State of North Carolina v. Davis

664 S.E.2d 21, 191 N.C. App. 535, 2008 N.C. App. LEXIS 1508

• Court: Court of Appeals of North Carolina
• Decided: August 5, 2008
• Docket: COA07-648
• Status: Published

Opinion

STEELMAN, Judge.

Where the admission of certain pieces of evidence by the trial court did not constitute plain error, a new trial is not warranted. Where defendant failed to follow the statutory procedure for challenging an allegedly unqualified juror, defendant has failed to preserve the issue for appellate review.

I. Factual and Procedural Background

In August of 2005, K.T., aged 10, lived in Durham with her mother, younger brother D.T., younger sister N.T., and her mother’s boyfriend, Michael Rayshawn Davis (defendant). KT.’s mother worked as a receptionist, arriving home at 6:00 or 6:15 p.m. K.T. and D.T. would arrive home from school around 4:00 p.m. At that time, defendant and N.T. would be at home.

On 29 August 2005, when K.T. and D.T. arrived home, defendant was there. Defendant asked K.T. to come into the bedroom. K.T. went into the bedroom. The door was closed and defendant asked her if she wanted “to play,” which meant that he wanted to have sex. This was a regular demand made by defendant of K.T. When K.T. attempted to avoid defendant’s advances, defendant told her to “just do it,” pulled off his pants, and forced her to perform oral sex. Defendant left for work 30 minutes before K.T.’s mother arrived.

The following day, 30 August 2005, defendant once again called K.T. into the bedroom and asked her “if she wanted to play.” Defendant then engaged in vaginal intercourse with her. K.T. was wearing a skirt, and defendant’s semen got on the skirt. On the following day, K.T. told one of her teachers what had occurred. She repeated the story to the principal and a school counselor. KT.’s mother was summoned to the school, and arrived with defendant. K.T., together with her mother and defendant, left the school together and went to Durham Regional Hospital, where K.T. was given a physical examination and hair samples were collected. Defendant con sented to DNA testing. K.T.’s mother consented to police searching the residence and taking possession of KT.’s clothing.

Following the laboratory testing of the DNA samples and clothing, defendant was charged with one count of statutory rape of a child under 13 years old, one count of first-degree sex offense, and two counts of indecent liberties with a child. On 12 January 2007, the jury found defendant guilty of statutory rape and one count of indecent liberties with a child. He was found not guilty of the remaining two charges. Defendant was sentenced to a minimum of 288 months and a maximum of 355 months imprisonment. Defendant appeals.

II. Plain Error Standard of Review

With respect to defendant’s first two arguments, he failed to object at trial to the matters now raised on appeal, and contends that these arguments are subject to plain error review.

In order to establish plain error “ [defendant must show that the error was so fundamental that it had a probable impact on the result reached by the jury.” State v. Campbell, 340 N.C. 612, 640, 460 S.E.2d 144, 159 (1995) (citation omitted). “Plain error is error ‘so fundamental as to amount to a miscarriage of justice or probably resulted in the jury reaching a different verdict than it otherwise would have reached.’ ” State v. Hannah, 149 N.C. App. 713, 720, 563 S.E.2d 1, 6 (2002) (quotation omitted). Plain error review is limited to evidentiary rulings and jury instructions. State v. Atkins, 349 N.C. 62, 81, 505 S.E.2d 97, 109-10 (1998).

III. Admission of Prior Statements

In his first argument, defendant contends that the trial court committed plain error in admitting evidence of KT.’s out-of-court prior statements to other persons who testified at trial. We disagree.

We first note that this argument purports to encompass four different assignments of error, which reference “fifteen State’s witnesses.” However, in his brief, defendant only argues with respect to statements contained in State’s exhibits 18 and 19. Assignments of error not argued in a defendant’s brief are deemed abandoned, N.C. R. App. P. 28(b)(6), and we limit our analysis to defendant’s arguments pertaining to State’s exhibits 18 and 19.

State’s exhibit 18 was a videotape of .an interview of K.T. by Jeanne Arnts, a clinical social worker in the Department of Psychiatry at Duke University Medical Center and an employee of the Center for Child and Family Health in Durham. State’s exhibit 19 was the medical report of the evaluation of K.T. on 1 September 2005. This report consisted of two parts: first, the physical examination of K.T. conducted by Dr. Edith Kocis; and second, the physchosocial examination conducted by Jeanne Arnts. The second part contained a detailed summary of the videotaped interview, as well as a treatment plan and recommendations for K.T.

State’s Exhibit 18

Defendant initially contends that State’s exhibits 18 and 19 are “primarily out of court statements of Jeanne Amts,” are not corroborative of the testimony of K.T., and were therefore not admissible as hearsay.

We note that State’s exhibit 18, the videotaped interview of K.T., was not included as an exhibit to the record on appeal and was not recorded on the trial transcript. It is the duty of the appellant to ensure that all documents and exhibits necessary for an appellate court to consider his assignments of error are part of the record or exhibits. State v. Berryman, 360 N.C. 209, 216, 624 S.E.2d 350, 356 (2006). We will not attempt to divine what was on the videotape, and deem any argument as to State’s exhibit 18 to be abandoned. N.C. R. App. P. 9(a), 28(b)(6). To the extent that the videotaped interview was summarized in State’s exhibit 19, we consider defendant’s argument below.

State’s Exhibit 19

State’s exhibit 19 contained a summary of questions posed by Amts and KT.’s answers to those questions. It also contained Arnts’ summary of KT.’s age, academic levels, cognitive abilities, and demeanor during the interview. It further summarized the admonitions given to K.T. at the outset of the interview that it was part of the doctor’s office, and that it was important for K.T. to tell the truth. Appended to the report was KT.’s handwritten statement of what occurred:

He made me give him orral [sic] sex on Tuesday of this week. Monday he put his penis in my vagina. On tuesday I was wearing blue jean pants and a baby phat shirt. Monday I was wearing a pink and jean 3 layer skirt[.] I forgot what kind of shirt I had on. When he took his penis out wet stuff got on my skirt. On tuesday the wet stuff got in my mouth[.] I spit it out immediantly [sic]. Then I went in the bathroom and started crying.

A Trauma Symptom Checklist for Children was completed by K.T. However, it was invalidated by K.T. overresponding to items on the test¡ K.T. expressed suicidal ideations.

Finally, the report disclosed that Dr. Kocis interviewed KT.’s mother, who was adamant that “she did not believe [K.T.]’s report of sexual abuse,” and that K.T. had made similar allegations against her former boyfriend. The mother stated that K.T. had made the allegations because she was upset with the domestic violence between defendant and the mother. The report concluded that K.T. had provided a “credible disclosure of sexual abuse.”

State’s Exhibit 19: Arnts’ Statement

The fact that the report contained questions posed by Arnts and some background material regarding the interview does not render the report non-corroborative of KT.’s testimony. Prior consistent statements are admissible to corroborate a witness’s testimony and may contain new or additional facts not referred to in the witness’s testimony so long as such facts tend to add weight or credibility to the testimony. State v. Williams, 355 N.C. 501, 566, 565 S.E.2d 609, 647 (2002). A prior statement that is substantially similar to testimony at trial is admissible if it has a tendency to strengthen or confirm the witness’s testimony, even if there are slight variations in the prior statement. State v. McCord, 140 N.C. App. 634, 657, 538 S.E.2d 633, 647 (2000).

For the jury to comprehend KT.’s prior statements, they needed to hear the questions posed by Arnts. Further, the background information at the beginning of the interview, and the admonitions to K.T. about the purpose of the interview, while not specifically corroborative of KT.’s testimony, were relevant in order for the jury to understand the nature and purpose of Amts’ interview. See In re Mashbum, 162 N.C. App. 386, 392, 591 S.E.2d 584, 589 (2004).

State’s Exhibit 19: Conclusion bv Amts

While defendant argues that statements in the report by Arnts were “improper bolstering” of KT.’s testimony, no cases are cited by defendant in support of this argument.

Nevertheless, a review of North Carolina case law reveals that expert opinion as to the credibility of a child victim in a sexual offense prosecution is inadmissible in the absence of physical evidence supporting a diagnosis of abuse. See, e.g., State v. Bush, 164 N.C. App. 254, 258, 595 S.E.2d 715, 718 (2004); State v. Stancil, 355 N.C. 266, 266-67, 559 S.E.2d 788, 789 (2002); State v. Ewell, 168 N.C. App. 98, 102-03, 606 S.E.2d 914, 918-19, disc. review denied, 359 N.C. 412, 612 S.E.2d 326, 612 S.E.2d 327 (2005); State v. Couser, 163 N.C. App. 727, 729-30, 594 S.E.2d 420, 422-23 (2004).

Accordingly, admission of Amts’ statement was error as ■ it improperly vouched for K.T.’s credibility. However, on the facts of the instant case, we hold that admission of this statement did not constitute plain error.

In State v. Hammet, the North Carolina Supreme Court held that it is not plain error for an expert witness to vouch for the credibility of a child sexual abuse victim where the case does not rest solely on the child’s credibility. State v. Hammet, 361 N.C. 92, 97-99, 637 S.E.2d 518, 522-23 (2006).

In the instant case, in addition to K.T.’s consistent statements and testimony that defendant had abused her sexually, the jury was able to consider properly admitted evidence of defendant’s sperm found on KT.’s skirt, as well as his bizarre explanation of how it got there. The jury also heard the testimony of K.T. in the courtroom and viewed the videotape of her interview with Amts. The jury could therefore assess for themselves the credibility of K.T. Thus, while Amts’ statement vouching for K.T. was improper, there is not a reasonable probability that the result in this case would have been different had the conclusory statement in the report been excluded, and the admission of the statement did not constitute plain error.

Failure of Trial Judge to Instruct on Corroboration

Defendant argues that the trial court failed to instruct the jury on how to consider KT.’s out-of-court statements. However, defendant failed to assign this as error, and thus it is not properly before this Court. N.C. R. App. P. 10(a) (2008).-

Cumulative Effect of Evidence

Defendant argues that “[e]ven if the prior statements and exhibits were individually properly admissible as corroborative evidence, their sheer numbers make them cumulative and prejudicial.” We note that defendant cites no authority for this argument. N.C. R. App. P. 28(a) (2008). Further, in light of our previous ruling limiting our review of defendant’s argument to State’s exhibit 19, this argument is without merit.

Defendant’s first argument is without merit.

IV. Admission of Additional Evidence

In his second argument, defendant contends that the trial court committed plain error in admitting certain pieces of evidence on the grounds that the evidence was irrelevant and highly prejudicial. We disagree.

N.C. Gen. Stat. § 8C-1, Rule 401 defines relevant evidence as “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.” Id. Pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 8C-1, Rule 403, relevant “evidence may be excluded if its probative value is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice, confusion of the issues, or misleading the jury, or by considerations of undue delay, waste of time, or needless presentation of cumulative evidence.” Id. “Unfair prejudice has been defined as ‘an undue tendency to suggest decision on an improper basis, commonly, though not necessarily, an emotional one.’ ” State v. Mason, 315 N.C. 724, 731, 340 S.E.2d 430, 435 (1986) (quoting commentary to N.C.R. Evid. 403). The decision to exclude evidence under Rule 403 is a matter within the discretion of the trial court. Id. “[E]ven though a trial court’s rulings on relevancy technically are not discretionary . . . such rulings are given great deference on appeal.” State v. Wallace, 104 N.C. App. 498, 502, 410 S.E.2d 226, 228 (1991) (citation omitted).

Evidence of KT.’s State of Mind

Defendant contends that the trial court committed plain error by admitting evidence of K.T.’s state of mind, including her fear that defendant would abuse her younger sister, her fear that defendant would kill her, evidence that she slept with a knife under her pillow, and evidence that she had a nightmare about defendant killing her family.

The issue before the jury was whether K.T. had been sexually abused by defendant. Evidence of K.T.’s state of mind, including her. fear of defendant, was relevant to this issue. Further, defendant cites no authority, and we find none, that suggests that the trial court acted outside the bounds of reason in determining that the probative value of the evidence was not substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice. We accordingly hold the trial court did not commit error, much less plain error, in admitting evidence concerning KT.’s state of mind.

Evidence of K.T.’s Mother’s State of Mind

Defendant next contends that evidence that K.T.’s mother did not believe her accusations was irrelevant and unduly prejudicial.

Although defendant contends that the evidence was improperly admitted, a review of the transcript in this case reveals that defendant made use of the contested evidence at trial during his closing argument. We fail to see how admission of evidence that K.T.’s mother did not believe KT.’s testimony was plain error.

Evidence of Treatment Plan

Defendant argues that testimony about the treatment plan developed for K.T. and evidence that she was attending therapy sessions at the time of the trial was irrelevant and highly prejudicial.

We hold that evidence of KT.’s therapy and treatment plan was relevant to show that she had suffered trauma. This made the issue regarding defendant’s sexual abuse of her more likely to be true, and we hold that this evidence was relevant. Additionally, a review of the transcript reveals that defendant questioned K.T. on cross-examination about her therapy.

Defendant cites no authority, and we find none, that suggests that the trial court abused its discretion in admitting this evidence. The admission of this evidence was not error, much less plain error.

Background Information on Child Sexual Abuse

Defendant argues that the testimony from social workers regarding the reasons children do not report incidents of sexual abuse “was not offered to meet any challenge by the defense” and should have been excluded under Rules 401 and 403.

We note that K.T. reported the abuse which is the subject of the instant case on the day after it occurred. Evidence regarding delays in child reporting of sexual abuse pertained solely to earlier incidents of alleged abuse, and was collateral to the crimes for which defendant was being tried. Moreover, defendant has failed to demonstrate prejudice from its admission.

State’s Exhibits 18 and 19

Defendant next argues that the background information contained in State’s exhibits 18 and 19 should have been excluded as irrelevant and prejudicial.

Defendant acknowledges that potions of these exhibits were admissible as corroborating evidence, but contends that those portions which were admissible were “so intertwined with inadmissible portions that the entire exhibits should have been excluded.”

As previously discussed, the background information in exhibit 19 was relevant for the jury’s understanding of the nature and purpose of Arnts’ interview. Further, defendant has failed to show how he suffered prejudice from the admission of this evidence, apart from his generalized argument that'“[t]he evidence was of a highly emotional nature, likely to inflame the jury.”

Expert Testimony Regarding KT.’s Credibility

Defendant argues that it was improper for the State’s expert witness to mention KT.’s credibility. As previously discussed, the admission of this evidence did not constitute plain error.

We hold that defendant’s second argument is without merit.

IV. Alleged Non-resident Juror

In defendant’s third argument, he contends that the trial court committed plain error in allowing a juror that was not a resident of Durham County to sit on the jury. We disagree.

We first note that plain error review is limited to evidentiary rulings and jury instructions. See Atkins. It is not applicable to jury selection issues.

During the jury selection, one of the jurors stated that he had moved to Richmond, Virginia. Defendant did not move to have the juror excused for cause, nor did he object to the juror or use one of his peremptory challenges to excuse him.

Defendant cites N.C. Gen. Stat. § 9-3 and Sections 19 and 24 of Article I of the North Carolina Constitution for the proposition that a juror must be a resident of the State in order to be qualified to serve as a juror. Defendant argues that he is entitled to a new trial due to this alleged error.

Constitutional issues must be raised at trial. State v. Tirado, 358 N.C. 551, 571, 599 S.E.2d 515, 529 (2004). Since defendant failed to raise these issues at trial, he has waived appellate review based on constitutional grounds. See id.

N.C. Gen. Stat. § 9-3 provides “[a]ll persons are qualified to serve as jurors and to be included on the jury list who are citizens of the State and residents of the county,.. . Persons not qualified under this section are subject to challenge for cause.”

Ordinarily, alleged statutory violations do not require an objection at trial in order to be preserved for appellate review. Id. However, N.C. Gen. Stat. § 9-3 specifically provides that persons not qualified to be jurors are subject to challenge for cause. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 9-3. If defendant believed that the juror was not qualified, his sole recourse under the statute was to challenge the juror for cause. Having failed to do so at trial, he has not preserved the issue for appellate review. See id. at 571, 599 S.E.2d at 529-30.

We hold that defendant’s third argument is without merit.

NO PREJUDICIAL ERROR.

Chief Judge MARTIN and Judge STEPHENS concur.