State v. Collins

NOTICE: NOT FOR OFFICIAL PUBLICATION.
UNDER ARIZONA RULE OF THE SUPREME COURT 111(c), THIS DECISION IS NOT PRECEDENTIAL
AND MAY BE CITED ONLY AS AUTHORIZED BY RULE.

IN THE
ARIZONA COURT OF APPEALS
DIVISION ONE

STATE OF ARIZONA,
Appellee,

v.

STORM RUSSELL COLLINS,
Appellant.

No. 1 CA-CR 19-0201
FILED 9-15-2020

Appeal from the Superior Court in Maricopa County
No. CR2013-002730-001
The Honorable Warren J. Granville, Judge (Retired)

AFFIRMED

COUNSEL

Arizona Attorney General’s Office, Phoenix
By Michael O’Toole
Counsel for Appellee

Maricopa County Public Defender’s Office, Phoenix
By Jeffrey L. Force
Counsel for Appellant

STATE v. COLLINS
Decision of the Court

MEMORANDUM DECISION

Presiding Judge Samuel A. Thumma delivered the decision of the Court, in
which Judge D. Steven Williams and Judge David D. Weinzweig joined.

T H U M M A, Judge:

¶1 This is an appeal under Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967)
and State v. Leon, 104 Ariz. 297 (1969). Counsel for defendant Storm Russell
Collins has advised the court that, after searching the entire record, he has
found no arguable question of law and asks this court to conduct an Anders
review of the record. Collins was given an opportunity to file a
supplemental brief pro se and has not done so. A review of the entire record
reveals no reversible error. Accordingly, Collins’ convictions and resulting
sentences are affirmed.

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

¶2 Viewing the facts in a light most favorable to sustaining the
verdict, State v. Rienhardt, 190 Ariz. 579, 588-89 (1997), in December 2012,
Collins and Anthony Whitmore shot and killed D.M. during a robbery. In
a series of text messages and phone calls leading up to the crimes, Collins,
Whitmore and three others made plans to rob the victim while he was in
the parking lot of an adult cabaret in Phoenix. A security camera captured
the shooting as D.M. sat in his car. A police investigation found Collins’
fingerprints on D.M.’s car and footprints in the parking lot consistent with
the characteristics of Collins’ sneakers. Collins’ cell phone used the cell
phone tower closest to the cabaret immediately before the shooting.

¶3 The State charged Collins with first-degree felony murder
(count one), conspiracy to commit armed robbery (count two), armed
robbery (count three) and discharge of a firearm at a structure (count four).
A misconduct involving weapons charge was not tried and was later
dismissed without prejudice. In January 2015, Collins entered into a plea
agreement, although the court later granted the State’s request to withdraw
the plea after Collins said he would not comply with it. The case went to
trial on counts one through four. During the 29-day trial, the State called 50
witnesses, including a codefendant who had entered into a testimonial
agreement. This codefendant testified about her conversations with Collins

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STATE v. COLLINS
Decision of the Court

leading up to the crime, including targeting the victim, and testified Collins
spoke with her about the shooting a few days later.

¶4 The jury found Collins guilty as charged. The court sentenced
Collins as a dangerous, non-repetitive offender to life in prison with the
possibility of release after 25 years on count one, to run consecutive to the
sentence on counts two, three and four. For counts two, three and four, the
court sentenced him to presumptive concurrent prison terms, the longest
being 10.5 years He received 474 days’ presentence incarceration credit.

¶5 Collins timely appealed. This court has jurisdiction over
Collin’s appeal pursuant to Article 6, Section 9, of the Arizona Constitution
and Ariz. Rev. Stat. (A.R.S.) §§ 12-120.21(A)(1), 13-4031 and 13-4033(A)
(2020).1

DISCUSSION

¶6 The court has reviewed and considered defense counsel’s
brief and has searched the entire record for reversible error. See State v.
Clark, 196 Ariz. 530, 537 ¶ 30 (App. 1999). Searching the record and briefing
reveals no reversible error. From the record, all proceedings were
conducted in compliance with the Arizona Rules of Criminal Procedure.

¶7 So far as the record reveals, Collins was represented by
counsel at all stages of the proceedings and was present at all critical stages
including the trial and verdict. See State v. Conner, 163 Ariz. 97, 104 (1990)
(right to counsel at critical stages) (citing cases); State v. Bohn, 116 Ariz. 500,
503 (1977) (right to be present at critical stages). The jury was properly
comprised of twelve jurors, and the record shows no evidence of jury
misconduct. See A.R.S. § 21-102; Ariz. R. Crim. P. 18.1(a). The court properly
instructed the jury on the elements of the charged offenses, the State’s
burden of proof and Collins’ presumption of innocence. At sentencing,
Collins was given an opportunity to speak, and the court stated on the
record the evidence and materials it considered and the factors it found in
imposing the sentences. See Ariz. R. Crim. P. 26.9, 26.10. The sentences
imposed were within the statutory limits. See A.R.S. §§ 13-701 through -709
(as applicable).

1Absent material revisions after the relevant dates, statutes and rules cited
refer to the current version unless otherwise indicated.

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STATE v. COLLINS
Decision of the Court

CONCLUSION

¶8 This court has read and considered counsel’s brief and has
searched the record for reversible error and has found none. Leon, 104 Ariz.
at 300; Clark, 196 Ariz. at 537 ¶ 30. Accordingly, Collins’ convictions and
resulting sentences are affirmed.

¶9 Upon the filing of this decision, defense counsel is directed to
inform Collins of the status of his appeal and of his future options. Defense
counsel has no further obligations unless, upon review, counsel identifies
an issue appropriate for submission to the Arizona Supreme Court by
petition for review. See State v. Shattuck, 140 Ariz. 582, 584-85 (1984). Collins
shall have 30 days from the date of this decision to proceed, if he desires,
with a pro se motion for reconsideration or petition for review.

AMY M. WOOD • Clerk of the Court
FILED: AA

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