Warren v. State
Warren v. State
Concurring Opinion
concurring:
We would follow Luce v. United States
469 U.S. 38 (1984).
770 P.2d 757 (Alaska Ct. App. 1989).
Opinion of the Court
OPINION
Willie Warren was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit robbery and one count of robbery. He was convicted of the
We conclude that Warren waived standing to raise the entrapment defense on appeal. We decline to follow Luce and instead adopt the offer of proof procedure outlined in Wickham v. State
FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
Decoy operation and resulting arrest
In November 2003, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Officer Richard Gagnon posed as a decoy on Main Street between Carson and Lewis. Gagnon dressed as an off-duty casino dealer and placed a stack of twenty one-dollar bills in his dress shirt’s left breast pocket, arranged so that they were visible to anyone near him. Gagnon then walked along Main Street, acting intoxicated and stopping periodically to lean against a wall and drink from a beér can.
While Gagnon was walking, Warren approached with his friend, Shelia Woods. Warren initiated a conversation with Gagnon and then placed his left hand on Gagnon’s left shoulder. Gagnon rested his head on Warren’s forearm. Gagnon felt Warren fishing around in Gagnon’s left breast pocket with Warren’s right hand while Warren continued talking. Gagnon attempted to see into his pocket, but Warren pushed Gagnon’s head away with his forearm. Gagnon then felt and saw Warren take the money out of his pocket. Warren pushed Gagnon’s head away again more forcefully, and Gagnon feared that Warren might punch him.
Warren and Woods then walked away, and Gagnon conveyed the bust signal. Officers arrested Warren and Woods, and a search re
Trial
At the outset of Warren’s trial, the State inquired whether Warren intended to pursue an entrapment defense. If so, the State informed the court that it would use a certified minute order from a prior California conviction of Warren to rebut the defense by showing predisposition. Warren’s counsel said that Warren would pursue an entrapment defense but objected to the relevancy of the prior conviction because the document was insufficient to establish that the person referenced in the conviction was Warren. Warren objected on no other grounds.
The court inquired whether the State would use the prior conviction for impeachment purposes, to which the State replied that it was only using it to rebut an entrapment defense. The court also inquired whether the State would use the prior conviction during its case-in-chief or on cross-examination. The State informed the court that it anticipated the entrapment defense would be raised through cross-examination and that it wanted to use the prior conviction during its case-in-chief. The court ruled that the State could use the California minute order in its case-in-chief as evidence of predisposition.
The State gave its opening statement without mentioning the California conviction. Warren’s counsel reserved his opening statement. The State presented evidence on the events that led to Warren’s arrest and the decoy operation. The State did not present the California conviction in its case-in-chief.
Warren’s counsel informed the court that Warren would be testifying in his defense. The district court conducted the appropriate Fifth Amendment colloquy. Warren’s counsel inquired whether the State would use the minute order of the California conviction for impeachment purposes if he testified. The State answered affirmatively. Warren’s counsel renewed his objection that the prior conviction should be excluded on the basis of identity. The district court ruled that if Warren took the stand and presented an entrapment defense, the prior conviction could be used for both impeachment purposes and to show predisposition.
During a recess, the State informed the court that it also had a 1984 conviction for Warren from Washington. The State wished to use this conviction for impeachment and rebuttal purposes. In addition, the State wished to use the fingerprints and photo accom
The district court ruled that the California conviction was admissible, but prohibited the State from using the Washington conviction for impeachment or rebuttal purposes due to its remoteness in time. Warren did not testify, make an opening statement, or call any witnesses. Consequently, the California conviction was never offered for admission.
During the settling of jury instructions, the district court inquired whether an entrapment instruction was necessary. Warren’s counsel stated that it was not necessary because he had not put on any evidence of entrapment. Neither party objected to any of the jury instructions.
At closing argument, Warren’s counsel, having abandoned the entrapment defense, argued that the money could not be considered stolen because it was put in Gagnon’s pocket with the purpose of being taken by someone else. Effectively, the money was being offered for people to take. Therefore, Warren could not have stolen something that someone was giving away for free.
Following argument and deliberation, the jury returned a verdict of not guilty on the one count of conspiracy to commit robbery and guilty on the one count of robbery.
DISCUSSION
Warren argues that his conviction should be set aside based on an entrapment defense. He also contends that we should reject the holding of Luce and find that he has not waived his right to contest the district court’s ruling on the admission of impeachment evidence. Finally, Warren asserts that the district court erred by finding a certified minute order reflecting a prior conviction could be admitted to rebut an entrapment defense and impeach him if he took the stand to testify.
Entrapment defense
Warren argues that the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department’s decoy operation constituted entrapment. Because Warren failed to present an entrapment defense below, we conclude that he has waived this argument on appeal.
Applicability of Luce
Warren argues that the district court erred by permitting the State to use the minute order of his California conviction for impeachment purposes. Warren contends that the court’s ruling prevented him from testifying. The State argues that Warren failed to preserve this issue for appeal because he did not testify. The State urges this court to adopt the United States Supreme Court’s holding in Luce
In Luce, the Supreme Court held as a matter of federal evidence law that in order to “raise and preserve for review the claim of improper impeachment with a prior conviction, a defendant must testify.”
The first reason involves the weighing of probative value versus prejudicial effect. The Court reasoned that without a defendant’s trial testimony, there is an insufficient record from an in limine ruling to determine whether the trial court properly weighed the probative value of the impeachment evidence against its prejudicial effect.
The second, and more fundamental reason involves the appellate court’s ability to conduct harmless error review. The Court concluded that any harm resulting from a trial court’s erroneous in
We have yet to decide whether to embrace Luce. Warren’s reliance on Pineda to reject Luce is misplaced. In Pineda, we declined to follow the Supreme Court’s holding in Ohler v. United States
States that have adopted Luce generally agree with its premise that a reviewing court cannot meaningfully review a trial court’s in limine impeachment determination without the defendant’s actual trial testimony.
In Wickham v. State, the Alaska Court of Appeals adopted an offer of proof test to avoid the appellate review problems discussed in Luce.
We conclude that the offer of proof procedure addressed in Wickham eliminates the problems identified in Luce. We therefore adopt the Wickham approach, finding it more persuasive than Luce. When presented with a sufficient record, we will have little difficulty in reviewing a trial court’s decision to admit impeachment evidence of a defendant’s prior convictions. In order to pre
The record in the instant case provides us with adequate details for review. From the beginning of trial, Warren intended to present an entrapment defense. The record indicates that he would have testified to the facts supporting that defense. Furthermore, the record makes clear that Warren fully intended to testify until the district court ruled that the minute order of his prior conviction could be used for impeachment purposes and to show predisposition. But for the district court’s in limine ruling, Warren would have testified. We therefore conclude that Warren preserved his right to appeal the impeachment issue. Before we consider the impeachment ruling, however, we must first review the propriety of the district court’s ruling regarding the admission of the prior conviction to show predisposition as this affects any harmless error analysis with respect to the impeachment ruling.
Use of minute order to show predisposition
Warren argues that the district court abused its discretion by permitting the State to use a certified minute order of his California conviction to show predisposition if he presented an entrapment defense. Specifically, he argues that the minute order was inaccurate and that the State had no proof that he was the person referenced in the minute order. Warren further contends that the court’s ruling precluded him from presenting his intended defense and from testifying at trial. We conclude that substantial evidence demonstrates that Warren was the individual referenced in the minute order and that the certified minute order was proper evidence of predisposition in rebuttal to an entrapment defense.
In Foster v. State, we determined that raising an entrapment defense places a defendant’s character directly in issue for purposes of NRS 48.055.
Also in Foster, this court outlined a three-part analysis to be used by courts in determining whether evidence of a prior conviction should be admitted to show predisposition to rebut an entrapment defense:
(1) the other crime is of a similar character to the offense on which the defendant is being tried; (2) the other crime is not too remote in time from the offense charged; and (3) the probative value of the other crime is not substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice.29
Substantial evidence supports the district court’s express or implied findings on all three factors. We therefore hold that the district court did not abuse its discretion by permitting the State to use the minute order to show predisposition if Warren presented an entrapment defense.
Use of minute order for impeachment purposes
Warren asserts that the district court erred by not carefully balancing the probative value of the prior conviction against its prejudicial effect when there was a question as to whether the person referenced in the minute order was in fact Warren. He further argues that the district court erred by finding that the State could use a certified minute order rather than a certified judgment of conviction for impeachment purposes.
We conclude that the probative value of Warren’s prior conviction was not substantially outweighed by any unfair prejudicial effect. The decision of whether to admit a prior conviction for impeachment purposes under NRS 50.095 is within the discretion of the district court, and we will not disturb the decision absent an abuse of discretion.
However, we agree with Warren’s other argument that the district court erred in allowing impeachment with a minute order rather than a judgment of conviction. The State may not inquire about a prior conviction under NRS 50.095 unless prepared to prove the conviction with a judgment of conviction.
The document with which the State intended to impeach Warren was a minute order, certified by a deputy clerk of the Superior
The district court’s error was harmless
Although the district court erred in ruling on the admissibility of the minute order for impeachment purposes, such error was harmless.
CONCLUSION
For the reasons discussed above, we conclude that Warren’s conviction does not warrant reversal on any ground. Therefore, we affirm the judgment of conviction and sentence.
469 U.S. 38 (1984).
Warren also asserts there was insufficient evidence to support the conviction and that the sentence constitutes cruel and unusual punishment. We have reviewed these claims and conclude that they are without merit.
770 P.2d 757 (Alaska Ct. App. 1989).
The State presented evidence that the fingerprints on the Washington conviction matched the FBI fingerprint identification number for Warren and that same FBI identification number appeared in the California conviction. Based on this evidence, the district court concluded that the California conviction was Warren’s.
Foster v. State, 116 Nev. 1088, 1091, 13 P.3d 61, 63 (2000).
See Hubbard v. State, 112 Nev. 946, 948, 920 P.2d 991, 993 (1996).
Even if Warren had properly preserved his entrapment argument for appeal, we conclude that the facts of the LVMPD’s decoy operation do not support an entrapment defense under our recently decided cases Daniels v. State, 121 Nev. 101, 110 P.3d 477 (2005), and Miller v. State, 121 Nev. 92, 110 P.3d 53 (2005).
120 Nev. 204, 88 P.3d 827 (2004).
Id. at 41.
Id.
Id.
Id. at 41 n.5.
Id. at 41-42.
Id. at 42.
529 U.S. 753 (2000).
Pineda, 120 Nev. at 208-09, 88 P.3d at 830-31.
See, e.g., State v. Allie, 710 P.2d 430, 437 (Ariz. 1985); Smith v. State, 778 S.W.2d 947, 950 (Ark. 1989); People v. Collins, 722 P.2d 173, 176-78 (Cal. 1986); People v. Brewer, 720 P.2d 596, 597 (Colo. Ct. App. 1985); State v. Harrell, 506 A.2d 1041, 1046-47 (Conn. 1986); Fennell v. State, 691 A.2d 624, 625-26 (Del. 1997); State v. Garza, 704 P.2d 944, 949 (Idaho Ct. App. 1985); People v. Whitehead, 508 N.E.2d 687, 694 (Ill. 1987); People v. Finley, 431 N.W.2d 19, 21-25 (Mich. 1988); State v. Hunt, 475 S.E.2d 722, 727 (N.C. Ct. App. 1996); State v. Glenn, 330 S.E.2d 285, 286 (S.C. 1985); State v. Means, 363 N.W.2d 565, 569 (S.D. 1985); State v. Moffett, 729 S.W.2d 679, 681 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1986); Benavides v. State, 763 S.W.2d 587, 590
See, e.g., Wickham v. State, 770 P.2d 757, 761-62 (Alaska Ct. App. 1989); State v. Ford, 381 N.W.2d 30, 32 n.1 (Minn. Ct. App. 1986); State v. Whitehead, 517 A.2d 373, 376-77 (N.J. 1986); People v. Moore, 548 N.Y.S.2d 344, 346 (App. Div. 1989); State v. McClure, 692 P.2d 579, 584 n.4 (Or. 1984); Commonwealth v. Richardson, 500 A.2d 1200, 1203-04 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1985).
Wickham, 770 P.2d at 762.
Id. at 762 n.2.
See, e.g., Whitehead, 517 A.2d at 376 (acknowledging Luce’s concern that harmless error review would be impossible when a defendant does not testify but concluding that the concern is misplaced and that a defendant’s failure to testify does not place an undue burden on the reviewing court to determine whether any error was harmless).
Pineda, 120 Nev. at 210, 88 P.3d at 832 (citing Givens v. State, 99 Nev. 50, 53, 657 P.2d 97, 99 (1983), overruled on other grounds by Talancon v. State, 102 Nev. 294, 721 P.2d 764 (1986)).
Id. (citing Yates v. State, 95 Nev. 446, 449-50, 596 P.2d 239, 241-42 (1979)).
Warren was convicted of “[p]etty theft; conversion of real property to personal property by severance.” Cal. Penal Code § 487c.
Yates, 95 Nev. at 450, 596 P.2d at 242.
See Yllas v. State, 112 Nev. 863, 867, 920 P.2d 1003, 1005 (1996); Tomarchio v. State, 99 Nev. 572, 578, 665 P.2d 804, 808 (1983); Revuelta v. State, 86 Nev. 224, 226-27, 467 P.2d 105, 107 (1970); Fairman v. State, 83 Nev. 287, 289, 429 P.2d 63, 64 (1967) (citing 3 John Henry Wigmore, Evidence § 980 (3d ed. 1940)).
Yllas, 112 Nev. at 867, 920 P.2d at 1005.
Revuelta, 86 Nev. at 226-27, 467 P.2d at 107.
Boley v. State, 85 Nev. 466, 470, 456 P.2d 447, 449 (1969) (“There can be only one irrefutable documentation of the conviction and that is from the exemplified copy of the judgment.”).
Fairman, 83 Nev. at 289, 429 P.2d at 64.
We also note that the code section under which Warren was convicted in California provides for punishment by “imprisonment in the county jail for not more than one year, or by a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by both such fine and imprisonment.” Cal. Penal Code § 487c. NRS 50.095(1) provides that for a conviction to be used for impeachment, the crime must have been “punishable by death or imprisonment for more than 1 year under the law under which [the witness] was convicted.” Because the California code section under which Warren was convicted only provides for imprisonment for “not more than one year,” the district court’s ruling that the prior conviction was admissible for impeachment purposes is plain error.
NRS 178.598.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- WILLIE WARREN, AKA WILLY WARREN, Appellant, v. THE STATE OF NEVADA, Respondent
- Cited By
- 17 cases
- Status
- Published