Opinion ID: 1536768
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Deception

Text: Section 8-801(a)(2) of the Criminal Law Article provides that deception has the meaning as stated in § 7-101 of that article. According to § 7-101, deception occurs when, among other acts, a person knowingly either create[s] or confirm[s] in another a false impression that the offender does not believe to be true [or] fail[s] to correct a false impression that the offender previously has created or confirmed. At the outset, we expressly reject Tarray's contention, made during oral argument before us, that proof of theft by deception or exploitation of a vulnerable adult requires proof that the victim was actually aware that he or she was being deceived. Detrimental reliance is not an element of theft by deception or exploitation of a vulnerable adult. We consider the plain language of both the theft and exploitation of a vulnerable adult statutes (as confirmed by the legislative history of the theft statute) and conclude that both statutes require proof of the offender's intent to mislead, not proof that the victim was mislead. See Cardin v. State, 73 Md.App. 200, 222, 533 A.2d 928, 939 (1987) (holding that, in light of the plain language of the statute and its legislative history, Maryland's consolidated theft statute does not require detrimental reliance as an element of the crime of theft by deception). Tarray further contends that the State did not prove exploitation of a vulnerable adult because it did not establish the element of deception. Specifically, Tarray maintains that the State proceeded only on the modality of undue influence in attempting to prove exploitation of a vulnerable adult. According to Tarray, the record supports her position because the jury instruction given did not contain a statutory definition for any term other than undue influence, and the prosecution's closing argument focused substantially on undue influence. Thus, Tarray contends, at oral argument before this Court, that the State failed to preserve the issue of deception and thereby waived the argument that the evidence is sufficient as to the element of deception. Tarray's contention is fatally flawed because, rather than the State failing to preserve the issue for appeal, Tarray failed to preserve her argument as to the sufficiency of the evidence of deception by failing to object, with particularity, at the time of trial. Fundamentally, when moving for a judgment of acquittal at the close of the evidence offered by the State and, in a jury trial, at the close of all the evidence, the defendant must state with particularity all the reasons why the motion should be granted. Md. Rule 4-324(a); Muir v. State, 308 Md. 208, 218-19, 517 A.2d 1105, 1110 (1986). This Tarray failed to do as to the sufficiency of the evidence to prove deception. Tarray contends, for the first time, that the evidence was insufficient to support a finding of deception. The record, however, reveals that at the close of the State's case, Tarray moved only for a judgment of acquittal as to the sufficiency of the evidence to prove undue influence. Tarray's counsel said, [Wright] did not testify that there were any threats or coercions. ... [H]e was not prevented from exercising... free judgment and choice and that she did not think that that would constitute undue influence. Moreover, at the close of all the evidence, Tarray's counsel said, Okay. I did want to ... renew my motion for judgment of acquittal. Later, she said, And, I suppose I'd just ... incorporate the same arguments from the original motion for judgment of acquittal. Because Tarray's motion neither challenged nor mentioned the sufficiency of the evidence to prove deception, Tarray failed to articulate to the trial judge this contention that is being raised for the first time on appeal. Accordingly, Tarray did not state with particularity all the reasons why the trial judge should have granted the motion. Muir, 308 Md. at 219, 517 A.2d at 1110 (citing State v. Lyles, 308 Md. 129, 517 A.2d 761 (1986)). Thus, we conclude that Tarray did not preserve for appellate review her argument regarding the sufficiency of the evidence as to the element of deception. Tarray acknowledges that the State may prove exploitation of a vulnerable adult by any one of the three modalities prescribed in the statute, but she contends that the State failed to raise the issue of deception at trial and thereby did not preserve the issue for appeal. According to Tarray, the record supports this theory because the jury instruction given did not contain a statutory definition for any term other than undue influence, and the prosecution's closing argument focused substantially on undue influence. The record, however, clearly refutes this theory in several respects. First, the criminal information charged Tarray with violating § 8-801 [15] and tracked the specific language of the statute. Because the statute is drawn in the disjunctive, the State was entitled to prove the offense by any one of the prescribed modalities, including deception. Second, although Tarray correctly points out that the jury was only given the statutory definition of undue influence before closing arguments, she conveniently overlooks the fact that the jury instruction provided that the State may prove that Tarray obtained Wright's property by any one of the three modalities. [16] Moreover, at closing argument, the prosecutor said, The Defendant obtained property of the victim by using deception, intimidation or undue influence. ... Thus, we conclude that the State did not waive the argument that the evidence is sufficient as to the element of deception. The record reveals at least two separate instances involving Tarray's deceptive conduct, either of which is sufficient to support the jury's conclusion that Tarray obtained the vulnerable adult's property by deception. First, there is evidence that Tarray opened several unauthorized bank accounts using Wright's name. Specifically, Tarray opened a Bank of America checking account and used it in place of Wright's initial Bank of America checking account. Tarray opened the account over the phone by misleading account representatives into believing she (Tarray) was authorized to open the account for Wright. Except for the initial payment in cash, Wright paid Tarray weekly by personal check  from his initial Bank of America account  not the one opened by Tarray. As Wright's health declined over time, Tarray began preparing the checks for Wright to sign. Tarray continued to prepare her own paychecks for Wright's signature at the end of every pay period. On December 22, 2005, however, Tarray deviated from the course of practice when she presented Wright with a check, for purposes of obtaining his signature, in the amount of $1,000, bearing the same address as earlier checks. Unlike the earlier checks, however, the check for $1,000 was written on a different account. By misleading Wright into believing that he had signed a check drawn on his authorized account, Tarray created a false impression in Wright that Tarray knew was not true. Although Tarray may have been entitled to compensation for services rendered, she was not entitled to deceive Wright into paying her by creating, and then failing to correct, the false impression in Wright that he was signing a personal check drawn on the account that he had opened initially and authorized. Second, there is evidence that over the course of Tarray's employment that Tarray earned well over $24,000, without any tax withholdings. Generally, employers are required to withhold federal and state payroll taxes. See Cent. Ill. Public Serv. Co. v. United States, 435 U.S. 21, 24-25, 98 S.Ct. 917, 919-20, 55 L.Ed.2d 82, 86-87 (1978) (discussing tax withholdings); see also Shanks v. Lowe, 364 Md. 538, 542, 774 A.2d 411, 413 (2001) (requiring reports on the amount of tips received for withholding purposes). Wright testified that he intended to deduct taxes from Tarray's paychecks, but he admitted that he did not know enough to do so. He testified that Tarray informed him that she knew how to make the calculations and would make the deductions. Tarray never made the withholdings. A reasonable jury could have inferred, from the evidence, that Wright was under the impression that he had delegated the duty to withhold payroll taxes to Tarray. Further, the jury could have concluded that Tarray had no intention to withhold taxes and deceived Wright by failing to make the deductions. Considering the totality of the circumstances, a reasonable jury could have inferred deception from the fact that Wright trusted Tarray and she failed to handle Wright's affairs competently and honestly. Also a reasonable jury could have found that Wright was deceived when Tarray opened various unauthorized accounts, named herself as the authorized credit card holder on the Citigroup account, and made cash withdrawals. Based upon our review of the State's evidence, including all reasonable inferences drawn therefrom, in a light most favorable to the State, we conclude that a rational trier of fact could not have found the element of undue influence beyond a reasonable doubt. Nevertheless, because Tarray waived any argument regarding the sufficiency of the evidence to support a finding of deception, using the same standard of review, we conclude that a rational trier of fact could have found, beyond a reasonable doubt, the element of deception. Thus, we hold that the evidence was legally sufficient to sustain the convictions for exploitation of a vulnerable adult and conspiracy to exploit a vulnerable adult. JUDGMENT OF THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR CHARLES COUNTY AFFIRMED. APPELLANT TO PAY THE COSTS. HARRELL, BATTAGLIA and BARBERA, JJ., Concur. Concurring Opinion by HARRELL, J., which BATTAGLIA and BARBERA, JJ., join. I concur fully with the analysis in the Majority opinion regarding affirming Tarray's conviction for exploitation of a vulnerable adult based on the deception modality of committing the crime. I write separately, however, to register my disappointment with the Majority opinion's conclusion that there was insufficient evidence for the jury also to conclude, beyond a reasonable doubt, that Tarray exerted undue influence over her victim. A reader may wonder (reasonably) why I write separately where the conviction at issue is affirmed, a result to which I subscribe. I write because it is my view that it is especially important prospectively for the Court carefully and correctly to interpret this statute. This is the Court's first opportunity to consider the Exploitation of a Vulnerable Adult statute, Maryland Code (2002 Repl.Vol., 2008 Supp.), Criminal Law Article, § 8-801. [1] Faced with a large aging population in this country and in our State, I predict that the courts likely will see an increase in prosecutions involving exploitation of vulnerable adults. While advanced age does not, in and of itself, necessarily equate with vulnerability, vulnerability often accompanies aging. [2] I would affirm Tarray's conviction for exploitation of a vulnerable adult also on the ground that the evidence was sufficient to prove undue influence. [W]e review a challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence in a jury trial by determining whether the evidence, viewed in a light most favorable to the prosecution, supported the conviction of [Appellant], such that any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. Allen v. State, 402 Md. 59, 76-77, 935 A.2d 421, 431 (2007). It is not the province of an appellate court to retry the case; rather, we review the evidence and all inferences in a light most favorable to the State. Id. at 77, 935 A.2d at 431. We give `due regard to the [jury's] findings of facts, its resolution of conflicting evidence, and, significantly, its opportunity to observe and assess the credibility of witnesses.' State v. Smith, 374 Md. 527, 534, 823 A.2d 664, 668 (2003) (quoting Moye v. State, 369 Md. 2, 12, 796 A.2d 821, 827 (2002)). The Majority concludes that the evidence was insufficient to support Tarray's conviction on the ground that Tarray unduly influenced Wright. In so concluding, the Majority necessarily resolves that the jury could not have concluded reasonably, from the totality of the evidence and any reasonable inferences therefrom, that Tarray influenced unduly Wright to give her thousands of dollars over a period of seven months. Section 8-801 defines undue influence as domination and influence amounting to force and coercion exercised by another person to such an extent that a vulnerable adult was prevented from exercising free judgment and choice. § 8-801(a)(7)(i). Although the transactions involving the truck and the home occurred outside the time period specified in the criminal information, there remained sufficient evidence that could convince a rational fact finder of Tarray's guilt under the undue influence standard. For example, as noted by the Majority opinion (Maj. Op. at 739, 410 Md. 611), Wright expressed in his testimony that he agreed to the demanded increases in Tarray's salary because he felt as if he was between a rock and a hard place. He explained that he was in that position because if he didn't have [Tarray] ... where would I go? At that point in his testimony, the trial judge ordered a recess because the witness had become extremely emotional. When testimony resumed, Wright stated that, in order to survive, he needed help in his house. He also indicated that he lost contact with his family as a result of the separation from his wife. The Majority characterizes Wright's position, in between a rock and a hard place, as including a choice and that the manner in which he disposed of his property was the result of inferentially bad judgment, rather than force and coercion. Maj. Op. at 739, 410 Md. 611. Although that is not an unreasonable conclusion, it equally was reasonable for the jury to infer from his testimony and demeanor on the witness stand that Wright believed he did not have a choice as a result of Tarray's manipulation and influence, despite what he said on the witness stand. Wright is paraplegic and needs assistance with dressing himself, preparing food, basic toilet functions, and getting in and out of bed. The jury could have concluded reasonably that Wright believed if he did not give Tarray what she wanted, she would have left him and he would not have anyone else to care for him. Put in context, a rational jury could have concluded that, although Wright may have wanted to give her more money so that she would continue caring for him, her manipulative demands (in his situation) prevented him from exercising free judgment and choice because she led him to believe she would leave if he did not comply with her demands and that he would not be able to find anyone else to care for him. Instead, the Majority usurps the jury's function and appropriates to itself the role of an appellate jury. On a sufficiency of the evidence question, our duty is to give `due regard to the [jury's] findings of fact, its resolution of conflicting evidence, and significantly, its opportunity to observe and assess the credibility of witnesses.' Smith, 374 Md. at 534, 823 A.2d at 668 (quoting Moye v. State, 369 Md. 2, 12, 796 A.2d 821, 827 (2002)). The Majority opinion, however, substitutes itself in place of the jury. Viewed in a light most favorable to the State, a rational trier of fact could have found the essential element of undue influence beyond a reasonable doubt. Accordingly, although I concur with the judgment of the Majority opinion and its affirmance of the relevant conviction on deception grounds, I would further hold that there was sufficient evidence to sustain the conviction on the ground of undue influence. Judges BATTAGLIA and BARBERA authorize me to state that they join this concurrence.