Truong Vu v. State of Indiana ( 2013 )

Jul 30 2013, 7:30 am
Pursuant to Ind.Appellate Rule 65(D),
this Memorandum Decision shall not be
regarded as precedent or cited before
any court except for the purpose of
establishing the defense of res judicata,
collateral estoppel, or the law of the case.
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT: ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE:
KIMBERLY A. JACKSON GREGORY F. ZOELLER
Indianapolis, Indiana Attorney General of Indiana
KARL M. SCHARNBERG
Deputy Attorney General
Indianapolis, Indiana
IN THE
COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
TRUONG VU, )
)
Appellant-Defendant, )
)
vs. ) No. 53A04-1207-CR-352
)
STATE OF INDIANA, )
)
Appellee-Respondent. )
APPEAL FROM THE MONROE CIRCUIT COURT
The Honorable Mary Ellen Diekhoff, Judge
Cause No. 53C05-0901-FB-12
July 30, 2013
MEMORANDUM DECISION - NOT FOR PUBLICATION
NAJAM, Judge
STATEMENT OF THE CASE
Truong Vu appeals his convictions for criminal deviate conduct, as a Class B
felony; sexual battery, as a Class D felony; and two counts of criminal confinement, as
Class D felonies, as well as his sentence. Vu raises six issues for our review, which we
restate as follows:
1. Whether the trial court abused its discretion when it admitted into
evidence statements Vu made to police officers.
2. Whether the trial court erred when it denied Vu’s motion for
severance of the offenses.
3. Whether Vu invited any error when the trial court granted his request
to have a friend act as an interpreter during trial.
4. Whether the State presented sufficient evidence to support two of
Vu’s convictions.
5. Whether Vu’s convictions for criminal confinement violate double
jeopardy.
6. Whether the trial court’s written sentencing order is inconsistent
with its oral sentencing order.
We affirm and remand.
FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
During the evening of December 18, 2008, P.T. went to the Pink Nails Salon in
Bloomington for a manicure in preparation for her twenty-first birthday party. P.T.
mentioned her birthday to the manicurist, and the manicurist spoke to Vu, the owner of
the salon. Following P.T.’s manicure, Vu offered to give P.T. a free pedicure. P.T.
agreed, but because it was close to closing time Vu closed the salon and the other
employees left. Vu then forced P.T. onto an eyebrow waxing table in a back room and
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forced his fingers into P.T.’s anus and vagina. P.T. tried to escape, but Vu blocked the
exit. Vu let P.T. leave after she gave him her cell phone number.
On December 26, 2008, C.M. went to the Pink Nails Salon with a friend near the
salon’s closing time. C.M. requested an eyebrow waxing, and Vu escorted her into the
back of the store. After waxing her eyebrows, Vu began rubbing C.M.’s arms. C.M.
protested and attempted to leave, but Vu ordered her to lie on her stomach, and C.M. did
not feel free to leave. Vu then began rubbing C.M.’s legs and buttocks, he pulled down
C.M.’s pants and underwear, and he struck her bare buttocks. Vu then grabbed C.M.’s
breasts. C.M. tried to escape, but Vu blocked the exit. Vu let C.M. leave after he kissed
her on the neck.
On December 30, P.T. reported her encounter with Vu to local police. C.M.
reported her encounter on December 31. That same day, detectives approached Vu at his
salon and escorted him to a nearby police station. There, Detective Rick Crussen read Vu
his Miranda rights and explained them as follows:
Q . . . You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can be
used against you in court. You have the right to talk to a lawyer for advice
before answering questions and have them with you during questioning. If
you can’t afford a lawyer, one will be appointed for you before any
questioning, if you wish. If you decide to answer questions now without a
lawyer present you still have the right to stop answering at any time. You
also have the right to stop answering at any time until you talk to a lawyer.
Do you understand all of those?
A Not very much.
Q Okay. You don’t have to talk to me. Do you understand that?
A Uh huh.
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Q Okay. If you do talk to me, anything you tell me can be used in
court later. Do you understand that?
A Uh huh.
Q Okay. You have the right to have a lawyer here.
A Uh huh.
Q If you can’t afford one, the State will provide one for you. They’ll
pay for an attorney for you to be here if you would rather have one here
without talking to me.
A Okay.
Q So even if you can’t afford one, you still don’t have to talk to me
about having a lawyer. They’ll provide you one. Okay. If you decide to
answer questions now, and talk to me now, you still have the right to stop
answering at any time. You can tell me at any time in our conversation I’m
done talking to you, I want my lawyer or I’d like to go or whatever. Do
you understand that part?
A Yeah.
State’s Exh. 5 at 2-3 (emphases added). Vu then explained his version of the events
involving P.T. and C.M. to Detective Crussen and another officer and denied any
criminal acts. Vu also explained that he had been in Bloomington for four or five
months, and he had previously had a salon in Bedford. Vu gave the officers a detailed
explanation of the location of his salon in Bedford, explained that he had had that salon
for about three years, and stated that he had been in the United States for the last thirteen
or fourteen years.
On January 6, 2009, the State charged Vu with criminal deviate conduct, as a
Class B felony; sexual battery, as a Class D felony; and two counts of criminal
confinement, as Class D felonies. Vu filed a motion for severance of the offenses against
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P.T. from the offenses against C.M., which the trial court denied. During his trial, at
Vu’s request the court permitted him to have a friend sit at the defense table as a
translator for Vu. The jury found Vu guilty as charged, and the court entered its
judgment of conviction accordingly. The court then sentenced Vu to an aggregate term
of eleven and one-half years, with four years of that term suspended to probation. This
appeal ensued.
DISCUSSION AND DECISION
Issue One: Whether Vu Waived his Miranda Rights
On appeal, Vu first asserts that the trial court abused its discretion when it
admitted his statements to Detective Crussen. In particular, Vu asserts that he did not
knowingly and voluntarily waive his Miranda rights and that Detective Crussen’s
advisement of Vu’s rights was “incomplete and defective.” Appellant’s Br. at 19.
We have held that, when an accused is subjected to custodial interrogation, the
State may not use statements stemming from the interrogation unless it demonstrates the
use of procedural safeguards effective to secure the accused’s privilege against self-
incrimination. Payne v. State, 854 N.E.2d 7, 13 (Ind. Ct. App. 2006). The Miranda
warnings apply only to custodial interrogation because they are meant to overcome the
inherently coercive and police dominated atmosphere of custodial interrogation. Id. To
be in custody for purposes of Miranda, the defendant need not be placed under formal
arrest. King v. State, 844 N.E.2d 92, 96 (Ind. Ct. App. 2005). Rather, the custody
determination turns upon whether the individual’s freedom has been deprived in a
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significant way or if a reasonable person in his position would believe he is not free to
leave.1 Id.
A waiver of one’s Miranda rights occurs when the defendant, after being advised
of those rights and acknowledging that he understands them, proceeds to make a
statement without taking advantage of those rights. Johnson v. State, 829 N.E.2d 44, 50
(Ind. Ct. App. 2005) (citing Ringo v. State, 736 N.E.2d 1209, 1211-12 (Ind. 2000)), trans.
denied. For a statement to be admissible, the State must show that a defendant’s waiver
was knowing and voluntary. Id. (citing Deckard v. State, 670 N.E.2d 1, 6 (Ind. 1996)).
To determine whether a valid waiver was made, courts look to the totality of the
circumstances. Id.
On appeal, Vu asserts that he did not knowingly and voluntarily waive his
Miranda rights because English is not his first language. But the totality of the
circumstances shows that Vu understands English. He has lived in the United States for
more than thirteen years. He operated a business in Bedford for three years. He gave the
interrogating officers a clear description of the location of his business in Bedford. He
operated a business in Bloomington for more than four months before the instant
offenses. Both the Bedford and the Bloomington businesses were open to the public. An
employee of Vu’s testified that she had known him for seven years and she only spoke
English with him. And when advised of each of his Miranda rights, Vu acknowledged
that he understood them and proceeded to engage the officers in a discussion of the
1
In light of these principles, we do not consider the State’s alternative argument on appeal that
Vu was not in custody when he was interrogated at the police station by the officers.
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alleged events. In light of the totality of the circumstances, we agree with the trial court
that Vu knowingly and voluntarily waived his Miranda rights.
Vu also asserts on appeal that the officers did not properly advise him of his
Miranda rights.2 In particular, Vu complains that Detective Crussen said only that
“anything you tell me can be used in court later,” State’s Exh. 5 at 3 (emphasis added),
not that he told Vu that anything Vu stated “can and will” be used against him,
Appellant’s Br. at 20. But the Indiana Supreme Court has expressly rejected this
argument, stating that “we do not see the omission of the word ‘will’ to be such a fatal
variance as to require suppression of the statements.” Myers v. State, 510 N.E.2d 1360,
1365 (Ind. 1987). Myers is binding authority on these facts. Thus, we affirm the trial
court’s admission of Vu’s recorded statements.
Issue Two: Motion for Severance
Vu next asserts that the trial court erred when it denied his motion for severance of
the offenses related to P.T. from the offenses related to C.M. Specifically, Vu argues that
he was entitled to a severance as a matter of right, and that even if he had no right to
sever, the trial court abused its discretion in refusing a severance. Indiana Code Section
35-34-1-11(a) provides defendants with the right to severance where “two (2) or more
offenses have been joined for trial in the same indictment or information solely on the
ground that they are of the same or similar character . . . .” As the statute explicitly
states, severance is required as a matter of right under this provision only if the sole
2
In his reply brief, Vu asserts that “[t]he State does not respond to [this] claim . . . .” Reply Br.
at 1-2. Vu is incorrect. See Appellee’s Br. at 15.
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ground for joining is that the offenses are of the same or similar character. Craig v. State,
730 N.E.2d 1262, 1265 (Ind. 2000). However, offenses may be sufficiently “connected
together” to justify joinder under Indiana Code Section 35-34-1-9(a)(2) “if the State can
establish that a common modus operandi linked the crimes and that the same motive
induced that criminal behavior.” Id. (quotation omitted). “Modus operandi refers to a
pattern of criminal behavior so distinctive that separate crimes are recognizable as the
handiwork of the same wrongdoer.” Id. at 1265 n.1 (quotation omitted).
In Craig, our supreme court held that the defendant’s molestation of two children
demonstrated the same modus operandi. In particular, the court held:
Each victim was a member of the Brownie troop led by Craig and his wife
and was spending the night at Craig’s house. The incidents occurred within
the same week. Craig asked each girl to take the “taste test” and covered
the eyes of each with tape. He then put an object in their mouths and
instructed them to suck on it. These similarities are sufficient to establish
that the molestation of each victim was the handiwork of the same person.
The motive of both offenses was the same—to satisfy Craig’s sexual
desires.
Id. at 1265.
Similarly, Vu’s offenses against P.T. and C.M. demonstrate the same modus
operandi. P.T. and C.M. have similar physical characteristics—they are both petite,
young, and with dark hair—and they each visited Vu’s salon near closing time and within
eight days of each other. Both victims were assaulted in a back room, during a massage,
and away from the main customer lobby. And for each victim, Vu was able to block the
exit when the victim attempted to escape. These similarities are sufficient to establish
that Vu’s assault of each victim was the handiwork of the same person. Further, the
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motive of each of the offenses was the same: to satisfy Vu’s sexual desires.
Accordingly, Vu was not entitled to severance as a matter of right.
If severance is not a matter of right, Indiana Code Section 35-34-1-11(a) provides
that:
the court, upon motion of the defendant or the prosecutor, shall grant a
severance of offenses whenever the court determines that severance is
appropriate to promote a fair determination of the defendant’s guilt or
innocence of each offense considering:
(1) the number of offenses charged;
(2) the complexity of the evidence to be offered; and
(3) whether the trier of fact will be able to distinguish the evidence and
apply the law intelligently as to each offense.
A trial court’s refusal to sever charges under these circumstances is reviewed for an abuse
of discretion. Id.
Vu’s case involved only four charges against two victims and, as in Craig, a total
of nine witnesses. Moreover, Vu acknowledges that “the evidence was not unduly
complex.” Appellant’s Br. at 27. A jury would have no difficulty distinguishing the
evidence and applying the law intelligently to each count. See Craig, 730 N.E.2d at
1265. Thus, the trial court did not abuse its discretion when it denied Vu’s motion for
severance.
Issue Three: Interpreter
Vu next contends that the trial court committed fundamental error when it
permitted Ye Lee, a friend of Vu’s, to serve as an interpreter for Vu during the trial. The
trial court held a conference on Vu’s request for an interpreter. According to the trial
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court’s summary of its conference with Vu’s counsel, John-Paul Isom, and the
prosecutor:
Mr. Isom stated during the conference[] that Mr. Vu had not had any
difficulties understanding the proceedings during the hearings that had been
held in the matter, nor had Mr. Isom had any difficulty communicating with
Mr. Vu regarding the case.
Mr. Isom agreed with the court that Mr. Vu would be responsible for
the cost of an interpreter for the purpose of sitting at defense counsel table
to assist Mr. Vu in the event Mr. Vu had any questions during the trial.
Discussion was also had regarding the availability of an interpreter
who spoke Vietnamese. The use of the professional interpreter service was
discussed by the parties. Mr. Isom indicated that he did not want to use the
telephonic interpreter service as he did not believe it was necessary. And,
again, he wanted another person at the counsel table to be able to assist Mr.
Vu privately.
Mr. Isom requested that a friend of Mr. Vu be allowed to sit at
defense counsel table to assist Mr. Vu. The friend spoke Vietnamese and
was available to sit through the jury trial. He was not a certified interpreter.
The [S]tate did not object to the request and the court stated it would allow
the friend to sit at defense table for the purpose of conferring with Mr. Vu
privately. The court also stated if the services of a certified interpreter
became necessary during the jury trial, the telephone interpreter service
would be utilized.
Appellant’s App. at 284-85.
Thus, the court declined to use the telephone interpreter service and instead
permitted Lee to serve as an interpreter at Vu’s request. As such, if there was any error in
allowing Lee to participate as an interpreter, that error was at Vu’s invitation and it is not
subject to appellate review. A party may not take advantage of an error that he commits,
invites, or which is the natural consequence of his own neglect or misconduct. Reinhart
v. Reinhart, 938 N.E.2d 788, 792 (Ind. Ct. App. 2010).
Neither is any error here fundamental. “A fundamental error is a substantial,
blatant violation of basic principles of due process rendering the trial unfair to the
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defendant.” Taylor v. State, 717 N.E.2d 90, 93 (Ind. 1999). Here, Vu’s defense counsel
expressly informed the court that Vu had no trouble understanding the proceedings or
communicating with his attorney. Accordingly, there is no blatant error.
Issue Four: Sufficiency of the Evidence
Vu also asserts that the State failed to present sufficient evidence to support his
convictions for sexual battery and criminal confinement of C.M. When reviewing a
claim of sufficiency of the evidence, we do not reweigh the evidence or judge the
credibility of the witnesses. Jones v. State, 783 N.E.2d 1132, 1139 (Ind. 2003). We look
only to the probative evidence supporting the verdict and the reasonable inferences that
may be drawn from that evidence to determine whether a reasonable trier of fact could
conclude the defendant was guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Id. If there is substantial
evidence of probative value to support the conviction, it will not be set aside. Id.
In order to prove sexual battery, as a Class D felony, the State was required to
show that Vu, with the intent to arouse or satisfy his or C.M.’s sexual desires, touched
C.M. when she was compelled to submit to the touching by force or the imminent threat
of force. I.C. § 35-42-4-8(a)(1). “Force” may be actual or implied and is determined
from the victim’s point of view. See Chatham v. State, 845 N.E.2d 203, 206-07 (Ind. Ct.
App. 2006). And to prove criminal confinement, as a Class D felony, the State was
required to show that Vu knowingly or intentionally confined C.M. without her consent.
I.C. § 35-42-3-3(a)(1). To “confine” means to substantially interfere with the liberty of
another. I.C. § 35-42-3-1.
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Vu asserts that the State failed to prove sexual battery because it did not show that
he used force against C.M. or that he touched C.M. with the intent to arouse his sexual
desires. Vu also asserts that the State failed to prove criminal confinement because it did
not show that C.M. did not consent to the confinement. We cannot agree.
The State presented ample evidence to prove that Vu committed sexual battery, as
a Class D felony, against C.M. C.M. testified that Vu touched her on multiple parts of
her body, including her arm, legs, buttocks, and breasts; that Vu forcibly removed C.M.’s
pants and exposed her bare buttocks; and that Vu struck C.M.’s bare buttocks. Moreover,
it was entirely reasonable for the jury to infer that Vu’s behavior was motivated by his
intent to satisfy his sexual desires. Vu’s arguments to the contrary on appeal are without
merit.
The State also presented clear evidence that Vu confined C.M. without her
consent. C.M. testified that, after Vu assaulted her, she tried to leave but Vu blocked her
path. As such, Vu’s argument here fails.
Issue Five: Double Jeopardy
Vu next contends the actual evidence the State used to show he committed
criminal confinement against P.T. and C.M. is the same evidence the State used to show
that he committed criminal deviate conduct against P.T. and sexual battery against C.M.
Under Indiana’s Double Jeopardy Clause, Article I, Section 14 of the Indiana
Constitution, two offenses are the same offense if, with respect to the actual evidence
used to convict, the essential elements of one challenged offense also establish the
essential elements of another challenged offense. Richardson v. State, 717 N.E.2d 32, 49
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(Ind. 1999). Under the actual evidence test, we examine the actual evidence presented at
trial to determine whether each challenged offense was established by separate and
distinct facts. Moore v. State, 882 N.E.2d 788, 794 (Ind. Ct. App. 2008). To prove a
violation, a defendant must show “a reasonable possibility that the evidentiary facts used
by the fact-finder to establish the essential elements of one offense may also have been
used to establish the essential elements of a second challenged offense.” Id. (quoting
Smith v. State, 872 N.E.2d 169, 176 (Ind. Ct. App. 2007), trans. denied). Double
jeopardy is not violated when the evidentiary facts establishing the essential elements of
one offense also establish only one or even several, but not all, of the essential elements
of a second offense. Id.
As an initial matter, Vu asserts that the trial court “improperly imposed
convictions and sentences . . . after determining they ‘merged’ . . . .” Appellant’s Br. at
42. Vu further asserts that “[t]he State is barred from challenging . . . the trial court’s
‘merger’” under the doctrine of invited error. Id. at 46-47. Vu’s assertions here are
perplexing. The State did not invite any error; the record is clear that the State never
asked the court to vacate or “merge” Vu’s criminal confinement convictions for double
jeopardy purposes. See Transcript at 652. And neither did the trial court find that Vu’s
criminal confinement convictions violated Indiana’s Double Jeopardy Clause. To the
contrary, the record is clear that when the trial court used the word “merger” it meant that
the sentences for his two convictions against C.M. would run concurrently, as would the
sentences for his two convictions against P.T., while his total sentence against C.M. and
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his total sentence against P.T. would run consecutive to each other. See id. at 657. We
will not disregard the plain intent of the trial court.
Neither do Vu’s convictions for criminal confinement against either P.T. or C.M.
violate the actual evidence test. Against P.T., Vu committed criminal deviate conduct
and then, once that act was completed, confined her by blocking her attempt to exit the
room. Likewise, against C.M., Vu committed sexual battery and then, once that act was
completed, Vu confined C.M. by blocking her attempt to exit. As such, the State
presented separate and distinct facts to establish the essential elements of the challenged
convictions.
Issue Six: Sentencing Statement
Finally, Vu notes, and the State agrees, that the trial court’s written sentencing
statement fails to properly reflect Vu’s term of probation. According to the trial court’s
oral sentencing statement, the court sentenced Vu to an aggregate term of eleven and one-
half years, with four years of that term suspended to probation. Id. at 655-56. But this is
not properly reflected in the court’s written statement. Accordingly, we remand with
instructions for the court to correct its written sentencing statement and any related
documents to include the term of probation.
Affirmed and remanded.
BAILEY, J., and BARNES, J., concur.
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