State v. Genchi-Garcia ( 2017 )

IN THE NEBRASKA COURT OF APPEALS
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND JUDGMENT ON APPEAL
(Memorandum Web Opinion)
STATE V. GENCHI-GARCIA
NOTICE: THIS OPINION IS NOT DESIGNATED FOR PERMANENT PUBLICATION
AND MAY NOT BE CITED EXCEPT AS PROVIDED BY NEB. CT. R. APP. P. § 2-102(E).
STATE OF NEBRASKA, APPELLEE,
V.
JAIME GENCHI-GARCIA, APPELLANT.
Filed March 21, 2017. No. A-16-649.
Appeal from the District Court for Douglas County: W. MARK ASHFORD, Judge. Affirmed.
Thomas C. Riley, Douglas County Public Defender, Allyson A. Mendoza, and Katie
Jadlowski, Senior Certified Law Student, for appellant.
Douglas J. Peterson, Attorney General, and Kimberly A. Klein for appellee.
PIRTLE, BISHOP, and ARTERBURN, Judges.
ARTERBURN, Judge.
INTRODUCTION
Jaime Genchi-Garcia appeals a Douglas County District Court order finding him guilty of
attempted first degree sexual assault of a child and sentencing him to a prison term of 15 to 25
years. On appeal, Genchi-Garcia argues that the district court erred in overruling his motion to
suppress his statement to police and in imposing an excessive sentence. For the reasons set forth
below, we affirm.
BACKGROUND
On March 9, 2015, the State filed an information charging Genchi-Garcia with attempted
first degree sexual assault of a child, a Class II felony pursuant to Neb. Rev. Stat. § 28-201(4)(a)
(Cum. Supp. 2014) and Neb. Rev. Stat. § 28-319.01(1) (Cum. Supp. 2014). The charge stems from
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an incident which occurred in the early morning hours of December 25, 2014. Evidence adduced
at trial revealed that on that night, Genchi-Garcia had sexual contact with A.C., who was staying
in Genchi-Garcia’s apartment along with her mother, younger brother, and mother’s friend. On
December 25, 2014, A.C. was 13 years old and Genchi-Garcia was 29 years old.
On December 26, 2014, Genchi-Garcia agreed to accompany Omaha Police Officer Emilio
Luna to police headquarters to answer questions about the night of December 25. Because
Genchi-Garcia speaks Spanish and does not speak any English, Officer Luna acted as an interpreter
during the questioning of Genchi-Garcia. Officer Luna translated Detective Sarah Spizzirri’s
questions to Genchi-Garcia and then translated Genchi-Garcia’s answers to those questions back
to Detective Spizzirri. During the interview, Genchi-Garcia ultimately admitted that he had sexual
contact with A.C. Specifically, he indicated that he and A.C. had kissed, that he had rubbed her
vagina over her clothing, and that he had touched his penis to her vagina. Genchi-Garcia denied
penetrating A.C. and denied that he had forced A.C. to engage in this sexual contact. He maintained
that both he and A.C. were “sexually aroused.” Immediately after the interview concluded,
Genchi-Garcia was arrested.
Prior to trial, Genchi-Garcia filed a motion to suppress the statements he had made to
Detective Spizzirri and Officer Luna. In the motion, Genchi-Garcia argued, among other things,
that his statement was not “freely and voluntarily given” and was not “knowingly, understandingly,
and intelligently made.” In addition, he argued that the statement was given “without his having
been informed of his rights contrary to law.”
A hearing was held on Genchi-Garcia’s motion to suppress. At this hearing, Officer Luna
testified about the interview with Genchi-Garcia. Officer Luna testified that prior to Detective
Spizzirri asking Genchi-Garcia any questions, Officer Luna read him his Miranda rights in
Spanish. Genchi-Garcia answered affirmatively that he understood each of his rights and that,
knowing those rights, he was willing to speak with Detective Spizzirri and Officer Luna. Officer
Luna testified that Genchi-Garcia appeared to understand the questions asked of him during the
interview and his answers were responsive to the questions being asked. In addition, Officer Luna
indicated that he had no concern that Genchi-Garcia was under the influence of drugs or alcohol
or regarding Genchi-Garcia’s mental health.
Officer Luna also testified about his role in translating for Genchi-Garcia and Officer
Spizzirri during the interview. Officer Luna indicated that while he is fluent in both Spanish and
English, Spanish is his first language. In fact, he did not speak English “fully” until he was in the
third grade. Officer Luna explained that during the interview he interpreted “as close to word for
word as possible” and “to the best of [his] ability.” However, this was the first interview in which
Officer Luna acted as a translator and he did not have any previous training on conducting bilingual
interviews.
Subsequently, the district court entered an order denying Genchi-Garcia’s motion to
suppress his statement. The court found:
During the time of interrogation, [Genchi-Garcia] never asked that the interview
cease, never asked to speak to an attorney and appeared to cooperate with the officer’s
questioning. [Genchi-Garcia] did not appear to be under the influence of alcohol or any
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other substance. [Genchi-Garcia] was offered numerous bathroom breaks and water to
drink.
The questioning was not overly coercive or threatening, nor was [Genchi-Garcia]
intimidated while giving his statement to the officers. The Court finds that the statements
given by [Genchi-Garcia] to the police officers should not be suppressed, and may be used
by the State during their case in chief.
A bench trial was held. At the trial, the State called several witnesses to testify, including,
A.C. A.C. testified that in the early morning hours of December 25, 2014, she was watching
television in the living room of Genchi-Garcia’s apartment while her mother, her younger brother,
and three other small children were asleep in a bedroom nearby. While A.C. was still awake,
Genchi-Garcia came home and asked A.C. to massage his hand. She refused and started to walk
toward the bedroom where her family was sleeping, but Genchi-Garcia got in front of her, picked
her up, and covered her mouth so she could not speak. He took her to the couch in the living room
where he layed her down on her stomach and got on top of her. Genchi-Garcia began kissing A.C.
and pulled her pants and underwear down. He also tried to pull her shirt up so that he could kiss
her chest. A.C. testified that she heard Genchi-Garcia undoing the belt on his pants and then felt
his penis on her bare bottom. She testified that he did not penetrate her with his penis.
A.C. testified that Genchi-Garcia attempted to turn her over so that she was laying on her
back. When he did this, she was able to kick him in the stomach and get away from him.
Genchi-Garcia gave A.C. money and asked her not to tell her mom what happened. He also told
her that he would buy her a cellular telephone if she did not tell her mom. At some point, A.C. ran
to the bathroom and began cutting her wrists with a razor blade. Her mother heard her in the
bathroom and came to see what was happening. A.C. told her mother what Genchi-Garcia had
done to her. A.C. and her family left Genchi-Garcia’s apartment. A.C.’s mother took A.C. to the
emergency room the next morning where the police were contacted.
At the trial, the State also offered into evidence Genchi-Garcia’s statement to police.
Genchi-Garcia renewed his motion to suppress this statement and the district court again overruled
the motion.
Genchi-Garcia did not offer any evidence in his defense.
The district court found Genchi-Garcia guilty of attempted first degree sexual assault of a
child. Following a sentencing hearing, the court sentenced Genchi-Garcia to 15 to 25 years’
imprisonment. The court afforded Genchi-Garcia credit for 543 days served.
Genchi-Garcia appeals.
ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR
Genchi-Garcia assigns two errors on appeal. He asserts that (1) the district court erred in
overruling his motion to suppress his statement to police and (2) the district court erred in imposing
an excessive sentence.
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STANDARD OF REVIEW
In reviewing a motion to suppress a confession based on the claimed involuntariness of the
statement, including claims that it was procured in violation of the safeguards established by the
U.S. Supreme Court in Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 86 S. Ct. 1602, 16 L. Ed. 2d 694 (1966),
an appellate court applies a two-part standard of review. With regard to historical facts, an
appellate court reviews the trial court’s findings for clear error. Whether those facts suffice to meet
the constitutional standards, however, is a question of law, which an appellate court reviews
independently of the trial court’s determination. State v. Goodwin, 278 Neb. 945, 774 N.W.2d 733
(2009).
Where a sentence imposed within the statutory limits is alleged on appeal to be excessive,
the appellate court must determine whether the sentencing court abused its discretion in
considering and applying the relevant factors as well as any applicable legal principles in
determining the sentence to be imposed. State v. Dixon, 286 Neb. 334, 837 N.W.2d 496 (2013).
ANALYSIS
MOTION TO SUPPRESS STATEMENT
Genchi-Garcia argues that the district court erred by denying his motion to suppress the
statement he made to police because he did not “voluntarily, knowingly, and intelligently waive[]
his Miranda rights.” Brief for appellant at 12. Upon our review, we find that Genchi-Garcia’s
assertion lacks merit.
There is no dispute that Genchi-Garcia was interrogated while in police custody and,
therefore, was entitled to be advised of what have come to be known as Miranda rights prior to
the interrogation. “Miranda requires procedures that will warn a suspect in custody of his right to
remain silent and which will assure the suspect that the exercise of that right will be honored.”
Dickerson v. United States, 530 U.S. 428, 442, 120 S. Ct. 2326, 147 L. Ed. 2d 405 (2000). Miranda
rights can be waived if the suspect does so knowingly and voluntarily. State v. Goodwin, supra;
State v. Walker, 272 Neb. 725, 724 N.W.2d 552 (2006). A valid Miranda waiver must be voluntary
in the sense that it was the product of a free and deliberate choice and made with a full awareness
of both the nature of the right being abandoned and the consequences of the decision to abandon
it. See State v. Walker, supra, citing Colorado v. Spring, 479 U.S. 564, 107 S. Ct. 851, 93 L. Ed. 2d
954 (1987). In determining whether a Miranda waiver is knowingly and voluntarily made, a court
applies a totality of the circumstances test. Factors to be considered include the suspect’s age,
education, intelligence, prior contact with authorities, and conduct. State v. Bormann, 279 Neb.
320, 777 N.W.2d 829 (2010); State v. Goodwin, supra.
Genchi-Garcia asserts that his “minimal education, illiteracy, brief prior contact with
police, and conduct indicate the alleged waiver [of his Miranda rights] was not knowing and
intelligent and consequentially, invalid.” Brief for appellant at 12. The crux of Genchi-Garcia’s
argument in support of his assertion is based upon his status as a “Mexican national” who does not
speak English and is not familiar with American criminal procedures. Brief for appellant at 13-14.
Contrary to Genchi-Garcia’s assertion that the waiver of his Miranda rights was not
knowingly and intelligently made, the evidence presented at the hearing on his motion to suppress
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and at trial does not provide any indication that Genchi-Garcia did not understand his Miranda
rights or did not understand the consequences of waiving those rights.
Officer Luna testified at the hearing on Genchi-Garcia’s motion to suppress and at trial that
prior to the start of the interrogation, he read Genchi-Garcia, in Spanish, the rights advisory form
which sets out the Miranda rights. After listening to each right, Genchi-Garcia responded
affirmatively that he understood that right. Then, Genchi-Garcia responded affirmatively that,
knowing all of his rights, he was willing to speak to Officer Luna and Detective Spizzirri.
Genchi-Garcia did not ask any questions about his Miranda rights, nor did he express any lack of
understanding about those rights. Moreover, there is no indication that Genchi-Garcia lacked the
intelligence to understand or appreciate his Miranda rights. Officer Luna testified that throughout
the interrogation, Genchi-Garcia appeared to understand everything that was asked of him. His
response to each question was appropriate. Genchi-Garcia was cooperative during the
interrogation. In addition, Genchi-Garcia appeared to have a basic understanding of the purpose
of the interrogation and of the legal system. At the end of the interview, Genchi-Garcia indicated
that he knew that, based on the events of December 25, 2014, he was probably going to be arrested
and taken to jail.
The totality of the circumstances surrounding Genchi-Garcia’s waiver of his Miranda
rights and the interrogation, itself, indicates that Genchi-Garcia voluntarily, knowingly, and
intelligently waived his Miranda rights and willingly spoke to Officer Luna and Detective
Spizzirri. His assertion to the contrary is not supported by the evidence and lacks merit.
Genchi-Garcia also asserts that his statement to police should have been suppressed
because Officer Luna was an “untrained” interpreter and the use of such an inexperienced
interpreter violated his rights. Brief for appellant at 18. This assertion also lacks merit.
First, we note that Genchi-Garcia concedes in his brief to this court that there is no authority
which requires that a person who interprets during a police interrogation must have any special
training or license. Brief for appellant at 18. In addition, Genchi-Garcia does not argue that Officer
Luna failed to translate accurately. Given that the interrogation was recorded on video,
Genchi-Garcia could have pointed out any discrepancies in Officer Luna’s translations by calling
a certified interpreter as a witness, but he failed to do so. Because Genchi-Garcia does not provide
any support for his assertion that Officer Luna was in some way unqualified or incapable of
translating during the interrogation, he cannot demonstrate that the use of Officer Luna as an
interpreter violated his rights in any way.
Upon our review of the record, we conclude that the district court did not err in overruling
Genchi-Garcia’s motion to suppress his statement to police. The statement was admissible at trial.
EXCESSIVE SENTENCE
Genchi-Garcia also asserts that he received an excessive sentence. Genchi-Garcia argues
that the court did not seriously consider all the relevant mitigating factors, specifically his age, his
limited education, the impact a lengthy sentence would have on his family, his positive social
background, his minimal criminal record, and his low risk of recidivism. Genchi-Garcia also
argues that the court improperly construed his silence as a lack of remorse. Finally, Genchi-Garcia
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argues that he should have been given a shorter sentence because he will be subject to immediate
deportation upon release. We find no merit to this assignment of error.
When imposing a sentence, a sentencing judge should consider the defendant’s age,
mentality, education and experience, social and cultural background, past criminal record, and
motivation for the offense, as well as the nature of the offense and the violence involved in the
commission of the crime. State v. Howard, 282 Neb. 352, 803 N.W.2d 450 (2011). In imposing a
sentence, the sentencing court is not limited to any mathematically applied set of factors; rather,
the appropriateness of a sentence is necessarily a subjective judgment and includes the sentencing
judge’s observation of the defendant’s demeanor and attitude and all the facts and circumstances
surrounding the defendant’s life. Id.
Genchi-Garcia was convicted of attempted first degree sexual assault of a child, a Class II
felony. See §§ 28-201(4)(a) and 28-319.01(1). A Class II felony is punishable by 1 to 50 years’
imprisonment. Neb. Rev. Stat. § 28-105(1) (Cum. Supp. 2014). Because Genchi-Garcia’s sentence
of 15 to 25 years falls within the statutorily provided range, we review the sentence imposed only
for an abuse of discretion. State v. Dixon, 286 Neb. 334, 837 N.W.2d 496 (2013).
At the sentencing hearing, Genchi-Garcia’s counsel highlighted many of the factors he now
claims the court disregarded. In particular, Genchi-Garcia’s attorney informed the court that
Genchi-Garcia had remained silent during the presentence investigation on her advice, but pointed
out that he had expressed remorse during his police interview. Additionally, the attorney noted that
two risk assessments had placed Genchi-Garcia at a low risk of recidivism. His attorney also noted
his minimal criminal history and the fact that he was subject to deportation upon his release from
prison.
The State emphasized the impact Genchi-Garcia’s actions had on the victim, arguing that
he was convicted of an attempted rather than completed crime only “because of [the victim’s]
ability to fight him off that night.” The State asked the court to impose “a period of incarceration.”
The presentence report indicated that Genchi-Garcia is 30 years old. The report also noted
that Genchi-Garcia came from a poor family in Mexico and had attended only five years of school
due to having to work to support his family. Genchi-Garcia now has a wife and two children in
Mexico and claims he is in the United States to make money in order to pay for his daughter’s
schooling. Genchi-Garcia stated that he “sometimes” attended a Catholic church in Omaha prior
to being incarcerated. The presentence report indicated that Genchi-Garcia has a minimal criminal
record involving only traffic offenses.
The presentence report also confirmed that Genchi-Garcia is an undocumented immigrant
and that an “ICE hold” had been placed on him. According to the probation officer, Genchi-Garcia
displayed no remorse or concern for the victim during the presentence report interview. The
probation officer stated that Genchi-Garcia did not remember the incident. Genchi-Garcia’s overall
score on the LSCMI placed him in the medium to high risk range.
In imposing the sentence on Genchi-Garcia, the district court stated that the victim was
“going to have difficulties, likely, as a result of what happened here.” The court agreed with the
State that the victim “was strong enough to resist, in a substantial manner, probably, which enabled
or prevented, rather, a far worse result.” The court concluded that a sentence of 15 to 25 years was
appropriate.
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The record shows that the district court heard and considered Genchi-Garcia’s attorney’s
arguments for leniency, but ultimately placed great weight upon the impact on the victim and the
fact that her actions alone prevented the crime from escalating to a more serious offense. Given
the court’s consideration and weighing of the numerous relevant factors, we cannot say that it
abused its discretion in sentencing Genchi-Garcia to 15 to 25 years’ incarceration.
CONCLUSION
We conclude that the district court did not err in overruling Genchi-Garcia’s motion to
suppress his statement to police. Additionally, we conclude that the district court did not abuse its
discretion in sentencing Genchi-Garcia. We affirm Genchi-Garcia’s conviction and sentence.
AFFIRMED.
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