State Of Washington v. Johnson Omotere Ayodeji ( 2017 )

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
STATE OF WASHINGTON,
No. 72359-6-1
Respondent,
c„
DIVISION ONE
v.
UNPUBLISHED OPINION
JOHNSON OMOTERE AYODEJI,
Appellant. FILED: January 17, 2017
Trickey, A.C.J. — A jury convicted Johnson Ayodeji of several counts of
child molestation and child rape against two of his daughters. He appeals, raising
several issues, including a right to a public trial violation and the lack of a jury
instruction on unanimity for some of the multiple acts charges. We hold that the
trial court did not violate Ayodeji's right to a public trial because it did not close the
courtroom. We also hold the only instructional error was harmless beyond a
reasonable doubt. We affirm.
FACTS
Johnson Ayodeji and Ruth Ayodeji1 married in 1998. They had their first
daughter, E.A., in early 2001, when they were living in Chicago, Illinois. The family
moved to Oak Harbor, Washington shortly after E.A.'s birth. Their second
daughter, F.A., was born in early 2002.
In the next few years they moved several times, with Ayodeji sometimes
living with his family and sometimes not. In 2004, Ruth entered a domestic
violence shelter with the girls. They moved among different shelters and YWCA2
1 For the sake of clarity, we refer to Ruth Ayodeji by her first name. We intend no
disrespect.
2The Young Women's Christian Association.
No. 72359-6-1 / 2
housing until 2005 or 2006. They lived together again as a family in Lynwood,
Washington and had twin daughters.3
Ayodeji started abusing E.A. around this time or earlier. Her first memory
of him abusing her was before they moved to their current house. E.A. described
it in a letter to her mother. Ayodeji would touch her breasts and butt and, at least
once, put his penis in her butt.
For unrelated reasons, Ruth obtained a restraining order against Ayodeji in
2008. Soon after they started living without Ayodeji, F.A. told Ruth that Ayodeji
had touched her private parts and E.A.'s private parts. E.A. confirmed it but would
not give more details. Ruth relayed F.A.'s account to Child Protective Services
(CPS). The State did not bring charges based on those allegations.
In 2009, Ruth found F.A. and E.A. "having oral sex with each other."4 F.A.
told Ruth that "[Djaddy did that."5 Ruth brought her daughters to a family friend,
who was a counselor, to talk about it. Both girls told the counselor that their father
had done it to them in their family's computer room. The counselor notified CPS.
E.A. and F.A. would not talk to CPS or the prosecutor's office about the
abuse. After several months, the authorities dropped the case. Ayodeji moved
out of state and the family did not see him for almost three years.
Around this time, E.A. and F.A. would occasionally write letters to their
mother. Some of these letters described sexual abuse by Ayodeji. Later, the girls
told their mother that what they had written was not true. They said they had
3 Sometime later, Ruth and Ayodeji had another set of twins.
4 Report of Proceedings (RP) (July 24, 2014) at 66.
5 RP (July 24, 2014) at 67.
No. 72359-6-1 / 3
learned sexual activity from the computer and blamed it on their father because
they were mad at him.
In January 2013 Ayodeji moved in with his family in Everett. Once, when
Ayodeji was trying to show Ruth family pictures on his cell phone, Ruth saw that
Ayodeji had a video of E.A. masturbating.
Ayodeji had begun abusing E.A. again. E.A. had just turned 12 years old.
Ayodeji would touch E.A. with his penis in their computer room, his bedroom, and
in her bedroom. At least once, Ayodeji video recorded E.A. in her bedroom being
forced to perform oral sex. Ayodeji entered E.A.'s bedroom and raped her.
Ayodeji would make F.A. give him an erection by applying lotion with her
hands. Sometimes Ayodeji would touch her vagina with his hands. Ayodeji usually
molested F.A. in her own bedroom, but sometimes they were in his bedroom.
Once or twice Ayodeji abused F.A. and E.A. simultaneously, in E.A.'s bedroom.
On May 17, 2013, sometime during the very early morning hours, Ruth
found Ayodeji in F.A.'s bed, "having sex" with F.A.6 Ayodeji was wearing only his
boxer shorts. When Ruth discovered them, she screamed and ran upstairs. He
followed after her, telling her that he had been just hugging F.A. and that his penis
was not hard. Ruth noticed that the flap of his boxer shorts was wet.
Ruth spoke to a former co-worker, who was working for CPS at the time,
about how to handle the situation. She reported the incident to the police. The
State charged Ayodeji with several counts ofchild rape and child molestation. The
charges included one count ofchild rape in thefirst degree and two counts ofchild
6 RP (July 24, 2014) at 125; RP (July 25, 2014) at 88-89.
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molestation of F.A., and one count of rape of a child in the first degree, one count
of rape of a child in the second degree, and two counts of child molestation of E.A.
E.A. and F.A. were examined at a hospital and spoke with a child interview
specialist. E.A. was very reserved with the interviewer when they began to discuss
the abuse. To help make E.A. more comfortable, the interviewer had E.A. write
down her answers.7 E.A. told the interviewer that her father had not taken any
pictures of her.
After they returned from the interviews, F.A. called the prosecutor's office
and left a voicemail that E.A. had forgotten to tell the interviewer that their father
had a video of E.A. "sucking his D."8 E.A. told a detective that Ayodeji "videoed
[sic] her on her bed . . . while she was giving him oral sex."9
Ruth provided the police with a removable secure digital (SD) card10 from
one of Ayodeji's cell phones, which she had found in Ayodeji's car. A computer
forensic specialist found the video that E.A. had described on the SD card, though
it had been deleted.
The forensic specialist determined that the video was created on May 8,
2013. The SD card also had two images that looked like they were from the same
episode. Adigital imaging specialist found similar images ofa young girl touching
an adult male penis on Ayodeji's cell phone. The man's face was not visible in the
video or pictures.
7 RP (July 28, 2014) at 75.
8 RP (July 29, 2014) at 23; RP (July 22, 2014) at 37.
9 RP (July 29, 2014) at 24.
10 An SD card is used to store data, including pictures and videos, in cell phones and
cameras.
No. 72359-6-1 / 5
At trial, F.A. described the incident on May 17 in more detail and testified
that it had happened more than once.
At trial, Ruth identified the man in the in pictures with E.A. as Ayodeji by his
boxer shorts and private parts. She also testified that there were no other dark-
skinned adult men who were in the house with any regularity. Ayodeji argued that
Ruth was fabricating all the evidence to get him out of their lives and to get back
at him for some misdeeds in the past.
The trial court admitted a Christmas card and letter that Ayodeji sent Ruth
and the children after he was arrested. The letter and card were mostly about
Christian values and Ayodeji's beliefs. Ruth testified that she felt he was using the
Bible to tell her she should forgive him.
The trial court admitted the video of E.A. pulled from Ayodeji's SD card as
an exhibit. The State played the video in the courtroom during the trial. The State
intentionally set up the television so that the parties and jurors could see it but the
spectators could not. Ayodeji took "no position" on how they displayed the video.11
The jury convicted Ayodeji of all charges. He appeals.
ANALYSIS
Public Trial
Ayodeji argues that the trial court violated his right to a public trial when it
played the video recovered from the SD card so that the public could not see it.
Because we hold that there was no courtroom closure, we disagree.
Criminal defendants have a right to a public trial, stemming from the
11 RP (July 28, 2014) at 106.
No. 72359-6-1 / 6
constitutional guarantee that "[jjustice in all cases shall be administered openly"
and the defendant's constitutional right to a "speedy public trial." Wash. Const.
art. I, § 10, 22; State v. Love. 183 Wash. 2d 598, 604-05, 354 P.3d 841 (2015). The
right to a public trial "ensurefs] a fair trial, . . . remind[s] the prosecutor and [the]
judge of their responsibility to the accused and the importance of their functions, .
.. encourage[s] witnesses to come forward, and . .. discourage[s] perjury." State
v. Sublett. 176 Wash. 2d 58, 73, 292 P.3d 715 (2012).
The court must determine first, whether the public trial right is implicated,
second, whether there was a closure, and third, whether the closure was justified.
State v. Smith. 181 Wash. 2d 508, 513, 334 P.3d 1049 (2014). We review whether
the trial court violated a defendant's right to a public trial de novo. Smith. 181
Wn.2dat513.
Right to a Public Trial Implicated
"[N]ot every interaction between the court, counsel, and defendants will
implicate the right to a public trial or constitute a closure if closed to the public."
Sublett. 176 Wash. 2d at 71. The court applies a two-prong "experience and logic"
test to see whether the right to a public trial attaches to a particular proceeding.
Sublett. 176 Wash. 2d at 73. Under that test, the defendant must show both that the
"'place and process have historically been open to the press and general public'"
and that "'public access plays a significant positive role in the functioning of the
particular process in question.'" Sublett. 176 Wash. 2d at 73 (quoting Press-
Enterprise Co. v. Superior Court. 478 U.S. 1, 8-10, 106 S. Ct. 2735, 92 L. Ed. 2d
1 (1986)).
No. 72359-6-1 / 7
No published Washington decision has determined whether the right to a
public trial attaches to the presentation of exhibits in the courtroom. But exhibits
are a form of evidence. And the right to a public trial attaches to evidentiary
phases of the trial. Sublett. 176 Wash. 2d at 71-72. The admission and the
introduction of evidence has historically taken place in open court. Thus, the
experience prong weighs in favor of holding that the right to a public trial attaches
to this phase of proceedings.
The public cannot fully "observe the process and weigh the defendant's guilt
or innocence" if it has no access to a crucial exhibit. See Smith. 181 Wash. 2d at 518.
Providing access to all admitted exhibits also encourages witnesses to come
forward. Therefore, logic also weighs in favor of ensuring some access to trial
exhibits.
Recently, in State v. Magnano. this court strongly suggested that the right
to a public trial requires the playing of audio exhibits in court. 181 Wash. App. 689,
699, 326 P.3d 845 (2014). There, the court held that allowing the jury to replay
audio recordings in a closed courtroom during deliberations did not violate the
defendant's right to a public trial. Maqnano. 181 Wash. App. at 700. But the court
noted that the purposes of a public trial had already been "served by offering audio
recording evidence, admitting it or not, and playing it for the jury in open court."
Maqnano. 181 Wash. App. at 699. We conclude that the right to a public trial does
attach to the use of exhibits.
The State argues that the public trial right does not attach here because
exhibits have not historically been made available for spectators to view and
No. 72359-6-1 / 8
handle.12 But exhibits have historically been presented in open court. We
conclude that the manner in which parties have historically presented evidence
relates more to whether there was a closure, which we discuss next.
Closure
Two kinds of closures impact a defendant's right to a public trial. The first,
an express closure, occurs "when the courtroom is completely and purposefully
closed to spectators so that no one may enter and no one may leave." State v.
Lormor. 172 Wash. 2d 85, 93, 257 P.3d 624 (2011). The second kind of closure
occurs when the proceeding is "held someplace 'inaccessible' to spectators,
usually in chambers." Love. 183 Wash. 2d at 606 (quoting Lormor. 172 Wash. 2d at 93).
The court uses the experience and logic test to determine whether there was a
closure. In re Yates. 177 Wash. 2d 1, 28-29, 296 P.3d 872 (2013).
Experience and logic do not suggest that there is a closure every time an
admitted exhibit is not displayed to the spectators. Some exhibits go back to the
jury for deliberations without ever being published to the jury in the courtroom.13
The public gains access to those exhibits when they become part of the court
12 Relying on a similar argument, several federal cases have held that there was no
violation of the public trial right when the court did not play audio evidence for all spectators
to hear. Gillars v. United States. 182 F.2d 962, 977-78 (D.C. Cir. 1950); United States v.
Lnu. 575 F.3d 298, 308 (3rd Cir. 2009); D'Aauino v. United States. 192 F.2d 338, 365 (9th
Cir. 1951). But in those cases, the courts did not follow the three steps outlined in Smith-
See 181 Wn.2dat513.
In Gillars, the court also provided a limited number of earphones to spectators and
members of the press. 182 F.2d 977-78. There may have been no violation because
there was no closure, not because the right to a public trial did not attach. Similarly, in
Lnu. the court noted "the limited nature of [its] holding" and emphasized that the recordings
were already in the public record and available for public scrutiny when played via
headphones. 575 F.3d at 308.
13 In this case, for example, the State read some but not all of exhibit 65 during its
examination of Ruth, and noted "the jury can read this later." RP (July 25, 2014) at 16.
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No. 72359-6-1 / 9
record. GR 31(a), (c)(4).
In Love, the defendant argued that there was a closure during voir dire
because the attorneys discussed challenges for cause at the bench, which the
spectators could not hear, and exercised their peremptory challenges in writing.
183 Wash. 2d at 604. The court rejected this argument because the public was
present in the courtroom during all of jury selection, observed the questioning of
jurors, and saw which jurors were ultimately empaneled. Love. 183 Wash. 2d at 607.
The court held that the public's presence during this process served to remind
"those involved about the importance of their roles and [would] hol[d] them
accountable for misconduct." Love. 183 Wash. 2d at 606-07.
Noting that the transcript of the bench discussions and the struck juror sheet
were "both publically available," the court held that the public "could scrutinize the
selection of Love's jury from start to finish." Love. 183 Wash. 2d at 607. The court
emphasized the role that the public record plays in public trial cases by holding
that, "written peremptory challenges are consistent with the public trial right so long
as they are filed in the public record." Love. 183 Wash. 2d at 607.
Here, Ayodejidoes not maintain that there was an express closure. Instead,
he argues that preventing the public from seeing the exhibit during trial amounted
to a closure. It is clear from the record that the parties deliberately prevented the
public from viewing the video. The public was not able to see the content of the
video, just as the public could read not the written peremptory challenges in Love.
But the public was able to observe the State offer the video into evidence, see who
authenticated the exhibit, and get a general sense of its content from the testimony
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No. 72359-6-1/10
about it. Thus, this case is nearly indistinguishable from Love. There was no
closure.
Ayodeji argues that, unlike the written challenges in Love, the video never
became a part of the public record. Therefore, it was never subject to public
scrutiny. But, as the parties explained during oral argument, the decision not to
place the video in the public record came after trial, and after proper consideration
of the Ishikawa factors.14 See Seattle Times Co. v. Ishikawa. 97 Wash. 2d 30, 38,
640 P.2d 716 (1982). We hold that the trial court did not violate Ayodeji's right to
a public trial.
Sufficiency of Evidence
Ayodeji argues next that it is impossible to determine whether the jury's
verdict relied on acts of child molestation for which there was insufficient proof.
The State alleged multiple acts of child molestation but provided insufficient
evidence to convince a jury beyond a reasonable doubt that some of those acts
occurred. Therefore, Ayodeji argues, the child molestation convictions should be
vacated and dismissed. We disagree. The jury could not have relied on acts for
which there is insufficient proof because the court instructed the jury on the
elements of child molestation and the court presumes that jurors follow their
instructions.
14 Wash. Court of Appeals oral argument, State v. Avodeii, No. 72359-6-I (July 26, 2016),
at 13 min., 40 sec. to 14 min., 16 sec; 20 min., 27 sec. to 21 min., 20 sec. During
discovery, the parties agreed to a protective order, restricting either party from making
copies of the image and audio evidence and requiring that it not be "given, loaned, sold,
shown, displayed or in any way provided to any member or associate of the media, the
public, or third parties unless expressly permitted by court order, or during trial." Clerk's
Papers (CP) at 156. In his briefing, Ayodeji treated this order as sealing the exhibit.
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No. 72359-6-1 /11
The State bears the burden of proving every element of a charged crime
beyond a reasonable doubt. State v. Larson. 184 Wash. 2d 843, 854, 365 P.3d 740
(2015). We review all evidence in the light most favorable to the State. State v.
Salinas, 119 Wash. 2d 192, 201, 829 P.2d 1068 (1992).
,n State v. Stark, the State charged the defendant with one count of rape
and one count of indecent liberties. 48 Wash. App. 245, 246-47, 738 P.2d 684
(1987). The victim recounted three times that the defendant had abused her.
Stark. 48 Wash. App. at 250. Only two of these acts would have met the statutory
definition of rape. Stark. 48 Wash. App. at 250-51. The jury convicted the defendant.
Stark. 48 Wash. App. at 247. The defendant argued that the court could not tell
whether the jury relied on the one act that did not meet the definition. Stark. 48
Wash. App. at 251. The trial court instructed the jury on the elements of the crime.
Stark. 48 Wash. App. at 251. The court held that, because reviewing courts assume
that juries follow their instructions, the jury could not have relied on the act that did
not satisfy the elements of the crime. Stark. 48 Wash. App. at 251.
Here, the trial court instructed the jury on the elements of child molestation:
the defendant must have had sexual contact with a victim who is less than 12 years
old, not married to the defendant, and at least 36 months younger than the
defendant. The instructions also defined sexual contact as "any touching of the
sexual or other intimate parts of a person done for the purpose of gratifying sexual
desires of either party."15 Finally, the court instructed the jury that it must
unanimously agree on which acts of child molestation it relied.
15 CP at 81.
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No. 72359-6-1/12
Ayodeji argues that many of his contacts with his daughters do not fit the
definition of sexual contact because there is insufficient evidence that those acts
were for the purpose of sexual gratification. Accordingly, this court cannot be
certain that the jury relied on acts supported by sufficient proof. We disagree.
This case is indistinguishable from Stark. Ayodeji concedes that some of
the child molestation acts are supported by sufficient evidence. Assuming that the
jury followed its instructions, it could not have convicted Ayodeji without
unanimously concluding that, on specific occasions, he touched the sexual parts
of his daughters for sexual gratification. There was no error.
Jury Unanimity
Ayodeji argues that the trial court erred by failing to give an instruction on
jury unanimity for the rape of a child charges in this multiple acts case, and that
the error was not harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. We agree that this was
error but conclude it was harmless.
The jury's verdict must be unanimous. Wash. Const, art. 1, § 22. Thus,
when the evidence shows that the defendant committed multiple acts, the jury must
agree upon which act it is relying for a guilty verdict. State v. Petrich. 101 Wash. 2d
566, 572, 683 P.2d 173 (1984), holding modified by State v. Kitchen. 110 Wash. 2d
403, 756 P.2d 105 (1988). An instruction on jury unanimity for a multiple acts case
is commonly referred to as a Petrich instruction.
Invited Error & Issue Preservation
As an initial matter, the State argues that Ayodeji invited any error on this
issue by failing to propose a Petrich instruction for the child rape counts while
12
No. 72359-6-1/13
suggesting other modifications to the to-convict instruction for those counts. We
disagree. Ayodeji had no duty to request a Petrich instruction and his suggestions
regarding the to-convict instruction concerned double jeopardy, not jury unanimity.
A defendant cannot seek appellate review of an error he creates. State v.
Henderson. 114 Wash. 2d 867, 868, 792 P.2d 514 (1990). This court has refused to
review the failure to give a Petrich instruction where the defendant "strenuously
opposed the trial court's plan to give" one. State v. Carson. 179 Wash. App. 961,
973-74, 320 P.3d 185 (2014) affd, 184 Wash. 2d 207, 357 P.3d 1065 (2015). But
acquiescing in a trial court's erroneous instruction, or failing to object to it, is not
the same as inviting that error. State v. Corn. 95 Wash. App. 41, 56, 975 P.2d 520
(1999). The State "ordinarily assumes the burden of proposing an appropriate and
comprehensive set of instructions." State v. Hood. 196 Wash. App. 127, 382 P.3d
710,713(2016).
Here, Ayodeji did not propose an erroneous jury instruction. Ayodeji did not
object to giving a Petrich instruction for the child rape counts. He had no
opportunity to object to the instruction—no one proposed one. During the parties'
discussion about jury instructions, Ayodeji pointed out that the to-convict
instructions needed to make it clear that, for each count of child molestation, the
act needed to be "separate and distinct" not only from the other acts of child
molestation, but also from the acts constituting child rape.16 Ayodeji expressed his
concern that, without that modification, the jury could say that the same conduct
constituted sexual intercourse and child molestation. It is clear from the record
16 RP (July 29, 2014) at 160.
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No. 72359-6-1 /14
that Ayodeji's suggestions were geared toward avoiding double jeopardy, rather
than securing jury unanimity. Ayodeji did not invite this error.
But Ayodeji also did not object to the trial court's failure to give a Petrich
instruction for child rape charges. Ordinarily, this court does not review issues
raised for the first time on appeal. RAP 2.5(a). But, because of the constitutional
implications of failing to give a Petrich instruction, courts have held that a
defendant may raise the issue for the first time on appeal. RAP 2.5 (a)(3); State
v. Fiallo-Lopez. 78 Wash. App. 717, 725, 899 P.2d 1294 (1995); State v. Holland. 77
Wash. App. 420, 424, 891 P.2d 49 (1995). Ayodeji may raise this issue.
Jury Instructions
Ayodeji argues that the failure to give a Petrich instruction for the child rape
counts violated his right to a unanimous verdict. The State responds that, when
viewed as a whole, the jury instructions informed the jury that it had to be
unanimous about which act it relied on for each count of child rape. We disagree.
As mentioned above, a criminal defendant has a constitutional right to a
unanimous jury verdict. Petrich. 101 Wash. 2d at 572. Ifthe State presents evidence
of multiple acts, it must either elect which act it wishes the jury to rely on for the
conviction, or have the court instruct the jury that it must unanimously agree on a
specific act to support the conviction. Petrich, 101 Wash. 2d at 572.
Here, the court failed to give a Petrich instruction for the child rape counts.
Although the evidence for each count focused on a specific act, the State provided
evidence of multiple acts for two of the counts. The State did not elect specific
acts in its closing argument. This failure is a constitutional error.
14
No. 72359-6-1/15
The State argues that the instructions informed the jury that it had to reach
a unanimous decision on the child rape counts. We disagree. The only Petrich
instruction that the trial court gave focused exclusively on the child molestation
counts. There is no reason for a reviewing court to assume that the jury would
have known that the Petrich instruction also applied to the child rape counts. The
State asserts that a combination of the child molestation Petrich instruction,
unanimous verdict instruction, and "separate and distinct" act language in the to-
convict instruction was sufficient here.17 But the State cites no authority for the
position that other jury instructions can remedy the lack of a proper Petrich
instruction.
The State also argues that there was no error because the State told the
jury that it had to be unanimous on each of the seven counts during its closing
argument. Again, the State cites no authority that discussing unanimity in its
closing argument, which at best supplements the trial court's instructions, renders
a Petrich instruction unnecessary.
Harmlessness
Ayodeji contends that the failure to give a unanimity instruction for these
counts was not harmless. He argues his daughters' credibility was undermined by
their past recantations and the inconsistencies between their trial testimony and
previous reports of abuse. We conclude that the error was harmless because if
the jury believed E.A.'s and F.A.'s testimony for the rapes described in detail it
would have no reasonable doubts about the other rapes.
17 CP at 73-74.
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No. 72359-6-1/16
A reviewing court presumes that the failure to give a Petrich instruction is
prejudicial. State v. Coleman. 159 Wash. 2d 509, 512-13,150 P.3d 1126(2007). The
court will uphold the conviction "only if no rational juror could have a reasonable
doubt as to any of the incidents alleged." Coleman. 159 Wash. 2d at 512. This court
considers the error harmless when there is "no rational basis for jurors to
distinguish among the acts." State v. Allen. 57 Wash. App. 134, 139, 787 P.2d 566
(1990). But, the error is not harmless when there is "conflicting testimony" about
the different acts, including when the complaining witness has made contradictory
statements. Kitchen. 110 Wash. 2d at 412.
In State v. Loehner, a child victim described one act of rape in detail and
then said that the same thing happened other times. 42 Wash. App. 408, 409-10,
711 P.2d 377 (1985). The court held that the error was harmless because "[i]f the
rational trier of fact entertained a reasonable doubt as to the episode described in
detail, of necessity [it] would have a reasonable doubt as to the subsequent ones,
also." Loehner. 42 Wash. App. at 410; see also Allen. 57 Wash. App. at 139; State v.
Camarillo. 115 Wash. 2d 60, 71-72, 794 P.2d 850 (1990).
In Kitchen, the court held that the error was not harmless because the jury
heard "conflicting testimony" about each act. 110 Wash. 2d at 412. But, in State v.
Bobenhouse. the court held that a unanimity instruction error was harmless when
the uncontroverted evidence was that a father had forced his son "to regularly
perform fellatio on him and . . . inserted his finger into [the son's] anus on at least
one occasion." 166 Wash. 2d 881, 886, 894-95, 214 P.3d 907 (2009).
Here, Ayodeji was charged with three counts of child rape. The charging
16
No. 72359-6-1/17
period for the first count, first degree child rape of E.A., was January 8, 2006
through January 7, 2013. The evidence for this count was a letter that E.A. wrote
to her mother saying that Ayodeji put his penis in her butt. The State did not submit
other acts for this count.18 Because there were not multiple acts, there was no
error.
The second count, first degree child rape of F.A., had a charging period of
February 9, 2007 through May 17,2013. The main episode for this count was that,
on May 17, 2013, Ruth caught Ayodeji on top of F.A., apparently "having sex."19
F.A. testified that it had happened several other times.
Finally, the third count was second degree child rape of E.A. Because the
charging period for this count started after E.A. turned 12, it was considerably
shorter, only January 9, 2013 through May 17, 2013. There was a video of E.A.
being forced to perform oral sex acts within this period.20 Ayodeji also put his penis
in E.A.'s vagina, after she turned 12.
Relying on alleged inconsistencies and recantations, Ayodeji argues that
18 There was also testimony, from Ruth, that Ayodeji had performed oral sex on both of
his daughters in 2009, which is during the charging periods for the first two rape of a child
counts. Ruth testified that her daughters told her Ayodeji had performed oral sex on them,
after Ruth had caught them having oral sex with each other. But, later, the girls told her
that they had learned the sexual information from the computer but blamed it on their
father because they were "mad" at him and "he was gone." RP (July 24, 2014) at 105.
E.A. and F.A. did not testify about these incidents.
The evidence of these acts, consisting only of contradicted hearsay, was
insufficient to consider them part of the multiple acts submitted to the jury. See State v.
Jones. 71 Wash. App. 798, 822-23, 863 P.2d 85 (1993).
Similarly, E.A. testified that her father "came in [her] room and made [her] have
sex with him." RP (July 25, 2014) at 188. No one, including E.A., provided any evidence
from which a jury could conclude that this occurred before E.A. turned 12. We do not
consider this one of the acts for count I. See Jones, 71 Wash. App. at 822-23.
19 RP (July 24, 2014) at 124-25.
20 There were also photographs of E.A. with her hand on an adult male's penis, but those
are relevant to other counts because they are evidence of child molestation, not child rape.
17
No. 72359-6-1/18
the error was not harmless. Most of the inconsistencies Ayodeji points out
between E.A.'s and F.A.'s trial testimony and their earlier reports of abuse related
to acts not amounting to rape or related to events before the rapes that E.A. and
F.A. described.21 Similarly, most of the recantations Ayodeji cites were earlier and
for different acts.22
Ayodeji also challenges his daughters' credibility in general and cites their
denials of sexual abuse that were unrelated to any particular act.23 But, in order
to convict Ayodeji, the jury would have had to find E.A. and F.A. credible. This is
not a case where either E.A. or F.A. recanted their allegations for some of the
rapes within the charging period but remained consistent about other acts. The
various challenges to their credibility would not allow a jury to distinguish between
the rapes.
»
Ayodeji argues that the instruction was not harmless for the second rape of
a child count because F.A.'s testimony about the other rapes was too uncertain
and vague. F.A. testified that the rapes happened "all the time" but could not
21 For example, F.A. testified that her father had made her use lotion to make his penis
hard and that it had happened in various rooms. She did not mention that during earlier
interviews.
22 Both E.A. and F.A. denied the abuse or said they could not remember some aspects of
the abuse in 2010. E.A. told an interviewer in 2013 that her father had never taken sexual
pictures of her. The sexual photographs recovered in this case show E.A. touching
Ayodeji's penis. The visual evidence of acts amounting to rape was a video. Ayodeji does
not point out any testimony in which E.A. told someone herfather had never taken video
of her.
23 For example, both E.A. and F.A. said at one point that Ayodeji gave them money after
the May 17, 2013 incident, but later said he had not. Ayodeji testified that Ruth had said
F.A. would "makeup [sic] any story." RP (July 29, 2014) at 120-21. F.A. also, apparently,
wrote in her journal that Ayodeji had gotten her pregnant. E.A. told a nurse practitioner
that she was a virgin in 2010, but she made that statement during a forensic examination
that she did not want to cooperate with, and there was also no testimony showing that
E.A. knew what the word meant.
18
No. 72359-6-1/19
explain the frequency with any more specificity.24 In Kitchen, the uncertainty about
dates and times mattered because there was conflicting testimony about each of
the acts. 110 Wash. 2d at 406-07, 412. But, here, there is no need for dates and
times because Ayodeji's defense was a blanket denial. This case more closely
resembles Bobenhouse. where the same acts occurred regularly. See 166 Wash. 2d
at 886, 894-95. F.A.'s testimony did not suggest any confusion about what Ayodeji
had done. There was nothing to distinguish this act from the others. The error
was harmless for the second count.
Ayodeji argues the error was not harmless for the third count because E.A.'s
testimony about the times that Ayodeji put his penis in her vagina was too vague,
showing she was uncertain. A fair reading of E.A.'s testimony shows she was
reluctant to talk, not uncertain of what happened. The State had E.A. spell some
words, like penis, rather than say them, and used nonsexual language to describe
relevant body parts to avoid naming them.25 E.A. frequently testified that she could
not remember details about Ayodeji's acts or when he did them. But when the
prosecutor asked her if she was "having trouble remembering" or "uncomfortable
talking about it entirely" she said she was "uncomfortable talking about it."26 She
struggled to say what part of her body Ayodeji had touched with his penis, but, on
redirect, agreed with her earlier statement that it was her vagina.
The earlier statement came from an interview where E.A. was able to
24 RP (July 25, 2014) at 112, 118.
25 For example, the prosecutor asked, "I'm trying to figure out a way to make you say it
without having to say it again, in the front part of his body orthe back part of his body?"
RP (July 25, 2014) at 174.
26 RP (July 25, 2014) at 173-74.
19
No. 72359-6-1 / 20
whisper the right words to one of the interviewers and have the interviewer write
them down. Similarly, E.A. would not describe the specific acts that Ayodeji video
recorded, but said they were different from the kind of touching she had already
described. Ayodeji claimed he had never seen the video or pictures until they were
shown in court. He claimed Ruth was setting him up. But he did not have any
specific conflicting testimony about any of the acts alleged for this count. The error
was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt.
Admission of Evidence
Ayodeji argues that the trial court abused its discretion by admitting a
Christmas card and accompanying letter that Ayodeji sent to his family while there
was a no-contact order in place. Ayodeji claims it was improper to admit it under
ER 404(b) because the letter is proof that he violated the no-contact order. We
hold that the trial court did not err because the substance of the letter was relevant
and the State was not using it to show that Ayodeji violated the no-contact order.
Evidence is relevant if it has "any tendency to make the existence of any
fact that is of consequence to the determination of the action more probable or less
probable than it would be without the evidence." ER 401. Relevant evidence is
generally admissible. ER 402. Evidence of a defendant's other bad acts is not
admissible to show that the defendant has a propensity to commit crimes. ER
404(b). But it is admissible for other purposes, including "motive, opportunity,
intent, preparation, plan, knowledge, identity, or absence of mistake or accident."
ER 404(b).
We review evidentiary decisions for an abuse of discretion. State v. Thang.
20
No. 72359-6-1/21
145 Wash. 2d 630, 642, 41 P.3d 1159 (2002). A trial court abuses its discretion ifthe
decision is manifestly unreasonable or based on untenable grounds or reasons.
Thang. 145 Wash. 2d at 642.
Here, the trial court admitted a letter that Ayodeji sent to Ruth after his
arrest. Sending the letter was a violation of the no-contact order the court had
imposed after Ayodeji's arrest. In the letter, Ayodeji repeatedly mentioned
Christian values of forgiveness and unconditional love.
The State sought to introduce the letter to show how Ayodeji attempted to
manipulate and control Ruth and their children, and to illustrate cultural
expectations within their religion. Ayodeji objected because the letter would be
evidence that Ayodeji violated the no-contact order. The State explained that it
was interested in only the substance of the letter and offered to "avoid introducing
evidence that [sending the letter] was violative of a court order."27
The court admitted the letter on the grounds that the cultural aspect and the
letter's effect on Ruth were relevant. Because the State made it clear that Ayodeji's
violation of the no-contact order would not be the focus of its evidence, the trial
court admitted the letter simply as relevant evidence under ER 401, intending that
the State would not use it as evidence of prior bad acts.
At trial, the State asked Ruth when she received the letter. Although Ruth
mentioned that it was sent "after the restraining order [was] in place," the State did
not pursue that angle during Ruth's testimony.28 Then, during Ayodeji's cross-
examination of Ruth, and Ayodeji's direct examination, Ayodeji brought up his
27 RP (July 22, 2014) at 17.
28 RP (July 25, 2014) at 9.
21
No. 72359-6-1 / 22
numerous past arrests for domestic violence. At that point, once Ayodeji had
opened the door, the State discussed Ayodeji's history of domestic violence.
The trial court properly admitted the letter as relevant evidence. It was
Ayodeji's own actions that allowed the State to discuss his prior bad acts.
Legal Financial Obligations
The trial court waived most discretionary legal financial obligations (LFOs)
but did impose a $100 domestic violence fee. That fee is discretionary. RCW
10.99.080(1). The trial court may not impose discretionary LFOs without
conducting an individualized inquiry into the defendant's ability to pay. RCW
10.01.160(3); State v. Blazina. 182 Wash. 2d 827, 838, 344 P.3d 680 (2015). Here,
the trial court did not make any individualized inquiry into Ayodeji's ability to pay.
We remand for the court to make that individualized inquiry.
Statement of Additional Grounds for Review
Ayodeji raises numerous alleged errors in his statement of additional
grounds for review. None merit reversal.
Ayodeji contends that there was insufficient evidence to support his
convictions because there was no medical testimony corroborating E.A.'s and
F.A.'s allegations. Medical evidence is not required for these charges. See, ex^,
State v. Haves. 81 Wash. App. 425, 439, 914 P.2d 788 (1996) (finding sufficient
evidence to support child rape charges without medical testimony).
Ayodeji argues that the trial court erred by admitting the video evidence of
E.A. performing oral sex. Ayodeji seems to be objecting to the admission of the
video on the basis that Ruth found the SD card containing the video in his car. He
22
No. 72359-6-1 / 23
does not suggest that there was any illegal search or seizure.
Ayodeji argues that his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to move to
suppress this video evidence. The video is direct evidence of one of the charges.
Ayodeji offers no valid basis for suppressing it.
He also argues that Ruth's opinion testimony, identifying him as the male in
the video and pictures was improper. Ruth properly testified that she believed the
man in the pictures was Ayodeji based on her personal knowledge. ER 602; State
v. Vaughn. 101 Wash. 2d 604, 611, 682 P.2d 878 (1984).
Ayodeji argues that the trial court erred by denying his several motions for
new counsel. Some of the motions are not in the record and some of Ayodeji's
arguments rely on evidence that is not in the record. We do not review those
motions or arguments. See RAP 10.10(c).
In the middle of trial, Ayodeji moved for assignment of new counsel and for
a mistrial. His argumentfor both motions was that his attorney provided ineffective
assistance by not objecting to leading questions and not cross-examining the
witnesses sufficiently. The trial court denied both motions. Trial counsel's decision
to object or not object to evidence is a "classic example" of trial tactics. State v.
Madison. 53 Wash. App. 754, 763, 770 P.2d 662 (1989). None of these decisions
were egregious enough to warrant a new trial. Madison, 53 Wash. App. at 763.
Ayodeji complains that, while the State turned over the video evidence to
his trial counsel, he was not allowed to see it, in violation of CrR 4.7(a)(1)(v).
Although Ayodeji's counsel confirmed that Ayodeji had not seen the video as of
July 22, 2014, "because there was no way to bring him into the secured viewing
23
No. 72359-6-1 / 24
area" where counsel watched it, Ayodeji's trial counsel's comment does not
provide enough context for this court to evaluate the issue.
Ayodeji also argues that the State violated Brady by failing to introduce,
during trial, evidence that allegedly exculpated Ayodeji. See Brady v. Maryland.
373 U.S. 83, 87-88, 83 S. Ct. 1194, 10 L Ed. 2d 215 (1963). Although the State
has a duty to disclose exculpatory evidence to the defense, the State does not
have a duty to introduce exculpatory evidence at trial.
Finally, Ayodeji argues that the prosecutor committed misconduct during his
closing statement and at sentencing. Ayodeji did not object to the prosecutor's
comments at either time. None of the prosecutor's comments, at either stage of
trial, appear flagrant or ill-intentioned. They do not warrant reversal. State v.
Coleman. 155 Wash. App. 951, 956-57, 231 P.3d 212 (2010).
We affirm the judgment and sentence, but remand for the trial court to make
an individualized inquiry into whether Ayodeji can pay the domestic violence LFO.
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WE CONCUR:
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24