Robert Keith Welch v. Commonwealth of Kentucky ( 2006 )

I'MPORTANT NOVICE
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED OPINION
THIS OPINION IS DESIGN4 TED "NOT TO BE
PUBLISHED. " PURSUANT TO THE RULES OF
CIVIL PROCED URE PROMUL GA TED B Y THE
SUPREME COURT, CR 76.28 (4) (c), THIS OPINION
IS NOT TO BE PUBLISHED AND SHALL NOTBE
CITED OR USED AS A UTHORITYINANY OTHER
CASE INANY COURT OF THIS STA TE.
RENDERED : NOVEMBER 22, 2006
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED
,Su~raat fa~r~t~ of ~tr.``rr
2005-SC-0279-MR and 2005-SC-0806-TG
ROBERT KEITH WELCH APPELLANT
APPEAL FROM FAYETTE CIRCUIT COURT
HONORABLE GARY D. PAYNE, JUDGE
2003-CR-00398-002
COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY APPELLEE
MEMORANDUM OPINION OF THE COURT
AFFIRMING
This appeal is from a judgment based on a jury trial which convicted
Welch of first degree manslaughter, first degree robbery and tampering with physical
evidence. He was sentenced to a total of 20 years in prison .
The questions presented are was it error to provide an initial aggressor
qualification instruction ; did the trial judge commit error when answering jury questions
without the presence of counsel, Welch and not in open court; was prior bad act
evidence improperly admitted ; was it error to allow evidence about a particular song
and was it used to improperly inflame the jury; and, finally, was it improper to deny the
request for a new trial without an evidentiary hearing .
Welch and another man were friends . That friendship included the two of them
being involved in producing music together as well as dealing drugs and possibly other
illegal activities . They needed money to be able to record their music in a professional
studio and hatched a plan that would get them enough money to record their music.
They contacted another acquaintance and even though they had just enough money to
buy a few pounds of marijuana they indicated they wanted to buy ten pounds. The plan
was to then re-sell the marijuana at a significant profit. They thought they could double
their money . At some point, that plan was modified and instead became a plan to rob
the drug dealer, keeping the marijuana and the money for themselves .
There are various versions of what happened but eventually the drug dealer was
shot three times and killed. One version of the testimony had the drug dealer
attempting to rob Welch and his friend at gunpoint . The defense attempted to show
that Welch shot the drug dealer in order to protect himself or his friend . Another
version had Welch robbing the drug dealer and shooting him when he resisted .
Welch's friend and another person who provided the initial contact to the drug
dealer each entered pleas of guilty and received ten year sentences on reduced
charges in exchange for their testimony against Welch . He was convicted of first
degree manslaughter, first degree robbery and tampering with physical evidence .
Sentencing resulted in a total of 20 years to serve in the state penitentiary. This appeal
followed .
1. Initial Aggressor Qualification Jury Instructions
Welch argues that the evidence at trial indicated that the victim initiated the
physical confrontation that led to his death . He asserts that the theory by the
prosecutor that Welch met the victim to obtain marijuana by theft with a loaded weapon
does not establish that Welch was the first to use physical force offensively. He also
claims that the trial judge erred by giving the jury initial aggressor qualifications . We do
not agree.
This issue was preserved for review by objection that was overruled by the trial
judge. Welch's defense was built around defense of another or self defense .
Instructions were provided by the trial judge that required the jury to consider whether
Welch was precluded from those defenses because he was the initial aggressor . The
defenses and possible preclusion applied to the range of charges including first degree
manslaughter, second degree manslaughter and reckless homicide that all revolved
around the killing of the drug dealer.
The trial judge properly considered the complete circumstances involved in the
incident. See Stew v. Commonwealth , 608 S .W.2d 371 (Ky. 1980). The testimony
from the various witnesses directly involved with the incident was conflicting . It was
possible for the jury to believe Welch was an initial aggressor and it was possible for the
jury to believe he was not. See Commonwealth v. Benham, 816 S.W.2d 186 (Ky.
1991). The instruction was appropriate given the facts of this case. There was no
error .
11. Jury Questions
Welch contends that the trial judge denied him due process of law and abridged
his Fifth Amendment right to be present by answering jury questions during the guilt
phase deliberations without consulting either counsel and without Welch being present
and not in open court . We' disagree .
The jury provided a written question to the trial judge regarding a fact that had
been part of the testimony from one witness . The trial judge responded with the answer
to that factual question . Neither Welch nor his attorney were present and were never
provided reasonable notice of the question or the answer. There is no question that
this was improper procedural conduct. RCr 9.74 requires such questions to be
answered in open court, in the presence of the jury, the defendant and counsel after
reasonable notice to- the parties. We are obligated, however, to review this error
through the perspective of harmless error analysis . See RCr 9.24.
After a discussion with the judge requesting a review of specific testimony, the
jury indicated it was seeking an answer to a specific factual question disclosed in that
testimony. Rather then provide the testimony, the trial judge simply provided the
answer as given by the witness. Welch relies on our decision in Mills v.
Commonwealth , 44 S.W.3d 366 (Ky. 2001) where we found that it was a serious
deprivation of a constitutional right when the trial judge in that case provided information
to a.jury that had not been admitted into evidence. The current situation is vastly
different .
The deprivation of having counsel present in Welch's case and other errors
associated with the trial judge giving the answer to the jury does not rise to the level of
a deprivation that cannot be harmless. See Rushen v. Spain, 464 U .S. 114 (1983).
There was no prejudicial effect from the actions of this trial judge. The trial was
fundamentally fair and the error was harmless. RCr 9.24
111. Prior Bad Act Evidence
Welch complains that the trial judge erred by failing to declare a mistrial when
the lead detective testified that "hit a lick" meant "a robbery" and that Welch's friend told
her in a prior interview that the deal with the drug dealer was supposed to be his and
Welch's "last lick ." Welch believes the testimony was inadmissible prior bad act
evidence pursuant to KRE 404. We disagree .
Throughout the trial, there was a significant amount of testimony concerning the
slang terms "lick" and "last lick" . Several witnesses defined them as either terms
describing a drug deal or a robbery. When a detective was discussing an interview with
Welch's partner and friend, she stated that he had said this was to be the last one.
When asked if she meant the last "lick", Welch moved for a mistrial because of failure
to provide notice of prior criminal acts as required by KRE 404(b).
Because the partner and friend had testified earlier, the trial judge ruled that the
detective's testimony was proper impeachment evidence and allowed it. The KRE
404(b) evidence was properly admitted for rebuttal purposes. See Ernst v.
Commonwealth, 160 S.W .3d 744 (Ky. 2005). There was no error.
IV. Song Title Evidence
Welch argues that it was error for the trial judge to admit evidence of the title of a
rap song and allow the prosecution to explain the meaning of the song. He also
maintains that the only purpose was to inflame the jury and attempt to demonstrate that
Welch had a propensity for robbery and using intoxicants . He believes that the
prosecution sought to use the testimony to show his state of mind and that he acted in
conformity with this propensity when he killed the victim. We cannot find any error.
Welch and his friend and partner had written a number of songs and recorded
them. Welch argues that the admission of the song title constitutes evidence of prior
bad acts and that the prosecutor failed to provide notice as required by KRE 404(b).
Welch stipulated to the admission of the song title. The prosecutor read the title to the
jury and stated that the words indicated what the song was about. The mere title in no
way identified Welch as being involved in any prior criminal activity. It did not identify
Welch at all. The evidence was properly admitted . There was no abuse of discretion.
See Commonwealth v. En lish , 993 S.W .2d 941 (Ky. 1999) .
V. Motion For New Trial
Welch claims that the trial judge erred by denying his motion for a new trial
without an evidentiary hearing . We disagree .
Welch provided an affidavit indicating that a witness had falsified testimony.
Welch provided this affidavit to the trial judge and requested a new trial based on newly
discovered evidence . A proper affidavit requesting a new trial because of newly
discovered evidence requires it to be from the defendant and explain how due diligence
prevented him from having that evidence prior to trial. See Wheeler v. Commonwealth ,
395 S.W .2d 569 (Ky. 1965) . That evidence must be shown to be of such decisive value
that it would, with reasonable certainty, have changed the result or verdict. See id.
Here, the trial judge found the evidence to be merely cumulative. Absent an
abuse of discretion, we will not substitute our judgment for that of the trial judge. See
Folev v. Commonwealth , 55 S.W.3d 809 (Ky. 2001). There was no need to hold an
evidentiary hearing . There was no error or abuse of discretion by the trial judge.
Welch received a fundamentally fair trial . He was not denied any state or federal
right.
The judgment of conviction and resulting sentence is affirmed .
Graves, Roach, Scott and Wintersheimer, JJ., concur. Minton, J., dissents by
separate opinion and is joined by Lambert, C.J . and McAnulty, J .
COUNSEL FOR APPELLANT :
Euva D. May
Assistant Public Advocate
Department of Public Advocacy
Suite 302, 100 Fair Oaks Lane
Frankfort, KY 40601
COUNSEL FOR APPELLEE :
Gregory D. Stumbo
Attorney General of Kentucky
Susan Roncarti Lenz
Assistant Attorney General
Criminal Appellate Division
Office of the Attorney General
1024 Capital Center Drive
Frankfort, KY 40601-8204
RENDERED : NOVEMBER 22, 2006
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED
,~Wuyrrutr Caurf Of IftrtifuAv
2005-SC-000279-MR
AND
2005-SC-000806-TG
ROBERT KEITH WELCH APPELLANT
APPEAL FROM FAYETTE CIRCUIT COURT
V. HONORABLE GARY D. PAYNE, JUDGE
INDICTMENT NO . 03-CR-00398-002
COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY APPELLEE
DISSENTING OPINION BY JUSTICE MINTON
I agree with the majority that it is possible for a trial judge's ex parte
contact with a juror to be harmless error.' But I do not agree that the trial judge's ex
parte communication with this deliberating jury concerning a substantive issue in this
case can be dismissed as harmless error. So I respectfully dissent .
Kentucky Rules of Criminal Procedure (RCr.) 9.74 provides that "[n]o
information requested by the jury or any juror after the jury has retired for deliberation
shall be given except in open court in the presence of the defendant . . . and the entire
jury, and in the presence of or after reasonable notice to counsel for the parties ."
Despite the unmistakably clear provisions of RCr 9 .74, the trial judge in this case
inexplicably and alarmingly engaged in ex parte communication with the jury on multiple
' Rushen v. Spain, 464 U.S. 114 (1983) .
occasions. The jury wrote the trial court a note, stating simply that "Willie Allen's
testimony regarding their activity when they left White Castle ." The trial court's written
ex parte response was, "[w]e are finding the tape and the portion of the testimony after
they left White Castle. Is there a particular statement you are looking for? S/ Gary
Payne." The jury then wrote, "[w]as Rob Welch in the car when Willie Allen hid the guns
the first time?" And Judge Payne's written ex parte response was, "[y]es-he was in the
car. S/ Gary Payne." 2
We apparently have never been confronted with facts like these . But we
have previously condemned violations of RCr 9.74 (and its predecessor) even if the
violations appear to be less egregious than those found in this case. As our
predecessor Court forcefully held:
It has been recognized since time immemorial, under the
common law, the federal and our Constitution, that when one
is charged with a felony the trial must be had in the presence
of the accused, and that the accused has the right to be
heard by himself and counsel . The Code provision makes it
quite plain that if there be disagreement as to evidence-
which must have existed here, else no reason for the
request-any elucidation must not be had without notice to
counsel . The reason is obvious, and particularly applicable
here, where the witness had given contradictory testimony .
It is beyond our power to make a rational guess as to the
Id. In addition, though not argued by Welch, our review of the record shows that the trial
court also spoke to the jurors in an ex parte manner during deliberation in the penalty phase .
See Tape 22/2/05NCR/10 A-7, 02:47 :13-02:49:22. Also, another note from the jury
appears to have gone unanswered by the trial judge.
See, e.g., Mills v. Commonwealth , 44 S.W.3d 366 (Ky. 2001) (holding that it was reversible
error for a jury to be permitted to play tapes of evidence in the jury room during delibera-
tions) ; Lett v. Commonwealth , 284 Ky. 267, 144 S.W.2d 505 (1940) (holding that it was
reversible error, even absent an explicit showing of prejudice, for a stenographer to read
portions of the evidence to a jury without the presence of defense counsel).
effect of the failure to have re-read the contradictory
evidence .
I recognize that jurors frequently will have ex parte contact with trial judges
during the course of a trial.5 And I also recognize that such contact will often be
innocuous and, accordingly, will not alter the fundamental fairness of an otherwise
constitutionally acceptable trial . But this case does not involve an innocuous comment .
Instead, the jury's question about whether Welch was in the car when Willie Allen hid
the guns went to the heart of the tampering with physical evidence charge against
Welch.' Yet, instead of declining to answer the questions without first consulting
counsel for both Welch and the Commonwealth, the trial court simply answered,
"[y]es-he was in the car." That answer, though supported by evidence in the record,
constitutes a finding on an issue integral to at least one of the charges against Welch .
Whether there was evidence to support the answer given by the trial judge is irrelevant
Left, 144 S.W.2d at 509.
Rushen , 464 U.S. at 118 ("[thhere is scarcely a lengthy trial in which one or more jurors do
not have occasion to speak to the trial judge about something, whether it relates to a matter
of personal comfort or to some aspect of the trial.").
For example, a juror greeting a judge in a courthouse hallway or a jury panel asking the
judge to arrange for a smoking break or a meal during deliberations would constitute
harmless error. Indeed, the ex parte contact in Rushen , relied upon by the majority to find
the trial judge's contact with the jurors in the case at hand to be a mere harmless error, was
clearly more innocuous than that found in this case because the improper contact in Rushen
involved only one juror, not the entire panel; and, unlike the case at hand, the trial judge and
juror in Rushen "did not discuss any fact in controversy or any law applicable to the case ."
464 U .S. at 121 .
The jury instruction on tampering with physical evidence required the jury to convict Welch
only if it found beyond a reasonable doubt that Welch "destroyed, concealed, and/or
removed physical evidence, which he believed was about to be produced or used in an
official proceeding, or Willie Wilson Allen, Jr. did so with the Defendant [Welch], intending
that Willie Wilson Allen, Jr. do so, aiding him; AND . . . [t]hat the Defendant or Willie Wilson
Allen, Jr. did so with the intent to impair its availability in that official proceeding ."
under these circumstances because it is the sole province of the jury to decide which
witnesses) to believe and which to disbelieve . Therefore, because I believe that
Welch's constitutional rights were violated by the trial judge's ex parte contact with the
jury concerning substantive issues in this case, I cannot join the majority's opinion,
which I believe gives short shrift to this alarming issue. Furthermore, the majority's
conclusion has the effect, desired or not, of approving a trial court's engaging in
improper ex parte communication with a deliberating jury.
In conclusion, I believe the trial court's errors in this case were of more
than sufficient magnitude to require Welch's conviction to be vacated. As then-Judge
Cardozo eloquently stated, "[a] criminal, however shocking his crime, is not to answer
for it with forfeiture of life or liberty till tried and convicted in conformity with law. ,8
Because Robert Welch's liberty was forfeited in a trial that plainly was not conducted in
conformity with the law, I respectfully dissent.
Lambert, C .J. ; and McAnulty, J., join .
a
People v. Moran, 158 N.E. 35, 37 (N .Y . 1927).