State v. Skala ( 2017 )

NOTICE: NOT FOR OFFICIAL PUBLICATION.
UNDER ARIZONA RULE OF THE SUPREME COURT 111(c), THIS DECISION IS NOT PRECEDENTIAL
AND MAY BE CITED ONLY AS AUTHORIZED BY RULE.
IN THE
ARIZONA COURT OF APPEALS
DIVISION ONE
STATE OF ARIZONA, Respondent,
v.
JAMES EUGENE SKALA, Petitioner.
No. 1 CA-CR 16-0257 PRPC
FILED 6-20-2017
Petition for Review from the Superior Court in Maricopa County
No. CR2008-007354-001 DT
The Honorable Barbara L. Spencer, Judge Pro Tempore
REVIEW GRANTED; RELIEF DENIED
COUNSEL
Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, Phoenix
By Diane M. Meloche
Counsel for Respondent
James Eugene Skala, Florence
Petitioner
STATE v. SKALA
Decision of the Court
MEMORANDUM DECISION
Judge Maria Elena Cruz delivered the decision of the Court, in which
Presiding Judge Randall M. Howe and Judge Peter B. Swann joined.
C R U Z, Judge:
¶1 Petitioner James Eugene Skala seeks review of the trial court’s
order denying his petition for post-conviction relief filed pursuant to
Arizona Rule of Criminal Procedure (“Rule”) 32.1. We review the superior
court’s denial of post-conviction relief for an abuse of discretion. State v.
Gutierrez, 229 Ariz. 573, 577, ¶ 19, 278 P.3d 1276, 1280 (2012). Finding no
such abuse, we grant review and deny relief.
¶2 In May 2009, Skala pled guilty to burglary in the first degree,
a Class 2 dangerous felony, and aggravated assault, a Class 3 dangerous
felony. At the same proceeding, he pled no contest to attempted sexual
assault, a Class 3 felony, and attempted kidnapping, a Class 3 felony and
dangerous crime against children. The superior court accepted the plea,
entered judgments of guilt, and sentenced Skala to fourteen years’
imprisonment for the burglary conviction and a concurrent term of 7 years’
imprisonment for the aggravated assault conviction. It suspended
imposition of sentence for the remaining convictions, placing Skala on
lifetime probation for the attempted sexual assault conviction and 5 years’
probation for the attempted kidnapping conviction. Both terms of
probation were to commence upon Skala’s absolute discharge from prison.
¶3 Skala filed an untimely notice of post-conviction relief.
Noting the petition’s untimeliness and the lack of claims that could be
raised in an untimely manner pursuant to Rule 32.1(d), (e), (f), (g), or (h),
the superior court summarily dismissed the proceeding. See Ariz. R. Crim.
P. 32.2(b) and 32.4(a). Skala did not seek review.
¶4 Over five years later, Skala filed a successive post-conviction
relief petition in which he claimed that the “terms” of lifetime probation
were illegal. Relying on State v. Bouchier, 159 Ariz. 346, 767 P.2d 233 (App.
1989), which had interpreted an earlier version of Arizona Revised Statutes
(“A.R.S.”) section 13-902 (1987), Skala claimed that lifetime probation
violated A.R.S. § 13-902 because “the maximum term of probation for a class
3 felony is 5 years.” The superior court correctly noted that the claim was
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STATE v. SKALA
Decision of the Court
precluded. See Ariz. R. Crim. P. 32.2(a)(3). The superior court noted that
even if not precluded:
[T]he defendant’s claim fails on the merits. According to
Defendant, the Court violated A.R.S. § 13-902 in imposing two
lifetime terms of probation because “the maximum term for a
class 3 felony is 5 years.” . . . Contrary to Defendant’s
argument, Defendant received lifetime probation only for
attempted sexual assault; his probation term for attempted
kidnapping is 5 years. . . . The attempted sexual assault and
attempted kidnapping offenses were class 3 felonies.
Pursuant to A.R.S. § 13-902(E), “[a]fter conviction of a felony
offense or an attempt to commit any offense that is included
in chapter 14 or 35.1 of this title or § 13-2308.01, 13-2923 or 13-
3623, if probation is available, probation may continue for a
term of not less than the term that is specified in subsection A
of this section up to and including life and that the court believes
is appropriate for the ends of justice.” (Emphasis added.)
Because Defendant’s attempted sexual assault offense arose
under Chapter 14, see A.R.S. § 13-1406, A.R.S. § 13-902(E)
applies. By its terms, A.R.S. § 13-902(E) applies
notwithstanding the general A.R.S. § 13-902(A)(2) provision
on class 3 felonies. Therefore, the Court properly applied
A.R.S. § 13-902 when sentencing the defendant to a lifetime
probation term for attempted sexual assault.
¶5 On review, Skala maintains that lifetime probation is an
illegal sentence, and that he is not precluded from raising this claim because
lifetime probation is illegal. He does not challenge the probationary term
for his attempted kidnapping conviction and has accordingly abandoned
the issue. See Ariz. R. Crim. P. 32.9(c)(10) (petition for review shall contain
“[t]he reasons why the petition should be granted” and “specific references
to the record”); State v. Rodriguez, 227 Ariz. 58, 61 n.4, ¶ 12, 251 P.3d 1045,
1048 (App. 2010) (declining to address argument not raised in petition for
review). We therefore only address Skala’s arguments regarding the
probationary term for his attempted sexual assault conviction.
¶6 A trial court may summarily dismiss a Rule 32 proceeding
based upon preclusion. Ariz. R. Crim. P. 32.2(a), 32.6(c). A claim is
precluded when it “has been waived at trial, on appeal or in a previous
collateral proceeding.” Ariz. R. Crim. P. 32.2(a)(3). A petitioner like Skala,
who files successive notices of post-conviction relief, may only assert claims
that fall within Rule 32.1(d), (e), (f), (g), or (h), and must state in the notice
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STATE v. SKALA
Decision of the Court
“meritorious reasons . . . substantiating the claim and indicating why the
claim was not stated in the previous petitions or in a timely manner.” Ariz.
R. Crim. P. 32.2(b). Because Skala asserts his claim pursuant to Rule 32.1(c)
(illegal sentence), it was properly subject to preclusion. Ariz. R. Crim. P.
32.2(a); see also State v. Peek, 219 Ariz. 182, 183, ¶ 4, 195 P.3d 641, 642 (2008)
(stating a claim of an illegal sentence must be timely presented).
¶7 For the foregoing reasons, we grant review and deny relief.
AMY M. WOOD • Clerk of the Court
FILED: AA
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