People of Guam v. Brandon Michael Acosta

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF GUAM
PEOPLE OF GUAM,
Plaintiff-Appellee,
v.
BRANDON MICHAEL ACOSTA,
Defendant-Appellant.
Supreme Court Case No.: CRA20-010
Superior Court Case No.: CF0640-18
OPINION
Cite as: 2022 Guam 11Appeal from the Superior Court of Guam
Argued and submitted on August 26, 2021
Via Zoom video conference
Appearing for Defendant-Appellant: Appearing for Plaintiff-Appellee:
F. Randall Cunliffe, Esq. Jeremiah B. Luther, Esq.
Cunliffe & Cook Assistant Attorney General
A Professional Corporation Office of the Attorney General
210 Archbishop Flores St., Ste. 200 Prosecution Division
Hagåtña, GU 96910 590 S. Marine Corps Dr., Ste. 901
Tamuning, GU 96913
People v. Acosta, 2022 Guam 11, Opinion Page 2 of 32
BEFORE: F. PHILIP CARBULLIDO, Chief Justice; ROBERT J. TORRES, Associate Justice;
and KATHERINE A. MARAMAN, Associate Justice.
TORRES, J.:
[1] This appeal challenges the convictions of Defendant-Appellant Brandon Michael Acosta.
Acosta argues that the trial court erred in finding that Guam’s Criminal Sexual Conduct (“CSC”)
statutes apply to deceased victims. He next urges that the trial court was wrong to allow the jury
to return verdicts on included charges. As a third allegation of error, he contends that the trial
court should have suppressed any statements he made to the police because his will was overborne.
Finally, he says that the trial court failed to make required statutory findings before sentencing him
to pay a fine.
[2] We concur with the trial court’s analysis of Guam’s CSC statutes and agree that Acosta’s
statements to police were not subject to suppression. We find, however, that the trial court should
have conducted an included-offense analysis after the issue was raised by the parties rather than
merging charges for sentencing. We also hold that the trial court erred in sentencing Acosta to
pay a fine without following the procedure dictated by statute. We affirm in part, reverse in part,
and remand for the trial court to conduct an included-offense analysis, a hearing on the fine, and
for resentencing.
I. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
[3] On the morning of June 16, 2018, Salomae N. (“Salomae”) found her teenage
granddaughter, T.N., lying in a strange position in the house where T.N. slept. Salomae saw that
T.N.’s legs were off the bed, and when she pulled off the blanket covering T.N.’s head and back,
she noticed some blood around T.N.’s hair and a cut on T.N.’s shoulder. Nauta called for her son,
and eventually someone called 911. The Guam Fire Department (“GFD”) arrived, as well as the
People v. Acosta, 2022 Guam 11, Opinion Page 3 of 32
Guam Police Department (“GPD”). GPD first believed they were responding to a suicide, but
upon entering the scene found evidence inconsistent with suicide.
[4] Detective Eric Mondia testified that he was the third officer on scene after the patrol
officers and arrived shortly before 9:00 a.m. Upon entering the house, he observed “a lifeless
female body kneeling on the ground with . . . the top part of her upper torso laying on the bed”;
her head was tilted to the left. Transcript (“Tr.”) at 11, 16 (Jury Trial, Mar. 6, 2020). He observed
blood spatter and droplets on the wall against which the bed was pushed. T.N. was partially naked,
and her underwear looked “as if somebody . . . had kind of like pulled it up.” Id. at 16. Both of
her knees were on the ground with her feet stretched back as though kneeling. T.N.’s right hand
was extended above her head, with her left hand dangling on the bottom of the bed by her legs.
The bed was soaked with what appeared to be blood near where T.N.’s head rested. Detective
Mondia also noted a “grouping of blood saturation” six inches to the left of this area. Id. T.N.
was wearing a brassiere, but the left strap had been cut, exposing her breast. While describing an
admitted crime scene photograph, Detective Mondia identified a blood smear on the wall which
signified to him that at one point, T.N. had been up against the wall after she was injured. Detective
Mondia observed multiple wounds. There was a “six- to eight-inch deep laceration in the back,
right across the two shoulder blades . . . below the neckline and directly across the spine.” Id. at
17. He observed a deep laceration to the left side of the neck with cartilage exposed. T.N.’s ear
had been sliced in half, and more superficial wounds were present on the left side of her face. On
T.N.’s left hand, Detective Mondia observed what appeared to him to be a defensive wound. In
his experience, defensive wounds are found on victims trying to defend themselves by putting their
hands up or turning away. Detective Angel Santos also testified that he observed a “laceration to
her left index finger” with “a whole piece missing . . . attached by a shred of skin.” Tr. at 8, 16,
People v. Acosta, 2022 Guam 11, Opinion Page 4 of 32
17 (Jury Trial, Mar. 5, 2020). He also believed it was a defensive wound, as if T.N. had “observed
the strike coming and picked up her hand to block it.” Id. at 17. Detective Santos also noticed a
pair of bloody shorts.
[5] Dr. Martin Ishikawa, a part-time forensic pathologist for the Guam Chief Medical
Examiner’s Office, testified at trial as a certified expert in anatomic and forensic pathology. Dr.
Ishikawa did not perform T.N.’s autopsy but testified at trial based on an autopsy report by Dr.
Aurelio Espinola and Dr. Ishikawa’s own review of the autopsy photographs, scene photographs,
and a supplemental police record. Dr. Ishikawa agreed with the assessment in Dr. Espinola’s
report that there were eight “sharp force injuries” on T.N.’s body: five “clustered in the left side
of the face, left side of the neck,” one on the “lower left neck,” one on the “left index finger,” and
one on the “upper mid back.” Tr. at 158-59 (Jury Trial, Mar. 6, 2020).
[6] Dr. Ishikawa observed one “deeper injury” to the left side of T.N.’s face that went into
“deeper soft tissues” and damaged a portion of the skull known as the mastoid process. Id. at 159.
He observed another deep injury on the left side of T.N.’s neck that went into the “deep soft
tissues” and “transected the cervical spine” at the C-6 vertebrae; he believed such an injury would
have rendered T.N. “functionally paraplegic, but still . . . able to breathe” or “quadriplegic.” Id. at
159, 162-63. Dr. Ishikawa noted that an injury of this nature “inevitably” would have cut through
large blood vessels of the neck, including the carotid artery and the jugular vein, resulting in
bleeding. Id. at 163.
[7] Dr. Ishikawa opined that the sharp force injury to the left index finger fit the typical pattern
of a defensive type wound. He also testified that the injury to the “mid upper back” differed from
the others found on the body because it lacked a “vital reaction, meaning that the injury happened
either at or . . . directly after death, meaning that there is basically no blood flow in the tissue by
People v. Acosta, 2022 Guam 11, Opinion Page 5 of 32
the time that injury happens to the body.” Id. at 166. Dr. Ishikawa concluded that the cause of
death was “multiple sharp force injuries,” the mechanism of death was “hemorrhage or bleeding
out,” and the manner of death was homicide. Id. at 169.
[8] During the autopsy, buccal, vaginal, and anal swabs were taken to test for DNA samples.
Brandon McCollum, a Forensic DNA Examiner for the FBI’s DNA Casework Unit, compared the
samples from T.N.’s body to those taken from various persons of interest and concluded that the
DNA found in the anal and vaginal swabs from the body was consistent to a high degree of
certainty with origination from two people: T.N. and Brandon Acosta. McCollum also testified
that the vaginal and anal swabs of T.N. contained semen. No injuries were found to the genitalia
or anus, but Dr. Ishikawa testified that in his experience, such a lack of injuries does not rule out
penetration or sexual related trauma. Dr. Ishikawa also testified that the presence of semen in the
vaginal tract was consistent with sexual intercourse.
[9] Around the same time that T.N. was killed, a burglary occurred at the Quan residence
across the street from the house where T.N. was found. Acosta, who lived nearby, was identified
as a suspect in the burglary and was eventually taken in for questioning with Detective C.J. Lizama
in June 2018. Acosta became a person of interest in T.N.’s case, and he was taken in for additional
questioning on October 19, 2018, with Detectives Mondia and Santos.
[10] Detective Santos writes a daily Bible verse on a white board in the office he shares with
Detective Mondia. Detective Santos testified that on October 19, 2018, the daily verse was “First
Psalm 1:9” and that it said, “To be free to confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us. He
will cleanse us of all unrighteousness.” Tr. at 72-73 (Jury Trial, Mar. 5, 2020).
[11] Acosta was read his rights under Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 444 (1966), appeared
to understand them, and signed a waiver. The interview began around 3:20 p.m. and took place in
People v. Acosta, 2022 Guam 11, Opinion Page 6 of 32
the detectives’ office rather than an interview room. Detective Santos testified that during the
interview, they “discussed matters of [their] faith [and the] passing of [Acosta’s] son.” Id. at 72.
Detective Santos had previously discussed faith and the death of Acosta’s son with Acosta while
transporting him after his initial interview in June with Detective C.J. Lizama about the burglary.
[12] When the interview had essentially concluded several hours later, Detective Mondia placed
Acosta under arrest and left the room to speak with his supervisor; Detective Santos remained in
the room. Detective Santos testified that Acosta then appeared “distant” and “requested to pray,”
at which point Detective Santos prayed with him and “reminded [Acosta] . . . of the verse on the
board.” Id. at 74. According to Detective Santos, the conversation continued:
Q And then what happened?
A And we accepted Jesus Christ as lord and savior, and then he -- at
one point, he began -- I was telling him that his story matters.
Q You told him that?
A Yes, sir. That we’re not just bags of bones, you know, we’re human
beings, we’re people.
Q Okay. What was his -- did he have a reaction there?
A Yes, sir, he was crying.
Q And what happened next?
A Then he started to tell me about his story, and I know that I -- um --
I apprised him that he was -- you know, he -- apprised him as to his rights, and he
said -- or reminded him about his rights, and he acknowledged it.
He continued to talk, and just telling me about, you know, the struggle he
had gone through as a child.
Q Okay.
A . . . . His son’s passing. His regrets. Then him having to turn to
drugs so as to cope with the pain.
People v. Acosta, 2022 Guam 11, Opinion Page 7 of 32
....
And that after -- you know, after we talked about that, you know, he just
said he just started to go downhill.
Q He started to what?
A He started to go downhill after turning to drugs.
Q Okay.
A . . . . I told him, you know, it’s not about -- the mistake doesn’t
define us. What we do to fix it is what makes us.
Id. at 74-76.
[13] Acosta then admitted to the burglary at the Quan residence and mentioned that he
“went next door.” Id. at 76. Acosta told Detective Santos he was under the influence of
methamphetamines that night. The detective followed up on Acosta’s reference to “next
door” to ask if he meant he went to “[T.N.]’s house,” and Acosta nodded in the affirmative.
Id. Detective Santos testified that Acosta said he went into T.N.’s room to take belongings
and was “startled by an unknown individual that he couldn’t see.” Id. at 77. Detective
Santos said that Acosta told him while crying that “what happened inside [T.N.’s room],
he didn’t want -- that wasn’t his intent, and that it was a mistake.” Id. at 78-79. The
conversation then turned back to faith, and Acosta said he believed his spirit was set free.
Id. at 79; see also Tr. at 89 (Jury Trial, Mar. 6, 2020) (testimony of Detective Mondia that
Acosta told Detective Santos, “I don’t believe I should be charged with aggravated murder,
because what happened in there was a mistake. It wasn’t my intention.”).
[14] Detective Santos testified that during the questioning, Acosta was given
opportunities for bathroom breaks, offered food, and allowed to smoke and dip, and that
People v. Acosta, 2022 Guam 11, Opinion Page 8 of 32
afterwards he offered to pray with Acosta anytime he needed. The interview was not
recorded.
[15] The final Amended Indictment included four charges for Aggravated Murder (As a
First Degree Felony), two charges for Murder (As a First Degree Felony), two counts of
First Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct (“CSC”) (As a First Degree Felony), two counts of
Second Degree CSC (As a Second Degree Felony), one charge for Home Invasion (As a
First Degree Felony), one charge for Burglary (As a Second Degree Felony), one charge
for Aggravated Assault (As a Second Degree Felony), and two counts of Third Degree
CSC (As a Second Degree Felony); each had an accompanying Special Allegation of
Possession or Use of a Deadly Weapon in the Commission of a Felony and a Notice of
Commission of a Felony While on Felony Release.
[16] Acosta moved to suppress his statements made to police but was denied. In what he styled
as motions in limine, he also sought to dismiss all charges relating to criminal sexual conduct
because the People could not prove that T.N. was alive at the time of the alleged acts. The trial
court declined to adopt Acosta’s interpretation of Guam’s CSC statutes that the victim must be
alive at the time of the alleged acts and denied his motions.
[17] A jury returned guilty verdicts and the trial court entered “a JUDGMENT OF GUILTY”
for:
• Charge One: Aggravated Murder (with underlying felony of Burglary)
• Charge Two: Aggravated Murder (with underlying felony of First Degree CSC)
• Charge Three: Aggravated Murder (with underlying felony of Second Degree CSC)
• Charge Four: Aggravated Murder (with underlying felony of Third Degree CSC)
• Charge Five: Manslaughter (as a lesser included offense of the Intentional or
Knowing Murder with which he was charged)
• Charge Six: Murder (Recklessly, under circumstances manifesting extreme
indifference to the value of human life)
• Charge Seven: First Degree CSC
People v. Acosta, 2022 Guam 11, Opinion Page 9 of 32
o Count One: sexual intercourse under circumstances involving Aggravated
Assault
o Count Two: anal intercourse under circumstances involving Aggravated
Assault
• Charge Eight: Second Degree CSC
o Count One: causing the penis to touch the primary genital area under
circumstances involving Aggravated Assault
o Count Two: causing the penis to touch the buttock under circumstances
involving Aggravated Assault
• Charge Nine: Home Invasion
• Charge Ten: Burglary
• Charge Eleven: Aggravated Assault
• Charge Twelve: Third Degree CSC
o Count One: sexual penetration with a minor between 14 and 16 years of age
o Count Two: anal intercourse with a minor between 14 and 16 years of age
Record on Appeal (“RA”), tab 270 at 3-4 (Judgment, Jan. 12, 2021). Each included a Special
Allegation for Possession or Use of a Deadly Weapon in the Commission of a Felony.1 The People
moved to dismiss the bifurcated portion of trial relating to the Notice of Commission of a Felony
While on Felony Release; this was granted.
[18] The trial court sentenced Acosta to life in prison without the possibility of parole for Charge
One (Aggravated Murder); twenty-five years of imprisonment for the Special Allegation attached
to Charge One, to run consecutively to the above sentence; and twenty years of imprisonment for
Charge Nine (Home Invasion), to run consecutively to the above sentence.
[19] The court then stated: “As to the remaining charges and attached special allegations, any
sentence would merge with Charge One – AGGRAVATED MURDER (As a First Degree Felony)
and its attached Special Allegation: Possession or Use of a Deadly Weapon in the Commission of
a Felony.” Id. at 5. Acosta was also ordered to pay a fine of $10,000.00.
[20] The trial court entered judgment, and this appeal followed.
1
The Judgment does not mention the special allegation regarding Charge Twelve, Count Two. See Record
on Appeal (“RA”), tab 270 at 4 (Judgment, Jan. 12, 2021). But the jury verdict form confirms that the jury found
Acosta guilty of the special allegation on this count as well. RA, tab 232 (Verdict Form 15a, July 23, 2020).
People v. Acosta, 2022 Guam 11, Opinion Page 10 of 32
II. JURISDICTION
[21] This court has jurisdiction to hear appeals from a final judgment of conviction of the
Superior Court. 48 U.S.C.A. § 1424-1(a)(2) (Westlaw through Pub. L. 117-227 (2022)); 7 GCA
§§ 3107, 3108(a) (2005); 8 GCA § 130.15(a) (2005).
III. STANDARD OF REVIEW
[22] Questions of law and statutory interpretation are reviewed de novo. Camacho v. Shimizu,
2021 Guam 22 ¶ 10 (per curiam); People v. Quintanilla, 2020 Guam 8 ¶ 22.
[23] “Where a defendant raised the issue of sufficiency of the evidence by a motion for
judgment of acquittal, we review the trial court’s denial of the motion de novo.” People v. Song,
2012 Guam 21 ¶ 26 (citing People v. Anastacio, 2010 Guam 18 ¶ 10).
[24] “We review de novo the question of whether one offense is an included offense of another.”
People v. Ramey, 2019 Guam 11 ¶ 10; see also People v. Nathan, 2018 Guam 13 ¶ 10.
[25] “In reviewing a trial court’s denial of a motion to suppress, we review the court’s findings
of fact for clear error and its conclusions of law de novo.” People v. Santos, 2020 Guam 5 ¶ 9;
Quintanilla, 2020 Guam 8 ¶ 9.
[26] We review for abuse of discretion the trial court’s failure to make findings before imposing
a fine. See People v. Quinata, 2010 Guam 17 ¶ 29 (citing People v. Mallo, 2008 Guam 23 ¶ 12).
IV. ANALYSIS
[27] We concur with the trial court that Guam’s CSC statutes do not require a live victim and
agree that Acosta’s motion to suppress was properly denied. We find, however, that the trial court
should have conducted an included-offense analysis rather than merging charges for sentencing
and that it should have conducted the inquiries mandated by statute before imposing a fine.
People v. Acosta, 2022 Guam 11, Opinion Page 11 of 32
A. Guam’s CSC Statutes Do Not Preclude Application to Deceased Victims
[28] Acosta’s first allegation of error is that the trial court was incorrect in its determination that
under Guam law, a CSC victim need not be alive at the moment of penetration provided the sexual
assault is part of a continuous transaction or a series of closely related acts that includes the death
of the victim. Appellant’s Br. at 9-13 (Apr. 19, 2021). And because there was no evidence that
the victim was alive when any touching or penetration occurred, he says, he is entitled to a new
trial. Id. at 13. Acosta urges that “[f]ailure to allow a defendant to argue his theory of the case via
an evidentiary ruling can violate his Fifth and Sixth Amendment rights.” Id. at 11 (citing Holmes
v. South Carolina, 547 U.S. 319, 324 (2006)).
[29] Acosta’s framing of the issue is problematic. Holmes v. South Carolina, 547 U.S. 319(2006), addressed exclusion of third-party-guilt evidence and is thus inapplicable here. See id. at
321. Acosta’s motions in limine were not evidentiary motions but asked the court to dismiss all
charges relating to CSC based on his interpretation of the statutes. More broadly, statutory
interpretation is a question of law for the court to decide, not a theory of defense to be submitted
to the jury. See 8 GCA § 90.31 (2005) (“The court shall decide all questions of law which arise in
the course of trial.”).
[30] Acosta is also incorrect on the merits of the argument: Guam’s CSC statutes do not
preclude application to deceased victims.
1. Although Michigan caselaw is generally persuasive in interpreting Guam’s CSC
statutes, the key Michigan case relied on by Acosta is internally inconsistent and
has been undermined by later cases; we decline to follow it.
[31] Guam’s CSC statutes were patterned after Michigan’s, so cases interpreting Michigan CSC
law are persuasive. People v. Ehlert, 2019 Guam 3 ¶ 20. Acosta relies on the holding in People
People v. Acosta, 2022 Guam 11, Opinion Page 12 of 32
v. Hutner, 530 N.W.2d 174 (Mich. Ct. App. 1995) (per curiam), in which the Michigan Court of
Appeals stated:
We conclude that the crime of criminal sexual conduct requires a live victim
at the time of penetration. Our statute . . . defines third-degree criminal sexual
conduct as engaging in nonconsensual sexual penetration with another “person.”
Furthermore, a “victim” is a “person alleging to have been subjected to criminal
sexual conduct.” A dead body is not a person. It cannot allege anything. A dead
body has no will to overcome. It does not have the same potential to suffer
physically or mentally as a live or even an unconscious or dying victim.
Id. at 176.
[32] But as the trial court recognized, the Hutner decision itself is internally inconsistent:
However, the Michigan Court also noted in the context of a felony murder charge
that a felony murder conviction may be sustained “where the victim dies during the
attempt to perpetrate the underlying crime.” The Court finds that this holding is
inconsistent with the Michigan Court’s earlier rationale for its holding that criminal
sexual conduct requires a live victim at the time of penetration. Neither a criminal
sexual conduct victim killed before penetration nor a felony murder victim killed
during a criminal sexual conduct attempt is capable of alleging anything, yet in the
latter instance a felony murder conviction will stand, while in the earlier instance a
criminal sexual conduct conviction will not under the Michigan Court’s reasoning.
RA, tab 162 at 4-5 (Dec. & Order, Apr. 24, 2020) (quoting Hutner, 530 N.W.2d at 176).
[33] Furthermore, later panels of the Michigan Court of Appeals have declined to follow Hutner
based on the circumstances in the cases before them and have called Hutner’s reasoning into
question. In an unpublished opinion a year after Hutner was decided, a different panel of the
Michigan Court of Appeals specifically stated their disagreement with the Hutner holding. In
People v. Diefenbach, No. 176489, 1996 WL 33360429, at *2 n.1 (Mich. Ct. App. Aug. 20, 1996),
the court first distinguished the facts in Hutner from those in Diefenbach, noting that whereas “[i]n
Hutner, it was undisputed that the victim was dead before the penetration,”2 the circumstantial
2
In Hutner, the defendant confessed to the police, describing the incident as follows:
Defendant . . . grabbed the victim and choked her. She fell to the ground, whereupon he hit her in
the head several times with a large lump of concrete. Defendant felt for a pulse, and finding none,
People v. Acosta, 2022 Guam 11, Opinion Page 13 of 32
evidence in Diefenbach—particularly the victim’s injuries showing that force was used—was
sufficient for a reasonable factfinder to find beyond a reasonable doubt that the victim was alive
at the time of penetration. Id. at *2 & n.1, *3 (“If the woman was already dead, it would have been
unnecessary for defendant to use much force to commit the sexual offense.”).
[34] Although the Diefenbach court could have ended its inquiry there and not followed Hutner
because of distinguishable facts, the court was concerned about Hutner’s application in closer
cases and went to some length to express its disagreement with the Hutner decision. The court
noted its “concern[] that closer cases will require inappropriately fine—and irrelevant—
distinctions to be drawn regarding precisely when a victim has died and when penetration has
occurred.” Id. at *2 n.1. After identifying the same inconsistency noted above by the trial court
in Acosta’s case, the Diefenbach court further suggested that their statute’s “use of the word
‘alleging’ [in its definition of a CSC ‘victim’] is grammatically awkward and that, in all likelihood,
it was the intention of the Legislature to use the word ‘alleged’ instead. A person can be ‘alleged’
to have been subjected to rape regardless of whether they are dead or alive at the time.” Id. Finally,
the court noted that several other jurisdictions had reached results contrary to the Hutner decision.
Id. (citing cases). The court concluded:
We would find that the requirements of first-degree or third-degree criminal
sexual conduct are satisfied when a person who is alive at the outset of a criminal
assault is subjected to criminal penetration in the course of that assault; whether the
victim died at the instant prior to the penetration or immediately after it commenced
is irrelevant in terms of criminal culpability as well as in terms of the statute.
Id.realized that the victim was dead. He dragged her body to a more secluded area and had sexual
intercourse with the corpse.
530 N.W.2d 174, 175 (Mich. Ct. App. 1995). Based on this evidence, the court determined it was “undisputed
that the victim died before penetration, and that defendant knew she was dead.” Id. at 177.
People v. Acosta, 2022 Guam 11, Opinion Page 14 of 32
[35] More recently, in Gilkey v. Burton, No. 2:17-CV-13270, 2018 WL 2463114 (E.D. Mich.
June 1, 2018), the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan denied habeas
relief to a petitioner who claimed insufficient evidence the victim was still alive at the time of
sexual penetration. Relying on Diefenbach, the District Court affirmed the Michigan Court of
Appeals’ finding of sufficient evidence. Id. at *3-5. While no direct evidence showed the
penetration occurred before the victim died, the court determined the circumstantial evidence was
sufficient for a rational trier of fact to conclude the victim was still alive at the time of the sexual
assault. See id. at *4-5. Specifically, the court pointed to the evidence that the victim “was forced
into a concealed area, where sexual penetration took place,” “stabbed in the neck and left to die,”
was discovered with her dress “pulled up above her waist and her panties . . . pulled up over to the
side,” and that the “Petitioner’s DNA matched the semen that was recovered from the victim’s
vagina and panties.” Id. at *5. Quoting Diefenbach, the court stated, “If the woman was already
dead, it would have been unnecessary for defendant to use much force to commit the sexual
offense.” Id. (quoting Diefenbach, 1996 WL 33360429, at *2). The Sixth Circuit affirmed,
holding that the Michigan Court of Appeals’ determination of sufficient evidence was not
unreasonable given the circumstantial evidence of the defendant’s guilt. See Gilkey v. Burton, No.
18-1760, 2019 WL 2970841, at *2-3 (6th Cir. Mar. 22, 2019).
[36] While we could simply find Hutner distinguishable from this case given the sufficient
circumstantial evidence that T.N. was alive at the time of the sexual penetration, see infra Part
IV(A)(5)—evidence which is similar in many respects to that in Gilkey—we go further and
expressly reject the holding in Hutner. The decision is internally inconsistent, and later Michigan
courts have declined to follow it or outright rejected it. We are unpersuaded by its reasoning and
People v. Acosta, 2022 Guam 11, Opinion Page 15 of 32
instead, as discussed below, adopt the ongoing criminal assault rule followed by a majority of
jurisdictions. See infra Part IV(A)(4).
[37] We turn to Acosta’s remaining arguments concerning whether a live victim is required to
convict under Guam’s CSC statutes.
2. Use of the phrase “human being” in some relevant definitions does not clarify that
Guam’s CSC statutes require live victims
[38] Acosta also argues that CSC requires a living victim because definitional sections of the
criminal code which are relevant to CSC offenses refer to the phrase “human being,” which,
elsewhere in the criminal code, is defined as someone who is “alive.” Appellant’s Br. at 10.
[39] Some of Guam’s CSC statutes refer to “sexual contact.” See, e.g., 9 GCA §§ 25.15(c),
25.20(a) (as amended by Guam Pub. L. 32-012 (Apr. 11, 2013)); id. §§ 25.25(c), 25.30(a) (2005).
“Sexual contact” is defined within the chapter on sexual offenses to include “the intentional
touching of the victim’s or actor’s intimate parts or the intentional touching of the clothing
covering the immediate area of the victim’s or actor’s intimate parts, if that intentional touching
can reasonably be construed as being for the purpose of sexual arousal or gratification.” 9 GCA §
25.10(a)(9) (2005). The term “intimate parts” is defined within the same chapter to “include[] the
primary genital area, groin, inner thigh, buttock, or breast of a human being.” Id. § 25.10(a)(4).
Within Title 9 on Crimes & Corrections, but in Chapter 16 on Criminal Homicide, section 16.10
notes that “[a]s used in this Chapter: (a) Human Being means a person who has been born and is
alive.” 9 GCA § 16.10(a) (2005). Noting also that “[s]exual penetration is defined to occur to a
person,” Acosta reasons that the victim of criminal sexual conduct must be alive. Appellant’s Br.
at 10.
[40] This argument fails for many reasons. First, the definition of “human being” that Acosta
relies on is found within the homicide chapter, not the sexual offense chapter. The homicide section
People v. Acosta, 2022 Guam 11, Opinion Page 16 of 32
begins by limiting the definitions to only “[a]s used in this Chapter.” 9 GCA § 16.10(a). Facially,
the definition is inapplicable. The definition section in the relevant sexual conduct chapter neither
defines “human being” nor refers to section 16.10 as a source for its definition.3 See 9 GCA §
25.10.
[41] Second, it is not the case that in Guam’s statutes a “human being” is necessarily alive.
Guam’s laws, like those of multiple states, mention “dead human being[s].” 10 GCA § 4A102(b)
(2011) (“The next-of-kin . . . of the deceased shall be entitled to control the final disposition of the
remains of any dead human being consistent with all applicable laws, including all applicable
health codes.” (emphasis added)). An individual does not cease to be a “human being” after death.
[42] In 2021, the Supreme Court of New Mexico addressed a similar issue and disagreed with
the defendant’s argument that the word “person” refers only to a live human being. State v.
Martinez, 2021-NMSC-012, ¶¶ 13, 23, 483 P.3d 590. Noting that “person” was defined by
reference to “human being,” the court held that a “human being” was not necessarily alive. Id. ¶
17.
The term human being is not used in the CSP statute, but it appears that the
Legislature has used the term to describe both a living and a deceased person.
Compare NMSA 1978, § 30-12-13 (1989) (prohibiting defacing of the “place of
burial of any human being”, with NMSA 1978, § 30-2-3 (1994) (“Manslaughter is
the unlawful killing of a human being without malice.”).
Id.
3
By contrast, other statutes outside of Chapter 16 explicitly refer to section 16.10 as providing a definition
for a term found in those other statutes. See, e.g., 9 GCA § 37.10(c) (as amended by Guam Pub. L. 32:162:3 (May
23, 2014)) (for purposes of Chapter 37, relating to burglary and home invasion, “Deadly Weapon has the meaning
provided by [9 GCA] § 16.10”); 9 GCA § 22.10 (2005) (“As used in this chapter [relating to kidnapping and related
offenses], the terms bodily injury and serious bodily injury have the meanings provided by § 16.10.”); 9 GCA §
92101(b), (p) (for offenses involving alcohol and controlled substances, “bodily injury” and “serious bodily injury”
have same meaning as those terms are defined in 9 GCA § 16.10(b) and (c)); 9 GCA § 40.20 (2005) (for purposes of
second degree robbery, “‘Deadly Weapon’ has the meaning provided by § 16.10”).
People v. Acosta, 2022 Guam 11, Opinion Page 17 of 32
[43] Other states, too, have statutes that refer to a “human being” in contexts in which the
relevant individual is deceased. See, e.g., N.Y. Pub. Health Law § 4217 (McKinney 2010) (on
receipt of “the dead body of a human being”); N.D. Cent. Code § 43-17-40 (2021) (on liability for
blood transmission from “one or more human beings, living or dead, to another human being”).
Thus, the phrase “human being” does not necessarily refer to a live person for purposes of the CSC
statutes.
3. Nor do other circumstances described in the text of CSC statutes require that all
victims be alive
[44] Acosta next argues that “review of the various circumstances throughout the Criminal
Sexual Conduct Chapter clearly indicate a living being.” Appellant’s Br. at 10. He points
generally to the victim’s age; that the actor knows or has reason to know that the victim is mentally
defective, mentally incapacitated or physically helpless; that force or coercion is used; and that the
actor is armed with a weapon or an article used in a manner to lead the victim to believe it to be a
weapon. Id.[45] Because Acosta provides no citation to specific provisions, we cannot properly evaluate
these arguments. We note in passing, however, that facially many circumstances he described may
reasonably apply to deceased victims. For instance: it is common to discuss an individual’s age at
death. And our CSC statutes are written disjunctively to prohibit “any of the following
circumstances.” E.g., 9 GCA § 25.15(a). Thus, even if one of the prohibited activities required a
live victim, that would not implicate all prohibited activities. See generally People v. Barcinas,
2016 Guam 38 (reiterating that CSC statutes are to be read disjunctively).4
4
Acosta’s final sentence on this page of the opening brief suggests that “[t]here is a term for having sex with
a corpse, necrophilia.” Appellant’s Br. at 10. In his reply brief, he expands on that statement only to argue that if the
victim of CSC is not alive, “then Guam’s desecration of the corpse statute, applies.” Appellant’s Reply Br. at 1-2
(June 18, 2021). Absent citation to the statutory provision and a more robust legal argument, we will not go searching
for the Appellant’s theory on this issue on appeal.
People v. Acosta, 2022 Guam 11, Opinion Page 18 of 32
4. We join the majority of jurisdictions rejecting a bright-line rule
[46] Acosta cites one other case to support his argument that there should be a bright-line rule
that Guam’s CSC statutes apply only to live victims. Appellant’s Br. at 11 (quoting State v.
Perkins, 811 P.2d 1142, 1150-51 (Kan. 1991)). Instead, we join the “majority of jurisdictions”
that have adopted some form of the “ongoing criminal assault” rule that it is CSC when a defendant
both kills and sexually assaults a victim in a single, continuous act, or in a series of closely related
acts, even if portions of the CSC, including penetration or sexual contact, occur once the victim
has already been killed. See State v. McLaughlin, 265 S.W.3d 257, 268 (Mo. 2008) (en banc); see
also Lipham v. State, 364 S.E.2d 840, 842 (Ga. 1988); State v. Brobeck, 751 S.W.2d 828, 830-32
(Tenn. 1988); Commonwealth v. Waters, 649 N.E.2d 724, 726 (Mass. 1995); State v. Whitsell, 591
N.E.2d 265, 278 (Ohio Ct. App. 1990), abrogated on other grounds by City of Dayton v. Erickson,
665 N.E.2d 1091, 1097-98 (Ohio 1996); People v. Gutierrez, 932 N.E.2d 139, 155-59 (Ill. App.
Ct. 2010); State v. Usry, 533 A.2d 212, 221-22 (Conn. 1987); State v. Wilkinson, 474 S.E.2d 375,
384-85 (N.C. 1996); State v. Jones, 705 A.2d 805, 813 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 1998); Martinez,
2021-NMSC-012, ¶¶ 22-23, 483 P.3d 590.
[47] As the trial court stated below:
This Court declines to adopt a bright-line rule that a [victim of criminal
sexual conduct] must be alive at the moment of penetration. The Court finds that
Guam’s criminal sexual conduct statutes do not preclude application to dead
victims. . . . The fact that death may have preceded the sexual act by an instant
should not negate commission of the crime of criminal sexual conduct and reduce
it to a relatively minor offense. The entirety of a defendant’s conduct from the
beginning of the criminal assault through completion of the sexual act is to be
considered. It is [criminal sexual conduct] where a defendant both kills and
sexually assaults a victim in a single, continuous act, or in a series of closely related
acts, even if portions of the [assault], including penetration, occur once the victim
already has been killed. Accordingly, the Court holds that a [victim of criminal
sexual conduct] need not be alive at the time of penetration provided the sexual
assault is part of a continuous transaction.”
People v. Acosta, 2022 Guam 11, Opinion Page 19 of 32
RA, tab 162 at 5 (Dec. & Order).5
5. The evidence was sufficient for the relevant counts to be submitted to the jury
[48] Below, Acosta titled his submissions Motions in Limine. The Government urged that they
should instead be “construed as motions for judgment of acquittal on factual grounds” because
Acosta essentially argued “that at the time that sexual assault occurred, there is no evidence that
the victim was alive.” RA, tab 158 at 2 (People’s Resp. Mots. In Limine, Mar. 12, 2020). Acosta
“concede[d] that when looking at the evidence as it relates to the law, that it should be looked at
in light most favorable to the Government, but that the evidence [is] insufficient to overcome the
law.” RA, tab 159 at 2 (Reply People’s Resp. Mots. In Limine, Mar. 13, 2020). Noting this, the
trial court’s Decision first rejected the bright-line rule as a matter of law and then found “that
sufficient evidence exists where a rational trier of fact could find the essential elements of each
charge of criminal sexual conduct beyond a reasonable doubt.” RA, tab 162 at 3-6 (Dec. & Order)
(footnote omitted).
[49] Having agreed with the trial court on the legal question, we also agree that sufficient
evidence was presented to sustain the convictions. As the trial court appears to have treated the
motions in limine at least partially as motions for judgment of acquittal, “we review the evidence
presented at trial in the light most favorable to the People and determine whether any rational trier
of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. This is a
‘highly deferential standard of review.’” Song, 2012 Guam 21 ¶ 26 (internal citations omitted).
“In conducting this analysis, the People ‘must be afforded the strongest legitimate view of the
5
Acosta argues that adopting the ongoing criminal assault rule in Guam would be meaningless because under
Guam’s included-offense statute, a defendant could not be convicted of both homicide during the commission of CSC
and the underlying included offense of CSC. Appellant’s Br. at 12. But if a defendant is convicted of what is
colloquially called felony murder, and the underlying felony is unrelated to CSC, a separate conviction for CSC would
not necessarily be dismissed as an included offense. See 9 GCA § 1.22 (2005); 8 GCA § 105.58 (2005).
People v. Acosta, 2022 Guam 11, Opinion Page 20 of 32
evidence and all reasonable inferences that may be drawn therefrom.’” Id. ¶ 28 (quoting State v.
Sisk, 343 S.W.3d 60, 65 (Tenn. 2011)). “It is not the province of the court . . . to resolve conflicts
in the evidence, to pass upon the credibility of witnesses, to determine the plausibility of
explanations, or to weigh the evidence; such matters are for the jury.” Id. ¶ 29 (quoting State v.
Williams, 695 N.W.2d 23, 28 (Iowa 2005)).
[50] Here, there is enough for the jury to have concluded that Acosta sexually assaulted T.N.
before killing her or that he both killed and sexually assaulted T.N. in a single, continuous act or
in a series of closely related acts, even if portions of the sexual assault occurred only after T.N.
was killed.
[51] T.N. was found partially naked, with her panties positioned on the side “as if somebody . .
. had kind of like pulled it up.” Tr. at 16 (Jury Trial, Mar. 6, 2020). The left strap of T.N.’s bra
had been cut and exposed her breast. A blood smear was identified on the wall, which suggested
that at one point, T.N. had been up against the wall after she was injured. A pair of bloody shorts
was found near the bed. Vaginal and anal swabs from T.N. were found to contain the DNA of
Acosta and T.N.; they both contained semen. No DNA from any individual other than T.N. or
Acosta was found on T.N.’s body. Although no injuries were found to the genitalia or anus of
T.N., Dr. Ishikawa testified that in his experience, a lack of injuries does not rule out penetration
or other sexual trauma. Dr. Ishikawa also testified that the presence of semen in the vaginal tract
was consistent sexual intercourse.
[52] Multiple witnesses testified that the injury to T.N.’s left index finger suggested a defensive
wound, as if she saw the blow coming and had raised her hand to block it. The jury could have
reasonably attributed the lack of more defensive wounds to the condition of paraplegia likely
caused by the blow to T.N.’s cervical spine. No evidence suggests that Acosta left the scene and
People v. Acosta, 2022 Guam 11, Opinion Page 21 of 32
returned later to commit the sexual assault upon T.N.’s body so that the continuity of the act was
broken. The prosecution does not have “an affirmative duty to rule out every hypothesis except
that of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.” Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 326 (1979). This is
so even when the People rely on circumstantial evidence. See Holland v. United States, 348 U.S.
121, 140 (1954) (“Circumstantial evidence . . . is intrinsically no different from testimonial
evidence. . . . In both instances, a jury is asked to weigh the chances that the evidence correctly
points to guilt against the possibility of inaccuracy or ambiguous inference. In both, the jury must
use its experience with people and events in weighing the probabilities. If the jury is convinced
beyond a reasonable doubt, we can require no more.”); People v. McKinney, 2016 Guam 3 ¶ 22
(“‘[E]ntirely circumstantial’ evidence is sufficient to support a guilty verdict.” (quoting United
States v. Boskic, 545 F.3d 69, 85 (1st Cir. 2008))).
[53] As in Diefenbach and Gilkey discussed above, the jury could have reasonably inferred from
the circumstantial evidence that T.N. was sexually assaulted before she was killed, see Diefenbach,
1996 WL 33360429, at *2; Gilkey, 2018 WL 2463114, at *4-5. Alternatively, a rational jury could
have found that T.N. was both sexually assaulted and killed in a single, continuous act, or in a
series of closely related acts. Sufficient evidence exists to prove the CSC convictions beyond a
reasonable doubt under either view of the evidence, and the prosecution was not required to rule
out every other hypothesis.
[54] In summary: we reject the bright-line rule and join the majority of jurisdictions adopting
the ongoing criminal assault rule in holding that it is CSC when a defendant both kills and sexually
assaults a victim in a single, continuous act, or in a series of closely related acts, even if portions
of the CSC, including penetration or sexual contact, occur once the victim has already been killed.
The prosecution presented sufficient evidence from which the jury could have reasonably inferred
People v. Acosta, 2022 Guam 11, Opinion Page 22 of 32
that T.N. was sexually assaulted before she was killed or that she was sexually assaulted and killed
in a single, continuous act or in a series of closely related acts.
B. The Matter Is Remanded to the Trial Court to Conduct an Included-Offense Analysis
[55] Both Acosta and the People advance arguments about which of Acosta’s convictions
constitutes an included offense. However, the trial court failed to conduct an included-offense
analysis after the parties raised the issue, and so we remand for the trial court to do so.
[56] Title 9 GCA § 1.22 states:
When the same conduct of a defendant may establish the commission of
more than one offense, the defendant may be prosecuted for each such offense. He
may not, however, be convicted of more than one offense if:
(a) one offense is included in the other as defined in § 105.58 of the
Criminal Procedure Code; . . .
9 GCA § 1.22(a) (2005). We have said and here reiterate:
Although a defendant may be prosecuted for two crimes stemming from the
same conduct, that defendant may not be convicted for both crimes. . . . Merger of
the sentences is not a proper disposition . . . . [T]he proper disposition, under the
circumstances of this case, is not merger of sentences but dismissal of the
[offending] convictions.
People v. Afaisen, 2016 Guam 31 ¶ 52; see also People v. Aguirre, 2004 Guam 21 ¶ 18 (“[A]
defendant may be prosecuted for multiple offenses arising from the same conduct if the conduct
establishes the commission of more than one offense. However, if the offenses are included
offenses, the defendant cannot be convicted of more than one offense.”).
[57] It was not error for the trial court to send all charges to the jury or for the jury to return a
guilty verdict on all charges.6 The jury verdicts merely established the jury’s findings on each
6
In People v. Aguirre, we noted:
[P]roper jury verdict forms may prevent violations of [9 GCA § 1.22] by instructing the jury to
consider lesser included offenses only if the defendant is found not guilty of the greater offense or
People v. Acosta, 2022 Guam 11, Opinion Page 23 of 32
charge; the concern is whether the trial court entered convictions for both greater offenses and
their included offenses, in violation of 9 GCA § 1.22(a). See 9 GCA § 1.22 (“[T]he defendant may
be prosecuted for each such offense. He may not, however, be convicted of more than one offense
. . . .” (emphasis added)); 8 GCA § 120.18 (2005) (“A judgment of conviction shall set forth the
plea, the verdict of findings, and the adjudication and sentence.” (emphases added)). Here, the
trial court erred in failing to conduct an included-offense analysis when the parties raised the issue
in their sentencing memoranda. See generally RA, tab 240 (Sent’g Mem., Aug. 10, 2020); RA,
tab 242 (People’s Am. Sent’g Mem., Aug. 12, 2020).
[58] In its final judgment, the trial court set forth the jury’s verdicts and entered a “JUDGMENT
OF GUILTY” for all charges and special allegations for which the jury found Acosta guilty. RA,
tab 270 at 3-4 (Judgment).7 It then sentenced Acosta to life in prison without the possibility of
parole for Charge One (Aggravated Murder with the underlying felony of Burglary); twenty-five
years of imprisonment to run consecutive to the above sentence for the Special Allegation attached
to Charge One (Possession or Use of a Deadly Weapon in the Commission of a Felony); and twenty
years of imprisonment to run consecutive to the above sentence for Charge Nine (Home Invasion).
Id. at 4-5. The Judgment continues:
d. As to the remaining charges and attached special allegations, any sentence
would merge with Charge One — AGGRAVATED MURDER (As a First
Degree Felony) and its attached Special Allegation: Possession or Use of a
Deadly Weapon in the Commission of a Felony; and
e. Defendant shall pay a fine of $10,000.00.
if the jury cannot unanimously agree that the defendant is guilty. This requires that the lesser
included offenses be correctly identified.
2004 Guam 21 ¶ 23 n.3.
7
But see footnote 1, above, with regard to the special allegation attached to Charge Twelve, Count Two.
People v. Acosta, 2022 Guam 11, Opinion Page 24 of 32
Id. at 5 (emphasis added). That is: the trial court “convicted” Acosta of all charges and special
allegations but “merged” them for sentencing. Assuming the merged offenses were included
offenses, the trial court violated 9 GCA § 1.22 and our holding in Afaisen when it entered
convictions for those offenses, even if no additional sentences were attributed to them. Instead,
the trial court should have conducted an included-offense analysis and entered convictions only
for those offenses which do not violate 9 GCA § 1.22. We vacate the judgment and remand so the
trial court may conduct this analysis and enter judgment in conformity with 9 GCA § 1.22 and
Afaisen.
C. The Trial Court Did Not Err in Denying Acosta’s Motion to Suppress
[59] Acosta’s third allegation of error is that the trial court should have suppressed any of his
alleged statements made to the police on October 18, 2018,8 about his involvement in the murder
because the Guam Police Department overcame his will, thereby making his statements
involuntary. See Appellant’s Br. at 16-22. We disagree and affirm the Superior Court’s denial of
the motion to suppress.
[60] According to Acosta, “Officer Santos clearly used his previous connections with [Acosta]
and the prospect of needing to make amends with the ‘Lord’ to wrangle a confession,” although
he “purported not to threaten [Acosta] with Hell.” Id. at 21. Acosta charges that their conversation
“was not a discussion, but a manipulation of both [Acosta’s] faith and the loss of his son” and that
he was put “in such a mental state that any statements made were not of a ‘rational intellect’ and
‘free will.’” Id. at 21-22 (quoting Blackburn v. Alabama, 361 U.S. 199, 208 (1960)).
[61] The People argue that the trial court correctly denied Acosta’s motion to suppress. See
Appellee’s Br. at 21-29. They argue “[a]n appeal to the religious beliefs of a suspect in a criminal
8
Acosta’s brief suggests that the interview took place on October 19, 2019. Appellant’s Br. at 16. The
record says that it took place on October 19, 2018. See, e.g., Tr. at 8 (Mot. Hr’g, May 16, 2019).
People v. Acosta, 2022 Guam 11, Opinion Page 25 of 32
interrogation is not inherently coercive”; rather, a “court must look to the totality of the
circumstances.” Id. at 21. The People suggest that “Acosta was the prime driver of religious
conversation during the interrogation” and state that “[a]t no point in time did the nature of Det.
Santos’s religious discussions with Acosta insinuate that failure to confess . . . would result in an
eternity of damnation or condemnation by God.” Id. at 22, 25. They say he was “repeatedly
admonished of his right to remain silent,” and “[a]fter Acosta prayed with Det. Santos, he was
reminded of his Miranda rights multiple times.” Id. at 25-26. Noting that he had been offered
food, bathroom, and smoking breaks and was not handcuffed, they suggest that the only allegation
of undue pressure was the appeal to religion. Id. at 25-26. Finally, the People argue that even if
the statements are suppressed, there is sufficient other evidence for the jury to have convicted
Acosta. Id. at 27-29.
[62] Waiver of the Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination, like other
constitutional rights, must be knowing, intelligent, and voluntary. Miranda, 384 U.S. at 444;
People v. Sangalang, 2001 Guam 18 ¶ 12. As we said recently in a different context:
“[C]ourts indulge every reasonable presumption against waiver of
fundamental constitutional rights and . . . do not presume acquiescence in the loss
of fundamental rights.” People v. Guerrero, 2017 Guam 4 ¶ 25 (second alteration
in original) (quoting Johnson v. Zerbst, 304 U.S. 458, 464 (1938)). A written
waiver, however, creates a presumption of a voluntary, knowing, and intelligent
decision. United States v. Shorty, 741 F.3d 961, 966 (9th Cir. 2013) (analyzing
Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 23(a)). The Ninth Circuit has repeatedly held
that when there is a written waiver, and no additional facts negating the voluntary,
knowing, and intelligent nature of the waiver, reversal is unnecessary. Compare
Shorty, 741 F.3d at 966, and United States v. Cochran, 770 F.2d 850, 851 (9th Cir.
1985), with United States v. Christensen, 18 F.3d 822, 825-26 (9th Cir. 1994)
(reversing because, despite written waiver, there was evidence defendant may have
been mentally or emotionally unstable).
People v. Perez, 2021 Guam 18 ¶ 17 (alterations in original).
People v. Acosta, 2022 Guam 11, Opinion Page 26 of 32
[63] Acosta was read his Miranda rights and signed a waiver. Before Acosta made the
statements, Detective Santos testified that he reminded Acosta of his right to remain silent. Despite
the written waiver and reminder of his rights, Acosta asserts that his will was broken and overborne
by the discussion of his deceased son and the conversation prompted by the biblical verse relating
to confession and forgiveness hanging in the office in which he was questioned. Appellant’s Br.
at 21. He says that he was put into “an emotional state” or “a susceptible psychological state,” by
what he terms “objectively coercive police conduct.” Id. at 21-22. He says the statements were
involuntary. See id. at 22.
[64] However:
The test of voluntariness is not a “but-for” test. “[W]e do not ask whether
the confession would have been made in the absence of the interrogation. Few
criminals feel impelled to confess to the police purely of their own accord, without
any questioning at all. . . . Thus, it can almost always be said that the interrogation
caused the confession.”
United States v. Miller, 984 F.2d 1028, 1032 (9th Cir. 1993) (alterations in original) (quoting
Miller v. Fenton, 796 F.2d 598, 605 (3d Cir. 1986)). “Instead, the question is whether police
conduct exploits a defendant’s condition to the extent that the defendant’s ‘will is overborne.’”
United States v. Crawford, 66 F. Supp. 3d 1311, 1318 (D. Ore. 2014) (citations omitted); see also
Miller, 984 F.2d at 1031 (“The pivotal question in each case is whether the defendant’s will was
overborne when the defendant confessed.”).
[65] The court considers the totality of the circumstances in determining the validity of a waiver
of Fifth Amendment Miranda rights. Perez, 2021 Guam 18 ¶ 19 (citing Sangalang, 2001 Guam
18 ¶ 13); People v. Chong, 2019 Guam 30 ¶ 12. “A waiver is voluntary if it is ‘the product of a
free and deliberate choice rather than intimidation, coercion, or deception.’” Chong, 2019 Guam
30 ¶ 12 (quoting People v. Hualde, 1999 Guam 3 ¶ 30).
People v. Acosta, 2022 Guam 11, Opinion Page 27 of 32
[66] Other cases involving alleged religious coercion are instructive. In United States v. Miller,
984 F.2d 1028 (9th Cir. 1993), the Ninth Circuit found “no causal relationship” between
defendant’s confession and a conversation two days prior in which the Special Agent in Charge of
the investigation—who was also a bishop in the Mormon church—discussed the spiritual need to
confess and repent of wrongful acts. Id. at 1030-32. Although the defendant there stated during
the suppression hearing that his confession had nothing to do with religion, he had become
“tearful” after listening to the Special Agent. Id. at 1032. However, the court held that “‘mere
emotionalism and confusion’ do not necessarily invalidate confessions.” Id. (quoting Sullivan v.
Alabama, 666 F.2d 478, 483 (11th Cir. 1982)).
[67] In Welch v. Butler, 835 F.2d 92 (5th Cir. 1988), the defendant was brought in for
questioning and, after being advised of his Miranda rights, was told that the police had
incriminating evidence against him. Id. at 93. The questioning officers left the room, and another
officer, “a professed born-again Christian,” went in because after listening to some of the evidence,
he “apparently was concerned that [the defendant] misunderstood the nature of divine
forgiveness.” Id. They “discussed forgiveness and salvation and prayed together for about three
hours. During this time, [the defendant] made incriminating statements.” Id. When questioned,
the officer who had prayed with him denied asking the defendant for a confession. Id. The original
questioning officers later asked the defendant for an oral statement, which he provided, admitting
to the crime. Id. As the Fifth Circuit held:
There can be no doubt that [the defendant’s] confession was not the product
of will overborne by the police. One does not have to be devout to accept the fact
that [defendant] was concerned about his salvation and about divine forgiveness.
However, this concern existed before his conversations with [the praying officer].
At most, the police set up a situation that allowed [the defendant] to focus for some
time on those concerns with a fellow Christian in the hope that his desire to be
saved would lead him to confess. What coercion that existed was sacred, not
profane.
People v. Acosta, 2022 Guam 11, Opinion Page 28 of 32
Id. at 95.
[68] In Barrera v. Young, 794 F.2d 1264 (7th Cir. 1986), the Seventh Circuit examined a case
in which defendant was “psychologically prepared for interrogation, . . . [had] a lawyer seconds
away, [and was subjected to] a 45 minute monologue including appeals to religion and reminders
that the state’s evidence is strong.” Id. at 1270-71. Although a slightly different context than this
case, the court’s commentary is instructive. The Seventh Circuit held:
[A] reminder to [the defendant] that if he believes in an afterlife he must consider
the effect of his crimes and his failure to confess is again an appeal to [the
defendant’s] (very long run) self-interest. It is difficult to describe an appeal to
religious beliefs as unacceptable in our society; such appeals are common parts of
life and need not cease at the door of the jail. [The defendant] could have cut [the
interrogator] short and said that he wanted to hear such appeals only from a priest
or a friend, but he did not. He found the appeal compelling, and a rhetorical device
does not become illegitimate just because it is effective.
Id. at 1270; see also United States v. Carignan, 342 U.S. 36, 39-40 (1951) (deciding case on other
grounds but noting, inter alia, that “[t]here were pictures of Christ and of various saints on the
walls of the office in which the conversation occurred [and] [t]he Marshal evidently suggested to
him that his Maker might think more of him if he told the truth about the crime,” but stating that
“the facts in this record surrounding the giving of the confession do not necessarily establish
coercion”); Berghuis v. Thompkins, 560 U.S. 370, 375-76, 387 (2010) (holding that where, after
almost three hours of silence, defendant answered in the affirmative to officer’s question of
whether defendant had asked God for forgiveness for shooting the victim, “[t]he fact that [the
officer’s] question referred to [the defendant’s] religious beliefs also did not render [the
defendant’s] statement involuntary”); Rodgers v. Commonwealth, 318 S.E.2d 298, 302-304 (Va.
1984) (noting that defendant was not particularly susceptible to religious entreaties, but further
collecting cases from various jurisdictions in which “religious remarks were viewed as only one
part of the totality of the circumstances and were held not to be coercive”); State v. Newell, 132
People v. Acosta, 2022 Guam 11, Opinion Page 29 of 32
P.3d 833, 844 (Ariz. 2006) (en banc) (holding that defendant’s will was not overborne by
detectives’ references to “‘get[ting] right with God,’ confessing sins, and asking for forgiveness”
(alteration in original)). See generally Voluntary Nature of Confession as Affected by Appeal to
Religious Beliefs, 20 A.L.R.6th 479 § 3 (originally published in 2006) (“A confession is
involuntary where the defendant’s will was overborne. Because the determination of
involuntariness is made on the basis of the totality of the circumstances, religious inducements to
the defendant are just one factor in that determination.”). But see People v. Montano, 277 Cal.
Rptr. 327, 337 (Ct. App. 1991) (overturning conviction where, as part of totality of circumstances,
including failure to cease questioning when defendant invoked his privilege to remain silent,
officers’ manipulation of defendant’s religion was a “tactic[]” deliberately used to break
defendant’s will).
[69] Here, the totality of the circumstances suggests that Acosta’s statements were made
voluntarily. According to testimony by the detectives, the interview began around 3:20 in the
afternoon and took place in an office rather than an interview room. During the several hours he
was there, Acosta was given the opportunity to use the restroom, offered food, invited to phone
his lawyer and children, and allowed to smoke. Detective Mondia testified that the incriminating
statements were made after the interview was over, when Acosta had been placed under arrest. At
that point, the defendant “requested [Detective Santos’s] assistance in helping him pray.” Tr. at
53 (Mot. Hr’g, May 16, 2019). Detective Santos testified that the defendant was “weeping” and
asked Detective Santos questions about his faith, at which time he “advised [Acosta] of his rights,
that . . . he still has the right to stop answering.” Id. at 71-72. According to Detective Santos, after
Acosta made the statements about his involvement in the murder, Acosta “said he believe[d] his
spirit to be set free.” Id. at 78. Detective Santos stated that he had asked a follow-up question
People v. Acosta, 2022 Guam 11, Opinion Page 30 of 32
regarding what Acosta meant by saying that he had gone “next door,” id. at 50, but nothing in the
record indicates that he made any threats, religious or otherwise, about what might happen if
Acosta did not confess. The detectives specifically denied making any threats or promises, earthly
or otherwise. Id. at 20-21, 51, 57. Although there are several references to the defendant weeping,
and the discussion included difficult topics such as childhood challenges and the death of Acosta’s
son, Detective Santos denied that Acosta had become enraptured with the talk of faith or “put into
a state where it seemed like he was unaware of his surroundings.” Id. at 26, 28, 55, 57.
[70] The testimony establishes that Acosta was granted the opportunity to eat, use the restroom,
and smoke and was not threatened, religiously or otherwise, by the police. Although he became
emotional during the conversation, Acosta initiated the discussion about religion and his son. The
interview took place in the detectives’ office, and he was advised multiple times of his rights.
Under the totality of the circumstances, there is no indication he was coerced or that his will was
overborne. The trial court did not err in denying the motion to suppress.
D. The Trial Court Should Have Made Evidentiary Findings Before Imposing the Fine
[71] The $10,000 fine against Acosta must be reversed and remanded.
[72] The trial court may sentence a person convicted of a crime to pay a fine or restitution in
addition to serving a term of imprisonment. 9 GCA § 80.10(a)(6) (2005); People v. Quinata, 2010
Guam 17 ¶ 50 n.9. Title 9 GCA 80.52 states, in part:
(b) The court shall not sentence an offender to pay a fine or make restitution
in addition to a sentence of imprisonment or probation unless:
(1) the offender has derived a pecuniary gain from the offense; or
(2) the court believes that a fine or restitution is specially adapted to
deterrence of the type of offense involved or to the correction of the
offender.
People v. Acosta, 2022 Guam 11, Opinion Page 31 of 32
(c) The court shall not sentence an offender to pay a fine or make restitution
unless the offender is or, given a fair opportunity to do so, will be able to pay the
fine or restitution. The court shall not sentence an offender to pay a fine unless the
fine will not prevent the offender from making restitution to the victim of the
offense.
(d) In determining the amount and method of payment of a fine or
restitution, the court shall take into account the financial resources of the offender
and the nature of the burden that its payment will impose.
9 GCA § 80.52(b)-(d) (2005).
[73] In People v. Quinata, 2010 Guam 17 ¶¶ 50-55, this court held that section 80.52 requires
an evidentiary hearing before imposition of a fine to determine whether the individual has the
financial means to pay. “One of the purposes of an evidentiary hearing is to afford the defendant
the opportunity to present evidence and argument on his ability to pay.” Id. ¶ 55. With no
stipulations or indications in the record that the trial court had considered the defendant’s ability
to pay, the court remanded the matter for a hearing on the subject. Id.
[74] Here, Acosta argues that at sentencing, “the judge took none of [the statutorily required]
matters into consideration in determining the payment of a fine in the amount of $10,000.00.”
Appellant’s Br. at 23. Thus, he urges this court to “reverse the . . . fine and remand the matter for
the trial court to make an appropriate determination with regard to a fine.” Id. at 24. The People
do not disagree. Quinata, they say, “makes clear that Acosta is entitled to a hearing on these
issues,” and so the People similarly urge the court to reverse and remand with instructions to
conduct a hearing on the fine. Appellee’s Br. at 29.
[75] At sentencing, the trial court stated:
I would also add, there has been payment of money for funeral expenses,
for some hospital expenses, and to that extent, I’m determining that restitution
would be appropriate in the amounts that have been indicated by the Government
from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Fund and I’m adding on a fine of $10,000
appropriate for the costs incurred of course about trial and other things.
People v. Acosta, 2022 Guam 11, Opinion Page 32 of 32
Tr. at 19-20 (Sent’g Hr’g, Aug. 12, 2020). The Judgment simply states, “Defendant shall pay a
fine of $10,000.00.” RA, tab 270 at 5 (Judgment).
[76] We could find no indication that the trial court followed the requirements of 9 GCA §
80.52. Neither the transcript of the sentencing hearing nor the Judgment contain any specific
findings on the defendant’s pecuniary gain, that imposition of a monetary penalty was specially
adapted to deterrence or the correction of Acosta, that Acosta had the ability to pay, that a fine
would not hamper his ability to make restitution, or that Acosta’s financial resources had been
considered. See 9 GCA § 80.52(b)-(d).
[77] We take this opportunity to clarify that in imposing a fine or restitution, a trial court must
comply with all the provisions of 9 GCA § 80.52. Because that was not done here, we vacate the
fine and remand for a hearing. As in Quinata, “[u]pon remand, the trial court can make any
monetary adjustments that are required by the evidence presented.” 2010 Guam 17 ¶ 55.
V. CONCLUSION
[78] We AFFIRM the trial court’s denial of what Acosta styled as his Motions in Limine and
AFFIRM the trial court’s denial of Acosta’s Motion to Suppress. We VACATE the Judgment
and REMAND for the trial court to conduct an included-offense analysis, hold a hearing on the
fine, and sentence accordingly.
/s/ /s/
ROBERT J. TORRES KATHERINE A. MARAMAN
Associate Justice Associate Justice
/s/
F. PHILIP CARBULLIDO
Chief Justice