State v. Libero

581 P.2d 873, 91 N.M. 780
CourtNew Mexico Court of Appeals
DecidedMay 23, 1978
Docket3372
StatusPublished
Cited by9 cases

This text of 581 P.2d 873 (State v. Libero) 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. Libero, 581 P.2d 873, 91 N.M. 780 (N.M. Ct. App. 1978).

Opinion

OPINION

WOOD, Chief Judge.

Defendant was convicted of four counts of issuing worthless checks under our Worthless Check Act. The applicable statutory provisions are §§ 40-49-1 through 40-49-5, N.M.S.A., 1953 (2d Repl. Vol. 6). We discuss: (1) failure to charge a crime; (2) constitutionality — void for vagueness; (3) instruction; and (4) answer other issues summarily.

Failure to Charge a Crime

Section 40^9-4, supra, makes it an offense to issue a worthless check under the conditions therein stated. Because the Worthless Check Act is not a part of the Criminal Code appearing in Chapter 40A, N.M.S.A.1953 and because, according to defendant, the issuance of a worthless check was not a crime at common law, defendant asserts his issuance of worthless checks did not constitute a crime under New Mexico law. We disagree.

Section 40A-1-4, N.M.S.A.1953 (2d Repl. Vol. 6) defines a crime as an act or omission forbidden by law and for which, upon conviction, a sentence of imprisonment or a fine is authorized. Violation of the Worthless Check Act is a crime. See §§ 40-49-4 and 40 — 49—5, supra.

The references to the Criminal Code and the common law in § 40A-1-3, N.M.S.A. 1953 (2d Repl. Vol. 6) did not eliminate worthless checks as crimes. Section 40A-29-ll(A), N.M.S.A.1953 (2d Repl. Vol. 6) provides:

Whenever a defendant is convicted of a crime under * * * a statute not contained in the Criminal Code, which specifies the penalty to be imposed on conviction, the court shall have the power to pronounce sentence and imposition of fine in accordance with the provisions prescribed in such statute * * *.

The issuance of a worthless check is a crime; defendant was properly sentenced for his four crimes.

Constitutionality — Void for Vagueness

Section 40-49-4, supra, makes it unlawful “to issue in exchange for anything of value, with intent to defraud, any check * * * knowing at the time of the issuing that the offender has insufficient funds in or credit with the bank or depository for the payment of such check”.

Defendant contends the word “issue” is unconstitutionally vague. He points out that the crime cannot be committed unless a worthless check is issued, and that “issue” is not defined in the Worthless Check Act. See § 40-49-2, supra. Because of the absence of a statutory definition, he asserts that § 40-49-4, supra, is void for vagueness.

A statute is void for vagueness if persons of common intelligence must necessarily guess at its meaning. In determining the question of vagueness, we consider the statute as a whole. State v. Najera, 89 N.M. 522, 554 P.2d 983 (Ct.App.1976).

Section 40-49-3, supra, states a legislative purpose “to remedy the evil of giving checks on a bank” without first providing for sufficient funds to pay the check. Thus, “issue” in § 40-49-4, supra, is used in the same sense of “giving” a check in § 40-49-3, supra. “Giving” a worthless check constitutes a representation that the drawer has credit with the drawee bank for the amount involved. State v. Tanner, 22 N.M. 493, 164 P. 821, L.R.A. 1917E 849 (1917).

“Issue” and “give” in the Worthless Check Act mean delivery to a holder with a passing of interest from one to another. See State v. Tooke, 81 N.M. 618, 471 P.2d 188 (Ct.App.1970); Compare U.J.I. Crim. 16.34. To violate § 40-49-4, supra, one must issue the check in exchange for value, with the requisite intent and knowledge. Section 40-49-4, supra, gave defendant notice of the prohibited act; it is not void for vagueness.

State v. Ferris, 80 N.M. 663, 459 P.2d 462 (Ct.App.1969) held the totaling provision of § 40-49-5, supra, was void for vagueness. Defendant asserts the totaling provision was “interpreted against the Defendant.” This is factually incorrect; no totaling has been employed. Defendant infers that because the totaling provision was held unconstitutionally vague, that somehow other parts of the Worthless Check Act are also unconstitutionally vague. The claim is frivolous. See State v. Ferris, supra.

Instruction

In connection with the elements of the crimes, defendant requested the jury be instructed that defendant must have “issued” the particular check involved. The trial court refused this request; it substituted the word “gave”. The jury was in-structed that it must be proved that defendant “gave” the various checks involved. Defendant asserts this substitution resulted in the jury not being instructed on an essential element of the crime.

We pointed out, in the' previous issue, that “issue” in § 40-49-4, supra, and “give” in § 40-49-3, supra, are used in the same sense. The use of “gave” in the instruction accords with the language of the Worthless Check Act and is consistent with the use of “gave” in U.J.I. Crim. 16.34. No essential element of the offense was omitted; refusal of defendant’s request was not error.

Issues Summarily Answered

(a) Defendant was originally indicted on worthless check charges on April 6, 1977. This indictment was dismissed, by written order, on June 9, 1977. On July 1, 1977 the order of dismissal was amended to read “without prejudice”. On July 13, 1977 defendant was indicted for a second time on most of the worthless check charges set forth in the original indictment. Defendant moved to dismiss the charges in the second indictment on the basis that the charges in the original indictment were still pending. This claim lacks a factual basis. The original indictment was dismissed; written orders in the court file show the dismissal and its subsequent amendment. The charges in the original indictment were not “still pending”.

(b) Defendant’s first trial, under the second indictment, ended in a mistrial. Defendant contends his second trial, at which he was convicted, was barred by double jeopardy because the trial court abused its discretion in declaring the mistrial. This claim is frivolous. The record and the tapes show that, while deliberating, the jury sent several notes to the judge, that upon receipt of the last note which indicated a hopeless deadlock, the foreman advised, in open court, that further deliberation would be futile. The trial court then declared a mistrial. The mistrial was declared after lengthy jury-deliberation, stated by defendant to have lasted two and one-half days. The trial court did not abuse its discretion in declaring a mistrial. See State v. Brooks, 59 N.M. 130, 279 P.2d 1048 (1955) as modified in State v. Castrillo, 90 N.M. 608, 566 P.2d 1146 (1977). There was a plain and obvious reason to declare a mistrial—a hopelessly deadlocked jury. Defendant’s retrial did not violate double jeopardy.

(c) Defendant asserts he was denied his right to a speedy trial under the original indictment.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

State v. Platt
845 P.2d 815 (New Mexico Court of Appeals, 1992)
State v. Hays
408 S.E.2d 614 (West Virginia Supreme Court, 1991)
Commonwealth v. Fiantaca
6 Pa. D. & C.4th 266 (Lycoming County Court of Common Pleas, 1990)
State v. Higgins
762 P.2d 904 (New Mexico Court of Appeals, 1988)
State v. McConvey
459 A.2d 562 (Supreme Judicial Court of Maine, 1983)
State Ex Rel. Human Services Department v. Staples
666 P.2d 771 (New Mexico Supreme Court, 1983)
State v. Carr
626 P.2d 292 (New Mexico Court of Appeals, 1981)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
581 P.2d 873, 91 N.M. 780, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-libero-nmctapp-1978.