Ryan Patterson v. State of Missouri , 2015 Mo. App. LEXIS 686 ( 2015 )

In the Missouri Court of Appeals
Eastern District
DIVISION THREE
RYAN PATTERSON, ) No. ED101357
)
Appellant, ) Appeal from the Circuit Court
) of Cape Girardeau County
vs. )
) Hon. William L. Syler
STATE OF MISSOURI, )
) Filed:
Respondent. ) June 30, 2015
Ryan Patterson (“Movant”) appeals the motion court’s denial of his Rule 29.15 motion
for post-conviction relief. Movant argues the motion court clearly erred in denying his Rule
29.15 motion for post-conviction relief because: (1) Movant’s appellate counsel was ineffective
for failing to raise a Batson v. Kentucky1 claim; (2) Movant’s appellate counsel was ineffective
for failing to raise a claim about the trial court’s error in sustaining the State’s objections to
Movant’s motion to cross-examine the State’s witness Michelle Lawrence about a polygraph test
she took that came back inconclusive; and (3) Movant’s trial counsel was ineffective for
consenting to a jury being picked from Pemiscot County. We affirm.
Movant lived with his girlfriend, Michelle Lawrence, who was in the process of
divorcing John Lawrence. John Lawrence lived with his girlfriend, Jamie Orman, who was
seven months pregnant. Jamie Orman also had three children with her ex-husband who were
present on the night of the incident, Derrick Orman, Jacob Orman, and Travis Orman.
Movant and Michelle Lawrence plotted to kill John Lawrence before the divorce was
final so that Michelle Lawrence could obtain the proceeds of John Lawrence’s insurance
1
476 U.S. 86 (1986).
policies. Movant enlisted the help of Samuel Hughes (“Ray Ray”) on the night of the incident.
Movant planned to kill John Lawrence and then burn his house down.
Movant and Ray Ray went to John Lawrence’s house and broke in through the back door
at around 5:00 a.m. Movant shot Derrick Orman and Jamie Orman. Both Derrick Orman and
Jamie Orman died from their gunshot wounds. Jamie Orman’s seven month old fetus died from
lack of oxygen due to Jamie Orman’s death. Jacob Orman and Travis Orman were not injured.
Movant was charged with three counts of first-degree murder. Movant was convicted by
a jury of three counts of first-degree murder, Section 569.020.2 Movant was sentenced to three
consecutive terms of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. Movant’s convictions
were affirmed on direct appeal. State v. Patterson, 382 S.W.3d 262 (Mo. App. E.D. 2012).
Thereafter, Movant filed a pro se Rule 29.15 motion for post-conviction relief. Counsel
was subsequently appointed and an amended motion was filed. The motion court denied
Movant’s motion for post-conviction relief after an evidentiary hearing. This appeal follows.
Before addressing the merits, we are compelled under Moore v. State to first examine the
timeliness of amended motions in each post-conviction case on appeal, even if the issue is not
raised by either party. 2015 WL 1735533 (Mo. banc April 14, 2015). If it is determined that an
amended motion filed by appointed counsel is untimely, but there has been no independent
inquiry into abandonment, then the case should be remanded to the motion court for such
inquiry. Id. It is our duty to enforce the mandatory timelines in the post-conviction rules, but
“the motion court is the appropriate forum to conduct such an inquiry” into abandonment. Id.
Rule 29.15(g) provides that where, as here, an appeal of the judgment sought to be
vacated, set aside or corrected is taken, “the amended motion shall be filed within sixty days of
the earlier of: (1) the date both the mandate of the appellate court is issued and counsel is
appointed or (2) the date both the mandate of the appellate court is issued and an entry of
2
All statutory references are to RSMo (2000).
2
appearance is filed by any counsel that is not appointed but enters an appearance on behalf of
movant.” In this case, counsel was appointed on January 10, 2013, after the mandate was issued.
When counsel entered her appearance, she requested a thirty-day extension of time pursuant to
Rule 29.15(g). Therefore, the amended motion was due April 10, 2013, and the amended motion
was filed on April 10, 2013. Because the motion was timely, there is no need to conduct an
inquiry into abandonment. Thus, we proceed to review the merits of Movant’s appeal.
Our review of the motion court’s action under Rule 29.15 “shall be limited to a
determination of whether the findings and conclusions of the trial court are clearly erroneous.”
Rule 29.15(k). We presume the motion court’s denial of post-conviction relief is correct.
McIntosh v. State, 413 S.W.3d 320, 323 (Mo. banc 2013). Findings and conclusions are clearly
erroneous only if, after reviewing the entire record, we are left with the definite and firm
impression that a mistake has been made. Id.
To prevail on a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, the movant must establish by a
preponderance of the evidence that: (1) trial counsel failed to exercise the customary skill and
diligence of a reasonably competent attorney under similar circumstances; and (2) counsel’s
deficient performance prejudiced defendant. Anderson v. State, 196 S.W.3d 28, 33 (Mo. banc
2006) (citing Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687-92 (1984)). To satisfy the prejudice
prong, the movant must demonstrate that, absent the claimed errors, there is a reasonable
probability that the outcome would have been different. Zink v. State, 278 S.W.3d 170, 176
(Mo. banc 2009). If a movant fails to satisfy one prong, we need not consider the other. Sanders
v. State, 738 S.W.2d 856, 857 (Mo. banc 1987).
In his first point, Movant, who is African-American, argues the motion court clearly erred
in denying his Rule 29.15 motion for post-conviction relief because Movant’s appellate counsel
was ineffective for failing to raise the claim that the State struck African-American venireperson
Lillie Wilbourn (“Wilbourn”) peremptorily in violation of Batson v. Kentucky. We disagree.
3
The standard for showing ineffectiveness of appellate counsel is essentially the same as
that for trial counsel: the movant must show that appellate counsel breached a duty and
prejudice resulted. Cummings v. State, 445 S.W.3d 648, 650-51 (Mo. App. E.D. 2014). Where
a movant alleges ineffectiveness based on failure to raise a particular claim of error on appeal,
the movant must show that the claim would have required reversal had it been brought, and that
the error was so obvious from the record that a reasonably competent attorney would have
recognized and asserted it. Id. Appellate counsel has no duty to present every issue asserted in
the motion for new trial, and the movant must overcome the presumption that appellate counsel’s
choice regarding points on appeal was a matter of sound strategy. Id.
Under Batson, peremptorily striking venirepersons for no other reason than their race
violates a defendant’s right to equal protection under the law. State v. Murphy, 443 S.W.3d 721,
725 (Mo. App. E.D. 2014). In order to make a proper Batson challenge, a defendant must make
a prima facie showing of purposeful discrimination; namely, that the defendant belongs to a
cognizable race and that the prosecutor exercised peremptory strikes to remove members of the
defendant’s race from the jury. Id.
It is then for the State to rebut the prima facie case by offering a race-neutral explanation
for the strike. Id. Unless a discriminatory intent is inherent in the prosecutor’s explanation, the
reason offered will be deemed race-neutral. Id.
Finally, if the State rebuts the prima facie case, the defendant bears the burden to show
that the State’s proffered race-neutral reasons are merely pretextual justifications for underlying
discrimination. Id. A crucial, though not dispositive, factor in determining pretext is the
existence of similarly situated white jurors who were not struck. Murphy, 443 S.W.3d at 725.
Other factors include the degree of logical relevance between the proffered explanation and the
case to be tried, the prosecutor’s credibility based on his or her conduct during voir dire, the
court’s past experiences with the prosecutor, and the demeanor of the excluded venirepersons.
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Id. The trial court must consider the totality of the circumstances in determining pretext, and we
give considerable deference to the trial court’s determination in light of its factual and subjective
nature. Id. at 725-26.
In this case, Movant made a Batson challenge with respect to Wilbourn. The State
responded that it struck Wilbourn because she told the court she pled guilty to a felony thirty
years ago, not because of her race. The court then engaged in a lengthy discussion and attempt
to determine the details on Wilbourn’s conviction. Ultimately, they were unable to determine the
precise details of her conviction beyond what she had stated due to the fact that it happened
thirty years ago.3 Thus, there was uncertainty regarding whether Wilbourn had a felony
conviction. However, the State asserted she said under oath that she pled guilty to a felony thirty
years ago. The court denied the Batson challenge, finding the State offered a race-neutral reason
for the strike. The State also noted Wilbourn was the only person on the panel who appeared to
have a felony conviction.
Movant’s appellant counsel did not raise this claim on direct appeal. At the evidentiary
hearing, Movant’s appellate counsel testified she did not raise it because there was a lot of
uncertainty regarding whether Wilbourn had a felony conviction. The State tried to investigate
whether she did, in fact, have a conviction, but it was never clear that she did not have a felony
conviction. Thus, Movant’s appellate counsel thought this was a race neutral reason to strike
Wilbourn. Movant’s appellate counsel stated “[she] did not see it as a reversible issue on
appeal.”
The motion court found Movant failed to show there would be a reasonable probability
that the claim would have succeeded on appeal because the State gave a race neutral reason for
striking the African-American juror and there were no similarly situated jurors.
3
In their search, they did find a misdemeanor conviction for stealing from 1993 for which Wilbourn received a 183-
day sentence. Wilbourn did not mention this conviction at any point.
5
Movant contends there was a similarly situated white juror with a conviction for passing
bad checks, who was not struck. However, as the State explained, this juror was not similarly
situated because her conviction was a misdemeanor, not a felony. A misdemeanor conviction
does not raise the same issue as a felony conviction. Section 494.425(4) provides that persons
who have a felony conviction are ineligible for jury service, unless their civil rights have been
restored. If a person with a felony conviction did serve on the jury, the jury’s verdict could be
thrown out for that reason, which would result in a new trial being ordered. See State v.
Martinelli, 972 S.W.2d 424, 434 (Mo. App. E.D. 1998).
The record shows State offered a race-neutral reason for striking Wilbourn. The Movant
was then unable to show this offered reason was pretextual. Thus, raising this claim on appeal
likely would have been unsuccessful. Therefore, we find the motion court did not clearly err in
denying Movant’s Rule 29.15 motion for post-conviction relief because Movant’s appellate
counsel was not ineffective for failing to raise the Batson claim on appeal. Point denied.
In his second point, Movant argues the motion court clearly erred in denying his Rule
29.15 motion for post-conviction relief because Movant’s appellate counsel was ineffective for
failing to raise a claim about the trial court’s error in sustaining the State’s objections to
Movant’s motion to cross-examine the State’s witness Michelle Lawrence about a polygraph test
she took that came back inconclusive. We disagree.
While Movant’s trial counsel was cross-examining Michelle Lawrence the following
exchange occurred:
[MOVANT’S TRIAL COUNSEL]: Can we approach the bench, please?
[THE COURT]: All right.
(At this time, counsel approached the bench, and the following proceedings were
had, out of the hearing of the jury)
[MOVANT’S TRIAL COUNSEL]: I didn’t tell [The State] in advance that I was
going to approach the bench before I attempted to do something that I believe I’m
entitled to do. That’s what I’m doing now.
[THE COURT]: All right. Thank you.
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[MOVANT’S TRIAL COUNSEL]: The plea agreement, the written plea offer
that [the State] has with Michelle Lawrence, one of the specific parts of the plea
offer is that Michelle Lawrence must be willing to take a lie detector test as to the
truth of her statements about these crimes. It’s my understanding in a report that
was provided to me last month by [the State] that Michelle Lawrence did take a
lie detector test, and it came back inconclusive. In other words, she didn’t pass
and
[THE COURT]: It’s not the same thing.
[MOVANT’S TRIAL COUNSEL]: It came back inconclusive.
[THE COURT]: All right.
[MOVANT’S TRIAL COUNSEL]: She did not -- I mean, I’m not sure what you
mean by it’s not the same thing. She did not, the polygraph examiner did not
verify that she was being truthful.
[THE COURT]: All right. I’ll agree to that if that’s what happened.
[MOVANT’S TRIAL COUNSEL]: I understand that the law is that polygraph
tests are generally inadmissible, but they’re inadmissible because they’re not
considered reliable, and so they’re not to be offered to prove whether or not a
person really is or really isn’t lying. That would not be my purpose in offering the
results of the polygraph examination. The reason why I would be offering this
would be because, to show what kind of effect it would have on Michelle
Lawrence’s state of mind with respect to how it might taint any statements or
testimony that she might give. She’s aware that this was a condition of her plea
agreement. And she’s also, I suspect, aware that the polygraph examiner could
not verify her truthfulness, and I believe that that would cause her concern over
what type of a sentence she might receive, to the extent that she’s testifying
truthfully, and I believe that that would encourage her to try and stretch her
testimony or exaggerate things and try and make it as worse as she can.
[THE STATE]: My response, Your Honor, would be that it’s incorrect to say that
polygraph testimony is generally inadmissible. It is always inadmissible for any
purpose, and it is the rare case that doesn’t get reversed when, over objection,
either side has tried to offer polygraph results in any way, shape or form. This, the
results can come back that you passed, that you failed, or that you’re inconclusive.
This came back inconclusive. It would be completely improper and actually an
error of law to allow the testimony to come in that she took a polygraph or the
results of that polygraph. And, of course, if they try to spin it that, well, it wasn’t
verified she was telling the truth, then I see calling the polygraph examiner to say,
“Oh, that’s not true. She did not fail.” And then we’re really getting into a mess.
So I think the proper thing to do is to not allow this area to be talked about at all
because it is clearly error.
[THE COURT]: [Movant’s trial counsel], first of all, I have to compliment you
and commend you for doing this the way you’re doing it. That is, taking it up to
the bench rather than just blurting it out, but I don’t know under any
circumstances in which a polygraph would be properly admitted. That includes
this one as well. So thanks for bringing it up, but I’m not going to let you go into
it.
Movant’s appellate counsel did not include the trial court’s alleged error in not allowing
Movant’s trial counsel to discuss Michelle Lawrence’s polygraph test in Movant’s direct appeal.
7
At the evidentiary hearing, Movant’s appellate counsel testified she did not raise this issue in the
direct appeal because she “didn’t think it was admissible, or that there was an argument to be
made.” She further stated that while she has, as a public defender, challenged the idea that a
polygraph is never admissible in a criminal proceeding, that is the current state of the law. Thus,
she did not raise this claim because she did not believe it had merit.
The motion court found Movant’s appellate counsel had no obligation to raise this issue
on appeal because there was no merit to the argument in that polygraph tests are not admissible
for any reason during a trial.
It is well-settled law that the results of polygraph tests are not admissible evidence. State
v. Hall, 955 S.W.2d 198, 207 (Mo. banc 1997). The reason they are not admissible is because
they lack scientific support for their reliability. State v. Biddle, 599 S.W.2d 182, 185 (Mo. banc
1980). It is also improper to introduce whether or not a polygraph test has been taken even if the
results are not offered into evidence. Hall, 955 S.W.2d at 207.
We find the motion court’s finding was not clearly erroneous. There is well-established
case law showing that polygraph tests are inadmissible. Thus, any argument relating to cross-
examining Michelle Lawrence about the polygraph test she took would not have been successful
on appeal. We further note Movant failed to show he was prejudiced by his appellate counsel’s
failure to raise this claim. Given the substantial evidence of Movant’s guilt, there is no
reasonable probability that the result of the trial would have been different had this issue been
raised.
Therefore, we find the motion court did not clearly err in denying his Rule 29.15 motion
for post-conviction relief because Movant’s appellate counsel was not ineffective for failing to
raise a claim about the trial court’s error in sustaining the State’s objections to Movant’s motion
to cross-examine the State’s witness Michelle Lawrence about a polygraph test she took that
came back inconclusive. Point denied.
8
In his third point, Movant argues the motion court clearly erred in denying his Rule 29.15
motion for post-conviction relief because Movant’s trial counsel was ineffective for consenting
to a jury being picked from Pemiscot County. We disagree.
Movant contends the intent in having the jury picked in Pemiscot County was to find a
jury that was not exposed to media about the case. However, Cape Girardeau television station
KFVS is on cable television in Pemiscot County. Thus, Movant argues his trial counsel was
ineffective for consenting to a jury being picked from Pemiscot County.
A change of venue is required when it is necessary to assure the defendant a fair and
impartial trial. State v. Deck, 994 S.W.2d 527, 532 (Mo. banc 1999). In assessing the impact of
potentially prejudicial publicity on prospective jurors, the critical question is not whether they
remember the case, but whether they have such fixed opinions regarding the case that they could
not impartially determine the guilt or innocence of the defendant. Id. at 532-33. The mere
existence of pretrial publicity does not automatically require a change of venue. Milner v. State,
968 S.W.2d 229, 231 (Mo. App. S.D. 1998). A decision not to seek a change of venue
demonstrates no incompetence by counsel unless it is manifestly wrong. Id.
The motion court found Movant failed to show he was prejudiced by some of the jury
panel being exposed to pretrial media coverage. Moreover, Movant failed to show his counsel
was ineffective for failing to seek a change in venue. Lastly, Movant failed to show the results
of the trial would have been different had jurors been picked from another county.
At trial, the following exchange occurred when discussing Movant’s motion to appear in
court in street clothes and without restraints:
[THE STATE]: Your Honor, my first reaction was that it was not going to be
necessary to grant this at all because we were bringing a jury from somewhere
else. So the jurors who would be watching TV or following the news would not
be people who would have seen the defendant in any jail garb at any pre-trial
motions. However, then I realized we are bringing the jury from Pemiscot
County which may be in the KFVS viewing area. So I can see if the Court
decided you wanted to tell the sheriff’s department to have him in street clothes
9
when he comes to court even for pre-trial matters. You know, I can see where the
Court might do that. However, I think, I don’t think it’s detrimental to a
defendant to come to court not in the presence of the jury in a jail uniform. As to
restraints, I think that should be left to the sheriff’s department and what they
consider necessary for security. But as to the clothing, I’d leave that up to the
Court’s discretion and what you think you should do.
[THE COURT]: Well, for the record, the defendant is in street clothing today. I
have not checked with the media coordinator lately, but the last time I checked
and looked at the chart showing their area of exposure, Pemiscot County is not
listed as one of the counties that they participate in, although that may be by cable
perhaps. I don’t think it’s on the list. I think I shared that with you, [Movant’s trial
counsel], did I not?
[MOVANT’S TRIAL COUNSEL]: That’s true, Your Honor. You did share that
with me, and you indicated on the sheet that you gave me that Pemiscot County
was not included within the television station’s broadcast viewing area, but we
actually called the public defender who works in that county, and he said, [y]es,
we get that station in Caruthersville.
[THE COURT]: I see. Well, that was one of the reasons we chose that county.
[MOVANT’S TRIAL COUNSEL]: Yes, sir. That’s one of the reasons why I
agreed to choose that county.
[THE COURT]: Is that by cable or satellite or what, or do you know, or did he
say?
[MOVANT’S TRIAL COUNSEL]: He didn’t say, Your Honor. He just simply
said that that was one of the stations they got.
[THE COURT]: I’ll be in touch with our media coordinator then. All right. I’ll
check into that.
The jury was then chosen from Pemiscot County. During voir dire, the trial court asked
the venire panels how many of them had access to the KFVS television station. On the first
panel, about half raised their hands. On the second panel, “just a handful” raised their hands.
Then later, when the venirepersons were asked if they had heard anything about the case
before they began their jury service, a few raised their hands. The State then followed up, asking
each venireperson who raised his or her hand “if [they could] promise . . . [to] decide the case
only from the witness stand and the things that you hear from the witness stand.” The State
continued to discuss how the media sometimes gets things wrong and that people are not under
oath when they talk to the media, unlike in a courtroom where what they will hear is evidence
offered under oath. The State then restated that he needed their assurance that even if they had
heard something else about the case, they could put it aside and decide the case only on the
10
evidence they heard in the courtroom. The State then proceeded to ask each individual
venireperson, who had previously heard about the case, the source of what they heard and
whether they could put the information they heard and decide the case on the evidence presented
in the court. All of the venirepersons who were questioned responded that they could put aside
what they had heard and decide the case based only on the evidence presented in court.
At the evidentiary hearing, Movant’s trial counsel testified this was a high publicity case
and so they wanted to get jurors who were not familiar with the facts or who had not been
exposed to a lot of media. In addition, Movant’s trial counsel stated “a very strong consideration
for [him] in wanting to pick a jury from somewhere else [was that they] were trying [the] case
against the prosecuting attorney of Cape Girardeau County, who was Morley Swingle. Morley
Swingle [was] a very popular . . . prosecutor in that area. We didn’t want to run the risk of
having a [jury] consisting of Morley’s banker and barber.” Movant’s trial counsel also testified
that after finding out Pemiscot County received coverage from KFVS, he decided to choose the
jury from Pemiscot County anyway because he researched the racial makeup of some of the
other possible counties. Movant’s trial co-counsel testified at the evidentiary hearing specifically
that Pemiscot County has the second highest African-American population by percentage of
county population in the State of Missouri, which influenced their decision to choose the jury
from that county. Further, Movant’s trial counsel stated he was able to ask all of the jurors if any
previous knowledge of the case would influence their deliberations, and he was confident that
such knowledge would not influence them or affect the outcome of the trial.
Thus, based on the questioning at voir dire set out above, we find the motion court did
not clearly err in finding Movant failed to show he was prejudiced by some of the jury panel
being exposed to pretrial media coverage. Further, we note Movant’s trial counsel had strategic
reasons for selecting jurors from Pemiscot County and not seeking a change to another county.
Counsel is allowed wide latitude in conducting a defense and may use his best judgment in
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matters of trial strategy. Wolfe v. State, 446 S.W.3d 738, 749 (Mo. App. S.D. 2014). Strategic
choices made after thorough investigation of law and facts relevant to plausible options are
virtually unchallengeable. Id. Reasonable trial strategy does not become ineffective assistance
of counsel because it did not work as hoped. Id.
Therefore, we find the motion court did not clearly err in denying his Rule 29.15 motion
for post-conviction relief because Movant’s trial counsel was not ineffective for consenting to a
jury being picked from Pemiscot County. Point denied.
The judgment of the motion court is affirmed.
ROBERT G. DOWD, JR., Judge
Kurt S. Odenwald, P. J. and
Gary M. Gaertner, Jr., J., concur.
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