United States v. Mario M. Contreras

United States Court of Appeals
For the Eighth Circuit
___________________________
No. 14-3789
___________________________
United States of America
lllllllllllllllllllll Plaintiff - Appellee
v.
Mario M. Contreras
lllllllllllllllllllll Defendant - Appellant
____________
Appeal from United States District Court
for the District of South Dakota - Aberdeen
____________
Submitted: October 22, 2015
Filed: March 7, 2016
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Before RILEY, Chief Judge, SMITH and SHEPHERD, Circuit Judges.
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SMITH, Circuit Judge.
A jury convicted Mario Contreras of second degree murder1 and assault
resulting in serious bodily injury.2 The district court3 sentenced Contreras to the
mandatory minimum sentence of 360 months' imprisonment. On appeal, Contreras
argues that (1) the district court erred in denying his motion for judgment of acquittal
based on sufficiency of the evidence; (2) the district court erred in denying his motion
for a new trial based on purportedly prejudicial pretrial publicity; (3) the district court
made erroneous evidentiary rulings; (4) the district court clearly erred in determining
that Contreras was competent to be sentenced; and (5) Contreras's sentence violates
the Eighth Amendment. We affirm.
I. Background
"We present the facts in a light most favorable to the verdicts, drawing all
reasonable inferences from the evidence that support the jury's verdicts." United
States v. Ramon-Rodriguez, 492 F.3d 930, 934 (8th Cir. 2007) (citation omitted).
A jury found Contreras guilty of killing his daughter A.C. She was born on
December 31, 2009, and was two years old at the time of her death in January 2012.
A.C. was one of Contreras's seven children.
Contreras had little involvement with A.C. for the first 18 months of her life.
But in August 2011, Contreras watched A.C. one evening at the request of her
mother, Shannon Sine. During the evening, Contreras slapped A.C. very hard on the
bare buttocks. After Contreras returned A.C. to Sine, Sine noticed a large handprint
on A.C.'s buttocks. Sine immediately called Contreras, who apologized for spanking
1
See 18 U.S.C. §§ 1111, 1153, 3559(f)(1).
2
See 18 U.S.C. §§ 113(a)(6), 1153, 3559(f)(3).
3
The Honorable Lawrence L. Piersol, United States District Judge for the
District of South Dakota.
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A.C. hard and explained that he had disciplined A.C. because she would not throw
away her diaper. With her mother's assistance, Sine photographed the handprint on
A.C.'s buttocks for documentation.
In December 2011, Sine and her husband met Contreras in a grocery store
parking lot to retrieve A.C. after a visit with Contreras. Contreras had been watching
A.C. for a couple of days. During the exchange, A.C. pointed at Sine's new husband
and said, "That's my Dada." After A.C.'s statement, Contreras stopped talking and left
shortly thereafter.
On December 28, 2011, about two weeks before her death, A.C. underwent a
physical examination prior to enrolling in school. The examining physician testified
that A.C. was a healthy child without any issues. The trial record includes the doctor's
report of the physical.
On Wednesday, January 4, 2012, Sine asked Contreras to watch A.C. for a
couple of days. Contreras's finances, particularly his child-support duties for seven
children, caused him great stress. In addition, his employer had put him on a "short
leash." Contreras had been routinely late for work during much of 2011 and received
several warnings from his supervisor. He had to commute about 45 minutes to an
hour to his workplace.
After watching A.C. for two days, Contreras, on Friday, January 6, 2012, called
Sine requesting to keep A.C. through the weekend. Sine agreed. On Sunday night,
January 8, 2012, Contreras again called Sine and asked her if he could extend A.C.'s
stay until the next morning so that he could take her to school. Sine agreed. Sine had
talked to A.C. on the phone during each of those five nights that A.C. was in
Contreras's care. Sine testified that A.C. sounded normal during those conversations.
Contreras would later tell the FBI that A.C. was "fine" on Sunday night.
Unfortunately, Sine spoke to A.C. that Sunday night for the last time.
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Sine also spoke with Contreras on Sunday night "about the child-support
obligation." According to Sine, he "wanted to file for joint custody and stop the child
support." He explained that he was hoping not to pay anymore child support; when
he asked Sine to terminate the child support, she told him "no." Sine later recalled that
she had, in fact, texted Contreras prior to the spanking incident, asking him whether
he would be able to have A.C. half of the time "with an agree[ment] that there is no
child support."
On Monday, January 9, 2012, Contreras had to be at work at 8 a.m. He had four
of his children (all under age 11) in his care that morning with no other adult helping
him. A.C. was known to be a particularly fussy child in the morning. But instead of
going to work on Monday morning, Contreras went to his uncle's residence near
Waubay, South Dakota. Contreras, carrying A.C., approached his uncle, Dennis Gill.
Upon seeing A.C. unconscious, Gill knew that Contreras needed to get A.C. to the
hospital. Gill did not call 911 and did not go with Contreras to the hospital. He
testified that he did not go with Contreras to the hospital because his back was
hurting and "[b]ecause of the panic, and [he] thought she was gone at the time."
Contreras rushed A.C. to a hospital in Sisseton, South Dakota, and the police
received a call from the hospital of an unresponsive juvenile at 8:39 a.m. Contreras
called Sine and informed her that A.C. was in the intensive care unit. One relative at
the hospital thought that it was unusual that Contreras appeared emotionless at the
hospital, giving doctors only one-word answers to their inquiries. That relative
testified that the doctors were "having to probe very much to get information from
him about the sequence of what had happened just within the last few hours or hour."
A.C. remained unresponsive at the Sisseton hospital. After air-ambulance
transport to Fargo, North Dakota, A.C. was examined by Dr. Arne Graff, "a
subspecialist in child abuse pediatrics." Dr. Graff was told that Contreras attributed
the child's condition to having fallen off a chair. Dr. Graff told Contreras that the
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child's injuries were totally inconsistent with a fall. Contreras did not respond. A.C.
never regained consciousness, and life support was terminated on January 11, 2012.
St. Paul Coroner Dr. Victor Froloff conducted the autopsy on A.C. and
contacted the FBI with his concerns that the child had been beaten to death. He
documented 18 subgaleal hemorrhages on multiple planes of A.C.'s head. Had A.C.
merely fallen, her injury would have shown a discrete area of impact. When asked at
trial whether he had "an opinion within a reasonable degree of medical certainty [as
to] what looked like the instrumentality or what caused [the] marks" on A.C., Dr.
Froloff opined that he was "highly suspicious" that the hemorrhages were induced "by
a fist, but could be . . . by just punching." Dr. Froloff classified A.C.'s injuries as
"acute" and estimated that the injuries occurred within approximately "72 hours" of
A.C. dying at the hospital. He opined that "the cause of death is traumatic brain injury
due to physical assault." Dr. Froloff completed the death certificate, labeling the
cause of death as homicide from physical assault.
FBI Agent Rob Mertz interviewed Contreras; during the interview, Contreras
stated a number of times that A.C. was "fine" on Sunday night, January 8, 2012. He
claimed that A.C. was sitting on a chair in the kitchen; he then went into another
room to change a diaper on another child and heard a "thump." According to
Contreras, "[h]e turned around and saw [A.C.] lying on the kitchen floor. She was
groaning. He said her eyes were already rolling back into her head." He claimed that
"her toes were starting to point in and stiffen up."
Contreras was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of second-degree
murder, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1111, 1153, and 3559(f)(1) ("Count 1");
manslaughter, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1112 and 1153 ("Count 2"); assault
resulting in serious bodily injury, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 113(a)(6), 1153, and
3559(f)(3) ("Count 3"); and child abuse, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1153 and South
Dakota Codified Laws § 26-10-1 ("Count 4"). Count 4 tracked the two-year time
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period that A.C. was alive. Over the government's objection, the district court severed
Count 4 from the rest of the indictment. After severing Count 4, the government
moved under Federal Rule of Evidence Rule 404(b) to admit the August 2011 "swat"
or handprint that Contreras had inflicted on A.C.'s buttocks in August 2011. The
district court eventually allowed the government to present testimony regarding the
incident.
At trial, Dr. Froloff testified regarding his findings during the autopsy and his
listed cause of death as homicide. Likewise, Dr. Graff testified to his physical
examination of A.C. and all of the tests, scans, and records that he had reviewed. Dr.
Graff testified to the 18 different contusions around A.C.'s head and the multiple sites
of trauma. According to Dr. Graff, the injuries to the top of A.C.'s head were
"inconsistent with the normal fall mechanics of a child." He opined "within a
reasonable degree of medical certainty" that "the injuries [that he] observed on [A.C.]
in January of 2012 [were] consistent with a physical assault." He also held the
opinion that A.C.'s injuries "are not consistent with a simple fall off a chair." Dr.
Graff agreed with the death certificate that the manner of A.C.'s death "seems to be
consistent with" a "homicide."
Clinical pathologist Dr. Kenneth Snell testified to his review of all the records,
scans, photos, autopsy report, and death certificate. Dr. Snell explained that one fall
equals one contusion on one side of the head and that A.C. had suffered injuries on
both sides of her head and to the top of her head and forehead. Dr. Snell testified that
it was not possible to get 18 hemorrhages on one's head from a single fall and agreed
that the injuries were consistent with homicide.
Contreras's expert, Dr. Brad Randall, confirmed that he "for the most part . . .
agree[d] with the factual determination of Dr. Froloff." He agreed that he "couldn't
really dispute his finding of 18 different subgaleal hemorrhages, because he was there
in person, and that's a better tell than just looking at a photograph." He also agreed
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that "if the child would have fallen from a chair of two feet in height, . . . that would
not cause 18 subgaleal hemorrhages." He agreed with Dr. Snell's testimony that
"when you fall, you are going to have one contusion." He further agreed that "three
or four blows with the knuckles to the head or four or five blows could cause these
18 subgaleal contusions."
The jury found Contreras guilty of Counts 1 and 3.4 A month after the verdict,
Contreras refused to cooperate with his attorney and claimed mental illness. He had
been released on bond for the 12 months prior to trial and had not exhibited any
problems, mental or otherwise, during that time. The district court ordered Contreras
examined by a local psychiatrist, who saw Contreras for only 35 minutes, performed
no tests, and opined that Contreras may have some mental problems because he
refused to talk. The government requested a more complete examination, and
Contreras was sent to a federal medical center for a two-month examination. At the
completion of the examination, the Bureau of Prison's psychiatrist prepared a report
opining that Contreras was competent and was feigning mental problems. The Bureau
of Prison expert testified at the competency hearing and was cross-examined. The
district court found Contreras competent to be sentenced, and it thereafter sentenced
Contreras to the mandatory minimum of 360 months' imprisonment on each of the
two counts to be served concurrently.
II. Discussion
On appeal, Contreras argues that (1) the district court erred in denying his
motion for judgment of acquittal based on sufficiency of the evidence; (2) the district
court erred in denying his motion for a new trial based on purportedly prejudicial
pretrial publicity; (3) the district court made erroneous evidentiary rulings; (4) the
4
The verdict form advised the jury, "Do not consider the Verdict Form for
Count 2 if you unanimously find Defendant, Mario Contreras, guilty of Count 1."
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district court clearly erred in determining that Contreras was competent to be
sentenced; and (5) Contreras's sentence violates the Eighth Amendment.
A. Sufficiency of the Evidence
After trial, Contreras renewed his motion for judgment of acquittal, arguing
that the government failed to present sufficient evidence to find him guilty of Counts
1 and 3 beyond a reasonable doubt. The district court found that conflicting lay and
expert testimony were presented at trial. It determined that, "[t]aken as a whole,
. . . the weight of the evidence supported conviction beyond a reasonable doubt on
each count of conviction" and accordingly denied the motion. In support of its ruling,
the court noted that "[t]he location of the injuries to the skull, the number of the
separate injuries to the skull, and the severity of the injuries to the victim all strongly
supported the conclusion that the Defendant hit the head of the victim several times
with his closed fist." According to the court, "[t]he evidence established that this was
not a shaken baby case, but rather a baby that got beaten as opposed to a single fall
from a chair or even the table." The court emphasized that "[n]o one else had access
to the victim that could have caused such injuries during the time period in which
they were sustained."
On appeal, Contreras argues that "the [g]overnment's evidence supported Mr.
Contreras's innocence of the crimes charged at least as strongly as it supported his
guilt." Contreras claims that the government's case required the jury to infer when the
injuries occurred and that the evidence did not allow a reasonable juror to make that
inference beyond a reasonable doubt. First, he cites Dr. Froloff's testimony that the
"injuries in the head, in the subgaleal tissue, and contusions in the head, it's [sic] at
least three days old." Second, Contreras points to Dr. Snell's testimony that some of
A.C.'s injuries were "acute," which he defined as "less than five days old." Third,
Contreras notes that Dr. Graff testified that "[i]t's impossible" to date a retinal
hemorrhage. In summary, Contreras asserts that while all the experts testified that it
was possible for A.C. to have sustained the injuries when the government alleged, the
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witnesses also stated that it was possible for the injuries to have been caused earlier
and possibly even before the child was in Contreras's care. He cites evidence that
A.C. had symptoms of a concussion when she came to his home on January 4, 2012,
and that she had fallen and was injured on at least three occasions during the weekend
prior to her death.
"We review a challenge to the sufficiency of evidence de novo, considering the
evidence in the light most favorable to the government." United States v. Gentry, 555
F.3d 659, 664 (8th Cir. 2009) (citation omitted).
"Second-degree murder requires proof of the unlawful taking of a human life."
United States v. Good Bird, 197 F.3d 1203, 1204 (8th Cir. 1999) (citing United States
v. Lame, 716 F.2d 515, 518 (8th Cir. 1983)); see also United States v. Downs, 56 F.3d
973, 974 (8th Cir. 1995) (stating that the elements of second-degree murder require
proof that the defendant "unlawfully killed [the victim] with malice aforethought").
"[A]ssault resulting in serious bodily injury is not a lesser included offense of
murder." United States v. Cavanaugh, 948 F.2d 405, 410 (8th Cir. 1991). "[A]ssault
resulting in serious bodily injury contains different elements than murder . . . ." Id."The elements of the 18 U.S.C. § 113(a)(6) offense of assault resulting in serious
bodily injury are (1) an intentional assault that (2) results in serious bodily injury,
committed (3) by an Indian and (4) within Indian Country." United States v. Stymiest,
581 F.3d 759, 766 (8th Cir. 2009) (citation omitted).
Contreras contends that the government failed to prove when the injury
occurred. The indictment alleged a nine-day window in which A.C. may have been
injured—"[o]n or about between January 1, 2012, and January 9, 2012." The evidence
shows that Contreras was the sole adult who had physical custody of the victim
between January 4 and January 9, 2012, and was the only adult with A.C. when she
became unconscious. While Contreras told the FBI that the child became unconscious
after falling from a chair, three physicians testified that a fall from such a chair is
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inconsistent with the 18 contusions observed on four different parts of the child's
head; in fact, Dr. Froloff testified, contrary to Contreras's claim, that A.C.'s injuries
were consistent with a beating.
As to the timing of the injury, Dr. Froloff testified that the hemorrhages
probably were inflicted within the 72 hours preceding death. A.C. arrived at the
hospital at 8:39 a.m. on Monday, January 9, 2012, and died on Wednesday afternoon,
January 11, 2012, at 5:00 p.m. Dr. Snell testified that A.C.'s injury was "acute" and
that this "acute injury" was
less than five days old. Could be a few days of that. But if we start at the
time of death, we know she's in the hospital for three days, so we back
up from there, which would tell us the injury occurred approximately
right about the time or right before she was admitted to the hospital.
(Emphasis added.)
Both Dr. Froloff's and Dr. Snell's estimates of when A.C. sustained the fatal
injuries place her in Contreras's care. Furthermore, A.C. underwent a physical exam
with no reported issues at the end of December 2011, and A.C.'s mother testified that
A.C. sounded fine on the telephone while in Contreras's care on the Sunday night
prior to A.C. being taken to the hospital the next day. Based on the evidence in this
record, we hold that the jury could conclude beyond a reasonable doubt that A.C.'s
injuries fell within the time period specified in the indictment and that sufficient
evidence exists to support Contreras's convictions on Counts 1 and 3.
B. Pretrial Publicity
Approximately one week before trial, Contreras filed a motion for a local jury
panel. Contreras wanted jurors to be selected from the Southern Division of South
Dakota rather than the Northern Division. The district court denied the motion,
stating, "Defendant has not cited any legal authority to support his position that jurors
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should be selected from the Southern Division. Defendant has also failed to supply
any evidence of widespread publicity in northeastern South Dakota or undue
inconvenience of jurors from that area."
After trial, Contreras moved for a new trial, claiming extensive and misleading
publicity immediately preceding and during the trial. The district court denied
Contreras's motion. The court explained that after jury selection, "there was no one
left on the jury panel who indicated they would be affected by anything they had
previously been exposed to concerning this case." The court found no showing of
extensive or misleading publicity during the trial. The court also noted that it had
repeatedly warned the jury to disregard any information that was not entered into
evidence.
The court acknowledged "that some of the few pretrial news reports
. . . referred to the case as a shaken baby case"; however, the court found that the
evidence showed that the case was not a "shaken baby case" but a "beaten baby case."
The court deemed "a beaten baby case" to be "just as reprehensible, if not more so"
as "[a] shaken baby case." The court concluded that Contreras failed to show "any
impact upon any seated juror because of that error by the media in anticipating what
the proof might be at trial."
On appeal, Contreras argues that he is entitled to a new trial due to the
prejudicial inaccuracies in the pretrial publicity surrounding the case. He asserts that
nearly every major local news source accessible to the jurors carried false information
that Contreras was charged with shaking his daughter to death. He contends that he
is entitled to a new trial pursuant to Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 33 because
a substantial number of potential jurors indicated during voir dire that they had read
or heard accounts of the allegations in the news and that there were too many on the
panel who had been exposed to the false information in the news in the days, weeks,
and months preceding trial to remove all of the jurors that had been exposed.
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"When reviewing whether pretrial publicity violates a criminal defendant's
right to a trial by a panel of impartial and indifferent jurors, we engage in a two-tier
analysis." United States v. Petters, 663 F.3d 375, 385 (8th Cir. 2011) (citations
omitted). In the first tier of our analysis, we determine "whether pretrial publicity was
so extensive and corrupting that a reviewing court is required to presume unfairness
of constitutional magnitude." Id. (quotation and citation omitted). "In all other cases,
the change-of-venue question turns on the second tier of our analysis, whether the
voir dire testimony of those who became trial jurors demonstrated such actual
prejudice that it was an abuse of discretion to deny a timely change-of-venue motion."
Id. (quotation and citation omitted).
Here, Contreras has failed to show that pretrial publicity was "so extensive and
corrupting" that we should presume unfairness. See id. (quotation and citation
omitted). The district court found that Contreras failed to make a showing of
extensive or misleading publicity during the trial. To be sure, the court acknowledged
that some news reports erroneously described the case as a shaken baby case but
concluded that the error would not have prejudiced Contreras. The court found that
the evidence showed that the case was not a shaken baby case but actually a beaten
baby case, which is worse.
Second, Contreras failed to show that the voir dire testimony of any juror
demonstrated actual prejudice. Contreras identified no juror who remained on the jury
after a challenge for cause based on his or her knowledge of the case.
Finally, the district court repeatedly warned the jury to disregard any
information that was not entered into evidence. There is nothing indicating that "the
jurors had disregarded the strong instruction and violated the oath to render a verdict
in accordance with the evidence in the case." United States v. Lewis, 738 F.2d 916,
923 (8th Cir. 1984).
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Accordingly, we hold that the district court did not err in denying Contreras's
motion for a new trial based on prejudicial pretrial publicity.
C. Evidentiary Rulings
Contreras also raises a number of evidentiary challenges. He asserts that the
district court erred in (1) permitting evidence of the spanking incident under Federal
Rule of Evidence 404(b); (2) commenting that Contreras's stepson's testimony
"might" be allowed as rebuttal evidence; and (3) prohibiting Contreras from exploring
some of the victim's mother's and stepfather's "bad habits."
A district court's evidentiary rulings are reviewed for an abuse of discretion and
are reversed "only when an improper evidentiary ruling affects the substantial rights
of the defendant or when we believe that the error has had more than a slight
influence on the verdict." United States v. Elbert, 561 F.3d 771, 775 (8th Cir. 2009)
(quotation and citation omitted).
1. Prior Spanking Incident
After the district court severed Count 4 from the indictment (the child-abuse
count), the government filed notice under Rule 404(b) to attempt to introduce
testimony of Contreras's spanking of A.C. on the buttocks in August 2011, which the
court permitted.
Contreras argues that the district court erred in admitting evidence of his prior
spanking of A.C. under Rule 404(b) because the evidence fails to satisfy the four-part
test for admissibility. He asserts that the testimony constituted impermissible
propensity evidence intended to show that he is generally a violent person.
Rule 404(b) provides that "[e]vidence of a crime, wrong, or other act is not
admissible to prove a person's character in order to show that on a particular occasion
the person acted in accordance with the character." Fed. R. Evid. 404(b)(1). But
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evidence may be admitted for another purpose, such as proving "motive, opportunity,
intent, preparation, plan, knowledge, identity, absence of mistake, or lack of
accident." Fed. R. Evid. 404(b)(2). We review for an abuse of discretion the district
court's admission of evidence under Rule 404(b), "and we will not reverse unless the
evidence clearly had no bearing on the case and was introduced solely to prove the
defendant's propensity to commit criminal acts." United States v. Williams, 796 F.3d
951, 958 (8th Cir. 2015) (quotation and citation omitted). "Rule 404(b) is one of
inclusion, such that evidence offered for permissible purposes is presumed admissible
absent a contrary determination." Id. (quotation and citations omitted). In determining
whether a district court abused its discretion, we apply a four-part test. Id. Under that
test, a district court properly admits evidence "under Rule 404(b) if (1) it is relevant
to a material issue; (2) it is similar in kind and not overly remote in time to the crime
charged; (3) it is supported by sufficient evidence; and (4) its potential prejudice does
not substantially outweigh its probative value." Id. at 959 (quotation and citations
omitted). The fourth requirement derives from Federal Rule of Evidence 403, "which
provides in relevant part that '[t]he court may exclude relevant evidence if its
probative value is substantially outweighed by [the] danger of . . . unfair prejudice.'"
Id. (alterations in original) (quoting Fed. R. Evid. 403).
We conclude that the four-part test is satisfied. First, the August 2011 spanking
incident was relevant to a material issue. Specifically, the government introduced the
evidence to prove absence of mistake and lack of accident in light of Contreras's
statement to the FBI that the child had fallen from a chair. Evidence that Contreras
had struck the same victim hard enough to offer an apology to her mother just four
months prior was relevant to rebut his claim of accident.
Second, the August 2011 spanking incident was similar in kind and close in
time to the crime charged. Both the spanking incident and the crime charged involve
an assault by Contreras against A.C.—the same victim. And, the spanking incident
occurred only four months prior to A.C.'s death. See, e.g., United States v. Straker,
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567 F. Supp. 2d 174, 178 (D.D.C. 2008), aff'd, 800 F.3d 570 (D.C. Cir. 2015)
("Moreover, the other crimes were close in time to the hostage taking charged in this
case, all within four months of the April 2005 abduction of Balram Maharaj."
(emphasis added)).
Third, sufficient evidence supports the occurrence of the August 2011 spanking
incident. Both Sine (A.C.'s mother) and Sine's mother (A.C.'s grandmother) testified
to observing the handprint on A.C.'s buttocks. Contreras also admitted to Sine that he
had spanked A.C. on the buttocks too hard and apologized for doing so. The court
admitted a photo into evidence documenting the hand print on A.C.'s buttocks.
Finally, the potential prejudice does not substantially outweigh the evidence's
probative value. The district court gave two oral limiting instructions before the jury
heard the testimony of Sine and her mother. These instructions "minimiz[ed] the
danger of unfair prejudice." See United States v. Hessman, 493 F.3d 977, 983 (8th
Cir. 2007) ("Further, the district court instructed the jury that the evidence of
Hessman's prior convictions should be considered only with respect to the issues of
knowledge and intent, thus minimizing the danger of unfair prejudice." (citation
omitted)).
Accordingly, we hold that the district court did not abuse its discretion in
admitting the August 2011 spanking incident under Rule 404(b).
2. Testimony of A.L. (Contreras's Stepson)
The government attempted to introduce pursuant to Rule 404(b) the testimony
of Contreras's 15-year-old stepson, A.L., concerning Contreras's physical treatment
of A.L. in its case-in-chief. The court denied the motion. In denying the government's
Rule 404(b) motion and precluding A.L.'s testimony, the court stated:
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I'm not going to allow his testimony in the case in chief. But after I hear
the defense case, I can best evaluate what the probative value versus the
prejudicial effect might be. So it might be that he'll be allowed as a
rebuttal witness, depending, but not in the case in chief, because my
concern about it being very strong evidence of predisposition. So that's
the ruling.
Contreras asserts that while the district court did not permit the government to
present evidence in its case-in-chief concerning the allegation that Contreras would
hit A.L., his stepson, repeatedly on the head with a closed fist, it ruled that such
evidence could be used as rebuttal evidence. Contreras maintains that "[t]his ruling
essentially prevented [him] from introducing evidence regarding his treatment of A.C.
Therefore[,] the court abused its discretion in ruling that it could be admissible as
rebuttal evidence." (Emphasis added.)
Contreras's argument fails. First, the district court merely commented on the
possibility that the evidence concerning A.L. could be used as rebuttal evidence. As
the government points out, "[t]he district court could not be expected to announce [or]
rule that the evidence could not be used in rebuttal prior to even hearing the
defendant's case-in-chief."
Second, after Contreras presented his case-in-chief, the government again
requested that the district court admit A.L.'s testimony as rebuttal evidence. The
government argued that Contreras's case-in-chief had opened the door and that the
court should therefore permit A.L. to testify. The district court disagreed and did not
permit the government to call A.L. as a rebuttal witness.
Finally, Contreras has failed to identify what evidence he was precluded from
introducing based on the district court's denial of the government's Rule 404(b)
motion concerning A.L.'s testimony.
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3. Evidence Concerning A.C.'s Mother's Habits and Household
The district court granted motions in limine by the government to exclude any
evidence of prior arrests, convictions, police reports, or "character evidence" related
to Sine, A.C.'s mother, and her husband, Sam Sine. Contreras argues that this
evidence was key to his claim that A.C. could have sustained some or all of her
injuries while in the Sines' care. He intended to introduce evidence such as criminal
convictions and alcohol abuse. He asserts that such evidence was relevant to the issue
of alternative causes of death and admissible as evidence of habit under Federal Rule
of Evidence 406.
At trial, Contreras made no offer of proof showing what he planned to
introduce about Sine and her husband. Sine's husband did not testify at trial. Sine had
no convictions involving dishonesty or any felony convictions. Contreras's attorney
claimed Sine "and her husband both have extensive drinking problems, domestic
violence problems." He also asserted that Sine has a conviction for neglect and
removal of a child but was unable to "recall what the sentence was" and had no copy
of the judgment of conviction.
The district court ruled that Contreras's claims that Sine may have some kind
of reputation in the community "isn't something that gets to be admitted with regard
to her credibility, this mother's credibility, and there's no claim she's the one who was
even present when this child sustained [her] injuries." The district court also
emphasized a number of times that if Contreras had evidence that Sine or someone
else caused the injuries or bruises, that testimony would be admitted. The record
supports a finding that the district court did not abuse its discretion in declining to
admit this evidence.
D. Competency
Contreras's trial was completed on August 1, 2013. Neither before nor during
trial did Contreras exhibit any unusual behavior to his lawyer or the court. Contreras
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also exhibited no unusual behavior when he was interviewed by his probation officer
on August 20, 2013. But on November 19, 2013—after Contreras was found guilty
of Counts 1 and 3 but prior to sentencing—Contreras moved for a competency
evaluation. The district court held a hearing on Contreras's motion, and the court
questioned Contreras. The court found that "[a]t times, Defendant completely failed
to respond to the Court's questions." The court noted that Contreras's "probation
officer testified that Defendant's personality was dramatically different and his
physical appearance had changed since his August 20 interview of Defendant."
Specifically Contreras "had lost weight, appeared much thinner, and had a much
different affect at the November hearing as compared to the meeting on August 20,
2013." The court concluded that it was "in need of further and specific information
to determine if Defendant presently is suffering from a mental disease or defect." As
a result, the court "request[ed] a comprehensive evaluation of Defendant to determine
his current psychological condition" and granted Contreras's motion for a mental
evaluation. The court ordered that Dr. David Bean, M.D., conduct the psychiatric
evaluation.
Dr. Bean examined Contreras once for approximately 35 minutes and
performed no tests. He later opined in a report that Contreras may have some mental
problems based on Contreras's refusal to talk to Dr. Bean during the session. Dr. Bean
found Contreras incompetent to be sentenced.
After reviewing Dr. Bean's report, the district court entered an order placing
Contreras in an appropriate facility for up to four months to determine whether he
would likely regain capacity in "the foreseeable future." Contreras was sent to a
federal medical center for a two-month examination. At the completion of that
examination, the Bureau of Prisons psychiatrist prepared a report finding Contreras
competent. The "Opinion on Competency" portion of the report concluded that
Contreras "did not appear to suffer from a mental disease or defect rendering him
unable to understand the nature and consequences of the proceedings against him or
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to properly assist in his defense." In fact, the examining physician testified that
Contreras likely was malingering and that there was insufficient data to conclude that
he lacked competence to proceed with sentencing.
"[A] defendant must be competent at all stages of the prosecution, including
sentencing." United States v. Casteel, 717 F.3d 635, 641 (8th Cir. 2013) (alteration
in original) (quotation and citation omitted). "Determining whether a defendant is
competent . . . is committed to the discretion of the district court." United States v.
Whittington, 586 F.3d 613, 617 (8th Cir. 2009) (quotation and citation omitted). We
will affirm the district court's factual finding as to competency "unless [it is] clearly
arbitrary or unwarranted, or clearly erroneous." Id. (quotations and citations omitted).
Based on the Bureau of Prisons psychiatrist's medical opinion, we hold that the
district court did not clearly err in finding Contreras competent.
E. Sentence
Finally, Contreras argues that his sentence violates the Eighth Amendment and
is otherwise substantively unreasonable.
1. Eighth Amendment
Contreras argues that the mandatory minimum sentence provided in 18 U.S.C.
§ 3559(f)(1) is unconstitutional as applied to him. According to Contreras, the
government alleged at trial that he struck A.C. in reaction to the stress of being late
for work; in doing so, Contreras claims that the government was describing a "heat
of passion" assault. He maintains that this conduct—while serious—"is not so much
more serious than the homicides referenced [in his brief] as to require a mandatory
minimum sentence that is twice what one would expect in other circumstances."
"'[A] sentence within statutory limits is generally not subject to review under
the Eighth Amendment.'" United States v. Rodriguez–Ramos, 663 F.3d 356, 366 (8th
Cir. 2011) (quoting United States v. Murphy, 899 F.2d 714, 719 (8th Cir. 1990)); see
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also United States v. Collins, 340 F.3d 672, 679 (8th Cir. 2003) ("It is well settled
that a sentence within the range provided by statute is generally not reviewable by an
appellate court." (citation omitted)). In fact, we have "never held a sentence within
the statutory range to violate the Eighth Amendment." United States v. Vanhorn, 740
F.3d 1166, 1170 (8th Cir. 2014) (citing United States v. Neadeau, 639 F.3d 453, 456
(8th Cir. 2011)). We decline to deviate from this precedent in the present case.
2. Substantive Reasonableness
Contreras also argues that he should have received a downward variance from
the Guidelines range because (1) he maintains his innocence; (2) sentencing him to
30 years in prison does not constitute just punishment or deter future conduct; (3) he
has raised six children; (4) he has a nonviolent past; (5) he has had minimal contact
with the criminal justice system; and (6) there is no need to provide him with
additional training, education, or medical care.
Contreras fails to recognize that he was sentenced to a statutorily-prescribed
mandatory minimum sentence of 30 years imprisonment, not pursuant to the
Guidelines. See 18 U.S.C. § 3559(f)(1) ("A person who is convicted of a Federal
offense that is a crime of violence against the person of an individual who has not
attained the age of 18 years shall, unless a greater mandatory minimum sentence of
imprisonment is otherwise provided by law and regardless of any maximum term of
imprisonment otherwise provided for the offense—(1) if the crime of violence is
murder, be imprisoned for life or for any term of years not less than 30, except that
such person shall be punished by death or life imprisonment if the circumstances
satisfy any of subparagraphs (A) through (D) of section 3591(a)(2) of this title . . . .").
As discussed supra, this sentence did not violate his Eighth Amendment rights.
III. Conclusion
Accordingly, we affirm the judgment of the district court.
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