Court Opinion

ID: 2775166
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-01-30 17:18:39.008144+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:27:56.475145
License: Public Domain

STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA

                             SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS

James W.,

Petitioner Below, Petitioner                                                           FILED

                                                                                    January 30, 2015
vs) No. 14-0340 (Fayette County 13-C-331)                                        RORY L. PERRY II, CLERK
                                                                               SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS
                                                                                   OF WEST VIRGINIA
David Ballard, Warden, Mt. Olive Correctional Complex,
Respondent Below, Respondent

                                MEMORANDUM DECISION
         Petitioner James W.,1 appearing pro se, appeals the order of the Circuit Court of Fayette
County, entered March 11, 2014, denying his instant petition for writ of habeas corpus.
Respondent David Ballard, Warden, Mt. Olive Correctional Complex, by counsel Julie A. Warren,
filed a response, and petitioner filed a reply.

        The Court has considered the parties’ briefs and the record on appeal. The facts and legal
arguments are adequately presented, and the decisional process would not be significantly aided
by oral argument. Upon consideration of the standard of review, the briefs, and the record
presented, the Court finds no substantial question of law and no prejudicial error. For these
reasons, a memorandum decision affirming the circuit court’s order is appropriate under Rule 21
of the Rules of Appellate Procedure.

        On January 9, 2008, petitioner was charged in an indictment with seven counts of first
degree sexual assault in violation of West Virginia Code § 61-8B-3; seven counts of sexual abuse
by a parent, guardian, or custodian in violation of West Virginia Code § 61-8D-5; and seven counts
of incest in violation of West Virginia Code § 61-8-12. All of the charges arose from seven
separate acts involving petitioner’s step-daughter, J.T., during the first seven months of 2007.

        At trial, Sandra T. testified that she had been married to petitioner for eleven years2 when,
on July 29, 2007, she discovered petitioner with her eleven-year-old daughter, J.T., in a back room
of their home. Sandra T. testified that she observed petitioner in a prone position above her
daughter, who was lying on a mattress, with the front of his sweat pants pulled below his genitals
revealing his erection. Sandra T. testified that her daughter later told her that “it had been going
on” for a long time. During Sandra T.’s testimony, she identified various letters that she had
received from petitioner while he was in jail awaiting trial, which letters included language such as, “I
        1
         Consistent with our practice in cases involving sensitive facts, we use only petitioner’s
first name and last initial, and identify the minor victim only by her initials. See State ex rel. W.Va.
Dept. of Human Services v. Cheryl M., 177 W.Va. 688, 689 n.1, 356 S.E.2d 181, 182 n.1 (1987).
        2
            Sandra T. and petitioner are now divorced.

                                                  1

know what I am accused of and that this is all my fault . . .” and “I don’t expect you to trust me around
your kids ever again . . . .”

        The victim, J.T., testified at trial that petitioner placed his penis in her vagina at least once
during each of the months of January through July of 2007. The trial transcript also contains the
testimony of the State’s medical expert, Fred Akerberg, M.D., who testified that his sexual assault
examination of J.T. showed “no evidence of a hymen or hymenal remnants” which, in the majority
of cases, is caused by something penetrating the vagina. However, Dr. Akerberg testified that
activities such as horseback riding and misusing a feminine hygiene product could also result in a
broken hymen.

       Following trial, the jury returned a verdict finding petitioner guilty on all twenty-one
counts of the indictment. The pre-sentence investigation report reflected that petitioner showed no
remorse and did not accept responsibility for his conduct. The report further reflected petitioner’s
criminal history, including multiple prior convictions for grand theft, battery, robbery, and
burglary, as well as a history of probation and parole violations. Based on these factors, the circuit
court found that there was a substantial risk that petitioner would reoffend. The circuit court
imposed an overall sentence of 135 to 440 years in prison.

        When petitioner appealed his convictions and sentence, this Court affirmed in State v.
[James W.], (“James W. I”), No. 11-0586 (W.Va. Supreme Court, November 28, 2011)
(memorandum decision). In affirming the trial court’s order, we noted that petitioner challenged
only his convictions relating to incidents occurring in January of 2007. We rejected petitioner’s
insufficient evidence argument by finding that “J.T.’s testimony supports the jury’s factual finding
that petitioner had vaginal intercourse with her in January of 2007, and the verdict as to the three
counts involving the January 2007 incident should not be disturbed.” Id. at *4.

        On April 18, 2012, petitioner filed his first petition for writ of habeas corpus alleging eight
grounds for relief: (1) ineffective assistance of both trial and appellate counsel; (2) knowing use of
perjured testimony; (3) conviction wrongfully obtained; (4) insufficient evidence of guilt beyond a
reasonable doubt; (5) multiple charges for the same offense; (6) actual innocence; (7) defective
jury instructions; and (8) cumulative error. The circuit court denied this petition by an order
entered May 14, 2012, without a hearing or appointment of counsel. This Court affirmed the denial
of habeas relief in James W. v. Ballard, (“James W. II”), No. 12-0800, at *3 (W.Va. Supreme
Court, July 8, 2013) (memorandum decision), concluding that “the circuit court correctly
determined that petitioner either did not support his grounds with adequate factual support or
raised grounds that were not cognizable in habeas corpus.”

        On December 19, 2013, petitioner filed the instant petition for writ of habeas corpus
alleging five grounds for relief: (1) ineffective assistance of trial counsel; (2) ineffective assistance
of appellate counsel; (3) erroneous admission into evidence of petitioner’s letters to his wife; (4)
invalid indictment; and (5) prosecutorial misconduct. The circuit court rejected petitioner’s
allegations against trial counsel3 noting that the undersigned judge (a) had presided at trial; (b) had

        3
            Petitioner specifically alleged that trial counsel (1) failed to call a defense medical expert;
                                                       2

reviewed the trial transcript in his review of petitioner’s second petition; and (c) had previous
experience with petitioner’s trial counsel. The circuit court also rejected petitioner’s claim that
appellate counsel had erroneously implied that petitioner was guilty in his direct appeal.4

        Next, the circuit court found that petitioner’s letters to his wife were properly admitted at
trial. The circuit court also rejected petitioner’s contention that the indictment was invalid because,
while the counts alleging first degree sexual assault more closely tracked the language of the 2000
version of West Virginia Code § 61-8B-3 than the language of the 2006 version of the statute, the
two versions were materially identical. Finally, the circuit court determined that, while the
prosecutor asked an improper question of petitioner’s former employer regarding petitioner’s
possible alibi defense, the inquiry did not amount to prosecutorial misconduct because the court
sustained trial counsel’s objection to the question and there was no need to instruct the jury to
disregard the question. Accordingly, the circuit court denied petitioner’s instant habeas petition on
March 11, 2014, without a hearing or appointment of counsel.

        Petitioner now appeals the circuit court’s March 11, 2014, order denying habeas relief. We
apply the following standard of review in habeas cases:

       In reviewing challenges to the findings and conclusions of the circuit court in a
       habeas corpus action, we apply a three-prong standard of review. We review the
       final order and the ultimate disposition under an abuse of discretion standard; the
       underlying factual findings under a clearly erroneous standard; and questions of

(2) failed to explain a plea offer to petitioner; (3) failed to adequately assert an alibi defense; (4)
failed to conduct an adequate investigation; and (5) failed to impeach petitioner’s former wife,
Sandra T., with a prior conviction. Of these specific allegations, the circuit court found that
petitioner failed to support allegations (2) and (5) with sufficient factual support to allow them to
be adjudicated because (a) while petitioner alleged there was a verbal plea offer, he did not provide
the terms of this alleged offer and no evidence of any such offer was found in the record; and (b)
while petitioner alleged that Sandra T. had outstanding arrest warrants for writing fraudulent
checks and had spent time in jail—not prison—in another state, no evidence was found of any
actual conviction, which would be required to impeach Sandra T. under Rule 609 of the West
Virginia Rules of Evidence. From our review of the record, we likewise find that allegations (2)
and (5) could not be adjudicated in the instant proceeding because of the lack of supporting factual
assertions. See W.Va. R. Post-Conviction Habeas Corpus Proceedings 4(c) (“If the petition
contains a mere recitation of grounds without adequate factual support, the court may enter an
order dismissing the petition, without prejudice, with directions that the petition be refiled
containing adequate factual support.”). We further find that the circuit court rejected the remaining
claims of ineffective assistance on their merits.
       4
           Appellate counsel made reference to J.T.’s “loss of innocence.” Even if counsel made a
factually disputed reference, we find that it did not result in the rejection of petitioner’s arguments
in his direct appeal because, even without that reference, the evidence in support of the affirmation
of petitioner’s conviction was overwhelming. See Discussion, infra.

                                                  3

        law are subject to a de novo review.

Syl. Pt. 1, Mathena v. Haines, 219 W.Va. 417, 633 S.E.2d 771 (2006).

        Petitioner argues that West Virginia’s post-conviction habeas corpus statute, West Virginia
Code §§ 53-4A-1 to -11, has been interpreted to provide that a petitioner must be afforded an
omnibus evidentiary hearing with appointment of counsel at some point during post-conviction
proceedings. See Syl. Pt. 2, Losh v. McKenzie, 166 W.Va. 762, 277 S.E.2d 606 (1981) (holding
that doctrine of res judicata will not bar subsequent habeas petitions until an omnibus evidentiary
hearing, with appointment of counsel, has been held).5 Respondent warden counters that there is
no requirement that such a hearing has to be held on every petition filed. To the contrary, as
respondent warden notes, “[a] court having jurisdiction over habeas corpus proceedings may deny
a petition for a writ of habeas corpus without a hearing and without appointing counsel for the
petitioner if the petition, exhibits, affidavits or other documentary evidence filed therewith show to
such court’s satisfaction that the petitioner is entitled to no relief.” Syl. Pt. 1, Perdue v. Coiner, 156
W.Va. 467, 194 S.E.2d 657 (1973). With these principles in mind, we now address petitioner’s
specific grounds for relief:

                     Assuming, arguendo, that there was ineffective assistance
                    by either trial or appellate counsel, any such ineffectiveness
                        was not the but for cause of petitioner’s convictions.

        In West Virginia, claims of ineffective assistance of counsel are governed by the
two-pronged test established in Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668 (1984): (a) counsel’s
performance was deficient under an objective standard of reasonableness; and (b) there is a
reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s unprofessional errors, the result of the proceedings
would have been different. See Syl. Pt. 5, State v. Miller, 194 W.Va. 3, 459 S.E.2d 114 (1995).
While the circuit court focused on the first prong of the Strickland/Miller standard, a petitioner’s
failure to satisfy either prong means that his claim is denied. Therefore, we will focus on the
second prong—whether, assuming, arguendo, that there was ineffective assistance, it was the but
for cause of petitioner’s convictions—and will address petitioner’s specific allegations only to the
extent that petitioner asserts that the alleged ineffectiveness affected the quality of the evidence
against him.

        We find that the evidence against petitioner consists of (1) the testimony of his former
wife, Sandra T., that she discovered petitioner in a prone position above her daughter with the front
        5
          We note petitioner’s argument that the circuit court’s denial of his instant habeas petition
ran afoul of our holding in Syllabus Point 2 of Losh because the circuit court made certain
references in its March 11, 2014, order, that the denial of petitioner’s first petition precluded him
from raising some claims in the instant petition. We reject this argument because the circuit court
made sufficient findings independent of its conclusion that the doctrine of res judicata may have
barred certain claims to show that its error in applying the doctrine in this case was harmless and
did not affect the validity of the denial of the second petition.
                                                    4
of his sweat pants pulled below his genitals revealing his erection; (2) the testimony of the victim,
J.T., that petitioner placed his penis in her vagina at least once during each of the months of
January through July of 2007, and (3) the testimony of Dr. Akerberg that his examination of J.T.
showed no evidence of a hymen which, in the majority of cases, is caused by something
penetrating the vagina. First, petitioner asserts that counsel should have attacked Sandra T.’s
credibility pursuant to Rule 609 of the West Virginia Rules of Evidence. However, petitioner’s
factual allegations in this regard do not show that Rule 609 was applicable in this case.6 Thus, we
find that petitioner’s claim that Sandra T.’s credibility was vulnerable to attack is unsubstantiated
in the instant case.

        Petitioner challenged the sufficiency of J.T.’s testimony in his direct appeal by alleging
that there was no evidence to support his convictions relating to incidents occurring in January of
2007.7 We rejected petitioner’s contention by finding that “J.T.’s testimony supports the jury’s
factual finding that petitioner had vaginal intercourse with her in January of 2007, and the verdict
as to the three counts involving the January 2007 incident should not be disturbed.” James W. I at
*4. We note that our memorandum decision in James W. I constitutes a decision on the merits8
and, therefore, conclude that the sufficiency of J.T.’s testimony is no longer open to question.

        Finally, in the instant case, petitioner asserts that his trial counsel should have retained a
defense expert to explain that there could have been causes for a broken hymen other than vaginal
penetration. In its March 11, 2014, order denying petitioner’s second habeas petition, the circuit
court determined that counsel had no need to retain a defense expert because Dr. Akerberg testified
that activities such as horseback riding and misusing a feminine hygiene product could have also
resulted in a broken hymen. We agree that Dr. Akerberg provided the testimony that petitioner
states was important for the jury to hear and that the jury gave the testimony the weight it
deserved.9 Thus, we likewise determine that it was not necessary for counsel to have retained an
additional expert. Therefore, we find that any alleged ineffective assistance did not affect the
quality of the evidence against petitioner and that in light of such evidence; the alleged
ineffectiveness was not the but for cause of petitioner’s convictions. We conclude that the circuit
court did not abuse its discretion in denying petitioner’s ineffective assistance of counsel claim.

       6
           See fn. 3.
       7
           As previously indicated, petitioner did not challenge his other convictions.
       8
       Rule 21(a) of the West Virginia Rules of Appellate Procedure provides that a
memorandum decision “address[es] the merits of the case.”
       9
          In State v. Guthrie, 194 W.Va. 657, 669 n. 9, 461 S.E.2d 163, 175 n. 9 (1995), we noted
that “[a]n appellate court may not decide the credibility of witnesses or weigh evidence as that is
the exclusive function and task of the trier of fact.”
                                                   5
  Petitioner’s claim regarding the admissibility of his letters is not cognizable in habeas corpus.

        Petitioner argues that his letters to his then-wife were admitted erroneously based on the
marital confidence privilege found at West Virginia Code § 57-3-4. We decline to address this
issue because, given that it is an evidentiary issue founded on a statute, we determine that the issue
is not cognizable in habeas corpus. See Syl. Pt. 4, State ex rel. McMannis v. Mohn, 163 W.Va. 129,
254 S.E.2d 805 (1979), cert. denied, 464 U.S. 831 (1983) (“A habeas corpus proceeding is not a
substitute for a writ of error in that ordinary trial error not involving constitutional violations will
not be reviewed.”).

                         The indictment against petitioner was not invalid.

        The victim, J.T., was eleven years old at the time of the 2007 incidents. In charging
petitioner with first degree sexual assault, those counts of the indictment utilized the language of
the 2000 version of West Virginia Code § 61-8B-3 and referred to the victim as “eleven years old
or less.” However, by the time of the 2007 incidents, amendments to West Virginia Code §
61-8B-3 had changed the language to “younger than twelve years old.” “Eleven years old or less”
and “younger than twelve years old” are materially identical to each other. Therefore, we find
petitioner’s argument that the indictment was invalid, because the counts charging first degree
sexual assault used the older language from the 2000 version of West Virginia Code § 61-8B-3, to
be meritless.

                              There was no prosecutorial misconduct.

        After petitioner’s counsel elicited testimony from petitioner’s former employer about his
work schedule during the relevant period of 2007, the prosecutor asked petitioner’s employer on
cross examination the following question: “So, wasn’t there time from January through July 2007
for [petitioner] to have had enough time to have engaged ins [sic] sexual intercourse with another
person?” Petitioner’s counsel objected to the question, and the circuit court sustained the
objection. In its March 11, 2014 order, denying petitioner’s second habeas petition, the circuit
court determined that asking the question did not raise to the level of prosecutorial misconduct. We
agree with the circuit court’s determination because, while the prosecutor may have asked an
improper question, it was appropriate to inquire whether petitioner had enough time to pursue
other activities given that, as petitioner himself states, his counsel was attempting to establish an
alibi defense.10 Therefore, we conclude that there was no prosecutorial misconduct.

        For the foregoing reasons, we find no error in the decision of the Circuit Court of Fayette
County and affirm its March 11, 2014, order denying petitioner’s instant petition for writ of habeas
corpus.

       10
          Petitioner’s only complaint is that counsel did not establish his alibi well enough. As
previously explained, supra, even if counsel could have done a better job to establish an alibi
defense, such ineffective assistance was not the but for cause of petitioner’s convictions.
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                                         Affirmed.

ISSUED: January 30, 2015

CONCURRED IN BY:

Chief Justice Margaret L. Workman
Justice Robin Jean Davis
Justice Brent D. Benjamin
Justice Menis E. Ketchum
Justice Allen H. Loughry

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