State v. Sanchez

2001 NMCA 060, 28 P.3d 1143, 130 N.M. 602
CourtNew Mexico Court of Appeals
DecidedJune 26, 2001
Docket20,659
StatusPublished
Cited by69 cases

This text of 2001 NMCA 060 (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, 2001 NMCA 060, 28 P.3d 1143, 130 N.M. 602 (N.M. Ct. App. 2001).

Opinion

OPINION

BUSTAMANTE, Judge.

{1} Defendant’s probation was revoked. The basis of the revocation consisted of laboratory tests indicating the presence of controlled substances in Defendant’s urine. We take this opportunity to institute a threshold test for determining the admissibility of laboratory tests used for purposes of probation revocation. For the reasons discussed below, we affirm in part, but reverse the trial court’s finding that the laboratory forms constituted sufficient evidence to support revocation of Defendant’s probation. We remand for a new hearing on the petition to revoke probation.

BACKGROUND

{2} Defendant was indicted on eleven charges, including four counts of residential burglary, six counts of larceny, and one count of receiving stolen property. On April 30, 1997, Defendant entered into a plea agreement before District Judge James Hall whereby he pled guilty to four counts of burglary, all third-degree felony offenses. As part of the agreement, Defendant admitted that he was the same person who committed previous crimes of voluntary manslaughter, trafficking cocaine, and trafficking heroin. Among other things, the State agreed to a sentence of twelve years, to be suspended, and Defendant was placed on five years’ probation. One of the terms of the probation was that Defendant submit to random body fluid testing. The State agreed not to bring habitual offender charges against Defendant unless he:

A. Violates the terms and conditions of his probation; or
B. Commits another crime (of any type) while on probation; or
C. Is found to have used a controlled substance while on probation as a result of a chemical test of body fluids; or
D. Fails to abide the terms and conditions of this agreement.
{3} The agreement also stated:
It is specifically stipulated that in the event habitual offender proceedings are filed in this case against the defendant that the presentation of this agreement to the Court evidencing the admitted prior felony convictions of the defendant is and will be sufficient evidence to prove the Defendant’s status as a FOURTH HABITUAL OFFENDER subjecting the defendant to a mandatory term of incarceration of EIGHT (8) years on offenses pled to herein. It is understood that because the sentences in this case are to be served consecutive to each other that a conviction as a FOURTH HABITUAL OFFENDER will result in a sentence of THIRTY TWO (32) years which cannot be suspended or deferred in part or in total. AND, it is understood that habitual offender proceedings may be brought for ANY violation of the conditions listed herein or in the Probation Agreement which the Defendant signs and that the State may seek habitual offender . proceedings and sentencing whether or not the Court revokes the Defendant’s probation the [sic] underlying offenses contained herein.

{4} In November 1998 the State filed a motion to revoke Defendant’s probation. In support of the motion, the State attached a “Preliminary Probation Violation Report” prepared by Defendant’s probation officer, Sharon Morgan. The report stated that: (1) on May 13, 1998, a urine specimen was obtained from Defendant which tested positive for alcohol, benzodiazepine, and opiates; (2) on October 15, 1998, a urine specimen was obtained from Defendant which tested positive for marijuana; and (3) when the urine was collected on October 15, Defendant admitted using marijuana. Ms. Morgan testified that, when she advised Defendant in October that she needed to take a urine sample, and before the urine sample was taken, Defendant told her that the sample would test positive for marijuana.

{5} After submitting the positive urine test in May, Defendant signed a “Letter of Reprimand” stating that the positive test allowed Ms. Morgan to initiate revocation proceedings, but she would instead recommend continued supervision. The letter stated that, “Should any future urine tests prove positive, indicating your failure to remedy the problem, stronger measures will be pursued.” Defendant signed the letter on October 14, one day before he submitted the second urine specimen. As part of the “Preliminary Probation Violation Report,” Ms. Morgan recommended that Defendant be allowed to remain on probation and enroll in and complete a counseling program. After receiving and reviewing a copy of Ms. Morgan’s report, Defendant signed a “Preliminary Violation Report Advisement” stating that he understood his right to a hearing before any additional conditions of probation would be implemented, and that the State would have to prove the violation. Based on that statement, Defendant agreed to comply with the recommendation by Ms. Morgan and to waive his right to a hearing.

{6} In response to the State’s motion to revoke probation, Defendant filed a motion to dismiss the probation violation or to suppress statements he may have made to Ms. Morgan. Defendant claimed that the revocation proceedings in connection with the urine specimen collected in May were unduly delayed, and he was prejudiced by the delay. Defendant further claimed that he was led to believe that Ms. Morgan’s recommendation of continued supervision was an agreement that his probation would not be revoked if he sought counseling. The motions were denied. Defendant’s written motion did not address the admissibility of the laboratory test results.

{7} The test results were included on two report forms from the drug screening laboratory indicating levels of various compounds in Defendant’s urine. The forms were admitted at the motions hearing as State’s Exhibits 1 and 2. Accompanying each report form was another form for use by the persons collecting and testing the urine samples. The second set of forms was admitted as State’s Exhibits 3 and 4. Exhibits 3 and 4 were not made part of the record presented to this Court; however, we have obtained copies of Exhibits 3 and 4 from the Santa Fe District Court Clerk, and we supplement the record with those copies.

{8} Exhibits 3 and 4 consist of forms that provide areas for the person collecting a laboratory sample to note if the sample was observed or unobserved, the temperature of the sample, the date and time of the collection, the collector’s signature, delivery of the sample to a courier, and delivery of the sample to a laboratory processor. That portion states: “TO BE COMPLETED BY COLLECTOR — THIS SECTION MUST BE COMPLETE!.” Another area on the forms provides spaces for recording chain of custody for the sample, and whether the seals were intact when the laboratory processor received them. The area for chain of custody was not completed. The chain of custody at the testing facility and the condition of the sample upon arrival at the laboratory were not indicated. Ms. Morgan testified that if the sample was observed, the temperature is not taken; however, Exhibit 4 did not indicate that the sample was observed. Neither party presented evidence or testimony at the motions hearing as to the information required to be reported on the chain-of-custody forms or as to the testing procedures for urine samples.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
2001 NMCA 060, 28 P.3d 1143, 130 N.M. 602, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-sanchez-nmctapp-2001.