Selvin Colindres Mancedo v. Commonwealth of Virginia

COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA
UNPUBLISHED
Present: Judges Huff, O’Brien and Senior Judge Haley
Argued at Fredericksburg, Virginia
SELVIN COLINDRES MANCEDO
MEMORANDUM OPINION* BY
v. Record No. 0150-18-4 JUDGE GLEN A. HUFF
MAY 14, 2019
COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA
FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF FAIRFAX COUNTY
Thomas P. Mann, Judge
Jessica Newton, Assistant Public Defender, for appellant.
Brittany A. Dunn-Pirio, Assistant Attorney General (Mark R.
Herring, Attorney General, on brief), for appellee.
Selvin Colindres Mancedo (“appellant”) appeals his conviction by the Circuit Court of
Fairfax County (“trial court”) for two counts of aggravated sexual battery of D.C., in violation of
Code § 18.2-67.3. D.C. is the eight-year-old daughter of Isabel Hernandez (“Hernandez”),
appellant’s romantic partner at the time of the offense. In accordance with the jury’s verdict, the
trial court sentenced appellant to a total of 28 years of incarceration, with 14 years suspended.
Appellant claims the trial court erred by excluding two parts of Hernandez’s testimony.
First, appellant claims the trial court erred by excluding Hernandez’s testimony that D.C. had
told Hernandez and appellant, “I don’t want you to go to jail. I don’t want to say the things
they’re telling me to say.” The trial court excluded this testimony under the rape shield statute.
Second, appellant claims the trial court erred by excluding Hernandez’s testimony that Reina
Castellon (“Castellon”)—Hernandez’s aunt and the “first report witness”—had attempted to
*
Pursuant to Code § 17.1-413, this opinion is not designated for publication.
extort Hernandez and appellant with an offer of silence. The trial court excluded this testimony
as extrinsic evidence of a collateral inconsistent statement.
This Court affirms both holdings. Hernandez’s testimony about D.C.’s statement is
inadmissible hearsay not covered by the state-of-mind exception. Further, Hernandez’s
testimony about Castellon’s statement was extrinsic evidence of a collateral prior inconsistent
statement.
I. BACKGROUND
On appeal, this Court “consider[s] the evidence and all reasonable inferences flowing
from that evidence in the light most favorable to the Commonwealth, the prevailing party at
trial.” Williams v. Commonwealth, 49 Va. App. 439, 442 (2007) (en banc) (quoting Jackson v.
Commonwealth, 267 Va. 666, 672 (2004)).
So viewed, the evidence established that appellant inappropriately touched D.C. a number
of times. After D.C. turned nine years old, she reported the improper touching for the first time
to Castellon. D.C. spent most weekends at Castellon’s home, so that she could attend church and
a program called “Adventures.” Castellon noticed that D.C. often became upset and tearful
when it was time for her to return home on Sunday, and she would ask to stay until Monday.
Castellon questioned D.C. about this behavior in November 2015, and D.C. revealed that
appellant had been inappropriately touching her.
Castellon took D.C. to discuss the matter with Hernandez and appellant. Later that day
D.C. told Hernandez that the allegations were untrue and that the touching had not occurred.
Castellon took D.C. back to her home because Hernandez did not believe D.C., and Castellon did
not think it was safe to leave D.C. with Hernandez and appellant. Castellon waited about three
weeks to determine if Hernandez would report the matter to Child Protective Services (“CPS”),
but Castellon contacted CPS herself when Hernandez failed to do so. As a result, Detective
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Alyson Russo and CPS caseworker Laurie Johnson interviewed D.C. on two occasions, in which
D.C. consistently relayed details of the inappropriate touching. D.C. testified that she was
truthful when she told Russo and Johnson about the touching incidents.
At trial, D.C. explained that she was untruthful with Hernandez at the time of her initial
report because Hernandez and appellant were in a relationship, Hernandez loved appellant, and
D.C. did not want Hernandez to be unhappy as a result of appellant’s conduct. D.C.
acknowledged that she changed her story multiple times when speaking with Hernandez. D.C.,
however, indicated that her recantation was false and that her trial testimony was true. When
questioned about whether the events she had described could have been a dream, D.C. said, “All
of those things happened and I’m pretty sure about that.”
Hernandez testified at trial that she was in contact with D.C. in the mornings when
appellant took care of D.C. before school by himself, and D.C. never appeared to be unhappy or
upset. Hernandez also never saw D.C. appear unhappy or afraid of appellant. When Hernandez
confronted appellant about D.C.’s allegations, he did not appear nervous. Lastly, Hernandez
stated she did not contact CPS about the report because D.C. recanted on the same day she made
the allegation.
At one point, D.C. told appellant and Hernandez, “I don’t want you to go to jail. I don’t
want to say the things they’re telling me to say.” At trial, appellant sought to elicit this statement
from Hernandez to show that D.C.’s family members had told D.C. to lie. Appellant proffered
the fact that a long-standing family feud existed between Hernandez’s family and appellant.
Based on this feud, appellant contended that D.C.’s allegations of abuse were a product of
conspiracy, that is, Hernandez’s family pressured D.C. to lie. The court ruled that the statement
was inadmissible because the rape shield statute applied, the court had no way to determine what
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“the things” were that D.C. referenced, and the state-of-mind hearsay exception was not
applicable.
Appellant also attempted to elicit testimony from Hernandez that Castellon had contacted
appellant and Hernandez, offering her silence in exchange for their trailer or money. When
asked on cross-examination, Castellon denied threatening to extort appellant and Hernandez.
Although the trial court permitted the question on cross-examination of Castellon, it refused to
permit Hernandez to testify about the statement on the grounds that this testimony was extrinsic
evidence of a collateral prior inconsistent statement.
After a three-day trial, the jury convicted appellant of two counts of aggravated sexual
battery, and the trial court sentenced appellant to a total of 28 years of incarceration, with 14
years suspended. This appeal followed.
II. STANDARD OF REVIEW
“The admissibility of evidence is within the broad discretion of the trial court, and a
ruling will not be disturbed on appeal in the absence of an abuse of discretion.” Blain v.
Commonwealth, 7 Va. App. 10, 16 (1988). “This standard, if nothing else, means that the trial
judge’s ‘ruling will not be reversed simply because an appellate court disagrees.’” Thomas v.
Commonwealth, 44 Va. App. 741, 753 (quoting Henry J. Friendly, Indiscretion about Discretion,
31 Emory L.J. 747, 754 (1982)), adopted upon reh’g en banc, 45 Va. App. 811 (2005). “Only
when reasonable jurists could not differ can we say an abuse of discretion has occurred.” Turner
v. Commonwealth, 65 Va. App. 312, 327 (2015) (quoting Grattan v. Commonwealth, 278 Va.
602, 620 (2009)).
A trial court, however, “by definition abuses its discretion when it makes an error of
law.” Robinson v. Commonwealth, 68 Va. App. 602, 606 (2018) (quoting Dean v.
Commonwealth, 61 Va. App. 209, 213 (2012)). Thus, “evidentiary issues presenting a ‘question
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of law’ are ‘reviewed de novo by this Court.’” Abney v. Commonwealth, 51 Va. App. 337, 345
(2008) (quoting Michels v. Commonwealth, 47 Va. App. 461, 465 (2006)).
III. ANALYSIS
Appellant argues the trial court erred by preventing Hernandez from testifying about
statements made by both D.C. and Castellon. Appellant argues that D.C.’s statement is
admissible under the state-of-mind hearsay exception and that Castellon’s offer of silence was a
material prior inconsistent statement. This Court disagrees.
A. Hearsay evidence of D.C.’s statement
Appellant argues that the trial court erred by excluding Hernandez’s testimony that she
heard D.C. tell appellant “I don’t want you to go to jail. I don’t want to say the things they’re
telling me to say.” He argues that the rape shield statute does not bar admission of the statement
because it does not contain evidence of prior sexual conduct. Further, appellant asserts the
statement is admissible under the state-of-mind hearsay exception because it relates to D.C.’s
thoughts and feelings at that time.1
This Court concludes the trial court erred by applying the rape shield statute to D.C.’s
statement because the statement did not involve D.C.’s past sexual conduct. Nevertheless, under
the right result for the wrong reason doctrine, this Court will affirm the exclusion of the
statement because the statement is inadmissible hearsay not covered by the state-of-mind hearsay
exception.
1. Rape Shield Statute
Appellant argues the trial court erred by applying the rape shield statute. The
Commonwealth concedes the rape shield statute does not apply to D.C.’s statement. This Court,
1
Appellant also contends the trial court erred by finding D.C.’s statement not relevant
due to its ambiguity and lack of specificity. Because neither of appellant’s hearsay arguments
are valid, this Court need not address the relevance of the statement.
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however, is not bound by the Commonwealth’s concession of law. Bowden v. Commonwealth,
52 Va. App. 673, 677 n.1 (2008) (“[F]idelity to the uniform application of law precludes us from
accepting concessions of law made on appeal.” (quoting Logan v. Commonwealth, 47 Va. App.
168, 172 (2005) (en banc))).
Under Code § 18.2-67.7, often referred to as the rape shield statute, and Virginia Rule of
Evidence 2:412, evidence of the complaining witness’ prior sexual conduct is inadmissible with
certain exceptions. If the evidence is not offered to prove sexual conduct, however, then the rape
shield statute does not apply. For instance, the rape shield statute does not apply to false
statements about sexual abuse because such statements do not qualify as “conduct” within the
meaning of the statute. Clinebell v. Commonwealth, 235 Va. 319, 322 (1988); see also Poff v.
Commonwealth, Record No. 0911-15-1, at *3 (Va. Ct. App. Jan. 24, 2017) (“[T]estimony about
a false accusation of rape cannot fall under Code § 18.2-67.7 . . . because it is not testimony
about her past sexual activity but an alleged lie that she told about alleged sexual activity.”).2
Here, D.C.’s statement does not involve her sexual conduct, nor does it discuss her past
sexual activity. Accordingly, the rape shield statute does not govern.
2. Right Result for the Wrong Reason Doctrine
Even though the trial court improperly held that the rape shield statute barred admission
of the statement, this Court will affirm the exclusion under the right result for the wrong reason
doctrine. “[I]t is the settled rule that how[ever] erroneous . . . may be the reasons of the court for
its judgment upon the face of the judgment itself, if the judgment be right, it will not be disturbed
on account of the reasons.” Perry v. Commonwealth, 280 Va. 572, 579 (2010) (quoting Schultz
v. Schultz, 51 Va. 358, 384 (1853)). “When the trial court has reached the correct result for the
2
“Although not binding precedent, unpublished opinions can be cited and considered for
their persuasive value.” Otey v. Commonwealth, 61 Va. App. 346, 351 (2012).
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wrong reason, but the record supports the right reason, ‘we will assign the correct reason and
affirm that result.’” Id. at 580 (quoting Mitchem v. Counts, 259 Va. 179, 191 (2000)). As such,
the right result for the wrong reason doctrine is proper “when the evidence in the record supports
the new argument on appeal, and the development of additional facts is not necessary.” Id. at
579 (citing Whitehead v. Commonwealth, 278 Va. 105, 115 (2009)). This Court affirms the
ruling of the trial court because D.C.’s statement does not qualify under the state-of-mind
hearsay exception.
3. State-of-Mind Hearsay Exception
Appellant argues that D.C.’s statement qualifies under the state-of-mind hearsay
exception because it related to what she was thinking and feeling at the time she made the
statement. This Court disagrees. D.C.’s statement contains aspects of memory within it,
meaning this hearsay exception cannot apply.
“Hearsay is a statement, other than one made by the declarant while testifying at trial,
which is offered to prove the truth of the matter asserted.” Clark v. Commonwealth, 14 Va. App.
1068, 1070 (1992). Generally, “hearsay evidence is admissible if it falls into one of the
recognized exceptions to the hearsay rule . . . .” Evans-Smith v. Commonwealth, 5 Va. App.
188, 197 (1987). State-of-mind is one such hearsay exception, codified in Virginia Rule of
Evidence 2:803(3):
A statement of the declarant’s then existing state of mind, emotion,
sensation, or physical condition (such as intent, plan, motive,
design, mental feeling, pain, and bodily health), but not including a
statement of memory or belief to prove the fact remembered or
believed unless it relates to the execution, revocation,
identification, or terms of the declarant’s will.
Under this hearsay exception, “if the declarant’s state of mind is relevant to the case, then
admissions of the declarant’s mental state are admissible, providing that they ‘refer to a presently
existing state of mind. . . .’” Evans-Smith, 5 Va. App. at 197 (internal citation omitted). “The
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requirement of contemporaneousness, or near contemporaneousness, reduces the chance of
premeditated prevarication or loss of memory.” Foley v. Commonwealth, 8 Va. App. 149,
161-62 (1989) (quoting Booth v. State, 508 A.2d 976, 980 (Md. 1986)).
This hearsay exception cannot apply, however, to statements that contain elements of
memory within them. See Kauffmann v. Commonwealth, 8 Va. App. 400, 406-07 (1989)
(holding declarant’s statements that the defendant had molested her in the past were not
admissible under the state-of-mind exception). As such, “statements describing or narrating the
cause of the declarant’s mental or physical condition are not admissible under the state-of-mind
exception.” Id. at 407 (citing Travellers’ Ins. Co. of Chicago v. Mosley, 75 U.S. 397, 405
(1869)).
Here, D.C. told appellant and Hernandez, “I don’t want you to go to jail. I don’t want to
say the things they’re telling me to say.” This inadmissible hearsay did not become admissible
under the state-of-mind hearsay exception because the statement contains an undercurrent of
memory.3 In her second sentence, D.C. refers to “things they’re telling me to say.” At trial,
appellant argued that D.C. made this statement in the context of a long-standing family feud
between Hernandez’s family and appellant. Appellant sought to prove that, because of this feud,
Hernandez’s family pressured D.C. to lie and that her allegations of abuse were untrue.
In the very moment that D.C. made this statement, no one was telling her to say anything,
implying that the individuals she referenced must have told her these “things” previously.
3
The first sentence of D.C.’s statement, “I don’t want you to go to jail,” might fall within
the state-of-mind hearsay exception because it describes D.C.’s feelings at that very moment
about the prospect of appellant serving jail time. Even though this first sentence might be
admissible under this hearsay exception, it would not be relevant by itself. Appellant offered the
statement as a whole to prove that D.C.’s family members had told her to lie, and the first
sentence would not suffice to achieve that purpose. The first sentence is not relevant apart from
the second because its relevance is derived from the bigger picture of proving D.C. had been told
to lie.
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Because the individuals told her these “things” previously, she relied on her memory during this
statement to Hernandez and appellant. Because there is a sense of memory implicit within this
second sentence, it is not admissible as state-of-mind hearsay.
B. Extrinsic evidence of Castellon’s statement
Appellant argues that the trial court erred in excluding Hernandez’s testimony that
Castellon attempted to extort appellant’s and Hernandez’s trailer or money from them in
exchange for not reporting the touching to the authorities. He argues that the alleged extortion
was a prior inconsistent statement to Castellon’s testimony. Although the trial court permitted
appellant to cross-examine Castellon about the alleged extortion, it refused to allow Hernandez
to testify about it because her testimony would be extrinsic evidence of a collateral inconsistent
statement. Appellant argues the trial court erred because the alleged extortion is material to the
case, not collateral, because it demonstrates Castellon’s motive to lie about D.C.’s behavior and
statements to her. This Court disagrees.
Although a party may impeach a witness by cross-examining the witness about a prior
inconsistent statement, the party may not introduce extrinsic evidence that the statement was
made unless the inconsistent statement is material to the case. Va. R. Evid. 2:613(a)(ii)
(“Extrinsic evidence of collateral statements is not admissible.”). A statement is material—not
collateral—when the offering party would “be entitled to prove it in support of his case.”
Massey v. Commonwealth, 67 Va. App. 108, 126 (2016) (quoting McGowan v. Commonwealth,
274 Va. 689, 695 (2007)). A statement is collateral if it provides “no link in the chain of
evidence” nor “intimate connection with the main fact.” Id. (quoting McGowan, 274 Va. at
695). “Evidence . . . which cannot be used for any purpose other than for impeachment . . . is
certainly collateral to the main issue.” Id. (quoting McGowan, 274 Va. at 695).
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At its core, “the ‘collateral facts’ rule is purely a question of relevancy.” Seilheimer v.
Melville, 224 Va. 323, 327 (1982) (citing C. Friend, The Law of Evidence in Virginia § 137
(1977)). If the statement is only relevant because the declarant testified inconsistently—and the
statement would not have been relevant if the declarant did not testify—then the evidence is
collateral to the main issue of the case and the statement cannot be proved with extrinsic
evidence. “[S]uch evidence tends to draw the minds of the jury away from the point in issue, to
excite prejudice and mislead them.” Id. (quoting Spurlin, Administratrix v. Richardson, 203 Va.
984, 990 (1962)).
Appellant argues that because the alleged extortion demonstrates Castellon’s motive to
testify falsely, the alleged extorting statements are material. Appellant, however, offers no
reason why those statements are relevant except to impeach Castellon. He does not explain how
the alleged extortion makes it more or less likely that the appellant touched D.C. The alleged
extorting statements’ only relevance is the doubt it casts on Castellon’s testimony; in other
words, it demonstrates her motive to fabricate. Appellant would not be allowed to prove
Castellon attempted to extort Hernandez and appellant if Castellon had not testified because any
alleged extortion is collateral to appellant’s criminal trial. Thus, the trial court properly excluded
the testimony.
Appellant cites Davis v. Alaska, 415 U.S. 308, 316 (1974) (quoting 3A J. Wigmore,
Evidence § 940, p. 775 (Chadbourn rev. 1970)), for the proposition that “[t]he partiality of a
witness is subject to exploration at trial, [sic] and is ‘always relevant as discrediting the witness
and affecting the weight of his testimony.’” See also Va. R. Evid. 2:610 (“A witness may be
impeached by a showing that the witness is biased for or prejudiced against a party. Extrinsic
evidence of such bias or prejudice may be admitted.”). Thus, appellant argues, Hernandez’s
testimony about Castellon’s alleged extortion was material to his case. He did not, however,
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argue bias to the trial court, and any argument that bias is a special category of collateral
statement that may be proved with extrinsic evidence is not preserved. Rule 5A:18; Edwards v.
Commonwealth, 41 Va. App. 752, 760 (2003) (en banc) (“Making one specific argument on an
issue does not preserve a separate legal point on the same issue for review.”). In the trial court,
appellant alleged Castellon’s alleged extorting statements were prior inconsistent statements
because she denied making them at trial.4 He never mentioned bias or motive at all. Thus, he
never alerted the trial court that it should consider bias as a basis to admit the statement, and that
argument is waived. Neal v. Commonwealth, 14 Va. App. 416, 422 (1992) (“[T]he primary
function of Rule 5A:18 is to alert the trial judge to possible error so the judge may consider the
issue intelligently and take corrective actions necessary.”).
IV. CONCLUSION
This Court affirms the ruling of the trial court, holding that D.C. and Castellon’s
statements were inadmissible. D.C.’s statement is inadmissible because it does not fall within
the state-of-mind hearsay exception. Extrinsic evidence of Castellon’s statement is inadmissible
because it is a collateral inconsistent statement. Accordingly, appellant’s convictions are
affirmed.
Affirmed.
4
He also argued the statements were statements against penal interest because extortion
is a criminal act, but has abandoned that argument before this Court.
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