State v. Dady , 304 Neb. 649 ( 2019 )

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www.nebraska.gov/apps-courts-epub/
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- 649 -
Nebraska Supreme Court Advance Sheets
304 Nebraska Reports
STATE v. DADY
Cite as 304 Neb. 649
State of Nebraska, appellee, v.
Joshua Dady, appellant.
___ N.W.2d ___
Filed December 13, 2019. No. S-18-948.
1. Jury Instructions: Judgments: Appeal and Error. Whether jury
instructions given by a trial court are correct is a question of law. When
dispositive issues on appeal present questions of law, an appellate court
has an obligation to reach an independent conclusion irrespective of the
decision of the court below.
2. Jury Instructions: Appeal and Error. Jury instructions are subject
to the harmless error rule, and an erroneous jury instruction requires
reversal only if the error adversely affects the substantial rights of the
complaining party.
3. Verdicts: Appeal and Error. Harmless error review looks to the basis
on which the trier of fact actually rested its verdict; the inquiry is not
whether in a trial that occurred without the error a guilty verdict surely
would have been rendered, but, rather, whether the actual guilty verdict
rendered in the questioned trial was surely unattributable to the error.
4. Jury Instructions: Proof: Appeal and Error. To establish reversible
error from a court’s refusal to give a requested instruction, an appel-
lant has the burden to show that (1) the tendered instruction is a correct
statement of the law, (2) the tendered instruction is warranted by the
evidence, and (3) the appellant was prejudiced by the court’s refusal to
give the tendered instruction.
5. Criminal Law: Evidence: Appeal and Error. When examining a suffi-
ciency of the evidence claim, the relevant question for an appellate court
is whether, after viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the
prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have found the essential ele-
ments of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt.
6. Rules of Evidence: Hearsay: Appeal and Error. Apart from rulings
under the residual hearsay exception, an appellate court reviews for
clear error the factual findings underpinning a trial court’s hearsay rul-
ing and reviews de novo the court’s ultimate determination whether the
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STATE v. DADY
Cite as 304 Neb. 649
court admitted evidence over a hearsay objection or excluded evidence
on hearsay grounds.
7. Judgments: Appeal and Error. An abuse of discretion occurs when a
trial court’s decision is based upon reasons that are untenable or unrea-
sonable or if its action is clearly against justice or conscience, reason,
and evidence.
8. Sexual Assault. Under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 28-319(1)(b) (Reissue 2016),
whether the victim was incapable of consent depends upon a specific
inquiry into the victim’s capacity, i.e., whether the victim was mentally
or physically incapable of resisting or appraising the nature of his or
her conduct.
9. ____. Neb. Rev. Stat. § 28-319(1)(b) (Reissue 2016) applies to a wide
array of situations that affect a victim’s capacity, including age.
10. Jury Instructions: Evidence: Appeal and Error. When examining for
harmless error, the court may look at a variety of factors including the
jury instructions as a whole, the evidence presented at trial, and the clos-
ing arguments.
11. Convictions: Evidence: Appeal and Error. In reviewing a criminal
conviction for a sufficiency of the evidence claim, whether the evidence
is direct, circumstantial, or a combination thereof, the standard is the
same: An appellate court does not resolve conflicts in the evidence, pass
on the credibility of the witnesses, or reweigh the evidence; such matters
are for the finder of fact.
12. Rules of Evidence: Hearsay: Proof. Evidence is admissible under
Neb. Rev. Stat. § 27-803(3) (Reissue 2016) when the party seeking to
introduce the evidence demonstrates (1) that the circumstances under
which the statements were made were such that the declarant’s purpose
in making the statements was to assist in the provision of medical
diagnosis or treatment and (2) that the statements were of a nature
reasonably pertinent to medical diagnosis or treatment by a medi-
cal professional.
13. Appeal and Error. To be considered by an appellate court, an alleged
error must be both specifically assigned and specifically argued in the
brief of the party asserting the error.
14. Sentences. When imposing a sentence, a sentencing judge should con-
sider the defendant’s (1) age, (2) mentality, (3) education and experi-
ence, (4) social and cultural background, (5) past criminal record or
record of law-abiding conduct, and (6) motivation for the offense, as
well as (7) the nature of the offense and (8) the violence involved in
the commission of the crime. 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.
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Nebraska Supreme Court Advance Sheets
304 Nebraska Reports
STATE v. DADY
Cite as 304 Neb. 649
Appeal from the District Court for Douglas County:
Gregory M. Schatz, Judge. Affirmed.
Thomas C. Riley, Douglas County Public Defender, Timothy
F. Shanahan, and Abbi R. Romshek for appellant.
Douglas J. Peterson, Attorney General, and Siobhan E. Duffy
for appelllee.
Heavican, C.J., Miller-Lerman, Cassel, Stacy, Funke,
Papik, and Freudenberg, JJ.
Freudenberg, J.
NATURE OF CASE
Appellant was convicted of first degree sexual assault under
Neb. Rev. Stat. § 28-319(1)(b) (Reissue 2016). Appellant was
18 years old at the time, and the victim was 10 years old.
Appellant was found guilty, and he now assigns several errors
on appeal. These errors focus on several rulings by the district
court related to the knowledge element of the crime charged
and whether age can be a factor in a jury’s determination of
capacity under § 28-319(1)(b). For the reasons set forth below,
we affirm the judgment of the district court.
FACTS
Joshua Dady was charged with first degree sexual assault
after he admitted to police that he had sex with M.J., a 10-year-
old girl. While Dady was 18 years old and within 4 days of
their meeting, Dady engaged in vaginal intercourse with M.J.
Dady was charged under § 28-319(1)(b). Section 28-319(1)
makes it a crime for “[a]ny person [to subject] another person
to sexual penetration . . . (b) who knew or should have known
that the victim was mentally or physically incapable of resist-
ing or appraising the nature of his or her conduct[.]” Following
a jury trial, Dady was convicted and sentenced to 20 to 25
years’ imprisonment. Dady appeals.
Dady first met and talked with M.J. for approximately an
hour after she exited a schoolbus a few blocks from her home
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STATE v. DADY
Cite as 304 Neb. 649
on a Thursday or Friday afternoon. M.J. testified that Dady
told her he was 16 years old and that she told Dady she was
10 years old.
M.J.’s stepfather saw M.J. and Dady talking and introduced
himself and then walked M.J. into the house. When M.J.’s
stepfather noticed Dady following everyone into the home,
he told Dady to leave. M.J.’s stepfather also asked Dady if he
knew how old M.J. was, and Dady said no. He then told Dady
that M.J. was 10 years old. M.J. later encountered Dady while
she was walking her dog. M.J. testified that they discussed
“YouTubers” for an unknown length of time. M.J. testified she
thought that she and Dady “hung out” again later in the day on
a Saturday. M.J.’s mother testified that M.J. came to her on that
Saturday and asked to go to a mall with Dady. M.J.’s mother
told M.J. she could not go to the mall with Dady because she
did not know him.
On the morning of Sunday, August 20, 2017, M.J. met up
with Dady for about an hour, then went home for lunch and to
clean her room. After lunch, M.J. returned to Dady’s house and
sat on the curb. After approximately 5 minutes, Dady invited
M.J. to sit by a fence in the yard. Dady asked M.J. if she had a
boyfriend and then suggested to M.J. that they should have sex.
M.J. testified that she had originally said no, but then agreed
after Dady offered to give her an “MP3 player.” M.J. and Dady
began kissing. Dady then pulled down his shorts and put a con-
dom on. M.J. testified that she knew what a condom was but had
not seen one before and did not know what Dady meant when
he said, “‘We can’t let this go to waste now.’” Dady then pulled
down M.J.’s pants and pulled M.J. on top of him. M.J. testified
that Dady’s pulling her on top of him was not forced. M.J.’s
statements to medical personnel and her testimony at trial were
that she knew what sex was and that she willingly engaged in
sex with Dady.
Neighbors saw M.J. pull down her pants and attempt to sit
on Dady’s lap. They ran outside and confronted M.J. and Dady.
M.J. and Dady both stood up and pulled their pants up as the
neighbors approached. M.J. testified that she asked Dady to
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STATE v. DADY
Cite as 304 Neb. 649
“‘[p]romise not to tell’” what happened. The neighbors told
M.J.’s stepfather and then informed Dady’s foster father of what
they had seen. The neighbors testified they had seen Dady and
M.J. “hanging out” earlier in the day when M.J. was riding
around the neighborhood on a “bike [with] flowers on it.”
M.J.’s stepfather called M.J. home. When M.J. arrived
home, she went to her room and would not speak with either
her stepfather or her mother. M.J.’s mother then called the 911
emergency dispatch service. M.J. was taken to a child advo-
cacy center and then to a hospital to be examined by a sexual
assault nurse.
Police, responding to the 911 call, interviewed M.J.’s mother
and then went to Dady’s foster home. Dady and his foster
father came outside and spoke with the police. Dady admit-
ted to police that he had sexually penetrated M.J.’s vagina and
that he was 18 years old. The police placed Dady under arrest,
and he was taken to a police station for an interview. Police
obtained consent from Dady’s foster father to search the yard
and the home. Police found a condom wrapper in the yard and
a used condom in a trash can in Dady’s bedroom.
During the interview with police, Dady claimed M.J. told
him that she was 16 or 17 years old and that she was going
to be a freshman in high school. Dady initially denied that his
penis penetrated M.J.’s vagina, but later stated that a small
portion of his penis went inside M.J.’s vagina. Dady also told
police that he put his finger in M.J.’s vagina, but that she told
him to stop because it was hurting her. Dady also told police
that he put his penis in M.J.’s mouth for a “millisecond.”
Dady said M.J. told him on the day of the incident that her
mother says she is 10 years old, but that she is a freshman in
high school and was about to turn 16 years old. At the end of
the interview, when asked how old he thought M.J. looked,
Dady admitted she looked 10 or 11 years old.
Susan Kelly, an emergency room pediatrician, testified con-
cerning M.J.’s visit to the emergency room on the night of the
incident. Kelly testified that M.J. or M.J.’s mother relayed that
M.J. had been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity
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304 Nebraska Reports
STATE v. DADY
Cite as 304 Neb. 649
disorder (ADHD), oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), and
disruptive mood dysregulation disorder (DMDD). This was
done while Kelly was ascertaining M.J.’s medical history for
the purpose of treating her in the emergency room. Dady
objected on the ground of hearsay and was overruled.
Kelly explained the various stages of cognitive development
of children and testified that a normal 10-year-old’s brain has not
fully developed the ability to assess risk and control impulses.
Kelly further testified as to how diagnoses of ADHD and ODD
can affect a person’s ability to control impulses. On cross-
examination, Kelly testified that her impressions of M.J.’s ability
to understand the nature of sex were based upon her time spent
with M.J., M.J.’s past diagnoses, and the general categorization
of a 10-year-old’s capacity. When asked to give further support
for her conclusion that M.J. was not capable of appraising the
nature of sex, Kelly testified that M.J. did not know when her
last period occurred. Further, Kelly testified that when she asked
M.J. if a condom was used in the incident, M.J. responded, “‘I
think so.’”
Additional evidence of M.J.’s mental health diagnoses was
presented through the testimony of the forensic interviewer
who saw M.J. at the child advocacy center. She testified that
ADHD, ODD, and DMDD can affect emotional stability and
impulse control. She indicated the severity of each of these
conditions can vary based on the individual. She admitted that
she is not licensed to diagnose these conditions; however, she
stated that it is important for an interviewer to know a child’s
mental health diagnoses in order to tailor the interview to the
child. She testified that M.J. appeared to be a developmentally
normal 10-year-old and indicated that no formal testing of cog-
nitive ability was done.
M.J.’s mother testified that M.J. has had behavioral and
mental health issues since she was approximately 4 years old.
M.J.’s mother testified that M.J. had been diagnosed with
ADHD, ODD, and DMDD. Dady objected on grounds of foun-
dation and hearsay and was overruled. On cross-examination,
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STATE v. DADY
Cite as 304 Neb. 649
Dady elicited testimony from M.J.’s mother that the diagnoses
had come from M.J.’s doctor. Dady made a motion to strike
M.J.’s mother’s testimony on hearsay and Confrontation Clause
grounds. M.J.’s mother also testified that M.J.’s mental health
problems have resulted in M.J.’s hospitalization more than 10
times. M.J.’s mother testified these hospitalizations normally
occur after M.J. becomes physically and emotionally escalated
or when M.J. threatens to harm herself.
M.J.’s mother testified that she had age-appropriate conver-
sations about sex with M.J. M.J.’s mother expressed that prior
to the incident, M.J. understood the physical aspects of what
sex is. M.J.’s mother explained that some of the conversa-
tions were prompted by M.J.’s being accused of inappropriate
sexual touching of her half sister. The incidents with her half
sister resulted in M.J.’s being hospitalized and then receiving
treatment at a residential treatment facility for approximately
5 months.
At the close of the State’s case, Dady made a motion to dis-
miss. Dady claimed the State failed to prove that M.J. lacked
capacity and that Dady knew or had reason to know M.J.
lacked capacity under the statute. The court denied the motion.
At the conclusion of evidence, Dady objected to jury instruc-
tion No. 6 proposed by the court. Dady submitted an alternate
instruction based on the definition of mental impairment taken
from In re Interest of K.M.1 Instruction No. 6 provided in part:
“‘Mentally Incapable’ means that because of the victim’s age
or mental impairment, the victim was incapable of resisting or
appraising the nature of her sexual conduct. ‘Mental Impairment’
means the victim’s impairment was so severe that she lacked the
capacity to consent to sexual conduct with the Defendant.”
Dady’s proposed jury instruction stated in relevant part:
“Mentally or physically incapable of resisting or
appraising the nature of her conduct” shall mean a sig-
nificant abnormality on the part of the victim such as
1
In re Interest of K.M., 299 Neb. 636, 910 N.W.2d 82 (2018).
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STATE v. DADY
Cite as 304 Neb. 649
severe intoxication or other substantial mental or physi-
cal impairment. In order for a mental impairment to
be substantial, it must be severe; a person in this cat-
egory is treated as equivalent to a severely intoxicated
or an unconscious person. Not every mental challenge or
impairment is so severe that the person lacks the capacity
to resist or appraise the nature of her conduct.
The court gave its proposed instruction No. 6. Other instruc-
tions, given without objection, provided that the jury must
apply the law in the instructions and that no one instruction
contains all of the law applicable to this case. A further instruc-
tion provided the specific elements of the charge using the
language of § 28-319(1)(b).
After the jury returned a guilty verdict, Dady made a motion
for a judgment notwithstanding the verdict or, in the alterna-
tive, for a new trial. Dady provided several arguments in sup-
port of the motion, only two of which were assigned on appeal.
First, Dady argued that the jury instructions were incorrect and
prejudicial. Second, Dady argued that there were irregularities
in the proceedings of the court, the prosecuting attorney, and
the witnesses for the State prejudicial to his rights. The alleged
trial irregularities related to the court’s change in its ruling on
whether Dady could present evidence under Neb. Rev. Stat.
§ 27-412 (Reissue 2016) of three sexual encounters M.J. had
with other people.
Dady had provided notice before trial that he intended
to use evidence under § 27-412 to demonstrate M.J.’s prior
knowledge and sexual activities. Specifically, Dady wanted to
question M.J. concerning certain episodes of sexual conduct
between M.J. and her half sister, between M.J. and her cousin,
and between M.J. and her brother. The encounters with the half
sister occurred before the events with Dady, the encounter with
her cousin occurred after the incident with Dady, and the tim-
ing of the encounter with her brother was unknown. The State
filed a motion in limine to exclude evidence of the encounters,
asserting that the encounters were not relevant.
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STATE v. DADY
Cite as 304 Neb. 649
The court initially determined that Dady would not be
allowed to question M.J. concerning the three encounters.
However, the court did allow Dady to question M.J.’s mother
about one hospitalization and whether it occurred because of an
incident between M.J. and her half sister.
As the trial progressed and the court learned more about the
nature of the case, the court reconsidered its initial ruling on
the motion in limine. Before cross-examination of M.J. began,
the court reversed its prior decision and indicated to both par-
ties that it was going to allow some questioning about M.J.’s
previous sexual encounters because such evidence could dem-
onstrate M.J.’s ability to appraise the nature of her conduct.
After the cross-examination of M.J. began, the court took a
recess, dismissed the jury, and reversed its decision again, back
to its original position. The court specified that it would allow
questioning which could tend to prove M.J. knew what vaginal
intercourse is or what sexual arousal is, but would not allow
the further questioning of M.J. about the past sexual encoun-
ters. The court reasoned that the information to be obtained
from questioning about the encounters and the subsequent hos-
pitalizations was not relevant.
The court denied Dady’s posttrial motion for judgment
notwithstanding the verdict or for a new trial. At the sentenc-
ing hearing, the judge took into account Dady’s unfortunate
upbringing, his maturity level, and his previous criminal his-
tory. The court noted that Dady had already received coun-
seling and education concerning appropriate sexual conduct
before the incident in this case occurred. The court noted
that probation and education did not deter Dady. The court
explained the serious nature of the offense and took into con-
sideration the likelihood that Dady would reoffend. The court
sentenced Dady to 20 to 25 years’ imprisonment.
ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR
Dady asserts, renumbered and rephrased, that the trial court
erred by (1) giving a jury instruction that incorrectly stated
the law; (2) failing to give Dady’s proposed jury instruction;
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STATE v. DADY
Cite as 304 Neb. 649
(3) failing to find the evidence presented at trial was insuf-
ficient to sustain a guilty verdict; (4) admitting evidence
that M.J. was diagnosed with ADHD, ODD, and DMDD; (5)
excluding evidence of M.J.’s other sexual conduct; (6) deny-
ing Dady’s motion for a new trial; and (7) imposing an exces-
sive sentence.
STANDARD OF REVIEW
[1] Whether jury instructions given by a trial court are cor-
rect is a question of law. When dispositive issues on appeal
present questions of law, an appellate court has an obligation
to reach an independent conclusion irrespective of the decision
of the court below.2
[2] Jury instructions are subject to the harmless error rule,
and an erroneous jury instruction requires reversal only if the
error adversely affects the substantial rights of the complain-
ing party.3
[3] Harmless error review looks to the basis on which
the trier of fact actually rested its verdict; the inquiry is not
whether in a trial that occurred without the error a guilty ver-
dict surely would have been rendered, but, rather, whether the
actual guilty verdict rendered in the questioned trial was surely
unattributable to the error.4
[4] To establish reversible error from a court’s refusal to
give a requested instruction, an appellant has the burden to
show that (1) the tendered instruction is a correct statement
of the law, (2) the tendered instruction is warranted by the
evidence, and (3) the appellant was prejudiced by the court’s
refusal to give the tendered instruction.5
[5] When examining a sufficiency of the evidence claim,
the relevant question for an appellate court is whether, after
2
State v. McCurry, 296 Neb. 40, 891 N.W.2d 663 (2017).
3
Rodriguez v. Surgical Assocs., 298 Neb. 573, 905 N.W.2d 247 (2018).
4
State v. Huerta, 26 Neb. Ct. App. 170, 917 N.W.2d 175 (2018).
5
State v. Mueller, 301 Neb. 778, 920 N.W.2d 424 (2018), modified on
denial of rehearing 302 Neb. 51, 921 N.W.2d 584 (2019).
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STATE v. DADY
Cite as 304 Neb. 649
viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the pros-
ecution, any rational trier of fact could have found the essential
elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt.6
[6] Apart from rulings under the residual hearsay exception,
an appellate court reviews for clear error the factual findings
underpinning a trial court’s hearsay ruling and reviews de novo
the court’s ultimate determination whether the court admitted
evidence over a hearsay objection or excluded evidence on
hearsay grounds.7
[7] Evidentiary questions committed to the discretion of the
trial judge,8 orders denying a motion for new trial,9 and claims
of excessive sentencing10 are all reviewed for abuse of discre-
tion. An abuse of discretion occurs when a trial court’s deci-
sion is based upon reasons that are untenable or unreasonable
or if its action is clearly against justice or conscience, reason,
and evidence.11
ANALYSIS
Dady asserts it was reversible error for the district court to
give instruction No. 6 and fail to give his proposed instruc-
tion. Dady asserts the evidence presented at trial failed to
prove that M.J. suffered from a mental impairment and that
Dady knew of M.J.’s mental impairment. Dady also asserts
that the testimony of M.J.’s mental health diagnoses was
inadmissible hearsay. Dady argues that he was deprived of a
fundamentally fair trial when the court refused to allow him
to elicit testimony of M.J.’s previous hospitalizations and to
link the hospitalizations to M.J.’s previous sexual encoun-
ters. Lastly, Dady asserts that the trial court did not properly
6
See State v. McCurdy, 301 Neb. 343, 918 N.W.2d 292 (2018).
7
State v. Mora, 298 Neb. 185, 903 N.W.2d 244 (2017).
8
See State v. Briggs, 303 Neb. 352, 929 N.W.2d 65 (2019).
9
Briggs, supra note 8.
10
See State v. Erickson, 281 Neb. 31, 793 N.W.2d 155 (2011).
11
State v. Gibson, 302 Neb. 833, 925 N.W.2d 678 (2019).
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weigh several factors, including Dady’s social background
and desire for rehabilitation, when imposing his sentence. As
will be explained below, we find the court erred in includ-
ing the ambiguous phrase “because of the victim’s age” in
instruction No. 6 and in overruling Dady’s hearsay objection
to the testimony of M.J.’s mother about M.J.’s mental health
diagnoses. However, we find both errors to be harmless.
M.J.’s mother’s testimony was cumulative to Kelly’s testi-
mony, and the ambiguity of instruction No. 6 was clarified
by a combination of the jury instructions’ being taken as a
whole and the manner of the State’s presentation of its case
and closing arguments.
Jury Instructions
Dady asserts that instruction No. 6 misstates the law because
age is not a permissible consideration under § 28-319(1)(b)
in determining whether a victim was mentally or physically
incapable of resisting or appraising the nature of his or her
conduct. Alternatively, Dady asserts that if age is a permis-
sible consideration under § 28-319(1)(b), instruction No. 6
was misleading because it indicated that based upon a simple
determination that M.J. was 10 years old, the jury could find
M.J. mentally or physically incapable of resisting or apprais-
ing the nature of her conduct. Dady argues that his proposed
instruction should have been given instead because it would
have properly informed the jury that “mentally or physically
incapable of resisting or appraising the nature of . . . her con-
duct” under § 28-319(1)(b) requires the jury to find that M.J.
had a significant abnormality.
We disagree with Dady’s argument that by omitting any
explicit reference to age in § 28-319(1)(b), while specify-
ing age in the statutory rape provision of subsection (1)(c),
the Legislature clearly indicated that age is not a permis-
sible consideration in determining whether subsection (1)(b)
was violated. We recognize that other states have statutory
rape laws directed at persons near the age of majority who
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STATE v. DADY
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sexually prey on younger children.12 Nebraska does not. The
only statute relevant to such scenario is § 28-319(1)(b). The
statutory rape provisions of § 28-319(1)(c), and of other juris-
dictions addressing older individuals’ preying upon children,
are distinguishable from § 28-319(1)(b) insofar as the victim
of the specified age is conclusively regarded under such
statutes as incapable of giving consent to the sexual act.13
By specifying age in subsection (1)(c) and not in subsection
(1)(b) of § 28-319, the Legislature was making a distinction
between statutory rape under subsection (1)(c) and a violation
of subsection (1)(b) requiring an individualized inquiry into
the victim’s capacity. Section 28-319(1)(b) does not create a
statutory presumption based on age that the victim is inca-
pable of consent.
[8,9] It does not follow, however, that age is irrelevant to
determining a victim’s capacity for purposes of § 28-319(1)(b).
Under § 28-319(1)(b), whether the victim was incapable of con-
sent depends upon a specific inquiry into the victim’s capacity,
i.e., whether the victim was mentally or physically incapable
of resisting or appraising the nature of his or her conduct. We
have long held that § 28-319(1)(b) applies to a wide array of
situations that affect a victim’s capacity, including age.14
Thus, while we would agree with Dady’s contention that
in charges brought under § 28-319(1)(b), a jury cannot find
inability to consent in a manner similar to such a finding under
statutory rape provisions based exclusively on age, we disagree
with Dady’s contention that a victim’s age is an irrelevant
consideration in determining whether a specific victim was
mentally or physically incapable of resisting or appraising the
nature of his or her conduct. The jury is permitted to conclude
12
See, e.g., Colo. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 18-3-402(1)(d) (West Cum. Supp. 2018)
(victim less than 15 years old with 4-year age gap between victim and
perpetrator).
13
See George v. State, 61 Neb. 669, 85 N.W. 840 (1901).
14
See State v. Collins, 7 Neb. Ct. App. 187, 583 N.W.2d 341 (1998).
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the victim was mentally or physically incapable of resisting
or appraising the nature of his or her conduct based upon evi-
dence that a child of the victim’s age ordinarily lacks sufficient
brain development to have such capacity and that the victim
was developmentally normal for his or her age.
But we agree with Dady that instruction No. 6 was poten-
tially misleading as to whether the jury could find inabil-
ity to consent in a manner similar to such a finding under
statutory rape provisions based on age. Instruction No. 6
explained to the jury the respective definitions of the terms
“mentally incapable” and “mental impairment.” “Mentally
incapable” was correctly defined inasmuch as it described a
victim “incapable of resisting or appraising the nature of her
sexual conduct.” “Mental impairment” was correctly defined
as a “victim’s impairment . . . so severe that she lacked the
capacity to consent to sexual conduct with the Defendant.”
The problem is that the definition of “mentally incapable”
was prefaced with the phrase “because of the victim’s age or
mental impairment.”
We disapprove of this broad “because of the victim’s age”
phrasing. The phrase “because of the victim’s age” is ambigu-
ous as to whether age can be the sole basis for a finding that
the victim was mentally incapable, without an individualized
assessment of the victim’s maturity. The definition of “men-
tally incapable” could have been excluded from the court’s
instructions, as the language of § 28-319(1)(b) is sufficiently
clear that a definitional instruction would not normally be nec-
essary. Because instruction No. 6 was ambiguous and capable
of misleading the jury, it was erroneous.
[10] But this does not end our inquiry. Alleged errors in a
jury instruction are examined using a two-step process.15 First,
the court reviews the case based on the errors assigned and
argued, or it may find plain error. Second, when an error is
15
See, Rodriguez, supra note 3; State v. Botts, 26 Neb. Ct. App. 544, 921
N.W.2d 151 (2018).
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identified, the court considers whether the error was harmless
or prejudicial.16 Jury instructions are subject to the harmless
error rule, and an erroneous jury instruction requires reversal
only if the error adversely affects the substantial rights of
the complaining party.17 When examining for harmless error,
the court may look at a variety of factors including the jury
instructions as a whole, the evidence presented at trial, and the
closing arguments.18
We conclude that the potentially misleading ambiguity of
the phrase “because of the victim’s age” in instruction No.
6 did not in fact mislead the jury. The jury’s verdict was
surely unattributable to this erroneous instruction, because
the instructions taken as a whole, combined with the evidence
and arguments presented at trial, clarified the ambiguity of
“because of the victim’s age” such that the jury understood
“age” in this context to be a subjective review of M.J.’s devel-
opmental age.
Other instructions correctly provided that the jury must
apply the law in the instructions and that no one instruction
contains all of the law applicable to this case. One correctly
provided the specific elements of the charge using the language
of § 28-319(1)(b), instructing the jury that it could not find
Dady guilty without determining beyond a reasonable doubt
that he knew or should have known that M.J. was mentally or
physically incapable of resisting or appraising the nature of
her conduct. Instruction No. 6 also correctly indicated that the
inquiry was victim specific.
To the extent that the ambiguity of the “because of the vic-
tim’s age” phrasing was not fully clarified by the surrounding
16
See, Rodriguez, supra note 3; Botts, supra note 15.
17
Rodriguez, supra note 3.
18
See, State v. Smith, 302 Neb. 154, 922 N.W.2d 444 (2019); Nguyen v.
Rezac, 256 Neb. 458, 590 N.W.2d 375 (1999); Huerta, supra note 4; State
v. Beamon, 336 Wis. 2d 438, 804 N.W.2d 706 (Wis. App. 2011); Johnson
v. State, 94 So. 3d 1209 (Miss. App. 2011).
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instructions alone, it was clarified by the State’s theory of
the case, the evidence, and the closing arguments. The State
presented extensive evidence linking age and normal brain
development to M.J.’s specific cognitive abilities. Kelly, the
treating emergency room physician, opined that M.J. was inca-
pable of appraising the nature of sexual conduct. Kelly based
this opinion on her understanding of normal child cognitive
development and on the time she spent with M.J. The State
thus presented unrefuted evidence that a normal 10-year-old
child’s level of cognitive development renders the child unable
to appraise the nature of sexual conduct and that M.J. appeared
to be a normal 10-year-old. Furthermore, the jurors were able
to see M.J. testify and draw their own conclusions about M.J.’s
mental capabilities. The court may consider the facts of the
case when determining whether a jury instruction was confus-
ing or misleading.19
Where a potential ambiguity in an instruction exists, the
prosecutor may assist the jury in resolving such ambigu-
ity during closing arguments.20 The State went step by step
during closing arguments through the elements of the crime
charged, explaining what “age” in instruction No. 6 meant.
The prosecution asked the jury when determining mental
and physical capacity to consider the evidence presented at
trial that M.J. appeared to be a normal 10-year-old and that
a normally developed 10-year-old brain does not have the
capacity to appraise the nature of sexual conduct. The State
made it clear that the reference “because of the victim’s age”
in instruction No. 6 was a case-specific inquiry based on the
evidence presented.
Viewing instruction No. 6 in context, the jury had a clear
and correct understanding of how age related to the question
of M.J.’s mental capability of resisting or appraising the nature
19
See Nguyen, supra note 18.
20
See, Middleton v. McNeil, 541 U.S. 433, 124 S. Ct. 1830, 158 L. Ed. 2d
701 (2004); Huerta, supra note 4.
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of her conduct. When the instructions as a whole are combined
with the body of evidence on the record and the clarification
provided by the prosecution in the closing arguments, the
jury was not misled by the ambiguous phrasing of instruction
No. 6. Rather, the jury properly understood that age was a con-
sideration in determining M.J.’s level of mental development
or developmental age. When considering the instructions as a
whole, the evidence presented, and the clarification provided
in closing arguments, we find the erroneous jury instruction to
be harmless.
Dady also contends that his proposed instruction should
have been given instead of instruction No. 6.
To establish reversible error from a court’s refusal to
give a requested instruction, an appellant has the burden
to show that (1) the tendered instruction is a correct state-
ment of the law, (2) the tendered instruction is warranted
by the evidence, and (3) the appellant was prejudiced by
the court’s refusal to give the tendered instruction.”21
Dady’s proposed jury instruction provided in relevant part:
“Mentally or physically incapable of resisting or
appraising the nature of her conduct” shall mean a sig-
nificant abnormality on the part of the victim such as
severe intoxication or other substantial mental or physi-
cal impairment. In order for a mental impairment to
be substantial, it must be severe; a person in this cat-
egory is treated as equivalent to a severely intoxicated
or an unconscious person. Not every mental challenge or
impairment is so severe that the person lacks the capacity
to resist or appraise the nature of her conduct.
Dady’s proposed instruction was based on In re Interest of
K.M., where we said:
To render an individual incapable to consent to sexual
conduct, a mental impairment must be severe. A person
in this category is treated as equivalent to a severely
21
Mueller, supra note 5, 301 Neb. at 789, 920 N.W.2d at 434.
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intoxicated or an unconscious person. Thus, not every
mental challenge or impairment is so severe that the per-
son lacks the capacity to consent. We have said lack-of-
capacity sexual assault under § 28-319(1)(b) requires on
the part of the victim “a significant abnormality, such as
severe intoxication or other substantial mental or physi-
cal impairment.”22
This passage from In re Interest of K.M. is one way of explain-
ing the concept of mental incapacity as warranted from the
facts in that case, which involved an alleged mental impair-
ment. However, as we have already illustrated, In re Interest
of K.M. should not be construed as exhaustively defining every
situation to which § 28-319(1)(b) could be applied. A victim
can be incapable of consent without suffering from a “mental
impairment.”23
Dady’s proposed instruction was not a correct recitation of
our holding from In re Interest of K.M., because it incorrectly
indicated that “[m]entally or physically incapable” is limited to
a “significant abnormality” constituting a “substantial mental
or physical impairment.” A child can be incapable of resisting
or appraising the nature of his or her conduct without suffer-
ing from an “abnormality” or “substantial mental or physical
impairment.” The court did not err in denying Dady’s proposed
instruction, because, as applied to the facts of this matter, it
was not a correct statement of the law.
Sufficiency of Evidence
In his challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence, Dady
argues that there was insufficient evidence to support a find-
ing that M.J. suffered from a “mental impairment.”24 He does
not contest the sufficiency of the evidence to support M.J.’s
22
In re Interest of K.M., supra note 1, 299 Neb. at 645, 910 N.W.2d at 89
(emphasis supplied).
23
See id.
24
Brief for appellant at 22.
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inability to consent by virtue of being mentally or physically
incapable of resisting or appraising the nature of her conduct
for any other reason. Dady also challenges the sufficiency of
the evidence to support the necessary element that he knew
or should have known that M.J., for whatever reason, was
mentally or physically incapable of resisting or appraising the
nature of her conduct.
[11] In reviewing a criminal conviction for a sufficiency
of the evidence claim, whether the evidence is direct, circum-
stantial, or a combination thereof, the standard is the same: An
appellate court does not resolve conflicts in the evidence, pass
on the credibility of the witnesses, or reweigh the evidence;
such matters are for the finder of fact.25 The relevant question
for an appellate court is whether, after viewing the evidence in
the light most favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier
of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime
beyond a reasonable doubt.26 And when there are alterna-
tive theories of guilt presented to the jury, we will affirm the
verdict if the evidence is sufficient to support any alternative
theory presented.27
Because we find the evidence sufficient to support a deter-
mination that M.J. was incapable of consent by virtue of her
stage of development, we need not consider whether the evi-
dence was sufficient to support the State’s alternative theory
that by virtue of M.J.’s diagnoses, she suffered a “mental
impairment.”28 As stated, expert testimony explained the brain
capacities and reasoning capabilities of a normal 10-year-old.
Kelly testified that a normal 10-year-old does not have the
capacity to appraise the nature of sexual conduct. Kelly then
drew on her understanding of child brain development and
25
State v. Thomas, 303 Neb. 964, 932 N.W.2d 713 (2019).
26
Id.
27
See McCurdy, supra note 6.
28
See In re Interest of K.M., supra note 1, 299 Neb. at 645, 910 N.W.2d at
89. Accord McCurdy, supra note 6.
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her direct interactions with M.J. when she opined that M.J.
could not appraise the nature of sex. The jury was also able
to observe M.J. and draw its own conclusions about M.J.’s
capabilities, when she testified approximately 9 months after
the incident.
We also find the evidence sufficient for the jury to conclude
that Dady knew M.J. was incapable of resisting or apprais-
ing the nature of her conduct when she agreed to have sex
with someone nearly twice her age in exchange for an “MP3
player.” There was evidence presented that M.J. acted as a
normal child when she and Dady spent time together. Prior
to the incident, M.J.’s stepfather had a specific conversation
with Dady explaining that M.J. was 10 years old. M.J. rode
around the neighborhood on a “bike [with] flowers on it.”
When Dady wanted M.J. to come to the mall with him, M.J.
said she would have to go ask her mother. On another occa-
sion, M.J. had to cut short her visit with Dady in order to go
home to eat lunch and to clean her room. Such facts indicate
Dady had sufficient time to interact with M.J. and observe
M.J.’s level of maturity and understanding. And when Dady
was interviewed by law enforcement, he repeatedly empha-
sized that M.J. claimed to be older, thereby indicating he had
some knowledge that M.J.’s age was a factor for whether she
had the capacity to appraise the nature of her conduct. By the
end of the police interview, Dady admitted M.J. appeared to
be around 10 or 11 years old.
When viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to
the prosecution, a rational trier of fact could have found the
essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt.29
A rational jury could conclude that M.J. was incapable of
appraising the nature of her conduct and that Dady knew
or should have known that. We find no merit to Dady’s
arguments that the evidence was insufficient to support the
jury’s verdict.
29
McCurdy, supra note 6.
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Hearsay
[12] Dady contends that the testimony by M.J.’s mother and
by Kelly concerning M.J.’s diagnoses was hearsay. However,
the discussion between M.J., M.J.’s mother, and Kelly concern-
ing M.J.’s past diagnoses falls squarely within Neb. Rev. Stat.
§ 27-803(3) (Reissue 2016) as a statement describing medical
history. Evidence is admissible under § 27-803(3) when the
party seeking to introduce the evidence demonstrates
(1) that the circumstances under which the statements
were made were such that the declarant’s purpose in mak-
ing the statements was to assist in the provision of medi-
cal diagnosis or treatment and (2) that the statements were
of a nature reasonably pertinent to medical diagnosis or
treatment by a medical professional.”30
Although Kelly did not personally diagnose M.J., she testi-
fied that she learned of the diagnoses while doing a patient
interview for the purpose of treating M.J. during her visit to the
emergency room. She further testified that obtaining a patient
history is an important part of her job and that she attempts to
get a medical history from every patient she treats. The tes-
timony of Kelly satisfies the requirements for evidence to be
admissible under § 27-803(3).
[13] Although a Confrontation Clause objection was made
during the motion to strike, the objection was not asserted
or argued on appeal. To be considered by an appellate court,
an alleged error must be both specifically assigned and spe-
cifically argued in the brief of the party asserting the error.31
Furthermore, the motion to strike was made only in relation to
M.J.’s mother’s testimony, and no Confrontation Clause objec-
tion was raised as to Kelly’s testimony. The court did not err
in admitting Kelly’s testimony of M.J.’s mental health diagno-
ses over Dady’s hearsay objection. M.J’s mother’s testimony
regarding M.J.’s diagnoses was also hearsay, but did not fall
30
Mora, supra note 7, 298 Neb. at 193-94, 903 N.W.2d at 253.
31
Anderson v. Babbe, ante p. 186, 933 N.W.2d 813 (2019).
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into a hearsay exception. However, the testimony of M.J.’s
mother was cumulative of Kelly’s admissible statements and
thus qualifies as harmless error.32
Exclusion of § 27-412
Evidence
Dady asserts that his Sixth Amendment rights were violated
by his being prevented from cross-examining M.J. concerning
her other sexual encounters. Dady asserts that M.J.’s previous
sexual behavior is relevant to show that she comprehended
the nature of her sexual conduct. Evidence under § 27-412
should be admitted if it is of sufficient relevance to estab-
lish that the victim had prior knowledge of the same kind of
sexual activities of which the defendant is accused.33 Where
the Nebraska Evidence Rules commit the evidentiary question
at issue to the discretion of the trial court, an appellate court
reviews the admissibility of evidence for an abuse of discre-
tion. An abuse of discretion occurs when a trial court’s deci-
sion is based upon reasons that are untenable or unreasonable
or if its action is clearly against justice or conscience, reason,
and evidence.34
In its motion in limine, the State argued that the evidence
put forward by Dady was not relevant to the case at hand
because the other encounters did not involve sexual inter-
course. Furthermore, one of the encounters occurred after the
incident with Dady, and the timing of one of the other two
encounters was also disputed. The State argued that to the
extent the other encounters did not involve intercourse and
occurred after the incident with Dady, they were not relevant
to show that M.J. could appraise the nature of sexual conduct
at the time of the incident.
32
See State v. Hood, 301 Neb. 207, 917 N.W.2d 880 (2018).
33
See State v. Earl, 252 Neb. 127, 560 N.W.2d 491 (1997).
34
See Briggs, supra note 8.
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We have previously held such differences to be enough to
warrant the exclusion of prior encounters.35 In State v. Earl,36
the defendant wanted to enter evidence of the 6-year-old vic-
tim’s previous sexual conduct to show that the victim had
an alternate source for knowledge about sex acts. The victim
had had an encounter with two of his similarly aged ­cousins.
During that encounter, the victim and his female cousins
played house and lay on each other naked. The encounter
between the victim and the defendant in State v. Earl involved
a male-on-male assault that included fellatio. In considering
the defendant’s request under the previous rape shield statute,
Neb. Rev. Stat. § 28-321 (Reissue 1995), the court concluded
the incident involving the victim and his cousins was too dif-
ferent to be relevant in the defendant’s case.37
In the present case, one of the encounters clearly occurred
after the incident with Dady and the second encounter’s tim-
ing is undetermined. This supports the ruling that the proffered
evidence was irrelevant to showing that M.J. could appraise
the nature of sexual intercourse at the time of the incident with
Dady. Similarly to the comparison in State v. Earl, the prof-
fered evidence of M.J.’s past encounters is categorically differ-
ent from the encounter with Dady. M.J.’s previous encounters
involved sexual touching of similarly aged children. M.J.’s
encounter with Dady was a 10-year-old having sexual inter-
course with an 18-year-old.
The trial court’s ruling did not prevent Dady from presenting
an effective defense; nor did it violate Dady’s constitutional
rights. Dady was allowed to cross-examine M.J.’s mother con-
cerning the hospitalization related to the one encounter that
occurred before the events of the present case. On these facts,
35
See, State v. Sanchez, 257 Neb. 291, 597 N.W.2d 361 (1999); Earl, supra
note 33.
36
Earl, supra note 33.
37
See id.
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we cannot say that the trial court’s ruling was unreasonable or
untenable, nor that it was clearly against justice or conscience,
reason, and evidence. The district court’s ruling on the admis-
sibility of M.J.’s other sexual encounters was not an abuse
of discretion.
Having addressed the propriety of the court’s final ruling
regarding the admissibility of M.J.’s other sexual encounters,
we address Dady’s assertion that there was an irregularity in
the proceedings of the court which prevented him from having
a fair trial.38 Dady argues that when the district court reversed
its decision and informed defense counsel it would allow
some of the § 27-412 evidence initially excluded, the defense
adjusted its trial strategy to make use of this evidence.
Dady began questioning M.J. about certain events and was
stopped during the cross-examination. The district court then
declared it was reversing its decision again. Dady contends that
the adjustment of trial strategy resulted in defense counsel’s
eliciting testimony about the hospitalizations in order to attrib­
ute the hospitalizations to M.J.’s previous sexual encounters
rather than the mental-health-related reasons given by M.J.’s
mother at trial.
The evidence proposed in the offer of proof was intended
to provide the jury with an alternate explanation for two hos-
pitalizations. Dady had already been able to offer such an
explanation for one of those hospitalizations through the cross-
examination of M.J.’s mother. The other sexual encounter that
resulted in a hospitalization occurred after the incident with
Dady. As explained above, such evidence is not relevant in
establishing what M.J. knew about sex at the time of the inci-
dent. Nor is it relevant to show the state of M.J.’s mental health
at the time of the incident.
The initial ruling on the evidence was based on Dady’s
pretrial notice under § 27-412 and the State’s corresponding
motion in limine. A motion in limine is a procedural step by
38
See Neb. Rev. Stat. § 29-2101 (Reissue 2016).
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which a court makes a preliminary determination; it is not a
final order.39 A change in a ruling on admissibility is not de
facto unfair, and the alleged change in trial strategy is not
supported in the record. Defense counsel began questioning
M.J.’s mother about the hospitalizations before any change
from the pretrial ruling occurred. Therefore, no irregular-
ity which could be considered unfair is demonstrable on
these facts.
Having addressed all of the grounds for Dady’s motion for
a new trial, we affirm the district court’s denial of the motion
for a new trial.
Excessive Sentence
[14] The sentence ordered is within the statutory guide-
lines and will not be altered unless there was an abuse of
discretion.40
When imposing a sentence, a sentencing judge should
consider the defendant’s (1) age, (2) mentality, (3) educa-
tion and experience, (4) social and cultural background,
(5) past criminal record or record of law-abiding conduct,
and (6) motivation for the offense, as well as (7) the
nature of the offense and (8) the violence involved in the
commission of the crime. The appropriateness of a sen-
tence 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.41
Dady asserts that the district court abused its discretion by not
considering all of the required factors. The record shows, how-
ever, that the district court weighed the correct factors related
to Dady’s age, family background, mentality, criminal his-
tory, unsuccessful discharge from probation related to juvenile
39
See Golnick v. Callender, 290 Neb. 395, 860 N.W.2d 180 (2015).
40
See State v. Erickson, supra note 10.
41
State v. Chairez, 302 Neb. 731, 740, 924 N.W.2d 725, 732 (2019).
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charges, lack of effort in pursuing education and treatment
while on probation, and potential to reoffend. Such consider-
ation is not an abuse of discretion. Consequently, we affirm the
district court’s sentence.
CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, the judgment of the district court
is affirmed.
Affirmed.