Kenneth Jerome Brunner v. State of Minnesota

• Court: Court of Appeals of Minnesota
• Decided: January 17, 2017
• Docket: A16-582
• Status: Unpublished

Opinion

This opinion will be unpublished and may not be cited except as provided by Minn. Stat. § 480A.08, subd. 3 (2016).

STATE OF MINNESOTA IN COURT OF APPEALS A16-0582

Kenneth Jerome Brunner, petitioner, Appellant,

vs.

State of Minnesota, Respondent.

Filed January 17, 2017 Affirmed Bratvold, Judge

Dakota County District Court File No. 19HA-CR-11-3386

Cathryn Middlebrook, Chief Appellate Public Defender, Sara J. Euteneuer, Assistant State Public Defender, St. Paul, Minnesota (for appellant)

Lori Swanson, Attorney General, St. Paul, Minnesota; and

James C. Backstrom, Dakota County Attorney, Elizabeth M. Swank, Assistant County Attorney, Hastings, Minnesota (for respondent)

Considered and decided by Worke, Presiding Judge; Cleary, Chief Judge; and

Bratvold, Judge.

UNPUBLISHED OPINION

BRATVOLD, Judge

Appellant challenges the district court’s denial of his postconviction petition as

untimely. Because the district court did not abuse its discretion in denying appellant’s petition as untimely and the interests-of-justice exception does not apply to save appellant’s

petition, we affirm.

FACTS

On February 17, 2012, after a three-day jury trial, the jury found appellant Kenneth

Brunner guilty of three counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct. The relevant

evidence established that K.T. and Brunner started dating soon after they met in March

2011, dated for four to six weeks, and then ended their relationship. K.T. and Brunner

remained friends after the breakup, and about one to three times per month they would

watch television together in K.T.’s apartment. Sometimes Brunner would sleep over, either

on the floor or on the couch, while K.T. slept in her bedroom.

On September 20, 2011, Brunner went to K.T.’s apartment. They watched television

and K.T. went to bed around 11:30 p.m. K.T. was awakened by Brunner getting into her

bed. Brunner restrained K.T. with his arms and legs. After K.T. repeatedly asked Brunner

to leave, he returned to the living room. Brunner later reentered K.T.’s bedroom, grabbed

her by the shoulders, put a leather belt around her neck, pulled up her nightshirt, moved

her underwear aside, and penetrated her. K.T. testified that Brunner “pulled the belt so tight

[she] couldn’t breathe.” K.T. also testified that, after Brunner ejaculated, he remained in

K.T.’s bed as if “nothing had gone wrong” and as if they “had just made love.” K.T.

testified repeatedly that Brunner “raped, “brutally raped,” and “date raped” her.

Around 2:00 a.m., K.T. called the police to report that she had been raped. Police

responded, but Brunner had fled. The officer testified that when he arrived at K.T.’s

2 apartment, she appeared “visibly upset, shaken, [and] kind of distraught.” K.T. told the

officer that Brunner “raped” and “penetrated” her.

After speaking with the officer, K.T. was taken to the hospital for an examination

by a sexual assault nurse, who testified that she observed “multiple lacerations” in K.T.’s

vaginal area that were likely the result of “blunt force trauma.” The nurse also testified that

K.T. told her Brunner sexually assaulted and penetrated her.

The state also presented testimony from several forensic scientists who analyzed

DNA taken from K.T.’s vaginal area after the assault. They were unable to conclude that

Brunner’s DNA matched the DNA on the vaginal swabs. According to one expert, there

was a Y-chromosome match between one of the swabs and Brunner’s DNA, but the expert

could not scientifically exclude other males who have the same Y-chromosomal profile as

Brunner.

After the jury found Brunner guilty, the district court sentenced him to 200 months

in prison on April 25, 2012. After pronouncing Brunner’s sentence, the district court did

not tell Brunner he had a right to appeal with the assistance of a public defender, as required

by Minn. R. Crim. P. 27.03, subd. 5. The appellate process, however, was expressly

discussed during the sentencing hearing. Brunner personally addressed the district court

and argued that his convictions should be vacated because the state had relied on improper

evidence. In response, the district court twice told Brunner that he could pursue his

argument in an appeal or a postconviction petition. Brunner’s attorney also stated that she

would discuss with Brunner the possibility of filing an appeal or postconviction petition

after the sentencing hearing.

3 Brunner did not directly appeal his conviction or sentence. He filed his first petition

for postconviction relief on August 26, 2015, after the expiration of the two-year period for

filing a postconviction petition. In Brunner’s petition, he sought reversal of his convictions

because the state’s evidence was insufficient to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he

sexually penetrated K.T. Brunner did not request an evidentiary hearing.

Brunner argued that his petition should be considered in the interests of justice

because the sentencing court did not expressly tell him he had a right to appeal, as required

by rule 27.03, subdivision 5. In a sworn affidavit filed with his petition, Brunner asserted

that he first learned about his right to appeal on January 27, 2015, when he contacted the

public defender’s office seeking to challenge his conviction. Brunner argued that, because

he filed his petition within two years of January 27, 2015, his petition was timely under the

interests-of-justice exception.

The postconviction court denied Brunner’s postconviction petition, concluding that

the sentencing court’s failure to follow rule 27.03, subdivision 5, did not toll the time period

for filing a postconviction petition. The postconviction court did not reach the merits of

Brunner’s insufficient-evidence claim. This appeal follows.

DECISION

A district court’s denial of a petition for postconviction relief is reviewed for an

abuse of discretion. Riley v. State, 819 N.W.2d 162, 167 (Minn. 2012). “A postconviction

court abuses its discretion when its decision is based on an erroneous view of the law or is

against logic and the facts in the record.” Id. (quotation omitted). A decision will not be

reversed “unless the postconviction court exercised its discretion in an arbitrary or

4 capricious manner, based its ruling on an erroneous view of the law, or made clearly

erroneous factual findings.” Matakis v. State, 862 N.W.2d 33, 36 (Minn. 2015) (quotation

omitted).

I. Brunner’s postconviction petition is untimely.

Petitions for postconviction relief must be filed within two years of the later of

“(1) the entry of judgment of conviction or sentence if no direct appeal is filed; or (2) an

appellate court’s disposition of petitioner’s direct appeal.” Minn. Stat. § 590.01, subd. 4(a)

(2014). A petition filed after the two-year deadline may be considered if certain exceptions

apply. Id., subd. 4(b) (2014). Brunner filed his postconviction petition on August 26, 2015.

Because he did not file a direct appeal, he was required to file his petition within two years

of the April 25, 2012 sentencing. Id., subd. 4(a). Thus, we agree with the postconviction

court that, unless an exception applies, Brunner’s petition is untimely because it was filed

more than two years after sentencing.

Even if an exception applies to Brunner’s petition, there is still a deadline. A petition

that invokes an exception “must be filed within two years of the date the claim arises.” Id.,

subd. 4(c) (2014). Brunner argues that the postconviction court should have considered his

petition under the interests-of-justice exception. A claim under the interests-of-justice

exception “arises on the date of an event that establishes a right to relief in the interests of

justice.” Bee Yang v. State, 805 N.W.2d 921, 925 (Minn. App. 2011), review denied (Minn.

Aug. 7, 2012). The date on which the claim “arises” is determined objectively based on

when the petitioner “knew or should have known” that the claim existed, not when the

petitioner subjectively knew about the claim. Sanchez v. State, 816 N.W.2d 550, 558–60

5 (Minn. 2012). “A postconviction court’s determination of when a petitioner knew or should

have known about his or her claim is reviewed under a clearly erroneous standard.” Bolstad

v. State, 878 N.W.2d 493, 497 (Minn. 2016).

Brunner argues that the sentencing court’s failure to follow rule 27.03 and tell him

about his right to appeal is the reason he missed the two-year deadline for filing a

postconviction petition. Thus, Brunner contends that his petition is timely under the

interests-of-justice exception because his claim “arose” on January 27, 2015, the day he

contacted the public defender’s office, and he filed his petition within two years of

January 27, 2015. The state responds that Brunner’s petition is untimely because he knew

or should have known of his right to appeal no later than his sentencing hearing.

Initially, we note that the parties agree the sentencing count did not follow the

applicable rules at Brunner’s sentencing. Minnesota Rule of Criminal Procedure 27.03,

subdivision 5, provides: “After sentencing, the court must tell the defendant of the right to

appeal both the conviction and sentence, and, if eligible, of the right to appeal at state

expense by contacting the state public defender.” Here, the sentencing court did not

expressly tell Brunner after sentencing that he had a right to appeal with the assistance of

a public defender.

The postconviction court determined that noncompliance with rule 27.03 did not

toll the two-year deadline for filing a postconviction petition and relied on an unpublished

decision of this court. In Erickson v. State, this court stated that, “even if the district court

failed to inform appellant of her right to appeal, such an error should not be viewed as

extending the time for appeal.” No. A04-2248, 2005 WL 2354788, at *2 (Minn. App.

6 Sept. 27, 2005). 1 Erickson cited a comment to rule 27, which stated: “Failure to notify the

defendant of the right to appeal does not extend the time for appeal.” Minn. R. Crim. P. 27,

2005 cmt.; Erickson, 2005 WL 2354788, at *2. Erickson was decided in 2005, but the

comment was removed in 2010. We conclude that Erickson is not persuasive.

In any event, the postconviction court’s decision has other support. As described

above, the interests-of-justice claim arises, triggering the two-year time period, when the

defendant objectively knew or should have known of the claim. Sanchez, 816 N.W.2d at

558–60. 2 Therefore, Brunner’s focus on when he subjectively learned of his right to appeal

is misplaced. The dispositive issue is when Brunner should have known of his right to

appeal. The postconviction court did not make express findings on this issue. But there is

undisputed record evidence that Brunner should have known no later than the April 25,

2012 sentencing hearing that he could challenge his conviction on appeal. At the sentencing

hearing, Brunner argued that he was wrongfully convicted, and the sentencing court twice

told Brunner that he could pursue an appeal or postconviction petition. Brunner’s trial

1 Unpublished decisions are not precedent. Minn. Stat. § 480A.08, subd. 3 (2016); Vlahos v. R&I Constr. of Bloomington, Inc., 676 N.W.2d 672, 676 (Minn. 2004) (“[U]npublished opinions of the court of appeals are not precedential . . . [and] should not be cited by the district courts as binding precedent.”). Unpublished decisions may be cited only for their “persuasive value.” Dynamic Air, Inc. v. Bloch, 502 N.W.2d 796, 800–01 (Minn. App. 1993). 2 When the Minnesota Supreme Court adopted this objective standard in 2012, it borrowed from other caselaw applying an objective standard for assessing when the statute of limitations is tolled. See Sanchez, 816 N.W.2d at 558–60 (citing Wild v. Rarig, 302 Minn. 419, 449–50, 234 N.W.2d 775, 794–95 (1975)). The supreme court recently declined to change the objective standard to a subjective one. Bolstad, 878 N.W.2d at 497 (“We have repeatedly declined to apply a subjective standard to the interests-of-justice exception [and] we decline Bolstad’s invitation to adopt a subjective standard to measure the accrual of a claim under the interests-of-justice exception.”).

7 attorney also said that she would speak with Brunner about a possible appeal or

postconviction petition. While these statements about Brunner filing an appeal did not

comply with rule 27.03’s requirements, the statements nonetheless establish when Brunner

objectively should have known about his right to appeal.

Moreover, Brunner should have known he had a challenge to the sufficiency of the

evidence because this was his defense at trial. Brunner’s counsel argued in closing that

there was insufficient evidence proving Brunner sexually penetrated K.T. See, e.g.,

Bolstad, 878 N.W.2d at 497 (holding that the postconviction court did not clearly err in

finding that the defendant knew or should have known of his jury-instruction claim at trial

because the defendant’s counsel objected to the instruction at trial).

Brunner’s interests-of-justice claim, therefore, arose no later than his sentencing

hearing because that is when he should have known of his right to appeal and his challenge

to the sufficiency of the evidence. Accordingly, we conclude the postconviction court did

not abuse its discretion in denying Brunner’s petition as untimely.

II. The interests-of-justice exception does not save Brunner’s petition because he fails to satisfy the exception’s requirements.

Alternatively, if we assume that Brunner’s interests-of-justice claim arose on

January 27, 2015, the day he spoke to the public defender’s office, then we must consider

whether Brunner’s petition meets the interests-of-justice exception’s two requirements.

First, the claim must not be frivolous. Second, hearing the claim must be in the interests of

justice. Minn. Stat. § 590.01, subd. 4(b)(5). If a petitioner cannot meet both requirements,

the petition is time-barred. Wallace v. State, 820 N.W.2d 843, 849 (Minn. 2012).

8 Brunner’s petition fails on the second requirement and, therefore, we do not

consider whether his claim is frivolous. Courts hear untimely petitions in the interests of

justice in “exceptional and extraordinary situations.” Carlton v. State, 816 N.W.2d 590,

607 (Minn. 2012) (quotation omitted). To determine whether hearing a claim is in the

interests of justice, courts consider a list of five nonexhaustive factors:

(1) whether the claim has substantive merit; (2) whether the defendant deliberately and inexcusably failed to raise the issue on direct appeal; (3) whether the party alleging error is at fault for that error and the degree of fault assigned to the party defending the alleged error; (4) whether some fundamental unfairness to the defendant needs to be addressed; and (5) whether application of the interests-of-justice analysis is necessary to protect the fairness, integrity, or public reputation of judicial proceedings.

Id. These factors do not form a “rigid” test, and “courts are not required to examine each

[] factor in every case asserting the interests-of-justice exception.” Id. at 608.

We conclude that Brunner’s claim lacks substantive merit and that the integrity and

fairness of the judicial process do not require that we consider his claim in the interests of

justice. Brunner challenges the sufficiency of the state’s evidence of sexual penetration.

First-degree criminal sexual conduct requires the state to prove that the defendant

“engage[d] in sexual penetration with” the victim. Minn. Stat. § 609.342, subd. 1 (2010).

“Sexual penetration” is defined as sexual intercourse or “any intrusion however slight into

the genital or anal openings of the complainant’s body.” Minn. Stat. § 609.341, subd. 12

(2010). In first-degree criminal sexual conduct cases, “the testimony of a victim need not

be corroborated.” Minn. Stat. § 609.347, subd. 1 (2010). Minnesota courts have

consistently applied this statute. See State v. Berrios, 788 N.W.2d 135, 141 (Minn. App.

9 2010) (the victim’s “testimony alone is sufficient evidence to prove” sexual penetration),

review denied (Minn. Nov. 16, 2010); see also State v. Fields, 730 N.W.2d 777, 785 (Minn.

2007) (holding that the district court accurately instructed the jury that the victim’s

testimony need not be corroborated). Moreover, “a conviction may be based on a single

person’s testimony.” State v. Cao, 788 N.W.2d 710, 717 (Minn. 2010).

Brunner argues that K.T. provided “no specific testimony or evidence [] regarding

where he sexually penetrated her or the means with which he did so.” Brunner’s argument

is contrary to caselaw. In State v. Steinbrink, the Minnesota Supreme Court held that “proof

of penetration need not be in any particular form of words, and there are many cases saying

that testimony by a complainant that the accused had ‘sexual intercourse’ or ‘intercourse’

with her or ‘raped’ her is sufficient, if believed, to establish penetration.” 297 N.W.2d 291,

292 (Minn. 1980) (citation omitted). Contrary to Brunner’s argument, K.T.’s testimony

alone was sufficient evidence to affirm Brunner’s convictions. K.T. testified that Brunner

“raped,” “brutally raped,” and “date raped” her. She specifically recounted that Brunner

put a belt tightly around her neck, pulled up her nightshirt, moved her underwear aside,

and “penetrated [her].”

Additionally, the state presented direct and circumstantial evidence corroborating

K.T.’s testimony, even though it did not need to do so. First, the testimony by the sexual

assault nurse and forensic scientist corroborated K.T.’s testimony of penetration. Although

the DNA match did not exclude other males who have the same Y-chromosomal profile as

Brunner, when viewed in the light most favorable to the verdict, this evidence supports the

jury verdict. Second, K.T.’s prior consistent statements support the jury’s verdict. State v.

10 Wright, 679 N.W.2d 186, 190 (Minn. App. 2004), review denied (Minn. June 29, 2004).

Third, K.T.’s demeanor and emotional condition soon after the assault corroborates her

testimony. State v. Reinke, 343 N.W.2d 660, 662 (Minn. 1984). Fourth, “[a] prompt

complaint by a victim is corroborative evidence of a rape.” State v. Johnson, 679 N.W.2d

378, 387 (Minn. App. 2004), review denied (Minn. Aug. 17, 2004). Lastly, K.T. testified

that Brunner ejaculated after the assault. Although not conclusive evidence that he

penetrated K.T., Brunner’s ejaculation is circumstantial evidence, which, when viewed in

the light most favorable to the verdict, supports the jury’s verdict. See State v. Morales,

324 N.W.2d 374, 376 (Minn. 1982) (holding that the victim’s testimony, medical

testimony, and the fact that the defendant ejaculated supported the jury’s conclusion that

“penetration in fact occurred”).

K.T.’s testimony together with other direct and circumstantial evidence of sexual

penetration are more than sufficient to support the jury’s verdict. We therefore conclude

that Brunner’s claim lacks substantive merit. Additionally, because the evidence of

Brunner’s guilt was overwhelming, the fairness and integrity of the judicial system does

not require us to apply the interests-of-justice exception. See Gassler v. State, 787 N.W.2d

575, 587 (Minn. 2010) (holding that the integrity of the judicial process did not require

review in the interests of justice because “there was substantial admissible evidence of

[defendant’s] guilt admitted at trial”).

11 For the reasons discussed, the district court did not abuse its discretion in denying

Brunner’s postconviction petition as untimely. We additionally conclude that Brunner’s

postconviction petition does not meet the requirements of the interests-of-justice exception.

Affirmed.