STATE OF MISSOURI v. SHAWN C. HANNA

• Court: Missouri Court of Appeals
• Decided: July 18, 2024
• Docket: SD37640
• Status: Published

Opinion

In Division

STATE OF MISSOURI, ) ) Respondent, ) No. SD37640 ) v. ) Filed: July 18, 2024 ) SHAWN C. HANNA, ) ) Appellant. )

APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF HOWELL COUNTY

Honorable Steven A. Privette, Judge

AFFIRMED

In 2003, Ralph Hanna ("Victim") was murdered on his birthday while

deer hunting in the woods behind his house. Police began investigating the

murder and, during that investigation, Victim's wife and the couple's son,

Shawn C. Hanna ("Defendant"), became suspects. Police discovered that

Victim's wife had incurred substantial debt in the couple's name and had

asked Defendant to kill Victim. Police arrested Defendant for Victim's murder. While in jail,

Defendant sent letters to his sister ("Sister"). In one of the letters, Defendant

asked Sister for forgiveness and implied that he deserved punishment.

The case proceeded to jury trial. At trial, the letters were admitted

into evidence. The State relied on a handwriting expert to establish the

letters were written by Defendant.

Defendant was found guilty of first-degree murder of his father. He

appeals his conviction in two points. First, Defendant claims the trial court

plainly erred in failing to sua sponte strike a juror from the panel because

that juror stated she "could not sit in judgment of someone[.]" Next,

Defendant claims the trial court "abused its discretion or committed plain

error" by allowing the State to present evidence that Defendant did not

complete some pages of a handwriting exemplar, because that evidence

prejudiced Defendant "by suggesting he refused to complete the pages

because he was guilty." Because neither argument facially establishes

substantial grounds for believing a manifest injustice resulted, we decline to

review for plain error.

Standard of Review

Defendant concedes he failed to preserve point 1 and requests plain

error review under Rule 30.20.1 In point 2, Defendant argues the trial court

"abused its discretion or committed plain error" in allowing the State to

1 All rule references are to Missouri Court Rules (2024).

2 present evidence that Defendant did not complete an entire handwriting

exemplar that Expert used to determine Defendant wrote letters received by

Sister because that evidence was "not relevant."

In order to determine the proper standard of review for this claim, we

must first determine whether it is preserved for our review. At trial, defense

counsel objected to the State presenting evidence that Defendant "refused" to

complete a handwriting exemplar because the trial court never ordered

Defendant to complete that portion of the exemplar. At no point did defense

counsel object that such evidence lacked relevance—the argument he now

makes for the first time on appeal. This is a new theory the trial court never

had an opportunity to review or rule on. "[A] point is preserved for appellate

review only if it is based on the same theory presented at trial." State v.

Rice, 573 S.W.3d 53, 63 (Mo. banc 2019). Because neither of Defendant's

points are preserved, we may review both for plain error only. "Issues not

preserved for appeal may be reviewed only for plain error." State v. Boyd,

659 S.W.3d 914, 926 (Mo. banc 2023).

"The plain error rule is to be used sparingly and may not be used to

justify a review of every point that has not been otherwise preserved for

appellate review." State v. Brandolese, 601 S.W.3d 519, 526 (Mo. banc

2020) (quoting State v. Jones, 427 S.W.3d 191, 195 (Mo. banc 2014)). We

"will not review a claim for plain error unless the claimed error 'facially

establishes substantial grounds for believing that manifest injustice or

3 miscarriage of justice has resulted.'" State v. Phillips, 687 S.W.3d 642, 647

(Mo. banc 2024) (quoting Brandolese, 601 S.W.3d at 526). Not all

prejudicial error is plain error. State v. Mills, 687 S.W.3d 668, 675 (Mo.

banc 2024). Plain error is an error which is evident, obvious and clear. Id.

"In the absence of evident, obvious, and clear error, we should not proceed

further with our plain error review." State v. Jackson-Kuofie, 646 S.W.3d

312, 315 (Mo. App. W.D. 2022). If, however, we find plain error, we then

determine whether the claimed error resulted in manifest injustice or a

miscarriage of justice. Mills, 687 S.W.3d at 675.

"[U]nder Missouri law, plain error can serve as the basis for granting a

new trial on direct appeal only if the error was outcome determinative."

State v. Marks, 670 S.W.3d 135, 139 (Mo. App. W.D. 2023) (quoting State v.

Tillman, 289 S.W.3d 282, 291 (Mo. App. W.D. 2009)). "Outcome

determinative means that the error more likely than not altered the outcome

of the trial." State v. Daniel, 573 S.W.3d 162, 165 (Mo. App. S.D. 2019).

Point 1

In point 1, Defendant argues the trial court plainly erred in failing to

sua sponte strike Venireperson 1, who served on the jury, because that juror

said she could not "sit in judgment of someone[.]"

Background

During voir dire, the State asked the venirepanel:

When you're a juror, one of the most important things you have to do is you have to stand in judgment of somebody. You've got 4 to decide whether they committed a crime or not. There are some people because of their religious beliefs, or moral beliefs, political beliefs cannot do that. They cannot decide whether somebody is guilty or not of a crime. Is there anybody here that falls into that category that is unable to, because of their belief, ever decide whether somebody is guilty or not of a crime? Please raise your hand.

Venireperson 1 answered, "Given a murder trial, I just -- I don't want

to be the one to decide that on somebody. I just --." The State asked, "Okay. I

mean, if this was a stealing case or a property theft dispute . . . you could feel

comfortable, but given it -- that's a murder case, that's very important? You

do not think you could stand in judgment of somebody?" Venireperson 1

answered, "No."

During defense counsel's voir dire of the jury, defense counsel asked

the panel if any person on the panel knew any other panel members.

Venireperson 50 indicated she had served in Venireperson 1's home as a

hospice nurse for a relative of Venireperson 1. Defense counsel then inquired

into Venireperson 1's ability to "stand firm in [her] disagreement" with

Venireperson 50 if the two of them served on the same jury and the two

disagreed. Venireperson 1 responded, "I'd be able to stand on my own."

Neither defense counsel nor the prosecutor moved to strike this juror for

cause and Venireperson 1 served on the jury. The jury convicted Defendant

of murder in the first degree. After the jury returned its verdict, defense

counsel asked that the jury be polled. Venireperson 1 affirmed she found

Defendant guilty.

5 Analysis

Defendant's claim fails to facially establish substantial grounds for

believing a manifest injustice or a miscarriage of justice has resulted.

Defendant argues the beliefs of Venireperson 1 "would suggest she would

merely vote with the majority to eschew her responsibility for judging

[Defendant]," but nothing in the record before this Court establishes

Venireperson 1 actually did eschew her responsibility of judging Defendant.

To the contrary, the record shows Venireperson 1 said she could "stand on

[her] own" in assessing the evidence and did, in fact, "stand in judgment" of

Defendant by finding him guilty. When polled, she affirmed she found

Defendant guilty. Defendant's argument that the venireperson's comment

"suggest[s] she would merely vote with the majority" is just that—a mere

suggestion. It is not substantial grounds for believing that a manifest

injustice or a miscarriage of justice has resulted. "Under plain error review,

the defendant still bears the burden of establishing manifest injustice if an

unqualified juror serves on a jury." Brandolese, 601 S.W.3d at 530.

Defendant does not meet this burden.

Nor is Defendant's claimed error "evident, obvious, and clear error."

"This Court has repeatedly rejected claims that a circuit court committed

plain error by failing to strike a venire member for cause." State v. Pike,

614 S.W.3d 651, 657 (Mo. App. W.D. 2021). A trial court is under no duty to

strike a juror on its own motion. State v. Baumruk, 280 S.W.3d 600, 616

6 (Mo. banc 2009). "Where the trial court is under no duty to strike a venire

member on its own motion, there is no evident, obvious, or clear error, and

therefore no plain error." State v. Skinner, 494 S.W.3d 591, 594 (Mo. App.

W.D. 2016).

Because Defendant has failed to meet the threshold requirement of

facially establishing substantial grounds for believing a manifest injustice

has resulted, we decline to exercise our discretion to grant plain error review.

See Brandolese, 601 S.W.3d at 530 (declining to apply plain-error review to

an unpreserved claim alleging that the trial court plainly erred in failing to

sustain defendant's challenge to strike a juror for cause). Point 1 is denied.

Point 2

In point 2, Defendant argues the trial court plainly erred in allowing

the State to present evidence that Defendant failed to complete the entire

handwriting exemplar Expert used to determine if Defendant wrote letters

received by Sister because that evidence was not relevant. Defendant argues

that evidence created "the risk that the jury would improperly impute

'consciousness of guilt' to [Defendant's] refusal to complete the booklet[.]"

While Defendant was in jail, Sister received several letters from

Defendant. In one of the letters, Defendant wrote:

I don't think you'll ever know how sorry I am, cause you'll probably never see me again after I go to trial. I just wanted to write you this letter to tell you how sorry I am, and maybe you could keep this letter and look back on it to remember me. 7 ... I wish you could really understand how sorry I am. And maybe someday you will honestly and truly forgive me. ... Hopefully, I'll get out first so I can live a little before I get my punishment, which I understand I deserve. Don't tell [my girlfriend] anything. I haven't told her yet.

A handwriting expert ("Expert") testified the letters sent to Sister

matched Defendant's handwriting. Expert formed this conclusion by

comparing the handwriting in the letters to a handwriting exemplar the trial

court ordered Defendant to produce. The State asked Expert whether

Defendant filled out all the pages Expert had requested as part of

Defendant's handwriting sample. Expert answered, "Not all of them, but --

but enough." The State then asked why Defendant didn't fill out the entire

form. Defense counsel objected that the letters Defendant was asked to copy

were not part of the court's order, "because that would be testimonial in

nature." Defense counsel further explained:

The form didn't get filled out completely because [Defendant] didn't rewrite these letters that were ordered. [Expert] has previously referenced that as refusing to fill it out. [Defendant] did not refuse to. He was not ordered to. So I think any testimony along those lines need to -- needs to address that; not that his attorney told him not to, but that he was not ordered to fill it out.

The court responded to defense counsel's objection by informing him his

concern was something he could address on cross-examination.

The State then revisited the question of whether Defendant completed

the entire handwriting exemplar he was requested to complete. Expert

8 answered no. The State then inquired into why the exemplar was not

completed, and Expert replied:

It's about a 15-page booklet, and it's, basically, just to fill in the blanks, you know, duplicating parts or all of the 26 letters of the alphabet in printed form and in cursive form. And -- and I -- if I remember, I was just looking, I think he completed at least nine pages of the -- of the requested exemplars. And at that point he said, "That's it. I'm not giving you any more."

On cross-examination, defense counsel asked Expert if Defendant's

attorney instructed Defendant to not complete the exemplar. Expert testified

Defendant's attorney did not tell Defendant to stop. Defense counsel asked

Expert if Defendant stated he was finished providing a handwriting sample

where the exemplar included portions of the letter received by Sister, and

Expert testified that was correct. Defense counsel asked Expert if he was

aware of a court order pertaining to the portion of the exemplar Defendant

did not complete. Expert answered he was aware of a court order. Defense

counsel then concluded his cross-examination.

In closing argument, defense counsel argued the actual author of the

letters received by Sister was unknown. However, defense counsel later

argued the State was asking the jury to convict Defendant based on a letter

where Defendant stated "he was sorry for what he did and he deserved

punishment." Defense counsel argued Defendant's statement in the letter

was not an admission that he killed Victim.

9 Analysis

Once again, Defendant's claim does not facially establish substantial

grounds for believing a manifest injustice occurred. It was not "evident,

obvious and clear error" for the trial court to admit Expert's testimony

explaining why he based his opinion on only a portion of the handwriting

exemplar Expert asked Defendant to complete. "[A]n expert's opinion must

be based on facts and data which give the opinion sufficient probative force to

render it substantial evidence." State v. Mosley, 526 S.W.3d 361, 366 (Mo.

App. E.D. 2017) (quoting State v. Pettit, 976 S.W.2d 585, 590 (Mo. App.

W.D. 1998)). "[T]estimony is reliable if it is 'based on sufficient facts or data,

reliable principles and methods and reliable application thereof."' Gebhardt

v. American Honda Motor Co., Inc., 627 S.W.3d 37, 44 (Mo. App. W.D.

2021) (quoting Jones v. City of Kansas City, 569 S.W.3d 42, 53 (Mo. App.

W.D. 2019)). Expert's testimony as to how he formed his opinion that the

letters to Sister were written by Defendant, which necessarily included why

Expert did not base that opinion on the complete handwriting exemplar, was

relevant to the issue of whether Expert's opinion was reliable. 2 Defendant

2 Admissibility requires relevance. The general rule in Missouri is that relevance is two-tier: logical and legal. State v. Smith, 32 S.W.3d 532, 546 (Mo. banc 2000); State v. Sladek, 835 S.W.2d 308, 314 (Mo. banc 1992) (Thomas, J., concurring). Evidence is logically relevant if it tends to make the existence of a material fact more or less probable. Smith, 32 S.W.3d at 546. Logically relevant evidence is admissible only if legally relevant. Legal relevance weighs the probative value of the evidence against its costs—unfair prejudice, confusion of the issues, misleading the jury, undue delay, waste of time, or cumulativeness. Sladek, 835 S.W.2d at 314. Thus, logically relevant evidence is excluded if its costs outweigh its benefits.

10 does not meet his burden of facially establishing substantial grounds for

believing a manifest injustice or miscarriage of justice occurred. We decline

to review for plain error.

But even if we did review for plain error, Defendant's claim would fail

because he does not demonstrate outcome determinative error. 3 "When, as

here, the alleged error involves erroneously admitted evidence, an appellant

establishes outcome-determinative error by showing that the 'erroneously

admitted evidence so influenced the jury that, when considered with and

balanced against all of the evidence properly admitted, there is a reasonable

probability that the jury would have reached a different conclusion but for

the erroneously admitted evidence.'" State v. Stevens, 684 S.W.3d 379, 383

(Mo. App. E.D. 2024) (quoting State v. Black, 524 S.W.3d 594, 601 (Mo. App.

S.D. 2017)). Defendant fails to make this showing. The evidence of

Defendant's guilt was overwhelming, so it is unlikely his claimed error

altered the outcome of the trial. This evidence included:

 Defendant's girlfriend testifying Defendant told her his mother asked him to kill Victim;

 Defendant's mother paying approximately $1,100 for Defendant's four- wheeler to be repaired at around the same time she asked Defendant to kill Victim;

State v. Anderson, 76 S.W.3d 275, 276 (Mo. banc 2002).

3 As stated in our standard of review, we should not proceed further with our plain error

review in the absence of evident, obvious, and clear error. See Jackson-Kuofie, 646 S.W.3d at 315. 11  Defendant's friend overhearing Defendant's mother telling Defendant either he was going to kill Victim or she would find someone else who would;

 Defendant's car being parked a mile down the road from Victim's house the morning Victim was killed;

 Defendant and his mother being seen together shortly after the shooting, and before Defendant's mother reported the shooting;

 Defendant failing to inform law enforcement about a motel room he rented that contained a firearm;

 Defendant encouraging his girlfriend and another friend to change their statements to the police; and

 Defendant telling his girlfriend he could not tell her mother what really happened.

Point 2 is denied.

Conclusion

The trial court's judgment is affirmed.

MARY W. SHEFFIELD, J. – OPINION AUTHOR

JACK A. L. GOODMAN, C.J. – CONCURS

BECKY J.W. BORTHWICK, J. –CONCURS