State v. J. Buchanan

08/15/2023
DA 22-0253
Case Number: DA 22-0253
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF MONTANA
2023 MT 157NSTATE OF MONTANA,
Plaintiff and Appellee,
v.
JOHN WESLEY BUCHANAN,
Defendant and Appellant.
APPEAL FROM: District Court of the First Judicial District,
In and For the County of Lewis and Clark, Cause No. CDC-2017-425
Honorable Kathy Seeley, Presiding Judge
COUNSEL OF RECORD:
For Appellant:
Palmer A. Hoovestal, Hoovestal Law Firm, PLLC, Helena, Montana
For Appellee:
Austin Knudsen, Montana Attorney General, Brad Fjeldheim, Assistant
Attorney General, Helena, Montana
Kevin Downs, Lewis and Clark County Attorney, Stephanie Robles,
Special Deputy County Attorney, Helena, Montana
Submitted on Briefs: May 24, 2023
Decided: August 15, 2023
Filed:
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__________________________________________
Clerk
Chief Justice Mike McGrath delivered the Opinion of the Court.
¶1 Pursuant to Section I, Paragraph 3(c), Montana Supreme Court Internal Operating
Rules, this case is decided by memorandum opinion and shall not be cited and does not
serve as precedent. Its case title, cause number, and disposition shall be included in this
Court’s quarterly list of noncitable cases published in the Pacific Reporter and Montana
Reports.
¶2 John Wesley Buchanan appeals his conviction in the First Judicial District Court,
Lewis and Clark County, of sexual intercourse without consent, alleging errors with the
jury instructions, evidence, verdict form, and his counsel’s failure to object to the foregoing
issues. Buchanan requests that this Court exercise plain error review. Upon review, we
affirm.
¶3 In October 2017, the State of Montana charged Buchanan with multiple sexual
offenses occurring over several years. Specifically, the State charged Buchanan with
sexual assault that occurred from January 1, 2012, to September 1, 2015, as well as three
counts of sexual intercourse without consent, ranging from January 1, 2012, to September
25, 2017. All charges involved K.B. who was under the age of sixteen at the time of the
offenses.
¶4 The District Court held a jury trial, beginning on September 9, 2019. The jury found
Buchanan guilty of one count of sexual assault and one count of sexual intercourse without
consent and not guilty on the remaining two offenses. Buchanan moved the court for, and
the District Court granted, a new trial for the sexual assault conviction because the date
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range in the jury instructions was incorrect. On February 5, 2020, the District Court held
a sentencing hearing for the sexual intercourse without consent conviction and imposed a
fifty-year prison term with fifteen years suspended. The State later moved for dismissal of
the sexual assault charge. Buchanan appeals.
¶5 Buchanan first argues that the District Court failed fully and fairly to instruct the
jury on the applicable law thereby violating Buchanan’s constitutional right to a unanimous
jury verdict. He contends that the verdict form was erroneous, confusing, and legally
deficient which prejudiced him. Buchanan explains that the directions listed below Count
I of sexual assault were incorrect because it listed sexual intercourse without consent
instead of sexual assault. The verdict form stated:
We the jury, duly impaneled and sworn to try the issues in the above-entitled
cause, enter the following unanimous verdict:
COUNT I:
1. To the charge of SEXUAL ASSAULT:
_______________________________
(Write on the above line “guilty” or “not guilty”)
2. (Answer the following only if you have found the Defendant guilty of
Count I: Sexual Intercourse without Consent).
We unanimously find, by proof beyond a reasonable doubt, that at the
time of the offense alleged above, K. was less than 16 years old and that the
Defendant was 3 or more years older than K.
____Yes ____No
COUNT II:
3. To the charge of SEXUAL INTERCOURSE WITHOUT CONSENT:
______________________________
(Write on the above line “guilty” or “not guilty”)
4. (Answer the following only if you have found the Defendant guilty of
Count I: Sexual Intercourse without Consent).
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We unanimously find, by proof beyond a reasonable doubt, that at
the time of the offense alleged above, K. was less than 16 years old and that
the Defendant was 4 or more years older than K.
____Yes ____No
COUNT III:
5. To the charge of SEXUAL INTERCOURSE WITHOUT CONSENT:
_____________________________
(Write on the above line “guilty” or “not guilty”)
6. (Answer the following only if you have found the Defendant guilty of
Count I: Sexual Intercourse without Consent).
We unanimously find, by proof beyond a reasonable doubt, that at
the time of the offense alleged above, K. was less than 16 years old and that
the Defendant was 4 or more years older than K.
____Yes ____No
COUNT IV:
7. To the charge of SEXUAL INTERCOURSE WITHOUT CONSENT:
_____________________________
(Write on the above line “guilty” or “not guilty”)
7. (Answer the following only if you have found the Defendant guilty of
Sexual Assault)
We unanimously find, by proof beyond a reasonable doubt, that at
the time of the offense alleged above, K. was less than 16 years old and that
the Defendant was 4 or more years older than K.
____Yes ____No
(Emphasis in original.)
¶6 The erroneous directions each address whether K.B. was under the age of 16 at the
time of the offense, which was correctly noted on the verdict form. Following the answer
for sexual assault in Count I, the form instructs at 2.: “Answer the following only if you
have found the Defendant guilty of Count I: Sexual Intercourse without Consent.” That
provision is mistaken—Count I was sexual assault as correctly noted on the form.
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¶7 Following the answer for sexual intercourse without consent in Count II, the form
instructs at 4.: “Answer the following only if you have found the Defendant guilty of Count
I: Sexual Intercourse without Consent.” That provision was also mistaken, in that it
referenced Count I rather than Count II.
¶8 The jury form was completed and signed on September 13, 2019, by the foreperson.
On the blank line in Count I, the term “guilty” was clearly written. At point 2., the line
next to “Yes” was clearly marked. On the blank line in Count II, the term “guilty” was
clearly written. At point 4., the line next to “Yes” was clearly marked.1
¶9 Buchanan maintains that these errors affected his right to a unanimous verdict. The
State highlights that Buchanan raises unpreserved errors and that nothing in the record
demonstrates that the typographical errors in the verdict form caused confusion with the
jury.
¶10 We find the State’s arguments dispositive in light of the record. During the
afternoon of the fourth day of trial without the jury present, the court settled the jury
instructions and verdict form with counsel and Buchanan present. The jury instructions
included the legal requirement for the additional findings with each offense regarding the
age of consent. Buchanan’s counsel did not object to any of the instructions and only
clarified a few, including the verdict form. Buchanan’s counsel noted that he filed a verdict
form after the court mentioned that it had “concerns about, the original verdict form.”
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Buchanan was acquitted on Counts III and IV, both sexual intercourse without consent charges.
The District Court later granted a new trial on the sexual assault conviction due to error with the
offense’s date, and the court granted the State’s motion to dismiss the charge after sentencing.
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[Counsel]: I did file a verdict form, too.
[Court]: Did you?
[Counsel]: But it was actually filed I think, in the record.
[State]: It must be. I remember seeing it but--
[Court]: Have you looked at this?
[State]: I forgot to bring our copy. I think there has to be a finding of
age with sexual intercourse without consent as well.
. . .
[Counsel]: Well, I guess I’m looking at your verdict. Count I is supposed
to be sexual assault.
[State]: I thought I changed it. Yeah.
[Counsel]: But then you go to Counts III and IV. Count IV then has the
three years or older.
[State]: Maybe I didn’t change it on there.
[Court]: Okay.
Buchanan’s counsel raised his concerns with the State’s verdict form, but raised no further
objection.2 While the resulting verdict form had typographical errors, the jury never raised
any claims about confusion or these errors.3 The District Court polled the jury, and each
answered affirmatively on both convictions. Buchanan has not demonstrated that the jury
was confused by the verdict form.
2
Buchanan concedes he did not object to the verdict form and raised that as an ineffective
assistance of counsel issue.
3
During deliberations, the jury sent questions referring to the three sexual intercourse without
consent offenses.
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¶11 Buchanan also contends that the court’s answer to the jury’s questions added to the
trial confusion. The jury asked the court: “ARE THE THREE COUNTS of sex W/OUT
Consent referring to three DIFFERENT METHODS of penetration? Or is it referring to
three EVENTS (occurrances)[sic]?” (Emphasis in original.) The court responded with
hand-written answers on the document: “The 3 counts refer to 3 events.” (Emphasis in
original.) Buchanan now challenges the court’s answer to the jury’s question; the State
contends that the court did not contradict the purpose of the instruction with the use of
“events” as opposed to specific acts. The court responded to the jury’s question after
consulting with counsel and with no objection.
¶12 The other jury question was: “Do we have to be unanimous for NOT Guilty or just
Guilty?” (Emphasis in original.) The State refers to the unanimity instruction, derived
from the Model Criminal Jury Instructions, delivered in this proceeding. The District Court
repeated its instruction concerning unanimity throughout the trial. See State v. Weaver,
1998 MT 167, ¶ 39, 290 Mont. 58, 964 P.2d 713, superseded by statute on other grounds,
§§ 46-4-406 through -411, MCA, 2009 Mont. Chap. 214, § 6, eff. Oct. 1, 2009; as
recognized in State v. Deines, 2009 MT 179, ¶ 19, 351 Mont. 1, 208 P.2d 857. Concerning
the jury’s questions, the court confirmed to the jury that the decision had to be unanimous:
“The verdict, guilty or not guilty, must be unanimous.”
¶13 This Court rarely invokes plain error review of issues not raised in the trial court.
“We review for plain error sparingly, on a case-by-case basis.” State v. Clemans, 2018 MT
187, ¶ 20, 392 Mont. 214, 422 P.3d 1210 (citing State v. Finley, 276 Mont. 126, 137, 915
P.2d 208, 215). “‘A mere assertion that constitutional rights are implicated or that failure
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to review the claimed error may result in a manifest miscarriage of justice is insufficient to
implicate the plain error doctrine.’” Clemans, ¶ 20 (citations omitted). “Failure to make a
timely objection during trial constitutes a waiver of the objection . . . .” Section
46-20-104(2), MCA. “This Court will invoke plain error review sparingly, and only if the
error claimed implicates a party’s fundamental constitutional rights . . . .” State v. Daniels,
2019 MT 214, ¶ 30, 397 Mont. 204, 448 P.3d 511. “This Court generally ‘will not consider
issues raised for the first time on appeal when the appellant had the opportunity to make
an objection at trial.’” Daniels, ¶ 24 (quoting Weaver, ¶ 24).
¶14 We will review whether such failure for plain error review would “(1) result in a
manifest miscarriage of justice; (2) leave unsettled the question of the fundamental fairness
of the trial or proceedings; or (3) compromise the integrity of the judicial process.”
Daniels, ¶ 25 (citing Weaver, ¶ 25). (Other citations omitted.) Buchanan has not
demonstrated any of the criteria. See Daniels, ¶ 30. No manifest miscarriage of justice
exists because K.B. testified to her various experiences with Buchanan as the abuser over
the years. The jury navigated the verdict form with its incumbent errors, and the jury
reached a decision on the conviction for sexual intercourse without consent consistent with
the court’s use of terms in answer to the jury’s question.
¶15 While Buchanan has a fundamental right to a unanimous jury verdict, Buchanan has
not met his burden to warrant plain error review. Buchanan has not shown that the
instructions did not fully and fairly instruct the jury on the applicable law. Neither the jury
instructions, the verdict form, or the court’s answer to the jury’s question demonstrate that
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a fundamental mistake has been made or violate Buchanan’s fundamental constitutional
rights. We decline to exercise plain error review for these issues that Buchanan raises.
¶16 Finally, Buchanan argues that there are three record-based claims of ineffective
assistance of counsel (IAC). Buchanan puts forth that his counsel failed: (1) to object to
evidence of sexual intercourse without consent that occurred outside the jurisdiction; (2) to
object to the flawed verdict form presented to the jury; and (3) to object to the District
Court’s “incorrect” answer to the jury’s question.
¶17 This Court considers IAC claims by applying the two-pronged test from Strickland
v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687, 104 S. Ct. 2052, 2064 (1984). See State v. Kirn, 2023
MT 98, ¶ 53, 412 Mont. 309, 530 P.3d 1. “Under Strickland, a defendant must prove
(1) that counsel’s performance was deficient, which requires a showing that counsel was
not functioning as guaranteed by the Sixth Amendment; and (2) that the deficient
performance prejudiced the defense, which requires a showing that counsel’s errors were
so serious as to deprive the defendant of a fair trial, a trial whose result is reliable.” Kirn,
¶ 53 (citing Strickland, 466 U.S. at 687, 104 S. Ct. at 2064). To establish a record-based
IAC claim, an appellant “must ground his or her proof of facts within the record and not
on conclusory allegations.” State v. Turnsplenty, 2003 MT 159, ¶ 14, 316 Mont. 275, 70
P.3d 1234.
¶18 K.B. testified to years-long abuse that included an incident that occurred during a
hunting trip where Buchanan and K.B. shared a hotel room near White Sulphur Springs in
Meagher County. Both the prosecution and the defense made use of the Meagher County
evidence as a matter of trial strategy. The prosecutor relied on the 2016 hunting trip and
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hotel stay to explain why K.B. initially reported the abuse—to avoid taking another
overnight trip. Buchanan’s attorney repeatedly used K.B.’s account of that trip to challenge
her veracity and explanation of events. However, both attorneys did stipulate to a limiting
instruction, and the District Court provided the following caution: “In this case, Defendant
is not charged with, and cannot be convicted of, any offense that was committed outside
Lewis and Clark County.”
¶19 There is a strong presumption that counsel’s defense strategies and trial tactics fall
within a wide range of reasonable and sound professional decisions. Strickland, 466 U.S.
at 688-89, 104 S. Ct. at 2064-65; Turnsplenty, ¶ 14. Buchanan is unable to overcome that
presumption. Here, the record does not support an IAC claim for Buchanan’s counsel’s
failure to act.
¶20 Even if Buchanan could show that his counsel’s performance was deficient, he fails
to demonstrate that he was prejudiced. See State v. Howard, 2011 MT 246, ¶ 20, 362 Mont.
196, 265 P.3d 606 (“If an insufficient showing is made on one prong, we need not address
the other.”) (internal citation omitted). We note that the jury found Buchanan not guilty
on two counts. See also Turnsplenty, ¶ 14 (Prejudice is established by showing that, but
for counsel’s errors, the outcome of the case would have been different.).
¶21 In a February 4, 2020 Order denying Buchanan’s motion for a new trial, the District
Court pointed to the clear evidence that the jury found unanimously to support the essential
elements for a sexual intercourse without consent verdict. Buchanan has not pointed to
any question, based on this record, that he had inadequate representation of counsel.
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¶22 We have determined to decide this case pursuant to Section I, Paragraph 3(c) of our
Internal Operating Rules, which provides for memorandum opinions. In the opinion of the
Court, the case presents a question controlled by settled law or by the clear application of
applicable standards of review. Having reviewed the briefs and record on appeal, we
conclude that Buchanan has not met his burden of persuasion.
¶23 Affirmed.
/S/ MIKE McGRATH
We Concur:
/S/ JAMES JEREMIAH SHEA
/S/ LAURIE McKINNON
/S/ DIRK M. SANDEFUR
/S/ JIM RICE
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