AI Generated Opinion Summaries

This summary was computer-generated without any editorial revision. It is not official, has not been checked for accuracy, and is NOT citable.

Facts

• The case revolves around the tragic suffocation death of Kalynne Flores, the four-and-one-half-month-old daughter of Defendant Robert J. Flores. The Defendant was responsible for Kalynne's care one evening while her mother was at work. Opting not to take Kalynne with him or leave her in her usual sleeping area to avoid neighbors hearing her cry, the Defendant placed her in a laundry basket within a closet and left the home. Upon his return and subsequent check hours later, he discovered Kalynne deceased. The medical examiner determined asphyxia as the cause of death, leading to the Defendant's arrest the following day (paras 2).

Procedural History

• Appeal from the District Court of Doña Ana County, Fernando R. Macias, District Judge.
• Certiorari Denied, August 4, 2015, No. 35,358.
• Released for Publication September 8, 2015.

Parties' Submissions

• Appellant (Defendant): Argued issues regarding the sufficiency of the evidence, suppression of statements made to the police, the State’s destruction of evidence, and violation of his constitutional right to a speedy trial (para 1).
• Appellee (State): [Not applicable or not found]

Legal Issues

• Whether the Defendant's constitutional right to a speedy trial was violated.

Disposition

• The Court of Appeals of New Mexico reversed the convictions and remanded the case to the district court for dismissal of the charges against the Defendant due to a violation of his constitutional right to a speedy trial (para 37).

Reasons

• The Court, led by Judge Timothy L. Garcia with Judges James J. Wechsler and Roderick T. Kennedy concurring, found that the nearly sixty-two month delay in bringing the case to trial was extraordinary and significantly exceeded the presumptively prejudicial threshold. The Court determined that at least thirty-six months of the delay were attributable to the State's negligence and administrative burdens. Despite the presumption of undue prejudice due to the excessive delay, the Defendant also presented evidence of various forms of prejudice he suffered during the delay. The Court concluded that the Defendant's right to a speedy trial was violated, leading to the reversal of his convictions and the dismissal of the charges against him (paras 3-37).