{ "id": 3670982, "name": "STATE of New Mexico, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Kenneth MARTINEZ, Defendant-Appellant", "name_abbreviation": "State v. Martinez", "decision_date": "2006-10-26", "docket_number": "No. 23,710", "first_page": "792", "last_page": "797", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "140 N.M. 792" }, { "type": "parallel", "cite": "2006-NMCA-148" }, { "type": "parallel", "cite": "149 P.3d 108" } ], "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": "2004-NMSC-008", "category": "reporters:neutral", "reporter": "NMSC", "case_ids": [ 1428000 ], "weight": 3, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "\u00b6 41" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/135/0329-01" ] }, { "cite": "207 Neb. 393", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Neb.", "case_ids": [ 2482065 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1980, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "\"In a criminal action, pertinent traits are those involved in the crime on trial, e.g., honesty in theft cases, or peacefulness in murder cases.\" (emphasis added)" }, { "page": "190", "parenthetical": "\"In a criminal action, pertinent traits are those involved in the crime on trial, e.g., honesty in theft cases, or peacefulness in murder cases.\" (emphasis added)" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/neb/207/0393-01" ] }, { "cite": "91 N.M. 259", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 1571178 ], "weight": 6, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "261" }, { "page": "1269" }, { "page": "261" }, { "page": "1269" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/91/0259-01" ] }, { "cite": "230 F.3d 560", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "F.3d", "case_ids": [ 1094361 ], "weight": 2, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "564" }, { "page": "564", "parenthetical": "holding error of excluding character evidence on the defendant's character to form intent was harmless because the defendant testified as to intent and the jury had direct evidence" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/f3d/230/0560-01" ] }, { "cite": "678 F.2d 380", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "F.2d", "case_ids": [ 1470722 ], "pin_cites": [ { "page": "381" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/f2d/678/0380-01" ] }, { "cite": "949 F.2d 24", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "F.2d", "case_ids": [ 11932218 ], "pin_cites": [ { "page": "30" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/f2d/949/0024-01" ] }, { "cite": "1997-NMCA-075", "category": "reporters:neutral", "reporter": "NMCA", "case_ids": [ 142225 ], "weight": 3, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "\u00b6 10" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/123/0599-01" ] }, { "cite": "1997-NMCA-117", "category": "reporters:neutral", "reporter": "NMCA", "case_ids": [ 17828 ], "weight": 3, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "\u00b6 8" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/124/0261-01" ] }, { "cite": "100 N.M. 720", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 1588650 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1984, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "723" }, { "page": "250" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/100/0720-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 755, "char_count": 17355, "ocr_confidence": 0.689, "pagerank": { "raw": 7.180389191158361e-08, "percentile": 0.42974590410483393 }, "sha256": "5f66707fac92fb9168ae8ea65e01987c69f5ec924c2d272188ae1340134bfa31", "simhash": "1:5f2acd2dd5dbe565", "word_count": 2778 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T22:21:44.975087+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [ "WE CONCUR: A. JOSEPH ALARID and IRA ROBINSON, Judges." ], "parties": [ "STATE of New Mexico, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Kenneth MARTINEZ, Defendant-Appellant." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "OPINION\nFRY, Judge.\n{1} Defendant Kenneth Martinez appeals his conviction for solicitation of aggravated burglary on the basis that the trial court committed reversible error when it excluded testimony from five defense witnesses who were prepared to offer their opinion or knowledge of Defendant\u2019s reputation for honesty and truthfulness. Defendant argues that under Rules 11 \u2014 404(A)(1) and 11-608 NMRA, such evidence should have been admitted. We agree with Defendant and reverse his conviction on the ground that the trial court\u2019s exclusion of evidence of Defendant\u2019s character for honesty and truthfulness was reversible error. We remand for a new trial.\nBACKGROUND\n{2} Defendant worked as a paid police informant. On January 5, 2002, Defendant aided in the arrest of Arturo Torres, who was suspected of being involved in a burglary that occurred on December 8, 2001, in Silver City, New Mexico. Defendant helped police arrest Torres by luring him out of hiding with a story that Defendant wanted Torres to help him buy drugs. Police set up a traffic stop and arrested Torres. Shortly after his arrest, Torres implicated Defendant in the burglary. As a result, Defendant was arrested and charged with solicitation of aggravated burglary. Torres testified against Defendant at trial under a grant of use immunity.\n{3} The State\u2019s theory was that Defendant solicited Torres to burglarize the house of Marilyn Berry, the mother of Defendant\u2019s then-girlfriend. Berry lived at a different house on the same street as the house that was burglarized. Defendant indicates in his brief in chief that \u201c[bjoth ... [the house that was burglarized] and ... [the Berry house] are the second houses on the left from the [nearest] intersection. One house was south of the intersection ... and one house was north of the intersection.\u201d Thus, the State theorized that Torres mistook the house he actually burglarized for Berry\u2019s house, which was Defendant\u2019s alleged target in soliciting Torres to commit the burglary.\n{4} The State used Berry\u2019s testimony about her relationship with Defendant to establish Defendant\u2019s motive for soliciting the burglary. Berry testified at trial that she did not like Defendant because he and her daughter, Linda, argued and created a \u201cstressful situation.\u201d Defendant stayed four to five weeks in Berry\u2019s home in 2001, and on December 6, 2001 (two days before the burglary in question), according to Berry\u2019s trial testimony, Defendant came to her home to pick up his things and he argued with Linda. Berry told Defendant to leave, and he told Linda she would be sorry, that it would do no good to lock her doors, and that he could get in any time he wanted.\n{5} Defendant wanted to call five witnesses in his defense who would testify as to his general reputation and their opinion of Defendant\u2019s character for truthfulness and honesty. The State objected on grounds that Rule 11 \u2014 404 prohibited character evidence and that Defendant did not come under the rule\u2019s exception because his character for truthfulness and honesty was not pertinent to the charge he faced. The State made a motion in limine to exclude such testimony.\n{6} The trial court heard argument from both the State and Defendant prior to trial and reserved judgment on the motion in limine until after the State had presented its case in chief. At that time, the trial court inquired what Defendant was intending to offer. Defendant explained that his witnesses would testify as to his character for truthfulness and honesty. Defendant argued that, under the (A)(1) exception to Rule 11-404, whether Defendant was someone who would lie or steal was a pertinent trait, and opinion evidence on this trait should be admitted. The trial court ruled for the State and excluded all five of Defendant\u2019s proposed witnesses on the basis that Defendant\u2019s character for truthfulness and honesty was not pertinent. The court stated,\n[a]t this point I will grant the motion [for the State]. I don\u2019t see what it has to do with what we\u2019re dealing with today. Yes, it\u2019s a question of whether they believe Mr. Martinez or Mr. Torres, and I don\u2019t think that has anything to do with any kind of particular character trait.\n{7} The jury returned a verdict convicting Defendant of solicitation of aggravated burglary. Defendant appeals his conviction.\nDISCUSSION\n{8} On appeal, Defendant argues that the trial court\u2019s exclusion of opinion testimony about Defendant\u2019s character for truthfulness and honesty was reversible error on the basis of two alternative theories. First, Defendant contends that under Rule 11 \u2014 404(A)(1), he should have been allowed to introduce evidence of his good character for truthfulness and honesty because such character traits are relevant to the charge of solicitation of aggravated burglary. Alternatively, Defendant argues that under Rule 11-608, he should have been permitted to introduce witnesses to rehabilitate his credibility, which he claims was attacked by the prosecutor.\n{9} For the reasons that follow, we conclude the trial court misapprehended the analysis to be applied under Rule 11-404(A)(1). Because of this legal error, we reverse Defendant\u2019s conviction, and we need not address his arguments under Rule 11-608.\nStandard of Review\n{10} Generally, we review the trial court\u2019s exclusion of evidence for abuse of discretion. State v. Worley, 100 N.M. 720, 723, 676 P.2d 247, 250 (1984). \u201cHowever, our review of the application of the law to the facts is conducted de novo.\u201d State v. Elinski, 1997-NMCA-117, \u00b6 8, 124 N.M. 261, 948 P.2d 1209.\nRule 11-404(A)(1)\n{11} Rule 11 \u2014 404(A)(1) states in part:\nA. Character evidence generally. Evidence of a person\u2019s character or a trait of character is not admissible for the purpose of proving action in conformity therewith on a particular occasion, except:\n(1) Character of accused. Evidence of a pertinent trait of character offered by an accused, or by the prosecution to rebut the same.\nUnder the rule, the focus in determining admissibility is whether the character trait in question is pertinent. Defendant is advocating that his character for honesty and truthfulness is pertinent to the charge he faced. At issue is a multi-layered charge of solicitation of aggravated burglary. Because the charge is multi-layered, we first determine whether character for honesty and truthfulness is pertinent to aggravated burglary, which is the underlying crime, and if so, whether those traits are pertinent to solicitation of aggravated burglary.\nDefendant\u2019s Character for Honesty and Truthfulness is Pertinent to the Charge of Aggravated Burglary\n{12} The issue of whether a defendant\u2019s character for honesty and truthfulness is pertinent to a charge of burglary or aggravated burglary is an issue of first impression. Because Rule 11-404 is similar to its federal counterpart, Federal Rule of Evidence 404, federal law interpreting the rule is instructive. State v. Lopez, 1997-NMCA-075, \u00b6 10, 123 N.M. 599, 943 P.2d 1052 (\u201cBecause of the similarities between the rules, federal case law and legislative history are instructive in interpreting the state rule.\u201d).\n{13} In general, both the New Mexico Rules of Evidence and the Federal Rules of Evidence prohibit the use of character evidence to prove actions in conformity therewith. Rule 11-404; Fed.R.Evid. 404. A criminal defendant is allowed to introduce pertinent traits of his good character under the exception in Rule 11\u2014404(A) (1) out of concern for fairness. See United States v. Pujana-Mena, 949 F.2d 24, 30 (2d Cir.1991) (\u201cThe justification appears to be based on notions of fairness rather than logic; the defendant who, with the considerable forces of the government arrayed against him and who may have little more than his good name to defend himself, should not be precluded from presenting even such minimally probative evidence.\u201d).\n{14} The word \u201cpertinent\u201d in Rule 11-404(A)(1) has been interpreted to be synonymous with \u201crelevant.\u201d See United States v. Angelini, 678 F.2d 380, 381 (1st Cir.1982). Rule 11-401 NMRA defines relevant evidence as \u201cevidence having any tendency to make the existence of any fact that is of consequence to the determination of the action more probable or less probable than it would be without the evidence.\u201d Evidence offered under Federal Rule of Evidence 404(a)(1) is subject to a \u201clower threshold of relevancy to character evidence than that applicable to other evidence.\u201d United States v. Han, 230 F.3d 560, 564 (2d Cir.2000).\n{15} We have recognized that a defendant charged with a crime of dishonesty may call witnesses to testify as to the defendant\u2019s character for honesty and truthfulness, or a defendant charged with committing violent crimes may call witnesses to testify as to the defendant\u2019s good character for peacefulness. State v. Melendrez, 91 N.M. 259, 261, 572 P.2d 1267, 1269 (Ct.App.1977) (\u201cA \u2018rule of thumb\u2019 thus should be that convictions which rest on dishonest conduct relate to credibility whereas those of violent or assaultive crimes generally do not.\u201d); see also State v. Hortman, 207 Neb. 393, 299 N.W.2d 187, 190 (1980) (\u201cIn a criminal action, pertinent traits are those involved in the crime on trial, e.g., honesty in theft cases, or peacefulness in murder cases.\u201d (emphasis added)).\n{16} Under existing New Mexico law, theft crimes impugn a defendant\u2019s character for truthfulness. Melendrez, 91 N.M. at 261, 572 P.2d at 1269. In Melendrez, this Court held that shoplifting was a crime of dishonesty because it involved cheating or stealing, which reflected negatively on the defendant\u2019s veracity. Id. We reasoned that, \u201c[i]n common human experience acts of deceit, fraud, cheating, or stealing, for example, are universally regarded as conduct which reflects adversely on man\u2019s honesty and integrity.\u201d Id.\n{17} Given that a defendant\u2019s character for truthfulness is relevant to theft crimes, it follows that it is also relevant to burglary when the underlying felony of the burglary is a theft. In New Mexico, aggravated burglary is defined as \u201cthe unauthorized entry of any ... dwelling or other structure ... with intent to commit any felony or theft therein and the person ... after entering, arms himself with a deadly weapon.\u201d NMSA 1978, \u00a7 30 \u2014 16\u20144 (1963). Aggravated burglary necessarily requires intent to commit a theft or any felony. In this case, Defendant was charged with soliciting aggravated burglary with theft as the underlying felony. Because theft is a crime of dishonesty, and because the purpose of the burglary was to commit a theft, we hold that the aggravated burglary charged in this case was a crime of dishonesty-\nDefendant\u2019s Character for Truthfulness and Honesty is Pertinent to the Charge of Solicitation of Aggravated Burglary\n{18} Defendant was charged only with solicitation of aggravated burglary, not the aggravated burglary itself. Thus, the discrete issue in this case is whether the trial court should have considered the charge of solicitation alone or the solicitation plus the underlying substantive crime when determining what character traits of the accused were pertinent. This is also an issue of first impression in New Mexico, and we have found no cases in any jurisdiction \u2014 nor has either party pointed us to any cases \u2014 that are directly on point.\n{19} The State argues that Defendant\u2019s character for truthfulness and honesty is not a pertinent trait to the crime of criminal solicitation. Relying on the solicitation statute, NMSA 1978, \u00a7 30-28-3 (1979), and the uniform jury instruction for solicitation that was given at trial, UJI 14-2817, the State argues that nothing required the State to prove and the jury to find that Defendant engaged in dishonest or deceitful conduct.\n{20} The State is correct that solicitation in isolation is not dishonest; one who solicits a crime does not deceive the person he or she solicits. However, the State\u2019s argument ignores the fundamental nature of criminal solicitation. Solicitation without a substantive underlying crime is not a crime. Solicitation requires that a criminal act or omission be solicited.\n{21} Prosecutable crimes consist of both a physical act (actus reus) and a mental component (mens rea). See 1 Wayne R. LaFave, Substantive Criminal Law \u00a7 5.1 (2d ed. 2003) (\u201cIt is commonly stated that a crime consists of both a physical part and a mental part; that is, both an act ... and a state of mind.\u201d). \u201cFor the crime of solicitation to be completed, it is only necessary that the actor with intent that another person commit a crime, have enticed, ... or otherwise encouraged that person to commit a crime.\u201d 2 LaFave, supra, at \u00a7 11.1. The actus reus of solicitation is the solicitation itself and the crime is complete once the asking, enticing, or encouraging is done. The mens rea of solicitation, however, is more complicated.\n{22} The language of the New Mexico solicitation statute states that \u201ca person is guilty of criminal solicitation if, with the intent that another person engage in conduct constituting a felony, he solicits ... another person to engage in conduct constituting a felony.\u201d \u00a7 30-28-3 (emphasis added); see also 2 LaFave, supra, at \u00a7 11.1(c) (\u201c[T]he acts of commanding or requesting another to engage in conduct which is criminal would seem of necessity to require an accompanying intent that such conduct occur, and there is nothing in the decided cases suggesting otherwise.\u201d). Solicitation is a crime of \u201cspecific intent,\u201d a \u201cspecial mental element which is required above and beyond any mental state required with respect to the actus reus of the crime.\u201d 1 LaFave, supra, at \u00a7 5.2(e) (emphasis omitted). Thus, we impute the intent of the underlying crime to the person who solicits that crime.\n{23} In this ease, the jury had to consider Defendant\u2019s intent in soliciting the underlying crime. The State had to show that Defendant solicited Torres to break into a home and steal. The crime that Defendant allegedly solicited to be committed, stealing from another person, is dishonest and deceitful in nature. Because the jury was considering the intent of the Defendant to solicit a crime of dishonesty, Defendant\u2019s character for truthfulness and honesty became a pertinent trait. Therefore, it was error to exclude testimony as to Defendant\u2019s character for truthfulness and honesty.\nThe Trial Court\u2019s Erroneous Exclusion of Admissible Evidence Was Not Harmless Error\n{24} Finally, we consider whether the exclusion of the character evidence constituted harmless error. \u201cError in the exclusion of evidence in a criminal trial is prejudicial and not harmless if there is a reasonable possibility that the excluded evidence might have affected the jury\u2019s verdict.\u201d State v. Balderama, 2004-NMSC-008, \u00b6 41, 135 N.M. 329, 88 P.3d 845. Thus, we consider whether there is a reasonable possibility the trial court\u2019s exclusion of five character witnesses prepared to testify as to Defendant\u2019s good character for truthfulness and honesty might have contributed to Defendant\u2019s conviction for solicitation of aggravated burglary.\n{25} The State presented testimony from members of the Silver City Police Department, Berry, and Torres. While Berry and the police officers who testified explained a possible motive for Defendant or corroborated Torres\u2019s story, Torres was the only witness who claimed to have first-hand knowledge of Defendant\u2019s alleged act of solicitation. Therefore, the ease was basically a credibility match between Defendant and Torres, each of whom claimed to be telling the true version of the facts.\n{26} In some cases, a defendant who testifies has the opportunity to cure the error that results when other witnesses\u2019 testimony is wrongfully excluded; that is, a defendant may be able to present facts that the excluded witnesses\u2019 testimony would have revealed. See Han, 230 F.3d at 564 (holding error of excluding character evidence on the defendant\u2019s character to form intent was harmless because the defendant testified as to intent and the jury had direct evidence). Unlike the case in Han, Defendant in this case did not have the opportunity to cure the error of excluding the character evidence. Here, Defendant testified as to his side of the story, whereas the excluded evidence would not have gone to the actual facts of the case, but rather to Defendant\u2019s character for honesty and truthfulness.\n{27} The character evidence that Defendant sought to introduce may have bolstered the credibility of Defendant to the point that the jury may have believed Defendant\u2019s version of the facts over Torres\u2019s. This being the case, there is a reasonable possibility that the exclusion of Defendant\u2019s character evidence contributed to Defendant\u2019s conviction. Therefore, the exclusion of Defendant\u2019s evidence cannot be considered harmless.\nCONCLUSION\n{28} For the foregoing reasons, we reverse Defendant\u2019s conviction and remand for a new trial.\n{29} IT IS SO ORDERED.\nWE CONCUR: A. JOSEPH ALARID and IRA ROBINSON, Judges.", "type": "majority", "author": "FRY, Judge." } ], "attorneys": [ "Patricia A. Madrid, Attorney General, Patricia Gandert, Assistant Attorney General, Santa Fe, NM, for Appellee.", "John Bigelow, Chief Public Defender, Sue A. Herrmann, Assistant Appellate Defender, Santa Fe, NM, for Appellant." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "2006-NMCA-148 149 P.3d 108\nSTATE of New Mexico, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Kenneth MARTINEZ, Defendant-Appellant.\nNo. 23,710.\nCourt of Appeals of New Mexico.\nOct. 26, 2006.\nPatricia A. Madrid, Attorney General, Patricia Gandert, Assistant Attorney General, Santa Fe, NM, for Appellee.\nJohn Bigelow, Chief Public Defender, Sue A. Herrmann, Assistant Appellate Defender, Santa Fe, NM, for Appellant." }, "file_name": "0792-01", "first_page_order": 828, "last_page_order": 833 }