State v. Ross

715 P.2d 471, 104 N.M. 23
CourtNew Mexico Court of Appeals
DecidedFebruary 13, 1986
Docket8578
StatusPublished
Cited by19 cases

This text of 715 P.2d 471 (State v. Ross) 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. Ross, 715 P.2d 471, 104 N.M. 23 (N.M. Ct. App. 1986).

Opinion

OPINION

DONNELLY, Chief Judge.

Defendant appeals his convictions of six counts of fraud in excess of $2,500, contrary to NMSA 1978, Section <30-16-6 (Repl.Pamp.1984), six counts of fraudulent securities practices, contrary to NMSA 1978, Section 58-13-39 and -43 (Repl.Pamp. 1984), and one count of embezzlement in excess of $2,500, contrary to NMSA 1978, Section 30-16-8 (Repl.Pamp.1984). Three issues are presented on appeal: (1) claim of double jeopardy; (2) error in admission of evidence; and (3) claim of insufficiency of evidence. We affirm.

FACTS

Defendant established two mortgage businesses under the names of Continental Mortgage Exchange (Continental) and Guaranteed Equities (GE). Continental served as a mortgage brokerage agency. GE served as a trustee, on behalf of investors, collecting loan payments from borrowers, paying out funds to investors, and as an escrow agent in the servicing of loans. Through an extensive advertising program, the businesses attracted numerous borrowers and investors. Most of the loans made by Continental were for short terms and were secured by deeds of trust on real estate.

In the latter part of 1982, both Continental and GE experienced serious financial difficulties brought about in part by numerous defaults on mortgage loans.

The grand jury indictment charged defendant with participating in a scheme to fraudulently obtain money and property from investors and fraudulent securities practices. At trial, the state contended inter alia, that defendant had failed to disclose to investors the high default rate on Continental’s loans, had used monies paid on good loans to pay investors on defaulted loans, and had represented that GE was acting as a trustee on behalf of investors, when in fact, GE acted generally to further the interests of Continental. Following a jury trial, defendant was convicted of each of the thirteen counts charged in the indictment.

I. CLAIM OF DOUBLE JEOPARDY

Defendant contends that the trial court’s imposition of sentence upon six counts of fraud and six counts of fraudulent practices, involving the same victims and arising from the same general factual predicate, placed him in double jeopardy and subjected him to double punishment. In support of this argument, defendant relies upon language in State v. McCall, 101 N.M. 616, 686 P.2d 958 (Ct.App.1983) (McCall I). In McCall I, this court held that “one cannot be guilty of securities fraud if, in connection with purchase, sale or offer of a security, he has not committed a fraud of any of the methods listed in § 58-13-39.” Id. at 630, 686 P.2d 958 (emphasis in original). The opinion in McCall I also held that “[t]he offense of securities fraud ‘necessarily involves’ the offense of fraud.” 1 Id.

In State v. McCall, 101 N.M. 32, 677 P.2d 1068 (1984) (McCall III), the supreme court reversed this court’s decision in McCall II, and reinstated defendant’s securities fraud convictions, stating in part: “In light of our reversal of the court of appeals * * * its opinion, which deals with the disparity of sentences imposed, is no longer applicable even if correct.” Id. at 34, 677 P.2d 1068. Defendant argues on appeal that the decision of this court in McCall I and the supreme court in McCall III, implicitly supports his contention in the instant case that he cannot be sentenced for both fraud and securities fraud stemming from the same acts.

The holding of this court in McCall I that defendant could properly be convicted of both fraud and securities fraud, but could only be punished for one offense because “[t]he offense of securities fraud ‘necessarily involves’ the offense of fraud”, was in error. The supreme court’s decision in McCall III did not specifically address the question of whether the offense of securities fraud necessarily involves the offense of fraud.

The discussion of necessarily involved offenses, upon which defendant relies, was not in section III(B) of the McCall II opinion; instead that section discussed disparity of sentences. The discussion was in section 11(B) of the McCall II opinion, which dealt with the evidence of securities fraud. Having found that a victim was required for fraud and having found that fraud was necessarily involved in securities fraud, the opinion of this court in McCall II reversed defendant’s securities fraud convictions. In McCall III, the supreme court reversed this court: “Because we find that the proof for the fraud convictions was adequate, we also reverse the court of appeals on this issue and reinstate the securities fraud convictions.” Id. at 33, 677 P.2d 1068. The records in both this court and the supreme court, of which we take judicial notice, State v. Vigil, 85 N.M. 328, 512 P.2d 88 (Ct.App.1973) and State v. Turner, 81 N.M. 571, 469 P.2d 720 (Ct.App.1970), reveal that McCall moved for rehearing on the ground that, because both the fraud and securities fraud convictions were reinstated, he was entitled to relief under the theory that a specific criminal statute prevails over a general statute dealing with the same general subject matter. Rehearing was denied in the supreme court and this court was bound to deny the requested relief also. See Vinton Eppsco Inc. of Albuquerque v. Showe Homes, Inc., 97 N.M. 225, 638 P.2d 1070 (1981); Genuine Parts Co. v. Garcia, 92 N.M. 57, 582 P.2d 1270 (1978).

Defendant’s contention, that an accused cannot be sentenced for both criminal fraud contrary to Section 30-16-6 and fraudulent securities practices contrary to Section 58-13-39, was rejected by the supreme court in McCall III, when that court denied a motion for rehearing asserting the same contention. Moreover, notwithstanding the language to the contrary in either of this court’s McCall opinions, we now determine the correct rule to be that the elements of general fraud, (contrary to Section 30-16-6) are not necessarily involved in a charge involving fraudulent securities practices under Section 58-13-39(A).

In order for a specific offense to prevail over the more general crime, the two statutes must proscribe the same act. State v. Gutierrez, 88 N.M. 448, 541 P.2d 628 (Ct.App.1975). For a merger argument to have merit, one offense must necessarily involve the other. State v. Jacobs, 102 N.M. 801, 701 P.2d 400 (Ct.App.1985). State v. Jacobs held that under the included offense concept, a greater offense cannot be committed without also committing the lesser offense. See also State v. DeMary, 99 N.M. 177, 655 P.2d 1021 (1982).

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Bluebook (online)
715 P.2d 471, 104 N.M. 23, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-ross-nmctapp-1986.