People of the Virgin Islands v. Lyndon Tyson

• Court: Superior Court of The Virgin Islands
• Decided: March 17, 2023
• Docket: SX-2022-CR-34
• Status: Published

Opinion

IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS DIVISION OF ST CROIX

PEOPLE OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS SX 2022 CR 034 Plaintiff, vs

CITE AS 2023 VI SUPER 8 LYNDON TYSON Defendant

Appearances William A Appleton, Jr Esq Virgin Islands Department of Justice St Croix, U S Virgin Islands For the People ofthe Vzrgm Islands

Leslie E Davis, Esq Office of the Public Defender St Croix, U S Virgin Islands For Lyndon Tyson

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER

WILLOCKS, Senior Sitting Judge

11 1 THIS MATTER is before the for review sua sponte

BACKGROUND

112 On February 3, 2022 the People of the Virgin Islands (hereinafier ‘ People ) filed an

information against Defendant Lyndon Tyson (hereinafter “Defendant ) and the affidavit of Police

Detective Ellery C Qualley dated February 3 2022 On February 14 2022 the People filed a first

amended information The first amended information charged Defendant with the following

counts

Count I LYNDON TYSON, did perpetrate an act or acts of sexual intercourse against S P who was at that time under the age of thirteen, by slightly penetrating her vagina with his penis, in violation of Title 14 V I C § 1700 (a)(l) (aggravated rape in the first degree); People ofthe V I v Tyson SX 2022 CR 034 Memorandum Opinion and Order 2023 VI SUPER 8 Page 2 of II

Count II LYNDON TYSON did engage in unlawful sexual contact with S P , who was at that time under thirteen years of age, by touching her vagina with his hand and/or penis for the purpose of sexual gratification, in violation of Title 14 V I C § 1708 (a)(2) (unlawful sexual contact in the first degree),

Count III LYNDON TYSON did abuse S P by having sexual contact with her and thereby inflicting upon her great mental and or emotional harm in violation of Title 14 V I C §506(2) (aggravated child abuse)

(First Amended Information )

1] 3 On April 13 2022 Defendant filed a motion for a bill of particulars In response, the People

filed an opposition and Defendant filed a reply thereafier

11 4 On October 24, 2022, the People filed a motion to amend the first amended infomation

The People attached a copy of the proposed second amended information and a copy Police

Detective Ellery C Qualley s affidavit as exhibits to their motion In response, Defendant filed an

opposition and the People filed a reply thereafter

DISCUSSION

1| 5 The amendment proposed by the People in its motion to amend the first amended

information included additional conduct for which Defendant is being charged with in Count I and

Count II, the amendment proposed did not address the specific information requested by Defendant

in his motion for a bill of particulars Thus, the Court will address Defendant s motion for a bill of

particulars and the People 3 motion to amend in turn

I Defendant’s motion for a bill of particulars

1] 6 In his motion, Defendant requested, pursuant to Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure 7(t)

the Court ‘ to order the People to provide a Bill of Particulars to the Defendant ’ as follows

State SPECIFICALLY when including but not limited to time date and place that the Defendant allegedly perpetrated the acts alleged in Count I of the Infon'nation ; People ofthe V I v Tyson SX 2022 CR 034 Memorandum Opinion and Order 2023 VI SUPER 1 i Page 3 of 11

State SPECIFICALLY when, including but not limited to time, date, and place that the Defendant allegedly perpetrated the acts alleged in Count 2 0f the Information Describe with specificity the conduct for which Defendant is being charged , and

“State SPECIFICALLY when including but not limited to, time, date and place that the Defendant allegedly perpetrated the acts alleged in Count 3 of the Information Describe with specificity the conduct for which Defendant is being charged ”

(Motion 1 3 )

Defendant made the following assertions in support of his request (i) ‘ Each of the matters

requested herein is absolutely essential to enable the defense (1) to prepare for trial (2) prevent

surprise at the time of trial, and (3) to interpose a plea of double jeopardy in the event of a

subsequent prosecution for the same offense ” (Id ); (ii) “The particulars requested are also

necessary because the allegations set forth in the indictment are wholly, conclusory vague,

overbroad and further, fail to set for the with specificity, time, place, and manner it is alleged that

the defendant engaged in criminal activity (Id ); (iii) It is submitted that each of the items

requested herein comes well within the scope of Rule 7(0 particularly in view of the fact that

defendant request those facts; therefore, any argument that the requests are evidentiary in nature

is unfounded (Id ) (iv) “Defendant is accused of these charges taking place within a timeframe

that is overbroad, namely, between 2014 and 202] with no specified location in some instances

[and] [w]ithout answers to the requests for specifics in this case it is impossible to determine

whether any defenses are available or whether he has an alibi for these instances ’ (Id , at l 2)

and (v) The 1966 amendment of Rule 7(t) eliminated the requirement of a showing of cause,

thereby encouraging a more liberal attitude by the courts towards bills of particulars ' (Id , at 2 )

' Defendant referenced Untied Slates v Smith 16 F R D 372 (W D M0 1954)’ United States v Bormovsky 820 F 2d 572 (2d Cir 1987) People ofthe V] v Tyson SX 2022 CR 034 Memorandum Opinion and Order 2023 VI SUPER _8(_ Page 4 of 1]

‘1 7 In its Opposition the People argued that the Court should deny Defendant 8 request The

People made the following assertions in support of its argument (i) ‘ Defendant did not sufficiently

demonstrate or indicate how the Information was so lacking that the Court should grant the motion

and direct the People to file a bill of particulars” to wit, “Defendant’s Motion is comprised of

multiple boilerplate assertions in that it states the Information is conclusory, vague, overboard and

fails to set forth with specificity, time place, and manner the Defendant engaged in criminal

activity (Opp 3); (ii) ‘ A motion for a bill of particulars should be granted only when (1) the

charging document fails to adequately inform the defendant of the nature of the charges against

him such that he cannot adequately prepare a defense, or (2) when necessary to avoid or minimize

surprise at trial, or (3) when the information fails to set forth sufficient facts to enable the defendant

plead double jeopardy at a subsequent trial ”° (Id )' (iii) ‘ [T]he Information in this case adequately

informs the Defendant of the nature of the charges against him to wit, “[e]ach charge follows

the relevant wording of the statute and specifically references every element of the crime alleged

[and] specifically describes how the crime was committed “[t]he Information sets forth the

approximate dates and jurisdiction of the incident, the identity of the victim, which is initialed due

to being a minor, and includes a detailed signed affidavit in support of the Information,” and “[t]he

Defendant was also provided with a video statement fr0m the minor victim, S P , to put him on

notice of whom that person is and the specific nature of the allegations (Id , at 4); (iv) ‘ The

Information is sufficient to minimize and avoid surprise at trial ’ to wit, “[t]he People have

provided defense through discovery an abundant amount of information, more than that required

by Brady v Maryland 373 U S 83 (1963) the Jencks Act and Rule 16 of the Federal Rules of

’ The People referenced Untied states v Addomzzo, 451 F 2d 49 63 65 (3rd Cir 1972) Umted States v Cuesta, 597 F 2d 903 920 (5th Cir 1979)‘ United States L Gtese 597 F 2d 1 170 1 I80 (9th Cir 1979) People ofthe V I v Tyson SX 2022 CR 034 Memorandum Opinion and Order 2023 VI SUPER 2 Page 5 of 1 1

Criminal Procedure (Id at 4 5) (v) The Information sets for the sufficient facts so that the

Defendant could claim double jeopardy at any future trial” to wit, ‘ [t]he Information and

supporting affidavit describe what criminal acts are alleged to have occurred, with reference to a

specifically identified victim, and their approximate dates ’ and “[a]ccording to the police reports

provided to the defense, the victim has stated that the acts were ongoing over the course of several

years ’ (Id , at 5), and (vi) “Defendant attempts to disguise a discovery motion under the heading

of a bill of particulars (Id ) (emphasis omitted )

11 8 In his reply, Defendant reiterated his prior assertions and included the following new

assertions (i) “Defendant is from St Thomas and has many family members there” and [he] visits

the island of St Thomas on a frequent basis ’ (Reply 1); (ii) “More specific information about the

dates when these events allegedly occurred will enable Defendant to better defend himself ’ (Id )

(iii) Granting a Bill of Particulars in this case will aid the Defendant in preparing for trial, eliminate

surprise at trial, and protect him against double jeopardy 3 (1d , at 1 2); and (iv) ‘ [C]lose issues

should be resolved in favor of additional disclosure ’4 (Id , at 2 )

1| 9 The Court must note at the outset that Defendant erroneously cited to Rule 7(1) of the

Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, which has not applied to proceedings in the Superior Court

since the promulgation of the Virgin Islands Rules of Criminal Procedure in 2017 5 Defendant is

reminded to cite to the applicable legal authority in future filings The Court must fimher note that

3 Defendant referenced United States i Burt 765 F 2d 1364 1367 (9th Cir 1985) 4 Defendantreferenced UnitedStateSi Manet" 323 F Supp 683 (D Del 1971) 5 The previous version of Superior Court Rule 7 made the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure applicable in the Superior Court Effective December 1, 2017 the Virgin Islands Rules of Criminal Procedure became operative and were subsequently amended on December 19 2017 S Ct Prom Orders 2017 010 (Dec 1 & 19 2017) Further Promulgation Order 2017 0006 amended Superior Court Rules 1 and 7 and repealed rules 12, 27, 29, 31 36 38 29 and 50 Toussamli Stewart 67 VI 931 943 n6 (VI 2017) M Davtsv People 69 VI 619 652 n24 2018 V I Supreme LEXIS 23 *48 n 24 2018 WL 3695089 at *18 n 24 (V I 2018) Gonsalves v People 0fthe VI 70 V1812 827 n4 (VI 2019) People ofthe VI 1 Tyson SX 2022 CR 034 Memorandum Opinion and Order 2023 VI SUPER 3_ Page 6 0f 1]

Defendant cited to United States v Smith, a case from the United States District Court for the

Western District of Missouri, and Lmted States v Bormovsky, a case from the United States Court

of Appeals for the Second Circuit in his motion, and cited to United States v Burt, a case from the

bnited States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and L mted States v Manem, a case from the

United States District Court for the District of Delaware in his reply but Defendant failed to

explain why these cases constitute binding legal precedent on this Court as to the legal issues

involved in this instance Defendant is reminded that if Defendant cites to non binding legal

authority, he should explain why the Court should follow the reasoning “It is not the Court's job

to research and construct legal arguments open to parties In order to develop a legal argument

effectively, the facts at issue must be bolstered by relevant legal authority- a perfunctory and

nude» eloped assertion is inadequate ’ V 1 Tax: Assoczatzon v West Indian Company Lzmlted,

2016VI LEXIS 170 *4 (Super Ct Oct 18 2016) (citing Charlesv CBIAcqutsxtzonS LLC 2016

V I LEXIS 62, *27 n 66) The Court declines to make such argument on the People’s

behalf See Joseph v Joseph 2015 V I LEXIS 43 *5 (V I Super Ct Apr 23 2015) ( [I]n

general the Court will not make a movant's arguments for him when he has failed to do so ’)

Upon review of the first amended complaint, the Court finds that it provided “a plain, concise, and

definite written statement of the essential facts constituting the offense” and that for each count,

the information gave ‘ the official or customary citation of the statute rule, regulation, or other

provision of law that the defendant is alleged to have violated” as required under Rule 3 of the

Virgin Islands Rules of Criminal Procedure V I R CRIM P 3(b) As such the Court will deny

Defendant’s motion for bill of particulars 6

6 Under Rule 3(e) of the Virgin Islands Rules of Criminal Procedure the decision to grant a request for a bill of particulars is within the discretion of the Court See V I R CRJM P 3(e) ( The court may direct the government to file a bill of particulars ') People ofthe V1 1 Tyson SK 2022 CR 034 Memorandum Opinion and Order 2023 V1 SUPER 5% Page 7 of l I

[l Plaintiffs motion to amend the first amended information

1] 10 In its motion the People argued that the Court should permit the following amendment (in

bold) to Count I and Count [I of the first amended complaint

Count I aggravated rape in the first degree LYNDON TYSON, did perpetrate an act or acts of sexual intercourse or sodomy against S P who was at that time under the age of thirteen, by slightly penetrating her vagina with his penis; and/or engaging in acts of cunnilingus and/or fellatio with S P 3 in violation of Title 14 V I C § l700(a)(1);

Count [I unlawful sexual contact in the first degree LYNDON TYSON did engage in unlawful sexual contact with S P who was at that time under thirteen years of age, by touching her vagina, and/or lips, and/or breast“), and/or buttocks with his hand Wm penis, for the purpose of arousing or gratifying the sexual Memoir; desire of any gerson, or by engaging in acts of cunnilingus and/or fellatio with S P , in violation of Tit1e14 V I C § l708(a)(2)

(Motion )

The People made the following assertions in support of its motion (i) “There are no additional or

different offenses being charged and the substantial rights of the defendant are not prejudiced

because the Defendant was put on notice of all the allegations set forth in both Count One and

Count Two through discovery and the detailed probable cause Affidavit supporting the original

lnfonnation ”7 (Motion 2), and (ii) [T]he number of counts and the applicable penalties are not

increased in any way by the amendments to the existing Amended Information ” (Id )

11 11 In his opposition, Defendant argued that the Court should deny the People 5 motion

Defendant made the following assertions in support of his argument (i) [T]he added language

will serve to inflame the jury and puts Defendant at a serious disadvantage on the eve of trial as it

forces him to defend against other accusations that previously were not charged and were not in

his trial strategy (Opp 1); (ii) These allegations [in the language of the proposed amended

The People referenced V I R CRIM P 3(d)' Gonsalxes v People ofthe V1 70 VI 812 848 (VI 2019) People ofthe V] v Tyson SX 2022 CR 034 Memorandum Opinion and Order 2023 VI SUPER 48/— Page 8 of 11

amendment] expand the circumstances under which Lyndon Tyson can be found guilty without

stating on what dates this conduct alleged occurred (Id , at 2); (iii) These allegations [in the

language of the proposed amendment] also parrot the statute without stating what the exact conduct

Lydon Tyson performed nor provide dates so that he may mount a defense to this conduct and

should be considered additional offenses that would violate [Rule 3(d)] ’ (Id ); (iv) ‘ Defendant

had filed a Motion for Bill of Particulars on April 13, 2022 asking for more dates and eludicating

[sic] information and such amended could have been filed then but was not (Id ); (v) “[A]llowing

such an amendment encourages ‘trial by ambush and flouts the rules of criminal procedure 8 (Id ,

at 3 )

1] 12 In its reply the People reiterated its prior assertions and included the following new

assertions (i) ‘ During witness and trial preparation, the People realized the facts and testimony

anticipated at trial will detail illegal conduct within the existing charges not included in the “to

wit" charging language of the original or amended information ’ (Reply 2); (ii) ‘ The original

charging document filed by the People on February 3, 2022, included by reference the signed

Affidavit dated same setting forth in detail every act of sexual misconduct alleged by the victim

and set forth in the proposed Second Amended Information and therefore, Defendant ‘has

formally been on notice since February 3, 2022, that he is accused of committing all the acts set

forth in the Second Amended Information, which are varying modes of committing the crime 9

(Id , at 3) (iii) ‘ [T]he People tendered original discovery to defense on February 28, 2022 which

included, among other items the Information and Affidavit, arrest reports, VIPD Offense Report,

VIPD Supplemental Report and the video and audio statements of the victim [and] [t]he victim’s

3 Defendant referenced State v Robinson 2013 Ohio Misc LEXIS 31379 (Ohio 20l3) 9 The People referenced Ramirez v People 56 V I 409 426 (V I 2012) People ofthe V] v Tyson SX 2022 CR 034 g Memorandum Opinion and Order 2023 VI SUPER Page 9 of 11 video and audio statements specifically allege every single act of sexual misconduct as set forth in

the Second Amended Information and therefore any claim of trial by ambush or secreting of

evidence is disingenuous and not consistent with the facts before the Court ” (Id ), (iv) “[I]t is

necessary to present the entire picture to the jury and that needs to be done before the Information

is read to the jury at the onset of the trial ’ (Id )

a Standard of Review

1| 13 Rule 3(d) of the Virgin Islands Rules of Criminal Procedure (hereinafter “Rule 3(d) )

provides that [u]n1ess an additional or different offense is charged or a substantial right of the

defendant is prej udiced, the court may permit an information to be amended at any time before the

verdict or finding V l R CRlM P 3(d)

b Analysis

11 14 ‘ A charge in an information generally provides sufficient notice to a defendant if the

offense is alleged ‘in the very terms of the statute Gonsalves, 70 V I at 844 (quoting United

States v Goodmg 25 U S (12 Wheat ) 460 474 6 L Ed 693 (1827)) In Gonsalves the Virgin

Islands Supreme Court explained that [i]n determining whether a defendant had been put

on notice of the charges, sources in the information extrinsic to the specific count can be used to

determine whether the defendant was sufficiently apprised of the offense charged ” Id (internal

quotation marks omitted) “Generally, an information provides sufficient notice if it sets forth the

offense in the words of the statute itself, as long as those words of themselves fully, directly and

expressly, without any uncertainty or ambiguity, set forth all the element necessary to constitute

the offense intended to be punished and must be accompanied with such a statement of the facts

and circumstances as will inform the accused of the specific offence, coming under the general

description, with which he is charge 1d , at n 21 (internal quotation marks omitted) People ofthe VI 1 Tyson

xiiiiniin233pinion and Order 2023 V] SUPER E Page 10 of I!

1] 15 In this instance, the Court finds that Defendant had been put on sufficient notice of the

language of the proposed amendment to Count I and Count II of the first amended complaint

Police Detective Ellery C Qualley s affidavit, filed contemporaneously with the information that

initiated this prosecution, explicitly described Defendant’s alleged sexual conducts which

included (i) S P stated that she remembers licking and sucking [Defendant’s] penis when she

was five years old (1" 3B), (ii) “S P stated that she sucked Mr Tyson’s penis” in December of

2021 (1| 3C D), (iii) “S P stated that Mr Tyson on prior occasions, has squeezed and sucked her

breasts ’ (11 3G); and (iv) “S P stated that Mr Tyson has rubbed his fingers on the top and bottom

of her vagina S P also stated that he has put his mouth on her vagina ’ (Id) These explicit

languages in Police Detective Ellery C Qualley’s affidavit provided notice to Defendant that the

People were going to rely on these alleged sexual conducts to prove its case against Defendant

See Gonsalves 70 V I at 848 (finding the original information and the probable cause affidavit

attached thereto together provided the defendant with adequate notice of the charges) The Court

must remind Defendant that he, himself, had requested in his motion for a bill of particulars that

the People [d]escribe with specificity the conduct for which Defendant is being charged, and

that is what the People have done with the proposed amendment '0 Furthermore, the Court finds

that no additional or different offenses were charged, and the substantial rights of Defendant were

not prejudiced However, the Court finds that the language of the proposed amendment to Count

11 of the first amended complaint does not track the language of the relevant statute Title 14

V I C § 1708(a)(2) " As such, the Court will not approve the pr0posed second amended

1° See supra ‘ I Defendant’s motion for a bill of particulars 1' Title 14 v I c § l708(a)(2) defines unlawful sexual contact in the first degree as follows [a] person who engages in sexual contact with a person when the other person is under thirteen years of age People ofthe V I v Tyson SX 2022 CR 034 Memorandum Opinion and Order 2023 VI SUPER Page 11 of 11

information attached as an exhibit to their motion, but grant the People’s motion and order the

People to file a revised proposed second amended information

CONCLUSION

Based on the foregoing, it is hereby

ORDERED that Defendant s motion for a bill of particulars, filed on April 13, 2022, is

DENIED It is fimher

ORDERED that the People 5 motion to amend the first amended information, filed on

October 24 2022 is GRANTED It is further

ORDERED that the People’s proposed second amended information attached as an exhibit

to the People’s motion to amend the first amended information filed on October 24, 2022, is NOT

APPROVED And it is further

ORDERED that within ten (10) days from the date of entry of this Order the People

shall file (i) a redline copy of the revised proposed second amended complaint reflecting the changes made

to the first amended complaint and (ii) a clean copy of the revised proposed second amended complaint 3&\ DONE and so ORDERED this 5 3 day of March 2023

ATTEST MUM Tamara Charles HAROLD W L WILLO KS Clerk of the Court Senior Sitting Judge of the Superior Court ‘ )2- I By_ 7 go (4,; “'4;

”Court C] k 1:4/ Dated =99 /