State of West Virginia v. Jack Jones

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS OF WEST VIRGINIA
January 2013 Term
_______________
FILED
No. 11-1504
_______________ April 11, 2013
released at 3:00 p.m.
RORY L. PERRY II, CLERK
SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS
STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA, OF WEST VIRGINIA
Plaintiff Below, Respondent
v.
JACK JONES,
Defendant Below, Petitioner
Appeal from the Circuit Court of Ohio County
The Honorable James P. Mazzone, Judge
Criminal Case No. 08-F-13
AFFIRMED
Submitted March 26, 2013
Filed: April 11 , 2013
Stephen D. Herndon, Esq. Patrick Morrisey, Esq.
Herndon Law Offices Attorney General
Wheeling, West Virginia Scott E. Johnson, Esq.
Brent A. Clyburn, Esq. Senior Assistant Attorney General
The Law Office of Brent A. Clyburn Charleston, West Virginia
Wheeling, West Virginia Counsel for the Respondent
Counsel for the Petitioner
The Opinion of the Court was delivered PER CURIAM.
JUSTICE DAVIS dissents and reserves the right to file a dissenting opinion.
SYLLABUS BY THE COURT
1. “In reviewing challenges to findings and rulings made by a circuit court, we apply
a two-pronged deferential standard of review. We review the rulings of the circuit court concerning
a new trial and its conclusion as to the existence of reversible error under an abuse of discretion
standard, and we review the circuit court’s underlying factual findings under a clearly erroneous
standard. Questions of law are subject to a de novo review.” Syl. pt. 3, State v. Vance, 207 W.Va.
640, 535 S.E.2d 484 (2000).
2. “A determination of the probable falsity of other statements of being the victim
of sexual misconduct made by an alleged victim of a sexual offense is not a determination of the
admissibility of evidence regarding the statements, nor is it a determination that cross-examination
on the other statements must be permitted. A falsity determination means only that evidence
regarding the other statements is not to be considered as evidence of an alleged victim’s ‘sexual
conduct’ within the meaning of our rape shield law, W.Va. Code, 61-8B-11 [1986] and West Virginia
Rule of Evidence 404(a)(3) [1994]. The evidence remains subject to all other applicable evidentiary
requirements and considerations. Moreover, in the event that an ultimate determination is made that
such evidence is admissible, the State retains the right to seek to rebut or impeach such evidence
before the ultimate trier of fact.” Syl. pt. 5, State v. Quinn, 200 W.Va. 432, 490 S.E.2d 34 (1997).
3. “The test used to determine whether a trial court’s exclusion of proffered evidence
under our rape shield law violated a defendant’s due process right to a fair trial is (1) whether that
testimony was relevant; (2) whether the probative value of the evidence outweighed its prejudicial
effect; and (3) whether the State’s compelling interests in excluding the evidence outweighed the
defendant’s right to present relevant evidence supportive of his or her defense. Under the test, we
will reverse a trial court’s ruling only if there has been a clear abuse of discretion.” Syl. pt. 6, State
v. Guthrie, 205 W.Va. 326, 518 S.E.2d 83 (1999).
4. “The traditional appellate standard for determining prejudice for discovery
violations under Rule 16 of the West Virginia Rules of Criminal Procedure involves a two-pronged
analysis: (1) did the non-disclosure surprise the defendant on a material fact, and (2) did it hamper
the preparation and presentation of the defendant’s case.” Syl. pt. 2, State ex rel. Rusen v. Hill, 193
W.Va. 133, 454 S.E.2d 427 (1994).
5. “Ordinarily, where objections to questions or evidence by a party are sustained by
the trial court during the trial and the jury instructed not to consider such matter, it will not constitute
reversible error.” Syl. pt. 18, State v. Hamric, 151 W.Va. 1, 151 S.E.2d 252 (1966).
6. “The discretion of the trial court in ruling on the propriety of argument by counsel
before the jury will not be interfered with by the appellate court, unless it appears that the rights of
the complaining party have been prejudiced, or that manifest injustice resulted therefrom.” Syl. pt.
3, State v. Boggs, 103 W.Va. 641, 138 S.E. 321 (1927).
Per Curiam:
This case is before this Court upon the appeal of Jack Jones from his convictions in the
Circuit Court of Ohio County of six counts of sexual assault in the first degree, seven counts of
sexual abuse by a custodian or parent and one count of conspiracy. All of the convictions
represented acts of sexual misconduct perpetrated by Jones against a child, R.M.1 According to the
evidence of the State, Jessica M., the mother of R.M., participated with Jones in some of the acts of
sexual misconduct against R.M. Jessica M.’s criminal convictions concerning R.M. were affirmed
by this Court in State v. Jessica Jane M., 226 W.Va. 242, 700 S.E.2d 302 (2010).
Following trial by jury in 2009, the circuit court entered an order denying Jones’s post-trial
motions and sentencing him to an aggregate penitentiary term of 161 to 355 years. The circuit court
reimposed that sentence by order entered on September 30, 2011.
Asking for a new trial, Jones sets forth several assignments of error, among which is his
contention that his confrontation and due process rights were violated because he was not permitted
to let the jury know that the complaining witness, R.M., had made various statements that sexual
misconduct had been perpetrated against her by individuals other than Jones. Jones asserts that
evidence of R.M.’s statements implicating others should have been admitted at trial as an exception
to this State’s rape shield statute, W.Va. Code, 61-8B-11 [1986].
1
In view of the sensitive nature of this case, this Court will refer to certain individuals by
their initials or first name and last initial. Clifford K. v. Paul S., 217 W.Va. 625, 630 n. 1, 619
S.E.2d 138, 143 n. 1 (2005).
1
In reviewing Jones’s assignments of error, this Court has carefully examined the appendix-
record and the briefs and argument of the parties. For the reasons stated herein, we find the
assignments of error to be without merit. Accordingly, this Court affirms Jones’s convictions as well
as his penitentiary sentence reflected in the September 30, 2011, order.
I. Factual Background
R.M., born in December 1998, is the biological daughter of Jessica M. The biological father
has been absent from this State for some time and is not involved in this case. In 2001, Jessica M.
began a relationship with the petitioner, Jack Jones, an adult male born in 1970. Jones lived at
Jessica M.’s residence in the Wheeling area from time to time and is the putative father, with Jessica
M., of two children, Molly, born in 2003, and Isaac, born in 2005. Throughout the relationship
between Jessica M. and Jones, drug and alcohol abuse and domestic violence took place at the
residence in the presence of the children. As a result, the circumstances necessitated the continued
involvement of the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources and its office of
Child Protective Services.
In 2006, the Department of Health and Human Resources instituted abuse and neglect
proceedings in the Circuit Court of Ohio County against Jessica M. and Jones on grounds unrelated
to the sexual misconduct charges underlying this appeal. One of the primary allegations in the abuse
and neglect proceeding was that, while under the influence of an illegal substance, Jessica M. drove
away in a vehicle, leaving one of the infant children, age two, on the sidewalk. Soon after, R.M.,
2
Molly and Isaac were placed in foster care. The record indicates that Jessica M.’s parental rights to
R.M. were terminated in November 2007.
At age seven, R.M. entered the foster home of Sally Keefer and was seen exhibiting age-
inappropriate sexual knowledge and sexual conduct, such as “French kissing.” Soon after, R.M. told
Ms. Keefer that she had been sexually abused by Jessica M. and Jones. Following the disclosure,
R.M. underwent a number of interviews and counseling and therapy sessions during which she
related to social workers, Child Protective Services workers and psychologists various incidents of
sexual misconduct perpetrated against her by Jessica M. and Jones.
II. Procedural Background
In January 2008, an Ohio County grand jury returned separate indictments against Jessica M.
and Jones, charging them with committing sexual offenses against R.M.2 The indictment against
Jones set forth six counts of sexual assault in the first degree in violation of W.Va. Code, 61-8B­
3(a)(2) [1991], and seven counts of sexual abuse by a custodian or parent in violation of W.Va. Code,
61-8D-5 [1998]. Those counts charged Jones with a wide variety of acts of sexual misconduct
against R.M. over a period of time, when R.M. was age 11 or younger. An additional count charged
Jones with conspiracy in violation of W.Va. Code, 61-10-31 [1971], alleging that Jones engaged in
sexual intercourse or intrusion with R.M., while Jessica M. held R.M. down.
2
Jessica M. was ultimately convicted on eleven counts consisting of sexual assault in the
first degree, sexual abuse by a custodian or parent, incest and conspiracy. Her convictions and
sentence to an aggregate penitentiary term of 101 to 235 years were affirmed by this Court in
State v. Jessica Jane M., supra.3
Following a mistrial in June 2009, Jones’s second trial began in December 2009. The
evidence submitted by the State was graphic. According to that evidence, Jones had been sexually
assaulting or sexually abusing R.M. since she was three or four years old. Some of the incidents
occurred when Jessica M. was absent from the residence, and some occurred with Jones committing
the act while Jessica M. held R.M. down on the bed. The acts attributed to Jones included vaginal
and anal penetration of R.M. with Jones’s penis, penetration by Jones of R.M. with his fingers and
with a stick, oral sex by Jones upon R.M. and oral sex by R.M. upon Jones. In addition, R.M.
witnessed Jessica M. and Jones having sex and was exposed to pornographic movies. The evidence
of the State included the testimony of Joan Phillips, M.D., of Women and Children’s Hospital in
Charleston who examined R.M. and found “blunt force penetrating trauma” to R.M.’s vagina. At
the time of the December 2009 trial, R.M., who testified as a witness for the State, was age ten.
Although Jones did not testify, he called a psychologist to the stand who stated that as a result
of excessive interviews by social workers, Child Protective Services workers and other
psychologists, it could not be determined whether R.M., a young child, was able to accurately report
that sexual offenses were committed against her. In addition, Jones called R.M.’s grandmother and
aunt who testified that R.M. never disclosed to them any sexual misconduct by Jones. In addition,
Jones called Stephen R. Guertin, M.D., who contested the findings of abnormality found by Dr.
Phillips.
4
At the conclusion of the trial, the jury found Jones guilty of six counts of sexual assault in
the first degree, seven counts of sexual abuse by a custodian or parent and one count of conspiracy.
Thereafter, the circuit court entered an order denying Jones’s post-trial motions and sentencing him
to an aggregate penitentiary term of 161 to 355 years.3 The circuit court reimposed the sentence by
order entered on September 30, 2011.
This appeal followed.
III. Standard of Review
Although the assignments of error set forth by Jones require the application of separate and
distinct standards of review, we note the following general standard in view of Jones’s request for
a new trial:
In reviewing challenges to findings and rulings made by a circuit court, we
apply a two-pronged deferential standard of review. We review the rulings of the
circuit court concerning a new trial and its conclusion as to the existence of
reversible error under an abuse of discretion standard, and we review the circuit
court’s underlying factual findings under a clearly erroneous standard. Questions
of law are subject to a de novo review.
Syl. pt. 3, State v. Vance, 207 W.Va. 640, 535 S.E.2d 484 (2000). See also, W.Va. R. Crim. P.
33; syl. pt. 1, State v. Kennedy, 229 W.Va. 756, 735 S.E.2d 905 (2012).
3
The 161 to 355 years consisted of the following consecutive sentences: For six counts
of sexual assault in the first degree, not less than 15 nor more than 35 years; for seven counts of
sexual abuse by a custodian or parent, not less than 10 nor more than 20 years; and for one count
of conspiracy, not less than one nor more than five years.
5
IV. Discussion
A.
Assignment of Error Relating to
State v. Quinn and Barbe v. McBride
Jones’s first assignment of error is that his confrontation and due process rights were violated
because he was not permitted to let the jury know that the complaining witness, R.M., made various
statements that sexual misconduct had been perpetrated against her by individuals other than Jones.
Jones asserts that evidence of R.M.’s statements implicating others should have been admitted at trial
as an exception to West Virginia’s rape shield statute, W.Va. Code, 61-8B-11 [1986]. That statute
provides in relevant part:
In any prosecution under this article in which the victim’s lack of consent
is based solely on the incapacity to consent because such victim was below a
critical age, evidence of specific instances of the victim’s sexual conduct, opinion
evidence of the victim’s sexual conduct and reputation evidence of the victim’s
sexual conduct shall not be admissible.4
(footnote added)
4
In addition to W.Va. Code, 61-8B-11 [1986], W.Va. R. Evid. 404(a)(3) [1994], states:
(a) Character evidence generally. - Evidence of a person’s character or a
trait of character is not admissible for the purpose of proving that he or she acted
in conformity therewith on a particular occasion, except: * * *
(3) Character of victim of a sexual offense. - In a case charging criminal
sexual misconduct, evidence of the victim’s past sexual conduct with the
defendant as provided for in W.Va. Code § 61-8B-11; and as to the victim’s prior
sexual conduct with persons other than the defendant, where the court determines
at a hearing out of the presence of the jury that such evidence is specifically
related to the act or acts for which the defendant is charged and is necessary to
prevent manifest injustice[.]
6
Prior to trial, Jones filed notices that he intended to introduce evidence before the jury of
R.M.’s past statements implicating others. According to Jones, if R.M.’s statements against others
were demonstrably false, the statements would fall outside the scope and reach of the rape shield
statute under this Court’s opinion in State v. Quinn, 200 W.Va. 432, 490 S.E.2d 34 (1997), and
would suggest that R.M.’s statements implicating Jones were also false. In the alternative, according
to Jones, if R.M.’s past statements implicating others were demonstrably true, evidence of the
statements would be admissible at trial under Barbe v. McBride, 521 F.3d 443 (4th Cir. 2008), and
would provide another explanation for the physical findings of Dr. Phillips, as well as R.M.’s age-
inappropriate sexual knowledge and conduct.
The circuit court conducted a hearing on December 3, 2009, and in an order entered on
December 11, 2009, ruled that R.M.’s past statements implicating others in sexual misconduct
against her would not be admissible under either Quinn or Barbe.5
In Quinn, the defendant was convicted of sexual misconduct of a child by a custodian. The
child was age five. On appeal, the defendant asserted that the trial court committed error in
excluding evidence under the rape shield statute of the child’s false statements that sexual
misconduct had been committed against her by others. In affirming the conviction, however, this
Court, in Quinn, agreed with the trial court that the defendant’s proffer of denials by alleged
5
As stated above, the criminal convictions of R.M.’s mother were affirmed by this Court
in State v. Jessica Jane M., supra. In that case, a per curiam opinion citing Quinn and Barbe, we
held that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in sustaining the State’s objection to the
following question posed to R.M. by defense counsel: “How many different men did you have
sex with?”
7
perpetrators of the misconduct against the child was insufficient to establish that the child’s
statements were false.
In so holding, this Court emphasized, in Quinn, that requiring “strong and substantial proof”
of the actual falsity of an alleged victim’s other statements is necessary to reasonably minimize the
possibility that evidence which is within the scope of the rape shield statute is not erroneously
considered outside its scope. 200 W.Va. at 438, 490 S.E.2d at 40; syl. pt. 2, State v. Wears, 222
W.Va. 439, 665 S.E.2d 273 (2008). Accordingly, the defense must initially present such evidence
of other statements to the court out of the presence of the jury and with fair notice to the prosecution,
which presentation may in the court’s discretion “be limited to proffer, affidavit, or other method that
properly protects both the rights of the defendant and the alleged victim.” id. Nevertheless, syllabus
point 5 of Quinn expressed the following caveat:
A determination of the probable falsity of other statements of being the
victim of sexual misconduct made by an alleged victim of a sexual offense is not a
determination of the admissibility of evidence regarding the statements, nor is it a
determination that cross-examination on the other statements must be permitted.
A falsity determination means only that evidence regarding the other statements is
not to be considered as evidence of an alleged victim’s “sexual conduct” within
the meaning of our rape shield law, W.Va. Code, 61-8B-11 [1986] and West
Virginia Rule of Evidence 404(a)(3) [1994]. The evidence remains subject to all
other applicable evidentiary requirements and considerations. Moreover, in the
event that an ultimate determination is made that such evidence is admissible, the
State retains the right to seek to rebut or impeach such evidence before the
ultimate trier of fact.
By contrast, defense counsel in Barbe sought to demonstrate that the child had, in fact, been
the victim of sexual misconduct by other men in order to provide an alternative explanation for her
8
psychological profile as an abuse victim. In Barbe, the defendant was convicted of a number of
sexual offenses in a case where the child testified that the defendant had repeatedly abused her when
she was between the ages of four and twelve. The defense, however, was prevented by the trial court
from cross-examining the State’s expert counselor concerning any sexual misconduct perpetrated
against the child by other men. The basis of the trial court’s ruling was a per se application of this
State’s rape shield law.
Granting relief in habeas corpus, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, in Barbe, confirmed
that a state court cannot impose a per se rule for disallowing evidence under a rape shield law.
Instead, the court must determine, on a case-by-case basis, whether the exclusionary rule is arbitrary
or disproportionate to the State’s legitimate interests. Concluding that the defendant’s right to
confront witnesses had been violated, the opinion in Barbe states:
In making the Rape Shield Ruling at trial, the state court contravened the
Rock-Lucas [case-by-case assessment] Principle. That is, the circuit court applied
a per se exclusionary rule, premised on its conclusion that, because Barbe was not
relying on the falsity exception to the rape shield law recognized in State v.
Quinn, “the rape shield statute applies, period.” As the Supreme Court explained
in Lucas, a court’s adoption and application of a per se exclusionary rule - absent
consideration of the specific facts of the case, and absent an appropriate
assessment of the legitimate competing interests of the accused and the State ­
constitutes error.
521 F.3d at 458.
9
Consistent with the Barbe opinion’s proportionality of interests analysis, and its case-by-case
assessment principle, is syllabus point 6 of State v. Guthrie, 205 W.Va. 326, 518 S.E.2d 83 (1999),
which holds:
The test used to determine whether a trial court’s exclusion of proffered
evidence under our rape shield law violated a defendant’s due process right to a
fair trial is (1) whether that testimony was relevant; (2) whether the probative
value of the evidence outweighed its prejudicial effect; and (3) whether the State’s
compelling interests in excluding the evidence outweighed the defendant’s right to
present relevant evidence supportive of his or her defense. Under the test, we will
reverse a trial court’s ruling only if there has been a clear abuse of discretion.
See State v. Jessica Jane M., supra, 226 W.Va. at 254 n. 16, 700 S.E.2d at 314 n. 16 (associating
syl. pt. 6 of Guthrie with Barbe).
In Jones’s November 2009 pre-trial notice, he set forth ten paragraphs describing evidence
he intended to introduce at trial under either the Quinn or Barbe opinions. Paragraph one alleged
that, in March 2003, R.M. falsely reported inappropriate sexual contact by her uncle and grandfather.
In March 2003, R.M. was age four. However, paragraph one referenced a March 6, 2003,
memorandum from the Ohio County Sheriff’s Office which stated that, according to Jessica M., the
incidents occurred in March or April 2002. At that time, R.M. would have been age three.
Moreover, paragraph one stated that R.M. made the report “because she was confused by her
mother.” In paragraph two of the notice, R.M. falsely implicated foster mother Sally Keefer and her
husband in inappropriate sexual contact. That paragraph, however, stated that R.M. said there was
contact “or” that she dreamed that Sally Keefer and her husband involved her in inappropriate
10
sexual contact. Paragraph three alleged that R.M. had been having dreams, fantasies and nightmares
about her foster parents having sex. Paragraph three also alleged that R.M. falsely reported seeing
Sally Keefer’s husband in his underwear.
Paragraph four alleged that R.M. reported that her cousin, Sasha, had inserted a hair brush
into R.M.’s vagina. Paragraph four referenced a July 18, 2001, medical report which found “no
obvious evidence of genital trauma.” In July 2001, R.M. was age two. Paragraph five alleged that
R.M. falsely reported that she was sexually abused by a man named Graham. R.M.’s report
concerning Graham will be discussed in detail in the section of this opinion designated Remaining
Assignments of Error.
Jones withdrew paragraphs six and seven of the pre-trial notice. Paragraph eight alleged:
“The child has reported that she saw her former foster sibling ‘Wesley’ naked. The child later denied
that she saw Wesley naked or that she made the report.” Paragraph nine alleged that, R.M. reported
seeing David Burech naked and that he had intercourse with her. According to that paragraph, R.M.
implicated an additional individual named “William.” That paragraph further alleged that R.M. also
denied that Burech did anything to her, except spanking her. Finally, paragraph ten alleged: “R.M.
has reported that she has had sex with her cousin [C.V.] and was caught in the act.”
In the order of December 11, 2009, the circuit court ruled that the above evidence would not
be admitted at trial. With regard to Jones’s assertion that R.M.’s reports would be admissible under
Quinn, the order stated:
11
Defendant has not made the requisite showing of “strong or substantial
proof” that the statements Defendant intends to introduce regarding the alleged
victim’s past sexual abuse at the hands of persons other than Defendant, are
false[.] * * * Notably, an evidentiary hearing on this matter was initially
scheduled for December 3, 2009 at 9:00 am, but was adjourned until 2:00 pm
because Defendant was unable to locate the necessary witnesses. At the
reconvened hearing at 2:00 pm, Defendant again appeared without any witnesses
to present in support of his position. * * * Unsubstantiated documents,
without more, are not enough to make the requisite showing that the alleged
victim’s previous statements about sexual abuse allegedly suffered at the hands of
persons other than Defendant, are false so as to remove those statements from the
confines of West Virginia’s Rape Shield Law.
As to Jones’s assertion that certain reports concerning R.M.’s allegations against others
would be admissible under Barbe, the circuit court found the truth of the allegations to be
speculative. Thus, the order stated that the circuit court had been unable “to meaningfully balance
the interests of the alleged victim in keeping such allegations/occurrences private, with the
Defendant’s interest in presenting a defense to the serious charges entered against him.”
The appendix-record reveals that, notwithstanding the sexual offenses, R.M. and her siblings
were the victims of abuse and neglect throughout their young lives, which included exposure to the
conduct of Jessica M. and Jones in the form of drug and alcohol abuse and domestic violence. Some
of the reports sought to be admitted under Quinn or Barbe took place when R.M. was age four, or
less. Other reports were largely accounts of R.M.’s symptomatology, or seeing someone without
clothing, rather than instances of statements of sexual misconduct by others. A child’s dreams,
fantasies and nightmares, while important to the counselor or psychologist, do not, of themselves,
warrant dissection at trial under the authority of the Quinn and Barbe decisions. As confirmed in
12
Quinn, the Constitution of the United States “does not require confrontation of witnesses with
irrelevant evidence.” 200 W.Va. at 440 n. 13, 490 S.E.2d at 42 n. 13. Moreover, as recognized in
Barbe, “a state’s interest in protecting sexual abuse victims from harassment, humiliation, and
invasion of privacy is especially compelling when the testifying victim is a child.” 521 F.3d at 459
n. 21.
We recognize, however, the possibility that some of the evidence Jones sought to introduce
could have been elicited at trial from witnesses other than R.M. Moreover, Jones relies heavily on
the allegation in paragraph nine that R.M. reported David Burech as having had intercourse with her.
R.M. also denied that Burech did anything to her, except spanking her. Nevertheless, if the report
implicating Burech were false and, thus, not covered by the rape shield statute, syllabus point 5 of
Quinn makes clear that the report’s falsity is not a determination of automatic admissibility at trial.
If the report implicating Burech were true, then the proportionality and case-by-case assessment
principles of Barbe must come into play. In the current matter, the circuit court was unable to
complete the process, under Barbe, because it found Jones’s evidence to be speculative.
Given the age and history of this child, and the specificity of her statements relating to Jones,
this Court is of the opinion that the exclusion of Jones’s evidence concerning R.M.’s reports and
statements of sexual misconduct committed against her by others was within the court’s discretion.
This assignment of error is, therefore, without merit.
B.
13
Remaining Assignments of Error
Related to the above assignment of error is Jones’s assertion that the State violated his right
to discovery of exculpatory evidence by failing to provide the identity of the author of a September
14, 2009, report prepared by the Department of Health and Human Resources.6 According to the
report, R.M. made a statement indicating that a man named Graham improperly touched her during
an overnight visit in the Graham home. The report concluded, however, that the accusation was false
on the basis that R.M. admittedly made the statement because she missed her foster mother and
wanted to leave the Graham residence. Except for a reference indicating that Sally Keefer had
informed Mrs. Graham that R.M. had implicated other individuals in acts of sexual misconduct in
the past, the September 14, 2009, report dealt entirely with the accusation against Mr. Graham. The
State provided a copy of the report to Jones on September 15, 2009, prior to his second trial.
The circuit court addressed the report during the December 3, 2009, hearing and in the pre­
trial order entered on December 11, 2009. The circuit court concluded that, as an exception to its
ruling of inadmissibility under Quinn, the false accusation against Mr. Graham would be admissible
in Jones’s case-in-chief. Noting the State’s acknowledgment that the accusation was false, the
6
Immediately after the return of the indictment, Jones filed an omnibus discovery motion
pursuant to Rule 16 of the West Virginia Rules of Criminal Procedure which incorporated a
demand for exculpatory material. Jones’s efforts to obtain discovery were on-going throughout
the case and included a request for psychological, medical, school and counseling records
pertaining to R.M. Jones also sought to require the State “to make inquiry of any and all relevant
agencies, entities or persons with respect to the existence of material relevant to the charges
herein.” In July 2008, the circuit court ordered the State to issue a subpoena duces tecum upon
the Department of Health and Human Resources to secure the production of certain material. In
response to the various requests, the State provided thousands of pages of discovery to Jones.
14
December 11, 2009, order stated that R.M.’s assertion against Mr. Graham “is outside of the scope
of the Rape Shield Law and is therefore not precluded under WV Code § 61-8B-11.”
However, after ruling the Graham evidence admissible under Quinn, R.M. recanted her denial
and restated that Mr. Graham had, in fact, improperly touched her. As a result, the circuit court
revisited its ruling in an in camera hearing conducted during Jones’s December 2009 trial. In the
in camera hearing, the court spoke with R.M. and a child witness who had been present in the room
in the Graham residence when the incident allegedly occurred. The two children gave opposite
accounts of whether any improper touching of R.M. took place. Concluding that it was impossible
to tell whether the incident did or did not occur, the circuit court reversed its earlier ruling and held
the Graham evidence inadmissible at trial.
It was during the December 2009 in camera hearing that the State provided Jones with the
identity of the author of the September 14, 2009, report, i.e., Lori Glover. At that time, the State
represented that Ms. Glover was available by telephone.
Jones contends that the failure of the State to timely identify Ms. Glover as the author of the
report unfairly deprived him of the ability to call Ms. Glover as a witness at the December 3, 2009,
hearing and at trial. Jones maintains that he was, therefore, precluded him pursuing evidence of
false accusations, under Quinn, with which to impeach R.M.’s testimony.
15
Syllabus point 2 of State ex rel. Rusen v. Hill, 193 W.Va. 133, 454 S.E.2d 427 (1994),
holds:
The traditional appellate standard for determining prejudice for discovery
violations under Rule 16 of the West Virginia Rules of Criminal Procedure
involves a two-pronged analysis: (1) did the non-disclosure surprise the defendant
on a material fact, and (2) did it hamper the preparation and presentation of the
defendant’s case.
Syl. pt. 2, State v. Smith, 220 W.Va. 565, 648 S.E.2d 71 (2007). See also syl. pt. 2, State v.
Youngblood, 221 W.Va. 20, 650 S.E.2d 119 (2007).
In this matter, several factors mitigate against a conclusion that reversible error occurred
because of the failure to identify Ms. Glover. Though untimely, Ms. Glover was identified during
the trial and was represented to be available by telephone. Moreover, according to the September
14, 2009, report, Sally Keefer and Mrs. Graham were the true sources of comments to the effect that
R.M. had a history of making false accusations against other individuals. Jones received a copy of
the report on September 15, 2009, well in advance of his December 2009 trial. Finally, as to the
specific accusation against Mr. Graham, the ultimate conclusion of the circuit court was that
admissibility under Quinn was not shown because it was impossible to determine whether the
accusation was true or false. Consequently, this assignment of error does not warrant the granting
of a new trial.
16
Jones next contends that the circuit court committed error in denying his motion for a mistrial
when the State’s expert witness, Maureen Runyon, testified that, in her opinion, Jones had sexually
abused R.M.
During the trial, the State called Maureen Runyon, an expert in the field of social work
employed at Women and Children’s Hospital in Charleston, who testified about an interview she
conducted with R.M. in 2006. During the interview, R.M., age seven, denied that anyone had
engaged in sexual misconduct against her. However, according to Runyon, R.M. also stated that,
if anyone were to give her sexual touches, she “could tell my mammaw and she would call the cops
on Jack.” R.M. further said during the interview that she loved Jones and that Jones would buy her
gifts and candy. Runyon then testified:
Q. * * * [T]he fact that [Jones] would buy [R.M.] candy and do these
nice things to her, did you bring – come to any conclusion about whether or not
she was being perpetrated on?
A. One of the things that I always say is that we have to look at children
and allegations in cases in totality, and when I do that now and I – then, yes, I am
of the opinion that [R.M.] was sexually abused by Jack Jones.
At that point, Jones’s counsel moved for a mistrial on the grounds that Runyon’s expression
of opinion was highly prejudicial and invaded the province of the jury. The motion was denied, and
Jones’s counsel was permitted to draft a curative instruction. That instruction, given to the jury
during Runyon’s testimony, stated:
The Court instructs the jury that the testimony of Maureen Runyon in
which she expressed an opinion that Jack Jones sexually abused [R.M.] was
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completely inappropriate and is not a proper opinion within the area of her
expertise. No witness is permitted to express a belief or an opinion that a
defendant committed any charged offense. The determination of guilt or
innocence is solely a matter to be decided upon by the jury. The jury is instructed
that the Court has stricken the matter from the record and that the jury may draw
no inference from that testimony and may not consider that testimony in any way
in arriving at a conclusion of guilt or innocence. As a matter of law that testimony
does not exist.
Moreover, the instructions given to the jury at the end of the trial included the following:
“You should disregard, entirely, questions and exhibits to which an objection was sustained or
answers and exhibits ordered stricken out of the evidence.”
There is no question that Ms. Runyon’s comment that Jones sexually abused R.M. was
improper. See syl. pt. 7, in part, State v. Edward Charles L., 183 W.Va. 641, 398 S.E.2d 123 (1990)
(Although an expert may offer an opinion based on objective findings that a child has been sexually
abused, the expert may not state whether he or she personally believes the child, nor may the expert
give an opinion as to whether the sexual misconduct was committed by the defendant.). See also syl.
pt. 3, State v. Martin, 224 W.Va. 577, 687 S.E.2d 360 (2009). Nevertheless, Rule 26.3 of the West
Virginia Rules of Criminal Procedure states: “Before ordering a mistrial, the court shall provide an
opportunity for the state and for each defendant to comment on the propriety of the order, including
whether each party consents or objects to a mistrial, and to suggest any alternatives.” In this case,
the trial transcript demonstrates that Jones’s counsel, the prosecutor and the court engaged in an
extended discussion concerning whether a mistrial should be declared. Concluding that a mistrial
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was not warranted, the circuit court gave the curative instruction drafted by defense counsel. As can
be seen, the instruction was detailed and manifestly clear.
This Court held in syllabus point 18 of State v. Hamric, 151 W.Va. 1, 151 S.E.2d 252 (1966):
“Ordinarily, where objections to questions or evidence by a party are sustained by the trial court
during the trial and the jury instructed not to consider such matter, it will not constitute reversible
error.” See also Reed v. Wimmer, 195 W.Va. 199, 208, 465 S.E.2d 199, 208 (1995) (There is a
presumption that curative instructions are effective.). Here, Runyon’s improper comment did not
relate to any specific count of the 14 count indictment under consideration by the jury. Given the
volume of evidence placed before the jury over several days of trial and the text of the curative
instruction given, this Court is of the opinion that the circuit court’s denial of Jones’s motion for a
mistrial is protected by the parameters of sound discretion. See syl. pt. 8, State v. Davis, 182 W.Va.
482, 388 S.E.2d 508 (1989) (“The decision to declare a mistrial, discharge the jury, and order a new
trial in a criminal case is a matter within the sound discretion of the trial court.”). State v. Thornton,
228 W.Va. 449, 459, 720 S.E.2d 572, 582 (2011) (The grant or denial of a motion for a mistrial is
reviewed under an abuse of discretion standard.).
Finally, Jones assigns as error the denial of his post-trial motions concerning certain
comments made by the State to the jury during closing argument. Those statements were to the
effect that the State had presented “an honest case with honest witnesses” and that the State had not
attempted any “shading or spinning” of the facts. A review of the transcript, however, suggests that
those comments were neutralized by the State’s admonition, also made during closing, that “no one
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is entitled to their own facts.” We cannot conclude that the circuit court abused its discretion in
denying Jones’s post-trial motions in that regard. Syllabus point 3 of State v. Boggs, 103 W.Va. 641,
138 S.E. 321 (1927), holds:
The discretion of the trial court in ruling on the propriety of argument by
counsel before the jury will not be interfered with by the appellate court, unless it
appears that the rights of the complaining party have been prejudiced, or that
manifest injustice resulted therefrom.
Syl. pt. 3, State v. Graham, 208 W.Va. 463, 541 S.E.2d 341 (2000).
V. Conclusion
Having found the assignments of error to be without merit, this Court affirms Jones’s
criminal convictions as well as his penitentiary sentence set forth in the September 30, 2011, order
of the Circuit Court of Ohio County.
Affirmed.
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