State v. Rucker

OPINION

Colleen Dolan, Judge

Following a jury trial, Tajeaon Rucker (“Defendant”) was convicted of first-degree child molestation and third-degree assault.¹ After Defendant waived jury sentencing, the trial court sentenced him to eight years in prison for child molestation and fifteen days in county jail for his third-degree assault conviction. We affirm.

I. Factual and Procedural Background

a. Convictions on Appeal

From December 31, 2013 until January 2, 2014, A.G. (“Victim”) and her sister K.G. (“Sister”) were staying at their grandmother’s house with several other family members. At that time, Victim was ten years old and Sister was seven years old. At some point during their stay, Victim and Sister were watching a movie in their grandmother’s basement, and Defendant joined them. Victim alleged Defendant forced her to kiss him on the mouth, and he also rubbed her vagina with his hand. Victim testified that she informed her sisters, mother, uncle, grandmother, police, a social worker from Cardinal Glennon Hospital, and a forensic interviewer about Defendant’s conduct. Sister was an eyewitness to the incident, and she testified that Victim’s retelling of the events was accurate.

b. Prior Sexual Contact with Victim

On a previous occasion in 2011, Defendant also allegedly engaged in sexual conduct with Victim. Sister testified that she witnessed this occurrence too. As a result of the 2011 incident, both girls went to counseling and Defendant was told not to contact Victim. During Victim’s testimony on direct, she stated that she told her mom she was uncomfortable around Defendant because of “what he did to [her]” in 2011, and she was afraid Defendant would subject her to inappropriate sexual conduct again. Victim’s mother also testified about the 2011 incident. She testified that she told Defendant she did not want him coming into contact with Victim after she found out he was “rubbing on her” and “touching her” on one occasion in 2011. Defense counsel did not object to the prosecution’s questioning of Victim, her sister, or her mother about the 2011 incident, nor did counsel object to any of their testimony.

Before the start of closing arguments, the prosecution asked the trial court if it could use evidence of the 2011 incident (1) to suggest his prior conduct made it more likely that the allegations that Defendant’s charges were based on actually occurred (i.e., character propensity evidence); and/or (2) to establish Defendant’s “motive” for assaulting and molesting Victim and “intent” to do so for the purpose of sexual gratification. Defense counsel objected to the prosecution’s use for any purpose at that point. However, the trial court informed the prosecution that discussing Defendant’s prior sexual contact with Victim was permissible for the purpose of establishing motive and intent, appearing to impliedly prohibit a character propensity argument.² During closing arguments, the prosecution only referred to the 2011 incident by stating:

Let me be clear. You do get to consider the prior allegations involving [Defendant]. That gets to weigh on your verdict today, ladies and gentlemen. Yes, that goes to the elements of this case. It’s not something that you have to set aside. That is something that gets to factor in your decision in finding the defendant guilty. That is what the law says.

Based on the prosecution’s use of Defendant’s prior conduct, Defendant appeals the trial court’s judgment and asks us to reverse and remand the case for a new trial.

II. Standard of Review

Defendant concedes that his trial counsel failed to object to evidence of the alleged prior sexual offense, and his counsel only objected to the use of such evidence just before the prosecution’s closing argument. Accordingly, the defense counsel’s objection to the evidence was “untimely,” as she did not raise the objection “contemporaneously” with the evidence elicited. “A contemporaneous objection at the time of the statement [is] required in order to preserve the issue on appeal.” State v. Thompson, 401 S.W.3d 581, 590 (Mo. App. E.D. 2013). Accordingly, Defendant failed to preserve the issue on appeal, and “the question raised on appeal is whether the trial court plainly erred” and caused “a manifest injustice or miscarriage of justice.” Id.) Rule 30.20.³

We review plain error under Rule 30.20 using a two prong-standard: (1) we determine whether the trial court erred in an “evident, obvious, and clear” manner; (2) we determine if the error resulted in a manifest injustice or miscarriage of justice. State v. Ray, 407 S.W.3d 162, 170 (Mo. App. E.D. 2013). We use plain error review “sparingly” and the defendant bears the burden of satisfying the two-prong test. Id.) State v. Tokar, 918 S.W.2d 753, 769-70 (Mo. banc 1996).

III. History of Using Character Propensity Evidence for Crimes Sexual in Nature

In 1995, § 566.025⁴ became effective and permitted the prosecution to present “evidence that the defendant committed other charged or uncharged crimes of sexual nature involving victims under fourteen years of age... for the purpose of showing the propensity of the defendant to commit the crime or crimes with which he or she is being charged.” Section 566.025 was an exception to the general rule prohibiting the prosecution from using evidence of a defendant’s prior misconduct to prove he was more predisposed to commit the offense(s) charged. See State v. Peal, 393 S.W.3d 621, 627-28 (Mo. App. W.D. 2013) (citing Mo. Const. Art. I, §§ 17, 18(a) (explaining a defendant may only be tried for the offenses for which he is on trial)). However, the statute was declared unconstitutional by our Supreme Court in 2007. State v. Ellison, 239 S.W.3d 603, 607-08 (Mo. banc 2007). Our Supreme Court reasoned:

In holding [§ 566.025] unconstitutional, this Court acts consistently with a long line of cases holding that the Missouri constitution prohibits the admission of previous criminal acts as evidence of a defendant’s propensity. Evidence of pri- or uncharged misconduct is inadmissible for the sole purpose of showing the propensity of the defendant to commit such acts. Our cases likewise hold that convictions, as well as uncharged acts, are inadmissible to show propensity.

Id.

Ellison was effectively overturned on December 4, 2014, when the amendment of article I, section 18(c) to the Missouri Constitution became effective.⁵ The amendment states:

Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 17 and 18(a) of this article to the contrary, in prosecutions for crimes of a sexual nature involving a victim under eighteen years of age, relevant evidence of prior criminal acts, whether charged or uncharged, is admissible for the purpose of corroborating the victim’s testimony. or demonstrating the defendant’s propensity to commit the crime with which he or she is presently charged. The court may exclude relevant evidence of prior criminal acts if the probative value of the evidence is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice.

Mo. Const., Art. I, § 18(c) (emphasis added).

IV. Discussion

Defendant argues his right to due process and his right to a fair trial — as guaranteed by the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments of the United States Constitution and article I, sections 10, 17, and 18(a) of the Missouri Constitution — were violated because (1) the recently enacted article I, section 18(c) of the Missouri Constitution cannot apply to this case because the crimes were allegedly committed before its effective date, and the amendment may only be applied prospectively; (2) there are no applicable case law exceptions to the prohibition of prior bad acts evidence; and (3) even if article I, section 18(c) was applicable, the trial court erred in applying it, as the prejudicial effect of the prior alleged sexual offense evidence plainly substantially outweighed the probative value of the evidence. We find all of Defendant’s arguments unavailing.

a. Missouri’s Constitutional Amendment in Article I, Section 18(c)

To address Defendant’s first point on appeal, we must first determine whether article I, section 18(c) may apply to crimes committed before December 4, 2014, when it became effective. The relevant timeline of the events unfolded as follows:

1. December of 2013 or January of 2014: the alleged underlying conduct for Defendant’s charges occurred;

2. December 4, 2014: article I, section 18(c) became effective; and

3. June 9-10, 2015: Defendant’s trial was held.

Constitutional amendments, just like statutory amendments, “apply only prospectively in all but the most extraordinary circumstances.” State ex rel, Tipler v. Gardner, 506 S.W.3d 922, 924 (Mo. banc 2017). Accordingly, if the amendment only applies to crimes committed after December 4, 2014, then its application would be retroactive in this case, and we will only consider the relevant precedent at the time of the alleged conduct (most notably, Ellison ). However, if the amendment applies to any trials that begin on or after December 4, 2014, then its application in this case would be prospective, and article I, section 18(c) may impact the admissibility of evidence.

Tipler, an opinion recently handed down by the Supreme Court of Missouri, is controlling on this issue: “[T]he new rule of evidence adopted in article I, section 18(c) applies to all trials occurring on or after December 4, 2014, when this new provision took effect.” Tipler, 506 S.W.3d at 924. Our Supreme Court concluded the date of the trial controls on this issue. Id. at 925 (“Accordingly, to say that article I, section 18(c) applies only prospectively is to say that it applies only to trials occurring on or after its effective date.”). The Court reasoned that article I, section 18(c) pertains to “prosecutions,” not the underlying “conduct” leading to a prosecution. Id. at 927. Accordingly, the amendment shall be prospectively applied to any “prosecutions” beginning on or after the amendment’s effective date of December 4, 2014.⁶ Id. Defendant’s trial began on June 9, 2015.

In light of the holding in Tipler, Defendant’s argument that applying the amendment would violate the prohibition against ex post facto laws is also unpersuasive. “It is an exercise of the power of the state to provide methods of procedure in [its] courts.” Id. at 926 (emphasis added). No vested right of a defendant is disturbed by laws affecting the methods of court procedure. Id. Accordingly, “[a]s to all trials occurring after [a procedural law’s] enactment, it [is] prospective, and not retroactive,” and “such legislation is not ex post facto.” Id.

Based on the Supreme Court of Missouri’s recent holding in Tipler, article I, section 18(c) was effective at the time of Defendant’s trial. Thus, the trial court did not plainly err by admitting evidence of Defendant’s prior bad acts for character propensity purposes.

4. Was the Evidence’s Probative Value Substantially Outweighed by the Danger of Unfair Prejudice?

Defendant also argues that even if article I, section 18(c) was in effect at the time of his trial, the trial court clearly erred by not excluding the evidence of his prior criminal acts because its prejudicial value substantially outweighed the evidence’s probative value. Although the amendment generally permits “relevant evidence of prior criminal acts” when a defendant is being prosecuted for a “crim[e] of a sexual nature involving a victim under eighteen years of age... The court may exclude relevant evidence of prior criminal acts if the probative value of the evidence is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice.” Mo. Const. Art I, § 18(c) (emphasis added). We review “the trial court’s interpretation of the Missouri Constitution de novo.” Gray v. Taylor, 368 S.W.3d 154, 155 (Mo. banc 2012). The General Assembly’s use of the word “may” indicates that the court has discretion to exclude such evidence in these circumstances, but it is not obligated to do so. Wolf v. Midwest Nephrology Consultants, PC., 487 S.W.3d 78, 83 (Mo. App. W.D. 2016) (“It is the general rule that in statutes the word ‘may’ is permissive only, and the word ‘shall’ is mandatory.”). Accordingly, even if the evidence’s probative value was “substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice,” the trial court was not required to exclude the evidence.

“Generally, evidence of other uncharged crimes or prior misconduct is logically relevant when it tends to establish: (1) motive, (2) intent, (3) absence of mistake or accident, (4) a common scheme or plan, or (5) the identity of the person charged.” State v. Austin, 411 S.W.3d 284, 294 (Mo. App. E.D. 2013). The relevance of the evidence in question is clear in this case.

The evidence presented at Defendant’s trial involved his prior criminal sexual acts against the same child. “Prior sexual conduct by a defendant toward the victim is admissible as it tends to establish a motive, that is satisfaction of defendant’s sexual desire for the victim.” State v. Primm, 347 S.W.3d 66, 70 (Mo. banc 2011). Furthermore, the State was required to show Defendant’s “[i]ntent to cause sexual arousal or gratification” to obtain a conviction. See A.B. v. Juvenile Officer, 447 S.W.3d 799, 804 (Mo. App. W.D. 2014); see also § 566.010(3).⁷ Defendant was charged with first-degree child molestation under § 566.067 and third-degree assault under § 565.070. An individual commits the offense of child molestation in the first degree if (1) he or she subjects another person less than fourteen years of age to (2) sexual contact. § 566.067 At the time of the underlying criminal conduct, Victim was 10 years old. “Sexual contact” means “any touching of another person with the genitals or any touching of the genitals or anus of another person, or the breast of a female person, or such touching through the clothing, for the purpose of arousing or gratifying sexual desire of any person.” Section 566.010(3). In Defendant’s case, the evidence of his alleged prior sexual offenses involved the same victim as the charges before the trial court. The evidence is especially probative to establish Defendant was sexually attracted to Victim, which helps establish motive and intent. To whatever extent Defendant was prejudiced by the evidence of his alleged prior sexual offenses, it did not “substantially outweigh” the evidence’s probative value.

Defendant argues that the evidence cannot be used to show “motive” or “intent,” because the general exceptions to prohibiting evidence of prior bad acts are only triggered when Defendant puts these at issue, and he did not do so in this case. To support his argument, Defendant relies on State v. Howery. 427 S.W.3d 236, 252 (Mo. App. E.D. 2014). In Howery, this Court noted that “[i]n cases of murder or assault, prior misconduct by the defendant toward the victim is logically relevant to show motive, intent, or absence of mistake or accident,” however, these exceptions only apply when a defendant puts one of those at issue. Id. (emphasis added). The rationale behind requiring the defendant to first put motive, intent, or absence of mistake or accident at issue is “the prejudicial effect of admitting the evidence is substantial.” Id. However, as our Supreme Court has explained, “[njumerous cases in Missouri involving sexual crimes against a child have held that prior sexual conduct by a defendant toward the victim is admissible as it tends to establish a motive, that is satisfaction of defendant’s sexual desire for the victim.” Primm, 347 S.W.3d at 70. In State v. Sprofera, the Western District followed Primm in admitting evidence of prior sexual acts against a child for the purpose of establishing motive. 427 S.W.3d 828, 835 (Mo. App. W.D. 2014). Primm and Sprofera are consistent with Missouri courts’ greater willingness to allow evidence of prior sexual acts in sex crimes, especially prior sexual acts committed against children. As our Court explained State v. Loazia, “[cjurrently, the trend is toward the liberal admission of prior sex crimes under one of the stated exceptions ... [wjhere a defendant is charged with committing a sexual crime against a child, evidence of acts of sexual misconduct committed at other times by defendant against the same victim is generally admissible.” 829 S.W.2d 558, 567 (Mo. App. E.D. 1992). Our Court’s finding in Loazia is consistent with the enactment of article I, section 18(c), which explicitly limits the admissibility of prior bad acts evidence to sexual crimes committed against children. Moreover, the facts in this case are significantly more analogous to the facts in Primm and Sprofera than Howery, where neither the crime at issue nor the defendant’s prior bad acts involved sexual conduct.

Additionally, the new amendment allows legally relevant evidence of this type to be admitted “for the purpose of corroborating the victim’s testimony” and for “demonstrating the defendant’s propensity to commit the crime with which he or she is presently charged.” Mo. Const., Art, I, § 18(c). In the present case, Victim testified about the crime Defendant was being charged with, as well as his prior uncharged criminal sexual acts. The evidence of. these prior criminal acts was also relevant to corroborate Victim’s testimony that Defendant forced her to kiss him on the mouth and rubbed her vagina at some point on the weekend of December 31, 2013 through January 2,2014.

Accordingly, the considerable amount of probative value stemming from the evidence of Defendant’s prior criminal acts was not substantially outweighed by any prejudicial effect it may have had. The trial court did not plainly err in admitting evidence of Defendant’s prior sexual acts.

V. Conclusion

For the foregoing reasons, we affirm the trial court.

Sherri B. Sullivan, P.J., concurs. Roy L. Richter, J., concurs.

1 . First-degree child molestation is a class B felony under § 566.067, RSMo Supp. 2006 and third-degree assault is a class C misdemeanor under § 565.070, RSMo 2000.

2 .The trial transcript is somewhat ambiguous. The prosecution stated, "I do want to clarify, judge, for the purposes of closing argument, under [article I, section 18(c)] it would allow me to argue propensity; that because it happened in the past, therefore its more likely that it happened now. I want to have direction from the Court whether or not I can make that argument or [for the purposes which] the case law says I can argue, such as motive, intent, and lack of accident.” The discussion on the matter ended with the trial court responding, “I think you can argue the latter.”

3 . Missouri Supreme Court Rule 30.20 (2015).

4 . § 566.025, RSMo 2000.

5 . In fact, the amendment has increased the admissibility of evidence in relevant cases beyond what § 566.025, RSMo 2000 had permitted: Art I, § 18(c) states the trial court "may exclude relevant evidence of prior criminal acts if the probative value of the evidence is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice,” whereas § 566.025 only permits the trial court to admit character propensity evidence if the probative value is not outweighed by the prejudicial effect. Mo. Const., Art. I, § 18(c) (emphasis added); § 566.025, RSMo 2000. Moreover, § 566.025 only allowed this kind of evidence for cases "involving a victim under fourteen years of age,” but article I, section 18(c) expands the permissible age range to "a victim under eighteen years of age.” Id.

6 . We note, however, the Supreme Court of Missouri did not address whether “a proper application [of article I, section 18(c)]” may nevertheless "violate[] the defendant’s substantive rights under the state or federal constitutions.” Tipler, 506 S.W.3d at 923.

7 . § 566.010(3), RSMo Cum. Supp. 2006.