State v. Price

477 P.2d 523, 106 Ariz. 433, 1970 Ariz. LEXIS 450
CourtArizona Supreme Court
DecidedDecember 9, 1970
Docket2116
StatusPublished
Cited by7 cases

This text of 477 P.2d 523 (State v. Price) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Arizona Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Price, 477 P.2d 523, 106 Ariz. 433, 1970 Ariz. LEXIS 450 (Ark. 1970).

Opinion

McFarland, Justice.

Sid Price, Jr., hereinafter referred to as defendant, was tried and convicted of Count I — possession of marijuana, and Count II — sale of marijuana to one Edwin Scott. He was sentenced to serve not less than two nor more than three years on Count I and not less than five nor more than seven years on Count II, sentences to run concurrently. From the judgment and sentence he appeals.

Officer Scott met the defendant at approximately 9 P.M. on December 30, 1968. After conversation the officer followed the defendant to a different location where he left the officer and entered some apartments. When he returned he informed the officer that the man he went to see at the apartment was not at home and suggested the officer meet him at 10:30 that evening, telling him he would have the marijuana for him at that time.

At the scheduled time they met at the location of the first meeting and again proceeded to the same apartments. The defendant then told the officer “give me the money and I will be right back.” The officer handed the defendant $125.00 and he entered the apartment complex. In about five minutes defendant returned with a kilo of marijuana and handed it to the officer.

The defendant presents three questions

“1. Is it error, under A.R.S. § 13-1641, to convict and sentence the appellant on charges of possessing marijuana for sale and of selling the same marijuana when the State’s own evidence is that the possession and sale was one transaction?
“2. Is it error for the trial court to allow the State to impeach a defendant by showing other criminal conduct of the defendant not related to the charges pending in the trial when such criminal *434 conduct did not result in conviction of a felony?
“3. Is it error to allow the State to impeach the appellant by calling witnesses in rebuttal to contradict answers made by the appellant on cross-examination without laying the proper foundation by asking the ‘warning question’ as to date, time and place to afford the appellant an opportunity first to admit or deny with full knowledge?”
The first contention is governed by: A.R.S. § 13-1641. “Different punishments for same offense; limitation and bar
“An act or omission which is made punishable in different ways by different sections of the laws may be punished under either, but in no event under more than one. An acquittal or conviction and sentence under either one bars a prosecution for the same act or omission under any other.”

This court has held in construing this section that where marijuana is obtained for the purpose of a sale there is but one transaction which permits but one conviction and sentence. State v. Vallejos, 89 Ariz. 76, 358 P.2d 178; State v. Duplain, 102 Ariz. 100, 425 P.2d 570.

In Vallejos, supra, we said:

"In each case the facts must be examined to determine whether the transactional test has been met. Thus where it appears that the defendant simply acquired the marijuana for the purpose of the sale and the acts of acquisition were for the furtherance of the sale (as opposed to the case where it is kept as if general stock in trade) it is but one transaction.”

In the instant case it is clear that the defendant went in the apartment returning with marijuana which was sold to the officer. Under these facts it is plain that the possession of the marijuana was obtained for the purpose of the particular sale and that there was but one transaction. The state in its brief in support of its contention that there was an additional possession of marijuana referred to the following testimony of the officer:

“A He further said that if I wanted to buy marijuana in quantity that ‘he could obtain any amount’ that I wanted and that if I did buy in quantity it would be — I could obtain it at a lesser price.
“Q Did he quote any prices?
“A Yes, sir, he did.
“Q What did he quote?
“A I asked him what it would cost for 10 kilos and he said about $700.”

The Attorney General states that this “testimony was sufficient to support an inference that the defendant had in his possession additional marijuana he was capable of delivering upon order.” We cannot agree with this construction. The evidence indicates the contrary because he said “he could obtain any amount”. We therefore hold that the judgment of the conviction on the first count must be vacated.

The questions 2 and 3 relate to the impeachment of the defendant. First by showing criminal conduct of the defendant not relating to the charges pending in the trial which conduct did not result in the conviction of a felony. There appears in the cross-examination of the defendant the following questions and answers:

“Q Have you ever possessed marijuana for sale or sold marijuana?
“A No, sir.
“Q Have you ever offered to sell marijuana?
“A No, sir.
“Q Never have?
“A Never.
“Q To anyone?
“A No.”

In State v. Johnson, 94 Ariz. 303 at 305, 383 P.2d 862, we said:

“It has long been settled in this state that a witness can not be impeached by showing specific acts of misconduct not amounting to a conviction of a felony. State v. Polan, 78 Ariz. 253, 278 P.2d *435 432; State v. Harris, 73 Ariz. 138, 238 P.2d 957; State v. Singleton, 66 Ariz. 49, 182 P.2d 920; State v. Peters, 60 Ariz. 102, 131 P.2d 814.
“For example we said in State v. Harris:
‘The majority of courts will allow on the cross-examination of the witness, specific acts of misconduct not sustained by a conviction to be shown which affect veracity. 3 Wigmore Evidence 550, § 983 (3d ed. 1940). But this court has allied Arizona with the minority of states by holding that on cross-examination specific acts of misconduct cannot be shown unless the witness has been convicted of that crime.’ 73 Ariz. at 142, 238 P.2d at 959.”

The testimony of the defendant on cross-examination was made without objection of his counsel. However, we also held in Johnson, supra, that:

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
477 P.2d 523, 106 Ariz. 433, 1970 Ariz. LEXIS 450, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-price-ariz-1970.