State v. Parker

458 P.2d 803, 80 N.M. 551
CourtNew Mexico Court of Appeals
DecidedJune 20, 1969
Docket282
StatusPublished
Cited by33 cases

This text of 458 P.2d 803 (State v. Parker) 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. Parker, 458 P.2d 803, 80 N.M. 551 (N.M. Ct. App. 1969).

Opinion

OPINION

OMAN, Judge.

Defendant appeals from his conviction under § 40A-16-1, N.M.S.A.1953, of larceny of a horse trailer valued at more than $100.00 and not more than $2,500.00.

He relies upon ten points for reversal. The first four relate to his claim that the judgment and sentence must be reversed because he was never arraigned on either the original Information or on the Information as amended at trial.

The Information was filed on May 13, 1968. On August 16, the court entered and served on all counsel an order setting the case for trial on September 16. The case came on for trial on that date. Defendant appeared in person and by his two attorneys. When the court asked if defendant was ready to proceed, one of his attorneys announced, “Ready for the defendant, your Honor.”

The case then proceeded to trial. The court explained to the entire jury panel the nature of the charge against defendant. A jury was duly selected and sworn to try the case. The court gave certain explanations and admonitions to the jury concerning the case and their conduct during the trial thereof.

After a short recess, the trial resumed. At the request of the court, the State’s witnesses were called.

Upon request by the court that defense witnesses be called, defendant announced that all of his witnesses were not then present but would be coming later. The witnesses then present were sworn; defendant requested the rule requiring the witnesses, except when testifying, to remain out of the courtroom; the court granted the request and instructed the witnesses concerning their compliance with the rule; and the first witness was called by the State. His testimony had just begun, when defendant announced to the court that he wished to make a motion. The court directed the jury to retire from the courtroom.

After the jury had retired, defendant moved for a dismissal on the ground that the District Attorney had failed to make an opening statement. A discussion of the motion was held, during which the State waived the making of an opening statement. Defendant’s motion was denied and his attorneys were asked by the court if there were any other motions to be made. The answer was no. The court thereupon directed the return of the jury to the courtroom.

The court then inquired as to whether defendant had been arraigned. The District Attorney announced that he did not recall. The court directed defendant to come forward. A discussion was held at the bench. This discussion was not reported because the reporter could not hear what was being said. Upon being so advised by the reporter, the court announced that it would later state into the record what had been discussed. . The direct examination of the witness then continued.

After the release of the jury for the noon recess, the court stated into the record:

“After the jury was selected and sworn and one witness for the State was called, his name had been given, the Court asked the District Attorney if the defendant had been arraigned and the District Attorney didn’t know, and the Court asked Mr. Smith [one of defendant’s attorneys] if he wanted him arraigned and he said he wasn’t waiving anything, or words to that effect, and I said, ‘Well, how does he plea’, and he said, ‘Obviously not guilty.’ ”

Before returning to the courtroom after the noon recess, the court in chambers heard a motion by the State for leave to amend the Information to show that the stolen trailer belonged to a partnership consisting of Charles Benton and his two minor sons. The Information stated that the trailer belonged to Charles Benton.

The requested amendment conformed to the testimony which had already been given by Mr. Benton. Defendant resisted the motion on the grounds that the witness had “ * * * testified at the preliminary hearing that it was his trailer. * * the motion to amend “ * * * comes much too late * * * ”; and defendant had “ * * * never been arraigned on this particular Information, let alone any Information as amended * *

The court briefly related the testimony of the witness as to the ownership of the trailer, and asked how defendant could be prejudiced by the amendment. One of defendant’s counsel stated the prejudice arose from the fact that the witness had testified at the preliminary hearing that he owned the trailer, and now it developed the ownership was in the partnership.

The court granted the motion for amendment, and the trial was resumed.

Unquestionably, a defendant charged by information with a felony should be arraigned, and some jurisdictions hold a conviction must be reversed if the record fails to show an arraignment. Willis v. State, 389 S.W.2d 464 (Tex.Cr.App.1965); State ex rel. Burkhamer v. Adams, 143 W.Va. 557, 103 S.E.2d 777 (1958). This is in accord with the view taken by our Territorial Supreme Court in United States v. Aurandt, 15 N.M. 292, 107 P. 1064 (1910).

However, in State v. Klasner, 19 N.M. 474, 479, 145 P. 679 (1914), the decision in the Aurandt case was overruled, insofar as it held an arraignment and plea are indispensable to a valid verdict and judgment of conviction, and it was held that an arraignment and plea may be waived. In accord are Garland v. Washington, 232 U.S. 642, 34 S.Ct. 456, 58 L.Ed. 772 (1914); Beaty v. United States, 203 F.2d 652 (4th Cir. 1953); State v. Ronner, 34 N.M. 154, 279 P. 66 (1929). See also 4 Anderson, Wharton’s Criminal Law and Procedure, § 1803 at 641 (1957).

The purposes of an arraignment are to establish the identity of defendant, to inform him of the charge against him, and to give him an opportunity to plead to the charge. United States v. Aurandt, supra. See also Garland v. Washington, supra; 21 Am.Jur.2d, Criminal Law, § 452 at 453 (1965). Here there is no question that defendant is the person charged in the Information. He was served with a copy of the Information, engaged two competent attorneys to represent him, and the court, in the presence of defendant and his counsel, at the very outset of the trial explained to the entire jury panel the nature of the charge. Defendant was personally present with his attorneys when the case was called for trial, and he announced, through one of his attorneys, that he was ready to proceed with the trial. He obviously was resisting the charge against him. This was further confirmed by his attorney when the court inquired as to his plea.

We fail to comprehend how defendant was prejudiced by his failure to plead “not guilty” at an arraignment proceeding.

Although it is true defendant stated he would waive nothing, this was some time after the trial had begun. By announcing his readiness for trial and proceeding to trial, he waived his right to be arraigned. See Beaty v. United States, supra; Blanton v. State, 233 Ind. 51, 115 N.E.2d 122

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
458 P.2d 803, 80 N.M. 551, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-parker-nmctapp-1969.