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IN THE NEBRASKA COURT OF APPEALS

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND JUDGMENT ON APPEAL

(Memorandum Web Opinion)

STATE V. RENTERIA-DELGADO

NOTICE: THIS OPINION IS NOT DESIGNATED FOR PERMANENT PUBLICATION

AND MAY NOT BE CITED EXCEPT AS PROVIDED BY NEB. CT. R. APP. P. § 2-102(E).

STATE OF NEBRASKA, APPELLEE,

V.

SANTOS RENTERIA-DELGADO, APPELLANT.

Filed August 23, 2022. No. A-21-665.

Appeal from the District Court for Douglas County: JAMES M. MASTELLER, Judge. 

Affirmed.

Jerry M. Hug for appellant.

Douglas J. Peterson, Attorney General, and Nathan A. Liss for appellee.

PIRTLE, Chief Judge, and BISHOP and WELCH, Judges.

WELCH, Judge.

I. INTRODUCTION

Santos Renteria-Delgado appeals from his jury convictions of two counts of first degree 

sexual assault of a child alleging that his trial counsel was ineffective. For the reasons set forth 

herein, we affirm; however, we determine that the record on appeal is insufficient to address 

Renteria-Delgado’s claims of ineffective assistance of trial counsel.

II. STATEMENT OF FACTS

In 2019, the State charged Renteria-Delgado with two counts of first degree sexual assault 

of a child, both Class IB felonies. The complaint alleged that between January 1, 2018, and April 

17, 2019, Renteria-Delgado sexually assaulted his two great nieces, J.S. and X.S., both of whom 

were under 12 years of age. The evidence established that Renteria-Delgado was born in November 

1967, J.S. was born in April 2010, and X.S. was born in July 2012.
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J.S. and X.S. lived in the upstairs unit of a split-level home with their parents and their 

aunt. Renteria-Delgado lived in the downstairs unit with other extended family. The victims’

parents worked long hours and Renteria-Delgado would often watch the victims while their parents 

were at work. In July 2018, the victims moved into a new home with their parents and siblings.

In April 2019, after watching a T.V. show about a girl who had been raped, the victims 

disclosed to their 13-year-old sister, Y.L., that Renteria-Delgado had touched them and motioned 

toward their chest and private areas. The following day, the victims disclosed the assault to their 

mother who reported the assault to police. At the time of the disclosure, J.S. was 8 or 9 years old, 

and X.S. was 6 years old. Following the disclosure, the victims underwent forensic interviews.

During J.S.’s forensic interview, she disclosed that on several occasions, 

Renteria-Delgado, who she referred to as “Uncle Santos,” had “done things” to J.S. and X.S. 

mostly at their “old house.” According to J.S., during one incident, Renteria-Delgado told her to 

touch his “private parts” while he was in the bathroom peeing, but J.S. did not comply. On another 

occasion, J.S. stated that Renteria-Delgado showed J.S. and X.S videos on his phone of adults who 

were naked, kissing, and touching each other’s “private parts,” but Renteria-Delgado did not touch 

them on that occasion. However, J.S. reported that there were times when Renteria-Delgado did 

touch them, including one incident which took place in the basement living room at their old house, 

where Renteria-Delgado had “licked” both her and X.S.’ “private part[s]” and that “it hurt to pee 

afterward.” J.S. also recalled two other incidents where she was alone with Renteria-Delgado in 

the basement living room of the old house when he closed the curtains and “put his private part in 

my butt.” According to J.S., during those two incidents she was lying on her stomach on the couch 

and Renteria-Delgado pulled her pants down around her ankles, put a “thing” around his “private 

part,” and then got on top of her and put it into her butt, which hurt. J.S. described 

Renteria-Delgado’s “private part” as “long and hairy” and described the “thing” he put on his 

“private part” as “soggy,” “wet and rubbery,” and “there’s a hole he puts it in.” J.S. said that 

Renteria-Delgado got the “soggy thing” from a little square package and put it back in the package 

when he was done. She also stated that, during one of the incidents, he made her lick the “soggy 

thing” on his private part.

J.S. also reported additional incidents which occurred after they had moved to the new 

house. She recalled that Renteria-Delgado would sometimes “touch our boobs.” She also recalled 

another incident when he touched her private part with his hand, over her clothes, while the rest of 

the family was away from home getting groceries. J.S. stated that during the incidents, at both the 

old and new home, she did not remember anyone being home except Renteria-Delgado, J.S., and 

X.S. J.S. said that she was scared to tell anyone about what Renteria-Delgado did because he told 

her not to tell anyone and she was afraid that her parents would be mad at her.

During her forensic interview, X.S. reported that Renteria-Delgado showed her and J.S. 

“gross stuff” on his phone including a video of a boy putting his “banana” in a girl’s butt. X.S. 

recalled that Renteria-Delgado then asked them if they wanted to do that and both girls said no. 

X.S. disclosed that, on one occasion, Renteria-Delgado made them go with him to the bathroom 

where he pulled out his penis which she described “like a hot dog thingy.” X.S. similarly reported 

that Renteria-Delgado touched them where they “poop and pee” and that it felt like he was trying 

to “pull out the poop.” X.S. reported that after one of the incidents where Renteria-Delgado had 

touched her butt, she used the bathroom, and when she wiped, she noticed she was bleeding from 
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“where she poops.” X.S. further described incidents where Renteria-Delgado touched and licked 

her chest, which she called her “Chi Chis;” licked her and J.S.’s “privates” and butts; and that he 

used his “banana” to touch their butts. X.S. reported Renteria-Delgado occasionally made them 

massage his “private part” and that something other than pee came out which X.S. stated looked 

like “milk or throw up from his thingy,” and that he would use a napkin to clean up afterwards. 

X.S. stated that she and J.S. were afraid to tell their parents about the assaults because 

Renteria-Delgado said that he would hit them and he would go to jail.

Following the report to law enforcement, officers interviewed Renteria-Delgado who, at 

that time, denied touching the victims or doing anything inappropriate to them. After obtaining a 

second warrant, officers conducted a search of Renteria-Delgado’s home and seized several items 

from his bedroom, including, among other things, several condoms, a pair of a female child’s 

underwear near a laundry basket, and four cell phones. The phones were subsequently searched 

and one phone indicated a history of the user visiting pornographic websites.

At trial, which was held over four days in May 2021, both victims testified to much of the 

same information contained in their forensic interviews. Additionally, J.S. testified that when 

Renteria-Delgado touched her private part and her butt, he would touch her on the inside and the 

outside of her body using his hands, tongue, or his “private part.” She described his private part as 

“stiff” when he put it inside her, which hurt, and she recalled one time where he put something 

clear and plastic on his private part before he put it into her butt which he then threw away 

afterward. J.S. testified that he did similar things to X.S. if X.S. was present, but no one else was 

present when these things occurred. J.S. testified that Renteria-Delgado would tell them not to tell 

their mom or he would go to jail, and he would sometimes give them candy, stuffed animals, and 

toys. X.S. explained that Renteria-Delgado used his hand or “front private part” to touch her on 

the inside of her privates and there were times when he also touched J.S.

The victims’ parents, sister, forensic interviewer, and medical examiner also testified on 

behalf of the State. The victim’s mother testified about the children’s disclosure to her, her report 

to the police, and the physical and behavioral changes in the victims after the assaults. The victims’

father testified that, following the victims’ disclosure, he confronted Renteria-Delgado who 

admitted that “he had done [some]thing to them,” but did not elaborate further. Y.L. testified 

regarding the victims’ initial disclosures to her, the changes she noticed in her sisters, and her 

observations including that Renteria-Delgado often bought items for the victims but did not do the 

same for her when she would ask.

The jury convicted Renteria-Delgado of both counts of first degree sexual assault of a child. 

Thereafter, Renteria-Delgado was sentenced to a mandatory minimum of 15 years’ imprisonment 

and a maximum of 25 years’ imprisonment on each count with the sentences ordered to run 

consecutively. Renteria-Delgado has timely appealed his convictions and is represented by new 

counsel on appeal.

III. ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR

Renteria-Delgado’s assignments of error, renumbered and restated, are that he received 

ineffective assistance of trial counsel due to counsel’s: (1) failure to properly impeach the alleged 

victims J.S. and X.S. regarding prior inconsistent statements and (2) informing the jurors during 
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opening statements that they would hear testimony from the victims’ grandparents but then failing 

to call them at trial to provide testimony which would have been favorable for the defense.

IV. STANDARD OF REVIEW

In reviewing claims of ineffective assistance of counsel on direct appeal, an appellate court 

decides only whether the undisputed facts contained within the record are sufficient to conclusively 

determine whether counsel did or did not provide effective assistance and whether the defendant 

was or was not prejudiced by counsel’s alleged deficient performance. State v. Smith, 302 Neb. 

154, 922 N.W.2d 444 (2019).

Whether a claim of ineffective assistance of trial counsel can be determined on direct 

appeal presents a question of law, which turns upon the sufficiency of the record to address the 

claim without an evidentiary hearing or whether the claim rests solely on the interpretation of a 

statute or constitutional requirement. State v. Collins, 307 Neb. 581, 950 N.W.2d 89 (2020). An 

appellate court determines as a matter of law whether the record conclusively shows that (1) a 

defense counsel’s performance was deficient or (2) a defendant was or was not prejudiced by a 

defense counsel’s alleged deficient performance. Id.

V. ANALYSIS

On appeal, Renteria-Delgado assigns as error, consolidated and restated, that his trial 

counsel was ineffective in two ways: (1) failing to properly impeach the alleged victims J.S. and 

X.S. regarding prior inconsistent statements, and (2) failing to call the victims’ grandparents as 

defense witnesses despite telling jurors during opening statements that they would hear testimony 

from them which would have been favorable for the defense.

To prevail on a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, a defendant must show that his 

or her counsel’s performance was deficient, and that the deficient performance actually prejudiced 

the defense. State v. Collins, supra. To show that counsel’s performance was deficient, a defendant 

must show that counsel’s performance did not equal that of a lawyer with ordinary training and 

skill in criminal law. Id. To show prejudice, the defendant must demonstrate a reasonable 

probability that but for counsel’s deficient performance, the result of the proceeding would have 

been different. Id. A reasonable probability is a probability sufficient to undermine confidence in 

the outcome. Id. However, on direct appeal, an appellant is not required to allege prejudice when 

claiming ineffective assistance of trial counsel. State v. Filholm, 287 Neb. 763, 848 N.W.2d 571 

(2014).

On direct appeal, the resolution of ineffective assistance of counsel claims turns upon the 

sufficiency of the record. Id. The Nebraska Supreme Court has often said that the fact that an 

ineffective assistance of counsel claim is raised on direct appeal does not necessarily mean that it 

can be resolved. Id. The determining factor is whether the record is sufficient to adequately review 

the question. Id. The Supreme Court has held in countless cases that the record on direct appeal 

was insufficient for assessing ineffective assistance of counsel claims. Id. This is because the trial 

record reviewed on appeal is devoted to issues of guilt or innocence and does not usually address 

issues of counsel’s performance. Id.

It naturally follows that on direct appeal, an appellate court can determine whether the 

record proves or rebuts the merits of a claim of ineffective assistance of trial counsel only if it has 
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knowledge of the specific conduct alleged to constitute deficient performance. Id. Therefore, an 

appellant must make specific allegations of the conduct that he or she claims constitutes deficient 

performance by trial counsel when raising an ineffective assistance claim on direct appeal. Id.

General allegations that trial counsel performed deficiently or that trial counsel was ineffective are 

insufficient to raise an ineffective assistance claim on direct appeal and thereby preserve the issue 

for later review. Id.

Appellate courts have generally reached ineffective assistance of counsel claims on direct 

appeal only in those instances where it was clear from the record that such claims were without 

merit or in the rare case where trial counsel’s error was so egregious and resulted in such a high 

level of prejudice that no tactic or strategy could overcome the effect of the error, which effect was 

a fundamentally unfair trial. State v. Sundquist, 301 Neb. 1006, 921 N.W.2d 131 (2019); State v. 

Casares, 291 Neb. 150, 864 N.W.2d 667 (2015); State v. Sidzyik, 281 Neb. 305, 795 N.W.2d 281 

(2011).

1. IMPROPER IMPEACHMENT OF J.S. AND X.S.

Renteria-Delgado first argues that his trial counsel was ineffective “by failing to properly 

impeach both J.S. and X.S. on cross-examination regarding inconsistent statements made during 

their forensic interviews, depositions and trial testimony” but “was unable to impeach either of the 

victims due to an inability to properly follow evidentiary requirements for impeachment through 

prior inconsistent statements.” Brief for appellant at 5.

(a) Claims Regarding J.S.

Regarding J.S., Renteria-Delgado contends that trial counsel attempted to impeach J.S. 

through use of prior inconsistent statements made during a prior deposition. Renteria-Delgado 

argues that:

After two substantive questions counsel asked J.S., “And when we spoke before, I asked 

you if [Renteria-Delgado] touched you with any part of his body, and you said just his 

hand. Do you remember that?” . . . The State interposed an objection as to improper 

impeachment which was sustained. . . . Counsel proceeded to ask J.S. if she recalled 

speaking with counsel “before” to which J.S. responded yes at which time counsel then 

stated that J.S. did not say at that time what was said “today”. The State again objected as 

improper impeachment and the court asked counsel to rephrase the question. Counsel did 

so but shortly thereafter another improper impeachment objection was made and a sidebar 

ensued. . . .

As counsel continued questioning J.S. he asked her a series of questions about 

whether she recalled previously telling him specifics about where [Renteria-Delgado] 

touched her, whether she previously told counsel if [Renteria-Delgado] “went inside her”

and whether [J.S.] previously . . . responded “no” to all of those questions. . . . At that point 

counsel moved on to cross-examine J.S. regarding other topics unrelated to prior statements 

and eventually ending cross-examination.

Brief for appellant at 7-8.

As to the subject of these confrontations, Renteria-Delgado argues:
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While the deposition of J.S. is not a part of the record, it is clear from the attempted 

cross-examination that counsel had prior inconsistent statements with which to impeach 

J.S. Counsel simply failed to do so in the proper manner and as such no substantive 

impeachment of J.S. occurred. Additionally, counsel failed to address J.S.’s multiple “no”

responses regarding her recollection of her previously sworn deposition testimony and let 

those answers stand without further attempts to refresh her recollection and establish actual 

inconsistent statements.

Brief for appellant at 8-9.

Although we find that Renteria-Delgado has stated this claim of ineffective assistance of 

trial counsel with sufficient particularity, because the deposition of J.S. is not part of the record, 

the record is insufficient for this claim to be addressed on direct appeal.

(b) Claims Regarding X.S.

Renteria-Delgado makes a similar claim regarding trial counsel’s alleged ineffectiveness 

for failing to properly impeach X.S. on cross-examination. Regarding X.S., Renteria-Delgado 

contends that trial counsel was ineffective in failing to substantively establish X.S.’ prior 

inconsistent statements or otherwise address X.S.’ testimony that she did not recall making prior 

inconsistent statements. Specifically, he argues:

During cross-examination of X.S., again counsel attempted to impeach the witness by 

asking a series of questions about her previous statements to counsel that 

[Renteria-Delgado] had dragged her into the bathroom, that she had previously stated that 

[Renteria-Delgado] had only touched her with [h]is hand, and she previously stated at times 

she would be woken up and dragged downstairs by [Renteria-Delgado]. . . . X.S. responded 

“no” to each of these questions [regarding] whether she recalled making these previous 

statements. Without any further inquiry or attempts to substantively establish that X.S. had 

actually given prior inconsistent statements counsel stopped cross-examination shortly 

thereafter. . . . While the deposition of J.S. [sic] is not a part of the record, it is clear from 

the attempted cross-examination that counsel had prior inconsistent statements with which 

to impeach J.S. [sic] Counsel simply failed to do so in the proper manner and as such no 

substantive impeachment of J.S. [sic] occurred.

Brief for appellant at 10.

Like we found in the previous section, although we find that Renteria-Delgado has stated 

this claim of ineffective assistance of trial counsel with sufficient particularity, because the 

deposition of X.S. is not part of the record, the record is insufficient for this claim to be addressed 

on direct appeal.

2. FAILURE TO CALL VICTIMS’ GRANDPARENTS AT TRIAL

Renteria-Delgado next argues that he received ineffective assistance of counsel when 

counsel mentioned in his opening statement that the jury would hear from the victims’

grandparents, but then failed to call them as witnesses during the trial. He contends that the victims’

grandparents would have provided testimony favorable to the defense.
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During opening statements, defense counsel told the jury that they would hear from the 

grandparents of the children who lived at the house who said this couldn’t have happened, 

it’s a small location, perhaps a smaller house than some of you are accustomed to living in. 

Small space, the girls were happy, weren’t crying, no noises, not possible. The 

grandparents were in the room, or next to it.

Counsel did not call the grandparents as witnesses during the trial and the defense rested without 

presenting evidence. Renteria-Delgado asserts that counsel was ineffective because the 

grandparents were willing to testify, counsel told the jury that they would testify, and that the 

grandparents’ testimony would benefit the defense.

More specifically, Renteria-Delgado contends that counsel knew or reasonably should 

have known that based on counsel’s conversations with the victims’ grandmother, that the 

grandmother would have testified that the victims’ parents rented part of her home; that she took 

care of the victims when the victims’ parents were absent; that there were no reports of sexual 

abuse; that her observations of Renteria-Delgado would not corroborate the allegations against 

him; that Renteria-Delgado was constantly in the company of his girlfriend who also lived in the 

home; and that the victims’ parents had motivations to claim sexual abuse since the victims’

mother believed that such allegations would aid her husband in obtaining legal status in the U.S.

A somewhat analogous situation was addressed by the Nebraska Supreme Court in State v. 

Loding, 296 Neb. 670, 682-83, 895 N.W.2d 669, 681 (2017), wherein the Court considered 

whether defense counsel’s failure to call the victim’s mother as a defense witness despite stating 

in opening statements that she would testify:

As [the defendant] conceded at oral argument, his brief misstated the record when 

he argued that counsel failed to explain why [the victim’s] mother did not testify. The 

record shows that [defense] counsel explained, “We said we would call the mother . . . we 

said that in the beginning because we thought the state would prove its case, and it has 

not.”

During closing argument, counsel explained multiple times that the burden of proof 

was on the State to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that [the defendant] was guilty. 

Counsel then reviewed the evidence and explained to the jury why the State had not met 

its burden. Outside the presence of the jury, [defense counsel] confirmed on the record that 

the mother did not want to testify and that he did not want her to testify.

But the record does not explain why, during opening statement, counsel elected to 

tell the jury that [the victim’s] mother would be called to testify. Although the record shows 

how the problem was addressed, the record does not show how it came about. Under these 

circumstances, we conclude that the record is not sufficient to address this matter on direct 

appeal.

Similarly, in State v. Avina-Murillo, 301 Neb. 185, 917 N.W.2d 865 (2018), the Nebraska 

Supreme Court concluded that the record was insufficient on direct appeal to resolve the 

defendant’s claim that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to call the victim’s parents as 

witnesses after informing the jury of those witnesses’ testimonies during opening statements.
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Here, the record is also insufficient to address this matter on direct appeal. During opening 

statements, defense counsel informed the jury that the grandparents would testify, but then he did 

not call them as witnesses. Further, unlike Loding, the record in the instant case does not contain 

any explanations for the counsel’s failure to call the grandparents at trial. Accordingly, the record 

before this court is not sufficient to address this matter on direct appeal.

VI. CONCLUSION

For the reasons stated above, we affirm Renteria-Delgado’s jury conviction of two counts 

of first degree sexual assault of a child. Regarding Renteria-Delgado’s claims of ineffective 

assistance of trial counsel for failing to properly impeach the alleged victims J.S. and X.S. 

regarding prior inconsistent statements and failing to call the victims’ grandparents as defense 

witnesses after informing jurors during opening statements that they would hear testimony from 

the grandparents, we find that the record is insufficient to address these claims on direct appeal.

AFFIRMED.