Court Opinion

ID: 3022741
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-13 22:27:33.625978+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:13:04.746899
License: Public Domain

United States Court of Appeals
                             FOR THE EIGHTH CIRCUIT
                                    _____________

                                     No. 98-1932
                                    _____________

Richard James Kellogg,                     *
                                           *
           Plaintiff-Appellant,            * Appeal from the United States
                                           * District Court for the
      v.                                   * District of Minnesota.
                                           *
Erik Skon, Warden,                         *
                                           *
           Defendant-Appellee.             *

                                    _____________

                             Submitted: December 17, 1998

                                       Filed: May 10, 1999
                                    _____________

Before McMILLIAN, JOHN R. GIBSON, and MAGILL, Circuit Judges.
                           _____________

JOHN R. GIBSON, Circuit Judge.

      Richard Kellogg petitioned the district court1 for a writ of habeas corpus
pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254(a) (1994) following his conviction in Minnesota state
court on two counts of criminal sexual conduct. The convictions resulted from the
sexual abuse of his girlfriend's six-year-old daughter. The district court denied

      1
        The Honorable Paul A. Magnuson, Chief Judge, United States District Court
for the District of Minnesota.
Kellogg's petition but granted his application for a certificate of appealability on two
issues: whether the prosecutor's commenting on the presumption of innocence and
calling him a "monster" during closing argument violated his constitutional rights and
whether he was denied effective assistance of counsel.2 We affirm the denial of the
writ.

      The arguments presented on appeal require only a general statement of the facts
without going into the explicit detail contained in the trial testimony. Kellogg had an
on again off again relationship with Laura Fiscus. Between bouts of living with
Kellogg in various states, Fiscus would reunite with her husband. At a time when
Fiscus was living with Kellogg, he sexually abused L.A.M., Fiscus's six year old
daughter.

      L.A.M. testified to the abuse. A detective, a social worker, L.A.M.'s father, a
psychologist, a child protection worker, and a child psychologist all testified that
L.A.M. related to them, in varying degrees, the details of Kellogg's abuse. The
psychologist and child psychologist gave their expert opinions that L.A.M. had been
sexually abused.

        M.J.M., L.A.M.'s eight-year-old sister, testified that Kellogg had sexually abused
her when she was four years old. Several witnesses testified that M.J.M. had told them
of the abuse, and the psychologists gave their expert opinions that she had been abused.

      2
        Kellogg also complains of government witnesses vouching for their own and
other witnesses' testimony, the prosecutor's comments on witness credibility, and the
prosecutor's implication that physical evidence of semen existed. However, the district
court did not grant the certificate of appealability on these issues; thus, we only address
them as they relate to the ineffective assistance of counsel claim. See Ramsey v.
Bowersox, 149 F.3d 749, 759 (8th Cir. 1998) (appellate review is limited to issues
specified in the certificate of appealability), cert. denied, 119 S. Ct. 1083 (1999).
                                            -2-
       Kellogg testified that he did not sexually abuse L.A.M. He argued that Fiscus
and L.A.M.'s father had told L.A.M. to fabricate the story of Kellogg's abuse. Christine
Childs, who babysat for L.A.M., corroborated Kellogg's contention. She testified that
L.A.M.'s father had visited L.A.M. just before L.A.M. accused Kellogg of sexual
abuse, that Fiscus tried to convince her to lie about whether she was babysitting on the
day of the abuse, and that Fiscus "rehearsed" L.A.M. regarding that part of L.A.M.'s
story.

       During closing argument, the prosecutor commented on the credibility of several
witnesses. She implied that physical evidence of semen existed, but admitted she could
not produce it. The prosecutor stated that everyone was entitled to the presumption of
innocence and that when the trial started Kellogg had it. However, she then stated,
"[T]he testimony has removed it, the facts have removed it and the defendant now
stands naked before you and you can see him for what he really is: a sexual deviant, a
liar and an abuser of little children . . . . [T]he presumption of innocence is no longer
protecting and shielding this defendant because it has crumpled and fallen into dust."
The prosecutor also stated, "Do you think that . . . [L.A.M.] is a lying monster . . . . Or
do you think, as the State does, that . . . the monster is someone else." Kellogg's
attorney objected to none of these tactics, nor was the jury instructed to disregard.

       When Kellogg's attorney closed, he stated that Kellogg was entitled to the
presumption of innocence. The court instructed the jury that the defendant's arrest and
being brought to trial "should not be considered by you as in any way suggesting his
guilt. The defendant is presumed to be innocent . . . and that presumption abides with
him unless or until he has been proved guilty of the charge beyond a reasonable doubt."
The court also instructed the jurors that counsel's arguments were not evidence and that
the jurors were the sole judges of credibility.

                                            -3-
       Kellogg contends that the prosecutor's comments during closing argument were
improper, violating his constitutional rights, and that he did not receive effective
assistance of counsel.

        Kellogg argues that the presumption of innocence is so specific a right that the
prosecutor's infringement upon it necessarily violates the Constitution. He, therefore,
concludes that we need not engage in "fundamental fairness" due process analysis. See
Donnelly v. DeChristoforo, 416 U.S. 637, 643 (1974) (infringement on certain specific
rights obviates due process analysis). However, the Supreme Court's reasoning in
Kentucky v. Whorton, 441 U.S. 786 (1979), forecloses Kellogg's argument. In
Whorton, the Supreme Court held that a trial judge's failure to give a requested
instruction on the presumption of innocence did not "in and of itself violate the
Constitution," but had to be "evaluated in light of the totality of circumstances . . . to
determine whether the defendant received a constitutionally fair trial." Id. at 290.
Thus, Kellogg "must show that the alleged improprieties were so egregious that they
fatally infected the proceedings and rendered his entire trial fundamentally unfair."
Hamilton v. Nix, 809 F.2d 463, 470 (8th Cir. 1987) (quotations and citation omitted),
cert. denied, 483 U.S. 1023 (1987). Under this standard, a petitioner "must show that
there is a reasonable probability that the error complained of affected the outcome of
the trial--i.e., that absent the alleged impropriety, the verdict probably would have been
different." Id. In determining whether the prosecutor's argument rendered the trial
unfair, we consider the totality of the circumstances. See Walls v. Bowersox, 151 F.3d
827, 836 (8th Cir. 1998), cert. denied, No. 98-8015, 1999 WL 66941 at *1, (U.S. April
19, 1999); Antwine v. Delo, 54 F.3d 1357, 1363 (8th Cir. 1995) (listing factors), cert.
denied, 516 U.S. 1067 (1996).

       The prosecutor stated that the presumption of innocence had been "removed,"
and it was no longer "protecting and shielding" the defendant. This statement was
improper, a misstatement of law. The presumption remains with the defendant through
every stage of the trial, most importantly, the jury's deliberations. It is extinguished

                                           -4-
only upon the jury's determination of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. See Mahorney
v. Wallman, 917 F.2d 469, 471 n.2 (10th Cir. 1990). However, we are not convinced
the trial was fundamentally unfair. The defense attorney stressed the presumption of
innocence in his closing argument, and the trial judge instructed the jury to presume
Kellogg was innocent. The trial judge did not place his imprimatur on the prosecutor's
argument by overruling the defendant's objection, as in Mahorney, 917 F.2d at 473,
a case Kellogg heavily relies on. We also are not persuaded that there was a
reasonable probability that the verdict would have been different absent the prosecutor's
misstatement. The misstatement was remedied and the evidence in the case was
substantial. L.A.M. testified to the abuse and two experts gave their opinion that
L.A.M. had been abused. M.J.M. testified that Kellogg had abused her in a similar
fashion. Against a claim of forced fabrication, the prosecution produced numerous
witnesses who testified that L.A.M. had told each of them a similar story.

      In addition to improperly commenting on the presumption of innocence, the
prosecutor also referred to Kellogg as a "monster," a "sexual deviant," and a "liar."3
Not only are these comments an improper "personal expression of [the] defendant's
culpability," United States v. Singer, 660 F.2d 1295, 1303 (8th Cir. 1981), cert. denied,
454 U.S. 1156 (1982), but the "monster" and "sexual deviant" comments also create
inflammatory prejudice. They compel the jury to focus on the grossness of the alleged
conduct, rather than whether the defendant engaged in the conduct. They have no place
in a courtroom. However, the question is not whether the prosecutor's remarks are
"undesirable or even universally condemned." Darden v. Wainwright, 477 U.S. 168,

      3
        The certificate of appealability certified the prosecutor's reference to L.A.M. as
a "monster" and the prosecutor's argument regarding the presumption of innocence.
The "sexual deviant" and "liar" comments were interwoven in the prosecutor's
discussion of the presumption of innocence, and the district court did not specify the
precise comments regarding the presumption of innocence for which it was granting the
certificate. Even assuming the comments are appropriately before us, we reject
Kellogg's argument.
                                           -5-
181 (1986) (prosecutor's reference to defendant as an "animal" held not a due process
violation). The remarks must make the entire trial fundamentally unfair. See id. The
court instructed the jury that they were to make their decisions based on the evidence
and that counsel's arguments were not evidence. These comments did not "manipulate
or misstate the evidence," nor did they "implicate other specific rights of the accused."
Id. at 180-81. The weight of the evidence was heavy, and there is no reasonable
probability that the verdict would have changed absent the comments, even considering
the cumulative effect of the prosecutor's remarks.

       Kellogg next contends that he received ineffective assistance of counsel. His
primary claims4 are that counsel should have objected to the prosecutor's belittling of
the presumption of innocence, name calling, implying that physical evidence of semen
existed, and vouching for witnesses.

       An ineffective assistance of counsel claim presents a mixed question of law and
fact. See Frey v. Schuetzle, 151 F.3d 893, 899 (8th Cir. 1998). We review the district
court's legal conclusions de novo and its factual findings for clear error. See id. "The
benchmark for judging any claim of ineffectiveness must be whether counsel's conduct
so undermined the proper functioning of the adversarial process that the trial cannot be
relied on as having produced a just result." McGurk v. Stenberg, 163 F.3d 470, 473
(8th Cir. 1998) (quotations omitted). Kellogg must show that counsel's performance
was deficient and prejudiced his defense. See id. In showing the deficiency, Kellogg
"must overcome 'a strong presumption that counsel's conduct falls within a wide range
of reasonable professional assistance.'" Id. (quoting Strickland v. Washington, 466
U.S. 668, 689 (1984)). Once deficient performance has been established, petitioner

      4
       Kellogg makes various other claims of ineffective assistance, contending that
counsel should have objected to witness vouching, witnesses' testimony regarding what
L.A.M. told them, and certain expert testimony. He also contends counsel should have
been more diligent in tracking down proof for his fabrication theory. These contentions
are wholly without merit.
                                           -6-
must demonstrate "a reasonable probability that but for counsel's unprofessional errors,
the result of the proceeding would have been different." Id.

        We reject Kellogg's claims that counsel's failure to object to the prosecutor's
belittling of the presumption of innocence and name-calling denied him effective
assistance of counsel. We have already discussed how the verdict would not have
changed even if the prosecutor had not engaged in the behavior. Thus, even if counsel
had objected and an instruction to disregard were given, Kellogg has failed to
demonstrate that "but for" counsel's professional errors, the result would have been
different. As for the implication that physical evidence of semen existed, the
prosecutor admitted that she did not have the evidence; thus, failing to object was not
unreasonable. The vouching was merely argument that the evidence supported the
witnesses' credibility and, in some instances, was consistent with Kellogg's own
testimony that he did not question certain witnesses' credibility. It was reasonable for
counsel not to object. Even if it were not, the court instructed the jurors that they were
the sole judges of credibility, and we could hardly say the failure to object would have
changed the verdict or so undermined the adversarial process that the trial could not be
relied on.

Affirmed.

                                           -7-
A true copy.

      Attest:

               CLERK, U.S. COURT OF APPEALS, EIGHTH CIRCUIT.

                               -8-