Court Opinion

ID: 3217768
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-06-28 19:11:09.409298+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:19:36.707593
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI

                                 NO. 2015-KA-00116-COA

JOHN EDWARD YOUNG, JR. A/K/A JOHN                                             APPELLANT
EDWARD YOUNG A/K/A JOHN YOUNG

v.

STATE OF MISSISSIPPI                                                            APPELLEE

DATE OF JUDGMENT:                            08/28/2014
TRIAL JUDGE:                                 HON. FORREST A. JOHNSON JR.
COURT FROM WHICH APPEALED:                   ADAMS COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT:                      DAMON RAMON STEVENSON
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLEE:                       OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
                                             BY: LADONNA C. HOLLAND
DISTRICT ATTORNEY:                           RONNIE LEE HARPER
NATURE OF THE CASE:                          CRIMINAL - FELONY
TRIAL COURT DISPOSITION:                     CONVICTED OF SEXUAL BATTERY AND
                                             SENTENCED TO TWENTY YEARS IN THE
                                             CUSTODY OF THE MISSISSIPPI
                                             DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
DISPOSITION:                                 AFFIRMED - 06/28/2016
MOTION FOR REHEARING FILED:
MANDATE ISSUED:

      BEFORE GRIFFIS, P.J., ISHEE AND WILSON, JJ.

      WILSON, J., FOR THE COURT:

¶1.   John Edward Young Jr. (Young) was convicted of sexual battery of his uncle’s

eleven-year-old stepdaughter, K.M.1 On appeal, Young argues that the trial judge erred by

declining to excuse a prospective juror for cause, by allowing testimony that Young had

stated that he had prior “felonies,” by precluding Young’s uncle from testifying regarding

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          In the interest of privacy, the victim’s name has been substituted with initials.
unspecified past behavior of K.M., and by giving an erroneous jury instruction. For the

reasons explained below, these issues are all procedurally barred and/or without merit.

Young also alleges that his trial counsel was ineffective; however, we do not address this

claim because it is not capable of determination on the present record. Accordingly, we

affirm Young’s conviction and sentence.

                                          FACTS

¶2.    On July 28, 2012, Young was staying at the home of his uncle, Glenn Young (Glenn),

and Glenn’s wife, Kelly Young (Kelly). Sometime after midnight, Young, who was then

thirty-six years old, entered the room of Kelly’s eleven-year-old daughter, K.M. K.M. left

her room briefly, and when she returned, Young was wearing only his boxers. Young threw

K.M. onto her bed, lay on top of her, and put his hand over her mouth. Young pulled down

K.M.’s pants and inserted his penis into her vagina. K.M. testified that Young was wearing

a condom, which he must have put on while she was out of the room. K.M. tried to scream,

but Young kept his hand over her mouth. When Young eventually stopped, K.M. tried to

leave, but Young stopped her and then penetrated her anally. Young stopped again, and

K.M. was finally able to leave the room. She went to the living room and cried, and Young

followed her there and told her he was “sorry.”

¶3.    K.M. then ran to Kelly’s and Glenn’s bedroom crying and screaming that “[Young]

touched her.” Young ran into the room behind her and said, “[K.M.], tell the truth. Tell the

truth. I got felonies.” Kelly and Glenn then rushed K.M. to the hospital.

¶4.    At the hospital, K.M. and Kelly were both “crying and very distraught.” A nurse

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examined K.M., observed that she had suffered a recent vaginal tear, and collected a rape kit,

which was sent to the State Crime Lab. There was blood on K.M.’s underwear and pajamas,

her rectal swab and underwear tested positive for blood and seminal fluid, and her vaginal

swab tested positive for blood. Analysts at the State Crime Lab attempted to compare the

seminal fluid to a known sample of Young’s DNA, but forensic biologist Alexandria Bradley

testified that the results of the test were “inconclusive” because the fluid had been mixed

with K.M.’s blood.

¶5.    Young, accompanied by his stepfather, turned himself in to the Adams County

Sheriff’s Department in the early hours of the morning. Captain Robert Brown interviewed

Young after advising him of his rights. Young admitted that he penetrated K.M. vaginally.

In a written statement, Young claimed that he fell asleep in K.M.’s bed and awoke to find her

on top of him and having sex with him. Young claimed that when he first awoke he thought

he was dreaming and that he made K.M. stop as soon as he realized what she was doing.

Young also claimed that a condom that he kept in his wallet was “missing” and that he had

“no idea where it [was].”

¶6.    Young was arrested and indicted for sexual battery. His first trial ended in a hung jury

and a mistrial. At his second trial, he testified and continued to maintain that he awoke to

find K.M. on top of him. Young claimed that he did not know whether he penetrated K.M.

He said that he told Captain Brown the same thing during his interview. He testified that he

admitted to penetration only because Captain Brown was adamant that penetration had

occurred. Young claimed that when he awoke, K.M. had begged him not to tell her mother

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what she had done.

¶7.    The jury convicted Young of sexual battery, and the court sentenced him to the

statutory minimum of twenty years’ imprisonment. See Miss. Code Ann. §§ 97-3-95(1)(d)

& 97-3-101(3) (Rev. 2006). Young subsequently filed a motion for a new trial or judgment

notwithstanding the verdict, which was denied, and a notice of appeal.

                                       DISCUSSION

¶8.    On appeal, Young argues that the trial court erred by: (1) refusing to excuse for cause

a prospective juror whose daughter was sexually assaulted; (2) allowing Kelly to testify that

Young said he had prior felony convictions; (3) refusing to allow Glenn to testify about

K.M.’s past behavior or alleged dishonesty; and (4) giving an instruction on the elements of

the offense that did not require the jury to be unanimous. He also claims that his trial counsel

was ineffective in failing to proffer Glenn’s testimony concerning K.M.’s past behavior. We

address these issue in turn below, find no reversible error, and affirm.

       I.     Juror Challenge

¶9.    During voir dire, a prospective juror disclosed that her daughter had been sexually

assaulted; however, she stated that she could be fair and impartial if chosen to serve on the

jury. Young subsequently challenged the prospective juror for cause. The court denied the

challenge because the prospective juror had stated clearly that she could be fair.

¶10.   Our Supreme Court has held that “[b]efore a claim related to a denial of a challenge

for cause may be valid, (1) the defendant must have exhausted all of his peremptory

challenges and (2) an incompetent juror must be forced by the trial court’s erroneous ruling

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to sit on the jury.” Burgess v. State, 178 So. 3d 1266, 1276 (¶28) (Miss. 2015) (emphasis

added) (citing Christmas v. State, 10 So. 3d 413, 423 (¶47) (Miss. 2009)). In this case, the

record does not disclose whether Young exhausted his peremptory challenges, but more

important, the record is clear that the challenged juror did not sit on the jury. Accordingly,

Young’s argument is without merit. See, e.g., Johnson v. State, 68 So. 3d 1239, 1246-47

(¶¶24-25) (Miss. 2011); Townes v. State, 93 So. 3d 895, 897 (¶9) (Miss. Ct. App. 2012).

       II.    Young’s Statement Regarding Prior Felony Convictions

¶11.   The court partially denied Young’s pretrial motion in limine to exclude any mention

of his prior convictions. The court ruled that Kelly could testify as to Young’s statements

in the immediate aftermath of the crime. Therefore, Kelly was permitted to testify that

Young blurted out, “[K.M.], tell the truth. Tell the truth. I got felonies.” The State also

mentioned this anticipated testimony in its opening argument, but the jury was not told

anything else about Young’s prior crimes. Nonetheless, Young argues that the disclosure

that he had “felonies” violated Mississippi Rules of Evidence 403 and 404(b). We review

the trial court’s ruling for abuse of discretion only. See, e.g., Beal v. State, 134 So. 3d 383,

387 (¶17) (Miss. Ct. App. 2014).

¶12.   Rule 404(b) provides:

       Evidence of other crimes, wrongs, or acts is not admissible to prove the
       character of a person in order to show that he acted in conformity therewith.
       It may, however, be admissible for other purposes such as proof of motive,
       opportunity, intent, preparation, plan, knowledge, identity, or absence of
       mistake or accident.

M.R.E. 404(b). If the evidence is admissible for a permissible purpose, the court must also

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consider whether its “probative value is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair

prejudice.” M.R.E. 403.

¶13.   The trial judge concluded that the testimony was relevant to the circumstances of “the

disclosure of the alleged crime immediately after it allegedly happened.” The judge also

concluded that the probative value of the evidence was not substantially outweighed by the

danger of unfair prejudice. The trial judge did not abuse his discretion. While Young

claimed that he was only admonishing K.M. to “tell the truth,” his statement could also be

interpreted as an attempt to keep her from disclosing a criminal act. So interpreted, the

statement is admissible to show knowledge or “consciousness of guilt.” See Beal, 134 So.

3d at 387 (¶18) (holding that evidence of other crimes may be admitted under Rule 404(b)

to show consciousness of guilt). In addition, our Supreme Court has held that “[w]here

substantially necessary to present to the jury the complete story of the crime, evidence or

testimony may be given even though it may reveal or suggest other crimes.” Palmer v. State,

939 So. 2d 792, 795 (¶9) (Miss. 2006) (internal quotation marks omitted). Here, had the trial

judge censored Young’s own reference to his prior “felonies,” the jury would have heard an

incomplete and distorted version of his admonition to “tell the truth.”

¶14.   Accordingly, we are satisfied that the evidence was admissible for a permissible

purpose under Rule 404(b). Indeed, since the specific nature of Young’s prior crimes was

not disclosed to the jury, it is difficult to see how this testimony could have been used for the

impermissible purpose of showing that he “acted in conformity therewith.” M.R.E. 404(b).

In addition, the trial judge did not abuse his discretion in finding that the probative value of

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the testimony was not substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice. The

testimony was relevant and probative, and any prejudice was limited by the limited nature

of the testimony and the State’s limited use of it. Accordingly, this issue is without merit.

       III.   Glenn’s Testimony

¶15.   At trial, Glenn testified that he was no longer angry with Young. Glenn explained,

“I thought about the situation, what happened. Then I looked at [Young], this and that. I

know times where [K.M.] has done stuff.” Young’s attorney then asked, “Like what?” The

State objected on relevance grounds, and the trial judge ruled that he would “sustain [the

objection] at this point” and directed Young’s attorney to “[a]sk another question.” Young’s

attorney subsequently asked Glenn, “[H]ave you ever known [K.M.] to be dishonest with

you?” The State again objected on relevance grounds, and the trial judge sustained the

objection. A short bench conference ensued out of the hearing of the court reporter, after

which the judge reiterated that the objection was sustained. Young’s attorney did not make

a proffer on the record after either objection was sustained.

¶16.   Young now argues that the trial judge abused his discretion by sustaining the State’s

objections and preventing Glenn from testifying about “stuff” K.M. had “done” and alleged

instances of dishonesty. However, “[w]hen testimony is not allowed at trial, a record of the

proffered testimony must be made in order to preserve the point for appeal.” Green v. State,

89 So. 3d 543, 554 (¶28) (Miss. 2012) (quoting Metcalf v. State, 629 So. 2d 558, 567 (Miss.

1993)); see M.R.E. 103(a)(2). The burden to make the proffer is on the offering party.

Redhead v. Entergy Miss. Inc., 828 So. 2d 801, 808 (¶20) (Miss. Ct. App. 2001). Without

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a proffer this Court cannot “know what testimony was excluded.” Id. Young failed to make

any proffer of the excluded testimony, what “stuff” K.M. had supposedly “done,” or any

alleged instances of dishonesty. Indeed, Young effectively concedes this failure, as he also

argues on appeal that his trial counsel was constitutionally ineffective for failing to make a

proffer. Accordingly, this claim is procedurally barred and without merit.

       IV.    Ineffective Assistance of Counsel

¶17.   Young next argues that his trial counsel was constitutionally ineffective for failing to

proffer Glenn’s excluded testimony. We decline to address this issue on direct appeal

because, as this Court and the Supreme Court have frequently explained,

       [i]t is unusual for this Court to consider a claim of ineffective assistance of
       counsel when the claim is made on direct appeal because there is usually
       insufficient evidence within the record to evaluate the claim. Because an
       appellate court is limited to the trial record on direct appeal, issues of
       ineffective assistance of counsel are more appropriate in a motion for post-
       conviction relief. We may address such claims on direct appeal only if (a) the
       issues are based on facts fully apparent from the record, or (b) the parties
       stipulate that the record is adequate, and we determine that additional findings
       of fact by a trial judge are not needed. If the record is not sufficient to address
       the claims on direct appeal, we dismiss the claims without prejudice,
       preserving the defendant’s right to raise the claims later in a properly filed
       motion for post-conviction relief.

Shinn v. State, 174 So. 3d 961, 965 (¶11) (Miss. Ct. App. 2015) (internal citations, quotation

marks, emphasis, and alterations omitted).

¶18.   Appropriately, the State does not stipulate that the present record is adequate to decide

Young’s claim on direct appeal. In order to establish a claim of ineffective assistance of

counsel, Young must show both (1) that “counsel’s performance was deficient”—i.e., “that

counsel made errors so serious that counsel was not functioning as the ‘counsel’ guaranteed

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the defendant by the Sixth Amendment”—and (2) that he was prejudiced as a result—i.e.,

“that counsel’s errors were so serious as to deprive the defendant of a fair trial, a trial whose

result is reliable.” Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687 (1984). Even if we assumed

that the failure to proffer Glenn’s testimony was an error of constitutional significance, there

is no way to determine on the present record whether Young suffered any prejudice as a

result. Accordingly, we do not address this claim. If the Mississippi Supreme Court grants

permission, Young may raise the issue in a properly filed motion for post-conviction relief.

       V.     Jury Instruction

¶19.   In his final issue on appeal, Young argues that the trial court erred by instructing the

jury on the elements of the offense of sexual battery as follows:

       [Young] has been charged in the indictment with sexual battery. If you find
       from the evidence in this case beyond a reasonable doubt that:

       1.     [Young], on or about July 29, 2012, in Adams County, Mississippi,

       2.     Did willfully and unlawfully engage in sexual penetration with [K.M.,]
              a female child under the age of fourteen (14) years,

       3.     By inserting his penis into her vagina and/or anus,

       4.     When the [Young] was twenty-four (24) or more months older than
              [K.M.], then you should find [Young] guilty as charged.

       If the prosecution has failed to prove any one or more of the above elements
       beyond a reasonable doubt, then you should find [Young] not guilty.

Young argues that the third element’s “and/or” deprived him of his right to a unanimous

verdict because some jurors may have convicted him of vaginal penetration, while others

may have convicted him of anal penetration. The argument is procedurally barred and

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substantively without merit.

¶20.   First, Young did not object to the instruction at trial, so he is barred from challenging

it on appeal. See, e.g., Smith v. State, 835 So. 2d 927, 939 (¶34) (Miss. 2002) (“This Court

has held on numerous occasions that an offended party’s failure to object to jury instructions

at trial procedurally bars the issue on appeal.” (quoting Jones v. State, 776 So. 2d 643, 653

(¶35) (Miss. 2000))). Accordingly, we can review his claim only for plain error. See

Fitzpatrick v. State, 175 So. 3d 515, 522 (¶31) (Miss. 2015).

¶21.   Second, the instruction was not erroneous, much less plainly erroneous. As the State

points out, this Court has held that the particular “method of achieving sexual penetration is

not an element of the offense” of sexual battery. Chandler v. State, 789 So. 2d 109, 112 (¶7)

(Miss. Ct. App. 2001); see also Hines v. State, 472 So. 2d 386, 390 (Miss. 1985) (rejecting

the argument that an indictment for sexual battery was insufficient because it “fail[ed] to

specify which organ of [the defendant’s] body was said to have penetrated which orifice of

[the victim]”); People v. Rodriguez, 914 P.2d 230, 258 (Colo. 1996) (holding that

“specification of the particular manner in which [the defendant] committed the element of

sexual intrusion” is not part of the essential element of the offense); People v. Ross, 917

N.E.2d 1111, 1121 (Ill. App. Ct. 2009) (“Illinois case law provides that the type of sexual

penetration is not an element of the offense, and its inclusion in the indictment is merely

surplusage. . . . The State need only prove that a type of sexual penetration occurred beyond

a reasonable doubt.” (citations, quotation marks omitted)). “‘Sexual penetration’ includes

cunnilingus, fellatio, buggery or pederasty, any penetration of the genital or anal openings

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of another person’s body by any part of a person’s body, and insertion of any object into the

genital or anal openings of another person’s body.” Miss. Code Ann. § 97-3-97(a) (Rev.

2006). The jury unanimously convicted Young of sexually penetrating the victim, K.M.,

which is the essence of the offense of sexual battery. See Johnson v. State, 626 So. 2d 631,

632 (Miss. 1993). Accordingly, Young’s challenge to the instruction is without merit.

                                     CONCLUSION

¶22.   Young’s claims of error by the trial court are all procedurally barred and/or without

merit, and his ineffective assistance claim is not capable of determination on direct appeal.

Accordingly, his conviction and sentence are affirmed.

¶23. THE JUDGMENT OF THE CIRCUIT COURT OF ADAMS COUNTY OF
CONVICTION OF SEXUAL BATTERY AND SENTENCE OF TWENTY YEARS IN
THE CUSTODY OF THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS IS
AFFIRMED. ALL COSTS OF THIS APPEAL ARE ASSESSED TO ADAMS
COUNTY.

    LEE, C.J., IRVING AND GRIFFIS, P.JJ., ISHEE, CARLTON, FAIR, AND
GREENLEE, JJ., CONCUR. BARNES, J., CONCURS IN PART AND IN THE
RESULT WITHOUT SEPARATE WRITTEN OPINION. JAMES, J., CONCURS IN
PART WITHOUT SEPARATE WRITTEN OPINION.

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