State v. Miranda, 22 P.3d 506 (Ariz. 2001). · Go Syfert
State v. Miranda, 22 P.3d 506 (Ariz. 2001). Cases Citing This Book View Copy Cite
Quick Summary

Courts may not add elements to crimes defined by statute because defining crimes is a legislative function.

A defendant appealed his convictions for disorderly conduct, arguing that the trial court erred by instructing the jury on disorderly conduct as a lesser-included offense of aggravated assault. The court examined whether the disorderly conduct statute requires a finding that the victim was actually at peace. The court held that because defining crimes and fixing punishments are legislative functions, courts may not add elements to crimes defined by statute. Since the disorderly conduct statute requires only the intent to disturb the peace or knowledge of doing so, rather than an actual disturbance, the crime can be a lesser-included offense of aggravated assault. The trial court properly gave the instruction based on the evidence.

173 citation events (173 in the last 25 years) across 3 distinct courts.
Treatment trajectory · 2001 → 2026 · click a year to view as-of
2001 2013 2026
Cited for
200 Ariz. at 69 Courts cannot add elements to statutory crimes24 citing casesCourts may not add elements to crimes defined by statute . . ..4 citing courts put it this way · also cited as 22 P.3d at 508 · 21 listed here
  • State v. Villalpando, No. 1 CA-CR 25-0267 (Ariz. Ct. App. July 31, 2026).unpublished
    (Courts may not add elements to crimes defined by statute.)
  • State of Arizona v. Dave Allen Laporte, No. 2 CA-CR 2024-0249 (Ariz. Ct. App. June 5, 2026).published
    State v. Miranda, 200 Ariz. 67, ¶ 5 (2001) (“Defining crimes and fixing punishments are functions of the legislature.”).
  • State v. Robertson, No. 1 CA-CV 23-0082 (Ariz. Ct. App. Mar. 7, 2024).unpublished
    (Courts may not add elements to crimes defined by statute . . ..)
  • State of Arizona v. Jerry Charles Holle, 379 P.3d 197 (Ariz. 2016).published 4 cites
    See Getz, 189 Ariz. at 563–66, 944 P.2d at 505–08; State v. Sandoval, 175 Ariz. 343 , 345–47, 857 P.2d 395 , 397–99 (App. 1993) (stating that trial court erred in dismissing charges against defendant for indecent exposure because defendant…
  • State v. Sanders, 68 P.3d 434 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2003).published 3 cites
    (Defining crimes and fixing punishments are functions of the legislature.)
  • Abelardo Chaparro v. David C Shinn, 459 P.3d 50 (Ariz. 2020).published
    It claims the trial court violated separation of powers by creating parole eligibility for Chaparro—a purely legislative function—and that the “court is utterly without power to make a defendant parole eligible where statutory law prohibit…
  • John Fitzgerald v. Hon. myers/state ex rel. Brnovich, 402 P.3d 442 (Ariz. 2017).published
    Cf. Seisinger v. Siebel, 220 Ariz. 85 , 92 ¶ 26 (2009) (regarding substantive law, “[t]he legislature has plenary power to deal with any topic unless otherwise restrained by the Constitution”); State v. Miranda, 200 Ariz. 67 , 69 ¶ 5 (2001…
  • State v. Begaye, No. 1 CA-JV 23-0180 (Ariz. Ct. App. May 30, 2024).unpublished 2 cites
    The supreme court later “reaffirm[ed its] holding in Angle.” State v. Miranda, 200 Ariz. 67, 69, ¶ 5 (2001).
  • State v. Anderson, No. 1 CA-CR 22-0304 (Ariz. Ct. App. May 25, 2023).unpublished
    Running away or hiding after a crime has been committed does not by itself prove guilt. ¶40 Anderson contends the flight instruction was unwarranted because he did not leave the crime scene and his presence on the roof of his home when the…
  • State v. Lohmeier, No. 1 CA-CR 21-0561 (Ariz. Ct. App. Apr. 18, 2023).unpublished 2 cites
    Our supreme court has held that Section 13-2904(A)(6) “does not require that one actually disturb the peace of another through certain acts”; instead, it “requires the commission of certain acts with intent to disturb the peace . . . or wi…
Show 11 more citing cases
  • State v. Cheramie, 189 P.3d 374 (Ariz. 2008).published 3 cites
    “[c]ourts may not add elements to crimes defined by statute”
  • State v. Simpson, 173 P.3d 1027 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2007).published 2 cites
    (disorderly con *329 duct statute does not require that one actually disturb the peace as an element of offense, but only requires commission of certain acts with intent to disturb peace)
  • In re Jeremiah T., 126 P.3d 177 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2006).published
    “The elements test requires that commission of the greater offense always result in commission of the lesser offense.” State v. Cutright, 196 Ariz. 567, ¶ 2 , 2 P.3d 657, 662 (App.1999), disapproved on other grounds by State v. Miranda, 20…
  • State v. Burdick, 125 P.3d 1039 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2005).published 2 cites
    First, when a defendant is charged with disorderly conduct for disturbing the peace of a particular person, the state is required to prove that the defendant knowingly disturbed the victim’s peace, In re Julio L., 197 Ariz. 1, ¶ 8 , 3 P.3d…
  • State v. Burdick, 104 P.3d 183 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2005).published 6 cites
    Burdick notes that Julio L., 191 Ariz. 1, ¶ 8 , 3 P.3d at 385 , stated that a person’s peace must actually be disturbed, while State v. Miranda, 200 Ariz. 67, ¶ 5 , 22 P.3d 506, 508 (2001), pointed out that A.R.S. § 13-2904 actually requir…
  • State v. Montoya, 65 P.3d 475 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2003).published
    “Defining crimes and fixing punishments are functions of the legislature.” State v. Miranda, 200 Ariz. 67, 69 , 22 P.3d 506, 508 (2001)(citing State v. Marquez, 127 Ariz. 98, 103 , 618 P.2d 592, 597 (1980)).
  • State v. Strover, No. 1 CA-CR 22-0537 (Ariz. Ct. App. Nov. 14, 2023).unpublished
    See State v. Cutright, 196 Ariz. 567, 570, ¶ 12 (App. 1999) (“Instructing on flight is proper when . . . there is evidence from which it can be reasonably inferred that the defendant engaged in some ‘eluding’ conduct that [] was an attempt…
  • State v. Estevez, No. 1 CA-CR 22-0483-PRPC (Ariz. Ct. App. Apr. 25, 2023).unpublished
    See State v. Miranda, 200 Ariz. 67, 69, ¶ 7 (2001). ¶25 The superior court declined to instruct on reckless manslaughter because it found “no evidence of any recklessness that was 7 presented to the jury.” Yet the court instructed the jury…
  • Prosise v. Hon kottke/state, 466 P.3d 386 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2020).published 6 cites
    (interpreting A.R.S. § 13-2904.A.6)
  • State v. Hinden, 233 P.3d 621 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2010).published 4 cites
    See State v. Miranda, 200 Ariz. 67, ¶ 5 , 22 P.3d 506, 508 (2001) (defining crimes is legislature‟s function and “[c]ourts may not add elements to crimes defined by statute”). ¶13 Finally, our construction of the statute is consistent with…
  • State v. Rios, 172 P.3d 844 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2007).published 2 cites
    See State v. Miranda, 200 Ariz. 67, 69, ¶ 5 , 22 P.3d 506, 508 (2001). ¶ 7 In construing a statute, “the court first considers the statute’s language because it is the best and most rehable evidence of the legislative intent.” State v. Jen…
200 Ariz. at 68 Elements of disorderly conduct in aggravated assault13 citing casesalso cited as 22 P.3d at 507
  • State v. Begaye, No. 1 CA-JV 23-0180 (Ariz. Ct. App. May 30, 2024).unpublished 2 cites
    The supreme court later “reaffirm[ed its] holding in Angle.” State v. Miranda, 200 Ariz. 67, 69, ¶ 5 (2001).
  • State v. Williams, No. 1 CA-JV 22-0136 (Ariz. Ct. App. May 4, 2023).unpublished 3 cites
    State v. Miranda, 200 Ariz. 67, 68, ¶ 3 (2001); State v. Angle, 149 Ariz. 478, 479 (1986).
  • State v. Lohmeier, No. 1 CA-CR 21-0561 (Ariz. Ct. App. Apr. 18, 2023).unpublished 2 cites
    Our supreme court has held that Section 13-2904(A)(6) “does not require that one actually disturb the peace of another through certain acts”; instead, it “requires the commission of certain acts with intent to disturb the peace . . . or wi…
  • State v. Multari, No. 1 CA-CR 13-0474 (Ariz. Ct. App. Feb. 26, 2015).unpublished 2 cites
    State v. Miranda, 200 Ariz. 67, 68, ¶ 3 , 22 P.3d 506, 507 (2001); Angle, 149 Ariz. at 479 , 720 P.2d at 80 . 2 In settling jury instructions, Multari argued R.C. was not placed in reasonable apprehension because of the handgun, but rather…
  • State v. Erivez, 341 P.3d 514 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2015).published 2 cites
    State v. Miranda, 200 Ariz. 67, 68, ¶ 3 , 22 P.3d 506, 507 (2001); State v. Angle, 149 Ariz. 478, 479 , 720 P.2d 79, 80 (1986); State v. Foster, 191 Ariz. 355, 357, ¶ 9 , 955 P.2d 993, 995 (App.1998).
  • State v. Cheramie, 189 P.3d 374 (Ariz. 2008).published 3 cites
    The legislature defines crimes and their elements, and “[c]ourts may not add elements to crimes defined by statute.” Miranda, 200 Ariz. at 69, ¶ 5 , 22 P.3d at 508 .
  • State v. Burdick, 104 P.3d 183 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2005).published 6 cites
    Burdick notes that Julio L., 191 Ariz. 1, ¶ 8 , 3 P.3d at 385 , stated that a person’s peace must actually be disturbed, while State v. Miranda, 200 Ariz. 67, ¶ 5 , 22 P.3d 506, 508 (2001), pointed out that A.R.S. § 13-2904 actually requir…
  • In re Leon G., 59 P.3d 779 (Ariz. 2002).published 2 cites
    See State v. Miranda, 200 Ariz. 67, 68, ¶ 1 , 22 P.3d 506, 507 (2001).
  • State of Arizona v. Hon. Ehrlich/eric Walker, 59 P.3d 779 (Ariz. 2002).published 2 cites
    See State v. Miranda, 200 Ariz. 67, 68, ¶ 1 , 22 P.3d 506, 507 (2001).
  • Prosise v. Hon kottke/state, 466 P.3d 386 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2020).published 6 cites
    See State v. Miranda, 200 Ariz. 67, 69, ¶ 5 (2001) (interpreting A.R.S. § 13-2904.A.6). ¶2 Consistent with Julio L., when the State charges a defendant with “seriously disruptive behavior” against a specific individual under § 13-2904.A.1,…
Show 3 more citing cases
  • State v. Dodd, No. 1 CA-CR 15-0565 (Ariz. Ct. App. Aug. 18, 2016).unpublished
    See State v. Miranda, 200 Ariz. 67, 68, ¶ 3 (2001); State v. Angle, 149 Ariz. 478, 479 (1986). ¶10 A trial court is required to instruct only on “necessarily included offenses.” See State v. Wall, 212 Ariz. 1, 3 , ¶¶ 13–14 (2006); Ariz. R.
  • State of Arizona v. Christepher E. Lua, 350 P.3d 805 (Ariz. 2015).published 2 cites
    See State v. Miranda, 200 Ariz. 67 , 68 ¶ 2, 22 P.3d 506, 507 (2001); see also Ariz. R.Crim.
  • State v. Munninger, 104 P.3d 204 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2005).published 2 cites
    See State v. Miranda, 200 Ariz. 67 , 68 n. 1, 22 P.3d 506, 507 (2001).
At page 508 “courts may not add elements to crimes defined by statute.”10 citing cases7 citing courts quote it
  • State of Arizona v. Dave Allen Laporte, No. 2 CA-CR 2024-0249 (Ariz. Ct. App. June 5, 2026).published
    (Defining crimes and fixing punishments are functions of the legislature.)
  • State of Arizona v. Jerry Charles Holle, 379 P.3d 197 (Ariz. 2016).published 4 cites
    (Courts may not add elements to crimes defined by statute.)
  • Abelardo Chaparro v. David C Shinn, 459 P.3d 50 (Ariz. 2020).published
    (Defining crimes and fixing punishments are functions of the legislature.)
  • John Fitzgerald v. Hon. myers/state ex rel. Brnovich, 402 P.3d 442 (Ariz. 2017).published
    (Defining crimes and fixing punishments are functions of the legislature.)
  • In re Jeremiah T., 126 P.3d 177 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2006).published
    “The elements test requires that commission of the greater offense always result in commission of the lesser offense.” State v. Cutright, 196 Ariz. 567, ¶ 2 , 2 P.3d 657, 662 (App.1999), disapproved on other grounds by State v. Miranda, 20…
  • State v. Burdick, 125 P.3d 1039 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2005).published 2 cites
    First, when a defendant is charged with disorderly conduct for disturbing the peace of a particular person, the state is required to prove that the defendant knowingly disturbed the victim’s peace, In re Julio L., 197 Ariz. 1, ¶ 8 , 3 P.3d…
  • State v. Burdick, 104 P.3d 183 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2005).published 6 cites
    Burdick notes that Julio L., 191 Ariz. 1, ¶ 8 , 3 P.3d at 385 , stated that a person’s peace must actually be disturbed, while State v. Miranda, 200 Ariz. 67, ¶ 5 , 22 P.3d 506, 508 (2001), pointed out that A.R.S. § 13-2904 actually requir…
  • State v. Montoya, 65 P.3d 475 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2003).published
    “Defining crimes and fixing punishments are functions of the legislature.” State v. Miranda, 200 Ariz. 67, 69 , 22 P.3d 506, 508 (2001)(citing State v. Marquez, 127 Ariz. 98, 103 , 618 P.2d 592, 597 (1980)).
  • State v. Lynam, No. 1 CA-CR 15-0679 (Ariz. Ct. App. Sept. 15, 2016).unpublished 2 cites
    (Defining crimes and fixing punishments are functions of the legislature.)
  • State v. Hinden, 233 P.3d 621 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2010).published 4 cites
    (defining crimes is legislature‟s function and “[c]ourts may not add elements to crimes defined by statute)
At page 507 “a lesser-included offense is one 'composed solely of some but not all of the elements of the greater crime so that it is impossible to have committed the crime charged without having committed the lesser one.”2 citing casesthe opinion's own words at *507, quoted by 4 later opinions
  • In re Leon G., 59 P.3d 779 (Ariz. 2002).published 2 cites
    See State v. Miranda, 200 Ariz. 67, 68, ¶ 1 , 22 P.3d 506, 507 (2001).
  • State of Arizona v. Hon. Ehrlich/eric Walker, 59 P.3d 779 (Ariz. 2002).published 2 cites
    See State v. Miranda, 200 Ariz. 67, 68, ¶ 1 , 22 P.3d 506, 507 (2001).
Other citing cases6 with no pin cite or quoted language on record
Retrieving the full opinion text from the archive…
STATE of Arizona, Appellee,
v.
Alex Martinez MIRANDA, Appellant
CR-00-0540-PR.
Arizona Supreme Court.
May 4, 2001.
Published opinion
22 P.3d 506
2001 Ariz. LEXIS 71
Janet Napolitano, The Attorney General, by Randall M. Howe, Chief Counsel, Criminal Appeals Section and Consuelo M. Ohane-sian, Assistant Attorney General, Phoenix, Attorneys for the State of Arizona., James J. Haas, Maricopa County Public Defender, by Louise Stark, Deputy Public Defender, Phoenix, Attorneys for Miranda.
Charles, Feldman, Jones, McGREGOR, Stanley, Thomas, Vice-Chief, Zlaket.
Cited by 7 opinions  |  Published
2 passages pin-cited by 4 cases
Pinpoint authority: bottom 89%
Citer courts: Arizona Supreme Court (5)

Janet Napolitano, The Attorney General, by Randall M. Howe, Chief Counsel, Criminal Appeals Section and Consuelo M. Ohanesian,[*507] Assistant Attorney General, Phoenix, Attorneys for the State of Arizona.

James J. Haas, Maricopa County Public Defender, by Louise Stark, Deputy Public Defender, Phoenix, Attorneys for Miranda.

OPINION

McGREGOR, Justice.

¶ 1 Miranda appeals his convictions on three counts of disorderly conduct. He contends that the trial court committed fundamental error when it instructed the jury on disorderly conduct as a lesser-included offense of aggravated assault, with which he also had been charged. The court of appeals affirmed his conviction, and we granted review pursuant to Arizona Rule of Criminal Procedure 31.19. Because Miranda requested the disorderly conduct instruction, we review only for fundamental error.[1]State v. Dickens, 187 Ariz. 1, 22-23, 926 P.2d 468, 489-90 (1996). We approve the decision of the court of appeals and affirm Miranda's convictions.

I.

¶ 2 This court addressed the issue of whether a jury can be instructed on disorderly conduct as a lesser-included offense of aggravated assault in State v. Angle, 149 Ariz. 478, 479, 720 P.2d 79, 80 (1986). An instruction on a lesser-included offense is proper if the crime is in fact a lesser-included offense to the one charged and if the evidence supports the giving of the lesser-included instruction. State v. Celaya, 135 Ariz. 248, 251, 660 P.2d 849, 852 (1983). A lesser-included offense is one "composed solely of some but not all of the elements of the greater crime so that it is impossible to have committed the crime charged without having committed the lesser one." Id.

¶ 3 A person commits disorderly conduct if, "with intent to disturb the peace or quiet of a neighborhood, family or person, or with knowledge of doing so," that person "[r]ecklessly handles, displays or discharges a deadly weapon or dangerous instrument." Ariz.Rev.Stat. (A.R.S.) § 13-2904.A.6 (2001). A person commits aggravated assault by "[i]ntentionally placing another person in reasonable apprehension of imminent physical injury" using "a deadly weapon or dangerous instrument." A.R.S. §§ 13-1203.A.2, 13-1204.A.2 (2001). In Angle, we reasoned that because one cannot place a person in reasonable apprehension of imminent physical danger without in fact also disturbing her peace, all elements of disorderly conduct by reckless display of a firearm are in fact elements of aggravated assault. State v. Angle, 149 Ariz. 499, 508, 720 P.2d 100, 109 (App.1985) (Kleinschmidt, J., dissenting), adopted by 149 Ariz. 478, 479, 720 P.2d 79, 80 (1986). We therefore concluded that disorderly conduct instructions are appropriate in aggravated assault cases if the facts support both instructions. Id.

II.

¶ 4 Subsequent court of appeals decisions interpreted the disorderly conduct statute in ways that conflicted with our holding in Angle. In 1995, the court of appeals held that a conviction for disorderly conduct requires a finding that the victim was in fact at peace when the conduct occurred. In re Maricopa County Juvenile Action No. JV133051, 184 Ariz. 473, 475, 910 P.2d 18, 20 (App.1995). In 1999, the court of appeals concluded that In re JV133051 "undercuts the Angle conclusion that disorderly conduct ... [is] a lesser-included offense of aggravated assault." State v. Cutright, 196 Ariz. 567, 571 ¶ 19, 2 P.3d 657, 661 ¶ 19 (App.1999). The Cutright court held that, "[b]ecause one can commit an assault upon either a peaceful or a disturbed[*508] person, but one can disturb the peace only of the former, it can no longer be said that committing aggravated assault always results in commission of disorderly conduct," and disorderly conduct therefore could not be considered a lesser-included offense of aggravated assault. Id. at ¶ 21, 2 P.3d 657.

¶ 5 The Cutright court was correct in reasoning that, if a showing that the victim was at peace when the conduct occurred constitutes an element of the crime of disorderly conduct, disorderly conduct cannot properly be regarded as a lesser-included offense of aggravated assault. However, the statute defining disorderly conduct does not require that one actually disturb the peace of another through certain acts. Rather, the statute requires the commission of certain acts "with intent to disturb the peace ... or with knowledge of doing so." A.R.S. § 13-2904.A (2001). Defining crimes and fixing punishments are functions of the legislature. E.g., State v. Marquez, 127 Ariz. 98, 103, 618 P.2d 592, 597 (1980). Courts may not add elements to crimes defined by statute, and the court of appeals erred in doing so. We reaffirm our holding in Angle. Insofar as our holding is inconsistent with those of the court of appeals in In re JV133051 and Cutright, we expressly disapprove those opinions.

III.

¶ 6 We now examine whether, on the facts of this case, the court properly instructed the jury. The complaining witness testified that, as she and her son were walking along the sidewalk, she saw the defendant emerge from behind a dumpster with a gun in his hand. She testified that the defendant fired the gun into the ground once, looked at her son and fired once at him, then looked at her and fired once at her. The defendant testified that he fired the gun, which he had just stolen, into the ground to see how it worked. He further testified that he fired the gun only once, and that he neither fired nor pointed the gun at the complaining witness or her son. The police found only one spent shell casing, and a worker in a nearby building testified that she heard only one "popping" noise before the complaining witness came in to call the police. However, the police found two indentations in the ground that were consistent with bullet marks and recovered the stolen gun, which had a seven-round capacity, with only four live rounds remaining.

¶ 7 Although the evidence permits conflicting inferences, the jury could have concluded that the defendant fired one shot into the ground and did not fire again at the complaining witness or her son. The jury reasonably could have found the defendant did not intentionally place the complaining witness and her son in reasonable apprehension of imminent physical injury but did knowingly or intentionally disturb the peace through reckless handling and discharge of a firearm. On these facts, the trial judge did not err in giving the lesser-included instruction.

IV.

¶ 8 For the foregoing reasons, we approve the decision of the court of appeals, reaffirm Angle, and affirm Miranda's convictions.

CONCURRING: THOMAS A. ZLAKET, Chief Justice, CHARLES E. JONES, Vice-Chief Justice, STANLEY G. FELDMAN, Justice, FREDERICK J. MARTONE, Justice.

1 The state, relying on our opinion in State v. Diaz, argues that Miranda waived this claim by requesting the instruction at issue. State v. Diaz, 168 Ariz. 363, 365, 813 P.2d 728, 730 (1991) (holding that where a defendant requests an instruction and later alleges fundamental error, any error is "invited error at its worst, and it is waived for appeal purposes."). However, the doctrine of invited error does not apply when the error is based on a change in law after the defendant's trial. Id. As we discuss below, the court of appeals decision in State v. Cutright, 196 Ariz. 567, 2 P.3d 657 (App.1999), appeared to change the law applicable to the defendant's case. Miranda's request of the lesser-included offense instruction, therefore, does not constitute waiver of his claim.