State v. Seda ( 2021 )


Menu:
  •                      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    UNDER ARIZONA RULE OF THE SUPREME COURT 111(c), THIS DECISION IS NOT PRECEDENTIAL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, Appellee,
    v.
    MICHAEL ALEX SEDA, Appellant.
    No. 1 CA-CR 21-0144
    FILED 11-2-2021
    Appeal from the Superior Court in Maricopa County
    No. CR2019-006180-001
    The Honorable Glenn A. Allen, Judge Pro Tempore
    AFFIRMED
    COUNSEL
    Maricopa County Public Defender’s Office, Phoenix
    By Mark E. Dwyer
    Counsel for Appellant
    STATE v. SEDA
    Decision of the Court
    MEMORANDUM DECISION
    Judge Jennifer M. Perkins delivered the decision of the Court, in which
    Presiding Judge Cynthia J. Bailey and Judge Maria Elena Cruz joined.
    P E R K I N S, Judge:
    ¶1              Michael Alex Seda timely appealed in accordance with Anders
    v. California, 
    386 U.S. 738
     (1967) and State v. Leon, 
    104 Ariz. 297
     (1969),
    following his convictions for one count of possession or use of dangerous
    drugs, a class four felony, and one count of possession of drug
    paraphernalia, a class six felony. Seda’s counsel has searched the record and
    found no arguable question of law that is not frivolous. See Anders, 
    386 U.S. at 744
    ; see also State v. Clark, 
    196 Ariz. 530
    , 537, ¶ 30 (App. 1999). Seda did
    not file a supplemental brief.
    ¶2             Our obligation is to review the entire record for reversible
    error, Clark, 
    196 Ariz. at 537, ¶ 30
    , viewing the evidence in the light most
    favorable to sustaining the convictions and resolving all reasonable
    inferences against Seda. See State v. Guerra, 
    161 Ariz. 289
    , 293 (1989). After
    reviewing the record, we find no error. We affirm his convictions.
    FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
    ¶3            In June 2019, police observed Seda commit a traffic violation
    while riding a bicycle and initiated a traffic stop. The officers saw Seda
    reach into his waistband as he rode through a nearby lot, trying to evade
    them. Seda eventually surrendered, and police found a plastic bag with
    methamphetamine in Seda’s pocket. The officers also found a handgun in
    the lot where Seda fled. After being arrested and read his Miranda rights,
    Seda admitted to possessing the drugs and handgun.
    ¶4           The State charged Seda with possession or use of dangerous
    drugs and misconduct involving weapons, both class four felonies, and
    possession of drug paraphernalia, a class six felony. The State also alleged
    Seda’s three prior felony convictions. Before trial, the superior court
    granted Seda’s motion to sever misconduct involving weapons from the
    other charges, minimizing any risk that Seda’s prior felony convictions
    might prejudice the jury.
    2
    STATE v. SEDA
    Decision of the Court
    ¶5           The case proceeded to a jury trial on the drug possession and
    paraphernalia charges. The State presented testimony from a detective who
    witnessed Seda’s attempted evasion and arrest and the later searches. A
    forensic scientist also testified, confirming the presence of
    methamphetamine in the plastic bag.
    ¶6             The jury found Seda guilty of possession or use of dangerous
    drugs and possession of drug paraphernalia. Before sentencing, the State
    presented Seda’s Department of Corrections records showing his prior
    convictions. The superior court found the State proved Seda’s historical
    prior felony convictions and sentenced him as a category three repetitive
    offender. The court sentenced him to 8 years’ imprisonment for possession
    of dangerous drugs and 3.75 years’ imprisonment for possession of drug
    paraphernalia, to run concurrently. Seda received 214 days of pre-
    incarceration credit.
    DISCUSSION
    ¶8             The record reveals sufficient evidence from which the jury
    could determine, beyond a reasonable doubt, that Seda is guilty of the
    charged offenses. The record further reflects that all proceedings were
    conducted in compliance with the Arizona Rules of Criminal Procedure,
    that Seda was represented by counsel at all stages of the proceedings, and
    that he was present at all critical stages. See State v. Conner, 
    163 Ariz. 97
    , 104
    (1990) (right to counsel); see also State v. Bohn, 
    116 Ariz. 500
    , 503 (1977) (right
    to be present at critical stages). Seda had a chance to speak during
    sentencing and the superior court stated on the record the factors it
    considered before imposing sentences within the statutory limits. See A.R.S.
    §§ 13-704, -3407(A)(1), -3415(A); see also Ariz. R. Crim. P. 26.9, 26.10.
    ¶9           Seda received 214 days of pre-incarceration credit,
    representing the time between his arrest on September 19, 2020, and
    sentencing on April 20, 2021. Seda’s pre-incarceration credit should not
    include the date the superior court imposed his sentence. See State v. Lopez,
    
    153 Ariz. 285
    , 285 (1987). But we will not reduce Seda’s pre-incarceration
    credit because the State did not file a cross-appeal. See State v. Dawson, 
    164 Ariz. 278
    , 282–83 (1990) (when a miscalculation favors the defendant, it
    cannot be corrected unless the State timely cross-appeals).
    3
    STATE v. SEDA
    Decision of the Court
    CONCLUSION
    ¶9            We have reviewed the entire record for arguable issues of law
    and find none. We therefore affirm Seda’s convictions and resulting
    sentences. See Leon, 
    104 Ariz. at
    300–01.
    ¶10            Defense counsel’s obligations pertaining to Seda’s
    representation in this appeal have ended. Counsel must only inform Seda
    of the outcome of this appeal and his future options, unless, upon review,
    counsel finds “an issue appropriate for submission” to the Arizona
    Supreme Court by petition for review. See State v. Shattuck, 
    140 Ariz. 582
    ,
    584–85 (1984). Seda has thirty days from the date of this decision to proceed,
    if he desires, with a pro per motion for reconsideration or petition for review.
    AMY M. WOOD • Clerk of the Court
    FILED: AA
    4