State v. Montoya

65 P.3d 475, 204 Ariz. 526, 396 Ariz. Adv. Rep. 14, 2003 Ariz. App. LEXIS 52
CourtCourt of Appeals of Arizona
DecidedApril 1, 2003
DocketNo. 1 CA-CR 01-0976
StatusPublished

This text of 65 P.3d 475 (State v. Montoya) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Arizona primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Montoya, 65 P.3d 475, 204 Ariz. 526, 396 Ariz. Adv. Rep. 14, 2003 Ariz. App. LEXIS 52 (Ark. Ct. App. 2003).

Opinions

OPINION

GARBARINO, Presiding Judge.

¶ 1 We hold that a defendant’s sentence cannot be enhanced using elements identical with those required to obtain the defendant’s conviction. Specifically, here, the defendant’s sentence for participating in a criminal street gang was inappropriately enhanced on the basis that he had acted to promote or assist a criminal street gang.

¶ 2 The defendant appeals his sentence for participating in a criminal street gang, arguing that he received double punishment because his sentence was enhanced pursuant to Arizona Revised Statutes (A.R.S.) section 13-604(T) (Supp.1999) by the finding that the crime was committed with the intent to promote, further, or assist a criminal street gang. Because we vacate the sentence enhancement on that count, there is no need to remand for resentencing.

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

¶3 A grand jury indicted the defendant and four co-defendants for aggravated as[527]*527sault, a class 4 dangerous felony, threatening or intimidating, a class 4 felony, participating in a criminal street gang, a class 2 felony, and aggravated assault, a class 6 felony. The State also alleged that the defendant had committed the crimes charged while on probation, that the defendant had two prior felonies, and that the crimes “were committed with the intent to promote, further, or assist any criminal conduct by a criminal street gang.” The defendant pled not guilty and his case proceeded to a jury trial.

¶4 During trial, Jessica P. testified that she, her mother, and her cousin threw a Halloween/birthday party for her aunt. The victim, Jimmy, testified that he was aware that the Los Victoria Locos (LVL) was a Tempe gang and that his brother, Johnnie, had associated with a separate gang called the Brownsville Latinos during high school. Jimmy testified that he was at the party when a fight began. Following the altercation, Jimmy and Shila, his then fiancée, were preparing to leave when “at least ten” people rushed towards them. Jimmy testified that “[i¡t was just a barrage of punches and kicks from everywhere” and that he kept hearing references to “Victoria.” Jimmy was eventually knocked unconscious. He suffered a swollen face, back injuries, and a gash requiring approximately eleven stitches. Jimmy testified that he did not remember seeing the defendant either at the party or during the fight.

¶5 The son of the hostess, Raymond R., testified that he saw Jimmy on the ground being kicked by several people including the defendant. Specifically, he saw the defendant kick Jimmy more than once in the head. Raymond also testified that he heard the defendant and his friends saying, “This is Victoria. You don’t mess with us.”

¶ 6 Former gang detective for the City of Tempe, Officer Frank Aguilera, testified that the defendant was a documented member of the LVL Gang in Tempe, that the co-defendants were also documented members of the gang, and that he would classify the fight as a gang fight.

¶ 7 The defendant testified that at the time of the alleged offense, he was no longer a member of the LVL Gang. He stated that just as he and his brother were arriving at his aunt’s party, he heard “people yelling and screaming.” He testified that his aunt, in a loud voice, was requesting everyone to leave and that he and his brother got back into them vehicle and left the party.

¶8 The jury convicted the defendant as charged and found, for enhancement purposes, that all four counts were committed with the intent to promote gang activity. After finding two prior felony convictions, the court sentenced the defendant, without objection by defense counsel, as follows: for aggravated assault, a class 4 dangerous felony, 7.5 years in prison plus 3 years in prison pursuant to A.R.S. § 13 — 604(T); for threatening or intimidating, 10 years in prison plus 3 years in prison pursuant to A.R.S. § 13-604(T); for participating in a criminal street gang, 15.75 years in prison plus 3 years in prison pursuant to A.R.S. § 13 — 604(T); and for aggravated assault, a class 6 felony, 3.75 years in prison plus 3 years in prison pursuant to A.R.S. § 13-604(T). All sentences were to run concurrently. The defendant filed a timely notice of appeal.

DISCUSSION

¶ 9 The defendant contends that he was punished twice for the same conduct because the court enhanced his sentence for the offense of participating in a criminal street gang under A.R.S. § 13-2308 (Supp.1994) by using the sentence enhancement available pursuant to A.R.S. § 13-604(T). He makes both a statutory argument using A.R.S. § 13-116 (1989) and a constitutional double jeopardy argument.

¶ 10 First, we note that this Court has already determined that “[t]he prohibition against double punishment in A.R.S. section 13-116 was not designed to cover sentence enhancement.” State v. Ochoa, 189 Ariz. 454, 461, 943 P.2d 814, 821 (App.1997). Accordingly, A.R.S. § 13-116 was not violated when the court enhanced the defendant’s sentence for participating in a criminal street gang.

¶ 11 We conclude, however, that the defendant was subject to double punishment in violation of the constitution when the court [528]*528enhanced his conviction under A.R.S. § 13-2308 pursuant to A.R.S. § 13-604(T). Although the defendant did not assert a double punishment objection at the trial level, the issue has not been waived. See State v. Millanes, 180 Ariz. 418, 421, 885 P.2d 106, 109 (App.1994) (“We perceive no judicial or public policy reason for finding a waiver when a double jeopardy claim is raised for the first time on appeal”).

¶ 12 “The Double Jeopardy Clause ... bars multiple punishments for the same offense.” State v. Siddle, 202 Ariz. 512, 515, ¶ 8, 47 P.3d 1150, 1153 (App.2002) (quoting State v. Powers, 200 Ariz. 123, 125, ¶ 5, 23 P.3d 668, 670 (App.2001)). Here, the defendant was punished twice for the identical conduct prohibited by two distinct statutes. Both A.R.S. § 13-2308(G), under which the defendant received a class 2 felony conviction for participating in a criminal street gang, and A.R.S.

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

Related

State v. Perez Lara
823 P.2d 70 (Court of Appeals of Arizona, 1991)
State v. Lara
830 P.2d 803 (Arizona Supreme Court, 1992)
State v. Ochoa
943 P.2d 814 (Court of Appeals of Arizona, 1997)
McKay v. Industrial Commission
438 P.2d 757 (Arizona Supreme Court, 1968)
State v. Marquez
618 P.2d 592 (Arizona Supreme Court, 1980)
State v. Siddle
47 P.3d 1150 (Court of Appeals of Arizona, 2002)
State of Arizona v. Powers
23 P.3d 668 (Court of Appeals of Arizona, 2001)
State v. Bly
621 P.2d 279 (Arizona Supreme Court, 1980)
State v. Millanes
885 P.2d 106 (Court of Appeals of Arizona, 1994)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
65 P.3d 475, 204 Ariz. 526, 396 Ariz. Adv. Rep. 14, 2003 Ariz. App. LEXIS 52, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-montoya-arizctapp-2003.