STATE OF LOUISIANA NO. 20-KA-95
VERSUS FIFTH CIRCUIT
JUAN ALEXANDER COURT OF APPEAL
STATE OF LOUISIANA
ON APPEAL FROM THE FORTIETH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT PARISH OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST, STATE OF LOUISIANA NO. 15,508, DIVISION "C" HONORABLE J. STERLING SNOWDY, JUDGE PRESIDING
November 03, 2021
ROBERT A. CHAISSON JUDGE
Panel composed of Judges Marc E. Johnson, Robert A. Chaisson, and John J. Molaison, Jr.
CONVICTIONS AND SENTENCES VACATED; MATTER REMANDED RAC MEJ JJM COUNSEL FOR PLAINTIFF/APPELLEE, STATE OF LOUISIANA Honorable Bridget A. Dinvaut Henri P. Dufresne
COUNSEL FOR DEFENDANT/APPELLANT, JUAN ALEXANDER C. Gary Wainwright CHAISSON, J.
Defendant, Juan Alexander, appeals his convictions for attempted
manslaughter, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and illegal use of
weapons. For the reasons that follow, we vacate defendant’s convictions and
sentences and remand the matter to the trial court for further proceedings.
PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
Defendant was charged, by grand jury indictment, with second degree
murder, in violation of La. R.S. 14:30.1 (count one), attempted second degree
murder, in violation of La. R.S. 14:27 and La. R.S. 14:30.1 (count two), possession
of a firearm by a convicted felon, in violation of La. R.S. 14:95.1 (count three), and
illegal use of weapons, in violation of La. R.S. 14:94(A) (count four). On June 14,
2018, following a jury trial, defendant was found not guilty on count one, guilty of
attempted manslaughter on count two, and guilty as charged on counts three and
four. Defendant was ultimately sentenced as a multiple offender to thirty-five
years on count two (attempted manslaughter), twenty years on count three
(possession of a firearm by a convicted felon), and three years on count four
(illegal use of weapons), to run concurrently. Defendant thereafter filed a motion
for appeal, which was granted.
On May 18, 2020, pursuant to a motion to supplement filed by defendant,
this Court issued an order to the Clerk of Court for the 40th Judicial District Court
to supplement the appellate record with the “[j]ury polling slips, to the extent they
are able to be obtained; or, if they are not obtainable, a per curiam from the Court
explaining why.” On May 22, 2020, the district court issued a per curiam, which
stated that no polling slips existed because the parties waived a polling of the jury.
Subsequent thereto, defendant filed a motion to remand, requesting that the matter
be remanded to the trial court with an order that the twelve jurors who served on
the jury in this matter be summoned to court to be sworn and to answer questions
20-KA-95 1 regarding their votes on the verdicts in this case. On January 29, 2021, this Court
remanded the matter to the trial court with an order “to conduct further
proceedings, as deemed appropriate by the trial court, in order to ascertain whether
the verdict on each count for which defendant was convicted was unanimous.”
This Court also ordered the trial court to provide a per curiam to this Court, with
instructions to state the outcome with as much specificity as can be ascertained.
Pursuant to this Court’s order, the trial court conducted a hearing on March
23, 2021, during which the twelve jurors were individually questioned about their
verdicts. On March 30, 2021, the trial court issued a per curiam, setting forth the
jury verdict on each of the four counts and concluding that “the four verdicts
rendered in this matter were not unanimous.”
Defendant thereafter filed a supplemental brief in this Court.1 Therein,
defendant argues that his convictions are based on unconstitutional, non-
unanimous verdicts and should be overturned and that the State should be barred
from trying him again “upon the matters upon which acquittals were recorded.”
LAW AND ANALYSIS
Defendant was charged with second degree murder (count one), attempted
second degree murder (count two), possession of a firearm by a convicted felon
(count three), and illegal use of weapons (count four). Since the punishments for
the offenses in counts one through three were necessarily confinement at hard
labor, a jury of twelve persons was required. See La. Const. Art. I, § 17; La.
C.Cr.P. art. 782. Also, a jury of twelve persons was required for count four since it
was charged in the same indictment as the other counts because it was part of a
1 In his original brief, defendant raised four assignments of error, one of which involved a challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence. We have reviewed the record for sufficiency of the evidence and find that the State offered evidence at trial that a jury could find sufficient to support the convictions in counts two, three, and four, pursuant to the standard set forth in Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 99 S.Ct. 2781, 61 L.Ed.2d 560 (1979). Thus, defendant is not entitled to an acquittal for the crimes of which he was convicted under Hudson v. Louisiana, 450 U.S. 40, 101 S.Ct. 970, 67 L.Ed.2d 30 (1981). See State v. Hearold, 603 So.2d 731 (La. 1992) and State v. Harrell, 19-371 (La. App. 5 Cir. 7/8/20), 299 So.3d 1274, 1280 n.12.
20-KA-95 2 “common scheme or plan.” See La. C.Cr.P. arts. 493, 493.2, 782. Non-unanimous
verdicts were previously allowed under these provisions and based on the
circumstances of the instant case. The constitutionality of non-unanimous jury
verdicts was upheld in both State v. Bertrand, 08-2215, 08-2311 (La. 3/17/09),
6 So.3d 738, and Apodaca v. Oregon, 406 U.S. 404, 92 S.Ct. 1628, 32 L.Ed.2d 184
(1972).
However, in Ramos v. Louisiana, 590 U.S. - - , 140 S.Ct. 1390, 206 L.Ed.2d
583 (2020), the United States Supreme Court found that the Sixth Amendment
right to a jury trial, as incorporated against the states by the Fourteenth
Amendment, requires a unanimous verdict to convict a defendant of a serious
offense.2 The Court concluded, “There can be no question either that the Sixth
Amendment’s unanimity requirement applies to state and federal criminal trials
equally … So if the Sixth Amendment’s right to a jury trial requires a unanimous
verdict to support a conviction in federal court, it requires no less in state court.”
Ramos, 140 S.Ct. at 1397. According to Ramos, Louisiana will have to retry
defendants who have been convicted of serious offenses by non-unanimous juries
and whose cases are still pending on direct review. See State v. Kelly, 19-425 (La.
App. 5 Cir. 7/31/20), 299 So.3d 1284; State v. Rivas, 19-378 (La. App. 5 Cir.
5/21/20), 296 So.3d 1198; State v. Spottsville, 20-99 (La. App. 5 Cir. 12/23/20),
308 So.3d 1240.
In the present case, according to the trial court’s per curiam, defendant was
convicted of attempted manslaughter (count two), 3 possession of a firearm by a
2 For purposes of the Sixth Amendment, federal law defines serious offenses as offenses subject to imprisonment over six months. State v. Harrell, 299 So.3d at 1283. 3 In count two of the indictment, defendant was charged with attempted second degree murder but was convicted of the lesser included offense of attempted manslaughter by a non-unanimous verdict.
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STATE OF LOUISIANA NO. 20-KA-95
VERSUS FIFTH CIRCUIT
JUAN ALEXANDER COURT OF APPEAL
STATE OF LOUISIANA
ON APPEAL FROM THE FORTIETH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT PARISH OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST, STATE OF LOUISIANA NO. 15,508, DIVISION "C" HONORABLE J. STERLING SNOWDY, JUDGE PRESIDING
November 03, 2021
ROBERT A. CHAISSON JUDGE
Panel composed of Judges Marc E. Johnson, Robert A. Chaisson, and John J. Molaison, Jr.
CONVICTIONS AND SENTENCES VACATED; MATTER REMANDED RAC MEJ JJM COUNSEL FOR PLAINTIFF/APPELLEE, STATE OF LOUISIANA Honorable Bridget A. Dinvaut Henri P. Dufresne
COUNSEL FOR DEFENDANT/APPELLANT, JUAN ALEXANDER C. Gary Wainwright CHAISSON, J.
Defendant, Juan Alexander, appeals his convictions for attempted
manslaughter, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and illegal use of
weapons. For the reasons that follow, we vacate defendant’s convictions and
sentences and remand the matter to the trial court for further proceedings.
PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
Defendant was charged, by grand jury indictment, with second degree
murder, in violation of La. R.S. 14:30.1 (count one), attempted second degree
murder, in violation of La. R.S. 14:27 and La. R.S. 14:30.1 (count two), possession
of a firearm by a convicted felon, in violation of La. R.S. 14:95.1 (count three), and
illegal use of weapons, in violation of La. R.S. 14:94(A) (count four). On June 14,
2018, following a jury trial, defendant was found not guilty on count one, guilty of
attempted manslaughter on count two, and guilty as charged on counts three and
four. Defendant was ultimately sentenced as a multiple offender to thirty-five
years on count two (attempted manslaughter), twenty years on count three
(possession of a firearm by a convicted felon), and three years on count four
(illegal use of weapons), to run concurrently. Defendant thereafter filed a motion
for appeal, which was granted.
On May 18, 2020, pursuant to a motion to supplement filed by defendant,
this Court issued an order to the Clerk of Court for the 40th Judicial District Court
to supplement the appellate record with the “[j]ury polling slips, to the extent they
are able to be obtained; or, if they are not obtainable, a per curiam from the Court
explaining why.” On May 22, 2020, the district court issued a per curiam, which
stated that no polling slips existed because the parties waived a polling of the jury.
Subsequent thereto, defendant filed a motion to remand, requesting that the matter
be remanded to the trial court with an order that the twelve jurors who served on
the jury in this matter be summoned to court to be sworn and to answer questions
20-KA-95 1 regarding their votes on the verdicts in this case. On January 29, 2021, this Court
remanded the matter to the trial court with an order “to conduct further
proceedings, as deemed appropriate by the trial court, in order to ascertain whether
the verdict on each count for which defendant was convicted was unanimous.”
This Court also ordered the trial court to provide a per curiam to this Court, with
instructions to state the outcome with as much specificity as can be ascertained.
Pursuant to this Court’s order, the trial court conducted a hearing on March
23, 2021, during which the twelve jurors were individually questioned about their
verdicts. On March 30, 2021, the trial court issued a per curiam, setting forth the
jury verdict on each of the four counts and concluding that “the four verdicts
rendered in this matter were not unanimous.”
Defendant thereafter filed a supplemental brief in this Court.1 Therein,
defendant argues that his convictions are based on unconstitutional, non-
unanimous verdicts and should be overturned and that the State should be barred
from trying him again “upon the matters upon which acquittals were recorded.”
LAW AND ANALYSIS
Defendant was charged with second degree murder (count one), attempted
second degree murder (count two), possession of a firearm by a convicted felon
(count three), and illegal use of weapons (count four). Since the punishments for
the offenses in counts one through three were necessarily confinement at hard
labor, a jury of twelve persons was required. See La. Const. Art. I, § 17; La.
C.Cr.P. art. 782. Also, a jury of twelve persons was required for count four since it
was charged in the same indictment as the other counts because it was part of a
1 In his original brief, defendant raised four assignments of error, one of which involved a challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence. We have reviewed the record for sufficiency of the evidence and find that the State offered evidence at trial that a jury could find sufficient to support the convictions in counts two, three, and four, pursuant to the standard set forth in Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 99 S.Ct. 2781, 61 L.Ed.2d 560 (1979). Thus, defendant is not entitled to an acquittal for the crimes of which he was convicted under Hudson v. Louisiana, 450 U.S. 40, 101 S.Ct. 970, 67 L.Ed.2d 30 (1981). See State v. Hearold, 603 So.2d 731 (La. 1992) and State v. Harrell, 19-371 (La. App. 5 Cir. 7/8/20), 299 So.3d 1274, 1280 n.12.
20-KA-95 2 “common scheme or plan.” See La. C.Cr.P. arts. 493, 493.2, 782. Non-unanimous
verdicts were previously allowed under these provisions and based on the
circumstances of the instant case. The constitutionality of non-unanimous jury
verdicts was upheld in both State v. Bertrand, 08-2215, 08-2311 (La. 3/17/09),
6 So.3d 738, and Apodaca v. Oregon, 406 U.S. 404, 92 S.Ct. 1628, 32 L.Ed.2d 184
(1972).
However, in Ramos v. Louisiana, 590 U.S. - - , 140 S.Ct. 1390, 206 L.Ed.2d
583 (2020), the United States Supreme Court found that the Sixth Amendment
right to a jury trial, as incorporated against the states by the Fourteenth
Amendment, requires a unanimous verdict to convict a defendant of a serious
offense.2 The Court concluded, “There can be no question either that the Sixth
Amendment’s unanimity requirement applies to state and federal criminal trials
equally … So if the Sixth Amendment’s right to a jury trial requires a unanimous
verdict to support a conviction in federal court, it requires no less in state court.”
Ramos, 140 S.Ct. at 1397. According to Ramos, Louisiana will have to retry
defendants who have been convicted of serious offenses by non-unanimous juries
and whose cases are still pending on direct review. See State v. Kelly, 19-425 (La.
App. 5 Cir. 7/31/20), 299 So.3d 1284; State v. Rivas, 19-378 (La. App. 5 Cir.
5/21/20), 296 So.3d 1198; State v. Spottsville, 20-99 (La. App. 5 Cir. 12/23/20),
308 So.3d 1240.
In the present case, according to the trial court’s per curiam, defendant was
convicted of attempted manslaughter (count two), 3 possession of a firearm by a
2 For purposes of the Sixth Amendment, federal law defines serious offenses as offenses subject to imprisonment over six months. State v. Harrell, 299 So.3d at 1283. 3 In count two of the indictment, defendant was charged with attempted second degree murder but was convicted of the lesser included offense of attempted manslaughter by a non-unanimous verdict. In his supplemental appellate brief, defendant asserts that the jury implicitly acquitted him of attempted second degree murder when it returned the verdict of attempted manslaughter. Thus, defendant asserts that the State should be barred from trying him again for attempted second degree murder. At this point, we find this issue to be premature as, to our knowledge, the State has not indicated whether it will seek to re-try defendant on the attempted second degree murder charge.
20-KA-95 3 convicted felon (count three), and illegal use of weapons (count four) by a non-
unanimous jury verdict. Because the verdicts for these serious offenses were not
unanimous and the case is still on direct review, we find that defendant is entitled
to a new trial on counts two, three, and four pursuant to the holding in Ramos,
supra. 4
CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, we vacate defendant’s convictions and sentences
for attempted manslaughter, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and
illegal use of weapons, and we remand the matter to the trial court for further
proceedings consistent with this opinion.
CONVICTIONS AND SENTENCES VACATED; MATTER REMANDED
4 We recognize that defendant was found not guilty of second degree murder (count one) by a non- unanimous jury. This opinion in no way implicates that verdict. First, when the trial court asked the jurors what their verdict was on count one, it went beyond this Court’s January 29, 2021 directive to ascertain whether the verdict on each count for which defendant was convicted was unanimous. Further, La. C.Cr.P. art. 912(C) provides that “[t]he judgments or rulings from which the defendant may appeal include, but are not limited to: (1) A judgment which imposes sentence.” Defendant did not appeal count one because he was not convicted or sentenced on that count. Accordingly, count one is not before this Court on appeal.
20-KA-95 4 SUSAN M. CHEHARDY CURTIS B. PURSELL
CHIEF JUDGE CLERK OF COURT
NANCY F. VEGA FREDERICKA H. WICKER CHIEF DEPUTY CLERK JUDE G. GRAVOIS MARC E. JOHNSON ROBERT A. CHAISSON SUSAN S. BUCHHOLZ STEPHEN J. WINDHORST FIRST DEPUTY CLERK HANS J. LILJEBERG JOHN J. MOLAISON, JR. FIFTH CIRCUIT MELISSA C. LEDET JUDGES 101 DERBIGNY STREET (70053) DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL STAFF POST OFFICE BOX 489 GRETNA, LOUISIANA 70054 (504) 376-1400
(504) 376-1498 FAX www.fifthcircuit.org
NOTICE OF JUDGMENT AND CERTIFICATE OF DELIVERY I CERTIFY THAT A COPY OF THE OPINION IN THE BELOW-NUMBERED MATTER HAS BEEN DELIVERED IN ACCORDANCE WITH UNIFORM RULES - COURT OF APPEAL, RULE 2-16.4 AND 2-16.5 THIS DAY NOVEMBER 3, 2021 TO THE TRIAL JUDGE, CLERK OF COURT, COUNSEL OF RECORD AND ALL PARTIES NOT REPRESENTED BY COUNSEL, AS LISTED BELOW:
20-KA-95 E-NOTIFIED 40TH DISTRICT COURT (CLERK) HONORABLE J. STERLING SNOWDY (DISTRICT JUDGE) HENRI P. DUFRESNE (APPELLEE) HONORABLE BRIDGET A. DINVAUT C. GARY WAINWRIGHT (APPELLANT) GRANT L. WILLIS (APPELLEE) (APPELLEE)
MAILED HONORABLE JEFFREY M. LANDRY (APPELLEE) ATTORNEY GENERAL LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE 1885 NORTH 3RD STREET 6TH FLOOR, LIVINGSTON BUILDING BATON ROUGE, LA 70802