Charles L. v. David Ballard, Warden, Mt. Olive Correctional Complex

STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA

SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS

Charles L.,

Plaintiff Below, Petitioner FILED

vs) No. 17-0824 (Preston County 16-C-166) March 6, 2019

released at 3:00 p.m.

EDYTHE NASH GAISER, CLERK

Donnie Ames, Superintendent, SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS

OF WEST VIRGINIA

Mt. Olive Correctional Complex,

Defendant Below, Respondent

MEMORANDUM DECISION

Petitioner Charles L.1 was convicted of one count of first-degree sexual abuse and one

count of sexual abuse by a guardian, custodian, or person in a position of trust. Petitioner was in

his early twenties when he committed the crimes. The victim was the nine-year-old half-sister of

Petitioner’s wife. Petitioner filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus in the Circuit Court of

Preston County, West Virginia, and by order entered September 8, 2017, it denied relief. On

appeal to this Court, Petitioner raised several assignments of error.2

This Court has considered the parties’ briefs, their oral arguments, and the record on

appeal. Upon review, the Court discerns no substantial question of law and no prejudicial error.

Consequently, a memorandum decision affirming the order of the circuit court is the appropriate

disposition pursuant to Rule 21 of the West Virginia Rules of Appellate Procedure.

I. Procedural History

The grand jury returned an indictment against Petitioner in 2010, charging him with four

felonies: two counts of first-degree sexual assault in violation of West Virginia Code § 61-8B-3

(2014), and two counts of sexual abuse by a parent, guardian, or custodian in violation of West

Virginia Code § 61-8D-5 (2014). The case against Petitioner proceeded to trial in January 2011.

At trial, the victim testified that while Petitioner was babysitting her, she was sitting on his lap

watching television and that Petitioner touched her vagina for “[a] couple of minutes maybe;”

1

Consistent with our long-standing practice, we endeavor to protect the identity of the

juvenile victim in this sensitive matter by refraining from referring to Petitioner by his surname.

See, e.g., Matter of Jonathan P., 182 W.Va. 302, 303 n.1, 387 S.E.2d 537, 538 n.1 (1989).

2

Petitioner is represented by counsel, Jeremy B. Cooper. Respondent Donnie Ames,

Superintendent, Mt. Olive Correctional Complex, is represented by counsel, Scott E. Johnson,

Assistant Attorney General.

1

that it happened more than once but she was unable to say exactly how many times; and that “[i]t

hurt a little bit.” The victim’s mother testified that the victim told her about Petitioner’s actions.

One of the victim’s therapists, psychologist Abigail Leslie, testified that the victim told

her that Petitioner touched her in her private parts. She stated that the victim had some physical

reactions to the stress caused by the abuse. According to Ms. Leslie, during their counseling

sessions, the victim told her that “she was sitting on the couch with – on [Petitioner’s] lap and he

put his hands down her pants and stuck his hands in her vagina.” Another therapist, Rebecca

Fiest, testified similarly to Ms. Leslie regarding the victim’s disclosure.

Petitioner testified in his own defense. While he denied that he intentionally touched the

victim’s vagina, he stated that

[i]f I had any contact with her vagina, it would have been fully clothed. It would

have been totally accidentally. While we could have been wrestling around or

tickling or horseplaying, there could have been—there was no intentional

touching of the vagina, and I explained that to Detective Bryan on every occasion.

The jury convicted Petitioner of one count of first-degree sexual abuse3 (the lesser-included

offense of first-degree sexual assault) and one count of sexual abuse by a custodian. Petitioner

was found not guilty of the remaining charges in the indictment. Petitioner’s subsequent motion

for judgment of acquittal or a new trial was denied.

Prior to sentencing, the State requested the appointment of a special prosecutor due to a

conflict. Police were investigating reports from an inmate that Petitioner was attempting to

arrange the murder of the prosecuting attorney. The circuit court granted this request, appointed a

new prosecuting attorney, and placed documents related to this investigation under seal.4

Petitioner’s trial counsel withdrew due to a conflict, and new counsel was appointed. In light of

these events, the circuit court rescheduled the sentencing hearing.

In October 2011, the circuit court sentenced Petitioner to five to twenty-five years of

incarceration on the first-degree sexual abuse charge and ten to twenty years on the sexual abuse

by a custodian charge. The sentences were ordered to run consecutively. This Court affirmed

Petitioner’s convictions on direct appeal. See State v. Charles [L.], No. 11-1416, 2013 WL

1501073 (W.Va. Apr. 12, 2013) (memorandum decision).

In 2016, Petitioner, pro se, filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus. In 2017, the

petition was amended upon appointment of counsel.5 The circuit court conducted an omnibus

habeas corpus hearing and denied relief. This appeal followed.

3

See W.Va. Code § 61-8B-7.

4

The State did not file charges against Petitioner following this investigation.

5

Petitioner asserted the following grounds in the amended petition: (1) denial of the right

to a speedy trial; (2) consecutive sentences for the same transaction; (3) suppression of “helpful

2

II. Standard of Review

Petitioner raises six assignments of error on appeal. This Court reviews appeals of circuit

court orders denying habeas relief under the following standard:

“In reviewing challenges to the findings and conclusions of the circuit

court in a habeas corpus action, we apply a three-prong[ed] standard of review.

We review the final order and the ultimate disposition under an abuse of

discretion standard; the underlying factual findings under a clearly erroneous

standard; and questions of law are subject to a de novo review.” Syllabus point 1,

Mathena v. Haines, 219 W.Va. 417, 633 S.E.2d 771 (2006).

Syl. Pt. 1, State ex rel. Franklin v. McBride, 226 W.Va. 375, 701 S.E.2d 97 (2009). Further, a

habeas petitioner bears the burden of establishing that he is entitled to the relief sought. See

Markley v. Coleman, 215 W.Va. 729, 734, 601 S.E.2d 49, 54 (2004).

III. Discussion

Petitioner first contends that the jury instruction on first-degree sexual abuse resulted in

him being convicted for conduct not charged in the indictment.6 He argues that the facts

underlying his indictment on first-degree sexual assault relate to the victim’s report of digital

sexual penetration. Petitioner essentially speculates that the jury must have discredited her report

of sexual penetration because it did not return a guilty verdict on that charge. Petitioner then

claims the only evidence that the jury could have used to support his conviction for the lesser-

included offense of first-degree sexual abuse was his testimony wherein he denied any

inappropriate sexual contact and explained that his hand may have accidentally grazed the

victim’s vagina over her clothes during horseplay (not when she was sitting on his lap). The

circuit court rejected this argument because the jury instruction and the conviction on the lesser-

included offense of first-degree sexual abuse (which only required sexual contact, either through

clothing or directly) was consistent with the indictment and supported by the evidence adduced

at trial—the victim’s testimony. See W.Va. Code § 61-8B-7(a)(3).

We concur with the circuit court’s reasoning. To prove sexual abuse in the first degree,

the State must show that a defendant, at least fourteen years old, subjected a child under the age

of twelve to sexual contact. Id. The victim (who was nine years old when the crimes occurred

and eleven years old at the time of trial) testified that she was sitting in her father’s chair in

evidence” by the prosecutor; (4) the State’s knowing use of perjured testimony; (5) information

in presentence report is erroneous; (6) ineffective assistance of counsel; (7) non-disclosure of

grand jury minutes; (8) claims concerning the use of informers to convict; (9) constitutional

errors in evidentiary rulings; (10) jury instructions; (11) claims of prejudicial statements by the

trial judge; (12) claims of prejudicial statements by the prosecutor; (13) sufficiency of the

evidence; (14) severer sentence than expected; and (15) excessive sentence.

6

Petitioner raised this argument below in the context of his ineffective assistance of

counsel claim. See infra note 9.

3

Petitioner’s lap when Petitioner (who was older than fourteen) touched her vagina. She stated the

touch lasted “a couple of minutes maybe” and that this touching made her feel

“uncomfortable[,]” and “[a]wkward.” This evidence was consistent with the indictment and

sufficient to support the conviction.

Petitioner’s first argument also lacks merit for a more obvious reason. Had the jury found

Petitioner’s horseplay explanation credible, it would have found the commission of no offense

because the mens rea element of the crime would be lacking. See id. § 61-8B-1(6) (defining

sexual contact as intentional touching “done for the purpose of gratifying the sexual desire of

either party.”).

Consequently, we reject Petitioner’s second assignment of error wherein he makes the

related argument that the prosecutor made impermissible comments when referencing

Petitioner’s horseplay testimony because it “invited the jury to convict based upon conduct

separate from that which was charged in the indictment.” As already discussed, and contrary to

Petitioner’s suggestion otherwise, the victim’s testimony by itself was consistent with the

indictment and sufficient to establish the required elements of first-degree sexual abuse. See

W.Va. R. Crim. Pro. 31(c) (stating that defendant may be found guilty of an offense necessarily

included in the offense charged).7

In his third assignment of error, Petitioner complains that the State failed to disclose

exculpatory evidence when it did not provide a copy of the results of a medical examination of

the victim that Ms. Leslie mentioned while testifying. The circuit court denied relief on this

ground because Petitioner did not show that this report (if one actually existed) was favorable to

him or how the nondisclosure prejudiced his defense. Thus, Petitioner failed to prove or even

plead any of the factors necessary to sustain a finding of a constitutional due process violation.8

Likewise, we find Petitioner failed to meet his burden on this issue.

As his fourth assignment of error, Petitioner argued ineffective assistance of trial counsel.

We have previously held that

7

Petitioner’s reliance on State v. Corra, 223 W.Va. 573, 678 S.E.2d 306 (2009), is

misplaced. In Corra, the proof at trial (that the defendant furnished “non-intoxicating beer” to

underage persons) was different than what was charged in the indictment (that the defendant

provided “alcoholic liquor” to underage persons). In Corra, the act of furnishing non-

intoxicating beer to minors was not a lesser-included offense of furnishing alcoholic liquors to

minors. In the instant case, however, first-degree sexual abuse constitutes a lesser-included

offense of first-degree sexual assault. And Petitioner did not argue otherwise.

8

See Syl. Pt. 2, State v. Youngblood, 221 W.Va. 20, 650 S.E.2d 119 (2007) (“There are

three components of a constitutional due process violation under Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S.

83, 83 S.Ct. 1194, 10 L.Ed.2d 215 (1963), and State v. Hatfield, 169 W.Va. 191, 286 S.E.2d 402

(1982): (1) the evidence at issue must be favorable to the defendant as exculpatory or

impeachment evidence; (2) the evidence must have been suppressed by the State, either willfully

or inadvertently; and (3) the evidence must have been material, i.e., it must have prejudiced the

defense at trial.”).

4

“[i]n the West Virginia courts, claims of ineffective assistance of counsel

are to be governed by the two-pronged test established in Strickland v.

Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 104 S.Ct. 2052, 80 L.Ed.2d 674 (1984): (1) Counsel’s

performance was deficient under an objective standard of reasonableness; and (2)

there is a reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s unprofessional errors, the

result of the proceedings would have been different.” Syl. Pt. 5, State v. Miller,

194 W.Va. 3, 459 S.E.2d 114 (1995).

Syl. Pt. 1, State v. Frye, 221 W.Va. 154, 650 S.E.2d 574 (2006). Moreover,

[i]n reviewing counsel’s performance, courts must apply an objective

standard and determine whether, in light of all the circumstances, the identified

acts or omissions were outside the broad range of professionally competent

assistance while at the same time refraining from engaging in hindsight or second-

guessing of trial counsel’s strategic decisions. Thus, a reviewing court asks

whether a reasonable lawyer would have acted, under the circumstances, as

defense counsel acted in the case at issue.

Syl. Pt. 6, Miller, 194 W.Va. at 6-7, 459 S.E.2d at 117-18.

Our review of the record uncovers no error by the circuit court in denying habeas corpus

relief to Petitioner based on his numerous claims of ineffective assistance of counsel. Succinctly

stated, Petitioner failed to overcome the “strong presumption” that his trial counsel’s

representation fell “within the wide range of reasonable professional assistance[.]” Syl. Pt. 3, in

part, State ex rel. Daniel v. Legursky, 195 W. Va. 314, 465 S.E.2d 416 (1995). We adopt the

findings of the circuit court.9

9

The circuit court found that even assuming for the sake of argument that trial counsel’s

failure to obtain the grand jury transcript was deficient, Petitioner demonstrated no prejudice

related to this failure.

The circuit court rejected Petitioner’s claim that trial counsel was deficient by failing to

use a video of a Domestic Violence Protective Order hearing to impeach the victim’s mother.

Because the victim’s mother testified consistently with the video, this evidence would not have

constituted a prior inconsistent statement under either Rule 613 or Rule 801 of the West Virginia

Rules of Evidence.

The circuit court found trial counsel’s failure to obtain any experts or investigators to

assist in Petitioner’s defense did not rise to the level of deficient performance. It would be

entirely speculative as to whether the victim would have qualified for a taint expert or that a taint

expert could have been found who would have testified in a way favorable to Petitioner such that

it would have had any effect on the outcome of the trial.

The circuit court held Petitioner failed to prove that counsel’s performance—by waiving

his speedy trial rights while he was out on bond to obtain discovery and prepare for trial—fell

below an objective standard of reasonableness.

Finally, the circuit court rejected Petitioner’s argument that trial counsel was deficient by

failing to seek a limiting instruction on his horseplay testimony or to object to the alleged

5

As his fifth assignment of error, Petitioner claimed the circuit court improperly denied

habeas counsel access to files held by the special prosecutor related to the investigation of an

inmate’s report that Petitioner was attempting to arrange the murder of the prosecuting attorney.

Petitioner argued that access to these files was necessary to fully litigate his “claims involving

the use of informers.” Essentially, Petitioner maintained this information may have influenced

the sentencing court. The circuit court denied Petitioner’s request because the documents were

not relevant to any cognizable claim in habeas corpus. It noted that the sentencing court

sentenced Petitioner within the statutory limits and stated its reasons for doing so on the record

(the victim’s age and harm done; Petitioner’s failure to accept responsibility, to recognize the

problem, or to express a desire to change; and the seriousness of the crimes).10 We concur with

the circuit court’s conclusion.

Finally, Petitioner contends that the errors committed in this case were prejudicial when

considered cumulatively. We disagree. Because we have found no error, the cumulative error

doctrine does not apply. See State v. Knuckles, 196 W.Va. 416, 425, 473 S.E.2d 131, 140 (1996)

(“Cumulative error analysis should evaluate only the effect of matters determined to be error, not

the cumulative effect of non-errors.”).

IV. Conclusion

For the reasons set forth above, we affirm the September 8, 2017, order of the Circuit

Court of Preston County that denied the petition for a writ of habeas corpus.

Affirmed.

ISSUED: March 6, 2019

CONCURRED IN BY:

Chief Justice Elizabeth D. Walker

Justice Margaret L. Workman

Justice Tim Armstead

Justice Evan H. Jenkins

Justice John A. Hutchison

variance between the evidence and indictment. It concluded Corra was factually distinguishable

because first-degree sexual abuse was a lesser-included offense of first-degree sexual assault.

10

West Virginia Code § 61-8B-7 provides for a sentence of imprisonment for “not less

than five nor more than twenty-five years.” West Virginia Code § 61-8D-5 provides for a

sentence of imprisonment for “not less than ten nor more than twenty years.” Additionally,

“[w]hen a defendant has been convicted of two separate crimes, before sentence is pronounced

for either, the trial court may, in its discretion, provide that the sentences run concurrently, and

unless it does not provide, the sentences will run consecutively.” Syl. Pt. 3, Keith v. Leverette,

163 W.Va. 98, 254 S.E.2d 700 (1979).

6