State of Arizona v. Allyn Akeem Smith ( 2020 )

IN THE
SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF ARIZONA
STATE OF ARIZONA,
Appellee,
v.
ALLYN AKEEM SMITH,
Appellant.
No. CR-18-0295-AP
Filed November 4, 2020
Appeal from the Superior Court in Maricopa County
The Honorable Michael W. Kemp, Judge
No. CR2015-106788-001
AFFIRMED
COUNSEL:
Mark Brnovich, Arizona Attorney General, Brunn (Beau) W. Roysden III,
Solicitor General, Lacey Stover Gard, Chief Counsel, David R. Cole, Nate
Curtisi (Argued), J.D. Nielsen, Vineet Mehta Shaw, Assistant Attorneys
General, Capital Litigation Section, Phoenix, Attorneys for State of Arizona
James J. Haas, Maricopa County Public Defender, Peg Green, Nicholaus
Podsiadlik (argued), Deputy Public Defenders, Phoenix, Attorneys for
Allyn Smith
STATE V. SMITH
Opinion of the Court
JUSTICE GOULD authored the opinion of the Court, in which CHIEF
JUSTICE BRUTINEL, VICE CHIEF JUSTICE TIMMER and JUSTICES
BOLICK, LOPEZ, BEENE, and JUSTICE PELANDER (Retired) * joined.
JUSTICE GOULD, opinion of the Court:
¶1 Allyn Akeem Smith was sentenced to death after a jury found
him guilty of first-degree murder and child abuse. We have jurisdiction of
this automatic appeal pursuant to article 6, section 5(3) of the Arizona
Constitution and A.R.S. § 13-4031. We affirm Smith’s convictions and
sentences.
I.
¶2 On December 11, 2014, K.L. was fatally shot by Smith, her
former boyfriend and the father of her two-month-old daughter, K.S. 1 K.L.
and K.S. were found on a hiking path near South Mountain in Phoenix. K.L.
was shot in the back of the head, while K.S. was left facedown against the
ground with a bullet wound in her thigh. K.S. survived after surgery.
¶3 Smith and K.L. had a stormy relationship. Before meeting
K.L., Smith was in an on-again-off-again relationship with K. Ward. At
some point in 2014, Ward cheated on Smith and Smith began dating K.L.
Smith and Ward were back together by October of 2014.
¶4 In early 2014, Smith got K.L. pregnant. Ward obsessed over
K.L.’s pregnancy, expressing anger that Smith may have fathered a child
with another woman. Smith tried to convince Ward that he was not the
father. Smith and Ward also had a son, and Ward threatened to leave Smith
and take their son away if Smith was indeed the father of K.L.’s child.
¶5 Almost four months before the murder, on August 17, 2014,
K.L. and Smith met at Kiwanis Park. They took a walk through the park,
with Smith walking several feet ahead of K.L. As they were walking, K.L.
was assaulted from behind. At the time, K.L. was seven months pregnant
*Justice William G. Montgomery has recused himself from this case.
Pursuant to article 6, section 3 of the Arizona Constitution, Justice John
Pelander (Retired) was designated to sit in this matter.
1We view the facts in the light most favorable to sustaining the jury’s
verdict. State v. Rushing, 243 Ariz. 212, 216 n.2 (2017).
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STATE V. SMITH
Opinion of the Court
with Smith’s child, and her assailant kicked her in the stomach, punched
her in the back of the head and cheek, knocked her to the ground, and then
punched her again. K.L. had to be treated at a hospital.
¶6 Evidence suggested that Smith was involved in the attack.
Before the attack, Smith told his friend, G. Curley, that he needed help with
a pregnant girl, he needed to “fuck her up” because she was pregnant, and
that he was “ready to fuck this bitch up.” Curley declined to help, and
when Smith later repeated the request, Curley responded that it was “all on
him.” After the attack, Smith told K.L. he called 911, but there was no
record of the call. Because no one was able to identify K.L.’s assailant, no
charges were filed. However, Cell Site Location Information (“CSLI”)
revealed that Smith’s long-time friend, R. Marley, was at or within a mile
and a half radius of the park when K.L. was attacked. CSLI also revealed
that Smith and Marley were together near Smith’s apartment immediately
after the attack.
¶7 In October 2014, K.L. gave birth to K.S. When K.L. applied for
welfare benefits, the Department of Economic Security (“DES”) required
her to collect child support from K.S.’s father. As a result, on October 27,
K.L. named Smith as the father and provided his contact information to DES
to set up a DNA test.
¶8 Smith, however, repeatedly failed to show up for his
appointments with DES. On December 1, after K.L.’s urging, Smith made
an appointment for December 4. He did not, however, show up for that
appointment. Smith made another appointment on December 9, but he did
not show up for that one either. On December 10, the day before her
murder, K.L. persisted in trying to get Smith to take the paternity test,
informing him that DES would refer the matter to the courts if he did not
show up for his test by December 11. Smith told K.L. that he wanted to
meet K.S. and play with her before he took the paternity test. Smith said he
would meet with K.L. and K.S. only if they were alone, reiterating, “If
anyone else is there, I don’t want to come.” On December 10, K.L. gave
Smith her address, and Smith told her that he would be there at 12:00 or
12:30 p.m. the following day.
¶9 On December 11, at 10:54 a.m., Smith deleted K.L. as a friend
on Facebook. Four minutes later, he deleted his OG Triple Facebook
account (an account associated with his email address), which he had used
to contact K.L. Smith then went to a firearms store and purchased a Phoenix
Arms .22 handgun and ammunition. He filled out paperwork and was
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STATE V. SMITH
Opinion of the Court
captured on store video surveillance at 11:46 a.m. Then, according to
Smith’s CSLI, he arrived at K.L.’s apartment at approximately 12:16 p.m.
Tashae Jones, K.L.’s roommate, saw Smith enter K.L.’s apartment at
approximately 12:40 p.m. Smith immediately asked K.L. to have Jones
leave the apartment.
¶10 Smith drove K.L. and two-month-old K.S. to a trail near the
base of South Mountain, where he fired two shots; one hit K.L. in the back
of the head, and another struck K.S. in the thigh. K.L. and K.S. were found
around 3:00 p.m. by a hiker. K.L. was unconscious, and K.S. was lying
outside her carrier face down on the ground. The paramedic who first
treated K.S. had to remove gravel from her mouth. The bullet fractured
K.S.’s femur, but she survived after undergoing emergency surgery.
Because of K.S.’s small size, she had to be placed in a body cast to treat her
fracture.
¶11 K.L. could not be revived, and a medical examiner
determined that she died of a gunshot wound to the head. The Phoenix
Police Department (“PPD”) recovered a shell casing for a .22 caliber weapon
from the crime scene.
¶12 After murdering K.L., Smith immediately drove to DES and
took a paternity test. He asked an employee what would happen if K.L. did
not arrive for testing. He was told that the matter would be closed. The
test established that K.S. is his daughter.
¶13 Smith was indicted for first-degree murder and one count of
child abuse. On September 13, 2016, the State obtained Smith’s CSLI by
court order pursuant to A.R.S. § 13-3016. Smith’s CSLI revealed that his cell
phone was within a mile and a half radius of K.L.’s apartment at 12:16 p.m.
and within a mile and a half radius of the crime scene from 1:29 p.m. until
2:04 p.m. Additionally, Smith and Ward had been communicating
throughout the morning, but there was a period from 12:28 p.m. to 1:39 p.m.
where Smith did not answer Ward’s text messages.
¶14 At trial, the jury found Smith guilty of premeditated
first-degree murder of K.L. and one count of knowing or intentional child
abuse involving threat of death or serious physical injury of K.S. At the end
of the aggravation phase, the jury found two aggravators: (1) Smith was
convicted of a serious offense (child abuse of K.S.), see A.R.S. § 13-751(F)(2);
and (2) Smith murdered K.L. for pecuniary gain, see id. (F)(5), i.e. to avoid
child support payments.
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STATE V. SMITH
Opinion of the Court
¶15 In the penalty phase, Smith did not testify or exercise his right
of allocution but presented twenty-nine non-statutory mitigating
circumstances. Infra ¶ 160. He presented no statutory mitigators. After
considering the mitigation evidence, the jury determined that Smith should
be sentenced to death. Additionally, the trial court sentenced Smith to a
consecutive presumptive prison term for his child abuse conviction.
II.
A.
¶16 Smith argues that the trial court erred in denying his motion
to suppress his CSLI. We review a court’s factual findings on a motion to
suppress for an abuse of discretion “but review de novo the trial court’s
ultimate legal determination that the search complied with the Fourth
Amendment.” State v. Jean, 243 Ariz. 331, 334 ¶ 9 (2018) (quoting State v.
Gilstrap, 235 Ariz. 296, 297 ¶ 6 (2014)). Additionally, we review de novo
whether the good-faith exception to the exclusionary rule applies. State v.
Weakland, 246 Ariz. 67, 69 ¶ 5 (2019).
¶17 PPD Detective Helen Balmir prepared an affidavit and
applied for a court order (“CSLI Order”) to obtain Smith’s CSLI through the
Initial Appearance Court (“IA Court”). Balmir later testified at the
suppression hearing that it was common practice for PPD to make such
applications to the IA Court. The IA Court Commissioner granted the order
that same day.
¶18 In response to the CSLI Order, AT&T (Smith’s service
provider) provided “call detail reports,” which included Smith’s CSLI,
subscriber information, historical detail records, and device information
from March 1, 2014 through December 14, 2014. AT&T did not disclose any
information regarding the content of Smith’s communications, such as
texts, voicemails, or emails.
¶19 Smith moved to suppress the CSLI, arguing that under
Carpenter v. United States, 138 S. Ct. 2206, 2220–21 (2018), the State could
not obtain his CSLI without a search warrant supported by probable cause.
Additionally, Smith claimed that the State violated § 13-3016 by failing to
provide him notice of the CSLI Order. Following an evidentiary hearing,
the trial court denied Smith’s motion, concluding that (1) there was
probable cause to support the CSLI Order, and (2) lack of notification
under § 13-3016 was not grounds for suppression of Smith’s CSLI.
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STATE V. SMITH
Opinion of the Court
¶20 On appeal, Smith asserts that because the State did not have
a warrant and the CSLI Order was only based on reasonable grounds, it
did not comply with Carpenter, and his CSLI should have been suppressed.
Further, Smith argues that § 13-3016(C)(3) is facially unconstitutional to the
extent it allows CSLI to be obtained without a warrant.
1. Functional Equivalent of a Warrant
¶21 On appeal, the State concedes that under Carpenter, a search
warrant was required to obtain Smith’s CSLI. However, the State argues
that because the CSLI Order was the functional equivalent of a warrant, it
complied with Carpenter. The State bases this argument on the trial court’s
finding that “regardless of the language used in the order,” the order set
forth probable cause for the search. See People v. Edwards, 97 N.Y.S.3d 418,
421–22 (N.Y. Sup. Ct. 2019). In Edwards, the court held that a CSLI order
complied with Carpenter because it “ma[de] out probable cause,” and
therefore “the resulting CSLI order [was] the equivalent of a search warrant,
even though the issuing court used the lower” reasonable grounds
standard. Id. at 422; see also State v. Conner, 249 Ariz. 121, 248 ¶ 4, 250 ¶¶ 21–
22 (App. 2020) (holding that a CSLI order issued under A.R.S. § 13-3017 and
18 U.S.C. § 2703, which requires a showing of “reasonable grounds,”
substantially complied with the requirements of a search warrant where the
trial court expressly found there was “probable cause” supporting the
state’s application).
¶22 We are not persuaded by the State’s argument. Although the
CSLI Order cites § 13-3016(C)(1) and (D)(1), which apply to warrants, the
IA Court issued an “order,” not a search warrant. Further, Balmir stated
that she prepared her affidavit as a request for an order, not a warrant.
Finally, the CSLI Order is based on a showing of reasonable grounds, not
probable cause. Accordingly, we decline to recast the CSLI Order as a
warrant.
2. Good Faith
¶23 On appeal, the State argues that even if the CSLI Order did
not comply with Carpenter, the good-faith exception applies because PPD
obtained the CSLI Order in good faith reliance on § 13-3016. See Illinois v.
Krull, 480 U.S. 340, 342, 352 (1987) (applying the good-faith exception where
officers “act[ed] in objectively reasonable reliance upon a statute
authorizing warrantless administrative searches” where the statute was
later found to be unconstitutional (emphasis omitted)); Davis v. United
States, 564 U.S. 229, 232 (2011) (holding that “searches conducted in
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STATE V. SMITH
Opinion of the Court
objectively reasonable reliance on binding appellate precedent are not
subject to the exclusionary rule”).
¶24 Courts have consistently applied the good-faith exception to
CSLI orders issued prior to Carpenter. See, e.g., United States v. Korte, 918
F.3d 750, 758 (9th Cir. 2019) (applying the good-faith exception to CSLI
obtained under the federal Stored Communications Act (“SCA”) where the
“[g]overnment had [no] reason to doubt the [law’s] constitutionality”);
United States v. Beverly, 943 F.3d 225, 235 (5th Cir. 2019) (stating that “every
one of our sister courts” has “agreed that the good-faith exception—
specifically, the Krull exception—applies to CSLI obtained under [the SCA]
prior to Carpenter”); United States v. Goldstein, 914 F.3d 200, 204–05 (3d Cir.
2019) (to same effect); State v. Brown, 921 N.W.2d 804, 811–12 (Neb. 2019) (to
same effect); Reed v. Commonwealth, 834 S.E.2d 505, 511 (Va. Ct. App. 2019)
(applying the good-faith exception to CSLI obtained under a Virginia
statute).
¶25 We conclude that the good-faith exception applies here.
Balmir obtained Smith’s CSLI pursuant to the IA Court’s September 13,
2016 CSLI Order. In applying for the CSLI Order, Balmir reasonably relied
on § 13-3016(C), which permitted the state to obtain CSLI without a
warrant. Two years later, in June 2018, the Supreme Court decided
Carpenter. See 138 S. Ct. 2206.
¶26 Smith argues, however, that the good-faith exception should
not apply because Riley v. California, 573 U.S. 373 (2014), was decided before
Balmir obtained the CSLI order. As a result, Smith contends that Riley’s
holding—that a cellphone’s “historical location information” deserves
greater protection than physical records—should have notified law
enforcement that acquiring CSLI without a warrant was unconstitutional.
Id.
¶27 Smith’s reliance on Riley is misplaced. Riley addressed a
warrantless search of the content of a cell phone. Id. at 379. In contrast, here,
Smith’s CSLI simply contains records about his general location; there is no
content. Additionally, courts have not recognized Riley as a barrier to
applying the good-faith exception to CSLI obtained without a warrant
pre-Carpenter. See, e.g., Korte, 918 F.3d at 756; Beverly, 943 F.3d at 234; Brown,
921 N.W.2d at 807.
¶28 Because we apply the good-faith exception, Smith’s
arguments regarding the more stringent standards for obtaining search
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STATE V. SMITH
Opinion of the Court
warrants and wiretaps are irrelevant. For example, Smith cites Berger v.
New York, 388 U.S. 41, 54 (1967), to argue that the CSLI Order was invalid.
There, the Supreme Court struck down an eavesdropping statute that
allowed a judge to issue a wiretap order based upon reasonable grounds.
Id. at 54, 60. But the heightened standards for obtaining a wiretap, which
involve ongoing surveillance of the content of phone conversations, do not
apply to CSLI. Similarly, Smith argues that the CSLI Order did not satisfy
the notice requirements for a search warrant. However, since we apply the
good-faith exception here, the requirements for a search warrant are not
relevant.
3. Notice
¶29 Next, Smith claims that the CSLI Order was invalid because
the State did not, as required by § 13-3016(B)(3), provide “prior notice to
[Smith].” Smith is wrong for two reasons. First, § 13-3016(D)(1) allows
notice to “be delayed for a period of not to exceed ninety days” if the
applicant “requests a delay of notification and the court finds that delay is
necessary to protect the safety of any person or to prevent flight from
prosecution, tampering with evidence, intimidation of witnesses or
jeopardizing an investigation.” Here, Balmir requested the IA Court delay
disclosure of the CSLI Order pursuant to § 13-3016(C)(1), (D)(1) to prevent
“jeopardizing” the investigation. The IA Court approved the request,
giving the State ninety days to notify Smith.
¶30 Second, the State timely disclosed the CSLI to Smith.
Specifically, in a motion dated November 8, 2016, Smith’s counsel admitted
that the State disclosed Smith’s CSLI on October 18, 2016, which was
thirty-five days after the IA Court issued the order and within the ninety
days permitted by § 13-3016(D)(1). We recognize that approximately two
years later, in his motion to suppress the CSLI and at the suppression
hearing, Smith argued that he never received notice. But here, counsel’s
prior statement constitutes a judicial admission. State v. Schmid, 107 Ariz.
191, 193 (1971) (explaining that counsel’s statement in a motion for
continuance was a judicial admission). And although we typically
“consider only the evidence adduced at the suppression hearing,” Jean, 243
Ariz. at 333 ¶ 2, neither Jean nor our other precedent hold that we are bound
by inaccurate statements refuted by the record.
¶31 Smith also argues that there were no grounds for delaying
notice. Specifically, he asserts that he could not flee the jurisdiction (he was
in custody) and, because the investigation had been ongoing for over a year,
providing notification could not have threatened the investigation. We
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STATE V. SMITH
Opinion of the Court
disagree. Any one of the grounds listed in § 13-3016(D)(1) provides a basis
for delaying notification. And here, based on Balmir’s affidavit describing
PPD’s ongoing murder investigation, there was a reasonable basis for the
IA Court to conclude that delayed notification was necessary to protect the
State’s investigation.
4. Arizona Constitution
¶32 Finally, Smith argues that the Arizona Constitution
independently requires suppression. Citing State v. Bolt, 142 Ariz. 260, 265
(1984), Smith observes that article 2, section 8 was intended to give
individuals a sense of security in their “homes and personal possessions.”
Bolt addressed warrantless entry into the home and stated that Arizona’s
Constitution specifically preserves “the sanctity of homes . . . in creating a
right of privacy.” Id. at 264–65. Thus, Smith argues, because CSLI provides
“near perfect surveillance” akin to an ankle monitor, see Carpenter, 138 S. Ct.
at 2218, CSLI must also implicate the same sense of security in one’s home
under article 2, section 8.
¶33 We disagree. Unlike Bolt, CSLI does not involve a warrantless
entry into a person’s home. And here, even if the Arizona Constitution
provided greater protection, the good-faith exception applies.
5. Due Process
¶34 Smith argues that the trial court violated his due process
rights under the Fourteenth Amendment for two reasons. First, he claims
that he was denied the opportunity to oppose the State’s application for the
CSLI Order. Second, he asserts that his CSLI was obtained in violation of
Arizona Rule of Criminal Procedure 15.2(g) and A.R.S. § 13-3016. We
review constitutional challenges de novo. State v. Hidalgo, 241 Ariz. 543, 548
¶ 7 (2017).
¶35 Neither argument is persuasive. “[D]ue process entitles
parties to notice and a meaningful opportunity to be heard . . . .” Id. ¶ 10.
To protect this constitutional guarantee, procedural due process requires
that a defendant be provided “an adequate opportunity to fully present
factual and legal claims,” including the opportunity to respond to evidence
submitted against him by the State. Id. at 549 ¶ 11 (quoting Kessen v. Stewart,
195 Ariz. 488, 492 ¶ 16 (App. 1999)); State v. Hampton, 213 Ariz. 167, 179
¶¶ 48–50 (2006) (to same effect).
¶36 Citing State v. Rosengren, 199 Ariz. 112, 116–17 ¶ 29 (App.
2000), Smith claims that he had a due process right to oppose the State’s
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STATE V. SMITH
Opinion of the Court
application for the CSLI Order. Smith’s reliance on Rosengren is misplaced.
That case, which involved DUI/vehicular manslaughter charges,
addressed a defendant’s due process right to gather “contemporary,
independent exculpatory evidence of sobriety” during the “critical window
of availability” after his arrest. Id. at 121 ¶¶ 28–29. But here, Smith was
provided the CSLI and was given a full and fair opportunity to suppress
this evidence at an evidentiary hearing. And, unlike evidence of
intoxication, which is fleeting and evanescent, see id., Smith’s CSLI was
adequately preserved despite its delayed disclosure.
¶37 Smith next argues that the State illegally obtained his CSLI by
“ignor[ing] the protections” of Arizona Rule of Criminal Procedure
15.2(g)(1). Relying on Carpenter v. Superior Court, 176 Ariz. 486, 488 (App.
1993), and Wells v. Fell, 231 Ariz. 525, 528 ¶ 10 (App. 2013), Smith asserts
that the State could only obtain his CSLI through a court order issued under
Rule 15.2(g)(1), and that it was prohibited from obtaining such information
using the procedure set forth in § 13-3016.
¶38 We disagree. Rule 15.2(g) does not, by its terms, provide the
exclusive means for obtaining records and information in the possession or
control of a third party. Additionally, Carpenter and Wells do not apply here
because they address records within the control of a party. See Carpenter,
176 Ariz. at 487, 489–90 (requiring a defendant to request police reports
under Rule 15.1 because such records were within the control of the State);
Wells, 231 Ariz. at 526 ¶ 2, 527 ¶ 7, 528 ¶ 10 (providing that under Rule
15.2(g), a court may order disclosure of witness interviews in the possession
of defense counsel to the state). Here, Smith did not possess or control his
CSLI; this information was in the control and possession of AT&T.
¶39 Finally, Smith argues that the State violated his due process
rights by failing to provide notice of the CSLI Order under § 13-3016.
However, as noted above, this is inaccurate; the State provided Smith with
notice of the CSLI Order. Supra ¶ 30.
6. Sixth Amendment
¶40 Smith claims that the State violated his Sixth Amendment
right to counsel because, when it submitted its request for the CSLI Order,
it did not provide notice to his attorney. As a result, he asserts that his
attorney was denied the opportunity to oppose the State’s request. We
review constitutional issues de novo. Hidalgo, 241 Ariz. at 548 ¶ 7. Because
Smith did not raise this argument in the trial court, we review for
fundamental error. State v. Escalante, 245 Ariz. 135, 138 ¶ 1 (2018).
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Opinion of the Court
¶41 There was no error, much less fundamental error. Smith’s
Sixth Amendment right to counsel was satisfied because his attorney was
(1) provided copies of the CSLI and (2) had an opportunity to suppress this
evidence at an evidentiary hearing.
¶42 Additionally, Smith’s reliance on State v. Groshong, 175 Ariz.
67, 71 (App. 1993), is misplaced. There, the State filed a motion to obtain
the defendant’s medical records after defense counsel asserted the records
were protected by the physician-patient privilege (A.R.S. § 13-4062(4)). Id.
While the discovery dispute was pending, the State inadvertently applied
for and obtained the privileged records through a warrant. Id. The court
of appeals affirmed the trial court’s order suppressing the records, noting
that under the specific circumstances of the case, the State’s obtaining the
records through a warrant, although inadvertent, interfered with the
defendant’s right to counsel. Id.
¶43 Here, unlike in Groshong, the State did not attempt to
circumvent a court order or a defendant’s assertion of privilege; it used
lawful means to obtain non-privileged records from a third party.
Additionally, Smith’s counsel was not restricted from challenging the
admissibility of his CSLI, and there is no evidence that the thirty-five-day
delayed notice impacted his representation. See United States v. Morrison,
449 U.S. 361, 363 (2000) (finding that a hypothetical error did not impact the
proceedings when it did not interfere with the “quality or effectiveness of
[the] legal representation”).
B.
¶44 Smith argues that the trial court violated the Due Process
Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment by admitting Jones’s pretrial
identification of Smith because it was unduly suggestive and unreliable.
This Court “review[s] the reliability and fairness of a challenged
identification for abuse of discretion.” State v. Goudeau, 239 Ariz. 421, 451
¶ 103 (2016). But it “review[s] de novo the ‘ultimate question’ of the
constitutionality of a pretrial identification.” Id. (quoting State v. Garcia, 224
Ariz. 1, 7–8 ¶ 6 (2010)).
¶45 After Detective Udd learned that Smith was K.S.’s father, he
obtained an MVD photograph of Smith. The day after the murder, Udd
took the photograph to visit Jones, K.L.’s roommate. Udd showed Jones the
photograph of Smith, asking her if she recognized the person in the
photograph. Jones replied, “That’s the baby’s daddy.” Jones also told Udd
that K.L. had shown her pictures of Smith on Facebook and had identified
him to her as K.S.’s father. Additionally, Jones said that Smith was at the
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Opinion of the Court
apartment the day of the murder. The interview, which was recorded, was
played at a subsequent Dessureault2 hearing.
¶46 During the Dessureault hearing, Jones testified that she
viewed Smith for multiple minutes in a bright room, wanted to see what he
looked like, focused on him, and could clearly see his face. Jones also
testified that she was “very sure” Smith was at the apartment. Udd later
testified that Jones was “100 percent” sure when she identified Smith.
¶47 The trial court found that although showing Jones just one
picture was “inherently suggestive,” the identification was admissible
because it was reliable. During trial, the court properly instructed the jury
on determining whether Jones’s identification was reliable. See Rev. Ariz.
Jury Instr. (“RAJI”) (Crim.) Standard Instruction 39, at 32 (3d ed. 2016).
¶48 Due process requires that pretrial identification procedures
be conducted in a manner that is “fundamentally fair and secures the
suspect’s right to a fair trial.” State v. Lehr, 201 Ariz. 509, 520 ¶ 46 (2002). In
Dessureault, we set forth the procedure for Arizona courts to follow when a
defendant challenges a pretrial identification. 104 Ariz. at 383–84. The
identification must not be the product of an “inherently suggestive”
procedure or, if the procedure was inherently suggestive, it must be
reliable. State v. Rojo-Valenzuela, 237 Ariz. 448, 450 ¶ 7 (2015); see also Manson
v. Brathwaite, 432 U.S. 98, 114 (1977) (concluding that “reliability is the
linchpin in determining the admissibility of identification testimony”).
¶49 The State concedes that the use of a single photograph was
inherently suggestive. State v. (Johnny) Williams, 144 Ariz. 433, 439 (1985);
see Manson, 432 U.S. at 99, 106 (considering reliability of an identification
where a single photograph lineup was “suggestive and unnecessary”).
¶50 Thus, we must determine whether Jones’s identification was
reliable. In making this determination, courts apply several factors,
including: (1) the witness’s opportunity “to view the criminal at the time of
the crime”; (2) the “witness’ degree of attention”; (3) the “accuracy of the
witness’ prior description of the criminal”; (4) the witness’s “level of
certainty” at the initial viewing; and (5) the “length of time between the
crime” and the witness’s identification of the defendant. Neil v. Biggers, 409
U.S. 188, 199–200 (1972). The witness’s identification must exhibit sufficient
2 State v. Dessureault, 104 Ariz. 380 (1969).
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Opinion of the Court
indicia of reliability under the totality of the circumstances. Rojo-Valenzuela,
237 Ariz. at 451 ¶ 11.
¶51 For the reasons discussed below, we conclude that based on
the totality of the circumstances, the record supports the trial court’s
determination that Jones’s identification of Smith was reliable.
1. Opportunity to View the Suspect
¶52 The record supports the trial court’s finding of reliability
under the first factor. A few minutes is enough time to view a suspect. State
v. Ware, 113 Ariz. 337, 339 (1976) (determining that the first factor weighed
in favor of reliability where the witness “observed the suspect face to face
in the well-lighted store for approximately three minutes”); State v.
(Bernard) Smith, 146 Ariz. 491, 497 (1985) (determining that the witness
viewing the suspect walk across a parking lot weighed in favor of
reliability). But see State v. Schilleman, 125 Ariz. 294, 296 (1980) (finding ten
seconds insufficient); State v. (Ronald T.) Williams, 166 Ariz. 132, 137 (1987)
(finding approximately five seconds insufficient).
¶53 Jones said she viewed Smith for “[m]aybe about–not even ten
minutes. He walked in my house, he had on black gloves. He saw me, went
in the bathroom.” A few questions later, however, Jones testified that she
viewed him for about two minutes. Either amount of time is sufficient. At
trial, Jones testified that she saw Smith for “maybe not even five minutes.”
She also testified that Smith walked out “really fast” from the bathroom,
but when she later left the apartment, she noticed he was standing by the
stairs and she could “see his face.” She said the lights were on and the
apartment was “bright,” and she could “clearly” see everything in the
living room. She also recognized him from Facebook.
¶54 Although Jones also stated she “didn’t really—I mean, he
wasn’t really—like, I didn’t see him because he went into the bathroom so
fast so—” most of her statements express that she was able to see him.
When she was able to see Smith, she tried to look at him the entire time and
saw him clearly.
2. Degree of Attention on Smith
¶55 The record also supports the trial court’s finding under the
second factor. Jones’s attention was directed at Smith when he was in the
apartment. See (Bernard) Smith, 146 Ariz. at 497 (finding the second factor
weighed in favor of reliability where the witness testified that she was “able
to fix her full attention on [the] defendant”). Jones also testified that she
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Opinion of the Court
“wanted to see what he looked like” and was “trying to focus [her] attention
on him” “the entire time.” Although she said she was “not really” curious
about him, she also said she “want[ed] to meet him.”
¶56 Smith argues, however, that Jones did not pay attention to
him because she could not describe his clothing or appearance. This is not
entirely accurate. Jones was able to describe some of Smith’s clothing (he
was wearing tight black gloves) as well as his general appearance (he was
“tall, light skinned,” and “maybe African-American”). Although her
inability to recall more details certainly lessens the weight of this factor, we
conclude that substantial evidence supports the trial court’s finding.
3. Prior Description
¶57 Under the third factor, the court must consider the accuracy
of a witness’s description before the unduly suggestive procedure. Biggers,
409 U.S. at 199. But here, Jones never provided a description of Smith before
Udd showed her the photo. As a result, this factor weighs against a finding
of reliability. But see (Johnny) Williams, 144 Ariz. at 440 (determining that a
suggestive identification was reliable even though witness had given no
prior description of the perpetrator).
4. Level of Certainty
¶58 The record also supports the trial court’s finding under the
fourth factor. Jones was confident when she identified Smith. See State v.
Alvarez, 145 Ariz. 370, 372 (1985) (determining that level of certainty favored
admission where the witness responded “immediately and without
hesitation”); State v. (Joe) Williams, 113 Ariz. 14, 18 (1976) (stating that
identification was reliable in part because the witness testified that “she was
sure” about the identification); State v. Taylor, 109 Ariz. 518, 520 (1973) (to
same effect).
¶59 Udd testified that Jones was “100 percent” sure, “seemed
confident,” and never hesitated. Jones testified that after looking at his
photo she was “very sure” Smith was at the apartment. Additionally, at the
hearing, the court played Jones’s interview. In the interview Udd stated, “I
showed you a photograph and you identified an individual. Is that the
same individual that came over yesterday?” Jones responded, “I believe
so.”
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Opinion of the Court
¶60 Smith argues that this factor weighs against reliability. To
support his claim, he notes that when the State asked Jones, “When you saw
[Smith], did you recognize him?” she replied, “no.” But Smith ignores the
fact that the State clarified Jones’s response with its next question.
Specifically, the State asked Jones whether Smith “look[ed] like anybody
you had seen a photograph of before?” Jones then responded that she had
seen him before in K.L.’s Facebook pictures. In short, Jones’s testimony,
when examined as a whole and in context, supports the court’s finding that
Jones was certain. And although Smith criticizes the certainty factor as
empirically unreliable, Arizona courts have consistently given weight to
this factor. See, e.g., State v. Moore, 222 Ariz. 1, 9 ¶ 27 (2009) (considering
witness’s level of certainty); Alvarez, 145 Ariz. at 372 (same).
5. Length of Time
¶61 Finally, because Jones identified Smith the day after seeing
him, the fifth factor also weighs in favor of admitting her identification. See
Taylor, 109 Ariz. at 520 (finding reliability where “there was only a lapse of
seven days between the time of the attack and the confrontation”).
C.
¶62 Smith argues that the trial court erred in denying his Batson
challenges to the State’s peremptory strikes of Jurors 14 and 211. Batson v.
Kentucky, 476 U.S. 79 (1986). These jurors were the only African Americans
on the prospective jury panel. “We defer to the trial court’s ruling, which
is based ‘largely upon an assessment of the prosecutor’s credibility.’”
Garcia, 224 Ariz. at 10 ¶ 22 (quoting State v. Roque, 213 Ariz. 193, 203 ¶ 12
(2006)). We will not reverse a trial court’s ruling on a Batson challenge
unless it is clearly erroneous. Miller-El v. Cockrell, 537 U.S. 322, 340 (2003).
¶63 The Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment
provides that no state shall “deny to any person within its jurisdiction the
equal protection of the laws.” In Batson, the Supreme Court held that
prohibiting an individual from serving on a jury based on race violates the
Equal Protection Clause. 476 U.S. at 89. “A Batson challenge involves three
steps: (1) The defendant must make a prima facie showing of
discrimination, (2) the prosecutor must offer a race-neutral reason for each
strike, and (3) the trial court must determine whether the [defendant]
proved purposeful racial discrimination.” State v. Medina, 232 Ariz. 391, 404
¶ 44 (2013) (quoting State v. Hardy, 230 Ariz. 281, 285 ¶ 12 (2012)).
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Opinion of the Court
¶64 Here, by asking the State to provide race neutral-reasons, the
trial court implicitly found that Smith made a prima facie showing of
discrimination. See id. ¶ 45. Thus, under Batson’s second step, the
prosecutor explained that Juror 14 was hesitant about imposing the death
penalty, stating that he “had to do a lot of soul searching” and that he
“couldn’t make a decision” and “did not want that weight” of imposing the
death penalty. The State then claimed it struck Juror 211 because she had
two surgery follow-up appointments that conflicted with the trial schedule.
The prosecutor also noted that Juror 211 suffered from migraines and took
daily medication.
¶65 After listening to the State’s reasons for striking the jurors, the
court stated:
All right. The Batson motions are denied. I find that the State
has made race-neutral reasons for striking them. I remember
juror 14 very clearly being very hesitant about being able to
serve on this. We talked to him for some period of time. And
I believe we spoke to him privately. 211 there were
race-neutral reasons given. She does have hardships with
regard to her health, at least to a certain degree. So I find that
the Batson challenges shall be denied.
¶66 The trial court correctly concluded that the State offered
race-neutral reasons for striking both jurors. The State struck Juror 14 based
on his reluctance to impose the death penalty. See State v. Escalante-Orozco,
241 Ariz. 254, 271 ¶ 36 (2017) (explaining that potential reluctance to impose
the death penalty was a race-neutral reason), abrogated on other grounds by
Escalante, 245 Ariz. 135; State v. Bolton, 182 Ariz. 290, 302 (1995) (determining
that prosecutors may strike jurors “who have expressed reservations about
capital punishment” even if they are “not excludable for cause”).
Additionally, the State explained it struck Juror 211 because she had health
problems and the trial schedule conflicted with her surgery follow-up
appointments. See State v. Gay, 214 Ariz. 214, 220–21 ¶¶ 18–19 (App. 2007)
(holding that State’s explanation for striking an African American juror,
which was based in part on the State’s concern that “she would be
distracted by upcoming medical tests” was a race-neutral reason).
¶67 Under Batson’s third step, the court “must determine whether
the prosecutor’s stated reasons were the actual reasons or instead were a
pretext for discrimination.” Flowers v. Mississippi, 139 S. Ct. 2228, 2241
(2019); Hardy, 230 Ariz. at 285 ¶ 12 (explaining that under Batson’s third step
the court evaluates the striking party’s credibility, as well as the demeanor
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Opinion of the Court
of the striking attorney and the excluded juror). If the strike is based on the
juror’s demeanor, such as nervousness or inattention, the trial court must
also evaluate whether the juror’s “demeanor can credibly be said to have
exhibited the basis for the strike.” Snyder v. Louisiana, 552 U.S. 472, 477
(2008). Smith bears the burden of proving purposeful discrimination, and
we will not reverse “unless the reasons provided by the State are clearly
pretextual.” Roque, 213 Ariz. at 204 ¶ 15, abrogated on other grounds by
Escalante-Orozco, 241 Ariz. 254.
¶68 The record supports the trial court’s conclusion that the
strikes were not pretextual. In denying Smith’s Batson challenge as to Juror
14, the court stated that “we talked to him for some period of time,” and
observed that he was “very hesitant” about serving on the jury. Indeed,
Juror 14 made it clear throughout jury selection that he was extremely
reluctant to serve on a death penalty case. He explained that he would
“have to do some soul searching” about imposing the death penalty and
didn’t know if he wanted a death sentence on his conscience. He also stated
that it would be “difficult” for him to “deci[de] . . . life or death” and he
questioned whether he “should . . . be the one really making [the] decision.”
He agreed with the State that he should not be empaneled on the jury
because of this issue and expressed that he may become “frozen and unable
to make that decision.” Later, Juror 14 spoke privately with the court and
reiterated that he would have difficulty imposing a death sentence and
would consider it a “last option.” See State v. Newell, 212 Ariz. 389, 401–02
¶¶ 55, 58 (2006) (affirming denial of Batson challenge where juror provided
conflicting responses about the death penalty).
¶69 Similarly, the trial court did not err in denying Smith’s Batson
challenge as to Juror 211. The court concluded that the State struck Juror
211 based on “hardships with respect to her health.” Specifically, during
voir dire and in her written questionnaire, Juror 211 advised the court that
she suffered from migraines, and that serving on the jury would create an
“undue hardship” because she had two surgery follow-up appointments
that conflicted with the trial schedule and could not be rescheduled.
¶70 Smith asserts that Juror 211 later advised the court that she
could reschedule her surgical appointments. We disagree. It is unclear
from the record whether Juror 211 was referring to rescheduling “four
appointments” that she had for “injections” (appointments she consistently
stated could be rescheduled) or her surgery follow-up appointments.
Although the record is less than clear as to which appointments could be
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Opinion of the Court
rescheduled, the trial court did not abuse its discretion in determining that
Juror 211’s medical hardships were the basis for the State’s strike.
¶71 Smith argues this Court, for the first time on appeal, must
conduct a comparative analysis of Jurors 14 and 211 vis-à-vis other jurors
whom the State did not strike. We disagree. Because Smith did not raise
this issue in the trial court, it is waived. See Foster v. Chatman, 136 S. Ct.
1737, 1749–50 (2016) (acknowledging that it made an “independent
examination of the record,” but not requiring a comparative analysis where
it was not raised before the trial court); Snyder, 552 U.S. at 483 (“[A]
retrospective comparison of jurors based on a cold appellate record may be
very misleading when alleged similarities were not raised at trial.”);
Medina, 232 Ariz. at 404–05 ¶¶ 48–49 (finding comparative analysis not
required where defendant did not raise it before the trial court);
Escalante-Orozco, 241 Ariz. at 272 ¶ 37 (same). And although Flowers
explained that a comparative analysis may be relevant in addressing a
Batson challenge, it did not require such an analysis for the first time on
appeal. 139 S. Ct. at 2247–49; see State v. Curry, 447 P.3d 7, 11 (Or. Ct. App.
2019) (explaining that assessment under Flowers should include a
comparative juror analysis “when the record is adequate to do so”).
¶72 Citing United States v. You, Smith also argues that the trial
court erred by failing to make specific findings regarding the “prosecutor’s
credibility,” as well as the court’s “reason[s] for accepting” the State’s
race-neutral explanations. Addressing a Batson challenge, You held that a
trial court cannot simply deem a race-neutral explanation “plausible,” but
must make a “clear record” and “deliberate decision” as to whether there
was purposeful discrimination. 382 F.3d at 968 n.2, 969 (quoting United
States v. Alanis, 335 F.3d 965, 967 (9th Cir. 2003)).
¶73 Smith’s argument is not persuasive. Unlike You, the trial
court here did more than simply deem the State’s explanations “plausible.”
Rather, the court made specific findings as to each juror, stating that “Juror
14 [was] very clearly being very hesitant about being able to serve,” and
Juror 211 had “hardships with regard to her health.” Moreover, our
precedent allows us to defer to an “implicit finding” that a “reason . . . was
non-discriminatory” even when “the trial court did not expressly rule on
[the third Batson factor].” State v. Prasertphong, 206 Ariz. 70, 87 ¶¶ 63–64,
supplemented, 206 Ariz. 167 (2003); State v. Canez, 202 Ariz. 133, 147 ¶ 28
(2002) (affirming the court’s “implicit[] finding” under step three in
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Opinion of the Court
denying the Batson challenge), abrogated on other grounds by State v.
Valenzuela, 239 Ariz. 299 (2016). 3
¶74 Accordingly, we affirm the trial court’s order denying Smith’s
Batson challenges.
D.
¶75 At trial, the court admitted a PowerPoint and video
demonstrating the location and movement of Smith’s and K.L.’s cellphones
on the day of the murder. Smith argues that the video was misleading
because (1) CSLI can only show the general location of a cell phone (within
one and a half miles of a cell tower) and (2) it cannot track the specific path
a cell phone travels between cell towers. Thus, Smith argues that the trial
court erred by admitting the video.
¶76 We review evidentiary rulings for an abuse of discretion.
State v. (Joe C.) Smith, 215 Ariz. 221, 232 ¶ 48 (2007). Relevant evidence may
be excluded “if its probative value is substantially outweighed” by a danger
of misleading or confusing the jury. Ariz. R. Evid. 403. Additionally, “[t]he
trial court has discretion to determine whether the probative value of
evidence is outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice or confusion of
the issues; we will not disturb a trial court decision unless the court has
clearly abused its discretion.” State v. Mauro, 159 Ariz. 186, 199 (1988).
¶77 Inaccuracies in a video go to the weight of the evidence, not
its admissibility, and may be clarified through witness testimony. See State
v. Steinle, 239 Ariz. 415, 419 ¶ 15 (2016) (explaining that a video may be
misleading, but “[s]uch dangers” may be “mitigated by testimony” or
“cautionary instructions”); State v. Doerr, 193 Ariz. 56, 66 ¶¶ 46–48 (1998)
(holding that the State’s maps and diagrams of the crime scene were
admissible even if not “absolutely correct,” so long as they allowed the jury
“to understand better the statements of the witness” and the inaccuracies
3 The court of appeals recently issued an opinion that the State contends
does not follow our precedent on this issue. See State v. Porter, 248 Ariz. 392,
394 ¶ 1, 399 ¶ 20 (App. 2020) (holding that a trial court must expressly
determine “that the racially disproportionate impact” of strikes is “justified
by genuine, not pretextual, race-neutral reasons” whenever there is a pattern
of strikes against minority jurors). The State’s petition for review in Porter
is currently pending before this Court, and we express no opinion on that
case here.
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Opinion of the Court
were clarified by witness testimony (quoting Young Mines Co. v. Blackburn,
22 Ariz. 199, 207 (1921))).
¶78 Here, any inaccuracies in the video were clarified by Balmir’s
testimony. On at least sixteen occasions, Balmir testified that the video
could not portray the path or exact locations of the phones. For example,
she stated that the video did not “demonstrate the exact route that someone
may have taken” and was “absolutely not a representation of how [the
individuals] travel or which route they took.” The jury was also advised
that CSLI does not provide the precise location of a cell phone, but rather
tracks its location anywhere within a mile and a half radius of the nearest
tower. The court, therefore, did not abuse its discretion.
¶79 Smith argues for the first time on appeal that the video was
unfairly prejudicial because it showed K.L.’s phone fade away after her
death. Specifically, after the time of K.L.’s death, the video shows a small
circle surrounding her cell phone slowly fading away.
¶80 We find no error, much less fundamental error. Even if the
depiction in the video suggests K.L.’s death, Smith does not explain how he
was prejudiced. No one disputes that K.L. did, in fact, die near the location
of her cell phone, and there is nothing about the “fading circle” that is
unduly prejudicial or inflammatory.
¶81 Finally, Smith argues that the court abused its discretion by
admitting the video without watching it. The court, however, viewed
essentially the same material in the PowerPoint. And, based on Smith’s
objections, the court was apprised of the inaccuracies in the video.
Although it would have been better practice to view the video in its entirety,
the trial court did not abuse its discretion.
E.
¶82 Smith argues the trial court violated the Confrontation Clause
by restricting his cross-examination of the State’s former case agent,
Detective Udd. “We review limitations on the scope of cross-examination
for abuse of discretion.” State v. Delahanty, 226 Ariz. 502, 506 ¶ 17 (2011).
¶83 PPD investigated former case agent Detective Udd’s
timekeeping practices from October 2015 through October 2016. PPD
ultimately determined that Udd had logged ninety-six hours of
unaccounted-for work time. Udd was demoted and PPD recommended he
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Opinion of the Court
be charged with theft, a class three felony. But on September 1, 2017, the
Maricopa County Attorney’s Office (“MCAO”) declined to charge Udd.
¶84 Before trial, Smith filed a motion in limine asking the court to
allow him to question Udd about the circumstances of his demotion. Smith
did not, however, request permission to ask Udd about MCAO’s charging
decision. 4 The trial court granted Smith’s motion in part, allowing him to
question Udd about his unaccounted-for hours, PPD’s inquiry into his
hours, and his retirement. In its ruling, the court further stated that Udd
could not be questioned about “the county attorney’s office not charging
him.”
¶85 Smith now claims that Udd might have been motivated to
testify unfavorably against him based on MCAO’s charging decision. He
argues that Udd “had every incentive to prove his value to the
prosecution,” suggesting that Udd testified against him to avoid being
charged.
¶86 “The right to cross-examination must be kept within
‘reasonable’ bounds and the trial court has discretion to curtail its scope.”
State v. Fleming, 117 Ariz. 122, 125 (1977). “The test is whether the defendant
has been denied the opportunity of presenting to the trier of fact
information which bears either on the issues in the case or on the credibility
of the witness.” Id. Although a court cannot prohibit all questioning
bearing on a witness’s credibility, courts retain “wide latitude” to
reasonably limit cross-examination based on, “among other things,
harassment, prejudice, confusion of the issues, the witness’ safety, or
interrogation that is repetitive or only marginally relevant.” Delaware v. Van
Arsdall, 475 U.S. 673, 679 (1986).
¶87 We find no Confrontation Clause violation. As an initial
matter, the trial court gave Smith broad latitude in impeaching Udd’s
credibility. Specifically, the court allowed Smith to question Udd about
several matters related to the PPD investigation, including his theft of time.
State v. Adams, 155 Ariz. 117, 121–22 (App. 1987) (finding no Confrontation
4 Smith now claims that the State raised the issue of whether MCAO’s
charging decision was admissible for impeachment purposes. The record
does not support this contention. Nevertheless, because we find no error,
much less fundamental error, whether this claim was preserved for our
review does not affect our decision.
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Opinion of the Court
Clause violation in part because the defendant was able to attack the
witness’s credibility on several matters).
¶88 Further, Smith had no good-faith basis to support his claim
that Udd altered his testimony in return for leniency from the State. Rather,
he simply speculates that the State may have tried to elicit favorable
testimony from Udd in exchange for leniency. Such speculation, however,
does not give rise to a Confrontation Clause violation. See State v. McElyea,
130 Ariz. 185, 186–87 (1981) (finding no Confrontation Clause violation
where defendant sought to question a witness about a subsequent criminal
charge not subject to any plea agreement because there was no evidence it
would have revealed that the witness had a bias or interest in testifying
against a former codefendant); Fleming, 117 Ariz. at 126 (finding no abuse
of discretion where the defendant could not show that further
cross-examination regarding a witness’s brief stay in a mental hospital four
years prior bore on his credibility where there was no indication that the
witness continued to have mental problems); State v. Abdi, 226 Ariz. 361,
366–67 ¶ 22–23 (App. 2011) (finding no violation in part because the record
contained no evidence supporting the defendant’s theory that a witness
was motivated to lie).
¶89 Relying on State v. Little, Smith argues he had a right to
cross-examine Udd to see what facts “might develop.” 87 Ariz. 295, 301
(1960). We are unpersuaded. Little did not address what kind of proof, if
any, was submitted to support the defendant’s attack on the witness’s
credibility. Id. Rather, the court simply stated that the offer of proof was
within “the range of permissible cross-examination.” Id. Here, Smith gave
no offer of proof that Udd agreed to testify against Smith in return for
leniency from the State. See State v. Cadena, 9 Ariz. App. 369, 371 (1969)
(finding reversible error where a defendant attached an offer of proof—that
the officer was facing a departmental inquiry after a fatal shooting occurred
during his investigation—with his request to question the officer to show
that he was motivated to secure a conviction against the defendant).
¶90 Finally, Smith has failed to show that he suffered prejudice.
He argues that the “entire case relied on the jury’s faith in Udd’s
investigation” and impeaching Udd would have shown he had “every
incentive to prove his value to the prosecution.” We disagree. Based on
the evidence presented at trial, Udd’s credibility was not a central issue in
this case. Cf. State v. Glissendorf, 235 Ariz. 147, 149 ¶ 2, 152 ¶ 19 (2014)
(explaining that a defendant was prejudiced by destruction of recordings
that could have been used to impeach the State’s only witness in a child
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Opinion of the Court
molestation case). Rather, Udd testified about photos, video footage, CSLI,
documents, texts, and Facebook messages he gathered during his
investigation almost three years before MCAO’s charging decision.
Further, there is no evidence that Udd altered these exhibits to ensure a
conviction, nor is there any evidence that the investigation was tainted by
MCAO’s charging decision. See State v. Carreon, 210 Ariz. 54, 63 ¶ 37,
supplemented, 211 Ariz. 32 (2005) (finding no Confrontation Clause violation
and explaining that unrelated information sought through
cross-examination could have confused the jury).
¶91 Therefore, given the trial court’s wide latitude to limit the
scope of cross-examination on issues regarding a witness’s bias, see Van
Arsdall, 475 U.S. at 679, we conclude there was no error.
F.
¶92 Smith argues that the trial court erred by failing to reinstruct
the jury at the end of the aggravation phase in violation of Smith’s right to
a fair trial under the Due Process Clause. Because Smith did not object, we
review this claim for fundamental error. Escalante, 245 Ariz. at 138 ¶ 1.
¶93 At the beginning of the aggravation phase, the court read the
final aggravation phase instructions to the jury. Following the instructions,
counsel presented arguments highlighting the evidence that was already
presented during the guilt phase. At the conclusion of the arguments, the
judge did not reinstruct the jurors, but simply reminded them that their
verdict had to be unanimous, the admonition was still in effect, and told
them to take their copies of the jury instructions with them to deliberate.
The entire aggravation phase, including instructions, lasted less than fifty
minutes.
¶94 Arizona Rule of Criminal Procedure 19.1(a)(1),(b), which
“generally applies to all trials,” states that a court should instruct the jury
after the presentation of evidence and closing arguments “unless the court
directs otherwise.” The comment to Rule 19.1 provides “[t]he court has
discretion to give final instructions to the jury before closing arguments of
counsel instead of after.” Ariz. R. Crim. P. 19.1 cmt; see State v. Nieto, 186
Ariz. 449, 457 (App. 1996) (finding no error or prejudice where the court
gave final jury instructions before closing arguments under Rule 19.1).
¶95 In contrast, Rule 19.1(d), which specifically applies to the
“aggravation phase” of a capital case, does not expressly state that the court
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Opinion of the Court
may “direct otherwise” with respect to the order of the trial. Rather, Rules
19.1(d) (4), (7)–(8) provide that during the aggravation phase, the State must
first offer evidence in support of each aggravator, and the court must
instruct the jury after the parties “present arguments.” In short, Rule
19.1(d), by its terms, indicates that the trial judge has less discretion to
change the order of the trial during the aggravation phase than the guilt
phase. As a result, we conclude that the trial court did not comply with
Rule 19.1(d)(7)–(8) by instructing the jury at the beginning of the
aggravation phase.
¶96 Nevertheless, even assuming the error was fundamental,
Smith has not shown prejudice. State v. Kinkade, 140 Ariz. 91, 94–95 (1984)
(finding no fundamental error where the court instructed the jury on
reasonable doubt before the guilt phase, the court referred the jury to their
copy of the instructions, and the attorneys reiterated the standard in their
closing arguments); see State v. Jackson, 144 Ariz. 53, 55 (1985) (declining to
reverse even under a harmless error standard where the failure to instruct
at the end of the trial did not influence the verdict). Here, the trial court
read the final instructions to the jury less than fifty minutes before they
recessed to deliberate, referenced the instructions at the end of the
aggravation phase, and provided the jury with written copies of the
instructions.
¶97 Smith’s reliance on State v. (Carl D.) Johnson, 173 Ariz. 274
(1992), is misplaced. There, the jury listened to a full day of evidence after
the court read the instructions. Id. at 276. Here, the entire aggravation
phase lasted less than fifty minutes. And unlike (Carl D.) Johnson, where
the trial court gave an improper reasonable doubt instruction that shifted
the burden of proof to the defendant, here it is undisputed that the trial
court’s instructions were proper. Id.
¶98 Therefore, even if the court erred by failing to reinstruct the
jury at the close of the aggravation phase, it was not fundamental error.
G.
¶99 Smith argues there is insufficient evidence to show that he
committed the murder “as consideration for the receipt, or in expectation
of the receipt, of anything of pecuniary value.” § 13-751(F)(5) (2012). We
will uphold the jury’s verdict if it is supported by substantial evidence, and
we “view[] the evidence in the light most favorable to sustaining the jury
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Opinion of the Court
verdict.” State v. Gunches, 225 Ariz. 22, 25 ¶¶ 13–14 (2010) (quoting Roque,
213 Ariz. at 218 ¶ 93).
¶100 Pecuniary gain does not have to be the defendant’s only
motive for a murder. See State v. Acuna Valenzuela, 245 Ariz. 197, 212 ¶ 42
(2018) (stating that “pecuniary gain need not be the only motive for the
(F)(5) aggravator to apply”); State v. Martinez, 218 Ariz. 421, 435 ¶ 66 (2008)
(“Pecuniary gain . . . need only be a motive for the murder, not the sole
motive.”). Additionally, pecuniary gain may be proved by direct or
circumstantial evidence. State v. Rose, 231 Ariz. 500, 515 ¶ 73, 516 ¶ 75
(2013); see also Walker v. State, 707 So. 2d 300, 304–05, 317 (Fla. 1997)
(providing that substantial evidence supported pecuniary gain aggravator
where the State showed that the defendant, who was convicted of
murdering the victim, encouraged her to have an abortion before the
murder, expressed concerns over paying child support, and admitted he
was arguing with the victim before he killed her); People v. Carasi, 190 P.3d
616, 648 (Cal. 2008) (holding that the jury could reasonably “conclude that
defendant sought to benefit financially” from the victim’s death by
eliminating his monthly child support obligation, given the fact defendant
had limited financial resources and he “perceived his child support
obligation to [the victim] as a tremendous burden, calling her a ‘bitch’ and
‘whore’ who deserved to die, and saying that his financial future would be
‘fucked’ if nothing changed”).
¶101 Here, there was substantial circumstantial evidence showing
that Smith murdered K.L. to avoid paying child support for K.S. The
assault on K.L. at Kiwanis Park strongly suggests that Smith tried to end
her pregnancy. Supra ¶¶ 5–6. Additionally, throughout the DES
proceedings, Smith engaged in a course of conduct, as well as made several
statements, showing that he did not want to pay child support to K.L.
¶102 During the child support proceedings, Smith made several
statements to K.L. showing that he was focused on what his financial
obligations would be if the paternity tests determined he was K.S.’s father.
For example, on November 13, Smith contacted K.L. on Facebook and said,
“We need to do a legal DNA test so we can get this situation handled. Since
you need diapers and wipes and money, we need to do a DNA test through
the courts to establish paternity legally because I’m done with all this
drama.” (emphasis added). Smith also expressed his frustration with K.L.’s
efforts to establish paternity so that she could collect support. On December
10, the day before the murder, Smith stated, “I know you only care because
your benefits will get cut off without the test,” and said, “If you don’t want
25
STATE V. SMITH
Opinion of the Court
me to see the baby and you just want money then let me know.” (emphasis
added).
¶103 Smith also failed to appear for a paternity test, effectively
blocking K.L.’s efforts to collect support. 5 As a result, on December 10, the
day before the murder, K.L. brought the issue to a head. She told Smith to
“stop talking to me and take your DNA test,” and warned that he “ha[d]
till tomorrow till [a DES worker] sends everything off to the courts.” When
Smith said he would come at noon on December 11, K.L. pressed him and
asked why he could not come sooner and said “Don’t say you coming
tomorrow then don’t come. Don’t tell me you are going to take the test and
then don’t show.” She also asked if she could drive with him to the DES
testing site, indicating she wanted to make sure that Smith appeared.
¶104 Smith knew that on December 11 he could no longer avoid
paternity testing. As a result, substantial evidence demonstrates he
murdered K.L. that day. Then, immediately after the murder, he drove to
DES and submitted to DNA testing. Upon his arrival, Smith asked a DES
employee what would happen if K.L. did not show up for her DNA test.
He was told the matter would be closed. Smith secretly recorded the
conversation on his cell phone, indicating he wanted to preserve a record
of this statement.
¶105 Smith argues, however, that there is insufficient evidence to
prove the pecuniary gain aggravator because the evidence showed that (1)
he was uncertain about whether he was the father of K.S., and (2) as a legal
5 Defense counsel claimed at oral argument in this Court that Smith
appeared for his December 4 appointment and suggested that he was sent
away by DES for some reason, perhaps because he had a minor child with
him. This argument was never raised in Smith’s briefs and is therefore
waived. Moreover, the record shows that Smith either never arrived for the
appointment or voluntarily left without providing a DNA sample. Kathy
McGill, a DES caseworker, testified that although the DES file contained a
code indicating that the “noncustodial parent” “showed for genetic tests,”
there was no record that Smith signed the sign-in sheet on December 4.
McGill also testified that in her experience, a DES employee would not turn
away a person who showed up for DNA testing. Additionally, McGill
stated that when Smith missed his appointment, she called him to
reschedule. When Smith finally returned her call on December 8, he never
told her that he made the December 4 appointment.
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STATE V. SMITH
Opinion of the Court
matter, despite the death of K.L., as long as K.S. was alive he might have
still been responsible for child support. We disagree.
¶106 Based on the Kiwanis Park incident, as well as Smith’s
statements and behavior throughout the DES proceedings, the jury could
well conclude that Smith knew he was the father of K.S. Additionally, the
evidence supports the conclusion that Smith—even if he was legally
mistaken—had an expectation that he could avoid paying child support if
he murdered K.L. Indeed, on the day of the murder, the DES worker
confirmed this expectation. In short, because § 13-751(F)(5) 6 only requires
evidence of an expectation of pecuniary gain, it is irrelevant whether Smith’s
actions, as a matter of law, released him from paying child support. See
Carasi, 190 P.3d at 647–48 (stating pecuniary gain aggravator did not require
proof that the defendant “experience[d] any actual pecuniary benefit”);
People v. Edelbacher, 766 P.2d 1, 26 (Cal. 1989) (rejecting a similar argument
and reasoning that “[p]roof of actual pecuniary benefit” is unnecessary
because “the relevant inquiry is whether the defendant committed the
murder in the expectation” of financial gain (quoting People v. Howard, 749
P.2d 279, 298 (Cal. 1988))).
¶107 In sum, substantial evidence supports the jury’s finding that
Smith killed K.L. for pecuniary gain.
H.
¶108 Smith argues that his conviction for child abuse of K.S. did
not qualify as a serious offense aggravator under § 13-751(F)(2) because the
trial court failed to instruct the jury that the crime of child abuse must be
committed “against a child.” We review de novo “whether jury
instructions properly state the law.” State v. (Christopher M.) Payne, 233 Ariz.
484, 505 ¶ 68 (2013).
¶109 The list of serious offenses under § 13-751(F)(2) includes
Dangerous Crimes Against Children (“DCAC”) under A.R.S. § 13-705.
6We note that although this version of the pecuniary gain statute applies
here, in 2019 the legislature amended and renumbered the statute. As
amended, § 13-751(F)(3) is more limited in its scope, stating that pecuniary
gain requires proof the “defendant procured the commission of the offense
by payment, or promise of payment, of anything of pecuniary value, or the
defendant committed the offense as a result of payment, or a promise of
payment, of anything of pecuniary value.”
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Opinion of the Court
Child abuse committed pursuant to § 13-3623(A)(1) is a DCAC, and
therefore qualifies as a serious offense aggravator, if it is “intentionally or
knowingly” committed “against a minor who is under fifteen years of age.”
§§ 13-705(Q)(1)(h); -3623(A)(1).
¶110 Here, the jury convicted Smith of intentional or knowing child
abuse under § 13-3623(A)(1) and found that K.S. was under the age of
fifteen. As a result, Smith’s conviction for child abuse was a DCAC and
qualified as a serious offense aggravator. §§ 13-705(Q)(1)(h), -751(F)(2).
¶111 Smith argues, however, that because § 13-3623(A)(1) allows
child abuse to be committed “knowingly,” to qualify as a serious offense
the jury must determine whether the offense was committed against a child.
Smith contends that the jury never made this finding and, as a result, it
never determined whether he knowingly shot K.S. (a crime against a child),
or whether he simply “pulled the trigger” with no intent to harm her (a
crime committed fortuitously, but not knowingly against a child). See State
v. (Roger) Williams, 175 Ariz. 98, 101, 102–04 (1993) (holding that the
evidence did not show the defendant committed a crime against a child
where the defendant, who was driving while intoxicated, struck and
injured the occupants of a car, including a minor under the age of fifteen;
under these specific circumstances, the court determined that the defendant
could not be convicted of a DCAC because he had no way of knowing a
child was in the car).
¶112 We disagree. The record shows that Smith’s conduct was
directed against K.S. Smith fired one bullet into the back of K.L.’s head, and
another bullet into K.S.’s thigh. Further, after K.S. was wounded, Smith
knowingly left the scene while the infant was bleeding and lying face down
on the ground. See State v. Sepahi, 206 Ariz. 321, 322–23 ¶¶ 10, 12, 324 ¶ 19
(2003) (holding that defendant committed a DCAC where he shot a
fourteen-year-old in the stomach; the court concluded that such conduct
was “directed, aimed at, and targeted . . . against a victim under the age of
fifteen”). And here the State alluded to both theories—shooting K.S. in the
thigh and abandoning her after she was wounded—as grounds for
convicting Smith of child abuse. See also State v. Herrera, 176 Ariz. 9, 16
(1993) (explaining that the state must only prove the elements of the crime,
and a defendant is not entitled to a unanimous verdict on the “precise
manner in which the act was committed” (quoting State v. Encinas, 132 Ariz.
493, 496 (1982))).
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Opinion of the Court
¶113 Additionally, none of Smith’s proffered cases suggests that
child abuse under § 13-3623(A)(1) is not a crime committed “against” a
child. See (Christopher M.) Payne, 233 Ariz. at 505–06 ¶¶ 69–72 (holding that,
with respect to the crime of child abuse under § 13-3623(A)(1), the State
need not establish any mental state regarding the circumstances of the
offense, but emphasizing that the mental states of “intentionally or
knowingly” applied to the defendant’s actions); State v. Millis, 242 Ariz. 33,
41 ¶ 26 n.7 (App. 2017) (to same effect); State v. (Joe M.) Johnson, 181 Ariz.
346 (App. 1995) (holding that under § 13-3623(B), which makes it illegal to
place children in a physically dangerous environment, maintaining such a
dangerous environment in an apartment was child abuse); State v. Greene,
168 Ariz. 104, 107–08 (App. 1991) (holding that unsanitary apartment was
not necessarily “likely” to produce serious physical injury under § 13-
3623(B)(1)); State v. Cantua-Ramirez, 149 Ariz. 377, 379–80 (App. 1986)
(determining that a defendant who accidentally struck a baby could be
guilty under transferred intent).
¶114 Smith also argues that he was entitled to a separate jury
instruction in the aggravation phase stating that for child abuse to qualify
as a serious offense under § 13-751(F)(2), the jury must determine the
offense was committed against a child. We disagree. The trial court was
not required to give this instruction because proof of the underlying crime
necessarily included a finding that the offense was committed against a
child. See supra ¶¶ 109–10, 112; State v. Coghill, 216 Ariz. 578, 590 ¶ 49 (App.
2007) (determining that defendant who knowingly possessed child
pornography satisfied the DCAC statute because the jury “implicitly found
that his conduct focused on the children”); cf. (Bernard) Smith, 146 Ariz. at
498–99 (explaining that a jury is not required to separately find
dangerousness where an element of the offense charged requires proof of
its dangerous nature); State v. Gatliff, 209 Ariz. 362, 365–66 ¶¶ 17–18 (App.
2004) (to same effect). But see State v. Larin, 233 Ariz. 202, 212–13 ¶¶ 38, 42
(App. 2013) (stating that even though a defendant’s armed robbery
conviction was “inherently dangerous” because it involved possessing a
deadly weapon during the course of a robbery, the jury could have found
the dangerousness allegation not proven because it acquitted the defendant
of the related possession of a deadly weapon charge).
¶115 We reject Smith’s claim that failure to give the subject
instruction was structural error. The “relatively few instances in which
we . . . regard error as structural” are those that “deprive defendants of
basic protections and infect the entire trial process from beginning to end.”
State v. Bush, 244 Ariz. 575, 591 ¶ 66 (2018) (internal quotation marks
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STATE V. SMITH
Opinion of the Court
omitted) (quoting State v. Ring, 204 Ariz. 534, 552 ¶ 45 (2003)). Those
instances include:
a biased trial judge, complete denial of criminal defense
counsel, denial of access to criminal defense counsel during
an overnight trial recess, denial of self-representation in
criminal cases, defective reasonable doubt jury instructions,
exclusion of jurors of the defendant’s race from grand jury
selection, excusing a juror because of his views on capital
punishment, and denial of a public criminal trial.
Ring, 204 Ariz. at 552–53 ¶ 46. None of those instances are present here.
I.
¶116 Smith argues that the trial court violated the Eighth
Amendment by instructing the jury that it could consider mitigation only
“so long as” it related to Smith’s character, propensity, history or record, or
circumstances of the offense. “‘We review a trial court’s refusal to give a
jury instruction for abuse of discretion,’ but we assess the legal adequacy of
the instructions de novo, viewing them in their entirety.” State v. Miller, 234
Ariz. 31, 43 ¶ 41 (2013) (quoting Garcia, 224 Ariz. at 18 ¶ 75).
¶117 The “Capital Case 2.3–Mitigation” instruction provides that
mitigating circumstances “are any factors that are a basis for a life sentence
instead of a death sentence so long as they relate to any sympathetic or other
aspect of the defendant’s character, propensity, history or record or
circumstances of the offense.” RAJI (Crim.) Capital Case 2.3, at 553 (3d ed.
2016) (emphasis added). Before the penalty phase, Smith requested that the
court deviate from the RAJI and instead instruct the jury to consider
“relevant factors . . . including any aspect of the defendant’s character,
propensities or record and any other circumstances of the offense.”
(emphasis added). Denying Smith’s request, the trial court followed the
RAJI.
¶118 The court’s instructions were proper. A jury may only
consider relevant mitigation factors, which “includ[e] any aspect of the
defendant’s character, propensities or record and any of the circumstances
of the offense.” § 13-751(G); State v. Villalobos, 225 Ariz. 74, 83 ¶ 40 (2010)
(“Relevance . . . is the only statutory limitation on the jury’s ability to
consider mitigation evidence.”); see also Lockett v. Ohio, 438 U.S. 586, 604 &
n.12 (1978) (requiring a jury consider categories of relevant mitigation as
“any aspect of a defendant’s character or record and any of the
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STATE V. SMITH
Opinion of the Court
circumstances of the offense”); Eddings v. Oklahoma, 455 U.S. 104, 110 (1982)
(adopting Lockett’s plurality opinion).
¶119 Smith first argues that the United States Supreme Court
expanded the Lockett/Eddings mitigation categories in Tennard v. Dretke, 542
U.S. 274, 284–85 (2004) (citing McKoy v. North Carolina, 494 U.S. 433 (1990)).
Smith is incorrect. In Tennard, the Court held that a jury must be allowed
to consider factors without a causal connection to the crime if they “tend[]
logically to prove or disprove” a fact that the jury could “reasonably deem
to have mitigating value.” 542 U.S. at 284 (quoting McKoy, 494 U.S. at 440).
Neither Tennard nor McKoy expanded or altered the categories provided by
Lockett/Eddings. See id. at 285; McKoy, 494 U.S. at 438–39, 443; see also State
v. Burns, 237 Ariz. 1, 31 ¶ 144 (2015) (holding that jury instructions
restricting mitigation to the Lockett/Eddings categories were proper); State v.
Velazquez, 216 Ariz. 300, 311 ¶ 44 (2007) (to same effect); State v. Tucker, 215
Ariz. 298, 317 ¶ 72 (2007) (providing that the “so long as” mitigation
instruction allowed the jury to consider “all relevant evidence”).
¶120 Next, Smith argues that the instruction was invalid because it
misstated § 13-751(G), which provides that the jury must consider relevant
factors “including any aspect of the defendant’s character, propensities or
record and any of the circumstances of the offense.” But we have
consistently held that the “so long as” language in RAJI 2.3 complies with
§ 13-751(G). Burns, 237 Ariz. at 31 ¶ 144; Velazquez, 216 Ariz. at 311 ¶ 44;
Tucker, 215 Ariz. at 317 ¶ 72.
¶121 Accordingly, we conclude that the jury was properly
instructed, and no error occurred.
J.
¶122 Smith argues that the trial court and the State violated the
Sixth and Eighth Amendments and article 2, section 24 of the Arizona
Constitution by advising the jury that they could grant mercy only if the
evidence supported it. We review de novo whether the trial court has
properly instructed the jury in a capital case. State v. Glassel, 211 Ariz. 33,
53 ¶ 74 (2005). Where the error is not preserved, we will reverse if the error
is structural or fundamental. Valverde, 220 Ariz. at 584–85 ¶¶ 10–12.
¶123 During the penalty phase, the trial court instructed the jury
that “mitigating circumstances are not an excuse or justification for the
offense but are factors that, in fairness and mercy, may reduce the
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Opinion of the Court
Defendant’s moral culpability.” RAJI Capital Case 2.3. During its closing
argument, the State told the jury that it could not base its decision on “just
mere sympathy not related to the evidence . . . . It cannot be mercy for
mercy’s sake” and “[y]ou’re not to be swayed by mere sympathy not related
to the evidence . . . . You cannot have mercy for mercy’s sake. You cannot
have sympathy for sympathy’s sake. It must be related to this case.”
¶124 We find no error, much less fundamental error. The court’s
instruction and the State’s argument were legally accurate. “The
Constitution does not require . . . that a jury ‘be able to dispense mercy on
the basis of a sympathetic response to the defendant.’” Carreon, 210 Ariz.
at 70 ¶ 83 (quoting Johnson v. Texas, 509 U.S. 350, 371 (1993)); California v.
Brown, 479 U.S. 538, 542–43 (1987) (to same effect). “[M]ercy is not a
mitigating circumstance” but is a “concept jurors may apply in evaluating
the existence of mitigating circumstances.” State v. Andriano, 215 Ariz. 497,
507 ¶¶ 47–49 (2007), abrogated on other grounds by State v. Ferrero, 229 Ariz.
239 (2012).
¶125 Smith’s reliance on Gregg v. Georgia, 428 U.S. 153, 199 (1976),
is misplaced. There, the Supreme Court upheld a statute allowing a jury to
make a binding recommendation of mercy absent any mitigation. Id. at 197.
The Court, however, did not suggest that juries must be permitted to
consider mercy for mercy’s sake. See id.; Johnson, 509 U.S. at 371–72
(subsequently explaining that a jury need not be allowed to dispense mercy
on the basis of sympathy).
¶126 Smith also cites article 2, section 24 of the Arizona
Constitution, claiming it “requires that juries have an unfettered right to
grant mercy in capital cases.” But article 2, section 24 requires only the right
to a “speedy public trial by an impartial jury.” It does not suggest an
“unfettered right” to mercy. See Ariz. Const. art. 2, § 24.
¶127 Finally, we reject Smith’s claim that the trial court’s
instruction regarding mercy was structural error. None of the instances
involving structural error are present here. See Ring, 204 Ariz. at 552–53
¶ 46 (listing the “relatively few instances” of structural error and noting that
in each the error infected “the entire trial process” from beginning to end).
K.
¶128 Smith argues the trial court abused its discretion by allowing
inadmissible mitigation rebuttal by the State. We review a trial court’s
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STATE V. SMITH
Opinion of the Court
admission of evidence during the penalty phase for abuse of discretion and
give “deference to a trial judge’s determination of whether rebuttal
evidence offered during the penalty phase is ‘relevant’ within the meaning
of the statute.” State v. Champagne, 247 Ariz. 116, 142 ¶ 87 (2019) (quoting
State v. McGill, 213 Ariz. 147, 156–57 ¶ 40 (2006)). “The threshold for
relevance is a low one.” State v. Leteve, 237 Ariz. 516, 529 ¶ 48 (2015)
(quoting Roque, 213 Ariz. at 221 ¶ 109). Because Smith failed to object at
trial, we review this claim for fundamental error. Escalante, 245 Ariz. at 138
¶ 1.
¶129 Smith first claims that the testimony of the State’s rebuttal
expert, Dr. Pitt, was inadmissible because it was not relevant to his
proffered mitigation. We disagree. Dr. Pitt, a forensic psychologist,
testified about several matters relevant to whether Smith should be shown
leniency, including Smith’s mental health, relationship with Ward, and
actions leading up to K.L.’s murder. Moreover, under § 13-752(G), the State
“may present any evidence” during the penalty phase “that is relevant to
the determination of whether there is mitigation that is sufficiently
substantial to call for leniency.” Additionally, “regardless of whether the
defendant presents evidence of mitigation, the state may present any
evidence that demonstrates that the defendant should not be shown
leniency including any evidence regarding the defendant’s character,
propensities, criminal record or other acts.” Id.; see § 13-751(G) (providing
that the jury “shall consider as mitigating circumstances any factors
proffered by the defendant or the state that are relevant in determining
whether to impose a sentence less than death”); Champagne, 247 Ariz. at 142
¶¶ 89–90 (explaining that mitigation rebuttal may include any evidence
that demonstrates the defendant should not be shown leniency, and need
not be relevant to the defendant’s proffered mitigation); see also State v.
Guarino, 238 Ariz. 437, 440 ¶ 13 (2015) (“Taken together, A.R.S. §§ 13-751(G)
and -752(G) permit jurors to hear evidence relating to circumstances of the
crime and the defendant’s character.”); State v. Pandeli, 215 Ariz. 514, 527
¶¶ 41–42 (2007) (allowing any evidence demonstrating the defendant
should not be shown leniency).
¶130 Smith next argues that four of Pitt’s comments were improper
because they were more prejudicial than probative and violated due
process by rendering the trial “fundamentally unfair.” Guarino, 238 Ariz.
at 441 ¶ 15 (stating that due process is violated if rebuttal evidence “is so
unduly prejudicial that it renders the trial fundamentally unfair” (quoting
Payne v. Tennessee, 501 U.S. 808, 825 (1991))).
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STATE V. SMITH
Opinion of the Court
1. Assault at Kiwanis Park
¶131 Pitt stated that Ward did not compel Smith to “set up what
happened at Kiwanis Park” and it was “his opinion” that “Smith engaged
in a significant amount of planning [for the murder] that date[d] back to at
least that incident in Kiwanis Park in August.” Smith argues that these
statements were unduly prejudicial and improperly implied that Smith was
responsible for K.L.’s attack. We disagree. Although Smith was not
charged for the Kiwanis Park incident, substantial evidence had been
presented to the jury suggesting that Smith helped plan the attack. Supra
¶¶ 5–6. Thus, Pitt’s statements were not prejudicial to the extent they
rendered the trial “fundamentally unfair.” Guarino, 238 Ariz. at 441 ¶ 15.
2. Attempted Murder of K.S.
¶132 Pitt implied that Smith attempted to kill K.S. For example,
Pitt stated that not everyone involved in a dysfunctional relationship goes
“out and commit[s] murder and attempted murder” and that Smith chose
“to tak[e] another person’s life and attempt[] to take the life of his own
baby.” Smith argues these statements were unduly prejudicial because
Smith was not charged with attempting to murder K.S.
¶133 We conclude that these statements were not so prejudicial as
to make the trial “fundamentally unfair.” Id. Pitt’s comments addressed
whether Smith should be shown leniency. Further, any prejudice Smith
may have suffered by Pitt referring to his crime against K.S. as attempted
murder was minimal. Specifically, the jury had already convicted Smith of
child abuse for shooting K.S., a two-month-old infant, and leaving her face
down on the ground with a bullet wound. We find no error.
3. Dr. Lacey
¶134 Pitt also disagreed with Dr. Lacey, Smith’s mitigation witness,
about the impact of Ward’s emotional abuse on Smith. Pitt testified that he
“respectfully disagree[d]” with Dr. Lacey about blaming “solely . . . the
relationship between [Smith] and [K.] Ward . . . for choices that [Smith]
made.” Pitt also stated that, “my sense in looking at Dr. Lacey’s report—I
didn’t know him—or I didn’t know of him and my sense is that he didn’t—
my guess was he really didn’t have much forensic experience” and was
“making this leap” between the dysfunctional relationship with Ward and
Smith’s actions.
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STATE V. SMITH
Opinion of the Court
¶135 Pitt’s comments about Lacey’s qualifications were not unduly
prejudicial. As a general matter, an expert should not comment on the
credibility of another witness. See, e.g., State v. Lindsey, 149 Ariz. 472, 475
(1986) (explaining that expert witnesses should not provide opinions about
the credibility of another witness); State v. Reimer, 189 Ariz. 239, 240–41
(App. 1997) (to same effect). However, it was not improper for Pitt to
question Lacey’s conclusions or his expert qualifications. See Ariz. R. Evid.
702; State v. Hummert, 188 Ariz. 119, 126 (1997) (explaining that an expert’s
opinion and the extent of their knowledge is “fair game during
cross-examination”); Downs v. Scheffler, 206 Ariz. 496, 501 ¶ 21 (App. 2003)
(“Arizona has a long-favored practice of allowing full cross-examination of
expert witnesses, including inquiry about the expert’s sources, relations
with the hiring party and counsel, possible bias, and prior opinions.”
(quoting Ariz. Indep. Redistricting Comm’n v. Fields, 206 Ariz. 130, 143 ¶ 43
(App. 2003))).
4. Premeditation
¶136 Finally, Pitt testified that there was “nothing rash or
impulsive” about K.L.’s murder; it was “thought out, was executed,” and
there “were a series of behaviors engaged [in] after the offense to attempt
to evade apprehension and avoid detection.” Smith argues that Pitt’s
discussion of premeditation “improperly implied” that Smith did not
deserve leniency because the murder was premeditated. We disagree. An
expert may comment about a defendant’s deliberate actions in planning a
murder and avoiding detection. See Champagne, 247 Ariz. at 143 ¶¶ 92–93
(finding testimony not unduly prejudicial when it “simply explained facts”
and gave “details . . . about [the defendant] fleeing the scene”).
¶137 Thus, we conclude that none of Smith’s claims regarding
Pitt’s testimony survive fundamental error review. Escalante, 245 Ariz. at
140–41 ¶ 16. Pitt’s testimony, at most, offered opinions based on evidence
already presented to the jury. As a result, there was no prejudice.
L.
¶138 Smith argues that the State engaged in prosecutorial error in
violation of his due process rights. We will reverse Smith’s conviction
because of prosecutorial error if: “(1) misconduct is indeed present; and (2)
a reasonable likelihood exists that the misconduct could have affected the
jury’s verdict, thereby denying defendant a fair trial.” State v. Anderson, 210
Ariz. 327, 340, supplemented, 211 Ariz. 59 (2005) (quoting State v. Atwood, 171
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STATE V. SMITH
Opinion of the Court
Ariz. 576, 606 (1992)). Because Smith never objected, we review this claim
for fundamental error. State v. Prince, 226 Ariz. 516, 537 ¶ 84 (2011). To
establish prejudice, a defendant must show that absent the prosecutorial
error, “a reasonable jury could have [plausibly and intelligently] reached a
different verdict.” Escalante, 245 Ariz. at 144 ¶¶ 29, 31. Although a
defendant must typically establish prejudice under prongs 1 or 2 of
Escalante, id. at 142 ¶ 21, a “defendant claiming cumulative error based on
prosecutorial misconduct need not separately assert prejudice since a
successful claim necessarily establishes the unfairness of a trial.” State v.
Vargas, 249 Ariz. 186, 190 ¶ 13 (2020).
1. Fraud on the Court
¶139 Smith argues that the State committed “fraud on the court”
by obtaining the CSLI Order from the IA Court rather than the judge
assigned to the case. Smith’s claim finds no support in the record. Neither
§ 13-3016(C) nor the Arizona Rules of Criminal Procedure require the State
to obtain a court order from the trial judge assigned to the case. Supra
¶¶ 37–39. And here, the record shows that it was common practice for PPD
to apply for such an order with the IA Court.
2. Serious Offense Aggravator
¶140 In the aggravation phase, the State argued that the (F)(2)
“serious offense” aggravator had been proven when the jury found Smith
guilty of child abuse. Specifically, the State argued “You have already
found the Defendant guilty of child abuse of [K.S.] in this case. The
Defendant shot [K.S.] in the leg.” Smith argues that the State misstated the
law because the (F)(2) aggravator requires more than “bare child abuse”;
rather, it requires a separate finding that the offense was “against a child.”
As discussed supra ¶¶ 112–15, the trial court was not required to instruct
the jury that the child abuse must be against K.S. Therefore, the State
properly stated that Smith’s child abuse conviction was a serious offense.
3. Sentencing
¶141 At the end of the penalty phase, the State argued: “The
question for you now is what is the appropriate punishment for the murder
of [K.L.] and the shooting of a two-month-old child. Do these acts deserve
the death penalty?” The State later argued, “[L]ook at the murder, look at
the child abuse, the aggravating factors, and then decide for yourself is it
enough?” Smith claims that by making this argument, the State improperly
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STATE V. SMITH
Opinion of the Court
suggested that the jury could sentence Smith for his child abuse conviction,
even though Smith’s child abuse sentence was imposed by the trial court.
¶142 The State’s argument was proper. The jury was required to
consider the (F)(2) serious offense aggravator in making its sentencing
determination. See § 13-751(F). The fact that the (F)(2) aggravator, child
abuse, also carried a separate sentence did not prohibit the State from
urging the jury to consider it as an aggravator for capital sentencing
purposes.
4. Kiwanis Park
¶143 Finally, during closing argument, the State told the jury that
Smith “probably” asked Marley to assault K.L. Smith argues that this
statement amounts to prosecutorial error because it is speculative and
unsupported by evidence.
¶144 We disagree. “[D]uring closing arguments counsel may
summarize the evidence, make submittals to the jury, urge the jury to draw
reasonable inferences from the evidence, and suggest ultimate
conclusions.” Goudeau, 239 Ariz. at 466 ¶ 196 (quoting State v. Bible, 175
Ariz. 549, 602 (1993)). In determining whether the State engaged in
prosecutorial error during its closing, “we consider two factors: (1) whether
the prosecutor’s statements called to the jury’s attention matters it should
not have considered in reaching its decision and (2) the probability that the
jurors were in fact influenced by the remarks.” Id. (internal quotation marks
omitted) (quoting State v. Nelson, 229 Ariz. 180, 189 ¶ 39 (2012)).
¶145 Smith has not shown error, much less fundamental error. The
prosecutor’s statements were based on reasonable inferences from the
evidence, supra ¶¶ 5–6, and there is no evidence that they could have caused
the jury to change its verdict. Escalante, 245 Ariz. at 144 ¶ 31. Additionally,
any prejudice was cured by the court instructing the jury that closing
arguments were not evidence. (Christopher M.) Payne, 233 Ariz. at 518 ¶ 151.
¶146 Finally, because none of these instances amount to
prosecutorial error, we need not consider if the individual acts collectively
amount to “persistent and pervasive misconduct.” Escalante-Orozco, 241
Ariz. at 280 ¶ 91; see State v. Bocharski, 218 Ariz. 476, 492 ¶ 75 (2008) (holding
that “[a]bsent any finding of [error], there can be no cumulative effect”).
37
STATE V. SMITH
Opinion of the Court
M.
¶147 Smith argues that the trial court coerced a death verdict when
it gave an impasse instruction after the jury claimed it could not reach a
verdict. We review a court’s decision to give an impasse instruction for an
abuse of discretion. State v. Kuhs, 223 Ariz. 376, 384 ¶ 42 (2010). Coercing a
verdict from the jury is reversible error. State v. Cruz, 218 Ariz. 149, 167
¶ 112 (2008).
¶148 The jury deliberated for two and a half hours before telling
the bailiff that they were unable to “come to an agreement.” The court then
conferred with counsel and stated that the jurors were at an impasse. The
court decided “to explore” the issue with the foreperson:
THE COURT: All right. Madam foreperson, I’ve been
informed that you’ve been unable to reach a decision at this
point.
THE FOREPERSON: That’s correct.
THE COURT: All right. In your view, do you think further
deliberation could result in a verdict?
THE FOREPERSON: No.
THE COURT: All right. I note that you probably were
deliberating about two and a half hours. That actually isn’t
that long of a period of time. You don’t think there’s any
chance that you could reach a consensus?
THE FOREPERSON: It’s possible. I guess we could.
THE COURT: All right. Let’s go ahead and –
THE FOREPERSON: Is that not a long time?
THE COURT: I’m sorry?
THE FOREPERSON: Is that not a long time to deliberate? I
mean –
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STATE V. SMITH
Opinion of the Court
THE COURT: Well, it’s however long that you feel that you
need to deliberate. Let’s go ahead and pass out – I’m going to
give you one more instruction.
¶149 Following this exchange, the court referenced the previously
read instruction, “Duty to Consult With One Another,” which explains that
jurors should deliberate to reach a just verdict but not change their “honest
belief[s] . . . because of the opinions of . . . [other] jurors, or for the mere
purpose of returning a verdict.” RAJI (Crim.) Capital Case 2.4, at 554 (3d
ed. 2016). Next, the court gave the standard impasse instruction. RAJI
(Crim.) Standard Instruction 42, at 15.3 (3d ed. 2016). Immediately
following the impasse instruction, the court stated:
All right. And having said that, there are no time limits.
Whatever you think is appropriate. If you think that the
amount of time that you’ve spent already is appropriate,
that’s fine. And we will accept that. And if you discuss this
amongst yourselves and feel that you don’t need to deliberate
further, let us know that and we’ll take the next step at that
point. Okay. So just consider this instruction. Take it into
consideration. Let us know how you want us to proceed.
The jury deliberated for another forty-nine minutes before returning a
death sentence.
¶150 Arizona Rule of Criminal Procedure 22.4 provides:
If the jury advises the court that it has reached an impasse in
its deliberations, the court may, in the parties’ presence, ask
the jury to determine whether and how the court and counsel
can assist the jury’s deliberations. After receiving the jurors’
response, if any, the court may direct further proceedings as
appropriate.
¶151 Here, we must “determine if the independent judgment of the
jury was displaced.” State v. Huerstel, 206 Ariz. 93, 97 ¶ 5 (2003). In
conducting this analysis, we “view[] the actions of the judge and the
comments made to the jury based on the totality of the circumstances.” Id.
One factor we consider is whether the court knew the numerical split
among the jurors when it addressed the impasse. Id. at 99–100 ¶¶ 17–19,
100–01 ¶ 23 (finding coercion where the jury did not indicate a need for
assistance and the court knew the numerical division of the jurors and twice
suggested that a holdout juror reconsider); State v. McCrimmon, 187 Ariz.
39
 STATE V. SMITH
Opinion of the Court
169, 172 (1996) (explaining that awareness of the numerical division was
“an important factor”). Additionally, we also consider the length of
deliberations prior to the jury’s impasse. See Huerstel, 206 Ariz. at 99 ¶ 17
(determining that three days of deliberations following a three-week trial
“did not clearly signal that th[e] jury had reached an impasse”); Cruz, 218
Ariz. at 166–67 ¶¶ 108–09, 115 (2008) (finding no coercion where the jury
indicated they were deadlocked but they had only been deliberating three
hours); Kuhs, 223 Ariz. at 384 ¶ 44, 385–86 ¶¶ 59–60 (finding no coercion
when impasse instruction was given after two days where jury did not ask
for help).
¶152 We find no error. The court did not know the numerical split
among jurors, and the jury deliberated for only two and a half hours before
reaching an impasse. Additionally, the court reiterated several times that it
was not trying to displace the jury’s judgment, explaining that the jury had
“however long that you feel that you need to deliberate,” and “there are no
time limits” and they should take “whatever [they] think is appropriate.”
The standard impasse instruction provided to the jury also stated that it
was not an attempt to “force . . . a verdict,” jurors “should not change [their]
beliefs,” but should simply “discuss this instruction . . . [and] advise [the
judge] in writing . . . whether [the court or lawyers] can attempt to assist”
the jurors. RAJI Standard Instruction 42. The court also stated that it was
“fine” if they thought the time already spent was sufficient.
¶153 Smith’s other arguments are unpersuasive. For example,
Smith contends that the court improperly told the jurors that they had an
“apparent need for help,” suggesting there was something wrong, e.g., in
failing to reach a verdict. We disagree. A judge is not required to “blindly
accept” an impasse, see Kuhs, 223 Ariz. at 384 ¶ 41, and here, it was not
unreasonable for the judge to assist the jury.
¶154 Next, Smith argues that the court’s assurances—that it was
not trying to coerce a verdict and the jury should take however long they
need—were “hollow.” He relies on Huerstel, 206 Ariz. at 101 ¶ 24, but that
case is distinguishable. There, the court’s impasse instruction effectively
singled out one holdout juror. Id. at 98 ¶¶ 9, 11. In contrast, here, the court
made a general statement—that two and half hours is not actually that
long—to the entire jury and then immediately instructed them to take all
the time they needed.
¶155 Smith also argues that the trial court erred by denying his
request to include a non-unanimous option on the verdict form.
40
STATE V. SMITH
Opinion of the Court
Specifically, Smith requested a verdict form that included an option stating,
“unable to reach a unanimous decision” or “unable to agree.” But the
absence of this option does not establish coercion. The court informed the
jury that if they could not unanimously agree, the foreperson should let the
judge know. And the court informed the jury several times that a non-
unanimous verdict was “perfectly acceptable.”
¶156 Finally, we note that although the jury returned its verdict
shortly after the impasse instruction, see Lowenfield v. Phelps, 484 U.S. 231,
237, 240 (1988) (considering the length of time between reaching a verdict
and receiving an impasse instruction), under the totality of the
circumstances we conclude that the trial court did not coerce the jury.
N.
¶157 Because Smith committed the murder after August 1, 2002,
this Court must review the jury’s findings of aggravating circumstances
and the imposition of a death sentence for abuse of discretion, A.R.S.
§ 13-756(A), viewing the facts in the light most favorable to sustaining the
verdict. State v. Naranjo, 234 Ariz. 233, 249 ¶ 81 (2014). “A finding of
aggravating circumstances or the imposition of a death sentence is not an
abuse of discretion if ‘there is any reasonable evidence in the record to
sustain it.’” Id. (quoting Delahanty, 226 Ariz. at 508 ¶ 36).
1. Aggravating Circumstances
¶158 The State alleged, and the jury found beyond a reasonable
doubt, two aggravating circumstances: (1) Smith was convicted of a serious
offense (child abuse), § 13-751(F)(2); and (2) Smith killed K.L. for pecuniary
gain, id. (F)(5). The (F)(2) aggravator involved the shooting of an infant,
K.S., and, as a result, was a particularly strong aggravating circumstance.
The record provides substantial evidence to support both aggravators,
supra ¶¶ 101–07, 110–15. Therefore, the jury did not abuse its discretion in
finding these aggravating circumstances.
2. Death Sentence
¶159 The jury also did not abuse its discretion in sentencing Smith
to death. This Court must uphold a death sentence “if any reasonable juror
could conclude that the mitigation presented was not sufficiently
substantial to call for leniency.” Naranjo, 234 Ariz. at 250 ¶ 89 (internal
41
STATE V. SMITH
Opinion of the Court
quotation marks omitted) (quoting State v. Gallardo, 225 Ariz. 560, 570 ¶ 52
(2010)).
¶160 Smith presented twenty-nine non-statutory mitigators,
asserting that he was driven to keep his family together and avoid negative
stereotypes about African American fathers. He also argued that he
provided for Ward though she emotionally abused, harassed, and
emasculated him, threatened to take his son away from him, and displayed
Borderline Personality Disorder symptoms. Smith argued that he did not
live up to his family’s expectations and that they were highly critical of his
romantic relationships, had a history of failed relationship, and did not
believe in therapy. Finally, he argued that he was sleep deprived, grieving
a miscarriage suffered by Ward, lacked conflict resolution skills, had no
criminal record, maintained employment, volunteered, played sports in
high school, earned an academic scholarship, earned an associate degree,
loves children, was a candidate to become a foster parent, and had been a
model inmate. He presented no statutory mitigators.
¶161 The record supports the jury’s determination. A reasonable
juror could find many of these mitigators—sleep deprivation, grief, family
pressure—unpersuasive. And Smith’s positive background could have
demonstrated his ability to handle conflict without murder. Therefore, the
jury did not abuse its discretion in sentencing Smith to death.
III.
¶162 Smith raises seventeen other issues to avoid their preclusion.
Because this Court has previously rejected each of these claims, we decline
to revisit them here.
CONCLUSION
¶163 We affirm Smith’s convictions and sentences.
42