State v. Mutschler

• Decision Date: 01 April 2003
• Docket Number: No. 1 CA-CR 02-0005., No. 1 CA-CR 02-0003, No. 1 CA-CR 02-0002, No. 1 CA-CR 02-0004
• Citation: 65 P.3d 469,204 Ariz. 520
• Parties: STATE of Arizona, Appellee, v. G. Robert MUTSCHLER, Ruth Van Brunschot, Milo J. Fencl, and Frank Magarelli, Appellants.
• Court: Arizona Court of Appeals

65 P.3d 469

204 Ariz. 520

STATE of Arizona, Appellee, v. G. Robert MUTSCHLER, Ruth Van Brunschot, Milo J. Fencl, and Frank Magarelli, Appellants.

Nos. -0002, -0003, -0004, -0005.

Court of Appeals of Arizona, Division 1, Department C.

April 1, 2003.

Peter Van Haren, City Attorney By Brian W. Rock, Assistant City Prosecutor, Phoenix, Attorneys for Appellee.

Hentoff Law Office By Nicholas S. Hentoff, Phoenix, Attorneys for Appellants.

OPINION

IRVINE, Judge.

¶ 1 The sole issue on appeal is whether Phoenix City Code ("P.C.C.") § 23-54 (1999) as written at the time of the defendants' convictions was unconstitutionally vague and/or overbroad.¹ For the following reasons, we find the ordinance was neither vague nor overbroad and we affirm.

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

¶ 2 The defendants were convicted in Phoenix City Court for violating P.C.C. § 23-54. Section 23-54 prohibits persons from operating live sex act businesses. A "live sex act business" is defined as "any business in which one or more persons may view, or may participate in, a live sex act for a consideration." P.C.C. § 23-54(B)(3). "Live sex act" is defined as "any act whereby one or more persons engage in a live performance or live conduct which contains sexual contact, oral sexual contact, or sexual intercourse." P.C.C. § 23-54(B)(2). The offenses were alleged to have occurred in February or March of 1999.

¶ 3 The defendants appealed their convictions to the superior court, arguing that the ordinance was unconstitutionally vague and/or overbroad. The superior court found that the ordinance was not vague and that the defendants lacked standing to claim the ordinance was overbroad and affirmed the defendants' convictions and sentences.²

DISCUSSION

¶ 4 On appeal, the defendants continue to assert that P.C.C. § 23-54 is unconstitutionally vague and/or overbroad. Because this matter originated in municipal court, "[o]ur jurisdiction is limited to a review of the facial validity of the [ordinance]." State v. McMahon, 201 Ariz. 548, 550, ¶ 3, 38 P.3d 1213, 1215 (App.2002); see also Ariz.Rev.Stat. ("A.R.S.") § 22-375 (2002). We may not examine the application of the ordinance to these particular defendants. McMahon, 201 Ariz. at 550, ¶ 3, 38 P.3d at 1215. We review de novo whether a statute is constitutional. Id. at ¶ 5. In so doing, we presume the ordinance is constitutional. Id. If possible, we must construe the ordinance in a manner that renders it constitutional. Id. "In construing a legislative enactment, we apply a practical and commonsensical construction." State v. Alawy, 198 Ariz. 363, 365, ¶ 8, 9 P.3d 1102, 1104 (App.2000). If we find the ordinance is constitutional on its face, our inquiry ends. McMahon, 201 Ariz. at 550, ¶ 3, 38 P.3d at 1215.

I. Standing

¶ 5 "Ordinarily, a defendant may not challenge a statute as being impermissibly vague or overbroad where the statute has given him fair notice of the criminality of his own conduct, even though the statute may be unconstitutional when applied to someone else." Id. at ¶ 6. We find that the defendants have standing to bring a vagueness challenge. The defendants' arguments include the assertion that terms within the ordinance are subject to varying interpretations and/or meanings. Assuming this is true, it can reasonably be argued that the ordinance does not reasonably define exactly what conduct is prohibited.

¶ 6 We likewise find the defendants have standing to challenge the ordinance based on alleged overbreadth. "Under some circumstances, litigants whose own activities are constitutionally unprotected can nonetheless challenge a statute as overbroad if the law `substantially abridges the First Amendment rights of other parties not before the court.'" State v. Musser, 194 Ariz. 31, 32, ¶ 5, 977 P.2d 131, 132 (1999) (citations omitted). Here, the defendants contend in part that the ordinance affected the activities of nude performers in sexually oriented businesses. Some forms of nude dancing have been found to be marginally "within the outer perimeters of the First Amendment." Barnes v. Glen Theatre, Inc., 501 U.S. 560, 566, 111 S.Ct. 2456, 115 L.Ed.2d 504 (1991). Therefore, we find the defendants have standing to argue that the ordinance was overbroad.

II. Vagueness

¶ 7 The defendants assert that the ordinance is unconstitutionally vague on several grounds. They allege that several of the terms within the ordinance are susceptible to a wide range of interpretation that encourage arbitrary and discriminatory enforcement. The defendants further argue that the presence of other ordinances that purportedly permit activities prohibited by § 23-54 render § 23-54 itself unconstitutionally vague.

¶ 8 "A statute is unconstitutionally vague if it does not give persons of ordinary intelligence a reasonable opportunity to learn what it prohibits and does not provide explicit instructions for those who will apply it." McMahon, 201 Ariz. at 551, ¶ 7, 38 P.3d at 1216 (citing Grayned v. City of Rockford, 408 U.S. 104, 108-09, 92 S.Ct. 2294, 33 L.Ed.2d 222 (1972)). Further, the statute must provide objective standards to be applied by those charged with enforcing the law. Id. Absolutely precise language is not required to render a statute constitutionally valid. State v. Baldwin, 184 Ariz. 267, 270, 908 P.2d 483, 486 (App.1995).

¶ 9 The defendants first attack the ordinance by asserting that the use of the word "may" in the definition of "live sex act business" encourages arbitrary or discriminatory enforcement. The defendants argue that the use of "may" criminalizes conduct a business owner can neither control nor anticipate and that it criminalizes a "potential act."

¶ 10 We find the use of the undefined term "may" does not render the ordinance unconstitutionally vague. First, the defendants take "may" out of context. It is clear from the wording of the ordinance, especially in the context of the various defined terms, that "may" in this instance is "used to express ability or power." Webster's New World College Dictionary 889 (2000). "May" in this sense can be "generally replaced by CAN." Id. The ordinance does not simply prohibit operation of businesses where people might possibly or potentially view or participate in a live sex act. It prohibits operation of businesses where persons pay consideration to enter and remain on the premises to view or participate in live sex acts. We believe the ordinance is written so that persons of ordinary intelligence will understand that they may not operate such a business.

¶ 11 The defendants also attack the phrase "for a consideration." They claim the use of the phrase "for a consideration" renders the ordinance unconstitutionally vague as it implies viewing or participating in the live sex act must be "quid pro quo—for consideration." This argument also fails. Consideration is defined as follows:

Consideration means the payment of money or the exchange of any item of value for:

a. The right to enter the business premises, or any portion thereof, or

b. The right to remain on the business premises, or any portion thereof, or

c. The right to purchase any item permitting the right to enter, or remain on, the business premises, or any portion thereof, or

d. The right to a membership permitting the right to enter, or remain on, the business premises, or any portion thereof.

P.C.C. § 23-54(B)(1). The defendants' interpretation of the term consideration is strained. When viewed in the context of the term as defined, it is clear that "consideration" means the exchange of money or any item of value that allows the person who paid to enter and remain on the premises. It does not even hint at a sex-for-money exchange as implied by the defendants. We do not find that the term "consideration," as defined, renders the ordinance unconstitutionally vague. Persons of ordinary intelligence will understand what is prohibited.

¶ 12 The defendants also argue that P.C.C. § 23-54 is rendered unconstitutionally vague because it applies to other businesses regulated by other Phoenix city ordinances. Specifically, the defendants argue that adult motels, adult cabarets, and topless bars "squarely" fall under the ambit of § 23-54. The defendants contend that § 23-54 is unconstitutionally vague because other ordinances regulating these businesses purportedly permit activities prohibited by § 23-54. The defendants' argument focuses on the definition of "live sex act." "`Live sex act' means any act whereby one or more persons engage in a live performance or live conduct which contains sexual contact, oral sexual contact, or sexual intercourse." P.C.C. § 23-54(B)(2). The defendants contend that "live sex acts" in one form or another are permitted by ordinances regulating adult cabarets, adult motels, and businesses with nude and/or semi-nude dancing. According to the defendants, this renders the ordinance unconstitutionally vague.

¶ 13 The ordinances and other regulations which address sexually oriented businesses such as adult cabarets and adult motels do not permit the live sex acts prohibited in P.C.C. § 23-54. Nothing in the ordinances governing adult motels expressly or impliedly permits the operation of a business in which patrons pay consideration as defined to view or participate in live sex acts. See P.C.C. § 10-131(5)(1998). The defendants essentially argue that "everybody knows what goes on in adult motels." However, while we can conceive of an adult motel which operates as a "live sex act business" and therefore violates the provisions of P.C.C. § 23-54, we see no conflict between the ordinances establishing and regulating "legitimate" adult motels which do not violate P.C.C. § 23-54, and those ordinances which prohibit live sex act businesses.

¶ 14 Next, the defendants assert P.C.C. § 10-131(3), which defines "adult cabaret," permits sexual activities which include, among many other things, fondling various parts of the body, including the female breasts. See ...