Court Opinion

ID: 4200108
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-08-30 16:09:37.509716+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:41:31.659593
License: Public Domain

IMPORTANT NOTICE
        NOT TO BE PUBLISHED OPINION

THIS OPINION IS DESIGNATED "NOT TO BE PUBLISHED."
PURSUANT TO THE RULES OF CIVIL PROCEDURE
PROMULGATED BY THE SUPREME COURT, CR 76.28(4)(C),
THIS OPINION IS NOT TO BE PUBLISHED AND SHALL NOT BE
CITED OR.USED AS BINDING PRECEDENT IN ANY OTHER
CASE IN ANY.COURT OF THIS STATE; HOWEVER,
UNPUBLISHED KENTUCKY APPELLATE DECISIONS, ·
RENDERED AFTER JANUARY 1, 2003, MAY BE CITED FOR
CONSIDERATION BY THE COURT IF THERE IS NO PUBLISHED
OPINION THAT WOULD ADEQUATELY ADDRESS THE ISSUE
BEFORE THE COURT. OPINIONS CITED FOR CONS_IDERATION
BY THE COURT SHALL BE SET OUT AS AN UNPUBLISHED
DECISION IN THE FILED DOCUMENT AND A COPY OF THE
ENTIRE DECISION SHALL BE TENDERED ALONG WITH THE
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ACTION.
                                                    RENDERED: APRIL 27, 2017
                                                       NOT TO BE PUBLISHED

                                                          l!E~2'1/17 f82 S.W.3d 860, 866 (Ky. 2002).
      • Eames v. Commonwealth, 91 S.W.3d·564, 568 (Ky. 2002).
      s   See West v. Commonwealth, 780 S.W.2d 600, 602 (Ky. 1989).
      6   See Bowers v. Commonwealth, 555 S.W.2d 241,243 (Ky. 1977).

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event, we only reverse rf misconduct is flagrant. 7 Flagrant misconduct requires

evaluating the following four factors: (1) whether that remarks tended to

mislead the jury or prejudice the accused; (2) whether they were isolated or

extensive; (3) whether they were deliberately or accidentally placed before the

jury; and (4) the strength of the evidence against the accused.

      In terms of Soloway's questioning on cross-examination, the

Commonwealth correctly identifies that this line of questioning centered on his

pre-arrest silence. And sure enough, this silence can be appropriately used by

the prosecution in certain circumstances.a Though it may not be used to prove

substantive guilt, the prosecution may use a defendant's pre-arrest silence for

impeachment purposes. 9 The Commonwealth accordingly asserts that this line

of questioning is used to undermine Soloway's alleged willingness to participate

in the criminal investigation. And in this instance, we agree. Defense counsel

did not object to this line of questioning, and we are persuaded that the

prosecution only explored this issue after Soloway volunteered a willingness to

talk to police before his arrest. So we see no error during cross-examination.

      As for the Commonwealth's closing argument, that is a different story.

We hold that these statements, despite the considerable leeway we allow for

closing arguments, are inappropriate commentary on Soloway's assertion of his

constitutional right to refrain from self-incrimination. To the extent the

      1   Hannah v. Commonwealth, 306 S.W.3d 509, 518 (Ky. 2010).
      a See Jenkins v. Anderson, 447 U.S. 231,239 (1980).
      9   See id. See also Combs v. Coyle, 205 F.3d 269,283 (6th Cir. 2000).

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Commonwealth merely commented on Soloway's own testimony on the stand

relating to his pre-arrest silence, we find no error; the prosecution is certainly

free to comment on testimony and the weight of the evidence.10 But when the

argument continued to equate his refusal, even after arrest, to speak to law

enforcement, to behaviors inconsistent with those of an "innocent man," the

Commonwealth flagrantly abused its authority in prosecuting the case. We

consider an accused's right against self-incrimination sacred. And we take any

assault on invocation of this right seriously. The prosecutor erred significantly

in making these statements that misled the jury on the nature of Soloway's

silence, and deeply prejudiced his defense. Despite Soloway failing to preserve

this specific issue in the record, because this misconduct is flagrant and

palpable, we have no choice other than to overturn the judgment below and

remand for new trial.

      As part of his appeal, Soloway raised a number of oth_er issues. Because

those claims are capable of repetition in the event of retrial, we now consider

those issues in tum.

   B. The Trial Court Did Not Erroneously Allow Joyce to Testify Outside
      the Courtroom.
      Soloway contends that the trial court abridged his right to confront

witnesses guaranteed by the Fifth, Sixth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the

United States Constitution and Sections One, Two, and Eleven of the Kentucky

Constitution, by allowing Joyce's testimony to be introduced by closed-circuit

      10   See Mullins v. Commonwealth, 350 S.W.3d 434, 439 (Ky. 2011).

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television rather than live testimony in open court. The trial court issued the

same ruling with respect to Joyce's brother's testimony as well. At trial,

Soloway objected to the Commonwealth's motion to allow the closed-circuit

testimony, which the trial court overruled.

      The decision to allow testimony through closed-circuit television is

governed by Kentucky Revised Statutes (KRS) 421.350. The statute applies

only to criminal prosecutions when the alleged crime involves a child twelve

years old or younger.11 Upon motion by any party a.nd after finding a

"compelling need," the trial court may order the child's testimony be taken in

another room and televised through closed-circuit television, with only the

attorneys, people necessary to operate equipment, and those necessary to the

child's welfare present. 12 The statute defines compelling need as a "substantial

probability the child would be unable to reasonably communicate because of

serious emotional distress produced by the defendant's presence."13 And we

have articulated that the proper standard of reviewing the trial court's

determination is the abuse-of-discretion standard. 14 So we will not overrule the

lower court's decision absent a finding that the ruling was "arbitrary,

unreasonable, unfair, or unsupported by sound legal principles." 15

      11   KRS 421.350(1).
      12   KRS 421.350(2).
      1a   KRS 421.350(5).
      14   See Kurtz v. Commonwealth, 172 S.W.3d 409, 411 (Ky. 2005).
      15   Commonwealth v. English, 993 S.W.2d 941, 945 (Ky. 1999).

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       In Commonwealth v. Willis, we outlined some non-exhaustive factors to

aid trial courts in making this "compelling need" determination.16 We said that

"the age and demeanor of the child witness, the nature of the offense, and the

likely impact of testimony in court or facing the defendant" are relevant

considerations in determining compelling need. 17 At the time of-the offense,

Joyce was seven years old; she was only eight at the time of her testimony. The

acts Soloway allegedly performed on Joyce were intensely personal. The _trial

court noted that after being informed of the number of other people that would

be in the courtroom with her, Joyce bowed her head and reiterated that she did

not want to see Soloway.

       Soloway contends that this compelling need was not satisfied. He argues

that Joyce's reluctance to testify is more related to the "stress" of testimony

than any true mental anguish. 18 He further contends that his presence in the

courtroom had no bearing on her actual testimony; he highlights her

trepidation recounting the full account of her private interactions with Soloway

with the child therapist in a non-courtroom setting. This, he articulates, shows

that his presence, while perhaps upsetting Joyce, would not affect her actual

testimony.

      16    716 S.W.2d 224 (Ky. 1986).
      11    Id.
       1aSee George v.. Commonwealth, 885 S.W.2d 938, 941 (Ky. 1994) ("The
Kentucky statute does not provide a blanket process for talcing the testimony of every
child witness by TV simply because testifying may be stressful.").

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         On its face, we cannot say the trial court committed reversible error.

From all we can gather, ample evidence supports the finding a compelling need

existed for Joyce to testify by closed-circuit television. We recognize that the

United States Supreme Court has taken on a more robust interpretation of the

Confrontation Clause in recent case law, holding that defendants enjoy

expansive rights under the Sixth Amendment's protections. And no doubt that

as this constitutional jurisprudence develops, statutes like KRS 421.350 will
     -
present more and more difficult decisions in cases of this kind. But for now, we

are confident the trial court did not abuse its discretion in allowing Joyce to

testify remotely,

         Though we do not consider this reversible error, we must also stress the

importance of following the statutory guidelines in the event of retrial. Years

have passed since the original trial and, in turn, both Joyce and her brother

have aged and matured during that time. The trial court should therefore

evaluate each child separately to determine whether the need for closed-circuit

testimony still exists and to make separate findings for each witness in

accordance with the strictures of the statute.

   c. Other Instances of Prosecutorial Misconduct.
         Soloway's final issue on review centers on various statements and

actions that occurred during'c!osing arguments. He contends that the

Commonwealth's characterization of the events as "escalating" in intensity

amounted to prosecutorial indiscretion. Because Joyce could not identify the

order in which the acts took place, it was impossible to determine whether

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                                                                     '

Soloway's behavior escalated. And accordingly, the trial court ordered the

prosecution to avoid characterizing his behavior in those terms. Additionally,

Soloway also takes issue with the prosecution's emotional display during

closing arguments.

         His various additional claims of prosecutorial misconduct are preserved

for review while others remain unpreserved. We will address each in turn.

   l. The Commonwealth's characterization that Soloway's behavior
         was "escalating."
         This first instance of alleged misconduct, and the one in which Soloway

is most offended, remains unpreserved. The trial court did instruct the

Commonwealth to avoid making statements characterizing Soloway's sexual

acts as "escalating," but deferise counsel failed to object to the

Commonwealth's invocation of this phrase during closing arguments. So we

will treat this issue as unpreserved, and we will only reverse upon finding that

this alleged misconduct was flagrant.

         It appears the use of "escalating" was an isolated incident in the closing

statement. The record indicates that the Commonwealth only used the phrase

once during the course of its argument. We 'are unpersuaded that the use of

this phrase was part of some attempt to mislead the jury or mischaracterize the

nature of Soloway's actions. And we agree with the Commonwealth that proof

of Soloway's guilt was strong. The Commonwealth should have, of course,
     '
heeded the trial court's order to avoid labeling this conduct as escalating

behavior, and the prosecution doubtlessly erred to do so anyway . .But

considering all of the factors before us, we cannot say this mistake was

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reversible error as flagrant prosecutorial misconduct. So we agree with the trial

court's ruHng, though we caution the Commonwealth to heed the trial court's

instructions regarding permissible statements in the event of retrial.

   2. The Commonwealth's display of emotion.
      Soloway also critiques the prosecutor's emotive actions during closing

arguments as she recounted the acts Soloway was accused of committing.

According to Soloway, the prosecutor became very emotional during her closing

argument, crying when talking about the fact that [Joyce] was seven years old.

Somewhat relatedly, he also takes issue with the prosecution's language in

describing the acts underlying his criminal accusations. This issue was

properly preserved for appeal.

      In Byrd v. Commonwealth, we recognized that "Trials are conducted by

humans, who often show indignation, anger or sadness. This does not mean

that real emotion is misconduct."1 9 Here the allegedly criminal acts giving rise

to this case are undoubtedly tragic-a seven year old girl was molested and

abused in a disturbing manner. We cannot say it is misconduct for a

prosecuting attorney to become overcome with e_motion i.vhen attempting to

recount these incidents to a jury. And the record appears clear that the

prosecutor's tears were not shed to inflame the passions of the jury or

deliberately to impact the outcome of the case but were the result. of an

uncontrollable surge of emotion in the midst of a multi-day jury trial. In fact,

      19   825 S.W.2d 272 (Ky. 1992).

                                        12
the prosecutor even momentarily paused to regain her composure before

continuing the argument. There was no prosecutorial misconduct by this

display of emotion.

   3. The Commonwealth's description of the physical acts.
      As for the prosecution's vivid description of the acts themselves, we

likewise see no error. The prosecution descril)ed the nature of the offenses as

follows:

      He's not putting his penis in her anus or putting it in her vagina.
      There's no allegation of that. What he's physically doing to her
      doesn't hurt her. That's why she's not telling. It's not hurting her.
      There's no bleeding. There's no ripping, there's no tearing.

Soloway objected to this language and was overruled. The Commonwealth

continued:

      So there's no ripping, there's no tearing, there's no bruising,
      there's nothing like that.               '

Soloway argues that this language was overly graphic and unduly prejudicial to

his defense. We disagree.

      One of Soloway's defenses at trial was the lack of physical evidence

proving he committed the crimes. So naturally, in response to that argument,

the Commonwealth is within its right to distinguish the particular crimes

before the jury and explain why Soloway may still be found guilty without the

physical evidence acquired in a host of other sex crimes. In Mullins v.

Commonwealth, we reaffirmed the "longstanding rule ... that counsel may

comment and make all legitimate inferences that can reasonably be drawn

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from the evidence presented at trial."20 Prosecutors
                                            .        are
                                                      .
                                                         extended considerable

leeway in conducting a closing argument_. She may "comment on tactics, may

comment o·n evidence, and may comment as to the falsity of a defense

position."21 We cannot review this statement in a vacuum-it must be

evaluated within the context of the argument as a whole. However disturbing

this language may seem to an average listener, we agree with the trial court

that it is not overly prejudicial and did not undermine Soloway's right to a fair

trial.

                                    III.        CONCLUSION.

         Because we hold that the Commonwealth committed prosecutorial

misconduct in its commentary relating to Soloway's post-arrest silence, we

reverse the trial court judgment and remand for new trial.

         All sitting. All concur.

         20   350 S.W.3d 434, 439 (Ky. 2011).
         21   Slaughter u. Commonwealth, 744 S.W.2d 407, 412 (Ky. 1987).

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COUNSEL FOR APPELLANT:

Shannon Renee Dupree
Assistant Public Adv:ocate

COUNSEL FOR APPELLEE:

Andy Beshear
Attorney General of Kentucky

Joseph Todd Henning
Assistant Attorney General

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