Pardo v. State

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE
GABRIEL F. PARDO, §
§ No. 68, 2016
Defendant Below- §
Appellant, §
§ Court Below:
v. § Superior Court of the
§ State of Delaware
STATE OF DELAWARE, §
§ Cr. Id. No. 1409011585
Plaintiff Below- §
Appellee. §
Submitted: February 22, 2017
Decided: April 26, 2017
Before VALIHURA, VAUGHN, and SEITZ, Justices.
Upon appeal from the Superior Court. AFFIRMED.
Julianne E. Murray, Esquire (argued), MurrayPhillips, P.A., Georgetown, Delaware for
Appellant.
Sean P. Lugg, Esquire, and Andrew J. Vella, Esquire (argued), Delaware Department of
Justice, Wilmington, Delaware for Appellee.
VALIHURA, Justice:
I. INTRODUCTION
On October 2, 2015, Appellant Gabriel F. Pardo (“Pardo”) was convicted of
Manslaughter, Leaving the Scene of a Collision Resulting in Death (“LSCRD”), Reckless
Driving, and six counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child. The charges arose from
his involvement in a fatal hit-and-run collision with a bicyclist, Phillip Bishop
(“Bishop”), on September 12, 2014 at approximately 8:30 p.m. on Brackenville Road in
Hockessin. The principal issue raised in this appeal is whether Pardo‟s conviction for
LSCRD violated his Due Process rights, as he contends that the LSCRD statute imposes
strict liability. Pardo also contends that the Superior Court erred by adding a voluntary
intoxication instruction to the pattern jury instruction for manslaughter, by denying his
motion for judgment of acquittal, and by denying his request for a missing evidence
instruction.
We conclude that the statute governing LSCRD, 21 Del. C. § 4202, does not
impose strict liability because it requires the State to prove beyond a reasonable doubt
that a defendant had knowledge that he or she was involved in a collision. Because we
find Pardo‟s other arguments without merit, we AFFIRM his conviction and sentence.
II. RELEVANT FACTS AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
Pardo received a three-year sentence for his conviction for LSCRD under 21
Del. C. § 4202 (“Section 4202”). Section 4202 provides, in relevant part:
(a) The driver of any vehicle involved in a[] collision resulting in injury or
death to any person shall immediately stop such vehicle at the scene of such
collision. Said stop should be made as close to the scene of the collision as
possible without obstructing traffic more than necessary. The driver shall
give the driver‟s name, address and the registration number of the driver‟s
1
vehicle and exhibit a driver‟s license or other documentation of driving
privileges to the person struck or the driver or occupants of any vehicle
collided with and shall render to any person injured in such collision
reasonable assistance, including the carrying of such person to a hospital or
physician or surgeon for medical or surgical treatment if it is apparent that
such treatment is necessary or is requested by the injured person, or by
contacting appropriate law-enforcement or emergency personnel and
awaiting their arrival.
(b) Whoever violates subsection (a) of this section when that person has
been involved in a collision resulting in injury to any person shall be guilty
of an unclassified misdemeanor, be fined not less than $1,000 nor more
than $3,000 or imprisoned not less than 1 year nor more than 2 years.
(c) Whoever violates subsection (a) of this section when that person has
been involved in a collision resulting in death to any person shall be guilty
of a class E felony. The provisions of § 4206(a) or § 4217 of Title 11 or
any other statute to the contrary notwithstanding, the sentence for such
offense shall include a period of incarceration of not less than 1 year and
the first 6 months of any sentence imposed shall not be suspended.1
Pardo argued to the trial court that Section 4202 unconstitutionally imposes a
felony conviction and a minimum mandatory period of imprisonment without requiring
the State to prove the defendant‟s mental culpability. The Superior Court disagreed,
concluding that Section 4202 constitutionally imposes strict liability.2 The Superior
Court held, in the alternative, that the statute is constitutional as applied to Pardo,
reasoning that Pardo “knew he was in a collision” and “knowingly and intentionally left
1
21 Del. C. § 4202 (emphasis added). We have observed that Section 4202 “deals with the
category of collisions that might be thought to be the most important: those involving injuries or
death to human beings and not merely property damage.” Zhurbin v. State, 104 A.3d 108, 112-
13 (Del. 2014).
2
State v. Pardo, 2015 WL 6945310, at *1-2 (Del. Super. Ct. Nov. 9, 2015).
2
the scene of the collision without first determining whether anyone was injured or
killed.”3
On appeal, Pardo contends that Section 4202, as a strict liability statute, is
unconstitutional under a test set forth in Morissette v. United States because conviction
results in a relatively large penalty and “gravely besmirche[s]” one‟s reputation.4 We
observe at the outset that this Court has not addressed the constitutionality of Section
4202 directly, and the issue of the mental state required, if any, is one of first impression.
Both Pardo and the State suggest that our analysis in Hoover v. State,5 which
involved another provision of the Motor Vehicle Code, should guide our resolution of the
issues involving the mental state required in Section 4202. In Hoover, we considered two
certified questions of law, namely, (1) whether the “general liability provisions” of 11
Del. C. § 251(b) applied to 21 Del. C. § 4176A, which penalizes the operation of a motor
vehicle causing death (“Section 4176A”), and (2) whether Section 4176A was
unconstitutionally vague. Section 4176A provided in part:
3
Id. at *2 (emphasis in original).
4
See Morissette v. United States, 342 U.S. 246, 255-56 (1952) (sanctioning the imposition of
criminal liability in the absence of mens rea in a limited category of “public welfare offenses”
with the understanding that “penalties commonly are relatively small, and conviction does not
[do] grave damage to an offender‟s reputation”). Following the United States Supreme Court‟s
Morissette decision, the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit concluded that the
elimination of a mens rea requirement did not violate Due Process where, among other
requirements, “the penalty is relatively small” and the “conviction does not gravely besmirch[.]”
Holdridge v. United States, 282 F.2d 302, 310 (8th Cir. 1960) (citations omitted). Extrapolating
from the language in Holdridge, the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
articulated the frequently quoted two-part test, specifically stating that “[t]he elimination of the
element of criminal intent does not violate the due process clause where (1) the penalty is
relatively small, and (2) where conviction does not gravely besmirch.” United States v. Wulff,
758 F.2d 1121, 1125 (6th Cir. 1985).
5
958 A.2d 816 (Del. 2008).
3
(a) A person is guilty of operation of a vehicle causing death when, in the
course of driving or operating a motor vehicle or OHV in violation of any
provision of this chapter other than § 4177 of this title, the person‟s driving
or operation of the vehicle or OHV causes the death of another person.6
This Court found that the plain language of Section 4176A reflected the General
Assembly‟s unambiguous intention not to provide a requisite mental state for committing
that offense. We observed that Section 4176A is an unclassified misdemeanor in the
motor vehicle code and simply requires an underlying violation of the motor vehicle
code. We concluded that the General Assembly‟s intent was to create an offense
premised on a lower level of culpability than that required for vehicular homicide
(requiring criminally negligent driving or operation of a motor vehicle), criminally
negligent homicide (requiring criminal negligence), and manslaughter (requiring
recklessness).7 Applying Section 251(b) would have defeated the legislative purpose of
establishing a lower level of culpability. Accordingly, in applying 11 Del. C. § 251(c)
(concerning strict liability offenses), we concluded that “the General Assembly‟s intent to
impose strict liability for deaths proximately caused by a moving violation of the Motor
Vehicle Code „plainly appears‟ in both the unambiguous language of the statute and its
legislative history.”8
6
Id. at 818 (quoting 21 Del. C. § 4176A).
7
Id. at 820 (citing 11 Del. C. §§ 630(a)(1), 631, 632(1)); see, e.g., State v. Avila-Medina, 2009
WL 2581874, at *1 (Del. Super. Ct. Mar. 5, 2009) (observing that Section 4176A “was meant to
„fill the gap between normal motor vehicle violations which [do not] result in any harm to people
and the vehicular crimes which are in our criminal code like vehicular homicide, manslaughter or
criminally negligent homicide.‟” (alteration in original) (quoting Senate Debate, Del. H.B. 190,
142d Gen. Assem. (2003))).
8
Hoover, 958 A.2d at 820.
4
In considering the second certified question as to whether Section 4176A was
unconstitutionally vague for failing to specify the state of mind required to find an actor
guilty, citing Morissette,9 we held that, because Section 4176A “is part of the state‟s
motor vehicle code, it falls within the class of statutes that relate to the public safety and
welfare and need not require a specific state of mind.”10 However, because the question
was not before us, we expressly did not address whether the penalty provisions of Section
4176A (an unclassified misdemeanor) were unconstitutionally excessive as a strict
liability offense.11 Pardo now contends on appeal that, like Section 4176A, Section 4202
is a strict liability statute, but that this Court has not yet addressed the constitutionality of
a strict liability crime that results in a felony conviction with minimum mandatory
imprisonment.12
9
342 U.S. 246 (1952).
10
Hoover, 958 A.2d at 822 (citing Morissette, 342 U.S. at 256-60).
11
Violation of Section 4176A constituted an unclassified misdemeanor resulting in a fine of up
to $1,150 or a maximum of thirty months‟ incarceration. Id. at 818 n.5 (citing 21 Del. C.
§ 4176A(b)-(c)). We “offer[ed] no opinion on whether a sentence of thirty months in prison is a
„relatively small‟ penalty that would not violate the due process rights of a person who lacked
intent to commit a crime, under Morissette.” Id. at 824 (citing Morissette, 342 U.S. at 256).
However, this Court noted in dictum that eleven other states with analogous statutes imposed
maximum prison terms of six months to five years. Id. Later, the Superior Court considered the
question and declined to find the penalty provision in Section 4176A unconstitutionally
excessive. See Avila-Medina, 2009 WL 2581874, at *4.
12
Due to the consequences resulting from a felony conviction, including, for example, loss of the
right to vote, the right to sit on a jury, the right to possess a gun, and the possibility of being
barred from entering certain professions, many courts have concluded that a felony conviction
irreparably damages one‟s reputation. See, e.g., Staples v. United States, 511 U.S. 600, 618
(1994) (“After all, „felony‟ is, as we noted in distinguishing certain common-law crimes from
public welfare offenses, „as bad a word as you can give to man or thing.‟” (quoting Morissette,
342 U.S. at 260)). But cf. United States v. Engler, 806 F.2d 425, 434 n.4 (3d Cir. 1986)
(criticizing decisions that “appear to have established a bright-line rule” that felony convictions
“will always violate due process if liability is not predicated on scienter” (citing Wulff, 758 F.2d
5
 In response, the State argues that Section 4202 is not a strict liability statute
because it applies only where a defendant has knowledge that a collision occurred. At
oral argument, Pardo argued that if the State is correct that Section 4202 does require
knowledge, then, in addition to proving that the defendant knew that a collision occurred,
the State must also prove the defendant‟s knowledge that the collision resulted in
personal injury or death.
III. DISCUSSION
A. Scope and Standard of Review
“Subject to State and Federal Constitutional limitations, „the creation and
definition of crimes under Delaware law is a matter for legislative enactment either
through the Criminal Code or by another law.‟”13 “We review claims challenging the
constitutionality of a statute de novo[.]”14 When exercising this review, “there is a strong
presumption that a legislative enactment is constitutional.”15 Accordingly, “[w]e resolve
all doubts in favor of the challenged legislative act.”16 In addition, “we review legal
at 1125; United States v. St. Pierre, 578 F. Supp. 1424, 1429 (D.S.D. 1983))).
13
Eaton v. State, 703 A.2d 637, 640 (Del. 1997) (quoting Taylor v. State, 679 A.2d 449, 454
(Del. 1996)); see 11 Del. C. § 202(a) (“No conduct constitutes a criminal offense unless it is
made a criminal offense by this Criminal Code or by another law.”).
14
Steckel v. State, 882 A.2d 168, 170 (Del. 2005) (citing Thomas v. State, 725 A.2d 424, 427
(Del. 1999)).
15
Lamberty v. State, 108 A.3d 1225, 2015 WL 428581, at *1 (Del. Jan. 30, 2015) (TABLE)
(quoting Sheehan v. Oblates of St. Francis de Sales, 15 A.3d 1247, 1258 (Del. 2011)); see also
Opinion of the Justices, 425 A.2d 604, 606 (Del. 1981) (“Legislative acts should not be disturbed
except in clear cases, and then only upon weighty considerations; a legislative enactment is
cloaked with a presumption of constitutionality and should not be declared invalid unless its
invalidity is beyond doubt.” (citing Justice v. Gatchell, 325 A.2d 97, 102 (Del. 1974))).
16
Lamberty, 2015 WL 428581, at *1 (quoting Sheehan, 15 A.3d at 1258).
6
rulings, including the interpretation of statutes, de novo.”17 “Where a statute contains
unambiguous language that clearly reflects the intent of the legislature, then the language
of the statute controls.”18 We “read each [relevant] section [of the statute] in light of all
of the others to produce a harmonious whole.‟”19
B. Section 4202 Does Not Impose Strict Liability
We affirm the Superior Court‟s conviction and sentence on its alternate ground
that Section 4202 is not a strict liability statute. In this case, the absence of express
language specifying a mental state, such as knowledge, does not mandate a conclusion
that none is required and that the offense is a strict liability offense.20 Rather,
determining the mental state required requires construction of the statute and inference of
the General Assembly‟s intent.21 The plain language of the relevant statutory provisions
is our starting point.
17
Zhurbin, 104 A.3d at 110 (citing CML V, LLC v. Bax, 28 A.3d 1037, 1040 (Del. 2011)).
18
Id. (quoting Hoover, 958 A.2d at 820).
19
Id. (alteration in original) (quoting Progressive N. Ins. Co. v. Mohr, 47 A.3d 492, 496 (Del.
2012)).
20
See Staples, 511 U.S. at 605 (observing that legislative silence with respect to the required
mental state “by itself does not necessarily suggest that [the legislature] intended to dispense
with a conventional mens rea element, which would require that the defendant know the facts
that make his conduct illegal.” (citing United States v. Balint, 258 U.S. 250, 251-52 (1922)). We
observe that “[t]he existence of a mens rea is the rule of, rather than the exception to, the
principles of Anglo-American criminal jurisprudence.” Dennis v. United States, 341 U.S. 494,
500 (1951) (italics added).
21
See Staples, 511 U.S. at 605 (“[W]e have long recognized that determining the mental state
required for commission of a federal crime requires „construction of the statute and . . . inference
of the intent of Congress.‟” (omission in original) (quoting Balint, 258 U.S. at 253) (additional
citation omitted)).
7
In determining whether the General Assembly intended to impose strict liability
for LSCRD, we look first to Section 251 of Title 11, which addresses the proof of state of
mind required unless otherwise provided, as well as strict liability. Section 251 provides:
(a) No person may be found guilty of a criminal offense without proof that
the person had the state of mind required by the law defining the offense or
by subsection (b) of this section.
(b) When the state of mind sufficient to establish an element of an offense
is not prescribed by law, that element is established if a person acts
intentionally, knowingly or recklessly.
(c) It is unnecessary to prove the defendant‟s state of mind with regard to:
(1) Offenses which constitute violations, unless a particular state of
mind is included within the definition of the offenses; or
(2) Offenses defined by statutes other than this Criminal Code,
insofar as a legislative purpose to impose strict liability for such
offenses or with respect to any material element thereof plainly
appears.
In all cases covered by this subsection, it is nevertheless necessary to prove
that the act or omission on which liability is based was voluntary as
provided in §§ 242 and 243 of this title.22
Section 251(c) makes clear that, in order for Section 4202 to impose strict liability,
the General Assembly‟s intent to impose strict liability for a violation of Section 4202
resulting in death must “plainly appear.” Otherwise, Section 251(b) instructs that the
state of mind applicable to violation of Section 4202 would be intent, knowledge, or
recklessness.23
22
11 Del. C. § 251 (emphasis added).
23
See id. § 251(b).
8
The State contends that, unlike Section 4176A construed in Hoover, Section 4202
is not a strict liability statute and, thus, the Morissette test does not apply. We agree and
think that when the General Assembly makes an offense a felony, it cannot be said that “a
legislative purpose to impose strict liability . . . plainly appears.”24 Instead, we conclude
that a plain reading of the relevant statutory provisions reveals the General Assembly‟s
intent to require the State to prove that the defendant knew he was involved in a collision
and left the scene without fulfilling the statutory duties imposed in Section 4202.
In reaching this conclusion, we observe that Section 4202 must be read in the
context of the series of duties imposed in Chapter 42 of Title 21.25 Read in pari
materia,26 Sections 4201 and 4202 impose upon drivers involved in collisions the duty to
assess the nature and consequences of a collision before continuing on with their journey.
Section 4201 provides, in relevant part:
24
See id. § 251(c) (emphasis added); see also Staples, 511 U.S. at 616 (observing that,
“[h]istorically, the penalty imposed under a statute has been a significant consideration in
determining whether the statute should be construed as dispensing with mens rea” and that “the
cases that first defined the concept of the public welfare offense almost uniformly involved
statutes that provided for only light penalties such as fines or short jail sentences, not
imprisonment in the state penitentiary”).
25
See Zhurbin, 104 A.3d at 111 (reading Section 4201 in conjunction with “Chapter 42 more
generally” to conclude that Section 4201 imposes duties on the driver of “any vehicle” involved
in a collision, “not only one on a public highway” (emphasis in original) (footnote omitted)).
26
The legislative debate during which the General Assembly considered whether to elevate
LSCRD from a misdemeanor to a felony also suggests that Sections 4201 and 4202 are intended
to be read together. The testifying Deputy Attorney General explained:
When you read Section[s] 4201 and 4202 together, what they instruct drivers in
Delaware is, if you are involved in an accident, you have to stop and ascertain
whether or not an injury has occurred. Then if an injury has occurred, there are
certain things you are supposed to do.
Senate Debate on S.B. 154 at 6:25 (enacted as 73 Del. Laws ch. 163 (2001)), available at Ex. A
to Answering Br.
9
(a) The driver of any vehicle involved in a collision resulting in apparent
damage to property shall immediately stop such vehicle at the scene of the
collision. Said stop should be made as close to the scene of the collision as
possible without obstructing traffic more than necessary. The driver shall
immediately undertake reasonable efforts to ascertain whether any person
involved in the collision was injured or killed. If such collision resulted in
injury or death, the driver shall comply with § 4203 of this title. If, after
reasonably ascertaining that there are no injuries or deaths, and if the
damaged vehicle is obstructing traffic, the driver of the vehicle must make
every reasonable effort to move the vehicle or have it moved so as not to
obstruct the regular flow of traffic more than necessary. If the damage
resulting from such collision is to the property of the driver only, with no
damage to the person, property of another, or the environment, the driver
need not stay at the scene of the collision but shall immediately make a
report of the damage resulting as required by § 4203 of this title.27
The word “apparent” implies knowledge, as its common dictionary meaning is “visible,”
“manifest,” or “obvious.”28 Section 4202 provides that drivers must stop and render
reasonable assistance to persons who have been injured.29 Once Sections 4201 and 4202
have been complied with, Section 4203 requires a driver to report to the police any
collision resulting in injury, death, or property damage “to an apparent extent of $500 or
27
21 Del. C. § 4201(a) (emphasis added). The Court of Common Pleas has determined that a
person is “involved” in a collision if he or she is “connected with an accident in a natural or
logical manner or implicated or entangled with the final event.” State v. McDonnell, 2006 WL
759703, at *4 (Del. Com. Pl. Mar. 23, 2006).
28
Apparent, Black’s Law Dictionary (10th ed. 2014); see also Webster’s Third New Int’l
Dictionary of the English Language 102 (2002) (defining “apparent” as “capable of easy
perception . . . readily perceptible to the senses . . . open to ready observation or full view . . .
unobstructed and unconcealed”); see also Stevenson v. State, 8 A.2d 914, 916 (Del. Super. Ct.
1939) (Terry, J.) (interpreting the General Assembly‟s addition in 1935 of the word “apparent” to
an earlier version of the statute and concluding that “the Legislature intended by its amendment,
in inserting the word „apparent‟ after the word „in‟ and before the word „damage,‟ to qualify the
duty of the driver aforesaid, wherein and whereby he would only be liable in the event the
damage was apparent in the sense of being „open to view‟; „capable of being easily understood‟;
„evident‟; „seeming‟, rather than true or real; „capable of being seen‟; „easily seen‟; „visible to the
eye‟; „within sight or view‟; „manifest‟; „obvious‟; „what appears or has been made manifest‟”).
29
21 Del. C. § 4202(a).
10
more” or that “appears” to involve “a driver whose physical ability is impaired as a result
of the use of alcohol or drugs or any combination thereof.”30
Taken together, Sections 4201 through 4203 establish a set of duties for drivers
involved in collisions in Delaware.31 On its face, Section 4201 requires a driver involved
in a collision resulting in apparent damage to property to “immediately undertake
reasonable efforts to ascertain whether any person involved in the collision was injured or
killed.”32 Section 4202 requires drivers involved in a collision to stop and render
reasonable assistance to those who have been harmed. Drivers logically must have
knowledge that a collision has occurred before the duty to stop and render assistance can
be triggered. It is not reasonable to believe the General Assembly intended for a penalty
to be imposed for failure to perform certain duties if the driver was unaware of the
30
Id. § 4203(a).
31
The Court of Chancery summarized these statutory duties in Jacobs v. City of Wilmington:
A driver involved in a traffic accident in Delaware is charged with a series of
statutory duties. Whenever an accident apparently results in property damage, the
driver must stop, and ascertain whether there was an injury. If another party was
indeed injured, the driver must render “reasonable assistance,” and provide the
other driver with her license and other pertinent information. If there is apparent
property damage to the other vehicle, the driver must also stay at the scene of the
accident.
In addition, after fulfilling the above requirements, [Section] 4203(a) holds that
[a] driver of a vehicle involved in an accident must report it to the police
whenever (1) injury or death occurs, (2) either driver appears to be impaired by
alcohol or drugs, or (3) there is apparent property damage of $500 or more . . . .
2002 WL 27817, at *4 (Del. Ch. Jan. 3, 2002) (Strine, V.C.) (citations omitted).
32
21 Del. C. § 4201(a).
11
collision.33 The State‟s failure to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant had
knowledge of the collision would require a verdict of not guilty.
Thus, based on our reading of Sections 4201 and 4202, we conclude that the
General Assembly intended that the State must prove that the defendant had knowledge
that a collision occurred but failed to stop. Because we discern a requisite mental state
from the language of the relevant statutory provisions, the default mental state provision
of Section 251(b) does not apply.
Further, we reject Pardo‟s contention that if knowledge is required, then actual or
constructive knowledge of injury or death is an element of the offense. Requiring
knowledge of death or injury would be incompatible with the General Assembly‟s intent.
That drivers are statutorily required by Section 4201 to stop and investigate the
consequences of a collision suggests that the General Assembly intended that the duty to
render aid would be triggered regardless of whether the driver knows prior to stopping
that a person has been injured or killed.
One obvious purpose of the statute is to ensure that persons injured in accidents
receive prompt medical attention. One who is involved in the collision may be in the best
33
See State v. Osika, 1988 WL 1017754, at *2 (Del. Com. Pl. July 19, 1988) (“The offense of
leaving the scene of an accident makes little sense unless knowledge of the occurrence of an
accident is part of the offense. The purpose of the statute is to prohibit the automobile driver
involved in an accident to evade his responsibilities by escaping or departing before his [identity
is] made known. The statute requires an affirmative course of action by the driver. It follows
that a driver cannot perform the duty required by statute unless he has knowledge of the facts
giving rise to such duty. Although most motor vehicle statutes do not require proof of a state of
mind, it is inconceivable that the legislature would make the statute in this case applicable to a
person that was ignorant of the fact that the automobile that he was driving was involved in an
accident.”).
12
position to ensure that those who are injured might receive the earliest possible medical
attention. Requiring the State to prove the defendant‟s knowledge of the consequences of
a collision would defeat the purpose of the statute by encouraging drivers to avoid
knowledge by fleeing, rather than stopping to investigate whether anyone was seriously
injured or killed. The General Assembly‟s decision to enhance the penalty for violation
of Section 4202(a) to a felony punishable by a minimum of six months‟ imprisonment
where death is involved furthers this purpose by removing the incentive for intoxicated
drivers to flee the scene of a collision rather than stay and render assistance.34
Moreover, requiring the State to prove the defendant‟s knowledge of death or
injury would place an unrealistic burden on the prosecution. Although the State can
prove a defendant‟s knowledge that a collision occurred inferentially using circumstantial
evidence,35 proving that a defendant had actual knowledge that someone was injured or
killed would be extremely difficult in view of the defendant‟s flight from the scene.
34
The synopsis for Senate Bill 154, which elevated violation of Section 4202(a) resulting in
death from a class A misdemeanor to a class E felony, provides that “[t]his Act will ensure that
drivers who flee the scene of an accident which results in death will be adequately punished.”
Del. S.B. 154 syn., 141st Gen. Assem. (2001). The felony provision of Section 4202(c) provides
that violation of Section 4202(a) “resulting in death to any person” constitutes a class E felony
and mandates that “the sentence for such offense shall include a period of incarceration of not
less than 1 year and the first 6 months of any sentence imposed shall not be suspended.” 21
Del. C. § 4202(c). Collisions resulting in injuries, but not death, remain punishable as
unclassified misdemeanors. Id. § 4202(b).
35
See Osika, 1988 WL 1017754, at *2 (“Knowledge of the accident does not have to be shown
by direct evidence and the denial of knowledge of the accident by the accused does not need to
be accepted at face value. It is sufficient if the event occurs under circumstances that raise an
inference of knowledge on the part of the fleeing driver.”).
13
A number of jurisdictions with hit-and-run offenses have statutes that expressly
contain an element of knowledge.36 Courts in these jurisdictions are divided as to
whether the knowledge element in the statute requires only knowledge that the collision
occurred, or whether the state must also prove the defendant‟s knowledge that the
collision resulted in injury or damage.37 Here, the most analogous cases are those arising
in jurisdictions where statutes are silent as to a mental state. As discussed above, silence
does not dispense with the mens rea inquiry.38 The vast majority of courts construing
these statutes have determined that knowledge is required,39 but they are divided as to
whether knowledge of the collision alone is required to hold a driver accountable,40 or
36
See Marjorie A. Caner, Annotation, Necessity and Sufficiency of Showing, in Criminal
Prosecution under “Hit-And-Run” Statute, Accused’s Knowledge of Accident, Injury, or
Damage, 26 A.L.R. 5th 1, §§ 4[a]-[b] (1995).
37
See id.
38
See Staples, 511 U.S. at 605.
39
We encountered only one state that imposes strict liability for hit-and-run collisions where the
statute is silent with respect to the mental culpability required to secure a conviction. See People
v. Manzo, 144 P.3d 551, 556, 558-59 (Colo. 2006) (noting that the state‟s interest in “enforc[ing]
driver responsibility would be thwarted” if drivers “could avoid punishment for Leaving the
Scene of an Accident with Serious Injury by failing to have actual knowledge regarding his or
her involvement in the accident,” and that imposing strict liability was constitutional despite the
resulting felony conviction because the statute constitutes a public welfare offense and the
penalties, including up to eight years imprisonment, “are small in comparison to many common
law crimes” (citations omitted)); see also People v. Hernandez, 250 P.3d 568, 573 (Colo. 2011)
(en banc) (describing the Colorado hit-and-run statute as a “strict liability offense” (citing
Manzo, 144 P.3d at 555, 558)).
40
For example, in Nevada, the prosecution must prove that the driver had actual or constructive
knowledge that he or she was involved in a collision. Clancy v. State, 313 P.3d 226, 230-31
(Nev. 2013). However, “actual or constructive knowledge of injury or death is not an element of
the felony offense of leaving the scene of an accident.” Dettloff v. State, 97 P.3d 586, 590 (Nev.
2004) (citation omitted). As the Supreme Court of Nevada has reasoned, “to hold otherwise
would encourage „hasty retreats‟ from accident scenes by at-fault or impaired drivers to avoid
gaining knowledge that someone had been injured and, correspondingly, avoid criminal
responsibility under the hit-and-run statute.” Id. Similarly, in Washington, “[k]knowledge of the
14
whether the prosecution must prove both the driver‟s knowledge of his involvement in a
collision and that he knew death or injury resulted.41 Jurisdictions in the latter category
typically require knowledge of the injuries sustained as a result of the accident, or that the
accident was of such a nature that a person involved in it would reasonably anticipate that
bodily injury or death had occurred.42
accident is all the knowledge that the law requires.” State v. Vela, 673 P.2d 185, 188 (Wash.
1983) (en banc); see also State v. Hayes, 2010 WL 3639903, at *3 (Wash. Ct. App. Sept. 21,
2010) (describing the elements of Washington‟s hit-and-run offense as “(1) an accident resulting
in injury to a person; (2) the failure of the defendant driver to stop in order to provide contact
information and to render reasonable assistance; and (3) the driver‟s knowledge of the accident.”
(citing State v. Sutherland, 15 P.3d 1051, 1056 (Wash. Ct. App. 2001))).
41
See State v. Al-Naseer, 734 N.W.2d 679, 684-89 (Minn. 2007) (surveying jurisdictions); State
v. Mancuso, 652 So. 2d 370, 371-72 (Fla. 1995) (collecting cases); see generally Caner, supra
note 36, at §§ 3[a]-[b].
42
See, e.g., Kimoktoak v. State, 584 P.2d 25, 32 (Alaska 1978) (concluding that, due to the
potential maximum imprisonment of ten years for failing to stop and render assistance, “it is not
sufficient to show merely that [the defendant] had knowledge of the accident or collision[,]” but
that requiring proof of actual knowledge of injury or death would place an unreasonable burden
on the prosecution because the very nature of the offense may foreclose such knowledge); see
also Payne v. Commonwealth, 674 S.E.2d 835, 842 (Va. 2009) (“[T]he Commonwealth must
prove that the defendant possessed actual knowledge of the occurrence of the accident, and such
knowledge of injury which would be attributed to a reasonable person under the circumstances of
the case.” (alteration in original) (quoting Kil v. Commonwealth, 407 S.E.2d 674, 679 (Va. Ct.
App. 1991)). Many of the jurisdictions requiring knowledge of the injury rely on the Holford
rule articulated by the Supreme Court of California, which provides that “criminal liability
attaches to a driver who knowingly leaves the scene of an accident if he actually knew of the
injury or if he knew that the accident was of such a nature that one would reasonably anticipate
that it resulted in injury to a person.” People v. Holford, 403 P.2d 423, 427 (Cal. 1965) (en
banc) (footnote omitted); see State v. Miller, 308 N.W.2d 4, 7 (Iowa 1981) (adopting the Holford
rule); State v. Sidway, 431 A.2d 1237, 1240 (Vt. 1981) (applying Holford and similar cases to
hold that “[i]f an impact occurs under such circumstances that a reasonable person would
anticipate injury to person or property, knowledge of that fact is imputed to the driver”); State v.
Porras, 610 P.2d 1051, 1054 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1980) (“We adopt both the reasoning and the
interpretation of the scienter requirement made by the California court [in Holford].”); State v.
Minkel, 230 N.W.2d 233, 236 (S.D. 1975) (applying Holford and observing that “[i]t is difficult
to imagine any accident involving contact between an automobile and a bicycle in which a
reasonable driver would not know that the collision occurred[,]” and that “[w]hen that collision
is serious enough to cause death, the inference that the driver knew of it becomes even
stronger”); see also State v. Tennant, 319 S.E.2d 395, 401 (W. Va. 1984) (finding the “weight of
15
We conclude that our statutory scheme requires proof of a defendant‟s knowledge
of his involvement in a collision, and that actual or constructive knowledge of injury or
death is not an element of the offense. Section 4202 imposes a duty on drivers who know
they are involved in a collision to stop and assess whether any harm has occurred to
persons or property. In this case, in addition to the direct evidence of knowledge
available from Pardo‟s testimony,43 the extent of the damage to Pardo‟s vehicle and the
force exercised upon it by the collision support the Superior Court‟s finding that Pardo
knew that the vehicle he was driving was involved in a collision.44 Accordingly, we
reject Pardo‟s constitutional challenges to Section 4202 and affirm the Superior Court‟s
conviction under Section 4202.
authority” represented by Holford persuasive and holding with respect to the version of West
Virginia‟s hit-and-run statute then in effect that the state must “prove that the driver charged with
leaving the scene of an accident knew of the accident and the resulting injury or death or
reasonably should have known of the injury or death from the nature of the accident”).
43
See, e.g., App. to Answering Br. at B237 (Tr. 53:17-18) (“I knew I had an accident, you know,
that my car struck a limb, now I know it‟s not.”); id. at B251 (Tr. 112:2) (“[W]e were shocked
after the impact . . . .”); id. at B266 (Tr. 169:17-20) (Pardo admitting that when he called the
New Castle County Police Department, he stated that he had struck a deer or a stick); id. at B305
(Tr. 65:7-8) (“I knew I—I struck something so I knew the car will have had some damage.”).
44
Immediately following the collision, Pardo‟s vehicle left the roadway. See, e.g., App. to
Opening Br. at A42 (Tr. 142:5-21). Pardo acknowledged that the collision caused serious
damage to his vehicle, rendering it unsafe to drive. Id. at A173 (Tr. 156:5-14). This damage
included removal of portions of the front grill of the vehicle, a cracked windshield, a dented hood
and roof, and destruction of the glass in the sunroof. See id. at A51 (Tr. 193:5-12); id. at A52
(Tr. 197:7-17); id. (Tr. 198:6-12); id. at A98 (Tr. 28:2-20). Additional evidence is summarized
in Section C.2. herein.
16
C. Pardo’s Other Claims Lack Merit
1. The Superior Court Did Not Abuse Its Discretion By Considering Evidence of
Pardo’s Voluntary Intoxication as Relevant to the Manslaughter Charge
Pardo contends that the Superior Court erred by including a voluntary intoxication
instruction in its statement of the law with respect to manslaughter.45 He contends that
the trial court‟s consideration of the voluntary intoxication standard undermined the need
for the State to demonstrate that Pardo‟s conduct involved a conscious disregard of an
unjustifiable risk. He agrees that we review this issue for abuse of discretion.46
To secure a conviction for manslaughter, the State was required to prove beyond a
reasonable doubt that Pardo recklessly caused Bishop‟s death.47 The State requested that
the pattern jury instructions for manslaughter include the italicized language from
11 Del. C. § 231 below, defining the “reckless” state of mind:
A person acts recklessly with respect to an element of an offense when the
person is aware of and consciously disregards a substantial and
unjustifiable risk that the element exists or will result from the conduct.
The risk must be of such a nature and degree that disregard thereof
constitutes a gross deviation from the standard of conduct that a reasonable
person would observe in the situation. A person who creates such a risk
but is unaware thereof solely by reason of voluntary intoxication also acts
recklessly with respect thereto.48
45
Although this case was not tried before a jury, the Superior Court explained that it would be
“bound by the same legal instructions in considering the evidence as the Court would instruct a
jury.” Id. at A219 (Tr. 108:5-8).
46
Wright v. State, 953 A.2d 144, 148 (Del. 2008) (“[This Court] will review a refusal to give a
„particular‟ instruction (that is, an instruction is given but not with the exact form, content or
language requested) for an abuse of discretion.” (citations omitted)).
47
See 11 Del. C. § 632 (“A person is guilty of manslaughter when: (1) The person recklessly
causes the death of another person . . . .”).
48
11 Del. C. § 231(e) (emphasis added).
17
Over Pardo‟s objection, the trial court included and considered the language.
Pardo claims error, asserting that “there was no evidence of voluntary intoxication . . . .”49
Pardo is incorrect. At trial, Pardo testified that, during the afternoon and evening on the
day of the collision, he consumed six to seven alcoholic drinks, including one margarita,
part of a second margarita, three beers, and two shots of tequila.50 From this evidence,
the Superior Court inferred that Pardo was less able than he would ordinarily have been
to exercise clear judgment, sufficient physical control, or due care in the driving of his
vehicle. The Superior Court properly considered Pardo‟s alcohol consumption as it
related to his state of mind. The Superior Court, in its opinion denying Pardo‟s post-trial
motions, stated that:
It is not an element of the offense of Manslaughter or any other offense
with which Defendant was charged that Defendant was impaired or
intoxicated and the Court expressly stated that it did not make a legal
finding that Defendant was impaired or intoxicated at the time of the
accident. Rather, the Court found that, after consuming 6-7 alcoholic
drinks prior to the operating a motor vehicle within 1.5-5 hours prior to the
accident, Defendant was “under the influence” of alcohol, consistent with
Delaware statutory law which provides that a person is “under the
influence” of alcohol when that person is “less able than the person would
ordinarily have been, either mentally or physically, to exercise clear
judgment, sufficient physical control, or due care in the driving of a
vehicle.”51
On this record, we find no abuse of discretion, as the challenged language from
Section 231 was an accurate statement of the law that was supported by the facts in
evidence.
49
Reply Br. at 6 (emphasis in original).
50
See App. to Opening Br. at A180-81 (Tr. 195:22-199:19).
51
Pardo, 2015 WL 6945310, at *5 n.38 (quoting 21 Del. C. § 4177(c)(11)).
18
2. The Superior Court Properly Denied Pardo’s Motion for Judgment of
Acquittal
Pardo contends that the Superior Court erred in denying his motion for judgment
of acquittal, arguing that the court did not consider all the facts in evidence.
Additionally, he contends that the Superior Court improperly considered certain
evidence. We review the denial of a motion for judgment of acquittal de novo “to
determine „whether any rational trier of fact, viewing the evidence in the light most
favorable to the State, could find the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.‟”52
Pardo‟s argument that the Superior Court did not consider all the facts in evidence
lacks merit. In this bench trial, the court as finder of fact was free to accept or reject any
or all of the sworn testimony, as long as it considered all of the evidence presented. After
reviewing the parties‟ arguments and the record in this case, we see no basis from which
to conclude that the Superior Court failed to appropriately consider the evidence. Given
the evidence presented at trial, including particularly Pardo‟s “strategy” of intentionally
driving partially in the oncoming lane of traffic on a narrow, winding road,53 a rational
finder of fact could find the defendant guilty of manslaughter beyond a reasonable doubt.
Pardo also challenges the Superior Court‟s finding that Bishop was lawfully riding
his bicycle when the collision occurred. The Superior Court, as finder of fact, inferred
that Bishop rode his bicycle in compliance with the law based on the evidence, including
52
Milton v. State, 67 A.3d 1023, 2013 WL 2721883, *2 (Del. June 11, 2013) (TABLE) (quoting
Monroe v. State, 28 A.3d 418, 430 (Del. 2011)).
53
See, e.g., App. to Opening Br. at A158 (Tr. 87:15-16) (“I tend to be a little bit over the other
line. I think it‟s safer.); id. at A186 (Tr. 218:22-219:1) (“I regularly drive a little bit over the
yellow line at night in that particular road.”).
19
illuminated bicycling equipment that was found in the debris.54 Although Pardo
disagrees with this inference, he does not contend that the bicycle equipment evidence
was improperly admitted, and we find no merit to his challenge of the trial court‟s
finding.
Finally, Pardo contends that the Superior Court improperly considered “double” or
“triple” hearsay in the form of a recorded statement that the State offered pursuant to 11
Del. C. § 3507. Although trial counsel raised a foundational objection to the 3507
statement at issue, the State cured the alleged foundational defect. Pardo‟s trial counsel
never made a hearsay objection. Accordingly, Pardo‟s argument that the 3507 statement
constituted inadmissible hearsay was not raised to the trial court and therefore is
reviewed for plain error.
Pardo‟s three sons were in the vehicle at the time of the collision. In the 3507
statement at issue, one of the children, J., stated that one of his brothers, G., asked Pardo,
“Did you kill a person?”55 Both J. and G. testified at trial, and G. testified first.56 The
54
See id. at A262 (Tr. 20:13-18).
55
A video of J.‟s statement was played for the Superior Court by the State during J.‟s testimony.
Id. at A92 (Tr. 144:8). Although G. also made a statement, the State did not introduce it. After
the brothers had testified, Pardo‟s trial counsel offered an eight-second excerpt from G.‟s
statement as a court exhibit. See App. to Answering Br. at B234 (Tr. 42:18-21). The parties
stipulated to the use of the excerpt without requiring G. to be recalled to the stand. Id. During
closing arguments, trial counsel replayed the portion of J.‟s statement in which J. says he heard
G. ask the question. Id. at B346 (Tr. 14:9-22). Trial counsel then played the eight-second
excerpt from G.‟s statement. Id. (Tr. 15:6). According to trial counsel‟s summation, the
statement shows that G. was asked whether he saw anything, and G. responded that he did not.
Id. (Tr. 15:7-11).
56
See App. to Answering Br. at B122-27 (Tr. 108:11-127:12) (testimony of G.); id. at B127-33
(Tr. 127:14-152:3) (testimony of J.).
20
State failed to ask G. during his testimony whether G. in fact asked the question.57 The
3507 statement was then played during J.‟s testimony. Pardo asserts that the State
intentionally sought to deprive him of the opportunity to effectively confront G. about the
question that J. attributed to G. in the 3507 statement. Pardo did not make this argument
in the trial court. Instead, he raises it for the first time on appeal, and the State fails to
address it on appeal in the single paragraph it devotes to the Section 3507 issues.
Thus, Pardo presses an issue not fairly presented below that is waived, absent
plain error, which does not exist. In order to justify reversal, “the error complained of
must be so clearly prejudicial to substantial rights as to jeopardize the fairness and
integrity of the trial process.”58 That prejudice is absent here.
Importantly, the son‟s 3507 statement was only one among numerous pieces of
evidence of Pardo‟s guilt. For example, the Superior Court found the following facts:
 Defendant was “under the influence” of alcohol at the time of the
accident.
 While driving on Brackenville Road, Defendant exceeded the posted
speed limit of thirty-five (35) miles per hour.
 Prior to the collision, Defendant‟s sons expressed concern about
Defendant‟s speed and expressed that Defendant was operating the
vehicle in a weaving fashion.
 At approximately 8:30 p.m., Defendant consciously and purposely
placed his vehicle over the double yellow line. As such, Defendant was
not travelling within his designated lane of travel.
 Mr. Bishop was lawfully riding his bicycle on Brackenville Road in his
designated lane of travel—the southbound lane. Mr. Bishop was
57
See id. at B122-27 (Tr. 108:11-127:12) (testimony of G.).
58
Foster v. State, 961 A.2d 526, 528 (Del. 2008) (quoting Morgan v. State, 922 A.2d 395, 402
(Del. 2007)).
21
equipped with appropriate lighting on his bicycle and his person.
Among the debris from the collision, Mr. Bishop‟s illuminated
equipment was found.
 Defendant‟s vehicle and Mr. Bishop‟s bicycle had a head-on-head
collision in the southbound lane of Brackenville Road while Mr. Bishop
was travelling southbound in the southbound lane and Defendant was
travelling northbound in the southbound lane.
 As a result of the collision, the front of Mr. Bishop‟s bicycle collapsed
while the front wheel twisted. Upon impact, the bicycle flipped onto the
hood of Defendant‟s vehicle, breaking the handlebars and leaving marks
across the hood of the vehicle. Upon impact, Mr. Bishop was violently
separated from his bicycle and thrown by force into the windshield of
Defendant‟s vehicle in two places—rendering the windshield broken
and splintered in a spider-web fashion from two points of impact. After
Mr. Bishop smashed into the windshield in two places, Mr. Bishop was
thrown over the roof of Defendant‟s vehicle in full view of the rear seat
passenger, Defendant‟s son, who exclaimed, “Dad you hit someone.
You killed a person.” The collision caused significant damage to
Defendant‟s vehicle.
 After the collision, Defendant‟s vehicle drove off the road, leaving tire
marks on the unpaved shoulder and dirt path adjacent to the southbound
roadway.
 Mr. Bishop‟s body was further vaulted across the rear hood of the
vehicle and came to rest in the path of the vehicle which passed under
Mr. Bishop‟s bruised and broken body on the dirt shoulder of the
southbound lane.
 Defendant knew he had been in a collision.
 Defendant did not stop to assess the scene of the collision to determine
whether any person was injured or killed.
 After the collision, Defendant drove his vehicle from the unpaved
shoulder onto the northbound lane.
 Defendant admitted that his vehicle was not safe to drive after the
collision.
 Defendant left the scene of the accident and continued driving
approximately three-tenths of a mile to his residence.
 Unlike Defendant who did not stop to render aid to the mortally
wounded Mr. Bishop, the first three people who came upon the scene of
the accident stopped to ascertain whether someone was hurt. They
22
contacted emergency personnel by dialing 911. Patrick Ritchie first
interacted with Mr. Bishop and testified that Mr. Bishop exhaled twice
in response to Mr. Ritchie‟s efforts. By the time Deirdre Ritchie, a
nurse, approached Mr. Bishop, Mr. Bishop was still warm but had no
pulse and was unresponsive. While Deirdre Ritchie stayed by Mr.
Bishop‟s side, Ms. Shannon Athey directed traffic and Patrick Ritchie
briefly left the scene to summon help.
 Upon arrival, New Castle County Police Department officers
determined that Mr. Bishop was deceased and therefore no life-saving
measures were taken.
 Mr. Bishop died from blunt force trauma inflicted upon him by
Defendant‟s vehicle.
 Upon returning safely to his home, Defendant assessed the damage to
his vehicle and found no evidence of foliage or organic matter
consistent with a collision of the vehicle with a tree branch.
 While there was no evidence of a tree or branch striking the vehicle,
what was left behind on the vehicle was Mr. Bishop‟s DNA on the edge
of the sunroof of Defendant‟s vehicle, as well as scuff marks from the
handlebars of the bicycle on the vehicle‟s hood, pieces of fabric from
Mr. Bishop‟s shirt on the vehicle, and scuff marks across the roof which
the Court inferred were made by Mr. Bishop‟s helmet that remained
strapped to his head when Mr. Bishop was vaulted over the roof of the
vehicle.
 Defendant did not report the accident to the police until the next
morning.59
The Superior Court also noted that Pardo‟s “consciousness of guilt was established by
(i) leaving the scene of the accident; (ii) reluctance to report the accident to his employer;
and (iii) instinct to „hide the car‟ after the accident.”60 Among other findings of Pardo‟s
recklessness, the trial court specifically found that Pardo “made a conscious decision to
59
Pardo, 2015 WL 6945310, at *5-7 (emphasis in original) (footnote omitted). Although not
mentioned in the Superior Court‟s findings, the record also shows that J. remembered seeing
something “spinning” outside the right side of the vehicle after the impact. See App. to Reply
Br. at AR-12 (Tr. 148:3-23).
60
Pardo, 2015 WL 6945310, at *7.
23
use more of the roadway than was legally available to him” and “was exceeding the
speed limit after consuming alcohol.”61
Even excluding the Superior Court‟s reference to the son‟s 3507 statement, as well
as Pardo‟s other evidentiary challenges on appeal, the remaining evidence of Pardo‟s
guilt is overwhelming. Thus, we cannot say that, viewing the evidence in the light most
favorable to the State, no rational trier of fact could find Pardo guilty beyond a reasonable
doubt.62 Moreover, prior to viewing of the 3507 statement, the State proffered that the
statement was either a present-sense impression or an excited utterance.63 Without ruling
(as it had not yet seen the video), the Superior Court stated that it would “only consider
that evidence that is appropriate.”64 We see no plain error in the trial court‟s
consideration of the challenged statement. Pardo has not demonstrated that the trial court
erred in denying his motion for judgment of acquittal.
3. The Superior Court Did Not Err in Denying a Missing Evidence Instruction
Pardo claims on appeal that a reporter recovered several pieces of plastic from the
scene of the collision. Although he concedes that the reporter promptly provided this
evidence to the police, he contends that this manner of collecting evidence was
insufficient because it was not the traditional way that evidence is collected. He asserts
that the Superior Court erred by denying his request for a missing evidence instruction.
61
Id.
62
See Milton, 2013 WL 2721883, at *2.
63
App. to Reply Br. at AR-10 (Tr. 137:8-11).
64
Id. at AR-11 (Tr. 143:13-14).
24
This Court reviews a trial court‟s denial of a requested jury instruction de novo.65 We
agree with the Superior Court that a missing evidence instruction was not required
because the State did not fail to collect and preserve the evidence.
IV. CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, the judgment of the Superior Court is AFFIRMED.
65
Weber v. State, 38 A.3d 271, 274 (Del. 2012) (citing Lunnon v. State, 710 A.2d 197, 199 (Del.
1998)).
25