State v. Turner

468 P.2d 421, 81 N.M. 450
CourtNew Mexico Court of Appeals
DecidedFebruary 13, 1970
Docket360
StatusPublished
Cited by16 cases

This text of 468 P.2d 421 (State v. Turner) 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. Turner, 468 P.2d 421, 81 N.M. 450 (N.M. Ct. App. 1970).

Opinion

OPINION

SPIESS, Chief Judge.

The defendant, Ernest Turner, was charged by an amended indictment with the crimes of aggravated burglary (§ 40 A-16-4(C), N.M.S.A. 1953), and aggravated battery (§ 40A-3-5(B), N.M.S.A. 1953; now amended, see 1969 pocket supplement to Vol. 6, N.M.S.A. 1953). Trial by a jury resulted in verdicts of guilty as to both charges. This appeal is from the judgment on the verdicts.

A number of points are relied upon for reversal. Point I, together with a subpoint (a), in substance assert error on the part of the trial court in refusing to quash Count I of the initial indictment, and in refusing to quash Count II of the amended indictment. It is also urged that the trial court erred in allowing the state to file an amended indictment.

The initial indictment with respect to Count I accused defendant of aggravated burglary contrary to § 40A-16-4(C), supra. Further, under this count it is charged that “ * * * Ernest Turner did without authority or permission enter a dwelling, to-wit: [sic] the residence of Francine Skid-more, 308 Morningside Dr., Apt. 208, Albuquerque, New Mexico, and after said entry the said Ernest Turner did commit battery upon the person of Francine Skidmore.”

Count II of the amended indictment accused defendant of aggravated battery contrary to § 40A-3-5(B), supra. Under this count it is alleged that “ * * * Ernest Turner did unlawfully touch or apply force to the person of Francine Skidmore with a deadly weapon, towit: [sic] a hard blunt, unknown object in a manner whereby great bodily harm or death could be inflicted.”

It is argued that neither of these counts charge a crime. The reasons given are that Count I of the initial indictment fails to allege an entry with intent to commit any felony or theft therein, and Count II of the amended indictment fails to charge intent to injure. Intent, it is argued, is an essential ingredient as to each crime and in the absence of an allegation of intent the crime was not charged.

The language of the statute upon which the indictments were based is material to a consideration of this point. Section 40A-16-4(C), supra, states:

“Aggravated burglary consists of the unauthorized entry of any * * * dwelling * * * with intent to commit any felony or theft therein and the person * * *
“C. commits a battery upon any person while in such place, or in entering or leaving such place.”

With respect to aggravated battery, § 40A-3-5(B), supra, provides:

“Aggravated battery consists of the unlawful touching or application of force to the person of another with intent to injure that person or another and which * * *
“B. is done with a deadly weapon, or in any manner whereby great bodily harm or death can be inflicted.”

In charging each offense the initial indictment and amended indictment employed th,e name given the offense by statute and specifically referred to the section and subsection of the statute which created the offense. The controlling law is expressed by § 41-6-7, N.M.S.A. 1953:

“(1) The indictment or information may charge, and is valid and sufficient if it charges, the offense for which the defendant is being prosecuted in one [1] or more of the following ways:
“(a) By using the name given to the offense by the common law or by a statute.
“(b) By stating so much of the definition of the offense, either in terms of the common law or of the statute defining the offense or in terms of substantially the same meaning, as is sufficient to give the court and the defendant notice of what offense is intended to be charged.
“(2) The indictment or information may refer to a section or subsection of any statute creating the offense charged therein, and in determining the validity or sufficiency of such indictment or information regard shall be had to such reference.”

In our opinion, Count I of the initial indictment and Count II of the amended indictment are clearly sufficient under the statute which we have quoted. See State v. Campos, 79 N.M. 611, 447 P.2d 20 (1968); State v. Jones, 73 N.M. 459, 389 P.2d 398 (1964); State v. Lott, 73 N.M. 280, 387 P.2d 855 (1963); State v. Cummings, 63 N.M. 337, 319 P.2d 946 (1957); State v. Lucero, 79 N.M. 131, 440 P.2d 806 (Ct.App.1968).

In State v. Lott, supra, the Supreme Court considering the effect of this statute, said:

“The purpose of a criminal information is to furnish the accused with such a description of the charge against him as will enable him to make a defense and to make his conviction or acquittal res judicata against a subsequent prosecution for the same offense, and to give the court reasonable information as to the nature and character of the crime charged. Ex parte Williams, 58 N.M. 37, 265 P.2d 359; State v. Roy, 40 N.M. 397, 60 P.2d 646, 110 A.L.R. 1. The information did specifically charge the defendant with being an habitual criminal under the provisions of § 41-16-3, supra. Regard must be given to such reference to the statute in determining the sufficiency of an information. Section 41-6-7(2), N.M.S.A. 1963; State v. Shroyer, 49 N.M. 196, 160 P.2d 444; Ex parte Williams, supra. C. f. State v. Ardovino, 55 N.M. 161, 228 P.2d 947. And, identification of the crime charged by reference to the section of the statute creating it was said in State v. Cummings, 63 N.M. 337, 319 P.2d 946, to be sufficient. Furthermore, the defendant may ask for and is entitled to a bill of particulars if he contends that the information is insufficient to enable him to prepare his defense or to give him any information to which he is entitled under the Constitution. A defendant failing, as here, to request a bill of particulars, if he deems the information insufficient, will not be heard on appeal to complain of a deficiency in the information. State v. Roy, supra. In addition, it is neither argued nor shown that defendant was prejudiced in his defense by the omission.”

We consider it appropriate here to say that defendant did not request a bill of particulars, nor has prejudice been argued or shown by reason of the omissions which he asserts render the counts insufficient to charge the crimes. Defendant cites the following cases as supporting authority: State v. Ocanas, 61 N.M. 484, 303 P.2d 390 (1956); State v. Ferguson, 56 N.M. 398, 244 P.2d 783 (1952); State v.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Nacher v. State
465 So. 2d 598 (District Court of Appeal of Florida, 1985)
Jaramillo v. Fisher Controls Co., Inc.
698 P.2d 887 (New Mexico Court of Appeals, 1985)
State v. Allen
581 P.2d 22 (New Mexico Court of Appeals, 1978)
State v. Hogervorst
1977 NMCA 057 (New Mexico Court of Appeals, 1977)
State v. Rhea
523 P.2d 26 (New Mexico Court of Appeals, 1974)
State v. Alderete
521 P.2d 138 (New Mexico Court of Appeals, 1974)
State v. Vigil
512 P.2d 88 (New Mexico Court of Appeals, 1973)
State v. Barboa
506 P.2d 1222 (New Mexico Court of Appeals, 1973)
State v. Vasquez
492 P.2d 1005 (New Mexico Court of Appeals, 1971)
State v. Garcia
487 P.2d 1356 (New Mexico Court of Appeals, 1971)
State v. Stout
483 P.2d 510 (New Mexico Court of Appeals, 1971)
State v. Turner
469 P.2d 720 (New Mexico Court of Appeals, 1970)
Turner v. State
469 P.2d 151 (New Mexico Supreme Court, 1970)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
468 P.2d 421, 81 N.M. 450, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-turner-nmctapp-1970.