October 27, 2022- State of New Mexico v. Thomas C. Ferguson, No. A-1-CA-39734

A-1-CA-39734Nmctapp

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IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO	1
Opinion Number: __________________	2
Filing Date: October 27, 2022	3
No. A-1-CA-39734	4
STATE OF NEW MEXICO,	5
Plaintiff-Appellee,	6
v.	7
THOMAS C. FERGUSON,	8
Defendant-Appellant.	9
APPEAL FROM THE DISTRICT COURT OF CURRY COUNTY	10
Matthew E. Chandler, District Judge	11
Hector H. Balderas, Attorney General	12
Santa Fe, NM	13
Charles J. Gutierrez, Assistant Attorney General	14
Albuquerque, NM	15
for Appellee	16
Eric D. Dixon, Attorney and Counselor At Law, P.A.	17
Eric D. Dixon	18
Portales, NM	19
for Appellant	20
Court of Appeals of New Mexico
Filed 10/27/2022 9:28 AM
OPINION	1
BOGARDUS, Judge.	2
{1} 	Defendant 	Thomas 	Ferguson 	appeals 	his 	conviction 	of 	embezzlement,	3
contrary to NMSA 1978, Section 30-16-8 (2007). Defendant argues the district court	4
erred by (1) denying his motion for a directed verdict, (2) allowing the State to cross-	5
examine him regarding prior convictions for receiving stolen property, (3) permitting	6
the State to amend the date of the charged offense, and (4) instructing the jury to	7
disregard defense counsel’s comments during closing argument relating to the	8
court’s dismissal of a separate charge. We affirm.	9
BACKGROUND	10
{2} 	On December 11, 2019, Joseph White brought a 2008 Chevrolet pick-up truck	11
(the truck) into an automotive shop operated by Defendant for repairs. Defendant	12
told White there was a problem with the transmission, but that he could order one,	13
and White gave Defendant a check for $3,630. The check’s memo line stated, “2008	14
Silver[ado] Transmission.” Defendant cashed the check. Over the next several	15
months White regularly checked with Defendant about the truck, and Defendant	16
gave White inconsistent explanations about the transmission’s status. On May 1,	17
2020, White had the truck towed from Defendant’s shop. The truck had been	18
damaged and was missing parts. The State charged Defendant with embezzlement	19
and criminal damage to property.	20
2
{3} 	At a jury trial, the district court directed a verdict against the State on the	1
criminal damage to property charge; the jury returned a guilty verdict on the	2
embezzlement charge. Defendant appeals.	3
I. 	The District Court Did Not Err in Denying Defendant’s Motion for a	4
Directed Verdict	5
{4} 	Defendant argues the district court erred as a matter of law in denying his	6
motion for a directed verdict, contending there was insufficient evidence to prove	7
embezzlement. “We review denials of directed verdicts by asking whether sufficient	8
evidence was adduced to support the underlying charge.” State v. Johnson, 2010-	9
NMSC-016, ¶ 57, 148 N.M. 50, 229 P.3d 523 (internal quotation marks and citation	10
omitted). 	“Questions 	of 	sufficiency 	that 	require 	us 	to 	engage 	in 	statutory	11
interpretation present a question of law which is reviewed de novo on appeal.” State	12
v. Kalinowski, 2020-NMCA-018, ¶ 7, 460 P.3d 79 (alteration, internal quotation	13
marks, and citation omitted). “After reviewing the statutory standard, we apply a	14
substantial evidence standard to review the sufficiency of the evidence at trial.” State	15
v. Chavez, 2009-NMSC-035, ¶ 11, 146 N.M. 434, 211 P.3d 891.	16
{5} 	“The test for sufficiency of the evidence is whether substantial evidence of	17
either a direct or circumstantial nature exists to support a verdict of guilty beyond a	18
reasonable doubt with respect to every element essential to a conviction.” State v.	19
Montoya, 2015-NMSC-010, ¶ 52, 345 P.3d 1056 (internal quotation marks and	20
citation omitted). “Substantial evidence is relevant evidence that a reasonable mind	21
3
might accept as adequate to support a conclusion.” Id. ¶ 53 (alteration, internal	1
quotation marks, and citation omitted). When reviewing for substantial evidence,	2
appellate courts “view[] the evidence in the light most favorable to the guilty verdict,	3
indulging all reasonable inferences and resolving all conflicts in the evidence in	4
favor of the verdict.” Id. ¶ 52 (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). We	5
also disregard all evidence and inferences that support a different result. See State v.	6
Rojo, 1999-NMSC-001, ¶ 19, 126 N.M. 438, 971 P.2d 829. We measure the	7
sufficiency of the evidence against the jury instructions given, which become the	8
law of the case. State v. Jackson, 2018-NMCA-066, ¶ 22, 429 P.3d 674.	9
{6} 	Here, in relevant part, the jury was instructed that to find Defendant guilty of	10
embezzlement the State had to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Defendant (1)	11
was entrusted with $3,630, (2) converted this money to his own use, and (3) at the	12
time Defendant converted the money, he fraudulently intended to deprive the owner	13
of the owner’s property. See UJI 14-1641 NMRA. Defendant’s arguments address	14
the elements of entrustment and fraudulent intent.	15
A. 	Entrustment	16
{7} 	Defendant argues there was no entrustment, contending that once he received	17
the check on December 12, 2019, the money became his personal property. As a	18
result, Defendant asserts he could not have converted the money because the money	19
was not another’s property, as required to sustain an embezzlement conviction.	20
4
Defendant also asserts that when “theft-temporary taking involves an advance	1
payment of money, the [S]tate must establish a fiduciary relationship” and points	2
out that a mechanic is not a fiduciary. We are unpersuaded.	3
{8} 	“While some jurisdictions may require a special fiduciary relationship, such	4
as employment or agency, as an element of the crime [of embezzlement], New	5
Mexico does not.” State v. Archie, 1997-NMCA-058, ¶ 3, 123 N.M. 503, 943 P.2d	6
537. New Mexico instead applies the common meaning of “[e]ntrustment,” see State	7
v. Moss, 1971-NMCA-117, ¶ 6, 83 N.M. 42, 487 P.2d 1347, which “occurs when	8
property is committed or surrendered to another with a certain confidence regarding	9
the care, use, or disposal of that property.” Archie, 1997-NMCA-058, ¶ 4. However,	10
“[o]ne cannot be guilty of embezzlement if he converts his own property; the	11
property converted must be that of another.” Kalinowski, 2020-NMCA-018, ¶ 10	12
(internal quotation marks and citation omitted). We must therefore determine	13
whether the check for $3,630 was White’s property, such that Defendant was	14
“entrusted” with it, or whether that money became Defendant’s property upon	15
payment, precluding a finding of entrustment.	16
{9} 	In the context of advanced payments to a building contractor, this Court has	17
recognized that “[a] building contractor who receives from the landowner an	18
advance payment on the contract and who thereafter spends the money for his own	19
purposes and does not fulfill the contract, is not guilty of embezzlement, unless the	20
5
money is earmarked to be used only for a construction purpose.” Id. ¶ 13 (emphases	1
added) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). In Kalinowski, for example,	2
this Court concluded that there was insufficient evidence that the down payments of	3
several home purchasers were entrusted to the defendant home builder, reasoning	4
that “at the time [the d]efendant used the deposit money for purposes other than the	5
construction of the [home purchasers’] properties, the deposits already legally	6
belonged to [the d]efendant; he could not be found to have converted the deposits	7
because they were his property—not property of another.” See id. ¶¶ 10, 13, 16, 35	8
(internal quotations marks and citation omitted). This Court noted that there was no	9
evidence of an actual agreement or any conversations between the defendant and	10
purchasers specifying the particular purpose for which the down payments were to	11
be used. See id. ¶¶ 4-5.	12
{10} 	Here, by contrast, we conclude there was evidence from which the jury could	13
reasonably infer that the $3,630 had been “earmarked to be used” for a particular	14
purpose, see id. ¶¶ 4, 13—ordering a transmission. The jury heard testimony that	15
Defendant told White the truck needed a transmission, then quoted White the cost	16
of a transmission and told White he could order one, and that White gave Defendant	17
a check for “over thirty-six hundred bucks” in response. The jury also heard	18
testimony that White issued the $3,630 check for a replacement transmission itself	19
rather than for both labor and parts, and that this amount did not represent the total	20
6
amount he would owe Defendant. Based on this testimony, a jury could reasonably	1
infer that White and Defendant shared an understanding that the money had been	2
“earmarked to be used” for the particular purpose of ordering a transmission.	3
{11} 	In addition, the check that White gave to Defendant stated, in the check’s	4
memo line, “2008 Silver[ado] Transmission,” and Defendant personally deposited	5
this check. The jury could reasonably infer from this evidence that White had	6
specified in writing that the money was earmarked to be used to order a replacement	7
transmission and that Defendant was aware of this purpose when he received and	8
deposited the check. Disregarding all evidence and inferences that support a different	9
result, and indulging all reasonable inferences in the evidence in favor of the verdict,	10
we conclude that the money did not become Defendant’s property upon payment,	11
but rather that the money was “committed or surrendered” to Defendant “with a	12
certain confidence regarding the . . . use[] or disposal of that property.” Archie, 1997-	13
NMCA-058, ¶ 4. Although we recognize that it is possible to interpret the evidence	14
differently, our task is not to second-guess a reasonable interpretation or substitute	15
our own interpretation of the evidence for the jury’s. See State v. Pitner, 2016-	16
NMCA-102, ¶ 6, 385 P.3d 665 (“We do not reweigh the evidence or substitute our	17
judgment for that of the fact[-]finder as long as there is sufficient evidence to support	18
the verdict.” (internal quotation marks and citation omitted)). Accordingly, under	19
our deferential standard of review, the evidence of entrustment is sufficient.	20
7
B. 	Fraudulent Intent	1
{12} 	Defendant also argues there was insufficient evidence of embezzlement	2
because he never possessed the requisite “fraudulent intent,” pointing to his	3
testimony stating as much. We are unpersuaded.	4
{13} 	“Fraudulent intent is defined as the intent to cheat or deceive and may be	5
inferred by reasonable inferences and circumstantial evidence.” State v. Curry,	6
2002-NMCA-092, ¶ 11, 132 N.M. 602, 52 P.3d 974. “The element of intent is	7
seldom susceptible to direct proof and accordingly may be proved by circumstantial	8
evidence.” State v. Dowling, 2011-NMSC-016, ¶ 22, 150 N.M. 110, 257 P.3d 930	9
(alteration, internal quotation marks, and citation omitted). Intent “must be proved	10
by 	the 	reasonable 	inferences 	shown 	by 	the 	evidence 	and 	the 	surrounding	11
circumstances. If there are reasonable inferences and sufficient circumstances then	12
the issue of intent becomes a question of fact for the jury.” State v. Ortiz, 1977-	13
NMCA-036, ¶ 9, 90 N.M. 319, 563 P.2d 113.	14
{14} 	Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict, we conclude	15
that the evidence of fraudulent intent is sufficient. A jury could reasonably find that	16
Defendant deprived White of $3,630 with the requisite intent to deceive or cheat.	17
The State presented circumstantial evidence from which the jury could infer	18
Defendant agreed to use the money for a transmission, did not order one despite	19
having over four months to do so, and failed to return the money when asked. The	20
8
State also presented evidence that Defendant gave White different and inconsistent	1
explanations about the status and location of the transmission—first that the	2
transmission was in his shop and later that he still needed to pick it up. The jury	3
could have reasonably inferred that Defendant was lying to or misleading White,	4
demonstrating his consciousness of guilt. See State v. Faubion, 1998-NMCA-095,	5
¶ 13, 125 N.M. 670, 964 P.2d 834 (looking to the defendants’ lies and misleading	6
actions as evidence of their consciousness of guilt in determining whether they	7
possessed the requisite intent to embezzle). Finally, when the truck was towed from	8
Defendant’s shop, it was missing parts and its interior had been damaged; the	9
insurance company ultimately declared the truck totaled. A jury could reasonably	10
infer based on the truck’s condition upon recovery that Defendant never intended to	11
complete the work for which he was paid. In light of this evidence, a jury could	12
reasonably infer that Defendant surreptitiously used money deposited from the check	13
for his own purposes. Such an interpretation of the evidence supports a finding that	14
Defendant acted with the requisite fraudulent intent. See Archie, 1997-NMCA-058,	15
¶ 10 (concluding that evidence of fraudulent intent was sufficient to support the	16
embezzlement conviction of a defendant who surreptitiously treated property that	17
did not belong to him in a manner contrary to the defendant’s promises to the owner).	18
Having concluded there was sufficient evidence to support Defendant’s conviction	19
9
for embezzlement, the district court did not err in denying Defendant’s motion for a	1
directed verdict.	2
II. 	The District Court Did Not Err by Allowing the Prosecutor to Cross-	3
Examine Defendant on Prior Convictions for Receiving Stolen Property	4
{15} 	Defendant next argues the district court erred by allowing the State to recross-	5
examine Defendant regarding his previous convictions that were more than ten years	6
old. Defendant contends the district court misapplied Rule 11-609(B) NMRA	7
because the court did not weigh the specific facts and circumstances necessary to	8
determine whether the convictions’ probative value substantially outweighed their	9
prejudicial effect and because the State failed to give written notice of its intent to	10
use those convictions. We are unpersuaded.	11
{16} 	Before Defendant took the stand the district court, relying on Rule 11-609,	12
ruled that the State would not be allowed to impeach Defendant for his prior	13
convictions of receiving stolen property. The district court instead allowed the State	14
to impeach Defendant with those convictions in response to Defendant’s volunteered	15
statement on redirect related to his prior convictions for stealing. We therefore	16
examine whether the State’s use of the receiving stolen property convictions to	17
impeach Defendant was allowed on that basis.	18
{17} 	The State contends the impeachment was allowed based on the doctrine of	19
curative admissibility, as well as a district court’s discretion to admit specific	20
instances of conduct on cross-examination where a defendant has opened the door	21
10
and the past acts are probative of an issue raised in the defendant’s testimony on	1
direct examination. Defendant responds that he did not open the door by making an	2
unsolicited comment and contends his volunteered statement that he had not been	3
convicted of stealing was accurate because receiving stolen property does not	4
involve the actual theft of property. As we explain, we conclude Defendant has not	5
met his burden of demonstrating that the district court’s ruling constituted an abuse	6
of discretion.	7
{18} 	“Curative admissibility is a common law evidentiary doctrine that is still	8
recognized by our courts, despite its lack of codification in our rules of evidence.	9
Under [this] doctrine . . ., a party may introduce inadmissible evidence to counteract	10
the 	prejudice 	created 	by 	their 	opponent’s 	earlier 	introduction 	of 	similarly	11
inadmissible evidence.” State v. Gonzales, 2020-NMCA-022, ¶ 12, 461 P.3d 920	12
(citations omitted); see also id. ¶ 13 (recognizing that “courts typically describe the	13
doctrine of curative admissibility as a conferral of discretion on the trial judge rather	14
than the grant of a right to the party” (alteration, internal quotation marks, and	15
citation omitted)). In addition, “parties may generally impeach misleading evidence	16
introduced by their opponents through specific contradiction.” Id. ¶ 12 n.3; see also	17
State v. Hernandez, 1999-NMCA-105, ¶¶ 8, 19-20, 127 N.M. 769, 987 P.2d 1156	18
(concluding that the district court did not abuse its discretion in allowing the state to	19
ask the defendant on cross-examination about a prior domestic violence conviction	20
11
after the defendant’s testimony on direct examination implied that the victim had	1
injured herself, reasoning that the state was entitled to introduce evidence to correct	2
the defendant’s misrepresentation); State v. Reed, 2022-NMCA-025, ¶ 34, 510 P.3d	3
1261 (“[T]he admission of evidence and the limits on cross-examination fall within	4
the district court’s sound discretion.”), cert. denied (S-1-SC-39187).	5
{19} 	We presume that the district court did not abuse its discretion in admitting this	6
evidence. See State v. Campbell, 2007-NMCA-051, ¶ 9, 141 N.M. 543, 157 P.3d	7
722 (stating that the district court abuses its discretion when its ruling is “obviously	8
erroneous, arbitrary and unwarranted” or “clearly against the logic and effect of the	9
facts and circumstances before the court” (internal quotation marks and citation	10
omitted)); State v. Aragon, 1999-NMCA-060, ¶ 10, 127 N.M. 393, 981 P.2d 1211	11
(“There is a presumption of correctness in the district court’s rulings. Accordingly,	12
it is [the d]efendant’s burden on appeal to demonstrate any claimed error below.”	13
(alterations, internal quotation marks, and citation omitted)).	14
{20} 	Defendant’s arguments focus on whether the district court misapplied Rule	15
11-609, which was not the basis for the court’s decision to allow the State to recross-	16
examine Defendant regarding his prior receiving stolen property convictions.	17
Although Defendant asserts his volunteered statement—that his convictions for	18
receiving stolen property were not for “stealing”—was not misleading to the jury,	19
we cannot say it was clearly against the logic and effect of the facts and	20
12
circumstances for the district court to determine that the statement would have, in	1
isolation, been misleading. See Hernandez, 1999-NMCA-105, ¶¶ 19-20; see also	2
NMSA 1978, § 30-16-11(A) (2006) (providing in relevant part that “[r]eceiving	3
stolen property means intentionally to receive, retain or dispose of stolen property	4
knowing that it has been stolen” (emphases added)). “[W]here it is evident that there	5
existed reasons for and against the ruling, we may indulge in the usual appellate	6
presumptions to affirm the [district] court.” State v. Trejo, 1991-NMCA-143, ¶ 7,	7
113 N.M. 342, 825 P.2d 1252. We therefore conclude that Defendant has not carried	8
his burden of demonstrating that the district court’s ruling constituted an abuse of	9
discretion.	10
III. 	The District Court Did Not Err by Allowing the State to Amend the Date	11
of the Charged Offense	12
{21} 	Defendant next argues the district court erred by permitting the State to amend	13
the complaint and allowing the jury instruction for embezzlement to include a range	14
of dates rather than a specific date.	15
{22} 	With regard to the amendment to the complaint, under Rule 5-204(C) NMRA,	16
the district court “may at any time allow the indictment or information to be amended	17
in respect to any variance to conform to the evidence.” “A variance is not fatal unless	18
the accused cannot reasonably anticipate from the indictment what the nature of the	19
proof against him will be.” State v. Marquez, 1998-NMCA-010, ¶ 20, 124 N.M. 409,	20
951 P.2d 1070. “Under Rule 5-204(C), if the substantial rights of a defendant are	21
13
prejudiced by a variance, then such a variance may provide the grounds for an	1
acquittal.” State v. Branch, 2010-NMSC-042, ¶ 20, 148 N.M. 601, 241 P.3d 602,	2
overruled on other grounds by State v. Tollardo, 2012-NMSC-008, ¶ 37 n.6, 275	3
P.3d 110. We review a district court’s interpretation and application of Rule 5-204	4
de novo. State v. Roman, 1998-NMCA-132, ¶ 8, 125 N.M. 688, 964 P.2d 852.	5
{23} 	Defendant contends the amendment to the complaint violated his substantive	6
rights and prejudiced his defense. We are not persuaded by these arguments.	7
{24} 	Most fundamentally, the original complaint alleging embezzlement did not	8
provide a precise date but rather generally alleged that the offense occurred “on or	9
about December 12, 2019.” Defendant was thus on notice from the outset that the	10
State’s witnesses could not say precisely on what date the alleged embezzlement	11
occurred. See State v. Stevens, 2014-NMSC-011, ¶ 54, 323 P.3d 901 (stating that,	12
“[m]ost fundamentally, the information never alleged precise dates of the multiple	13
crimes charged . . . [but rather] it generally alleged that all of the offenses occurred	14
‘on or about November 12, 2007’” and therefore the defendant and her counsel were	15
on notice that the state’s witness could not say precisely when the events occurred).	16
Moreover, the complaint alleging embezzlement provided sufficient notice of the	17
charge such that Defendant could “reasonably anticipate” that the State’s evidence	18
would relate to Defendant’s failure to use the money to repair the truck, which was	19
in Defendant’s shop from mid-December 2019 to May 1, 2020. See Marquez, 1998-	20
14
NMCA-010, ¶ 20; see also Stevens, 2014-NMSC-011, ¶ 50 (“A criminal indictment	1
or information need not contain exacting detail as long as the defendant is given	2
sufficient notice of the charges.”). In addition, the State’s proposed jury instruction	3
for embezzlement, submitted approximately one week before trial, listed a six-month	4
period, providing Defendant additional notice that the nature of proof against him	5
would not be limited to a specific date. And although Defendant asserts that he	6
suffered prejudice because he “defended himself on the alleged embezzlement	7
occurring on one particular date [and] not a range of dates over a five[-]month	8
period,” he provides no citation to the record supporting this assertion, and “[t]he	9
mere assertion of prejudice, without more, is insufficient to establish prejudicial	10
error warranting reversal of a conviction.” 	Marquez, 1998-NMCA-010, ¶ 20	11
(internal quotation marks and citation omitted). Accordingly, the district court did	12
not err by permitting the State to amend the complaint.	13
{25} 	Defendant also argues that the district court erred by allowing the jury	14
instruction for embezzlement to include a range of dates rather than a specific date,	15
claiming that that jury was “utterly confused” by the instruction. This argument,	16
however, is undeveloped, and we decline to consider it further. See State v. Guerra,	17
2012-NMSC-014, ¶ 21, 278 P.3d 1031 (stating that appellate courts are under no	18
obligation to review unclear or undeveloped arguments).	19
15
IV. 	Defendant’s Additional Arguments Are Without Merit	1
{26} 	During closing argument defense counsel told the jury that the district court	2
had “dismissed” the criminal damage to property charge. Following an objection by	3
the State, a bench conference ensued, and the district court informed defense counsel	4
that it was inappropriate for him to have informed the jury of a previous ruling by	5
the court. Upon the State’s request for a limiting instruction, the district court told	6
the jury to disregard defense counsel’s statement relating to the court’s previous	7
ruling and stated that it should not consider “Count II” or the reasons the jury was	8
not deliberating on that count.	9
{27} 	Defendant argues the district court was required to inform the jury that it had	10
dismissed the criminal damage to property charge, and that the court erred by	11
instructing the jury to disregard defense counsel’s comments relating to the court’s	12
dismissal of that charge. We also understand Defendant to argue that the district	13
court committed fundamental error by failing to adequately instruct the jury on the	14
limited use of certain evidence.	15
{28} 	To the extent Defendant asserts the district court was required to inform the	16
jury that the criminal damage to property charge had been dismissed pursuant to UJI	17
14-5042 NMRA, UJI 14-5042 does not support this assertion, and Defendant fails	18
to adequately develop an argument as to how it does. See State v. Fuentes, 2010-	19
NMCA-027, ¶ 29, 147 N.M. 761, 228 P.3d 1181 (noting that we will “not review	20
16
unclear or undeveloped arguments [that] require us to guess at what [a] part[y’s]	1
arguments might be”). We therefore decline to consider this argument further.	2
Insofar as Defendant argues the district court erred by instructing the jury to	3
disregard defense counsel’s comments relating to the court’s dismissal of the	4
criminal damages to property charge, Defendant also fails to adequately develop this	5
argument, or cite authority in support of this issue, and we likewise decline to	6
consider it further. See State v. Vigil-Giron, 2014-NMCA-069, ¶ 60, 327 P.3d 1129	7
(“[A]ppellate courts will not consider an issue if no authority is cited in support of	8
the issue and that, given no cited authority, we assume no such authority exists.”).	9
{29} 	Finally, we understand Defendant to argue that the district court committed	10
fundamental error by failing to instruct the jury that certain exhibits which Defendant	11
contends were admitted to prove criminal damage to property should not be	12
considered in deciding the embezzlement charge. We disagree.	13
{30} 	As an initial matter, the exhibits at issue were not admitted for a limited	14
purpose pursuant to Rule 11-105 NMRA. Moreover, the district court could have,	15
in its discretion, determined that these exhibits—which indicated the truck was	16
missing parts and damaged—were relevant to the embezzlement charge, including	17
whether Defendant had intended to repair the truck or instead convert the money to	18
his own use. See State v. Aguayo, 1992-NMCA-044, ¶ 17, 114 N.M. 124, 835 P.2d	19
840 (“Admission of evidence is within the sound discretion of the [district] court.”).	20
17
But even if we were to assume these exhibits had been admitted for a limited purpose	1
and the district court erred by failing to sua sponte give such an instruction,	2
Defendant has not developed an argument addressing the considerations relevant to	3
a fundamental error analysis. See State v. Haskins, 2008-NMCA-086, ¶ 26, 144 N.M.	4
287, 186 P.3d 916 (“The fundamental error doctrine is applied to review unpreserved	5
error when the court’s conscience is shocked at a miscarriage of justice, such as	6
when a defendant is indisputably innocent or when a mistake in the process makes a	7
conviction fundamentally unfair notwithstanding the apparent guilt of the accused.”	8
(alteration, internal quotation marks, and citation omitted)). We therefore decline to	9
consider this argument further. See State v. Dickert, 2012-NMCA-004, ¶ 35, 268	10
P.3d 515 (declining to review for fundamental error where the argument was	11
undeveloped).	12
CONCLUSION	13
{31} 	For the foregoing reasons, we affirm.	14
{32} 	IT IS SO ORDERED.	15
____________________________	16
KRISTINA BOGARDUS, Judge	17
18
WE CONCUR:	1
_________________________________	2
MEGAN P. DUFFY, Judge	3
_________________________________	4
SHAMMARA H. HENDERSON, Judge	5

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Corrections to this opinion/decision not affecting the outcome, at the Court's discretion, can occur up to the time of publication
with NM Compilation Commission. The Court will ensure that the electronic version of this opinion/decision is updated accordingly
in Odyssey.

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO

_ Court of Appeals of New Mexico
Opinion Number: Filed 10/27/2022 9:28 AM

Filing Date: October 27, 2022 Al. ne

Mark ——

No. A-1-CA-39734
STATE OF NEW MEXICO,
Plaintiff-A ppellee,

V.
THOMAS C. FERGUSON,
Defendant-A ppellant.

APPEAL FROM THE DISTRICT COURT OF CURRY COUNTY
Matthew E. Chandler, District J udge

Hector H. Balderas, Attomey General
Santa Fe, NM
Charles J. Gutierrez, Assistant Attomey General

Albuquerque, NM

for Appellee

Enic D. Dixon, Attomey and Counselor At Law, P.A.
Enc D. Dixon

Portales, NM

for Appellant

OPINION	1
BOGARDUS, Judge.	2
{1} 	Defendant 	Thomas 	Ferguson 	appeals 	his 	conviction 	of 	embezzlement,	3
contrary to NMSA 1978, Section 30-16-8 (2007). Defendant argues the district court	4
erred by (1) denying his motion for a directed verdict, (2) allowing the State to cross-	5
examine him regarding prior convictions for receiving stolen property, (3) permitting	6
the State to amend the date of the charged offense, and (4) instructing the jury to	7
disregard defense counsel’s comments during closing argument relating to the	8
court’s dismissal of a separate charge. We affirm.	9
BACKGROUND	10
{2} 	On December 11, 2019, Joseph White brought a 2008 Chevrolet pick-up truck	11
(the truck) into an automotive shop operated by Defendant for repairs. Defendant	12
told White there was a problem with the transmission, but that he could order one,	13
and White gave Defendant a check for $3,630. The check’s memo line stated, “2008	14
Silver[ado] Transmission.” Defendant cashed the check. Over the next several	15
months White regularly checked with Defendant about the truck, and Defendant	16
gave White inconsistent explanations about the transmission’s status. On May 1,	17
2020, White had the truck towed from Defendant’s shop. The truck had been	18
damaged and was missing parts. The State charged Defendant with embezzlement	19
and criminal damage to property.	20

2
{3} 	At a jury trial, the district court directed a verdict against the State on the	1
criminal damage to property charge; the jury returned a guilty verdict on the	2
embezzlement charge. Defendant appeals.	3
I. 	The District Court Did Not Err in Denying Defendant’s Motion for a	4
Directed Verdict	5
{4} 	Defendant argues the district court erred as a matter of law in denying his	6
motion for a directed verdict, contending there was insufficient evidence to prove	7
embezzlement. “We review denials of directed verdicts by asking whether sufficient	8
evidence was adduced to support the underlying charge.” State v. Johnson, 2010-	9
NMSC-016, ¶ 57, 148 N.M. 50, 229 P.3d 523 (internal quotation marks and citation	10
omitted). 	“Questions 	of 	sufficiency 	that 	require 	us 	to 	engage 	in 	statutory	11
interpretation present a question of law which is reviewed de novo on appeal.” State	12
v. Kalinowski, 2020-NMCA-018, ¶ 7, 460 P.3d 79 (alteration, internal quotation	13
marks, and citation omitted). “After reviewing the statutory standard, we apply a	14
substantial evidence standard to review the sufficiency of the evidence at trial.” State	15
v. Chavez, 2009-NMSC-035, ¶ 11, 146 N.M. 434, 211 P.3d 891.	16
{5} 	“The test for sufficiency of the evidence is whether substantial evidence of	17
either a direct or circumstantial nature exists to support a verdict of guilty beyond a	18
reasonable doubt with respect to every element essential to a conviction.” State v.	19
Montoya, 2015-NMSC-010, ¶ 52, 345 P.3d 1056 (internal quotation marks and	20
citation omitted). “Substantial evidence is relevant evidence that a reasonable mind	21

3
might accept as adequate to support a conclusion.” Id. ¶ 53 (alteration, internal	1
quotation marks, and citation omitted). When reviewing for substantial evidence,	2
appellate courts “view[] the evidence in the light most favorable to the guilty verdict,	3
indulging all reasonable inferences and resolving all conflicts in the evidence in	4
favor of the verdict.” Id. ¶ 52 (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). We	5
also disregard all evidence and inferences that support a different result. See State v.	6
Rojo, 1999-NMSC-001, ¶ 19, 126 N.M. 438, 971 P.2d 829. We measure the	7
sufficiency of the evidence against the jury instructions given, which become the	8
law of the case. State v. Jackson, 2018-NMCA-066, ¶ 22, 429 P.3d 674.	9
{6} 	Here, in relevant part, the jury was instructed that to find Defendant guilty of	10
embezzlement the State had to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Defendant (1)	11
was entrusted with $3,630, (2) converted this money to his own use, and (3) at the	12
time Defendant converted the money, he fraudulently intended to deprive the owner	13
of the owner’s property. See UJI 14-1641 NMRA. Defendant’s arguments address	14
the elements of entrustment and fraudulent intent.	15
A. 	Entrustment	16
{7} 	Defendant argues there was no entrustment, contending that once he received	17
the check on December 12, 2019, the money became his personal property. As a	18
result, Defendant asserts he could not have converted the money because the money	19
was not another’s property, as required to sustain an embezzlement conviction.	20

4
Defendant also asserts that when “theft-temporary taking involves an advance	1
payment of money, the [S]tate must establish a fiduciary relationship” and points	2
out that a mechanic is not a fiduciary. We are unpersuaded.	3
{8} 	“While some jurisdictions may require a special fiduciary relationship, such	4
as employment or agency, as an element of the crime [of embezzlement], New	5
Mexico does not.” State v. Archie, 1997-NMCA-058, ¶ 3, 123 N.M. 503, 943 P.2d	6
537. New Mexico instead applies the common meaning of “[e]ntrustment,” see State	7
v. Moss, 1971-NMCA-117, ¶ 6, 83 N.M. 42, 487 P.2d 1347, which “occurs when	8
property is committed or surrendered to another with a certain confidence regarding	9
the care, use, or disposal of that property.” Archie, 1997-NMCA-058, ¶ 4. However,	10
“[o]ne cannot be guilty of embezzlement if he converts his own property; the	11
property converted must be that of another.” Kalinowski, 2020-NMCA-018, ¶ 10	12
(internal quotation marks and citation omitted). We must therefore determine	13
whether the check for $3,630 was White’s property, such that Defendant was	14
“entrusted” with it, or whether that money became Defendant’s property upon	15
payment, precluding a finding of entrustment.	16
{9} 	In the context of advanced payments to a building contractor, this Court has	17
recognized that “[a] building contractor who receives from the landowner an	18
advance payment on the contract and who thereafter spends the money for his own	19
purposes and does not fulfill the contract, is not guilty of embezzlement, unless the	20

5
money is earmarked to be used only for a construction purpose.” Id. ¶ 13 (emphases	1
added) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). In Kalinowski, for example,	2
this Court concluded that there was insufficient evidence that the down payments of	3
several home purchasers were entrusted to the defendant home builder, reasoning	4
that “at the time [the d]efendant used the deposit money for purposes other than the	5
construction of the [home purchasers’] properties, the deposits already legally	6
belonged to [the d]efendant; he could not be found to have converted the deposits	7
because they were his property—not property of another.” See id. ¶¶ 10, 13, 16, 35	8
(internal quotations marks and citation omitted). This Court noted that there was no	9
evidence of an actual agreement or any conversations between the defendant and	10
purchasers specifying the particular purpose for which the down payments were to	11
be used. See id. ¶¶ 4-5.	12
{10} 	Here, by contrast, we conclude there was evidence from which the jury could	13
reasonably infer that the $3,630 had been “earmarked to be used” for a particular	14
purpose, see id. ¶¶ 4, 13—ordering a transmission. The jury heard testimony that	15
Defendant told White the truck needed a transmission, then quoted White the cost	16
of a transmission and told White he could order one, and that White gave Defendant	17
a check for “over thirty-six hundred bucks” in response. The jury also heard	18
testimony that White issued the $3,630 check for a replacement transmission itself	19
rather than for both labor and parts, and that this amount did not represent the total	20

6
amount he would owe Defendant. Based on this testimony, a jury could reasonably	1
infer that White and Defendant shared an understanding that the money had been	2
“earmarked to be used” for the particular purpose of ordering a transmission.	3
{11} 	In addition, the check that White gave to Defendant stated, in the check’s	4
memo line, “2008 Silver[ado] Transmission,” and Defendant personally deposited	5
this check. The jury could reasonably infer from this evidence that White had	6
specified in writing that the money was earmarked to be used to order a replacement	7
transmission and that Defendant was aware of this purpose when he received and	8
deposited the check. Disregarding all evidence and inferences that support a different	9
result, and indulging all reasonable inferences in the evidence in favor of the verdict,	10
we conclude that the money did not become Defendant’s property upon payment,	11
but rather that the money was “committed or surrendered” to Defendant “with a	12
certain confidence regarding the . . . use[] or disposal of that property.” Archie, 1997-	13
NMCA-058, ¶ 4. Although we recognize that it is possible to interpret the evidence	14
differently, our task is not to second-guess a reasonable interpretation or substitute	15
our own interpretation of the evidence for the jury’s. See State v. Pitner, 2016-	16
NMCA-102, ¶ 6, 385 P.3d 665 (“We do not reweigh the evidence or substitute our	17
judgment for that of the fact[-]finder as long as there is sufficient evidence to support	18
the verdict.” (internal quotation marks and citation omitted)). Accordingly, under	19
our deferential standard of review, the evidence of entrustment is sufficient.	20

7
B. 	Fraudulent Intent	1
{12} 	Defendant also argues there was insufficient evidence of embezzlement	2
because he never possessed the requisite “fraudulent intent,” pointing to his	3
testimony stating as much. We are unpersuaded.	4
{13} 	“Fraudulent intent is defined as the intent to cheat or deceive and may be	5
inferred by reasonable inferences and circumstantial evidence.” State v. Curry,	6
2002-NMCA-092, ¶ 11, 132 N.M. 602, 52 P.3d 974. “The element of intent is	7
seldom susceptible to direct proof and accordingly may be proved by circumstantial	8
evidence.” State v. Dowling, 2011-NMSC-016, ¶ 22, 150 N.M. 110, 257 P.3d 930	9
(alteration, internal quotation marks, and citation omitted). Intent “must be proved	10
by 	the 	reasonable 	inferences 	shown 	by 	the 	evidence 	and 	the 	surrounding	11
circumstances. If there are reasonable inferences and sufficient circumstances then	12
the issue of intent becomes a question of fact for the jury.” State v. Ortiz, 1977-	13
NMCA-036, ¶ 9, 90 N.M. 319, 563 P.2d 113.	14
{14} 	Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict, we conclude	15
that the evidence of fraudulent intent is sufficient. A jury could reasonably find that	16
Defendant deprived White of $3,630 with the requisite intent to deceive or cheat.	17
The State presented circumstantial evidence from which the jury could infer	18
Defendant agreed to use the money for a transmission, did not order one despite	19
having over four months to do so, and failed to return the money when asked. The	20

8
State also presented evidence that Defendant gave White different and inconsistent	1
explanations about the status and location of the transmission—first that the	2
transmission was in his shop and later that he still needed to pick it up. The jury	3
could have reasonably inferred that Defendant was lying to or misleading White,	4
demonstrating his consciousness of guilt. See State v. Faubion, 1998-NMCA-095,	5
¶ 13, 125 N.M. 670, 964 P.2d 834 (looking to the defendants’ lies and misleading	6
actions as evidence of their consciousness of guilt in determining whether they	7
possessed the requisite intent to embezzle). Finally, when the truck was towed from	8
Defendant’s shop, it was missing parts and its interior had been damaged; the	9
insurance company ultimately declared the truck totaled. A jury could reasonably	10
infer based on the truck’s condition upon recovery that Defendant never intended to	11
complete the work for which he was paid. In light of this evidence, a jury could	12
reasonably infer that Defendant surreptitiously used money deposited from the check	13
for his own purposes. Such an interpretation of the evidence supports a finding that	14
Defendant acted with the requisite fraudulent intent. See Archie, 1997-NMCA-058,	15
¶ 10 (concluding that evidence of fraudulent intent was sufficient to support the	16
embezzlement conviction of a defendant who surreptitiously treated property that	17
did not belong to him in a manner contrary to the defendant’s promises to the owner).	18
Having concluded there was sufficient evidence to support Defendant’s conviction	19

9
for embezzlement, the district court did not err in denying Defendant’s motion for a	1
directed verdict.	2
II. 	The District Court Did Not Err by Allowing the Prosecutor to Cross-	3
Examine Defendant on Prior Convictions for Receiving Stolen Property	4
{15} 	Defendant next argues the district court erred by allowing the State to recross-	5
examine Defendant regarding his previous convictions that were more than ten years	6
old. Defendant contends the district court misapplied Rule 11-609(B) NMRA	7
because the court did not weigh the specific facts and circumstances necessary to	8
determine whether the convictions’ probative value substantially outweighed their	9
prejudicial effect and because the State failed to give written notice of its intent to	10
use those convictions. We are unpersuaded.	11
{16} 	Before Defendant took the stand the district court, relying on Rule 11-609,	12
ruled that the State would not be allowed to impeach Defendant for his prior	13
convictions of receiving stolen property. The district court instead allowed the State	14
to impeach Defendant with those convictions in response to Defendant’s volunteered	15
statement on redirect related to his prior convictions for stealing. We therefore	16
examine whether the State’s use of the receiving stolen property convictions to	17
impeach Defendant was allowed on that basis.	18
{17} 	The State contends the impeachment was allowed based on the doctrine of	19
curative admissibility, as well as a district court’s discretion to admit specific	20
instances of conduct on cross-examination where a defendant has opened the door	21

10
and the past acts are probative of an issue raised in the defendant’s testimony on	1
direct examination. Defendant responds that he did not open the door by making an	2
unsolicited comment and contends his volunteered statement that he had not been	3
convicted of stealing was accurate because receiving stolen property does not	4
involve the actual theft of property. As we explain, we conclude Defendant has not	5
met his burden of demonstrating that the district court’s ruling constituted an abuse	6
of discretion.	7
{18} 	“Curative admissibility is a common law evidentiary doctrine that is still	8
recognized by our courts, despite its lack of codification in our rules of evidence.	9
Under [this] doctrine . . ., a party may introduce inadmissible evidence to counteract	10
the 	prejudice 	created 	by 	their 	opponent’s 	earlier 	introduction 	of 	similarly	11
inadmissible evidence.” State v. Gonzales, 2020-NMCA-022, ¶ 12, 461 P.3d 920	12
(citations omitted); see also id. ¶ 13 (recognizing that “courts typically describe the	13
doctrine of curative admissibility as a conferral of discretion on the trial judge rather	14
than the grant of a right to the party” (alteration, internal quotation marks, and	15
citation omitted)). In addition, “parties may generally impeach misleading evidence	16
introduced by their opponents through specific contradiction.” Id. ¶ 12 n.3; see also	17
State v. Hernandez, 1999-NMCA-105, ¶¶ 8, 19-20, 127 N.M. 769, 987 P.2d 1156	18
(concluding that the district court did not abuse its discretion in allowing the state to	19
ask the defendant on cross-examination about a prior domestic violence conviction	20

11
after the defendant’s testimony on direct examination implied that the victim had	1
injured herself, reasoning that the state was entitled to introduce evidence to correct	2
the defendant’s misrepresentation); State v. Reed, 2022-NMCA-025, ¶ 34, 510 P.3d	3
1261 (“[T]he admission of evidence and the limits on cross-examination fall within	4
the district court’s sound discretion.”), cert. denied (S-1-SC-39187).	5
{19} 	We presume that the district court did not abuse its discretion in admitting this	6
evidence. See State v. Campbell, 2007-NMCA-051, ¶ 9, 141 N.M. 543, 157 P.3d	7
722 (stating that the district court abuses its discretion when its ruling is “obviously	8
erroneous, arbitrary and unwarranted” or “clearly against the logic and effect of the	9
facts and circumstances before the court” (internal quotation marks and citation	10
omitted)); State v. Aragon, 1999-NMCA-060, ¶ 10, 127 N.M. 393, 981 P.2d 1211	11
(“There is a presumption of correctness in the district court’s rulings. Accordingly,	12
it is [the d]efendant’s burden on appeal to demonstrate any claimed error below.”	13
(alterations, internal quotation marks, and citation omitted)).	14
{20} 	Defendant’s arguments focus on whether the district court misapplied Rule	15
11-609, which was not the basis for the court’s decision to allow the State to recross-	16
examine Defendant regarding his prior receiving stolen property convictions.	17
Although Defendant asserts his volunteered statement—that his convictions for	18
receiving stolen property were not for “stealing”—was not misleading to the jury,	19
we cannot say it was clearly against the logic and effect of the facts and	20

12
circumstances for the district court to determine that the statement would have, in	1
isolation, been misleading. See Hernandez, 1999-NMCA-105, ¶¶ 19-20; see also	2
NMSA 1978, § 30-16-11(A) (2006) (providing in relevant part that “[r]eceiving	3
stolen property means intentionally to receive, retain or dispose of stolen property	4
knowing that it has been stolen” (emphases added)). “[W]here it is evident that there	5
existed reasons for and against the ruling, we may indulge in the usual appellate	6
presumptions to affirm the [district] court.” State v. Trejo, 1991-NMCA-143, ¶ 7,	7
113 N.M. 342, 825 P.2d 1252. We therefore conclude that Defendant has not carried	8
his burden of demonstrating that the district court’s ruling constituted an abuse of	9
discretion.	10
III. 	The District Court Did Not Err by Allowing the State to Amend the Date	11
of the Charged Offense	12
{21} 	Defendant next argues the district court erred by permitting the State to amend	13
the complaint and allowing the jury instruction for embezzlement to include a range	14
of dates rather than a specific date.	15
{22} 	With regard to the amendment to the complaint, under Rule 5-204(C) NMRA,	16
the district court “may at any time allow the indictment or information to be amended	17
in respect to any variance to conform to the evidence.” “A variance is not fatal unless	18
the accused cannot reasonably anticipate from the indictment what the nature of the	19
proof against him will be.” State v. Marquez, 1998-NMCA-010, ¶ 20, 124 N.M. 409,	20
951 P.2d 1070. “Under Rule 5-204(C), if the substantial rights of a defendant are	21

13
prejudiced by a variance, then such a variance may provide the grounds for an	1
acquittal.” State v. Branch, 2010-NMSC-042, ¶ 20, 148 N.M. 601, 241 P.3d 602,	2
overruled on other grounds by State v. Tollardo, 2012-NMSC-008, ¶ 37 n.6, 275	3
P.3d 110. We review a district court’s interpretation and application of Rule 5-204	4
de novo. State v. Roman, 1998-NMCA-132, ¶ 8, 125 N.M. 688, 964 P.2d 852.	5
{23} 	Defendant contends the amendment to the complaint violated his substantive	6
rights and prejudiced his defense. We are not persuaded by these arguments.	7
{24} 	Most fundamentally, the original complaint alleging embezzlement did not	8
provide a precise date but rather generally alleged that the offense occurred “on or	9
about December 12, 2019.” Defendant was thus on notice from the outset that the	10
State’s witnesses could not say precisely on what date the alleged embezzlement	11
occurred. See State v. Stevens, 2014-NMSC-011, ¶ 54, 323 P.3d 901 (stating that,	12
“[m]ost fundamentally, the information never alleged precise dates of the multiple	13
crimes charged . . . [but rather] it generally alleged that all of the offenses occurred	14
‘on or about November 12, 2007’” and therefore the defendant and her counsel were	15
on notice that the state’s witness could not say precisely when the events occurred).	16
Moreover, the complaint alleging embezzlement provided sufficient notice of the	17
charge such that Defendant could “reasonably anticipate” that the State’s evidence	18
would relate to Defendant’s failure to use the money to repair the truck, which was	19
in Defendant’s shop from mid-December 2019 to May 1, 2020. See Marquez, 1998-	20

14
NMCA-010, ¶ 20; see also Stevens, 2014-NMSC-011, ¶ 50 (“A criminal indictment	1
or information need not contain exacting detail as long as the defendant is given	2
sufficient notice of the charges.”). In addition, the State’s proposed jury instruction	3
for embezzlement, submitted approximately one week before trial, listed a six-month	4
period, providing Defendant additional notice that the nature of proof against him	5
would not be limited to a specific date. And although Defendant asserts that he	6
suffered prejudice because he “defended himself on the alleged embezzlement	7
occurring on one particular date [and] not a range of dates over a five[-]month	8
period,” he provides no citation to the record supporting this assertion, and “[t]he	9
mere assertion of prejudice, without more, is insufficient to establish prejudicial	10
error warranting reversal of a conviction.” 	Marquez, 1998-NMCA-010, ¶ 20	11
(internal quotation marks and citation omitted). Accordingly, the district court did	12
not err by permitting the State to amend the complaint.	13
{25} 	Defendant also argues that the district court erred by allowing the jury	14
instruction for embezzlement to include a range of dates rather than a specific date,	15
claiming that that jury was “utterly confused” by the instruction. This argument,	16
however, is undeveloped, and we decline to consider it further. See State v. Guerra,	17
2012-NMSC-014, ¶ 21, 278 P.3d 1031 (stating that appellate courts are under no	18
obligation to review unclear or undeveloped arguments).	19

15
IV. 	Defendant’s Additional Arguments Are Without Merit	1
{26} 	During closing argument defense counsel told the jury that the district court	2
had “dismissed” the criminal damage to property charge. Following an objection by	3
the State, a bench conference ensued, and the district court informed defense counsel	4
that it was inappropriate for him to have informed the jury of a previous ruling by	5
the court. Upon the State’s request for a limiting instruction, the district court told	6
the jury to disregard defense counsel’s statement relating to the court’s previous	7
ruling and stated that it should not consider “Count II” or the reasons the jury was	8
not deliberating on that count.	9
{27} 	Defendant argues the district court was required to inform the jury that it had	10
dismissed the criminal damage to property charge, and that the court erred by	11
instructing the jury to disregard defense counsel’s comments relating to the court’s	12
dismissal of that charge. We also understand Defendant to argue that the district	13
court committed fundamental error by failing to adequately instruct the jury on the	14
limited use of certain evidence.	15
{28} 	To the extent Defendant asserts the district court was required to inform the	16
jury that the criminal damage to property charge had been dismissed pursuant to UJI	17
14-5042 NMRA, UJI 14-5042 does not support this assertion, and Defendant fails	18
to adequately develop an argument as to how it does. See State v. Fuentes, 2010-	19
NMCA-027, ¶ 29, 147 N.M. 761, 228 P.3d 1181 (noting that we will “not review	20

16
unclear or undeveloped arguments [that] require us to guess at what [a] part[y’s]	1
arguments might be”). We therefore decline to consider this argument further.	2
Insofar as Defendant argues the district court erred by instructing the jury to	3
disregard defense counsel’s comments relating to the court’s dismissal of the	4
criminal damages to property charge, Defendant also fails to adequately develop this	5
argument, or cite authority in support of this issue, and we likewise decline to	6
consider it further. See State v. Vigil-Giron, 2014-NMCA-069, ¶ 60, 327 P.3d 1129	7
(“[A]ppellate courts will not consider an issue if no authority is cited in support of	8
the issue and that, given no cited authority, we assume no such authority exists.”).	9
{29} 	Finally, we understand Defendant to argue that the district court committed	10
fundamental error by failing to instruct the jury that certain exhibits which Defendant	11
contends were admitted to prove criminal damage to property should not be	12
considered in deciding the embezzlement charge. We disagree.	13
{30} 	As an initial matter, the exhibits at issue were not admitted for a limited	14
purpose pursuant to Rule 11-105 NMRA. Moreover, the district court could have,	15
in its discretion, determined that these exhibits—which indicated the truck was	16
missing parts and damaged—were relevant to the embezzlement charge, including	17
whether Defendant had intended to repair the truck or instead convert the money to	18
his own use. See State v. Aguayo, 1992-NMCA-044, ¶ 17, 114 N.M. 124, 835 P.2d	19
840 (“Admission of evidence is within the sound discretion of the [district] court.”).	20

17
But even if we were to assume these exhibits had been admitted for a limited purpose	1
and the district court erred by failing to sua sponte give such an instruction,	2
Defendant has not developed an argument addressing the considerations relevant to	3
a fundamental error analysis. See State v. Haskins, 2008-NMCA-086, ¶ 26, 144 N.M.	4
287, 186 P.3d 916 (“The fundamental error doctrine is applied to review unpreserved	5
error when the court’s conscience is shocked at a miscarriage of justice, such as	6
when a defendant is indisputably innocent or when a mistake in the process makes a	7
conviction fundamentally unfair notwithstanding the apparent guilt of the accused.”	8
(alteration, internal quotation marks, and citation omitted)). We therefore decline to	9
consider this argument further. See State v. Dickert, 2012-NMCA-004, ¶ 35, 268	10
P.3d 515 (declining to review for fundamental error where the argument was	11
undeveloped).	12
CONCLUSION	13
{31} 	For the foregoing reasons, we affirm.	14
{32} 	IT IS SO ORDERED.	15
____________________________	16
KRISTINA BOGARDUS, Judge	17

1
WE CONCUR:
Megan P Duffy
MEGAN P. DUFFY, Judge
SHAMMARA H. HENDERSON, Judge
18
2 3 4 5

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