State v. Gaytan
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An unpublished opinion of the North Carolina Court of Appeals does not constitute controlling legal authority. Citation is disfavored, but may be permitted in accordance with the provisions of Rule 30(e)(3) of the North Carolina Rules of Appellate Procedure. NO. COA14-277 NORTH CAROLINA COURT OF APPEALS Filed: 7 October 2014 STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA v. Guilford County No. 13 CRS 71032 JAVIER FLORES GAYTAN Appeal by Defendant from judgments entered 23 September 2013 by Judge R. Stuart Albright in Superior Court, Guilford County. Heard in the Court of Appeals 26 August 2014. Attorney General Roy Cooper, by Special General Staci Meyer, for the State. Deputy Attorney Marilyn G. Ozer for Defendant. McGEE, Chief Judge. I. Facts In an effort to receive more favorable sentencing on three felony drug charges, Fidel Salazar Rangel ( Rangel ) agreed to cooperate with Greensboro police as part of a plea deal. Rangel provided information and assistance in cases unrelated to the present case that led to multiple arrests and seizures of illegal narcotics. As part of his plea agreement, and relevant -2to this appeal, Rangel contacted Jose Gonzalez-Franco ( Gonzalez-Franco ) to arrange the purchase of one kilogram of cocaine. Gonzalez-Franco agreed to meet Rangel in the parking lot of a Hooters restaurant ( the restaurant ) on High Point Road, outside Greensboro. Detectives from the Greensboro Police Department prepared to monitor the transaction. Rangel was outfitted with a hidden audio recording device. Detective Carlos Monge ( Detective Monge ) was assigned to monitor the recording in real time because he spoke both Spanish and English, and the police thought the transaction would likely involve Spanish. restaurant. Other detectives took positions near the Rangel, who was waiting in the restaurant parking lot, observed Gonzalez-Franco arrive in a pickup truck ( the truck ) with two other men, and Rangel relayed this information to the detectives. approached Rangel. Gonzalez-Franco left the truck After a short period of time, the two other men left the truck and joined Rangel and Gonzalez-Franco. two men were and later identified as Javier ( Defendant ) and his brother Agustin Gaytan. Flores These Gaytan All four men then entered the restaurant, where they remained for approximately fifteen minutes. When the Gonzalez-Franco, four and men exited Agustin the Gaytan restaurant, returned to Defendant, the truck. -3Agustin Gaytan entered the truck, and Defendant removed a brown bag ( the bag ) from the truck. Defendant and Gonzalez-Franco then walked to Rangel s vehicle, where Defendant entered the back seat and Gonzalez-Franco entered the front passenger side seat. Rangel was sitting in the driver s seat. Defendant, who had the bag with him in the back seat, removed the cocaine from the bag for Rangel to see. the conversation detectives that in the Detective Monge, who was monitoring Rangel s cocaine vehicle, was in alerted Rangel s the other vehicle. The detectives then arrested Defendant, along with the other men involved. Approximately one kilogram of cocaine was recovered from the back seat of Rangel s vehicle where Defendant had been sitting. Defendant was indicted for one count each of trafficking in cocaine by possession, trafficking in cocaine by transportation, and conspiracy to traffic in cocaine. Gonzalez-Franco pleaded guilty to trafficking in cocaine by possession, trafficking in cocaine by transportation, and conspiracy to traffic in cocaine. Gonzalez-Franco was sentenced to consolidated active sentences of 175 months Rangel s plea to 222 months agreement, he for each testified charge. for As the part State of at Defendant s trial. The jury found Defendant not guilty of the conspiracy but charge, guilty of trafficking in cocaine by -4possession and trafficking in cocaine by transportation. trial court sentenced Defendant to sentences of 175 months to 222 months. II. two consecutive The active Defendant appeals. The Issues Defendant argues the trial court erred in allowing: (1) the State to improperly argue that Rangel was going to receive an active sentence when he only received probation, (2) Detective Monge to translate the audio recording that was made during the drug transaction, (3) the State to ask questions implicating attorney-client privilege, and (4) a State s witness to refer to Defendant and the others as bad guys. Defendant further argues the trial court erred by (5) sentencing Defendant in an inappropriately harsh manner. We hold that Defendant fails to prove that any prejudicial error occurred at trial. III. Closing Remarks In Defendant s first argument, he contends that the trial court erred by failing to intervene ex mero motu to address an improper argument made by the State in its closing remarks. We disagree. Defendant did not object to the portion of the State s argument he now contends was improper. When defendant fails to object to an argument, this Court must determine if the argument was so grossly improper that the trial court erred in failing to intervene ex -5mero motu. In other words, the reviewing court must determine whether the argument in question strayed far enough from the parameters of propriety that the trial court, in order to protect the rights of the parties and the sanctity of the proceedings, should have intervened on its own accord and: (1) precluded other similar remarks from the offending attorney; and/or (2) instructed the jury to disregard the improper comments already made. State v. Walters, 357 N.C. 68, 101-02, 588 S.E.2d 344, 364 (2003) (citations omitted). The State made the following statements in its closing argument, the highlighted portions of which Defendant includes in his brief: Our legislature enacted the trafficking statutes and the mandatory sentences, coupled with harsh fines, to deter drug trafficking networks. Yet, at the same time, our legislature recognized that the system of mandatory sentences . . . is not alone sufficient to deter the corrupting influence of drug dealers and traffickers. The nature of the crime the mischief to be remedied dictates the methods used[.] To effectively combat trafficking, police authorities need information on, and access to, the myriad of drug-dealing activities in the various networks. Built into the [drug] trafficking statutes is a bargaining tool, 90-95(h)(5), a provision exchanging potential leniency for assistance from those who have easy access to drug networks. -6The prospect of leniency is clearly calculated to provide a strong incentive to drug violators to cooperate with law enforcement officers and become informers. The raw truth is this. Fidel Rangel, like [Defendant], is a drug dealer, and should be treated accordingly. If law enforcement officers could on their own arrange for the delivery of these drugs without the likes of a cooperating Fidel Rangel, they would. If these matters could be tried without the likes of a charged and admitted drug dealer taking the witness stand, they would. But the reality is, this is a secret, this is a clandestine criminal enterprise. All this talk of county surveillance and trying to conduct this business in such a way that they might be concealed from those that would be interested in their activities is such, ladies and gentlemen, we need we need the likes of those with easy access to identify and, ultimately through their cooperation, sometimes testify against those individuals. Mr. Rangel is one of those individuals with easy access. He will be punished. He will receive a sentence appropriate, given his level of involvement, in his own case on balance with the cooperation that he involved himself in subsequent to that. But he is an admitted drug dealer. And he will be dealt with accordingly. (Emphasis added). Defendant argues that the underlined portion of the closing argument above [s]uggest[ed] to the jury that Rangel would face substantial prison time as a drug dealer and was therefore grossly improper[.] Defendant first complains of multiple statements made by the State throughout the trial that suggested Rangel would -7still be sentenced to significant time in prison. However, Defendant did not object to any of these statements at trial, and does not now argue that any of these statements amount to plain error. Defendant has therefore failed to preserve any argument these that statements constituted error. State v. Haselden, 357 N.C. 1, 17, 577 S.E.2d 594, 604-05 (2003) (for issues dealing with evidence or jury instruction, failure to object at trial and failure to assign plain error on appeal constitutes abandonment of issue for appellate review). When read in context, we do not find the State s comment that, as an admitted drug dealer, Rangel would be dealt with to have been grossly improper. true. This statement was, in fact, Defendant argues that the statement was grossly improper because the State did not advise the jury that Rangel might receive probation instead of an active prison sentence. However, Defendant had a full opportunity to bring forth this issue at trial, but failed to do so. Defendant cross-examined Rangel, in part, as follows: Q All of your cooperation since your arrest has been to benefit you at sentencing; isn't that right? A Yes, sir. Q And you're hoping, by your cooperation, that you get a sentence less than 175 to 222 months per drug trafficking count; isn't that correct? -8A Yes, sir. Q And you know that you're not in a position for law enforcement to talk to the sentencing judge about your cooperation unless you produce seizures, correct? A Yes, sir. Q And you will do what you need to do to make sure that you can produce those seizures and those convictions; isn't that right? A Yes, sir. Q Even if it means dealing with these people and not telling law enforcement about it; isn't that correct? A No, sir. I don't keeping them posted. do anything without Q When it's to your advantage, isn't that correct? A No, sir. Nothing is to my advantage at this point. I lost everything. I lost my job. I lost everything. Defendant thoroughly attacked Rangel s credibility by exposing Rangel s motivation to provide testimony on behalf of the State in exchange for the State s advocating on Rangel s behalf for a reduced sentence. It was the province of the jury to decide which part, if any, of Rangel s testimony to believe. Defendant fails to show that the trial court should have stepped in ex mero motu to address the challenged argument of the State, or that Defendant was prejudiced, assuming arguendo the State s -9argument was improper. Walters, 357 N.C. at 101-02, 588 S.E.2d at 364; State v. Jones, 355 N.C. 117, 134, 558 S.E.2d 97, 108 (2002). In addition, Defendant states in his brief: If the jurors had known that Rangel understood that the right testimony could equate to a get out of jail free card, it would have greatly lessened his credibility. However, Defendant provided no evidence that Rangel actually understood that he might receive only probation and would not have to serve any active sentence. If Rangel did not know probation was a possibility, and we find no record evidence that he did know this when he testified, this information provided could any untruthfully. not have additional impacted his motivation testimony, for him nor to have testify In short, if Rangel did not know that helping the State might allow him to avoid an active sentence altogether, this fact was irrelevant to his credibility as a witness. It was Defendant s duty to present evidence at trial that Rangel knew probation relevance appeal. of was this a possibility information in and order to preserve establish this issue the for This argument is without merit. IV. State s Witness as Translator In Defendant s second argument, he contends that the trial court committed plain error in allowing one of the -10participating officers to translate and then relate to the jurors what [that officer] thought was captured by the wire on the confidential informant. We disagree. Defendant contends that Detective Monge, who was involved in the operation leading to Defendant s arrest on the current charges, was allowed to improperly translate an audio recording made from a recording device Rangel was carrying at the time of the drug transaction. We do not address Defendant s argument because Defendant has failed to properly argue plain error. In order to prevail in a plain error argument, Defendant must show that absent the error, the verdict. jury probably would have returned a different State v. Lawrence, 365 N.C. 506, 519, 723 S.E.2d 326, 335 (2012). Defendant argues: The jury may well have acquitted [Defendant] . . . if they had heard the wire translated by an unbiased interpreter. Defendant fails to properly argue plain error, much less meet his burden of proving that absent the error, the verdict. jury Id. probably would have returned a different This argument is without merit. Defendant also seeks to preserve his right to file a motion for appropriate relief in the trial court to argue ineffective assistance of counsel based upon his attorney s failure to request the wire be translated by an AOC certified interpreter. -11Nothing in Defendant this his opinion right should to file be interpreted as legitimate motion any denying for appropriate relief. V. Attorney-Client Privilege In Defendant s third argument, he contends the trial court erred by allowing the State attorney-client privilege. to ask questions implicating We disagree. During Defendant s testimony, the State asked Defendant: And you ve had an opportunity to listen to the audiotape of the conversation that took place inside the car, have you not? Defendant s attorney asked to approach the bench, and apparently asked to discuss the issue outside the presence of the jury. On voir dire, Defendant s attorney stated: Judge, concerning [the State s] question about listening to the audiotape of the 6th, [Defendant] has not listened to that. Because he is in custody, trying to get the CD with a computer to him, he has not listened to it. Defendant objected to the State s question and stated: The basis of the objection is that the answer potentially could disclose attorney work product. Defendant s attorney did not request time for Defendant to listen to the recording. The State then indicated it was prepared to move on, meaning not to pursue questioning as to whether Defendant had listened to -12the recording. The trial court responded: If you re going to move on, it will be moot anyway. Defendant contends that the State continued to ask questions from [Detective] Monge s testimony concerning what he heard on the [recording.] However, the State did not again ask Defendant if he had listened to the tape. The State cross- examined Defendant about what transpired in Rangel s vehicle, and what Defendant said while Defendant was in Rangel s vehicle. Defendant answered those questions. Defendant now argues the State should have been prevented from asking Defendant questions based upon Defendant s evidence answers that might was presented somehow at implicate trial because attorney-client privilege. Initially, we note that Defendant objected at trial on the basis that answers Defendant might have given potentially could disclose attorney work product. The work product doctrine and attorney-client privilege are separate issues. See Evans v. United Servs. Auto. Ass'n, 142 N.C. App. 18, 31, 541 S.E.2d 782, 790 (2001). Because Defendant failed to object at trial on the basis of attorney-client privilege, he has failed to preserve this issue for appellate review. 49, 436 S.E.2d 321, 349 (1993). State v. Gibbs, 335 N.C. 1, -13Assuming arguendo Defendant had preserved this argument, Defendant did not indicate at trial what privileged information might be compromised if Defendant had informed the jury that he had not listened to the recording because his attorney had not provided it to him, and Defendant does not now indicate what privileged information might be implicated, or how it would have prejudiced him. Defendant fails to demonstrate that privileged communications were implicated in this matter. v. Murvin, 304 N.C. 523, 531, 284 S.E.2d 289, 294 any State (1981) (citations omitted) ( A privilege exists if (1) the relation of attorney and client existed at the time the communication was made, (2) the communication was made in confidence, (3) the communication relates to a matter about which the attorney is being professionally consulted, (4) the communication was made in the course of giving or seeking legal advice for a proper purpose although litigation need not be contemplated and (5) the client has identify not any waived particular the privilege. ). communication Having alleged to failed have to been privileged, Defendant automatically fails in four of the five prongs of the test enumerated in Murvin. Finally, Defendant has made no argument in his brief in support of his bald statement that he was prejudiced by any error. State v. Watkins, 195 N.C. App. 215, 222, 672 S.E.2d 43, -1448 (2009) (citation omitted) ( The person asserting the privilege bears the burden of establishing each of the five elements. ). This argument is without merit. VI. Reference to Defendant as a Bad Guy In Defendant s fourth argument, he contends that the trial court committed repeatedly refer plain to error the by allowing defendants as Detective the bad Monge guys. to We disagree. Detective Monge referred to the three men involved in the transaction with Rangel multiple times as the bad guys. Defendant never objected to this characterization. Defendant again fails to make a proper plain error argument. Defendant states: Standing alone these references to [D]efendant s guilty [sic] may not have swayed the jury, but when viewed in the context of Monge s entire testimony in which he was allowed to translate and paraphrase everything that went on during the meeting, his clear opinion that Gaytan was guilty raises a reasonable probability that without his characterization the jury would have returned a different verdict. However, we do not apply the plain error doctrine on a cumulative basis when defendant is assigning error to unrelated admissions of evidence to which he did not object, and the trial court made no affirmative ruling on the admissibility of any of them. State v. Holbrook, 137 N.C. App. 766, 769, 529 S.E.2d -15510, 512 (2000). Because Defendant admits that Detective Monge s use of the term bad guys might not have amounted to plain error absent Detective Monge s unobjected to testimony in which Defendant argued Detective Monge improperly served as a translator, Defendant has not alleged or properly argued plain error. Further, we agree with Defendant that Detective Monge s use of the term bad guys standing alone, as it must in plain error review, id., does not rise to the level of plain error. This argument is without merit. VII. Appropriateness of Sentence In Defendant s final argument, he contends that sentencing Defendant to thirty to thirty-seven years in prison when the same court sentenced his co-defendant to half that time was clearly and palpably gross, harsh and abusive. We disagree. Defendant makes this argument based upon the fact that his co-defendant, Gonzalez-Franco, received concurrent sentences after pleading guilty, but the trial court sentenced Defendant to consecutive sentences, effectively sentencing Defendant to twice the active sentence of Gonzalez-Franco. However, this Court has held: Nor did the court err by sentencing defendant to a greater sentence than that received by [his co-defendant] pursuant to a plea bargain. See, e.g., State v. Garris, 265 N.C. 711, 712, 144 S.E.2d 901, 902 (1965) ( There is no requirement of law that -16defendants charged with similar offenses be given the same punishment. ); State v. Sligh, 27 N.C. App. 668, 669, 219 S.E.2d 801, 802 (1975) (court did not err by imposing a sentence against defendant which was greatly in excess of the sentence given his codefendant . . . under [his] plea bargaining arrangement ). State v. Shelman, 159 N.C. App. 300, 312, 584 S.E.2d 88, 96-97 (2003). This Court has held that sentences falling within the statutory guidelines will only be reviewed if it is readily discernable that the sentence is clearly harsh or abusive: [S]o long as the punishment rendered is within the maximum provided by law, an appellate court must assume that the trial judge acted fairly, reasonably and impartially in the performance of his office. Moreover when the sentence imposed is . . . within statutory limits . . . [it] cannot be considered excessive, cruel or unreasonable. Thus, . . . sentences imposed, which are within the limits provided by law, are beyond our review. Notwithstanding the principle that such sentences are nonreviewable, appellate courts have reviewed sentences when the particular sanction imposed is clearly and palpably gross, harsh and abusive. Only when such an abuse of discretion is readily discernible will appellate courts intercede. The defendant, attacking a sentence, however, is confronted by the presumption that the trial judge acted . . . fairly, reasonably, and impartially in the performance of the duties of his office. . . . Our entire judicial system is based upon the faith that a judge will keep his oath. Unless the contrary is made to appear, it will be presumed that judicial acts and duties have been duly and regularly performed. . . . So long as errants make -17it necessary for other men to judge them it is best to indulge the presumption that a judge will do what a judge ought to do. State v. Harris, 27 N.C. App. 385, 386-87, 219 S.E.2d 306, 307 (1975) (citations omitted). Defendant was convicted of trafficking in 400 grams or more of cocaine by possession, and trafficking in 400 grams or more of cocaine by transporting. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 90-95 states: (3) Any person who sells, manufactures, delivers, transports, or possesses 28 grams or more of cocaine . . . shall be guilty of a felony, which felony shall be known as trafficking in cocaine and if the quantity of such substance or mixture involved: . . . . c. Is 400 grams or more, such person shall be punished as a Class D felon and shall be sentenced to a minimum term of 175 months and a maximum term of 222 months in the State's prison and shall be fined at least two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000). N.C. Gen. Stat. § sentenced Defendant months 222 to offenses sentences palpably for are 90-95(h)(3)(c.) to months, which consecutive which Defendant nonreviewable, gross, harsh (2013). [or] is was as the The active sentences statutory convicted. they are abusive[,] discretion is readily discernible[.] trial range We not and court of 175 for the hold these clearly no abuse and of Harris, 27 N.C. App. at -18386, 219 S.E.2d at 307 (citations omitted). without merit. No error. Judges BRYANT and STROUD concur. Report per Rule 30(e). This argument is
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