State of Iowa v. Laron D'Pree Hampton

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF IOWA
No. 18-1522
Filed June 3, 2020
STATE OF IOWA,
Plaintiff-Appellee,
vs.
LARON D'PREE HAMPTON,
Defendant-Appellant.
________________________________________________________________
Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Mills County, Timothy O’Grady,
Judge.
A defendant appeals from three convictions for second-degree sexual
abuse. JUDGMENT OF CONVICTIONS AFFIRMED, AND SENTENCES
AFFIRMED IN PART, VACATED IN PART, AND REMANDED.
Martha J. Lucey, State Appellate Defender, and Stephan J. Japuntich,
Assistant Appellate Defender, for appellant.
Thomas J. Miller, Attorney General, and Linda J. Hines, Assistant Attorney
General, for appellee.
Considered by Doyle, P.J., and Tabor and Schumacher, JJ.
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SCHUMACHER, Judge.
A defendant appeals his convictions and sentences for three counts of
second-degree sexual abuse. First, he argues he received ineffective assistance
of counsel due to his trial counsel’s removal of a juror by a peremptory strike
instead of by a challenge for cause. He also claims his trial counsel was ineffective
for failing to object to a victim impact statement submitted by the victim’s foster
parent. He further argues the court failed to make a valid determination of his
reasonable ability to pay restitution.
We find that the defendant suffered no prejudice by his counsel’s use of a
peremptory strike to remove a juror that could have been challenged for cause.
We also find the court’s receipt of a victim impact statement by the victim’s foster
parent did not result in prejudice and therefore the defendant’s ineffective-
assistance-of-counsel claim fails. However, we vacate the portions of the trial
court’s orders pertaining to restitution and remand for a redetermination of
restitution in accordance with Iowa Supreme Court precedent.
Background Facts and Proceedings
The defendant, Laron D’Pree Hampton, was convicted of three counts of
second-degree sexual abuse for multiple assaults of nine-year-old C.S. At the time
of the abuse, Hampton was dating C.S.’s mother. Both Hampton and C.S. tested
positive for chlamydia following the abuse. C.S. was subsequently placed in foster
care.
A trial was held in July 2018. During voir dire, juror seven revealed that
members of his immediate family and his spouse’s family had suffered sexual
abuse; several were approximately C.S.’s age at the time of abuse. Upon being
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asked, “Do you believe that you could be a fair and impartial juror,” juror seven
responded, “It would be rough.” Defense counsel passed for cause and later
struck juror seven with a peremptory strike. At the close of trial, the jury found
Hampton guilty on all three counts of Iowa Code section 709.3(1)(b) (2017).
At sentencing, C.S.’s foster mother presented an oral victim impact
statement without objection. In her statement, the foster mother commented on
Hampton’s failure to accept responsibility and asserted C.S. had suffered trauma
as a result of having to meet with lawyers. The trial court sentenced Hampton to
two consecutive twenty-five-year sentences, with a third twenty-five-year sentence
to run concurrently. The trial court noted the impact and trauma to C.S. as a reason
for the sentence. In the sentencing order, the trial court ordered Hampton to pay
restitution; fines, penalties and surcharges; court costs; and court-appointed
attorney fees. The court found that Hampton had a “reasonable ability to pay
attorney fees.” Hampton appealed.
Standards of Review
“Our review of a sentence imposed in a criminal case is for correction of
errors at law.” State v. Formaro, 638 N.W.2d 720, 724 (Iowa 2002). “We will not
reverse the decision of the district court absent an abuse of discretion or some
defect in the sentencing procedure.” State v. Letscher, 888 N.W.2d 880, 883 (Iowa
2016) (quoting Formaro, 638 N.W.2d at 724).
“We review restitution orders for correction of errors at law. When reviewing
a restitution order, we determine whether the court’s findings lack substantial
evidentiary support, or whether the court has not properly applied the law.” State
v. Jenkins, 788 N.W.2d 640, 642 (Iowa 2010).
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Discussion
I. Ineffective Assistance of Counsel
Hampton argues his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to strike juror
seven for cause and failing to object to a victim impact statement by the victim’s
foster mother.
Typically, postconviction-relief proceedings are the appropriate venue for a
claim of ineffective assistance of counsel. State v. Rice, 543 N.W.2d 884, 888
(Iowa 1996). “However, where an adequate basis for a decision is present in the
record, they will be decided on direct appeal.” Id. If the record is inadequate, a
defendant must bring his ineffective-assistance-of-counsel claim in a
postconviction-relief action. State v. Gomez Garcia, 904 N.W.2d 172, 186 (Iowa
2017). “We will address on direct appeal claims of ineffective assistance of
counsel only if we determine the development of an additional factual record would
not be helpful and these elements can be decided as a matter of law.” State v.
Carroll, 767 N.W.2d 638, 641 (Iowa 2009). We find the record sufficient to review
Hampton’s ineffective-assistance-of-counsel claims.
A. Failure to challenge juror 7 for cause.
During voir dire, juror seven indicated his wife and sister-in-law had suffered
sexual abuse at young ages. When asked whether he could be fair and impartial,
the juror said, “It would be rough.” Defense trial counsel passed for cause and
later struck the juror with a peremptory strike. Hampton now argues the failure to
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challenge juror seven for cause amounts to ineffective assistance of counsel,
requiring reversal. We disagree.
To succeed on an ineffective-assistance-of-counsel claim, a defendant
must prove that “(1) his trial counsel failed in an essential duty, and (2) prejudice
resulted from counsel’s error.” State v. McPhillips, 580 N.W.2d 748, 754 (Iowa
1998). A claim fails “if either element is absent.” Id. To prove the first prong of an
ineffective-assistance-of-counsel claim, the defendant must prove “his attorney’s
performance was not within the normal range of competence.” Id. (quoting State
v. Spurgeon, 533 N.W.2d 218, 220 (Iowa 1995)). We begin by presuming
competence. Id. To satisfy the second prong, a defendant establishes prejudice
by showing there is a “reasonable probability that, but for the counsel’s
unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding would have been different.”
State v. Graves, 668 N.W.2d 860, 882 (Iowa 2003) (citation omitted). Challenges
for cause are governed by Iowa Rule of Criminal Procedure 2.18(5), which
provides that a challenge for cause “may” be made when a juror has “formed or
expressed such an opinion as to the guilt or innocence of the defendant as would
prevent the juror from rendering a true verdict upon the evidence submitted on the
trial.” Iowa R. Crim. P. 2.18(5)(k) (emphasis added).
In State v. Neuendorf, 509 N.W.2d 743, 746–47 (Iowa 1993), the Iowa
Supreme Court abandoned the rule from State v. Beckwith, 46 N.W.2d 20, 23
(Iowa 1951), which held that the error in denying a challenge for cause is not cured
by the juror’s ultimate removal via peremptory strike. The Neuendorf court said,
Whatever [the juror’s] prejudices were, she did not serve on
defendant’s jury. The search for legal prejudice must therefore focus
on the potential for prejudice that flowed from forcing defendant to
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use a peremptory challenge on Juror Brandt that might have been
used to remove another juror. In the absence of some factual
showing that this circumstance resulted in a juror being seated who
was not impartial, the existence of prejudice is entirely
speculative. We believe it is too speculative to justify overturning the
verdict of the jury on that basis alone.
509 N.W.2d at 746. The court found no prejudice where the two jurors of
questionable impartiality were both struck from the jury. Id. at 747.
Hampton asks that Neuendorf be overturned, which we are not at liberty to
do. Figley v. W.S. Indus., 801 N.W.2d 602, 608 (Iowa Ct. App. 2011) (“[W]e are
not at liberty to overturn precedent of our supreme court.”); see also State v.
Jonas, 904 N.W.2d 566, 568 (Iowa 2017) (declining to overrule Neuendorf). To
the contrary, we find Neuendorf demands the rejection of Hampton’s ineffective-
assistance claim. While in Neuendorf the district court overruled a challenge for
cause as to a prospective juror, no challenge for cause was made in the instant
case. In both cases, the offending jurors were struck with peremptory strikes.
Even if Hampton’s trial counsel had challenged for cause and the district court had
rejected the challenge, Neuendorf would require a showing of prejudice “based on
matters that appear of record” beyond the mere use of a peremptory strike in place
of a challenge for cause. Neuendorf, 509 N.W.2d at 747. As to this portion of
Hampton’s ineffective-assistance-of-counsel claim, Hampton bases his allegation
of prejudice solely on trial counsel’s failure to challenge for cause. This is not
enough.
Hampton cites to a 2018 decision of this court for the proposition that “where
defense counsel unreasonably fails to strike an unqualified juror for cause, the
post-conviction movant is entitled to a presumption of Strickland prejudice.” Dixon
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v. State, No. 16-2198, 2018 WL 3471833, at *7 (Iowa Ct. App. July 18, 2018)
(quoting McGuire v. State, 523 S.W.3d 556, 564 (Mo. Ct. App. 2017)). We find
this decontextualized quote inapplicable. In Dixon, the defendant raised
ineffective-assistance claims based on trial counsel’s failure to challenge two jurors
for cause. Id. at *3. Similar to the instant case, one of the challenged jurors was
eliminated via peremptory strike. Id. However, in Dixon, the parties agreed that a
challenged juror “did in fact serve on the jury.” Id. at *7. This important difference
distinguishes Dixon from the instant case. Notably, the Dixon quote mentioned in
Hampton’s brief was prefaced with our statement that “a postconviction claimant
establishes an entitlement to relief upon showing an actually biased juror served
on the jury.” Id. (emphasis added).
A more germane recent decision supports our analysis. See Powell v.
State, No. 18-0542, 2019 WL 2524264 (Iowa Ct. App. June 19, 2019). In Powell,
we found no prejudice and affirmed the postconviction court’s denial of an
ineffective-assistance-of-counsel claim where trial counsel’s for-cause objections
to a juror were twice overruled but the juror was subsequently eliminated via
peremptory strike. See id. at *7. Having held in Powell that no prejudice resulted
where trial counsel’s for-cause objections were overruled but the challenged juror
was nevertheless eliminated via peremptory strike, we now hold there was no
prejudice in the instant case. Though no for-cause objection was made, the juror
was later eliminated and did not serve on the jury. Hampton has made no factual
showing of prejudice, and therefore “the existence of prejudice is entirely
speculative.” See Neuendorf, 509 N.W.2d at 746. We find no ineffective
assistance as to the failure to challenge juror seven for cause.
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B. Victim Impact Statement
Hampton’s next argument under his ineffective-assistance claim centers on
trial counsel’s failure to object to a victim impact statement given by the minor
victim’s foster parent at sentencing. Hampton argues that foster parents cannot
permissibly submit victim impact statements. We find the record below sufficient
to address this claim. See Rice, 543 N.W.2d at 888.
The propriety of victim impact statements by foster parents appears to be
an issue of first impression in Iowa. Foster parents are not explicitly authorized to
submit victim impact statements, however they may be able do so under Iowa
Code section 915.21(1)(e).
“Authority to submit impact statements is authorized under Iowa Code
section 915.21 and is wholly statutory.” State v. Matheson, 684 N.W.2d 243, 244
(Iowa 2004). Section 915.21 gives victims the right to present a victim impact
statement. “Victim” is defined broadly enough to include “the immediate family
members of a victim . . . who was under eighteen years of age at the time of the
offense.” Iowa Code § 915.10(3). The Iowa Supreme Court has clarified that
“immediate family” is limited to “husband and wife or [persons] related within the
second degree of consanguinity or affinity.” State v. Sumpter, 438 N.W.2d 6, 8
(Iowa 1989); see also State v. Lopez, 872 N.W.2d 159, 175–76 (Iowa 2015).
Because foster parents are typically not related by blood or marriage to their foster
child, they are excluded by this limitation.
Yet we observe that foster parents may often be well positioned to describe
the impact of a criminal act on their foster child, particularly where the foster child
is too young or emotionally incapacitated to give his or her own statement. Iowa
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Code section 915.21(1)(e) provides such a mechanism: “If the victim is unable to
make an oral or written statement because of the victim’s age, or mental,
emotional, or physical incapacity, the victim’s attorney or a designated
representative shall have the opportunity to make a statement on behalf of the
victim.” As explained in Lopez, 872 N.W.2d at 176, the statute does not define the
term “designated representative.” Neither does it specify a process by which
designation occurs.
In Lopez, the Iowa Supreme Court considered whether a guardian ad litem
was the two-year-old victim’s “designated representative” within the meaning of
section 915.21(1)(e). 872 N.W.2d at 176. The guardian ad litem had “attended
the plea hearing and sentencing hearing on her own initiative as the child-victim’s
[guardian ad litem] to look out for the interests of [the child].” Id. at 178. The Court
in Lopez stated,
We need not decide on the existing record whether Leighty was
properly designated to give the child’s victim-impact statement in
2014 because, as we explain below, Lopez will be resentenced in a
new hearing after remand. On remand, the district court shall ensure
that only a person properly designated as B.H.’s representative
under section 915.21(1)(e) may give a victim-impact statement on
that child’s behalf.
Id. The court noted that no “parent or guardian” objected to the guardian ad litem’s
victim impact statement on behalf of the child. Id. at 178 n.5 (emphasis added).
Though the legal characteristics of a relationship between a foster parent and child
differ from those of legally recognized parent-child relationships and the law of
guardianships, the relationship between a foster parent and child may place a
foster parent in a position to speak on the child’s behalf in the event the child is a
victim of a crime and too young or emotionally traumatized to give a victim impact
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statement. Indeed, a foster parent’s relationship with their foster child is distinct
from the guardian ad litem relationship at issue in Lopez; as C.S.’s day-to-day care
provider, the foster parent in the instant case served a role much closer to “parent
or guardian” than did the guardian ad litem discussed in Lopez.
The State points out that Iowa Code section 232.68(8) defines “[p]erson
responsible for the care of a child” as a “parent, guardian, or foster parent.”
Although we acknowledge this provision is not directly on point, as it appears in a
code division pertaining to child-in-need-of-assistance proceedings, we find the
definition helpful in interpreting the meaning and import of the term “designated
representative” in section 915.21(1)(e). Section 232.68(8) lends support to the
notion that a foster parent can not only serve as a properly designated
representative under section 915.21(1)(e) but, in some cases, even hold the power
of appointment just as a “parent or guardian” would. See Lopez, 872 N.W.2d at
178 n.5.
However, we need not reach the issue of whether counsel breached a duty
in failing to object to the foster mother’s impact statement on behalf of her foster
child pursuant to 915.21(1)(e). We reach this determination because we conclude
Hampton cannot prove he was prejudiced by his counsel’s failure to object.
With respect to the prejudice prong, we undertake a normal ineffective-
assistance analysis, finding prejudice only where the defendant shows by a
preponderance of the evidence that “a reasonable probability exists that, but for
counsel’s unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding would have been
different.” State v. Ondayog, 722 N.W.2d 778, 784–85 (Iowa 2006) (evaluating
whether a defendant was prejudiced by his counsel’s conduct during a jury trial).
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Hampton argues that the foster mother’s victim impact statement led the
court to sentence Hampton to consecutive, instead of concurrent, sentences. He
further argues that the foster mother’s complaint was an attack on his constitutional
right to a trial and that by not explicitly rejecting the victim impact statement, the
court erroneously relied on it. We reject Hampton’s argument that by entertaining
the victim impact statement the court relied on an improper sentencing
consideration. The record does not reflect that the district court relied on the foster
mother’s complaint that Hampton sought a trial, and the statement provided no
information that was not presented at trial.
In her statement, the foster mother argued for a longer period of
incarceration in part because Hampton had proceeded to trial, saying, “Instead of
you taking responsibility for your sick actions, [C.S.] had to deal with the emotional
trauma of relaying the details of the abuse to various lawyers, providers and other
adults to prove that you hurt her.” She also spoke to the confusion and trauma
C.S. suffered more generally.
The evidence at trial established that C.S. was nine years old at the time of
the offenses. She was living with her foster mother at the time of trial, who was
responsible for C.S.’s day-to-day care. C.S. was sexually abused multiple times
and developed chlamydia. A mental health therapist testified to the child’s
diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder. The trial court sustained a motion for
special accommodations that allowed C.S. to testify via closed-circuit television so
as to be separated from Hampton at both her deposition and at trial. As the father
of C.S.’s youngest brother and the boyfriend of C.S.’s biological mother, Hampton
occupied a position of ostensible trust in relation to C.S.
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In imposing sentence, the court recited “the trauma to [C.S.]” as a factor and
included in the sentencing order as a reason for the sentence the “impact on the
victim(s) in this case.” These are the only pieces of evidence Hampton relies upon
to show the district court’s alleged reliance on the foster mother’s complaint that
Hampton sought a trial. This evidence is too tenuously linked to the alleged ill to
justify vacating the sentence. Copious evidence at trial demonstrated the “trauma”
and “impact” C.S. suffered from the abuse, including a positive test for a sexually
transmitted disease, a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder, the trial court’s
grant of special accommodations so C.S. could avoid contact with Hampton, and
C.S.’s testimony regarding the disturbing details of the abuse.
We presume “that a sentencing court does not ordinarily consider an
impermissible factor.” State v. Matheson, 684 N.W.2d 243, 244 (Iowa 2004).
Additionally, we are less likely to reverse when improper evidence is introduced at
sentencing before a judge rather than before a jury at trial. See id. In Matheson,
the Iowa Supreme Court refused to assume a sentencing court did not consider as
evidence victim impact statements given by victims of a crime the defendant
committed and was convicted of in Illinois. Id. at 244–45. However, in that case,
the evidence introduced at sentencing “told the sentencing judge . . . a good deal
more than would otherwise be known.” Id. at 245. Such is not the case here.
Instead, State v. Sumpter is a better guide.
The victim impact statements . . . were hostile and bitter, and
they expressed a strong desire for the ultimate retribution for
their niece’s death. But they told the judge little, if anything,
that was not already apparent. . . . The victim impact
statements . . . did not contain the prejudicial type of
information which would not otherwise be available to the
judge and which we have held to be prejudicial, such as
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allegations of unproven crimes or other facts outside the
record.
Sumpter, 438 N.W.2d at 7.
Since Sumpter was decided, the Iowa Supreme Court has reaffirmed that
where a sentencing court’s statement or order makes no mention of impermissible
evidence introduced through victim impact statements, the critical inquiry
precedent to reversal is whether “prejudicial information such as unproven crimes
or other facts outside the record” was introduced in the victim impact statement.
State v. Tesch, 704 N.W.2d 440, 454 (Iowa 2005). No such prejudicial information
was introduced here. Of the 348 words in the victim impact statement in question,
only thirty-seven were devoted to the foster mother’s complaint that Hampton did
not accept responsibility for the abuse. Hampton identifies no information in the
statement regarding unproven crimes or facts outside the record.
We therefore follow Sumpter and Tesch and presume the sentencing court
did not impermissibly consider the complaint that Hampton had proceeded to trial
when it imposed sentence. Under the Sumpter rule, we presume the sentencing
court did not rely on the portion of the victim impact statement complaining over
his assertion of his trial right. 438 N.W.2d at 9. Considering the remarks as a
whole, we conclude this case is similar to Sumpter: “Any effect these victim impact
statements might have had in the sentencing decision was insufficient to require
vacation of the sentence.” Id. Hampton suffered no prejudice. His ineffective-
assistance-of-counsel claim fails.
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II. Restitution Order
The Supreme Court’s decision in State v. Albright, 925 N.W.2d 144, 162
(Iowa 2019), clarified that “[c]ourts must wait to enter a final order of restitution until
all items of restitution are before the court. Once the court has all the items of
restitution before it, then and only then shall the court make an assessment as to
the offender’s reasonable ability to pay.” Here, the district court did not have the
benefit of the procedures outlined in Albright when it entered its order regarding
restitution.
The trial court made two orders directing Hampton to pay certain costs and
fees. First, in the August 28, 2018 sentencing order, the court ordered Hampton
to pay “restitution as substantiated,” “fines, penalties and surcharges that have not
been suspended,” “court costs in an amount to be assessed by the Clerk of Court,”
and “court-appointed attorney fees per Iowa Code Section 815.9.” The court found
Hampton had “the reasonable ability to pay attorney fees in the total cost of legal
assistance in the amount approved by the State Public Defender.” Second, on
September 4, 2018, the court ordered Hampton to pay $16,860.00 in room and
board charges and administrative costs of $135.18, totaling $16,995.18.
The Iowa Code creates two categories of restitution. Albright, 925 N.W.2d
at 159. The first category includes restitution to victims and to the clerk of court
for fines, penalties, and surcharges. Id. The second category includes restitution
for crime victim assistance reimbursement, restitution to public
agencies pursuant to section 321J.2, subsection 13, paragraph “b”,
court costs including correctional fees approved pursuant to section
356.7, court-appointed attorney fees ordered pursuant to section
815.9, including the expense of a public defender, when applicable,
contribution to a local anticrime organization, or restitution to the
medical assistance program pursuant to chapter 249A.
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Id. (quoting Iowa Code § 910.2(1)). “The court can only order restitution for items
in this second category to the extent the offender has the reasonable ability to pay.”
Id. Additionally, “restitution orders entered by the court prior to the final [restitution]
order are not appealable as final orders or enforceable against the offender.” Id.
at 161. A court must not enter a final order of restitution before “all items of
restitution are before the court.” Id. at 162.
While the court made a determination as to Hampton’s ability to pay
attorney fees, that order came before all items of restitution were before the court
and was therefore improper. Additionally, the court ordered Hampton to make
restitution for court costs without making a reasonable ability to pay determination.
We therefore vacate the restitution part of the sentencing order and the order
pertaining to the State’s reimbursement claim. The matter is remanded for
determination of restitution, consistent with Albright and this opinion.
Conclusion
Hampton suffered no prejudice when his trial counsel removed a juror with
a peremptory strike who might have been successfully challenged for cause or
when his counsel failed to object to a foster mother’s victim impact statement.
However, we vacate the portions of the sentencing court’s decisions that pertain
to restitution, instructing that the sentencing court should calculate restitution anew
in accordance with Albright.
JUDGMENT OF CONVICTIONS AFFIRMED, AND SENTENCES
AFFIRMED IN PART, VACATED IN PART, AND REMANDED.