Commonwealth v. Delos Reyes

Commonwealth v. Delos Reyes, 4 N.M.I. 340 (1996) Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Plaintiff/Appellee, v. Francisco I. Delos Reyes, Defendant/Appellant. Appeal No. 94-009 Traffic Case No. 93-6385 April 12, 1996 Subm itted on Briefs M arch 20, 1996 Counsel for appellant: Gregory Baka, Assistant Public Defender, Saipan. Counsel for appellee: Alan Lane, Assistant Attorney General, Saipan. BEFORE: TAYLOR, Chief Justice, and VILLAGOM EZ and ATALIG, Justices. VILLAGOM EZ, Justice: The appellant, Francisco I. Delos Reyes, appeals his conviction and sentence for driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI). W e have jurisdiction under 1 CM C § 3102(a). W e affirm . ISSUES & STANDARDS OF REVIEW Delos Reyes presents seven issues for our review: I. W hether the Superior Court erred in issuing an ex parte order granting the governm ent’s motion for a continuance. W e review for an abuse of discretion the trial court’s decision to grant or deny a continuance.1 II. “W hether the Government’s conduct in obtaining an ex parte continuance— barely one business day before the scheduled trial— warrants dismissal.” Appellant’s Brief at 1.2 1 United States v. Pope, 841 F.2d 954, 956 (9th Cir. 1988); see also Hwang Jae Corp. v. Marianas Trading & Dev. Corp., 4 N.M.I. 142, 143 (1994). 2 This issue, as presented, was not properly preserved for appeal and, therefore, will not be considered. Prior to trial, Delos Reyes filed a motion to vacate the trial court’s ex parte order granting a continuance and to dismiss, because the government was unprepared to go forward on the date set for trial. Excerpts of Record at 4-6. The notice of and record on appeal, however, are silent as to the trial court’s specific ruling on the motion to dismiss, notwithstanding Delos Reyes’s citation to several trial court orders setting status conference and trial dates. Appellant’s Brief at 2; see also Excerpts of Record at 25. As a result, we have nothing before us that is properly subject to review with respect to this issue. Com. R. App. P. 10(c), 10(d), 30(b); Onyeabor v. Pro Roofing, Inc., 787 P.2d 525, 527 (Utah Ct. App. 1990) (“The precept that a record should be made of all proceedings applies to conferences in chambers as well as courtroom proceedings”). The parties bear the burden of ensuring that the record  III. W hether the Superior Court erred in adm itting field sobriety test results without the governm ent showing scientific basis for the tests. W e review a claim of evidentiary error for an abuse of discretion.3 IV. W hether the Superior Court erred in excluding from evidence a learned treatise. W e review the trial court’s decision to exclude evidence for an abuse of discretion.4 V. W hether there was sufficient evidence to establish that Delos Reyes was “under the influence of alcohol.” In assessing whether there was sufficient evidence to prove an elem ent of a crim e, we review the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution to determine whether any reasonable trier of fact could have found the elem ent beyond a reasonable doubt.5 VI. W hether there was sufficient unrebutted evidence of “necessity” to establish a defense. This is a m ixed question of law and fact reviewable de novo.6 VII. W hether Delos Reyes should be resentenced because of im proper prosecutorial argum ent. W here, as here, defense counsel contem poraneously objected to the prosecutor’s allegedly im proper argum ents, we apply a harmless error test to assess whether it is more likely than not that the prosecutor’s conduct affected the fairness of the proceeding.7 FACTUAL & PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND During the afternoon of Septem ber 19, 1993, Officer Sandy Ham bros observed a vehicle with its headlights on, traveling over the speed lim it and moving erratically from left to right. Officer Ham bros turned on his flashing lights and siren and followed the vehicle for half a mile before it stopped. Delos Reyes was driving the car, and could not produce his driver’s license. He had a flushed face, bloodshot eyes, slurred speech, and a strong odor of alcohol on his breath. Officer Ham bros adm inistered a roadside field sobriety test, which Delos Reyes failed. Officer Ham bros took Delos Reyes to a Departm ent of Public Safety office and re-administered the test. Delos Reyes again failed the test, and Officer Ham bros noticed that he was swaying. Delos Reyes refused to take a breathalyzer test. Officer Ham bros proceeded to cite Delos Reyes for violation of 9 CM C §§ 7104 (reckless driving), 7105(a)(2) (DUI), 7106 (refusing to subm it to breathalyzer test), 2201 (driving without license in possession), and 5304 (improper lane crossing). The Superior Court scheduled Delos Reyes’s trial for Decem ber 14, 1993. On Friday, Decem ber 10, 1993, the government filed a motion for a continuance. The trial court granted the m otion and rescheduled trial for February 14, 1994. The following M onday, Delos Reyes filed a m otion to dismiss and to vacate the Superior they compile will adequately preserve their arguments for review should they choose to appeal. Onyeabor, supra. 3 Commonwealth v. Palacios, 4 N.M.I. 330, 333 (1996). 4 Commonwealth v. Bordallo, 1 N.M.I. 208, 217-18 (1990). 5 Commonwealth v. Oden, 3 N.M.I. 186, 191 (1992), aff’d, 19 F.3d 226 (9th Cir. 1994). 6 See United States v. Brebner, 951 F.2d 1017, 1024 (9th Cir. 1991) (subjecting trial court’s decision to exclude evidence of a particular defense in a jury trial to de novo review); Palacios, 4 N.M.I. at 333 (trial court’s findings of fact in a criminal case are reviewed for sufficiency of the evidence). 7 Commonwealth v. Saimon, 3 N.M.I. 365, 379-80 (1992). Delos Reyes provides this Court with only the vaguest idea of what he deems objectionable about the prosecutor’s arguments over an eleven-page block of the transcript of the sentencing hearing. Furthermore, he cites no authority in support of his argument that the prosecutor’s statements were improper. Thus, we need not consider this issue. Babauta v. Superior Ct., 4 N.M.I. 309, 313 (1995). However, having subjected all eleven cited pages of the sentencing transcript to careful review in an attempt to understand Delos Reyes’s argument, we conclude that the prosecutor did not make any remarks that adversely affected the fairness of the proceeding.  Commonwealth v. Delos Reyes, 4 N.M.I. 340 (1996) Court’s ex parte order granting a continuance. The governm ent filed a response in opposition to this motion. After status conferences on Decem ber 14, 23 and 30, 1993, the court reset trial for January 18, 1994. At trial, Delos Reyes adm itted to drinking three cans of beer within ninety minutes prior to being pulled over by Officer Hambros. Additionally, he testified that he was in a hurry to assist his pregnant daughter-in-law, who was having labor pains. 8 The trial court found Delos Reyes guilty of DUI, driving without a license in his im m ediate possession, and refusing to subm it to a breathalyzer test. The court suspended Delos Reyes’s driver’s license for ninety days and further sentenced him to a fine, jail tim e, com m unity service, and alcohol inform ation class. Delos Reyes challenges only his DUI conviction and his sentence. ANALYSIS I. Issuance of Ex-Parte Order Granting M otion for a Continuance A trial court has wide latitude in determ ining the m anner of conducting trials.9 This includes the granting of continuances deemed necessary to the furtherance of justice. Here, it is unclear why the governm ent waited until Decem ber 10, 1993— four days before trial 10— to m ove for a continuance because there was no prosecutor available to try the case. The record indicates that, prior to filing its motion, the governm ent unsuccessfully tried to get defense counsel to stipulate to a continuance. Excerpts of Record at 2-20. Thus, defense counsel had reason to know that a request by the governm ent for a continuance could be anticipated. Although the trial court granted the continuance without giving Delos Reyes an opportunity to be heard, the record shows that the court held a status conference on Decem ber 14, 1994, the day following the filing of Delos Reyes’s motion to vacate the ex parte order granting a continuance. Excerpts of Record at 21. The trial court then m oved up the trial date after hearing from Delos Reyes. Delos Reyes claim s prejudice, noting that as a result of the case not going to trial as originally scheduled, a defense corroborating witness (his daughter-in-law) was unable to testify at trial. However, Delos Reyes does not explain how the missing witness’s testimony would have helped him .11 W e conclude that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in granting the request for a continuance. II. Admission of Field Sobriety Test Results without a Showing of Scientific Basis Delos Reyes asserts that the field sobriety test results constitute scientific inform ation which m ay not be introduced into evidence unless a scientific foundation is laid. In Commonwealth v. Palacios, 4 N.M .I. 330 (1996), we held that field sobriety test results are not scientific evidence subject to the requirem ents of Com . R. Evid. 8 Delos Reyes also testified that his daughter-in-law had her baby six days later. Excerpts of Record at 67, 70. The parties do not dispute that the daughter-in-law was not in the car when Officer Hambros stopped Delos Reyes. 9 Pope, 841 F.2d at 956. 10 The record shows that the government filed its motion on a Friday, requesting a continuance of the trial that was originally set for the following Tuesday. Excerpts of Record at 2-3. 11 The appellant bears the burden of pointing out clearly and specifically the error asserted on appeal. City of Albuquerque v. Westland Dev. Co., Inc., 909 P.2d 25, 36 (N.M. Ct. App.), cert. denied, ___ P.2d ___ (N.M. Dec. 13, 1995). W here the appellant fails to carry this burden, we need not even address his or her argument. Id. 702. 12 Thus, the governm ent was not required to lay a scientific foundation prior to introducing the results. Delos Reyes does not contend that the foundation for Hambros’s testim ony was otherwise inadequate. 13 W e conclude, therefore, that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in adm itting the test results. III. Exclusion of Learned Treatise Com. R. Evid. 803(18) authorizes the trial court to admit into evidence, [t]o the extent called to the attention of an expert witness upon cross-exam ination or relied upon by him in direct exam ination, statem ents contained in . . . periodicals . . . on a subject of . . . science . . . established as a reliable authority by the testim ony or adm ission of the witness or by other expert testim ony or by judicial notice.14 Here, during the cross-exam ination of Officer Ham bros, Delos Reyes m oved to adm it an article, or statem ents from it, about field sobriety tests. The trial court denied Delos Reyes’s request. W e find no error. First, under corresponding Fed. R. Evid. 803(18), “treatises must . . . be offered along with expert testim ony.” 15 Officer Ham bros did not testify as an expert witness. Second, the proponent of a learned treatise must show that the article is reliable authority.16 Delos Reyes has not drawn this Court’s attention to any portion of the record where he attem pted to establish that the article in question, entitled “I M ay Flunk, But I Ain’t Drunk,” is a reliable authority on the topic of field sobriety tests. The trial court did not abuse its discretion in refusing to admit the tendered treatise. IV. Sufficiency of the Evidence “A challenge to the sufficiency of evidence in a crim inal case requires the Court to consider the evidence in the light most favorable to the governm ent and to determ ine whether any reasonable trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt.” 17 A review of the record in this case shows that there was adequate evidence to support findings beyond a reasonable doubt on every elem ent of DUI. Officer Ham bros testified that he observed Delos Reyes’ car speeding and swerving, and that Delos Reyes did not pull over for half a mile after Officer Hambros began pursuing him . Officer Hambros further testified that Delos Reyes sm elled of alcohol, had bloodshot eyes and slurred speech, and failed both field sobriety tests. Delos Reyes him self adm itted to having consum ed three cans of beer within ninety minutes prior to driving. W e hold that, based on the evidence before the trial court, it did not err in finding Delos Reyes guilty of DUI. V. Necessity Defense Delos Reyes contends that the trial court, as the finder of fact, erred in failing to acquit him based on a necessity defense. W e find no error. 12 Palacios, 4 N.M.I. at 333. 13 See id. 14 Com. R. Evid. 803(18) (emphasis added). 15 4 Christopher B. Mueller & Laird C. Kirkpatrick, F ED ERAL E VIDENCE § 468 (2d ed. 1994). 16 Cf. id. (discussing Fed. R. Evid. 803(18)). 17 Palacios, 4 N.M.I. at 334.  Commonwealth v. Delos Reyes, 4 N.M.I. 340 (1996) A defendant establishes the affirm ative defense of necessity when he or she shows, by a preponderance of the evidence, 18 that: (1) the act charged was done to prevent a significant evil; (2) there was no adequate alternative; and (3) the harm caused was not disproportionate to the harm avoided. 19 In the Com m onwealth, necessity is not a statutory defense, but may be invoked as a defense available at comm on law.20 The trial court took note of Delos Reyes’s testim ony that “he was in a hurry to assist his daughter-in-law who was in labor.” 21 The court proceeded, how ever, to convict Delos Reyes of DUI based on, am ong other things, Delos Reyes’s adm ission that he drank “no more than three . . . cans of beer about 90 minutes prior to the stop.” 22 Assum ing that Delos Reyes introduced enough evidence, as m atter of law, to raise a question for the trier of fact,23 the trial court found that he did not show by a preponderance of the evidence that it was necessary for him to drive while intoxicated in order to assist his daughter-in-law. 24 Delos Reyes, in challenging such a finding, is basically asking this Court to reweigh the evidence, which we are not at liberty to do.25 CONCLUSION Based on the above analysis, we AFFIRM Delos Reyes’s conviction and sentence. 18 Under the Commonwealth Code, [i]f [a] defense is an affirmative defense, the defendant is entitled to an acquittal if the trier of fact finds that the evidence, when considered in the light of any contrary prosecution evidence, proves by a preponderance of the evidence the specified fact or facts which negate penal liability. 6 CMC § 251(b)(2). 19 Degler v. Alaska, 741 P.2d 659, 661 (Alaska Ct. App. 1987) (quoting Nelson v. Alaska, 597 P.2d 977, 979 (Alaska 1979)). 20 See 6 CMC § 251(d) (“Nothing contained in this title is to be construed to deny a defendant the right to raise any defense available at common law”). 21 Commonwealth v. Delos Reyes, Traf. No. 93-6385 (N.M.I. Super. Ct. Jan. 19, 1994) (order at 2). 22 Id. The trial court also found “credible the testimon[y] of the officer who saw the on-coming vehicle and trailed [Delos Reyes].” Id. 23 Courts in similar cases have concluded that a defendant was not justified in driving a vehicle. See, e.g., Oregon v. Haley, 667 P.2d 560, 564 (Or. Ct. App. 1983) (affirming trial court’s decision to withdraw DUI defendant’s necessity defense from the jury where trial court found no evidence of urgent circumstances, and record showed no evidence of attempt by defendant to arrange alternative, available transportation to hospital for injured relative). 24 Cf. Illinois v. Planer, 515 N.E.2d 1042, 1045 (Ill. Ct. App. 1987) (holding that, in probation revocation proceeding, evidence failed to establish necessity for driving without a license where defendant claimed to have been a passenger in a car being driven by his pregnant fiancé, who allegedly began to experience such extreme pain that defendant had to drive), appeal denied, 522 N.E.2d 1253 (Ill. 1988). 25 1 CMC § 3103 (when reviewing trial court decisions, Supreme Court must give due regard “to the opportunity of the trier of fact to judge the credibility of witnesses”); Commonwealth v. Cabrera, 4 N.M.I. 240, 246 (1995).