Court Opinion

ID: 4102639
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-11-28 20:11:12.638637+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:44:59.793937
License: Public Domain

This opinion will be unpublished and
                        may not be cited except as provided by
                        Minn. Stat. § 480A.08, subd. 3 (2014).

                             STATE OF MINNESOTA
                             IN COURT OF APPEALS
                                   A15-1511

                                 State of Minnesota,
                                    Respondent,

                                         vs.

                              Andrew Russell Severtson,
                                    Appellant.

                              Filed November 28, 2016
                                     Affirmed
                              Smith, Tracy M., Judge

                            Olmsted County District Court
                              File No. 55-CR-13-6323

Lori Swanson, Attorney General, St. Paul, Minnesota; and

Mark A. Ostrem, Olmsted County Attorney, James P. Spencer, Assistant County Attorney,
Rochester, Minnesota (for respondent)

Cathryn Middlebrook, Chief Appellate Public Defender, Rachel F. Bond, Assistant Public
Defender, St. Paul, Minnesota (for appellant)

      Considered and decided by Reyes, Presiding Judge; Smith, Tracy M., Judge; and

Smith, John, Judge.


 Retired judge of the Minnesota Court of Appeals, serving by appointment pursuant to
Minn. Const. art. VI, § 10.
                          UNPUBLISHED OPINION

SMITH, TRACY M., Judge

          Appellant Andrew Russell Severtson appeals from his conviction of first-degree

criminal sexual conduct, arguing that (1) he is entitled to a new trial because the state failed

to disclose a colposcopy video from the victim’s medical examination and (2) the district

court erred in denying his Paradee motion for in camera review of the victim’s counseling

and mental-health records for possible discovery of the records. Because the state did not

violate its discovery obligations and because Severtson did not make a plausible showing

that the counseling records sought would be material and favorable to his defense, we

affirm.

                                           FACTS

          In August 2013, eleven-year-old E.S. told her mother that her father, appellant

Andrew Russell Severtson, had sexually assaulted her multiple times while she was living

with him from 2010 to 2012. E.S.’s mother reported E.S.’s account to Benton County

Human Services (BCHS) and the police. A Benton County child protection social worker

interviewed E.S. at the St. Cloud Police Department. Based on that interview, BCHS

referred E.S. to the Midwest Children’s Resource Center (MCRC), a department of

Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota that specializes in medical assessments of

children who are suspected victims of abuse.

          A nurse conducted the examination at MCRC while the social worker observed from

another room via a live video feed. A video recording was made of the examination (exam-

room video), in which E.S. and the nurse were mostly off screen but audible during the

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genital examination. During the MCRC exam, the nurse examined E.S.’s genitals using a

colposcope, which is a machine that illuminates, magnifies, and records video of the area

during examination (colposcopy video). Dr. Carolyn Levitt viewed the colposcopy video

and concluded that a healed “transection” or tear in E.S.’s hymen was consistent with the

abuse E.S. described. The social worker gave the exam-room video and MCRC’s written

report to the police. MCRC’s written report described the “VIDEOCOLPOSCOPIC

GENIT[AL]/ANAL EXAM” and results. The colposcopy video remained in the medical

records at MCRC and was not sent to law enforcement. Severtson was charged with first-

degree criminal sexual conduct.

       Before trial, Severtson made a Paradee motion asking the district court to review in

camera any counseling and mental-health records of E.S.1 Severtson’s main defense theory

was that E.S.’s mother had “coached” her to make false allegations, and he asserted that

counseling would be the “one place where the child would be free of the influence of her

mother and would be candid and honest.” Without a subpoena, Severtson moved the

district court to acquire E.S’s counseling and mental-health records, if any, and review

them in camera for evidence supporting his theory. The state argued that the request was

a “fishing expedition” because Severtson had not identified any evidence that E.S. had been

in counseling or that counseling records would show that E.S. had been coached. The state

further said it had not found any reference to relevant mental-health records in the police

1
 A Paradee motion asks the court to review privileged material in camera to determine
whether it is discoverable, balancing the defendant’s interest in obtaining beneficial
evidence with the privilege holder’s interest in having her confidences kept. State v.
Paradee, 403 N.W.2d 640, 642 (Minn. 1987).

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reports or at E.S.’s medical clinics. The district court agreed with the state and denied the

motion.

       At a jury trial, E.S. testified that Severtson had assaulted her multiple times using

multiple forms of penetration. On the second day of trial, the state called Dr. Levitt as a

witness. Severtson moved to prevent Dr. Levitt from testifying about the colposcopy and

the report on confrontation clause and hearsay grounds because the colposcopy was

conducted by a nurse who was not testifying and Dr. Levitt based her conclusions on the

colposcopy video rather than firsthand experience conducting the exam. Severtson also

noted that the state had not disclosed the colposcopy video and claimed that he did not

know there was a colposcopy video prior to trial. The state said it did not have the

colposcopy video. The district court denied Severtson’s motion and allowed Dr. Levitt to

testify. Dr. Levitt testified that, based on the colposcopy video, she determined that E.S.

had suffered vaginal “blunt force penetrating trauma.” Dr. Levitt testified that it is

“extremely rare” for a child E.S.’s age to have a tear like the one E.S. had in the absence

of sexual abuse and that the kind of accidental injury that could cause a similar tear is “very,

very uncommon.”

       On the third day of trial, after the state rested its case, defense counsel moved the

district court to order the state to obtain the colposcopy video and disclose it to Severtson

pursuant to Minn. R. Crim. P. 9.01 so he could request a continuance and hire an expert to

interpret it and testify if it could be helpful to his defense. The district court denied the

motion because Dr. Levitt had been listed as a witness, Severtson had the written report

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from the MCRC exam that discussed the doctor’s findings, and Severtson, “all along, if

[he] wanted to, could have hired an expert,” but did not do so.

       Severtson did not testify or call any witnesses.

       The jury found Severtson guilty of first-degree criminal sexual conduct. The district

court sentenced Severtson to 270 months.

       Severtson appeals.

                                      DECISION

I.     The state did not violate its discovery obligations by failing to obtain the
       colposcopy video when Severtson asked for it on the last day of trial after the
       state rested its case.

       Severtson argues that he is entitled to a new trial because the state failed to disclose

to him the colposcopy video from the MCRC examination of E.S., violating its discovery

obligations under Minn. R. Crim. P. 9.01, subd. 1. Whether a discovery violation occurred

is a legal issue that we review de novo. State v. Palubicki, 700 N.W.2d 476, 489 (Minn.

2005). This court generally will not grant a new trial to remedy a prosecutorial discovery

violation unless the appellant shows that the discovery violation was prejudicial. Id. “A

new trial is warranted when the State’s discovery violations viewed in the light of the whole

record, appear[] to be inexcusable and so serious and prejudicial that the defendant’s right

to a fair trial was denied.” State v. Miller, 754 N.W.2d 686, 705 (Minn. 2008) (quotation

omitted). The suppression of evidence is prejudicial if “there is a reasonable probability

that, had the evidence been disclosed to the defense, the result of the proceeding would

have been different.” Gorman v. State, 619 N.W.2d 802, 807 (Minn. App. 2000) (quotation

omitted), review denied (Minn. Feb. 21, 2001).

                                              5
       The Minnesota Rules of Criminal Procedure require the state to disclose to the

defense “documents and tangible objects . . . that relate to the case,” as well as the “results

or reports of physical or mental examinations.” Minn. R. Crim. P. 9.01, subd. 1(3)(b), (d);

id. at subd. 1(4)(a). The prosecutor’s disclosure obligations under subdivision 1 extend to

objects and information possessed or controlled by the prosecution staff and by “others

who have participated in the investigation or evaluation of the case and who either regularly

report, or with reference to the particular case have reported, to the prosecutor’s office.”

Minn. R. Crim. P., subd. 1a(1).

       Severtson argues that the state violated its disclosure obligation by not obtaining

from MCRC and disclosing the colposcopy video when Severtson requested it after the

close of the state’s case. He asserts that the colposcopy video was material that was

possessed by MCRC and that MCRC “reported [] to the prosecutor’s office” with reference

to this case. Id. The state disputes that MCRC reported to the prosecutor’s office and

therefore disagrees that the colposcopy video fell within the scope of Rule 9.01, subd. 1a.

       We need not decide whether MCRC reported to the prosecutor’s office for purposes

of Rule 9.01. The state argues, and we agree, that (1) even if MCRC did report to the

prosecutor’s office, in the circumstances of this case the state satisfied its disclosure

obligations and (2) even if the state did not satisfy its obligations, Severtson has failed to

prove he was prejudiced by the violation.

Disclosure Obligations

       Under Rule 9.01, the prosecutor is required to allow the defendant to inspect and

reproduce any information required to be disclosed. Minn. R. Crim. P. 9.01, subd. 1a(2).

                                              6
Here, the state apparently made available for discovery every discoverable item it actually

possessed related to the MCRC exam. Dr. Levitt was on the witness list that the state filed

and served on Severtson in October 2013, 18 months before the April 2015 trial. During

discovery, which began in October 2013, the state disclosed to Severtson the written report

from the MCRC investigation that was prepared by Dr. Levitt and the nurse who performed

the colposcopy. The state also disclosed the exam-room video, which shows the nurse

talking with E.S. about the reason for the exam and then moving out of frame to conduct

the colposcopy, and shows Dr. Levitt entering the exam room after the colposcopy to

conduct the rest of the physical exam. The only item Severtson claims to have been

deprived of related to the MCRC exam is the colposcopy video of E.S.’s genitals, which

the prosecution stated on the record it never possessed.

       Severtson does not claim that the prosecutor had any obligation to obtain and

produce the colposcopy video prior to his request, but he argues that the state violated rule

9.01 after his request. The state argues that it satisfied its disclosure obligations when it

disclosed in pretrial discovery the medical report written by Dr. Levitt and the MCRC nurse

that identified the videocolposcopy examination and its results. In the circumstances of

this case, we agree with the state.

       Severtson failed to request the colposcopy video until the final day of trial despite

the fact that the state’s pretrial disclosures were sufficient to put him on notice that a

colposcopy video existed. The written report described how the genital examination was

conducted, referring to it as a “videocolposcopic” exam using a “video colposcope.” The

report, which was written partially in the first person by the nurse and signed by Dr. Levitt,

                                              7
indicated that the nurse conducted the colposcopy and that Dr. Levitt conducted the rest of

the physical exam and made the final diagnosis of blunt force penetrating trauma. The

exam-room video that was disclosed to Severtson shows the nurse and E.S. having a

conversation alone in the exam room and then moving off screen to conduct the

colposcopy, making it apparent that Dr. Levitt was not in the room during the genital exam.

Because Dr. Levitt then signed the report drawing a conclusion about the cause of E.S.’s

tear, an inference can be drawn that Dr. Levitt’s conclusion must have been based on

viewing the colposcopy video. The written report and video that were disclosed to

Severtson in discovery made it clear that a colposcopy video was taken. Thus, Severtson

could have asked for the video long before trial.

       Instead, Severtson did not ask the state if a colposcopy video existed until voir dire

at the earliest, did not raise his concerns about the video with the district court until the

second day of trial while moving to exclude Dr. Levitt’s testimony, and did not ask the

state to obtain and produce the colposcopy video until the third and final day of trial, after

the state had rested its case.2 The state did not have the colposcopy video and noted that,

by the time Severtson asked for it, the state no longer would have been able to obtain it

without a court order or another medical records release because the release signed by

E.S.’s mother had likely expired. Severtson did not have an expert witness at the time of

his request, and the colposcopy video would have been of no use to him without an expert

to analyze it. If the district court had granted Severtson’s motion at that point, it would

2
 The first time Severtson asked the state to produce the colposcopy video was when he
moved the district court to order the state to obtain and produce it.

                                              8
have had to grant a continuance, delaying trial not only long enough for the state to seek

the requisite release and obtain a copy of the video, but also long enough for Severtson to

go through the process of finding an expert witness and preparing that witness for trial.

This delay would have been undue in light of the fact that the written report and exam-

room video that were disclosed to Severtson during discovery showed that a colposcopy

video existed. We conclude that the state did not violate its disclosure obligations.

Prejudice

       Even if the state violated its disclosure requirements, Severtson has failed to show

prejudice entitling him to a new trial. Miller, 754 N.W.2d at 705. Severtson’s argument

that the nondisclosure was prejudicial focuses on the fact that the doctor’s testimony about

the colposcopy video and the conclusions she drew from it “were a major part of the State’s

case.” The doctor testified in detail about what the video showed, concluded, based on the

video, that E.S. had a healed tear in her hymen indicating “blunt force penetrating trauma”

that could have been caused by the kind of abuse E.S. reported, and used her conclusions

from the video to refute Severtson’s theory that the tear may have been from an accidental

injury. The state also discussed the colposcopy during its closing argument as key evidence

corroborating E.S.’s testimony. Severtson asserts that if the colposcopy video had been

disclosed, he could have determined that it would be beneficial to obtain his own expert

witness to rebut Dr. Levitt’s testimony, creating a reasonable probability that the verdict

would have been different.

       The state argues that Severtson has not shown prejudice because Dr. Levitt’s

conclusions were disclosed to Severtson long before trial in the written report, giving

                                             9
Severtson the opportunity to call an expert to rebut those conclusions, and because

Severtson does not claim that Dr. Levitt’s conclusions were incorrect or explain how any

other expert might have reached a different conclusion from viewing the video. We agree.

       Severtson chose not to obtain an expert witness despite the fact that the state’s

disclosures related to the MCRC exam and Dr. Levitt gave him a fair opportunity to seek

an expert to rebut the state’s proposition that the tear corroborated E.S.’s allegations against

Severtson. The criminal complaint filed on September 27, 2013, mentioned the MCRC

report and stated that the report said E.S. had “a transection at the 7-8 o’clock position of

her hymen which is consistent with blunt force penetrating trauma.” Dr. Levitt was

identified as a possible witness for the state a year and a half before trial. The written report

that was disclosed during discovery described the colposcope and the examination process.

The report disclosed the physical findings about the tear as well as the conclusion that the

tear was consistent with blunt force penetrating trauma. It was clear from the report that

the results of the colposcopy would be key evidence corroborating E.S.’s allegations. We

therefore conclude that the state’s disclosures gave Severtson sufficient opportunity to

obtain an expert witness to rebut Dr. Levitt’s conclusions, and the state’s failure to obtain

and disclose the colposcopy video when Severtson requested it on the last day of trial did

not prejudice Severtson.

       Moreover, Severtson has not provided any basis other than speculation to conclude

that “there is a reasonable probability . . . that the outcome of the trial might have been

different” had the colposcopy video been disclosed. State v. Ramos, 492 N.W.2d 557, 560

                                               10
(Minn. App. 1992), review denied (Minn. Jan. 15, 1993). Without prejudice, a discovery

violation does not warrant a new trial. Miller, 754 N.W.2d at 705.

II.    The district court did not err in denying Severtson’s Paradee motion for in
       camera review of E.S.’s counseling and mental-health records.

       Severtson argues that the district court erred in denying his Paradee motion for in

camera review of E.S.’s counseling and mental-health records. District courts have wide

discretion in discovery matters, and normally a discovery order will not be overturned

absent an abuse of that discretion. State v. Underdahl, 767 N.W.2d 677, 684 (Minn. 2009).

“To find an abuse of discretion, an appellate court must conclude that the district court

erred by making findings unsupported by the evidence or by improperly applying the law.”

Id. (citing Shetka v. Kueppers, 454 N.W.2d 916, 921 (Minn. 1990)).

       When a criminal defendant seeks discovery of privileged material and it is not clear

whether the material is discoverable, the district court should examine the material in

camera to determine if the defendant’s rights should prevail over the privilege. Paradee,

403 N.W.2d at 642. To obtain in camera review, the defendant first must make a “plausible

showing that the information sought would be both material and favorable to his defense.”

State v. Hummel, 483 N.W.2d 68, 72 (Minn. 1992) (quotation omitted).

       Severtson argued that E.S.’s counseling and mental-health records might contain

material and favorable evidence that E.S.’s mother convinced her to fabricate the

allegations. At the time of the motion, neither Severtson nor the state claimed to know

whether any counseling or mental-health records for E.S. existed. However, Severtson

asked the district court to order the state to look for records of that kind and submit them

                                            11
for in camera review because “[i]f there’s one place where the child would be free of the

influence of her mother and would be candid and honest, it should be in a counseling-type

situation.” The district court heard arguments from both parties and determined that

Severtson failed to make the requisite showing, noting that it sounded like “a fishing

expedition” and an “attack . . . on the mother more than anything else.”

       The district court’s decision accords with precedent. In State v. Evans, the district

court granted in camera review of records from a single medical examination of a witness,

but the defendant argued that the court should have reviewed more of the witness’s medical

records for evidence of mental-health problems that would cast doubt on the witness’s

credibility. 756 N.W.2d 854, 873 (Minn. 2008). The supreme court in Evans rejected the

defendant’s arguments because he failed to make a showing that other records would

contain information that would be material and favorable to his case; he “only offered

argument and conjecture.” Id. Similarly, in Underdahl, the supreme court concluded that

the district court abused its discretion in finding Underdahl had shown that the source code

to an alcohol-concentration-testing instrument was relevant to his guilt or innocence. 767

N.W.2d at 687. Underdahl argued that challenging the validity of the testing instrument

was the only way to dispute the charges against him, but he “failed to demonstrate how the

source code would help him do so” and “advanced no theories on how the source code

could be related to his defense” or that it “was reasonably likely to contain information

related to his case.” Id. (quotation omitted). In contrast, the supreme court in Underdahl

concluded that another defendant, Brunner, had met the requisite showing by submitting

                                            12
nine exhibits including source-code definitions, written expert testimony that explained

source codes, and an example of a breath-test analysis and its potential defects. Id. at 686.

       Here, Severtson generally articulated a theory that E.S. might have counseling

records that might contain information related to his case based on his suspicion that E.S.’s

mother convinced her to lie and his assumption that a child is more likely to be honest in

counseling than in any other situation. Severtson argues, without providing any factual

support, that it is plausible that E.S. made statements in counseling that could help his case

“by exposing bias, motive to fabricate, or evidence that she had been coached, which could

have been used for impeachment.” Like Evans and Underdahl, Severtson explained the

logic behind his theory but did not offer any evidence to support his suspicion that the

records existed or contained material information favorable to his case. Thus, we conclude

that the district court did not abuse its discretion in denying Severtson’s Paradee motion.

III.   Severtson’s Pro Se Arguments Are Without Merit.

       Severtson raised additional arguments in a pro se supplemental brief.              First,

Severtson challenges the credibility of E.S. and her mother as witnesses. “[D]etermining

the credibility or reliability of a witness lies with the jury alone,” and it is not within this

court’s role to reconsider witness credibility on appeal. State v. Buckingham, 772 N.W.2d

64, 71 (Minn. 2009). Additionally, Severtson offers as support for these arguments

descriptions of prior events that are not supported by evidence in the record. “An appellate

court may not base its decision on matters outside the record on appeal.” Thiele v. Stich,

425 N.W.2d 580, 582-83 (Minn. 1988).

                                              13
       Second, Severtson argued that his attorney improperly declined to call witnesses to

testify on his behalf and therefore he received ineffective assistance of counsel. To prove

ineffective assistance of counsel, “[t]he defendant must affirmatively prove that his

counsel’s representation ‘fell below an objective standard of reasonableness’ and ‘that

there is a reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s unprofessional errors, the result of

the proceeding would have been different.’” Gates v. State, 398 N.W.2d 558, 561 (Minn.

1987) (quoting Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 688, 694, 104 S. Ct. 2052, 2068

(1984)). The decision of which witnesses to call is part of trial tactics and “lies within the

proper discretion of trial counsel.” State v. Doppler, 590 N.W.2d 627, 633 (Minn. 1999).

Severtson does not identify any factual issue material to this case to which his potential

witnesses could have testified.     Severtson has failed to show there is a reasonable

probability that the result of the proceeding would have been different had his counsel

called witnesses, so he has not met his burden to prove ineffective assistance of counsel.

Gates, 398 N.W.2d at 561.

       Affirmed.

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