Opinion ID: 1608679
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Whether Defendant's Counsel Provided Ineffective Assistance.

Text: A. Failure to request a bill of particulars. Defendant asserts that her counsel should have requested a bill of particulars, as more than four sex acts were introduced into evidence and it was necessary for defendant to know which acts were at issue. The State argues the minutes of testimony gave adequate notice to the defendant of the alleged acts. The State further argues that the four specific sex acts were clearly identified in the evidence and closing argument presented at trial. A bill of particulars is a more specific statement of the details of the offense charged. State v. Conner, 241 N.W.2d 447, 452 (Iowa 1976). Its purpose is to provide additional information, which the indictment and minutes of testimony do not give. Id. A bill of particulars should be allowed when the charge and minutes do not inform the defendant of the specific acts of which she is accused. Id. In reviewing the minutes of testimony, it is clearly stated that three separate witnesses would testify to sex acts between defendant and Zebidiah. The minutes specified that the acts included sexual intercourse between defendant and Zebidiah, defendant performing oral sex on Zebidiah, and Zebidiah performing oral sex on defendant. Additionally, defendant was notified of the name of the crime with which she was charged, the Code sections defining the offenses, the name of the victim, and the location of the acts. The trial information also alleged that the crimes took place between October 1, 1996, and July 21, 1998. In evaluating the sufficiency of the trial information, we must consider that the statements of the victim and the confession of defendant were inexact as to the number and times of the sexual encounters that took place. Given this fact, the State was not able to pinpoint specific acts on specific dates. It simply alleged a series of acts within a specified time period. Under the circumstances, we believe that this was sufficient. Based on these considerations, the denial of a bill of particulars would not have been error if defendant's counsel had made such a motion. Consequently, defendant has failed to establish that her counsel was ineffective in not so moving. B. Failure to object to evidence of other criminal acts. Evidence was admitted showing that defendant participated in many more acts of sexual abuse than were charged in the information. Defendant urges that these other criminal acts would not have been admissible and that her counsel was ineffective in failing to object to the admission of this evidence. The State argues that the evidence of the additional criminal acts would not have been excluded because they were intrinsic to the case on trial. Iowa Rule of Evidence 5.404( b ) states: Evidence of other crimes, wrongs, or acts is not admissible to prove the character of a person in order to show that the person acted in conformity therewith. It may, however, be admissible for other purposes, such as proof of motive, opportunity, intent, preparation, plan, knowledge, identity, or absence of mistake or accident. The other purposes listed in the rule are not exclusive. State v. Mitchell, 633 N.W.2d 295, 298 (Iowa 2001). The important question is whether the disputed evidence is relevant and material to some legitimate issue other than a general propensity to commit wrongful acts. Id. (quoting State v. Barrett, 401 N.W.2d 184, 187 (Iowa 1987)). The State relies on federal cases that recognize proof of a series of similar events over time may be so blended or connected with the events on trial that proof of one necessarily requires reference to the other. United States v. LeCompte, 108 F.3d 948, 952 (8th Cir.1997); United States v. Maddix, 96 F.3d 311, 315 (8th Cir.1996); United States v. Bettelyoun, 892 F.2d 744, 746 (8th Cir.1989). In the present case, both the testimony of the victim and confession of defendant were inexact as to the number of sexual encounters that took place. Given that fact, the State, in proving its case, was properly permitted to proffer evidence of continual sexual activity in an effort to establish that, on at least four separate occasions during a specified period of time, an act of sexual abuse had occurred. Because the evidence would have properly been admitted for this purpose, defendant's trial counsel was not ineffective for failing to object. C. Failure to move for a directed verdict. Defendant asserts that her trial counsel was ineffective for failing to move for a directed verdict based on insufficient evidence to prove four distinct acts of sexual abuse. The State argues that defendant ignores her confession admitting at least four acts of sexual abuse with Zebidiah on different occasions. We agree with the State that defendant's confession, corroborated by Zebidiah's testimony, constituted substantial evidence to support the jury's verdicts. Defendant's trial counsel was not ineffective for failure to move for a directed verdict. D. Failure to object during closing argument. Defendant asserts that her trial counsel should have objected to prejudicial statements by the prosecutor in his closing argument. Prosecutors have a dual function. State v. Webb, 244 N.W.2d 332, 333 (Iowa 1976). They must vigorously prosecute defendants, but at the same time, they must assure the defendant a fair trial. Id. Prosecutorial misconduct only warrants a new trial when the conduct is so prejudicial as to deprive the defendant of a fair trial. State v. Anderson, 448 N.W.2d 32, 33 (Iowa 1989) (citing State v. Lyons, 210 N.W.2d 543, 549 (Iowa 1973)). Defendant points to a specific portion of the prosecutor's closing argument in asserting her claims for ineffective assistance of counsel. The prosecutor stated: We charged four counts. They are probably undercharged. We could have charged 50 counts, but certainly the pretty much conclusive evidence would be that at a very minimum there has to be at least four counts on each. As we have previously noted, both the testimony of the victim and the confession of defendant were inexact as to the number of and times of the sexual encounters that took place. Given this fact, the State, in proving its case, offered all of the available evidence of sexual abuse during a specified period of time in an effort to establish that at least four acts of sexual abuse had been committed on separate occasions. We have previously rejected defendant's evidentiary challenges to that method of proof. Because we have found this evidence was properly admitted, it was not improper for the prosecutor to comment on it. Defendant's trial counsel was not ineffective in failing to challenge these statements of the prosecutor. We have considered all issues presented and conclude that the judgment of the district court should be affirmed. AFFIRMED.