State v. Manaku

Annotate this Case
Download PDF
NOTICE: THIS DECISION DOES NOT CREATE LEGAL PRECEDENT AND MAY NOT BE CITED EXCEPT AS AUTHORIZED BY APPLICABLE RULES. See Ariz. R. Supreme Court 111(c); ARCAP 28(c); Ariz. R. Crim. P. 31.24 IN THE COURT OF APPEALS STATE OF ARIZONA DIVISION ONE STATE OF ARIZONA, Appellee, v. LEONARD KIMO MANAKU, Appellant. ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) 1 CA-CR 09-0277 DIVISION ONE FILED: 02/04/2010 PHILIP G. URRY,CLERK BY: GH DEPARTMENT B MEMORANDUM DECISION (Not for Publication Rule 111, Rules of the Arizona Supreme Court) Appeal from the Superior Court in Maricopa County Cause No. CR 2008-112824-001 DT The Honorable Barbara L. Spencer, Judge Pro Tempore AFFIRMED Terry Goddard, Attorney General By Kent E. Cattani, Chief Counsel Criminal Appeals/Capital Litigation Section Attorneys for Appellee Phoenix James J. Haas, Maricopa County Public Defender By Terry Reid, Deputy Public Defender Attorneys for Appellant Phoenix N O R R I S, Judge ¶1 Leonard Kimo Manaku appeals from his convictions and sentences for two counts of misconduct involving weapons. After searching the record on appeal and finding no arguable question of law that was not frivolous, Manaku s counsel filed a brief in accordance with Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967), and State v. Leon, 104 Ariz. 297, 451 P.2d 878 (1969), asking this court to search the record for fundamental error. This court granted counsel s motion to allow Manaku to file a supplemental brief in propria persona, but Manaku chose not to do so. After reviewing the entire record, we find no fundamental error and therefore affirm Manaku s convictions and sentences. FACTS AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND1 ¶2 Around 2:00 p.m. on February 26, 2008, Officers B. and C. responded to a call describing a man with a knife walking in the area of 28th Avenue and Lewis Drive in Phoenix. On their way to the call, the officers saw Manaku, whose clothing matched the caller s description. The officers stopped Manaku, and Officer B. conducted a pat down and found a homemade knife about nine and a half inches in length in a big sheath tucked into the back of Manaku s pants. Shortly afterwards, Officer B. placed Manaku under arrest and searched him incident to arrest. Officer B. found a box of 24 bullets in Manaku s pocket and a loaded Ruger .357 revolver in the front of his 1 We view the facts in the light most favorable to sustaining the jury s verdict and resolve all inferences against Manaku. State v. Guerra, 161 Ariz. 289, 293, 778 P.2d 1185, 1189 (1989). 2 pants.2 At the time of his arrest, Manaku was a prohibited possessor section pursuant to 13-3101(A)(7)(b) Arizona (Supp. Revised Statutes ( A.R.S. ) 2009) (previously Manaku on A.R.S. § 13-3101(A)(6)(b)). ¶3 A grand jury indicted two counts of misconduct involving weapons (a gun and a knife) while being a prohibited possessor, each a class four felony.3 See A.R.S. § 13-3102(A)(4), (L) (A.R.S. § 13-3102(L) was previously A.R.S. § 13-3102(K)). The jury found Manaku guilty on both counts. On March 31, 2009, the superior court sentenced Manaku to ten years on each count, with the sentences to run concurrently, and gave Manaku 398 days of presentence incarceration credit. ¶4 Manaku timely appealed. We have jurisdiction pursuant to Article 6, Section 9 of the Arizona Constitution and A.R.S. sections 12-120.21(A)(1) (2003), 13-4031 (2001) and -4033(A)(1) (Supp. 2009). 2 Although Manaku testified he did not have a gun, it is the trier of fact s role, and not this court s, to resolve conflicting testimony and to weigh the credibility of witnesses. State v. Lee, 217 Ariz. 514, 516, ¶ 10, 176 P.3d 712, 714 (App. 2008) (quoting State v. Alvarado, 158 Ariz. 89, 92, 761 P.2d 163, 166 (App. 1988)). 3 The grand jury also indicted Manaku on two other counts. At the State s request, without objection, the court dismissed these two counts without prejudice. 3 DISCUSSION ¶5 We have reviewed error and find none. 881. the entire record for reversible See Leon, 104 Ariz. at 300, 451 P.2d at Manaku was represented by counsel at all stages of the proceedings and was personally present at all critical stages. The jury was properly comprised of 12 members. The court properly instructed the jury on the elements of the crime, the State s burden verdict. of Manaku sentencing. acceptable proof, was Manaku s sentences and the necessity an opportunity given sentence and the was of unanimous to court speak at the within superior a range of imposed the presumptive sentences for misconduct involving weapons with two prior felony offenses. 2007) (A.R.S. § See A.R.S. §§ 13-3102(K), -604(C) (Supp. 13-3102(K) is now A.R.S. § 13-3102(L), and A.R.S. § 13-604(C) is now A.R.S. § 13-703(C), (J) (Supp. 2009)). CONCLUSION ¶6 For the foregoing reasons, we decline to order briefing and affirm Manaku s convictions and sentences. ¶7 After the filing of this decision, defense counsel s obligations pertaining to Manaku s representation in this appeal have ended. Defense counsel need do no more than inform Manaku of the outcome of this appeal and his future options, unless, upon review, counsel finds an issue appropriate for submission 4 to the Arizona Supreme Court by petition for review. State v. Shattuck, 140 Ariz. 582, 584-85, 684 P.2d 154, 156-57 (1984). ¶8 Manaku has 30 days from the date of this decision to proceed, if he wishes, with an in propria persona petition for review. On the court s own motion, we also grant Manaku 30 days from the date of this decision to file an in propria persona motion for reconsideration. /s/ _______________________________________ PATRICIA K. NORRIS, Presiding Judge CONCURRING: /s/ ____________________________________ SHELDON H. WEISBERG, Judge /s/ ____________________________________ MARGARET H. DOWNIE, Judge 5

Some case metadata and case summaries were written with the help of AI, which can produce inaccuracies. You should read the full case before relying on it for legal research purposes.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.