This opinion will be unpublished and may not be cited except as provided by Minn. Stat. § 480A.08, subd. 3 (2014).
STATE OF MINNESOTA IN COURT OF APPEALS A14-1363
State of Minnesota, Respondent,
vs.
Arthur Charles Huffman, Appellant.
Filed April 20, 2015 Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded Smith, Judge
Wabasha County District Court File No. 79-CR-14-131
Lori Swanson, Attorney General, St. Paul, Minnesota; and
James C. Nordstrom, Wabasha County Attorney, Wabasha, Minnesota (for respondent)
Cathryn Middlebrook, Chief Appellate Public Defender, Sara J. Euteneuer, Assistant Public Defender, St. Paul, Minnesota (for appellant)
Considered and decided by Smith, Presiding Judge; Rodenberg, Judge; and
Chutich, Judge.
UNPUBLISHED OPINION
SMITH, Judge
We affirm appellant’s convictions of first-degree criminal sexual conduct,
domestic assault by strangulation, and terroristic threats because the district court did not
err by admitting evidence regarding appellant’s incarcerations, the prosecutor did not commit prejudicial misconduct during her closing argument, and appellant’s pro se
arguments regarding errors at his trial lack merit. But we reverse and remand for the
district court to correct the erroneous warrant of commitment and resentence appellant
based on the correct criminal history scores and the Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines.
FACTS
Appellant Arthur Charles Huffman met M.J. over Memorial Day weekend in
2013, and the couple soon developed a sexual relationship. In fall 2013, Huffman began
serving a jail sentence in New Hampshire. He and M.J. called each other and sent letters
back and forth until his release in February 2014.
On February 10, 2014, Huffman and M.J. went grocery shopping and stopped at a
bar. According to M.J., she drank three beers, but Huffman drank “quite a bit.” They
were at the bar from 1:00 to 7:00 p.m., and Huffman became upset with M.J. as he drank.
As she was driving them home, M.J. became concerned that Huffman was going to hit
her.
M.J. testified that, as she was putting away the groceries, Huffman grabbed her by
the hair and told her to get in the bedroom. Huffman undressed, and M.J. took off her
pants and underwear. M.J. explained that she “thought it would be easier to have sex and
he would pass out, and it would be over with.” During vaginal intercourse, Huffman
started slapping her “continually,” which lasted a few minutes. He then pulled M.J.’s
head back by her hair, spit in her face, hit her, and bit her face. M.J. told Huffman to stop
several times. Huffman then forced M.J. to perform oral sex on him and said that if she
hurt him, he would “make it worse for [her].” After about one minute, Huffman punched
2 M.J. in the back of the head and ribs and started strangling her. M.J. tried to yell that she
could not breathe and thought she was going to die. She punched Huffman until they fell
off the bed and he hit the nightstand. M.J. ran to the kitchen, but Huffman followed her,
grabbed her hair, and pushed her back into the bedroom.
According to M.J., Huffman then told her to get on her knees. Huffman began
having vaginal intercourse with M.J., but thought it was anal intercourse. After
discovering this, he told M.J. he was “going to hurt [her] so bad.” He pulled her head
back and put his fingers in her rectum. Huffman then shoved his fingers in M.J.’s mouth
and “started performing anal sex on [her].” M.J. kicked her feet until Huffman lost his
balance and fell off the bed. M.J. grabbed a coat and ran outside into the snow. She
flagged down a passing car and used her neighbor’s cell phone to call police.
Huffman was charged with eight counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct,
one count of domestic assault by strangulation, and three counts of making terroristic
threats. Following testimony in the jury trial, the state dismissed four first-degree
criminal-sexual-conduct charges and two terroristic-threats charges. The jury then found
Huffman guilty of three counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, domestic assault
by strangulation, and making terroristic threats, and not guilty of the remaining charge of
first-degree criminal sexual conduct. The jury also found that Huffman used force and
coercion in the commission of the three criminal-sexual-conduct offenses.
At sentencing, the district court imposed 360 months in prison on one charge of
first-degree criminal sexual conduct and concurrent sentences of 33 months each on the
domestic-assault and terroristic-threats charges.
3 DECISION
I.
Huffman first argues that the district court erred by allowing the admission of
evidence that he was incarcerated both before and after the charged offenses.
“Evidentiary rulings rest within the sound discretion of the [district] court and will not be
reversed absent a clear abuse of discretion.” State v. Amos, 658 N.W.2d 201, 203 (Minn.
2003). The erroneous admission of evidence does not require reversal unless the error
“substantially influence[d] the jury’s decision.” State v. Nunn, 561 N.W.2d 902, 907
(Minn. 1997).
While references to a defendant’s prior incarceration “can be unfairly prejudicial,”
there is no “general rule that it is prejudicial for the jury to learn that a defendant is in jail
for the crime for which he or she is on trial.” State v. Manthey, 711 N.W.2d 498, 506
(Minn. 2006). The evidence at trial included phone calls and text messages from
Huffman to M.J. following his arrest, during which Huffman appeared to blame M.J. and
to suggest that he was innocent “because they record these calls.” The references to
Huffman’s location during the calls and texts only confirmed jurors’ understanding of the
“standard law enforcement practice” of incarcerating a defendant after filing charges
against him. See id. at 506-07 (“Generally, jurors’ knowledge that a defendant is in
custody pending the outcome of a . . . trial is likely to have been seen for just what it is—
standard law enforcement practice.” (quotation omitted)); see also State v. Anderson,
391 N.W.2d 527, 532 (Minn. App. 1986) (stating that a jury could know that a defendant
“would remain in custody for at least a few days after arrest for three aggravated
4 robberies” and declining to find reversible error for two inadvertent references to the
defendant’s post-offense incarceration). As the district court concluded, Huffman’s post-
offense incarceration was “pretty obvious from the context.” Because the references to
Huffman’s post-offense incarceration were obvious to the jury and relevant to its
understanding of Huffman’s phone calls and text messages, the district court did not
abuse its discretion in admitting the challenged evidence.
During M.J.’s direct examination, the prosecutor did not mention Huffman’s prior
incarceration, but referred only to a separation between fall 2013 and February 2014.
The prosecutor questioned M.J. about the content of three letters she wrote to Huffman
during this separation. On cross-examination, Huffman’s attorney attempted to introduce
another letter from M.J. to Huffman “for purposes of impeachment.” This letter
contained an explicit story with references to biting and ripping off clothing during sex.
The district court allowed Huffman’s attorney to introduce the letter but explained that
“you’re opening the door to allowing her to explain the circumstances and the meaning of
it.” On redirect, M.J. stated that she sent the letter to Huffman while he was in jail. The
district court overruled Huffman’s objection to this statement because M.J. was entitled
to explain that she wrote the letter at Huffman’s request and because the fact that
Huffman was in jail was “relevant and material” to M.J.’s explanation.
M.J.’s statement that she sent the letter to Huffman while he was in jail was
generally inadmissible. See Manthey, 711 N.W.2d at 506 (explaining that references to a
defendant’s prior incarceration “can be unfairly prejudicial”). But by introducing M.J.’s
explicit letter, Huffman opened the door to M.J.’s explanation. “Opening the door occurs
5 when one party by introducing certain material creates in the opponent a right to respond
with material that would otherwise have been inadmissible.” State v. Valtierra,
718 N.W.2d 425, 436 (Minn. 2006) (quotations omitted). Huffman introduced the letter
to bolster his argument that M.J. consented to the sexual activities. M.J.’s explanations
for the letter were relevant and provided context for the couple’s sexual relationship. See
Minn. R. Evid. 401 (“‘Relevant evidence’ means evidence having any tendency to make
the existence of any fact that is of consequence to the determination of the action more
probable or less probable than it would be without the evidence.”). Because Huffman
opened the door and gave M.J. the right to explain the letter’s context, the district court
did not abuse its discretion in allowing reference to Huffman’s prior incarceration.
The references to Huffman’s incarcerations did not influence the jury’s decision.
When “a reference to a defendant’s prior record is of a passing nature, or the evidence of
guilt is overwhelming, a new trial is not warranted because it is extremely unlikely that
the evidence in question played a significant role in persuading the jury to convict.” State
v. Clark, 486 N.W.2d 166, 170 (Minn. App. 1992) (quotations omitted). M.J. provided
extensive testimony about her relationship with Huffman and the events of February 10,
2014. Because the other evidence of Huffman’s guilt was strong, we cannot conclude
that the references to Huffman’s incarcerations persuaded the jury to convict. See id. at
170-71 (declining to order a new trial for two brief references to the defendant’s prior
record when the other evidence of guilt was strong).
6 II.
Huffman next challenges three statements in the prosecutor’s closing argument.
Statement One:
In her closing argument, the prosecutor stated:
Is it consent freely given when at the end of this rough, adventurous sex, the victim feels the need to run from the house naked in February holding a coat, a spring coat no less? I would suggest to you, ladies and gentlemen, that that is not consent freely given, and you would have to be on a different planet to think it was.
Huffman’s attorney objected to this statement, and the district court overruled the
objection, explaining that the statement involved permissible “hyperbole.”
When analyzing objected-to prosecutorial misconduct, we apply a harmless error
test that “varies based on the severity of the misconduct.” State v. Wren, 738 N.W.2d
378, 389 (Minn. 2007). We “will reverse only if the misconduct, when considered in
light of the whole trial, impaired the defendant’s right to a fair trial.” State v. Powers,
654 N.W.2d 667, 678 (Minn. 2003). “If the misconduct was serious, the misconduct is
harmless beyond a reasonable doubt if the verdict rendered was surely unattributable to
the error. For less serious misconduct, the standard is whether the misconduct likely
played a substantial part in influencing the jury to convict.” Id. (quotations and citations
omitted).
Huffman is correct that the prosecutor’s statement “was directed at the heart of the
defense—whether M.J. consented.” We conclude that the prosecutor improperly
disparaged the defense with her statement that the jury “would have to be on a different
planet” to agree with the defense that M.J. consented. See State v. Griese, 565 N.W.2d
7 419, 427 (Minn. 1997) (stating that “it is improper to disparage the defense in closing
arguments”). But we also conclude that the prosecutor’s misconduct was not serious and
did not influence the jury’s decision. See Powers, 654 N.W.2d at 678. M.J.’s testimony
provided ample evidence of Huffman’s guilt, and a review of the prosecutor’s entire
closing argument does not reveal additional misconduct. See id. (explaining that we
consider the closing argument as a whole and review prosecutorial misconduct “in light
of the whole trial”). Huffman is not entitled to a new trial based on the prosecutor’s one
disparaging statement.
Statement Two:
In rebuttal, the prosecutor challenged the defense’s “act of desperation” in
pointing out in closing that the doctor who examined M.J. and testified at trial was
acquainted with the prosecutor’s husband. She called this “[s]omething else to be thrown
at the wall to distract you.” The defense attorney did not immediately object, but
requested surrebuttal on the basis that the prosecutor “belittl[ed] the defense.” The
district court denied surrebuttal.
Contrary to Huffman’s contention on appeal, the prosecutor was not commenting
on “the evidence presented by Huffman.” Huffman’s attorney attacked the doctor’s
findings in his closing, in part based on the doctor’s acquaintance with the prosecutor and
her husband. Rather than belittling the defense, the prosecutor was responding to the
defense’s insinuations. This statement did not amount to prosecutorial misconduct and
did not influence the jury’s decision. See id.
Statement Three:
8 Huffman also challenges the following section of the prosecutor’s rebuttal:
There seems to be a portion of [defense counsel’s] closing argument where he almost seems to suggest that he wants you to abandon common sense and seems to tell you that common sense is not a substitute for proof beyond a reasonable doubt. No, common sense is just part of the instruction. It’s just part of all that language. So you don’t abandon your common sense. You use your common sense. That’s part of the instruction for proof beyond a reasonable doubt.
Huffman’s attorney did not object.
When analyzing unobjected-to prosecutorial misconduct, “we apply a modified
plain error test.” Wren, 738 N.W.2d at 389. We reverse “only if there is (1) error,
(2) that is plain, and (3) the error affects the defendant’s substantial rights.” State v. Hill,
801 N.W.2d 646, 654 (Minn. 2011). If the defendant “demonstrates that the prosecutor’s
conduct constitutes an error that is plain,” the burden shifts to the state to show that the
error did not affect the defendant’s substantial rights. State v. Ramey, 721 N.W.2d 294,
302 (Minn. 2006).
Huffman has not met his burden to demonstrate an error, much less a plain error.
See State v. Starkey, 516 N.W.2d 918, 927 (Minn. 1994) (finding no error when a
prosecutor stated that the defense would “divert your attention from the real facts, the real
logic and the real common sense of this case”). This challenged statement did not
improperly disparage the defense, but simply urged the jury to use common sense. See
id. (stating that a prosecutor properly urged jurors to use common sense in anticipation of
a defense argument). In addition, the statement mirrored the district court’s instruction to
weigh witness testimonies based on the jury’s “own experience, good judgment and
common sense.”
9 III.
Huffman next raises several issues regarding his convictions and sentencing. We
review sentencing challenges based on legal issues de novo. State v. DeRosier,
719 N.W.2d 900, 903 (Minn. 2006). “[A]n appellant does not waive claims of multiple
convictions or sentences by failing to raise the issue at the time of sentencing.” Spann v.
State, 740 N.W.2d 570, 573 (Minn. 2007).
First, Huffman argues that the district court erred under Minn. Stat. § 609.04
(2012) by entering convictions on all three first-degree criminal-sexual-conduct charges.
Section 609.04 “prevent[s] the state from convicting a defendant twice of the same
offense or of a greater and a lesser-included offense on the basis of the same act or course
of conduct.” State v. Dudrey, 330 N.W.2d 719, 721 (Minn. 1983). In Dudrey, the
supreme court held that a defendant charged with multiple counts of criminal sexual
conduct based on different types of penetration during the same behavioral incident may
be convicted of only one count. Id. But the different types of penetration can “be
considered in making the determination whether to depart from the presumptive
sentence.” Id. at 722. At sentencing, the district court correctly determined that, under
Dudrey, it could only sentence Huffman on one count of first-degree criminal sexual
conduct. See id. at 721.
But the warrant of commitment states that Huffman was convicted of three counts
of criminal sexual conduct. A written judgment of conviction provides “conclusive
evidence of whether an offense has been formally adjudicated.” Spann, 740 N.W.2d at
573 (quotation omitted). Because the warrant of commitment shows that Huffman was
10 convicted of three counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and because two
convictions were improper under Dudrey, we reverse and remand for the district court to
vacate two of Huffman’s first-degree criminal-sexual-conduct convictions.
Second, Huffman argues that the district court erred under Minn. Stat. § 609.035
(2012) by entering convictions on both the domestic-assault and terroristic-threats
charges. In general, “if a person’s conduct constitutes more than one offense under the
laws of this state, the person may be punished for only one of the offenses.” Minn. Stat.
§ 609.035, subd. 1. But section 609.035 contains an exception where a conviction of
criminal sexual conduct committed “with force or violence is not a bar to conviction of or
punishment for any other crime committed by the defendant as part of the same conduct.”
Id., subd. 6. Here, the jury concluded that Huffman committed criminal sexual conduct
with force and coercion, so the exception applies and allows additional convictions.
Huffman argues that the exception under subdivision 6 permits his conviction for
only one additional crime. We disagree. Subdivision 6 allows an additional conviction
for “any other crime committed by the defendant.” Id. (emphasis added). It does not
allow conviction for “another crime.” In addition, the statute explains the effect of
consecutive sentences when an offender “is punished for more than one crime.” Id.
(emphasis added). This language does not suggest that a district court can convict an
offender of only one crime in addition to criminal sexual conduct. See State v. Williams,
771 N.W.2d 514, 520 (Minn. 2009) (“[I]f a defendant commits one of these offenses [in
the statutory exceptions], he or she may be convicted and sentenced for other offenses
that arise out of the same behavioral incident.” (emphasis added)). Because the plain
11 language of section 609.035, subdivision 6 allows conviction for other crimes committed
during the same conduct as criminal sexual conduct, the district court did not err by
convicting Huffman of both domestic abuse by strangulation and terroristic threats.
Third, Huffman challenges the criminal history scores used to calculate his
domestic-abuse and terroristic-threats sentences. He does not challenge his criminal
history score for the remaining criminal-sexual-conduct conviction. “[W]e will not
reverse the district court’s determination of a defendant’s criminal history score absent an
abuse of discretion.” State v. Stillday, 646 N.W.2d 557, 561 (Minn. App. 2002), review
denied (Minn. Aug. 20, 2002). But Huffman is correct that reversal and remand is
required because the district court improperly increased Huffman’s criminal history
scores by adding points for the two criminal-sexual-conduct convictions that must be
vacated. “In order for a felony conviction to be included in a defendant’s criminal-
history score, the sentence for that conviction must have been stayed or imposed before
the current sentencing.” Williams, 771 N.W.2d at 521 (quotation omitted). The district
court erred by increasing Huffman’s criminal history score based on two charges for
which the district court stated that it was not imposing conviction.
“[W]hen a defendant is sentenced for multiple offenses on the same day, a
conviction for which the defendant is first sentenced is added to his or her criminal-
history score for another offense for which he or she is also sentenced.” Id. Huffman
had one criminal history point before being sentenced for first-degree criminal sexual
conduct. The first-degree criminal-sexual-conduct conviction added three criminal
history points. See Minn. Sent. Guidelines 2.B.1.b, 4.B (2012) (showing that an A-level
12 offense on the sex-offender grid is three points and that first-degree criminal sexual
conduct falls in level A). When he was sentenced for domestic assault by strangulation,
Huffman should have had four criminal history points, rather than seven. The domestic-
assault conviction then added one criminal history point to Huffman’s total. See Minn.
Sent. Guidelines 2.B.1.a (2012) (showing that a severity-level four offense adds one
point). Huffman therefore should have had five points for the terroristic-threats sentence,
rather than eight.
Given the errors in Huffman’s criminal history scores, we reverse and remand
Huffman’s sentences for domestic assault and terroristic threats for the district court to
resentence Huffman based on the correct criminal history scores.
Finally, Huffman argues in his pro se supplemental brief that his aggravated
sentence for the remaining first-degree criminal-sexual-conduct conviction violated
Blakely v. Washington, 542 U.S. 296, 124 S. Ct. 2531 (2004). Under Blakely, “any fact
that is necessary to support a sentence exceeding the maximum authorized by the facts
established by a plea of guilty or a jury verdict must be admitted to by the defendant or
proved to a jury beyond a reasonable doubt.” State v. Osborne, 715 N.W.2d 436, 440
(Minn. 2006).
Before sentencing, the state moved the district court to order consecutive
sentences for the three counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, and requested a
sentence of 374 months in prison. But the maximum sentence for first-degree criminal
sexual conduct is 30 years (or 360 months). Minn. Stat. § 609.342, subd. 2(a) (2012). At
the sentencing hearing, the prosecutor explained that, under the presentence investigation,
13 the maximum sentence was 360 months, and that she had requested 374 months because
she “forgot that the points would accumulate through separate worksheets.” Based on
this statement, the prosecutor seems not to have understood that she was requesting an
aggravated sentence. See Minn. Sent. Guidelines 4.B (showing that the presumed
sentence for first-degree criminal sexual conduct with one criminal history point is 156
months with a range from 144 to 187 months). As a result, the prosecutor failed to
provide written notice of an intent to seek an aggravated sentence. See Minn. R. Crim. P.
7.03 (requiring written notice at least seven days before the omnibus hearing). We agree
with Huffman that this lack of notice infringed his right to request or waive a jury trial on
sentencing factors. See Osborne, 715 N.W.2d at 443 (explaining in a case pending when
Blakely was decided that the defendant was not advised of his right to have a jury trial on
sentencing factors and so did not waive that right).
The district court determined that it could impose an upward departure because the
jury found that Huffman committed multiple forms of sexual penetration against M.J.
“[T]he fact that the defendant has penetrated a victim in two or more different ways as
part of the same behavioral incident can . . . be considered in making the determination
whether to depart from the presumptive sentence.” Dudrey, 330 N.W.2d at 721-22. But
“[a] district court must order the presumptive sentence provided by the sentencing
guidelines unless there are ‘substantial and compelling circumstances’ to warrant an
upward departure.” State v. Grampre, 766 N.W.2d 347, 350 (Minn. App. 2009) (quoting
Minn. Sent. Guidelines II.D), review denied (Minn. Aug. 26, 2009). The district court
made no finding that there were substantial and compelling circumstances showing that
14 Huffman’s conduct was significantly more serious than the conduct typically involved in
first-degree criminal sexual conduct. In addition, the district court did not find that there
were “severe aggravating circumstances,” but imposed a “greater-than-double departure
from the presumptive sentence.” See State v. Shattuck, 704 N.W.2d 131, 140 (Minn.
2005) (“Only in cases of severe aggravating circumstances may the district court impose
a greater-than-double departure from the presumptive sentence; in such cases the only
absolute limit on duration is the maximum provided in the statute defining the offense.”
(quotation omitted)).
Because Huffman received no notice of the state’s intent to seek an aggravated
sentence and because the district court imposed the maximum statutory sentence, greater
than double the presumptive sentence, without finding “severe aggravating
circumstances,” see id., we reverse Huffman’s aggravated sentence for first-degree
criminal sexual conduct and remand for resentencing.
IV.
Huffman raises several additional arguments in his pro se supplemental brief.
Ineffective Assistance of Counsel:
Huffman argues that his trial attorneys were ineffective. But Huffman is incorrect
that his attorneys failed to argue that he was too intoxicated to commit the charged
offenses. Huffman’s attorneys disclosed their intent to introduce an intoxication defense
and discussed Huffman’s intoxication extensively during closing argument. Because
Huffman’s attorneys introduced an intoxication defense, as Huffman wanted, there is no
evidence that their performance fell below an objective standard of reasonableness. See
15 State v. Rhodes, 657 N.W.2d 823, 842 (Minn. 2003) (“To prevail on such a claim, an
appellant must demonstrate that counsel’s performance fell below an objective standard
of reasonableness . . . .” (quotation omitted)).
In making his other ineffective-assistance arguments, Huffman cites facts we
cannot review because they are not in the record. See State v. Alvarez, 820 N.W.2d 601,
626 (Minn. App. 2012) (“[A]n ineffective-assistance-of-counsel claim should typically be
raised by a postconviction petition for relief.”), aff’d sub. nom. State v. Castillo-Alvarez,
836 N.W.2d 527 (Minn. 2013). Because there is no record evidence regarding
Huffman’s communications with his attorneys, we decline to consider Huffman’s other
arguments. We also decline to consider Huffman’s arguments because they challenge
trial strategy. See Andersen v. State, 830 N.W.2d 1, 13 (Minn. 2013) (explaining that
appellate courts do not review claims of ineffective assistance of counsel that are based
on trial strategy).
DNA Evidence:
Huffman challenges the district court’s exclusion of DNA evidence. The state
moved to exclude the DNA evidence, and the district court granted the motion because
Huffman was raising a consent defense and the evidence’s prejudice would outweigh its
probative value. Under Minnesota’s rape-shield law, only evidence of the victim’s
previous common scheme or plan of similar sexual conduct and evidence of previous
sexual conduct with the accused are admissible when consent of the victim is a defense.
Minn. Stat. § 609.347, subd. 3 (2012). The excluded DNA evidence in this case falls
under neither of those exceptions. As a result, the district court did not abuse its
16 discretion in excluding the DNA evidence. See Amos, 658 N.W.2d at 203 (“Evidentiary
rulings rest within the sound discretion of the [district] court and will not be reversed
absent a clear abuse of discretion.”).
Prosecutorial Misconduct:
In addition to the prosecutorial-misconduct issues raised by his appellate attorney,
Huffman argues that the prosecutor improperly aligned herself with the jury during jury
selection. During voir dire, the prosecutor asked one potential juror whether he thought
he could be prosecuted for burglarizing a house that was left unlocked. The potential
juror responded, “[h]e just better hope that he’s not there when I get home,” and the
prosecutor replied that the man and her husband “would get along really well.” The man
was then selected for the jury. Because Huffman does not cite legal authority or explain
how this exchange prejudiced him, we decline to consider this issue. See State v.
Bartylla, 755 N.W.2d 8, 22 (Minn. 2008) (“We will not consider pro se claims on appeal
that are unsupported by either arguments or citations to legal authority.”).
Huffman also argues that the prosecutor improperly referred to evidence of blood
on the bed sheets. But we can find no reference to blood in the prosecutor’s opening
statement and no evidence that the issue came up “throughout the course of the trial,” as
Huffman suggests. There is also no record evidence that Huffman requested analysis of a
blood sample. Given the record and the fact that Huffman did not object to the
prosecutor’s statements at trial, Huffman has not met his burden to demonstrate a plain
error. See Ramey, 721 N.W.2d at 302.
17 Trial Issues and Sequestration:
Finally, Huffman challenges the timing and venue of his trial. To the extent that
Huffman challenges the actions of his trial attorneys, we decline to consider this issue as
a matter of trial strategy. See Andersen, 830 N.W.2d at 13. We also note that there is no
record evidence of defense counsel asking Huffman whether he had additional questions
for M.J., as Huffman alleges.
Huffman also challenges the district court’s denial of his motion to sequester the
jury. The district court denied Huffman’s motion for sequestration because there had
only been one news article about the case in one local newspaper three weeks before the
trial and because the local papers only published once a week so they were unlikely to
print any editions until after the trial had ended. The district court must only order
sequestration “if the case is of such notoriety or the issues are of such a nature that, in the
absence of sequestration, highly prejudicial matters are likely to come to the jurors’
attention.” Minn. R. Crim. P. 26.03, subd. 5(2). Huffman identifies no facts that suggest
the case was notorious or that he was prejudiced by the lack of sequestration. See State v.
Anderson, 379 N.W.2d 70, 81 (Minn. 1985) (explaining under a previous version of rule
26.03 that lack of sequestration “does not raise a presumption of prejudice” and a
defendant must show prejudice in the form of private communications, contacts, or other
suspicious circumstances). Given the record, we conclude that the district court did not
err by determining that the case was not of such notoriety that sequestration was required.
Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded.