NOTICE: NOT FOR OFFICIAL PUBLICATION.

UNDER ARIZONA RULE OF THE SUPREME COURT 111(c), THIS DECISION IS NOT PRECEDENTIAL AND MAY BE CITED ONLY AS AUTHORIZED BY RULE.

IN THE ARIZONA COURT OF APPEALS DIVISION ONE

STATE OF ARIZONA, Respondent, v. JOHN EDWARD LOFTON, JR., Petitioner.

No. 1 CA-CR 23-0269 PRPC FILED 11-02-2023

Petition for Review from the Superior Court in Maricopa County No. CR 1987-009127 The Honorable Ronee Korbin Steiner, Judge REVIEW GRANTED; RELIEF DENIED

COUNSEL Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, Phoenix By Faith Cheree Klepper Counsel for Respondent The Stavis Law Firm, PLLC, Scottsdale By Christopher Stavris Counsel for Petitioner

MEMORANDUM DECISION Presiding Judge David D. Weinzweig, Judge Michael S. Catlett, and Judge Maria Elena Cruz delivered the decision of the Court.

STATE v. LOFTON Decision of the Court PER CURIAM: ¶1 Petitioner John Edward Lofton, Jr. seeks review of the superior court’s order denying his petition for post-conviction relief. This is petitioner’s fourth successive petition.

¶2 Absent an abuse of discretion or error of law, this court will not disturb a superior court’s ruling on a petition for post-conviction relief.

State v. Gutierrez, 229 Ariz. 573, 577, ¶ 19 (2012). It is petitioner’s burden to show that the superior court abused its discretion by denying the petition for post-conviction relief. See State v. Poblete, 227 Ariz. 537, 538, ¶ 1 (App. 2011) (petitioner has burden of establishing abuse of discretion on review).

¶3 We have reviewed the record in this matter, the superior court’s order denying the petition for post-conviction relief, and the petition for review. We find that petitioner has not established an abuse of discretion.

¶4 We grant review and deny relief.

AMY M. WOOD • Clerk of the Court FILED: TM