COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA
Present: Judges Annunziata, Lemons and Senior Judge Hodges Argued at Alexandria, Virginia
CHARLES L. C'DEBACA, S/K/A CHARLES LEWIS C'DEBACA MEMORANDUM OPINION * v. Record No. 2754-97-4 BY JUDGE WILLIAM H. HODGES FEBRUARY 2, 1999 COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA
FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF FAIRFAX COUNTY Marcus D. Williams, Judge James R. Tate (Tate & Bywater, Ltd., on brief), for appellant.
Eugene Murphy, Assistant Attorney General (Mark L. Earley, Attorney General, on brief), for appellee.
Charles L. C'Debaca, appellant, was convicted of violating
Code § 18.2-386.1(A). On appeal, he contends that the trial
court erred by (1) admitting evidence of a videotape that was
seized in violation of the Fourth Amendment; (2) refusing to
allow appellant to have an expert witness examine the videotape
seized by the police; and (3) finding that Code § 18.2-386.1 is
not unconstitutionally vague and overbroad. Appellant also
contends that his conduct did not violate Code § 18.2-386.1. We
agree with appellant's assertion that his conduct did not violate
the statute. Therefore, we reverse and dismiss the judgment of
the trial court. Because we find that appellant's conduct did
not violate the statute, we need not address appellant's other * Pursuant to Code § 17.1-413, recodifying Code § 17-116.010, this opinion is not designated for publication. assignments of error.
FACTS
While at the Fairfax County Fairgrounds, appellant carried a
videocamera concealed in a bag. The victim, who was wearing a
dress, stood near a bandstand located on the fairgrounds.
Appellant placed the bag containing the camera near the feet of
the victim so that the camera lens pointed under and up the
victim's dress. The victim asked appellant if the camera was
operating, and he replied that it was not. The victim then
reported the incident to the police, who confiscated the
videotape. The videotape contained a view of the victim's
undergarments. Appellant admitted that he intentionally
videotaped under the victim's dress. Appellant was convicted of
violating Code § 18.2-386.1(A). ANALYSIS
Code § 18.2-386.1(A) provides: It shall be unlawful for any person to videotape, photograph, or film any nonconsenting person if (i) that person is totally nude, clad in undergarments, or in a state of undress so as to expose the genitals, pubic area, buttocks or female breast in a restroom, dressing room, locker room, hotel room, motel room, tanning bed, tanning booth, bedroom or other location and (ii) the circumstances are otherwise such that the person being videotaped, photographed or filmed would have a reasonable expectation of privacy.
Appellant argues that the evidence failed to prove that he
violated the statute because (1) the victim was in a public place
- 2 - at the time of the videotaping; (2) the victim was fully clothed
at the time of the taping; and (3) the victim had no reasonable
expectation of privacy while fully clothed and standing in a
public place.
"Well-established 'principles of statutory construction
require us to ascertain and give effect to the legislative
intent.' 'The plain, obvious, and rational meaning of a statute
is always preferred to any curious, narrow or strained
construction.'" Gilliam v. Commonwealth, 21 Va. App. 519,
522-23, 465 S.E.2d 592, 594 (1996) (citation omitted). "[I]t is our function to interpret the meaning of the words in controversy as intended by the legislature." However, "[u]nless there is ambiguity in a statute, there is no need for interpretation, for the province of construction lies wholly within the domain of ambiguity." "Words are ambiguous if they admit to 'being understood in more than one way[,]' . . . refer to 'two or more things simultaneously[,]' . . . are 'difficult to comprehend,' 'of doubtful import,' or lack 'clearness and definiteness.'"
Id. at 522, 465 S.E.2d at 594 (citations omitted).
"'[B]ecause the statute in question is penal in nature, it
must be strictly construed against the state and limited in
application to cases falling clearly within the language of the
statute.'" Crews v. Commonwealth, 3 Va. App. 531, 536, 352
S.E.2d 1, 3 (1987) (citation omitted).
Code § 18.2-386.1(A) states that it applies to a restroom,
locker room, dressing room, hotel room, motel room, tanning bed,
- 3 - tanning booth, bedroom, "or other location." Because the phrase
"other location" is susceptible to more than one interpretation,
the language is ambiguous, and, therefore, appropriate for
judicial construction.
The Commonwealth argues that the phrase "other location"
should be interpreted to include any area where one had an
expectation of privacy with respect to certain types of
photography. The Commonwealth contends that, "[i]n any location,
a female would expect to be free from having a camera aimed up
her skirt." Thus, the Commonwealth's interpretation broadens the
effect of the statute to cover any conceivable location, if a
person had a reasonable expectation of privacy in that location. "We cannot, however, consider statutory language out of
context . . . ." Cape Henry Towers, Inc. v. Nat'l Gypsum Co.,
229 Va. 596, 603, 331 S.E.2d 476, 481 (1985). We are guided by two familiar and related principles of statutory construction. "Under the rule of ejusdem generis, when a particular class of persons or things is enumerated in a statute and general words follow, the general words are to be restricted in their meaning to a sense analogous to the less general, particular words." "Likewise, according to the maxim noscitur a sociis . . . when general and specific words are grouped, the general words are limited by the specific and will be construed to embrace only objects similar in nature to those things identified by the specific words."
Id. (citations omitted).
The phrase "other location" is a general phrase placed at
- 4 - the end of a list of specific locations. Thus, under the
doctrines of ejusdem generis and noscitur a sociis, we must look
to the specific terms that precede the general phrase "other
location" in order to interpret its meaning. Those locations
specified in the statute share the common element of being sites
where a person could be partially or fully undressed and would
have an expectation of privacy--for example, when a person was
trying on clothes in a department store dressing room or changing
clothes in the locker room at a gym. Accordingly, we conclude
that the general words "other location" do not apply to the
circumstances of appellant's case, where appellant videotaped a
fully clothed person standing in a public forum--the Fairfax
County Fairgrounds. "'In construing statutes, courts should give the fullest
possible effect to the legislative intent embodied in the entire
statutory enactment.'" Adkins v. Commonwealth, 27 Va. App. 166,
170, 497 S.E.2d 896, 897 (1998) (citation omitted). Considered
as a whole, the statutory language demonstrates a legislative
intent to deter the unauthorized photography of persons in a
Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI
COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA
Present: Judges Annunziata, Lemons and Senior Judge Hodges Argued at Alexandria, Virginia
CHARLES L. C'DEBACA, S/K/A CHARLES LEWIS C'DEBACA MEMORANDUM OPINION * v. Record No. 2754-97-4 BY JUDGE WILLIAM H. HODGES FEBRUARY 2, 1999 COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA
FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF FAIRFAX COUNTY Marcus D. Williams, Judge James R. Tate (Tate & Bywater, Ltd., on brief), for appellant.
Eugene Murphy, Assistant Attorney General (Mark L. Earley, Attorney General, on brief), for appellee.
Charles L. C'Debaca, appellant, was convicted of violating
Code § 18.2-386.1(A). On appeal, he contends that the trial
court erred by (1) admitting evidence of a videotape that was
seized in violation of the Fourth Amendment; (2) refusing to
allow appellant to have an expert witness examine the videotape
seized by the police; and (3) finding that Code § 18.2-386.1 is
not unconstitutionally vague and overbroad. Appellant also
contends that his conduct did not violate Code § 18.2-386.1. We
agree with appellant's assertion that his conduct did not violate
the statute. Therefore, we reverse and dismiss the judgment of
the trial court. Because we find that appellant's conduct did
not violate the statute, we need not address appellant's other * Pursuant to Code § 17.1-413, recodifying Code § 17-116.010, this opinion is not designated for publication. assignments of error.
FACTS
While at the Fairfax County Fairgrounds, appellant carried a
videocamera concealed in a bag. The victim, who was wearing a
dress, stood near a bandstand located on the fairgrounds.
Appellant placed the bag containing the camera near the feet of
the victim so that the camera lens pointed under and up the
victim's dress. The victim asked appellant if the camera was
operating, and he replied that it was not. The victim then
reported the incident to the police, who confiscated the
videotape. The videotape contained a view of the victim's
undergarments. Appellant admitted that he intentionally
videotaped under the victim's dress. Appellant was convicted of
violating Code § 18.2-386.1(A). ANALYSIS
Code § 18.2-386.1(A) provides: It shall be unlawful for any person to videotape, photograph, or film any nonconsenting person if (i) that person is totally nude, clad in undergarments, or in a state of undress so as to expose the genitals, pubic area, buttocks or female breast in a restroom, dressing room, locker room, hotel room, motel room, tanning bed, tanning booth, bedroom or other location and (ii) the circumstances are otherwise such that the person being videotaped, photographed or filmed would have a reasonable expectation of privacy.
Appellant argues that the evidence failed to prove that he
violated the statute because (1) the victim was in a public place
- 2 - at the time of the videotaping; (2) the victim was fully clothed
at the time of the taping; and (3) the victim had no reasonable
expectation of privacy while fully clothed and standing in a
public place.
"Well-established 'principles of statutory construction
require us to ascertain and give effect to the legislative
intent.' 'The plain, obvious, and rational meaning of a statute
is always preferred to any curious, narrow or strained
construction.'" Gilliam v. Commonwealth, 21 Va. App. 519,
522-23, 465 S.E.2d 592, 594 (1996) (citation omitted). "[I]t is our function to interpret the meaning of the words in controversy as intended by the legislature." However, "[u]nless there is ambiguity in a statute, there is no need for interpretation, for the province of construction lies wholly within the domain of ambiguity." "Words are ambiguous if they admit to 'being understood in more than one way[,]' . . . refer to 'two or more things simultaneously[,]' . . . are 'difficult to comprehend,' 'of doubtful import,' or lack 'clearness and definiteness.'"
Id. at 522, 465 S.E.2d at 594 (citations omitted).
"'[B]ecause the statute in question is penal in nature, it
must be strictly construed against the state and limited in
application to cases falling clearly within the language of the
statute.'" Crews v. Commonwealth, 3 Va. App. 531, 536, 352
S.E.2d 1, 3 (1987) (citation omitted).
Code § 18.2-386.1(A) states that it applies to a restroom,
locker room, dressing room, hotel room, motel room, tanning bed,
- 3 - tanning booth, bedroom, "or other location." Because the phrase
"other location" is susceptible to more than one interpretation,
the language is ambiguous, and, therefore, appropriate for
judicial construction.
The Commonwealth argues that the phrase "other location"
should be interpreted to include any area where one had an
expectation of privacy with respect to certain types of
photography. The Commonwealth contends that, "[i]n any location,
a female would expect to be free from having a camera aimed up
her skirt." Thus, the Commonwealth's interpretation broadens the
effect of the statute to cover any conceivable location, if a
person had a reasonable expectation of privacy in that location. "We cannot, however, consider statutory language out of
context . . . ." Cape Henry Towers, Inc. v. Nat'l Gypsum Co.,
229 Va. 596, 603, 331 S.E.2d 476, 481 (1985). We are guided by two familiar and related principles of statutory construction. "Under the rule of ejusdem generis, when a particular class of persons or things is enumerated in a statute and general words follow, the general words are to be restricted in their meaning to a sense analogous to the less general, particular words." "Likewise, according to the maxim noscitur a sociis . . . when general and specific words are grouped, the general words are limited by the specific and will be construed to embrace only objects similar in nature to those things identified by the specific words."
Id. (citations omitted).
The phrase "other location" is a general phrase placed at
- 4 - the end of a list of specific locations. Thus, under the
doctrines of ejusdem generis and noscitur a sociis, we must look
to the specific terms that precede the general phrase "other
location" in order to interpret its meaning. Those locations
specified in the statute share the common element of being sites
where a person could be partially or fully undressed and would
have an expectation of privacy--for example, when a person was
trying on clothes in a department store dressing room or changing
clothes in the locker room at a gym. Accordingly, we conclude
that the general words "other location" do not apply to the
circumstances of appellant's case, where appellant videotaped a
fully clothed person standing in a public forum--the Fairfax
County Fairgrounds. "'In construing statutes, courts should give the fullest
possible effect to the legislative intent embodied in the entire
statutory enactment.'" Adkins v. Commonwealth, 27 Va. App. 166,
170, 497 S.E.2d 896, 897 (1998) (citation omitted). Considered
as a whole, the statutory language demonstrates a legislative
intent to deter the unauthorized photography of persons in a
state of undress while in private locations, such as dressing
rooms and locker rooms. Nothing in the statute indicates that it
is intended to deter videotaping of persons standing in a public
location.
Furthermore, the statute provides that it is unlawful to
videotape a nonconsenting person when that person "is totally
- 5 - nude, clad in undergarments, or in a state of undress so as to
expose the genitals, pubic area, buttocks or female breast
. . . ." Code § 18.2-386.1(A)(i). Appellant argues that the
victim was not dressed in a manner fitting one of these
descriptions. The Commonwealth argues that the victim was "clad
in undergarments" for purposes of the statute because appellant
manipulated the videocamera so that he videotaped the victim's
undergarments. However, it is a curious and strained
construction of the statute to conclude that the legislature
intended to proscribe the videotaping of the fully clothed victim
while she was standing in a public site, even though appellant's
contemptible method of videotaping was directed specifically
toward only the victim's undergarments. Moreover, although
appellant aimed his camera so that the lens pointed up the
victim's dress, the victim had no reasonable expectation of
privacy while standing on the public fairgrounds. Accordingly, we find that although appellant's conduct was
reprehensible, it would violate sound principles of statutory
construction and strain the intent of the statute to hold that,
under the circumstances and facts of this appeal, appellant's
conduct violated Code § 18.2-386.1(A). Therefore, we reverse and
dismiss appellant's conviction.
Reversed and dismissed.
- 6 -