Court Opinion

ID: 4271781
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-05-02 16:06:56.485954+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:49:17.220831
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF IOWA

                                     No. 17-0778
                                  Filed May 2, 2018

STATE OF IOWA,
     Plaintiff-Appellee,

vs.

SHAWN TIMOTHY LEE,
     Defendant-Appellant.
________________________________________________________________

      Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Polk County, Michael D. Huppert,

Judge.

      The defendant appeals from his convictions and sentences for sexual abuse

in the second degree and two counts of lascivious acts with a child.

CONVICTIONS AFFIRMED; SENTENCES AFFIRMED IN PART, VACATED IN

PART, AND REMANDED.

      Mark C. Smith, State Appellate Defender, and Theresa R. Wilson, Assistant

Appellate Defender, for appellant.

      Shawn Timothy Lee, Coralville, pro se.

      Thomas J. Miller, Attorney General, and Thomas E. Bakke, Assistant

Attorney General, for appellee.

      Considered by Vaitheswaran, P.J., and Potterfield and Tabor, JJ.
                                         2

POTTERFIELD, Judge.

       Shawn Lee appeals his convictions and sentences for sexual abuse in the

second degree and two counts of lascivious acts with a child. On appeal, Lee

maintains there was insufficient evidence to support his one of his convictions for

lascivious acts with a child and the district court abused its discretion when it

declined to permit him to question the complaining witness about her prior use of

drugs and alcohol. He also maintains the district court abused its discretion when

it imposed consecutive sentences and argues the imposition of the section 911.2B

surcharge constituted a violation of the Ex Post Facto Clause.

I. Background Proceedings.

       Lee was charged by trial information in October 2016. It was alleged in

count I that between January 2006 and June 2013, Lee had committed a sex act

upon the complaining witness, his daughter, who was under the age of twelve

when the sex act occurred. It was alleged in counts II and III that Lee had fondled

or touched the pubes or genitals of the complaining witness and that he had also

made the witness fondle or touch his pubes or genitals.

       Lee entered a plea of not guilty, and the matter proceeded to trial in March

2017. The jury found Lee guilty as charged.

       Lee was later sentenced to twenty-five years for the sexual-abuse-in-the-

second-degree conviction and ten years for each of his lascivious-acts-with-a-child

convictions.   The court ordered the sentences to be served consecutively,

effectively sentencing Lee to a term of incarceration not to exceed forty-five years.

       Lee appeals.
                                            3

II. Discussion.

       A. Substantial Evidence.

       Lee maintains there was insufficient evidence to support the jury’s verdict

on count III, one of the counts of lascivious acts with a child1 because there was

no evidence he made the complaining witness touch or fondle his pubes or

genitalia.   More specifically, Lee maintains the evidence of the offense is

insufficient because the complaining witness’s testimony—which was the only

evidence of the offense—did not specify what she was touching when he would

put her hand in his pants; she testified, “He would grab my hand, and he would put

it in his pants and make me move it up and down.” He also argues, alternatively,

that if his trial counsel’s motion for judgment of acquittal did not preserve this

argument, he received ineffective assistance of counsel.

       Although the State does not dispute that error was preserved as to count

III, based on our review of the record, we determine error was not preserved. See

State v. Williams, 695 N.W.2d 23, 27 (Iowa 2005) (“[W]hen the motion for judgment

of acquittal did not make reference to the specific elements of the crime on which

the evidence was claimed to be insufficient, it did not preserve the sufficiency of

the evidence issue for review.”); see also State v. Alberts, 722 N.W.2d 402, 406

1
  Through appellate counsel, Lee raises the argument there was insufficient evidence to
prove he forced the child to touch or fondle his pubes or genitals under count III. In his
pro se appellate brief, Lee maintains in the heading that there is insufficient evidence to
support any of his convictions. However, Lee has mostly just copied his appellate
counsel’s brief and has failed to make specific arguments about counts I and II. We do
not consider Lee’s claim about these two counts further. See Soo Line R.R. v. Iowa Dep’t
of Transp., 521 N.W.2d 685, 691 (Iowa 1994) (“[Appellant’s] random mention of an issue,
without analysis, argument or supporting authority is insufficient to prompt an appellate
court’s consideration.”); see also Kubik v. Burk, 540 N.W.2d 60, 63 (Iowa Ct. App. 1995)
(“We do not utilize a deferential standard when persons choose to represent themselves.
The law does not judge by two standards, one for lawyers and another for lay persons.”).
                                          4

(Iowa 2006) (finding it “proper to analyze whether [an issue] was properly

preserved for our review” where the State “conceded the error was preserved”).

Regarding the offense in question, trial counsel argued as follows in support of the

motion for judgment of acquittal:

       [T]he State would have to prove that Shawn Lee caused [the
       complaining witness] to fondle or touch the pubes or genitals of
       Shawn Lee. And, again, for the same reasons, [the complaining
       witness] by her own admission has made allegations and recanted
       those. And we would ask that the Court find that those charges are
       not satisfactory to go to the jury.

As we understand this argument, it is a claim that the complaining witness’s

testimony is not credible, as she had made similar allegations and recanted them

at previous times in her life. The court appeared to understand the argument the

same way, denying Lee’s motion because “[w]hile there [we]re conflicts in the

evidence, including but not limited to the inconsistent statements of [the

complaining witness], those conflicts will need to be resolved by the trier of fact as

a matter of fact and cannot be resolved by th[e] court . . . as a matter of law.” Thus,

the exception to the error-preservation rule does not apply here. See id. (“[W]e

recognize an exception to the general error-preservation rule when the record

indicates that the grounds for a motion were obvious and understood by the trial

court and counsel.”).

       Because we find error was not preserved, we consider Lee’s claim under

the framework for ineffective assistance of counsel.         “A claim of ineffective

assistance of trial counsel based on the failure of counsel to raise a claim of

insufficient evidence to support a conviction is a matter that normally can be

decided on direct appeal.” State v. Truesdell, 679 N.W.2d 611, 616 (Iowa 2004).
                                            5

If the record “fails to reveal substantial evidence to support the conviction[],

counsel was ineffective for failing to properly raise the issue and prejudice

resulted.” Id. “On the other hand, if the record reveals substantial evidence,

counsel’s failure to raise the claim of error could not be prejudicial.” Id.

       In determining whether substantial evidence supports the conviction, “‘[w]e

view the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict,’ including all reasonable

inferences that may be deduced from the record.” Id. at 615 (alteration in original)

(citation omitted). While we recognize the inner thigh and groin are different than

the “pubes or genitalia,” see State v. Alvarado, 875 N.W.2d 713, 717 (Iowa 2016),

the court could reasonably conclude the complaining witness meant Lee placed

her hand on his penis when she testified that Lee would “grab [her] hand,” “put it

in his pants,” and “make [her] move it up and down.” Thus, Lee was not prejudiced

by counsel’s failure to raise this claim of error with the district court.

       B. Evidentiary Ruling.

       Lee maintains the district court abused its discretion when it prevented him

from questioning the complaining witness, who had lived with him, about her prior

drug and alcohol use.       Lee argues the evidence was relevant because the

witness’s use of drugs and alcohol, and her inability to do so in Lee’s home, gave

her motive to fabricate the allegations of sexual abuse so that she would be

allowed to move in with her brother. On appeal, Lee claims “[t]he purpose of this

evidence was not to sully [the complaining witness’s] character, but to give the jury

a reason to question the timing of [her] allegations.”

       We review the district court’s evidentiary rulings for an abuse of discretion.

State v. Rodriguez, 636 N.W.2d 234, 239 (Iowa 2001).
                                             6

       In an offer of proof Lee made before the court, the complaining witness

testified as follows:

               Q. [Complaining witness], I asked you about a period of time
       that you live with [Lee]. Okay? A. Yes.
               Q. That’s the time frame I’m talking about. And during that—
       when you lived with [Lee], there was a point that you did not want to
       live him anymore; right? A. Yes.
               ....
               Q. And during that time were you using alcohol? A. At [Lee’s]
       or at my mom’s?
               Q. At that time of your life were you—had you been using—
       had you used alcohol or were you using alcohol? A. At my mom’s,
       yeah.
               Q. And how about smoking marijuana? A. Yes.
               Q. And those things weren’t allowed in [Lee’s] home; right?
       A. No.

       The district court ruled the evidence of the complaining witness’s prior use

of drugs and alcohol was inadmissible because “there [was] a rule 403 concern

that the jury would be simply making decisions based on their conclusion that the

alleged victim was a bad person unworthy of being believed simply because of her

drug use and not because of any other connection.”2 See Iowa R. Evid. 5.403

(“The court may exclude relevant evidence if its probative value is substantially

outweighed by danger of one or more of the following: unfair prejudice, confusing

the issues, misleading the jury, undue delay, wasting time, or needlessly

presenting cumulative evidence.”).

       We employ a two-part test to decide whether the evidence should be

excluded under Iowa Rule of Evidence 5.403. See State v. Huston, 825 N.W.2d

2
  The statement was actually made by the court while ruling on the motion in limine
regarding what defense counsel believed the complaining witness would testify. But after
the offer proof, the court stated its “previous ruling on the motion in limine regarding the
witness’s alcohol and drug use will stand.”
                                          7

531, 537 (Iowa 2013). Under the first prong, we consider the probative value of

the evidence. Id. Under the second, we balance the probative value against the

danger of its prejudicial or wrongful effect upon the jury. Id. Our supreme court

has stated that when balancing the probative force of the evidence against the

danger of unfair prejudice, courts consider:

       (1) the need for the proffered evidence “in view of the issues and
       other available evidence,” (2) whether there is clear proof it occurred,
       (3) the “strength or weakness of the prior-acts evidence in supporting
       the issue sought to be prove[d],” and (4) the degree to which the
       evidence would improperly influence the jury.

State v. Martin, 704 N.W.2d 665, 672 (Iowa 2005) (citation omitted); see also State

v. Putman, 848 N.W.2d 1, 10 (Iowa 2014) (“Weighing probative value against

prejudicial effect ‘is not an exact science,’ so ‘we give a great deal of leeway to the

trial judge who must make this judgment call.’” (citation omitted)).

       Here, we agree with the district court that the evidence should not have

been admitted. Although there was some probative value, there was also real

concern that requiring the complaining witness to testify about her illegal drug and

drinking habits would convince the jury she was not a person worthy of their belief.

See, e.g., State v. Nelson, No. 04-0721, 2006 WL 126612, at *6 (Iowa Ct. App.

Jan. 19, 2006) (noting the admission of drug possession and use is “the kind of

evidence that would appeal to the jury’s instinct to punish,” “even when the

evidence is ‘not terribly inflammatory or prejudicial’” (citation omitted)). Moreover,

if Lee’s intended use of the evidence was to show a motive to fabricate the

allegations, he could have done so without explicitly referencing the witness’s

illegal use of the substances. As the State points out, he was not prevented from

asking more general questions, such as, “Were you allowed to do things at your
                                          8

mother’s house that you were not allowed to do at Lee’s house” or “Did you prefer

living at your mother’s house because she was less strict?” The need for the

specific evidence, insofar as it supported Lee’s idea of the complaining witness’s

motive to lie, was not necessary.

       The district court did not abuse its discretion in excluding the testimony.

       C. Consecutive Sentences.

       In his pro se brief, Lee maintains the district court abused its discretion when

it sentenced him to consecutive sentences because he was a first-time offender.3

       “We review the district court’s sentence for an abuse of discretion.” State

v. Hill, 878 N.W.2d 269, 272 (Iowa 2016) (citation omitted). When the sentence

imposed is within the statutory limits, it “is cloaked with a strong presumption in its

favor.” State v. Formaro, 638 N.W.2d 720, 724 (Iowa 2002). In applying the

abuse-of-discretion standard, we “consider the societal goals of sentencing

criminal offenders, which focus on rehabilitation of the offender and the protection

of the community from further offense.” Id. We also “consider the host of factors

that weigh in on the often arduous task of sentencing a criminal offender, including

the nature of the offense, the attending circumstances, the age, character and

propensity of the offender, and the chances for reform.” Id. at 725. Where, as

here, the court imposes consecutive sentences, the sentencing court must

“explicitly state the reasons for imposing a consecutive sentence.”          Hill, 878

N.W.2d at 275.

       Here, when imposing sentencing, the district court stated the following:

3
  Lee filed a separate motion with his brief requesting his consecutive sentences be
changed to a concurrent sentence.
                                           9

               The Court has also had an opportunity to review the pre-
       sentence investigation report. Counsel’s made clear the issue here
       is not one of prison versus probation. The charge in Count I [sexual
       abuse in the second degree] mandates a prison sentence. And as
       [defense counsel] pointed out, the other counts effectively need to
       be part of that sentence. The only real issue for me today is
       whether—or to what extent the sentences should run consecutive to
       each other or concurrent.
               Mr. Lee, the commission of any crime necessarily involves the
       breach of some sort of boundary, whether it’s the taking of property,
       a physical assault, the taking of a life, et cetera. Some line gets
       crossed that there have to be consequences for.
               You, sir, have crossed a particularly precious and sensitive
       boundary through your actions. . . . Not on a singular one-off event,
       but over an extended period of time, repeatedly, in a manner that this
       Court finds particularly heinous, and which is reflected, I think, in the
       jury’s verdict.
               It is telling to me that, at least from what I just heard you say,
       your concern seems to be more with your ability to live out your life
       in a way that will allow you to find some sort of peace and ability to
       go on. Noticeably absent was the conveying of any sort of regret or
       acknowledgment of what you’ve done in this case. So that, to me, is
       a factor, as well.
               Taking into account the nature of the offenses, the
       seriousness of the offenses, and the positions that you’ve taken
       today, I’m going to accept the State’s sentencing recommendation
       and impose consecutive sentences in this case. I believe that’s
       appropriate for the reasons that I’ve noted, and that will be the order
       of the Court.

Based on the foregoing, we cannot say the district court abused its discretion by

imposing consecutive sentences.

       D. Ex Post Facto Clause.

       Lee maintains the district court’s imposition of the section 911.2B surcharge

was a violation of the Ex Post Facto Clause because the illegal conduct occurred

prior to the enactment of the surcharge.

       A claim that a sentence violates the Ex Post Facto Clause is a claim that a

sentence is illegal. State v. Lopez, 907 N.W.2d 112, 122 (Iowa 2018). We

generally review claims that a sentence is illegal for correction of errors at law. Id.
                                           10

at 116. However, when a claim challenges the constitutionality of a sentence, we

review it de novo. Id.

       As the State concedes, the imposition of the surcharge was illegal. The

illegal conduct occurred between January 2006 and June 2013, while the section

911.2B surcharge was not enacted until 2015. See 2015 Iowa Acts ch. 96, § 15.

“As a surcharge is a form of punishment, the imposition of the newly enacted one

. . . increased the penalty of that offense.”           Lopez, 907 N.W.2d at 123.

“Accordingly, the imposition of the section 911.2B surcharge for conduct occurring

prior to the July 1, 2015 effective date violates the Ex Post Facto” Clause. Id.

       “When a portion of a defendant’s sentence violates the Ex Post Facto

Clause, we generally vacate that portion of the district court’s sentence and

remand for the entry of a corrected sentence.” Id. Here, we are able to vacate the

discrete portion of Lee’s sentence imposing the surcharge, so we remand to the

district court only for the entry of a corrected sentence. Id.

III. Conclusion.

       Because substantial evidence supports Lee’s conviction for lascivious acts

with a child for making the child touch or fondle his pubes or genitals, Lee’s trial

attorney did not provide ineffective assistance by failing to raise that claim of error

with the district court. Additionally, the district court did not abuse its discretion in

excluding testimony regarding the complaining witness’s prior illegal use of drugs

and alcohol nor in imposing consecutive sentences. However, the imposition of
                                         11

the section 911.2B surcharge violated the Ex Post Facto Clause, so we remand to

the district court only for the entry of a corrected sentence.

       CONVICTIONS        AFFIRMED;       SENTENCES        AFFIRMED   IN   PART,

VACATED IN PART, AND REMANDED.