(HC)Sanchez v. Martinez

Case 2:17-cv-00455-KJM-DB Document 29 Filed 11/16/20 Page 1 of 34

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

9 FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

10

11 SANTIAGO SANCHEZ, No. 2:17-cv-0455 DB P

12 Petitioner,

13 v. ORDER AND FINDINGS AND

RECOMMENDATIONS

14 JOEL MARTINEZ,

15 Respondent.

16

17 Petitioner is a state prisoner proceeding with a petition for a writ of habeas corpus under

18 28 U.S.C. § 2254. Petitioner challenges his convictions imposed by the Sacramento County

19 Superior Court in 2013 for crimes involving sexual misconduct with children. Petitioner alleges:

20 (1) there was insufficient evidence to support count 1; (2) the exclusion of impeachment evidence

21 violated his rights to due process; (3) numerous instances of prosecutorial misconduct; (4)

22 admission of evidence of Child Sexual Abuse Accommodation Syndrome violated his due

23 process and other rights; and (5) the cumulative effect of all errors violated due process. For the

24 reasons set forth below, this court will recommend the petition be denied.

25 ////

26 ////

27 ////

28 ////

1

Case 2:17-cv-00455-KJM-DB Document 29 Filed 11/16/20 Page 2 of 34

1 BACKGROUND

2 I. Facts Established at Trial

3 The California Court of Appeal for the Third Appellate District provided the following

4 factual summary:

5 Defendant was 19 years old and volunteering at an after-

school program when he met S.S. Despite the fact defendant was

6 seven or eight years older than S.S., the two became friends. About

a month later, defendant met S.S.'s mother, C.C., at the after-school

7 program and was invited over to their house to meet her husband,

J.A., with whom defendant shared an interest in automotive repair

8 and body work. At the house, defendant also met the other children

in the household, D.C., M.C., and their younger brother, E.C. Over

9 the course of about a year, defendant and J.A. became friends and

worked on cars together. Defendant also routinely watched the

10 children when their parents went out.

11 In August 2011, defendant committed the crimes involved in

this case. He was 20 years old. His victims, D.C. and M.C., were

12 eight years old and 10 years old, respectively.

13 Crimes against M.C.

14 Defendant stayed the night at the family's house on August 1,

2011. While watching a movie with the children in the living room,

15 defendant touched M.C. twice with his hand on her vaginal area, over

her clothes, removing it about “two seconds” after M.C. told him to

16 “stop.” The next morning, defendant was asked to watch the children

while C.C. went to work and J.A. went to Pick–n–Pull. He agreed.

17 Before J.A. left, M.C. told him defendant was “bothering” her; not

understanding the seriousness of the situation, J.A. told her to “just

18 tell him to stop bothering you.” That day, the children had various

chores to do. Defendant contributed by helping S.S. with the yard

19 work. As defendant watered the front lawn, M.C. passed by him on

her way to get a hedge trimmer for S.S. Defendant reached out and

20 briefly touched her chest with the back of his hand. Believing

defendant did so “on purpose” because “he was smiling,” M.C. told

21 him to “stop.” Defendant responded that “he wasn't doing anything

wrong.” When she again passed by defendant to get a shovel for S.S.,

22 defendant again reached out and briefly touched her with the back of

his hand, this time on her vaginal area. M.C. again told him to “stop.”

23 Defendant again said he “didn't do anything.” Defendant confirmed

in his statement to police that he touched M.C.'s chest “like one time”

24 and he touched her vaginal area “like twice,” always over her

clothing.

25

Based on these facts, as previously mentioned, defendant was

26 convicted of two counts of committing a lewd or lascivious act on

M.C., a child under the age of 14 years.

27

////

28

2

Case 2:17-cv-00455-KJM-DB Document 29 Filed 11/16/20 Page 3 of 34

1 Crimes against D.C.

2 After defendant finished watering the lawn, the children

asked to play in the swimming pool. Defendant agreed. While he and

3 S.S. finished up the yard work, the other children went inside the

house to change into swimming suits. After the children had

4 changed, defendant went into S.S.'s bedroom to change into some

shorts. The record is unclear as to whether D.C. was already in the

5 bedroom when defendant came in, or whether she came into the room

after defendant had changed. Either way, she began playing with

6 S.S.'s guitar on the bottom bunk of the bunk beds S.S. shared with

his younger brother, E.C. Defendant took the guitar away and

7 climbed on top of her. By his own account, he pulled her swimming

suit to the side to expose her vagina, and pulled up one of the leg

8 openings of his shorts to allow him to pull out his penis. He then

attempted to insert his penis into D.C.'s vagina, but was unsuccessful

9 because his penis was not erect.

10 Unbeknownst to defendant, S.S. had entered the house

looking for D.C. Having seen defendant touch M.C.'s buttocks on

11 two previous occasions, S.S. decided to keep “a closer eye on him.”

With this purpose in mind, S.S. entered the house quietly through the

12 back door, “snuck around the corner to check the living room,” and

then “went down the hallway a little.” From the hallway, S.S. saw

13 defendant on top of D.C. on the bed. Defendant's “hip area ... was

moving up and down.” D.C. told defendant to “[s]top.” Defendant

14 responded: “Just go with it.” S.S. “stood there for about a minute”

trying to decide what to do. He considered confronting defendant,

15 but “figured if [he] did that, that [defendant] would leave and would

most likely, probably, get away with it.” Instead, S.S. left the house

16 “to go call the cops.” On his way out, S.S. told M.C. to “stay outside”

and that he “would be back.” He then got on his bicycle and rode to

17 a neighbor's house. When this neighbor was not home, S.S. rode to a

nearby gas station and used a stranger's cell phone to call 911.

18

Meanwhile, according to defendant's statement to police, he

19 stopped his assault on D.C. shortly after it began and allowed her to

go outside to play with her siblings. Defendant also told police he

20 penetrated D.C.'s vagina with one of his fingers while giving her a

piggyback ride down the hallway. His statement is unclear as to when

21 exactly this took place, except that it happened before he tried having

sex with her and she was already wearing her swimming suit.

22 Regardless of the precise timing, defendant admitted: “I was tryin[g]

to put it in there. My finger.” He also admitted he succeeded in

23 penetrating D.C.'s vagina with his finger. When asked whether it

turned him on, defendant answered: “Uh, yes, a little.” When asked

24 whether it probably caused him to then try something more with

D.C., defendant responded: “Yeah.”

25

Based on these facts, as previously mentioned, defendant was

26 convicted of one count of sexual penetration, one count of attempted

sexual intercourse, and two counts of committing a lewd or

27 lascivious act on D.C., a child under the age of 14 years.

28 ////

3

Case 2:17-cv-00455-KJM-DB Document 29 Filed 11/16/20 Page 4 of 34

1 Police arrived at the house a short time after S.S. made the

call to 911. Defendant was taken into custody, advised of his

2 Miranda rights and questioned. He eventually admitted to touching

M.C.'s vagina and chest over her clothes, penetrating D.C.'s vagina

3 with his finger while giving her a piggyback ride, and attempting to

penetrate her vagina with his penis while on the bed. Defendant also

4 wrote down that he “made a mistake” when he “tr[ied] to put

something in [D.C.],” but he “was not thrusting” and stopped when

5 she told him to stop. He also wrote a letter apologizing to the family

for his actions.

6

7 People v. Sanchez, 246 Cal. App. 4th 167, 170-72 (2016) (footnotes omitted).

8 II. Procedural Background

9 A. Judgment and Sentencing

10 On February 15, 2013, a jury found petitioner guilty of the following:

11 Count 1 - sexual digital penetration of a child under ten years of age in violation of Cal.

12 Penal Code § 288.7(b);

13 Counts 2, 4, 5, and 7 - lewd and lascivious act upon a child under the age of fourteen in

14 violation of Cal. Penal Code § 288(a);

15 Count 3 - attempted sexual intercourse or sodomy of a child under ten years of age in

16 violation of Cal. Penal Code §§ 664/288.7(a); and

17 Count 6 - battery in violation of Cal. Penal Code § 242.

18 The jury found true the allegation that appellant committed the above offenses against more than

19 one victim within the meaning of California Penal Code § 667.61(e)(4). (2 RT 1081-82.)

20 On March 15, 2013, the court found petitioner ineligible for probation and sentenced him

21 to an aggregate indeterminate term of 65 years-to-life in prison. (2 RT 1096-99.)

22 B. State Appeal and Federal Proceedings

23 On March 15, 2013, petitioner appealed to the California Court of Appeal, Third

24 Appellate District, case no. C073360.1 (1 CT 484.) In 2016, the Court of Appeal affirmed

25 1Respondent lodged the following portions of the state court record: petitioner’s opening brief on

26 appeal (Lodged Document “LD” 1), respondent’s response (LD 2), petitioner’s reply (LD 3), the

decision of the California Court of Appeal (LD 4), the petition for review to the California

27 Supreme Court (LD 6), and the California Supreme Court’s denial of review (LD 7). Respondent

also lodged the Clerk’s Transcript (“CT”), the Record of Transcript (“RT”), and the Record of

28 Transcript on Remand (“RT REMAND”).

4

Case 2:17-cv-00455-KJM-DB Document 29 Filed 11/16/20 Page 5 of 34

1 petitioner’s convictions, but remanded the matter for resentencing with directions to the superior

2 court to exercise its discretion under rule 4.425 of the California Rules of Court in deciding

3 whether to impose consecutive or concurrent sentences for petitioner’s crimes. Sanchez, 246 Cal.

4 App. 4th at 170.

5 On May 9, 2016, petitioner filed a petition for review in the California Supreme Court,

6 case no. S234355, which was denied in a summary order on June 29, 2016.2 (LD 6, 7.) On

7 August 24, 2016, on remand, the trial court resentenced appellant to an aggregate indeterminate

8 term of 50 years to life. (RT REMAND 2-5.)

9 On March 1, 2017, petitioner filed the present petition for writ of habeas corpus with this

10 court. (ECF No. 1.) Respondent filed an answer (ECF No. 15) and petitioner filed a traverse

11 (ECF No. 24).

12 STANDARDS OF REVIEW APPLICABLE TO HABEAS CORPUS CLAIMS

13 An application for a writ of habeas corpus by a person in custody under a judgment of a

14 state court can be granted only for violations of the Constitution or laws of the United States. 28

15 U.S.C. § 2254(a). A federal writ is not available for alleged error in the interpretation or

16 application of state law. See Wilson v. Corcoran, 562 U.S. 1, 5 (2010); Estelle v. McGuire, 502

17 U.S. 62, 67-68 (1991); Park v. California, 202 F.3d 1146, 1149 (9th Cir. 2000).

18 Title 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d) sets forth the following standards for granting federal habeas

19 corpus relief:

20 An application for a writ of habeas corpus on behalf of a person in

custody pursuant to the judgment of a State court shall not be granted

21 with respect to any claim that was adjudicated on the merits in State court

proceedings unless the adjudication of the claim –

22

(1) resulted in a decision that was contrary to, or involved an

23 unreasonable application of, clearly established Federal law, as

determined by the Supreme Court of the United States; or

24

////

25

26

2In the answer, respondent frequently refers to this petition as a petition for a writ of habeas

27 corpus. That appears to be an error. The document is a petition for review of the Court of

Appeals’ decision. (See LD 6.) There is no indication that petitioner filed any petitions for

28 habeas corpus relief in the state courts.

5

Case 2:17-cv-00455-KJM-DB Document 29 Filed 11/16/20 Page 6 of 34

1 (2) resulted in a decision that was based on an unreasonable

determination of the facts in light of the evidence presented in the State

2 court proceeding.

3 For purposes of applying § 2254(d)(1), “clearly established federal law” consists of

4 holdings of the United States Supreme Court at the time of the last reasoned state court decision.

5 Greene v. Fisher, 565 U.S. 34, 37 (2011); Stanley v. Cullen, 633 F.3d 852, 859 (9th Cir. 2011)

6 (citing Williams v. Taylor, 529 U.S. 362, 405-06 (2000)). Circuit court precedent “‘may be

7 persuasive in determining what law is clearly established and whether a state court applied that

8 law unreasonably.’” Stanley, 633 F.3d at 859 (quoting Maxwell v. Roe, 606 F.3d 561, 567 (9th

9 Cir. 2010)). However, circuit precedent may not be “used to refine or sharpen a general principle

10 of Supreme Court jurisprudence into a specific legal rule that th[e] [Supreme] Court has not

11 announced.” Marshall v. Rodgers, 569 U.S. 58, 64 (2013) (citing Parker v. Matthews, 567 U.S.

12 37 (2012)). Nor may it be used to “determine whether a particular rule of law is so widely

13 accepted among the Federal Circuits that it would, if presented to th[e] [Supreme] Court, be

14 accepted as correct.” Id. at 1451. Further, where courts of appeals have diverged in their

15 treatment of an issue, it cannot be said that there is “clearly established Federal law” governing

16 that issue. Carey v. Musladin, 549 U.S. 70, 76-77 (2006).

17 A state court decision is “contrary to” clearly established federal law if it applies a rule

18 contradicting a holding of the Supreme Court or reaches a result different from Supreme Court

19 precedent on “materially indistinguishable” facts. Price v. Vincent, 538 U.S. 634, 640 (2003)

20 (quoting Williams, 529 U.S. at 405-06). “Under the ‘unreasonable application’ clause of §

21 2254(d)(1), a federal habeas court may grant the writ if the state court identifies the correct

22 governing legal principle from th[e] [Supreme] Court's decisions, but unreasonably applies that

23 principle to the facts of the prisoner's case.’” Lockyer v. Andrade, 538 U.S. 63, 75 (2003)

24 (quoting Williams, 529 U.S. at 413); Chia v. Cambra, 360 F.3d 997, 1002 (9th Cir. 2004). “[A]

25 federal habeas court may not issue the writ simply because that court concludes in its independent

26 judgment that the relevant state-court decision applied clearly established federal law erroneously

27 or incorrectly. Rather, that application must also be unreasonable.” Williams, 529 U.S. at 411;

28 see also Schriro v. Landrigan, 550 U.S. 465, 473 (2007); Andrade, 538 U.S. at 75 (“It is not

6

Case 2:17-cv-00455-KJM-DB Document 29 Filed 11/16/20 Page 7 of 34

1 enough that a federal habeas court, in its independent review of the legal question, is left with a

2 firm conviction that the state court was erroneous.” (Internal citations and quotation marks

3 omitted.)). “A state court's determination that a claim lacks merit precludes federal habeas relief

4 so long as ‘fairminded jurists could disagree’ on the correctness of the state court's decision.”

5 Harrington v. Richter, 562 U.S. 86, 101 (2011) (quoting Yarborough v. Alvarado, 541 U.S. 652,

6 664 (2004)). Accordingly, “[a]s a condition for obtaining habeas corpus from a federal court, a

7 state prisoner must show that the state court's ruling on the claim being presented in federal court

8 was so lacking in justification that there was an error well und erstood and comprehended in

9 existing law beyond any possibility for fairminded disagreement.” Richter, 562 U.S. at 103.

10 There are two ways a petitioner may satisfy subsection (d)(2). Hibbler v. Benedetti, 693

11 F.3d 1140, 1146 (9th Cir. 2012). He may show the state court’s findings of fact “were not

12 supported by substantial evidence in the state court record” or he may “challenge the fact -finding

13 process itself on the ground it was deficient in some material way.” Id. (citing Taylor v. Maddox,

14 366 F.3d 992, 999-1001 (9th Cir. 2004)); see also Hurles v. Ryan, 752 F.3d 768, 790-91 (9th Cir.

15 2014) (If a state court makes factual findings without an opportunity for the petitioner to present

16 evidence, the fact-finding process may be deficient and the state court opinion may not be entitled

17 to deference.). Under the “substantial evidence” test, the court asks whether “an appellate panel,

18 applying the normal standards of appellate review,” could reasonably conclude that the finding is

19 supported by the record. Hibbler, 693 F.3d at 1146 (9th Cir. 2012).

20 The second test, whether the state court’s fact-finding process is insufficient, requires the

21 federal court to “be satisfied that any appellate court to whom the defect [in the state court’s fact -

22 finding process] is pointed out would be unreasonable in holding that the state court’s fact-finding

23 process was adequate.” Hibbler, 693 F.3d at 1146-47 (quoting Lambert v. Blodgett, 393 F.3d

24 943, 972 (9th Cir. 2004)). The state court’s failure to hold an evidentiary hearing does not

25 automatically render its fact finding process unreasonable. Id. at 1147. Further, a state court may

26 make factual findings without an evidentiary hearing if “the record conclusively establishes a fact

27 or where petitioner’s factual allegations are entirely without credibility.” Perez v. Rosario, 459

28 F.3d 943, 951 (9th Cir. 2006) (citing Nunes v. Mueller, 350 F.3d 1045, 1055 (9th Cir. 2003)).

7

Case 2:17-cv-00455-KJM-DB Document 29 Filed 11/16/20 Page 8 of 34

1 The court looks to the last reasoned state court decision as the basis for the state court

2 judgment. Stanley, 633 F.3d at 859; Robinson v. Ignacio, 360 F.3d 1044, 1055 (9th Cir. 2004).

3 “[I]f the last reasoned state court decision adopts or substantially incorporates the reasoning from

4 a previous state court decision, [this court] may consider both decisions to ‘fully ascertain the

5 reasoning of the last decision.’” Edwards v. Lamarque, 475 F.3d 1121, 1126 (9th Cir. 2007) (en

6 banc) (quoting Barker v. Fleming, 423 F.3d 1085, 1093 (9th Cir. 2005)). “When a federal claim

7 has been presented to a state court and the state court has denied relief, it may be presumed that

8 the state court adjudicated the claim on the merits in the absence of any indication or state-law

9 procedural principles to the contrary.” Richter, 562 U.S. at 99. This presumption may be

10 overcome by showing “there is reason to think some other explanation for the state court's

11 decision is more likely.” Id. at 99-100 (citing Ylst v. Nunnemaker, 501 U.S. 797, 803 (1991)).

12 Similarly, when a state court decision on a petitioner's claims rejects some claims but does not

13 expressly address a federal claim, a federal habeas court must presume, subject to rebuttal, that

14 the federal claim was adjudicated on the merits. Johnson v. Williams, 568 U.S. 289, 293 (2013).

15 When it is clear, that a state court has not reached the merits of a petitioner’s claim, the

16 deferential standard set forth in 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d) does not apply and a federal habeas court

17 must review the claim de novo. Stanley, 633 F.3d at 860; Reynoso v. Giurbino, 462 F.3d 1099,

18 1109 (9th Cir. 2006); Nulph v. Cook, 333 F.3d 1052, 1056 (9th Cir. 2003).

19 If a petitioner overcomes one of the hurdles posed by section 2254(d), the federal court

20 reviews the merits of the claim de novo. Delgadillo v. Woodford, 527 F.3d 919, 925 (9th Cir.

21 2008); see also Frantz v. Hazey, 533 F.3d 724, 735 (9th Cir. 2008) (en banc) (“[I]t is now clear

22 both that we may not grant habeas relief simply because of § 2254(d)(1) error and that, if there is

23 such error, we must decide the habeas petition by considering de novo the constitutional issues

24 raised.”). For the claims upon which petitioner seeks to present evidence, petitioner must meet

25 the standards of 28 U.S.C. § 2254(e)(2) by showing that he has not “failed to develop the factual

26 basis of [the] claim in State court proceedings” and by meeting the federal case law standards for

27 the presentation of evidence in a federal habeas proceeding. See Cullen v. Pinholster, 563 U.S.

28 170, 186 (2011).

8

Case 2:17-cv-00455-KJM-DB Document 29 Filed 11/16/20 Page 9 of 34

1 ANALYSIS

2 Petitioner alleges the following claims: (1) there was insufficient evidence of digital

3 penetration to support count 1; (2) the exclusion of impeachment evidence violated his rights to

4 due process; (3) numerous instances of prosecutorial misconduct violated his due process rights;

5 (4) admission of evidence of Child Abuse Accommodation Syndrome violated his due process

6 rights; and (5) the cumulative effect of all errors violated due process. For the reasons set forth

7 below, this court finds petitioner fails to satisfy the requirements of 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d) and

8 recommends the petition be denied.

9 I. Claim 1 – Insufficient Evidence of Corpus Delicti

10 Petitioner argues his conviction on count 1 violates the “corpus delicti rule” because there

11 was no evidence to support the act of digital penetration apart from petitioner’s confession to it.

12 (See ECF No. 1 at 59-60.)

13 A. Applicable Legal Standards

14 The United States Supreme Court has held that when reviewing a sufficiency of the

15 evidence claim, a court must determine whether, viewing the evidence and the inferences to be

16 drawn from it in the light most favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier of fact could find

17 the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307,

18 319 (1979). A reviewing court may set aside the jury's verdict on the ground of insufficient

19 evidence only if no rational trier of fact could have agreed with the jury.” Cavazos v. Smith, 565

20 U.S. 1, 2 (2011) (per curiam). Moreover, “a federal court may not overturn a state court decision

21 rejecting a sufficiency of the evidence challenge simply because the federal court disagrees with

22 the state court. The federal court instead may do so only if the state court decision was

23 ‘objectively unreasonable.’” Id. (citing Renico v. Lett, 559 U.S. 766 (2010)). The Supreme

24 Court cautioned that “[b]ecause rational people can sometimes disagree, the inevitable

25 consequence of this settled law is that judges will sometimes encounter convictions that they

26 believe to be mistaken, but that they must nonetheless uphold.” Id.

27 ////

28 ////

9

Case 2:17-cv-00455-KJM-DB Document 29 Filed 11/16/20 Page 10 of 34

1 B. State Court Opinion

2 Defendant contends the evidence was insufficient to establish

the corpus delicti of the crime of sexual penetration. He is mistaken.

3

“In every criminal trial, the prosecution must prove the

4 corpus delicti, or the body of the crime itself—i.e., the fact of injury,

loss, or harm, and the existence of a criminal agency as its cause. In

5 California, it has traditionally been held, the prosecution cannot

satisfy this burden by relying exclusively upon the extrajudicial

6 statements, confessions, or admissions of the defendant. [Citations.]

Though mandated by no statute, and never deemed a constitutional

7 guaranty, the rule requiring some independent proof of the corpus

delicti has roots in the common law. [Citation.] California decisions

8 have applied it at least since the 1860's. [Citation.]” (People v.

Alvarez (2002) 27 Cal.4th 1161, 1168–1169, 119 Cal.Rptr.2d 903,

9 46 P.3d 372 (Alvarez).) “The purpose of the corpus delicti rule is to

assure that ‘the accused is not admitting to a crime that never

10 occurred.’ ” (People v. Jones (1998) 17 Cal.4th 279, 301, 70

Cal.Rptr.2d 793, 949 P.2d 890 (Jones), quoting People v. Jennings

11 (1991) 53 Cal.3d 334, 368, 279 Cal.Rptr. 780, 807 P.2d 1009

(Jennings).)

12

“The independent proof may be circumstantial and need not

13 be beyond a reasonable doubt, but is sufficient if it permits an

inference of criminal conduct, even if a noncriminal explanation is

14 also plausible. [Citations.] There is no requirement of independent

evidence of every physical act constituting an element of an offense,’

15 so long as there is some slight or prima facie showing of injury, loss,

or harm by a criminal agency. [Citation.] In every case, once the

16 necessary quantum of independent evidence is present, the

defendant's extrajudicial statements may then be considered for their

17 full value to strengthen the case on all issues. [Citations.]” (Alvarez,

supra, 27 Cal.4th at p. 1171, 119 Cal.Rptr.2d 903, 46 P.3d 372;

18 People v. Robbins (1988) 45 Cal.3d 867, 885–886, 248 Cal.Rptr.

172, 755 P.2d 355 (Robbins), superseded by statute on another

19 ground as stated in Jennings, supra, 53 Cal.3d at p. 387, fn. 13, 279

Cal.Rptr. 780, 807 P.2d 1009.)

20

Defendant argues: “There was no evidence of count one,

21 digital penetration of [D.C.] when she was on [defendant's] back (

288.7, subd. (b)), other than [defendant's] own admission, in the

22 course of the police interrogation, that he had touched her in that way

while giving her a piggyback ride.” We agree defendant's admission

23 is the only direct evidence of the digital penetration. D.C. did not

testify to this specific criminal act and did not reveal it in the special

24 assault forensic evaluation (SAFE) interview. Nor did anyone else

witness the crime. Nevertheless, we conclude the circumstantial

25 evidence is more than sufficient to establish the corpus delicti of

sexual penetration.

26

27 The court then went on to examine in detail the facts and holdings in Jones, 17 Cal. 4th 279,

28 Jennings, 53 Cal.3d 334, and Robbins, 45 Cal.3d 867. The court noted that the corpus delicti

10

Case 2:17-cv-00455-KJM-DB Document 29 Filed 11/16/20 Page 11 of 34

1 rule required only “independent evidence establishing a slight or prima facie showing of some

2 injury, loss or harm, and that a criminal agency was involved.” It then found that there was

3 both direct and circumstantial evidence of sexual activity engaged in

by defendant against D.C., and since she was eight years old at the

4 time, [and] there can be no dispute the activity was criminal in nature.

We hold this evidence is more than sufficient to provide a prima facie

5 showing of injury, loss, or harm by a criminal agency, such that

defendant's confession may be considered for its full value to fill in

6 the precise nature of the crimes committed against D.C.

7 The court concluded that “there was sufficient evidence, independent of defendant's confession to

8 police, to establish the corpus delicti of sexual penetration.” Sanchez, 246 Cal. App. 4th at 173-

9 78.

10 C. Analysis of Claim 1 – Insufficient Evidence of Corpus Delicti

11 Petitioner argues the “corpus delicti rule” requires corroboration for a confession and,

12 here, the prosecution presented no evidence independent of petitioner’s confession that he

13 digitally penetrated D.C. during a piggyback ride. Therefore, petitioner continues, there was

14 insufficient evidence to convict him of Count 1. Petitioner points to D.C.’s testimony that he

15 never gave her a piggyback ride (1 RT 384, 388), and never put anything inside her (1 RT 388,

16 392).

17 Respondent argues that petitioner fails to show the rule he seeks was clearly established

18 by the Supreme Court within the meaning of § 2254(d). The Court of Appeal so held. See

19 Sanchez, 246 Cal. App. 4th at 173 (“Though mandated by no statute, and never deemed a

20 constitutional guaranty, the rule requiring some independent proof of the corpus delicti has roots

21 in the common law.”) This court agrees.

22 Petitioner’s only federal law basis for his claim is the following Supreme Court statement

23 - “[i]t is a settled principle of the administration of criminal justice in the federal courts that a

24 conviction must rest upon firmer ground than the uncorroborated admission or confession of the

25 accused.” Wong Sun v. United States, 371 U.S. 471, 488 (1963) (citing Smith v. United States,

26 348 U.S. 147, 153 (1954)). To the extent petitioner argues that this “corpus delicti rule” was

27 violated by a lack of corroboration for his confession to digital penetration of D.C., he fails to

28 show the rule is clearly established federal constitutional law for purposes of 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d).

11

Case 2:17-cv-00455-KJM-DB Document 29 Filed 11/16/20 Page 12 of 34

1 While the Supreme Court has held that such corroboration is necessary in federal criminal

2 cases, Opper v. United States, 348 U.S. 84, 89-90 (1954), the Supreme Court has not held that

3 states are constitutionally required to enforce an independent corroboration rule. Thus, in Opper,

4 Smith, and Wong Sun, the Supreme Court established a federal common law rule that requires

5 corroboration of confessions by criminal defendants. The Supreme Court has not, however, held

6 that rule to be an element of constitutional due process. See Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307,

7 330 n.1 (1979) (Stevens, J., concurring) (noting the “federal nonconstitutional rule, which surely

8 would not apply in habeas review of state convictions, ‘that a conviction must rest upon firmer

9 ground than the uncorroborated admission or confession of the accused’” (internal citation

10 omitted)); Tash v. Roden, 626 F.3d 15, 18 (1st Cir. 2010) (“Opper and Smith made no reference

11 to constitutional compulsion; corroboration was merely deemed a better rule sanctioned by

12 common law.”); Johnson v. Gibson, No. 99-7089, 2000 WL 1158335, at *9 (10th Cir. Aug. 16,

13 2000) (“Although Oklahoma law relies on authority from federal criminal cases, petitioner fails to

14 cite any clearly established Supreme Court authority holding that the need for independent

15 corroboration of a defendant’s confession is constitutionally required.”); Williams v. Chapleau,

16 No. 97-6015, 2000 WL 32015, at *4 (6th Cir. Jan. 4, 2000) (“Although federal courts typically

17 require corroboration of a criminal defendant’s out-of-court admissions, ... we are aware of no

18 authority for the proposition that the Constitution requires state courts to apply a similar rule.”);

19 Lucas v. Johnson, 132 F.3d 1069, 1078 (5th Cir. 1998) (petitioner’s argument that the state failed

20 to corroborate his confession did not raise an issue of constitutional dimension); Aschmeller v.

21 South Dakota, 534 F.2d 830, 832 n.1 (8th Cir. 1976) (noting that “[t]he corroboration rule has

22 never been termed a constitutional requirement”); Amezcua v. Lizarraga, No. 18-cv-1317 GPC

23 (MSB), 2019 WL 2289323, at *13 (S.D. Cal. May 29, 2019) (“Although the corpus delicti rule is

24 applied in federal criminal cases, it has not been held by the Supreme Court a requirement under

25 the U.S. Constitution.” (footnote omitted)); cf. Al Alwi v. Obama, 653 F.3d 11, 19 (D.C. Cir.

26 2011) (“The corroboration rule is a ‘common law’ rule, with neither constitutional nor statutory

27 bases . . . .”).

28 ////

12

Case 2:17-cv-00455-KJM-DB Document 29 Filed 11/16/20 Page 13 of 34

1 At least one federal court referred to the corroboration requirement as a rule of

2 constitutional dimension. See Evans v. Luebbers, 371 F.3d 438, 443 n. 3 (8th Cir. 2004)

3 (referring to Wong Sun and Smith as announcing a “clear constitutional rule . . . that a

4 defendant’s conviction not rest solely upon his or her confession or extra-judicial statements”).

5 However, the weight of authority is to the contrary. Further, to meet the § 2254(d) standard,

6 petitioner must cite to clearly established Supreme Court authority that the Constitution requires

7 independent corroboration for a defendant’s confession. He fails to do so.

8 To the extent petitioner argues there was insufficient evidence to support his conviction on

9 Count 1, that argument fails as well. The jury heard evidence that petitioner confessed to

10 digitally penetrating D.C. as well as evidence of other sexual abuse of both D.C. and M.C.

11 Petitioner fails to show that no rational trier of fact could have agreed with the jury’s finding of

12 guilt on Count 1. Cavazos, 565 U.S. at 2. Petitioner’s first habeas claim should fail.

13 II. Claim 2 – Exclusion of Impeachment Evidence

14 Petitioner next argues that his due process rights were violated when the trial court

15 excluded evidence to impeach S.S., the older brother of the victims and the prosecution’s primary

16 witness. (ECF No. 1 at 66-74.)

17 A. Applicable Legal Standards

18 “[T]he Constitution guarantees criminal defendants ‘a meaningful opportunity to present a

19 complete defense.’” Crane v. Kentucky, 476 U.S. 683, 690 (1986) (quoting California v.

20 Trombetta, 467 U.S. 479, 485 (1984)). It is also true, however, that “state and federal rulemakers

21 have broad latitude under the Constitution to establish rules excluding evidence from criminal

22 trials.” Holmes v. South Carolina, 547 U.S. 319, 324 (2006) (quoting United States v. Scheffer,

23 523 U.S. 303, 308 (1998)). “Such rules do not abridge an accused’s right to present a defense so

24 long as they are not ‘arbitrary’ or ‘disproportionate to the purposes they are designed to serve.’”

25 Scheffer, 523 U.S. 303 at 308 (quoting Rock v. Arkansas, 483 U.S. 44, 56 (1987)). A rule is

26 “arbitrary” where it “exclude[s] important defense evidence but ... [does] not serve any legitimate

27 interests.” Holmes, 547 U.S. at 325. “[A] federal habeas court may overturn a state court's

28 application of federal law only if it is so erroneous that ‘there is no possibility fairminded jurists

13

Case 2:17-cv-00455-KJM-DB Document 29 Filed 11/16/20 Page 14 of 34

1 could disagree that the state court’s decision conflicts with [the Supreme] Court's precedents.’”

2 Nevada v. Jackson, 569 U.S. 505, 508-09 (2013) (quoting Harrington v. Richter, 562 U.S. 86, 102

3 (2011)). “Only rarely [has the Supreme Court] held that the right to present a complete defense

4 was violated by the exclusion of evidence under a state rule of evidence.” Id. at 509.

5 The United States Supreme Court has not “squarely addressed” whether a state court's

6 exercise of discretion to exclude testimony violates a criminal defendant’s right to present

7 relevant evidence. Moses v. Payne, 555 F.3d 742, 758-59 (9th Cir. 2009). Nor has the Court

8 clearly established a “controlling legal standard” for evaluating discretionary decisions to exclude

9 such evidence. Id. at 758; see also Brown v. Horell, 644 F.3d 969, 983 (9th Cir. 2011) (“Between

10 the issuance of Moses and the present, the Supreme Court has not decided any case either

11 ‘squarely address[ing]’ the discretionary exclusion of evidence and the right to present a complete

12 defense or ‘establish [ing] a controlling legal standard’ for evaluating such exclusions.”). Rather,

13 the Supreme Court has focused only on whether an evidentiary rule, by its own terms, violated a

14 defendant’s right to present evidence, and found that AEDPA does not permit a federal habeas

15 court to conclude that a state court’s discretionary exclusion of evidence pursuant to a valid

16 evidentiary rule violated clearly established Supreme Court precedent. Moses, 555 F.3d at 756–

17 60; Horell, 644 F.3d at 983.

18 Subsequently, the Supreme Court held that its precedent did not clearly establish that the

19 Constitution “requires a case-by-case balancing of interests” before a state rule precluding the

20 admission of extrinsic evidence to impeach a witness could be enforced. The Court held that it

21 “has never held that the Confrontation Clause entitles a criminal defendant to introduce extrinsic

22 evidence for impeachment purposes.” Jackson, 569 U.S. at 509-11 (exclusion of evidence under

23 state law for the purpose of focusing the fact-finder and conserving judicial resources was

24 appropriate and did not impinge on a defendant's right to present a complete defense.).

25 The Ninth Circuit has noted that “under AEDPA, ‘even clearly erroneous’ evidentiary

26 errors ‘that render a trial fundamentally unfair may not permit the grant of federal habeas corpus

27 relief if not forbidden by ‘clearly established federal law,’ as laid out by the Supreme Court.’”

28 Hale v. Cate, 530 F. App’x 636, 637 (9th Cir. 2013) (quoting Holley v. Yarborough, 568 F.3d

14

Case 2:17-cv-00455-KJM-DB Document 29 Filed 11/16/20 Page 15 of 34

1 1091, 1101 (9th Cir. 2009). Moses only addressed the exclusion of expert testimony under a

2 Washington state statute. However, both the Ninth Circuit and district courts in this circuit have

3 extended the holding in Moses to preclude habeas claims arguing that exclusion of other, non-

4 expert evidence by state courts was contrary to, or an unreasonable application of, controlling

5 Supreme Court precedent, or warranted habeas relief under AEDPA. See, e.g., Smith v. Small,

6 697 F. App’x 538 (9th Cir. 2017) (California court’s decision to exclude defense witness

7 testimony was not contrary to or an unreasonable application of clearly established Supreme

8 Court precedent); Borges v. Davey, 656 F. App’x 303, 304 (9th Cir. 2016) (California court’s

9 exclusion of proposed cross-examination pursuant to Cal. Evid. Code § 352 because questioning

10 would be cumulative and time-consuming did not warrant habeas relief under AEDPA); Dugger

11 v. Brown, 469 F. App’x 534 (9th Cir. 2012) (Supreme Court has established no controlling legal

12 standards to evaluate a state court’s decision to preclude defense impeachment testimony under

13 Cal. Evid. Code § 352); see also Gentry v. Grounds, No. 2:13-cv-0142 WBS KJN P, 2015 WL

14 3733395, at *10 (E.D. Cal. June 11, 2015) (state court’s decision to exclude defense impeachment

15 evidence under Cal. Evid. Code § 352 did not violate any clearly established federal law under §

16 2254(d)), rep. and reco. adopted, No. 2:13-cv-0142 WBS KJN P (E.D. Cal. July 10, 2015); Chein

17 v. Powers, No. CV 13-0126 ABC (AN), 2013 WL 6535301, at *10 (C.D. Cal. Dec.13, 2013)

18 (state trial court’s exclusion of proposed defense evidence regarding conduct of victim because it

19 was irrelevant did not warrant habeas relief under AEDPA); White v. Knipp, No. 2:11-cv-3016

20 TLN DAD P, 2013 WL 5375611, at *19 (E.D. Cal. Sept. 24, 2013) (state court’s exclusion of

21 third party culpability evidence did not warrant relief under AEDPA), rep. and reco. adopted, No.

22 2:11-cv-3016 TLN DAD P (E.D. Cal. Nov. 18, 2013).

23 B. State Court Decision

24 Exclusion of Impeachment Evidence

25 Defendant also claims the trial court abused its discretion and

his right to due process by excluding evidence [of] certain school

26 records pertaining to S.S. [which] indicated he exhibited

oppositional, defiant, and atypical behaviors purportedly relevant to

27 his credibility as a witness. We disagree.

28

15

Case 2:17-cv-00455-KJM-DB Document 29 Filed 11/16/20 Page 16 of 34

1 A.

2 Additional Background

3 Defendant subpoenaed S.S.’s school records that the trial

court reviewed in camera. Certain of these records were made

4 available to defense counsel. The prosecution then asked the trial

court to limit cross-examination of S.S. concerning a

5 psychoeducational study (PS) prepared in May 2011. The

prosecution asked the trial court to preclude , as “irrelevant and

6 unduly prejudicial,” any questioning concerning the following

contents of the study: “[R]eferrals for ‘[in]subordinate and defiant

7 behavior; [¶] Anger outburst when frustrated over academics or

social injustices; [¶] Demonstrating victimizing behaviors; [¶]

8 Seizures, setting fires, and thoughts of suicide; [¶] Prior diagnoses

and use of medication to control behavior; [¶] Conclusions based on

9 limited hearsay that suggest potential for maladjustment including:

cruelty to animals, threats to hurt others . . , bullying classmates, and

10 other aggression and conduct problems.” The prosecution did not,

however, object to cross-examination concerning two reported

11 incidents of theft at school and requested a hearing under Evidence

Code section 402 to determine whether a reported statement made by

12 S.S. to the school psychologist, i.e., that he sometimes heard voices

in his head that no one else could hear, would be relevant to his

13 perception of defendant’s behavior on August 2, 2011.

14 Prior to defense counsel’s cross-examination of C.C., the first

witness called by the prosecution, defense counsel raised the issue of

15 addressing the foregoing subjects with this witness. The trial court

ruled that S.S.’s “oppositional, defiant behavior at school that is

16 reflected in the [PS] doesn’t seem to me to have any bearing on his

truth or veracity.” The court also ruled such evidence inadmissible

17 under Evidence Code section 352 as an “unduly prejudicial” attack

on S.S.’s character. The trial court did, however, indicate that defense

18 counsel might be able to cross-examine S.S. concerning “his self-

report of hearing things that might not be there” and the “specific

19 incidents of . . .theft.”

20 During S.S.’s testimony, defense counsel again raised the

issue of questioning him concerning his oppositional and defiant

21 behavior at school. Defense counsel argued: “I suspect [defendant]

is going to get on the stand, deny that any of this happened,

22 absolutely deny it. And so, ultimately, I have got to come up with a

theory for the jury as to why these children would make up

23 allegations against their babysitter who they had no problems with in

the past. [¶] And certainly seems to me with [S.S.], who is the oldest

24 of the children and the only one that’s allowed to leave the property

on a bicycle – the rest of the children weren’t – it seems to me I

25 should be able to ask that, if the response is merited, about the fact

he was defiant to authority and didn’t like to listen to other people,

26 especially people in position[s] of authority.” The trial court again

ruled the evidence inadmissible to the question of “whether this

27 witness is telling the truth or not” and also barred by Evidence Code

section 352.

28

16

Case 2:17-cv-00455-KJM-DB Document 29 Filed 11/16/20 Page 17 of 34

1 S.S. was then questioned about the two reported thefts. He

admitted one of them. He was also questioned about his reported

2 statement that he was hearing voices no one else could hear. He

denied making this statement. The parties stipulated the school

3 psychologist would testify that S.S. made the statement.

4 B.

5 Analysis

6 Defendant asserts the jury should have heard that S.S. “‘had

numerous referrals and suspensions for [in]subordinate and defiant

7 behavior’” at school, a teacher noted he “will have anger outbursts

when he becomes frustrated over academics or social injustice[,]

8 struggles on the yard and in small group situations[,] and he often

demonstrates victimizing behaviors,’” his “‘ primary disability is

9 Emotional Disturbance’” he was “identified as showing

‘Oppositional Defiant Disorder and Bipolar Disorder,’” his mother

10 was “‘ recently having more difficulty helping [him] control his

behavior,’” he had been ‘“ receiving therapy for one month. . . but

11 [was] not presently taking medication,’” “parent and teacher

responses suggested ‘a high level of maladjustment for . . .

12 aggression’ [and] that he ‘often threatens to hurt other and bullies

others,’” and parent and teacher responses also suggested “‘ a high

13 level of maladjustment for. . . atypicality (seems out of touch with

reality, has strange ideas, says things that make no sense, acts

14 strangely, seems unaware of others).’” He argues the foregoing

evidence “was highly relevant to the jury’s assessment of whether

15 his report of what he saw in the bedroom was one of his ‘strange

actions’—a product perhaps of his anger, defiance, or lack of contact

16 with reality.” We are not persuaded.

17 We first note the foregoing evidence falls into two categories:

(1) evidence of S.S.’s past misconduct, i.e., insubordinate,

18 oppositional, defiant, aggressive, threatening, and victimizing

behavior; and (2) evidence S.S. appeared to be out of touch with

19 reality. With respect to the second category, aside from the report of

S.S. hearing voices no one else could hear, which was admitted into

20 evidence, defense counsel did not ask the trial court to admit this

evidence. Accordingly, any claim of error based on this category is

21 forfeited.[fn 6] (Evid. Code, § 354, subd. (a); see, e.g., People v

Panah (2005) 35 Cal.4th 395, 481.) We therefore address only the

22 first category.

23 1. Relevance of the Proffered Evidence

24 “No evidence is admissible except relevant evidence” and,

“except as otherwise provided by statute, all relevant evidence is

25 admissible.” (Evid. Code, §§ 350, 351.) Evidence is relevant if it has

“any tendency in reason to prove or disprove any disputed fact that

26 is of consequence to the determination of the action.” (Evid. Code, §

210.)

27

“Not all past misconduct has a ‘tendency in reason to prove

28 or disprove a witness’s honesty and veracity.” (People v. Wheeler

17

Case 2:17-cv-00455-KJM-DB Document 29 Filed 11/16/20 Page 18 of 34

1 (1992) 4 Cal. 4th 284, 295.) it is misconduct “involving moral

turpitude” that “may suggest a willingness to lie [citations], and this

2 inference is not limited to conduct which resulted in a felony

conviction.” (Id. at pp. 295-296.) Thus, “the admissibility of any past

3 misconduct for impeachment is limited at the outset by the relevance

requirement of moral turpitude.” (Id. at p. 296; see also People v.

4 Clark (2011) 52 Cal.4th 856, 931.)

5 Here, based on the offer of proof, we cannot conclude S.S.’s

prior conduct rises to the level of moral turpitude, i.e., a “ ‘general

6 readiness to do evil.’” (People v. Castro (1985) 38 Cal. 3d 301, 315.)

While the assessment indicates S.S. “threatens to hurt others, teases

7 others, argues [w]hen denied own way, bullies others, seeks revenge,

hits and calls other adolescents names,” we do not know precisely

8 what S.S. did to warrant these comments. However, arguing, teasing,

and name-calling certainly do not rise to the level of moral turpitude.

9 Nor does committing a battery. (See People v. Mansfield (1988) 200

Cal.App.3d 82, 89.) Moreover, while the crimes of making a criminal

10 threat (§ 422) and arson (§ 451) have been held to involve moral

turpitude (see People v. Thornton (1992) 3 Cal.App.4th 419, 424;

11 People v. Miles (1985) 172 Cal.App.3d 474, 482), S. S. was not

convicted of these crimes. Instead, the school assessment simply

12 notes, based on parent and teacher responses, that S.S. “threatens to

hurt others.” This does not reveal “[t]he knowing infliction of mental

13 terror” held to be “deserving of moral condemnation” in People v

Thornton, supra, 3 Cal.App.4th at page 424. Similarly, the parent

14 response that S.S. “sets fires” does not reveal whether he set fire to

“any structure, forest land, or property,” as those terms are used in

15 the arson statute, or whether he did so “willfully and maliciously.”

(§ 451.) At most, the school assessment reveals a troubled young man

16 who was acting out in school and at home, not a person possessing a

general readiness to do evil, such that the jury could reasonably infer

17 a willingness to lie. We agree with the trial court that his evidence

was not relevant to S.S.’s credibility as a witness.

18

2. Evidence Code Section 352

19

Even assuming the evidence was relevant to S.S.’s

20 credibility, we would nevertheless conclude the evidence was

properly excluded under Evidence Code section 352. This section

21 provides the trial court with discretion to exclude relevant evidence

“if its probative value is substantially outweighed by the probability

22 that its admission will (a) necessitate undue consumption of time or

(b) create substantial danger of undue prejudice, of confusing the

23 issues, or of misleading the jury.”

24 We review the trial court’s decision to exclude evidence

under Evidence Code section 352 for abuse of discretion. (People v.

25 Minifie (1996) 13 Cal.4th 1055, 1070.) However, while this

provision “permits the trial judge to strike a careful balance between

26 the probative value of the evidence and the danger of prejudice,

confusion and undue time consumption,” it also “requires that the

27 danger of these evils substantially outweigh the probative value of

the evidence. This balance is particularly delicate and critical where

28 what is at stake is a criminal defendant’s liberty.” (People v.

18

Case 2:17-cv-00455-KJM-DB Document 29 Filed 11/16/20 Page 19 of 34

1 Lavergne (1971) 4 Cal.3d 735, 744; see People v. Holford (2012)

203 Cal.App.4th 155, 168 [section 352 objection should be overruled

2 “unless the probative value is ‘substantially’ outweighed by the

probability of a ‘substantial danger” ‘ of one of the statutory

3 counterweights].) Thus, Evidence Code section 352 “must bow to the

due process right of a defendant to a fair trial and his right to present

4 all relevant evidence of significant probative value to his defense.

[Citations.] Of course, the proffered evidence must have more than

5 slight relevancy to the issues presented. [Citation.]” (People v.

Burrell-Hart (1987) 192 Cal.App.3d 593, 599.)

6

We have already concluded the proffered evidence was not

7 relevant to the issues presented. However, even if relevant, the

probative value was slight. In People v. Lightsey (2012) 54 Cal.4th

8 668, our Supreme Court upheld the trial court’s decision, under

Evidence Code section 352, to exclude evidence of a prosecution

9 witness’s misdemeanor conviction for assault with a deadly weapon,

explaining: “[E]vidence of [the witness’s] misdemeanor conduct-

10 striking her ex-husband with a rock during a dispute-does not

strongly demonstrate moral turpitude, i.e., a “‘general readiness to do

11 evil”‘ [citation], and thus would not have provided the jury much

assistance in assessing[her] credibility. ‘This was a routine matter of

12 weighing the evidence’s probative value against the probability its

admission would “necessitate undue consumption of time” [citation],

13 and the trial court’s ruling was both reasoned and reasonable.’

[Citation.]” (Id. at p. 714.) The same reasoning applies here.

14

The trial court did not abuse its discretion or violate defendant’s right

15 to due process by excluding the proffered evidence.

16 [fn 6] In any event, even if properly preserved for review,

while evidence S.S. seemed out of touch with reality about

17 three months before defendant tried to have sex with his sister

would be relevant to his ability to perceive the even (see Evid.

18 Code, §§ 210, 780), and further assuming the evidence was

not subject to exclusion as inadmissible hearsay or under

19 Evidence Code section 352, we would nevertheless conclude

any error was harmless since the jury heard evidence S.S.

20 reported hearing voices no one else could hear. This

additional, non-specific, evidence that parent and teacher

21 responses revealed S.S. seemed out of touch with reality, had

strange ideas, said strange things, acted strangely, and

22 seemed unaware of others would have added little to the

jury’s assessment of his ability to perceive the event that

23 occurred on his bed. Moreover, the evidence against

defendant was overwhelming. Indeed, defendant’s

24 admission to trying to have sex with D.C. on the bed

corroborated S.S.’s testimony and confirmed he accurately

25 perceived the event.

26 (LD 4 at 16-22 (some footnotes omitted).3 )

27

3The Court of Appeal published only the analysis of claim 1. It did not certify for publication its

28 analyses of petitioner’s other claims. See Sanchez, 246 Cal. App. 4th at 179 n. *

19

Case 2:17-cv-00455-KJM-DB Document 29 Filed 11/16/20 Page 20 of 34

1 C. Analysis of Claim 2 – Exclusion of Impeachment Evidence

2 As described above, there is no clearly established federal law that a state court’s

3 application of California Evidence Code § 352 may violate due process. See Smith, 697 F. App’x

4 538; Borges, 656 F. App’x 303; Dugger, 469 F. App’x 534. Petitioner attempts to argue that

5 because the Court of Appeal misapplied state evidentiary rules, “application of state law in this

6 case is no bar to federal review of petitioner’s confrontation claim.” Petitioner’s argument is

7 nonsensical in the habeas context. Whether state law was violated is not a relevant question

8 before this court. See Estelle v. McGuire, 502 U.S. 62, 67-68 (1991) (violation of state law is not

9 cognizable on federal habeas). Rather, the first question under the § 2254(d) analysis is whether

10 petitioner asserts a claim supported by clearly established federal law as decided by the Supreme

11 Court. The authorities binding this court are clear that he does not.

12 Even if this court could consider a claim that the limitation on impeachment evidence

13 rendered petitioner’s trial fundamentally unfair, that claim would fail. The evidence against

14 petitioner was overwhelming and the trial court did permit S.S. to be impeached with questions

15 regarding two reported thefts and his statement to a school psychologist that S.S. told her he

16 heard voices no one else could hear. In addition, the parties stipulated that if the school

17 psychologist testified, she would confirm that statement.

18 In particular, the evidence that S.S. may have heard voices provided the defense with a

19 good basis to impeach his ability to perceive and report petitioner’s abuse of D.C. and M.C.

20 Petitioner fails to show that any additional impeachment of S.S. with evidence of his oppositional

21 behavior and challenges to authority would have affected the jury’s determination of petitioner’s

22 guilt. Petitioner’s claim 2 should fail.

23 III. Claim 3 – Prosecutorial Misconduct/Ineffective Assistance of Counsel

24 Petitioner raises the following claims of prosecutorial misconduct. Petitioner alleges the

25 prosecutor: (1) misled the jury regarding D.C.’s injuries; (2) disparaged defense counsel; (3)

26 indicated that she knew evidence not before the jury; (4) mispresented the parties’ stipulation and

27 urged the jury to speculate about evidence not in the record; and (5) asked the jury to sanction

28 petitioner for exercising his right to trial. What petitioner fails to point out in his petition, and

20

Case 2:17-cv-00455-KJM-DB Document 29 Filed 11/16/20 Page 21 of 34

1 respondent fails to argue, is that petitioner defaulted these prosecutorial misconduct claims

2 because none of the instances of alleged misconduct were objected to at trial. The Court of

3 Appeal noted the default and analyzed the claims under petitioner’s fall-back argument that the

4 failure of counsel to object violated petitioner’s Sixth Amendment rights to the effective

5 assistance of counsel. (See LD 4 at 28.)

6 This court must decline to consider a claim that has been defaulted for failure to

7 contemporaneously object. See Fairbank v. Ayers, 650 F.3d 1243, 1256-57 (9th Cir. 2011)

8 (finding that California's contemporaneous objection rule was independent and adequate to bar

9 federal review when a defense attorney failed to object to alleged prosecutorial misconduct).

10 Accordingly, as the state court did, this court considers petitioner’s claims that his trial counsel

11 was ineffective for failing to object to the five instances of prosecutorial misconduct set out

12 above.4

13 A. Applicable Legal Principles

14 To succeed on a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, a petitioner must show that (1)

15 his counsel's performance was deficient and that (2) the “deficient performance prejudiced the

16 defense.” Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687 (1984). Counsel is constitutionally

17 deficient if his or her representation “fell below an objective standard of reasonableness” such

18 that it was outside “the range of competence demanded of attorneys in criminal cases.” Id. at

19 687-88 (internal quotation marks omitted). Prejudice is found where “there is a reasonable

20 probability that, but for counsel's unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding would have

21 been different.” Id. at 694. A reasonable probability is “a probability sufficient to undermine

22 confidence in the outcome.” Id. “The likelihood of a different result must be substantial, not just

23 conceivable.” Harrington v. Richter, 562 U.S. 86, 112 (2011).

24

4Petitioner appears to raise the ineffective assistance of counsel claims only in his reply. (See

25 ECF No. 24 at 31-31.) Generally, this court may not consider claims raised for the first time in a

26 reply. See Lopez v. Dexter, 375 F. App’x 724 (9th Cir. 2010) (district court appropriately

rejected claim that “surfaced for the first time in [the] traverse to the state’s answer” (citing

27 Cacoperdo v. Demosthenes, 37 F.3d 504, 507 (9th Cir. 1994)). However, because the ineffective

assistance of counsel issue was raised, and considered, in the state court, this court will consider it

28 here.

21

Case 2:17-cv-00455-KJM-DB Document 29 Filed 11/16/20 Page 22 of 34

1 A reviewing court “need not determine whether counsel’s performance was deficient

2 before examining the prejudice suffered by the defendant as a result of the alleged deficiencies. .

3 . . If it is easier to dispose of an ineffectiveness claim on the ground of lack of sufficient prejudice

4 . . . that course should be followed.” Pizzuto v. Arave, 280 F.3d 949, 955 (9th Cir. 2002)

5 (quoting Strickland, 466 U.S. at 697), amended and superseded on other grounds, 385 F.3d 1247

6 (9th Cir. 2004); United States v. Ray, No. 2:11-cr-0216-MCE, 2016 WL 146177, at *5 (E.D. Cal.

7 Jan. 13, 2016) (citing Pizzuto, 280 F.3d at 954), aff’d, 735 F. App’x 290 (9th Cir. 2018).

8 B. State Court Decision

9 The Court of Appeal found petitioner’s trial attorney did not act unreasonably when he did

10 not object to the alleged misconduct because the prosecutor’s actions did not amount to

11 misconduct and/or they were not prejudicial to petitioner.

12 Prosecutorial Misconduct

13 Defendant further asserts the prosecutor engaged in

prejudicial misconduct in violation of his right to due process by (1)

14 misleading the jury about the evidence, (2) misleading the jury about

a stipulation and suggesting facts not in evidence, (3) assuring the

15 jury the case would not have been brought if the evidence was

lacking, (4) implying defendant was not human, except for the

16 moment when he confessed to police, and (5) appealing to the

passions of the jury and disparaging defense counsel in front of the

17 jury. This assertion of error is forfeited because defendant did not

object to the prosecutor’s alleged misconduct or request curative

18 admonitions. (People v. McDowell (2012) 54 Cal.4th 395, 436.)

Anticipating forfeiture, defendant argues reversal is nevertheless

19 required because defense counsel’s failure to object and request

admonitions amounted to ineffective assistance of counsel. We

20 disagree. Because the asserted instances of alleged misconduct were

either not misconduct or not prejudicial, we conclude counsel’s

21 failure to object and request admonitions did not fall below an

objective standard of reasonableness.

22

A criminal defendant has the right to the assistance of counsel

23 under both the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution

and article I, section 15, of the California Constitution. (People v.

24 Ledesma (1987) 43 Cal.3d 171, 215.) This right “entitles the

defendant not to some bare assistance but rather to effective

25 assistance. [Citations.] Specifically, it entitles him [or her] to ‘the

reasonably competent assistance of an attorney acting as his [or her]

26 diligent conscientious advocate.’ [Citations.]” (Ibid., quoting United

States v. DeCoster (D.C.Cir. 1973) 487 F.2d 1197, 1202.) “‘In order

27 to demonstrate ineffective assistance of counsel, a defendant must

first show counsel’s performance was “deficient” because his [ or

28 her] “representation fell below an objective standard of

22

Case 2:17-cv-00455-KJM-DB Document 29 Filed 11/16/20 Page 23 of 34

1 reasonableness ... under prevailing professional norms.” [Citations.]

Second, he [or she] must also show prejudice flowing from counsel’s

2 performance or lack thereof. [Citation.] Prejudice is shown when

there is a “reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s

3 unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding would have been

different. A reasonable probability is a probability sufficient to

4 undermine confidence in the outcome.”’” (In re Harris (1993) 5

Cal.4th 813, 832-833; accord, Strickland v. Washington (1984) 466

5 U.S. 668, 687 [80 L.Ed.2d 674, 693].) The burden of proving a claim

of ineffective assistance of counsel is squarely upon the defendant.

6 (People v. Camden (1976) 16 Cal.3d 808, 816.)

7 We must first determine whether defense counsel’s failure to

object to the specific instances of alleged misconduct fell below an

8 objective standard of reasonableness. “Under the federal

Constitution, a prosecutor commits reversible misconduct only if the

9 conduct infects the trial with such ‘“unfairness as to make the

resulting conviction a denial of due process.”’ [Citation.] By

10 contrast, our state law requires reversal when a prosecutor uses

‘deceptive or reprehensible methods to persuade either the court or

11 the jury’ [citation] and “‘it is reasonably probable that a result more

favorable to the defendant would have been reached without the

12 misconduct’” [citation].” (People v. Davis (2009) 46 Cal.4th 539,

612.)

13

14 (LD 4 at 28-29.)

15 The Court of Appeal then went on to address each instance in which petitioner alleged his

16 attorney unreasonably failed to object to misconduct. That court’s reasoning on each contention

17 is set out in the discussion of petitioner’s claims below.

18 C. Analysis of Ineffective Assistance of Counsel

19 1. Misstating Evidence re Injury to D.C.

20 Petitioner argues the prosecutor improperly mischaracterized the evidence by describing

21 an interviewer’s question of petitioner as asking whether anything went “into her vagina that we

22 need to know about when her hymen broke?” (2 RT 993.) Petitioner contends there was no

23 evidence D.C.’s hymen was ruptured as a result of any action by petitioner and the statement was

24 prejudicial.

25 The question before this court is whether the Court of Appeal reasonably held that

26 petitioner’s trial attorney acted appropriately when he failed to object to this argument. As the

27 Court of Appeal points out, counsel’s reasonableness would have been based on a consideration

28 of whether the prosecutor’s actions would have been found by the state court to amount to

23

Case 2:17-cv-00455-KJM-DB Document 29 Filed 11/16/20 Page 24 of 34

1 prejudicial misconduct. That inquiry is not limited to federal law. If the prosecutor’s actions

2 would have been considered prejudicial misconduct under state law, then petitioner’s trial

3 attorney acted unreasonably in failing to object to them. In recounting the standards for

4 determining prosecutorial misconduct under both federal and state law, the Court of Appeal

5 shows that the state law standards are more lenient. In other words, proving prejudicial

6 prosecutorial misconduct would have been easier under state, rather than federal, standards.

7 Accordingly, those state standards must be considered by this court as well. The prosecutor thus

8 committed objectionable misconduct under state law if she used “‘deceptive or reprehensible

9 methods to persuade either the court or the jury’ [citation] and “‘it is reasonably probable that a

10 result more favorable to the defendant would have been reached without the misconduct’”

11 [citation].”” (LD 4 at 29 (citing People v. Davis (2009) 46 Cal.4th 539, 612).

12 The Court of Appeal rejected petitioner’s claim by finding the prosecutor’s argument did

13 not, in fact, misstate the evidence. Therefore, any objection by counsel would have been futile.

14 The first instance of alleged misconduct occurred during the

prosecutor’s closing argument. Describing defendant’s interview

15 with police, the prosecutor stated: “This is when the officers are

saying, [D.C.] is going to get examined; did you give her any STDs.

16 Did anything go into her vagina that we need to know about when

her hymen broke? They explained that to him.” (Italics added.)

17 Defendant complains the prosecutor misled the jury about the

evidence because there was no evidence D.C. ‘s hymen broke. While

18 “mischaracterizing the evidence is misconduct” (People v. Hill

(1998) 17 Cal.4th 800, 823), where the prosecutor’s comments are

19 ambiguous, the question is “whether there is a reasonable likelihood

that the jury misconstrued or misapplied” the comments. (People v.

20 Clair (1992) 2 Cal.4th 629, 663.) Here, “when her hymen broke”

could be construed to indicate it did actually break, while the doctor

21 who performed the sexual assault examination on D.C. testified there

were no findings of sexual trauma. However, the prosecutor was

22 clearly referring to defendant’s police interview, in which defendant

was asked whether he penetrated D.C.’s vagina “however slight,”

23 because any such penetration “breaks the hymen.” Viewed in

context, we conclude the jury likely understood the challenged

24 language to refer to the detective’s suggestion to defendant that

D.C.’s hymen broke, and not that the hymen was in fact perforated.

25 So viewed, the challenged statement did not mischaracterize the

evidence and defense counsel was not ineffective for failing to

26 object.

27 (LD 4 at 29-30.)

28 ////

24

Case 2:17-cv-00455-KJM-DB Document 29 Filed 11/16/20 Page 25 of 34

1 Petitioner contends the prosecutor’s statement, simply read, asserted that D.C.’s hymen

2 had been ruptured. Petitioner argues that such a statement was a mischaracterization of the

3 evidence that would have been extremely prejudicial.

4 This court agrees with the Court of Appeal that the statement, while certainly not well

5 said, did not amount to misconduct. The prosecutor was recounting the interviewer’s testimony

6 that he told petitioner D.C. was going to be examined and asked whether petitioner gave her any

7 STDs or whether anything went into her vagina that could have ruptured her hymen. While not

8 identical to the testimony, the jury would not have been misled. Moreover, even if misconduct,

9 the statement was not prejudicial. There was medical testimony that doctors found no evidence

10 of sexual trauma. And, the jury was reminded in the defense closing argument that there was “not

11 one sign of sexual abuse or trauma.” (2 RT 1023.) Finally, the jury was instructed that

12 “[n]othing that the attorneys say is evidence.” (2 RT 946.) Petitioner fails to show his trial

13 counsel acted unreasonably in failing to object to the prosecutor’s argument or that the absence of

14 an objection prejudiced him.

15 2. Disparaging Defense Counsel

16 Petitioner argues the prosecutor disparaged defense counsel numerous times when she

17 questioned the victims and accused counsel of going “on the attack” in his questioning of those

18 victims and their families.

19 The Court of Appeal held that the prosecutor’s comments did amount to misconduct. It

20 further held, however, that there was no reasonable probability counsel’s failure to object affected

21 the verdict.

22 [D]efendant asserts the prosecutor committed misconduct by

appealing to the passions of the jury and disparaging defense counsel.

23 The prosecutor stated during her rebuttal argument: “Can you

imagine what that must feel like, to be an eight-year-old kid, with 12

24 adults -- 14 staring at her; and the most important person in her life

on August 2, 2011, looking right at her. But, yet, [defense counsel],

25 with his many years of experience, was able to twist her up. And how

hard is that, to twist up an eight-year-old girl to the point where she

26 is crumpled in her seat, unable to even talk about anything?”

Additionally, defendant complains the prosecutor asked M.C. “how

27 she felt there on the stand” and whether defense counsel’s questions

about her body made her “feel embarrassed,” stated in her closing

28 argument that the SAFE interview is different from trial, “where you

25

Case 2:17-cv-00455-KJM-DB Document 29 Filed 11/16/20 Page 26 of 34

1 have an experienced defense attorney doing leading questions and

getting answers that they want out of a kid who is oftentimes trained

2 to obey adults,” and stated in her closing and rebuttal arguments that

defense counsel went “on the attack” in cross-examining the children

3 and also “attacked” their parents and the police. It is improper for a

prosecutor “to portray defense counsel as the villain in the case”; this

4 is because a “defendant’s conviction should rest on the evidence, not

on derelictions of his [or her] counsel. [Citations.] Casting uncalled

5 for aspersions on defense counsel directs attention to largely

irrelevant matters and does not constitute comment on the evidence

6 or argument as to inferences to be drawn therefrom.” (People v.

Thompson (1988) 45 Cal.3d 86, 112.) In People v. Turner (1983) 145

7 Cal.App.3d 658, disapproved on other grounds in People v. Newman

(1999) 21 Cal.4th 413, 422-423, footnote 6, and People v. Majors

8 (1998) 18 Cal.4th 385, 410-411, the Court of Appeal held the

prosecutor “overreacted” to defense counsel’s cross-examination of

9 the victim and engaged in misconduct by portraying defense counsel

as “an additional villain who was attacking the victim.” (Turner,

10 supra, 145 Cal.App.3d at p. 674.) The same can be said of the

prosecutor’s argument here. However, as in Turner, we conclude the

11 misconduct was harmless. (Ibid.) In light of the overwhelming

evidence of defendant’s guilt, there is no reasonable probability a

12 result more favorable to the defendant would have been reached

without the misconduct. (See People v. Davis, supra, 46 Cal.4th at p.

13 612.) For the same reason, even if we were to conclude defense

counsel’s failure to object to the foregoing statements fell below an

14 objective standard of reasonableness, there would be no prejudice.

15 (LD 4 at 34-35.)

16 While petitioner argues the prosecutor’s statements were misconduct, and there appears to

17 be no dispute that they were, petitioner makes no real attempt to argue the statements were

18 prejudicial. This court finds they were not. Those statements were not specifically focused on

19 the evidence and this court finds no basis to conclude, based on the substantial evidence of

20 petitioner’s guilt, including his admissions, that had counsel objected to those statements, there is

21 a reasonable probability the result of the proceeding would have been different. The Court of

22 Appeal’s decision was not contrary to or an unreasonable application of clearly established

23 federal law and does not rest on an unreasonable determination of the facts.

24 3. Vouching

25 Petitioner argues that the prosecutor’s assertion that she would not be arguing to the jury if

26 she thought the evidence was insufficient to convict him amounts to improper vouching. A

27 prosecutor’s expression of a personal opinion of the guilt of the accused can “convey the

28 impression that evidence not presented to the jury, but known to the prosecutor, supports the

26

Case 2:17-cv-00455-KJM-DB Document 29 Filed 11/16/20 Page 27 of 34

1 charges against the defendant and can thus jeopardize the defendant's right to be tried solely on

2 the basis of the evidence presented to the jury.” United States v. Young, 470 U.S. 1, 18-19

3 (1985) (citing Berger v. United States, 295 U.S., 78, 88-89 (1935)).

4 The California Court of Appeal rejected petitioner’s contention that the prosecutor’s

5 comment amounted to vouching:

6 [D]efendant complains the prosecutor stated during her

rebuttal argument: “No evidence at all? I promise you, I would not

7 be arguing in front of you that there was.” Defendant argues: “The

prosecutor’s statement that she would not be arguing to the jury if

8 she did not have sufficient evidence invites the jury to rely on the

prosecutor’s personal probity rather than on the evidence in the case

9 and may be understood by the jury as an assurance that the prosecutor

is relying on additional evidence.” A prosecutor may not “express a

10 personal opinion or belief in a defendant’s guilt, where there is

substantial danger that jurors will interpret this as being based on

11 information at the prosecutor’s command, other than the evidence

adduced at trial. The danger is acute when the prosecutor offer his

12 [or her] opinion and does not explicitly state that it is based solely on

the inferences from the evidence at trial.” (People v. Bain (1971) 5

13 Cal.3d 839, 848.) However, viewing in context, we cannot agree

with defendant’s characterization of the challenged statement as an

14 assurance to the jury that there is sufficient evidence, perhaps outside

that adduced at trial, to support defendant’s guilty. The challenged

15 statement was made in response to defense counsel’s argument there

was not evidence of sexual penetration, or that a piggyback ride took

16 place. The prosecutor responded: “[W]hat are you expecting? A

picture of the piggy-back ride? [¶] I – at this point, you have the

17 defendant’s statement, and you have [the doctor’s] exam; and, ladies

and gentlemen, you need evidence that a crime occurred, however

18 slight that evidence is. You got -- you’ll get the instructions in the

deliberation room. You have a lot of evidence that a crime occurred:

19 Touching breasts, touching butt, touching vagina, being in a room

with [D.C.], [S.S.] seeing him on top of her .... No evidence at all? I

20 promise you, I would not be arguing in front of you that there was.”

Viewed in context, we conclude the jury likely understood the

21 challenged statement to refer to the evidence the prosecutor recited

immediately before the statement. So viewed, there was no

22 misconduct and defense counsel was not ineffective for failing to

object.

23

24 (LD 4 at 32-33.)

25 Read in context, the prosecutor’s argument did not imply the prosecutor had knowledge of

26 evidence not presented to the jury. Rather, the statement was made as part of a summary of that

27 evidence and was made in direct response to argument by the defense. It was not misconduct and

28 petitioner’s trial counsel did not act unreasonably in failing to object to it.

27

Case 2:17-cv-00455-KJM-DB Document 29 Filed 11/16/20 Page 28 of 34

1 4. Misstating Evidence re Parties’ Stipulation

2 Petitioner next contends that, despite stipulating to the testimony of a school psychologist

3 regarding a statement made to her by S.S., the prosecutor argued in closing that some of the

4 psychologist’s testimony, had the jury heard it, would have been false and implied that the

5 prosecutor could have adduced different testimony upon cross-examination.

6 The Court of Appeal found the prosecutor’s argument was not misconduct and, to the

7 extent the prosecutor made one comment that could be construed as referring to a fact not in

8 evidence, that comment was not so prejudicial that there was a reasonable probability the result of

9 trial would have been different if counsel had objected.

10 [D]efendant claims the prosecutor misled the jury about the

stipulation entered into between the parties, i.e., the school

11 psychologist would testify S.S. told her on one occasion in May 2011

that “sometimes he heard voices in his head that no one else could

12 hear.” The prosecutor stated during her closing argument: “[S.S.]

told –allegedly told a school psychologist -- a school counselor that

13 he heard things that no one else could hear. And, first of all, there is

a stipulation that, if she were to take the stand, she would have said

14 that. But you can’t just assume that it is true just because she would

say that. She was not subject to cross-examination. She did not give

15 you the context under which that statement was said. She didn’t tell

you any of the good things that possibly she knows about him either.

16 The fact that that fact was given -- that she would testify to that single

fact in isolation doesn’t tell you have to believe it. It is just a fact that

17 you can consider [of a statement] that he made in 2011.”

18 Defendant argues the prosecutor “implied to the jury that

defense counsel was preventing cross-examination and the elicitation

19 of testimony helpful to the prosecution” and “suggested there were

facts not in evidence, favorable to the prosecution, to which the

20 absent witness would have testified.” We disagree. A prosecutor

“should not, of course, argue facts not in evidence” (People v.

21 Osband (1996) 13 Cal.4th 622; 698), and “[w]here the circumstances

do not indicate suppression of material evidence or any other

22 impropriety in failing to call a witness, it may be misconduct for the

prosecutor ... to assert that a particular person, if called, would give

23 certain testimony.” (5 Witkin, Cal. Criminal Law (4th ed. 2012)

Criminal Trial, § 762, p. 1186.) Here, however, the prosecutor

24 informed the jury that, while the stipulation created a conflict in the

evidence as to whether S.S. told the school psychologist he heard

25 voices no one else could hear, the stipulation did not resolve that

conflict. If called as a witness, the psychologist would have testified

26 S.S. made the statement; S.S. testified he did not. The parties did not

stipulate that the psychologist’s testimony would have been true. It

27 was for the jury to decide who was (or would have been) telling the

truth. Pointing this out to the jury was not misconduct. Nor was the

28 prosecutor’s subsequent comment that the stipulation provided

28

Case 2:17-cv-00455-KJM-DB Document 29 Filed 11/16/20 Page 29 of 34

1 limited information from which the jury could assess the

psychologist’s credibility. The only arguable suggestion of facts not

2 in evidence was the comment that the psychologist might “possibly”

know “good things” about S.S. But anyone might possibly know

3 good things about anyone. This statement does not assert the

psychologist actually had good things to say about S.S., or defendant

4 somehow prevented her from sharing these good things with the jury.

Defense counsel was not ineffective for failing to object to these

5 comments.

6 (LD 4 at 30-31.)

7 This court agrees that the prosecutor statements did not amount to misconduct. The

8 parties stipulated to the substance of the psychologist’s testimony but did not stipulate that the

9 testimony was necessarily true. Further, to the extent the prosecutor’s argument called for

10 speculation that the psychologist might “possibly” know some good things about S.S., that

11 suggestion was brief and did not imply the prosecutor was aware of evidence not before the jury.

12 Petitioner fails to show counsel’s failure to object to this argument was unreasonable under

13 Strickland.

14 5. Denigration of Petitioner’s Decision to go to Trial

15 In the final instance of alleged prosecutorial misconduct, petitioner argues that the

16 prosecutor’s statement that petitioner was “human” when he accepted responsibility for his

17 actions implied that he was inhuman in disputing his crimes and going to trial.

18 The Court of Appeal found petitioner’s claim simply a mischaracterization of the

19 prosecutor’s statements.

20 [D]efendant takes issue with the following statement made

during the prosecutor’s closing argument, again referring to

21 defendant’s police interview: “And for a moment, the defendant

becomes a human, and he starts to talk and gives this information

22 up.” Defendant argues: “By suggesting that [defendant] was human

only for a moment, when he responded with admissions of

23 wrongdoing to the officers’ expressions of concern for the family,

the prosecutor implied that [ defendant] has behaved inhumanly since

24 then. The prosecutor implied that, after that fleeting moment of

humanity, [defendant] reprehensibly reverted to inhumanity by

25 denying the truth of his admissions and demanding a trial, and thus

implicitly invited the jury to chastise [defendant’s]

26 presumptuousness in demanding a trial. The argument thus infringed

on [defendant’s] constitutional trial right.” The foregoing quote, with

27 a single citation to the Sixth Amendment to the federal Constitution,

is the entirety of defendant’s argument. It is insufficient to raise the

28 issue. (See In re S.C. (2006) 138 Cal.App.4th 396,408 [appellate

29

Case 2:17-cv-00455-KJM-DB Document 29 Filed 11/16/20 Page 30 of 34

1 brief must contain “meaningful legal analysis supported by citations

to authority and citations to facts in the record that support the claim

2 of error”].)

3 In any event, we disagree with defendant’s characterization

of the prosecutor’s argument. No reasonable juror would have taken

4 it as an invitation to hold defendant’s decision to demand a trial

against him. Moreover, while stating defendant was human only

5 when he confessed does imply he was otherwise inhuman, we do not

view this as misconduct. “Argument may be vigorous and may

6 include opprobrious epithets reasonably warranted by the evidence.

[Citations.]” (People v. Edelbacher (1989) 47 Cal.3d 983, 1030; see

7 also People v. Terry (1962) 57 Cal.2d 538, 561-562 [reference to the

defendant as an “animal”]; People v. Jones (1970) 7 Cal.App.3d

8 358,362 [reference to the defendant’s “animalistic tendencies”].)

Merriam-Webster defines “inhuman” to mean “lacking pity,

9 kindness, or mercy.” (Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dict. (11th ed.

2003) p. 643, col. 2.) Defendant’s crimes against D.C. and M.C.

10 certainly qualify. We therefore conclude the prosecutor’s comments

were warranted by the evidence and amounted to vigorous but fair

11 argument. Defense counsel was not ineffective for failing to object.

12 (LD 4 at 33-34.)

13 Petitioner’s claim has no basis in the facts. The prosecutor’s argument did not compel or

14 even suggest that petitioner’s behavior in going to trial was “inhuman.” Petitioner presents no

15 basis to conclude his attorney’s failure to object to this statement was unreasonable.

16 Finally, petitioner’s contention that the cumulative effect of the prosecutorial misconduct

17 prejudiced him is baseless. First, this court considers here petitioner’s claim of ineffective

18 assistance of counsel, not prosecutorial misconduct. Second, this court finds only the

19 prosecutor’s disparagement of defense counsel to have amounted to misconduct of any weight.

20 And, as described above, given the significant evidence of petitioner’s guilt presented at trial,

21 even had petitioner’s trial attorney objected to those statements, it cannot be said that there is a

22 reasonable probability the result of the proceeding would have been different.

23 IV. Admission of Evidence of Child Sexual Abuse Accommodation Syndrome

24 At trial, an expert, Dr. Anthony Urquiza, testified about Child Sexual Abuse

25 Accommodation Syndrome (“CSAAS”). The jury was told he had not examined the victims and

26 was testifying generally to common responses of child victims of sexual abuse. Petitioner argues

27 that California law permits expert testimony about CSAAS only for the purpose of rehabilitating

28 a victim’s credibility. According to petitioner, that was not the case here.

30

Case 2:17-cv-00455-KJM-DB Document 29 Filed 11/16/20 Page 31 of 34

1 Petitioner argues strenuously that the admission of the CSAAS evidence violated state

2 law. He cites few federal cases and in none of those cases did the Supreme Court hold that the

3 Constitution limits general expert testimony about the conduct of sex abuse victims to only that

4 testimony necessary to rehabilitate a victim’s credibility.

5 First, petitioner cites to Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 509 U.S. 579

6 (1993). Any argument based on Daubert is unavailing. The Court held in Daubert that Federal

7 Rule of Evidence 702 requires district judges to be gatekeepers for proposed scientific evidence

8 by assuring “that any and all scientific testimony or evidence admitted is not only relevant, but

9 reliable.” 509 U.S. at 589. Accordingly, an expert’s testimony must be based on scientific

10 knowledge that is grounded “in the methods and procedures of science,” and consists of more

11 than just “subjective belief or unsupported speculation.” Id. at 590–91. Daubert states a non-

12 constitutional evidentiary rule that applies in the federal trial courts. See Kumho Tires Co., Ltd.

13 v. Carmichael, 526 U.S. 137, 147 (1999) (“In Daubert, this Court held that Federal Rule of

14 Evidence 702 imposes a special obligation upon a trial judge to ‘ensure that any and all scientific

15 testimony...is not only relevant, but reliable.’” (citations omitted)); see also Wilson v. Sirmons,

16 536 F.3d 1064, 1101-02 (10th Cir. 2008) (“Daubert does not set any specific constitutional floor

17 on the admissibility of scientific evidence.”). As such, “Daubert does not bind the states, which

18 are free to formulate their own rules of evidence subject only to the limits imposed by the

19 Constitution.” Kinder v. Bowersox, 272 F.3d 532, 545 n.9 (8th Cir. 2001). Accordingly, Daubert

20 provides no basis for habeas relief.

21 Second, petitioner invokes the Confrontation Clause. He argues that the expert testimony

22 “advised the jury” to disregard ambiguities and inconsistencies in the victims’ testimony, thereby

23 limiting his right to confront those witnesses. Petitioner fails to state any plausible claim that his

24 confrontation rights were violated. The defense had the ability to fully cross-examine Dr.

25 Urquiza and the victims. Moreover, Dr. Urquiza did not testify about the reactions of the specific

26 victims in this case. Petitioner’s Confrontation Clause argument is baseless.

27 While, as discussed above, state court evidentiary rulings are generally considered to fall

28 outside the scope of habeas, there is some case law indicating that the admission of “flawed

31

Case 2:17-cv-00455-KJM-DB Document 29 Filed 11/16/20 Page 32 of 34

1 expert testimony” can amount to a due process violation where the introduction of that evidence

2 “undermined the fundamental fairness of the entire trial.”5 Giminez v. Ochoa, 821 F.3d 1136,

3 1145 (9th Cir. 2016) (quoting Lee v. Houtzdale SCI, 798 F.3d 159, 162 (3d Cir. 2015)). On the

4 basis that petitioner may arguably state a federal claim, this court considers whether the

5 California Court of Appeal’s rejection of this claim was unreasonable under § 2254(d).

6 The California Court of Appeal thoroughly examined the state law issues. It concluded

7 that Dr. Urquiza testified consistent with state law principles that limit the testimony of an expert

8 on child sexual abuse. Those principles, as established by the California Supreme Court, are that:

9 “[E]xpert testimony on the common reactions of child molestation

victims is not admissible to prove that the complaining witness has

10 in fact been sexually abused; it is admissible to rehabilitate such

witness’s credibility when the defendant suggests that the child’s

11 conduct after the incident----e.g., a delay in reporting-is inconsistent

with his or her testimony claiming molestation. [Citations.] ‘Such

12 expert testimony is needed to disabuse jurors of commonly held

misconceptions about child sexual abuse, and to explain the

13 emotional antecedents of abused children’s seemingly self-

impeaching behavior.”’

14

15 (LD 4 at 22 (quoting People v. McAlpin 53 Cal.3d 1289, 1300-01 (1991)). Dr. Urquiza’s

16 testimony explained the five stages of CSAAS: “(1) secrecy; (2) helplessness; (3) entrapment and

17 accommodation; (4) delayed and unconvincing disclosure; and (5) retraction or recantation.” (LD

18 4 at 22.) The court noted that Urquiza testified that “he was not there to render an opinion as to

19 whether or not the alleged victims in this case were sexually abused .” He explained that CSAAS

20 is “an educational tool for therapists” and “often is used to educate jurors about sexual abuse and

21 to dispel myths or misunderstandings that they may have about sexual abuse.” (Id.)

22 ////

23

5 The Court of Appeals made this statement in Giminez in the context of considering whether Mr.

24 Giminez should be permitted to seek habeas relief for a second time. New evidence had come to

light which contradicted the prosecution’s scientific evidence introduced at trial. The Court held

25 that “habeas petitioners can allege a constitutional violation from the introduction of flawed

26 expert testimony at trial if they show that the introduction of this evidence undermined the

fundamental fairness of the entire trial. 821 F.3d at 1145 (internal citations and quotation marks

27 omitted). It appears to be limited to a showing that the prosecution’s forensic evidence was

scientifically flawed. That is not the case here. Nonetheless, this court considers the fundamental

28 fairness issue out of an abundance of caution.

32

Case 2:17-cv-00455-KJM-DB Document 29 Filed 11/16/20 Page 33 of 34

1 The evidence was appropriate, the Court of Appeal held, because it was used to counter

2 suggestions that the victims’ conduct and statements were inconsistent with having been sexually

3 abused. With respect to petitioner’s arguments that Dr. Urquiza’s testimony violated petitioner’s

4 due process rights. The court simply noted that “[s]imilar arguments were raised and rejected in

5 People v. Patino (1994) 26 Cal.App.4th 1737, at pages 1746-1747. We agree with that decision.”

6 (LD 4 at 22.) In Patino, the court held that the “[a]ppellant has failed to demonstrate how his

7 fundamental right to a fair trial was violated by the introduction of CSAAS testimony to

8 rehabilitate [the victim’s] testimony after a rigorous defense cross-examination calling into

9 question the victim's credibility.”

10 This court similarly finds no basis to conclude that petitioner’s right to a fair trial was

11 fundamentally undermined by the testimony of Dr. Urquiza. The jury was repeatedly told,

12 through testimony and questioning, that Dr. Urquiza was not rendering an opinion on the

13 truthfulness of the victim witnesses or on the underlying issue of petitioner’s guilt. Petitioner

14 makes no showing that the state court’s rejection of this claim was contrary to or an unreasonable

15 application of clearly established federal law or based on an unreasonable determination of the

16 facts.

17 V. Cumulative Error

18 The Court of Appeal simply held that because it had “rejected each of defendant’s

19 assertions of error, . . . his claim of cumulative prejudice requiring reversal of conviction also

20 fails.” (LD 4 at 38.) Particularly in light of petitioner’s confessions to the charged conduct, it can

21 hardly be said that any errors discussed above rendered petitioner’s trial fundamentally unfair.

22 Petitioner’s final claim that the cumulative effect of all errors unfairly prejudiced him should be

23 rejected.

24 CONCLUSION

25 For the foregoing reasons, the Clerk of the Court IS HEREBY ORDERED to randomly

26 assign a district judge to this case, and

27 ////

28 ////

33

Case 2:17-cv-00455-KJM-DB Document 29 Filed 11/16/20 Page 34 of 34

1 IT IS RECOMMENDED that petitioner’s petition for a writ of habeas corpus be denied.

2 These findings and recommendations will be submitted to the United States District Judge

3 assigned to the case, pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(l). Within thirty days after

4 being served with these findings and recommendations, any party may file written objections with

5 the court and serve a copy on all parties. The document should be captioned “Objections to

6 Magistrate Judge's Findings and Recommendations.” Any response to the objections shall be

7 filed and served within seven days after service of the objections. The parties are advised that

8 failure to file objections within the specified time may result in waiver of the right to appeal the

9 district court’s order. Martinez v. Ylst, 951 F.2d 1153 (9th Cir. 1991). In the objections, the

10 party may address whether a certificate of appealability should issue in the event an appeal of the

11 judgment in this case is filed. See Rule 11, Rules Governing § 2254 Cases (the district court must

12 issue or deny a certificate of appealability when it enters a final order adverse to the applicant).

13 Dated: November 16, 2020

14

15

16

17 DLB:9

DB/prisoner-habeas/sanc0455.fr

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

34