Opinion ID: 1376397
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Psychological Reports

Text: Ochoa's final two claims of error challenge his sentencing. First, Ochoa argues that two psychological examination reports were improperly considered during the sentencing process. Second, he argues that the imposition of an indeterminate amount of restitution is reversible error. During the hearing held on February 21, 1992, in which Mr. Ochoa formally pled nolo contendere, Ochoa and his counsel were informed that the district judge would consider the two psychological reports for sentencing purposes if they wished. The discussion went as follows: THE COURT: It's obvious that I have had an opportunity to review the report from the State Hospital as well as Dr. Miracle's report, so if you wish, I will consider those items as information for sentencing only if you wish. I have not seen any report from Montana, so I need to make that clear. If you wish for me to use that information in sentencing in this case, I would have to have your agreement to do so and an opportunity to review that information. Otherwise I will act on the basis of whatever information I receive from the records check and, of course, your presentation in sentencing, [defense counsel], but give me advance notice if I need to be prepared to review materials in anticipation of your sentencing presentation on Monday. [DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Your Honor, I think we have a pretty complete record structure here, and I think that the Court, for its own guide, should consider it. [emphasis added] Additionally, the court, at the sentencing hearing on February 24, 1992, clearly identified everything it was considering in making its sentencing decision, including the two psychological reports. Throughout both of these hearings, Ochoa's counsel never objected to the use of the reports. Therefore, the court's use of the psychological reports can only be reversible if it was plain error. For an error to rise to the level of plain error, the following elements must exist: (1) the record must demonstrate clearly what occurred at trial without resort to speculation; (2) a clear and unequivocal rule of law must have been violated in an obvious way; and (3) this violation must have adversely affected some substantial right of the accused. Buckles v. State, 830 P.2d 702, 707 (Wyo. 1992), citing Monn v. State, 811 P.2d 1004 (Wyo. 1991). The State and Ochoa agree that the district court did, in fact, consider the psychological reports for purposes of sentencing. However, Ochoa argues that two clear and unequivocal rules of law were violated in an obvious manner. First, that W.S. 7-11-303(h) was violated and second, that his Fifth Amendment right against compelled self-incrimination and Sixth Amendment right to counsel were abrogated. The pertinent portion of W.S. 7-11-303(h) provides: No statement made by the accused in the course of any examination or treatment pursuant to this section and no information received by any person in the course of the examination or treatment shall be admitted in evidence in any criminal proceeding then or thereafter pending on any issue other than that of the mental condition of the accused. Because the court clearly informed Ochoa that it would consider these reports and Ochoa consented to the use of the reports in sentencing, he waived objection to their consideration by the court. We cannot say that these actions by the judge result in an obvious violation of W.S. 7-11-303(h). Ochoa's second allegation of violation of a clear and unequivocal rule of law stems from a line of United States Supreme Court cases which have held that a capital defendant's Fifth Amendment right against compelled self-incrimination precludes the State from subjecting him to a psychiatric examination concerning future dangerousness without first informing the defendant that he has a right to remain silent and that anything he says can be used against him at a sentencing proceeding. Powell v. Texas, 492 U.S. 680, 681, 109 S.Ct. 3146, 3147, 106 L.Ed.2d 551 (1989); citing Estelle v. Smith, 451 U.S. 454, 101 S.Ct. 1866, 68 L.Ed.2d 359 (1981); see also Satterwhite v. Texas, 486 U.S. 249, 108 S.Ct. 1792, 100 L.Ed.2d 284 (1988). In addition, the United States Supreme Court has found a violation of a defendant's Sixth Amendment right to counsel in this same situation. Powell, 492 U.S. at 681, 109 S.Ct. at 3147. It is unclear from the cited United States Supreme Court cases whether there would be a Fifth or Sixth Amendment violation in a non-capital case. Additionally, before the examination by the state hospital, Ochoa was informed that he could decline to answer any specific question which might damage him in a subsequent criminal proceeding. This alleged constitutional error does not rise to plain error because there was no unequivocal rule of law violated in an obvious manner.