State v. Rosales

OPINION ¶1 Defendant Luis Rosales, Jr., appeals from a judgment and sentence entered following his convictions of both first-degree murder, contrary to NMSA 1978, § 30-2-1(A)(1) (1994) (deliberate intent murder), and conspiracy to commit tampering with evidence, contrary to NMSA 1978, §§ 30-22-5 (1963, prior to 2003 amendment) (tampering with evidence) and 30-28-2 (1979) (conspiracy). Defendant received a sentence of life imprisonment plus eighteen months. We have jurisdiction in this case pursuant to Article VI, Section 2 of the New Mexico Constitution and Rule 12-102(A)(1) NMRA 2004. We hold, under the facts of this case, the district court did not abuse its discretion in excluding the testimony of two defense witnesses that may have established a third person's motive to commit the murder for which Defendant was charged. While the evidence was relevant, Defendant's insufficient offer of proof prevents us from determining on direct appeal whether the district court properly excluded the evidence as hearsay. Therefore, we affirm Defendant's convictions.