State v. Michael R. Russo

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF IDAHO
Docket No. 38404
STATE OF IDAHO, ) 2013 Opinion No. 15
)
Plaintiff-Respondent, ) Filed: March 4, 2013
)
v. ) Stephen W. Kenyon, Clerk
)
MICHAEL ROWE RUSSO, )
)
Defendant-Appellant. )
)
Appeal from the District Court of the Third Judicial District, State of Idaho,
Canyon County. Hon. Gregory M. Culet, District Judge.
Judgment of conviction for rape, kidnapping, and burglary, affirmed.
Sara B. Thomas, State Appellate Public Defender; Erik R. Lehtinen, Chief,
Appellate Unit, Boise, for appellant. Erik R. Lehtinen argued.
Hon. Lawrence G. Wasden, Attorney General; Kenneth K. Jorgensen, Deputy
Attorney General, Boise, for respondent. Kenneth K. Jorgensen argued.
________________________________________________
SCHWARTZMAN, Judge Pro Tem
A jury found Michael Rowe Russo guilty of one count of rape, one count of first degree
kidnapping, and one count of burglary. Russo appeals from the judgment of conviction, arguing
the district court erred by failing to suppress a video found on his cell phone because the
detectives had no basis to search his person or the phone’s contents once the phone was
discovered. Russo also argues the district court erred by allowing the State to present Idaho Rule
of Evidence 404(b) testimony of his deviant sexual interests. For the reasons set forth below, we
affirm.
I.
PROCEDURAL AND FACTUAL BACKGROUND
In the pre-dawn hours of August 27, 2009, a masked intruder entered J.W.’s apartment
and violently raped her at knifepoint several times in different ways. During the rape, J.W. heard
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her assailant open a cell phone and saw a light associated with the taking of a picture or video.
The culprit eventually left the apartment and J.W. called the police to report the crime.
The detectives who responded to J.W.’s report immediately suspected Russo because he
had been previously questioned in connection with several other rapes and a sexual assault in the
area. Around 5:45 a.m., roughly an hour after the rape, detectives set up surveillance outside
Russo’s apartment and began securing a search warrant. A search warrant was issued at
11:10 a.m. that authorized searches of Russo’s apartment and motorcycle.
While the detectives had Russo’s apartment under surveillance, they observed Russo
leave his residence three times. On the third occasion, which occurred at 11:50 a.m., the
detectives detained Russo and then searched him. That search produced Russo’s cell phone.
The detective who seized the phone did not view the phone’s contents; however, once the phone
was turned over to another detective, that detective searched through the phone under the guise
of determining ownership. The phone contained a video, which the State believed Russo filmed
of his and the victim’s genitals during the rape. Soon thereafter, Russo was arrested. The
detectives applied for an amended search warrant to further search the phone found on Russo’s
person. The amended warrant also sought to search the communal laundry room and two other
phones found in Russo’s apartment. The searches produced pornography depicting simulated
rape, latex gloves, and clothing loosely matching J.W.’s report of what her attacker was
wearing. 1 Also, one of Russo’s neighbors informed the detectives that Russo had knocked on
her door at around 6:00 a.m. and demanded that she clear out her laundry so he could do his
laundry.
A grand jury indicted Russo for rape, kidnapping, and burglary. Prior to trial, Russo
moved to suppress the cell phone, and its contents, obtained during the warrantless search of his
person. The district court denied the suppression motion. The district court determined the
search warrant allowed the detectives to search for a cell phone and the inevitable discovery
doctrine resolved any timing issues regarding the subsequent viewing of the phone’s contents.
Prior to trial, the State also moved to admit Rule 404(b) evidence, to which Russo
objected. The district court excluded most of the evidence, but allowed some evidence regarding
1
Among the items the detectives found in the laundry were a pair of jeans, a grey
long-sleeve pullover shirt, and a white t-shirt. Russo notes the victim reported that her attacker
was wearing jean shorts, a gray thermal shirt, and a white t-shirt.
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Russo’s possession of pornographic material depicting simulated rape and his statements to a
detective in a prior investigation about his sexual fantasies involving rape.
The matter proceeded to a jury trial where the jury convicted Russo as charged. The
district court imposed concurrent sentences of a determinate term of life imprisonment for the
rape; a unified term of life, with forty years determinate, for the kidnapping; and a determinate
term of ten years for the burglary. Russo appeals.
II.
ANALYSIS
A. Suppression Motion
The standard of review of a suppression motion is bifurcated. When a decision on a
motion to suppress is challenged, we accept the trial court’s findings of fact that are supported by
substantial evidence, but we freely review the application of constitutional principles to the facts
as found. State v. Atkinson, 128 Idaho 559, 561, 916 P.2d 1284, 1286 (Ct. App. 1996). At a
suppression hearing, the power to assess the credibility of witnesses, resolve factual conflicts,
weigh evidence, and draw factual inferences is vested in the trial court. State v. Valdez-Molina,
127 Idaho 102, 106, 897 P.2d 993, 997 (1995); State v. Schevers, 132 Idaho 786, 789, 979 P.2d
659, 662 (Ct. App. 1999).
The Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution prohibits unreasonable searches
and seizures. Warrantless searches are presumed to be unreasonable and, therefore, violative of
the Fourth Amendment. State v. Weaver, 127 Idaho 288, 290, 900 P.2d 196, 198 (1995); State v.
Newman, 149 Idaho 596, 599, 237 P.3d 1222, 1225 (Ct. App. 2010). The State may overcome
this presumption by demonstrating that a warrantless search either fell within a well-recognized
exception to the warrant requirement or was otherwise reasonable under the circumstances.
Weaver, 127 Idaho at 290, 900 P.2d at 198; Newman, 149 Idaho at 599, 237 P.3d at 1225.
The State claims the search of Russo’s person was justified as a Terry frisk. In Terry v.
Ohio, 392 U.S. 1 (1968), the United States Supreme Court created a stop-and-frisk exception to
the Fourth Amendment warrant requirement. The stop and the frisk constitute two independent
actions, each requiring a distinct and separate justification. State v. Babb, 133 Idaho 890, 892,
994 P.2d 633, 635 (Ct. App. 2000); State v. Fleenor, 133 Idaho 552, 556, 989 P.2d 784, 788 (Ct.
App. 1999).
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The stop is justified if there is a reasonable and articulable suspicion that the individual
has committed or is about to commit a crime. Florida v. Royer, 460 U.S. 491 (1983); Terry, 392
U.S. at 30; State v. DuValt, 131 Idaho 550, 553, 961 P.2d 641, 644 (1998); State v. Ferreira, 133
Idaho 474, 479, 988 P.2d 700, 705 (Ct. App. 1999). However, merely because there are
reasonable grounds to justify a lawful investigatory stop, such grounds do not automatically
justify a frisk for weapons. Babb, 133 Idaho at 892, 994 P.2d at 635. An officer may frisk an
individual if the officer can point to specific and articulable facts that would lead a reasonably
prudent person to believe that the individual with whom the officer is dealing may be armed and
presently dangerous and nothing in the initial stages of the encounter serves to dispel this belief.
Terry, 392 U.S. at 27; Babb, 133 Idaho at 892, 994 P.2d at 635; Fleenor, 133 Idaho at 555, 989
P.2d at 787. In our analysis of a frisk, we look to the facts known to the officer on the scene and
the inferences of risk of danger reasonably drawn from the totality of those specific
circumstances. Babb, 133 Idaho at 892, 994 P.2d at 635; Fleenor, 133 Idaho at 555, 989 P.2d at
787. See also State v. Muir, 116 Idaho 565, 567-68, 777 P.2d 1238, 1240-41 (Ct. App. 1989).
Russo concedes that, pursuant to Michigan v. Summers, 452 U.S. 692 (1981), the
detectives had the authority to detain him outside of his residence as they executed the search
warrant. Russo, however, argues the detectives did not have reasonable, articulable suspicion
that he was armed and presently dangerous at the time they executed the search of his person,
and thus, a Terry frisk was unwarranted based on the following:
It was nearly noon, so lighting would not have been a concern; Mr. Russo was
alone and, therefore, outnumbered by the officers; Mr. Russo was wearing jeans
and a shirt and, therefore, would have had little opportunity to conceal a weapon;
and Mr. Russo was already in handcuffs by the time he was searched, so even if
he had a weapon, it would have been difficult, if not impossible, to access and use
effectively.
We do not find Russo’s argument persuasive. At the time Russo was detained and
frisked, the detectives possessed the following information: (1) a search warrant had just been
issued for Russo’s apartment and motorcycle; (2) Russo had been convicted of rape in
Washington in 1995; (3) Russo was questioned by the police in connection with multiple rapes
and a sexual assault in the area in the past two years, yet had never been charged with any of the
crimes; (4) Russo was suspected of committing a forcible rape that morning; (5) the victim
reported to the police that her attacker used a knife; and (6) Russo’s motorcycle was still hot
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when the detectives arrived at his residence early in the morning, indicating he had driven the
motorcycle shortly after the rape was reported. These specific and articulable facts would lead a
reasonably prudent person to believe Russo may be armed and presently dangerous. The
detectives were justified in conducting a Terry frisk, which consisted of a pat down of Russo’s
outer clothing.
Russo next argues that, even if the detectives had reasonable and articulable suspicion he
was armed and presently dangerous, the detective’s search of the cell phone far exceeded what
was permissible under Terry. Russo contends that “once his cell phone was identified as
such--and certainly once it was removed from [his] reach--it was not subject to further search.”
In support of his argument, Russo contends State v. Faith, 141 Idaho 728, 117 P.3d 142 (Ct.
App. 2005) is analogous to the present case. There, this Court held:
The discovery of the tin as an unidentified “bulge” in the course of the
pat-down would entitle the officers to assure themselves that it was not a weapon.
After satisfying themselves that the item was a container and not a weapon,
however, the officers had no valid reason to further invade Faith’s right to be free
of police intrusion absent reasonable cause to arrest him. See United States v.
Thompson, 597 F.2d 187 (9th Cir. 1979); State v. Allen, 93 Wash. 2d 170, 606
P.2d 1235, 1236 (1980).
Faith, 141 Idaho at 730, 117 P.3d 144.
Russo’s argument is that once the detectives identified the item in his pocket as a cell
phone, they could not then search the phone. However, the facts in the present case are
distinguishable from those in Faith. Most notably, the officers in Faith did not have a search
warrant, whereas the detectives here had a valid search warrant. The search warrant for Russo’s
residence and motorcycle provided: “YOU ARE THEREFORE COMMANDED, at any time of
the day, to make immediate search of the above-described premises for the property described
above and to seize the property on the Search Warrant Affidavit filed therein.” The search
warrant specifically listed a “cellular phone” and “any media capable of storing photo files” as
items to be seized.
The above analysis does not entirely ease this Court’s concern over the phone being
pulled from Russo’s pocket and then searched. The search still occurred outside the apartment
5
described in the warrant and the individual was not identified as a person to be searched. 2
However, in these circumstances a sufficient nexus existed between the individual, premises and
items to be searched that justified the brief intrusion. A magistrate issued the warrant because
there was a fair probability that evidence of the rape would be found in Russo’s apartment. The
affidavit used to secure that warrant clearly identified Russo as the individual who was suspected
to have committed the crime. Russo also was in the immediate vicinity of the location identified
to be searched; he was detained only a few footsteps from the entrance of the small apartment
complex and had been going in and out of his apartment all morning. Lastly, the victim reported
that her assailant used a cell phone to video or photograph the rape and cell phones are
commonly found on the person. In general, courts should avoid hypertechnicality when
interpreting warrants. State v. Sapp, 110 Idaho 153, 155, 715 P.2d 366, 368 (Ct. App. 1986).
Warrants should be viewed in a commonsense and realistic fashion. State v. Holman, 109 Idaho
382, 388, 707 P.2d 493, 499 (Ct. App. 1985). Under these circumstances, we conclude that once
the detectives identified the object in Russo’s pocket as a cell phone during a lawful frisk, a
commonsense reading of the scope of the search warrant allowed them to retain the cell phone
and search its contents.
2
It would have been an easier question to determine whether Russo would have been
subject to a search if he was detained inside his apartment. Even with Russo being searched
outside his apartment, we are not convinced that the search of Russo’s person and his cell phone
was not within the scope of the search warrant. The argument advanced by Russo is essentially
that by stepping outside of his apartment, he crossed a threshold that somehow provided him
with greater protection than would have been available if he were inside his residence. In the
present case several factors are notable: (1) a detached and neutral magistrate issued a warrant to
search Russo’s apartment and motorcycle parked outside; (2) based on the victim’s report,
clothing and a cell phone were arguably the main objectives of the search; (3) clothing and a cell
phone are typically found on a person; (4) Russo was in close proximity to both his apartment
and motorcycle; and (5) Russo entered and exited his apartment several times during the
detectives’ surveillance. Using common sense to interpret the warrant, combined with the
circumstances of the case, it is arguable that the police would have been justified to search
Russo’s person for the phone under the scope of the warrant, without the need to analyze Terry.
In an effort to avoid this issue in the future, we suggest that a search warrant specifically include
the person in instances where the warrant identifies a particular premises and items typically
found on a person known to reside there.
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B. Rule 404(b) Evidence
The State moved to allow introduction of Rule 404(b) evidence. The evidence included:
(1) that Russo had committed other rapes; (2) that the other rapes, like the one
charged, included “the inability to maintain an erection, the use of gloves, the
taking of the victim’s clothes, the use of weapons, and/or other distinguishing
characteristics”; (3) that Russo admitted rape fantasies; and (4) that Russo
possessed pornographic depictions of rape.
The district court excluded most of the evidence. It allowed, however, limited testimony of how
Russo came to be a suspect in the charged rape, Russo’s admissions of having rape fantasies, and
Russo’s possession of pornographic material depicting simulated rape. Regarding Russo’s rape
fantasies and possession of pornographic material depicting simulated rape, the district court
specifically found that “all those are relevant to motive, plan and, perhaps, scheme in this
instance.” On appeal, Russo challenges the admission of this evidence.
Evidence of other crimes, wrongs, or acts is not admissible to prove a defendant’s
criminal propensity. I.R.E. 404(b); State v. Johnson, 148 Idaho 664, 667, 227 P.3d 918, 921
(2010); State v. Parmer, 147 Idaho 210, 214, 207 P.3d 186, 190 (Ct. App. 2009). However, such
evidence may be admissible for a purpose other than that prohibited by Rule 404(b). Parmer,
147 Idaho at 214, 207 P.3d at 190. When determining the admissibility of evidence to which a
Rule 404(b) objection has been made, the trial court must first determine whether there is
sufficient evidence of the other acts that a reasonable jury could find the conduct actually
occurred. If so, then the court must consider: (1) whether the other acts are relevant to a
material disputed issue concerning the crime charged, other than propensity; and (2) whether the
probative value is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice. State v. Grist, 147
Idaho 49, 52, 205 P.3d 1185, 1188 (2009); Parmer, 147 Idaho at 214, 207 P.3d at 190. On
appeal, this Court defers to the trial court’s determination that there is sufficient evidence of the
other acts if it is supported by substantial and competent evidence in the record. Parmer, 147
Idaho at 214, 207 P.3d at 190. We exercise free review, however, of the trial court’s relevancy
determination. State v. Sheldon, 145 Idaho 225, 229, 178 P.3d 28, 32 (2008). The trial court’s
balancing of the probative value of the evidence against the danger of unfair prejudice will not be
disturbed unless we find an abuse of discretion. State v. Norton, 151 Idaho 176, 190, 254 P.3d
77, 91 (Ct. App. 2011).
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This Court, in State v. Rossignol, 147 Idaho 818, 215 P.3d 538 (Ct. App. 2009),
examined the admissibility of pornography to show motive and intent. There, Rossignol was
charged with lewd conduct for having sexual contact with his daughter. The trial court admitted
evidence that Rossignol possessed child pornography and incest stories to prove intent, motive,
and plan. Id. at 823, 215 P.3d at 543. Although evidence of the pornography was admitted
primarily to corroborate the victim’s claim that Rossignol showed her pornography, this Court
found the “incest stories were relevant to the intent element of the crimes Rossignol was charged
with and to show Rossignol’s motive and plan to engage in sexual acts with his daughter.” Id. at
825, 215 P.3d at 545.
In a recent decision, the Appellate Court of Illinois was faced with a similar set of facts:
the defendant was accused of rape and the State sought to introduce rape fantasy pornography to
prove motive and plan. People v. Pelo, 942 N.E.2d 463 (Ill. App. Ct. 2010). There, the court
determined that pornography depicting simulated rape was both relevant to the defendant’s
motive and plan and that its probative value was not outweighed by its prejudicial effect. Pelo, a
police sergeant, was charged with thirty-seven counts of criminal conduct originating from two
separate cases. Specifically, the State alleged that Pelo committed a series of crimes involving
the stalking, intimidation, home invasion, residential burglary, unlawful restraint, and aggravated
sexual assault of five women. Pelo appealed his subsequent conviction, arguing, inter alia, that
the trial court erred by allowing the State to introduce evidence involving graphic pornographic
material depicting simulated rape recovered from Pelo’s home computer. In reaching its
conclusion on Pelo’s relevancy argument, the court stated:
As previously explained, the pornography at issue depicted primarily
violence against women, bondage, sadism, and rape. We earlier described this
material at length, and we will not repeat that description now. Instead, it suffices
to note that, as the court observed, a significant portion of this material involved
the use (or forced use) of fingers or foreign objects to penetrate women both
vaginally and anally, as well as many instances of female masturbation and other
fetish-based dramatizations. The court explained that after carefully considering
all of the material the State offered, as well as the arguments of counsel, it found
that the evidence was relevant because of the particular circumstances of the
crimes involving the victims in this case. In particular, the court ruled that the
pornographic “sites and photographs and images that have to do with forced sex,
rape, bondage, the use of foreign objects, and observations of female masturbation
are relevant.” We also note that the court ruled that some of the pornography
would not be admitted--namely, that which dealt with the “forced witness”
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concept, as well as videos that ended with a shower scene. The court found that it
did not see those matters as relevant to the State’s charges.
We conclude that the trial court correctly determined that the vast majority
of the pornography was relevant in this case, given that it (1) involved forced sex,
rape, bondage, the use of foreign objects on women, and female masturbation and
(2) was recovered from defendant’s home computer. In other words, the court
found that most of the pornography tended to prove a fact in controversy--namely,
who committed the crimes charged--because the pornography, which was found
in defendant’s computer, involved acts and scenarios that were emulated by the
perpetrator in these cases.
Id. at 485-86.
Here, the facts--Russo possessing pornographic material depicting simulated rape and
having rape fantasies--are analogous to those in Rossignol and Pelo. Russo was charged with
raping a woman at knifepoint. Russo admitted to having fantasies involving rape. Moreover,
Russo had in his possession pornographic materials depicting simulated rape. Based on the
circumstances of this case, the trial court correctly determined the Rule 404(b) evidence was
relevant to prove Russo’s motive, intent, or plan.
Next, Russo claims that even if the Rule 404(b) evidence was relevant, the unfair
prejudice resulting from the evidence substantially outweighed its probative value. The second
tier in the analysis is the determination of whether the probative value of the evidence is
substantially outweighed by unfair prejudice. Grist, 147 Idaho at 52, 205 P.3d at 1188. Unfair
prejudice in this context means the evidence in question will somehow cast a negative light upon
a defendant for reasons that have nothing to do with the case on trial. Pelo, 942 N.E.2d at 487.
In other words, the jury would be deciding the case on an improper basis, such as sympathy,
hatred, contempt, or horror. When reviewing this tier we use an abuse of discretion standard.
Grist, 147 Idaho at 52, 205 P.3d at 1188. When a trial court’s discretionary decision is reviewed
on appeal, the appellate court conducts a multi-tiered inquiry to determine: (1) whether the
lower court correctly perceived the issue as one of discretion; (2) whether the lower court acted
within the boundaries of such discretion and consistently with any legal standards applicable to
the specific choices before it; and (3) whether the lower court reached its decision by an exercise
of reason. State v. Hedger, 115 Idaho 598, 600, 768 P.2d 1331, 1333 (1989).
In its oral ruling, the district court engaged in a balancing test under Idaho Evidence
Rule 403 to determine whether the danger of unfair prejudice substantially outweighed the
probative value of the evidence. The court concluded Russo’s admitted sexual fantasies could
9
come in, but the typical foundational elements, such as when and where the admission was made,
would be prohibited. The district court prohibited these foundational elements because it was
concerned with their prejudicial effect.
Based on our review of the record in this case, we conclude the district court did not
abuse its discretion by determining the probative value of the Rule 404(b) evidence was not
substantially outweighed by unfair prejudice. The district court correctly noted the decision was
within its discretion, detailed the applicable law on Rule 404(b) evidence, and used reason in its
analysis of that law.
III.
CONCLUSION
The district court did not err by denying Russo’s motion to suppress the video found on
his cell phone. The district court also did not err by concluding the evidence of Russo’s deviant
sexual interests was relevant and that the probative value was not substantially outweighed by
the danger of unfair prejudice. Accordingly, Russo’s judgment of conviction for rape,
kidnapping, and burglary is affirmed.
Judge MELANSON CONCURS.
Judge GRATTON, SPECIALLY CONCURRING
I concur in the majority opinion. However, I write to note that I believe that the seizure
and search of the cell phone from Russo’s person was covered by the warrant. Russo does not
seriously argue that his person would not have been subject to search under the warrant had he
been located inside the apartment. See State v. Beals, 410 So. 2d 745, 749 (La. 1982) (search of
the resident is reasonably and necessarily within the scope of the warrant). Indeed, the subject of
the warrant was principally clothing and a cell phone, items common sense tells us are likely to
be located upon a person. Russo, however, makes much ado about the fact that he was detained
and the cell phone seized and searched outside the threshold of the apartment and that the
warrant specifically mentions the apartment but not his person. In my view, Russo relies on an
overly broad reading of Michigan v. Summers, 452 U.S. 692 (1981), to support his argument that
the search and seizure outside the threshold of the apartment was constitutionally impermissible
as outside the premises described in the warrant.
I further agree with the lower court that the seizure and search of the cell phone was
subject to the inevitable discovery doctrine. See State v. Buterbaugh, 138 Idaho 96, 101, 57 P.3d
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807, 812 (Ct. App. 2002). The cell phone would inevitably have been seized and subject to
search incident to Russo’s arrest. Russo’s arrest was assured--without regard to the cell phone--
based upon the information the officers had which supported the issuance of the warrant in the
first place, including the motorcycle ridden in the early morning hours, as well as the latex
gloves (items described as having been used in the rape), the clothing that was consistent with
that described by the victim, and the information that Russo had demanded to launder his
clothing around 6:00 a.m. The inevitable discovery doctrine applies and supports the district
court’s denial of Russo’s suppression motion.
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