State v. Tomlinson

648 P.2d 795, 98 N.M. 337
CourtNew Mexico Court of Appeals
DecidedFebruary 2, 1982
Docket5127
StatusPublished
Cited by12 cases

This text of 648 P.2d 795 (State v. Tomlinson) 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. Tomlinson, 648 P.2d 795, 98 N.M. 337 (N.M. Ct. App. 1982).

Opinion

OPINION

NEAL, Judge.

Defendant appeals from convictions of three counts of kidnapping and one count of armed robbery, with firearm enhancement on all counts. Two issues raised in the docketing statement but not pursued in the briefs are abandoned. State v. Vogenthaler, 89 N.M. 150, 548 P.2d 112 (Ct.App.1976). We discuss:

1. Failure to give a lesser included offense instruction for false imprisonment.

2. Whether the trial court should have precluded certain witnesses from testifying because the State failed to provide the defense with a witness list.

3. Whether the trial court failed to hold a proper sentencing hearing.

4. Firearm enhancement on armed robbery. 3

We hold that the trial court erred in failing to give a lesser included offense instruction for false imprisonment, and reverse defendant’s three kidnapping convictions and corresponding sentence. We affirm the armed robbery conviction.

The defendant left Arkansas and was on his way to Phoenix; in Arkansas he had stolen the car he was driving and purchased a shotgun. When he stopped for gas in Tulsa defendant picked up John McClary. Defendant had not known McClary before. The car broke down in Gallup and the two men walked around all day, finally going to a gas station at three in the morning. They were at the gas station talking for about one-half hour. McClary asked if the station had ever been robbed before. McClary went outside, returned with the shotgun, and announced a hold up. McClary ordered one of the attendants to give attendant’s car keys to defendant. While defendant was getting the attendant’s car the other attendant, upon orders from McClary, emptied the cash box. McClary, still armed, ordered both attendants into the car, and ordered one of them to drive. The car would not run. During this time defendant did not say anything; he just went along with what McClary wanted to do.

A tourist drove up to get gas. McClary approached him with the gun, told him they were going to take his car, and ordered everyone to get in. The victims, the two attendants and the tourist, were in the front seat. The tourist was ordered to drive. Defendant and McClary were in the back talking about where to go and dividing the money. Defendant said, “Well, you guys finally got robbed;” and that he wanted to go to Phoenix. The two attendants talked their way out of the car before the Arizona port of entry; the tourist escaped at Showlow, Arizona, and approached a policeman. Defendant and McClary ran off into the desert.

1. Failure to instruct on false imprisonment.

Defendant claims that the trial court erred in failing to instruct on the lesser included offense of false imprisonment. We agree and reverse defendant’s three kidnapping convictions. A kidnapping defendant is entitled to a false imprisonment instruction when there is evidence indicating his lack of intent to hold to service. State v. Armijo, 90 N.M. 614, 566 P.2d 1152 (Ct.App.1977). There is evidence that defendant did not intend to hold the victims to service. The entire tenor of defendant’s testimony is that McClary did everything and he just went along. The defendant did not do any of the talking. After the defendant was arrested he made a statement which also gave the impression that McClary did everything and he just went along. In the statement defendant denied that he knew anything about the robbery until McClary appeared with the gun. There was evidence that defendant never had the shotgun in his possession and never instructed anyone to do anything. Consistent with this, defendant testified that at the time he did not know why McClary was taking the attendants and the tourist with them. The jury could find, based on the evidence, that defendant had no intent to hold the victims to service, and that this was McClary’s idea not shared by the defendant. Because a jury could find that defendant had no intent to hold the victims to service it was error not to give the false imprisonment instruction.

2. Failure to provide a witness list.

The State failed to provide a witness list until just before trial. (From the record it is not possible to tell exactly when the list was provided.) Defense counsel asked the trial court to preclude those witnesses that he “didn’t have knowledge of” from testifying because he did not have time to interview them. The court was not informed of who these witnesses were, and denied the motion. After trial defense counsel unsuccessfully moved for a new trial on the same ground. We find defendant’s argument without merit.

Sanctions for violations of disclosure rules, as well as decisions on motions for new trials, are discretionary with the trial court. State v. Johnson, 91 N.M. 148, 571 P.2d 415 (Ct.App.1977); State v. Perrin, 93 N.M. 73, 596 P.2d 516 (1979). Even if there is a violation of the disclosure rules, prejudice must be shown before a defendant is entitled to relief. State v. Manus, 93 N.M. 95, 597 P.2d 280 (1979).

There are two problems with defendant’s argument. First, defendant relies on State v. Quintana, 86 N.M. 666, 526 P.2d 808 (Ct.App.1974), for the proposition that prejudice is shown when the undisclosed witnesses’ testimony is not technical or cumulative. Quintana, however, does not hold that prejudice is automatically shown when the undisclosed witness’ testimony is not technical or cumulative. In determining prejudice the focus is on whether or not the undisclosed witness’ testimony is important and critical; showing that the testimony is not technical or not cumulative may establish prejudice, but does not necessarily do so. Apart from his reliance on Quintana defendant has not demonstrated how he was prejudiced. The fair inference from the record is that notwithstanding the disclosure violation, the defense was aware of the allegedly undisclosed witnesses.

Second, defendant argues that once a disclosure violation is shown he is ipso facto entitled to whatever relief he requested in the trial court. In this case defendant requested witness preclusion, one of the most severe remedies. This ignores the fact that the remedy is discretionary with the trial court. Assuming arguendo that defendant was entitled to a lesser remedy, he did not seek one. See State v. Johnson, 91 N.M. 148, 571 P.2d 415 (Ct.App.1977); State v. Smith, 88 N.M. 541, 543 P.2d 834 (Ct.App.1975).

We hold that under the circumstances presented in this case the failure of the State to provide a witness list until just before trial does not warrant a new trial.

3. Sentencing hearing.

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Bluebook (online)
648 P.2d 795, 98 N.M. 337, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-tomlinson-nmctapp-1982.