{ "id": 834201, "name": "STATE of New Mexico, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Howard FOSTER, Defendant-Appellant", "name_abbreviation": "State v. Foster", "decision_date": "1998-09-15", "docket_number": "No. 19083", "first_page": "830", "last_page": "832", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "125 N.M. 830" }, { "type": "parallel", "cite": "965 P.2d 949" }, { "type": "parallel", "cite": "1998-NMCA-147" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "N.M. Ct. App.", "id": 9025, "name": "Court of Appeals of New Mexico" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 52, "name_long": "New Mexico", "name": "N.M." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "57 N.M. 459", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 8842161 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1953, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "464" }, { "page": "373" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/57/0459-01" ] }, { "cite": "110 N.M. 393", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 716932 ], "weight": 2, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "400" }, { "page": "621" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/110/0393-01" ] }, { "cite": "117 N.M. 346", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 1552772 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1994, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "352" }, { "page": "1358" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/117/0346-01" ] }, { "cite": "94 N.M. 521", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 1573150 ], "weight": 4, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "523" }, { "page": "1334" }, { "page": "523" }, { "page": "1334" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/94/0521-01" ] }, { "cite": "121 N.M. 601", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 1566660 ], "weight": 4, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/121/0601-01" ] }, { "cite": "1996-NMCA-042", "category": "reporters:neutral", "reporter": "NMCA", "weight": 2, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "\u00b6 8" }, { "page": "\u00b68" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "408 U.S. 471", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 1782797 ], "weight": 5, "year": 1972, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "480", "parenthetical": "\"[T]he revocation of parole is not part of a criminal prosecution....\"" }, { "parenthetical": "\"[T]he revocation of parole is not part of a criminal prosecution....\"" }, { "parenthetical": "\"[T]he revocation of parole is not part of a criminal prosecution....\"" }, { "page": "480" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/408/0471-01" ] }, { "cite": "1997-NMCA-074", "category": "reporters:neutral", "reporter": "NMCA", "case_ids": [ 142248 ], "weight": 4, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "\u00b6 3" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/123/0589-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 418, "char_count": 7248, "ocr_confidence": 0.739, "pagerank": { "raw": 9.432708214079411e-08, "percentile": 0.5167322496408092 }, "sha256": "0044ae1cc89cdf671e2cf59ce5681f6bc14bef2da2ff14720cb264fbefeaa3fe", "simhash": "1:dcd59bb97fa12c8a", "word_count": 1155 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T21:27:04.972911+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [ "ALARID and BUSTAMANTE, JJ., concur." ], "parties": [ "STATE of New Mexico, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Howard FOSTER, Defendant-Appellant." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "OPINION\nAPODACA, Judge.\n{1} Defendant appeals a bench trial conviction of failure to appear, a fourth-degree felony. See NMSA 1978, \u00a7 31-3-9 (1973). He raises two issues on appeal: (1) Defendant\u2019s failure to appear did not violate Section 31-3-9 because a probation hearing is not a criminal proceeding; and (2) even if Section 31-3-9 applies, a petty misdemeanor is the greatest offense of which he could be convicted. We determine that, under the plain meaning of the statute\u2019s terms, a probation revocation hearing is not a criminal action or proceeding. For that reason, we hold that Section 31-3-9 is not applicable to probation revocation hearings. We therefore reverse with instructions to dismiss the indictment against Defendant. In view of our disposition, we need not reach Defendant\u2019s second issue.\nI. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND\n{2} While Defendant was on probation for the felony of cocaine trafficking, he was arrested for alleged violations of the probation conditions. These allegations involved certain administrative violations by Defendant, as well as misdemeanor charges filed against him in Texas. The State filed a motion to revoke Defendant\u2019s probation, and Defendant did not appear at the probation violation hearing. A grand jury indicted him for failure to appear.\n{3} Defendant filed a motion to dismiss the criminal charge against him or to reduce it to a misdemeanor. He argued the inapplicability of Section 31-3-9 because he was not released pending a criminal trial. Rather, Defendant contended, he was released pending a hearing on a probation violation, which he analogized to an administrative hearing and not a criminal proceeding. He also argued that the State based its motion to revoke his probation on alleged misdemeanors, not felony charges. The trial court denied Defendant\u2019s motion and convicted him of failure to appear.\nII. DISCUSSION\nA. Standard Of Review\n{4} We review the construction of a statute de novo. See State v. Arellano, 1997-NMCA-074, \u00b6 3, 123 N.M. 589, 943 P.2d 1042.\nB. Applicability Of Section 31-3-9\n{5} Defendant argues that Section 31-3-9 does not apply to his failure to appear for his probation violation hearing because such a hearing is not a criminal proceeding. We agree. Section 31-3-9 provides:\nAny person released pending trial or appeal in any criminal action who willfully fails to appear before any court or judicial officer as required:\nA. is guilty of a fourth degree felony, if he was released in connection with a felony charge; or\nB. is guilty of a petty misdemeanor, if he was released in connection with a charge of a misdemeanor or a petty misdemeanor.\n(Emphasis added).\n{6} Defendant was not \u201creleased pending trial or appeal in any criminal action.\u201d Id. Rather, Defendant was on probation for his cocaine trafficking conviction. He failed to appear for his probation revocation hearing. A probation violation hearing is not a criminal proceeding. See Morrissey v. Brewer, 408 U.S. 471, 480, 92 S.Ct. 2593, 33 L.Ed.2d 484 (1972) (\u201c[T]he revocation of parole is not part of a criminal prosecution....\u201d); State v. DeBorde, 1996-NMCA-042, \u00b6 8, 121 N.M. 601, 915 P.2d 906 (\u201cAs a general rule, proceedings to revoke probation are not considered to be part of a criminal prosecution....\u201d). Instead, this Court has analogized probation revocation proceedings to administrative hearings. See De-Borde, 1996-NMCA-042, \u00b68, 121 N.M. 601, 915 P.2d 906. A defendant\u2019s limited rights in a parole revocation support this analogy. See Morrissey, 408 U.S. at 480, 92 S.Ct. 2593 (\u201c[T]he full panoply of rights due a defendant in a [criminal prosecution] does not apply to parole revocations.\u201d); State v. Sanchez, 94 N.M. 521, 523, 612 P.2d 1332, 1334 (Ct.App.1980).\n{7} Consequently, we hold that Section 31-3-9 does not apply to Defendant\u2019s failure to appear at his probation revocation hearing under the plain meaning of the statute. See State ex rel. Helman v. Gallegos, 117 N.M. 346, 352, 871 P.2d 1352, 1358 (1994).\n{8} The State argues that Defendant was awaiting trial because the revocation proceeding questioned the original judgment and sentence for cocaine trafficking. We disagree. Our Court in Sanchez, 94 N.M. at 523, 612 P.2d at 1334, explained that \u201c[a] hearing on revocation of probation or parole is not a trial on a criminal charge, but is a hearing to determine whether, during the probationary or parole period, the defendant has conformed to or breached the course of conduct outlined in the probation or parole order.\u201d (Emphasis added).\n{9} The State contends that our holding will negatively effect other criminal procedures in the event of escape during the time between conviction and sentencing, imprisonment and delayed surrender, and appeal and mandate. We disagree. For example, our Court in State v. Peppers, 110 N.M. 393, 400, 796 P.2d 614, 621 (Ct.App.1990), held that a trial is considered pending after a jury conviction but before sentencing. Additionally, our rationale, based on case law stating that a probation revocation is not a criminal proceeding, does not extend to the State\u2019s hypothetical situations. Our task is to give effect to the plain meaning of the statute, as written. Even if oar construction of the statute \u201cleaves significant gaps in the steps commonly taken in a criminal case,\u201d as argued by the State, that is a matter for the legislature to correct.\n{10} Contrary to the State\u2019s assertion, our holding does not undermine legislative intent or public policy. In State v. Thompson, 57 N.M. 459, 464, 260 P.2d 370, 373 (1953), our Supreme Court stated:\nThe cardinal rule in the construction of a statute is to ascertain the intention of the Legislature as it is expressed in the words of the statute____The law, it is true, in its tenderness for life and liberty, requires that penal statutes shall be strictly construed, by which is meant that courts will not extend punishment to cases not plainly within the language used.\nThe State argues that the legislature intended Section 31-3-9 to provide an additional penalty for disobeying the court\u2019s direction to appear and answer. The plain meaning of the statute, however, applies this penalty only to those \u201creleased pending trial or appeal in any criminal action.\u201d Section 31-3-9. Our case law makes clear that a probation revocation proceeding is not a criminal proceeding. It follows that Defendant was not released \u201cpending trial or appeal in any criminal action.\u201d\nIII. CONCLUSION\n{11} In summary, we conclude that the trial court improperly convicted Defendant of violating Section 31-3-9. We hold that Defendant\u2019s failure to appear at his probation revocation hearing did not fall within the scope of the statute. We therefore reverse with instructions to dismiss the indictment against Defendant.\n{12} IT IS SO ORDERED.\nALARID and BUSTAMANTE, JJ., concur.", "type": "majority", "author": "APODACA, Judge." } ], "attorneys": [ "Tom Udall, Attorney General, Steven S. Suttle, Assistant Attorney General, Albuquerque, for Plaintiff-Appellee.", "Phyllis H. Subin, Chief Public Defender, Nancy M. Hewitt, Assistant Appellate Defender, Santa Fe, for Defendant-Appellant." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "1998-NMCA-147\n965 P.2d 949\nSTATE of New Mexico, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Howard FOSTER, Defendant-Appellant.\nNo. 19083.\nCourt of Appeals of New Mexico.\nSept. 15, 1998.\nTom Udall, Attorney General, Steven S. Suttle, Assistant Attorney General, Albuquerque, for Plaintiff-Appellee.\nPhyllis H. Subin, Chief Public Defender, Nancy M. Hewitt, Assistant Appellate Defender, Santa Fe, for Defendant-Appellant." }, "file_name": "0830-01", "first_page_order": 870, "last_page_order": 872 }