Court Opinion

ID: 7802733
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-08-23 13:07:13.324318+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:29:30.590446
License: Public Domain

IN THE NEBRASKA COURT OF APPEALS

               MEMORANDUM OPINION AND JUDGMENT ON APPEAL
                        (Memorandum Web Opinion)

                                  STATE V. RENTERIA-DELGADO

  NOTICE: THIS OPINION IS NOT DESIGNATED FOR PERMANENT PUBLICATION
 AND MAY NOT BE CITED EXCEPT AS PROVIDED BY NEB. CT. R. APP. P. § 2-102(E).

                                 STATE OF NEBRASKA, APPELLEE,
                                                V.

                            SANTOS RENTERIA-DELGADO, APPELLANT.

                             Filed August 23, 2022.    No. A-21-665.

       Appeal from the District Court for Douglas County: JAMES M. MASTELLER, Judge.
Affirmed.
       Jerry M. Hug for appellant.
       Douglas J. Peterson, Attorney General, and Nathan A. Liss for appellee.

       PIRTLE, Chief Judge, and BISHOP and WELCH, Judges.
       WELCH, Judge.
                                       I. INTRODUCTION
        Santos Renteria-Delgado appeals from his jury convictions of two counts of first degree
sexual assault of a child alleging that his trial counsel was ineffective. For the reasons set forth
herein, we affirm; however, we determine that the record on appeal is insufficient to address
Renteria-Delgado’s claims of ineffective assistance of trial counsel.
                                  II. STATEMENT OF FACTS
        In 2019, the State charged Renteria-Delgado with two counts of first degree sexual assault
of a child, both Class IB felonies. The complaint alleged that between January 1, 2018, and April
17, 2019, Renteria-Delgado sexually assaulted his two great nieces, J.S. and X.S., both of whom
were under 12 years of age. The evidence established that Renteria-Delgado was born in November
1967, J.S. was born in April 2010, and X.S. was born in July 2012.

                                               -1-
        J.S. and X.S. lived in the upstairs unit of a split-level home with their parents and their
aunt. Renteria-Delgado lived in the downstairs unit with other extended family. The victims’
parents worked long hours and Renteria-Delgado would often watch the victims while their parents
were at work. In July 2018, the victims moved into a new home with their parents and siblings.
        In April 2019, after watching a T.V. show about a girl who had been raped, the victims
disclosed to their 13-year-old sister, Y.L., that Renteria-Delgado had touched them and motioned
toward their chest and private areas. The following day, the victims disclosed the assault to their
mother who reported the assault to police. At the time of the disclosure, J.S. was 8 or 9 years old,
and X.S. was 6 years old. Following the disclosure, the victims underwent forensic interviews.
        During J.S.’s forensic interview, she disclosed that on several occasions,
Renteria-Delgado, who she referred to as “Uncle Santos,” had “done things” to J.S. and X.S.
mostly at their “old house.” According to J.S., during one incident, Renteria-Delgado told her to
touch his “private parts” while he was in the bathroom peeing, but J.S. did not comply. On another
occasion, J.S. stated that Renteria-Delgado showed J.S. and X.S videos on his phone of adults who
were naked, kissing, and touching each other’s “private parts,” but Renteria-Delgado did not touch
them on that occasion. However, J.S. reported that there were times when Renteria-Delgado did
touch them, including one incident which took place in the basement living room at their old house,
where Renteria-Delgado had “licked” both her and X.S.’ “private part[s]” and that “it hurt to pee
afterward.” J.S. also recalled two other incidents where she was alone with Renteria-Delgado in
the basement living room of the old house when he closed the curtains and “put his private part in
my butt.” According to J.S., during those two incidents she was lying on her stomach on the couch
and Renteria-Delgado pulled her pants down around her ankles, put a “thing” around his “private
part,” and then got on top of her and put it into her butt, which hurt. J.S. described
Renteria-Delgado’s “private part” as “long and hairy” and described the “thing” he put on his
“private part” as “soggy,” “wet and rubbery,” and “there’s a hole he puts it in.” J.S. said that
Renteria-Delgado got the “soggy thing” from a little square package and put it back in the package
when he was done. She also stated that, during one of the incidents, he made her lick the “soggy
thing” on his private part.
        J.S. also reported additional incidents which occurred after they had moved to the new
house. She recalled that Renteria-Delgado would sometimes “touch our boobs.” She also recalled
another incident when he touched her private part with his hand, over her clothes, while the rest of
the family was away from home getting groceries. J.S. stated that during the incidents, at both the
old and new home, she did not remember anyone being home except Renteria-Delgado, J.S., and
X.S. J.S. said that she was scared to tell anyone about what Renteria-Delgado did because he told
her not to tell anyone and she was afraid that her parents would be mad at her.
        During her forensic interview, X.S. reported that Renteria-Delgado showed her and J.S.
“gross stuff” on his phone including a video of a boy putting his “banana” in a girl’s butt. X.S.
recalled that Renteria-Delgado then asked them if they wanted to do that and both girls said no.
X.S. disclosed that, on one occasion, Renteria-Delgado made them go with him to the bathroom
where he pulled out his penis which she described “like a hot dog thingy.” X.S. similarly reported
that Renteria-Delgado touched them where they “poop and pee” and that it felt like he was trying
to “pull out the poop.” X.S. reported that after one of the incidents where Renteria-Delgado had
touched her butt, she used the bathroom, and when she wiped, she noticed she was bleeding from

                                               -2-
“where she poops.” X.S. further described incidents where Renteria-Delgado touched and licked
her chest, which she called her “Chi Chis;” licked her and J.S.’s “privates” and butts; and that he
used his “banana” to touch their butts. X.S. reported Renteria-Delgado occasionally made them
massage his “private part” and that something other than pee came out which X.S. stated looked
like “milk or throw up from his thingy,” and that he would use a napkin to clean up afterwards.
X.S. stated that she and J.S. were afraid to tell their parents about the assaults because
Renteria-Delgado said that he would hit them and he would go to jail.
        Following the report to law enforcement, officers interviewed Renteria-Delgado who, at
that time, denied touching the victims or doing anything inappropriate to them. After obtaining a
second warrant, officers conducted a search of Renteria-Delgado’s home and seized several items
from his bedroom, including, among other things, several condoms, a pair of a female child’s
underwear near a laundry basket, and four cell phones. The phones were subsequently searched
and one phone indicated a history of the user visiting pornographic websites.
        At trial, which was held over four days in May 2021, both victims testified to much of the
same information contained in their forensic interviews. Additionally, J.S. testified that when
Renteria-Delgado touched her private part and her butt, he would touch her on the inside and the
outside of her body using his hands, tongue, or his “private part.” She described his private part as
“stiff” when he put it inside her, which hurt, and she recalled one time where he put something
clear and plastic on his private part before he put it into her butt which he then threw away
afterward. J.S. testified that he did similar things to X.S. if X.S. was present, but no one else was
present when these things occurred. J.S. testified that Renteria-Delgado would tell them not to tell
their mom or he would go to jail, and he would sometimes give them candy, stuffed animals, and
toys. X.S. explained that Renteria-Delgado used his hand or “front private part” to touch her on
the inside of her privates and there were times when he also touched J.S.
        The victims’ parents, sister, forensic interviewer, and medical examiner also testified on
behalf of the State. The victim’s mother testified about the children’s disclosure to her, her report
to the police, and the physical and behavioral changes in the victims after the assaults. The victims’
father testified that, following the victims’ disclosure, he confronted Renteria-Delgado who
admitted that “he had done [some]thing to them,” but did not elaborate further. Y.L. testified
regarding the victims’ initial disclosures to her, the changes she noticed in her sisters, and her
observations including that Renteria-Delgado often bought items for the victims but did not do the
same for her when she would ask.
        The jury convicted Renteria-Delgado of both counts of first degree sexual assault of a child.
Thereafter, Renteria-Delgado was sentenced to a mandatory minimum of 15 years’ imprisonment
and a maximum of 25 years’ imprisonment on each count with the sentences ordered to run
consecutively. Renteria-Delgado has timely appealed his convictions and is represented by new
counsel on appeal.
                                 III. ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR
        Renteria-Delgado’s assignments of error, renumbered and restated, are that he received
ineffective assistance of trial counsel due to counsel’s: (1) failure to properly impeach the alleged
victims J.S. and X.S. regarding prior inconsistent statements and (2) informing the jurors during

                                                -3-
opening statements that they would hear testimony from the victims’ grandparents but then failing
to call them at trial to provide testimony which would have been favorable for the defense.
                                  IV. STANDARD OF REVIEW
        In reviewing claims of ineffective assistance of counsel on direct appeal, an appellate court
decides only whether the undisputed facts contained within the record are sufficient to conclusively
determine whether counsel did or did not provide effective assistance and whether the defendant
was or was not prejudiced by counsel’s alleged deficient performance. State v. Smith, 302 Neb.
154, 922 N.W.2d 444 (2019).
        Whether a claim of ineffective assistance of trial counsel can be determined on direct
appeal presents a question of law, which turns upon the sufficiency of the record to address the
claim without an evidentiary hearing or whether the claim rests solely on the interpretation of a
statute or constitutional requirement. State v. Collins, 307 Neb. 581, 950 N.W.2d 89 (2020). An
appellate court determines as a matter of law whether the record conclusively shows that (1) a
defense counsel’s performance was deficient or (2) a defendant was or was not prejudiced by a
defense counsel’s alleged deficient performance. Id.
                                           V. ANALYSIS
        On appeal, Renteria-Delgado assigns as error, consolidated and restated, that his trial
counsel was ineffective in two ways: (1) failing to properly impeach the alleged victims J.S. and
X.S. regarding prior inconsistent statements, and (2) failing to call the victims’ grandparents as
defense witnesses despite telling jurors during opening statements that they would hear testimony
from them which would have been favorable for the defense.
        To prevail on a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, a defendant must show that his
or her counsel’s performance was deficient, and that the deficient performance actually prejudiced
the defense. State v. Collins, supra. To show that counsel’s performance was deficient, a defendant
must show that counsel’s performance did not equal that of a lawyer with ordinary training and
skill in criminal law. Id. To show prejudice, the defendant must demonstrate a reasonable
probability that but for counsel’s deficient performance, the result of the proceeding would have
been different. Id. A reasonable probability is a probability sufficient to undermine confidence in
the outcome. Id. However, on direct appeal, an appellant is not required to allege prejudice when
claiming ineffective assistance of trial counsel. State v. Filholm, 287 Neb. 763, 848 N.W.2d 571
(2014).
        On direct appeal, the resolution of ineffective assistance of counsel claims turns upon the
sufficiency of the record. Id. The Nebraska Supreme Court has often said that the fact that an
ineffective assistance of counsel claim is raised on direct appeal does not necessarily mean that it
can be resolved. Id. The determining factor is whether the record is sufficient to adequately review
the question. Id. The Supreme Court has held in countless cases that the record on direct appeal
was insufficient for assessing ineffective assistance of counsel claims. Id. This is because the trial
record reviewed on appeal is devoted to issues of guilt or innocence and does not usually address
issues of counsel’s performance. Id.
        It naturally follows that on direct appeal, an appellate court can determine whether the
record proves or rebuts the merits of a claim of ineffective assistance of trial counsel only if it has

                                                 -4-
knowledge of the specific conduct alleged to constitute deficient performance. Id. Therefore, an
appellant must make specific allegations of the conduct that he or she claims constitutes deficient
performance by trial counsel when raising an ineffective assistance claim on direct appeal. Id.
General allegations that trial counsel performed deficiently or that trial counsel was ineffective are
insufficient to raise an ineffective assistance claim on direct appeal and thereby preserve the issue
for later review. Id.
        Appellate courts have generally reached ineffective assistance of counsel claims on direct
appeal only in those instances where it was clear from the record that such claims were without
merit or in the rare case where trial counsel’s error was so egregious and resulted in such a high
level of prejudice that no tactic or strategy could overcome the effect of the error, which effect was
a fundamentally unfair trial. State v. Sundquist, 301 Neb. 1006, 921 N.W.2d 131 (2019); State v.
Casares, 291 Neb. 150, 864 N.W.2d 667 (2015); State v. Sidzyik, 281 Neb. 305, 795 N.W.2d 281
(2011).
                            1. IMPROPER IMPEACHMENT OF J.S. AND X.S.
        Renteria-Delgado first argues that his trial counsel was ineffective “by failing to properly
impeach both J.S. and X.S. on cross-examination regarding inconsistent statements made during
their forensic interviews, depositions and trial testimony” but “was unable to impeach either of the
victims due to an inability to properly follow evidentiary requirements for impeachment through
prior inconsistent statements.” Brief for appellant at 5.
                                      (a) Claims Regarding J.S.
        Regarding J.S., Renteria-Delgado contends that trial counsel attempted to impeach J.S.
through use of prior inconsistent statements made during a prior deposition. Renteria-Delgado
argues that:
        After two substantive questions counsel asked J.S., “And when we spoke before, I asked
        you if [Renteria-Delgado] touched you with any part of his body, and you said just his
        hand. Do you remember that?” . . . The State interposed an objection as to improper
        impeachment which was sustained. . . . Counsel proceeded to ask J.S. if she recalled
        speaking with counsel “before” to which J.S. responded yes at which time counsel then
        stated that J.S. did not say at that time what was said “today”. The State again objected as
        improper impeachment and the court asked counsel to rephrase the question. Counsel did
        so but shortly thereafter another improper impeachment objection was made and a sidebar
        ensued. . . .
                As counsel continued questioning J.S. he asked her a series of questions about
        whether she recalled previously telling him specifics about where [Renteria-Delgado]
        touched her, whether she previously told counsel if [Renteria-Delgado] “went inside her”
        and whether [J.S.] previously . . . responded “no” to all of those questions. . . . At that point
        counsel moved on to cross-examine J.S. regarding other topics unrelated to prior statements
        and eventually ending cross-examination.

Brief for appellant at 7-8.
        As to the subject of these confrontations, Renteria-Delgado argues:

                                                  -5-
               While the deposition of J.S. is not a part of the record, it is clear from the attempted
        cross-examination that counsel had prior inconsistent statements with which to impeach
        J.S. Counsel simply failed to do so in the proper manner and as such no substantive
        impeachment of J.S. occurred. Additionally, counsel failed to address J.S.’s multiple “no”
        responses regarding her recollection of her previously sworn deposition testimony and let
        those answers stand without further attempts to refresh her recollection and establish actual
        inconsistent statements.

Brief for appellant at 8-9.
        Although we find that Renteria-Delgado has stated this claim of ineffective assistance of
trial counsel with sufficient particularity, because the deposition of J.S. is not part of the record,
the record is insufficient for this claim to be addressed on direct appeal.
                                      (b) Claims Regarding X.S.
        Renteria-Delgado makes a similar claim regarding trial counsel’s alleged ineffectiveness
for failing to properly impeach X.S. on cross-examination. Regarding X.S., Renteria-Delgado
contends that trial counsel was ineffective in failing to substantively establish X.S.’ prior
inconsistent statements or otherwise address X.S.’ testimony that she did not recall making prior
inconsistent statements. Specifically, he argues:
        During cross-examination of X.S., again counsel attempted to impeach the witness by
        asking a series of questions about her previous statements to counsel that
        [Renteria-Delgado] had dragged her into the bathroom, that she had previously stated that
        [Renteria-Delgado] had only touched her with [h]is hand, and she previously stated at times
        she would be woken up and dragged downstairs by [Renteria-Delgado]. . . . X.S. responded
        “no” to each of these questions [regarding] whether she recalled making these previous
        statements. Without any further inquiry or attempts to substantively establish that X.S. had
        actually given prior inconsistent statements counsel stopped cross-examination shortly
        thereafter. . . . While the deposition of J.S. [sic] is not a part of the record, it is clear from
        the attempted cross-examination that counsel had prior inconsistent statements with which
        to impeach J.S. [sic] Counsel simply failed to do so in the proper manner and as such no
        substantive impeachment of J.S. [sic] occurred.

Brief for appellant at 10.
        Like we found in the previous section, although we find that Renteria-Delgado has stated
this claim of ineffective assistance of trial counsel with sufficient particularity, because the
deposition of X.S. is not part of the record, the record is insufficient for this claim to be addressed
on direct appeal.
                      2. FAILURE TO CALL VICTIMS’ GRANDPARENTS AT TRIAL
       Renteria-Delgado next argues that he received ineffective assistance of counsel when
counsel mentioned in his opening statement that the jury would hear from the victims’
grandparents, but then failed to call them as witnesses during the trial. He contends that the victims’
grandparents would have provided testimony favorable to the defense.

                                                  -6-
       During opening statements, defense counsel told the jury that they would hear from the
       grandparents of the children who lived at the house who said this couldn’t have happened,
       it’s a small location, perhaps a smaller house than some of you are accustomed to living in.
       Small space, the girls were happy, weren’t crying, no noises, not possible. The
       grandparents were in the room, or next to it.

Counsel did not call the grandparents as witnesses during the trial and the defense rested without
presenting evidence. Renteria-Delgado asserts that counsel was ineffective because the
grandparents were willing to testify, counsel told the jury that they would testify, and that the
grandparents’ testimony would benefit the defense.
       More specifically, Renteria-Delgado contends that counsel knew or reasonably should
have known that based on counsel’s conversations with the victims’ grandmother, that the
grandmother would have testified that the victims’ parents rented part of her home; that she took
care of the victims when the victims’ parents were absent; that there were no reports of sexual
abuse; that her observations of Renteria-Delgado would not corroborate the allegations against
him; that Renteria-Delgado was constantly in the company of his girlfriend who also lived in the
home; and that the victims’ parents had motivations to claim sexual abuse since the victims’
mother believed that such allegations would aid her husband in obtaining legal status in the U.S.
       A somewhat analogous situation was addressed by the Nebraska Supreme Court in State v.
Loding, 296 Neb. 670, 682-83, 895 N.W.2d 669, 681 (2017), wherein the Court considered
whether defense counsel’s failure to call the victim’s mother as a defense witness despite stating
in opening statements that she would testify:
                As [the defendant] conceded at oral argument, his brief misstated the record when
       he argued that counsel failed to explain why [the victim’s] mother did not testify. The
       record shows that [defense] counsel explained, “We said we would call the mother . . . we
       said that in the beginning because we thought the state would prove its case, and it has
       not.”
                During closing argument, counsel explained multiple times that the burden of proof
       was on the State to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that [the defendant] was guilty.
       Counsel then reviewed the evidence and explained to the jury why the State had not met
       its burden. Outside the presence of the jury, [defense counsel] confirmed on the record that
       the mother did not want to testify and that he did not want her to testify.
                But the record does not explain why, during opening statement, counsel elected to
       tell the jury that [the victim’s] mother would be called to testify. Although the record shows
       how the problem was addressed, the record does not show how it came about. Under these
       circumstances, we conclude that the record is not sufficient to address this matter on direct
       appeal.

       Similarly, in State v. Avina-Murillo, 301 Neb. 185, 917 N.W.2d 865 (2018), the Nebraska
Supreme Court concluded that the record was insufficient on direct appeal to resolve the
defendant’s claim that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to call the victim’s parents as
witnesses after informing the jury of those witnesses’ testimonies during opening statements.

                                                -7-
        Here, the record is also insufficient to address this matter on direct appeal. During opening
statements, defense counsel informed the jury that the grandparents would testify, but then he did
not call them as witnesses. Further, unlike Loding, the record in the instant case does not contain
any explanations for the counsel’s failure to call the grandparents at trial. Accordingly, the record
before this court is not sufficient to address this matter on direct appeal.
                                        VI. CONCLUSION
        For the reasons stated above, we affirm Renteria-Delgado’s jury conviction of two counts
of first degree sexual assault of a child. Regarding Renteria-Delgado’s claims of ineffective
assistance of trial counsel for failing to properly impeach the alleged victims J.S. and X.S.
regarding prior inconsistent statements and failing to call the victims’ grandparents as defense
witnesses after informing jurors during opening statements that they would hear testimony from
the grandparents, we find that the record is insufficient to address these claims on direct appeal.
                                                                                         AFFIRMED.

                                                -8-