State v. Martin

565 P.2d 1041, 90 N.M. 524
New Mexico Court of Appeals·Decided May 3, 1977·No. 2653·Published·Cited by 44 cases

Opinion

OPINION

HENDLEY, Judge.

Convicted of eighteen counts of attempt to evade or defeat any tax pursuant to § 72-13-85, N.M.S.A. 1953 (Repl. Vol. 10, pt. 2, 1961, Supp.1975) and eight counts of willfully making a false return with intent to evade or defeat payment of the tax pursuant to § 72 — 13—86, N.M.S.A. 1953 (Repl. Vol. 10, pt. 2, 1961, Supp.1975) defendant appeals. The points for reversal related to: (1) sufficiency of the evidence; (2) jury instruction given; (3) jury instruction refused; and, (4) offer of proof. Issues raised in the docketing statement but not argued on appéal are deemed waived. State v. Vogenthaler, 89 N.M. 150, 548 P.2d 112 (Ct.App.1976). We affirm.

Sufficiency of the Evidence

We view the evidence together with all reasonable inferences flowing therefrom in the light most favorable to support the verdict. State v. Bidegain, 88 N.M. 466, 541 P.2d 971 (1975); State v. Bloom, 90 N.M. 192, 561 P.2d 465, decided March 10, 1977. The record discloses the following.

The taxes and returns involved related to defendant’s gross receipts taxes. Defendant is a lawyer and engaged in selling legal services. See § 72-16A-3(F), (K), N.M.S.A. 1953 (Repl. Vol. 10, pt. 2, 1961, Supp.1975). Defendant’s internal accounting procedures were at best sloppy. There was no orderly or regular procedure to keep track of income. “ . . . His records are admittedly not adequate . . . .” This was not the first time defendant had trouble with his taxes and returns. Previously the Bureau of Revenue had assisted him in straightening out his reporting and taxes. This straightening out was only temporary — he then missed several reporting periods. He would not utilize any records to prepare returns but would “guestimate.” Subsequently the matter was turned over to a Special Agent for criminal investigation. The indictments followed.

Under this point defendant makes a three prong attack: (a) that the evidence, taken as a whole, does not show the requisite criminal intent pursuant to §§ 72-13-85 and 86, supra; (b) that the amounts of taxes due were not substantial or material amounts; and (c) that the convictions on the first four counts of tax evasion “were improper as a matter of law due to the fact that defendant was assessed on these counts.”

(a) Intent

Defendant candidly concedes that under the traditional standard of appellate review in criminal cases, the evidence “could be found to have supported the verdicts.” We agree. State v. Bidegain, supra. However, defendant urges us to require a higher standard of proof in terms of criminal intent in tax fraud causes, that since this is the first case of its kind it should even be higher and “ . . . rather a gut feeling that upon the evidence adduced below, all reasonable people must have a reasonable doubt as to whether defendant really willfully intended to cheat the government out of taxes due it.”

Defendant’s arguments regarding legislative intent and similarity of Federal provisions relating to quantum of proof required for the requisite criminal intent are not persuasive. First, the presumption is that the legislature intended that statutes enacted would be effective and productive of the most good. Alvarez v. Board of Trustees of La Union Townsite, 62 N.M. 319, 309 P.2d 989 (1957). Secondly, tax statutes normally are such that the taxpayer has the obligation of self-declaration of any incident which has a tax consequence. See § 72-14-1, et seq.; § 72-15A-1, et seq.; § 72-15B-1, et seq.; § 72-16A-1, et seq.; § 72-18-1, et seq.; § 72-27-1, et seq., N.M. S.A. 1953 (Repl. Vol. 10, pt. 2, Supp.1975) as examples. The reasons for this are apparent — that the taxpayer will faithfully perform his obligation and that to do otherwise would increase the administrative burdens of the tax collection agencies. Thirdly, the legislature is presumed to have enacted the statutes with knowledge of legislative and judicial pronouncements. Bettini v. City of Las Cruces, 82 N.M. 633, 485 P.2d 967 (1971). With the foregoing in mind, the legislature could have provided for a stricter degree of proof for such cases. However, since it did not and since it was presumed to know the burden of proof required in normal criminal cases (See Sandoval v. Rodriquez, 77 N.M. 160, 420 P.2d 308 (1966)) we feel obliged to follow the traditional standard of appellate review.

Viewing the evidence as we must we hold that it is substantial to support the verdicts. The absence of procedures and the lack of method of doing business shows a conscious pattern of reckless disregard of any obligation to comply with the law and consequently a reasonable inference of intent not to pay or correctly report proper taxes and income.

(b) Substantial Amounts

Throughout the trial court’s instructions it referred to substantial amounts. Substantial was defined in the instructions as “considerable in amount, value, or the like and also means large, as a substantial gain.” Since these instructions were not objected to and were requested by the state they become the law of the case. State v. Rayos, 77 N.M. 204, 420 P.2d 314 (1967); State v. Gutierrez, 75 N.M. 580, 408 P.2d 503 (1965); Griego v. Conwell, 54 N.M. 287, 222 P.2d 606 (1950). We note in passing that §§ 72-13-85 and 86, supra, do not refer to substantial amounts but instead refer to “any tax.” See State v. Grijalva, 85 N.M. 127, 509 P.2d 894 (Ct.App.1973). We further note that the power to define crimes is a legislative function. State v. Allen, 77 N.M. 433, 423 P.2d 867 (1967).

Defendant argues that since the “ . total sum of the additional tax liability proved against the defendant was $1,200.00 spread over a twenty-four month period, or approximately $50.00 per month . . . ” and since he was convicted of twenty-six felony counts the average amount would be somewhat less than $50.00. Defendant further argues that in some months the tax due was less than $10.00 and would certainly not meet the substantial amount requirement. We disagree.

Defendant asks us to rule as a matter of law that certain of the amounts due were not substantial. This we need not consider in light of the instructions.

The trial court’s instruction No. 11 stated in part that: “ . . . there did exist in New Mexico gross receipts tax for each of those months in an amount substantially in addition to what the defendant paid or in addition to the amount reported by him the defendant willfully attempted to evade or defeat the substantial amount of New Mexico gross receipts tax due . .” Instruction No. 12 stated in part: “ . . .

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

State v. Martin, 565 P.2d 1041, 90 N.M. 524 (N.M. Ct. App. 1977).

565 P.2d 1041 (State v. Martin) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

Related

Hess Corp. v. New Mexico Taxation & Revenue Department
2011 NMCA 043 (New Mexico Court of Appeals, 2011)
State v. Wing
New Mexico Court of Appeals, 2010
Kinder Morgan CO2 Co. v. State Taxation & Revenue Department
2009 NMCA 019 (New Mexico Court of Appeals, 2008)
State v. Azure
2008 MT 211 (Montana Supreme Court, 2008)
Holt v. New Mexico Department of Taxation & Revenue
2002 NMSC 034 (New Mexico Supreme Court, 2002)
State v. Allen
2000 NMSC 002 (New Mexico Supreme Court, 1999)
State v. Rojo
1999 NMSC 001 (New Mexico Supreme Court, 1998)
State v. Long
911 P.2d 227 (New Mexico Court of Appeals, 1995)
State v. Parish
878 P.2d 988 (New Mexico Supreme Court, 1994)
Vigil v. Miners Colfax Medical Center
875 P.2d 1096 (New Mexico Court of Appeals, 1994)
State v. Wilson
867 P.2d 1175 (New Mexico Supreme Court, 1994)
State v. Landers
853 P.2d 1270 (New Mexico Court of Appeals, 1993)
Fitzgerald v. Open Hands
848 P.2d 1137 (New Mexico Court of Appeals, 1993)
Martinez v. Southwest Landfills, Inc.
848 P.2d 1108 (New Mexico Court of Appeals, 1993)
Monett v. Dona Ana County Sheriff's Posse
840 P.2d 599 (New Mexico Court of Appeals, 1992)
Matthews v. State
825 P.2d 224 (New Mexico Court of Appeals, 1991)
State v. Goss
807 P.2d 228 (New Mexico Court of Appeals, 1991)
State v. Alderette
804 P.2d 1116 (New Mexico Court of Appeals, 1990)
State v. Hughes
767 P.2d 382 (New Mexico Court of Appeals, 1988)
State v. Wynne
767 P.2d 373 (New Mexico Court of Appeals, 1988)