State v. Young

CourtCourt of Appeals of Arizona
DecidedMarch 14, 2017
Docket1 CA-CR 15-0097-PRPC
StatusUnpublished

This text of State v. Young (State v. Young) 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. Young, (Ark. Ct. App. 2017).

Opinion

NOTICE: NOT FOR OFFICIAL PUBLICATION. UNDER ARIZONA RULE OF THE SUPREME COURT 111(c), THIS DECISION IS NOT PRECEDENTIAL AND MAY BE CITED ONLY AS AUTHORIZED BY RULE.

IN THE ARIZONA COURT OF APPEALS DIVISION ONE

STATE OF ARIZONA, Respondent,

v.

RONALD KELLY YOUNG, Petitioner.

No. 1 CA-CR 15-0097 PRPC FILED 3-14-2017

Petition for Review from the Superior Court in Pima County No. CR 20084012 The Honorable Christopher Browning, Judge

REVIEW GRANTED; RELIEF DENIED

COUNSEL

Pima County Attorney’s Office, Tucson By Jacob R. Lines, Rick A. Unklesbay Counsel for Respondent

West Elsberry Longenbaugh & Zickerman PLLC, Tucson By Anne Elsberry Counsel for Petitioner STATE v. YOUNG Decision of the Court

MEMORANDUM DECISION

Judge Margaret H. Downie delivered the decision of the Court, in which Presiding Judge Diane M. Johnsen and Judge James P. Beene joined.

D O W N I E, Judge:

¶1 Ronald Kelly Young petitions for review of the dismissal of his petition for post-conviction relief and the denial of his motion for hearing pursuant to Arizona Revised Statutes (“A.R.S.”) section 13-4240. We grant review but deny relief.

¶2 Young was convicted by a jury of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder. The superior court imposed consecutive natural life sentences for the two convictions. On appeal, this Court affirmed the convictions and murder sentence but remanded the conspiracy conviction for re-sentencing. State v. Young, 2 CA-CR 10-0164, 2012 WL 642852, at *1, *12, ¶¶ 1, 43 (Ariz. App. Feb. 29, 2012) (mem. decision). On remand, Young was again sentenced to life on the conspiracy conviction, but this time with the possibility of release after 25 years.

¶3 Young filed a timely notice and petition for post-conviction relief, asserting claims of ineffective assistance of counsel, newly discovered evidence, and Brady violations. The superior court summarily dismissed the petition, ruling that Young failed to state a colorable claim for relief.

¶4 Young thereafter filed a motion for hearing pursuant to A.R.S. § 13-4240 regarding DNA evidence. He also filed a motion to amend or supplement his petition for post-conviction relief to allege that there had been a significant change in the law. The superior court granted the motion to amend but denied relief on the amended petition and denied the motion for hearing.

¶5 In his petition for review, Young argues the court erred by summarily dismissing his petition and by denying relief on his motion for hearing pursuant to A.R.S. § 13-4240. We conclude otherwise.

¶6 In dismissing the petition for post-conviction relief and denying the motion for hearing, the superior court clearly identified, thoroughly addressed, and correctly resolved all of Young’s claims. The court did so in a thorough, well-reasoned manner that will allow any future

2 STATE v. YOUNG Decision of the Court

court to understand the court’s rulings. Under these circumstances, “[n]o useful purpose would be served by this court rehashing the trial court’s correct ruling in a written decision.” State v. Whipple, 177 Ariz. 272, 274 (App. 1993). We therefore adopt and affirm the superior court’s rulings.

CONCLUSION

¶7 For the foregoing reasons, we grant review but deny relief.

AMY M. WOOD • Clerk of the Court FILED: AA

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Related

State v. Whipple
866 P.2d 1358 (Court of Appeals of Arizona, 1993)

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Bluebook (online)
State v. Young, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-young-arizctapp-2017.