Perry v. People

Superior Court of Guam·Decided July 18, 2024·No. SP0074-21·Unknown

Opinion

1 2024 JUL 18 PM 3: 00 2 CLERK OF COURT 3

4 IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF GUA1"': ------ I\........_____ 5 DOYLE LAMONT PERRY, 6 Petitioner, Special Proceedings Case No. SP0074-21 7 vs. 8 DECISION AND ORDER DENYING PETITION FOR WRIT PEOPLE OF GUAM, 9 OF HABEAS CORPUS

10 Respondent.

11 INTRODUCTION 12 This matter came before the Honorable John C. Terlaje on April 23, 2024 for a motion 13 hearing on Petitioner Doyle Lamont Perry's ("Petitioner's") Amended Petition for Writ of 14 Habeas Corpus and Memorandum in Support of Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus (Nov. 21, 15 2024). Assistant Alternate Public Defender Tyler R. Scott ("Scott") appeared for Doyle 16

17 Lamont Perry ("Petitioner"). Deputy Attorney General Nathan Tennyson ("Tennyson")

18 appeared for the People of Guam ("Respondent"). Based on the relevant law and authorities,

19 the Court now issues the following decision and order DENYING Petitioner's Amended

20 Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus. 21 BACKGROUND 22 A Writ ofHabeus Corpus is used to bring a prisoner or other detainee before the court to 23 determine if the person's imprisonment or detention is lawful. 1 In this case, Petitioner was first 24 detained for a trial court proceeding in Criminal Case No. CF00230-06. Petitioner then appealed 25

26 1 See, e.g. Knowles v. Mirzayance 556 U.S. 111 (2009); Felker v. Turpin 518 U.S. 1051 (1996); and McCleskey v. Zant 499 U.S. 467 (1991 ). 27 Decision and Order Special Proceedings Case No. SP0074-21, Doyle Lamont Perry v. People of Guam Page 1 of9 1 his conviction in Guam Supreme Court Case CRA07-006. After losing his appeal, Petitioner 2 filed his first Habeas Writ before the Superior Court in Special Proceeding No. SP0022-19. After 3 that Writ was denied for Petitioner's failure to demonstrate ineffective assistance of counsel, 4 Petitioner filed a second Habeas Writ before this Court in Special Proceeding No. SP0074-21. 5

6 I. Trial Court Proceedings in Criminal Case No. CF00230-06.

7 On May 26, 2006, Petitioner was pulled over by a police officer from the Guam Police

8 Department ("GPD") because his headlights were not illuminated. Am. Pet. for Writ of Habeas

9 Corpus & Mem. in Supp. Of Pet. for Writ of Habeas Corpus, filed under seal, at 2 (Nov. 21, 10 2023). Although Petitioner exhibited signs of intoxication, he passed a field sobriety test. Id. 11 The officer recommended that the Petitioner park his car, and followed Petitioner to a nearby 12 Mobil gas station. Id. After their encounter, the same police officer later reported to the scene 13 of a rape and assault, where the victim identified her attacker as a large black man. Id. The 14 police officer believed this description matched Petitioner's appearance and an investigation 15 commenced. Id. The police officer returned to the Mobil gas station and located a used 16

17 condom. Id. Naval Criminal Investigative Service ("NCIS") agents searched the USS Frank

18 Cable, the ship where Petitioner was stationed, and found a pair of boxer shorts in a trash bin.

19 Id. The condom and boxer shorts were submitted for DNA testing. Id. at 3.

20 On June 7, 2006, Petitioner was indicted on six charges: (1) three counts of First 21 Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct ("CSC"); (2) three counts of Second Degree CSC; (3) three 22 counts of Third Degree CSC; (4) Assault with Intent to Commit CSC; (5) Aggravated Assault, 23 and (6) Terrorizing. Indict. (June 7, 2006). 24 On June 29, 2006, the Court held a hearing on a People's Motion to Compel DNA 25 Testing. Min. Entry at 4:36:00 PM (June. 29, 2006). Attorney Stephen Hattori, Petitioner's 26

27 Decision and Order Special Proceedings Case No. SP0074-21, Doyle Lamont Perry v. People of Guam Page 2 of9 1 counsel ('Trial Counsel"), indicated that they did not object to a request from Prosecution for 2 blood and hair samples from Petitioner, as long as they were taken in a manner prescribed by 3 the Constitution. Id. at 4:36:38 PM. Trial Counsel reserved the right to move for the 4 appointment of an expert to conduct their own DNA testing. Id. at 4:37: 14 PM. Petitioner also 5

6 asserted his right to a speedy trial. Id. Trial Counsel reserved the right to move for the

7 appointment of an expert to conduct their own DNA testing. Id. at 4:39:04 PM. The trial court

8 noted that processing of the DNA sample could delay the trial. Id.

9 On July 19, 2006, the Court held a hearing on a Motion to Compel Discovery. Min. 10 Entry at 3:42:58 PM (Sept. 20, 2006). The Prosecution noted that the DNA results had not been 11 returned and that the People were willing to go to trial without that evidence. Id. at 3:43:32 12 PM. Prosecution indicated that Petitioner could opt to wait for the DNA evidence if he 13 considered it as exculpatory. Id. at 3:44:28 PM. Trial Counsel insisted that the DNA evidence 14 be provided within a speedy trial time frame, and if the Government had it available, that it be 15 provided. Id. at 3 :50:08 PM. The trial court reminded Trial Counsel that Guam did not have a 16

17 forensic lab and that the samples needed to be flown out. Id. at 3:50:38 PM. Although Trial

18 Counsel acknowledged this was the case, he also reiterated Petitioner's right to a speedy trial.

19 Id. at 3:51: 11 PM. Trial Counsel also indicated that the DNA evidence may be beneficial to 20 him, however, the DNA evidence results were taking longer than they would like, and the 21 Petitioner wished to proceed to trial. Id. at 3: 5 5: 15 PM. The trial court stated that if the DNA 22 evidence came in during trial, either side would have the opportunity to bring it in, subject to a 23 Daubert2 hearing. Id. 24

25 2 A Daubert hearing allows the parties to examine an expert witness in court to evaluate whether the expert's 26 testimony is admissible. 27 Decision and Order Special Proceedings Case No. SP0074-21, Doyle Lamont Perry v. People of Guam Page 3 of9 1 On August 1, 2006, the Court held a Motion Hearing where the trial court indicated that 2 the DNA results had been returned. Min. Entry at 3:15:04 PM (Aug. 1, 2006). The DNA 3 sample taken from the condom matched the DNA profile of the victim. Id at 4:46:45 PM. The 4 DNA samples taken from the boxers matched the DNA profiles of the victim, Petitioner, and 5

6 an unknown contributor. Id. Trial Counsel moved to exclude the DNA evidence, claiming

7 surprise. Id. at 4:28: 14 PM. Trial Counsel did not seek a continuance to secure a DNA expert.

8 Id. Prosecution stated it would be moving for admission of the DNA evidence. Id. at 4:28:48

9 PM. The trial court determined that the introduction of the DNA evidence was not a surprise as 10 Trial Counsel was aware that there would potentially be DNA evidence as Petitioner agreed to 11 give samples for testing. Id. at 4:33:13 PM. Trial Counsel requested to speak to the expert 12 witness prior to his testimony, which the Prosecution agreed to. Id. Although a meeting 13 between Trial Counsel and the expert does not appear in the formal record, the People of Guam 14 state that based on the available record, it is reasonable to speculate that such meeting did 15 occur. Answer to Am. Pet. for Writ of Habeas Corpus at 3 (Feb. 29, 2024). Jury selection 16

17 commenced two days after the DNA results returned and trial started the day after. Amended

18 Pet. for Writ of Habeas Corpus and Mem. in Support of Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus at

19 4 (Nov. 21, 2023).

20 On August 9, 2006, a Daubert hearing for the DNA expert, Dr.

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Related

McCleskey v. Zant
499 U.S. 467 (Supreme Court, 1991)
Knowles v. Mirzayance
556 U.S. 111 (Supreme Court, 2009)
Felker v. Turpin
518 U.S. 1051 (Supreme Court, 1996)