State v. Murray

468 P.2d 416, 81 N.M. 445
CourtNew Mexico Court of Appeals
DecidedApril 3, 1970
Docket450
StatusPublished
Cited by35 cases

This text of 468 P.2d 416 (State v. Murray) 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. Murray, 468 P.2d 416, 81 N.M. 445 (N.M. Ct. App. 1970).

Opinion

OPINION

WOOD, Judge.

The appeal is concerned with the revocation of a suspended sentence and the reinstatement of defendant’s original sentence. There are four issues: (1) failure of the trial court to address the defendant directly; (2) lack of advice concerning right to a trial; (3) credit on defendant’s sentence; and (4) delay in the return of defendant to answer the charge of violating his probation.

Defendant was adjudged guilty of violating § 40A-16-18, N.M.S.A. 1953 (Repl. Vol. 6). He was sentenced to a penitentiary term of not less than one nor more than five years. His sentence was credited with twenty-nine days served in jail. The balance of his sentence was suspended and he was placed on probation for three years. The assistant district attorney moved for revocation of the suspended sentence, alleging four violations of the probation conditions. Defendant pled guilty to two violations. The suspended sentence was revoked, the original sentence reinstated and defendant was committed to the penitentiary. Defendant moved for post-conviction relief under § 21-1-1(93), N.M.S.A. 1953 (Supp. 1969). The appeal is from the denial of post-conviction relief without a hearing.

Failure of the trial cotirt to address the defendant directly.

Defendant does not claim that his plea of guilty to having violated two probation conditions was involuntary. Nor does he claim that the record fails to show that his plea was voluntary. Compare Boykin v. Alabama, 395 U.S. 238, 89 S.Ct. 1709, 23 L.Ed.2d 274 (1969); State v. Elledge, 81 N.M. 18, 462 P.2d 152 (Ct.App.1969).

Defendant claims his plea should be set aside because the trial court, prior to accepting the plea, failed “ * * * to directly address him and ascertain of the Defendant personally * * * ” if the plea was made understandingly and with knowledge of the consequences of the plea. The record shows that such inquiries were made by the trial court. Plowever, the court’s inquiries were addressed to and answered by defendant’s counsel. The claim is that the inquiries should have been made directly to defendant rather than counsel.

Under the circumstances reflected in the record before us, State v. Lattin, 78 N.M. 49, 428 P.2d 23 (1967), held a guilty plea would not be voided because the response to the court’s inquiries was made by counsel rather than defendant. Further, in State v. Elledge, supra, we held:

“ * * * the fact that the trial court failed to question defendant as to his understanding of the guilty plea, and its consequences, does not in itself provide a basis for post-conviction relief. * * ”

Disregarding the above New Mexico decisions, defendant claims that federal due process requires the judge to address him directly. He relies on McCarthy v. United States, 394 U.S. 459, 89 S.Ct. 1166, 22 L.Ed. 2d 418 (1969). That decision held that federal judges were required to address the defendant directly to insure that the defendant understood his guilty plea and its consequences. It is not in point because the decision was based on a federal rule of criminal procedure. Federal due process was not involved in the McCarthy decision. New Mexico has no comparable rule of criminal procedure. State v. Lattin, supra, and State v. Elledge, supra, are applicable and controlling. See also, Neller v. State, 79 N.M. 528, 445 P.2d 949 (1968). This claim provides no basis for post-conviction relief.

Lack of advice concerning right to a trial.

Defendant claims that neither the judge nor his counsel advised him of his right to a “trial” on whether he had violated the conditions of his probation, tie was not entitled to a trial in any strict or formal sense. State v. Brusenhan, 78 N.M. 764, 438 P.2d 174 (Ct.App.1968). He was entitled to a hearing on the alleged violations, but that hearing could be informal. Section 41-17-28.1, N.M.S.A.1953 (Repl. Vol. 6). At such a hearing, the violation must be established with reasonable certainty. The violation does not have to be established beyond a reasonable doubt. State v. Brusenhan, supra.

Defendant also claims that neither the judge nor his attorney advised him as to his right to a jury trial on the question of identity. Defendant has a right to a jury trial on the question of his identity. State v. Brusenhan, supra, and cases therein cited.

The record shows defendant’s attorney informed the court that he had gone over the revocation petition with the defendant several times; that defendant was “ * * * fully aware lie has a right to a hearing on the matter * * In response to the court’s question, counsel stated that defendant’s right to a jury trial on the question of identity had been explained to him. Defendant was present when his attorney made these statements to the court. The court asked defendant if he had anything to say. He replied in the negative.

Even if we assume that defendant was not informed as to his right to a hearing on the alleged probation violations and his right to a jury trial on the question of identity before coming to court, the record conclusively demonstrates that he was informed as to each of these items in the proceeding at which his guilty plea was accepted. He was informed as to these items by the questions of the court and the responses of his counsel. There is no factual basis for this claim. See State v. Kenney (Ct.App.), 81 N.M. 368, 467 P.2d 34, decided March 13, 1970.

Credit on defendant’s sentence.

Defendant’s original sentence, which was suspended, was imposed February 17, 1967. If the twenty-nine days credit was applied at the beginning of that sentence, it would have begun on January 19, 1967. The order revoking the suspended sentence was entered April 29, 1969 and provided that the original sentence “hereby is reinstated.” The penitentiary commitment states that defendant is to be confined in the penitentiary for a term of not less than one nor more than five years beginning November 19, 1968. It recites that defendant “ * * has been given credit for probation time and time served in the Lea County jail.”

Defendant contends the sentence beginning date in November, 1968 is incorrect. He asserts he should be given credit on his sentence for all time elapsed since the imposition of his original sentence, and that his penitentiary sentence should show a beginning date in January, 1967.

This claim involves § 41-17-28.1 (B) and (C), N.M.S.A.1953 (Repl.Vol. 6). Upon revocation of a suspended sentence, a defendant is entitled under § 41-17-28.1 (B), supra, to have his probation time credited against his sentence. State v. Sublett, 78 N.M. 655, 436 P.2d 515 (Ct.App.1968).

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Bluebook (online)
468 P.2d 416, 81 N.M. 445, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-murray-nmctapp-1970.