State v. Wade ( 2014 )


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  •                                NOTICE: NOT FOR PUBLICATION.
    UNDER ARIZ. R. SUP. CT. 111(c), THIS DECISION DOES NOT CREATE LEGAL PRECEDENT
    AND MAY NOT BE CITED EXCEPT AS AUTHORIZED.
    IN THE
    ARIZONA COURT OF APPEALS
    DIVISION ONE
    STATE OF ARIZONA, Appellee,
    v.
    MELODY WADE, Appellant.
    No. 1 CA-CR 13-0129
    FILED 3-25-2014
    Appeal from the Superior Court in Maricopa County
    No. CR2012-128937-001
    The Honorable Pamela S. Gates, Judge
    CONVICTION AFFIRMED; JUDGMENT AFFIRMED AS MODIFIED
    COUNSEL
    Arizona Attorney General’s Office, Phoenix
    By Joseph T. Maziarz
    Counsel for Appellee
    Maricopa County Public Defender’s Office, Phoenix
    By Jeffrey L. Force
    Counsel for Appellant
    STATE v. WADE
    Decision of the Court
    MEMORANDUM DECISION
    Judge Diane M. Johnsen delivered the decision of the Court, in which
    Presiding Judge Peter B. Swann and Judge Patricia K. Norris joined.
    J O H N S E N, Judge:
    ¶1             This appeal was timely filed in accordance with Anders v.
    California, 
    386 U.S. 738
    (1967), and State v. Leon, 
    104 Ariz. 297
    , 
    451 P.2d 878
    (1969), following Melody Lorraine Wade’s conviction of disorderly
    conduct by recklessly handling or displaying a dangerous instrument, a
    Class 6 felony. Wade’s counsel has searched the record on appeal and
    found no arguable question of law that is not frivolous. See Smith v.
    Robbins, 
    528 U.S. 259
    (2000); Anders, 
    386 U.S. 738
    ; State v. Clark, 
    196 Ariz. 530
    , 
    2 P.3d 89
    (App. 1999). Wade was given the opportunity to file a
    supplemental brief but did not do so. 1 Counsel now asks this court to
    search the record for fundamental error. After reviewing the entire
    record, we affirm Wade’s conviction and sentence, but modify the
    judgment of conviction to omit the requirement that she pay for the cost of
    DNA testing.
    FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
    ¶2             Wade cut off a woman in traffic, then cut off the woman’s
    husband, who was driving ahead of her in a separate vehicle. 2 In
    retaliation, the woman and her husband each cut off Wade in turn. Wade
    then pulled alongside the driver’s side of the woman’s car at a red light
    and threw a glass out her window toward the woman’s car. In response,
    1       While this appeal was pending, Wade's counsel filed a motion
    stating he has been unable to contact Wade to furnish her the opening
    brief, the transcripts and the record on appeal, and asks leave to retain all
    transcripts and records on appeal until "further contact" with Wade is
    established. The motion is granted.
    2      Upon review, we view the facts in the light most favorable to
    sustaining the jury’s verdict and resolve all inferences against Wade. State
    v. Fontes, 
    195 Ariz. 229
    , 230, ¶ 2, 
    986 P.2d 897
    , 898 (App. 1998).
    2
    STATE v. WADE
    Decision of the Court
    the woman rolled down her window and told Wade she was calling the
    police. When the light turned green, Wade made a right turn in front of
    the woman, who then followed Wade into a pharmacy parking lot. Both
    women then stopped, and Wade approached the woman with a knife,
    making stabbing motions. Police were called and stopped Wade after she
    departed from the parking lot moments later. They found a knife in
    Wade’s car.
    ¶3            Wade was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct
    and criminal damage. After a jury found her guilty of disorderly conduct,
    the court suspended imposition of sentence and placed Wade on
    probation for two years, including 30 days in jail.
    ¶4             Wade timely appealed. We have jurisdiction pursuant to
    Article 6, Section 9, of the Arizona Constitution, and Arizona Revised
    Statutes ("A.R.S.") sections 12-120.21(A)(1) (2014), 13-4031 (2014) and 13-
    4033 (2014). 3
    DISCUSSION
    ¶5             The record reflects Wade received a fair trial. She was
    represented by counsel at all stages of the proceedings against her and
    was present at all critical stages. The court held appropriate pretrial
    hearings. It did not conduct a voluntariness hearing; however, the record
    does not suggest a question about the voluntariness of Wade’s statements
    to police. See State v. Smith, 
    114 Ariz. 415
    , 419, 
    561 P.2d 739
    , 743 (1977);
    State v. Finn, 
    111 Ariz. 271
    , 275, 
    528 P.2d 615
    , 619 (1974).
    ¶6             The State presented both direct and circumstantial evidence
    sufficient to allow the jury to convict. The jury was properly comprised of
    eight members with two alternates. The court properly instructed the jury
    on the elements of the charges, the State’s burden of proof and the
    necessity of a unanimous verdict. The jury returned a unanimous verdict,
    which was confirmed by juror polling. The court received and considered
    a presentence report, addressed its contents during the sentencing hearing
    and imposed a legal term of probation.
    ¶7            The superior court ordered Wade "to submit to DNA testing
    for law enforcement identification purposes and pay the applicable fee for
    the cost of that testing in accordance with A.R.S. § 13-610." In an opinion
    3     Absent material revision after the relevant date, we cite a statute's
    current version.
    3
    STATE v. WADE
    Decision of the Court
    issued after sentencing in this matter, this court held that A.R.S. § 13-610
    (2014) does not authorize the court to require a convicted defendant to pay
    the testing fee. State v. Reyes, 
    232 Ariz. 468
    , 472, ¶ 14, 
    307 P.3d 35
    , 39 (App.
    2013). Accordingly, we modify the judgment of conviction to omit the
    requirement that Wade pay the cost of DNA testing.
    CONCLUSION
    ¶8           We have reviewed the entire record for reversible error, and,
    with the exception of the requirement that Wade pay for DNA testing, we
    find none. See 
    Leon, 104 Ariz. at 300
    , 451 P.2d at 881.
    ¶9            After the filing of this decision, defense counsel’s obligations
    pertaining to Wade’s representation in this appeal have ended. Defense
    counsel need do no more than inform Wade of the outcome of this appeal
    and her future options, unless, upon review, counsel finds "an issue
    appropriate for submission" to the Arizona Supreme Court by petition for
    review. See State v. Shattuck, 
    140 Ariz. 582
    , 584-85, 
    684 P.2d 154
    , 156-57
    (1984). On the court’s own motion, Wade has 30 days from the date of this
    decision to proceed, if she wishes, with a pro per motion for
    reconsideration. Wade has 30 days from the date of this decision to
    proceed, if she wishes, with a pro per petition for review.
    :MJT
    4