¶1 Appellant Jace Enrique Arce was tried by jury and convicted of First Degree Murder (21 O.S.2011, § 701.721 O.S.Supp.2017, § 1289.1621 O.S.Supp.2019, § 1283
I. The District Court committed plain error by failing to instruct the jurors clearly and accurately on the applicable law for aiding and abetting in violation of Appellant's right to due process under Article II, § 20 of the Oklahoma Constitution and the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution.
II. The District Court committed plain error by failing to instruct the jury on Second Degree Felony Murder in violation of the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution and Articles §§ 7 & 20 of the Oklahoma Constitution.
III. The District Court committed plain error by failing to remove a juror who could not understand English as used in the court's instructions resulting in an incompetent jury in violation of Appellant's right to a fair trial under the Due Process Clauses of the Oklahoma and federal constitution.
IV. Appellant was deprived of a fair trial by prosecutorial misconduct in violation of his right to due process under the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution and Art. II, §§ 7, 20, & 21 of the Oklahoma Constitution.
V. Appellant was deprived of effective assistance of counsel in violation of the Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution and Article II, §§ 7 & 20 of the Oklahoma Constitution.
VI. The cumulative effect of the errors which occurred during trial proceedings denied Appellant a fair trial in violation of the due process clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution and Article II, § 7 of the Oklahoma Constitution.
¶2 After thorough consideration of these propositions and the entire record before us on appeal including the original record, transcripts, and briefs of the parties, we have determined that under the law and the evidence no relief is warranted.
¶3 In Proposition I, Appellant argues that the jury instructions on aiding and abetting failed to clearly and fully state the applicable law. He argues that instructions, additional to the uniform instructions on aiding and abetting given in response to a question from the jury, rendered the instructions unclear and effectively eliminated the requirement that the accused either have the intent to commit the crime charged or know of the perpetrator's intent to commit the crime charged. This error, Appellant claims, was exacerbated by arguments of counsel which did not discuss knowledge or intent in any detail. Therefore, according to Appellant, his case should be reversed and remanded for a new trial.
¶4 The record shows the jury was given the full complement of uniform instructions on aiding and abetting. See Oklahoma Uniform Jury Instructions -- Criminal (2d) (OUJI-CR 2d), Nos. 2-5, 2-6, 2-7, 2-8, 2-9. Additionally, the jury was given an instruction on homicide -- causation, the elements of malice, the definition of malice, and proof of malice -- external circumstances. See OUJI-CR 2d, Nos. 4-60, 4-61, 4-62, 4-63. Defense counsel did not raise an objection to any of these instructions.
¶5 During deliberations, the jury sent out a note asking, "can we get a legal definition of aids and abets as listed in Instruction 17 and 19." The court called the parties into chambers and the judge responded that she intended to give a definition of "aid" as "render, overt, personal assistance." This definition she took from uniform instructions on accessory liability. See OUJI-CR 2d, No. 2-4. The judge also said she intended to give the dictionary definition of "abet": "to encourage, support or countenance by aid or approval." When asked for objections, the prosecutor had none. Defense counsel did object on the grounds that the instructions already given to the jury adequately set forth the applicable law. The trial court disagreed with defense counsel, opining that the written instructions included a definition of criminal intent but not a definition of "aids and abets". She overruled defense counsel's objection and instructed the jury consistent with her ruling.
¶6 The judge also informed the parties that she had received another note from the jury which asked, "does aiding and abetting after the criminal offense still apply in terms of guilt?" To this question, the judge replied, "You have all the law and evidence introduced in this case. Please continue your deliberation." Neither counsel raised an objection to this response.
¶7 "Instructions are sufficient where they state the applicable law." Mitchell v. State, 2016 OK CR 21387 P.3d 934Id. (quoting Day v. State, 2013 OK CR 8303 P.3d 291Id. An abuse of discretion is a conclusion or judgment that is clearly against the logic and effect of the facts presented. State v. Delso, 2013 OK CR 5298 P.3d 1192
¶8 The uniform instructions are generally regarded as setting forth the applicable law. Regarding instructions on aiding and abetting, this Court has specifically upheld the giving of OUJI-CR 2d No. 2-6 and OUJI-CR 2d No. 2-5 in a case where the evidence did not conclusively establish which of two intruders fired the fatal gunshot and the State sought to convict the defendant of malice-murder. See Young v. State, 2000 OK CR 1712 P.3d 20See also Conover v. State, 1997 OK CR 6933 P.2d 904Bosse v. Oklahoma, 580 U.S. 1 (2016)) (approving instructions on aiding and abetting in a murder prosecution stating that the defendant could be found guilty as a perpetrator if the State showed that his conduct caused the victim's death and that he intended to take the victim's life; and if the jury found that the evidence showed that the defendant did not himself commit the murder, the jury was properly instructed that they could find him guilty if the State proved that he aided and abetted the co-defendant's acts knowing of the co-defendant's intent to take the victim's life).
¶9 Based upon the foregoing, the uniform instructions given in this case adequately stated the law of aiding and abetting. Appellant even seems to admit this as he argues the trial court "erroneously determined that these instructions" [the uniform OUJI's] did not contain appropriate definitions. So, the question becomes did the additional instructions regarding the definition of "aid" taken from the uniform instructions on Accessory and a dictionary definition of "abet" render these uniform instructions "unclear."
¶10 Appellant has cited no authority supporting his argument that it was error to give the additional instructions. While the additional instructions do not come from the uniform instructions on aiding and abetting, they are consistent with the requirements of aiding and abetting as set out in the uniform instructions. Appellant has cited no authority that the court cannot rely on sources other than the uniform instructions if necessary.
¶11 The instructions on aiding and abetting given in this case, when reviewed in their entirety, including the additional definitions provided in response to the jury's questions, accurately stated the applicable law. Closing arguments of counsel, given before the additional instructions were given, did not render the instructions confusing.
¶12 Based upon the record before us, we fail to see any abuse of the trial court's discretion in giving the additional definitional jury instructions. There is no support for Appellant's claim that the instructions were "unclear" or that the additional instructions adversely impacted the outcome of the trial. This proposition of error is denied.
¶13 In Proposition II, Appellant asserts the trial court erred in failing to give sua sponte jury instructions on second degree felony murder as a lesser included offense. The jury was given instructions on first degree murder and first degree manslaughter as a lesser included offense. In the absence of Appellant's request for second degree felony murder instructions and his failure to object to their absence, we review for plain error. Mitchell, 2016 OK CR 21Simpson v. State, 1994 OK CR 40876 P.2d 690See also Lee v. State, 2018 OK CR 14422 P.3d 782
¶14 It is well settled that trial courts have a duty to instruct the jury on the salient features of the law raised by the evidence with or without a request. Hogan v. State, 2006 OK CR 19139 P.3d 907Atterberry v. State, 1986 OK CR 186731 P.2d 420Wing v. State, 1955 OK CR 29280 P.2d 740prima facie evidence of the lesser offense presented at trial. Bench v. State, 2018 OK CR 31431 P.3d 929prima facie evidence of the lesser offense to support giving a lesser included instruction." Davis v. State, 2018 OK CR 7419 P.3d 271Prima facie evidence of a lesser included offense is that evidence which would allow a jury rationally to find the accused guilty of the lesser offense and acquit him of the greater." Id. (quoting Davis v. State, 2011 OK CR 29268 P.3d 86State v. Tubby, 2016 OK CR 17387 P.3d 918
¶15 The instruction which Appellant now proposes should have been given is the uniform instruction on second degree felony murder. See OUJI-CR 2d No. 4-92; 21 O.S.2011, § 701.8
¶16 The crime of feloniously pointing a firearm named Mr. Peterson and Ms. Wall as victims, not the decedent. Under this evidence, there is no nexus/causal connection between Appellant pointing the weapon at Peterson and Wall and co-defendant Martinez's fatal shooting of the decedent. See Malaske v. State, 2004 OK CR 1889 P.3d 1116
¶17 Further, contrary to Appellant's summary of the evidence, the record shows that Appellant and co-defendant Martinez went to the homeless camp together intentionally to kill the decedent. Under the record evidence, no rational jury would have acquitted Appellant of first degree murder for a conviction of second degree felony murder with a finding that the decedent's death resulted from Appellant's felonious possession of a firearm. We find no error and thus no plain error in the absence of a jury instruction on second degree felony murder.
¶18 In Proposition III, Appellant contends the trial court committed plain error by allowing an "incompetent juror" to sit on his jury. Specifically, he complains about M.W. who spoke English as a second language. Appellant argues the juror disclosed she had "significant difficulties understanding English legal terminology." Appellant acknowledges the trial court questioned M.W. about whether she could understand witness testimony but erred in failing to take any efforts to discover whether M.W. would have trouble interpreting the instructions she would later receive. Appellant argues the danger of having an incompetent juror became real during deliberations when the jury asked the court for legal definitions and expressed significant confusion which the district court took no steps to rectify. Appellant contends the seating of M.W. on his jury affected his substantial rights by depriving him of a fair trial.
¶19 The record shows neither side challenged M.W. for cause or exercised a peremptory challenge to strike her. "This Court has held that '[i]t is the duty of counsel to examine jurors on voir dire. Counsel then must discover any facts affecting their qualifications and then reasonably raise any objection that might exist as to any member of the panel.'" Wackerly v. State, 2000 OK CR 1512 P.3d 1Tate v. State, 1995 OK CR 24896 P.2d 1182Id. We therefore review Appellant's claim of error under the plain error standard set forth above.
¶20 Title 22 O.S.2011, § 658
¶21 A review of the record shows that M.W. was born in Ukraine and Russian was her first language. At the time of trial, she had lived in the United States for 24 years. Her responses in voir dire show she was proficient in English and able to effectively communicate in English and understood the ongoing proceedings and her role in those proceedings.
¶22 Appellant's claim that the questions posed by the jury during deliberations regarding definitions of aiding and abetting (see Proposition I) show that M.W.'s service on the jury was prejudicial to the defense is pure speculation. None of the questions sent out by the jury implicated, named, or referenced M.W. While M.W. may have expressed some hesitation during voir dire, there is nothing in the record showing M.W. actually had any problems with the language, that she had any issues with "legal terms", or that she could not understand the law as set out in the jury instructions. Here, the parties in the courtroom who heard and saw M.W. first-hand had no problem with her service on the jury due to any language issues. There is nothing in this record to support her disqualification for "a want of knowledge of the English language as used in the courts." We find no error, and thus no plain error, in the trial court's failure to remove M.W. from the jury due to any issues with her use and understanding of English. This proposition is denied.
¶23 In Proposition IV, Appellant contends he was denied a fair trial by prosecutorial misconduct. He claims the prosecutor "consistently" stated to the jury that all the State need prove was Appellant's participation but made no mention of the State's burden to prove that Appellant knew beforehand of Martinez's specific intent to kill. This "artful misconduct", Appellant claims, "aided by the lack of correction by defense counsel or the trial court -- allowed the State to skirt its burden and mislead the jury on what it was ultimately required to find." Appellant asserts that as result, his Judgment and Sentence should be reversed and remanded for a new trial.
¶24 Despite his claim of "consistent" misconduct, Appellant directs us to only two arguments in the State's closing argument. Neither was met with an objection, therefore, our review on appeal is for plain error as set forth above. See Tafolla v. State, 2019 OK CR 15446 P.3d 1248
¶25 We evaluate alleged prosecutorial misconduct within the context of the entire trial, considering not only the propriety of the prosecutor's actions, but also the strength of the evidence against the defendant and the corresponding arguments of defense counsel. Sanders v. State, 2015 OK CR 11, ¶ 21, 358 P.3d 280Id. We will reverse the judgment or modify the sentence only where grossly improper and unwarranted argument affects a defendant's rights. Id.
¶26 The first comment challenged by Appellant came during the first portion of the prosecutor's closing argument with the second challenged statement coming near the end of the State's second closing. It is well established that closing arguments of counsel are not evidence. Smith v. State, 1986 OK CR 158727 P.2d 1366Boyde v. California, 494 U.S. 370, 384 (1990). Prosecutorial argument is "not to be judged as having the same force as an instruction from the court. And the arguments of counsel, like the instructions of the court, must be judged in the context in which they are made." Id. 494 U.S. at 385.
¶27 As Appellant has admitted, the jury was properly instructed on the law of aiding and abetting. In his closing arguments, the prosecutor repeatedly referred the jury to its instructions regarding the law of aiding and abetting, first degree murder and its elements, the State's burden of proof, and that its verdict was to be based on the evidence presented at trial. Here, the State had the burden to prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that Appellant himself murdered the decedent, i.e., that he was the perpetrator, or that Appellant aided and abetted co-defendant Martinez in the commission of the murder. Proof that Appellant was the perpetrator required evidence that he himself committed the murder with malice aforethought. Proof that he aided and abetted in the murder required evidence of acts, words or gestures by Appellant encouraging, procuring, aiding, assisting, or advising co-defendant Martinez in the commission of the murder. The prosecutor's closing argument accurately reflected this law. See Lockett v. State, 2002 OK CR 3053 P.3d 418Conover v. State, 1997 OK CR 6933 P.2d 904
¶28 In Proposition V, Appellant contends he was denied the effective assistance of counsel by counsel's failure to: 1) investigate his poor vision; 2) present evidence of the prior conflict between Martinez and the decedent; and 3) request jury instructions on second degree felony murder as a lesser included offense.
¶29 We review Appellant's claim of ineffective assistance under the standard set forth in Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668 (1984). Sanders, 2015 OK CR 11Id. (citing Strickland, 466 U.S. at 687). In Strickland, the Supreme Court said there is a strong presumption that counsel's conduct falls within the wide range of reasonable professional conduct, i.e., an appellant must overcome the presumption that, under the circumstances, counsel's conduct constituted sound trial strategy. Id. To establish prejudice, Appellant must show that there is a "reasonable probability that, but for counsel's unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding would have been different." Id. A reasonable probability is a probability sufficient to undermine the confidence in the outcome. Id. (citing Harrington v. Richter, 562 U.S. 86, 111--112 (2011)). When a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel can be disposed of on the ground of lack of prejudice, that course should be followed. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 696.
¶30 Appellant's claims of ineffectiveness are largely dependent on information contained in a contemporaneously filed Application for Evidentiary Hearing on Sixth Amendment Claims. Rule 3.11(B)(3)(b), Rules of the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals, Title 22, Ch. 18, App. (2023) allows an appellant to request an evidentiary hearing when it is alleged on appeal that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to utilize evidence which could have been made available during the course of trial. Frederick v. State, 2017 OK CR 12400 P.3d 786Id. "The attachments filed in support of a request for an evidentiary hearing are not considered, by reason of their filing with this Court, part of the trial record." Bland v. State, 2000 OK CR 114 P.3d 702Dewberry v. State, 1998 OK CR 10954 P.2d 774
¶31 We have reviewed Appellant's 3.11 motion and attached affidavits and find an evidentiary hearing is not warranted. The attached affidavits show a dispute as to whether Appellant notified counsel of his poor vision. While Appellant states he did not have his eyeglasses with him at the time of the crime, there is nothing in the affidavits showing he actually had eyeglasses that he regularly wore to aid his vision. Regardless of whether Appellant should have been wearing glasses at the time of the crime and simply was not, the evidence showed he seemingly functioned just fine without them. That he might have had poor vision does not show that Appellant did not know of Martinez's intent to kill the decedent or that Appellant did not aid and abet Martinez in the shooting.
¶32 Part of the defense strategy at trial was to challenge the credibility of Peterson and Wall, who placed a gun in Appellant's hands. Appellant has not shown by clear and convincing evidence there is a strong possibility that if trial counsel had investigated and pursued a defense that Appellant would not have been at the scene of the crime without his eyeglasses due to his bad eyesight there is a reasonable probability the outcome of the trial would have been different. No evidentiary hearing is warranted on this issue.
¶33 Evidence of a prior dispute between co-defendant Martinez and the decedent was before the jury through the Preliminary Hearing testimony of Georgette Wall.See 12 O.S.2021, § 2801
¶34 Detailed evidence of the prior dispute between Martinez and the decedent was simply not relevant in Appellant's case. Appellant has failed to show by clear and convincing evidence there is a strong possibility trial counsel was ineffective for failing to present detailed evidence of the co-defendant's motive for the murder. An evidentiary hearing is not warranted on this issue.
¶35 Finally, Appellant asserts an evidentiary hearing is warranted because counsel did not request jury instructions on a second degree felony murder as a lesser included offense. There are no supporting affidavits for this claim; it is merely a repeat of the arguments from Proposition II of the appellate brief. This is not a claim properly raised in a 3.11 Motion as it is not based on counsel's failure to utilize evidence which could have been made available during the course of trial. An evidentiary hearing is not warranted.
¶36 In order to meet the clear and convincing standard sufficient to warrant an evidentiary hearing, Appellant must present this Court with evidence, not speculation, second guesses, or innuendo. Lott v. State, 2004 OK CR 2798 P.3d 318
¶37 "When we review and deny a request for an evidentiary hearing on a claim of ineffective assistance under the standard set forth in Rule 3.11, we necessarily make the adjudication that Appellant has not shown defense counsel to be ineffective under the more rigorous federal standard set forth in Strickland." Simpson v. State, 2010 OK CR 6230 P.3d 888
¶38 The claims of ineffective assistance of counsel due to counsel's failure to investigate and present evidence of his poor vision; and the failure to present additional evidence of the prior conflict between Martinez and the decedent were raised in both the 3.11 motion and the appellate brief. As we have found an evidentiary hearing on these claims is not warranted, we also find that under the more rigorous standard set forth in Strickland, the claims of ineffective counsel raised in the appellate brief are denied. See Simpson, 2010 OK CR 6
¶39 The claim of counsel's ineffectiveness for failing to request jury instructions on second degree felony murder, while not appropriate in a 3.11 motion, is properly raised in the appeal brief. As addressed in Proposition II, the evidence did not support giving such an instruction. Any request for such an instruction would have been overruled. Under Strickland, where a jury instruction on a lesser included offense is not supported by the evidence, counsel is not ineffective for failing to request the instruction. See Splawn v. State, 2020 OK CR 20477 P.3d 394Eizember v. State, 2007 OK CR 29164 P.3d 208
¶40 In his final proposition of error, Appellant argues the cumulative effect of the errors addressed above denied him a fair trial. This Court has held that a cumulative error argument has no merit when this Court fails to sustain any of the other errors raised by Appellant. Gillioms v. State, 2022 OK CR 3504 P.3d 613Engles v. State, 2015 OK CR 17366 P.3d 311
¶41 Accordingly, this appeal is denied.
DECISION
¶42 The JUDGMENT and SENTENCE is AFFIRMED. The Application for Evidentiary Hearing on Sixth Amendment Claims is DENIED. Pursuant to Rule 3.15, Rules of the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals, Title 22, Ch.18, App. (2023), the MANDATE is ORDERED issued upon the delivery and filing of this decision.
AN APPEAL FROM THE DISTRICT COURT OF TULSA COUNTY
THE HONORABLE MICHELLE B. KEELY, DISTRICT JUDGE
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APPEARANCES AT TRIAL
BRIAN MARTIN
1331 S. DENVER AVE.
TULSA, OK 74119
COUNSEL FOR THE DEFENSE
STEVE KUNZWEILER
DISTRICT ATTORNEY
KEVIN GRAY
ASST. DISTRICT ATTORNEY
500 S. DENVER, STE. 900
TULSA, OK 74103
COUNSEL FOR THE STATE
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APPEARANCES ON APPEAL
TAYLOR L. LEDFORD
OKLAHOMA INDIGENT DEFENSE SYSTEM
P.O. BOX 926
NORMAN, OK 73070
COUNSEL FOR APPELLANT
JOHN M. O'CONNOR
ATTORNEY GENERAL OF OKLAHOMA
MARY R. INCREMONA
ASST. ATTORNEY GENERAL
313 N.E. 21ST ST.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 73105
COUNSEL FOR THE STATE
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OPINION BY: LUMPKIN, J.
ROWLAND, P.J.: Concur in Result
HUDSON, V.P.J.: Concur in Result
LEWIS, J.: Concur in Result
MUSSEMAN, J.: Concur in Result