Court Opinion

ID: 4880349
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-08-31 16:02:51.298579+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:02:28.321198
License: Public Domain

NOTICE: NOT FOR OFFICIAL PUBLICATION.
 UNDER ARIZONA RULE OF THE SUPREME COURT 111(c), THIS DECISION IS NOT PRECEDENTIAL
                 AND MAY BE CITED ONLY AS AUTHORIZED BY RULE.

                                    IN THE
             ARIZONA COURT OF APPEALS
                                DIVISION ONE

                       STATE OF ARIZONA, Appellee,

                                        v.

                  JOSEPH EDWARD DZIEGLO, Appellant.

                             No. 1 CA-CR 20-0466
                               FILED 8-31-2021

           Appeal from the Superior Court in Maricopa County
                        No. CR2016-153268-001
                  The Honorable Dewain D. Fox, Judge

                                  AFFIRMED

                                   COUNSEL

Arizona Attorney General’s Office, Phoenix
By Jennifer L. Holder
Counsel for Appellee

Maricopa County Public Defender’s Office, Phoenix
By Jesse Finn Turner
Counsel for Appellant
                           STATE v. DZIEGLO
                           Decision of the Court

                      MEMORANDUM DECISION

Judge Paul J. McMurdie delivered the Court’s decision, in which Presiding
Judge Peter B. Swann and Judge David D. Weinzweig joined.

M c M U R D I E, Judge:

¶1            Joseph Edward Dzieglo, Sr. appeals from his convictions and
sentences for sexual conduct with a minor under fifteen years of age, sexual
conduct with a minor fifteen years of age or older, molestation of a child,
and furnishing harmful items to minors. For the following reasons, we
affirm.

            FACTS1 AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

¶2           Dzieglo lived with his girlfriend and her daughter Megan.2
Dzieglo’s son, Joseph Dsieglo, Jr. (“Joe, Jr.”), lived nearby with his
then-wife, Wendy, and their daughters, Marie and Anna. Dzieglo regularly
babysat the children.

¶3            Between 2003 and 2009, Dzieglo repeatedly forced Megan to
engage in oral sexual contact, masturbatory contact, and digital and penile
penetration. The abuse began when Megan was eleven or twelve years old.
After Megan became an adult, she disclosed the abuse to friends and family
members, including Joe Jr. and Wendy. At that time, Megan did not want
to contact law enforcement.

¶4            Between 2005 and 2010, Dzieglo repeatedly forced Marie to
engage in oral sexual contact and masturbatory contact. The abuse began
when Marie was eight or nine years old. Marie chronicled the abuse in her
journal. During the same period, when Anna was five years old, Dzieglo
forced her to engage in oral sexual contact.

¶5           In April 2013, Wendy and Joe Jr. separated and soon after
began divorce proceedings. Within months, Marie asked Wendy to read her

1      We view the facts in the light most favorable to upholding the
verdicts. State v. Mendoza, 248 Ariz. 6, 11, ¶ 1, n.1 (App. 2019).

2     We use pseudonyms to protect the identity of all children.

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                            STATE v. DZIEGLO
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journal. As a result, Wendy contacted law enforcement, and Marie reported
the abuse to a detective. At that time, Megan declined to speak with
detectives, and Anna denied any abuse occurred.

¶6           In September 2016, Megan and Anna were ready to speak
with detectives about the abuse. All three victims described similar
grooming tactics, with Megan and Marie reporting that Dzieglo made them
use “sex toys” and view pornographic material. Later, at trial, Joe Jr.
claimed Wendy orchestrated the investigation to gain an advantage in their
divorce. Dzieglo denied the victims’ allegations.

¶7           The State charged Dzieglo with twenty-three counts of sexual
conduct with a minor under fifteen years of age, class 2 felonies, two counts
of sexual conduct with a minor fifteen years of age or older, class 6 felonies,
one count of molestation of a child, a class 2 felony, and one count of
furnishing harmful items to minors, a class 4 felony. The State charged all
except two of the offenses as dangerous crimes against children.

¶8           After multiple continuances, the trial began in early March
2020. During voir dire, the superior court asked prospective jurors whether
they knew Dzieglo, his family members, or any witnesses. No one
answered affirmatively. The superior court empaneled sixteen jurors,
including four alternates, and the trial proceeded for days without issue.

¶9             On the eighth day of trial, the court informed counsel that one
juror would be excused after reporting flu-like symptoms. Dzieglo did not
object but asked how court officials planned to address the spread of
COVID-19 and statewide restrictions on large gatherings. The superior
court explained that court officials were monitoring the situation, but they
had no known COVID-19 exposures in the court. Thus, the trial proceeded
as usual and, by the end of that day, the State had presented the bulk of its
case-in-chief.

¶10           The court notified counsel that a second juror would be
excused after reporting a fever on the ninth day of trial. The court said that
all remaining jurors denied having symptoms or concerns about COVID-19.
The court added that court officials imposed administrative orders limiting
in-person proceedings, authorizing judges to take safety precautions, and
permitting large in-person proceedings only in extraordinary
circumstances. With the approval of court officials, the court found the
circumstances justified proceeding with the trial. The court, however,
ordered that the trial be moved to a larger courtroom with “double jury
boxes,” limited counsel from approaching witnesses and the bench, and

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                           STATE v. DZIEGLO
                           Decision of the Court

barred spectators experiencing flu-like symptoms from the courtroom.
Dzieglo moved to continue the trial to the middle of April 2020, arguing
that proceeding with trial placed jurors and participants at risk of exposure.
The superior court denied the motion, finding it was in their best interest to
proceed “knowing the situation in April could be worse.”

¶11           On the twelfth and final day of trial, the superior court read
the standard admonition to the jury and released them to deliberate.
Outside the presence of the jury, Dzieglo asked whether the statewide
stay-at-home-order would impact deliberations. The court explained that
court operations were an exception to the order, and they would “see this
trial through to its finish,” adding that deliberations would take place in a
large room to promote social distancing and jurors had access to hand and
surface disinfectants. Later that day, the jury reached a verdict and
convicted Dzieglo as charged.

¶12           After the jury announced its verdict, Dzieglo stated that he
planned to file a motion for a new trial. That evening, Dzieglo filed an
“emergency motion” requesting that court surveillance footage be
preserved based on possible juror misconduct. The motion did not request
a new trial, nor did it cite any applicable procedural rules. The superior
court maintained the surveillance footage and ordered that it be provided
to Dzieglo.

¶13            More than ten days after the jury rendered its verdict, Dzieglo
filed a motion for a new trial under Arizona Rule of Criminal Procedure
24.1(c)(3) and (c)(5). He argued juror misconduct and denying his request
for a continuance prevented him from receiving a fair trial. The motion
included an affidavit from Joe Jr., which alleged that (1) the jury’s
foreperson contacted him after he testified for the defense; (2) the
foreperson stated that he looked familiar and showed him photos of her
family; (3) he believed they likely knew each other; and (4) he provided this
information to defense counsel after learning of the jury’s verdict.

¶14           The court found Dzieglo’s motion for a new trial untimely. See
Ariz. R. Crim. P. 24 .1(b) (requiring motions for a new trial to be filed no
later than ten days after the verdict). The superior court asked Dzieglo to
file a supplemental brief if he wished to address the timeliness issue and
imposed a filing deadline. After the deadline passed, Dzieglo filed a
supplemental brief, arguing his “emergency motion” constituted a timely
motion for a new trial. The court disagreed, noting the late filing of the
supplemental brief, and denied the motion as untimely.

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                            STATE v. DZIEGLO
                            Decision of the Court

¶15           Before sentencing, Dzieglo filed a second supplemental brief
to his motion for a new trial and requested the superior court take notice of
his investigator’s “juror report.” According to the report, Dzieglo’s
investigator discovered that (1) three jurors observed or heard contact
between the foreperson and Joe Jr., two of which heard the foreperson tell
Joe Jr. that he looked like her father; (2) one juror reported that the
foreperson told him that her father knew Dzieglo; (3) the jurors did not
inform the superior court of the contact; and (4) the foreperson “denied any
knowledge of the witness contact.” The superior court declined to exercise
jurisdiction over the previously denied untimely motion.

¶16            The superior court sentenced Dzieglo to fourteen consecutive
terms of life imprisonment without the possibility of release for thirty-five
years and consecutive and concurrent prison terms totaling another 201.5
years for all remaining counts. Dzieglo appealed, and we have jurisdiction
under A.R.S. §§ 12-120.21(A)(1), 13-4031, and -4033(A)(1).

                               DISCUSSION

   A. The Court Did Not Abuse Its Discretion by Refusing to Continue
      the Trial.

¶17           Dzieglo claims the superior court erred by denying his motion
to continue the trial, arguing that the ongoing public health crisis caused by
COVID-19 warranted a mid-trial continuance and placed coercive pressure
on the jury to reach a verdict. He also claims the brevity of the jurors’
deliberation is evidence of coercion and prejudice.

¶18            We review the denial of a motion to continue for an abuse of
discretion, “which we will find only if the defendant demonstrates
prejudice,” State v. Forde, 233 Ariz. 543, 555, ¶ 18 (2014), and we consider all
the facts and circumstances of the case. State v. Barreras, 181 Ariz. 516, 520
(1995). The superior court “may continue trial only on a showing that
extraordinary circumstances exist and that delay is indispensable to the
interests of justice.” Ariz. R. Crim. P. 8.5(b). In the middle of a trial, a
continuance should only be granted in “the most exigent circumstances.”
State v. Eisenlord, 137 Ariz. 385, 391 (App. 1983).

¶19             Dzieglo relies on two federal cases to support his contention
that the spread of COVID-19 required a mid-trial continuance. United States
v. Olsen, 467 F. Supp. 3d 892, 893–98 (C.D. Cal. 2020); United States v.
Carrillo-Villa, 451 F. Supp. 3d 257, 259–62 (S.D.N.Y. 2020). His reliance is
misplaced. In those cases, unlike here, a continuance was needed for the
court and parties to hold grand jury proceedings. Olsen, 467 F. Supp. 3d at

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                           STATE v. DZIEGLO
                           Decision of the Court

893–98 (logistical impossibility); Carrillo-Villa, 451 F. Supp. 3d at 259–62
(continuance required because no “functioning grand jury in the district”).
Here, court officials approved of moving forward with the pending trial,
and the jury panel contained the correct number of jurors before and after
the COVID-19 restrictions were imposed. Beyond that, the superior court
implemented many safety precautions to promote social distancing and
prevent exposure within the courtroom.

¶20           Dzieglo further relies on State v. Lautzenheiser, 180 Ariz. 7
(1994), to show the circumstances required a continuance. In Lautzenheiser,
the superior court learned of a dissenting juror and asked the jury to resume
deliberations without providing an impasse instruction. Id. at 8–9. The
Arizona Supreme Court found the superior court’s conduct led to a coerced
or improperly influenced verdict. Id. at 10–11. The court noted that the
deliberation’s “backdrop” contributed to a “sense of urgency,” namely that
the charges involved driving while under the influence, deliberations
occurred late in the day on New Year’s Eve, and the holiday typically came
with an anti-drunk-driving “media blitz.” Id. at 9. No such circumstances
existed here. The superior court provided the standard admonition,
released jurors to deliberate, and confirmed jurors reached a unanimous
verdict. The nature of the charges did not relate, in any way, to the
COVID-19 pandemic. Though we agree that the peripheral circumstances
of this case are unusual, the superior court provided an open forum for
jurors to relay their concerns and expressed no sense of urgency in their
presence. Thus, Dzieglo has failed to establish the superior court’s actions
created an atmosphere of coercion and “displaced the independent
judgment of the jurors.” State v. McCutcheon, 150 Ariz. 317, 320 (1986).

¶21           While not cited by the parties, we look to State v. Buggs, 108
Ariz. 425, 426–27 (1972), for more guidance. In Buggs, the defendant claimed
the publicized killing of two highway patrolmen days before trial required
a continuance in a case involving a “gun battle” with officers. Id. As here,
the defendant claimed the short deliberation period also demonstrated
juror coercion. Id. Our supreme court held that the decision to delay trial
falls within the sound discretion of the superior court because it is in the
best position to “observe the prospective jurors and witnesses, their
testimony, demeanor and behavior, as well as the attitudes and
crosscurrents of the community in determining whether any actual or
supposed prejudice exists.” Id. (quotation omitted). The same is true here.

¶22          The court acted within its discretion in determining the needs
and attitudes of jurors and the general atmosphere of the courtroom and
surrounding community. Dzieglo requested a continuance until the middle

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                            STATE v. DZIEGLO
                            Decision of the Court

of April 2020. As the superior court noted, however, nothing suggested the
circumstances would be improved by that time. The court properly
considered all practical consequences of delaying the trial and the potential
for prejudice. The superior court viewed the evidence presented at trial and
acted within its discretion in accepting the jury’s verdict after deliberation.
On this record, we find no error.

    B. The Court Correctly Refused to Grant Dzieglo a New Trial.

¶23            Dzieglo raises two arguments related to his motion to vacate
the judgment. After sentencing, Dzieglo moved to vacate judgment under
Rule 24.2(a). He then filed a notice of appeal from the judgment and
sentence. The superior court denied Dzieglo’s motion to vacate the
judgment. Because Dzieglo did not file an amended notice of appeal from
the denial of his post-trial motion, we lack jurisdiction to review this aspect
of the proceedings.3 See Ariz. R. Crim. P. 24.2(d), 31.2(h). Even considering
this section of Dzieglo’s brief as a petition for special action, see A.R.S.
§ 12-120.21(A)(4); Brown v. State, 117 Ariz. 476, 477–78 (1978), he is not
entitled to relief.

¶24           Dzieglo argues that juror misconduct and the coercive
pressure of COVID-19 required the superior court to vacate the judgment.
See Ariz. R. Crim. P. 24.2(a)(2)–(3). The superior court denied the motion,
finding (1) Dzieglo failed to establish the foreperson harbored bias or
prejudice against the defense or committed perjury in voir dire; (2) Joe Jr.
would have reported the contact earlier if he detected bias or prejudice;
(3) jurors never expressed concern with COVID-19 exposure, and ample
precautions were taken; and (4) the jury’s brief deliberation was reasonable
given the “all-or-nothing” nature of the evidence. The superior court found
Dzieglo’s motion to be based mainly on speculation. The superior court has
broad discretion in addressing such a motion, State v. Parker, 231 Ariz. 391,
408, ¶ 78 (2013), and we find no error in its ruling.

¶25           As relevant here, Rule 24.2 requires the superior court to
vacate the judgment if newly discovered material facts exist that would
likely change the trial’s outcome, or the State obtained the conviction in
violation of the defendant’s constitutional rights. See Ariz. R. Crim. P.

3      Although Dzieglo moved to supplement the record by including the
superior court’s order denying his motion to vacate judgment, he did not
file an amended notice of appeal from that order as required by our
procedural rules. See Ariz. R. Crim. P. 24.2(d), 31.2(h).

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                            STATE v. DZIEGLO
                            Decision of the Court

24.2(a)(2)–(3), 32.1(e). Dzieglo failed to establish the alleged juror
misconduct met this standard. To prevail on a claim of juror misconduct, a
defendant must prove a juror intentionally concealed “facts pertaining to
his qualifications or bias on proper inquiry during voir dire.” State v. Acuna
Valenzuela, 245 Ariz. 197, 215, ¶ 62 (2018). Although the foreperson may
have shared some connection to Joe Jr., the record does not show she
learned of the connection in voir dire and deliberately concealed that
information while still a prospective juror. The foreperson’s knowledge of
and brief communication with Joe Jr. does not, on its own, show she
harbored bias or prejudice against the defense. Without more, the superior
court did not abuse its discretion by rejecting the claim.

¶26            Dzieglo fares no better with his argument that the COVID-19
pandemic placed coercive pressure on the jury and prevented him from
receiving a fair trial. See Ariz. R. Crim. P. 24.2(a)(3). The superior court took
adequate safety precautions, the jury raised no concerns, and the trial fell
within an exception to administrative orders limiting in-person
proceedings. The superior court read the standard admonition to the jury
as they left for deliberation without commenting on a desired outcome or
timeframe. Dzieglo’s assertion that the superior court’s statements, made
only to counsel, created an atmosphere of coercion contradicts logic.
Though the superior court released two jurors because of unidentified
illnesses and suggested it expected to “see this trial through to its finish,”
this was done outside the presence of the jury and could not have impacted
their ability to render a verdict. This record does not show the COVID-19
pandemic or the superior court’s reaction to the circumstances influenced
the jury’s independent judgment. See McCutcheon, 150 Ariz. at 320. And the
superior court acted within its discretion by finding the deliberation period
reasonable based on the “all-or-nothing” nature of the evidence. Thus, the
superior court also correctly denied this claim.

                                CONCLUSION

¶27           We affirm Dzieglo’s convictions and sentences.

                            AMY M. WOOD • Clerk of the Court
                            FILED: AA

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