IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE
ENRIQUE GARCIA-VINCENTE, § § No. 48, 2025 Defendant Below, § Appellant, § Court Below—Superior Court § of the State of Delaware v. § § Cr. ID No. 2306012469 (S) STATE OF DELAWARE, § § Appellee. §
Submitted: August 18, 2025 Decided: October 17, 2025
Before SEITZ, Chief Justice; VALIHURA and TRAYNOR, Justices.
ORDER
After consideration of the appellant’s Supreme Court Rule 26(c) brief, the
State’s response, and the record on appeal, it appears to the Court that:
(1) A Superior Court jury found the appellant, Enrique Garcia-Vincente,
guilty of second-degree rape, stalking, third-degree assault, and multiple counts of
non-compliance with bond. The Superior Court sentenced Garcia-Vincente to
eleven years of unsuspended Level V incarceration. This is Garcia-Vincente’s direct
appeal. (2) The evidence presented at trial established that Garcia-Vincente and his
girlfriend (“M.B.S.”)1 lived together with their child. M.B.S. testified that Garcia-
Vincente was abusive, hitting her in the face in November or December 2022
because she was not there when he got home. M.B.S. was scared to call the police
about Garcia-Vincente hitting her, because he told her that the police would take her
away and she would lose her rights to their daughter. She was also frightened to call
the police because she could not speak English, unlike Garcia-Vincent who could.
In early April 2023, Garcia-Vincente broke M.B.S.’s phone and kicked her in the
leg when she asked him why.
(3) Garcia-Vincente did not come home on April 13, 2023. When Garcia-
Vincente returned the next day and M.B.S. asked him where he had been, Garcia-
Vincente began insulting her. M.B.S. testified that Garcia-Vincente grabbed her,
threw on her the bed, held her hands down, and vaginally raped her. M.B.S. told
Garcia-Vincente that she did not want to have sex with him, but he told her that he
was going to do whatever he wanted because she was in his home and she was his
woman. At some point during the attack, Garcia-Vincente bruised M.B.S.’s neck
and chest with his mouth. A few days later, Garcia-Vincente apologized to M.B.S.
and said he would not do it again.
1 The initials represent a pseudonym we have assigned to the victim under Supreme Court Rule 7(d).
2 (4) Garcia-Vincente admitted to slapping M.B.S. once in November 2022,
but denied ever hitting, kicking, or bruising her. He also denied ever having non-
consensual sex with M.B.S.
(5) On April 17, 2023, while Garcia-Vincente was at work, M.B.S. left to
live with her sister. The following day M.B.S. and her sister went to La Esperanza
because M.B.S. wanted to get a restraining order. When the La Esperanza staff
found out what had happened, they called police. Later that same day, M.B.S. and
her sister went to Beebe Hospital.
(6) At the hospital, a forensic nurse examiner examined M.B.S. She
observed red bruises on M.B.S.’s neck and chest, a bruise on her clavicle, and bruises
on her shin. The nurse also noted a bruise on M.B.S.’s left buttock; pain and
tenderness to the bilateral groin; pain, tenderness, and bruising to her right thigh; and
injuries to her posterior fourchette, a laceration to her cervix, and an injury to her
hymenal ring. The nurse collected DNA swabs from M.B.S.’s neck and vagina. The
swabs tested position for male DNA, but the samples were insufficient to determine
if it was Garcia-Vincente’s DNA.
(7) When Garcia-Vincente learned M.B.S. had gone to La Esperanza,
M.B.S. testified that he told her to call the police and tell them to drop the charges
because he was remorseful and it would be good for their child. M.B.S. contacted
3 police on April 27, 2023 and May 8, 2023 about dropping the charges against Garcia-
Vincente.
(8) On June 29, 2023, police arrested Garcia-Vincente, who understands
some English but whose primary language is Spanish. The Superior Court set bail
that day and ordered that Garcia-Vincente have no contact with M.B.S. Garcia-
Vincente testified that this hearing took place by phone and that there was a Spanish
interpreter to translate what the judge said for him, but that Garcia-Vincente was far
away from the phone. He agreed, however, that the judge had discussed the
conditions on the June 29, 2023 commitment sheet, which included the no contact
condition. At his arraignment/bail review hearing on July 17, 2023, Vincente-Garica
pleaded not guilty and the Superior Court imposed the same bond conditions,
including no contact with the victim.
(9) Between July 3, 2023 and November 10, 2023, Garcia-Vincente
contacted M.B.S. from prison by letter and by phone. Garcia-Vincente testified that
he did not understand when he was first arrested that he was not supposed to contact
M.B.S., and called her every day from prison. M.B.S. accepted the calls, but testified
that she did not want him to call because it made her feel confused, guilty, and sad.
The phone call records were admitted into evidence and several of the phone calls
were played for the jury. In a July 4, 2023 letter, Garcia-Vincente apologized to
4 M.B.S. for how he had “failed” her.2 At the conclusion of the State’s case, Counsel
unsuccessfully moved for judgment of acquittal.
(10) The jury found Garcia-Vincente guilty of second-degree rape as a lesser
included offense of first-degree rape, third-degree assault on April 14, 2023,
stalking, and fifty-three counts of non-compliance with bond conditions between
July 18, 2023 and November 10, 2023. The jury found Garcia-Vincente not guilty
of first-degree rape, third-degree assault in December 2022, and eleven counts of
non-compliance with bond conditions between July 3, 2023 and July 15, 2023. After
a presentence investigation, the Superior Court sentenced Garcia-Vincente Vincente
to more than 200 years of Level V incarceration, suspended after eleven years for
decreasing levels of supervision.
(11) On appeal, Garcia-Vincente’s appellate counsel (“Counsel”) filed a
brief and a motion to withdraw under Supreme Court Rule 26(c). Counsel asserts
that, based upon a complete and careful examination of the record, there are no
arguably appealable issues. Counsel informed Garcia-Vincente of the provisions of
Rule 26(c) and provided Garcia-Vincente with a copy of the motion to withdraw and
the accompanying brief.
(12) Counsel also informed Garcia-Vincente of his right to identify any
points he wished this Court to consider on appeal. Garcia-Vincente has raised points
2 Op. Br. App. at A109.
5 for this Court’s consideration. The State has responded to the Rule 26(c) brief and
has moved to affirm the Superior Court’s judgment.
(13) When reviewing a motion to withdraw and an accompanying brief
under Rule 26(c), this Court must: (i) be satisfied that defense counsel has made a
conscientious examination of the record and the law for arguable claims; and (ii)
conduct its own review of the record and determine whether the appeal is so totally
devoid of at least arguably appealable issues that it can be decided without an
adversary presentation.3
(14) Garcia-Vincente’s arguments on appeal may be summarized as follows:
(i) M.B.S. recanted her statement that Garcia-Vincente raped her; (ii) the
prosecution’s failure to disclose this recantation was a violation of Brady v.
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IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE
ENRIQUE GARCIA-VINCENTE, § § No. 48, 2025 Defendant Below, § Appellant, § Court Below—Superior Court § of the State of Delaware v. § § Cr. ID No. 2306012469 (S) STATE OF DELAWARE, § § Appellee. §
Submitted: August 18, 2025 Decided: October 17, 2025
Before SEITZ, Chief Justice; VALIHURA and TRAYNOR, Justices.
ORDER
After consideration of the appellant’s Supreme Court Rule 26(c) brief, the
State’s response, and the record on appeal, it appears to the Court that:
(1) A Superior Court jury found the appellant, Enrique Garcia-Vincente,
guilty of second-degree rape, stalking, third-degree assault, and multiple counts of
non-compliance with bond. The Superior Court sentenced Garcia-Vincente to
eleven years of unsuspended Level V incarceration. This is Garcia-Vincente’s direct
appeal. (2) The evidence presented at trial established that Garcia-Vincente and his
girlfriend (“M.B.S.”)1 lived together with their child. M.B.S. testified that Garcia-
Vincente was abusive, hitting her in the face in November or December 2022
because she was not there when he got home. M.B.S. was scared to call the police
about Garcia-Vincente hitting her, because he told her that the police would take her
away and she would lose her rights to their daughter. She was also frightened to call
the police because she could not speak English, unlike Garcia-Vincent who could.
In early April 2023, Garcia-Vincente broke M.B.S.’s phone and kicked her in the
leg when she asked him why.
(3) Garcia-Vincente did not come home on April 13, 2023. When Garcia-
Vincente returned the next day and M.B.S. asked him where he had been, Garcia-
Vincente began insulting her. M.B.S. testified that Garcia-Vincente grabbed her,
threw on her the bed, held her hands down, and vaginally raped her. M.B.S. told
Garcia-Vincente that she did not want to have sex with him, but he told her that he
was going to do whatever he wanted because she was in his home and she was his
woman. At some point during the attack, Garcia-Vincente bruised M.B.S.’s neck
and chest with his mouth. A few days later, Garcia-Vincente apologized to M.B.S.
and said he would not do it again.
1 The initials represent a pseudonym we have assigned to the victim under Supreme Court Rule 7(d).
2 (4) Garcia-Vincente admitted to slapping M.B.S. once in November 2022,
but denied ever hitting, kicking, or bruising her. He also denied ever having non-
consensual sex with M.B.S.
(5) On April 17, 2023, while Garcia-Vincente was at work, M.B.S. left to
live with her sister. The following day M.B.S. and her sister went to La Esperanza
because M.B.S. wanted to get a restraining order. When the La Esperanza staff
found out what had happened, they called police. Later that same day, M.B.S. and
her sister went to Beebe Hospital.
(6) At the hospital, a forensic nurse examiner examined M.B.S. She
observed red bruises on M.B.S.’s neck and chest, a bruise on her clavicle, and bruises
on her shin. The nurse also noted a bruise on M.B.S.’s left buttock; pain and
tenderness to the bilateral groin; pain, tenderness, and bruising to her right thigh; and
injuries to her posterior fourchette, a laceration to her cervix, and an injury to her
hymenal ring. The nurse collected DNA swabs from M.B.S.’s neck and vagina. The
swabs tested position for male DNA, but the samples were insufficient to determine
if it was Garcia-Vincente’s DNA.
(7) When Garcia-Vincente learned M.B.S. had gone to La Esperanza,
M.B.S. testified that he told her to call the police and tell them to drop the charges
because he was remorseful and it would be good for their child. M.B.S. contacted
3 police on April 27, 2023 and May 8, 2023 about dropping the charges against Garcia-
Vincente.
(8) On June 29, 2023, police arrested Garcia-Vincente, who understands
some English but whose primary language is Spanish. The Superior Court set bail
that day and ordered that Garcia-Vincente have no contact with M.B.S. Garcia-
Vincente testified that this hearing took place by phone and that there was a Spanish
interpreter to translate what the judge said for him, but that Garcia-Vincente was far
away from the phone. He agreed, however, that the judge had discussed the
conditions on the June 29, 2023 commitment sheet, which included the no contact
condition. At his arraignment/bail review hearing on July 17, 2023, Vincente-Garica
pleaded not guilty and the Superior Court imposed the same bond conditions,
including no contact with the victim.
(9) Between July 3, 2023 and November 10, 2023, Garcia-Vincente
contacted M.B.S. from prison by letter and by phone. Garcia-Vincente testified that
he did not understand when he was first arrested that he was not supposed to contact
M.B.S., and called her every day from prison. M.B.S. accepted the calls, but testified
that she did not want him to call because it made her feel confused, guilty, and sad.
The phone call records were admitted into evidence and several of the phone calls
were played for the jury. In a July 4, 2023 letter, Garcia-Vincente apologized to
4 M.B.S. for how he had “failed” her.2 At the conclusion of the State’s case, Counsel
unsuccessfully moved for judgment of acquittal.
(10) The jury found Garcia-Vincente guilty of second-degree rape as a lesser
included offense of first-degree rape, third-degree assault on April 14, 2023,
stalking, and fifty-three counts of non-compliance with bond conditions between
July 18, 2023 and November 10, 2023. The jury found Garcia-Vincente not guilty
of first-degree rape, third-degree assault in December 2022, and eleven counts of
non-compliance with bond conditions between July 3, 2023 and July 15, 2023. After
a presentence investigation, the Superior Court sentenced Garcia-Vincente Vincente
to more than 200 years of Level V incarceration, suspended after eleven years for
decreasing levels of supervision.
(11) On appeal, Garcia-Vincente’s appellate counsel (“Counsel”) filed a
brief and a motion to withdraw under Supreme Court Rule 26(c). Counsel asserts
that, based upon a complete and careful examination of the record, there are no
arguably appealable issues. Counsel informed Garcia-Vincente of the provisions of
Rule 26(c) and provided Garcia-Vincente with a copy of the motion to withdraw and
the accompanying brief.
(12) Counsel also informed Garcia-Vincente of his right to identify any
points he wished this Court to consider on appeal. Garcia-Vincente has raised points
2 Op. Br. App. at A109.
5 for this Court’s consideration. The State has responded to the Rule 26(c) brief and
has moved to affirm the Superior Court’s judgment.
(13) When reviewing a motion to withdraw and an accompanying brief
under Rule 26(c), this Court must: (i) be satisfied that defense counsel has made a
conscientious examination of the record and the law for arguable claims; and (ii)
conduct its own review of the record and determine whether the appeal is so totally
devoid of at least arguably appealable issues that it can be decided without an
adversary presentation.3
(14) Garcia-Vincente’s arguments on appeal may be summarized as follows:
(i) M.B.S. recanted her statement that Garcia-Vincente raped her; (ii) the
prosecution’s failure to disclose this recantation was a violation of Brady v.
Maryland;4 (iii) there was insufficient evidence to support his convictions for
second-degree rape and non-compliance with bond; and (iv) Counsel was ineffective
for failing to investigate his claims on appeal.
(15) Although Garcia-Vincente stated in his points that M.B.S.’s recantation
affidavit was attached, there was no such affidavit. Shortly after submission of the
points, the Court received two affidavits, both dated October 5, 2023 (one in English
and one in Spanish), from someone named Daniel Garcia. In the English affidavit,
3 Penson v. Ohio, 488 U.S. 75, 83 (1988); Leacock v. State, 690 A.2d 926, 927-28 (Del. 1996). 4 373 U.S. 83 (1963).
6 M.B.S. stated that she did not want to continue the case and wished to lift the charges
against Garcia-Vincente.
(16) Assuming the October 5, 2023 affidavit is the affidavit that Garcia-
Vincente refers to in his points, M.B.S. did not recant her statement that Garcia-
Vincente raped her. She only stated that she did not want the case to continue
because she had a child with Garcia-Vincente. At trial in October 2024, M.B.S.
testified that Garcia-Vincente raped her. M.B.S. testified on cross-examination that
she asked the police to drop charges in May 2023 because Garcia-Vincente told her
to do so, but again she did not recant her statement that Garcia-Vincente had raped
her. The record does not support Garcia-Vincente’s claim that M.B.S. recanted her
statement that Garcia-Vincente had raped her.
(17) Nor has Garcia-Vincente shown that the prosecution violated Brady by
suppressing the October 5, 2023 affidavit. Under Brady, “the prosecution has a
constitutional obligation to disclose exculpatory and impeachment evidence within
its possession to the defense when that evidence might be material to the outcome
of the case.”5 There is no indication that the prosecution failed to disclose the
October 5, 2023 affidavit to the defense. Based on emails provided by the State,
Garcia-Vicente’s brother sent the affidavits to Counsel, who then sent them to the
prosecutor on November 3, 2023. To the extent Garcia-Vincente also claims that
5 Risper v. State, 250 A.3d 76, 90 (Del. 2021).
7 the prosecution withheld evidence of La Esperanza staff encouraging M.B.S. to
accuse him of rape, he identifies nothing to support this conclusory claim.
(18) We next turn to Garcia-Vincente’s contention that there was
insufficient evidence to support his convictions for second-degree rape and non-
compliance with bond conditions. The Court reviews an insufficiency of the
evidence claim de novo to determine whether any rational trier of fact, viewing the
evidence in the light most favorable to the State, could have found the defendant
guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.6 The elements of second-degree rape are
intentional sexual intercourse with another person who does not consent.7 Based on
M.B.S.’s testimony that Garcia-Vincente held her down and engaged in vaginal
sexual intercourse with her even though she told him that she did not want to have
sex with him, a rational juror could find that Garcia-Vincente was guilty of second-
degree rape beyond a reasonable doubt. Garcia-Vincente contends that the presence
of his DNA was required for the jury’s finding of guilt, but he is mistaken. “[A]
victim’s testimony alone, concerning alleged sexual contact, is sufficient to support
a guilty verdict if it establishes every element of the offense charged” as it did here.8
6 Farmer v. State, 844 A.2d 297, 300 (Del. 2004). 7 11 Del. C. § 772(a)(1). 8 Farmer, 844 A.2d at 300.
8 (19) The elements of non-compliance with bond are the knowing violation
of any provisions of the issued bond.9 The evidence presented at trial, including the
testimony of Garcia-Vincente and M.B.S., prison call records, and call recordings,
established that the Superior Court first ordered Garcia-Vincente not to contact
M.B.S. on June 29, 2023 and Garcia-Vincente repeatedly contacted M.B.S. by letter
and phone between July 3, 2023 and November 10, 2023. Garcia-Vincente claims
on appeal that he did not know he was not supposed to contact M.B.S., but testified
at trial that this was only the case at the beginning when he was first imprisoned.
The jury apparently accepted this testimony, finding Garcia-Vincente not guilty of
non-compliance with bond for the times he contacted M.B.S. between his June 29,
2023 arrest and bail hearing and his July 17, 2023 arraignment/bail review hearing,
but guilty of non-compliance with bond for the times he contacted M.B.S. after his
July 17, 2023 arraignment/bail review hearing. Viewing the evidence in the light
most favorable to the State, a rational juror could find Garcia-Vincente guilty of non-
compliance with bond for the times he contacted M.B.S. between July 18, 2023 and
November 10, 2023.
(20) Finally, Garcia-Vincente argues that Counsel was ineffective for failing
to investigate the claims he raises on appeal. As previously discussed, these claims
9 11 Del. C. § 2109(c).
9 are without merit.10 Appellate counsel’s filing of a motion to withdraw and non-
merit brief under Rule 26(c) does not, by itself, constitute ineffective assistance of
counsel.11
(21) This Court has reviewed the record carefully and has concluded that
Garcia-Vincente’s appeal is wholly without merit and devoid of any arguably
appealable issue. We also are satisfied that Counsel has made a conscientious effort
to examine the record and the law and has properly determined that Garcia-Vincente
could not raise a meritorious claim in this appeal.
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED that the judgment of the Superior
Court is AFFIRMED. The motion to withdraw is moot. Jurisdiction is not retained.
BY THE COURT:
/s/Karen L. Valihura Justice
10 See supra ¶¶ 15-19. 11 See Del. Supr. Ct. R. 26(c) (authorizing an attorney, who concludes that an appeal is wholly without merit after a conscientious examination of the record and the law, to file a motion to withdraw and non-merit brief); Loper v. State, 234 A.3d 159, 2020 WL 2843516, at *3 (Del. June 1, 2020) (TABLE) (rejecting claim that the defendant’s appellate counsel was ineffective for filing a motion to withdraw and non-merit brief under Rule 26(c)).