STATE OF LOUISIANA VERSUS MARK L. MAGEE
NO. 2022-KA-0635
COURT OF APPEAL FOURTH CIRCUIT STATE OF LOUISIANA
MARCH 20, 2023
APPEAL FROM 25TH JDC, PARISH OF PLAQUEMINES NO. 17-1715, DIVISION “B” Honorable Michael D. Clement
(Court composed of Judge Sandra Cabrina Jenkins, Judge Tiffany Gautier Chase, Judge Dale N. Atkins)
JENKINS, J., CONCURS IN THE RESULT
Jeffrey L Smith
Autumn Towns
2735 Tulane Avenue
New Orleans, LA 70119
COUNSEL FOR DEFENDANT/APPELLANT
Charles Joseph Ballay, District Attorney
Jason Napoli, Assistant District Attorney
DISTRICT ATTORNEY‘S OFFICE, 25TH JDC,
PLAQUEMINES PARISH
333 F. Edward Hebert Blvd.
Building 201
Belle Chase, LA 70037
COUNSEL FOR PLAINTIFF/APPELLEE
CONVICTIONS AFFIRMED
REMANDED FOR RE-SENTENCING
PROCEDURAL HISTORY
Defendant was charged by bill of indictment with one count of sexual battery upon a juvenile and one count of cruelty to juveniles. Defendant was arraigned and pled not guilty to both counts. Following multiple motions to continue, a jury trial commenced on May 9, 2022. Three days later a unanimous jury found Defendant guilty as charged.
On July 6, 2022, Defendant filed a motion for new trial pursuant to
STATEMENT OF FACTS
R.L.,1 the victim, was twenty-one years old at the time of the Defendant‘s trial. R.L. and her older brother (hereinafter “D.L.“), began living with their paternal grandparents, Defendant and Angela Magee (hereinafter “Mrs. Magee“), following a custody dispute between D.L. and R.L.‘s mother and father. D.L. and R.L. began living with Defendant and Mrs. Magee at the approximate ages of nine and six, respectively.
R.L. ran away from the home of her grandparents and was picked up in Plaquemines Parish by her mother (hereinafter “R.L.‘s mother“) who drove her to Texas. Mrs. Magee reported R.L. as a runaway on January 1, 2017. On that same day, R.L. sent an e-mail to Defendant and Mrs. Magee alleging sexual and physical abuse. Mrs. Magee forwarded the email to the Plaquemines Parish Officer investigating R.L.‘s runaway.
Lieutenant Holly Hardin (hereinafter “Detective Hardin“) - then a Sergeant and Detective with the Plaquemines Parish Sherriff‘s Office Special Victims Unit - was contacted by a deputy regarding R.L.‘s allegations of sexual and physical abuse on January 1, 2017. Detective Hardin opened an investigation into the allegations three days later.
Upon Detective Hardin‘s request, R.L.‘s mother returned R.L. to Louisiana. R.L. met with the Department of Children and Family Services (hereinafter “DCFS“) to determine proper custody arrangements due to the allegations of
DCFS held a meeting with Defendant, Mrs. Magee, R.L., and Detective Hardin wherein the Defendant told R.L. the following: that he would send her to Brother Martin High School3 so she could be with all of the boys she pleased; that she should kill herself; and that she was going to be a prostitute. R.L. was placed in foster care and removed from Defendant and Mrs. Magee‘s custody.
On January 20, 2017, R.L. attended a forensic interview at the Children‘s Advocacy Center (hereinafter “Advocacy Center“) wherein she recounted numerous instances of sexual and physical abuse by the Defendant.4 Dr. Neha Mehta (hereinafter “Dr. Mehta“), a certified child abuse expert with the Audrey Hepburn Care Center, also interviewed R.L.
At trial the following witnesses testified: Detective Hardin, Dr. Mehta, D.L, R.L., R.L.‘s mother, R.L.‘s younger brother (hereinafter “C.L.“), R.L.‘s second younger brother (hereinafter “K.L“), Mrs. Magee, and R.L.‘s fiancé.
During the State of Louisiana‘s (hereinafter “the State“) case in chief, Detective Hardin testified that she interviewed both the Defendant and Mrs. Magee as part of her investigation. Detective Hardin noted that R.L. met with DCFS upon
D.L. testified that he lived with Defendant and Mrs. Magee for a majority of his life. D.L. denied ever witnessing Defendant sexually, physically, or emotionally abuse R.L. or any of his siblings. D.L. maintained that their mother was forcing R.L. to make up the allegations against the Defendant and that R.L. enjoyed the attention of Defendant‘s trial.
Dr. Mehta, qualified as an expert in the field of child abuse, interviewed R.L. at the Audrey Hepburn Care Center. Dr. Mehta determined that R.L was a victim of child sexual abuse, child physical abuse, and child emotional abuse. She testified that R.L. articulated the sexual abuse by the Defendant. Nothing during the interview suggested to Dr. Mehta that R.L had been untruthful when she provided an account for the sexual, physical, and emotional abuse by Defendant.
R.L. testified that Defendant began sexually abusing her at the approximate age of thirteen. R.L. described the incidents of sexual and physical abuse by Defendant in detail. She recalled that she decided to run away from her grandparents’ home following a hunting trip in Alabama. When asked about her father, R.L. testified that he threatened to kill her, her child, and her fiancé. She stated that she feared for her life and believed he would kill her if he got the chance.
C.L. testified he began living with Defendant and Mrs. Magee when he was approximately four years old. He testified that he never witnessed R.L. being sexually or physically abused by Defendant nor did he recall either of his grandparents calling R.L. derogatory names. K.L. also testified at trial and
Mrs. Magee, testified that she had been married to Defendant for over forty years. She claimed that R.L. and R.L.‘s mother were lying about her husband‘s conduct and denied ever abusing R.L. or any of R.L‘s younger brothers. She also testified that she knew R.L. to be a girl who enjoyed the attention of males, was often disrespectful, and dramatic.
During the State‘s rebuttal, Detective Hardin and R.L.‘s fiancé testified as to testimony elicited from D.L., regarding their father.
ERRORS PATENT
Our review of the record reveals one error patent. See
DISCUSSION
Assignment of Error No. 1: Insufficiency of Evidence
In his first assignment of error, Defendant contends that the evidence presented at trial was insufficient to support his convictions and maintains that the State failed to establish the essential age elements within the crimes. He further asserts that the testimony of the State‘s witnesses failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he committed either crime for which he was charged.
“The standard for determining an insufficiency of evidence claim is well settled.” State v. Campbell, 2015-0017, p. 7 (La.App. 4 Cir. 6/24/15), 171 So. 3d 1176, 1182. Claims for insufficiency of evidence must be viewed in a light most favorable to the prosecution. Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319, 99 S.Ct 2781, 2789, 61 L.Ed.2d 560 (1979); State v. Wilson, 2022-0346, p. 4 (La.App. 4 Cir. 12/9/22), 353 So.3d 389, 393. An appellate court is tasked with determining if the evidence is sufficient to convince a rational trier of fact that all elements of a crime have been proven beyond a reasonable doubt. Id.
“This Court must review ‘the record as a whole since that is what a rational trier of fact would do.‘” Wilson, 2022-0346, p. 4, 353 So.3d at 393 (citation
In the matter sub judice, Defendant contends that the State failed to prove the charges of sexual battery upon a juvenile and cruelty to juveniles. We separately address each conviction.
Sexual Battery
The jury found Defendant guilty of sexual battery upon a juvenile, a violation of
The State contends that Defendant committed sexual battery upon R.L. from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2016. From August 2011 to July 2015,
the intentional touching of the anus or genitals of the victim by the offender using any instrumentality or any part of the body of the offender, or the touching of the anus or genitals of the offender by the victim using any instrumentality or any part of the body of the victim, when any of the following occur:
(1)[t]he offender acts without the consent of the victim.
Sexual battery is the intentional touching of the anus or genitals of the victim by the offender using any instrumentality or any part of the body of the offender, directly or through clothing, or the touching of the anus or genitals of the offender by the victim using any instrumentality or any part of the body of the victim, directly or through clothing, when any of the following occur…the offender acts without the consent of the victim [or] [t]he victim has not yet attained fifteen years of age and is at least three years younger than the offender.
To support a conviction of sexual battery, the State is required to prove the following beyond a reasonable doubt: (1) between January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2016, R.L. was under fifteen years old at the time of the offense; (2) R.L. was at least three years younger than Defendant; and (3) Defendant touched R.L‘s genitals, directly or through clothing, using any instrumentality or any part of his body.
R.L. testified that she lived with her grandparents, Defendant and Mrs. Magee, following a custody dispute between her mother and father. R.L. stated that Defendant first began sexually abusing her at the age of thirteen by touching her breasts, buttocks, and vaginal area over her clothes. She recalled that she feared Defendant was going to rape her when he rubbed her thigh and told her he could have sex with her without anyone knowing. R.L. also testified that she would lock the bathroom door when she showered as Defendant would require her to inform him when she showered so he could watch her.
The State introduced an e-mail from R.L. to Defendant and Mrs. Magee in which R.L. maintains that she was tired of the physical and sexual abuse within their home.
While we recognize that conflicting testimony exists, we find that R.L.‘s testimony was sufficient to establish the crime of sexual battery of a juvenile. “In cases involving sexual offenses, the testimony of the victim alone may be sufficient to establish the elements of the offense, even where the State does not introduce medical, scientific, or physical evidence to prove the commission of the offense.” State v. Barbain, 2015-0404, p. 10 (La.App. 4 Cir. 11/4/15), 179 So.3d 770, 778. Further, it is not the role of this Court to assess the credibility of witnesses or re-weigh the evidence submitted at trial. See State v. Brown, 2016-0965, p. 28 (La.App. 4 Cir. 5/3/17), 219 So.3d 518, 536 (concluding that “[t]he credibility of witnesses presenting conflicting testimony on factual matters is within the sound discretion of the trier of fact.“) (citation omitted).
In addressing the Defendant‘s argument as to the age component set forth in
A jury of six heard the conflicting testimony of the witnesses and found Defendant to be guilty of sexual abuse battery of a victim under the age of thirteen. The testimony of R.L., Detective Hardin, and Dr. Mehta support this finding. This
Cruelty to Juveniles
The jury also found Defendant guilty of cruelty to juveniles, a violation of
Defendant again avers that the crime defined within
R.L. testified that Defendant, would physically abuse her by shoving her off of chairs forcing her head to hit hard surfaces, resulting in bruises. She further testified that he once hit her head with the scope of a gun resulting in bruises. R.L. testified that Defendant would pinch her sides if she denied his sexual advances. Dr. Mehta corroborated this testimony when she concluded R.L. was the victim of physical abuse.
R.L. also testified that Defendant abused her brothers and cited to a letter, written by her brother D.L., alleging abuse by Defendant. D.L. admitted to writing the letter, but maintained that his mother forced him to fabricate the allegations
R.L.‘s testimony coupled with Dr. Mehta‘s expert opinion that R.L. was the victim of physical abuse supports the jury‘s finding that Defendant committed the crime of cruelty to juveniles. D.L., C.L., and K.L.‘s testimony that they were never abused or had first-hand knowledge that Defendant physically abused R.L. requires a determination of the credibility of witnesses and the weighing of evidence - a sole function of the trier of the fact. Contrary to Defendant‘s contentions, there was sufficient evidence to support his conviction of cruelty to juveniles as the jury found R.L. and Dr. Mehta to be credible witnesses. See Wilson, 2022-0346, p. 6, 353 So.3d at 394 (holding that credibility determinations are within the sole discretion of the trier of fact and will not be disturbed upon review) (citation omitted).
Further, Defendant was tried as an adult, not a juvenile, and R.L. testified that the physical abuse occurred around the same time as the sexual abuse, i.e. at the approximate age of thirteen. It was also determined that Mrs. Magee was the wife of Defendant for over forty years and that they are the grandparents of R.L. and her three brothers. See Lewis, 97-1549, p. 6, 727 So.2d at 1277 (holding that a trier of fact can infer the age of the accused based upon physical appearance and the fact that they are being tried as an adult).
Thus, there was sufficient evidence for a six person jury to convict Defendant of sexual battery and cruelty to juveniles. This assignment or error lacks merit.
Defendant‘s second assignment of error contends that the trial court impermissibly allowed the State to introduce, as rebuttal evidence, Detective Hardin and R.L‘s fiancé‘s testimony regarding R.L.‘s father. Defendant maintains that the testimony regarding his stepson, R.L.‘s father, improperly prejudiced him before the jury. The State contends that the testimony of R.L.‘s fiancé was proper as it was put forth to disprove facts introduced by the defense.
The general rules governing rebuttal arguments provides that a rebuttal argument “shall be confined to evidence admitted, to the lack of evidence, to conclusions of fact that the state or defendant may draw therefrom, and to the law applicable to the case.”
For evidence to be deemed admissible, it must be analyzed by the trial court in accordance with
During the State‘s case in chief, R.L. testified that her father sent her death threats upon learning about her allegations against Defendant and his mother. She further claimed that her father‘s threats made her fear for her life and believed he would kill her. C.L. and K.L. testified for Defendant and maintained that their
The trial testimony and evidence supports R.L. and her fiancé‘s testimony regarding the death threats. Further, the defense elicited testimony from Mrs. Magee and R.L.‘s three brothers in an attempt to discredit R.L.‘s testimony. Thus, the State introduced rebuttal testimony from R.L.‘s fiancé to refute Defendant‘s allegations that R.L.‘s father often fails to carry out his many threats. There is nothing within the record to suggest the Defendant‘s contention that the State‘s rebuttal argument was improperly introduced. Pursuant to
Additionally, we conclude that even if the trial court erred in admitting the evidence, the error is subject to the harmless error analysis. See State v. Session, 2021-0118, p. 6 (La.App. 4 Cir. 12/14/21), 332 So.3d 729, 737 (citing Chapman v. California, 386 U.S. 18, 24, 87 S.Ct. 824, 17 L.Ed.2d 705 (1967)). “In the harmless error analysis, ‘[t]he inquiry…is not whether, in a trial that occurred without the error, a guilty verdict would surely have been rendered, but whether the guilty verdict actually rendered in this trial was surely unattributable to the error.‘” Id. (quoting State v. Trung Le, 2017-0164, p.20 (La.App. 4 Cir. 4/11/18), 243 So.3d 637, 657-58).
The State set forth a substantial case against Defendant which included the testimony of three fact witnesses and Dr. Mehta‘s expert opinion which corroborated R.L.‘s testimony. Considering the evidence and testimony in this
Assignment of Error No. 3: Excessive Sentences
In his third assignment of error, Defendant avers that the trial court erred in enforcing the maximum ten-year sentence on both convictions. As previously noted, the trial court committed error when it denied Defendant‘s motion for new trial and sentenced him on the same day. See
Assignment of Error No. 4: Motion for Mistrial
In his fourth assignment of error, Defendant argues that the trial court erred in denying his motion for mistrial. Specifically, Defendant maintains that Detective Hardin‘s testimony pertaining to his post-Miranda silence improperly prejudiced him before the jury.
If the state or witness makes a remark that is prejudicial to the defendant, the trial court “shall promptly admonish the jury to disregard the remark or comment made during trial.”
There is no indication that the State or Detective Hardin provided information regarding Defendant‘s post-Miranda silence for impeachment purposes. It is clear from the record that Detective Hardin cited to Defendant‘s post-Miranda silence as a response to Defendant‘s questions pertaining to her interview of Defendant following his arrest. Further, the trial testimony reveals the discussion of Defendant‘s post-Miranda silence was brief when compared to the trial testimony of the State‘s three fact witnesses and Dr. Mehta which resulted in a guilty verdict from the jury.
A brief reference to a defendant‘s post-Miranda silence does not mandate a mistrial or a reversal when the following circumstances are present: the trial as a whole was fairly conducted; the proof of guilt is strong; and the prosecution made no use of the silence for impeachment purposes. See State v. Hollins, 2011-1435, p. 29 (La.App. 4 Cir. 8/29/13), 123 So.3d 840, 861. The trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying Defendant‘s motion for mistrial. Accordingly, this assignment of error lacks merit.
Assignment of Error No. 5: Discovery Violation
In his fifth assignment of error, Defendant contends that the trial court erred in allowing the State to submit an Instagram conversation between D.L. and his mother (hereinafter “State‘s Exhibit 7“). He further maintains that the State
Louisiana‘s Code of Evidence provides that “extrinsic evidence, including prior inconsistent statements and evidence contradicting the witness’ testimony, is admissible when offered solely to attack the credibility of a witness.”
Our Supreme Court has noted that a party can impeach its own witness. See State v. Cousins, 96-2973, pp. 10-11, 710 So.2d 1065, 1070-71. In performing the weighing process within
D.L. testified for the State and maintained that R.L. was fabricating the allegations made against the Defendant. D.L. claimed that he did not have a relationship with his mother and maintained he had not spoken to his mother since 2010. The State submitted State‘s Exhibit 7, evidencing Instagram messages, from 2017, wherein D.L. stated he missed his mother and wished to live with her. We find that the Instagram messages between D.L. and his mother indicate that he made inconsistent statements regarding his relationship with his mother.
Assignment of Error No. 6: Ineffective Assistance of Counsel
Defendant‘s final assignment of error submits that trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance of counsel by failing to object to the State‘s impermissible leading of R.L.‘s testimony during trial. By this assignment of error, Defendant further maintains this was prejudicial and improper. Conversely, the State contends that Defendant has failed to establish a proper claim of ineffective assistance of counsel and has not demonstrated that he was deprived of a fair trial.
A defendant‘s ineffective assistance of counsel claim is properly raised by an application for writ of habeas corpus in the trial court. See State v. Deloch, 380 So.2d 67, 68 (La. 1980). However, our Supreme Court has noted that if the issue of ineffective assistance of counsel is raised by an assignment of error on appeal and the record indicates that the issue need be decided, the issue will be considered in the interest of judicial economy. State v. Seiss, 428 So.2d 444, 449 (La. 1983).
The defendant must first “show that counsel made errors so serious that he was not operating as the type of counsel guaranteed by the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution.” Boyd, 2014-0408, p. 7, 318 So.3d at 402 (citation omitted). Second, the defendant must prove that the counsel‘s error was so severe that that it deprived the defendant of a fair trial. Id. Thus, in the matter sub judice, Defendant must prove that but for counsel‘s deficient performance, there is a reasonable probability that the result of his trial and subsequent conviction would be different. Boyd, 2014-0408, p. 8, 318 So.3d at 403. Further, absent an abuse of discretion a conviction will not be reversed because of leading questions. See State v. Felde, 422 So.2d 370, 385 (La. 1982).
Defendant maintains that the State‘s improper leading of R.L. upon re-direct was a prosecutorial error that diminishes the reliability of the jury‘s verdict. During the State‘s re-direct of R.L., Defendant‘s trial counsel objected to leading questions and the trial court instructed the State to “get to the point.” Other instances in which Defendant‘s trial counsel objected to leading questions, the objections were sustained. There is no evidence within this record to indicate that
Moreover, Defendant has failed to prove that but for his trial counsel‘s alleged “severe” failure in objecting to the leading questions - for one of five of the State‘s witness - a different verdict would have resulted. We therefore find the guilty verdict is not attributed to Defendant‘s trial counsel failing to object to the State‘s leading questions of R.L. Thus, finding no clear abuse of discretion that prejudiced Defendant‘s rights at trial, this assignment or error lacks merit.
DECREE
For the foregoing reasons we affirm Defendant‘s convictions and remand this matter to the trial court for the sole purpose of re-sentencing Defendant.