State v. Miranda

675 P.2d 422, 100 N.M. 690
CourtNew Mexico Court of Appeals
DecidedDecember 1, 1983
Docket7125
StatusPublished
Cited by12 cases

This text of 675 P.2d 422 (State v. Miranda) 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. Miranda, 675 P.2d 422, 100 N.M. 690 (N.M. Ct. App. 1983).

Opinion

OPINION

WALTERS, Chief Judge.

Defendant appeals from conviction as an habitual offender, and we affirm.

The issues on appeal, all relating to the alleged first prior conviction, were whether Count I (alleging defendant’s guilty plea to and conviction of. attempted burglary in 1977) should have been dismissed; whether that count should have been submitted to the jury, since defendant contended his plea was not intelligently and knowingly made; and whether the jury should have considered the evidence on his claim that the prior conviction was invalid.

Other issues presented in the docketing statement, but not briefed, are deemed abandoned. State v. Vogentkaler, 89 N.M. 150, 548 P.2d 112 (Ct.App.1976).

I. Motion to dismiss Count I.

Before trial, defendant moved to dismiss the first count, attaching to his motion copies of a withdrawal by J.C. Robinson, the district attorney, and an entry of appearance by V. Lee Vesely as special prosecutor on the charge outlined in Count I. The basis for substitution of those attorneys was Robinson’s comprehensive consultation with defendant regarding the charge, before Robinson became district attorney, for the purpose of representing defendant at trial.

Notwithstanding the appointment of a special prosecutor, compare State v. Chambers, 86 N.M. 383, 524 P.2d 999 (Ct.App.1974), defendant contends that there remained a conflict of interest and, being unaware of it, defendant could not waive it by pleading guilty. He claims a conflict of interest attaching to the State because (1) Vesely did not act independently in the case but was subject to Robinson’s orders; and (2), that he was completely unaware of Robinson’s status as district attorney as well as of Robinson’s participation in the case. In contrast, the trial court found:

7. Miranda and his father, Armando B. Miranda, were both aware that J.C. Robinson had been appointed District Attorney.
* * * * * *
17. At all times during the negotiation and prosecution of this matter Miranda, his family, and his lawyer were fully and completely aware that J.C. Robinson ... had been appointed and had assumed his duties of District Attorney. They were also fully aware that J.C. Robinson had recused himself from any further participation in the case and that the case was being handled for the State of New Mexico by V. Lee Vesely as Associate Counsel.
18. During the prosecution of Grant County Case No. CR 77-122 V. Lee Vesely acted independently and exercised independent judgment on behalf of his client reporting only the progress of the case to the District Attorney J.C. Robinson and using only the secretarial services of the District Attorney’s Office.

Our review is confined to determining whether these findings are supported by substantial evidence. State v. Garcia, 98 N.M. 186, 646 P.2d 1250 (Ct.App.1982).

To demonstrate Robinson’s continued participation in the case, defendant relies on his counsel’s initial letter to Robinson requesting a plea bargain, together with Robinson’s notations thereon indicating “attempt burg dwell/4th.” Defendant ultimately pleaded to the charge indicated in the handwritten notes rather than to the greater felony charged at the time. Defendant further relies on Vesely’s testimony, based on Vesely’s notes to his file, indicating that defense counsel wanted certain plea concessions and that Vesely said he would have to consult with Robinson and advise defense counsel later. When asked if he did in fact consult Robinson, Vesely answered, “I suppose I did.”

However, Robinson testified that after he filed his recusal, he did nothing further with the case, “to his knowledge.” He had “no recollection” of having talked to Vesely or defense counsel about the case. Defendant’s counsel’s “recollection or knowledge” after Robinson recused himself was that Robinson had nothing further to do with the matter. Defendant’s argument is that Robinson’s testimony concerning “no recollection” does not overcome Vesely’s testimony and his notes indicating that he had consulted with Robinson. See State v. Chavez, 84 N.M. 247, 501 P.2d 691 (Ct.App.1972) (the fact that something is not remembered is not a denial that the thing occurred). But there was more in the way of evidence to controvert defendant’s contention than simple non-recall of the events. Vesely explained that what he meant by “consult,” and what he did with Mr. Robinson, was to keep him informed of what was happening. The totality of the evidence is amenable to the trial court’s findings that Robinson did not participate in the case and that Vesely acted independently.

To show defendant’s lack of knowledge regarding Robinson’s status, defendant urges that he himself did not testify, and no one who did testify had personal knowledge of defendant’s awareness. There are two answers to this contention: First, defendant himself requested a finding to the effect that both he and his father were aware of Robinson’s appointment as district attorney. A trial court ruling on the issue of defendant’s awareness, therefore, was not fairly invoked. NMSA 1978, Grim., Child.Ct., Dom.Rel. & W/C App.R. 308 (Repl.Pamp.1983). See Cochran v. Gordon, 77 N.M. 358, 423 P.2d 43 (1967). Second, even if defendant did not know about the possible conflict of interest, that fact is irrelevant. Baird v. State, 90 N.M. 667, 568 P.2d 193 (1977), holds that by specifically agreeing to paragraph 4 of the plea entered into at the time, as defendant did, defendant waived any motions or objections that he might thereafter assert. In this case, as in Baird, there is no allegation that the lack of knowledge of the possible conflict made the plea involuntary. Rather, defendant’s contention is that he personally had to know about the possible conflict in order to waive it. This is not true in the context of waivers by a plea of guilty. Baird; State v. Raburn, 76 N.M. 681, 417 P.2d 813 (1966).

The trial court ruled that defendant’s claim was stale under State v. Mata, 88 N.M. 560, 543 P.2d 1188 (Ct.App.1975). In deciding that Mata’s claim was stale, this Court held that any appearance of unfairness because of the prosecutor’s conflict was dissipated by an evidentiary hearing. Here, defendant’s claim, even after the evidentiary hearing, is still based on the appearance of unfairness. The trial court’s findings that Robinson did not participate in the case, being supported by substantial evidence, establish that there was no actual unfairness. Consequently, the State was not prohibited from using Count I in the habitual proceedings. Compare State v. Dalrymple, 75 N.M. 514, 407 P.2d 356 (1965) (defenses to habitual charges are such as provide grounds for collateral relief). This issue was resolved against defendant, and there was sufficient evidence to sustain that resolution.

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Bluebook (online)
675 P.2d 422, 100 N.M. 690, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-miranda-nmctapp-1983.