STATE v. RASCON

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. VALENTIN ROSALES RASCON, JR., Appellant. ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) No. DIVISION ONE FILED: 4/16/2013 RUTH A. WILLINGHAM, CLERK BY: mjt 1 CA-CR 12-0685 DEPARTMENT E MEMORANDUM DECISION (Not for Publication Rule 111, Rules of the Arizona Supreme Court) Appeal from the Superior Court in Maricopa County Cause No. CR2011-161397-001 The Honorable Robert E. Miles, Judge AFFIRMED Thomas C. Horne, Arizona 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 Christopher V. Johns, Deputy Public Defender Attorneys for Appellant Phoenix H A L L, Judge ¶1 Valentin Rosales Rascon, Jr. (defendant) appeals from his conviction and the sentence imposed. For the reasons set forth below, we affirm. ¶2 Defendant's appellate 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), advising that, after a diligent search of the record, he was unable to find any arguable grounds for reversal. This court granted defendant an opportunity to file a supplemental brief, which he has not done. See State v. Clark, 196 Ariz. 530, 537, ¶ 30, 2 P.3d 89, 96 (App. 1999). ¶3 We review the entire record for fundamental error, error that goes to the foundation of a case or takes from the defendant a right essential to his defense. See State v. King, 158 Ariz. 419, 424, 763 P.2d 239, 244 (1988). evidence presented at sustaining the verdict. trial in a light most We view the favorable to State v. Cropper, 205 Ariz. 181, 182, ¶ 2, 68 P.3d 407, 408 (2003). ¶4 Defendant was charged by indictment with one count of unlawful flight from law enforcement vehicle, a class 5 felony. ¶5 The following evidence was presented at trial. On December 4, 2011, Officer Darrell Raets of the Phoenix Police Department was in a shopping 2 center parking lot with a shoplifter in custody. While with the shoplifter, the officer observed defendant and another passenger ride past him on an all terrain vehicle (ATV). Officer Raets noticed that the ATV did not have a license plate and was designed for only one rider. Because the officer had a suspect in custody on an unrelated matter, he did not attempt to stop defendant at that time. ¶6 Later in his shift, however, the officer again observed the same two people traveling in the ATV northbound on 75th Avenue. Officer Raets again observed that the vehicle did not have a license plate. The officer followed the ATV into a neighborhood, came within 20 to 30 feet of the vehicle, and activated his overhead lights and siren. The officer stated that both the defendant and his passenger looked back and made eye contact with him, and then the ATV accelerated. ensued. nearly A chase Defendant failed to stop at several stop signs and hit another vehicle. He then drove exited the park and lost control of the ATV. through a park, At that point, Officer Raets detained defendant and advised him of his Miranda1 rights. ¶7 Officer Raets asked defendant why he ran and he said I don t know. It was stupid. Defendant also told the officer that his girlfriend made him do it because she thought she had a warrant. 1 Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436 (1966). 3 ¶8 After a two-day trial, the jury found defendant guilty as charged. The trial court sentenced defendant to one year unsupervised probation. ¶9 We have read and considered counsel's brief and have searched the entire record for reversible error. Ariz. at 300, 451 P.2d at 881. See Leon, 104 We find none. All of the proceedings were conducted in compliance with the Arizona Rules of Criminal Procedure. Defendant was given an opportunity to speak before sentencing, and the sentence imposed was within statutory limits. Furthermore, based on our review of the record, there was sufficient evidence for the jury to find that defendant committed the offense for which he was convicted. ¶10 After obligations appeal have the pertaining ended. filing to of this defendant's Counsel need do decision, counsel s representation no more than in this inform defendant of the status of the appeal and his future options, unless counsel's review reveals an issue appropriate for submission to the Arizona Supreme Court by petition for review. 4 See State v. Shattuck, 140 Ariz. 582, 584-85, 684 P.2d 154, 15657 (1984). Defendant has thirty days from the date of this decision to proceed, if he desires, with a pro per motion for reconsideration or petition for review. Accordingly, defendant's conviction and sentence are affirmed. _/s/____________________________ PHILIP HALL, Judge CONCURRING: _/s/__________________________________ MARGARET H. DOWNIE, Presiding Judge _/s/__________________________________ MAURICE PORTLEY, 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.