Court Opinion

ID: 9369970
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-02-10 15:04:31.149275+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:16:18.432935
License: Public Domain

RENDERED: FEBRUARY 3, 2023; 10:00 A.M.
                        NOT TO BE PUBLISHED

                 Commonwealth of Kentucky
                           Court of Appeals

                                NO. 2021-CA-1265-MR

JOHNNIE WIDNER                                                        APPELLANT

                  APPEAL FROM LETCHER CIRCUIT COURT
v.                HONORABLE JAMES W. CRAFT, II, JUDGE
                         ACTION NO. 20-CR-00315

COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY                                                APPELLEE

                                     OPINION
                                    AFFIRMING

                                   ** ** ** ** **

BEFORE: EASTON, JONES, AND LAMBERT, JUDGES.

JONES, JUDGE: Johnnie Widner appeals as a matter of right from the Letcher

Circuit Court’s final judgment following his conviction at a jury trial. The trial

court sentenced Widner to an enhanced sentence of ten years’ imprisonment after

he was found guilty of being a convicted felon in possession of a handgun and of

being a second-degree persistent felony offender. After a thorough review of the

facts and the law, we affirm.
                                        I. BACKGROUND

              On September 19, 2020, Trooper Jarrett Fields of the Kentucky State

Police received a radio call from dispatch regarding the presence of a suspicious

vehicle at Gordon Park in Letcher County. When the trooper arrived to

investigate, he saw a vehicle matching the description given to the dispatcher. The

vehicle, a silver passenger car, was parked with its left turn signal on, the driver’s

door open, and a person’s legs jutting out from the open door. Trooper Fields

approached the vehicle and found Widner asleep in the driver’s seat. No other

individuals were in the vehicle, and the vehicle’s keys were in the ignition.

              After rousing Widner and conversing with him, Trooper Fields

ordered Widner to exit the vehicle. Trooper Fields eventually conducted a

probable-cause search of the vehicle1 and found a Smith & Wesson .32 caliber

revolver, loaded with two rounds, in the unlocked glove compartment. Upon

transporting Widner to the detention center based on what he would later describe

as “other charges,” the trooper learned Widner was a convicted felon. While

Widner was cooperative throughout the encounter with Trooper Fields, he did not

admit to owning the vehicle or the handgun. The vehicle had valid registration

tags but was not registered in Widner’s name.

1
  It is not clear from the record the exact grounds relied upon by the trooper to support the
search. However, we need not dwell on this issue because the reasonableness of the trooper’s
search and seizure is not at issue in this case.

                                              -2-
                Next, the Letcher County grand jury indicted Widner on charges of

being a convicted felon in possession of a handgun2 and being a first-degree

persistent felony offender (PFO).3 At trial, the Commonwealth presented

testimony from Trooper Fields which conformed to the aforementioned narrative.

The Commonwealth also presented testimony from a deputy circuit clerk who

stated Widner had been previously convicted in Letcher Circuit case number 06-

CR-00207. The judgment in that case, entered on July 30, 2008, sentenced Widner

to a five-year sentence, probated for five years. Furthermore, this probation period

was to be served consecutively to Widner’s conviction in Letcher Circuit case

number 06-CR-00206; the judgment in 06-CR-00207 specified that its five-year

probationary period would begin “when defendant is released from prison by

parole or if conviction is reversed on appeal in 06-CR-206.” (Record (R.) at 32.)

Finally, the Commonwealth presented testimony from a probation and parole

officer who testified that Widner served out his sentence in 06-CR-00206 on April

2, 2012, and he would have begun serving his five-year probation period in 06-CR-

00207 the following day. The probation and parole officer then testified that

Widner had a probation revocation hearing in 2015 due to an absconder warrant,

2
    Kentucky Revised Statutes (KRS) 527.040(2)(a), a Class C felony.
3
    KRS 532.080.

                                               -3-
after which he was reinstated to probation. According to the officer, Widner then

served another four years on probation, which finally ended on May 23, 2019.

                 After hearing the evidence in the case, the jury convicted Widner of

being a convicted felon in possession of a handgun and of being a second-degree

PFO and recommended a sentence of ten years’ imprisonment. The trial court

sentenced Widner in accordance with the jury’s recommendation. This appeal

followed.

                                            II. ANALYSIS

                 Widner presents four separate issues on appeal. First, he argues the

trial court erred when it failed to conduct a proper Faretta4 hearing. Second,

Widner contends the trial court erroneously failed to grant a mistrial when Trooper

Fields testified that Widner was taken to the detention center on “other charges.”

Third, Widner argues Trooper Fields improperly commented on his pre-arrest

silence, which denied him a fair trial. Fourth, and finally, Widner contends the

trial court erroneously failed to grant a directed verdict. We will consider each

issue in turn.

                 Widner first argues that the trial court erroneously failed to explore

the appropriate parameters for hybrid counsel or to issue specific warnings or

findings as required in a proper Faretta hearing. In the months leading up to trial,

4
    Faretta v. California, 422 U.S. 806, 95 S. Ct. 2525, 45 L. Ed. 2d 562 (1975).

                                                -4-
despite being represented by appointed counsel, Widner habitually filed pro se

motions with the trial court. Eventually, the Commonwealth objected to what it

termed an “onslaught of far too many Pro Se Motions to list” (R. at 11) and moved

the trial court to conduct a Faretta hearing.

             In the pretrial hearing on the Commonwealth’s motion, Widner’s

counsel opened the discussion by saying, “We’re here on what looks like a Faretta

hearing?” He continued by stating that Widner wanted to continue filing his

motions and that Faretta may be implicated. Counsel then outlined Widner’s three

possibilities for representation: Widner could retain his appointed counsel, he

could represent himself pro se, or he could have hybrid representation. Finally,

Widner’s counsel informed the court that Widner wanted to keep his appointed

counsel, but he also wanted to be able to file his motions. The Commonwealth

then expressed its own concerns, noting that Widner may not understand that he

would be held to the standards of an attorney if he were to represent himself pro se.

The Commonwealth also reiterated concerns about the confusion sown by

Widner’s pro se motion practice, pointing out that it had received the same motion

filed multiple times within the span of just a few days.

             In its resolution of the matter, the trial court told Widner that it wanted

him to take an active role in his own defense, but all motions should come through

one point to prevent confusion. The court asserted it “can’t have motions coming

                                          -5-
from all directions, and [defense counsel] is going to be that point.” For future

motions, the court asked Widner to “get together what you feel like needs to be

done, and you send it to [defense counsel].” Widner responded, “I agree to that.”

The court then told Widner that defense counsel would “make the decision whether

or not it’s a valid motion, if it is a valid motion, the form and format it needs to be

put into, and he will file it with the court.” Again, Widner agreed with the court.

At this point, defense counsel attempted to clarify whether this was going to be a

hybrid counsel scenario. The trial court answered that it wanted defense counsel

“to review everything and counsel with him, and then you all make the decision

together as to what is properly before the court.”

             Concurrent with the constitutional right to counsel in criminal cases,

the United States Supreme Court held in Faretta v. California, 422 U.S. 806, 95 S.

Ct. 2525, 45 L. Ed. 2d 562 (1975), that “forcing a lawyer upon an unwilling

defendant is contrary to his basic right to defend himself if he truly wants to do

so.” Hill v. Commonwealth, 125 S.W.3d 221, 225 (Ky. 2004), holding modified by

Depp v. Commonwealth, 278 S.W.3d 615 (Ky. 2009) (quoting Faretta, 422 U.S. at

817, 95 S. Ct. at 2532). The federal constitution gives a criminal defendant the

right to counsel or to proceed pro se; however, “[t]he wording of Section 11 of the

Kentucky Constitution, unlike that of the similar provision which appears in the

United States Constitution, guarantees a criminal defendant the right: (1) to

                                          -6-
represent himself pro se; (2) to be represented by counsel; or (3) to have hybrid

representation.” Deno v. Commonwealth, 177 S.W.3d 753, 757 (Ky. 2005)

(citations omitted).

             Procedurally, “[w]hen a defendant makes a request to proceed pro se

or for hybrid representation, the principles of Faretta become applicable.” Id. at

758 (citation omitted). The request to proceed pro se or by hybrid counsel must be

unequivocal. Moore v. Commonwealth, 634 S.W.2d 426, 430 (Ky. 1982); see also

Deno, 177 S.W.3d at 757-58. After receiving such a request, the trial court must

thereafter conduct a Faretta hearing to ascertain whether the defendant’s waiver of

counsel is done knowingly and intelligently. Depp, 278 S.W.3d at 617. Widner’s

Faretta arguments are unpreserved; however, if a trial court violates the

defendant’s rights under Faretta or its progeny, the error is structural and requires

reversal. Baucom v. Commonwealth, 134 S.W.3d 591, 592 (Ky. 2004).

             Widner now contends that the trial court’s hearing failed to comport

with Faretta’s requirements, arguing that he was acting as a form of hybrid

counsel, and the trial court should have informed him of the extent of services he

could require from his counsel. In addition, also pursuant to Faretta, Widner

contends the trial court failed to provide specific warnings before accepting his

partial waiver of representation, and the trial court failed to issue a finding that

Widner’s waiver was knowing, intelligent, and voluntary. In its response, the

                                           -7-
Commonwealth points out that Widner did not make an unequivocal request to

represent himself pro se or to serve as hybrid counsel.

             We agree with the Commonwealth. “A request to proceed pro se or

with counsel in a limited fashion must be timely and unequivocal.” Deno, 177

S.W.3d at 757-58 (emphasis added) (citation omitted). In the hearing on the

Commonwealth’s motion, the attorneys discussed the applicability of Faretta in an

attempt to address Widner’s penchant for filing his own motions. However,

Widner readily agreed to submit his motions to his attorney for consideration

instead. Most importantly, Widner never made an unequivocal request to serve as

either his own counsel or as hybrid counsel. He simply wanted to file his motions,

and he agreed when the trial court offered him a method to do so within the normal

parameters of his existing attorney-client relationship. Faretta is not

unequivocally invoked when a defendant merely asks to perform a task normally

done by an attorney; see id. at 758 (emphasis added) (citations omitted) (“A

request for hybrid representation is unequivocal if the defendant specifies the

extent of the services he desires. Neither a request for different counsel nor a

request to make a closing argument is enough.”). Because Widner did not make

an unequivocal request invoking Faretta, the trial court cannot be said to have

erred in its application.

                                         -8-
             For his second issue on appeal, Widner argues the trial court

erroneously denied his motion for a mistrial after Trooper Fields testified Widner

was taken to jail on “other charges.” Although the trial court admonished the jury

to disregard the statement, Widner contends it nonetheless diluted his presumption

of innocence, irreversibly tainting his trial. The Commonwealth disagrees, arguing

Widner suffered no prejudice and the trial court’s admonition cured any error.

             We discern no error. “[A] mistrial is an extreme remedy and should

be resorted to only when there is a fundamental defect in the proceedings and there

is a ‘manifest necessity for such an action.’” Commonwealth v. Padgett, 563

S.W.3d 639, 645 (Ky. 2018) (quoting Woodard v. Commonwealth, 147 S.W.3d 63,

68 (Ky. 2004)). Here, there was no manifest necessity for a mistrial. “A jury is

presumed to follow an admonition to disregard evidence[,] and an admonition is

presumed sufficient to cure errors.” Parker v. Commonwealth, 291 S.W.3d 647,

658 (Ky. 2009) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). An admonition is

only considered insufficient:

             (1) when there is an overwhelming probability that the
             jury will be unable to follow the court’s admonition and
             there is a strong likelihood that the effect of the
             inadmissible evidence would be devastating to the
             defendant, or (2) when the question was asked without a
             factual basis and was inflammatory or highly prejudicial.

Id. (citation omitted). Despite Widner’s claims to the contrary, Trooper Fields’s

reference to “other charges,” a single oblique slip in his testimony, was not so

                                         -9-
overwhelming, devastating, or inflammatory as to require the extraordinary remedy

of a mistrial, and the trial court’s admonition was sufficient to cure any error.

                In his third issue on appeal, Widner contends Trooper Fields

improperly commented on his pre-arrest silence, denying him a fair trial. The issue

is not preserved; however, Widner requests review for palpable error under RCr5

10.26. “An error is palpable only if it is ‘shocking or jurisprudentially

intolerable.’” Allen v. Commonwealth, 286 S.W.3d 221, 226 (Ky. 2009) (quoting

Martin v. Commonwealth, 207 S.W.3d 1, 4 (Ky. 2006)). To demonstrate palpable

error, a party “must show a ‘probability of a different result or [an] error so

fundamental as to threaten a defendant’s entitlement to due process of law.’” Id.

(quoting Martin, 207 S.W.3d at 3).

                Widner correctly cites Baumia v. Commonwealth, 402 S.W.3d 530

(Ky. 2013), for the proposition that a criminal defendant’s pre-arrest, pre-Miranda

right to remain silent may not be used against the defendant in the

Commonwealth’s case-in-chief. Id. at 536. However, “not every comment upon

silence is reversible error.” Ragland v. Commonwealth, 191 S.W.3d 569, 589 (Ky.

2006). For example, a detective may fairly comment upon a defendant’s silence

when it is in direct response to a question by the defendant’s attorney on cross-

5
    Kentucky Rules of Criminal Procedure.

                                            -10-
examination; see, e.g., Allen, 286 S.W.3d at 227; Coulthard v. Commonwealth, 230

S.W.3d 572, 585 (Ky. 2007).

             Here, on direct examination, the Commonwealth questioned Trooper

Fields as follows:

             COMMONWEALTH: Now, did Mr. Widner make any
             statements whatsoever that night to you?

             TROOPER FIELDS: Not that I can recall, no.

             COMMONWEALTH: Do you remember asking him
             about the handgun?

             TROOPER FIELDS: I don’t recall asking him. I don’t
             remember.

There was no further inquiry on the subject in direct questioning. On cross-

examination, Widner’s counsel explicitly questioned Trooper Fields about whether

Widner made statements about ownership of the vehicle or the handgun, to which

the trooper responded that he did not remember asking those questions, and he did

not write anything of the sort in his notes. When questioned on redirect, Trooper

Fields testified that, if Widner had claimed the gun was his, or, alternatively, if

Widner had denied the gun was his, he would have written those responses in his

notes. Finally, the Commonwealth asked, “So to the best of your memory, he did

not deny to you personally that that was his firearm?” Trooper Fields answered,

“Yes, to the best of my memory.”

                                         -11-
                A prosecutor should be careful not to invite a damaging inference

from a defendant’s silence. “Miranda[6] warnings contain an ‘implicit assurance’

that ‘silence will carry no penalty[.]’” Baumia, 402 S.W.3d at 537 (quoting Doyle

v. Ohio, 426 U.S. 610, 618, 96 S. Ct. 2240, 2245, 49 L. Ed. 2d 91 (1976)).

Nevertheless, we must consider that it was Widner’s counsel who opened the door

for further discussion when, on cross-examination, he asked whether Widner made

any statements about owning the handgun. It was only on redirect that the

Commonwealth elicited testimony from Trooper Fields which could be considered

questionable, and then the Commonwealth made no other reference to it thereafter.

Even assuming an error exists, we cannot consider it “shocking or jurisprudentially

intolerable.” Allen, 286 S.W.3d at 226. We discern no manifest injustice rising to

the level of palpable error.

                Finally, Widner contends the trial court erroneously failed to grant a

directed verdict. The Kentucky Supreme Court has explained how a trial court

should decide a directed verdict motion in the following way:

                On a motion for directed verdict, the trial court must
                draw all fair and reasonable inferences from the evidence
                in favor of the Commonwealth. If the evidence is
                sufficient to induce a reasonable juror to believe beyond
                a reasonable doubt that the defendant is guilty, a directed
                verdict should not be given. For the purposes of ruling
                on the motion, the trial court must assume that the
                evidence for the Commonwealth is true, but reserving to

6
    Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 86 S. Ct. 1602, 16 L. Ed. 2d 694 (1966).

                                               -12-
            the jury questions as to the credibility and weight to be
            given to such testimony.

Hall v. Commonwealth, 645 S.W.3d 383, 392 (Ky. 2022) (quoting Commonwealth

v. Benham, 816 S.W.2d 186, 187 (Ky. 1991)). “To defeat a directed verdict

motion, the Commonwealth must only produce ‘more than a mere scintilla of

evidence.’” Lackey v. Commonwealth, 468 S.W.3d 348, 352 (Ky. 2015) (quoting

Benham, 816 S.W.2d at 187).

            Widner asserts he was entitled to a directed verdict on two separate

grounds. First, he argues the Commonwealth failed to produce evidence that he

had physical possession or ownership of the handgun. Throughout his trial, the

basis of Widner’s defense was that the vehicle was not registered to him, and there

was no evidence that Widner even knew the handgun was in the glove

compartment. Nonetheless, the Commonwealth successfully argued Widner

possessed the handgun under a constructive possession theory.

            Despite Widner’s arguments, the facts of the case were sufficient to

support a conviction based on constructive possession. “The person who owns or

exercises dominion or control over a motor vehicle in which contraband is

concealed, is deemed to possess the contraband.” Leavell v. Commonwealth, 737

S.W.2d 695, 697 (Ky. 1987) (citing United States v. Vergara, 687 F.2d 57 (5th Cir.

1982)). We have applied Leavell to constructive possession of a firearm in a

vehicle by a convicted felon. Deboy v. Commonwealth, 214 S.W.3d 926, 930 (Ky.

                                       -13-
App. 2007). Even though Widner did not own the vehicle, the evidence showed he

was in a position to “exercise[] dominion or control” over it. Leavell, 737 S.W.2d

at 697. Widner was found in the driver’s seat, with the keys in the ignition, and

within reach of the unlocked glove compartment where the handgun was found.

The trial court correctly denied the directed verdict motion because the

Commonwealth produced “more than a mere scintilla of evidence” to support the

charge. Lackey, 468 S.W.3d at 352 (quoting Benham, 816 S.W.2d at 187).

             Second, Widner argues the Commonwealth failed to produce

sufficient proof of one element of the PFO charge. The most relevant provision of

the second-degree PFO statute requires the Commonwealth to prove the defendant

was released on probation or parole “within five (5) years prior to the date of

commission of the felony for which he now stands convicted[.]” KRS

532.080(2)(c)3. Widner testified under avowal that he served out his predicate

offenses in 2012, more than five years before this incident in 2020. However, the

Commonwealth produced testimony from a probation and parole officer that

Widner was under probationary supervision until May 23, 2019. Furthermore,

documents from the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet submitted by the

Commonwealth show that Widner was on probation as late as April 3, 2017. (R. at

17.) Despite Widner’s avowal testimony, the evidence of record sufficed to

                                        -14-
establish the applicability of the PFO statute, and the trial court did not err in

denying the directed verdict motion.

                                    III. CONCLUSION

             For the foregoing reasons, we affirm the trial court’s judgment.

             EASTON, JUDGE, CONCURS.

        LAMBERT, JUDGE, DISSENTS AND DOES NOT FILE
SEPARATE OPINION.

BRIEFS FOR APPELLANT:                      BRIEF FOR APPELLEE:

Roy Alyette Durham, II                     Daniel J. Cameron
Frankfort, Kentucky                        Attorney General of Kentucky

                                           Todd D. Ferguson
                                           Assistant Attorney General
                                           Frankfort, Kentucky

                                          -15-