Dean Allen Harrell v. State

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF IDAHO
Docket No. 40010
DEAN ALLEN HARRELL, ) 2014 Unpublished Opinion No. 303
)
Petitioner-Appellant, ) Filed: January 3, 2014
)
v. ) Stephen W. Kenyon, Clerk
)
STATE OF IDAHO, ) THIS IS AN UNPUBLISHED
) OPINION AND SHALL NOT
Respondent. ) BE CITED AS AUTHORITY
)
Appeal from the District Court of the Fifth Judicial District, State of Idaho, Cassia
County. Hon. Michael R. Crabtree, District Judge.
Judgment summarily dismissing amended second successive petition for
post-conviction relief, affirmed.
Deborah Whipple of Nevin, Benjamin, McKay & Bartlett LLP, Boise, for
appellant.
Hon. Lawrence G. Wasden, Attorney General; Mark W. Olson, Deputy Attorney
General, Boise, for respondent.
________________________________________________
GUTIERREZ, Chief Judge
Dean Allen Harrell appeals from the judgment of the district court summarily dismissing
Harrell’s amended second successive petition for post-conviction relief seeking DNA testing.
Because the DNA test results would not show that it is more probable than not that Harrell is
innocent of the victim’s rape, we affirm.
I.
FACTS AND PROCEDURE
Underlying this post-conviction relief action is Harrell’s rape conviction. The facts, as
previously set forth by this Court, are as follows:
On July 30, 1998, a Cassia County sheriff’s officer was dispatched to the
residence of S.K. Upon entering the residence, the officer observed that S.K.’s
eyes were black and swollen, that her lips were puffy, that she had blood on her
arms and hands, that there was blood on the floor, bed, and walls, and that a
number of items in the residence were broken. S.K. told the officer that she had
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been beaten and raped. Based upon information collected by the police, Harrell
was arrested on July 31, 1998, and charged with rape, I.C. § 18-6101(4), and
burglary, I.C. § 18-1401. Harrell entered a plea of not guilty and a trial was
scheduled.
....
A friend of the victim testified at trial that she, Harrell, and a number of
other people arrived at the victim’s home at approximately 1:30 a.m. on the
morning of July 30, 1998. She testified that Harrell had been wearing a tank top,
faded blue Wrangler jeans, scruffy cowboy boots, and a green ball cap. Finally,
the friend testified that Harrell remained at the victim’s home after she and most
of the other people left at approximately 3:00 a.m.
Another friend of the victim testified at trial that she returned to the
victim’s home and knocked on the front door. She testified that a man walked
out, shut and locked the door behind him, and said that the victim was asleep.
Although she did not notice the man’s face, the friend testified that she knew the
man was Harrell because he was wearing the same clothing that she saw him
wearing earlier that night. She further testified that Harrell ran very quickly to his
truck and sped off without turning on his headlights. Finally, the friend testified
that she continued to knock and that when the victim answered the door, she was
“bare naked, bloody and beat” and was yelling that she had just been raped.
One of the officers testified at trial that he first confronted Harrell in the
parking lot of a local cafe on the following day. Harrell agreed to talk to the
police and led them back to his residence where Harrell agreed to let the officers
look around. The officer observed that Harrell was wearing a pair of blue
Wrangler jeans which appeared to be stained with blood. In Harrell’s residence,
the officer discovered a pair of laced-up leather boots and a light-colored tank top
which also appeared to be stained with blood. Harrell admitted that he had been
wearing the pants, the lace-up boots, and the tank top on the previous night. The
officer asked if he could take Harrell’s pants for testing, and Harrell agreed.
When Harrell removed his pants, the officer discovered that Harrell’s underwear
was also stained with blood. Harrell admitted that he had worn the underwear on
the previous night. Harrell voluntarily gave his underwear to the officer.
A sample of the blood found on Harrell’s underwear was DNA tested by
the Idaho Department of Law Enforcement. A criminalist from the department
testified at trial that the results of the DNA test excluded Harrell as a source of the
blood. The criminalist testified that the results showed, however, that the victim
was a potential source of the blood.
The officer also testified that Harrell agreed to meet the officers at their
office for further questioning. The officer observed that there were numerous
“fresh” scrapes and cuts on Harrell’s hands, which the officer believed were the
result of hitting somebody in the teeth. During the interview, Harrell admitted to
having sex with the victim and stated that “everything was going good and then it
turned to shit.” Harrell also stated that he didn’t know how things got out of
hand, that he didn’t realize that he hit her that hard, and that he hated going to jail
for something he didn’t mean to do. Following the interview, Harrell completed a
written statement in which he stated, “Everything was going good, and the next
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minute, everything got out of hand, and she started telling me she didn’t want to.
She wanted to go to bed, and that is when it got out of control.”
State v. Harrell, Docket No. 25985 (Ct. App. July 25, 2001) (unpublished).
The jury found Harrell guilty of rape and acquitted him on a burglary charge. The district
court imposed a unified life sentence, with twenty-five years determinate. In State v. Harrell,
Docket No. 25985 (Ct. App. July 25, 2001) (unpublished), we affirmed Harrell’s judgment of
conviction and sentence. In Harrell v. State, Docket No. 28371 (Ct. App. May 14, 2004)
(unpublished), we affirmed the district court’s order denying Harrell’s initial petition for
post-conviction relief. In Harrell v. State, Docket No. 33273 (Ct. App. Mar. 19, 2008)
(unpublished), we vacated the dismissal of Harrell’s successive petition for post-conviction relief
and remanded the case. In Harrell v. State, Docket No. 36559 (Ct. App. Sept. 9, 2010)
(unpublished), we affirmed the district court’s summary dismissal, on remand, of Harrell’s
successive petition for post-conviction relief.
Harrell then filed a second successive petition for post-conviction relief and subsequently
filed an amended second successive petition for post-conviction relief requesting DNA testing on
his underwear. 1 The State filed a motion to dismiss, and Harrell filed a motion for DNA testing.
The court held a hearing, and afterwards, Harrell filed a memorandum in support of his motion
and in opposition to the State’s motion to dismiss. The State filed a reply. The court then issued
a memorandum decision summarily dismissing Harrell’s amended second successive petition for
post-conviction relief. Harrell appeals.
II.
ANALYSIS
Harrell contends the district court erred by denying DNA testing of the blood stain on his
underwear and summarily dismissing his amended second successive petition for post-conviction
relief. Under Idaho Code § 19-4902, a petitioner may file a petition seeking DNA testing on
evidence that was secured in relation to the trial that resulted in his conviction if the evidence
was not subjected to the requested DNA testing because the technology was not available at the
time of the trial. I.C. § 19-4902(b). The petitioner must present a prima facie claim that identity
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The district court noted that Harrell had not stated which items should be subjected to
DNA testing, but the court assumed Harrell was only requesting DNA testing of his underwear.
Harrell’s briefing before this Court references his underwear.
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was at issue in the trial and that the evidence was subject to a sufficient chain of custody. I.C.
§ 19-4902(c). The district court must then allow the testing under reasonable conditions after the
district court determines that: “(1) The result of the testing has the scientific potential to produce
new, noncumulative evidence that would show that it is more probable than not that the
petitioner is innocent; and (2) The testing method requested would likely produce admissible
results under the Idaho rules of evidence.” I.C. § 19-4902(e).
Harrell argues a DNA test would show it is more probable than not that Harrell is
innocent of the victim’s rape. Harrell also asserts his confession was false. The State maintains
that a DNA test would not show it is more probable than not that Harrell is innocent of the
victim’s rape. The State also contends Harrell should have raised the issue regarding the
confession on direct appeal. 2 In the district court’s memorandum decision summarily dismissing
Harrell’s amended second successive petition, the district court recalled the evidence presented
at the rape trial. The district court determined that, even if evidence proved the victim was not
the source of the blood on the underwear, the results would not provide evidence of a different
perpetrator. The district court also determined that, in light of the other evidence, the results of a
DNA test would not show that it is more probable than not that Harrell is innocent of the victim’s
rape.
When there is a motion for summary dismissal of a petition for post-conviction relief, the
court must review the facts in a light most favorable to the petitioner. Pizzuto v. State, 149 Idaho
155, 160, 233 P.3d 86, 91 (2010). However, to prevent summary dismissal the petitioner must
present evidence establishing a prima facie case as to each element of the claims upon which the
petitioner bears the burden of proof. Pizzuto v. State, 146 Idaho 720, 728, 202 P.3d 642, 650
(2008). A mere scintilla of evidence is not sufficient to create a genuine issue of material fact
precluding summary dismissal. Id. at 733, 202 P.3d at 655. “The application must be supported
by written statements from competent witnesses or other verifiable information. Unsubstantiated
and conclusory allegations are insufficient to entitle a petitioner to an evidentiary hearing.”
Pizzuto, 149 Idaho at 160, 233 P.3d at 91 (citations omitted).
2
The State further asserts the district court was not required to assume that DNA testing
would be favorable to Harrell in granting summary dismissal. We need not address this
argument, offering an alternative basis for affirming the district court’s decision, as we are
persuaded that a DNA test would not show it is more probable than not that Harrell is innocent of
the victim’s rape.
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We are not persuaded by Harrell’s argument that the lack of the victim’s blood on his
underwear would “greatly affect the analysis of the other surrounding circumstances and
evidence” and show that Harrell was not the rapist. The results of a DNA test would not refute
the testimony of the victim’s friends and would not refute the confession given by Harrell.
Harrell’s contention that his confession was false should have been raised on direct appeal. The
scope of post-conviction relief is limited. Knutsen v. State, 144 Idaho 433, 438, 163 P.3d 222,
227 (Ct. App. 2007). A petition for post-conviction relief is not a substitute for an appeal. I.C.
§ 19-4901(b). A claim or issue that was or could have been raised on appeal may not be
considered in post-conviction proceedings. Id.; Mendiola v. State, 150 Idaho 345, 348-49, 247
P.3d 210, 213-14 (Ct. App. 2010).
We conclude that the district court did not err by denying DNA testing of the blood stain
and summarily dismissing the amended successive petition for post-conviction relief. The
results of a DNA test would not show that it is more probable than not that Harrell is innocent of
the victim’s rape. The district court correctly determined that the State was entitled to judgment
as a matter of law. Accordingly, the district court’s judgment summarily dismissing Harrell’s
amended second successive petition for post-conviction relief is affirmed.
Judge GRATTON and Judge MELANSON CONCUR.
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