State v. Sanchez

556 P.2d 359, 89 N.M. 673
CourtNew Mexico Court of Appeals
DecidedOctober 26, 1976
Docket2521
StatusPublished
Cited by20 cases

This text of 556 P.2d 359 (State v. Sanchez) 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. Sanchez, 556 P.2d 359, 89 N.M. 673 (N.M. Ct. App. 1976).

Opinion

OPINION

WOOD, Chief Judge.

During the trial of Lorraine Sanchez on a charge of murdering Pete Romo, the defense called Sue Slater as a witness. During Slater’s cross-examination she refused to answer certain questions of the prosecutor. The trial court held her in contempt of court. She appeals. The issues are: (1) the number of contempts; (2) the sentences for the contempts; and (3) the summary contempt procedure.

Number of Contempts

Slater was found to have committed three contempts on the basis of her refusal to answer three questions. She asserts the three questions she refused to answer sought to establish a single fact— threats by Sanchez. Accordingly, she contends there was but one contempt.

Yates v. United States, 355 U.S. 66, 78 S.Ct. 128, 2 L.Ed.2d 95 (1957) states:

“A witness, of course, cannot ‘pick and choose’ the questions to which an answer will be given. The management of the trial rests with the judge and no party can be permitted to usurp that function. See United States v. Gates, 2 Cir., 176 F.2d 78, 80. However, it is equally clear that the prosecution cannot multiply contempts by repeated questioning on the same subject of inquiry within which a recalcitrant witness already has refused answers. See United States v. Orman, 3 Cir., 207 F.2d 148.
“ . . . [Wjhere a witness draws the lines of refusal ... by declining to answer questions within a generally defined area of interrogation, the prosecutor cannot multiply contempts by further questions within that area.”

First, Slater refused to answer whether she had been threatened by Sanchez, explaining that she feared for her life if she answered.

Second, Slater refused to answer whether she had overheard a threat to Romo by Sanchez. The refusal was on “[t]he grounds I Just told you.”

Third, Slater answered “Yes” to the question: “Are any of the people you are afraid for your life of in the Courtroom today?” She refused to answer questions seeking identification of those people.

In one sense the questions to which answers were refused were directed to threats by Sanchez. However, by answers to other questions, Slater distinguished between actions of Sanchez toward herself and actions of Sanchez toward Romo. She consistently refused to answer questions designed to establish whether Sanchez had threatened her. She did answer questions directed to the relationship between Sanchez and Romo. She testified about a knife that Romo carried; testified that she pleaded with Romo to take a knife or gun with him on the morning of Romo’s killing; explained that Sanchez and Romo “had an argument” ; that Sanchez “was causing trouble” and that Slater was afraid for Romo because “of the conversations he had said to me in the last weeks.”

The first and second questions involved different subjects of inquiry. The second question came within a general subject area on which she testified. The first and second questions involved two contempts, not one. The third question involved the same subject of inquiry involved in the first and second questions. It was not a separate contempt. There were two contempts, but not three.

Sentence for the Contempts

After the first contempt, the trial court sentenced Slater to 90 days in the county jail. After the second and third contempts found by the trial court, Slater was sentenced to 90 days in the county jail for each, to be served concurrently, but consecutive to the first contempt sentence. Having held that only two contempts occurred, we consider this issue on the basis that Slater has received two 90-day county jail sentences to be served consecutively.

Slater contends that six months in the county jail is so arbitrary and excessive that she has been deprived of due process of law. She contends this Court should modify the sentence.

The Court of Appeals exercises appellate jurisdiction as provided by law. N.M. Const., Art. VI, § 29. We have not been referred to New Mexico authority which empowers this Court to modify a sentence nor do we know of such authority.. Section 41-15-5, N.M.S.A.1953 (2d Repl. Vol. 6) indicates we do not have such authority. The federal cases on which Slater relies are not applicable since they involve the authority of federal courts under federal law.

New Mexico decisions involving con-tempts have reviewed contempt sentences for arbitrariness. State v. Our Chapel of Memories of New Mexico, Inc., 74 N.M. 201, 392 P.2d 347 (1964) ; Jencks v. Goforth, 57 N.M. 627, 261 P.2d 655 (1953). Jencks involved a habeas corpus petition filed in the Supreme Court. Our Chapel of Memories was an appeal from a judgment finding defendants in contempt and imposing penalties. It is not clear whether any issue as to the appropriateness of the punishment was raised in the trial court.

The record and the contempt transcript do not show that any issue was presented to the trial court concerning an arbitrary or excessive sentence. The issue is raised for the first time on appeal. Hundreds of cases cited in New Mexico Digest, Criminal Law, @=>1028-1042, have applied the general rule that issues cannot be raised for the first time on appeal. We are not concerned here with exceptions to that rule. See N.M.Crim.App. 308; DesGeorges v. Grainger, 76 N.M. 52, 412 P.2d 6 (1966).

State v. Williams, 50 N.M. 28, 168 P.2d 850 (1946) involved the punishment imposed for driving while under the influence of intoxicating liquor. In addition to a sentence and a fine, the trial court ordered that defendant’s driver’s license “be taken up” for one year. Defendant attempted to appeal the driver’s license provision. The Supreme Court held the issue of the trial court’s authority to require surrender of the driver’s license was not an appellate issue because not raised in the trial court. Williams required that a penalty issue be raised in the trial court before it would be considered on appeal. Accordingly, we hold that the propriety of Slater’s sentences are not before us for review, the issue not having been raised in the trial court. Compare, State v. Lott, 73 N.M. 280, 387 P.2d 855 (1963); State v. Tipton, 73 N.M. 24, 385 P.2d 355 (1963).

Should the issue be properly before us, we hold there was no abuse of discretion. It is not claimed that Slater’s sentences were not authorized under the law. See Baldwin v. New York, 399 U.S. 66, 90 S.Ct. 1886, 26 L.Ed.2d 437 (1970).

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Bluebook (online)
556 P.2d 359, 89 N.M. 673, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-sanchez-nmctapp-1976.