State v. Luna

Court of Appeals of Arizona·Decided February 23, 2016·No. 1 CA-CR 14-0864·Unpublished

Opinion

NOTICE: NOT FOR OFFICIAL PUBLICATION. UNDER ARIZONA RULE OF THE SUPREME COURT 111(c), THIS DECISION IS NOT PRECEDENTIAL AND MAY BE CITED ONLY AS AUTHORIZED BY RULE.

IN THE ARIZONA COURT OF APPEALS DIVISION ONE

STATE OF ARIZONA, Appellee,

v.

JESSE LUNA, Appellant.

No. 1 CA-CR 14-0864 FILED 2-23-2016

Appeal from the Superior Court in Maricopa County No. CR2013-438634-001 DT The Honorable Brian Kaiser, 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 Joel M. Glynn Counsel for Appellant STATE v. LUNA Decision of the Court

MEMORANDUM DECISION

Judge Donn Kessler delivered the decision of the Court, in which Presiding Judge Lawrence F. Winthrop and Judge Samuel A. Thumma joined.

K E S S L E R, Judge:

¶1 Appellant Jesse Luna appeals his convictions for two counts of aggravated driving under the influence (“DUI”) and two concurrent eight-year prison terms.1 Counsel for Luna filed a brief in accordance with Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967), and State v. Clark, 196 Ariz. 530 (App. 1999). Finding no arguable issues to raise, counsel requested that this Court search the record for fundamental error. Luna was given the opportunity to, but did not file, a supplemental brief in propia persona. For the reasons that follow, we affirm Luna’s convictions and sentences. However, we correct the sentencing minute entry in this case referencing Luna’s 1990 prior felony conviction.

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

¶2 On August 13, 2013, an on-duty Phoenix police officer stopped Luna on suspicion of drunk driving. Luna’s driver’s license showed an interlock device requirement and a search of state vehicle records revealed Luna’s driving privileges were suspended. The officer could smell alcohol on Luna’s breath, and found open beer containers in Luna’s car. Another officer conducted a Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (“HGN”) test on Luna, and found four out of six maximum cues of alcohol impairment. Luna refused to do any more sobriety tests.

¶3 Luna was arrested and taken to a DUI van, where a phlebotomist drew Luna’s blood pursuant to a search warrant authorizing the draw. Luna also spontaneously stated that he would be sober before

1Count 1 (aggravated DUI, impaired, a class four felony with two historical prior felony convictions); and Count 2 (aggravated DUI, alcohol concentration of 0.08 or more, a class four felony with two historical prior felony convictions).

2 STATE v. LUNA Decision of the Court

the police would get his blood. Luna’s reported blood alcohol concentration was 0.120.

¶4 A jury convicted Luna for two counts of aggravated DUI. At sentencing, the judge found Luna had two historical prior felony convictions, and sentenced Luna concurrently to two mitigated eight-year terms, with credit for 42 days of presentence incarceration.2

¶5 Luna timely appealed. We have jurisdiction of the appeal pursuant to Article 6, Section 9, of the Arizona Constitution, and Arizona Revised Statutes (“A.R.S.”) sections 13-4031 (2010), -4033(A)(1) (2010).

DISCUSSION

¶6 In an Anders appeal, this Court must review the entire record for fundamental error. Error is fundamental when it affects the foundation of the case, deprives the defendant of a right essential to his defense, or is an error of such magnitude that the defendant could not possibly have had a fair trial. State v. Henderson, 210 Ariz. 561, 567, ¶ 19 (2005). To reverse, the defendant must also show that the error prejudiced him. Id. at ¶ 20.

¶7 In reviewing the sufficiency of evidence at trial, “[w]e construe the evidence in the light most favorable to sustaining the verdict, and resolve all reasonable inferences against the defendant.” State v. Greene, 192 Ariz. 431, 436, ¶ 12 (1998). “Reversible error based on insufficiency of the evidence occurs only where there is a complete absence of probative facts to support the conviction.” State v. Soto-Fong, 187 Ariz. 186, 200 (1996) (quoting State v. Scott, 113 Ariz. 423, 424–25 (1976)).

¶8 The record reveals substantial evidence to support the jury’s verdicts for both aggravated DUI counts. Count 1 required proof that Luna was driving while under the influence of intoxicating liquor, impaired, and while under a court order to equip his vehicle with a certified ignition interlock device. See A.R.S. §§ 28-1381(A)(1) (2012), -1383(A)(4) (Supp. 2015).3 Count 2 required proof that Luna was driving while under the influence of intoxicating liquor, with an alcohol concentration of 0.08 or more, and while under a court order to equip his vehicle with a certified ignition interlock device. See A.R.S. §§ 28-1381(A)(2), -1383(A)(4).

2 Luna was not present at the return of the verdict and later was arrested on a warrant issued by the trial court. 3 We cite the current version of the applicable statutes unless revisions

material to this decision have occurred since the events in question.

3 STATE v. LUNA Decision of the Court

¶9 Phoenix police officers testified that Luna was driving a vehicle and swerving between traffic lanes before they stopped him. The officers also testified they found open beer cans in Luna’s vehicle, he smelled like alcohol, and an HGN test revealed four out of six maximum cues of alcohol impairment. The phlebotomist who performed Luna’s blood analysis testified Luna’s blood alcohol concentration was 0.120. An MVD custodian of records/analyst testified Luna had an ignition interlock requirement on his license and that his driving privilege was suspended. Thus, there was sufficient evidence to satisfy all of the elements of both aggravated DUI counts.

¶10 The record reveals substantial evidence to support the sentencing judge’s finding of two historical prior felonies. In 1990, Luna was convicted of aggravated assault, a class 3 “dangerous” felony. See A.R.S. §§ 13-702 (2010), -1204 (Supp. 2015).4 In Arizona, a prior felony conviction that involved a dangerous offense is a “historical prior felony” irrespective of the date of conviction. A.R.S. § 13-105(22)(a)(ii) (Supp. 2015). Luna also was convicted for two class four felonies for misconduct involving weapons in 2002. Thus, Luna’s felony convictions in 2002, in conjunction with the aggravated assault felony conviction from 1990, constituted his third felony conviction, and his second historical prior felony. See A.R.S. § 13-105(22)(d) (providing that “[a]ny felony conviction that is a third or more prior felony conviction” constitutes a “historical prior felony”).

CONCLUSION

¶11 After careful review of the record, we find no meritorious grounds for reversal of Luna’s convictions or modification of the sentences imposed. The evidence supports the verdicts, the sentences imposed were within the sentencing limits, and Luna was represented at all stages of the proceedings below. Accordingly, we affirm Luna’s convictions and sentences.

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Related

Anders v. California
386 U.S. 738 (Supreme Court, 1967)
State v. Henderson
115 P.3d 601 (Arizona Supreme Court, 2005)
State v. Soto-Fong
928 P.2d 610 (Arizona Supreme Court, 1996)
State v. Scott
555 P.2d 1117 (Arizona Supreme Court, 1976)
State v. Greene
967 P.2d 106 (Arizona Supreme Court, 1998)
State v. Shattuck
684 P.2d 154 (Arizona Supreme Court, 1984)
State v. Clark
2 P.3d 89 (Court of Appeals of Arizona, 1999)