People of Michigan v. Billie Ernest Fulkerson ( 2017 )

STATE OF MICHIGAN
COURT OF APPEALS
PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN, UNPUBLISHED
December 26, 2017
Plaintiff-Appellee,
V No. 329887
Livingston Circuit Court
BILLIE ERNEST FULKERSON, LC No. 15-022541-FC
Defendant-Appellant.
Before: MURPHY, P.J., and M. J. KELLY and SWARTZLE, JJ.
PER CURIAM.
Defendant was convicted by a jury of three counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct
(CSC-I), MCL 750.520b(1)(a) (sexual penetration with person under 13 years of age), and one
count of second-degree criminal sexual conduct (CSC-II), MCL 750.520c(1)(a) (sexual contact
with person under 13 years of age). He was sentenced to concurrent terms of imprisonment of
20 to 40 years for each of the CSC-I convictions and 10 to 15 years for the CSC-II conviction.
Defendant appeals as of right, and we affirm his convictions but vacate his sentences and remand
for resentencing.
The jury convicted defendant of sexually abusing his granddaughter, beginning when she
was about five or six years old; the victim was 15 years old at the time of trial. The three counts
of CSC-I were predicated on an act of digital-vaginal penetration, an act of penile-vaginal
penetration, and an act of oral-vaginal penetration. The CSC-II count was based on an act of
genital touching. On appeal, defendant first argues that there was insufficient evidence to
support the CSC-I conviction involving penile-vaginal penetration and that trial counsel was
ineffective by failing to move for a directed verdict on that particular count. In support of his
arguments, defendant accurately points to the victim’s testimony wherein she indicated that, on
one or two occasions, defendant attempted penile-vaginal penetration, but answered in the
negative when asked, “Did it ever go in?”
We review de novo the issue regarding whether there was sufficient evidence to sustain a
conviction. People v Lueth, 253 Mich. App. 670, 680; 660 NW2d 322 (2002). In reviewing the
sufficiency of the evidence, this Court must view the evidence – whether direct or circumstantial
– in a light most favorable to the prosecutor and determine whether a rational trier of fact could
find that the essential elements of the crime were proven beyond a reasonable doubt. People v
Reese, 491 Mich. 127, 139; 815 NW2d 85 (2012); People v Hardiman, 466 Mich. 417, 428; 646
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NW2d 158 (2002). A jury, and not an appellate court, observes the witnesses and listens to their
testimony; therefore, an appellate court must not interfere with the jury’s role in assessing the
weight of the evidence and the credibility of the witnesses. People v Wolfe, 440 Mich. 508, 514-
515; 489 NW2d 748 (1992). Circumstantial evidence and the reasonable inferences that arise
from such evidence can constitute satisfactory proof of the elements of a crime. People v
Carines, 460 Mich. 750, 757; 597 NW2d 130 (1999). The prosecution need not negate every
reasonable theory of innocence, but need only prove the elements of the crime in the face of
whatever contradictory evidence is provided by the defendant. People v Nowack, 462 Mich. 392,
400; 614 NW2d 78 (2000). We resolve all conflicts in the evidence in favor of the prosecution.
People v Kanaan, 278 Mich. App. 594, 619; 751 NW2d 57 (2008).
For purposes of CSC-I, “sexual penetration” is defined as “sexual intercourse,
cunnilingus, fellatio, anal intercourse, or any other intrusion, however slight, of any part of a
person's body or of any object into the genital or anal openings of another person's body, but
emission of semen is not required.” MCL 750.520a(r). The jury was instructed consistent with
this statutory provision. Although the victim testified as indicated above, she also stated that “it
was uncomfortable and it hurt really bad” in relationship to the penile-vaginal contact. A
reasonable and fairly strong inference arising from this testimony is that there was an intrusion of
defendant’s penis into the victim’s genital opening. The feeling of pain almost necessarily
suggests an intrusion and certainly at least a slight intrusion. The victim’s testimony that
defendant’s penis did not go in does not necessarily correlate or equate to testimony that the
statutory definition of “sexual penetration” was not satisfied. We can only speculate with respect
to the young victim’s conception of what constituted a genital intrusion. In sum, viewing the
evidence in a light most favorable to the prosecution and resolving all conflicts in the evidence in
favor of the prosecutor, we hold that there was sufficient evidence to sustain the guilty verdict on
the charge of penile-vaginal penetration. Moreover, because a directed verdict on the charge
would not have been appropriate, we reject defendant’s claim that his attorney was ineffective
for not moving for a directed verdict on the count. See People v Thomas, 260 Mich. App. 450,
457; 678 NW2d 631 (2004) (counsel is not ineffective for failing to raise futile objections or
motions).
Defendant next argues that the trial court, having conducted a Ginther1 hearing, erred in
concluding that trial counsel’s decision to go to trial without the assistance of an expert on the
reliability of children’s allegations of criminal sexual conduct did not constitute deficient
performance. Again, we disagree, although it presents a close call.
Whether counsel was ineffective presents a mixed question of fact and constitutional law,
which we review, respectively, for clear error and de novo. People v LeBlanc, 465 Mich. 575,
579; 640 NW2d 246 (2002). In People v Carbin, 463 Mich. 590, 599-600; 623 NW2d 884
(2001), our Supreme Court, addressing the basic principles governing a claim of ineffective
assistance of counsel, observed:
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People v Ginther, 390 Mich. 436, 443; 212 NW2d 922 (1973).
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To justify reversal under either the federal or state constitutions, a
convicted defendant must satisfy the two-part test articulated by the United States
Supreme Court in Strickland v Washington, 466 U.S. 668; 104 S. Ct. 2052; 80 L. Ed.
2d 674 (1984). See People v Pickens, 446 Mich. 298, 302-303; 521 NW2d 797
(1994). “First, the defendant must show that counsel’s performance was deficient.
This requires showing that counsel made errors so serious that counsel was not
performing as the ‘counsel’ guaranteed by the Sixth Amendment.” Strickland,
supra at 687. In so doing, the defendant must overcome a strong presumption that
counsel’s performance constituted sound trial strategy. Id. at 690. “Second, the
defendant must show that the deficient performance prejudiced the defense.” Id.
at 687. To demonstrate prejudice, the defendant must show the existence of a
reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s error, the result of the proceeding
would have been different. Id. at 694. “A reasonable probability is a probability
sufficient to undermine confidence in the outcome.” Id. Because the defendant
bears the burden of demonstrating both deficient performance and prejudice, the
defendant necessarily bears the burden of establishing the factual predicate for his
claim. See People v Hoag, 460 Mich. 1, 6; 594 NW2d 57 (1999).
An attorney’s performance is deficient if the representation falls below an objective
standard of reasonableness. People v Toma, 462 Mich. 281, 302; 613 NW2d 694 (2000).
“Decisions regarding what evidence to present and whether to call or question witnesses are
presumed to be matters of trial strategy, and this Court will not substitute its judgment for that of
counsel regarding matters of trial strategy.” People v Davis, 250 Mich. App. 357, 368; 649 NW2d
94 (2002). And we will not “assess counsel’s competence with the benefit of hindsight.” People
v Rockey, 237 Mich. App. 74, 76-77; 601 NW2d 887 (1999). We cannot insulate, however, the
review of counsel's performance by simply calling it trial strategy. People v Trakhtenberg, 493
Mich. 38, 52; 826 NW2d 136 (2012). Initially, this Court must determine whether strategic
choices were made after less than complete investigation, with any choice being reasonable only
to the extent that reasonable professional judgment supported the limitations on investigation.
Id.
The sole witness at the Ginther hearing was defendant’s trial attorney, who testified that
she was fully aware of research on the topic of sexual assault allegations made by children,
including suggestibility and forensic interviewing matters, attributing her knowledge to
“consulting with . . . experts in previous cases.” Counsel agreed “[a]bsolutely” that an expert
could assist a defense attorney in developing issues related to the reliability of testimony by a
child CSC victim and that an expert witness could have assisted her in analyzing the reliability of
the victim’s accounts in the instant case.
Trial counsel testified that she had consulted with various experts in the past, had
attended educational events related to forensic interviewing protocols, and had routinely
consulted standard texts on the subject in her practice. Counsel acknowledged that the
credibility or reliability of a witness can be affected by a history of abuse or neglect, delays in
disclosing the pertinent information, and suggestive interviewing techniques, and counsel stated
that she initially “thoroughly believed” that she needed an expert in this case. Counsel explained
that she in fact contacted an expert, but delayed retaining the expert pending receipt of all
discovery materials, and she then “was advised by jail administration that there were significant
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medical issues as it related to [defendant].” According to trial counsel, defendant’s medical
condition “had declined steadily since the time he had been incarcerated.” Counsel testified that
she decided to go to trial without an expert, after consulting with defendant, who was born in
1934, out of concern that defendant needed quick resolution of the matter if he was to survive the
litigation at all. Trial counsel explained that she thought she could succeed without an expert
“through cross-examination,” given her “knowledge of the forensic interviewing protocol.”
Following the Ginther hearing, the trial court rejected defendant’s argument that trial
counsel was ineffective for failing to call an expert witness at trial, ruling as follows:
Counsel in this case did investigate the possibility of an expert, and the
type of testimony or evidence he or she could provide. Indeed, counsel . . .
testified that she did in fact consult with the expert, Dr. Swerdlow-Freed by
phone, contacting him, giving him a brief overview of the case, discussing the
case, obtained a retained fee amount. Counsel even obtained the actual retainer
agreement, obtained the expert’s CV, and two articles written by him . . . the first
one regarding interviewing children about allegations of sexual abuse. And the
second article . . . was titled Juror Knowledge of Sexual Abuse and the Role of
Expert Testimony and what it could provide for a juror’s knowledge in assessing
the reliability of children’s eye witness testimony. Those . . . were admitted
during that Ginther Hearing as Exhibits B and C. Accordingly, counsel’s ultimate
decision or strategy to proceed without an expert in September of 2015 was not
the result of counsel’s complete failure to employ reasonable professional
judgment as counsel’s judgment was not limited by a lack of knowledge of the
existence of such testimony or the importance of that evidence. Indeed, counsel
testified that she was well aware of and very familiar with the issues and aspects
of the purported testimony and how it could have assisted with her case by way of
an opinion an[d] explanations to the jury on the issues and defense theories.
Including whether the forensic interview protocol was followed, the quality of
weaknesses of that forensic interview or interviews. The delay in disclosure in
this matter. [T]he possible taint to the disclosures due to the number of therapists
that [the complainant] was involved with and the alleged nature of the relationship
with one of those therapist[s]. And with this knowledge and prior experience
counsel made the strategic decision to forego presenting this testimony . . . .
Counsel testified that the defendant’s health was declining to the point that both
attorneys . . . were concerned that the defendant may not survive further
incarceration and the delay caused by obtaining an expert. So in the face of
delaying the trial further counsel and the defendant weighed the advantages and
disadvantages of delaying the trial to obtain an expert. Counsel testified that she
explained to the defendant the disadvantages and risks involved going to trial
without an expert and ultimately the decision was made that the risks of the delay
outweighed the potential benefits of the expert testimony. As part of that risk
benefit analysis and very importantly counsel felt strongly that she could present
and educate the jury regarding the issues in defense theories using other methods
such as cross-examination and the presentation of other witnesses. Counsel
testified that she was confident in her abilities and knowledge based on her
experience that she could create enough reasonable doubt to obtain an acquittal.
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Based on the record at the Ginther Hearing in this matter counsel[’s] strategic
choice appears reasonable based on an objective standard. . . . Counsel made a
reasonable professional judgment after making reasonable investigation into what
an expert could have provided . . . .
While we are sympathetic to trial counsel’s predicament involving the elderly defendant
and his seriously deteriorating health condition, as apparently greatly exacerbated by his
incarceration, we are not prepared to find that those circumstances, in and of themselves, justified
foregoing the presentation of an expert witness. Absent trial counsel’s extensive experience,
background, and knowledge regarding issues concerning potentially problematic aspects of
claims and testimony by a child CSC victim bearing on credibility and reliability, we would be
hard pressed not to find deficient performance in this case. However, when the circumstances
that existed regarding defendant’s health are considered in conjunction with trial counsel’s
considerable experience, background, and knowledge, allowing for strong cross-examination, we
cannot conclude that the trial court erred in finding that trial counsel’s performance was not
deficient. Reversal is unwarranted.
Defendant next argues that the trial court erred in denying a defense request for
disclosure or in-camera review of privileged records relating to a Child Protective Services
investigation and the nature of communications made by complainant to her various therapists or
counselors. Alternatively, defendant maintains that the trial court erred by failing to deem trial
counsel ineffective for not offering an adequate foundation for such disclosure or review. We
disagree.
Under People v Stanaway, 446 Mich. 643, 649-650; 521 NW2d 557 (1994), the privileged
reports and records sought by defendant would only be available for disclosure or in-camera
review in order to protect his constitutional rights if he “demonstrated a good-faith belief,
grounded in articulable fact, that there [was] a reasonable probability that the records contain[ed]
material information necessary to his defense.” A generalized claim of need for the records and
reports predicated on the belief that they might contain impeachment evidence or potentially
exculpatory evidence would constitute a fishing expedition precluding disclosure or review. Id.
at 680-682. Here, defendant’s basis for disclosure or review of the records and reports had been
preliminary examination testimony that the victim had initially disclosed defendant’s sexual
abuse to a previous therapist. On this record, we agree with the trial court’s conclusion that
defendant had not satisfied the Stanaway criteria for disclosure or review, but had instead
appeared to be on a fishing expedition. There was no abuse of discretion. People v Fink, 456
Mich. 449, 458; 574 NW2d 28 (1998). To allow disclosure or in-camera review under the
circumstances would be to justify such discovery “in every case involving an accusation of
criminal sexual conduct.” Stanaway, 446 Mich. at 681.
Next, in asserting that trial counsel should have done more to establish a good-faith basis
for disclosure or review of the records and reports, defendant points to various documents that
could have been presented to the trial court that would have satisfied the Stanaway criteria. We
conclude that, had trial counsel marshalled the documents described in his appellate brief,
counsel still would not have shown a reasonable probability that the privileged records and
reports contained material information necessary to his defense. Because defendant, in
challenging the effectiveness of trial counsel on the matter, continues to argue for the sort of
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fishing expedition disapproved of by our Supreme Court in Stanaway, trial counsel’s
disinclination to make that case before the trial court did not constitute deficient performance.
Finally, defendant contends that resentencing is required because of errors in the scoring
of offense variable (OV) 7 and OV 11. In People v McChester, 310 Mich. App. 354, 358; 873
NW2d 646 (2015), this Court observed:
Under the sentencing guidelines, the trial court's findings of fact are
reviewed for clear error and must be supported by a preponderance of the
evidence. Clear error is present when the reviewing court is left with a definite
and firm conviction that an error occurred. On the other hand, we review de novo
whether the facts, as found, are adequate to satisfy the scoring conditions
prescribed by statute. When calculating the sentencing guidelines, a court may
consider all record evidence, including the contents of a PSIR, plea admissions,
and testimony presented at a preliminary examination. [Citations, quotation
marks, ellipsis, and alteration brackets omitted.]
With respect to OV 7, the trial court assessed 50 points, which is the proper score when
“[a] victim was treated with sadism, torture, or excessive brutality or similarly egregious conduct
designed to substantially increase the fear and anxiety a victim suffered during the offense.”
MCL 777.37(1)(a). At the sentencing hearing, and after some back and forth with the attorneys
regarding OV 7, the trial court finally settled on assessing 50 points on the basis of sadism.
Subsection (3) of MCL 777.37 defines “sadism” as “conduct that subjects a victim to extreme or
prolonged pain or humiliation and is inflicted to produce suffering or for the offender’s
gratification.” For purposes of scoring OV 7, a court can only take into consideration conduct
that occurred during the sentencing offense, People v Thompson, 314 Mich. App. 703, 711; 887
NW2d 650 (2016), which in this case was one of the CSC-I offenses.
The trial court was certainly correct in its determination that defendant’s conduct was
inflicted for his personal gratification, but it also had to be shown that the conduct subjected the
“victim to extreme or prolonged pain or humiliation.” MCL 777.37(3). The trial court relied on
information showing that the victim suffered and continues to suffer extreme and prolonged
mental pain and humiliation as a result of being sexually abused by her grandfather. Thus, the
trial court focused on the aftereffects of defendant’s conduct and not on the conduct itself as it
was being perpetrated. The actual act of committing CSC-I against the victim had to have
involved subjecting the victim to extreme or prolonged pain or humiliation at the time, and while
defendant’s actions were plainly horrific and deplorable, the evidence failed to show that they
rose to the level of being sadistic under the statutory definition. Accordingly, the trial court erred
in assessing 50 points for OV 7 on the basis of sadism.
With respect to OV 11, MCL 777.41 (criminal sexual penetration), when the case was
remanded, the parties agreed that OV 11 should have been scored at zero points, instead of the
50 points that had been assessed. And the trial court also agreed, but it indicated that it would
have imposed the 20-year minimum sentence regardless of how OV 11 had been scored, noting
that the 50-point reduction did not alter the OV level. The 20-year minimum sentence did reflect
a departure from the sentencing guidelines. Considering the 50 points deducted from the total
OV score in connection with OV 11, plus the 50 points that must now be deducted because of the
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improper scoring of OV 7 based on sadism, defendant’s total OV score decreases from 195 to 95
points, placing defendant at OV level V instead of the original OV level VI, thereby reducing the
recommended range under the guidelines. See MCL 777.62. Because the minimum sentence
range is altered, and because it is impossible for us to discern whether the trial court would have
departed to the extent that it did under the lower guidelines range, we vacate defendant’s
sentences and remand for resentencing. People v Francisco, 474 Mich. 82, 88, 89 nn 7 and 8;
711 NW2d 44 (2006). We do, however, have one caveat. The trial court will be permitted on
remand, at its discretion and consistent with the dictates of Thompson, 314 Mich. App. 703, to
reexamine OV 7 to determine whether 50 points should still be assessed on a basis found in
MCL 777.37(1)(a) other than the sadism provision.
Affirmed in part, vacated in part, and remanded for resentencing. We do not retain
jurisdiction.
/s/ William B. Murphy
/s/ Michael J. Kelly
/s/ Brock A. Swartzle
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