State v. Leyba, 4097

Citation1979 NMCA 105,600 P.2d 312,93 N.M. 366
Decision Date23 August 1979
Docket NumberNo. 4097,4097
PartiesSTATE of New Mexico, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. Connie LEYBA and Veronica Carrillo, Defendants-Appellees.
CourtCourt of Appeals of New Mexico
OPINION

WALTERS, Judge.

Defendants were indicted by the grand jury for shoplifting in violation of § 30-16-20, and for conspiracy, in violation of § 30-28-2, N.M.S.A.1978. The trial court dismissed the charge of conspiracy on the ground that § 30-16-20 C expressly prohibits charging a separate or additional offense if it arises out of the same transaction upon which the shoplifting charge is based. The State contends the trial court misconstrued § 30-16-20 C, because it logically refers to additional similar charges such as larceny, and that the second charge should be reinstated.

The parties to this appeal are in error in agreeing that the charge of conspiracy "arises out of the same transaction" which resulted in the indictment for shoplifting. It is true that proof of the subsequent shoplifting may also tend to circumstantially prove the conspiracy charge, State v. Thoreen, 91 N.M. 624, 578 P.2d 325 (Ct.App.1978); See, People v. Edwards, 74 Ill.App.2d 225, 219 N.E.2d 382 (1966); but conspiracy is an initiatory crime, and it is a separate "common design or mutually implied understanding" between two or more persons to accomplish a criminal act at some time subsequent to reaching the common design or mutual understanding to do so. See State v. Armijo, 90 N.M. 10, 558 P.2d 1149 (Ct.App.1976); 16 Am.Jur.2d 131, Conspiracy, § 7. The overt act which constitutes the object of the conspiracy is no part of the crime of conspiracy; indeed, an overt act is not required, but the crime is complete when the felonious agreement is reached. State v. Davis, 92 N.M. 341, 587 P.2d 1352 (Ct.App.1978).

The alleged conspiracy did not arise from the same transaction as led to the charge of shoplifting, See State v. Armijo, 90 N.M. 12, 558 P.2d 1151 (Ct.App.1976); thus, the second count of the indictment should not have been dismissed on that ground.

The decision of the trial court is reversed with directions to reinstate the charge of conspiracy against defendants and to proceed accordingly.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

HENDLEY and ANDREWS, JJ., concur.

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9 cases
  • State v. Padilla
    • United States
    • Court of Appeals of New Mexico
    • May 12, 1994
    ..."an overt act is not required, [and] the crime is complete when the felonious agreement is reached." State v. Leyba, 93 N.M. 366, 367, 600 P.2d 312, 313 (Ct.App.1979). Since the overt act of armed robbery, which constituted the object of Defendants' conspiracy, is not part of the crime of c......
  • 1997 -NMSC- 59, State v. Baca
    • United States
    • New Mexico Supreme Court
    • November 13, 1997
    ...189, 193, 879 P.2d 1208, 1212. "[T]he crime is complete when the felonious agreement is reached." Id. (quoting State v. Leyba, 93 N.M. 366, 367, 600 P.2d 312, 313 (Ct.App.1979)). In addition, "it is useful to note that there are really two intents required for the crime of conspiracy." 2 Wa......
  • State v. Villalobos
    • United States
    • Court of Appeals of New Mexico
    • August 23, 1995
    ...is complete when the agreement is reached. State v. Jacobs, 102 N.M. 801, 805, 701 P.2d 400, 404 (Ct.App.1985); State v. Leyba, 93 N.M. 366, 367, 600 P.2d 312, 313 (Ct.App.1979). However, numerous cases from other jurisdictions provide that a conspiracy may continue for an extended period o......
  • In re Richardson, 25 I&N Dec. 226 (I & N 4/22/2010)
    • United States
    • U.S. DOJ Board of Immigration Appeals
    • April 22, 2010
    ...that "`an overt act is not required [and] the crime is complete when the felonious agreement is reached'" (quoting State v. Leyba, 600 P.2d 312, 313 (N.M. Ct. App. 1979)). In that regard, the Supreme Court has repeatedly held that "the essence of a conspiracy is `an agreement to commit an u......
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