State v. Sanders

564 P.2d 1256, 115 Ariz. 289, 1977 Ariz. App. LEXIS 597
CourtCourt of Appeals of Arizona
DecidedApril 7, 1977
Docket2 CA-CR 897
StatusPublished
Cited by11 cases

This text of 564 P.2d 1256 (State v. Sanders) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Arizona primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Sanders, 564 P.2d 1256, 115 Ariz. 289, 1977 Ariz. App. LEXIS 597 (Ark. Ct. App. 1977).

Opinion

OPINION

HOWARD, Chief Judge.

Appellant was indicted by a grand jury on three counts: (1) The robbery of Lucy Thomas, (2) the robbery of Charles Jones and (3) the theft of a motor vehicle. In a trial before the court, sitting without a jury, he was found not guilty of theft of a motor vehicle but guilty of the aggravated assault of Lucy Thomas and the aggravated assault of Charles Jones. The court also found that he was guilty of a prior conviction, treated each conviction as a felony and sentenced him to the Arizona State Prison for a period of not less than four nor more than ten years on each, the sentences to run concurrently.

An accused may be convicted of an offense different from that which he was charged only if it is included in the offense charged. Peterson v. Jacobson, 2 Ariz.App. 593, 411 P.2d 31 (1966). The test in Arizona for determining whether one offense is a lesser included of a greater offense is whether the greater offense is one that cannot be committed without necessarily committing the lesser. State v. Westbrook, 79 Ariz. 116, 285 P.2d 161 (1954). Under A.R.S. § 13-641 the elements of robbery are (1) the felonious taking of personal property in the possession of another from his person or immediate presence and (2) against his will, accomplished by means of force or fear. An aggravated assault or battery is defined in A.R.S. § 13-245(A) as follows:

“1. When the person committing the offense goes into a private home and is there guilty of assault or battery.
*291 2. When committed by a person of robust health or strength upon one who is decrepit.
3. When committed by a person of eighteen years or more upon a child the age of fifteen years or under.
4. When the instrument or means used is such as to inflict disgrace upon the person assaulted, as an assault or battery with a whip or cowhide.
5. When a serious bodily injury is inflicted upon the person assaulted.
6. When committed with a premeditated design and by the use of means calculated to inflict great bodily injury.
7. When the person committing the offense knows or has reason to know that the victim is a peace officer, or a person summoned and directed by such officer while engaged in the execution of any official duties.
8. When the person committing the offense knows or has reason to know the victim is a teacher or other person employed in any school and such teacher or other employee is upon the grounds of a school or grounds adjacent thereto, or is in any part of a building used for school purposes.
9. When the person committing the offense knows or has reason to know the victim is an employee of the department of corrections acting in an official capacity and the person committing the assault is incarcerated in, or subject to the custody of personnel from, the state prison.”

The indictment charged appellant with robbing Lucy Thomas and Charles Jones. It is clear that the crimes charged could be committed without necessarily committing aggravated assault. Therefore, aggravated assault was not a lesser included offense as to either robbery count.

This does not end our inquiry. A defendant can consent to an amendment of the charges under Rule 13.5(b) so as to charge him with an offense different from the one originally charged. State v. Sims, 114 Ariz. 292, 560 P.2d 810 (1977).

The record shows the following colloquy between the trial court and appellant’s counsel after both sides had rested:

“THE COURT: The record may show that both sides waive argument of the case and submit the matter on the evidence before the Court.
Now, it’s my understanding, maybe I gathered it from remarks that defense counsel has made, that you feel that the Court should consider a verdict of aggravated assault as a lesser included offense of the robbery counts, is that correct?
MR. GAMBLE: Well, your Honor, only upon certain conditions. I have not discussed — haven’t had an opportunity to explore either with Mr. Anderson or the Court. I believe that in chambers it was my fault, and I think I thought and I verbalized my thought that the charges in this case could well have been some kind of assault, or that representation.
THE COURT: I guess that’s where I gathered my inference from, that you were claiming that. See, if this were a regular jury trial of course we’d go settle ■the forms of verdict that would be proposed to the jury.
MR. GAMBLE: Right, I understand.
THE COURT: So I was wondering whether or not if this had been at this stage before a jury, if you would be requesting in addition to the guilty of the robbery charges and guilty of the theft of the automobile charge, and the not guilty charge, if you’d also be requesting the jury, that there be submitted to the jury as a lesser included offense in Counts One and Two, aggravated assault verdicts?
MR. GAMBLE: Well, your Honor, quite candidly, I say this quite candidly, I wasn’t of the opinion, has not been my opinion, that aggravated assault was a lesser included offense in the general allegation of robbery. It could well be, but it had not been my view of the law as the law is drawn. But I hadn’t discussed it *292 with Your Honor or with Mr. Anderson [the prosecutor].
THE COURT: Maybe the easier thing to do would be just like if it was a jury case, that we’ll go into chambers and discuss what forms of verdict should be made available to the trier of fact.
MR. GAMBLE: I would think so, your Honor.
THE COURT: Why don’t we take about a five minute recess and do that then.”

The record shows that a brief recess was then taken. Appellant was not present in the chambers during this recess.

The court, after reconvening with appellant present, stated:

“THE COURT: . . .
Now, it’s my understanding that insofar as the possible forms of verdict is concerned the defense counsel wishes to request that the trier of fact also consider as to Counts One and Two a verdict of aggravated assault, a lesser included offense.
MR. GAMBLE: That is correct, your Honor.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
564 P.2d 1256, 115 Ariz. 289, 1977 Ariz. App. LEXIS 597, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-sanders-arizctapp-1977.