State v. Williams, 41109.
Decision Date | 22 July 2004 |
Docket Number | No. 41109.,41109. |
Citation | 93 P.3d 1258,120 Nev. 473 |
Parties | The STATE of Nevada, Appellant, v. Jessica WILLIAMS, Respondent. |
Court | Nevada Supreme Court |
Brian Sandoval, Attorney General, Carson City; David J. Roger, District Attorney, James Tufteland, Chief Deputy District Attorney, and Gary R. Booker and Bruce W. Nelson, Deputy District Attorneys, Clark County, for Appellant.
Law Office of Ellen J. Bezian and Ellen J. Bezian, Las Vegas; Law Offices of John G. Watkins and John Glenn Watkins, Las Vegas, for Respondent.
Before the Court En Banc.1
The State of Nevada appeals from the district court's grant of a post-conviction petition for a writ of habeas corpus to respondent Jessica Williams. The State argued that Williams' petition was procedurally barred since Williams' claim that marijuana metabolite, carboxylic acid, is not a prohibited substance pursuant to NRS 484.379 should have been raised at trial or on direct appeal.
We agree and conclude that the district court erroneously granted Williams' petition. Williams did not establish good cause for failing to raise the claim at trial or on direct appeal. Additionally, Williams was unable to establish actual prejudice because the plain language of NRS 484.379 clearly includes marijuana metabolite as a prohibited substance.
A grand jury indicted Jessica Williams on six counts each of driving and/or being in actual physical control of a vehicle while under the influence of a controlled substance and/or with a prohibited substance (marijuana and marijuana metabolite) in the blood or urine, reckless driving, and involuntary manslaughter. In addition, Williams was indicted on one count each of using or being under the influence of a controlled substance (marijuana and ecstasy), possession of a controlled substance (marijuana), and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Williams was tried, and the jury found her guilty of six counts of driving a vehicle with a prohibited substance in her blood or urine; one count for each of the six deaths that resulted from her conduct. Williams was also convicted of the single counts of unlawfully using a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance. The jury acquitted Williams of the remaining charges.
On direct appeal, Williams raised several assignments of error regarding the validity of her conviction and the statute under which she was convicted. Discerning no error, we affirmed Williams' judgment of conviction.2
Williams timely filed a post-conviction petition for writ of habeas corpus in the district court. Williams alleged that her conviction for driving a vehicle with a prohibited substance in her blood or urine was unconstitutional on the ground that one of the theories presented to the jury was improper; namely, that she was driving with marijuana metabolite in her blood. Williams alleged that the theory was improper because marijuana metabolite, carboxylic acid, is not a prohibited substance under NRS 484.1245. She maintained that under the plain language of NRS 484.1245, in order for carboxylic acid to be a prohibited substance, a prescription must not be issued for its use and it must be classified as a schedule I or II controlled substance pursuant to NRS 453.166 or 453.176. Williams argued that since carboxylic acid is not listed in schedule I or II, it is not a prohibited substance. Therefore, Williams contended that since the jury returned a general verdict of guilty, and it was impossible to determine which theory was used as the basis of her conviction — marijuana or marijuana metabolite — her conviction must be reversed as to those counts.
The State responded that Williams' petition was procedurally barred and should be dismissed pursuant to NRS 34.810. The State further maintained that even if the petition was properly before the district court, it should still be denied because, among other reasons, both NRS 484.1245 and 484.379 specifically provide that it is unlawful to drive with marijuana metabolite in the blood.
The district court conducted an evidentiary hearing, agreed with Williams, and granted her petition. The district court concluded that since carboxylic acid is not listed in schedule I or II, it is not a prohibited substance under NRS 484.1245 or 484.379(3). Accordingly, it was unconstitutional for the State to prosecute Williams for driving a vehicle with marijuana metabolite in her blood or urine. Because Williams was prosecuted on alternative theories under the prohibited substance statute based on marijuana or marijuana metabolite, and the jury returned general verdicts of guilty, it was unknown which theory served as the basis for her conviction. Thus, the district court ordered that Williams' convictions for driving a vehicle with a prohibited substance in the blood or urine be reversed. Implicit in the district court's ruling appears to have been the conclusion that Williams had established a showing of prejudice sufficient to overcome the procedural bar. The State timely filed a notice of appeal.
The State argues that Williams' petition was procedurally barred by NRS 34.810. The State maintains that Williams' claim that marijuana metabolite is not a prohibited substance is a new claim that she could have raised at trial or on direct appeal.
NRS 34.810 establishes a procedural bar for new post-conviction claims that could have been raised previously. NRS 34.810(1)(b) provides:
Based on the "shall dismiss" language contained in subsection 1 above, we have noted that application of the procedural bar pursuant to NRS 34.810 is mandatory.3 However, according to NRS 34.810(1)(b), if the district court finds both cause for the failure to present the grounds and actual prejudice to the petitioner, the district court may consider a petition that is otherwise procedurally barred. Under NRS 34.810(3), the petitioner has the burden of pleading and proving specific facts to demonstrate good cause for the failure to present the claim and actual prejudice.
In the instant case, Williams' claim that marijuana metabolite is not a prohibited substance was not raised in the prior proceedings and is a new claim. Thus, absent a showing of cause and prejudice, Williams' claim was procedurally barred pursuant to NRS 34.810.
To establish good cause for failure to raise a claim in an earlier proceeding, a petitioner must demonstrate that an impediment external to the defense prevented her from raising her claims earlier.4 "For example, such an impediment might be demonstrated by a showing that the factual or legal basis for a claim was not reasonably available ... or that some interference by officials made compliance [with the procedural rule] impracticable."5 "Actual prejudice requires a showing not merely that the errors [complained of] created a possibility of prejudice, but that they worked to [the petitioner's] actual and substantial disadvantage, in affecting the state proceeding with error of constitutional dimensions."6
We conclude that there is no merit to Williams' allegation of good cause. Williams' assertion that she could not have raised this claim previously because it was indiscernible due to its highly complex, esoteric, and scientific nature does not establish cause. She presented no specific evidence to demonstrate or explain why this issue could not have been raised either at trial or on direct appeal.
Additionally, we conclude that Williams failed to establish actual prejudice sufficient to overcome the procedural bar of NRS 34.810, since marijuana metabolite is a prohibited substance under NRS 484.379 and 484.1245. NRS 484.379 makes it unlawful for a person to drive under the influence of a prohibited substance. NRS 484.379(3) states that "[i]t is unlawful for any person to drive or be in actual physical control of a vehicle on a highway or on premises to which the public has access with an amount of a prohibited substance in his blood or urine that is equal to or greater than" specified amounts of ten listed substances. This subsection then lists ten substances that are prohibited and the amount of each substance when found in the blood or urine that constitutes a violation of the statute. Specifically, NRS 484.379(3)(h) states:
Urine Blood Prohibited Nanograms Nanograms substance per milliliter per milliliter (h) Marijuana metabolite 15 5
Thus, the plain language of NRS 484.379 clearly lists marijuana metabolite as a prohibited substance and gives the amount in nanograms per milliliter that must be present in the blood or urine to constitute a violation of the statute.
NRS 484.3795 is part of the same statutory scheme and provides for a penalty enhancement for driving under the influence of a prohibited substance when death or substantial bodily harm results. NRS 484.3795(1)(f) provides:
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