Opinion ID: 1959684
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: A. Fifth Amendment Privilege against Self-Incrimination Claim

Text: Reviewing the transcript of the original sentencing hearing, we cannot say that the trial justice improperly considered in his sentencing decision defendant's exercise of his Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination. In making the sentencing determination, the trial justice articulated and applied the very five factors we condoned in Upham and Bertoldi: the nature of the offense and of the offender, punishment, rehabilitation, and deterrence. In the course of analyzing defendant's potential for rehabilitation, the trial justice indicated that some program of counseling could be effective if culpability is accepted, [but][t]he problem is [defendant's] continued protestations of innocence. The trial justice proceeded to explain this comment by stating his understanding that treatment would not, and indeed could not, be effective unless and until defendant acknowledged his commission of the crime of which he was convicted. When the trial justice's comments are viewed in the context of his decision, see Leonardo, 431 A.2d at 1223, it is readily apparent that he considered defendant's refusal to acknowledge guilt for the limited purpose of assessing defendant's potential for rehabilitation. Underlying rehabilitation is the thesis that the offender needs assistance in making behavioral and/or psychological changes. B. Anthony Morosco, The Prosecution and Defense of Sex Crimes § 13.03[3][c], at 13-14 (1994). In order for that assistance to be effective, a defendant must be open and receptive to the proffered treatment. A defendant's adamant denial of engaging in any wrongful conduct  the very conduct that necessitates the treatment  cannot be said to be indicative of any receptiveness to rehabilitation. Accordingly we hold that the trial justice properly considered defendant's refusal to admit perpetrating the molestation in his assessment of defendant's rehabilitative potential. Other courts have similarly recognized the probative value of a defendant's refusal to acknowledge wrongdoing with respect to assessing the element of rehabilitative capacity. See Gallucci v. State, 371 So.2d 148, 150 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1979) (the plea itself is a step toward rehabilitation); State v. Farnham, 479 A.2d 887, 891-92 (Me. 1984) (recognizing the relationship between defendant's willingness to admit responsibility for his acts and the likelihood of his rehabilitation); see also United States v. Derrick, 519 F.2d 1, 4 (6th Cir.1975); United States v. Floyd, 496 F.2d 982, 989 (2d Cir.), cert. denied, 419 U.S. 1069, 95 S.Ct. 654, 42 L.Ed.2d 664 (1974). Furthermore, the fact that the trial justice refused to impose a less-than-jail sentence does not on its face and without more indicate an intention to penalize defendant for refusing to waive his Fifth Amendment right and acknowledge guilt. Leonardo teaches that a `show[ing] of lenience to those who exhibit contrition by admitting guilt does not carry a corollary that the Judge indulges a policy of penalizing those' who refuse to admit guilt. Leonardo, 431 A.2d at 1222 (quoting United States v. Thompson, 476 F.2d 1196, 1201 (7th Cir.), cert. denied, 414 U.S. 918, 94 S.Ct. 214, 38 L.Ed.2d 154 (1973)). After evaluating defendant's questionable potential for rehabilitation, the trial justice properly determined that example type sentencing was demanded, Giorgi, 121 R.I. at 282, 397 A.2d at 899 (element of deterrence at times demands `example type' sentencing), and that was an additional sufficient reason to justify sentencing defendant to serve time in prison. See Crescenzo, 114 R.I. at 264, 332 A.2d at 433 (discussing weighing of sentencing factors; strong deterrence element warrants rejecting nonconfinement type of sentence). In conclusion, defendant was not penalized for refusing to waive his Fifth Amendment right; rather he was simply not extended a benefit which he might have enjoyed had he waived his rights and pled either guilty or nolo to the charges.