State v. Hanley

CourtCourt of Appeals of Arizona
DecidedJune 10, 2014
Docket1 CA-CR 13-0703
StatusUnpublished

This text of State v. Hanley (State v. Hanley) 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. Hanley, (Ark. Ct. App. 2014).

Opinion

NOTICE: NOT FOR PUBLICATION. UNDER ARIZONA RULE OF THE SUPREME COURT 111(c), THIS DECISION DOES NOT CREATE LEGAL PRECEDENT AND MAY NOT BE CITED EXCEPT AS AUTHORIZED.

IN THE ARIZONA COURT OF APPEALS DIVISION ONE

STATE OF ARIZONA, Appellee,

v.

KEVIN DAVID HANLEY, Appellant.

No. 1 CA-CR 13-0703 FILED 06-10-2014

Appeal from the Superior Court in Maricopa County No. CR 2011-131637-001 The Honorable Jerry Bernstein, Judge Pro Tempore

AFFIRMED

COUNSEL

Arizona Attorney General’s Office, Phoenix By Joseph T. Maziarz Counsel for Appellee

Maricopa County Public Defender’s Office, Phoenix By Jeffrey L. Force Counsel for Appellant STATE v. HANLEY Decision of the Court

MEMORANDUM DECISION

Judge Margaret H. Downie delivered the decision of the Court, in which Presiding Judge Kent E. Cattani and Judge Michael J. Brown joined.

D O W N I E, Judge:

¶1 Kevin David Hanley timely appeals his conviction for aggravated driving or actual physical control while under the influence of intoxicating drugs in violation of Arizona Revised Statutes (“A.R.S.”) sections 28-1381(A)(1)-(3) and -1383(A)(1)-(2). Pursuant to Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967), and State v. Leon, 104 Ariz. 297, 451 P.2d 878 (1969), defense counsel has searched the record, found no arguable question of law, and asked that we review the record for reversible error. See State v. Richardson, 175 Ariz. 336, 339, 857 P.2d 388, 391 (App. 1993). Defendant was given the opportunity to file a supplemental brief in propria persona, but he has not done so.

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY 1

¶2 M.N. was working at a car lot when he heard a loud noise. Looking up, he saw a car enter the facility with a blown-out tire and damage to the front passenger side. M.N. approached the driver, noticed he was impaired, and called the police. Officer Nelson arrived on the scene and requested identification from Hanley, who was still in the driver’s seat. In speaking with Hanley, the officer observed signs of impairment.

¶3 Officer Nelson investigated the crash and found damage to a nearby traffic signal pole. Nelson read Hanley his Miranda rights. Hanley told the officer he was driving the car at the time of the accident and had previously taken three prescription pills. Officer Smith arrived on the scene and administered a horizontal gaze nystagmus (“HGN”) test; Hanley showed six out of six signs of impairment. Hanley was arrested and transported to a DUI processing unit where a blood draw occurred. Officer Rice read Hanley his Miranda rights and questioned him. Hanley

1 We view the facts “in the light most favorable to sustaining the conviction.” State v. Tison, 129 Ariz. 546, 552, 633 P.2d 355, 361 (1981).

2 STATE v. HANLEY Decision of the Court

again stated he had been driving the vehicle and was involved in the collision.

¶4 The State charged Hanley with four counts of aggravated driving or actual physical control of a vehicle while: impaired to the slightest degree (count 1), having any drug under A.R.S. § 13-3401 or its metabolite in his body (count 2), and having a previous qualifying violation within 84 months (counts 3 and 4).

¶5 During a four-day trial, the jury heard officers testify to the facts recited supra and also heard from a forensic scientist who testified that Hanley’s blood tested positive for two drugs and one metabolite defined in A.R.S. § 13-3401. The scientist further testified that the level of drugs in Hanley’s system was capable of causing impairment and that the drugs found would interact in a manner that heightened impairment.

¶6 The jury also heard testimony from a custodian of records for the Arizona Motor Vehicle Division (“MVD”). She testified that Hanley’s license was revoked or suspended at the time of the accident, that he had multiple prior convictions within 84 months of the current offense leading to earlier license suspensions, and that MVD mailed a letter to Hanley notifying him of his license suspension in July 2010.

¶7 At the conclusion of the State’s case-in-chief, Hanley moved for a judgment of acquittal pursuant to Rule 20, Arizona Rules of Criminal Procedure; the motion was denied. Hanley testified on his own behalf and called his mother as a witness. Hanley told jurors that he took prescription drugs before getting into the vehicle and knew his license was suspended on the day of the accident. He testified, though, that a friend of his (now deceased) was driving at the time of the collision, but he fled the scene before officers arrived.

¶8 The jury convicted Hanley on all counts. The superior court sentenced him to five months’ imprisonment and four years’ probation.

DISCUSSION

¶9 We have read and considered the briefs submitted by counsel and have reviewed the entire record. Leon, 104 Ariz. at 300, 451 P.2d at 881. We find no reversible error. All of the proceedings were conducted in compliance with the Arizona Rules of Criminal Procedure, and the sentence imposed was within the statutory range. Defendant was present at all critical phases of the proceedings and represented by counsel. The jury was properly impaneled and instructed. The jury

3 STATE v. HANLEY Decision of the Court

instructions were consistent with the offenses charged. The record reflects no irregularity in the deliberation process.

¶10 “We view the evidence in the light most favorable to sustaining the verdicts and resolve all inferences against appellant.” State v. Nihiser, 191 Ariz. 199, 201, 953 P.2d 1252, 1254 (App. 1997). The trial record includes substantial evidence to support the jury’s verdicts. See Tison, 129 Ariz. at 552, 633 P.2d at 361 (in reviewing for sufficiency of evidence, “[t]he test to be applied is whether there is substantial evidence to support a guilty verdict”). “Substantial evidence is proof that reasonable persons could accept as sufficient to support a conclusion of a defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.” State v. Spears, 184 Ariz. 277, 290, 908 P.2d 1062, 1075 (1996). Substantial evidence “may be either circumstantial or direct.” State v. Henry, 205 Ariz. 229, 232, ¶ 11, 68 P.3d 455, 458 (App. 2003).

¶11 Count 1 required proof that Hanley: (1) drove or was in actual physical control of a vehicle in Arizona; (2) was under the influence of any drug at the time of driving or actual physical control; (3) was impaired to the slightest degree from being under the influence of any drug; (4) had his driver’s license suspended, canceled, revoked, refused, or restricted at the time he drove or was in actual physical control; and (5) knew or should have known his driver’s license was suspended, canceled, revoked, refused, or restricted at the time of driving or being in actual physical control. A.R.S. §§ 28-1381(A)(1), -1383(A)(1); see State v. Williams, 144 Ariz. 487, 489, 698 P.2d 732, 734 (1985).

¶12 M.N.

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Related

Anders v. California
386 U.S. 738 (Supreme Court, 1967)
State v. Richardson
857 P.2d 388 (Court of Appeals of Arizona, 1993)
State v. Williams
698 P.2d 732 (Arizona Supreme Court, 1985)
State v. Fayle
658 P.2d 218 (Court of Appeals of Arizona, 1982)
State v. Spears
908 P.2d 1062 (Arizona Supreme Court, 1996)
State v. Clemons
521 P.2d 987 (Arizona Supreme Court, 1974)
State v. Tison
633 P.2d 355 (Arizona Supreme Court, 1981)
State v. Nihiser
953 P.2d 1252 (Court of Appeals of Arizona, 1997)
State v. Shattuck
684 P.2d 154 (Arizona Supreme Court, 1984)
State v. Leon
451 P.2d 878 (Arizona Supreme Court, 1969)
State v. Henry
68 P.3d 455 (Court of Appeals of Arizona, 2003)
State v. Anaya
825 P.2d 961 (Court of Appeals of Arizona, 1991)

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Bluebook (online)
State v. Hanley, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-hanley-arizctapp-2014.