State v. Rascon

540 P.2d 875, 88 N.M. 395
CourtNew Mexico Court of Appeals
DecidedAugust 6, 1975
DocketNo. 1780
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 540 P.2d 875 (State v. Rascon) 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. Rascon, 540 P.2d 875, 88 N.M. 395 (N.M. Ct. App. 1975).

Opinions

OPINION

HENDLEY, Judge.

The state appeals an order suppressing statements given by defendant to officers of the Albuquerque Police Department. The question to be decided is whether failure to notify the Public Defender’s Office that a person is being forcibly detained, under the mandate of § 41-22A-12(C), N. M.S.A.1953 (2d Repl. Vol. 6, 1972, Supp. 1973), constitutes grounds for suppression of statements taken during such forcible detention. We affirm.

The facts disclosed by the record, although somewhat confusing, are not in serious dispute. It appears that on June 15, 1974, defendant was allegedly involved in an assault with intent to rape. On June 16, 1974, Detective Baca of the Albuquerque Police Department was assigned to the case. On June 20, 1974, upon completion of his investigation, Baca obtained an arrest warrant, served it on the defendant and took him into custody. On that day, after twice being advised of his rights under Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 86 S.Ct. 1602, 16 L.Ed.2d 694, 10 A.L.R.3d 974 (1966), and, after having signed a waiver of those rights, defendant made oral and written statements concerning his involvement in the offense. A criminal complaint was also sworn out on June 20, 1974. The record does not indicate whether this was before or after the making of the statements nor does it indicate when the complaint was filed. We will assume a proper chronology.

The confusion in this case concerns defendant’s representation by the Public Defender’s Office. The transcript of the hearing on the motion to suppress reveals that Assistant Public Defender, John Walker, was somehow assigned to the case on June 18, 1974. He immediately called the jail in order to ascertain whether the defendant had been taken into custody. Learning that defendant was not yet in jail, Walker called again three days later, at which point defendant had already been in custody for one day and had given the statements which underlie the motion to suppress. Walker appeared at defendant’s arraignment and represented him thereafter.

The record indicates that neither the defendant nor Detective Baca knew that Walker had been assigned to the case at the time of the arrest or of the giving of the statements. Indeed, how Walker knew of the case or thought of himself as defendant’s attorney is still a complete mystery despite the fact that fully two-thirds of the transcript is devoted to a colloquy between Walker, the trial court and the state’s attorney attempting to answer that question. However, it is undisputed that the Public Defender was not called or notified that defendant was being forcibly detained.

Section 41-22A-12, N.M.S.A.1953 (2d Repl. Vol. 6, 1972, Supp.1973) reads as follows :

“41-22A-12. Explanation of rights— Waiver of counsel.- — A. If any person charged with any crime that carries a possible sentence of imprisonment appears in any court without counsel, the judge shall inform him of his right:
“(1) to confer with the district public defender; and
“(2) if he is financially unable to obtain counsel, to be represented by the district public defender at all stages of the proceedings against him.
“B. Following notification of any person under subsection A of this section, the judge shall notify the district public defender and continue the proceedings until the person has conferred with the district public defender.
“C. Peace officers shall notify the district public defender of any person not represented by counsel who is being forcibly detained and who is charged with, or under suspicion of, the commission of any crime that carries a possible sentence of imprisonment, unless the person has previously appeared in court upon that charge.
“D. Any person entitled to representation by the district public defender may intelligently waive his right to representation. The waiver may be for all or any part of the proceedings. The waiver must be in writing and countersigned by a district public defender.”

The trial court’s order granting defendant’s motion to suppress stated:

“ * * * that although the Defendant was advised of his rights, the investigating officer never notified the Public Defender’s Office that the Defendant was in custody as required by the provisions of Section 41-22A-12 ([C]), NMSA 1953, 1973 Supp.”

The state acknowledges that the police made no attempt to comply with § 41-22A-12(C), supra. Rather, the state argues that there is no requirement for notification of the Public Defender’s Office prior to initial appearance. The state bolsters its argument with a plethora of potential complications having nothing to do with the instant case. They mainly concern conflict of interest situations which are simply not present in defendant’s case. Should such a situation arise, we will decide it at that time. The state also complicates the instant case by presenting a number of hypothetical dilemmas relating to § 41-22A-12(D), supra. However, we need not resolve them because we decide the case on the narrower ground of a violation of § 41-22A-12(C), supra. In any event, the state’s arguments are all commentary on the wisdom of the statute. We express no opinion on the wisdom of the statute. That task is for the legislature and its conscience.

The state neither contends that there was compliance with the statute nor does it seriously contend that the statute is unconstitutional. Its argument is that rights designed to be protected by the mechanism of § 41-22A-12(C), supra, are protected in other ways. Hence, compliance therewith is unnecessary. Again, this argument should be addressed to the legislature. It is fundamental that this court does not sit to substitute its judgment for that of the legislature. Village of Deming v. Hosdreg Company, 62 N.M. 18, 303 P.2d 920 (1956).

We are not concerned here with the normal constitutional rights. Those rights of defendant have been amply protected. For example, the record discloses an exhibit twice signed and multi-initialed by defendant entitled “ADVICE OF RIGHTS YOUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS” —it reads, omitting the initialing and signing, in part as follows:

“Before we ask you any questions, you must understand your constitutional rights.
“I am a member of the Albuquerque Police Department and our Department is investigating (crime) ATTEMPTED RAPE which .occurred at 2519 New York N. W. # 50 on the 20th day of June at approximately 0130 AM PM
“You have the right to remain silent. “Anything you say can be used against you in court.
“You have the right to talk to a lawyer for advice before we ask you any questions and to have a lawyer present with you while we ask you questions. “If you cannot afford a lawyer, one will be appointed at no cost to you before we ask you any questions, if that is your desire.

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Related

State v. Ramirez
556 P.2d 43 (New Mexico Court of Appeals, 1976)
State v. Rascon
550 P.2d 266 (New Mexico Supreme Court, 1976)

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Bluebook (online)
540 P.2d 875, 88 N.M. 395, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-rascon-nmctapp-1975.