White v. State

• Citation: 429 P.2d 55,83 Nev. 292
• Decision Date: 19 June 1967
• Docket Number: No. 5102,5102
• Parties: Robert Lee WHITE, Appellant, v. The STATE of Nevada, Respondent.
• Court: Supreme Court of Nevada

Page 55

429 P.2d 55

83 Nev. 292

Robert Lee WHITE, Appellant, v. The STATE of Nevada, Respondent.

No. 5102.

Supreme Court of Nevada.

June 19, 1967.

Gary A. Sheerin, Carson City, for appellant.

Harvey Dickerson, Atty. Gen., Carson City, William J. Raggio, Dist. Atty., and Gene Barbagelata, Deputy Dist. Atty., Reno, for respondent.

OPINION

COMPTON, District Judge.

Appellant and another were convicted by a jury of the crime of burglary, first degree. In a separate hearing, proof of this conviction and of two previous felony convictions prompted the court to adjudge appellant an habitual criminal pursuant to N.R.S. 207.010, and he was sentenced accordingly.

The following five issues are before the court on this appeal:

1. Does N.R.S. 207.010 violate the equal protection clause of the Federal Constitution and the right to trial by jury guaranteed by the Constitution of the State of Nevada?

2. Does N.R.S. 205.065 violate due process of law?

3. Did the trial court commit prejudicial error in refusing to grant appellant's motion for a separate trial?

4. Did the trial court commit prejudicial error in requiring that defendants join in their peremptory challenges of individual jurors?

5. Did the trial court commit error in allowing a pen and pencil set to be introduced into evidence as state's Exhibit 'A'?

We will consider these issues seriatim.

1. Appellant's charge that N.R.S. 207.010 ¹ violates the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution which provides for equal protection of the laws is neither novel, nor does it possess merit. The matter has long been settled in the United States Supreme Court that such statutes that increase punishment for habitual offenders are constitutional. In McDonald v. Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 180 U.S. 311, 312--313, 21 S.Ct. 389, 45 L.Ed. 542 (1901), that court said:

'* * * Statutes imposing aggravated penalties on one who commits a crime after having already been twice subjected to discipline by imprisonment have long been in force in Massachusetts; and effect was given to previous imprisonment, either in Massachusetts or elsewhere in the United States, by the statute of 1827, chap. 118, § 19, and by the Revised States of 1836, chap. 133, § 13. It is within the discretion of the legislature of the state to treat former imprisonment in another state as having the like effect as imprisonment in Massachusetts, to show that the man is an habitual criminal. The allegation of previous convictions is not a distinct charge of crimes, but is necessary to bring the case within the statute, and goes to the punishment only. The statute, imposing a punishment on none but future crimes, is not ex post facto. It affects alike all persons similarly situated, and therefore does not deprive any one of the equal protection of the laws.' (Citing cases.)

See also Graham v. State of West Virginia, 224 U.S. 616, 32 S.Ct. 583, 56 L.Ed. 917 (1912); Spencer v. State of Texas, 385 U.S. 554, 87 S.Ct. 648, 17 L.Ed.2d 606 (filed January 23, 1967); also 132 A.L.R. 91, 116 A.L.R. 209, 82 A.L.R. 345.

As to appellant's claim that this statute unlawfully deprives him of a trial by jury and is a separate 'prosecution,' this court has spoken many times. Most recently in Howard v. State, 83 Nev. ---, 422 P.2d 548, 550 (1967), this court said:

'The authorities are in complete agreement that an habitual criminal proceeding does not charge a separate offense, but is held solely to determine facts, which if true, will increase punishment. (Citing cases.) It is not a separate offense to be an habitual criminal but a status. (Citation) The hearing is procedural, is not a separate crime, and does not increase punishment of the principal offense for which a defendant is on trial. The statute simply allows enlarged punishment for one who cannot be rehabilitated, and who as a recidivist, repeatedly violates the law.' A reading of N.R.S. 207.010(6), which makes presentation of an exemplified copy of a felony conviction prima facie evidence of conviction of a prior felony, renders this more evident. Cf. State v. Morton, 338 S.W.2d 858 (Mo.1960).

2. Is the presumption contained in N.R.S. 205.065 ² (Instruction No. 7) violative of due process of law as appellant contends? We think not.

Appellant acknowledges that the precise question of constitutionality has been settled by recent cases in this court. See McNeeley v. State, 81 Nev. 663, 409 P.2d 135 (1965) and Schnepp v. State, 82 Nev. 257, 415 P.2d 619 (1966). The issue raised by appellant is nothing more than a plaintive requrest that the court reconsider its prior holdings. We find no satisfactory argument to warrant the same. We find the same type of presumption in Federal 'Dyer Act' cases involving the interstate transportation of stolen motor vehicles. See Garrison v. United States, 353 F.2d 94 (10th Cir. 1965) Travers v. United States, 118 U.S.App.D.C. 276, 335 F.2d 698 (1964).

Appellant's plea that the statute and the instruction compel the defendant to be a witness against himself, and thus is unconstitutional, arises out of a misreading and misconception of the statute. The presumption does not in any case become effective until such time as the state has proven to the satisfaction of the jury that the entry was unlawful. It is true that the burden of going forward then shifts to the defendant; however, this does not demand that the defendant himself take the stand. The statute merely provides that the presumption arises unless testimony satisfactory to the jury shows lack of criminal intent. Any evidence satisfactory to the jury, whether from the lips of the defendant, or others (or physical evidence), will destroy the presumption. There is clearly rational connection between the fact proven, i.e., unlawful entry, and the presumption. It is clear that the legislature has the power to establish inferences from facts proven, provided there is such rational connection. United States v. Gainey, 380 U.S. 63, 85 S.Ct. 754, 13 L.Ed.2d 658 (1965). Cf. City of Reno v. District Court, 83 Nev. ---, 427 P.2d 4 (1967) (decided May 5, 1967 at page 5).

3. Appellant's position that the trial court committed error in refusing to grant separate trials is not supported by the record. Prior to trial, appellant moved for severance and the same was denied. Appellant did not renew the motion. We find no abuse of discretion in the court's denial of the motion. A careful reading of the record reveals no antagonism that would warrant a finding of prejudice. The statements in appellant's motion were what might be termed anticipatory conclusions. There was no showing that evidence proposed to be introduced as to one would be prejudicial as to the other. See State v. Lewis, 50 Nev. 212, 255 P. 1002 (1927). This court has recently said that the defendants were not entitled to separate trials without a sufficient showing of facts demonstrating that prejudice would result from a joint trial. Anderson v. State, 81 Nev. 477, 406 P.2d 532 (1965). The fact alone that both defendants did not join in any particular motion does not of itself show prejudice.

4. Appellant's charge that the trial court erred in requiring both defendants to join in their peremptory challenges is without merit. N.R.S. 175.015 reads as follows:

'When several defendants are tried together, they cannot sever their challenges, but must join therein.' Appellant concedes that the statute has been upheld as being constitutional. Anderson v. State, supra; Doyle v. State, 82 Nev. 242, 415 P.2d 323 (1966). However, he contends that the court has misinterpreted the statute. His is the novel approach that N.R.S. 175.015 merely demands that the defendants join and agree in their challenges and does not affect the number afforded to each. One is faced with the query as to how his approach would change the situation if each had a like number but are required to join in the challenge. It appears to answer itself. The...