Alford v. State

HEADNOTE: Armande Shelten Alford v. State of Maryland, No. 842, September
Term 2016
CRIMINAL LAW – Appellant was charged with committing several sexual offenses
from June 1, 2010 to July 26, 2010. Appellant became eighteen in May 2010. The
victim was a minor.
At trial, appellant attempted to call an expert witness who was a psychologist and an
expert in “childhood memories.” The Circuit Court for Somerset County refused to let
her testify, sua sponte, on the ground that the Frye-Reed (Frye v. United States, 293 F.
1013 (D.C. Cir. 1923); Reed v. State, 283 Md. 374 (1978)) test was not satisfied. Also at
trial, the defense argued to the jury that the sexual offences may have occurred when
appellant was a minor.
On appeal, appellant argued that the court erred in sua sponte excluding the defense
expert. Held that the court can sua sponte raise Frye-Reed, but in this case, the record
was too limited to decide the issue.
Appellant also argued that, because it was unclear whether appellant committed the
offenses when he was a minor, the circuit court erred in not deciding whether it had
subject matter jurisdiction. Held that the court did decide the issue; the evidence was
insufficient to rebut the presumption of jurisdiction; and that in an appropriate case, the
court should submit the underlying factual question to the factfinder, i.e., the date(s) of
the alleged offenses.
Circuit Court for Somerset County
Case No. 19-K-15-010582
REPORTED
IN THE COURT OF SPECIAL APPEALS
OF MARYLAND
No. 842
September Term, 2016
______________________________________
ARMANDE SHELTEN ALFORD
v.
STATE OF MARYLAND
______________________________________
Berger,
Reed,
Eyler, James R.
(Senior Judge, Specially Assigned),
JJ.
______________________________________
Opinion by Eyler, James R., J.
______________________________________
Filed: March 2, 2018
Appellant, Armande Shelten Alford, was charged in the Circuit Court for
Somerset County with second-degree sexual offense, third-degree sexual offense,
unnatural or perverted practice, sexual abuse of a minor, and second-degree assault.
Appellant was charged with committing the offenses from June 1, 2010 to July 26, 2010.
This is relevant because appellant turned eighteen in May 2010.
Tried by a jury, appellant was convicted on all counts. Appellant was sentenced to
concurrent sentences of fifteen years, with all but seven years suspended, for second-
degree sex offense and sexual abuse of a minor, with the remaining convictions merged.
Appellant was also ordered to serve three years’ probation upon release and to register as
a sex offender for life. Appellant timely appealed and presents the following questions
for our review:
1. Did the trial court err in excluding the defense’s expert sua sponte
and without a Frye-Reed hearing?
2. In a case where the evidence regarding jurisdiction was closely
contested, did the trial court err by failing to make a finding regarding
jurisdiction?
3. In a case where the evidence regarding jurisdiction was closely
contested, did the trial court err in refusing to include the alleged possible
dates of the offense on the verdict sheet?
For the following reasons, we shall reverse and remand for a new trial.
BACKGROUND
Ten-year-old D.H., the daughter of Shayla H. and Devon Alford, testified that she
had been living with her grandmother, Michelle H., in Hampton, Virginia, since she was
five or six years old.1 There was evidence that D.H. lived with her paternal grandmother,
Lacolia Alford, and her uncle, appellant, in Crisfield, Maryland, from June 1, 2010 to
July 25, 2010.
D.H. testified that one time, when she was four or five years old and living in
Crisfield, after her paternal grandmother had gone to the store, appellant asked her to
come upstairs to his room to watch a movie. After that movie ended, appellant “tapped
on [her] shoulder and said don’t tell anyone what you are about to do. And then he –
well, he pulled out his private part and said to put it in [her] mouth.” Although D.H. was
scared, she did as appellant ordered, got on her knees, and put appellant’s penis in her
mouth. D.H. offered further details of this incident, including that appellant was lying on
the bed, wearing an “orangy red shirt and some blue jeans,” his penis was brown,
“straight up,” and “kind of tall and it had a round – kind of like a round triangle top.”
One of the issues in this case concerned the timing of this event. D.H., who was
born in October 2005, believed the assault occurred when she was either four or five
years old. She remembered that the sun was shining and flowers were outside the
window. On cross-examination, when asked whether the incident occurred during a
“visit” to her grandmother’s, D.H. replied that it did not. She knew that her father,
Devon, was not living in Crisfield at the time of the incident. Also on cross-examination,
D.H. agreed that she spoke to an investigator in Maryland about this incident and agreed
1
It is unnecessary to name the minor victim in this case. See Muthukumarana v.
Montgomery County, 370 Md. 447, 458 n. 2 (2002); Thomas v. State, 429 Md. 246, 252
n. 4 (2012).
2
she told that person that it happened “just before” she moved in with her maternal
grandmother in Virginia.
Lacolia Alford, appellant’s grandmother, testified that appellant lived with her in
Crisfield, Maryland from June 1, 2010 to July 26, 2010. According to Lacolia Alford,
appellant never watched D.H., and was never alone with her. She confirmed that Devon
Alford, appellant’s brother, and his daughter, D.H., were also living with her during this
timeframe. After July 2010, D.H. moved to Virginia to reside permanently with her
maternal grandmother, Michelle H.
Michelle H. testified that D.H. lived with her in Virginia “off and on” after she
was born, and lived with her permanently after she was five or six years old. Michelle H.
explained that there had been different custody arrangements before that, and at various
times, D.H. had stayed with her, her own mother, Shayla H., or her father, Devon Alford,
when he lived with Lacolia Alford.
Until the summer of 2015, D.H. spent part of the summers visiting with Lacolia
Alford at her home in Crisfield. It was during that summer that D.H. told Michelle H.
that she did not want to go to Crisfield, explaining what appellant had done to her. After
Michelle H. spoke to D.H., Michelle H. called Lacolia Alford, D.H.’s other grandmother,
and told her D.H. was upset and crying. Eventually, Michelle H. came to Crisfield and
spoke to the police concerning D.H.’s allegations.
Corporal Johnathon Pruitt, of the Maryland State Police, spoke with Lacolia
Alford on July 31, 2015, concerning the allegations in this case. Corporal Pruitt then met
with appellant. On August 3, 2015, appellant provided a statement to the officer after he
3
was advised of and waived his rights under Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436 (1966).2 In
that statement, which was played for the jury, appellant agreed that, when he was 18
years old, during the summer of 2010, D.H. was living with him and his grandmother in
Crisfield. At first, appellant denied that he had been alone with D.H., but then confirmed
that there was one occasion where, after his grandmother left the house to go to the store,
that D.H. went upstairs to watch cartoons.3 Appellant maintained that he never
“watched” D.H., and he denied that anything inappropriate had occurred. Appellant
repeated, several times, that “[n]othing happened.”
However, towards the end of the interview, when Corporal Pruitt suggested that
D.H. may have touched his penis, appellant stated, “[m]aybe she did touch me or
something” and “[m]aybe she touched me and I pushed her away[.]” He admitted that on
one occasion, D.H. “walked up to me, something like that, touched me or something, and
I said, get away from me, or something like that.”
Corporal Pruitt further testified that he drafted the initial charging document,
charging appellant with the underlying crimes from June 1, 2010 to July 26, 2010. He
explained that the latter date was based on the award of custody of D.H. to Michelle H.
on July 26, 2010. On cross-examination, Corporal Pruitt agreed that appellant’s date of
birth was May 16, 1992, and that he was 18 years old on May 16, 2010.
2
A redacted copy of the statement is included with the record on appeal.
3
Appellant also told a social worker, Zabrina Rehm, that he watched D.H. one
time when his grandmother went to the store. Ms. Rehm testified that she spoke with
appellant, and he denied touching D.H.
4
After the State completed its case-in-chief, appellant called a number of witnesses
to testify on his behalf. His brother, Devon Alford, D.H.’s father, confirmed that he paid
child support for D.H. when she lived in Virginia with her mother and maternal
grandmother. The payment of child support was suspended when D.H. lived with him in
Crisfield, when he resided with his mother, Lacolia Alford. The court admitted child
support documentation which showed that: (1) child support for D.H. was suspended on
October 30, 2006, when D.H. lived with her father; (2) child support was reinstated on
June 4, 2007, when custody was granted back to D.H.’s mother; and, (3) primary custody
was granted to D.H.’s mother on July 26, 2010. However, Devon also testified that D.H.
would visit his grandmother in Crisfield.4 Appellant’s sister, also named Lacolia,
confirmed that D.H. would visit her grandmother in Crisfield during the summers.
Devon agreed that he was not present during those visits.
We shall include additional detail in the following discussion.
DISCUSSION
I.
Appellant first contends that the court erred in excluding his expert, sua sponte,
and without a Frye-Reed hearing.5 The State primarily responds that the expert was
4
Devon testified that his mother’s name was Lacolia Michelle Alford, and his
grandmother’s name was Lacolia Ann Alford.
5
See Frye v. United States, 293 F. 1013 (D.C. Cir. 1923); Reed v. State, 283 Md.
374 (1978). See also Sissoko v. State, ___ Md. App. ___, No. 613, Sept. Term, 2016
(filed January 31, 2018) (slip op. at 31-39) (discussing in depth Frye/Reed and related
authorities).
5
properly excluded based on Maryland Rule 5-702. In reply, appellant contends that the
Rule 5-702 argument was not made below and should not be considered.
Near the end of the jury trial, the appellant called his last witness, Dr. Maggie
Bruck. At that point, the trial court asked the parties to approach, and the following
ensued:
THE COURT: What kind of witness is this?
[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: She’s an expert. She’s a psychologist. She
has a Ph.D. She’s an expert in memory essentially, childhood memories,
how memories are formed, how they are retrieved.
THE COURT: How in the world – she’s not a physician?
[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: No, she’s a Ph.D. in Psychology.
THE COURT: Well, how in the world does she qualify to testify
about that?
[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: About memory?
THE COURT: Any more than a lay person?
[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Because there are a lot of things that are
very different than what lay people think about memories that are in fact the
case. They do the studies. They interview children. They have controlled
groups. They do scientific research. And then she’s written books. She’s
written articles. She’s –
THE COURT: I’m sorry to interrupt. But does this even meet the
threshold of a Frye-Reed test. It’s never been submitted to a Frye-Reed test.
[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: No one asked to have it submitted to a
Frye-Reed. And she’s been qualified as an expert in the State of Maryland
and also several other States and other countries in her field.
THE COURT: What’s your position?
[PROSECUTOR]: Her resumé generally says that she’s been
qualified as an expert in three cases in the State of Maryland and other
6
States. It doesn’t specifically say what she’s been qualified as an expert in.
I’m not quite sure (inaudible) there is an issue with memory that’s been
generated insofar as [D.H.’s] recollection of the events.
THE COURT: I don’t see how her testimony is going to be any more
probative than that of a lay person with respect to memory. . . .
The trial court then continued: “I don’t think she’s qualified and I don’t think this
would meet the Frye-Reed test . . .” The court then accepted a written proffer of Dr.
Bruck’s credentials and her proposed testimony, as follows:
Dr. Bruck has a Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology from McGill
University. She is currently a Professor at Johns Hopkins University,
Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. She written/co-written [sic]
92 Peer Reviewed Articles in her field of study, she also cowrote 2 books,
one of which involved a scientific analysis of children’s testimony. Dr.
Bruck contributed to 24 other books in her fields of study. She has been
certified as an expert witness in 15 States, Canada, England, Ireland and
Australia.
Dr. Bruck’s testimony would provide a summary of the relevant
scientific literature on evaluating the reliability of children’s statements and
highlight how this research and literature is important in evaluating the
present case. She will testify generally about autobiographical memory,
which is the memory of past events that involve oneself. She would testify
that long delays in disclosure have a great impact on one’s ability, in
particular children, to recall an event accurately. The recall of an event
long after it occurs requires the brain to reconstruct the memory. New
experiences can interfere with those memories. The contents of memories
involve manipulation of the memory during encoding, integration of the
information with pre-existing information and then reconstruction of that
information when it is retrieved. It is common for the brain to fill in the
gaps of the memory during retrieval in order to help make the memory
make sense. In addition, suggestion through questions or information
coming from adults or other outside experiences can cause confusion in
memories and/or false memories.
Dr. Bruck would also testify, that contrary to popularly held beliefs
about memory, a very detailed report of an event does not necessarily
indicate that the memory is more accurate. Human memories are not a
video recording of an event. Things are forgotten, confused and events that
7
never happened can be recalled as if they did. Numerous studies of
children and adults have shown that human memory is highly susceptible to
outside influences.
Dr. Bruck would testify that the age of an individual at the time the
memory is stored has [an] impact on what types of information is stored.
For example, a child under the age of 5 is highly unlikely to store memories
that are introspective, emotional, temporal, or verbatim. Dr. Bruck will
offer an opinion as to what types of details a 4 year old could recall about
an event at the age of 9. Specifically, in this case that it is highly unlikely
that the child would recall verbatim what words were said, what color
clothes she or someone else was wearing, what color the sheets were on the
bed and the weather on the date of the memory. Childhood memories are
typically fragments, often out of order, and contain guess and incorrect
details. Memories formed before 4 or 5 years old are poorly remembered
and not well preserved for future use. A more mature memory system
develops after age 5-7 years old and stable adult-like autobiographical
memories are rare[ly] seen before the age of 8-10 years.
Dr. Bruck would also testify that all memories, whether traumatic or
not are subject to decay, forgetting, interference and distortion. The
reconstructive process is an unconscious one and therefore, the vividness
and apparent authenticity of the memories is not a reliable measure for their
truth.
Defense counsel and the court continued to discuss this witness:
[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: And there are in fact (inaudible) where
children are interviewed about traumatic events such as a shooting in a
school and a child who wasn’t even present made claims to remember very
specific details about where they were and what they were doing when the
shooting happened.
THE COURT: She would offer – according to your proffer Doctor
Bruck will offer an opinion as to what types of details a four year old could
recall about an event at the age of nine?
[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Yes.
THE COURT: Well, that’s basically she’s invading the memory of
this particular – there is no way she would know what this particular child
thinks.
8
[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: They know based on developmental and
tests what types of things a four year old can talk about. Therefore
(inaudible) they cam [sic] remember. That’s how they remember things.
Your brain is developing in its ability to recall the types of things it recalls
and their ability to retain that information there is lot of (inaudible).
THE COURT: Isn’t it your burden to proffer to the Court ahead of
time so the Court can conduct a Frye-Reed test on this topic?
[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: She was disclosed as an expert to the
State’s Attorney. I believe it is the State’s burden to request a Frye-Reed
hearing if they would like to challenge that. The State has not done so.
THE COURT: Do you want to say anything at all?
[PROSECUTOR]: The State didn’t request a Frye-Reed hearing in
this particular matter, Your Honor, but that didn’t (inaudible) the disclosure
not too long ago in regards to the expert witness.
THE COURT: Do you have any case law or rule that says the State
must initiate the Frye-Reed Test?
[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Not in front of me.
The court then ruled:
THE COURT: I don’t think what you proffered satisfies the Frye-
Reed Test. I don’t think that. She would satisfy the Federal Daubert, D-a-u-
b-e-r-t, Test. So you’ve made your proffer. I’m not going to let her testify.
[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: I understand, Your Honor. What I would
indicate is that there has been absolutely no testimony presented to this
Court in order for the Court to make that determination. If there was going
to be a Frye-Reed hearing there is usually a much more involved hearing
where information is presented by the expert and/or other experts as to
whether or not –
THE COURT: That’s what you should have done. You should have
–
[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: I don’t have to ask for a Frye-Reed
hearing to have my expert qualified.
THE COURT: Well, she’s not qualified as an expert.
9
The Court of Appeals has set forth the following with respect to Frye-Reed:
In Armstead v. State, 342 Md. 38, 54, 673 A.2d 221, 228-29 (1996),
we said:
In Maryland, novel scientific evidence may become
admissible in one of several ways. First, the evidence may be
admitted by statute, if a relevant statute exists. See 5 L.
McLain, MARYLAND EVIDENCE § 401.4(c), at 277–78
(1987). Second, the proponent can prove that the evidence
meets the Reed standard of “general acceptance” in the
relevant scientific community. Reed v. State, 283 Md. 374,
381, 391 A.2d 364, 368 (1978) (quoting Frye v. United
States, 293 F. 1013, 1014 (D.C.Cir.1923)). This can be
accomplished through expert testimony, judicial notice, or a
combination of the two. Goldstein v. State, 339 Md. 563, 567,
664 A.2d 375, 376–77 (1995).
The “standard enunciated in Frye v. United States . . . and adopted
by this Court in Reed v. State . . . makes evidence emanating from a novel
scientific process inadmissible absent a finding that the process is generally
accepted by the relevant scientific community.” Clemons v. State, 392 Md.
339, 343-44, 896 A.2d 1059, 1061 (2006). Since we adopted the Frye
standard in Reed v. State, we have often had the occasion to elaborate on
the development and application of the Frye-Reed standard.
Savage v. State, 455 Md. 138, 157-58 (2017).
Although the general standard of review for admission of expert testimony is
discretionary, we recognize that “[a]ppellate review of a trial court’s decision regarding
admissibility under Frye-Reed is de novo.” Wilson, 370 Md. at 201 n. 5; accord Savage,
455 Md. at 157. That being said, it remains “the proponent’s burden of satisfying Frye-
Reed by a preponderance of the evidence, and to do so at the initial pre-trial stage[].”
Savage, 455 Md. at 171; see also Howard v. State, 232 Md. App. 125, 168 (“The burden
was on the defense to request a Frye-Reed hearing. Having failed to do so, Howard
cannot complain on appeal that the trial court erred by not holding such a hearing”), cert.
10
denied, 453 Md. 366 (2017); Cobey v. State, 73 Md. App. 233, 238 (1987) (“Under the
Frye-Reed test, the proponent of a new scientific test bears the burden of producing
evidence to establish the technique’s general acceptance. The State conceded at oral
argument that it also bore the burden of persuasion, as the proponent of the new
technique”) (internal citation omitted).
In this case, appellant’s initial argument is that the trial court erred in even raising
Frye-Reed, sua sponte, absent an objection from the State. Although it is true that the
party objecting to expert testimony ordinarily requests such a hearing, as the State points
out, the trial court is the “Frye-Reed gatekeeper.” See Savage, 455 Md. at 171 (“The fact
that an expert’s opinion is not contradicted does not require its admission. To so hold
would abrogate the gatekeeping obligation of the trial court, which must inquire into the
admissibility under Frye-Reed of even uncontradicted evidence”); see also Howard, 232
Md. App. at 168; Addison v. State, 188 Md. App. 165, 181 (2009) (declining to address a
Frye-Reed issue raised on appeal and observing that “the grounds for the objection were
vague. No Frye/Reed analysis was requested, or even hinted to, at trial”), cert. denied,
412 Md. 255 (2010). We are not persuaded that the court erred in raising the Frye-Reed
issue or that appellant’s burden in this regard shifted to the State simply because the State
did not ask for a Frye-Reed hearing prior to trial.
Nevertheless, with respect to the merits of the Frye-Reed issue, the State suggests
that we “should not decide the Frye issue based on the limited record below.” We agree.
See Addison, 188 Md. App. at 181 (“[W]e have never subjected evidence to Frye/Reed
when not conducted or requested at trial”) (emphasis added).
11
The State argues, however, that our analysis should not stop there. The State
explains that we should affirm because, under Rule 5-702, the court did not abuse its
discretion in refusing to admit the proffered evidence. Maryland Rule 5-702 provides:
Expert testimony may be admitted, in the form of an opinion or
otherwise, if the court determines that the testimony will assist the trier of
fact to understand the evidence or to determine a fact in issue. In making
that determination, the court shall determine (1) whether the witness is
qualified as an expert by knowledge, skill experience, training or education,
(2) the appropriateness of the expert testimony on the particular subject,
and (3) whether a sufficient factual basis exists to support the expert
testimony.
Under this rule, trial courts have “wide latitude in deciding whether to qualify a
witness as an expert or to admit or exclude particular expert testimony.” Massie v. State,
349 Md. 834, 850-51 (1998). In the absence of an error of law or fact, we review the
admission of expert testimony for abuse of discretion. See Bomas v. State, 412 Md. 392,
416-17 (2010); Wilson v. State, 370 Md. 191, 200 (2002). Moreover, the trial court’s
“action in admitting or excluding such testimony will seldom constitute a ground for
reversal.” Bryant v. State, 393 Md. 196, 203 (2006) (citations omitted).
Expert testimony “is admissible only if it is relevant in the particular case[.]”
State v. Smullen, 380 Md. 233, 268 (2004). “The standard for relevance under Maryland
common law is whether the jury will receive appreciable help from the expert testimony
in resolving the issues presented in the case.” Simmons v. State, 313 Md. 33, 41 (1988);
see also Sippio v. State, 350 Md. 633, 648-49 (1998) (observing that the inquiry turns on
whether the trier of fact will receive appreciable help, and trial courts “need not consider
whether the trier of fact could possibly decide the issue without the expert testimony”).
12
The Court of Appeals has made clear that “[t]he burden rests with the proponent of the
expert testimony to demonstrate that these requirements have been met.” Rochkind v.
Stevenson, 454 Md. 277, 286 (2017) (citing Bomas, 412 Md. at 417-18).
In response to the State’s argument, appellant observes that Rule 5-702 was not
argued before the trial court, and the court did not exercise discretion under that Rule.
Thus, because application of the Rule would require us to exercise discretion in the first
instance, we cannot affirm on that basis. We agree. See State v. Bell, 334 Md. 178, 188
(1994). We offer no opinion as to whether the court would have abused its discretion had
it excluded the evidence after exercising discretion under Rule 5-702. Our conclusion
with respect to appellant’s first issue is based on the court’s lack of exercise of discretion
and, with respect to Frye-Reed, on the inadequacy of the record.
II.
In light of our decision on the first issue, we have no need to address the
remaining issues. Nevertheless, we shall comment briefly. Appellant contends that,
because it was unclear if he committed the alleged offenses while he was a juvenile, the
circuit court erred in not making a finding whether it had subject matter jurisdiction over
his case. The State responds that appellant has failed to rebut the presumption that
jurisdiction was proper in the circuit court. In reply, appellant contends he met his
burden.
13
At the end of the State’s case-in-chief, defense counsel raised the question of
jurisdiction for the first time6 and made the following argument:
Based from the information that’s been elicited thus far at trial the charging
document does indicate a specific range of dates from June lst to the 26th of
July.
The testimony that we have heard from the State’s witnesses most
specifically [D.H.] has provided certainly no specific timeframe, no
indication that it was during that timeframe. In particular she had testified
only that she lived with Lacolia at the time of this incident. No one has
really been able to establish when she was with Lacolia at this point.
According to the testimony of Michelle H. she has always lived with
Michelle H. off and on, but did stay with Lacolia. And certainly [D.H.] was
unable to give any specific timeframe at all. She thinks she was four or five
that encompasses a two year period. Certainly that could have included
those dates but there is no evidence specific to those dates. And those dates
are rather important given that in May 2010 my client turned eighteen. This
Court wouldn’t even have jurisdiction over this case if it had occurred just a
month prior. And we have no information as to what month it might have
occurred only that the sun was out and that there were flowers outside
which certainly can be the case in May as well, April and in March of some
years.
We have insufficient evidence on all counts as to I think both the
jurisdiction of this Court.
6
There is no motion to dismiss for lack of jurisdiction in the record. Nor was
there any motion filed or request made for a reverse waiver from the circuit court to
juvenile court, as is permitted under Maryland statute and case law. See generally,
Whaley v. State, 186 Md. App. 429, 444 (2009) (“When a case is brought in criminal
court and an accused child is between the ages of fourteen and eighteen, the juvenile
defendant may request a transfer back to the juvenile system”) (citing Md. Code (2001,
2007 Repl. Vol.), § 4-202 (b) of the Criminal Procedure (“Crim. Proc.”) Article); accord
Gaines v. State, 201 Md. App. 1, 10 (2011). However, subject matter jurisdiction may be
raised at any time. See Rule 8-131(a) (“The issues of jurisdiction of the trial court over
the subject matter and, unless waived under Rule 2-322, over a person may be raised in
and decided by the appellate court whether or not raised in and decided by the trial
court”).
14
Certainly the dates of this incident might have occurred and they
certainly have not proven the dates that are charged in the charging
document.
The court denied the motion as follows:
All right. The motion is denied. The State has produced sufficient
evidence that a reasonable trier of fact could adduce from the evidence all
the necessary elements for each of these offenses.
After the defense presented evidence, defense counsel renewed the motion,
contending that the child support documentation involving D.H. established that Devon
Alford only had custody of his daughter between October 30, 2006 and June 4, 2007.
Based on this, counsel averred that the only evidence that D.H. resided in the home in
Crisfield was in 2006 and 2007, and “[t]hat is not even close to the dates that are charged
in the charging document in this case which [is] June 1st to the 26th of July in 2010.” At
that time, appellant was “well under the age of eighteen in 2006 and 2007 when [D.H.]
actually resided in the household where he resided creating a huge jurisdiction problem
for this Court.” The court denied the renewed motion without further comment.
This Court has explained subject matter jurisdiction as follows:
Circuit courts of this state . . . derive their jurisdiction from
Maryland Constitution, Art. IV, § 20. They are courts of original general
jurisdiction, see Birchead v. State, 317 Md. 691, 697, 566 A.2d 488, 491
(1989), First Federated Com. Tr. [v. Commissioner ], 272 Md. [329,] 335
[322 A.2d 539 (1974)], authorized to hear all actions and causes, other than
those particularly prescribed by statute or constitutional provision for other
fora. Id. More particularly, pursuant to Maryland Cts. & Jud. Proc. Code
Ann. § 1-501 (1973, 1989 Repl. Vol.), they are
the highest common-law and equity courts of record
exercising original jurisdiction within the State. Each has full
common-law and equity powers and jurisdiction in all civil
and criminal cases within its county, and all the additional
15
powers and jurisdiction conferred by the Constitution and by
law, except where by law jurisdiction has been limited or
conferred exclusively upon another tribunal.
Powell v. State, 324 Md. 441, 446, 597 A.2d 479 (1991); see also In re
Nahif A., 123 Md. App. 193, 212, 717 A.2d 393 (1998) (“Without reference
to the nature of the jurisdiction of the court involved, a prima facie
presumption of jurisdiction arises from the exercise of it. It is presumed that
jurisdiction over the subject matter and parties has been rightfully acquired
and exercised”) (quoting 21 C.J.S. Courts § 74 at 91-92 (1990)), overruled
on other grounds by In re Antoine M., 394 Md. 491, 907 A.2d 158 (2006);
7 Maryland Law Encyclopedia, Courts § 9, p. 19-20 (2013) (“A court of
general jurisdiction is presumed to have jurisdiction unless someone proves
that there is some valid constitutional or legislative enactment that has
withdrawn jurisdiction in a particular case”).
“Lack of subject-matter jurisdiction may be raised at any time.”
Harris v. Simmons, 110 Md. App. 95, 113-14, 676 A.2d 944 (1996) (citing
Gardner v. Board of County Comm’rs of St. Mary’s County, 320 Md. 63,
576 A.2d 208 (1990)); see also Sewell v. United States, 406 F.2d 1289,
1292 (8th Cir.1969) (observing that lack of subject matter jurisdiction, as
opposed to personal jurisdiction, may be raised at any time) (citing Pon v.
United States, 168 F.2d 373, 374 (1st Cir.1948)).
Lewis v. State, 229 Md. App. 86, 100-01 (2016), aff’d, 452 Md. 663 (2017).
As for cases brought in the juvenile courts, Maryland Code (1974, 2013 Repl.
Vol., 2017 Supp.), Courts & Judicial Proceedings Article (“CJP”) § 3-8A-03(a)(1)
provides that a circuit court, sitting as a juvenile court, “has exclusive original
jurisdiction over [a] child who is alleged to be delinquent[.]” A child is defined as “an
individual under the age of 18 years.” CJP § 3-8A-01(d). The issue raised on appeal
16
concerns the principle that the jurisdiction of the juvenile court depends on the age of the
person at the time the alleged delinquent act was committed. CJP § 3-8A-05(a).7
The charging document in this case provides, as to each charge, that the abuse
occurred between June 1, 2010 and July 26, 2010. According to the evidence admitted at
trial, appellant was born on May 16, 1992, and was 18 years old on May 16, 2010. There
was evidence that, from June 1st to July 26th of 2010, appellant was living with his
grandmother in Crisfield. There was also evidence that D.H., born in October 2005,
visited the Crisfield home during the summer in question. According to D.H., the
underlying sexual assault occurred in her paternal grandmother’s home when she was
either four or five years old. She also told an investigator that the event happened just
before she moved in with her maternal grandmother, which would have been around July
26, 2010.
Thus, the dates alleged in the charging document are consistent with D.H.’s
testimony as D.H. would have been four years old in the summer of 2010. They are also
7
CJP § 3-8A-03 (d) (4) provides that the juvenile court does not have jurisdiction
over charges of second-degree sexual offense and third-degree sexual offense when they
are charged under sections 3-306 (a) (1) and 3-307 (a) (1) of the Criminal Law Article.
See CJP § 3-8A-03 (d) (4). Although Section 3-306 has since been repealed, effective
October 1, 2017 (see Section 3-304 (a)), those sections generally prohibit the offensive
sexual conduct without consent and by the use of force. See Md. Code (2002, 2012 Repl.
Vol., 2017 Supp.) §§ 3-306 (a) (1), 3-307 (a) (1) of the Criminal Law (“Crim. Law”)
Article. As noted by appellant, and apparently undisputed by the State, although he was
charged generally with these offenses, the jury instructions requested by the State, and
read to the jury by the court, establish that the charges alleged against appellant were that
he committed the unlawful sexual conduct upon D.H. under 14 years of age when he was
at least 4 years older than the victim. See Crim. Law §§ 3-306 (a) (3), 3-307 (a) (3).
Thus, we are persuaded that the exception to juvenile court jurisdiction set forth in
Section 3-8A-03 (d) (4) does not apply in this case.
17
consistent with appellant’s statement to the police admitting that he was 18 years old
during the summer of 2010, and that D.H. resided with him and his grandmother in
Crisfield. We are persuaded that based on the charging documents, the evidence, and the
court’s exercise of jurisdiction, there was a presumption of subject matter jurisdiction.
Thus, appellant needed to rebut that presumption.
Appellant’s argument on appeal is that the court did not decide the question of
jurisdiction. Appellant’s argument to the trial court was that the evidence was
insufficient to establish that the incident in question occurred after appellant was eighteen
years old. We disagree. After hearing specific argument on the subject from defense
counsel, including at the end of the State’s case-in-chief and at the end of all the
evidence, we are persuaded that the court implicitly found that appellant was 18 years old
when the offenses occurred when it denied the motions for judgment of acquittal. See
generally, Wilder v. State, 191 Md. App. 319, 344 (2010) (“Although the trial court did
not articulate the basis for its ruling, it overruled defense counsel’s objection only after an
extensive argument by the State in favor of admissibility. We presume that the trial judge
knew the law and properly applied it in overruling the defense objection to [the]
testimony”) (citing State v. Chaney, 375 Md. 168, 179-80 (2003)).
Despite the limited nature of appellant’s argument, we will comment on the
propriety of the court’s ruling. To determine whether appellant rebutted that
presumption, we are guided by In re John F., 169 Md. App. 171 (2006). There, the
Washington County Department of Social Services (“Department”) filed petitions
alleging that John F., Jr. and Shawn F. were Children in Need of Assistance (“CINA”).
18
The petitions alleged that the children’s mother, Sherry F., lived in an apartment in
Hagerstown. In re John F., 169 Md. App. at 173-74. Sherry F. challenged the petitions
on territorial jurisdiction grounds, alleging that she and the children lived in
Pennsylvania. Id. at 178. We set forth the Department’s response in favor of Maryland
jurisdiction as including the fact that the father resided in Maryland, the boys had resided
in Maryland within six months prior to the filing of the CINA petition, the court had
jurisdiction over the boys’ sisters, and because “there was no credible evidence that the
boys' residence was no longer in Maryland.” Id.
In considering the issue under the Maryland Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction
and Enforcement Act (“UCCJEA”), Md. Code (1984, 2004 Repl. Vol.), section 9.5-201
of the Family Law Article (“FL”), we relied heavily on our prior opinion in In re Nahif
A., 123 Md. App. 193 (1998). We explained that case as follows:
In In re Nahif A., 123 Md. App. 193, 717 A.2d 393 (1998), we
addressed the burden of proof in a challenge to subject matter jurisdiction
in a juvenile case. There, the State filed two juvenile delinquency petitions
against Nahif in the Circuit Court for Frederick County. The petitions set
forth Nahif’s birth date. A delinquency hearing was held in the circuit
court, sitting as the Juvenile Court. After the close of the State’s case, Nahif
moved to dismiss, arguing that the State had not proven that the court had
subject matter jurisdiction because it had not put on evidence that he was a
juvenile. The court granted the State’s motion to reopen its case to establish
Nahif’s birth date. Thereafter, the court adjudicated Nahif to be delinquent.
Nahif appealed to this Court, arguing that the Juvenile Court had
abused its discretion by allowing the State to reopen its case. Rejecting that
argument, we explained that “‘a prima facie presumption of jurisdiction
arises from the exercise of it. It is presumed that jurisdiction over the
subject matter and parties has been rightfully acquired and exercised.’” In
re Nahif A., supra, 123 Md. App. at 212, 717 A.2d 393 (quoting 21 C.J.S.
Courts § 74 at 91-92 (1990) (footnotes omitted)). Further, “‘the jurisdiction
of a court of general jurisdiction is presumed, unless the contrary is made to
19
appear; and every presumption not inconsistent with the record is to be
indulged in favor of such jurisdiction, at least when the allegations of the
petition show jurisdiction.’” Id. (quoting 21 C.J.S. Courts § 74 at 91-92).
Accordingly, the burden is on the party challenging subject matter
jurisdiction to rebut that presumption. Id. at 212-13, 717 A.2d 393.
We held that the delinquency petition and the Juvenile Court’s
exercise of jurisdiction over the case gave rise to a presumption in favor of
subject matter jurisdiction, and that the burden was on Nahif to introduce
evidence sufficient to rebut that presumption. Specifically, it was Nahif’s
burden to show that he was not a juvenile. Because he did not introduce any
such evidence, he failed to rebut the presumption in favor of subject matter
jurisdiction. Instead, he attempted to shift the burden to the State, which
was improper. Thus, the Juvenile Court could not have abused its discretion
in allowing the State to reopen its case to introduce evidence that Nahif was
a juvenile because it was not necessary for the State to do so anyway.
In re John F., 169 Md. App. at 180-81 (emphasis in original).
We went on to hold that the juvenile court in In re John F. was “a court of general
jurisdiction with jurisdiction over special causes of action set forth by statute[.]” and that
“the presumption in favor of subject matter jurisdiction applies.” In re John F., 169 Md.
App. at 182-83. We then held that, under the factual circumstances set forth in the
petition and at the adjudicatory hearing, Sherry F. did not rebut the presumption of
subject matter jurisdiction. We observed, “[t]he evidence that the appellant introduced to
show that the Juvenile Court lacked subject matter jurisdiction was insufficient to rebut
the presumption that the court had jurisdiction over the subject matter. The appellant
needed to show that Maryland was not the boys’ home state, and that Pennsylvania was.”
Id. at 184.
The only evidence D.H. presented, other than questioning D.H.’s recollection,
consisted of custody and child support documents concerning when D.H.’s father’s child
20
support obligations were suspended. Although that evidence showed that D.H.’s father,
Devon, did not have to pay child support in parts of 2006 and 2007 because D.H. was in
his custody, it had no bearing on whether appellant was 18 years old when these incidents
were alleged to have occurred. Cf. Jones v. State, 172 Md. App. 444, 457 (“Evidence of a
mere possibility that a crime did not take place in Maryland is not sufficient to create a
genuine factual dispute about territorial jurisdiction”), cert. denied, 399 Md. 33 (2007).
Moreover, appellant did not meet his burden of countering evidence that D.H. visited
Lacolia Alford in Crisfield, which was also appellant’s primary residence, at the time in
question. We hold that appellant failed to meet his burden of rebutting the presumption
of subject matter jurisdiction.
We also conclude that appellant’s reliance on State v. Coffield, 17 Md. App. 305
(1973), is misplaced. In that case, two indictments were filed against Coffield involving
the same victim: one indictment for murder, and a separate indictment for armed
robbery. Id. at 308. There was no dispute that Coffield was a juvenile at the time of the
offenses. Id. at 310. The basic question presented was whether the armed robbery
indictment was properly filed in the circuit court, as opposed to the juvenile court,
because the circuit court would only have jurisdiction over the armed robbery case if that
robbery arose out of the murder that was charged in the first indictment. Id. at 309-12.
Ultimately, resolution of that question required a finding of fact, and, because no hearing
occurred and no findings were made, this Court vacated the circuit court’s order
dismissing the armed robbery indictment and remanded the case for an evidentiary
hearing. Id. at 312-15.
21
In this case, by contrast, the charging document, on its face, sets forth that the
prohibited acts occurred when appellant was 18 years old and within the jurisdiction of
the circuit court. Further, an evidentiary hearing occurred in this case, namely a trial,
where the victim testified and other evidence as to when the events allegedly occurred
was received. That evidence included appellant’s own statement to the police. The
jurisdictional issue, raised in the motion for judgment of acquittal, was before the circuit
court, both legally and factually, unlike in Coffield.
III.
Finally, appellant contends that the court erred in not including the dates of the
alleged offenses on the verdict sheet. The State responds that, because the dates of the
offense concern the subject matter jurisdiction of the court, the issue was for the court to
decide and not a question to be submitted to the jury. The issue arose as follows:
THE COURT: Have you both seen the verdict sheet? Somebody
prepared this verdict sheet. I don’t know.
[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: I have not, but, Your Honor, given the
nature of the evidence I’m going to ask that the charging be included on the
verdict sheet.
THE COURT: That the what?
[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: That the dates that he is charged with be
included on the verdict sheet because it’s the State’s burden to prove it
happened when they charged that it happened.
THE COURT: Well, show it to Ms. Simpson, please.
I don’t know why the dates have to be on there.
[PROSECUTOR]: Your Honor, I don’t believe that the dates have to
be on there. I’ve never seen a verdict sheet with the dates on it.
22
THE COURT: You’re free to argue –
[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: I think it’s particularly relevant in this case
given the evidence.
THE COURT: You’re free to argue dates. . . .8
We review a trial judge’s decision to use a particular verdict sheet under an abuse
of discretion standard. See S&S Oil, Inc. v. Jackson, 428 Md. 624, 629 (2012). Under the
abuse of discretion standard, we shall reverse if we find that the trial judge erred and that
the error prejudiced the defendant. Id. Further, “the contents of the verdict sheet do not
constitute the jury’s verdict.” Ogundipe v. State, 424 Md. 58, 72 (2011). Instead, “the
verdict sheet itself is a tool for the jury to utilize in deciding its verdict but it does not
constitute the verdict.” Id. (quoting Ogundipe v. State, 191 Md. App. 370, 381 (2010)).
As we consider this issue, we note that, like the second issue raised, appellant’s
overall argument is that the State failed to prove that he was 18 years old when the
offenses occurred. Whereas in the second issue appellant asks us to hold that the issue
was jurisdictional, and thereby an issue of law, in this third question presented, he argues
that the jury should have decided the issue as a factual question whether the offenses
occurred when he was 18 years old.
We agree that, in an appropriate case, the court should submit the underlying
factual question to the jury, i.e., the date(s) of the alleged incidents, but as discussed
above, appellant did not rebut the presumption of subject matter jurisdiction. The case
8
Following this exchange, there was no request to instruct the jury concerning the
dates of the alleged offenses. There also was no objection to the instructions, and no
further mention of the verdict sheet.
23
was tried on the State’s premise that the criminal offenses occurred in June and July
2010, and the evidence was sufficient to sustain the convictions.
JUDGMENTS OF THE CIRCUIT COURT
FOR SOMERSET COUNTY REVERSED.
CASE REMANDED FOR A NEW
TRIAL.
COSTS TO BE PAID BY SOMERSET
COUNTY.
24