{ "id": 1577277, "name": "STATE of New Mexico, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. Billy Ray HUGHES, Defendant-Appellee", "name_abbreviation": "State v. Hughes", "decision_date": "1981-05-05", "docket_number": "No. 5008", "first_page": "606", "last_page": "607", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "96 N.M. 606" }, { "type": "parallel", "cite": "633 P.2d 714" } ], "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": "90 N.M. 256", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 2872048 ], "weight": 2, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/90/0256-01" ] }, { "cite": "84 N.M. 717", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 2766048 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1973, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/84/0717-01" ] }, { "cite": "633 P.2d 712", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "P.2d", "case_ids": [ 1577402 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/96/0604-01" ] }, { "cite": "95 N.M. 265", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 1575559 ], "weight": 4, "year": 1980, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/95/0265-01" ] }, { "cite": "91 N.M. 470", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 1571041 ], "weight": 2, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/91/0470-01" ] }, { "cite": "84 N.M. 416", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 2770954 ], "weight": 2, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/84/0416-01" ] }, { "cite": "94 N.M. 544", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 1573169 ], "weight": 2, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/94/0544-01" ] }, { "cite": "93 N.M. 307", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 1568824 ], "weight": 8, "year": 1979, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/93/0307-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 326, "char_count": 5012, "ocr_confidence": 0.764, "pagerank": { "raw": 5.842886217144834e-08, "percentile": 0.36283852842385794 }, "sha256": "685db5f59543e247744cca45fd11bbc7bf71a857a61ec3ec2ca2cac1584778ab", "simhash": "1:67fdff1d102e967e", "word_count": 827 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T16:25:27.930698+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [ "LOPEZ and ANDREWS, JJ., concur." ], "parties": [ "STATE of New Mexico, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. Billy Ray HUGHES, Defendant-Appellee." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "OPINION\nHENDLEY, Judge.\nPursuant to \u00a7 39-3-3(B)(l), N.M.S.A. 1978, the State appeals the dismissal of the second count in a three count supplemental information under the Habitual Offender Statute, \u00a7 31-18-17, N.M.S.A. 1978 (Supp. 1980). We affirm.\nThe second count involves a conviction on January 28, 1980, for an offense committed on July 27, 1978. The third count is for a conviction on September 29, 1980, for an offense committed on December 14, 1979. Thus, the commission of the offense in Count III was not subsequent to the conviction in Count II. For enhancement, State v. Linam, 93 N.M. 307, 600 P.2d 253 (1979), requires that each felony be committed after the conviction for the preceding felony.\nThe State contends that the language in the amended Habitual Offender Statute requires only that the prior felony convictions be part of separate transactions or occurrences. We are not persuaded. State v. Linam, supra, reasons that \u201cthe increased penalty is held in terrorem over the criminal for the purpose of effecting his reformation and preventing further and subsequent offenses by him.\u201d Fully aware of this decision, the Legislature did not in its 1979 amendment use language to show clearly a different intent. The State relies on the omission in the 1979 amendment of language in the prior statute, \u00a7 31-18-5, N.M.S.A. 1978, \u201cafter having been convicted .. . commits any felony\u201d. However, the 1979 amendment not only omits the language mentioned by the State, but consists of a complete redrafting in new phraseology-\nIntent is to be determined primarily from language used. State v. Russell, 94 N.M. 544, 612 P.2d 1355 (Ct.App.1980). We do not see in the omission relied on by the State a clear showing that the Legislature intended a purpose different from that expressed in Linam, supra. On the contrary, subsection A of the amended act defines \u201cprior felony conviction\u201d to mean \u201ca conviction for a prior felony committed\u201d and \u201cany prior felony for which the person was convicted.\u201d The use of the phrase \u201cfelony committed\u201d along with the phrase \u201cfelony for which the person was convicted\u201d does not suggest that the Legislature was concerned with the distinction our Supreme Court made in Linam, supra, regarding the date of commission of the act and the conviction of the felony. Construing the statute as the State suggests, the reform objective of the Habitual Offender Act as enunciated in Linam, supra, \u201cto provide a deterrent from future crimes\u201d would hardly be realized. Furthermore, any ambiguity in a criminal provision must be construed in favor of the accused. State v. Sweat, 84 N.M. 416, 504 P.2d 24 (Ct.App.1972). Thus, in light of the absence of any legislative language clearly to the contrary, we are bound to follow 2iState v. Linam, supra.\nAs a basis for its position, the State refers us to the Committee Commentary to N.M.U.J.I. Crim. 39.01, N.M.S.A. 1978 (Supp.1980), which suggests that it is possible that State v. Linam, supra, may no longer be applicable to the new Habitual Offender Act. We note, however, that the Committee Commentaries are not adopted by the Supreme Court. State v. Zamora, 91 N.M. 470, 575 P.2d 1355 (Ct.App.1978). Furthermore, in State v. Wise, 95 N.M. 265, 620 P.2d 1290 (1980), a decision written a year and a half after the effective date of the amended Habitual Offender Act, the Supreme Court held that N.M.U.J.I. Crim. 39.01 and 39.06, N.M.S.A. 1978 (Supp.1980), were promulgated to be effective July 1, 1979. This date is the effective date of the amended Habitual Offender Act. Because both instructions, 39.01 and 39.06 require dates of offense, as well as dates of conviction, as critical acts to be found by the trier of fact, we are not free to disregard the holding of State v. Wise, supra, and to adopt the suggestion of the State in this case.\nFinally, the State relies on State v. Hernandez, 96 N.M. -, 633 P.2d 712 (Ct.App.1981), for the proposition that the new Habitual Offender Statute \u201crequires only that the prior conviction was a part of a separate transaction or occurance [sic].\u201d We are not persuaded. First, we note that the Supreme Court has granted a petition for certiorari in that case. Secondly, that case discusses neither State v. Linam, supra, nor State v. Wise, supra. More significantly, this Court is not free to disregard the precedents of the Supreme Court. Alexander v. Delgado, 84 N.M. 717, 507 P.2d 778 (1973). Likewise, we do not have the authority to disregard the mandatory instructions promulgated by the Supreme Court. State v. Scott, 90 N.M. 256, 561 P.2d 1349 (Ct.App.1977).\nAccordingly, we affirm the trial court\u2019s dismissal of Count II.\nIT IS SO ORDERED.\nLOPEZ and ANDREWS, JJ., concur.", "type": "majority", "author": "HENDLEY, Judge." } ], "attorneys": [ "Jeff Bingaman, Atty. Gen., Carol Vigil, Asst. Atty. Gen., Sante Fe, for plaintiff-appellant.", "Steve Quinn, Quinn & Quinn, Clovis, for defendant-appellee." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "633 P.2d 714\nSTATE of New Mexico, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. Billy Ray HUGHES, Defendant-Appellee.\nNo. 5008.\nCourt of Appeals of New Mexico.\nMay 5, 1981.\nJeff Bingaman, Atty. Gen., Carol Vigil, Asst. Atty. Gen., Sante Fe, for plaintiff-appellant.\nSteve Quinn, Quinn & Quinn, Clovis, for defendant-appellee." }, "file_name": "0606-01", "first_page_order": 634, "last_page_order": 635 }