Court Opinion

ID: 3152769
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-11-06 17:08:13.38758+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:09:46.586596
License: Public Domain

MEMORANDUM DECISION
Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D),
this Memorandum Decision shall not be                                 Nov 06 2015, 5:43 am
regarded as precedent or cited before any
court except for the purpose of establishing
the defense of res judicata, collateral
estoppel, or the law of the case.

ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT                                  ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE
Clifford M. Davenport                                   Gregory F. Zoeller
Davenport Law Offices                                   Attorney General of Indiana
Anderson, Indiana
                                                        J.T. Whitehead
                                                        Deputy Attorney General
                                                        Indianapolis, Indiana

                                          IN THE
    COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA

Luis A. Ramirez,                                        November 6, 2015
Appellant-Defendant,                                    Court of Appeals Case No.
                                                        48A02-1412-CR-875
        v.                                              Appeal from the Madison Circuit
                                                        Court
State of Indiana,                                       The Honorable Thomas Newman,
Appellee-Plaintiff.                                     Jr., Judge
                                                        Trial Court Cause No.
                                                        48C03-1403-FC-533

Najam, Judge.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 48A02-1412-CR-875 | November 6, 2015   Page 1 of 15
                                       Statement of the Case
[1]   Luis A. Ramirez appeals his convictions, after a jury trial, for sexual

      misconduct with a minor, as a Class C felony; child exploitation, a Class C

      felony; and possession of child pornography, a Class D felony. On review he

      raises the following two issues:

              1.      Whether the State presented sufficient evidence to sustain
                      his convictions; and

              2.      Whether the trial court erred in denying his motion for a
                      mistrial due to alleged prosecutorial misconduct.

      We affirm.

                                 Facts and Procedural History
[2]   On October 5, 2013, Officer Steven White of the Madison County Sheriff’s

      Department responded to a call concerning an intoxicated female juvenile

      named S.L. S.L. was seventeen years old at that time, and she told Officer

      White that she had had sexual intercourse with Ramirez for “thousands of

      dollars.” Appellant’s App. at 74. On October 7, Officer White conducted a

      recorded interview with S.L., during which she stated that Ramirez had shown

      her a video on his laptop computer of a girl performing fellatio on Ramirez.

      Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 48A02-1412-CR-875 | November 6, 2015   Page 2 of 15
      S.L. identified the girl in the video as M.N.,1 a classmate of S.L.’s at Pendleton

      Heights High School.

[3]   On October 17, the police obtained and executed a search warrant for Ramirez’

      house. The police recovered from the premises several cell phones, thumb

      drives, laptop computers, and an SD card. The SD card contained the video of

      Ramirez receiving fellatio from M.N. The officers arrested Ramirez the same

      day and read him his Miranda rights, which he waived.

[4]   Once Ramirez was in police custody, Detective Brett Wright conducted an

      interview with him during which Ramirez admitted that he had shown S.L. the

      video of M.N. performing an oral sex act on him. Ramirez also admitted to

      having pictures of a naked M.N. on his cell phone, on his email account, and

      on the SD memory card, which also contained the video of M.N. Ramirez

      informed Detective Wright that he did not know how old M.N. was but that

      she had told him at a high school football game several months before the sex

      act that she was seventeen years old.

[5]   On March 28, 2014, the State filed the following charges against Ramirez:

      Count I, sexual misconduct with a minor, as a Class C felony; Count II, child

      exploitation, a Class C felony; and Count III, possession of child pornography,

      1
        Indiana Administrative Rule 9(G)(2)(g)(i) provides that juveniles who are victims of sex crimes must be
      identified only by their initials. Ramirez’ counsel on appeal failed to follow this rule, instead using the
      alleged victim’s full name in his brief. We admonish Ramirez’ counsel to, in the future, use only the initials
      of any juveniles who are alleged victims of sex crimes.

      Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 48A02-1412-CR-875 | November 6, 2015             Page 3 of 15
      a Class D felony. The charging information alleges that the underlying sex act

      with M.N. took place “on or about April 23, 2013.” Appellant’s App. at 99.

[6]   The court held Ramirez’ jury trial on October 30 and 31, 2014. At the trial,

      R.H., a friend and classmate of M.N., testified that she knew Ramirez and had

      told him sometime in 2013 that M.N. was fifteen years old. M.N. also testified

      at trial. She stated that her date of birth was July 22, 1998, and that she was

      fourteen years old at the time she performed oral sex on Ramirez. She testified

      that Ramirez had offered her marijuana in return for sex, and she believed the

      sex act took place in October 2012. M.N. said Ramirez had made her “a lot” of

      offers, through Facebook, of drugs for sex. Tr. at 261.

[7]   M.N. was not asked about, and she did not testify about, whether she had ever

      met Ramirez at a football game or told him that she was seventeen years old.

      However, she did testify that she and Ramirez had known each other since she

      was in elementary school and that she thought he should have known her true

      age. She said Ramirez has two brothers who go to school with her, one in a

      grade below her and one in a grade above her. M.N. also testified that Ramirez

      frequently socialized with a mutual friend who was the same age as M.N.

      M.N. did not know that Ramirez was recording the sex act until she was told

      by the police. At the jury trial, M.N. identified a picture of herself that was

      taken in the summer of 2012 and admitted into evidence.

[8]   Detective Wright testified about what Ramirez had told him in the October 17,

      2013, interview. Sargent Jennifer Barnes testified and identified the video of

      Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 48A02-1412-CR-875 | November 6, 2015   Page 4 of 15
       M.N. performing oral sex on Ramirez. That video was subsequently shown to

       the jury and entered into evidence.

[9]    Ramirez testified that he had met M.N. once when she was in elementary

       school and did not see her again until he ran into her at a November 2012 high

       school football game. Ramirez testified that M.N. told him at that game that

       she was seventeen years old. He admitted to having offered M.N. marijuana

       for sex and that M.N. had performed oral sex on him in January or February of

       2013. He admitted that he had recorded that sex act without M.N.’s

       knowledge, and he testified that he had done so because he wanted leverage to

       use against her if she tried to have someone beat him up. Ramirez further

       testified that R.H. never told him M.N.’s age and that he thought M.N. was

       eighteen by the time of the sex act.

[10]   In both the preliminary and final jury instructions, the trial court informed the

       jury that (1) the defendant was not required to present any evidence to prove

       innocence; (2) the burden of proof was on the State to prove guilt beyond a

       reasonable doubt; and (3) the jury was not to conduct any investigation of its

       own. In its final instructions, the trial court also informed the jury that (1) it

       should not conjecture or draw any inferences about evidence ruled

       inadmissible; (2) it should not be influenced in its decision-making by sympathy

       or prejudice for or against the defendant or complaining witness; (3) it should

       consider only the evidence admitted in the case and disregard any and all other

       information from any and all other sources; and (4) statements and arguments

       of the attorneys were not evidence.

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 48A02-1412-CR-875 | November 6, 2015   Page 5 of 15
[11]   The jury found Ramirez guilty of all three charges, and the trial court sentenced

       him to an aggregate term of four years executed. Ramirez now appeals his

       convictions.

                                      Discussion and Decision
                                 Issue One: Sufficiency of the Evidence

[12]   Ramirez asserts that the State presented insufficient evidence to support his

       convictions for sexual misconduct with a minor, child exploitation, and

       possession of child pornography. When reviewing a claim of sufficiency of the

       evidence,

               we do not reweigh evidence or judge witness credibility; rather,
               we consider only the evidence and reasonable inferences most
               favorable to the verdict. Hyche v. State, 934 N.E.2d 1176, 1178
               (Ind. Ct. App. 2010), reh’g denied, trans. denied. This review
               “respects the jury’s exclusive province to weigh conflicting
               evidence.” Allen v. State, 844 N.E.2d 534, 536 (Ind. Ct. App.
               2006), trans. denied. We must affirm if the probative evidence and
               reasonable inferences drawn from the evidence could have
               allowed a reasonable trier of fact to find the defendant guilty
               beyond a reasonable doubt. Id. The factfinder is obliged to
               determine not only whom to believe, but also what portions of
               conflicting testimony to believe, Atwood v. State, 905 N.E.2d 479,
               484 (Ind. Ct. App. 2009), trans. denied, and is not required to
               believe a witness’ testimony even when it is uncontradicted.
               Thompson v. State, 804 N.E.2d 1146, 1149 (Ind. 2004).

       Wood v. State, 999 N.E.2d 1054, 1063-64 (Ind. Ct. App. 2013), trans. denied, cert.

       denied, 135 S. Ct. 250 (2014).

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 48A02-1412-CR-875 | November 6, 2015   Page 6 of 15
[13]   Pursuant to Indiana Code Section 35-42-4-9(a) (2012), to prove Ramirez

       committed sexual misconduct with a minor, the State was required to show that

       he was at least eighteen years of age and engaged in deviate sexual conduct 2

       with a minor who was at least fourteen years of age but less than sixteen years

       of age. However, it is a defense that the accused person reasonably believed

       that the child was at least sixteen years of age at the time of the conduct. I.C. §

       35-42-4-9(c) (2012). To prove that Ramirez committed child exploitation, the

       State was required to show that Ramirez knowingly or intentionally managed,

       produced, sponsored, presented, exhibited, photographed, filmed, videotaped,

       or created a digitized image of any performance or incident that includes sexual

       conduct by a child under eighteen years of age. I.C. § 35-42-4-4(b)(1) (West

       Supp. 2012). And to prove that Ramirez possessed child pornography, the

       State was required to prove that he knowingly or intentionally possessed a

       picture, a drawing, a photograph, a negative image, undeveloped film, a motion

       picture, a videotape, a digitized image, or any pictorial representation that

       depicts or describes sexual conduct by a child who the person knows is less than

       sixteen years of age or who appears to be less than sixteen years of age, and that

       2
         “‘Deviate sexual conduct’ means an act involving: (1) a sex organ of one (1) person and the mouth or anus
       of another person . . . .” Ind. Code § 35-31.5-2-94 (2012).

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 48A02-1412-CR-875 | November 6, 2015         Page 7 of 15
       lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value. I.C. § 35-42-4-4(c)

       (West Supp. 2012).3

[14]   On appeal, Ramirez contends either that the State did not present sufficient

       evidence to prove that he had the mens rea required for each of the charged

       offenses or that the State’s evidence is insufficient to rebut his defense that he

       reasonably believed M.N. to be eighteen years old at the time of the offenses.

       Ramirez does not challenge the sufficiency of the State’s evidence showing that

       M.N. was, in fact, fourteen years old at the time of the offenses,4 and he does

       not challenge the sufficiency of the evidence with respect to any of the other

       elements of the offenses.

[15]   The State presented the following evidence that Ramirez knew M.N.’s true age:

       R.H. testified that she had previously told Ramirez M.N.’s true age, and M.N.

       testified that she thought Ramirez knew or should have known her true age.

       Moreover, the jury had before it a picture of M.N. from the summer of 2012,

       and M.N. appeared in person before the jury, thus allowing the jury to

       determine first-hand the credibility of Ramirez’ defense that he thought M.N.

       was eighteen. See, e.g., Moore v. State, 369 N.E.2d 628, 632 (Ind. 1977) (noting a

       jury’s observation of a witness at trial is sufficient evidence from which the jury

       3
         Our legislature has chosen not to criminalize consensual sexual conduct of sixteen- and seventeen-year old
       minors, I.C. § 35-42-4-9(a), but has chosen to criminalize the creation of images and, hence, the exploitation
       of such sexual conduct, I.C. § 35-42-4-4(b)(1).
       4
         There was conflicting evidence about the precise date when the underlying sex act occurred, but the
       evidence indicates it happened sometime between October 2012 and April 2013. And it is undisputed that
       M.N., who was born on July 22, 1998, was in fact age fourteen during that entire period of time.

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 48A02-1412-CR-875 | November 6, 2015            Page 8 of 15
       can determine the witness’s age). Thus, Ramirez’ contentions on appeal

       amount to a request that we reweigh the evidence and reassess the credibility of

       the witnesses, which we will not do. The State presented sufficient evidence to

       support Ramirez’ convictions.5

                                    Issue Two: Prosecutorial Misconduct

[16]   Ramirez alleges that the trial court erred in denying his motion for mistrial due

       to prosecutorial misconduct. Specifically, he alleges that the prosecutor

       engaged in misconduct in his closing and rebuttal arguments when he (1)

       discussed facts not in evidence; (2) shifted the burden to the defendant to

       provide evidence; and (3) appealed to the sympathy of the jury.

                In reviewing a claim of prosecutorial misconduct properly raised
                in the trial court, we determine (1) whether misconduct occurred,
                and if so, (2) “whether the misconduct, under all of the
                circumstances, placed the defendant in a position of grave peril to
                which he or she would not have been subjected” otherwise.
                Cooper v. State, 854 N.E.2d 831, 835 (Ind. 2006), quoted in Castillo
                v. State, 974 N.E.2d 458, 468 (Ind. 2012). A prosecutor has the
                duty to present a persuasive final argument and thus placing a
                defendant in grave peril, by itself, is not misconduct. Mahla v.
                State, 496 N.E.2d 568, 572 (Ind. 1986). “Whether a prosecutor’s
                argument constitutes misconduct is measured by reference to

       5
         With respect to sexual misconduct with a minor, a defendant’s reasonable belief that his victim is sixteen or
       older is a defense under the explicit terms of the statute, and the burden of proving this affirmative defense by
       a preponderance of the evidence is on the defendant. Weaver v. State, 845 N.E.2d 1066, 1069 (Ind. Ct. App.
       2006), trans. denied. When a convicted defendant claims that his defense should have prevailed at trial, he is
       “in the position of one appealing from a negative judgment.” Newson v. State, 785 N.E.2d 1155, 1157 (Ind.
       Ct. App. 2003). We reverse a negative judgment only if the decision of the trial court is contrary to law. Id.
       at 1158. However, Ramirez does not contend on appeal that he met his burden of proof regarding the
       affirmative defense and, in any event, the jury obviously determined that he did not.

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 48A02-1412-CR-875 | November 6, 2015              Page 9 of 15
               case law and the Rules of Professional Conduct. The gravity of
               peril is measured by the probable persuasive effect of the misconduct
               on the jury’s decision rather than the degree of impropriety of the
               conduct.” Cooper, 854 N.E.2d at 835 (emphasis added) (citations
               omitted). To preserve a claim of prosecutorial misconduct, the
               defendant must—at the time the alleged misconduct occurs—
               request an admonishment to the jury, and if further relief is
               desired, move for a mistrial. Id.; see also Maldonado v. State, 265
Ind. 492, 498, 355 N.E.2d 843, 848 (1976).

       Ryan v. State, 9 N.E.3d 663, 667 (Ind. 2014) (emphasis original).

[17]   Here, Ramirez’ trial counsel objected to the prosecutor’s statements regarding

       facts not in evidence, burden shifting, and invoking jury sympathy. He also

       requested admonishments and a mistrial due to prosecutorial misconduct.

       Because Ramirez properly preserved the issue of prosecutorial misconduct in

       the trial court, we determine whether there was misconduct and, if so, whether

       the misconduct placed the defendant in grave peril to which he would not

       otherwise have been subjected.

                                              Facts not in evidence

[18]   During his closing statement, the prosecutor stated that there was no Pendleton

       Heights High School football game in November of 2012, and he told the jury

       they could “look [that alleged fact] up in any newspaper in the country.” Tr. at

       365. Ramirez’ lawyer objected, and the trial court stated to the prosecutor, in

       front of the jury, that the jury “cannot look it up.” Id. The prosecutor then read

       from a piece of paper that was not in evidence to indicate that there was no

       football game in November 2012. Ramirez’ lawyer again objected and sought
       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 48A02-1412-CR-875 | November 6, 2015   Page 10 of 15
       an admonishment. The trial court did not rule on the objection or admonish

       the jury, but it stated to the prosecutor, again in front of the jury, that the

       prosecutor could “not use that document.” Id. at 366.

[19]   The prosecutor should not have referred in his closing argument to facts not in

       evidence. See, e.g., Neville v. State, 976 N.E.2d 1252, 1263 (Ind. Ct. App. 2012),

       trans. denied. However, that misconduct did not place Ramirez in grave peril

       because the trial court’s preliminary and final jury instructions diminished any

       persuasive effect the prosecutor’s comments might have had on the jury’s

       decision if left unanswered. Id.; see also Stephenson v. State, 742 N.E.2d 463, 485

       (Ind. 2001) (“Having found that any prosecutorial impropriety which may have

       occurred was de minimus or otherwise overcome by the trial court’s

       admonishments and instructions, we are unable to conclude that Defendant

       was placed in grave peril.”). In its preliminary instructions, the trial court

       informed the jury that it was not to conduct any investigation of its own. And

       in the final instructions, the trial court stated that the jury should consider only

       the evidence admitted in the case and disregard any and all other information

       from any and all other sources. These jury instructions were sufficient to

       overcome any harm to Ramirez from the prosecutor’s statements.

                                                 Burden Shifting

[20]   Similarly, there was no grave peril caused to Ramirez by any of the prosecutor’s

       statements that Ramirez claims shifted the burden of proof to him. In his

       rebuttal argument, the prosecutor stated that, although the defendant was not

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 48A02-1412-CR-875 | November 6, 2015   Page 11 of 15
       required to prove anything, he chose to take the stand and “put on a case.” Tr.

       at 388. The prosecutor then stated, “I have to wonder why that case did not

       include a copy of this video of the football game he talked about.” Id.

       Ramirez’ counsel objected, but the court did not rule on the objection and the

       prosecutor went on to say to the jury, “I’d like to see the video of that football

       game that never took place. Wouldn’t you? Think about it and thank you.” Id.

       at 389.

[21]   Although “[i]t is improper for a prosecutor to suggest that a defendant

       shoulders the burden of proof in a criminal case,” Stephenson, 742 N.E.2d at

       483, that is not what happened here. Rather, “the prosecutor was merely

       focusing on the State's evidence and the lack of evidence to the contrary. It is

       not improper for a prosecutor to focus on the uncontradicted nature of the

       State's case in closing arguments.” Dobbins v. State, 721 N.E.2d 867, 874 (Ind.

       1999) (citations omitted).

[22]   Moreover, even if the prosecutor’s statements here were misconduct, statements

       shifting the burden to the defendant “may be cured by the trial court advising

       the jury that the defendant was not required to prove his innocence or to present

       any evidence.” Stephenson, 742 N.E.2d at 483 (citing Chubb v. State, 640 N.E.2d
44, 49 (Ind. 1994)). Here, the trial court informed the jury in both the

       preliminary and final jury instructions that the defendant was not required to

       present any evidence to prove innocence or to prove anything at all. Such

       instructions were sufficient to cure any harm that might otherwise have been

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 48A02-1412-CR-875 | November 6, 2015   Page 12 of 15
       caused even if the prosecutor had made statements suggesting that Ramirez had

       the burden of proof. Id.

                                 Appeals for sympathy for the alleged victim

[23]   Finally, any harm from the prosecutor’s appeals to the jury for sympathy for the

       alleged victim were similarly mitigated by the trial court’s instructions. In his

       closing argument, the prosecutor told the jury that “[w]e protect our young

       women. We protect all of our juveniles. We protect them from themselves.”

       Tr. at 371. The prosecutor also asked the jury to “remember that [M.N.]

       deserves justice in this case.” Id. at 374. The defense attorney’s objections to

       these statements were overruled. The prosecutor continued, “[M.N.] would

       never do this now. [M.N.] will never do this again. . . . So please don’t hold

       this against her.” Id. at 375.

[24]   The prosecutor’s comments that appealed for sympathy for the alleged victim

       were improper. “‘It is misconduct for a prosecutor to request the jury to convict

       a defendant for any reason other than his guilt’ or ‘to phrase final argument in a

       manner calculated to inflame the passions or prejudice of the jury.’” Neville,
976 N.E.2d at 1264 (quoting Johnson v. State, 453 N.E.2d 365, 369 (Ind. Ct.

       App. 1983). Thus, in Neville, we held that a prosecutor’s pleas that the jury find

       the defendant guilty “for the sake of [the victim] and his family” were designed

       to “stir up the sympathies of the jurors for the victim and have the potential to

       eclipse the jury’s responsibility to base their decision of guilt or innocence solely

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 48A02-1412-CR-875 | November 6, 2015   Page 13 of 15
       on the evidence presented.” Id. Here, the prosecutor’s remarks were similarly

       improper.

[25]   Nevertheless, as with the prosecutor’s other statements in this case, the

       misconduct was cured by the trial court’s instructions to the jury. In Neville, we

       held that defense counsel’s closing argument, which “forcefully countered” the

       prosecutor’s improper statements, adequately diminished any persuasive effect

       the statements might otherwise have had. Id. at 1265. Here, there were

       instructions from the trial court countering the improper statements. In its final

       instructions, the court informed the jury that “[n]either sympathy nor prejudice

       for or against either the complaining witness or the defendant in this case

       should be allowed to influence you in whatever verdict you may find.” Tr. at

       397. This instruction, along with the several preliminary and final instructions

       admonishing the jury to disregard any statements or other information besides

       the evidence presented in the case, sufficiently mitigated any harm to the

       defendant from the prosecutor’s remarks.

[26]   Given the trial court’s preliminary and final instructions to the jury, we are

       unable to conclude that Ramirez was placed in grave peril from any of the

       prosecutor’s statements, either individually or collectively. “Sufficient

       independent evidence of guilt and appropriate trial court management of the

       [prosecutorial] misconduct” can stave off grave peril to a defendant. Bassett v.

       State, 895 N.E.2d 1201, 1209 (Ind. 2008). Such was the case here. The trial

       court did not err in denying Ramirez’ motion for a mistrial.

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 48A02-1412-CR-875 | November 6, 2015   Page 14 of 15
[27]   Affirmed.

       Bailey, J., and Crone, J., concur.

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 48A02-1412-CR-875 | November 6, 2015   Page 15 of 15