State v. Miller

444 P.2d 577, 79 N.M. 392
New Mexico Supreme Court·Decided June 10, 1968·No. 8488·Published·Cited by 6 cases

Opinion

OPINION

CHAVEZ, Chief Justice.

Defendant-appellant Joseph Alvin Miller, having been sentenced by the District Court of Luna County, New Mexico, in criminal causes Nos. 2530 and 2531, upon his plea of guilty to second degree murder in each case, filed motions under Rule 93 (§ 21-1-1(93), N.M.S.A., 1953 Comp., 1967 Pocket Supp.), to vacate the judgments and sentences imposed by the court. The motions were denied and this appeal resulted.

On September 15, 1959, an information was filed in criminal cause No. 2528, Luna County, charging appellant, together with Charles Anthony French and Carl Clayton Gilstrap, with two counts of murder in the first degree. Count I charged appellant, French and Gilstrap with the murder of Audney Hollis on July 12, 1959, in violation of § 40-24-4, N.M.S.A., 1953 Comp. Count II charged Miller, French and Gil-strap with the murder of J. A. Anderson on July 12, 1959.

Upon a criminal complaint sworn to on July 15, 1959, before a justice of the peace in Luna County, appellant was accused of the murders of Audney Hollis and Eddie Anderson, while perpetrating a robbery in violation of “Sec. 40-14-4, N.M.S.A.1953 Comp, [sic § 40-24-4, supra].” Appellant pleaded guilty on September 1, 1959. Bond was set and appellant held for a preliminary hearing set for September 9, 1959.

On September 21, 1959, there was filed in the district court clerk’s office of Luna County a letter from the district judge relative to cause No. 2528, State v. Miller, appointing Sherman and Hughes as attorneys for appellant Miller.

On October 19, 1959, two informations were filed in the District Court of Luna County. In the information in cause No. 2530, appellant was charged with second degree murder of J. A. Anderson on July 12, 1959, contrary to § 40-24 — 4, supra. In cause No. 2531, he was charged with second degree murder of Audney Hollis.

On the same day, October 19, 1959, appellant appeared in the district court, accompanied by his attorney, and entered a plea of guilty to the charges in both causes Nos. 2530 and 2531. In both causes, after the entry and acceptance of the plea of guilty, the district court stated that the sentence under each specific charge was withheld by the court “pending further proceedings here” and “pending further proceedings.”

Also on October 19, 1959, an information was filed against appellant in the district court in criminal cause No. 2532, accusing appellant of being an habitual criminal, and on the same day appellant, accompanied by his attorney, entered a plea of guilty to the charge and was sentenced to life imprisonment.

In Miller v. Cox, 75 N.M. 65, 400 P.2d 480 (1965), we reapproved what was said in French v. Cox, 74 N.M. 593, 396 P.2d 423 (1964), holding that the sentence imposed under the Habitual Criminal Act was void. We remanded appellant to the district court for the imposition of sentences in causes Nos. 2530 and 2531.

On April 6, 1965, pursuant to the mandate in Miller v. Cox, supra, judgment and sentences were entered in causes Nos. 2530 and 2531, sentencing appellant in each cause to a term of not less than three years nor more than his natural life. The trial court allowed credit to appellant on his sentences from October 19, 1959, the date the improper sentence was imposed.

Two points raised by appellant are as follows:

“1. Did the District Court have jurisdiction to impose sentences in Criminal Nos. 2530 and 2531 in the hearing held on April 6, 1965 ?
“2. Was the District Judge who imposed the sentences disqualified because of having been the District Attorney that prosecuted the Defendant in the original proceedings in 1959?”

Appellant contends (1) that the district court did not have jurisdiction to impose sentences in causes Nos. 2530 and 2531 at the hearing held on April 6, 1965; and (2) that the district judge who imposed the sentences was disqualified because he was the district attorney who prosecuted appellant in the original proceedings.

As hereinbefore set out, after appellant pleaded guilty in causes Nos. 2530 and 2531, the district court, in cause No. 2530, stated that he would accept the plea but would withhold the imposition of sentence in each case “pending further proceedings here.” In cause No. 2531 the court stated he would withhold the imposition of sentence “pending further proceedings.” It is argued that, because of the language of the district judge quoted above, there was ncs intent to retain jurisdiction, and that the court did not retain jurisdiction to invoke the sentences in 1965.

Under the second contention, appellant cites Art. VI, § 18, of our Constitution, which provides:

“No judge of any court nor justice of the peace shall, except by consent of a! parties, sit in the trial of any cause * * * in which he was counsel, * * *_»

We cannot accept either of these contentions. As to the first, appellant submitted this issue to the federal court in Miller v. Rodriguez, (10th Cir.1967), 373 F.2d 26. There the court said:

V ■ “The mere correction of a sentence promptly after it is discovered that the • original sentence, imposed six years earlier, was erroneous does not support ^tlie constitutional burden Miller claims. * * =i= ”

'The court also quoted from Bozza v. United States, 330 U.S. 160, 67 S.Ct. 645, 91 L.Ed. 8l8 (1947), wherein the Supreme Court of the United States used the following language:

“ * ' * * ‘This Court has rejected the '•“doctrine that a prisoner, whose guilt is established by a regular verdict, is to escape punishment altogether because the • court committed an error in passing the 'sentence.” [Citation omitted] The Constitution does not require that sentencing should be a game in which a wrong move by the judge means immunity for the prisoner.’ ”

As- to the second contention, we note that appellant was represented by two able and capable attorneys, Mr. Benjamin M. Sherman and Mr. Ray Hughes. Mr. Hughes is the attorney for appellant on this appeal.

’The record discloses that in the proceedings on April 6, 1965, the court itself brought up the subject stating that, at the time the information was filed he was the district attorney and was possibly disqualified to hear the matter, unless it was consented’ to. The court asked appellant if he desired to consent to the court proceeding with the matter and appellant replied in the affirmative. The court then asked appellant’s attorney, Mr. Hughes, if it was acceptable to him and Mr. Hughes replied ‘Wes, 'sir.” ' It was also made clear to appellant that the court was proceeding ’ in conformity -with our decision in Miller v. Cox, supra, dated March 22, 1965.

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State v. Miller, 444 P.2d 577, 79 N.M. 392 (N.M. 1968).

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