People v. Brown , 2017 IL App (1st) 150070 ( 2017 )

2017 IL App (1st) 150070
FOURTH DIVISION
June 29, 2017
No. 1-15-0070
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, ) Appeal from the
) Circuit Court of
Plaintiff-Appellee, ) Cook County.
)
v. ) No. 09 CR 13229
)
BARRON LEWIS, ) Honorable
) Kenneth J. Wadas,
Defendant-Appellant. ) Judge Presiding.
JUSTICE McBRIDE delivered the judgment of the court, with opinion.
Justices Howse and Burke concurred in the judgment and opinion.
OPINION
¶1 Defendant, Barron Lewis, was found guilty of aggravated criminal sexual assault in 2010,
and sentenced to 15 years imprisonment. In this appeal, defendant challenges the summary
dismissal of his petition for relief under the Post-Conviction Hearing Act (Act) (725 ILCS 5/122-
1 et seq. (West 2014)). Defendant maintains that he presented an arguable claim of ineffective
assistance of counsel based on counsel's failure to investigate his negative chlamydia test results,
and to present that evidence to the trial court in support of his contention that the victim's
positive chlamydia test results should have been admitted.
¶2 The record shows that prior to trial, the trial court heard the State's motion in limine
regarding various matters. Among other things, the State requested that the defendant be barred
from introducing evidence that the victim, C.H., had tested positive for chlamydia. The trial
court initially indicated that it would grant the State's motion, because the test result "ha[d] no
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relevance" and because it was "the same as trying to bring in predisposition – sexual
predisposition *** which we know the law absolutely blocks[.]" Defense counsel, however,
asked to be heard on that issue. Counsel acknowledged the "rape shield law" issue, but
contended that the victim's test results should be admitted. Counsel stated that "if she had
chlamydia and the Defendant had sex with her as she is saying, unprotected sex, the fact that the
Defendant never had chlamydia, never got chlamydia, and has been in jail and was tested for it
even on his entry into the jail is all *** direct medical evidence that – that they did not have
sexual intercourse." Counsel further argued that "the simple fact that she had a highly
communicable disease which was not transferred to the Defendant is medically speaking some
evidence indicating that sex between the two did not happen. So this takes it out of the rape
shield example and puts it into the elemental right of the Defendant to present a defense on one
of the critical issues in the case which is whether or not there was sex between these parties."
¶3 The State responded that the evidence "goes to the victim's past sexual history which is
specifically prohibited in rape shield," and the court ruled, "Evidence of chlamydia is not going
in or reference, rape shield law."
¶4 The remaining trial proceedings were summarized by a different panel of this court as
part of defendant's direct appeal, which we will quote at length due to the nature of defendant's
claims.
"C.H. testified that on July 5, 2009, she and fellow college student,
Amanda Richardson, had recently moved into an apartment building at 833 West
Buena Street in Chicago. C.H. had returned to the building after work at
approximately 5:30 p.m. C.H. sat on a bench in the patio area outside the building
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finishing a telephone call, when she was approached by Lewis. Lewis offered
C.H. a drink, which she accepted and thanked him for.
C.H. stated that after she finished her telephone call, she again thanked
Lewis, who was listening to music on his boombox and smoking a cigar. Lewis
invited her to sit with him and the two had a conversation. He spoke about his
family and children, and his jazz club; she spoke about school, work, and her
boyfriend. Lewis told her he lived two floors directly above her in the building.
When it began to grow dark, C.H. decided to return to her apartment.
Lewis stated he was also going inside to get batteries for his boombox. The two
made small talk in the elevator. C.H. testified that she was surprised when Lewis
exited the elevator with her on the 12th floor. According to C.H., Lewis explained
that he was interested in whether their apartments shared the same layout.
C.H. gave Lewis a brief tour of her apartment. Lewis asked whether she
had any batteries, then went into her kitchen and poured them each shots of
tequila. C.H. testified that she took a sip of the tequila, but poured the rest out
because she did not want to get drunk. According to C.H., she had consumed only
a glass of sangria and a sip of tequila that evening.
Furthermore, C.H. testified that Lewis then went into her living room and
sat down on a futon. C.H. sat down on a futon across from him. Lewis got up,
grabbed C.H.'s arm, and told her to sit next to him. Lewis also told C.H. she had a
beautiful body. C.H. stated that she had been having a good time, but began to
feel awkward and that Lewis, whom she had thought was funny, began to seem
‘creepy.’
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C.H. tried to get up from the futon, but Lewis pulled her back down next
to him. Lewis again said that C.H. had a beautiful body, adding that she needed to
show it off more. Lewis had C.H. stand up and then he removed her sweatshirt,
under which she wore a t-shirt and scarf. After C.H. sat down again, Lewis tried
to get her to kiss him and feel his penis and groin. C.H. repeatedly told Lewis that
she had a boyfriend and that this situation was ‘not okay.’ Lewis told her that no
one would love her the way he would. C.H. stated that Lewis continued to kiss her
and tried to grab her hands. C.H. clenched her fists and pushed him away.
According to C.H., Lewis became aggravated and went back downstairs to
the patio area to finish smoking his cigar. C.H. testified that she followed Lewis
out to the patio, explaining that she thought she could get him to remain there or
return to his apartment. C.H. stood behind Lewis as he smoked and conversed
with other neighbors.
Lewis then told C.H. he needed to return to her apartment to retrieve his
boombox. The two went back to her unit. C.H. stated that she thought Lewis
would leave quickly, but he returned to the futon and again tried to kiss her and to
have her feel his groin. According to C.H., Lewis was ‘all over her.’
C.H. testified that she was crying and telling Lewis ‘no.’ Lewis forcibly
removed C.H.'s sweatshirt. At some point while the two struggled, they knocked
sangria onto the floor. C.H. tried to clean up the spill as a distraction, but Lewis
carried her to her bedroom.
C.H. also testified that she was crying and yelling for him to stop, but
Lewis forced her to remove all of her clothes. C.H. further testified that Lewis
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removed his clothes and tried to put his penis in her mouth, but she kept her
mouth shut and turned her head away. According to C.H., Lewis struck her face,
on her left cheek under her eye, and grabbed at her breasts, scratching her.
C.H. was then on her stomach and Lewis climbed on top of her. Lewis
tried to insert his penis into C.H.'s anus, but he could not do so because C.H. was
kicking. Lewis inserted his finger into C.H.'s vagina and he inserted his penis
inside of her vagina. C.H. testified that she continued to tell Lewis to stop, but
Lewis told her, ‘I am going to show you what really fucking is about.’ While
Lewis was on top of her, he occasionally pulled on her scarf, choking her. C.H.
did not know whether Lewis ejaculated, but he eventually got off of her and
seemed to fall asleep.
C.H. stated that she quickly dressed and then began hitting Lewis with her
fists, demanding that he leave. C.H. testified that she knew that Amanda would be
home soon and feared what Lewis might do to her. According to C.H., Lewis
awakened and dressed in the living room.
C.H. heard Amanda fumbling with the door locks, although C .H. stated
she had locked neither the door lock nor the deadbolt. Once Amanda entered the
apartment, C.H. started to cry and told her they needed to leave. Amanda went
into the bathroom to remove her contacts. C.H. stated that when Amanda emerged
from the bathroom, Lewis was sitting on the futon, finishing dressing. C.H.
testified that she repeated that they needed to leave and yelled at Lewis to leave.
The three left the apartment. Lewis got on the elevator with C.H. and
Amanda. Lewis introduced himself to Amanda and shook her hand. According to
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C.H., Lewis told Amanda he had been trying to keep C.H. happy all night and that
she needed to stop crying. When the elevator reached the first floor, C.H. ran from
the building. Amanda caught up to C.H., who had fallen at the end of the block.
C.H. would not let Amanda touch her. C.H. telephoned her mother, but was
crying and screaming, so Amanda took the telephone. Amanda then telephoned
the police, who arrived as C.H. and Amanda returned to their building.
C.H. testified that after she spoke to the police officers, she was
transported to Thorek Hospital, where a sexual assault kit was assembled. C.H.
told the doctor that Lewis inserted his finger into her vagina. She also told the
doctor she did not know whether Lewis had worn a condom. C.H. then went to
the police station, where she identified Lewis in a lineup. At trial, C.H. identified
a photograph of herself in which there is a visible bruise under her left eye, which
she stated Lewis caused.
In addition, C.H. testified that she sent a series of text messages to
Amanda, her boyfriend Tony, and her friend Lamar, throughout the evening, until
Lewis took the telephone from her and threw it across the room. C.H. identified
enlarged photocopies of text messages sent between 5:40 p.m. and 10:40 p.m. on
July 5, 2009. The text messages sent to Amanda, admitted into evidence as
People's group exhibit No. 2, included the following ***:
‘(5:40 p.m.) When r u coming home?
(5:41 p.m.) Omg something hilarious is happening! [C.H. testified
that “OMG” is short for “oh, my God.”]
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(time not displayed) I cam home and was sittin on a bench and a
guy walks over and hands me a sangria. Then give me a huge cigar. We r
just sittin drinkin and smokin. I think hes gay.
(6:56 p.m.) Omg this guy is hilarious. Hes giving e advice on tone.
(6:58 p.m.) Omg I hope eh wot. Im kinda drunk. Come homeeee!!
(7:17 p.m.) Olg he wnts to come to my place. Come home!
(7:26 p.m.) Omg!
(7:29 p.m.) Hes in our place. But he knows I have a “bf”
(7:31 p.m) Omg I kno. Ah wheres tone?!
(7:38 p.m.) ok dude im kinda creeped out. Don't txt or cll tone. Ima
cll him in a min
(7:47 p.m.) Omg!
(7:48 p.m.) Ill let u kno
(8:09 p.m.) Ya. Mandee hes like hittin in me. Im drink and im
scared
(8:38 p.m.) Omg mqndee im bout o cry hes like trying to be all ofr
me!!. whn ill u be home?
(8:40 p.m.) Please hurry mand. I cant take thos. Tone isnt
answerint.
(9:21 p.m.) Ya. Omg! Help. I hate his please hurry
(10:18 p.m.) Call lamarr tell him to come here. Tone wont txt or
call me back’
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C.H. also testified that she sent the following text messages to her
boyfriend, Tony Vanderbilt:
‘(7:51 p.m.) Heyy! What's shakin?
(10:22 p.m.) Babe I need help. This guy is in my apartmebt. Help
me pleawe.’
C.H. further that she sent the following text messages to her friend, Lamar:
(8:39 p.m.) Hwy ome im srunk. Hillhis guys teyin to get wav [C.H.
testified that “wav” means “help.”] me. Help.
(9:21 p.m.) Please
(9:35 p.m.) I need help
(9:43 p.m.) Ly house
(10:19 p.m.) Please help
(10:20 p.m.) This guy hes in my apartmet I nee help pleawe please
lamarr come here please
(10:20 p.m.) Come help me please
(10:34 p.m.) please come to my house this guy ah gtg [C.H.
testified that “gtg” means “got to go.”]
(10:34 p.m.) please tell him to come’
In a sidebar, defense counsel objected to the text messages being admitted
as substantive evidence, based on the trial judge's ruling in limine. Defense
counsel requested a limiting instruction. The trial judge instructed the jury that the
text messages were not to be considered for their substance, but only to show
C.H.'s state of mind.
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On cross-examination, C.H. acknowledged that she had testified she only
had a glass of sangria and a sip of tequila, but her text messages stated she was
getting drunk. C.H. also acknowledged her text messages contained many
typographical errors, but stated that she was holding the telephone at her side to
conceal her activity from Lewis. C.H. admitted that she never told her friends to
telephone the police. C[.]H. also identified the jeans she wore that evening. When
defense counsel noted that a tablet of Vicodin was found in her jeans pocket, C.H.
denied having taken pharmaceutical drugs that evening. C.H. testified that she
once had a prescription for Vicodin to treat migraine headaches.
Amanda Richardson testified that she had two charges of retail theft
pending against her in the circuit court of Cook County, which would be
dismissed once she completed a rehabilitation program for addiction to anti-
anxiety medication. The addiction developed after the incident at issue in this
case. Amanda denied that the State had promised her anything for her testimony
in this case.
Amanda stated that she had gone home to Michigan for the July 4th
holiday in 2009, but she was returning to Chicago with a friend on July 5, 2009.
Amanda testified that she received text messages from C.H. during the trip.
Amanda had a drink at 2 p.m., but did not feel drunk by the time she was dropped
off at her building at approximately 11 p.m. Amanda telephoned C.H. when she
arrived at the building, but there was no answer.
When Amanda reached their apartment, she was surprised to find the door
handle locked, as normally only the deadbolt was locked. Amanda opened the
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door and found C.H. sitting on a futon in the living room. C.H. ran up to her, but
she did not immediately try to leave or say there was a rapist in the apartment.
Amanda testified that she also saw Lewis in the apartment.
C.H. seemed to be in a panic and asked Amanda whether she wanted to
leave right away. Amanda replied that she wanted to remove her contact lenses,
which were bothering her. C.H. told Amanda to hurry, because they needed to go
downstairs. After removing her contact lenses, Amanda noticed that the apartment
was very messy, with the futons and dining room table out of place, a coffee table
overturned, and sangria spilled on the floor. Amanda testified that she also noticed
Lewis's underwear on a futon, but she later stated that she did not ask whose
underwear it was.
Amanda also testified about the conversation in the elevator, adding that
Lewis was slurring his words and seemed slightly off-balance. C.H. was crying
and shaking in the elevator and ‘sort of bolted out’ when the doors opened on the
first floor. C.H. sprinted down the block, saying, ‘is he behind us, is he following
us, make sure he is not following us.’ Once Amanda caught up, she tried putting
her arm around C.H., who resisted and turned away. Amanda asked C.H. whether
Lewis had done anything to her. C.H. kept saying, ‘I told him it wasn't okay.’
Amanda ultimately asked C.H. whether Lewis had raped her, at which point C.H.
collapsed and wailed, with her body shaking. Amanda noticed that C.H.'s left eye
was tender-looking and puffy. Amanda further testified that the women
telephoned their mothers and the police, then returned to their building to meet
with the police.
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Chicago police officer Geoffrey Roberts testified that on July 5, 2009, he
received a radio call at approximately 11:30 p.m. regarding a sexual assault at 833
West Buena Street. When he arrived, Officers Eric Leal and Lisa Echeverri were
already on the scene. Officer Roberts met with Amanda and C.H., who appeared
distraught, fidgety and nervous. After speaking to Johnny Diamond, the building's
security guard, Officer Roberts and other police went up to Lewis's apartment, but
there was no answer.
Johnny Diamond testified that on the night at issue, he saw two women
who were new residents run out of the building. One of the women seemed upset,
but Johnny was unable to catch up to ask what was wrong. Lewis then approached
him, which Johnny found unusual, because Lewis normally got off work at 4 a.m.
Johnny thought Lewis seemed a little intoxicated. According to Johnny, Lewis
went upstairs after a few minutes.
Officer Leal testified that when the police went back to Lewis's apartment
a second time, Lewis's wife answered and Lewis later appeared behind her. After
verifying Lewis's identity, the police took him into custody and transported him to
the police station.
Evidence technician Ted Delis testified that he collected evidence from
C.H.'s apartment, including a blanket in her bedroom, a cigarette butt, and a pair
of men's underwear from the living room. The parties stipulated that forensic
scientist Michelle Bybe would testify that she analyzed the vaginal swabs taken
from C.H. and found no semen on the swabs. Bybe would also testify that it was
possible for there to be penile-vaginal contact without the test detecting semen.
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The parties also stipulated that forensic scientist Angela Kaeshamer would testify
that she analyzed a pink and white blanket, and that Lewis's DNA profile was not
found on the blanket.
At the conclusion of the State's case, defense counsel moved for a directed
finding on the charge alleging contact between Lewis's mouth and C.H.'s vagina.
The trial judge granted the motion. The trial judge also admonished Lewis about
his right to testify. Lewis confirmed he did not wish to testify on his own behalf.
Dr. Virginia Valadka, who examined C.H. at Thorek Hospital on July 5,
2009, testified as a witness for the defense. Dr. Valadka testified that her
examination of C.H.'s ears, neck, mouth, throat and genitals did not show
abnormalities. Dr. Valadka found superficial abrasions on C.H.'s breasts and
wrists, but no ligature marks on her neck (and C.H. did not mention being choked
with her scarf). Dr. Valadka did not see any bruising on C.H.'s face, but noted that
bruises may take hours to appear after someone is struck. Similarly, C.H.'s vagina
and cervix did not show tearing or bruising, but the absence of tearing or bruising
did not mean that no sexual assault occurred.
Dr. Valadka further testified that C.H. denied that Lewis penetrated her
vagina with his fingers. C.H. initially told Dr. Valadka that Lewis had not used a
condom, but C.H. later said that she was unsure on that point. According to Dr.
Valadka, C.H. had told the nurse she was taking birth control and Lorazepam, a
mild tranquilizer. Dr. Valadka stated that C.H. appeared anxious and fearful. Dr.
Valadka opined that, based on her experience, C.H.'s presentation could be
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deemed consistent or inconsistent with someone who was a victim of sexual
assault.
During closing arguments, defense counsel argued that after drinking with
C.H. and disrobing in her living room, Lewis went with C.H. into the bedroom
and passed out on the bed. Defense counsel argued that the lack of physical and
forensic evidence supported the defense that no intercourse occurred. Following
jury instructions, the jury deliberated and found Lewis guilty of aggravated
criminal sexual assault based on contact between his penis and C.H.'s vagina, but
acquitted Lewis on the count of aggravated criminal sexual assault based on
contact between Lewis's finger and C.H.'s vagina.
Defense counsel filed a posttrial motion for a new trial. On August 12,
2010, after the trial judge denied the posttrial motion, Lewis requested to proceed
pro se. After admonishing Lewis pursuant to Illinois Supreme Court Rule 401
(eff. July 1, 1984), the trial judge granted Lewis's request, granted defense
counsel leave to withdraw, and continued the case. Over the course of several
status dates, the State tendered discovery to Lewis.
On October 1, 2010, Lewis filed his pro se motion for a new trial,
claiming that the trial court erred in overruling defense objections to inadmissible
evidence and prejudicial argument while sustaining the State's objections to
admissible evidence. Lewis also claimed that he received ineffective assistance
from his private trial counsel. Lewis alleged that trial counsel: (1) interfered with
his right to testify; (2) failed to investigate and call his neighbors as witnesses; (3)
failed to call character witnesses; and (4) entered into a stipulation regarding the
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transferability of chlamydia instead of calling a forensic scientist to testify about
the subject.
On the hearing date for his pro se motion, Lewis also filed a motion for
the appointment of a public defender to represent him at the hearing. The trial
judge appointed an assistant public defender, who demurred on the ground that he
did not know the case and was unprepared to proceed. The trial judge then
informed Lewis that his motion was dilatory and that Lewis would have to present
his motion himself. Marvin Bloom, Lewis's former private counsel, was present in
court, but Lewis waived the right to call witnesses or present argument.
The State called Bloom to testify regarding his representation of Lewis.
Bloom testified that he did not believe Lewis had given him any names of
witnesses and that his investigator was working with descriptions of Lewis's
neighbors. Bloom also testified that he discussed testifying with Lewis, who
chose not to testify. Bloom explained that when questioned by police, Lewis had
told them he had consensual sexual intercourse with C.H. Proceeding on a trial
theory that no intercourse occurred, Bloom explained that he would not call Lewis
as a witness due to the available impeachment by the prior statement to police.
Bloom further testified that he did not call character witnesses because Lewis did
not testify.
The trial court denied Lewis's pro se motion and proceeded to a
sentencing hearing. After hearing evidence in aggravation and mitigation, the trial
judge sentenced Lewis to 15 years in prison."
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¶5 On direct appeal, defendant challenged, among other things, the trial court's decision to
exclude the results of C.H.'s positive test for chlamydia under the Illinois rape shield statute,
because the evidence was necessary to support his trial defense that he had not had sex with C.H.
A different panel of this court noted that defendant had not provided an offer of proof about what
the excluded evidence would have been, and that there was no expert evidence regarding the
incubation period or transmission of the disease. People v. Lewis, 2012 IL App (1st) 103576-U,
¶¶ 54-55. It also noted that defendant asserted that he had tested negative, but provided no actual
evidence showing that he never had the disease. Id., ¶ 55. The appellate court stated, "Given the
absence of evidence that [defendant]'s test would have produced a relevant result, we cannot
conclude that the trial court erred in barring evidence of C.H.'s positive test." Id.
¶6 On September 29, 2014, defendant filed a pro se postconviction petition, alleging
ineffective assistance of counsel. Specifically, defendant contended that appellate counsel was
ineffective for failing to argue on direct appeal that trial counsel was ineffective for (1) "failing
to introduce evidence that defendant tested negative for Chlamydia, and *** for *** fail[ing] to
make an offer of proof concerning who administered the Chlamydia test and the documentation
of the test results"; (2) failing to obtain DNA evidence from the pair of men's underwear that was
found in the victim's apartment; (3) entering into a stipulation describing testimony of two
forensic scientists instead of calling them to testify in person; and (4) failing to challenge several
aspects of the probable cause determination.
¶7 Specifically, in regards to his first claim of ineffective assistance, defendant contended
that C.H. had tested positive for chlamydia when she was taken to the hospital after the incident.
Defendant further contended that upon entering the Cook County Jail, he was tested on "at least"
three separate occasions for "DNA, Sexual[ly] Transmitted Disease, etc." using "Mouth Swabs
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and Blood Testing." Defendant told his trial counsel that he "had negative results for all sexually
transmit[ted] disease[s]." Defendant contended that his trial counsel "should have conducted a
proper investigation, found who administer[ed] the test, and call[ed] him into [sic] testify" or
"introduce[d] into evidence the documentation of the test results during the State['s] Motion 'In
Limine'." Defendant further contended that counsel should have "introduced into evidence the
incubation period of chlamydia, the likehood [sic] of him contracting the disease, the
symptom[s] of the ailment, and the transmission of the disease." Defendant stated that his
"theory at trial was that he didn't have forcible or consensual sexual intercourse with C.H." He
argued that "[t]his theory would have been supported by evidence that he did not contract
Chlamydia from C.H." and that such evidence would have "further discredited C.H. in the eyes
of the Jury." Defendant thus argued that "Trial Counsel was ineffective for his failure to properly
challenge the aforementioned motion and Appellate Counsel was ineffective for failing to point
out trial counsel's ineffectiveness on Direct Appeal."
¶8 On November 7, 2014, the trial court entered a written order finding all issues in
defendant's petition to be "frivolous and patently without merit." Regarding defendant's
ineffective assistance issue based on his negative chlamydia test results, the court found that the
underlying issue "lacks any conceivable merit." The court noted that it had previously found that
the victim's positive test result was inadmissible pursuant to the Illinois rape shield statute, and,
without evidence that the victim had tested positive for chlamydia, evidence of defendant's
negative test result was "meaningless." The court further opined on the strength of the trial
evidence against defendant, and found that even if the underlying issue were meritorious,
defendant was unable to establish prejudice based on counsel's allegedly ineffective assistance.
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¶9 Although defendant raised a number of issues in his pro se postconviction petition,
defendant has abandoned most of those claims in this court. Defense counsel specifically
acknowledges that the second, third and fourth issues raised in defendant's petition (namely,
regarding counsel's failure to obtain DNA evidence from the underwear found in C.H.'s
apartment, to call two forensic scientists to testify in person rather than stipulating to their
testimony, and to challenge several aspects of the probable cause determination) do not present
arguable bases for relief because the record “positively rebuts any showing of prejudice based on
the alleged failures of counsel.” Moreover, in his pro se petition, defendant raised claims of
ineffective assistance of both trial and appellate counsel based on the failure of trial counsel to
investigate and present evidence of his negative chlamydia test results, and the failure of
appellate counsel to raise an issue as to trial counsel's effectiveness in his direct appeal.
However, in this court, defendant focuses solely on trial counsel's effectiveness, specifically
contending that the trial court erred when it summarily dismissed his petition, because he made
an arguable claim of ineffective assistance of trial counsel based on the failure of trial counsel to
investigate and present evidence of his negative chlamydia test results. By focusing his appeal
on trial counsel's effectiveness based on his negative chlamydia test results, defendant has
abandoned the remaining claims in his postconviction petition, forfeiting them for review. Ill. S.
Ct. R. 341(h)(7) (eff. Jan. 1, 2016); People v. Guest, 166 Ill. 2d 381, 414 (1995).
¶ 10 The State further contends that res judicata precludes consideration of defendant's
ineffective assistance claim, because, in defendant’s direct appeal, this court rejected defendant’s
challenge to his conviction based on the trial court’s exclusion of evidence of C.H.’s positive
chlamydia test. The State thus contends that defendant is raising the same issue, “albeit in
different terms” as the one that was “actually raised” in his direct appeal. The State asserts that
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defendant “is not entitled to relief under the Act by merely ‘rephrasing previously addressed
issues in constitutional terms.’ ”
¶ 11 The doctrine of res judicata bars consideration of issues that were previously raised and
decided on direct appeal. People v. Blair, 215 Ill. 2d 427, 443 (2005), citing People v. West, 187
Ill. 2d 418, 425 (1999). In this case, on direct appeal, defendant challenged the trial court's
decision to exclude evidence of C.H.'s positive chlamydia test results, whereas here, defendant is
challenging the effectiveness of counsel for failing to investigate and provide evidence to the
trial court of his negative test results, so that the court's decision could have been different.
Because the issue that defendant now raises is distinct from the one that was before the appellate
court on direct appeal, we do not find res judicata to bar defendant's claim.
¶ 12 Nevertheless, we conclude that defendant's claim must fail because defendant did not
present an arguable claim that he was denied the effective assistance of counsel. Defendant's
specific claim is that his trial counsel provided ineffective assistance by failing to investigate his
negative chlamydia test results, and to present that evidence to the trial court during the State’s
motion in limine in support of defendant's contention that C.H.'s positive chlamydia test results
should have been admitted.
¶ 13 The Act provides a means for a criminal defendant to challenge his conviction or
sentence based on a substantial violation of constitutional rights. People v. Beaman, 229 Ill. 2d
56, 71 (2008) (citing People v. Whitfield, 217 Ill. 2d 177, 183 (2005) and 725 ILCS 5/122-1 et
seq. (West 2014)). At the first stage of postconviction proceedings, the circuit court must, within
90 days of the petition's filing, independently review the petition, taking the allegations as true,
and determine whether the petition is frivolous or patently without merit. People v. Hodges, 234
Ill. 2d 1, 11-12 (2009); 725 ILCS 5/122-2.1(a)(2) (West 2014). A petition may be summarily
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dismissed as “frivolous or patently without merit only if the petition has no arguable basis either
in law or in fact.” Hodges, 234 Ill. 2d at 11-12; 735 ILCS 5/22-105(b) (West 2006). A claim has
no arguable basis when it is based on an indisputably meritless legal theory, such as one
completely contradicted by the record, or a fanciful factual allegation, such as one that is
fantastic or delusional. Id. at 16.
¶ 14 In the review of a first-stage postconviction petition, well-pled factual allegations in a
petition and its supporting evidence must be taken as true unless they are positively rebutted by
the record, but nonfactual and nonspecific assertions which merely amount to conclusions are not
sufficient. People v. Sanders, 2016 IL 118123, ¶ 48; People v. Barnslater, 373 Ill. App. 3d 512,
519 (2007), citing People v. Rissley, 206 Ill. 2d 403, 412 (2003). Although defendant need only
set forth the “gist” of a constitutional claim at this stage, and need not set forth the claim in its
entirety (People v. Edwards, 197 Ill. 2d 239, 243 (2001)), section 122-2 of the Act requires that
the petitioner clearly set forth the respects in which his constitutional rights were violated, and
attach affidavits, records or other evidence supporting the allegations or an explanation for their
absence (725 ILCS 5/122-2 (West 2010); Hodges, 234 Ill. 2d at 10. We review the summary
dismissal of a post-conviction petition de novo. People v. Coleman, 183 Ill. 2d 366, 388 (1998).
¶ 15 An allegation of a violation of the constitutional right to effective assistance of counsel is
evaluated under the standard set forth by the United States Supreme Court in Strickland v.
Washington, 466 U.S. 668 (1984), and adopted in Illinois by People v. Albanese, 104 Ill. 2d 504,
526-27 (1984). Under Strickland, a defendant raising a claim of ineffective counsel must show both
that counsel’s performance was deficient and that the deficient performance prejudiced the
defendant. Hodges, 234 Ill. 2d at 17. A failure to satisfy either prong of the Strickland standard
causes the allegation of ineffective assistance of counsel to fail. See Strickland, 466 U.S. at 670.
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¶ 16 At the first stage of post-conviction proceedings, a defendant need not carry the ultimate
burden of showing ineffective assistance of counsel, and a petition alleging ineffective assistance
may not be summarily dismissed if (i) it is arguable that counsel's performance fell below an
objective standard of reasonableness and (ii) it is arguable that the defendant was prejudiced.
People v. Hodges, 234 Ill. 2d 1, 17 (2009). Broad conclusory allegations of ineffective assistance
of counsel are not sufficient to avoid a summary dismissal. People v. Delton, 227 Ill. 2d 247, 258
(2008).
¶ 17 In this appeal, defendant asserts he made an arguable constitutional claim of ineffective
assistance of counsel based on counsel’s failure to investigate his negative chlamydia test results,
and to present that evidence to the trial court in support of his contention that the victim's
positive chlamydia test results should have been admitted. The State responds that the court
properly dismissed defendant’s petition because it has no arguable basis in fact or in law. The
State contends that counsel cannot be ineffective for “failing to raise a meritless claim” and
defendant “was not arguably prejudiced” by counsel's decision not to present such a claim.
¶ 18 Counsel's decision “ ‘not to investigate must be directly assessed for reasonableness in all
the circumstances, applying a heavy measure of deference to counsel’s judgments.’ ” Guest, 166
Ill. 2d at 400 (quoting Strickland, 466 U.S. at 691). “Whether the failure to investigate
constitutes ineffective assistance of counsel is determined by the value of the evidence not
presented at trial and the closeness of the evidence that was presented at trial.” People v.
Harmon, 2013 IL App (2d) 120439, ¶ 26.
¶ 19 At defendant's trial, the court determined that evidence of the victim's positive chlamydia
test results was barred under the Illinois rape shield statute, which “absolutely bars evidence of
the alleged victim's prior sexual activity or reputation, subject to two exceptions: (1) evidence of
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past sexual activities with the accused, offered as evidence of consent; and (2) where the
admission of such evidence is constitutionally required.” People v. Santos, 211 Ill. 2d 395, 401–
02 (2004). Because the proposed evidence does not concern prior sexual activities between C.H.
and defendant, only the second exception is potentially relevant here.
¶ 20 The policy underlying the rape shield statute is to prevent the defendant from harassing
and humiliating the complaining witness with evidence of either her reputation for chastity or
unchastity, or specific acts of sexual conduct with persons other than defendant, since such
evidence has no bearing on whether she consented to sexual relations with the defendant. Id. at
414 (quoting People v. Ellison, 123 Ill. App. 3d 615, 626 (1984)). The exclusion of such
evidence also “ ‘keeps the jury's attention focused only on issues relevant to the controversy at
hand’ ” and “ ‘promotes effective law enforcement because victims can report crimes of rape
and deviate sexual assault without fear of having the intimate details of their past sexual activity
brought before the public.’ ” Id.
¶ 21 The constitution, however, sometimes requires that a defendant “be permitted to offer
certain evidence which was directly relevant to matters at issue in the case, notwithstanding that
it concerned the victim's prior sexual activity.” (Emphasis in original.) Santos, 211 Ill. 2d at
405–06. The due-process clause of the fourteenth amendment (U.S. Const., amend. XIV) and the
confrontation clauses of the federal and Illinois constitutions (U.S. Const., amend. VI; Ill. Const.
1970, art. I, § 8) guarantee criminal defendants “a meaningful opportunity to present a complete
defense.” (Internal quotation marks omitted.) Santos, 211 Ill. 2d at 412. “ ' [A]n essential
component of procedural fairness is an opportunity to be heard.' ” People v. Maxwell, 2011 IL
App (4th) 100434, ¶ 75, quoting Crane v. Kentucky, 476 U.S. 683, 690, 106 S. Ct. 2142 (1986).
Fairness, however, does not require the admission of evidence which is only “marginally
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relevant” or which “poses an undue risk of harassment, prejudice, [or] confusion of the issues.”
(Internal quotation marks omitted.) Id., quoting Crane, 476 U.S. at 689–90, 106 S. Ct. 2142. “The
true question is always one of relevancy, and [t]he alleged victim's sexual history is not
constitutionally required to be admitted unless it would make a meaningful contribution to the
fact-finding enterprise.” (internal citations and quotation marks omitted.) People v.
Johnson, 2014 IL App (2d) 121004, ¶ 42; see also Maxwell, 2011 IL App (4th) 100434, ¶ 75;
People v. Sanders, 2015 IL App (4th) 130881, ¶ 47 ("not even the confrontation clause requires
the admission of evidence which poses an undue risk of harassment, prejudice, or confusion of
the issues. *** Defendant's right of confrontation *** does not extend to matters which are
irrelevant and have little or no probative value. Complainant's past sexual conduct has no bearing
on whether she has consented to sexual relations with defendant." (citations omitted)).
¶ 22 Our review of the record of the proceedings on the State's motion in limine shows that the
trial court initially indicated that it would grant the State's motion to exclude such evidence, and
defense counsel presented argument on that issue in an attempt to persuade the trial court to
change that decision. Counsel informed the court that defendant "was tested for chlamydia" and
"never had chlamydia, never got chlamydia[.]" Defense counsel further argued that the fact that
the victim tested positive for chlamydia and defendant did not was "direct medical evidence that
*** they did not have sexual intercourse." Counsel contended that "this takes it out of the rape
shield example and puts it into the elemental right of the Defendant to present a defense on one
of the critical issues in the case which is whether or not there was sex between these parties."
¶ 23 In light of the above exchange, the record appears to rebut defendant's claim that trial
counsel failed to investigate defendant's negative test results. Indeed, counsel brought up
defendant's test results to the court, stating that defendant "never had chlamydia, never got
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chlamydia, and has been in jail and was tested for it even on his entry into the jail[.]" The record
shows that the court was well aware of C.H. and defendant’s respective test results, and the
relevance that defendant ascribed to those results.
¶ 24 Nonetheless, even if we were to assume that counsel failed to investigate defendant's test
results and, as a result, failed to present the evidence of such investigation to the trial court, such
failure would not constitute deficient performance by defense counsel. Our review makes clear
that the trial court did not exclude the test results because counsel did not make an adequate offer
of proof or because the court did not believe that evidence of defendant's negative results existed.
Instead, the court considered the relevance of the test results, and determined that their probative
value did not outweigh the interests protected under the rape shield law. The trial court's
conclusion on this issue is in line with the great weight of authority from our jurisdiction and
others, regarding the introduction of evidence of a sexually transmitted disease under various
rape shield statutes. See State v. Knox, 536 N.W.2d 735, 743 (Iowa 1995) (trial court did not
abuse its discretion in refusing to admit proffered evidence that victim tested positive for
chlamydia while the defendant did not when the probative value of the proffered evidence was
“very weak” and the evidence did “ ‘not reach a level of probative force to warrant the
inflammatory and prejudicial impacts upon the victim and the proceeding by its admission’ ”
(internal quotations omitted)); State v. Ozuna, 316 P.3d 109, 114 (Idaho Ct. App. 2013)
(evidence related to the victim's STD and the defendant's lack of the STD was properly excluded
and the exclusion did not violate the defendant's constitutional right to present a defense); State
v. Mitchell, 568 N.W.2d 493, 496 (Iowa 1997) (the trial court did not violate the defendant's
constitutional right to confront witnesses by excluding evidence showing that he did not contract
a particular strain of gonorrhea that the victim had, and that there was a twenty to thirty percent
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chance that the defendant would have contracted it after sexual contact; such evidence was not
relevant, and the prejudicial effect of the evidence outweighed its probative value).
¶ 25 We also note that, although defendant has presented no evidence regarding the
transmission rate of chlamydia, other courts have examined such evidence, which generally tends
to show that a male has an approximately 30% chance of contracting chlamydia from an infected
female during a single act of intercourse. See Knox, 536 N.W.2d at 738. Moreover, if a condom
is used during the sexual act, the transmission rate drops to virtually “nil.” Id. In this case, C.H.
testified that she did not know whether defendant had used a condom during the incident, or
whether he had ejaculated. Dr. Valadka testified that C.H. initially told her that defendant had
not used a condom, but said later that she was not sure whether he had. There was no semen
found on the vaginal swabs taken from C.H. This evidence suggests that defendant may have
used a condom during the incident, making the potential rate of transmission from C.H. to
defendant somewhere between 0 and 30%. Id.; see also State v. Ervin, 723 S.W.2d 412, 415 (Mo.
Ct. App. 1986) (suppression of evidence that victim had gonorrhea and defendant did not upheld
where (1) there was less than a 33 ⅓% chance defendant would have contracted the disease
during unprotected sexual intercourse with the victim, and (2) evidence would have had
prejudicial effect).
¶ 26 In light of the above, we find no arguable claim that defense counsel performed
deficiently by failing to investigate and present evidence of defendant's negative chlamydia test
results. See People v. Edwards, 195 Ill. 2d 142, 165 (2001) (holding that defense counsel is not
ineffective for failing to make a fruitless argument).
¶ 27 For many of the same reasons, we also conclude that defendant has not made an arguable
claim of prejudice based on counsel's allegedly deficient performance. Had counsel made an
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offer of proof or introduced the specific evidence of defendant's results which defendant now
claims should have been introduced, it is not arguable the trial court would have ruled
differently.
¶ 28 Many courts outside this jurisdiction have addressed, and rejected, similar issues as the
one defendant raises in this appeal, finding that a defendant cannot establish a reasonable
probability that he was prejudiced based on counsel’s failure to raise the kind of evidence
proffered here. See Evicci v. Maloney, 387 F.3d 37, 42 (1st Cir. 2004) (the petitioner's claim that
defense counsel was ineffective for failing to raise a defense based on the fact that petitioner did
not contract chlamydia from the victim after the alleged rape did not establish a reasonable
probability that the result of the trial would have been different to warrant habeas relief in light
of "the speculative quality of the assumed medical evidence and the substantial evidence of guilt
presented by the government"); Anderson v. Commissioner of Correction, 98 A.3d 23, 25 (Conn.
2014) (finding that the petitioner had not raised a reasonable probability of prejudice from
alleged ineffective assistance based on "trial counsel's failure to investigate his claims that he had
a history of various sexually transmitted diseases, to introduce medical records concerning that
history, to introduce evidence concerning whether the victim had contracted any sexually
transmitted diseases, and to present expert testimony concerning the transmission rates of such
diseases").
¶ 29 In light of the strong evidence of defendant's guilt presented at trial, we do not find it
arguable that the results of defendant’s trial would have been different had the test results been
entered into evidence. C.H. testified extensively regarding the events leading up to the incident,
and defendant's various advances. C.H. also testified to her repeated rejections of those
advances, and defendant's increasingly forceful and violent actions. As the appellate court on
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direct appeal noted, C.H.'s testimony was substantially corroborated by her roommate Amanda's
“testimony of C.H.'s distraught condition and prompt outcry, as well as her observation of the
condition of their apartment, with furniture displaced and what she believed was Lewis's
underwear on a futon in the living room.” Lewis, 2012 IL App (1st) 103576-U, ¶ 50. C.H.'s
account was also corroborated by "[t]estimony from the police, building security guard and Dr.
Valadka" who testified regarding "C.H.'s agitation after the incident." Id. The evidence also
showed abrasions to C.H.'s breasts and wrists, and a bruise that developed under C.H.'s left eye,
which was consistent with her testimony that defendant had struck her in that location. Id. C.H.'s
testimony was further corroborated by the text messages she sent to friends that night, which
showed her growing sense of alarm throughout the evening. In these circumstances, we find no
arguable prejudice based on counsel's failure to investigate and present evidence of defendant's
negative test results.
¶ 30 Because we find that defendant failed to present the gist of a constitutional claim, we
need not reach the State's alternative argument, that summary dismissal was appropriate where
defendant failed to attach medical records or other documents supporting his claimed test results.
¶ 31 Accordingly, we affirm the circuit court’s order dismissing defendant’s petition at the
first stage of proceedings.
¶ 32 Affirmed.
26