State v. Maestas

528 F.2d 650, 528 P.2d 650, 87 N.M. 6
CourtNew Mexico Court of Appeals
DecidedSeptember 18, 1974
Docket1294
StatusPublished
Cited by10 cases

This text of 528 F.2d 650 (State v. Maestas) 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. Maestas, 528 F.2d 650, 528 P.2d 650, 87 N.M. 6 (N.M. Ct. App. 1974).

Opinions

OPINION

SUTIN, Judge.

On November 21, 1972, defendant was arrested for illegal possession of heroin. On December 7, 1972, a grand jury indictment was filed in which defendant was charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance, to-wit: a narcotic drug enumerated in Schedule I contrary to §§ 54-11-23, 54-11-6, N.M.S.A.1953 (Repl. Vol. 8, pt. 2, 1973 Supp.).

On April 17, 1973, defendant moved to dismiss the indictment because on January 24, 1973, defendant had been previously convicted in Bernalillo County Magistrate Court of the crime of possession of controlled substances on the same date and at the same place as the date and place at which he is charged with the possession of narcotic drugs, thus subjecting defendant to double jeopardy. The motion was denied.

The state and defendant stipulated that a criminal complaint was filed in the Magistrate Court of Bernalillo County in which defendant was charged with the crime of unlawful possession of less than one ounce of marijuana on November 21, 1972 contrary to § 54 — 11-23, supra; that on January 24, 1973, defendant was convicted and a penalty imposed; “and that the facts and circumstances upon which said conviction was based are the same as the facts and circumstances upon which the conviction in the above-styled and numbered cause was based, except for the items possessed.” (Emphasis added).

The heroin and marijuana were obtained by the execution of a search warrant at 1513 Lead, Southeast, Apartment No. 4, in which defendant and two women were present.

In the District Court, defendant was convicted of illegal possession of heroin. In. the Magistrate Court, defendant was previously convicted of the illegal possession of marijuana. Heroin and marijuana are classified as controlled substances by § 54-11-6, Schedule I, supra.

In both courts, defendant was convicted under § 54-11-23, supra. It provides in part:

It is unlawful for any person intentionally to possess a controlled substance

This court has adopted the rule that a conviction for a minor offense in a municipal court will bar a prosecution for the greater offense in district court where defendant is placed on trial for the same alleged crime, even though the municipal court did not have jurisdiction of the greater offense. Woods v. State, 84 N.M. 248, 501 P.2d 692 (Ct.App.1972); State v. Gonzales, 84 N.M. 726, 507 P.2d 787 (Ct. App.1973).

This rule would be equally applicable to a prior conviction for a minor offense in the magistrate’s court. Art. VI, § 1 of the New Mexico Constitution provides:

The judicial power of the state shall be vested in ... a Supreme Court, a court of appeals, district courts-, probate courts, magistrate courts and such other courts inferior to the district courts .... [Emphasis added].

The judicial power to try defendant on a misdemeanor in the magistrate court springs from the same organic law that created the district court in which defendant was tried and convicted of a felony. Therefore, defendant cannot lawfully be tried both by the magistrate court and the district court for the identical offense. Waller v. Florida, 397 U.S. 387, 90 S.Ct. 1184, 25 L.Ed.2d 435 (1970), rehearing denied, 398 U.S. 914, 90 S.Ct. 1684, 26 L.Ed. 2d 79 (1970). This rule was adopted in Woods, supra, and Gonzales, supra.

We now arrive at the crucial point on the meaning of double jeopardy.

Amendment V, United States Constitution provides in part:

. nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb.

[Emphasis added].

Art. II, § 15, New Mexico Constitution provides in part:

. nor shall any person be twice put in jeopardy for the same offense. [Emphasis added].

Section 40A-1-10, N.M.S.A.1953 (2d Repl.Vol. 6) provides in part:

No person shall be twice put in jeopardy for the same crime. The defense of jeopardy may not be waived and may be raised by the accused at any stage of a criminal prosecution, either before or after judgment. [Emphasis added].

The double jeopardy issue turns on the meaning of '“the same offense.” Prior to 1973, two approaches took place in New Mexico.

First. "The same evidence test.”

This test was stated in Owens v. Abram, 58 N.M. 682, 684, 274 P.2d 630, 631 (1954), cert. denied, 348 U.S. 917, 75 S.Ct. 300, 99 L.Ed. 719 (1955), as follows:

If either information requires the proof of facts to support a conviction which the other does not, the offenses are not the same and a plea of double jeopardy is unavailing.

This rule was followed in State v. Mares, 79 N.M. 327, 442 P.2d 817 (Ct. App.1968); State v. Tijerina, 84 N.M. 432, 504 P.2d 642 (Ct.App.1972) certified to the Supreme Court.

Second. "The same transaction” test. This test was stated in State v. Quintana, 69 N.M. 51, 364 P.2d 120 (1961) as follows:

However, if the several offenses are the same, as where they arise out of the same transaction, and were committed at the same time, and were part of a continuous criminal act, and inspired by the same criminal intent, which is an essential element of each offense, they are susceptible of only one punishment.

This test was followed in State v. Blackwell, 76 N.M. 445, 415 P.2d 563 (1966); State v. Martinez, 77 N.M. 745, 427 P.2d 260 (1967) and several others ending with Campion v. State, 84 N.M. 137, 500 P.2d 422 (Ct.App.1972).

Third. "Same evidence” and "Same transaction” tests abandoned.

In State v. Tijerina, 86 N.M. 31, 519 P. 2d 127, 129, 130 (1973) the Supreme Court stated:

The United States Supreme Court in Ashe' v. Swenson, supra, [397 U.S. 436, 90 S.Ct. 1189, 25 L.Ed.2d 469 (1970)] did not apply “same transaction” test which would prohibit the piecemeal prosecution of multiple crimes arising out of the same transaction. Nor did it apply the “same evidence” test which would prohibit a second prosecution only when the matter set out in the second indictment would have been sufficient to secure a conviction on the first. What the court did adopt was a test that looked to all the relevant matters of the trial, and sought to determine whether or not the jury, in reaching its verdict in the first trial, necessarily or actually determined the same issues which the State attempts to raise in the second trial.

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State v. Maestas
528 P.2d 649 (New Mexico Supreme Court, 1974)
State v. Maestas
528 F.2d 650 (New Mexico Court of Appeals, 1974)

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Bluebook (online)
528 F.2d 650, 528 P.2d 650, 87 N.M. 6, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-maestas-nmctapp-1974.