State v. Quinonez

580 P.2d 346, 119 Ariz. 208, 1978 Ariz. LEXIS 237
CourtArizona Supreme Court
DecidedJune 15, 1978
Docket4165
StatusPublished
Cited by7 cases

This text of 580 P.2d 346 (State v. Quinonez) 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. Quinonez, 580 P.2d 346, 119 Ariz. 208, 1978 Ariz. LEXIS 237 (Ark. 1978).

Opinion

CAMERON, Chief Justice.

This is an appeal from judgment of guilt to the crime of sale of narcotics (heroin) of a value not less than $250 and offering to sell narcotics (heroin) of a value not less than $250, A.R.S. §§ 36-1001 and 36-1002.-02, as amended 1974, and A.R.S. §§ 13-138, 139, 140. Defendant was sentenced to not less than five or more than ten years in the Arizona State Prison on each count, to be served concurrently.

We must answer three questions on appeal:

1. Were defendant’s speedy trial rights under Rule 8.2 of the Rules of Criminal Procedure and the Sixth Amendment of the United States Constitution violated?
2. Was defendant deprived of his right to confrontation and fair trial because the State’s agent and informant was not made available for trial?
3. Had the defendant shown entrapment as a matter of law?

The facts necessary for a determination of this matter are as follows. On the evening of 17 June 1976, undercover agents James H. Hughes and Gray Green of the Department of Public Safety met with a heroin addict, Roger Lewis, a paid Department of Public Safety informant, and Russell Anthony Starzyk, also an addict and a friend of Lewis. The undercover agents were informed that a man known as “Al,” the defendant in this case, could deal in ten ounces of heroin. The undercover agents showed $30,000 as a sign of good faith and they agreed to meet later at a nearby Holiday Inn. The next day, Lewis, Starzyk, and defendant came to Officer Hughes’ room at the motel with a one ounce sample of heroin. The officer and defendant commenced negotiations for the sale of the narcotics. *210 Lewis and Starzyk were present, but most conversation was between the narcotics agent and the defendant. The defendant was paid for the one ounce of heroin and it was agreed that all of them would return to the motel room to consummate a larger sale of heroin. Later that afternoon, defendant returned with six ounces of heroin. After discussing the amount available, the sale was agreed upon. Officer Green, pursuant to a signal, then entered the room and the defendant was arrested.

At the trial, the defendant admitted that he participated in the heroin transaction and interposed a defense of entrapment. Defendant contended that Lewis asked him if he could purchase a large amount of heroin and that they went to a Phoenix bar where they discussed a large purchase with another unidentified third person. On the stand, defendant refused to identify this third person.

Defendant further testified that the next day Lewis, Starzyk, defendant, and the unidentified third party went to the Holiday Inn. While the third party waited outside, the others went in to negotiate the deal. Defendant and Starzyk were arrested at this time. Defendant was tried to the court, convicted, and appeals. We have jurisdiction pursuant to Rule 47(e)(5), Rules of the Supreme Court, 17A A.R.S.

SPEEDY TRIAL

Defendant was arrested on 18 June 1976 and was later released on his own recognizance. After various delays not at issue herein, the trial was set for 24 February 1977. The defendant was not present at that time. On the belief that the defendant was in federal custody, the matter was continued until 28 March 1977. On 28 February 1977, the State petitioned the Maricopa County Superior Court for a writ of habeas corpus ad prosequendum which was granted on the same day and the writ was issued to the federal authorities. At the hearing on 28 March 1978, the defendant moved to dismiss for violation of speedy trial. At that hearing his attorney stated:

“MR. HART: If I may update the Court, on the last day we were in Court, which was the 24th, at that time your secretary ascertained that the defendant was in Terminal Island, California, in a Federal institution. I made several attempts to ascertain exactly where he was and I got different answers. I have just learned today that the defendant was in fact at Chandler. I was notified yesterday.”

Since all other time periods are accounted for, the only question is whether the time between 24 February and 28 March creates a violation of defendant’s speedy trial rights. First, we must consider whether it is excluded time under Rule 8, Rules of Criminal Procedure, 17 A.R.S. Rule 8.4 reads as follows:

“Rule 8.4 Excluded periods
“The following periods shall be excluded from the computation of the time limits set forth in Rules 8.2 and 8.3:
a. Delays occasioned by or on behalf of the defendant, including, but not limited to, delays caused by an examination and hearing to determine competency, the defendant’s absence or incompetence, or his inability to be arrested or taken into custody in Arizona.”

The Comment to Rule 8.4(a) notes that the defendant’s inability to be arrested or taken into custody in Arizona does not depend on a wilful absence to avoid prosecution. The example used there is the situation where the defendant does not know that charges are pending in Arizona. Here, the defendant also was not wilfully absenting himself from the jurisdiction since he was in the custody of federal authorities. Rule 8.4(a) therefore applies to the case and the thirty days should be excluded time.

As to the constitutional question, defendant cites Smith v. Hooey, 393 U.S. 374, 89 S.Ct. 575, 21 L.Ed.2d 607 (1969), a case wherein the State of Texas waited six years while the defendant was serving his federal sentence and repeatedly demanding his Texas trial or dismissal of the charges. Texas contended that they had no duty to attempt to secure Smith from federal au *211 thorities for trial and therefore did not try. The United States Supreme Court determined that Texas had a duty to make a diligent good faith effort to procure Smith for his Texas trial and held that they had violated his Sixth Amendment right to speedy trial.

In the case at bar, the State concedes that once it was determined that defendant was in federal custody, it had the burden to obtain his appearance in the State proceeding. Smith v. Hooey, supra. The defendant contends that the State had a duty to keep track of the defendant at all times so they would know when he went into federal custody and immediately initiate proceedings to have him returned to State jurisdiction. When a defendant has been released on his own recognizance, we do not believe that the State is required to know his whereabouts at all times. If defendant is taken into federal custody during this time, the Smith doctrine does not require the State to take the initiative until the State has reason to believe he is in federal or other state custody. We find no error.

RIGHT TO CONFRONTATION AND FAIR TRIAL

The informant, Lewis, was a material witness to the transaction and therefore the State had the duty and obligation to reveal information concerning him.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
580 P.2d 346, 119 Ariz. 208, 1978 Ariz. LEXIS 237, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-quinonez-ariz-1978.