the State’s established trial procedures * *." Spencer v. Texas, 385 U.S. at 567, 87 S.Ct. at 655. Accordingly, our legislature has determined to no longer provide for a jury determination in habitual offender proceedings. NMSA 1978, § 31-18-20 (Repl.Pamp.1987); State v. Bejar.

II. Whether the trial court abused its discretion in allowing two previously unidentified state’s witnesses to testify in habitual offender proceedings.

Defendant claims it was error to allow state’s witnesses Cox and Reinig to testify. Assuming, without deciding, that SCRA 1986, 5-501 and 5-505 apply to a habitual offender proceeding, we do not believe the trial court abused its discretion in allowing these witnesses to testify. Defendant has failed to show prejudice by the admission of their testimony.

Failure to disclose a witness’ identity prior to trial in itself is not grounds for reversal. Khalsa v. Khalsa, 107 N.M. 31, 751 P.2d 715 (Ct.App.1988). The objecting party must show that he was prejudiced by such non-disclosure. Id. Defendant’s reliance upon State v. Billington, 86 N.M. 44, 519 P.2d 140 (Ct.App.1974), and Khalsa is not helpful to support a claim of prejudice.

Although defendant was not informed that Cox and Reinig were to testify until the date of the hearing, defendant never asked for a continuance. State v. Billington.

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Bluebook (online)
766 P.2d 315, 108 N.M. 55, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-griffin-nmctapp-1988.