Argumedo Alvarez-Madrigal v. State of Indiana

71 N.E.3d 887, 2017 WL 961894, 2017 Ind. App. LEXIS 113

• Court: Indiana Court of Appeals
• Decided: March 13, 2017
• Docket: Court of Appeals Case 49A02-1601-CR-162
• Status: Published

Opinions

Kirsch, Judge.

Following a jury trial, Argumedo Alvarez-Madrigal (“Alvarez-Madrigal”) was convicted of four counts of Class A felony child molesting¹ and two counts of Class C felony child molesting.² He appeals, contending that a statement by a State’s witness constituted impermissible vouching evidence and that it was reversible error to admit it.

We affirm.

Facts and Procedural History

When she was ten years old and in the fourth grade, A.M. met and became close friends with fellow fourth-grader S.A.O., whose father is Alvarez-Madrigal. During the summer before the girls entered fifth grade, A.M. spent a lot of time at S.A.O.’s house. S.A.O.’s mother worked nights, and Alvarez-Madrigal watched the children while she slept during the day.

The facts most favorable to the verdict are that, in May 2014, when A.M. was eleven years old, Alvarez-Madrigal began to touch A.M. inappropriately. On May 8 or 9, when A.M. was spending the night at S.A.O.’s house, S.A.O. left the room to use the restroom, and Alvarez-Madrigal put his hand under A.M.’s bra and then felt around her vagina, over her pajamas. From that date to June 6, A.M. went to S.A.O.’s house almost every day, and Alvarez-Madrigal touched A.M. “[ejvery time I would go over there.” Tr. at 43. A.M. testified that S.A.O. and her mother “saw what was going on” on various occasions. Id. at 93. A.M. was worried that if she told anyone, it would ruin her friendship with S.A.O.

On June 6, 2014, when A.M. entered S.A.O.’s house and began to walk up the stairs to S.A.O.’s bedroom, Alvarez-Madrigal put his hand “on [A.M.’s] butt” under her underwear. Id. at 47. He kept his hand there as A.M. walked up the flight of stairs. When they reached the top of the stairs, S.A.O. came out of her bedroom, “looked surprised,” and started yelling at Alvarez-Madrigal. Id. at 48. A.M. testified that S.A.O.’s mother also came out of her bedroom and asked what was going on, but the girls went into S.A.O.’s bedroom without saying anything to S.AO.’s mother. On June 10, while other household members were elsewhere in the house, Alvarez-Madrigal kissed A.M. on the neck and touched her under her underwear, on her vagina.

On June 14, 2014, Alvarez-Madrigal drove A.M. and S.A.O. to a swimming pool and then back to S.A.O.’s house. S.A.O.’s mother was at home sleeping. A.M. went to the upstairs bathroom to change out of her swimming suit, and while she was still in the bathroom, she heard S.A.O. open the door and go outside the house. A.M. put on a swim cover, which was like a dress, over her underwear and bra. She left the bathroom and went downstairs, and Alvarez-Madrigal appeared, picked her up under the arms, put her back to the wall, and when she started to scream, he put his hand over her mouth. Despite A.M.’s protests, Alvarez-Madrigal took off her swim cover and her bra. When A.M. would not spread her legs, he hit her in the thigh, which left a mark. Alvarez-Madrigal pulled down her underwear, threw her onto a couch, and had vaginal and anal intercourse with her. When she initially would not open her mouth to perform oral sex, he slapped her on the face, leaving a red mark,³ and then he stuck his penis in her mouth and moved it back and forth.

When S.A.O. began to enter the house, Alvarez-Madrigal collected A.M.’s clothes and threw them at her and told her to go to the bathroom. A.M. saw S.A.O. peeking around the comer. A.M. hurried to the bathroom, but heard Alvarez-Madrigal talking to S.A.O. in the kitchen and begging S.A.O., “Please don’t tell your mother. I’ll do anything for you.” TV. at 69. When A.M. left the bathroom, Alvarez-Madrigal “banged [her] against the wall” and told A.M. that he would kill her if she told anyone. Id. at 70. A.M. left the house and spoke to S.A.O. outside, telling her some, but not all, of the things Alvarez-Madrigal had done to her, and A.M. asked S.A.O. to tell her father to stop touching A.M. S.A.O. told A.M. that she would “have a talk with him.” Id. at 72. A few weeks after the June 14 incident, A.M. told a friend, P.J., about what S.A.O.’s father had done to her, and P.J. told a mentor. On June 29, 2014, a report was made to Indiana Department of Child Services (“DCS”).

When DCS made an unannounced visit to A.M.’s home on or about June 29, A.M. told her mother what Alvarez-Madrigal had done to her. A.M. also told DCS assessment case manager Nola Hunt (“Hunt”) and the accompanying Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (“IMPD”) officer about Alvarez-Madrigal’s conduct. Hunt paged IMPD Detective Mark Barnett (“Detective Barnett”), the “on-call” child abuse detective.' Detective Barnett decided “an immediate response” was warranted “based primarily on the proximity of the alleged victim and suspect ..., living on the same street.” Id. at 187-88. Hunt then transported A.M. and A,M,’s parents to DCS offices, where A.M. participated in a forensic interview at the Child Advocacy Center with IMPD Detective Ni-colle Flynn (“Detective Flynn”). During the interview, A.M. disclosed information of a sexual nature describing what had happened to her about two weeks prior. Hunt and Detective Barnett observed the interview from another room, and based on what he observed, Detective Barnett prepared, and later executed, a search warrant for Alvarez-Madrigal’s residence. Detective Barnett interviewed Alvarez-Madrigal and his wife, and, at some point, S.A.O. and P.J. were also interviewed by DCS. A.M. was examined on July 2, 2014, and again on July 9, 2014, at the Riley Hospital Pediatric Center for Hope.

On July 3, 2014, the State charged Alvarez-Madrigal with five counts of Class A felony child molesting and two counts of Class C felony child molesting. At the two-day August 2015 jury trial, the State presented the testimony of A.M., P.J., S.A.O., and S.A.O.’s mother. The State also presented the testimony of Hunt, Detective Flynn, and Detective Barnett. The last witness to testify was Shannon Thompson, M.D. (“Dr. Thompson”), a pediatrician at Riley Children’s Hospital (“Riley”) on the child abuse protection team.

Dr. Thompson examined A.M. at the second examination, on July 9, 2014. Dr. Thompson stated that the reason A.M. returned to Riley was because she was having “continued genital pain and itching.” Id. at 293. Dr. Thompson testified that although neither examination at Riley revealed physical injuries, the lack of physical findings was “very common” in sexual abuse cases. Id. at 296. She explained that there are various reasons for that, including that no injury occurred in the first place or that “disclosure often occurs days to months later,” and the genital tissue heals quickly. Id. at 297. She testified that, therefore, it is “very common” for a child to have a normal exam. Id. at 298. The State continued direct examination of Dr. Thompson regarding the frequency with which she observes physical injuries:

STATE: In terms of the cases you have seen, do you know what percentage of children you see with injuries?

THOMPSON: So overall about 4 to 5 percent of children who have been victims of sexual abuse will have some kind of obvious physical evidence of penetration or sexual abuse. In my experience I’ve probably seen one.

STATE: One in 10 years of being a child abuse pediatrician?

THOMPSON: 71/2 years.

STATE: My math is not great. Okay. And does that mean that all the rest of those children are making up allegations?

THOMPSON: No, it doesn’t mean that. It just means it’s the nature of the abuse. Like I said, often the disclosure is late, injuries are subtle or even very obvious it healed by the time we get to see them. And in fact some statistics mil quote that less than two to three children out of a thousand are making up claims.

Id. at 298-99 (emphasis added).

Alvarez-Madrigal then objected, stating, “This clearly calls for speculation. It’s not relevant to the facts in this case.” Id. at 299. The State responded, “She’s a child abuse expert. She has talked about her evaluation of psychological and emotional mental health. It’s part of her job to know statistics.” Id. The trial court did not expressly rule on the objection, but stated, “Then ask her this, ask every question in terms of reasonable medical certainty.” Id. The State proceeded to ask Dr. Thompson, “[W]ith regard to this, case to a degree of reasonable medical certainty, what’s your opinion as to A.M.’s exam?” Id. Dr. Thompson responded that A.M. did not have any overt symptoms or physical findings that would be consistent with sexual abuse, but that lack of physical findings would not be determinative, and that the history that A.M. provided was consistent with sexual abuse. Id. at 299-300.

Upon cross examination, Dr. Thompson acknowledged that, although there was no physical injury or infection observed, A.M. was reporting complaints of physical pain. Dr. Thompson explained that A.M.’s complaints were considered “somatic complaints,” which are “fairly common” in sexual abuse victims. Id. at 303, 305. When asked if the terms “somatic” or “psychosomatic” would be used when a patient is misleading a doctor about pain, Dr. Thompson replied, “No, I would not use that term.” Id. at 305. She continued, “[I]t’s actual physical pain that is manifested because of emotional trauma,” which could be, by way of example, pelvic pain, headaches, or abdominal pain. Id. She testified that the “pain that the person is experiencing is real.” Id.

At the conclusion of the evidence, Alvarez-Madrigal moved for a directed verdict, which the trial court granted as to one count of Class A felony child molesting. The jury found Alvarez-Madrigal guilty of the remaining four counts of Class A felony child molesting and guilty of two counts of Class C felony child molesting. On October 1, 2015, the trial court sentenced Alvarez-Madrigal to an aggregate sixty-one-year sentence. Alvarez-Madrigal petitioned for and was granted permission to file this belated appeal.

Discussion and Decision

Alvarez-Madrigal asserts that Dr. Thompson’s testimony that “And in fact some statistics will quote that less than two to three children out of a thousand are making up claims” was vouching testimony prohibited by Indiana Evidence Rule 704(b) and that the trial court erred by admitting it into evidence. A trial court has broad discretion in ruling on the admissibility of evidence, and we will disturb its rulings only where it is shown that the court abused that discretion. Hoglund v. State, 962 N.E.2d 1230, 1237 (Ind. 2012). An abuse of discretion occurs when the trial court’s decision is clearly against the logic and effect of the facts and circumstances before it. Id.

Indiana Evidence Rule 704(b) provides that “[witnesses may not testify to opinions concerning intent, guilt, or innocence in a criminal case; the truth or falsity of allegations; whether a witness has testified truthfully; or legal conclusions.” Such vouching testimony is considered an invasion of the province of the jurors in determining what weight they should place, upon a witness’s testimony. Carter v. State, 31 N.E.3d 17, 29 (Ind. Ct. App. 2015), trans. denied.

We disagree with Alvarez-Madrigal’s claim that Dr. Thompson’s testimony violated the prohibition against vouching. This court’s recent decision in Carter provides us with some guidance. There, at defendant’s trial on five counts of child molesting, the forensic examiner, Patricia Smallwood (“Smallwood”), testified, over Carter’s objections, to matters including how children deal with sexual abuse, the disclosure process, and how and why children recant or retract their disclosures of abuse. Id. at 24. She stated that boys are more likely to retract, and that when a child retracts, it does not mean that the abuse did not happen. Id. She testified that frequently, by the time of disclosure, the child has been abused so many times that individual instances run together, and children have difficulty relating specific events or details. Id. On appeal, Carter asserted, among other things, that Smallwood’s testimony constituted impermissible vouching.

The Carter court rejected the defendant’s claim, explaining:

[S]he never mentioned [the child victim] in her testimony or made any statement or opinion regarding the truth or falsity of [the child]’s allegations of molestation. Smallwood did not purport to have any opinion regarding the case at bar, nor did she refer to any specific, facts at issue. Her testimony was broad, generalized, and included reference to results of research studies.

31 N.E.3d at 29. Similarly, in Baumholser v. State, 62 N.E.3d 411 (Ind. Ct. App. 2016), trans. denied, the defendant challenged the testimony of the forensic interviewer, Molly Elfreich (“Elfreich”). There, when Elfreich was asked at trial whether all children she had interviewed would disclose immediately, Elfreich testified that “most of the time [disclosure of a crime by a child] is delayed in some way.” Id. at 414. Baumholser did not object to this testimony. On appeal, Baumholser argued that Elfreich’s testimony was vouching testimony prohibited by Indiana Evidence Rule 704(b). The Baumholser court determined,

Elfreich’s testimony did not relate to the truth or falsity of [the victdmj’s allegations. Rather, Elfreich was making a statement about how victims of child molestation behave in general. Thus, her testimony was not improper vouching.

Id. at 416 (citing Otte v. State, 967 N.E.2d 540, 548 (Ind. Ct. App. 2012) (testimony on the general behavior of domestic violence victims “does not cross the line-into impermissible vouching”), trans. denied).

Here, in a like way, Dr. Thompson’s testimony cited to a research statistic, addressing how victims of child molestation behave in general. Dr. Thompson was being asked about what percentage of children exhibit physical injury or trauma, and she replied that “about 4 to 5 percent of children who have been victims of sexual abuse will have some kind of obvious physical evidence of penetration or sexual abuse.” Tr. at 298. The State then asked, “[D]oes that mean that all the rest of those children are making up allegations?” and Dr. Thompson replied:

No, it doesn’t mean that. It just means it’s the nature of the abuse. Like I said, often the disclosure is late, injuries are subtle or even very obvious it healed by the time we get to see them. And in fact some statistics will quote that less than two to three children out of a thousand are making up claims.

Id. at 298-99. Dr. Thompson’s statement was explaining that a lack of physical injuries is not indicative that a child is fabricating the abuse, and it was based on her education and experience. It was not a statement as to A.M.’s credibility. It was not an opinion regarding the truth of the allegations against Alvarez-Madrigal. It was not an opinion, about, or related to, whether A.M. had been coached, and it did not concern whether A.M. was a truthful person in general. See Robey v. State, 7 N.E.3d 371, 380 (Ind. Ct. App. 2014) (family case manager’s testimony that child victim’s demeanor was “matter of fact” was general in nature, did not directly comment on whether victim’s accusations were true or whether victim was a truthful person in general), trans. denied. Nor was Dr. Thompson’s testimony a statement that a claim has been substantiated. See Bean v. State, 15 N.E.3d 12, 19 (Ind. Ct. App. 2014) (“This Court has held that testimony that a claim has been substantiated constitutes an opinion regarding the truth of the allegations, thereby violating Indiana Evidence Rule 704(b).”), trans. denied. In sum, Dr. Thompson expressed no opinion “concerning intent, guilt, or innocence in a criminal case; the truth or falsity of allegations; whether a witness has testified truthfully; or legal conclusion,” Indiana Evidence Rule 704(b), and we find that Dr. Thompson’s non-solicited and general statistical statement properly left the determination of AM.’s credibility to the province of the jury. Accordingly, Dr. Thompson’s testimony was not vouching testimony prohibited by Indiana Evidence Rule 704(b), and the trial court did not abuse its discretion by admitting the testimony into evidence.

Moreover, even assuming that the challenged testimony by Dr. Thompson—“[S]ome statistics will quote that less than two to three children out of a thousand are making up claims”—constituted improper vouching, we find no reversible error. Tr. at 299. The record reflects that, immediately after Dr. Thompson made the statement, counsel for Alvarez-Madrigal objected: “This clearly calls for speculation. It’s not relevant to the facts in this case.” Id. The trial court did not expressly rule on the objection, but instead directed: “Then ask her this, ask her every question in terms of reasonable medical certainty.” Id. Alvarez-Madrigal did not seek to strike Dr. Thompson’s testimony or ask for admonishment. On appeal, the State- argues that, because a party may not assert one basis at trial and other on appeal, Alvarez-Madrigal has waived his vouching argument. Appellant’s App. at 12 (citing R.W. v. State, 975 N.E.2d 407, 411 (Ind. Ct. App. 2012), trans. denied and Howard v. State, 818 N.E.2d 469 (Ind. Ct. App. 2004), trans. denied). Anticipating that he might face this waiver argument, Alvarez-Madrigal maintains that he preserved his claimed error, and even if he did not, it was fundamental error⁴ to admit Dr. Thompson’s testimony. Appellee’s Br. at 21-22.

Assuming without deciding that, as Alvarez-Madrigal claims, he properly preserved his claim that Dr. Thompson’s testimony constituted impermissible vouching, we find no reversible error. We will reverse a conviction for preserved error in the admission of evidence if the error is inconsistent with substantial justice or affects the substantial rights of a party. Ind. Evidence Rule 103(a); Hamilton v. State, 43 N.E.3d 628, 633-34 (Ind. Ct. App. 2016) (citing Bradford v. State, 960 N.E.2d 871, 877 (Ind. Ct. App. 2012)), on reh’g, 49 N.E.3d 654 (Ind. Ct. App. 2015), trans. denied; see also Norris v. State, 53 N.E.3d 512, 524 (Ind. Ct. App. 2016) (“Errors in the admission or exclusion of evidence are to be disregarded as harmless error unless they affect the substantial rights of a party.”). In analyzing the prejudicial effect on a defendant’s substantial rights from the erroneous admission of evidence, we look to the probable impact of the evidence on the factfinder. Hoglund, 962 N.E.2d at 1238. The improper admission of evidence is deemed harmless if there is substantial independent evidence of guilt supporting a conviction such that we can say there is no substantial likelihood that the questioned evidence contributed to the conviction. Id.

Here, A.M. testified to the incidents with specificity and consistency, and, contrary to Alvarez-Madrigal’s suggestion, his convictions did not rest entirely on A.M.’s uncorroborated testimony. That is, other evidence was consistent with or supported AM.’s allegations. A.M.’s friend P.J. testified to exchanging Facebook messages and texts with A.M. about the matter, which led to P.J. sharing her concerns about A.M. with her mentor, and a report was made to DCS. TV. at 78. As a result of information received by DCS, Hunt initiated an investigation and made an unannounced visit to A.M.’s home, where Hunt spoke to A,M.’s mother and to A.M. As Hunt was at the front door, explaining that she was an employee with DCS and wanted to speak with A.M. and her parents, A.M. “burst out in tears” and said she knew why DCS was at the home, and she stated “what happened,” which was the first time that A.M. mentioned anything about it to her parents. Id. at 79. Hunt and an IMPD officer spoke to A.M., and as a result of what A.M. said, Hunt called Detective Barnett, the on-call child abuse detective, who found that immediate response was warranted because the suspect lived in proximity, “living on the same street” as A.M. Id. at 187-88. Hunt took A.M. and her parents to the Child Advocacy Center for an interview, and based on what Detective Barnett heard and observed, he obtained a search warrant for Alvarez-Madrigal’s residence.

S.A.O. also provided testimony that was consistent with aspects of A.M.’s testimony. She stated that on June 14, after the girls had been swimming, she waited outside for A.M. for “a long time kind of’ and that, when A.M. came outside, she was sad. Id. at 265. S.AO. stated that A.M. wanted to go for a walk and that during the walk, A.M. began crying, told S.A.O. about something S.A.O.’s father had done to her, and asked S.A.O. to speak to her father about it. S.A.O. testified that, at some point on their walk, A.M. told her that Alvarez-Madrigal had kissed her on the neck and touched her private parts. Id. at 278-81. When S.A.O. was asked at trial if she spoke to her father as A.M. had asked, S.A.O. testified, “I didn’t say exactly what [A.M.] said. I just said, dad, she doesn’t like when you tickle her feet, stuff like that.” Id. at 270.

Dr. Thompson also provided testimony that supported A.M.’s reports of abuse. Dr. Thompson testified that A.M. presented at Riley with complaints of genital pain and explained that A.M. was experiencing “somatic complaints,” which are fairly common in sexual abuse cases. Id. at 303, 305. She testified that the term does not mean that the patient is fabricating feelings of physical pain, as the “pain that the person is experiencing is real” and may stem from emotional trauma. Id. at 305.

Alvarez-Madrigal urges us to find that the factual statistic to which Dr. Thompson testified “likely influenced” the jury, especially given “the inconsistencies, contradictions and peculiarities from other parts of the trial[.]” Appellant’s Br. at 18. This assertion is an argument that A.M.’s testimony was not entirely consistent with that of S.A.O. and her mother, who stated that they did not see or hear anything and did not observe red marks on A.M. S.A.O. also denied that her father had begged her not to tell her mother, as A.M. had testified to hearing, and S.A.O.’s mother stated that she did not come out of her room into the hallway, as A.M. had described, to ask what was going on. However, the fact that S.A.O. and her mother—who were Alvarez-Madrigal’s daughter and wife, respectively—denied hearing or seeing anything happen does not mean that A.M. was inconsistent. It means that there was a witness credibility determination to be made, and, here, the jury believed A.M.

The record before us indicates that there was substantial independent evidence of guilt supporting Alvarez-Madrigal’s convictions. We do not find that Dr. Thompson’s isolated factual statistic, which was not elicited and was spontaneously offered, likely had substantial influence on the verdict.⁵ See Hoglund, 962 N.E.2d at 1238 (improper admission of evidence is harmless error if conviction is supported by substantial independent evidence of guilt satisfying reviewing court that there is no substantial likelihood the challenged evidence contributed to conviction); Norris, 53 N.E.3d at 525 (finding that interviewer’s testimony stating that she found “indicia of reliability” to be present in child victim’s testimony was vouching, but holding single instance of improperly admitted testimony did not affect defendant’s substantial rights and was harmless). Accordingly, the trial court did not commit reversible error when it admitted Dr. Thompson’s testimony over Alvarez-Madrigal’s objection.

Affirmed.

Robb, J., concurs. Barnes, J., concurs in result with separate opinion.

1 . See Ind. Code § 35-42-4-3(a)(l). We note that, effective July 1, 2014, a new version of this statute was enacted. However, we will apply the statute in effect at the time he committed his crimes in June 2014.

2 . See Ind. Code § 35-42-4-3(b).

3 . A.M.'s parents later asked her about the redness near her mouth, but A.M. told them "that [she] just hit it on something." Tr. at 97.

4 . The fundamental error doctrine provides a vehicle for the review of error not properly preserved for appeal. It is an extremely narrow exception that allows a defendant to avoid waiver of an issue, and it is available only in egregious circumstances. Nichols v. State, 55 N.E,3d 854, 862 (Ind. Ct. App. 2016), trans. denied. It is error that makes "a fair trial impossible or constitute^] clearly blatant violations of basic and elementary principles of due process, presenting an undeniable and substantial potential for harm.” Id. (quotations omitted). Harm is not shown by the fact that the defendant was ultimately convicted; rather harm is found when error is so prejudicial as to make a fair trial impossible. Hoglund v. State, 962 N.E.2d 1230, 1239 (Ind. 2012).

5 . We note that Alvarez-Madrigal, in arguing that admission of Dr. Thompson’s testimony was not harmless, asserts that “another instance of vouching occurred” at trial, during Detective Flynn's testimony when she stated that A.M. had disclosed during the interview matters in the nature of a "sexual assault” and that criminal charges are not always filed in every case that is investigated. Appellant’s Br. at 20-21. Alvarez-Madrigal suggests that, by this testimony, the State was attempting "to persuade the jury that A.M.’s allegation of sexual assault was credible.” Id. at 21. Alvarez-Madrigal did not object at trial to the now-challenged testimony, nor does he provide case law or support for the assertion that Detective Flynn’s testimony constituted vouching. The State asserts, and we agree, that Alvarez-Madrigal has waived any argument with regard to Detective Flynn's testimony. Ind. Appellate Rule 46(A)(8).