Court Opinion

ID: 9395954
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-05-18 22:05:52.823011+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:19:12.905354
License: Public Domain

STATE OF LOUISIANA

                              COURT OF APPEAL

                                FIRST CIRCUIT

                               NO. 2022 KA 1114

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                            STATE OF LOUISIANA
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                                     VERSUS

                              JACOB FAY LUKE

                                              Judgment Rendered: MAY 18 2023

                                On Appeal from the
                             32nd Judicial District Court
                         In and for the Parish of Terrebonne
                                 State of Louisiana
                               Trial Court No. 794927

                   Honorable Timothy C. Ellender, Judge Presiding

 Jason P. Lyons                               Attorneys for Appellee,
 Joseph L. Waitz, Jr.                         State of Louisiana
 Houma, LA

 Prentice L. White                            Attorney for Defendant -Appellant,
 Baton Rouge, LA                              Jacob Fay Luke

                  BEFORE: THERIOT, CHUTZ, AND HESTER, JJ.
HESTER, J.

       The defendant, Jacob Fay Luke, was charged by bill of information with

aggravated flight from an officer where human life is endangered, a violation of La.

R.S. 14: 108. 1( C) ( count 1);   resisting an officer with force or violence, a violation of

La. R.S. 14: 108. 2 ( count 2);      battery of a police officer, a violation of La. R.S.

14: 34.2( B) ( count 3); and possession of methamphetamine, a violation of La. R.S.

40: 967( C) ( count 4).   The defendant pled not guilty and, following a jury trial, was

found guilty as charged on counts 1 and 2. On count 3, he was found guilty of the

responsive offense of attempted battery of a police officer; and on count 4, he was

found guilty of the responsive offense of attempted possession of methamphetamine.

See La. R.S. 14: 27.

       The State filed a habitual offender bill of information.           Following a hearing

on the matter, the defendant was adjudicated a fourth -felony habitual offender.'             For

counts 1, 2, and 3, the trial court imposed an enhanced sentence of life imprisonment

at hard labor without benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence.                 On

count 4, the trial court imposed an enhanced sentence of twenty years imprisonment

at hard labor.2     The defendant filed a motion to reconsider sentence, which was

denied.   The defendant now appeals, designating two assignments of error.                For the

following reasons, we affirm the convictions, habitual offender adjudications, and

enhanced sentences.

                                            FACTS

       On the morning of April 11, 2019, Louisiana State Trooper Anthony Dorris

was at a red light in Gray, Louisiana, running license plates at random.              He ran the

I The defendant has prior convictions for simple criminal damage to property, illegal discharge of
a firearnn, carnal knowledge of a juvenile ( two convictions), attempted carnal knowledge of a
juvenile, failure to register as a sex offender, and felony theft.
 z The trial court did not specify whether the sentences were to run consecutively or concurrently.
Since the trial court did not expressly direct the sentences to run consecutively, and because all
four offenses arose from the same act or transaction, the sentences shall be served concurrently.
See La. Code Crim. P. art. 883.

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plate on the vehicle the defendant was driving and learned that the vehicle had a

switched license plate. Trooper Dorris got behind the defendant and turned on his

lights, but the defendant did not stop.   Instead, the defendant turned into Mobile

Estates Subdivision.

      While pursuing the defendant, Trooper Dorris turned on his siren and his body

camera.   During the pursuit, the defendant stopped and got out of his vehicle.

Trooper Dorris got out of his vehicle with his gun drawn and stayed behind his

vehicle' s opened door. The defendant then got back into his vehicle and drove away.

Trooper Dorris followed him. The defendant turned right onto Champion Street and

began accelerating. The defendant ran several stop signs and reached speeds in

excess of 55 m.p.h. in a 25 m.p.h speed zone.       The defendant then slowed down,

exited his car, and ran while his vehicle was still moving.   The defendant' s vehicle

rolled into a ditch on Champion Street, and the defendant ran down Sabrina Drive.

      Trooper Dorris ran after the defendant on foot and ordered him to stop.      The

defendant kept running, and Trooper Dorris called for backup. Trooper Dorris could

not see the defendant' s right hand and thought he might have a weapon. Trooper

Dorris caught up to the defendant on Champion Street and Lasered him. According

to the trooper, the taser did not work on the defendant. Trooper Dorris fired the taser

a second time as the defendant was already stumbling. The taser took effect, and the

defendant fell to the ground.

      Trooper Dorris sought to control the defendant' s hands but could not.

According to Trooper Dorris, the defendant was quite a bit bigger than him. Trooper

Dorris yelled commands at the defendant, but the defendant ignored him and began

getting up. Trooper Dorris continued to struggle with the defendant as he attempted

to get his hands behind his back. Trooper Dorris testified that the defendant tried to

strike him in the face and kick him in the groin.   As they continued to struggle, they

                                           3
rolled into a ditch on the side of the roadway. Trooper Dorris landed on his back,

and the defendant landed on top of him.

       While in the ditch, Trooper Dorris screamed out for help.                 Trooper Dorris

testified that the defendant continued to strike at him and bit him on the arm. During

the fight, Trooper Dorris observed a knife come off the defendant' s person.                    The

trooper grabbed the knife and threw it as far as he could. The defendant broke free

from Trooper Dorris' s grasp, climbed out of the ditch, and began walking away.

Trooper Dorris began following the defendant when backup arrived and subdued the

defendant. A plastic bag containing methamphetamine was found in the defendant' s

vehicle.

                           ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NO. 1

       In his first assignment of error, the defendant argues the trial court erred in

allowing into evidence a letter written by him to his sister, Amber Luke, while in jail

awaiting trial for the instant offenses.      In pertinent part, the defendant wrote:

       say amber pic they offerder me 15 years amber ... i really reallly need
       you sis \ amber i didn' t even do shit to get this much time offeder to me
       but guess the devil wants me in this bitch fuck i should of just killed
       that state trooper would of never been all this shit dirty bitch should of
       killed him sis but i love you so much thanks for not giving up on me[.]

       Prior to trial, the defendant filed a motion in limine to challenge the

admissibility of the letter. He argues in brief that the letter should not have been

allowed into evidence because it was highly inflammatory and written at a time when

he was incarcerated and simply venting his frustration with being charged with

battery of a police officer. At the hearing on the motion in limine, the defendant

argued that the letter was irrelevant and that the State sought to use the letter to make

him look like a bad person.'        The State responded that the defendant was charged

3 The defendant raises a confrontation issue and cites to Crawford v. Washington, 541 U. S. 36,
124 S. Ct. 1354, 158 L.Ed. 2d 177 ( 2004) for the first time on appeal. The defendant did not raise
any confrontation issue nor mention Crawford in either his written motion in limine or in his
argument at the hearing on the motion in limine. A new ground for objection cannot be raised for
the first time on appeal. See La. Code Crim. P. art. 841; La. Code Evid. art. 103( A)( 1);   State v.

                                                 4
with four offenses, including resisting an officer with force or violence.                 Since the

State had to prove the defendant used force or violence, the letter would be used to

show intent and as an admission that he had an altercation with the trooper,

particularly when he wrote he should have just killed the officer.               The State further

suggested the letter proved identity.

        In denying the defendant' s motion in limine, the trial court stated in pertinent
part:

               While] seemingly not admissible to prove other crimes, wrongs,
        or acts under [ La. Code Evid. art] 404( b),      these types of statements can

        be admissible for other reasons.
              The defendant is charged with aggravated flight from an officer;
        and after reviewing that statute, 14: 108. 1, one of the necessary elements
        under Subsection C is that the alleged defendant committed flight
        wherein human life is endangered.
              The    evidence     proffered    by      the   notice   by   the     State    is
        independently relevant on the issue of opportunity, motive of the actual
        crime for which he is charged with.
               So in taking the [ La. Code Evid. arts.] 401- 403 balancing test as
        to relevance and prejudice, it' s clear that [ the defendant] will have the
        opportunity to argue, testify, otherwise put on evidence to dispute the
        use for which it' s being offered by the State.
               It' s not determinative of any issue in the case but it certainly is
        relevant, and the Court feels as though any prejudice is outweighed by
        the potential relevance as to motive and opportunity.

        We find no reason to disturb the trial court' s ruling. As pointed out, the letter

was relevant to show motive and opportunity to avoid being charged with any of the

offenses.   The letter was also relevant to show intent and identity.             We further note

that as addressed by the State in its argument at the hearing, the defendant' s letter

had more pertinence regarding the charge of resisting an officer with force or

violence because the defendant' s suggestion that he should have just killed the

officer is highly suggestive of the defendant having been in a physical confrontation

with Trooper Dorris in the first instance. The letter also showed absence of mistake;

that is, it went to the defendant' s state of mind in that he was aware of what he was

Hammond, 2019- 1580 ( La. App. 1st Cir. 8/ 3/ 20),   310 So. M 749, 754.

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doing when he used force or violence against Trooper Dorris.              See La. Code Evid.

art.   404( B).   Accordingly, the letter was relevant; further, it was not unduly

prejudicial because it was cumulative of independent evidence of the defendant' s

criminal acts.

        Furthermore,    Trooper     Donis' s   testimony      clearly   established   that   the

defendant resisted him with force or violence.          Therefore, even if the defendant' s

letter had been improperly allowed into evidence,              such admission would have

constituted harmless error.       See Sullivan v. Louisiana, 508 U.S. 275, 113 S. Ct.

2078, 124 L.Ed.2d 182 ( 1993).

        The defendant was incarcerated in Terrebonne Parish Jail.              His letter was

admitted at trial through the testimony of Lieutenant Allison Zeringue, who worked

with the messaging system at the jail. The defendant suggests in brief that Lieutenant

Zeringue' s sole purpose at trial was to "         offer"   the letter into evidence without

providing him with " the ability to cross- examine her"            about the context of the

message.      This is incorrect.     At the conclusion of the direct examination of

Lieutenant Zeringue, the witness was tendered, and defense counsel elected not to

question her.

        The defendant further suggests in brief that the State should have called

Amber Luke to testify to derive some context behind the defendant' s purpose in

sending his message to her.       The State was under no obligation to call Amber as a

witness to provide "   context"   to the defendant' s letter. Furthermore, the defendant

could have called his sister as a witness but chose not to.

         This assignment of error is without merit.

                          ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NO. 2

         In his second assignment of error, the defendant argues that his sentences as a

habitual offender are unconstitutionally excessive.              Specifically, the defendant

contends the trial court should have departed from the mandatory minimum

                                               0
sentences.

       The Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution and Article I, § 20,

of the Louisiana Constitution prohibit the imposition of cruel or excessive

punishment. Although a sentence falls within statutory limits, it may be excessive.

State v. Sepulvado, 367 So. 2d 762, 767 ( La. 1979).         A sentence is considered

constitutionally excessive if it is grossly disproportionate to the seriousness of the

offense or is nothing more than a purposeless and needless infliction of pain and

suffering.    A sentence is considered grossly disproportionate if,when the crime and

punishment are considered in light of the harm done to society, it shocks the sense

of justice.    State v. Andrews, 94- 0842 ( La. App. 1st Cir. 515{ 95),    655 So. 2d 448,

454.   The trial court has great discretion in imposing a sentence within the statutory

limits, and such a sentence will not be set aside as excessive in the absence of a

manifest abuse of discretion. See State v. Holts, 525 So. 2d 1241, 1245 (        La. App.

1 st Cir. 1988).    Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure article 894. 1 sets forth the

factors for the trial court to consider when imposing sentence.           While the entire

checklist of La. Code of Crim. P. art. 894. 1 need not be recited, the record must

reflect the trial court adequately considered the criteria. State v. Brown, 2002- 2231

 La. App. 1st Cir. 5/ 9/ 03),   849 So. 2d 566, 569.

       The articulation of the factual basis for a sentence is the goal of La. Code

Crim. P. art. 894. 1, not rigid or mechanical compliance with its provisions. Where

the record clearly shows an adequate factual basis for the sentence imposed, remand

is unnecessary even where there has not been full compliance with La. Code Crim.

P. art. 894. 1.    State v. Lanclos, 419 So. 2d 475, 478 ( La. 1982).      The trial judge

should review the defendant' s personal history, his prior criminal record,            the

seriousness of the offense, the likelihood that he will commit another crime, and his

potential for rehabilitation through correctional services other than confinement.

See State v. Jones, 398 So. 2d 1049, 1051- 52 ( La. 1981).     On appellate review of a
sentence, the relevant question is whether the trial court abused its broad sentencing

discretion, not whether another sentence might have been more appropriate. State

v. Thomas, 98- 1144 ( La. 10/ 9/ 98), 719 So. 2d 49, 50 ( per curiam).

      In State v. Dorthey, 623 So.2d 1276,                 1280- 81 ( La. 1993), the Louisiana

Supreme Court opined that if a trial judge were to find that the punishment mandated

by La. R. S. 15: 529. 1 makes no "    measurable contribution to acceptable goals of

punishment"     or that the sentence amounted to nothing more than " the           purposeful

imposition of pain and suffering" and is " grossly out of proportion to the severity of

the crime,"    he has the option, indeed the duty, to reduce such sentence to one that

would not be constitutionally excessive.         In State v. Johnson, 97- 1906 ( La. 3/ 4/ 98),

709 So. 2d 672, 676- 77, the Louisiana Supreme Court reexamined the issue of when

Dorthey permits a downward departure from the mandatory minimum sentences in

the Habitual Offender Law.

      A sentencing judge must always start with the presumption that a mandatory

minimum sentence under the Habitual Offender Law is constitutional. A court may

only depart from the minimum sentence if it finds that there is clear and convincing

evidence in the particular case before it, which would rebut this presumption of

constitutionality. A trial judge may not rely solely upon the nonviolent nature of the

instant crime or of past crimes as evidence that justifies rebutting the presumption

of constitutionality. While the classification of a defendant' s instant or prior offenses

as nonviolent should not be discounted, this factor has already been taken into

account under the Habitual Offender Law for third and fourth offenders. Johnson,

709 So.2d at 676.

       To     rebut   the   presumption   that       the   mandatory   minimum    sentence   is

constitutional,   the defendant must clearly and convincingly show that he is

exceptional, which means that because of unusual circumstances this defendant is a

victim of the legislature' s failure to assign sentences that are meaningfully tailored

                                                 8
to the culpability of the offender, the gravity of the offense, and the circumstances

of the case.   Given the legislature' s constitutional authority to enact statutes such as

the Habitual Offender Law, it is not the role of the sentencing court to question the

wisdom of the legislature in requiring enhanced punishments for multiple offenders.

Instead, the sentencing court is only allowed to determine whether the particular

defendant before it has proven that the mandatory minimum sentence is so excessive

in his case that it violates the constitution. Departures downward from the minimum

sentence under the Habitual Offender Law should occur only in rare situations.

Johnson, 709 So. 2d at 676- 77.

       On counts 1, 2, and 3, with each of the sentences enhanced, the defendant was

sentenced to mandatory life imprisonment at hard labor on each count.            See La. R. S.

15: 529. 1 ( A)(4)( c) & La. R.S. 15: 529. 1 ( G). The defendant argues he was entitled to

a downward departure of these sentences because he had only a sixth -grade

education wherein he kept failing his classes due to his psychiatric diagnoses of

ADHD and bi-polar disorder.'        He also had difficulty understanding his rights during

his prior guilty pleas, and he needed repeated clarification at the habitual offender

hearing before he understood what was occurring in his case.

       At sentencing, the trial court specifically addressed the Dorthey issue and, in

pertinent part, stated:

               I have considered, Mr. Billiot [ defense counsel],       with a heavy
       heart the possible application of State v. Dorthey. And despite your
       valiant effort --   and it is a noble one, sir -- it does not appear to me that
       Mr. Luke' s case qualifies him as " exceptional" in the jurisprudence that
       has interpreted that.
              I have prepared my reasons for judgment -- I' ve been working
       on this today and made a lot of changes, made some changes after the
       argument, as a matter of fact. But in part, I wrote the following. And
       this is why the Court is convinced that Mr. Luke provides an imminent
       danger to the public safety of the Parish of Terrebonne and the State of
       Louisiana.

               I have considered the sentencing guidelines in Code of Criminal
       Procedure Article 894. 1 and find several of these factors very specific

4 These diagnoses were not verified, but were offered through the testimony of the defendant' s
sister, Amber Luke.

                                               9
       to Mr. Luke.
               The Court notes that since 2006, he has committed 11 felonies,
       three of which were defined as sex crimes involving separate victims
       under the age of 18 and four crimes of violence. Moreover, the time
       upon each of his previous convictions -- 2006, 2007, 2010, 2012, 2017
       and 2021 -- very demonstrative that the defendant has never purged his
       record of the cleansing period, and also to show a very in -time close
       repeat offender.

               The       defendant   was    also    afforded   probation   on   multiple

       occasions, yet did not avail himself of any rehabilitative services that if
       put to use on his part may have thwarted his pattern of recidivism.
               Specific to the most recent conviction, the defendant, by virtue
       of the commission of crimes of violence against Trooper Dorris -- I
       don' t know if I' m getting that correct -- exhibited reckless disregard for
       life and placed lives, including his own, at extreme peril.
              Finally, on multiple occasions the defendant while awaiting trial
       or otherwise previously benefiting from being placed on probation has
       committed more crimes, further exhibiting a complete disregard for
       law, order and rehabilitation.
             Mr. Luke has left a number of victims in his past on a pretty
       timely basis. It gives me no pleasure to do it, Mr. Luke, but I' m
       compelled by reason, justice, and the law to rule this way.
       The defendant received these enhanced sentences because of his continued

lawlessness.    See Johnson, 709 So. 2d at 677.           Further, he has not pointed to any

instances of how his circumstances are unusual or how he is exceptional. There is

nothing particularly unusual about the defendant' s circumstances that would justify

a   downward        departure    from      the     mandatory    sentence   under    La.    R.S.

15: 529. 1( A)(4)( c).    With the defendant' s eleven felony convictions over the past

fifteen years, including several crimes of violence and sex crimes involving victims

under eighteen years old, the record before us established more than an adequate

factual basis for the sentences imposed.           The defendant has not shown by clear and

convincing evidence that he is exceptional such that the sentences would not be

meaningfully tailored to the culpability of the offender, the gravity of the offenses,

and the circumstances of the case.         See Johnson, 709 So. 2d at 676. Accordingly, no

downward departure from the presumptively constitutional mandatory minimum

sentences is warranted.       The sentences imposed are not grossly disproportionate to

the severity of the offenses and, therefore, are not unconstitutionally excessive.

                                                   10
    This assignment of error is without merit.

    CONVICTIONS, HABITUAL OFFENDER ADJUDICATIONS, AND

ENHANCED SENTENCES AFFIRMED.

                                      II