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2013 Ark. App. 557

Martinez v. State

Court of Appeals of Arkansas

Decided October 2, 2013

Court of Appeals of Arkansas · decided 2013-10-02

Decided 2013-10-02

                                          Cite as 
2013 Ark. App. 557



Susan Williams           ARKANSAS COURT OF APPEALS
2019.01.03                                      DIVISION III
13:48:10 -06'00'                                No. CR-13-129


                                                           Opinion Delivered   October 2, 2013

        JUAN CARLOS MARTINEZ                               APPEAL FROM THE BENTON
                           APPELLANT                       COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT
                                                           [NO. CR-11-1559-1]
        V.
                                                           HONORABLE ROBIN F. GREEN,
        STATE OF ARKANSAS                                  JUDGE
                                       APPELLEE

                                                           REBRIEFING ORDERED



                                    WAYMOND M. BROWN, Judge


               Appellant Juan Martinez was convicted in the Benton County Circuit Court of

        second-degree sexual assault involving his then-four-year-old stepgranddaughter, L.H. He

        was sentenced to twenty years’ imprisonment. Appellant argues that the trial court erred by

        allowing the State to amend the information charging him with rape to include the charge

        of second-degree sexual assault after the State had rested its case. More specifically, he argues

        that the amendment changed the nature of the crime charged and that it unfairly surprised

        him. We do not reach the merits of appellant’s arguments due to deficiencies in appellant’s

        brief, abstract, and addendum.1

               1
                We also would like to note that the record, containing the trial transcript, has been
        defaced with large purple checkmarks, underlines, and parentheses. Additionally, the back of
        one of the transcribed pages appears to have been used for personal note taking. The record
        should not be tampered with in any fashion; however, without a motion from the other party,
        we cannot order the record supplemented. See Ark. R. App. P.–Civ. 6(e) (2012).
                                   Cite as 
2013 Ark. App. 557


       Arkansas Supreme Court Rule 4-2(a)(5)(A)2 provides that all material parts of a

transcript must be abstracted. Here, appellant has failed to abstract defense counsel’s full

statement when asked to call the defense’s first witness. We cannot review this case without

a brief that outlines all of the evidence and/or arguments considered by the trial court.

       Arkansas Supreme Court Rule 4-2(a)(8)3 requires an appellant to submit a brief

including an addendum that contains “true and legible copies of the non-transcript documents

in the record on appeal that are essential for the appellate court to confirm its jurisdiction, to

understand the case, and to decide the issues on appeal.” Here, appellant has failed to include

the facts constituting probable cause to obtain an arrest warrant; the memorandum order filed

on October 16, 2012; and the prosecutor’s short report of circumstances. Appellant has also

failed to include exhibits that are material to our understanding of the case.

       Due to the deficiencies in appellant’s brief, abstract, and addendum, we order appellant

to file a substituted brief that complies with our rules.4 The substituted brief, abstract, and

addendum shall be due fifteen days from the date of this order.5 We remind counsel that the

examples we have noted are not to be taken as an exhaustive list of deficiencies. Counsel

should carefully review the rules to ensure that no other deficiencies exist. Failure to file a




       2
           (2012).
       3
           (2012).
       4
           Ark. Sup. Ct. R. 4-2(b)(3)(2012).
       5
           
Id.

                                                2
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2013 Ark. App. 557


compliant brief within fifteen days could result in the trial court’s decision being summarily

affirmed for noncompliance with our rules.6

       Rebriefing ordered.

       HARRISON and WYNNE, JJ., agree.

       The Lane Firm, by: Jonathan T. Lane, for appellant.

       Dustin McDaniel, Att’y Gen., by: LeaAnn J. Adams, Ass’t Att’y Gen., for appellee.




       6
           Ark. Sup. Ct. R. 4-2(c)(2).

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