State v. Wilson ( 2009 )

1 This decision was not selected for publication in the New Mexico Reports. Please see Rule 12-405
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5 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO
6 NO. 29,207
7 STATE OF NEW MEXICO,
8 Plaintiff-Appellee,
9 v.
10 DAVIS WILSON,
11 Defendant-Appellant.
12 APPEAL FROM THE DISTRICT COURT OF BERNALILLO COUNTY
13 W. John Brennan, District Judge
14 Richard J. Knowles, District Judge
15 Rane Law Group
16 August J. Rane
17 Albuquerque, NM
18 for Appellant
19 Gary K. King, Attorney General
20 Joel Jacobsen, Assistant Attorney General
21 Santa Fe, NM
1 for Appellee
1 DECISION
2 CHÁVEZ, Chief Justice.
3 Defendant Davis Wilson (“Wilson”) appeals directly to this Court from a
4 sentence of life imprisonment plus twenty-one years, of which nine years were
5 suspended. See N.M. Const. art. VI, § 2; Rule 12-102(A)(1) NMRA (direct appeal to
6 Supreme Court where sentence of death or life imprisonment has been imposed). On
7 appeal, he raises fifteen issues. Wilson asserts that the trial court erred by (1) refusing
8 to recuse the judge presiding over the preliminary hearing; (2) refusing to sever his
9 trial from the trial of co-defendant Jarrell Frazier (“Frazier”); (3) refusing a request
10 for continuance to procure an expert to rebut the State’s fingerprint comparisons; (4)
11 allowing, over objection, a fingerprint comparison from fingerprints taken of him in
12 1996; (5) allowing evidence of prior crimes and juvenile criminal records to be
13 introduced to the jury through the 1996 fingerprint card; (6) admitting an autopsy
14 photograph of the victim’s face; and (7) refusing to direct a verdict at the close of the
15 State’s case in chief. He also asserts numerous ineffective assistance of counsel
16 claims, including (1) failure to object to prior statements of a witness, and (2) failure
17 to contest and offer evidence contradicting the time of death. Wilson argues that the
18 jury array violated Batson v. Kentucky, 476 U.S. 79 (1986) and the New Mexico
19 Constitution. In addition, Wilson argues that the trial court should have declared a
1 mistrial because (1) there was a pattern of prosecutorial misconduct, and (2) the trial
2 judge should have disqualified himself. He also asserts that even if any single
3 argument may be rejected, the cumulative effect of these errors prevented him from
4 receiving a fair trial. Wilson’s only meritorious claim on appeal is that double
5 jeopardy was violated when he was convicted and sentenced for both kidnapping and
6 felony murder.
7 We address each of these issues in turn and hold that under State v. Frazier,
8 2007-NMSC-032, ¶ 1, 142 N.M. 120, 164 P.3d 1, Wilson’s conviction for the
9 predicate offense of kidnapping is a violation of double jeopardy. Accordingly, we
10 vacate his conviction for kidnapping. We affirm all of his other convictions.
11 I. BACKGROUND
12 Early in the morning of April 14, 2002, Kelly Knoll (“Knoll”) was severely
13 beaten, lifted into the bed of his pickup truck, further kicked and beaten, driven away,
14 and shot five times by Wilson and co-defendant Frazier. Police officers responding
15 to a 911 call regarding Knoll’s beating arrived at the scene almost immediately after
16 Wilson and Frazier had left with Knoll. Just minutes after arriving at the scene of the
17 beating, the officers heard several shots emanating from somewhere south of their
18 position. Later that same day, Knoll’s body was found in the bed of his pickup truck
2
1 approximately one mile south of where he had been beaten. Of the five gunshot
2 wounds Knoll sustained, the fatal wounds were to his head and chest.
3 After trial, the jury found Wilson guilty of felony murder, kidnapping,
4 conspiracy to commit kidnapping, aggravated battery, conspiracy to commit
5 aggravated battery, two counts of tampering with evidence, and conspiracy to commit
6 tampering with evidence. However, they acquitted him of first degree murder and
7 conspiracy to commit murder. Wilson was sentenced to life imprisonment for felony
8 murder and twelve years for kidnapping, to be served consecutively. He was also
9 sentenced to nine years for conspiracy to commit kidnapping, which was suspended.
10 Based on our analysis in Frazier, 2007-NMSC-032, ¶¶ 1, 35, we vacate
11 Wilson’s conviction for kidnapping. For the following reasons, we affirm all of his
12 other convictions.1
1
13 As a side note, over the several years it took to conclude this case, at one time
14 or another five different district judges in the Second Judicial District Court were
15 assigned to it. Judge Albert S. “Pat” Murdoch presided over the grand jury
16 proceedings and the preliminary hearing. Judge W. John Brennan presided over most
17 of the case, including the trial and the sentencing hearing. Finally, Judge Richard J.
18 Knowles presided over the remainder of the case, from the filing of the judgment and
19 sentence to handling post-trial motions.
3
1 II. DOUBLE JEOPARDY WAS VIOLATED WHEN WILSON WAS
2 CONVICTED AND SENTENCED FOR KIDNAPPING AND FELONY
3 MURDER
4 Wilson argues that being convicted and sentenced for both felony murder and
5 kidnapping violated double jeopardy as set out in Frazier. We agree. Frazier clearly
6 discusses this issue and concludes that “the predicate felony is always subsumed into
7 a felony murder conviction, and no defendant can be convicted of both.” 2007-
8 NMSC-032, ¶ 1. The State has asked this Court to allow the trial judge to restructure
9 the sentence on remand. However, the State does not cite any authority to support this
10 proposition and we are not inclined to expand our ruling beyond vacating Wilson’s
11 kidnapping conviction. See Rule 12-213(A)(4) & (B) NMRA.
12 III. IT WAS NOT ERROR FOR JUDGE MURDOCH TO DENY THE
13 MOTION FOR RECUSAL
14 A. Defense Counsel Had Invoked Judge Murdoch’s Discretion, and Under
15 Rule 5-106(A) NMRA, Denying the Motion for Recusal Was Proper
16 Wilson argues that it was improper for Judge Murdoch to refuse to excuse
17 himself from presiding over the preliminary hearing under NMSA 1978, Section 38-3-
18 9 (1985). Wilson asserts that the judge’s discretion was not invoked when defense
19 counsel asked the court to allow him to withdraw as Wilson’s attorney. Wilson argues
20 that the request for a continuance to allow for counsel to withdraw was procedural and
4
1 did not involve significant discretion. In addition, he argues that discretion was not
2 invoked because his attorney was trying to protect his own interests and not those of
3 his client, and therefore Wilson should not have been denied his right to excuse the
4 judge. However, at the hearing on the motion to withdraw, Wilson’s attorney stated
5 that he didn’t “know if Mr. Wilson is comfortable with myself as counsel,” and
6 therefore withdrawal was proper. He also expressed the need for more time for
7 defense counsel, whether that was himself or anyone else representing Wilson, to fully
8 prepare for the preliminary hearing and that he was concerned for Wilson’s rights.
9 “A party may not excuse a judge after the party has requested that judge to
10 perform any discretionary act.” Rule 5-106(A). In asking Judge Murdoch to allow
11 him to withdraw as counsel, Wilson’s attorney invoked the trial court’s discretion and
12 stated that Wilson’s best interests should be paramount in any decision made by the
13 judge. Judge Murdoch heard arguments on (1) the potential harm to Wilson if new
14 counsel was brought in so soon before the preliminary hearing, and (2) how the
15 current defense attorney was in the best position to represent Wilson at that hearing.
16 Based on the arguments presented, Judge Murdoch determined that it would be best
17 for Wilson if his attorney did not withdraw before the preliminary hearing, but he did
18 allow counsel additional time to prepare for the hearing. Contrary to Wilson’s
5
1 assertion that this was not a material issue, we do not look to the issue’s materiality,
2 but only to see whether judicial discretion was invoked. See JMB Retail Properties
3 Co. v. Eastburn, 114 N.M. 115, 118, 835 P.2d 831, 834 (1992) (Discussing the rule
4 governing election to excuse a judge, the Court stated, “an absolute application of the
5 rule is to us of greater import than either intentional waiver or even the character of
6 the issue on which the discretion of the judge has been invoked. The dispositive
7 issue . . . is whether the motion filed invoked the discretion of the judge.”). Judge
8 Murdoch had to make a reasoned decision concerning whether Wilson’s attorney
9 could withdraw so soon before preliminary hearing and he used his discretion in
10 making such a decision. It was not improper for him to deny the motion to recuse.
11 B. LR 2-104 NMRA Is an Administrative Rule
12 Wilson argues that Judge Murdoch, in violation of LR 2-104(A), was assigned
13 to preside over the preliminary hearing, not on a random basis as required, but because
14 he was the grand jury judge. Further, Wilson contends that Judge Brennan was
15 assigned administratively, not randomly, creating an “impression of possible
16 impropriety.” However, Wilson does not contend that LR 2-104(A) is anything other
17 than an administrative rule for the courts, as opposed to a right that he can insist be
18 granted to him. See In re Byrnes, 2002-NMCA-102, ¶ 36, 132 N.M. 718, 54 P.3d 9966
1 (Discussing an administrative rule of the court governing assignment of a new case
2 number, holding that the argument that the judge could not proceed without following
3 this procedure “exalts form over substance. . . . This is a matter of administration for
4 the court, at least in the absence of prejudice, and no prejudice whatsoever has been
5 alleged in this case.”). There is nothing to indicate that LR 2-104(A) was intended to
6 be a right for a defendant as opposed to a rule governing the administration of the
7 courts of the Second Judicial District. As such, an administrative assignment, as
8 opposed to a random assignment, may well fall within the bounds of the rule’s
9 purpose. The assignment of Judge Murdoch similarly was administrative and does not
10 create an impression of possible impropriety.
11 C. Even if Judge Murdoch Improperly Presided Over the Preliminary
12 Hearing, Any Error Was Cured by a Jury Verdict of Guilty Beyond a
13 Reasonable Doubt
14 Although Wilson does not state that he suffered any prejudice beyond the
15 impression of possible impropriety, even if Judge Murdoch should not have heard the
16 case, the error was harmless. The purpose of a preliminary hearing is to determine
17 probable cause. See Rule 5-302(C) NMRA (“If the court finds that there is probable
18 cause to believe that the defendant committed an offense, it shall bind the defendant
19 over for trial.”). As such, the finding of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt by the jury
7
1 cured any error that may have resulted from having Judge Murdoch preside over the
2 preliminary hearing. See State v. Gallegos, 2009-NMSC-017, ¶ 19, 146 N.M. 88, 206
3 P.3d 993 (“The grand jury only makes a finding of probable cause. . . . [A]t a trial on
4 the merits, the State has the obligation to prove not just probable cause but guilt
5 beyond a reasonable doubt. . . . [A]ny question of probable cause is necessarily
6 obviated by a finding of guilt.” (internal quotation marks and citation omitted)).
7 Because the jury found Wilson guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, any error was cured
8 and we will not reverse Wilson’s convictions on this issue.
9 IV. THE RECORD WAS NOT ADEQUATELY PRESERVED TO ALLOW
10 THIS COURT TO DETERMINE WHETHER A BATSON VIOLATION
11 OCCURRED DURING JURY SELECTION
12 Wilson asserts that a violation of Batson or the New Mexico Constitution
13 occurred during the jury selection process. Based solely on what Wilson can
14 remember, there was only one African American involved during jury selection, and
15 this potential juror was dismissed by the State. However, there is nothing in either the
16 record or in the briefs submitted by the parties to indicate that any violation of either
17 Batson or the New Mexico Constitution occurred. “[C]ounsel should properly present
18 this court with the issues, arguments, and proper authority. Mere reference in a
19 conclusory statement will not suffice and is in violation of our rules of appellate
8
1 procedure.” State v. Clifford, 117 N.M. 508, 513, 873 P.2d 254, 259 (1994); see also
2 Rule 12-213(A)(4) & (B). As there is no record for us to review, we will not consider
3 this issue on appeal.
4 V. THE TRIAL JUDGE DID NOT ERR IN REFUSING TO SEVER THE
5 TRIALS OF WILSON AND FRAZIER
6 Wilson contends that the trial judge erred by refusing to sever his trial from that
7 of Frazier, his co-defendant. Wilson asserts that statements made by Frazier to
8 Frazier’s girlfriend, Shawntell Harrison (“Harrison”), would implicate Wilson in
9 Knoll’s murder and thus prejudice the jury against him. He argues that these
10 comments were admissible against Frazier but not Wilson, and therefore the trials
11 should not have been joined. At the hearing on the motion to sever, the trial judge
12 ruled that the State would use leading questions to specifically limit Harrison’s
13 testimony to avoid implicating Wilson. At trial, Wilson’s attorney expressed his
14 concern that Harrison would mention Wilson’s involvement in the beating and
15 murder. In response, the trial judge reminded the State to use leading questions, and
16 questioning continued with Harrison making no mention of Wilson or his involvement
17 in either the beating or the shooting. Further arguing that severance was proper,
18 Wilson contends that his Sixth Amendment right to confrontation was violated
19 because he did not have an opportunity to cross-examine Harrison at the preliminary
9
1 hearing where she originally made the incriminating statements. See U.S. Const.
2 amend. VI. Additionally, Wilson argued that he would not have the opportunity to
3 cross-examine Frazier if Frazier did not take the stand. Id. Specifically, Wilson
4 appears to argue that Frazier’s statement to Harrison that “[t]he guy got shot” rather
5 than “I [Frazier] shot the guy” implicates Wilson as the shooter.
6 In reviewing whether severance was necessary, we must “determine whether
7 the joint trial resulted in an appreciable risk that the jury convicted for illegitimate
8 reasons. To succeed in proving error in the denial of a motion to sever, a defendant
9 must show that joinder prejudiced him.” State v. Dominguez, 115 N.M. 445, 453, 853
10 P.2d 147, 155 (Ct. App. 1993) (citations omitted). “If it appears that a defendant or
11 the state is prejudiced by a joinder of offenses or of defendants by the filing of a
12 statement of joinder for trial, the court may order separate trials of offenses, grant a
13 severance of defendants, or provide whatever other relief justice requires.” Rule 5-
14 203(C) NMRA (emphasis added). As reflected in the commentary to Rule 5-203,
15 “Paragraph C of this rule allows the admission of a statement of one codefendant
16 deleting all references to the defendant seeking the severance, provided that, as
17 deleted, the statement does not prejudice the defendant seeking severance.” Id. This
18 sentiment is also expressed in Richardson v. Marsh, 481 U.S. 200, 211 (1987), where
10
1 the United States Supreme Court held that “the Confrontation Clause is not violated
2 by the admission of a nontestifying codefendant’s confession with a proper limiting
3 instruction when . . . the confession is redacted to eliminate not only the defendant’s
4 name, but any reference to his or her existence.”
5 In this case, the statements Frazier made to Harrison were redacted so that any
6 references to Wilson’s existence were deleted. When Wilson’s counsel objected to
7 the questions on the ground that they were too open-ended, the trial judge verified that
8 the State was aware that it should not let Harrison expand upon her answers so as to
9 implicate Wilson. The State agreed to read into the record the answers that Harrison
10 had previously given so that no mention of Wilson could possibly reach the jury. The
11 judge also made certain that Frazier’s attorney was aware of the danger and that
12 Harrison had been warned that no mention of Wilson was to be made either during
13 testimony or elicited on cross-examination. Wilson has failed to demonstrate that he
14 was prejudiced by Harrison’s testimony and, in fact, Wilson had agreed that there
15 would not be a problem with the testimony, as long as the State did not elicit any
16 testimony regarding Wilson and as long as Harrison did not mention Wilson. See
17 Leithead v. City of Santa Fe, 1997-NMCA-041, ¶ 32, 123 N.M. 353, 940 P.2d 45918 (“The City did not request any limiting instruction nor that the jury be instructed to
11
1 disregard anything said earlier. Earlier objections to the proposed . . . testimony were
2 based upon lack of foundation and expert qualification, and they were properly
3 overruled. . . . [W]e see no prejudice to the City.”). Following Richardson and Rule
4 5-203, the trial court properly redacted Harrison’s statements and, as a result, there is
5 no appreciable risk that the jury convicted Wilson for illegitimate reasons. Wilson has
6 also failed to show that he was prejudiced by these statements. Therefore, it was not
7 error for the trial judge to deny the motion to sever.
8 VI. WILSON HAS FAILED TO DEMONSTRATE THAT HE WAS
9 PREJUDICED BY INEFFECTIVE COUNSEL WHEN TESTIMONY OF
10 ANTHONY EDWARDS WAS ADMITTED
11 Wilson argues that his trial counsel should have objected when the prosecutor
12 introduced prior statements made by witness Anthony Edwards (“Edwards”). He also
13 asserts that by failing to object to these statements, his attorney’s conduct fell below
14 that of a competent attorney. See State v. Holly, 2009-NMSC-004, ¶ 36, 145 N.M.
15 513, 201 P.3d 844 (“[A]n attorney's conduct must not fall below that of a reasonably
16 competent attorney.”). Wilson specifically directs our attention to the point in the trial
17 transcript where Edwards first identifies Wilson and Frazier at the scene of the beating
18 and the prosecutor asked Edwards “[d]o you remember who you said you saw?”
19 Wilson argues that this testimony (1) was hearsay; (2) was improperly admitted; and
12
1 (3) without it, there was insufficient evidence to place him at the scene. I n
2 addition to showing that his attorney’s conduct fell below that of a competent
3 attorney, Wilson also must “establish prejudice by demonstrating that [his attorney’s]
4 errors were so serious that the result of the proceeding would have been different.”
5 Holly, 2009-NMSC-004, ¶ 36. Wilson has not shown such prejudice and has failed
6 to show that his attorney erred in failing to object to testimony that was properly
7 admitted under Rule 11-612 NMRA.
8 Under Rule 11-612, it is proper for a witness who cannot remember certain
9 events to be given the opportunity to refresh his memory by use of a writing. Id.; see
10 also State v. Bazan, 90 N.M. 209, 212, 561 P.2d 482, 485 (Ct. App. 1977) (“Anything
11 may be used to revive a memory-‘a song, a scent, a photograph, all allusion, even a
12 past statement known to be false.’”). The purpose of this rule is to assure that the
13 witness is able to testify in his own words. State v. Orona, 92 N.M. 450, 455, 589
14 P.2d 1041, 1046 (1979). Edwards repeatedly testified that he could not remember the
15 events that took place during the night of the murder and that reading portions of a
16 transcript would help him remember. He also testified that his memory was refreshed
17 after reading portions of the transcript. Under our requirements for refreshed
18 recollection, Edwards’ testimony was admissible. See id. at 454, 589 P.2d at 1045
13
1 (Discussing the requirements for refreshed recollection: “The witness’s memory on
2 the subject must be exhausted. The time, place, and person to whom the statement
3 was given must be established. If the witness acknowledges the statement, the court
4 may allow the witness to use it to refresh his recollection. It then becomes proper to
5 have the witness, if it is a fact, to say that his memory is refreshed and, independent
6 of the exhibit, testify what his present recollection is.”) (internal quotation marks,
7 citations, and emphasis omitted)). Edwards did not read aloud from the transcript of
8 a previous hearing at any time during his testimony, and was told by the State to read
9 the pages to himself. At no time was the jury given copies of the transcript, nor did
10 the State use leading questions to take the place of Edwards’ testimony. See id. at
11 455, 589 P.2d at 1046; State v. Macias, 2009-NMSC-028, ¶¶ 24, 26, 146 N.M. 378,
12 210 P.3d 804 (“If the witness testifies that the exhibit might refresh his or her
13 memory, the witness reviews the exhibit without the jury viewing or listening to the
14 exhibit.”). When Edwards testified, he was not reading from the transcript, but was
15 testifying based on his independent recollection of who he saw. See id., 2009-NMSC-
16 028, ¶ 25 (“The testimony must come from the witness’s restored memory, not from
17 the exhibit, and certainly not from the questioning attorney.”).
18 The statements that Edwards made at the previous hearing were not offered to
14
1 prove the truth of the matter, but were used only by Edwards to refresh his memory
2 so that he could testify about the event. See Rule 11-801(C) NMRA (Defining
3 “hearsay” as “a statement, other than one made by the declarant while testifying at the
4 trial or hearing, offered in evidence to prove the truth of the matter asserted.”).
5 Independent of the transcript he had been given to review, Edwards testified that he
6 saw Wilson and Frazier at the scene of the beating. The procedure for refreshing
7 recollection was properly followed, and as such, it was not error for Wilson’s attorney
8 to fail to object to these properly admitted statements. See State v. Stenz, 109 N.M.
9 536, 538, 787 P.2d 455, 457 (Ct. App. 1990) (“A trial counsel is not incompetent for
10 failing to make a motion when the record does not support the motion.”). We hold
11 that Edwards’ testimony was properly admitted under Rule 11-612 and it was not
12 improper for Wilson’s attorney to fail to object to it.
13 VII. IT WAS NOT AN ABUSE OF DISCRETION FOR THE TRIAL JUDGE
14 TO REFUSE WILSON’S REQUEST FOR A CONTINUANCE TO
15 OBTAIN A FINGERPRINT EXPERT
16 Wilson argues that the trial judge erred when he refused to grant his request for
17 a continuance to allow his attorney to obtain an expert witness to refute the State’s
18 fingerprint evidence. Wilson contends that his attorney did not have the opportunity
19 to anticipate the fingerprint evidence that the State introduced, and therefore he was
15
1 unprepared to contest it. The fingerprint evidence that Wilson claims was
2 unanticipated consisted of fingerprint standards that had been taken from Wilson in
3 1996 by the Albuquerque Police Department.
4 “The grant or denial of a motion for a continuance rests within the sound
5 discretion of the trial court, and the burden of establishing an abuse of discretion rests
6 with the defendant.” State v. Sanchez, 120 N.M. 247, 253, 901 P.2d 178, 184 (1995).
7 “[I]n the absence of demonstrated abuse resulting in prejudice to the defendant there
8 is no ground for reversal.” State v. Perez, 95 N.M. 262, 264, 620 P.2d 1287, 1289
9 (1980). Wilson’s contention that the fingerprint evidence offered by the State caught
10 him off-guard is invalid. Prior to trial, the State filed a motion to allow second sets
11 of fingerprints to be taken from Wilson and Frazier. The State argued that allowing
12 new prints would be less prejudicial to the defendants and would make for a cleaner
13 record. Wilson’s attorney knew that the State was going to make a comparison to the
14 1996 fingerprints, and even said that if the State could make the comparison without
15 taking new prints, then “they should do it and go forward with the trial.” Wilson’s
16 attorney also stated that he strategically chose not to hire an expert because he knew
17 that the State could not get the 1996 fingerprints admitted into evidence.
18 Wilson has not shown that he was prejudiced by the denial of his motion for a
16
1 continuance. Wilson’s attorney, without the aid of an expert, was able to cast
2 aspersions on the evidence by drawing the jury’s attention to the fact that the latent
3 fingerprint from the truck that was claimed to be Wilson’s was nothing more than a
4 smudge. See Sanchez, 120 N.M. at 253, 901 P.2d at 184 (“The defense was able to
5 use the information to support its case; thus, we are not persuaded that any harm
6 resulted from the trial court’s denial of the motion for a continuance.”); State v.
7 Hernandez, 115 N.M. 6, 15, 846 P.2d 312, 321 (1993) (“During cross-examination of
8 the State’s expert witnesses on hair identification, defense counsel established that
9 hair analysis could not absolutely prove identity. Thus, defense counsel adequately
10 placed the State’s identification evidence into question.”). Wilson’s attorney knew
11 that the State’s alternative to getting new fingerprints for comparison was to use the
12 1996 prints, and yet he strategically chose not to hire an expert witness. It was
13 reasonable for the trial judge to deny Wilson’s motion for a continuance because
14 defense counsel made strategic decisions to neither obtain an expert or object to the
15 1996 fingerprints before trial, but instead waited until trial had begun to see if the
16 State would try to admit a comparison based on the 1996 fingerprint card. State v.
17 Aragon, 2009-NMCA-102, ¶ 41, 147 N.M. 26, 216 P.3d 276 (not abuse of discretion
18 to deny motion for continuance when delay was result of defense failure to interview
17
1 witnesses or experts). We hold that it was not an abuse of discretion to deny the
2 motion for a continuance.
3 Wilson also fails to show how the result would have been different if his
4 attorney had procured expert testimony to refute the State’s fingerprint evidence. See
5 Holly, 2009-NMSC-004, ¶ 36. As the State appears to concede, Wilson is not
6 precluded from developing the record further and raising this issue in a habeas corpus
7 proceeding. Duncan v. Kerby, 115 N.M. 344, 346, 851 P.2d 466, 468 (1993) (“A
8 habeas corpus petitioner will not be precluded . . . from raising issues in habeas corpus
9 proceedings that could have been raised on direct appeal . . . when an adequate record
10 to address the claim properly was not available on direct appeal[.]” (citations
11 omitted)).
12 VIII. IT WAS HARMLESS ERROR TO ALLOW EXHIBIT 122 TO BE
13 INTRODUCED INTO EVIDENCE
14 Wilson argues that Exhibit 122, the 1996 fingerprint card used to compare with
15 the fingerprints on the truck, should not have been admitted into evidence because a
16 proper foundation had not been laid to qualify it under Rule 11-803(F) NMRA, the
17 business records exception to the hearsay rule. The trial judge admitted the 1996
18 fingerprint card under Rule 11-803(F) after an expert witness testified that the card
19 was maintained in the regular course of business by the Albuquerque Police
18
1 Department (“APD”). Wilson argues that the expert, Detective Herrera, was
2 unqualified to testify that the fingerprints were kept in the regular course of business.
3 Rule 11-803(F) states that a “custodian or other qualified witness” can testify how the
4 records are kept and that they are kept in “the regular practice of that business activity
5 to make the memorandum, report, record or data compilation . . . .” Id. Therefore,
6 Detective Herrera was classified as a qualified witness other than a custodian and
7 could establish the fingerprint card as a business record. See State v. Ruiz, 94 N.M.
8 771, 775, 617 P.2d 160, 164 (Ct. App. 1980) (Holding that under Rule [11-]803, “to
9 be ‘qualified’ the witness must be able to testify as to the mode of preparation of the
10 record and its safekeeping.”), superseded by statute on other grounds as recognized
11 in State v. McCormack, 101 N.M. 349, 351-52, 682 P.2d 742, 744-45 (Ct. App. 1984).
12 In order to qualify as a business record, Detective Herrera would have had to
13 lay a sufficient foundation that the 1996 fingerprint card was kept in the regular course
14 of business. See Ruiz, 94 N.M. at 775, 617 P.2d at 164; see also State v. Delgado,
15 2009-NMCA-061, ¶ 9, 146 N.M. 402, 210 P.3d 828 (Holding that after a review of
16 the record, “a sufficient foundation for that exception [Rule 11-803(F)] was
17 laid . . . .”). The mere conclusory statement that a record is maintained in the regular
18 course of business is not sufficient to establish the trustworthiness of records that are
19
1 created in conformity with a certain routine within the agency.2 See State v. Christian,
2 119 N.M. 776, 779, 895 P.2d 676, 679 (Ct. App. 1995) (“The reliability of business
3 records is usually premised upon routine, trusted patterns of record generation and the
4 confidence engendered by showing that a particular record is created and maintained
5 in conformity with that routine.”).
6 In laying a foundation, it would have been necessary for Detective Herrera to
7 testify that whenever an individual is arrested, (1) it is APD’s regular procedure to
8 fingerprint the individual; (2) APD follows that procedure for fingerprinting
9 individuals and filling out fingerprint cards; (3) the fingerprint cards contain specific
10 information including the date when they were taken and the name of the person
11 taking the fingerprints; (4) the fingerprint cards are signed by the individual whose
12 fingerprints are taken; (5) the fingerprint cards are kept in a specific location; (6) the
13 specific procedure for getting copies of those cards; (7) the 1996 fingerprint card
14 indicates that the fingerprints were taken in conformity with that procedure; and (8)
15 fingerprints are routinely taken and kept in this manner as part of APD’s business
16 practices. See id. (Holding that the reliability of business records is “supplied by
2
16 Prosecutor: Are they records maintained in the regular course of the business
17 of the Police Department, and specifically, of the laboratory that you work in?
18 Detective Herrera: Yes, they are.
20
1 systematic checking, by regularity and continuity which produce habits of precision,
2 by actual experience of business in relying upon them, or by a duty to make an
3 accurate record as part of a continuing job or occupation.” (internal quotation marks
4 and citation omitted)). Testimony meeting these parameters would have been
5 sufficient to show that APD had a duty to make an accurate record and that its records
6 are a reliable source of information. See id. at 779-80, 895 P.2d at 679-80. Exhibit
7 122 should not have been admitted because a proper foundation was not laid to
8 establish it as a business record. However, despite this analysis, we hold that any
9 error resulting from its admittance was harmless.
10 We reverse for non-constitutional error only when it is reasonably probable that
11 but for the error, the jury’s verdict would have been different. See State v. Barr, 2009-
12 NMSC-024, ¶ 54, 146 N.M. 301, 210 P.3d 198. In determining whether error is
13 harmless, this Court will consider whether there is
14 (1) substantial evidence to support the conviction without reference to
15 the improperly admitted evidence, (2) such a disproportionate volume of
16 permissible evidence that, in comparison, the amount of improper
17 evidence will appear so minuscule that it could not have contributed to
18 the conviction, and (3) no substantial conflicting evidence to discredit
19 the State’s testimony.
20 State v. Duffy, 1998-NMSC-014, ¶ 38, 126 N.M. 132, 967 P.2d 807 (internal quotation
21 marks and citation omitted).
21
1 In this case, the jury could have found Wilson guilty even without the 1996
2 fingerprint card in evidence. Under Rule 11-703 NMRA, an expert can rely upon
3 facts and data, and those facts “need not be admissible in evidence in order for the
4 opinion or inference to be admitted.” See also State v. Chambers, 84 N.M. 309, 311,
5 502 P.2d 999, 1001 (1972) (“[T]he better reasoned authorities admit opinion
6 testimony based, in part, upon reports of others which are not in evidence but which
7 the expert customarily relies upon in the practice of his profession.” (internal
8 quotation marks and citation omitted)). As an expert, Detective Herrera could have
9 relied upon the 1996 fingerprint card in forming the basis of her opinion without the
10 card ever being admitted into evidence. Although defense counsel made objections
11 about to the proper foundation being laid for the admission of the 1996 fingerprint
12 card, at no time did defense counsel make an objection about the genuine nature of the
13 fingerprints. See State v. Johnson, 37 N.M. 280, 287-88, 21 P.2d 813, 817 (1933)
14 (holding that as long as there was not a dispute about the genuineness of the
15 comparison prints, it was admissible for the expert to assume the comparison prints
16 were those of the defendant, even if the expert had no first-hand knowledge of that
17 fact). Moreover, Wilson had signed the 1996 fingerprint card and never denied that
18 the fingerprints were his.
22
1 Also, at no time did the defense attempt to discredit the fingerprint evidenceput
2 forth by the State. Defense counsel only questioned Detective Herrera regarding the
3 fingerprints as business records and never attempted to discredit her ability to make
4 a fingerprint comparison. Although Wilson’s attorney did make refer to a fingerprint
5 obtained from the truck as a “smudge,” he did not attempt to cross-examine Detective
6 Herrera on her comparison. See Duffy, 1998-NMSC-014, ¶ 38. Additional evidence
7 supporting a finding of guilt was an eyewitness who was able to place Wilson both at
8 the scene of the beating and in the truck as it was driven away with Knoll in the bed.
9 Although a proper foundation was not laid, we hold that the error is harmless since
10 there is no reasonable probability that the 1996 fingerprint card affected the jury’s
11 guilty verdict.
12 Wilson also attempts to argue that the fingerprint card was testimonial in nature,
13 and thus a violation of the Confrontation Clause. However, because Wilson failed to
14 properly preserve the issue in the trial court, and relegated any discussion of
15 fundamental error to a footnote in his brief in chief, we do not address the
16 confrontation issue. A defendant alleging fundamental error must be able to
17 “demonstrate the existence of circumstances that ‘shock the conscience’ or implicate
18 a fundamental unfairness within the system that would undermine judicial integrity
23
1 if left unchecked.” See State v. Herrera, 2004-NMCA-015, ¶ 6, 135 N.M. 79, 84 P.3d
2 696 (internal quotation marks and citations omitted). Fundamental error will only be
3 applied “if the defendant's innocence appears indisputable or if the question of his [or
4 her] guilt is so doubtful that it would shock the conscience to permit the conviction
5 to stand.” Id. (internal quotation marks and citation omitted).
6 IX. IT WAS NOT FUNDAMENTAL ERROR FOR THE TRIAL JUDGE TO
7 ALLOW ADMISSION OF A PRIOR ARREST BECAUSE WILSON
8 INVITED THE ERROR
9 Wilson argues that it was fundamental error for the trial judge to allow a record
10 of a past arrest and his juvenile criminal record to be introduced to the jury contrary
11 to Rule 11-404(B) NMRA. It is not clear from the record whether the 1996
12 fingerprint card actually went to the jury, but Wilson asserts that it did when the trial
13 judge stated that all exhibits would be sent to the jury and the card had been admitted
14 as an exhibit.
15 “Evidence of other crimes, wrongs or acts is not admissible to prove the
16 character of a person in order to show action in conformity therewith. It may,
17 however, be admissible for other purposes, such as proof of . . . identity . . . . ” Rule
18 11-404(B). Although the 1996 fingerprint card was used to identify Wilson, the
19 information concerning the arrest should have been redacted, and the failure to redact
24
1 was error. See State v. Saavedra, 103 N.M. 282, 284, 705 P.2d 1133, 1135 (1985)
2 (“The case law in New Mexico is clear and consistent in holding that erroneous
3 admission of evidence of prior crimes of the accused is error, absent special
4 circumstances.”), abrogated on other grounds by State v. Belanger, 2009-NMSC-
5 025, ¶ 36, 146 N.M. 357, 210 P.3d 783. Even though it may have been error to admit
6 the record of a prior arrest, Wilson’s fundamental error claim fails because he has
7 failed to show that he is indisputably innocent so that it would shock the conscience
8 to allow his conviction to stand. See Herrera, 2004-NMCA-015, ¶ 6. Wilson’s claim
9 also fails because his counsel invited the error. See State v. Nguyen, 2008-NMCA-
10 073, ¶ 22, 144 N.M. 197, 185 P.3d 368.
11 The Court of Appeals recently addressed the issue of invited error in Nguyen.
12 Id. at ¶¶ 22-23. In Nguyen, the Court held that the defendant “[h]aving encouraged
13 the court to proceed with one interpreter . . . is in no position to claim error.” Id. at
14 ¶ 22. “We reject the idea that a defendant may raise no objection to, and even
15 encourage, a procedure designed to share an interpreter and then after he is convicted
16 claim that the procedure requires reversal. Allowing a defendant to benefit from that
17 kind of conduct could encourage sandbagging and gamesmanship.” Id.
18 In this case, Wilson had numerous opportunities to object to the admission of
25
1 the 1996 fingerprint card. At the hearing on the motion for new fingerprints, the State
2 argued that it would be better to take new fingerprints because doing so would avoid
3 raising the issue of prior arrests. Knowing that the State was going to use the
4 fingerprint card from Wilson’s 1996 arrest, Wilson’s attorney stated that if the State
5 “could do it the other way” (presumably using the older prints as opposed to taking
6 new prints), the State “should do it and go forward with the trial[,]” making no
7 objection to the admission of the prior arrest. Similarly, at trial, Wilson’s attorney
8 vigorously objected on lack of foundation grounds, but not on the grounds that the
9 prior arrest was improperly admitted. Also, the State was not planning to admit the
10 records themselves, but just planned to have the expert testify regarding comparisons
11 made on fingerprints found on file, and it was Wilson’s attorney who insisted that the
12 records be admitted into evidence, again without objecting to the prior arrest record.
13 Finally, although the State’s expert acknowledged that the fingerprints were obtained
14 from APD, it was not until voir dire by Wilson’s attorney that it was revealed that the
15 fingerprints were kept because they were prints of known individuals who had been
16 arrested. Wilson insisted, and even encouraged, the State to proceed to admit these
17 records without any objection regarding his prior arrest, and he cannot now, after an
18 adverse conviction, complain it was error.
26
1 Wilson also makes an ineffective assistance of counsel claim on this issue,
2 stating that this evidence never should have been admitted. As previously discussed,
3 this claim fails because Wilson has failed to show that there would have been a
4 different outcome if the records had not been admitted, and there is nothing in the
5 record to indicate that the outcome would have been different. See Holly, 2009-
6 NMSC-004, ¶ 36. Any error regarding the admission of Wilson’s prior arrest record
7 was invited error and will not be overturned on appeal.
8 X. THE TRIAL JUDGE DID NOT ERR WHEN IT ADMITTED THE POST-
9 MORTEM PHOTOGRAPH OF THE VICTIM’S FACE
10 Wilson argues that the autopsy photograph showing the gunshot wounds to
11 Knoll’s face was entered only to elicit sympathy from the jury and had no other
12 relevance. Since Knoll’s death or identity were not an issue in the case, any probative
13 value that the picture may have had was outweighed by its prejudicial nature.
14 “A trial court has great discretion in balancing the prejudicial impact of a
15 photograph against its probative value.” State v. Saiz, 2008-NMSC-048, ¶ 54, 144
16 N.M. 663, 191 P.3d 521 (internal quotation marks and citations omitted), abrogated
17 on other grounds by Belanger, 2009-NMSC-025, ¶ 35. Here, the trial judge, outside
18 the jury’s presence, listened to arguments from all sides as they explained the
19 gruesome nature of the photograph and the necessity for its admission into evidence.
27
1 See Saiz, 2008-NMSC-048, ¶ 54 (“In this case, the trial judge proceeded cautiously
2 and prudently, both by considering the basis for his Rule 11-403 [NMRA] decision
3 outside the presence of the jury and by carefully selecting a limited number of
4 photographs to admit while excluding others.”). The photograph that was admitted
5 was not a duplicate of other exhibits. Instead, it was used to illustrate the testimony
6 of the forensic pathologist who was testifying, and the trial judge noted that, due to
7 the serious nature of the charges, the State should not be limited to drawings and
8 diagrams. “It is well established that photographs may properly be admitted for such
9 purposes [showing nature of injury, explaining basis for forensic pathologist’s
10 opinion, and illustrating forensic pathologist’s testimony], even if they are gruesome.”
11 State v. Garcia, 2005-NMCA-042, ¶ 50, 137 N.M. 315, 110 P.3d 531. Because we
12 conclude that the photograph could properly have been admitted, it was not an abuse
13 of discretion for the judge to admit it into evidence.
14 XI. THERE WAS A PLAUSIBLE TRIAL STRATEGY FOR FAILING TO
15 INTRODUCE EVIDENCE REGARDING ANY INCONSISTENCIES IN
16 THE TEMPORAL PROXIMITY OF KNOLL’S BATTERY AND HIS
17 DEATH
18 Wilson argues that his attorney should have introduced evidence at trial that
28
1 Knoll’s death may not have occurred immediately after the beating. Wilson states that
2 his attorney should have made clear to the jury that the time of death could not be
3 determined, it was common to hear gunshots in that area of the city, there were no
4 witnesses to the actual shooting, and other gunshots were heard in that area on the
5 night in question.
6 “A prima facie case for ineffective assistance of counsel is not made if there is
7 a plausible, rational strategy or tactic to explain the counsel’s conduct. . . . A
8 reviewing court will not attempt to second guess that decision.” State v. Jacobs, 2000-
9 NMSC-026, ¶ 49, 129 N.M. 448, 10 P.3d 127 (citations omitted). According to
10 Wilson’s argument on appeal, his attorney would have had to implicitly concede that
11 Wilson was involved in the beating and that the shooting happened later, after
12 Wilson’s involvement had ended. This argument would have been contrary to the
13 chosen trial tactic of straight-out denial of any involvement by Wilson in Knoll’s
14 beating or death. In his closing argument, Wilson’s attorney stated that
15 [w]e’re not contesting that the people who did the beating at the scene on
16 Gerald are the people that did the murder. Ladies and gentlemen, you
17 don’t leave your common sense behind . . . we’re not telling you that it
18 makes any sense for someone else to have come along and shot [Knoll].
19 Wilson’s counsel made a rational, tactical decision to completely deny Wilson’s
29
1 involvement in both the battery and the shooting and we will not second-guess that
2 strategy on appeal.
3 XII. THE TRIAL JUDGE DID NOT ERR WHEN HE REFUSED TO GRANT
4 A DIRECTED VERDICT FOR WILSON
5 Wilson argues that the trial judge should have granted his requested directed
6 verdict because the only evidence that could place Wilson at the crime scene was
7 inadmissible and should not have been admitted, namely, Edwards’ testimony and the
8 comparison to the 1996 fingerprint card. We have addressed this evidence and have
9 held that it was properly admitted. As previously discussed, Edwards’ questionable
10 testimony, even if it was inadmissible, was harmless due to the fact that Wilson was
11 identified properly later in Edwards’ testimony. See Part VI, supra. The admission
12 of the 1996 fingerprint card was also harmless because Detective Herrera could have
13 testified about her comparison without admitting the card into evidence. See Part
14 VIII, supra.
15 “[T]he question is whether, viewing all of the evidence in a light most favorable
16 to upholding the jury’s verdict, there is substantial evidence in the record to support
17 any rational trier of fact being so convinced [of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt].”
18 (first emphasis added). State v. Graham, 2005-NMSC-004, ¶ 7, 137 N.M. 197, 109
19 P.3d 285. In viewing all of the evidence in the record, we hold that there was
30
1 sufficient evidence to support the jury’s verdict. Accordingly, it was not error for the
2 trial judge to refuse to grant the directed verdict.
3 XIII. PROSECUTORIAL MISCONDUCT
4 Wilson makes numerous claims of prosecutorial misconduct in his brief in
5 chief, including having the prosecutor vouch for the veracity of one particular version
6 of prior inconsistent statements; fail to procure a witness to the crime scene by not
7 securing a videotape that might have disclosed the individual who reported it;
8 introduce inadmissible hearsay; and vouch for Wilson’s guilt and subtly attack his
9 right to remain silent. We reject these claims. Wilson’s claim that the State vouched
10 for one particular version of prior inconsistent statements lacks any citation to the
11 record. See Rule 12-213(A)(4). The claim that the State failed to procure a witness
12 to the crime scene by securing a videotape cannot be addressed because there is no
13 record from which this Court can determine whether such evidence existed or any
14 steps taken by the State to procure such evidence. Id. The hearsay evidence claim has
15 previously been addressed and rejected. See Part IV, supra. Finally, the comments
16 made in the State’s closing argument at trial were not the type of comments that the
17 “jury would naturally and necessarily have taken . . . to be comments on the exercise
18 of the right to remain silent.” State v. Hennessy, 114 N.M. 283, 287, 837 P.2d 1366,
31
1 1370 (Ct. App. 1992), overruled on other grounds by State v. Lucero, 116 N.M. 450,
2 453-54, 863 P.2d 1071, 1074-75 (1993). In Hennessy, the Court held that
3 [w]hile there was evidence to support the jury’s determination that
4 defendant was guilty . . . there was also [conflicting evidence] . . . .
5 Under these circumstances . . . we cannot say there is no reasonable
6 probability that the prosecutor’s numerous comments on silence were not
7 a significant factor in the jury’s deliberations in relation to the rest of the
8 evidence before them, in light of the fact that the evidence against
9 defendant was far from overwhelming.
10 Id. at 289, 837 P.2d at 1372. Here the State made a passing reference in its closing to
11 the fact that Wilson was not seen around the neighborhood following the murder.
12 Unlike Hennessy, a search of the record reveals that there was ample evidence to
13 support a guilty verdict, and based on this evidence, it is not likely that the jury relied
14 on this single comment to convict Wilson. We therefore reject any claims of
15 prosecutorial misconduct.
16 XIV. WILSON IS NOT ENTITLED TO A NEW TRIAL BECAUSE THERE IS
17 NO EVIDENCE THAT THE TRIAL JUDGE HAD ANY PERSONAL
18 BIAS AT THE TIME OF TRIAL
19 Wilson argues that Judge Brennan suffered from an addiction to cocaine, and
20 that because Knoll was found to have cocaine in his system at the time of his death,
32
1 Judge Brennan should have recused himself because of personal bias in the case. See
2 Rule 21-400(A)(1) NMRA (“A judge is disqualified and shall recuse himself or
3 herself in a proceeding in which the judge’s impartiality might reasonably be
4 questioned, including but not limited to instances where: the judge has a personal bias
5 or prejudice concerning a party or a party’s lawyer . . . . ”); N.M. Const. art. VI, § 18
6 (“No justice, judge or magistrate of any court shall, except by consent of all parties,
7 sit in any cause in which . . . he [or she] has an interest.”). Wilson fails to note that
8 “[t]his language has been construed to encompass an actual bias or prejudice but not
9 some indirect, remote, speculative, theoretical or possible interest.” State v. Williams,
10 105 N.M. 214, 219, 730 P.2d 1196, 1201 (Ct. App. 1986) (internal quotation marks
11 and citation omitted). Wilson has offered no evidence of actual bias, other than to
12 speculate that due to Judge Brennan’s use of cocaine, he had a personal bias in the
13 case because the victim was also used cocaine. Wilson has failed to prove that Judge
14 Brennan was personally biased at the time of trial, and thus we reject this claim.
15 XV. CUMULATIVE ERROR
16 Wilson claims that the accumulated errors in this case require a new trial,
17 because when they are taken together, they denied him a fair trial. “The doctrine of
18 cumulative error requires reversal when a series of lesser improprieties throughout a
33
1 trial are found, in aggregate, to be so prejudicial that the defendant was deprived of
2 the constitutional right to a fair trial.” Duffy, 1998-NMSC-014, ¶ 29. After reviewing
3 all of the claimed errors, this Court finds that only one error was valid. See Part II,
4 supra. Wilson is entitled to have his conviction for kidnapping vacated, but on the
5 whole, all of his other claims fail. See 1998-NMSC-014, ¶ 60 (“We have addressed
6 each error that Duffy claims . . . . We have concluded in each instance that there was
7 no error, or that, if any error existed, it was harmless and was outweighed by the
8 overwhelming evidence supporting conviction.”). We conclude that there was no
9 cumulative error.
10 XVI. CONCLUSION
11 We vacate Wilson’s kidnapping conviction as violating double jeopardy. The
12 remainder of Wilson’s convictions are affirmed. We remand to the district court for
13 further proceedings consistent with this opinion.
14 IT IS SO ORDERED.
15 _________________________________
16 EDWARD L. CHÁVEZ, Chief Justice
17 WE CONCUR:
34
1 _________________________________
2 PATRICIO M. SERNA, Justice
3 _________________________________
4 PETRA JIMENEZ MAES, Justice
5 _________________________________
6 RICHARD C. BOSSON, Justice
7 _________________________________
8 CHARLES W. DANIELS, Justice
35