Court Opinion

ID: 9381607
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-03-23 15:05:50.026169+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:17:33.023994
License: Public Domain

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        NOT TO BE PUBLISHED OPINION

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                                                         RENDERED: MARCH 23, 2023
                                                              NOT TO BE PUBLISHED

                  Supreme Court of Kentucky
                                    2021-SC-0311-MR

JUAN CHAIREZ                                                           APPELLANT

                ON APPEAL FROM JEFFERSON CIRCUIT COURT
V.           HONORABLE JUDITH E. MCDONALD-BURKMAN, JUDGE
                            NO. 15-CR-003148

COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY                                                APPELLEE

                      MEMORANDUM OPINION OF THE COURT

                                        AFFIRMING

      A Jefferson County jury found Appellant Juan Chairez guilty of sodomy

in the first degree and four counts of sexual abuse in the first degree. In

accordance with his agreement with the Commonwealth, Chairez was

sentenced to twenty-five years in prison. He appeals the conviction and

sentence as a matter of right. We affirm the Jefferson Circuit Court’s

judgment.

                       FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

      In 2014, after confiding in a relative, J.C.1 reported to police that her

father, Chairez, sexually assaulted her. According to J.C.’s testimony, the

sexual assault occurred on two occasions, once between September 1, 2012,

      1   We use initials to protect the identity of the victim.
and March 13, 2013, when J.C. was ten years old and once between October 1,

2013, and October 31, 2013, when J.C. was eleven years old. It was about

seven months after the second incident that J.C. told the relative what

happened. That disclosure led to an indictment against Chairez. After a three-

day trial in May 2021,2 and hearing testimony from Chairez on his own behalf,

a jury found Chairez guilty of sodomy in the first degree and four counts of

sexual abuse in the first degree. The jury found Chairez not guilty of rape in

the first degree.

      J.C. testified that on the first occasion of sexual abuse, she lived in a

three-bedroom house with Chairez, her half-sister,3 and a cousin. J.C.

described her father, her primary caretaker, as a hard worker, her best friend,

and as loving and nurturing. J.C. also testified that Chairez was a heavy

drinker, that he drank every day, and that he often invited friends over to drink

and record music in his basement studio. One night J.C. could not sleep

because of the noise. She had gone to bed in her own bedroom, but that room

had a vent connected to the basement. She moved to Chairez’s room, got into

bed, and went to sleep; according to J.C., she slept in Chairez’s bed often,

probably at least once a week. J.C. testified that she woke up to Chairez

pulling down her shorts and underwear and that he touched her breasts,

rubbed her clitoris, performed oral sex, and inserted his finger inside of her.

When she started crying, Chairez stopped, turned on the light, and explained

      2   Chairez first went to trial in 2019 but a mistrial was declared.
      3   J.C. and her half-sister share a mother.

                                             2
that he did not know it was J.C. in his bed. J.C. testified that Chairez cried

and panicked and told J.C. not to tell anyone what happened or else he would

go to prison.

      On the second occasion, Chairez, J.C., and her half-sister were living at a

friend’s house. The three of them slept in the basement. J.C., unlike the other

two, did not have a bed and she primarily slept on the couch. On the night of

the second incident, Chairez told J.C. to sleep in his bed and he would sleep on

the couch. J.C. woke up in the middle of the night when Chairez touched her

clitoris. J.C. got up and moved to the couch.

      The Commonwealth called multiple witnesses. Those witnesses included

Chairez’s cousin and two of his friends who testified in relation to J.C.’s

allegations of abuse on the first night in question. The cousin testified that he

heard noise coming from Chairez’s bedroom and assumed Chairez was with his

girlfriend. When he went to the cracked door, the room was dark but he could

see a female sitting on the bed, and the door then closed. The cousin also

testified that the next day Chairez told him that he was really drunk, he woke

up and realized he was kissing J.C., it was an accident, he had talked with J.C.

and everything was fine, and that Chairez told him not to tell anyone.

      Chairez’s two friends met with him after J.C. made her police report and

asked Chairez about the allegations. According to their testimony, Chairez

explained that after band practice, drunk, he went to bed and thought his

girlfriend was in bed with him and stopped the sexual conduct when he

discovered it was not his girlfriend that he was kissing, but J.C. One friend

                                         3
testified that Chairez explained that he started kissing on J.C. Both friends

testified that Chairez stated that he “went down” on J.C., which they

interpreted as meaning he performed oral sex.

      Chairez testified on his own behalf. He stated that at about ten o’clock

he put J.C. in her bed. After band practice, drunk, he went to bed and passed

out. The room was completely black, he rolled over, and thinking it was his

girlfriend in bed with him, he began kissing on her, kissing her on the

stomach. He testified that he did not engage in other sexual behavior because

J.C. then stated, “Daddy, it’s me!” Chairez testified that his friends must have

misinterpreted what he told them about the events of that night. According to

Chairez, he described to his friends the circumstances and events the same as

Chairez explained them in his testimony. He insisted the second allegation

never occurred at all.

      After the jury reached its verdict, in accordance with his agreement with

the Commonwealth, Chairez was sentenced to twenty-five years in prison. This

appeal followed. Additional facts are presented below as necessary.

                                   ANALYSIS

      Chairez argues on appeal that (1) he was denied a public trial when his

family and supporters were denied the opportunity to attend the trial but a

supporter of the prosecuting witness’ choosing was permitted to attend during

her testimony; (2) he was denied a fair trial and due process when the court

allowed the jury deliberations to be broadcast on the court telephone line; (3)

the trial court erred in admitting improper character evidence after the

                                        4
Commonwealth had not provided notice to Chairez as required by KRE4 404;

(4) the trial court erred by allowing a supervisor to testify to the contents of a

video of a forensic interview; and (5) the lead detective improperly commented

on Chairez’s silence in violation of the Fifth Amendment. We address Chairez’s

claims in turn.

I.    Appellant’s right to a public trial was not violated when the
      public was provided live access via telephone.

      Prior to trial, the circuit court ordered that no members of the public be

permitted in the courtroom during trial. The three-day trial began May 25,

2021. At that point, the Kentucky Supreme Court allowed jury trials, which

had been halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic,5 to resume if the trial court in

its discretion considered it advisable after considering local public health

conditions and relevant health and safety requirements.6 The circuit court

implemented COVID-19 safety protocols.7 The circuit court placed physical

      4   Kentucky Rule of Evidence.
      5 COVID-19 is a respiratory disease caused by SARS-CoV-2, a coronavirus
discovered in 2019. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Coronavirus Disease
2019 (COVID-19), https://www.cdc.gov/dotw/covid-19/index.html (last accessed Feb.
20, 2023).
      6   Kentucky Supreme Court Administrative Order 2021-17 pertinently states:
      “Jury trials may resume if the trial judge determines in his or her
      discretion, after having considered local public health conditions and
      the health and safety requirements established by the Supreme Court in
      Administrative Order 2021-16, that it is advisable.”

      7   Kentucky Supreme Court Administrative Order 2021-16 pertinently states:
      Judges retain the discretion to require individuals in the courtroom to
      use facial coverings generally or in specific cases, particularly cases
      involving persons who are at an increased risk of severe illness from
      COVID-19.

                                          5
distance between the jurors, seating the jury members across the courtroom’s

public gallery during the trial; the trial court also kept the jury in the secured

courtroom during deliberation.

      Before the trial began, the Commonwealth requested a support person’s

presence in the courtroom when J.C. testified. The circuit court granted that

request, even when it was clarified that J.C. was no longer a minor. Citing his

right to a public trial, Chairez then objected to not being allowed a person in

the courtroom like J.C. was being allowed. The circuit court denied Chairez’s

request. Before closing arguments, Chairez renewed his request that some

family members be allowed into the courtroom. The circuit court also denied

that request.

      The Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution8 and Section

Eleven of the Kentucky Constitution9 guarantee the criminal defendant a right

to a “public trial.”10 “The central aim of a criminal proceeding must be to try

the accused fairly . . . .”11 “The right to public trial is, of course, primarily for

       ...
      Judges retain the discretion to limit the number of people or to enforce
      social distancing in a courtroom as health and safety conditions or
      circumstances necessitate.
      8  The Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution states in pertinent
part: “In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and
public trial . . . .”
      9  Section Eleven of the Kentucky Constitution states in pertinent part: “[I]n
prosecutions by indictment or information, [the accused] shall have a speedy public
trial by an impartial jury of the vicinage.”
      10   Crutcher v. Commonwealth, 500 S.W.3d 811, 813 (Ky. 2016).
      11   Waller v. Georgia, 467 U.S. 39, 46 (1984).

                                             6
the benefit of the accused, allowing the public to see that he is ‘fairly dealt with

and not unjustly condemned, and that the presence of interested spectators

may keep his triers keenly alive to a sense of their responsibility and to the

importance of their functions.’”12

            The open trial . . . plays as important a role in the
      administration of justice today as it did for centuries before our
      separation from England. The value of openness lies in the fact
      that people not actually attending trials can have confidence that
      standards of fairness are being observed; the sure knowledge that
      anyone is free to attend gives assurance that established
      procedures are being followed and that deviations will become
      known. Openness thus enhances both the basic fairness of the
      criminal trial and the appearance of fairness so essential to public
      confidence in the system.13

      In Crutcher v. Commonwealth14 this Court recognized the test articulated

by the United States Supreme Court in Waller v. Georgia15 as the test for

determining whether a defendant’s constitutional right to a public trial is

violated when the courtroom is closed over a defendant’s objection.16 A public

       12 Crutcher, 500 S.W.3d at 813-14 (quoting Waller, 467 U.S. at 46). A three-

member concurring opinion in Crutcher discusses a subtle difference between the
Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution and Section Eleven of the
Kentucky Constitution. The concurring opinion states that through its language,
Section Eleven the Kentucky Constitution does not create a right that belongs
exclusively to the defendant but “creates a right that belongs to the people, anyone of
the general citizenry, to assure that no criminal adjudications take place behind
closed doors regardless of the defendant’s preference on the subject.” Id. at 817.
      13  Press-Enter. Co. v. Superior Court of Cal., Riverside Cnty., 464 U.S. 501, 508
(1984) (citing Richmond Newspapers, Inc. v. Virginia, 448 U.S. 555, 569-71 (1980)).
      14  Crutcher decided that a defendant may waive his right to public trial by failing
to object to the closure of the courtroom and preserving the issue for appeal.
      15   467 U.S. 39 (1984).
       16 Waller stated “there can be little doubt that the explicit Sixth Amendment

right of the accused is no less protective of a public trial than the implicit First
Amendment right of the press and public,” 467 U.S. at 46, and concluded that the
tests set out in First Amendment precedent, Press–Enterprise and its predecessors,
                                            7
trial violation does not occur when (1) the party seeking to close the proceeding

advances an overriding interest that is likely to be prejudiced without the

closure, (2) the closure is no broader than necessary to protect that interest, (3)

the trial court considers reasonable alternatives to closing the proceeding, and

(4) the trial court makes findings adequate to support the closure.17

      Chairez complains that the circuit court did not analyze the three Waller

factors and did not make findings to support its reason to close the courtroom

to the public. Chairez argues that even if the COVID-19 pandemic was

sufficient justification for some restrictions on courtroom attendance, the

circuit court did not consider the narrowest method of protecting the health

and safety of the jurors and others necessarily present for the trial. Chairez

asserts that since the jury box was empty, a limited number of the public could

have been permitted to watch the trial from there and those members could

have been subject to reasonable restrictions such as masking, social

distancing, and proof of vaccination. Chairez cites cases from other

jurisdictions to show that such restrictions were used in courtrooms during

this stage of the pandemic. Chairez also argues that allowing J.C.’s support

person in the courtroom during her testimony showed that safe alternatives

also apply to the Sixth Amendment. 467 U.S. at 44-47. Using that test,Waller
concluded that closure of the entire suppression hearing was unjustified.
      17   Id. at 48.

                                         8
existed for allowing the presence of other members of the public in the

courtroom throughout the trial.18

      The Commonwealth counters that Chairez’s contention that the circuit

court did not follow Waller is without merit.19 Beginning with Chairez’s

assertion that the circuit court did not make findings which support closing

the courtroom to the public, the Commonwealth asserts that this Court’s

COVID-19 administrative orders provided guidance to the trial court for

addressing health and safety concerns in the courtroom and the administrative

orders were sufficient to satisfy Waller’s requirement, and those findings only

add to the circuit court’s explanation of the closure on the record before the

      18  We do not address Chairez’s unpreserved argument that the effect of the
circuit court allowing a spectator in the courtroom during J.C.’s testimony alone was
to send an improper message to the jury to value J.C.’s testimony above other
witnesses. Chairez does not mention in his brief where the circuit court placed the
support person and whether any attention was brought to the person.
      19  The Commonwealth’s lead argument is that the facts of this case do not
implicate a constitutional violation. The Commonwealth emphasizes the difference
between a trial in which the public is denied total access to the proceedings, like in
Waller, and a trial in which the public is only denied physical access to the
proceedings. The Commonwealth contends that in this case, while the public was
denied physical access, the public’s access and ability to check that the defendant was
“fairly dealt with and not unjustly condemned” was maintained by hearing the audio
broadcast of the proceedings by telephone and by the opportunity to obtain the video
recording of the proceedings afterward. The Commonwealth cites Press-Enterprise,
464 U.S. 501 (stating that “[w]hen limited closure is ordered [for voir dire], the
constitutional values sought to be protected by holding open proceedings may be
satisfied later by making a transcript of the closed proceedings available within a
reasonable time, if the judge determines that disclosure can be accomplished while
safeguarding the juror’s valid privacy interests”), and this Court’s unpublished
decision, Henson v. Commonwealth, 2020-SC-0343-MR, 2021 WL 5984690 (Ky. Dec.
16, 2021), discussed below, as observing that the constitutional inquiry is not so
much about whether spectators have unfettered physical access to the courtroom, but
whether they can access the proceedings in a meaningful way. We refrain from
addressing this argument concerning interpretation of the constitutional right to
public trial in this case. As in Henson, we consider the Waller factors for determining
whether a Sixth Amendment constitutional violation occurred.
                                          9
trial began. The circuit court explained at the outset of the trial that the jury

box did not provide enough space to distance the jurors properly so the jurors

would be seated in the public gallery. The circuit court stated that for the

safety of the jury, and counsel and the parties, spectators were not allowed in

the courtroom during trial. Although the circuit court considered a larger room

in which to hold the trial, the court explained that its configuration did not

allow quality preservation of the record because of poor audio recording and

that the room still would not have been large enough for spectator attendance.

The circuit court also explained that a public trial was being held as spectators

had access to the trial, i.e., audio access was provided through a dedicated

telephone line, and it would remain open so anyone could listen to the trial,

and the video recording of the trial would be available for anyone afterward.

      In regard to Chairez’s argument that the circuit court did not consider

whether closing the courtroom to spectators was the “narrowest method of

protecting” against the health and safety risks of COVID-19, the

Commonwealth states that Chairez ignores that the circuit court expressly

considered the size of the courtroom and how the jury needed to spread out

when deciding whether spectators could attend. The circuit court also

considered moving to a larger courtroom but determined that doing so was not

possible because the record would not be adequately preserved. The

Commonwealth further argues that the fact other courts with different and

unknown physical limitations could allow limited spectators during a trial has

no bearing here as the trial court was required to consider local health

                                        10
conditions and make health and safety decisions based upon its facilities.

Lastly, the Commonwealth argues that the fact that the circuit court allowed a

single individual into the courtroom during a limited portion of the testimony to

facilitate a vulnerable witness’s ability to testify does not undermine the court’s

judgment that opening the door to spectators for the entire trial was not

possible.

      Henson v. Commonwealth,20 deals with issues similar to those raised by

Chairez and although unpublished, offers guidance in this case. In Henson,

the trial occurred during the beginning of the pandemic, and in compliance

with this Court’s administrative order, the trial court prohibited spectators

from coming into the courtroom.21 The Court acknowledged that the usual

circumstance for application of the Waller test – judicial discretion – was not

present because of the Court’s order that ongoing trials could only proceed to

resolution without interruption by closure of the courtroom to spectators.22

Thus, while faced with the imperfect application, the Court considered whether

it fulfilled the Waller test when issuing Administrative Order No. 2020-08. The

Court concluded the closure was constitutional.

      In Henson, in terms of Waller’s second factor, whether the closure was

narrowly tailored to the interest threatened, the trial court, as it saw fit, could

reschedule the trial underway or restrict the public from the courtroom. When

      20   2020-SC-0343-MR, 2021 WL 5984690 (Ky. Dec. 16, 2021).
      21   Id. at *2.
      22   Id. at *3.

                                         11
considering Waller’s third factor, whether there were reasonable alternatives to

the closure of the proceeding, we stated that closure of the courtroom was the

most feasible way to continue the work of the judiciary while protecting

employees, officials, and litigants from the threat of COVID-19.23 We noted

that when Henson was rendered in December 2021, technologies were available

that provide live streaming of proceedings to any computer or phone with

internet access, but Kentucky courts were not equipped with such technology

at the beginning of the pandemic.24

      In regard to Henson’s argument that the jury’s inability to see his family

members’ and friends’ support for him unfairly prejudiced the jury against him,

we found that argument to be unpersuasive.25 We considered that the

guarantee of a public trial is intended to allow the public to “see for themselves

how their laws are impartially applied”26 and concluded that purpose was

adequately served by the availability of the digital recording of the trial to the

public after the conclusion of the trial.27

      In this case, Chairez’s focus in on the second Waller factor, which, while

interrelated, is distinguished from the third factor. The question under the

second factor is whether the circuit court abused its discretion by not allowing

      23   Id.
      24   Id.
      25   Id. at *4.
      26Id. (citing Waller, 467 U.S. at 46; Lexington Herald Leader Co., Inc. v. Tackett,
601 S.W.2d 905, 907 (Ky. 1980)).
      27   Id.

                                           12
spectators into the courtroom throughout the whole trial.28 While

acknowledging the public health and safety risks associated with COVID-19,

Chairez argues that the circuit court went too far and could have allowed a

limited number of people to attend who met the health measures for mitigating

COVID-19 spread, measures which could have been imposed by the circuit

court.

         At the time of Chairez’s trial Administrative Order 2021-17 allowed trial

courts the discretion to resume jury trials after having considered local public

health conditions and the health and safety requirements established in

Administrative Order 2021-16.29 Administrative Order 2021-16 allowed trial

courts discretion “to limit the number of people or to enforce social distancing

in a courtroom as health and safety conditions or circumstances necessitate”

and “to require individuals in the courtroom to use facial coverings.”30 Courts

were also encouraged to continue hearing civil and criminal matters using

available telephonic and video technology to conduct proceedings remotely.31

         The circuit court’s goal was to balance the defendant’s public trial right

and the objective of stemming the spread of COVID-19. Under the “narrow

tailoring” requirement, the question is whether it was necessary to restrict the

public from the entire trial. There were two constants which restricted the

         See Waller, 467 U.S. 48-50 (finding that the closure of the entire suppression
         28

hearing plainly was unjustified).
         29   See note 6, supra.
         30   See note 7, supra.
         31   Kentucky Supreme Court Administrative Order 2021-16.

                                            13
circuit court’s flexibility of allowing the public into the courtroom over the

course of the trial - mitigation of the spread of the respiratory virus through

public health best practices and courtroom space. As the Court’s

administrative orders reflect, the trial court was given discretion to determine

space available for public use after accounting for and allowing space for those

required to be present in the courtroom during the trial, and if space remained

available for the public, what introduction of the public meant for the public

health interest of those required to be in the courtroom. Here, the circuit court

explained on the record that after dedicating space to the jury in the public

gallery, space did not remain for spectators and their attendance otherwise

would impede the public health goal. Furthermore, given the knowledge that

the risk of spreading COVID-19 increases as more people gather in a confined

space there was a rationale recognized within the Court’s administrative orders

and the circuit court’s explanation for public restriction which would allow

J.C.’s support person be in the courtroom for a limited duration but still

exclude others for the duration of the trial.

      Thus, in accordance with this Court’s administrative orders, the circuit

court exercised its discretion and limited the number of people in the

courtroom by enforcing social distancing during the trial, a reasonable means

of minimizing health risks from COVID-19. Furthermore, as required under

the third Waller factor, the circuit court considered reasonable alternatives to

closure and used an alternative which allowed the public to access the trial

contemporaneously. Hence, the public was required to attend the trial

                                        14
telephonically. While the public was not able to see the trial live, the public

remained able to hear a live feed of the trial and judge whether standards of

fairness were being observed.

      We conclude the circuit court set forth on the record the reasons

justifying the restriction of the public physically from the courtroom and the

condition was no broader than necessary to accomplish its purpose of

stemming the spread of COVID-19. Thus, we cannot conclude that the circuit

court abused its discretion by ordering the courtroom closed to the public

during Chairez’s trial.

II.   Appellant was not denied a fair trial when the telephone
      line dedicated for public access remained on for a short period after
      the jury began deliberating.

      At the close of the case, the jury was secured in the courtroom to

deliberate. After the jury began deliberating, the circuit court was made aware

that the public telephone line remained open. The jury had deliberated 10-12

minutes by the time the deputy instructed the jury to stop deliberations. The

circuit court then ensured that the telephone line was disconnected. The jury

resumed deliberations.

      Chairez moved the circuit court for a new trial on the basis that he had

been denied due process and a fair trial because the jury deliberation was not

secret. The circuit court conducted an evidentiary hearing during which three

witnesses testified. Each witness testified to the statements heard distinctively

and to hearing background voices. The witnesses estimated that they listened

                                        15
to the jury between 5-8 minutes. Chairez now argues that the open telephone

line created pressure on the jury to find him guilty.

      “[T]he primary if not exclusive purpose of jury privacy and secrecy is to

protect the jury’s deliberations from improper influence.”32 As we recognized in

Sevier v. Commonwealth, “[t]he presence of a ‘stranger’ during deliberations is

often viewed as a threat to the jury’s secrecy and ability to engage in free

discussion as a cohesive group without worry of later dissemination.”33 While

an outside intrusion may occur in different ways,34 “the ultimate inquiry [is]:

Did the intrusion affect the jury’s deliberations and thereby its verdict?”35

      While it is clearly an error for the public to hear the jury’s initial

deliberation, under the circumstances of this case, we conclude it was

harmless error. A preserved, non-constitutional error is harmless “if one

cannot say, with fair assurance, after pondering all that happened without

stripping the erroneous action from the whole, that the judgment was not

substantially swayed by the error . . . .”36

      The jury did not know that the telephone line remained open during its

initial deliberations. The circuit court then turned the telephone off without

      32   United States v. Olano, 507 U.S. 725, 737–38 (1993).
      33   434 S.W.3d 443, 463 (Ky. 2014).
      34See Olano, 507 U.S. at 738 (describing outside intrusion cases generally
analyzed for prejudicial impact upon the jury).
      35 Id. at 739; see Sevier, 434 S.W.3d at 463 (stating harmless-error rule applied
for preserved issue of whether a fully participating thirteen-member jury contained a
stranger to the proceedings during its deliberation).
      36 Crossland v. Commonwealth, 291 S.W.3d 223, 233 (Ky. 2009) (quoting

Kotteakos v. United States, 328 U.S. 750 (1946)).

                                             16
telling the jury members what happened. As the Commonwealth asserts, no

harm or prejudice may be found by something which the jury was not aware.

III.   Admission of J.C.’s testimony about her relationship with Appellant,
       if error, was harmless error.

       J.C. testified about her relationship with Chairez. She expressed that

Chairez talked with her like a friend and as an example, explained that he told

vulgar jokes to his friends in her presence. J.C. also testified about how she

came to be in Chairez’s bed on the first occasion of the alleged abuse. When

asked if she had slept in her father’s bedroom before, J.C. answered, “very

often.” J.C. described that she slept in Chairez’s bed at least once a week, that

it was very common, and it was something that she viewed as love, nurturing,

affection, which she craved, and it was another aspect that made their

relationship so much closer. The circuit court overruled Chairez’s objections to

J.C.’s testimony.

       Chairez complains that the Commonwealth did not provide KRE 404(b)

notice that it would introduce this evidence that had the tendency to

demonstrate a character of the defendant consistent with committing the

charged sex offenses. Chairez particularly argues that the testimony depicted

Chairez as sexually inappropriate with his daughter at times other than those

alleged in the indictment and the Commonwealth sought to use the evidence to

make it believable that he would commit the charged sex offenses with J.C.

Chairez also argues that the vulgar jokes and the other occasions J.C. slept in

Chairez’s bed were not charged as crimes and were not relevant to any of the

issues the jury decided at trial.
                                       17
      KRE 404 restricts the introduction of character evidence and evidence of

other crimes, wrongs, or acts admitted for the purpose of “proving action in

conformity therewith,” its purpose being “to prohibit unfair inferences against a

defendant.”37 However, KRE 404 has exceptions.38 Under KRE 404(b), other

crimes, wrongs, or acts may be admissible:

      (1) If offered for some other purpose, such as proof of motive,
          opportunity, intent, preparation, plan, knowledge, identity, or
          absence of mistake or accident; or

      (2) If so inextricably intertwined with other evidence essential to
          the case that separation of the two (2) could not be
          accomplished without serious adverse effect on the offering
          party.

      While quoting parts of KRE 404 viewed to be pertinent, including its

exceptions, Chairez states generally that the testimony by J.C. constituted

improper character evidence and prior bad acts evidence which does not fall

within any of the exceptions contained in the rule. In rebuttal, the

Commonwealth argues that not all evidence which paints the defendant in a

poor light amounts to bad-acts evidence under KRE 404(b). Citing Graham v.

Commonwealth39 for the premise that in order to qualify as bad-acts evidence,

      37   Conrad v. Commonwealth, 534 S.W.3d 779, 781 (Ky. 2017).
      38   KRE 404(a)(1),(2),(3); KRE 404(b)(1),(2).
      39 571 S.W.3d 575, 580 (Ky. 2019). In Graham, the defendant was convicted of
sexually abusing several boys. The defendant objected, under KRE 404(b), to the
prosecution admitting evidence that the defendant took children on fishing trips. The
defendant argued that the evidence was irrelevant to the charges that he had
sodomized and sexually abused two boys in bedrooms. He argued that the evidence
about taking the boys on fishing trips was only to show his criminal disposition and
was unduly prejudicial. This Court stated:
      there is nothing inherently wrong about taking underprivileged children
      on fishing trips. It does not amount to evidence of other crimes, wrongs,
                                             18
the evidence must show that the defendant has done something “inherently

wrong” in the past, the Commonwealth asserts that the testimony which

Chairez complains about, the vulgar jokes and J.C. frequently sleeping in the

same bed with her father, does not fall within the scope of KRE 404(b).

      The Commonwealth further contends that the prosecution did not offer

the vulgar joke testimony to prove that a person who makes vulgar jokes

around kids is the same kind of person who might molest a child. Instead, the

testimony arose from a line of questions aimed at proving that Chairez and J.C.

were close prior to the abuse, which made it unlikely that J.C. would have

made up lies about Chairez. Nevertheless, the Commonwealth argues that any

error was harmless error, and we agree. Upon review of the evidence, we can

say with fair assurance that the jury’s verdict was not substantially swayed by

J.C.’s testimony that her father told vulgar jokes in her presence.40

      The Commonwealth, again citing Graham, also states that there is

nothing inherently wrong about a child sleeping in a bed with her parent, that

the Commonwealth did not introduce the testimony to prove Chairez’s

character, but instead, the testimony established that Chairez would not have

      or acts as contemplated by KRE 404(b). This evidence was not presented
      to “prove the character of [Appellant] in order to show action in
      conformity therewith.” KRE 404(b). It was not presented to prove that
      Appellant’s character was that of a man who takes children fishing in
      order to prove that he took Joseph and Lonnie fishing. While it is true
      that Appellant was accused of sexually abusing other young boys on
      fishing trips, no testimony or evidence of those acts of abuse was
      presented; nor was an allegation that he had abused these or other boys
      while on fishing trips. Id.
      40   Crossland, 291 S.W.3d at 233.

                                           19
been surprised to find J.C. in his bed. The Commonwealth argues that

nevertheless, this testimony, too, if erroneously admitted, would be harmless

error.

         The prosecution did not introduce any evidence that Chairez abused J.C.

during any of the prior times that J.C. slept in his bed. J.C.’s testimony that

she often slept in the same bed may have cast doubt on whether Chairez really

believed that he was with his girlfriend on the first night in question. Given the

testimony the jury heard from J.C. about the abuse and corroborating

testimony from Chairez’s friends, whether J.C. regularly slept in Chairez’s bed

before the alleged abuse occurred, that testimony could not have substantially

swayed the jury’s verdict.41 We conclude that if it was error to admit the

testimony, it was harmless error.

IV.      The Confrontation Clause is not implicated by testimony regarding
         J.C.’s forensic interview.

         A supervisor at the Family and Children’s Place testified on behalf of the

Commonwealth. The supervisor described the Family and Children’s Place as a

child advocacy center, a neutral entity, where medical exams and forensic

interviews are conducted of alleged child abuse victims. J.C. made a disclosure

to the forensic interviewer. J.C.’s interviewer was no longer employed by the

center at the time of trial. Before her testimony, the supervisor watched the

video of J.C.’s interview; the supervisor was employed at the center at the time

J.C. was interviewed.

         41   Id.
                                          20
      The supervisor described the forensic interview process generally and

answered questions regarding the interview process with J.C. Chairez objected

to the supervisor’s testimony on the basis that the supervisor did not have

personal knowledge of the interview and to the supervisor improperly bolstering

the veracity of J.C.’s forensic interview. On appeal, Chairez claims the forensic

interview was testimonial in nature and therefore the interviewer’s statements,

comments, and questions, relayed through the supervisor’s testimony, were

barred by the Confrontation Clause. The Commonwealth argues that Chairez’s

Confrontation Clause claim is not preserved, and is subject to palpable error

review, but under any standard of review, there is no violation of the

Confrontation Clause here.

      “[T]he Confrontation Clause precludes admission of the statements of a

witness unavailable to testify at trial if the witness’ out-of-court statements

were ‘testimonial,’ unless the accused had a prior opportunity to cross-examine

the witness.”42 As noted above, Chairez complains that the interviewer’s

statements, comments, and questions, relayed through the supervisor’s

testimony are barred by the Confrontation Clause. However, Chairez does not

identify any specific testimony by the supervisor in which the supervisor

mentioned any statements, comments, or questions made by the interviewer.

      The Commonwealth points out that the supervisor never testified about

the specific questions the interviewer asked, but the kinds of questions the

interviewer asked, such as whether they were open-ended. Further, the

      42   Hartsfield v. Commonwealth, 277 S.W.3d 239, 242 (Ky. 2009).
                                          21
supervisor did not testify about the interviewer’s statements, observations, or

opinions. The supervisor explained, if an interviewer were to form an opinion

about alleged abuse, that interviewer is never to reveal that opinion.

Accordingly, the supervisor’s testimony related nothing about the interviewer’s

opinions which may or may not have existed in regard to J.C.’s allegations.

      This Court’s review of the record also reveals no testimony by the

supervisor which may be viewed as admitting the interviewer’s out of court

statements, negating the usual accompanying question of whether the out-of-

court statements were testimonial. We conclude there is no Confrontation

Clause violation under these facts.

V. Appellant’s Fifth Amendment right was not violated.

      The detective in this case testified at trial. The detective testified that she

called Chairez and left a voice mail, but she never had actual physical or verbal

contact with Chairez. Chairez objected to this testimony, arguing it implied

that he did not make a statement, it was an implied comment on his silence,

and it violated Chairez’s Fifth Amendment right.

      The Fifth Amendment guarantees that “[n]o person . . . shall be

compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself.”43 In relation to

that right, the Commonwealth is prohibited from introducing evidence or

commenting in any manner on a defendant’s silence once that defendant has

been informed of his rights and taken into custody.”44

      43   U.S. Const. amend. V.
      44   Hunt v. Commonwealth, 304 S.W.3d 15, 35 (Ky. 2009).

                                          22
      We do not agree with Chairez that the detective’s testimony, testimony

given in regard to whether the detective could identify Chairez in the

courtroom,45 was an improper comment on Chairez’s silence. Nevertheless,

even if it were, “[n]ot every isolated instance referring to post-arrest silence will

be reversible error.”46 Typically, reversal is warranted where the prosecutor

has repeatedly mentioned and emphasized an accused’s post-arrest silence.47

In this case, any improper comment was transient and was not emphasized.

Considering the evidence properly presented to establish Chairez’s guilt, we

cannot conclude that Chairez was prejudiced by the detective’s testimony.48

Any error was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt.49

                                     CONCLUSION

      For the foregoing reasons, the Jefferson Circuit Court’s judgment is

affirmed.

      All sitting. VanMeter, C.J.; Bisig, Conley, Keller, Lambert, Nickell, JJ.;

concur. Thompson, J.; concurs in result only.

      45   See Ragland v. Commonwealth, 191 S.W.3d 569, 589-90 (Ky. 2006).
      46   Wallen v. Commonwealth, 657 S.W.2d 232, 233 (Ky. 1983).
      47   Id.
      48  See Baumia v. Commonwealth, 402 S.W.3d 530, 539-40 (Ky. 2013) (citing
factors in United States v. Velarde–Gomez, 269 F.3d 1023, 1034 (9th Cir. 2001)).
      49   Chapman v. California, 386 U.S. 18, 24 (1967).

                                           23
COUNSEL FOR APPELLANT:

Joseph R. Eggert
Michael L. Goodwin

COUNSEL FOR APPELLEE:

Daniel J. Cameron
Attorney General of Kentucky

Matthew F. Kuhn
Assistant Attorney General

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