Court Opinion

ID: 4361036
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-01-23 16:09:28.468286+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:48:12.071315
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF IOWA

                                   No. 17-1416
                             Filed January 23, 2019

STATE OF IOWA,
     Plaintiff-Appellee,

vs.

TYKEL DUPREE ROBINSON,
     Defendant-Appellant.
________________________________________________________________

      Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Woodbury County, Jeffrey L.

Poulson, Judge.

      The appellant appeals his conviction and sentence of robbery in the first

degree. REVERSED AND REMANDED.

      Priscilla E. Forsyth, Sioux City, and Zachary S. Hindman of Mayne,

Hindman, & Daane (until withdrawal), Sioux City, for appellant.

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

Attorney General, for appellee.

      Heard by Vogel, C.J., and Vaitheswaran and McDonald, JJ.
                                         2

VOGEL, Chief Judge.

       A jury found Tykel Robinson guilty of first-degree robbery.         Robinson

appeals his conviction and sentence.         First, Robinson asserts he received

ineffective assistance of counsel because his counsel failed to object to an

incomplete jury instruction that did not provide for specific intent for an aider and

abettor. Second, he argues the district court should have excluded evidence of a

shooting where Robinson was not involved. Alternatively, he asserts his counsel

was ineffective for failing to object to the use of evidence beyond what the ruling

in limine allowed. We reverse and remand for a new trial, finding defense counsel

breached an essential duty by failing to object to the faulty instruction and

Robinson has established prejudice.       In addition, we find failing to object to

evidence that exceeded the ruling in limine was a breach of defense counsel’s

essential duty.

   I. Background Facts and Proceedings

       On February 10, 2017, around 10:00 p.m., three teenagers, N.W., G.B., and

K.R., walked from N.W.’s house to a nearby Kum & Go to purchase snacks. N.W.

purchased Flamin’ Hot Cheetos, two bottles of Dr. Pepper, and Sour Patch

Watermelon candy. Then the three left the Kum & Go and headed back to N.W.’s

house. On the walk back, the group was approached by two individuals. One

individual walked away, but the other, later identified as Darius Wright, approached

N.W.

       Wright began to harass N.W. and asked him, “What do you got?” multiple

times. Wright then grabbed N.W.’s sleeve and called for “Tykel.” Someone, later

identified as Robinson, started walking towards the group from down the block,
                                              3

arriving—according to N.W.— “right away.” Wright started to swing his fists at

N.W., while Robinson stood near G.B. and K.R. G.B. testified N.W. and Wright

were behind him and Robinson was “in front or like to the side of [him] almost.”

G.B. testified he “stepped to intervene and help [N.W.] out”; however, Robinson

blocked his path, asked G.B. “if [he] was wanting to jump in,” and then forced him

to back away. K.R. affirmed that “no one else [she or G.B.] got involved” to help

N.W. after Robinson blocked G.B. K.R. testified Robinson “appeared to be helping

Mr. Wright, . . . because [G.B.] was going to help [N.W.], and then every time [G.B.]

would step forward, [Robinson] would step forward.”

          N.W. testified Wright only “grazed” him. But after a few swings, Wright

reached behind his body, pulled out a gun, aimed it at N.W.’s head, and said, “Give

me what you got.”1 Scared, by the presence of the gun, N.W. pulled his phone out

of his pocket and tossed it to Wright. N.W., G.B., and K.R. left the scene, leaving

behind the bag of items purchased from Kum & Go. Robinson and Wright left the

scene together.

          Once the three teenagers returned to N.W.’s home, they told N.W.’s older

brother, Alan Rave, about the incident. Rave grabbed a BB gun, N.W. grabbed

two knives, and the four went to search for Wright and Robinson. While walking,

N.W. testified he heard someone yell, “Hey, you” from a nearby home and believed

it was Wright. N.W. and Rave approached the home and began to argue with

Wright about N.W.’s phone. Wright eventually returned N.W.’s now-broken phone

to N.W. The argument continued, and N.W. testified Wright knocked on the door

1
    G.B. testified Wright said, “Give me your phone,” after aiming the gun at N.W.’s head.
                                          4

and four or five individuals emerged and joined Wright. Rave and N.W. ran

towards Kum & Go, while Wright and his friends chased them, yelling “fight me”

and trying to take a “swing on” N.W. Eventually, Rave and N.W. entered the Kum

& Go and asked the store clerk for help. The clerk testified Rave and N.W. ran

into the store yelling, “We’re being robbed,” and the clerk left his station to help

protect them as three pursuers entered the store. N.W. testified Robinson was

one of the individuals that entered the store. The store clerk called the police after

the pursuers left.

       Shortly thereafter, the police arrived at the Kum & Go. While investigating

the incident, a shooting victim, Angel Castillo-Martinez, approached the officers.

Police quickly responded to the shooting scene and found shell casings at the

home where Wright had previously confronted N.W. and Rave. Later, the police

determined Wright had shot Castillo-Martinez.2 A search warrant on the home was

executed and a Kum & Go sack with a package of Sour Patch Watermelons inside

was found in a bedroom. A bag of Flamin’ Hot Cheetos and a bottle of Dr. Pepper

were found in the kitchen.

       Robinson was charged with robbery in the first degree on February 20,

2017. After trial, the jury returned a verdict finding Robinson guilty of first-degree

robbery under Iowa Code sections 711.1, 711.2, and 703.1 (2017). Robinson was

sentenced to an indeterminate term of incarceration not to exceed twenty-five

years.3 He appeals.

2
 It is undisputed Robinson was not involved in the shooting.
3
 The sentence imposed was to run consecutive with his sentence in FECR094019, in
which Robinson pled guilty via an Alford plea to two counts of robbery in the second
degree for offenses that occurred on January 25 and March 7, 2016. See North Carolina
                                             5

   II. Standard of Review

         We review ineffective-assistance-of-counsel claims de novo.              State v.

Schlitter, 881 N.W.2d 380, 388 (Iowa 2016). “Ordinarily, ineffective assistance of

counsel claims are best resolved by postconviction proceedings to enable a

complete record to be developed and afford trial counsel an opportunity to respond

to the claim. Yet, in some instances, the appellate record can be adequate to

address the claim on direct appeal.” State v. Truesdell, 679 N.W.2d 611, 616 (Iowa

2004).

   III. Jury Instruction

         Robinson asserts his counsel was ineffective at trial by failing to object to

the “fatally flawed” instruction regarding specific intent, because he was charged—

and the jury was instructed—that he committed the robbery either as the principal

or as an aider and abettor. While the State admits Robinson’s counsel likely

breached an essential duty, it asserts Robinson cannot show prejudice.

         To prevail on an ineffective-assistance-of-counsel claim, the appellant must

show, by a preponderance of the evidence, counsel failed to perform some

essential duty and such failure resulted in prejudice. State v. Straw, 709 N.W.2d

128, 133 (Iowa 2006); see also Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687

(1984). When “intent is an element of the crime charged, a person may be

convicted on a theory of aiding and abetting if she [or he] participates with either

the requisite intent, or with knowledge the principal possesses the required intent.”

State v. Tangie, 616 N.W.2d 564, 574 (Iowa 2000). Additionally, “[t]he State must

v. Alford, 400 U.S. 25, 37 (1970) (permitting a defendant to plead guilty to a crime without
admitting participation in the underlying facts, which constitute the crime).
                                               6

prove the accused knew of the crime at the time of or before its commission.” Id.

First-degree robbery is a specific intent crime. See Iowa Code § 711.1 (stating an

element of robbery is intent to commit a theft). Since Robinson was charged with

first-degree robbery either as the principal or as an aider and abettor, the State

was required to show he either had the requisite intent to commit a theft or had

knowledge Wright possessed the required intent.4 See id.; Tangie, 616 N.W.2d at

574.

          The district court provided the jury with the following instruction on aiding

and abetting:

                  All persons involved in the commission of a crime, whether
          they directly commit the crime or knowingly “aid and abet” its
          commission, shall be treated in the same way.
                  “Aid and abet” means to knowingly approve and agree to the
          commission of a crime, either by active participation in it or by
          knowingly advising or encouraging the act in some way before or
          when it is committed. Conduct following the crime may be
          considered only as it may tend to prove the defendant’s earlier
          participation. Mere nearness to, or presence at, the scene of the
          crime, without more evidence, is not “aiding and abetting”. Likewise,
          mere knowledge of the crime is not enough to prove “aiding and
          abetting”.
                  The guilt of a person who knowingly aids and abets the
          commission of a crime must be determined only on the facts which
          show the part he has in it, and does not depend upon the degree of
          another person’s guilt.
                  If you find the State has proved the defendant directly
          committed the crime, or knowingly “aided and abetted” [another]
          person in the commission of the crime, then the defendant is guilty
          of the crime charged.

4
    Iowa Code section 703.1 provides:
                  All persons concerned in the commission of a public offense,
         whether they directly commit the act constituting the offense or aid and abet
         its commission, shall be charged, tried and punished as principals. The
         guilt of a person who aids and abets the commission of a crime must be
         determined upon the facts which show the part the person had in it, and
         does not depend upon the degree of another person’s guilt.
                                          7

This instruction mirrors the Iowa Criminal Jury Instruction 200.8. However, the

comment to Instruction 200.8 includes an additional paragraph for a specific intent

crime:

         The crime charged requires a specific intent. Therefore, before you
         can find the defendant “aided and abetted” the commission of the
         crime, the State must prove the defendant either has such specific
         intent or “aided and abetted” with the knowledge the others who
         directly committed the crime had such specific intent. If the
         defendant did not have the specific intent, or knowledge the others
         had such specific intent, [he or she] is not guilty.

Iowa Criminal Jury Instruction 200.8 cmt. We find the district court’s instruction

was flawed because it did not properly instruct the jury on the specific intent of an

aider or abettor. See Tangie, 616 N.W.2d at 574. Therefore, we find Robinson’s

counsel failed to perform an essential duty by not objecting to the incomplete jury

instruction.

         Notwithstanding this breach of duty, Robinson must show prejudice resulted

from counsel’s failure to object to the incomplete jury instruction. To establish

prejudice, “[t]he defendant must show that there is a reasonable probability that,

but for counsel’s unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding would have

been different. A reasonable probability is a probability sufficient to undermine

confidence in the outcome.” State v. Carey, 709 N.W.2d 547, 559 (Iowa 2006)

(quoting Strickland, 466 U.S. at 694). “Errors in jury instructions are presumed

prejudicial unless ‘the record affirmatively establishes there was no prejudice.’”

State v. Murray, 796 N.W.2d 907, 908 (Iowa 2011) (quoting State v. Hanes, 790

N.W.2d 545, 551 (Iowa 2010)).

         Robinson asserts, “[T]here is very little evidence to support a finding that

[he] either had an intent to commit a theft, or knew that Wright had such intent at
                                            8

the time when Robinson allegedly aided and abetted him.” Robinson was not

present when Wright first approached and taunted N.W. After Wright called for

Robinson, N.W. and G.B. testified Robinson was “just up the block” and appeared

quickly. G.B. testified he tried to help N.W. but Robinson blocked his path and

asked if he wanted to “jump in.” Both N.W. and G.B. testified to Robinson’s

continued presence when Wright drew a gun, aimed it at N.W.’s head, and

threatened him.5

       However, it appears from the record, the district court was concerned about

Robinson’s intent. In the ruling on Robinson’s motion for new trial and motion in

arrest of judgment, the district court made the following statement:

       [W]hile the Court does greatly sympathize and appreciate the
       argument made by Mr. Robinson that it was not his duty to stop
       Darius Wright from robbing or assaulting [N.W.]. The fact that Mr.
       Robinson was not present when the initial contact or discussion
       between Wright and [N.W.] is also something this Court finds
       troubling as well. However, those facts were argued, considered and
       weighed by the jury and while this Court finds it troubling that one
       can be guilty of crime in which they walked up to, arguably prevented
       from escalating, and walked away from, the fact still remains that Mr.
       Robinson knowingly entered the scene of and took part in a robbery.
       Mr. Robinson made the decision to join in on the incident,
       unfortunately involving himself, even in the most minor of roles, in
       the criminal act.

Since prejudice is presumed in this situation and even the district court had

concerns with Robinson’s intent, we find Robinson was prejudiced by his counsel’s

breach of duty.

5
 The record is unclear as to exactly what Wright said to N.W. when he aimed the gun at
N.W.’s head. N.W. testified Wright said, “Give me what you got,” but G.B. testified Wright
said, “Give me your phone.”
                                                9

     IV. Admission of Evidence

         Robinson next asserts the district court abused its discretion by admitting

evidence of the shooting following the robbery. The State argues error was not

preserved. Robinson’s counsel filed a motion in limine on July 7, 2017, and asked

the district court to exclude evidence of the shooting following the robbery

because, “[t]he probative value of this information is greatly outweighed by the

prejudicial effect it will have on the defendant in this matter.” The district court

ruled on the motion and stated,

         Evidence relating to the shooting of Angel Castillo-Martinez by
         Darius Wright may be admitted for the sole purpose of proving the
         defendant aided and abetted Darius Wright who was armed with a
         dangerous weapon. The parties are ordered to prepare a limiting
         instruction to be given to the jury with the final jury instructions. The
         aforesaid evidence may not be used for any other purpose.

         To convict Robinson of first-degree robbery under the aiding and abetting

theory, the State had to prove Wright had a dangerous weapon at the time of the

alleged robbery. See Iowa Code § 711.2. There was a dispute whether Wright

had a B.B. gun or some form of a handgun. G.B described the gun as having, “a

black grip with a silver, chrome slideback; an optical; and a silencer.” The State

offered evidence of the shooting to show the weapon Wright held to N.W.’s head

was a dangerous weapon because it was later used to shoot another individual.6

Although the gun was never recovered, .22 caliber shell casings found near the

6
    Jury instruction number 24 provided:
                  Evidence has been submitted that a BB gun may have been used
          during the events testified to during this trial. A BB gun is not automatically
          a dangerous weapon under Iowa law. It can be a dangerous weapon if
          sufficient expert testimony is presented that the BB gun was designed
          primarily for use in inflicting death or serious injury.
                                               10

shooting and Castillo-Martinez’s wounds confirmed Wright used something other

than a B.B. gun during the shooting. Because the State needed to prove the

dangerous weapon element to support the robbery conviction, the district court’s

ruling on Robinson’s motion in limine was proper. Moreover, the court gave the

jury a cautionary instruction so as to limit the jury’s use of the testimony regarding

the shooting.7

          Alternatively, Robinson argues his counsel provided ineffective assistance

by failing to raise further objection at trial when he claimed the evidence from the

shooting went beyond what the ruling on the motion in limine allowed. In order to

succeed on this ineffective-assistance-of-counsel claim, “the defendant must

overcome the presumption that, under the circumstances, the challenged action

‘might be considered sound trial strategy.’” State v. Wissing, 528 N.W.2d 561, 564

(Iowa 1995) (quoting Strickland, 466 U.S. at 689 (internal citation omitted)).

          During Officer Bryan Noll’s trial testimony, the prosecutor introduced a

photograph of Castillo-Martinez’s face while he was hooked up to oxygen after the

shooting.      Defense counsel expressly did not object to the admission of this

photograph. Other officers testified in some detail about the shooting, including

7
    Jury instruction number 32 provided:
                   Evidence has been received concerning a shooting at [the location]
          in which officers with the Sioux City Police Department testified that they
          identified Darius Wright as the shooter. The defendant was not charged
          for this incident and was determined by the Sioux City Police Department
          not to be present during this incident. The Defendant is not on trial for this
          incident.
                   . . . [Y]ou may consider this evidence only for the purpose of
          determining whether Darius Wright was armed with a dangerous weapon
          herein and thus whether the State has proved beyond a reasonable doubt
          that the defendant aided and abetted Darius Wright who was armed with a
          dangerous weapon . . . .
                                         11

where on Castillo-Martinez’s body the wounds were inflicted and the officers’

investigative efforts upon learning of the shooting, such as cordoning off the street,

securing the perimeter of the house, and coordinating with the SWAT team. None

of this evidence assisted the jury in determining whether Wright had a dangerous

weapon at the time of robbery. Despite being given an opportunity to object,

defense counsel breached an essential duty by failing to object to the evidence

that clearly went beyond the confines of the limine ruling. We reverse and remand

for a new trial.

   V. Conclusion

       We conclude Robinson’s counsel provided ineffective assistance of counsel

by failing to object to the faulty instruction and such failure resulted in prejudice.

Additionally, we find the district court’s ruling on the motion in limine was proper,

but we find the counsel breached an essential duty by failing to raise further

objection to the admission of evidence beyond the confines of the ruling.

       REVERSED AND REMANDED.