State v. Mireles

500 P.2d 431, 84 N.M. 146
CourtNew Mexico Court of Appeals
DecidedJuly 28, 1972
Docket884
StatusPublished
Cited by20 cases

This text of 500 P.2d 431 (State v. Mireles) 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. Mireles, 500 P.2d 431, 84 N.M. 146 (N.M. Ct. App. 1972).

Opinion

OPINION

WOOD, Chief Judge.

Defendant was convicted of possession of a narcotic drug, heroin, in violation of § 54-7-13, N.M.S.A.1953 (Supp.1971). His appeal raises issues concerning: (1) search and seizure; (2) instructions; (3) cross-examination; (4) asserted partiality of the trial judge; and (5) cumulative error.

Search and sei^ire.

On or about July 19, 1971, officers of the Albuquerque Police Department raided an abandoned residence in Albuquerque in search of narcotics. The raid was authorized by a search warrant. The house and the general area had been under surveillance for approximately a month prior to the raid. Defendant and several other people were arrested for possession of heroin. For reasons not here pertinent they were not prosecuted.

On July 26, 1971, the house was again raided. The raid was conducted pursuant to a search warrant. Defendant was again arrested for possession of heroin.

Defendant moved to suppress the heroin taken from him at the time of his second arrest. The motion was on the theory that the second search warrant was based on infonnation gained from the first search. Defendant claims the first search was illegal because “. . . it was conducted without a search warrant and there was no probable cause established. . . .” Defendant argues the second search warrant was, therefore, “ ‘fruit of the poisonous tree’ ” and the evidence is therefore inadmissible. Wong Sun v. United States, 371 U.S. 471, 83 S.Ct. 407, 9 L.Ed.2d 441 (1963). The first search warrant does not appear in the record. The defendant’s motion was denied after a hearing.

During the interval between the raids, a “reliable” informant advised police the house was being used as a “shooting gallery” for heroin addicts. Having been given $10.00, the infonner entered the house, purchased a “cap” of heroin and injected it into himself. Police observed the informer entering and leaving the house. Police verified a fresh needle mark on his arm. The informer also advised police he was not allowed to leave the house until he had used the heroin. He gave officers a piece of cotton which had been taken from the house. It was field-tested and found to have an opium-based substance on it.

Between the two raids, police officers conducted daytime surveillance of the house. The officers observed the defendant and others “. . . inside the porch area of the house and at the rear in open view. These subjects upon observing uniform patrol officers take packs of suspected heroin and run into the house apparently hiding the same. . . . ”

The foregoing events (the informer’s activities and the surveillance) are recited in the affidavit upon which the second search warrant was based. With these events showing the basis for issuance of the second warrant, it cannot be said the second warrant was based on or the result of information gained from the first search. Information supplied by the informer, verified by the police, was sufficient to constitute probable cause. State v. McAdams, 83 N.M. 544, 494 P.2d 622 (Ct.App.1972). The second search warrant was issued on the basis of probable cause independent of the allegedly tainted information gained from the first search.

Instmctions.

The trial court refused to give the following instruction:

“You are instructed that you may consider the judicial confession of guilt of a witness along with the other evidence introduced in this case in determining the guilt or innocence of this defendant.”

Defendant asserts the refused instruction stated his theory of the case and the trial court erred in refusing the requested instruction. We disagree.

Defendant is entitled to an instruction on his theory of the case if the evidence reasonably supports the theory. State v. Durham, 83 N.M. 350, 491 P.2d 1161 (Ct.App.1971). Defendant’s theory of the case was that he did not possess any heroin on July 26, 1971; that the heroin was possessed by co-defendant Vargas. This theory has support in the evidence. The refused instruction does not state such a theory; all it does is to tell the jury to consider all the evidence in determining guilt or innocence.

Further, the contents of the refused instruction are covered by another instruction. Instruction 3 states in part:

“You are instructed that whether or not heroin was discovered in his [defendant’s] possession is for you alone to determine from all the evidence in the case beyond a reasonable doubt.”

Because the refused instruction did not state a theory of the case and because the substance of the refused instruction was covered by the quoted portion of Instruction 3, the trial court did not err in refusing the requested instruction. State v. Waller, 80 N.M. 380, 456 P.2d 213 (Ct.App.1969).

Defendant contends the following instruction confused and misled the jury and, therefore, deprived defendant of a fair trial. The instruction states:

“In deliberating on this case, you are not to consider what may or may not have happened to other possible defendants in this case.”

The instruction simply tells the jury not to concern themselves with o.ther than the defendant. It is neither confusing nor misleading. State v. Madrid, 83 N.M. 603, 495 P.2d 383 (Ct.App.1972); compare State v. Herrera, 82 N.M. 432, 483 P.2d 313 (Ct.App.1971), cert. denied, 404 U.S. 880, 92 S.Ct. 217, 30 L.Ed.2d 161 (1971).

Cross-examination.

Defendant asserts his cross-examination of two police officers was unduly restricted by the trial court. He claims the trial court erred in not permitting him to show the bias, prejudice and interest of the officers.

The record does not support defendant’s contention in connection with the cross-examination of Officer Moody. On direct examination Moody testified that he observed the defendant in the custody of Officer Webb and that he saw defendant throw down a packet of suspected heroin. Moody then described the packet and identified an exhibit. When defendant’s cross-examination went beyond the scope of the direct examination, the State’s objection to the extent of the cross-examination was sustained. State objections that the questioning was beyond the scope of the direct examination were sustained several times. The result was that defense counsel was admonished to abide by the rulings of the court.

Not once in these series of rulings, or in arguing to the court in response to its admonition, did counsel suggest that his cross-examination was directed to the credibility of Moody.

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Bluebook (online)
500 P.2d 431, 84 N.M. 146, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-mireles-nmctapp-1972.