State v. Bedoya

998 So. 2d 1283, 2008 WL 5247702
CourtLouisiana Court of Appeal
DecidedDecember 16, 2008
Docket08-KA-630
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 998 So. 2d 1283 (State v. Bedoya) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Louisiana Court of Appeal primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Bedoya, 998 So. 2d 1283, 2008 WL 5247702 (La. Ct. App. 2008).

Opinion

998 So.2d 1283 (2008)

STATE of Louisiana
v.
David BEDOYA.

No. 08-KA-630.

Court of Appeal of Louisiana, Fifth Circuit.

December 16, 2008.
Rehearing Denied January 20, 2009.

*1284 Paul D. Connick, Jr., District Attorney, Terry M. Boudreaux, Thomas J. Butler, James W. Adair, Assistant District Attorneys, Gretna, Louisiana, for plaintiff/appellee.

Margaret S. Sollars, Attorney at Law, Thibodaux, LA, for defendant/appellant.

Panel Composed of Judges EDWARD A. DUFRESNE, JR., CLARENCE E. McMANUS, and MADELINE JASMINE.

MADELINE JASMINE, Judge Pro Tempore.

Defendant, David Bedoya, appeals his convictions in a jury trial for one count of forcible rape in violation of LSA-R.S. 14:42.1 and one count of second degree kidnapping in violation of LSA-R.S. 14:44.1. On appeal, he argues that the trial court erred by not granting a mistrial when the prosecutor made reference to the defendant's right to remain silent, and that *1285 the sentence imposed by the court was unduly excessive. He also argues that the trial court committed patent error. For the following reasons, we affirm defendant's conviction and sentence, and remand with instructions.

FACTS

On the evening of July 1, 2006, P.S., the victim, testified that she met her estranged husband, defendant, at a laundromat to return his wallet, which he had dropped during a confrontation at her apartment complex earlier that morning.[1] Prior to meeting defendant, P.S. left a note for her roommate stating that if something bad happened to her, defendant was responsible. P.S. left a picture of defendant with the note.

According to P.S., after she returned the wallet to defendant, he grabbed her and forced her into his car, which was being driven by his friend. P.S. stated that defendant lay on top of her, put his hands around her neck, put a razor in her mouth, and told her that if she yelled, she would cut herself. Approximately 35-40 minutes later, they stopped at a Wal-Mart where defendant bought a video camera. P.S. explained that she did not try to escape while in the Wal-Mart because she was scared and defendant told her he would bring her home if she cooperated.

Instead of taking P.S. home after leaving Wal-Mart, defendant brought P.S. to his apartment in Bridge City, where he forced her inside and locked all the doors.[2] P.S. testified she screamed and hit the walls, but defendant told her the neighbors were not home. She stated defendant proceeded to beat her with various objects, including plastic rubberized floor molding, a handsaw, and a belt. P.S. also stated defendant tied a rope around her neck and hands and tied her to a window while he read the instructions for the video camera. P.S. testified that she believed defendant was going to kill her.

P.S. stated that after defendant beat her, he told her they were going to have sex at which time he turned on the video camera. He told P.S. to give him oral sex and told her she was going to enjoy it. P.S. did not want to have sex with defendant, but complied because she was scared and thought it was the only way defendant would release her. The videotape was shown to the jury and depicted defendant and P.S. having sex. P.S. explained she tried to make defendant believe she was enjoying the sex so he would not hurt her anymore. P.S. testified that after defendant videotaped them having sex, he continued to beat her. At some point, defendant made P.S. call her roommate and tell her they were having a honeymoon and to tell her roommate to stop calling the police because P.S. wanted to stay with defendant.

The next morning defendant brought P.S. to Sonic to get some food and told her not to scream. P.S. testified that as they were leaving Sonic, defendant called her sister and made P.S. tell her she and defendant were back together and on a honeymoon and for her not to call the police. P.S. stated defendant then grabbed her hair and put her head under his leg. She started fighting defendant and managed to kick the car door and escape. She ran to a nearby house where a lady called the police.

*1286 The police arrived and defendant was arrested. Defendant was advised of his rights and indicated he was willing to talk to the police. He stated P.S. was his wife and that the two were simply having an argument. When defendant learned P.S. alleged he raped her, defendant told police about the videotape and claimed it would show he did not rape her. He then consented to a search of his apartment, during which P.S. identified various objects defendant used in the assault.

P.S. was taken to the hospital for a sexual assault exam. Dr. Roberta Lottinger conducted the exam and testified at trial that she independently remembered P.S. because of her extent of trauma. She stated P.S. had extensive bruising on her lower and upper extremities consistent with carpenter's instruments, a mouth laceration consistent with a razor, a shoulder abrasion made with a serrated instrument such as a handsaw, and neck trauma consistent with a rope. Dr. Lottinger explained the bruises were fresh.

Defendant testified at trial and denied he forced P.S. to go anywhere with him. He stated he suggested they go to Wal-Mart to buy a video camera to record the two of them having sex, but denies ever threatening P.S. Defendant stated he and P.S. later had an argument at his apartment. He admitted hitting her with his hand, a belt, and "another white thing," but claimed it was a reaction to her pulling his earring. Defendant specifically denied tying P.S. up with a rope, hitting her with a handsaw, beating her all night and forcing her to have sex with him. Defendant testified P.S. ran from his car the next morning when they were leaving Sonic because he told her he withdrew her immigration application, which was the only way P.S. could stay in the country.

ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NUMBER ONE

Defendant argues the trial court erred in denying his Motion for a Mistrial after the prosecutor cross-examined him about his post-arrest silence. Specifically, defendant contends the prosecutor's questions about why he failed to tell the police at the time of his arrest about the victim's threats to make him rot in jail impermissibly referenced his post-arrest silence. He maintains the questions were an attempt to undermine his exculpatory version of events offered for the first time at trial in violation of Doyle v. Ohio, 426 U.S. 610, 620, 96 S.Ct. 2240, 49 L.Ed.2d 91 (1976).

The State maintains there was no Doyle violation because defendant never invoked his right to remain silent, but rather waived his rights and gave a statement to the police. Alternatively, the State maintains any error was harmless because of the overwhelming evidence of defendant's guilt.

At trial, defendant testified that when he and the victim were leaving Sonic, the victim told defendant she wanted to see her kids. He stated he told her no and then proceeded to tell her he withdrew her application of immigration. According to defendant, this meant the victim would not be able to stay in the country. Defendant testified the victim became very upset and threatened to make him rot in jail. She then jumped out of the car and started running and screaming.

On cross-examination, the following exchange occurred between the prosecutor and defendant:

Q.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

State of Louisiana v. Byron Julies Lejeune
Louisiana Court of Appeal, 2024
State Of Louisiana v. Latasha Hicks
Louisiana Court of Appeal, 2022
State v. Williams
72 So. 3d 966 (Louisiana Court of Appeal, 2011)
State v. Williamson
62 So. 3d 869 (Louisiana Court of Appeal, 2011)
State v. Vance
36 So. 3d 1152 (Louisiana Court of Appeal, 2010)
State v. Evans
30 So. 3d 958 (Louisiana Court of Appeal, 2009)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
998 So. 2d 1283, 2008 WL 5247702, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-bedoya-lactapp-2008.