State v. Gustafson

351 N.W.2d 653, 119 Wis. 2d 676, 1984 Wisc. LEXIS 2605
CourtWisconsin Supreme Court
DecidedJune 28, 1984
Docket81-2015-CR
StatusPublished
Cited by32 cases

This text of 351 N.W.2d 653 (State v. Gustafson) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Wisconsin Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Gustafson, 351 N.W.2d 653, 119 Wis. 2d 676, 1984 Wisc. LEXIS 2605 (Wis. 1984).

Opinions

WILLIAM A. BABLITCH, J.

James Gustafson seeks review of a decision affirming his conviction of two counts of second-degree sexual assault. During trial, Gustafson’s minor son, R.G., was called as a witness on Gustafson’s behalf. Gustafson argues that the trial court erred by allowing into evidence testimony that R.G. had entered a plea of no contest in juvenile court and had been judged delinquent on charges stemming from the same incident that resulted in one of the charges against Gustafson. Gustafson also argues that because evidence was presented on one of the counts indicating that he had committed more than one act of sexual contact with the minor female, B.G., the trial court erred in not instructing the jury that it had to unanimously agree on the specific act he committed.

Despite the failure of Gustafson’s attorney to raise a specific objection to the admissibility of evidence of R.G.’s delinquency adjudication and no contest plea, this court holds that it was error to admit such evidence. A majority of this court, however, holds that the error was not plain error. A majority also holds that Gustafson was not denied his rights to due process and to a unanimous jury verdict by the trial court’s failure to give a specific unanimity instruction. However, because one member of this court would reverse and remand on the basis that the admission of evidence of R.G.’s juvenile adjudication and no contest plea was plain error requiring reversal, and because three other members of this court would reverse and remand for a new trial on the basis that Gustafson’s constitutional rights were violated by the trial court’s failure to instruct the jury that it had to unanimously agree on the specific act he committed in order to reach a unanimous verdict, there is a majority for reversing and remanding for a new trial. [680]*680We therefore reverse the decision of the court of appeals and remand for a new trial.

On October 10, 1980, Gustafson and his fifteen year old son, R.G., met two girls, C.Y. and B.G., who were fourteen-year-old classmates of R.G.’s, in Manitowoc. C.Y. and B.G. asked R.G. to ask his father to buy liquor for them, which Gustafson did. All four went to a park and drank. After C.Y. and B.G. became drunk, Gustafson took them and R.G. to his apartment. C.Y. and B.G. became ill in the bathroom. R.G. joined C.Y. in the bathroom while Gustafson took B.G. from the bathroom to the living room.

B.G. fell asleep on the sofa in the living room but awoke when Gustafson pulled up her sweater and bra, and touched her breast with his hand and with his mouth. Gustafson stopped when B.G. indicated that she had to use the bathroom.

B.G. stayed in the bathroom with C.Y. for a few minutes. Gustafson then took B.G. back to the sofa where she fell asleep. She was again awakened when Gustafson pulled up her sweater and touched her breasts. Gustafson also unzipped her pants, placed his hand inside of them and touched her pubic area with his hand. B.G. hit Gustafson, ran out of the apartment, and fell asleep in some bushes.

Once C.Y. discovered that B.G. had left, she demanded that Gustafson take her home. As he drove her home, Gustafson stopped the car, reached under C.Y.’s shirt and touched her breast. After C.Y. hit him, Gustafson drove her home.

Gustafson was charged with two counts of second-degree sexual assault, contrary to sec. 940.225(2) (e), Stats. That statute provides: “Second degree sexual assault. Whoever does any of the following is guilty of a Class C felony: ... (e) Has sexual contact or sexual intercourse with a person who is over the age of 12 years and under the age of 16 years.” One count with which Gustafson was charged related to the alleged [681]*681sexual assault of B.G., and one count related to the alleged sexual assault of C.Y.

Prior to Gustafson’s trial, a delinquency petition was filed against R.G. relating to his alleged sexual assault of C.Y. during the same evening that Gustafson allegedly sexually assaulted B.G. and C.Y. R.G. pled no contest in juvenile court and subsequently was adjudicated delinquent.

Before Gustafson’s trial, the state informed the trial court that it believed Gustafson planned to call R.G. as a witness at trial. The state asked the court to rule that it could question R.G. about his no contest plea and his adjudication of delinquency. The court ruled that the state could question R.G. about the adjudication of delinquency.

At trial, Gustafson called R.G. as a witness. During direct examination of R.G., the following exchange occurred between Gustafson’s attorney and R.G.:

“Q: [Gustafson’s attorney] Is it correct that you were adjudged delinquent for the events occurring that evening? [the night Gustafson allegedly assaulted C.Y. and B.G.]
“A: [R.G.] What do you mean by delinquent?
“Q: Well, The Court here found you to be delinquent, didn’t they?
“A: I don’t know. I pleaded no contest.”

During cross-examination of R.G. by the district attorney, this exchange took place:

“Q: [District Attorney] You came into court, didn’t you, not too long ago and entered a no contest plea to that very charge of touching [C.Y.], of sexually assaulting her, didn’t you?
“A: [R.G.] Yeah.
“Q: You had that explained to you at that time, that entering a no contest plea meant that the Court was going to find you guilty? Didn’t the Judge explain that to you?
“A: Yeah, I guess so.
[682]*682“Q: That it was essentially admitting that you had done what you were charged with ?
“A: I guess so.”

At trial, the trial court gave the following definition of sexual contact in the jury instructions, as it related to the alleged sexual assault of B.G., without objection by counsel: “Sexual contact is any intentional touching of the breasts or pubic area, clothed or unclothed, of [B.G.] with the defendant’s hand or the defendant’s mouth.” The trial court also gave a standard unanimity instruction, which stated: “. . . this is a criminal, not a civil case, and therefore, before the jury can return a verdict which can legally be received, such verdict must be reached unanimously. In a criminal case all twelve jurors must agree in order to arrive at a verdict.”

The jury found Gustafson guilty of both counts of sexual assault. Gustafson appealed to the court of appeals. In a published decision, cited below,1 the court of appeals affirmed his conviction. Gustafson filed a petition for review with this court, which we granted.

The issues for review are:

(1) Did the trial court err in admitting evidence at Gustafson’s trial of R.G.’s prior juvenile delinquency adjudication and R.G.’s no contest plea?

(2) Was Gustafson denied his constitutional rights to due process and to a unanimous jury verdict because, although evidence was presented that Gustafson had performed more than one act of sexual contact with the minor female, B.G., the trial court did not instruct the jury that it had to unanimously agree on the specific act he committed before it could find him guilty of second-degree sexual assault ?

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Bluebook (online)
351 N.W.2d 653, 119 Wis. 2d 676, 1984 Wisc. LEXIS 2605, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-gustafson-wis-1984.