Luis A. Ramirez v. State of Indiana (mem. dec.)

MEMORANDUM DECISION
Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D),
this Memorandum Decision shall not be Nov 06 2015, 5:43 am
regarded as precedent or cited before any
court except for the purpose of establishing
the defense of res judicata, collateral
estoppel, or the law of the case.
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE
Clifford M. Davenport Gregory F. Zoeller
Davenport Law Offices Attorney General of Indiana
Anderson, Indiana
J.T. Whitehead
Deputy Attorney General
Indianapolis, Indiana
IN THE
COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
Luis A. Ramirez, November 6, 2015
Appellant-Defendant, Court of Appeals Case No.
48A02-1412-CR-875
v. Appeal from the Madison Circuit
Court
State of Indiana, The Honorable Thomas Newman,
Appellee-Plaintiff. Jr., Judge
Trial Court Cause No.
48C03-1403-FC-533
Najam, Judge.
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Statement of the Case
[1] Luis A. Ramirez appeals his convictions, after a jury trial, for sexual
misconduct with a minor, as a Class C felony; child exploitation, a Class C
felony; and possession of child pornography, a Class D felony. On review he
raises the following two issues:
1. Whether the State presented sufficient evidence to sustain
his convictions; and
2. Whether the trial court erred in denying his motion for a
mistrial due to alleged prosecutorial misconduct.
We affirm.
Facts and Procedural History
[2] On October 5, 2013, Officer Steven White of the Madison County Sheriff’s
Department responded to a call concerning an intoxicated female juvenile
named S.L. S.L. was seventeen years old at that time, and she told Officer
White that she had had sexual intercourse with Ramirez for “thousands of
dollars.” Appellant’s App. at 74. On October 7, Officer White conducted a
recorded interview with S.L., during which she stated that Ramirez had shown
her a video on his laptop computer of a girl performing fellatio on Ramirez.
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S.L. identified the girl in the video as M.N.,1 a classmate of S.L.’s at Pendleton
Heights High School.
[3] On October 17, the police obtained and executed a search warrant for Ramirez’
house. The police recovered from the premises several cell phones, thumb
drives, laptop computers, and an SD card. The SD card contained the video of
Ramirez receiving fellatio from M.N. The officers arrested Ramirez the same
day and read him his Miranda rights, which he waived.
[4] Once Ramirez was in police custody, Detective Brett Wright conducted an
interview with him during which Ramirez admitted that he had shown S.L. the
video of M.N. performing an oral sex act on him. Ramirez also admitted to
having pictures of a naked M.N. on his cell phone, on his email account, and
on the SD memory card, which also contained the video of M.N. Ramirez
informed Detective Wright that he did not know how old M.N. was but that
she had told him at a high school football game several months before the sex
act that she was seventeen years old.
[5] On March 28, 2014, the State filed the following charges against Ramirez:
Count I, sexual misconduct with a minor, as a Class C felony; Count II, child
exploitation, a Class C felony; and Count III, possession of child pornography,
1
Indiana Administrative Rule 9(G)(2)(g)(i) provides that juveniles who are victims of sex crimes must be
identified only by their initials. Ramirez’ counsel on appeal failed to follow this rule, instead using the
alleged victim’s full name in his brief. We admonish Ramirez’ counsel to, in the future, use only the initials
of any juveniles who are alleged victims of sex crimes.
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a Class D felony. The charging information alleges that the underlying sex act
with M.N. took place “on or about April 23, 2013.” Appellant’s App. at 99.
[6] The court held Ramirez’ jury trial on October 30 and 31, 2014. At the trial,
R.H., a friend and classmate of M.N., testified that she knew Ramirez and had
told him sometime in 2013 that M.N. was fifteen years old. M.N. also testified
at trial. She stated that her date of birth was July 22, 1998, and that she was
fourteen years old at the time she performed oral sex on Ramirez. She testified
that Ramirez had offered her marijuana in return for sex, and she believed the
sex act took place in October 2012. M.N. said Ramirez had made her “a lot” of
offers, through Facebook, of drugs for sex. Tr. at 261.
[7] M.N. was not asked about, and she did not testify about, whether she had ever
met Ramirez at a football game or told him that she was seventeen years old.
However, she did testify that she and Ramirez had known each other since she
was in elementary school and that she thought he should have known her true
age. She said Ramirez has two brothers who go to school with her, one in a
grade below her and one in a grade above her. M.N. also testified that Ramirez
frequently socialized with a mutual friend who was the same age as M.N.
M.N. did not know that Ramirez was recording the sex act until she was told
by the police. At the jury trial, M.N. identified a picture of herself that was
taken in the summer of 2012 and admitted into evidence.
[8] Detective Wright testified about what Ramirez had told him in the October 17,
2013, interview. Sargent Jennifer Barnes testified and identified the video of
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M.N. performing oral sex on Ramirez. That video was subsequently shown to
the jury and entered into evidence.
[9] Ramirez testified that he had met M.N. once when she was in elementary
school and did not see her again until he ran into her at a November 2012 high
school football game. Ramirez testified that M.N. told him at that game that
she was seventeen years old. He admitted to having offered M.N. marijuana
for sex and that M.N. had performed oral sex on him in January or February of
2013. He admitted that he had recorded that sex act without M.N.’s
knowledge, and he testified that he had done so because he wanted leverage to
use against her if she tried to have someone beat him up. Ramirez further
testified that R.H. never told him M.N.’s age and that he thought M.N. was
eighteen by the time of the sex act.
[10] In both the preliminary and final jury instructions, the trial court informed the
jury that (1) the defendant was not required to present any evidence to prove
innocence; (2) the burden of proof was on the State to prove guilt beyond a
reasonable doubt; and (3) the jury was not to conduct any investigation of its
own. In its final instructions, the trial court also informed the jury that (1) it
should not conjecture or draw any inferences about evidence ruled
inadmissible; (2) it should not be influenced in its decision-making by sympathy
or prejudice for or against the defendant or complaining witness; (3) it should
consider only the evidence admitted in the case and disregard any and all other
information from any and all other sources; and (4) statements and arguments
of the attorneys were not evidence.
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[11] The jury found Ramirez guilty of all three charges, and the trial court sentenced
him to an aggregate term of four years executed. Ramirez now appeals his
convictions.
Discussion and Decision
Issue One: Sufficiency of the Evidence
[12] Ramirez asserts that the State presented insufficient evidence to support his
convictions for sexual misconduct with a minor, child exploitation, and
possession of child pornography. When reviewing a claim of sufficiency of the
evidence,
we do not reweigh evidence or judge witness credibility; rather,
we consider only the evidence and reasonable inferences most
favorable to the verdict. Hyche v. State, 934 N.E.2d 1176, 1178
(Ind. Ct. App. 2010), reh’g denied, trans. denied. This review
“respects the jury’s exclusive province to weigh conflicting
evidence.” Allen v. State, 844 N.E.2d 534, 536 (Ind. Ct. App.
2006), trans. denied. We must affirm if the probative evidence and
reasonable inferences drawn from the evidence could have
allowed a reasonable trier of fact to find the defendant guilty
beyond a reasonable doubt. Id. The factfinder is obliged to
determine not only whom to believe, but also what portions of
conflicting testimony to believe, Atwood v. State, 905 N.E.2d 479,
484 (Ind. Ct. App. 2009), trans. denied, and is not required to
believe a witness’ testimony even when it is uncontradicted.
Thompson v. State, 804 N.E.2d 1146, 1149 (Ind. 2004).
Wood v. State, 999 N.E.2d 1054, 1063-64 (Ind. Ct. App. 2013), trans. denied, cert.
denied, 135 S. Ct. 250 (2014).
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[13] Pursuant to Indiana Code Section 35-42-4-9(a) (2012), to prove Ramirez
committed sexual misconduct with a minor, the State was required to show that
he was at least eighteen years of age and engaged in deviate sexual conduct 2
with a minor who was at least fourteen years of age but less than sixteen years
of age. However, it is a defense that the accused person reasonably believed
that the child was at least sixteen years of age at the time of the conduct. I.C. §
35-42-4-9(c) (2012). To prove that Ramirez committed child exploitation, the
State was required to show that Ramirez knowingly or intentionally managed,
produced, sponsored, presented, exhibited, photographed, filmed, videotaped,
or created a digitized image of any performance or incident that includes sexual
conduct by a child under eighteen years of age. I.C. § 35-42-4-4(b)(1) (West
Supp. 2012). And to prove that Ramirez possessed child pornography, the
State was required to prove that he knowingly or intentionally possessed a
picture, a drawing, a photograph, a negative image, undeveloped film, a motion
picture, a videotape, a digitized image, or any pictorial representation that
depicts or describes sexual conduct by a child who the person knows is less than
sixteen years of age or who appears to be less than sixteen years of age, and that
2
“‘Deviate sexual conduct’ means an act involving: (1) a sex organ of one (1) person and the mouth or anus
of another person . . . .” Ind. Code § 35-31.5-2-94 (2012).
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lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value. I.C. § 35-42-4-4(c)
(West Supp. 2012).3
[14] On appeal, Ramirez contends either that the State did not present sufficient
evidence to prove that he had the mens rea required for each of the charged
offenses or that the State’s evidence is insufficient to rebut his defense that he
reasonably believed M.N. to be eighteen years old at the time of the offenses.
Ramirez does not challenge the sufficiency of the State’s evidence showing that
M.N. was, in fact, fourteen years old at the time of the offenses,4 and he does
not challenge the sufficiency of the evidence with respect to any of the other
elements of the offenses.
[15] The State presented the following evidence that Ramirez knew M.N.’s true age:
R.H. testified that she had previously told Ramirez M.N.’s true age, and M.N.
testified that she thought Ramirez knew or should have known her true age.
Moreover, the jury had before it a picture of M.N. from the summer of 2012,
and M.N. appeared in person before the jury, thus allowing the jury to
determine first-hand the credibility of Ramirez’ defense that he thought M.N.
was eighteen. See, e.g., Moore v. State, 369 N.E.2d 628, 632 (Ind. 1977) (noting a
jury’s observation of a witness at trial is sufficient evidence from which the jury
3
Our legislature has chosen not to criminalize consensual sexual conduct of sixteen- and seventeen-year old
minors, I.C. § 35-42-4-9(a), but has chosen to criminalize the creation of images and, hence, the exploitation
of such sexual conduct, I.C. § 35-42-4-4(b)(1).
4
There was conflicting evidence about the precise date when the underlying sex act occurred, but the
evidence indicates it happened sometime between October 2012 and April 2013. And it is undisputed that
M.N., who was born on July 22, 1998, was in fact age fourteen during that entire period of time.
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can determine the witness’s age). Thus, Ramirez’ contentions on appeal
amount to a request that we reweigh the evidence and reassess the credibility of
the witnesses, which we will not do. The State presented sufficient evidence to
support Ramirez’ convictions.5
Issue Two: Prosecutorial Misconduct
[16] Ramirez alleges that the trial court erred in denying his motion for mistrial due
to prosecutorial misconduct. Specifically, he alleges that the prosecutor
engaged in misconduct in his closing and rebuttal arguments when he (1)
discussed facts not in evidence; (2) shifted the burden to the defendant to
provide evidence; and (3) appealed to the sympathy of the jury.
In reviewing a claim of prosecutorial misconduct properly raised
in the trial court, we determine (1) whether misconduct occurred,
and if so, (2) “whether the misconduct, under all of the
circumstances, placed the defendant in a position of grave peril to
which he or she would not have been subjected” otherwise.
Cooper v. State, 854 N.E.2d 831, 835 (Ind. 2006), quoted in Castillo
v. State, 974 N.E.2d 458, 468 (Ind. 2012). A prosecutor has the
duty to present a persuasive final argument and thus placing a
defendant in grave peril, by itself, is not misconduct. Mahla v.
State, 496 N.E.2d 568, 572 (Ind. 1986). “Whether a prosecutor’s
argument constitutes misconduct is measured by reference to
5
With respect to sexual misconduct with a minor, a defendant’s reasonable belief that his victim is sixteen or
older is a defense under the explicit terms of the statute, and the burden of proving this affirmative defense by
a preponderance of the evidence is on the defendant. Weaver v. State, 845 N.E.2d 1066, 1069 (Ind. Ct. App.
2006), trans. denied. When a convicted defendant claims that his defense should have prevailed at trial, he is
“in the position of one appealing from a negative judgment.” Newson v. State, 785 N.E.2d 1155, 1157 (Ind.
Ct. App. 2003). We reverse a negative judgment only if the decision of the trial court is contrary to law. Id.
at 1158. However, Ramirez does not contend on appeal that he met his burden of proof regarding the
affirmative defense and, in any event, the jury obviously determined that he did not.
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case law and the Rules of Professional Conduct. The gravity of
peril is measured by the probable persuasive effect of the misconduct
on the jury’s decision rather than the degree of impropriety of the
conduct.” Cooper, 854 N.E.2d at 835 (emphasis added) (citations
omitted). To preserve a claim of prosecutorial misconduct, the
defendant must—at the time the alleged misconduct occurs—
request an admonishment to the jury, and if further relief is
desired, move for a mistrial. Id.; see also Maldonado v. State, 265
Ind. 492, 498, 355 N.E.2d 843, 848 (1976).
Ryan v. State, 9 N.E.3d 663, 667 (Ind. 2014) (emphasis original).
[17] Here, Ramirez’ trial counsel objected to the prosecutor’s statements regarding
facts not in evidence, burden shifting, and invoking jury sympathy. He also
requested admonishments and a mistrial due to prosecutorial misconduct.
Because Ramirez properly preserved the issue of prosecutorial misconduct in
the trial court, we determine whether there was misconduct and, if so, whether
the misconduct placed the defendant in grave peril to which he would not
otherwise have been subjected.
Facts not in evidence
[18] During his closing statement, the prosecutor stated that there was no Pendleton
Heights High School football game in November of 2012, and he told the jury
they could “look [that alleged fact] up in any newspaper in the country.” Tr. at
365. Ramirez’ lawyer objected, and the trial court stated to the prosecutor, in
front of the jury, that the jury “cannot look it up.” Id. The prosecutor then read
from a piece of paper that was not in evidence to indicate that there was no
football game in November 2012. Ramirez’ lawyer again objected and sought
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an admonishment. The trial court did not rule on the objection or admonish
the jury, but it stated to the prosecutor, again in front of the jury, that the
prosecutor could “not use that document.” Id. at 366.
[19] The prosecutor should not have referred in his closing argument to facts not in
evidence. See, e.g., Neville v. State, 976 N.E.2d 1252, 1263 (Ind. Ct. App. 2012),
trans. denied. However, that misconduct did not place Ramirez in grave peril
because the trial court’s preliminary and final jury instructions diminished any
persuasive effect the prosecutor’s comments might have had on the jury’s
decision if left unanswered. Id.; see also Stephenson v. State, 742 N.E.2d 463, 485
(Ind. 2001) (“Having found that any prosecutorial impropriety which may have
occurred was de minimus or otherwise overcome by the trial court’s
admonishments and instructions, we are unable to conclude that Defendant
was placed in grave peril.”). In its preliminary instructions, the trial court
informed the jury that it was not to conduct any investigation of its own. And
in the final instructions, the trial court stated that the jury should consider only
the evidence admitted in the case and disregard any and all other information
from any and all other sources. These jury instructions were sufficient to
overcome any harm to Ramirez from the prosecutor’s statements.
Burden Shifting
[20] Similarly, there was no grave peril caused to Ramirez by any of the prosecutor’s
statements that Ramirez claims shifted the burden of proof to him. In his
rebuttal argument, the prosecutor stated that, although the defendant was not
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required to prove anything, he chose to take the stand and “put on a case.” Tr.
at 388. The prosecutor then stated, “I have to wonder why that case did not
include a copy of this video of the football game he talked about.” Id.
Ramirez’ counsel objected, but the court did not rule on the objection and the
prosecutor went on to say to the jury, “I’d like to see the video of that football
game that never took place. Wouldn’t you? Think about it and thank you.” Id.
at 389.
[21] Although “[i]t is improper for a prosecutor to suggest that a defendant
shoulders the burden of proof in a criminal case,” Stephenson, 742 N.E.2d at
483, that is not what happened here. Rather, “the prosecutor was merely
focusing on the State's evidence and the lack of evidence to the contrary. It is
not improper for a prosecutor to focus on the uncontradicted nature of the
State's case in closing arguments.” Dobbins v. State, 721 N.E.2d 867, 874 (Ind.
1999) (citations omitted).
[22] Moreover, even if the prosecutor’s statements here were misconduct, statements
shifting the burden to the defendant “may be cured by the trial court advising
the jury that the defendant was not required to prove his innocence or to present
any evidence.” Stephenson, 742 N.E.2d at 483 (citing Chubb v. State, 640 N.E.2d
44, 49 (Ind. 1994)). Here, the trial court informed the jury in both the
preliminary and final jury instructions that the defendant was not required to
present any evidence to prove innocence or to prove anything at all. Such
instructions were sufficient to cure any harm that might otherwise have been
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caused even if the prosecutor had made statements suggesting that Ramirez had
the burden of proof. Id.
Appeals for sympathy for the alleged victim
[23] Finally, any harm from the prosecutor’s appeals to the jury for sympathy for the
alleged victim were similarly mitigated by the trial court’s instructions. In his
closing argument, the prosecutor told the jury that “[w]e protect our young
women. We protect all of our juveniles. We protect them from themselves.”
Tr. at 371. The prosecutor also asked the jury to “remember that [M.N.]
deserves justice in this case.” Id. at 374. The defense attorney’s objections to
these statements were overruled. The prosecutor continued, “[M.N.] would
never do this now. [M.N.] will never do this again. . . . So please don’t hold
this against her.” Id. at 375.
[24] The prosecutor’s comments that appealed for sympathy for the alleged victim
were improper. “‘It is misconduct for a prosecutor to request the jury to convict
a defendant for any reason other than his guilt’ or ‘to phrase final argument in a
manner calculated to inflame the passions or prejudice of the jury.’” Neville,
976 N.E.2d at 1264 (quoting Johnson v. State, 453 N.E.2d 365, 369 (Ind. Ct.
App. 1983). Thus, in Neville, we held that a prosecutor’s pleas that the jury find
the defendant guilty “for the sake of [the victim] and his family” were designed
to “stir up the sympathies of the jurors for the victim and have the potential to
eclipse the jury’s responsibility to base their decision of guilt or innocence solely
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on the evidence presented.” Id. Here, the prosecutor’s remarks were similarly
improper.
[25] Nevertheless, as with the prosecutor’s other statements in this case, the
misconduct was cured by the trial court’s instructions to the jury. In Neville, we
held that defense counsel’s closing argument, which “forcefully countered” the
prosecutor’s improper statements, adequately diminished any persuasive effect
the statements might otherwise have had. Id. at 1265. Here, there were
instructions from the trial court countering the improper statements. In its final
instructions, the court informed the jury that “[n]either sympathy nor prejudice
for or against either the complaining witness or the defendant in this case
should be allowed to influence you in whatever verdict you may find.” Tr. at
397. This instruction, along with the several preliminary and final instructions
admonishing the jury to disregard any statements or other information besides
the evidence presented in the case, sufficiently mitigated any harm to the
defendant from the prosecutor’s remarks.
[26] Given the trial court’s preliminary and final instructions to the jury, we are
unable to conclude that Ramirez was placed in grave peril from any of the
prosecutor’s statements, either individually or collectively. “Sufficient
independent evidence of guilt and appropriate trial court management of the
[prosecutorial] misconduct” can stave off grave peril to a defendant. Bassett v.
State, 895 N.E.2d 1201, 1209 (Ind. 2008). Such was the case here. The trial
court did not err in denying Ramirez’ motion for a mistrial.
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[27] Affirmed.
Bailey, J., and Crone, J., concur.
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