State v. Brown ( 2017 )

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF KANSAS
No. 111,166
STATE OF KANSAS,
Appellee,
v.
ANTONIO M. BROWN, SR.,
Appellant.
SYLLABUS BY THE COURT
1.
Police are free to interview a suspect who is in custody after the suspect waives
Miranda rights. But if a suspect invokes one or more of those rights, such as the right to
counsel, an interview must end. A suspect is not subject to further questioning until
counsel has been made available—unless the suspect initiates further communication,
exchanges, or conversations with police.
2.
To determine whether a suspect waived a previously asserted right to counsel, a
court must determine the suspect: (a) initiated further discussion with police and (b)
knowingly and intelligently waived the previously asserted right.
3.
When challenged, the State must prove by a preponderance of the evidence that
statements made in a custodial interview were voluntary. Voluntariness is assessed by
examining the totality of the circumstances, including: (a) defendant's mental condition;
(b) the manner and duration of the interview; (c) defendant's ability to communicate on
request with the outside world; (d) defendant's age, intellect, and background; (e) the
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officers' fairness in conducting the interview; and (f) defendant's fluency with the English
language. Any one factor or a combination of factors may inevitably lead to a conclusion
that under the totality of the circumstances a suspect's will was overborne and the
statements were not a free and voluntary act.
4.
Whether a suspect should be re-Mirandized after a waiver is a question of law an
appellate court resolves by considering the totality of the circumstances.
5.
The 2013 amendments made in K.S.A. 2013 Supp. 21-5402(d) and (e) eliminated
lesser included offenses of felony murder and expressly provided for retroactive
application to cases pending on appeal on and after its effective date. The amendment's
retroactive application does not violate the federal Ex Post Facto Clause.
6.
There is no federal constitutional requirement that a jury be instructed on lesser
included offenses not recognized as such by state law.
7.
Section 5 of the Kansas Constitution Bill of Rights, which declares, "The right of
trial by jury shall be inviolate," applies no further than to give the right of such trial upon
issues of fact so tried at common law.
8.
A defendant has a right under Section 5 of the Kansas Constitution Bill of Rights
to have a jury determine his guilt of the charged crime in a felony prosecution. But
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determining what further crimes upon which the jury should be instructed as lesser
included offenses is a matter of law for the court.
9.
The elements constituting the crime of interference with law enforcement under
K.S.A. 2015 Supp. 21-5904(a)(3) are: (a) an identified law enforcement officer carrying
out some official duty, (b) defendant knowingly and willfully obstructing or opposing the
officer, and (c) defendant knew or should have known the person opposed was a law
enforcement officer.
10.
Under the facts of this case, the jury's finding that the 14-month-old child abuse
victim was particularly vulnerable because of age was a substantial and compelling
reason to impose upward departure sentences for child abuse convictions.
Appeal from Saline District Court; RENE S. YOUNG, judge. Opinion filed January 20, 2017.
Affirmed.
Peter Maharry, of Kansas Appellate Defendant Office, argued the cause and was on the brief for
appellant.
Ellen H. Mitchell, county attorney, argued the cause, and Derek Schmidt, attorney general, was
with her on the brief for appellee.
The opinion of the court was delivered by
BILES, J.: Antonio Brown was convicted of felony murder, two counts of child
abuse, and one count of interference with a law enforcement officer. Brown argues his
convictions must be reversed because (1) the district court admitted statements he gave to
3
police after he claimed he invoked his right to counsel and the statements were
involuntary; (2) the district court failed to give lesser included offense instructions on the
felony-murder charge; and (3) the evidence was insufficient to sustain his conviction of
interference with a law enforcement officer. Brown further challenges the upward
departure sentences imposed for the two child abuse convictions, arguing they were not
justified by substantial and compelling reasons. We affirm.
We hold Brown reinitiated his interview with police after his unsuccessful attempt
to contact a lawyer and in doing so knowingly and intelligently waived his previously-
invoked right to counsel. Brown's subsequent inculpatory statements were freely and
voluntarily given.
We hold further that the district court properly refused to give lesser included
offense instructions for the felony-murder charge. See K.S.A. 2015 Supp. 21-5402(d), (e)
(no lesser included offenses of felony murder; provision retroactive to all pending cases);
State v. Love, No. 112,611, this day decided (statutory elimination of lesser included
offenses of felony murder does not violate due process or the right to jury trial as
guaranteed by Section 5 of the Kansas Constitution Bill of Rights); State v. Todd, 299
Kan. 263, 277-79, 323 P.3d 829 (2014) (retroactive abolition of lesser included offenses
does not violate Ex Post Facto Clause).
We hold there was sufficient evidence to support Brown's conviction of
interference with a law enforcement officer, based upon his failure to come out from
hiding in a basement when instructed to do so by police.
Finally, under the facts of this case, we hold there were substantial and compelling
reasons to impose upward departure sentences for the child abuse convictions because a
14-month-old victim was particularly vulnerable due to his age.
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FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
Beginning in late September 2011, Brown cared for 14-month-old Clayden
Urbanek, while the child's mother, Brittney Betzold, was at work.
On October 4, Brown called Betzold's workplace and asked to talk to her about
Clayden. The person who took the call said Brown seemed panicked and emotional.
When Betzold arrived home, she found Clayden in a bedroom. He was awake but could
not move his legs or arms. Brown told her Clayden took a hard fall from the couch and
got a concussion. When Betzold said she was going to call 911, Brown left the house. He
later called Clayden's father and volunteered that he did not hit Clayden and would never
harm him.
When emergency personnel arrived, they found Clayden extremely pale with a
distended abdomen, no pulse, and not breathing. Emergency room physicians transferred
him to Wichita, where he underwent surgery for his abdominal injuries. He died shortly
after the procedure.
Due to the extensive injuries, police investigated and charged Brown with felony
murder, two counts of child abuse, and one count of interference with a law enforcement
officer. The first child abuse charge related to incidents alleged to have occurred between
September 26 and October 3, 2011. The second for incidents alleged on October 4.
Brown was tried and convicted of all charges.
At a separate sentencing hearing, the jury found unanimously and beyond a
reasonable doubt that there were aggravating factors associated with the child abuse
charges. The jury returned verdicts finding four aggravating factors for the first count and
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three for the second. Based on those findings, the district court imposed departure
sentences of double the presumptive sentences for each child abuse conviction. This is
Brown's direct appeal.
Jurisdiction is proper. See K.S.A. 2015 Supp. 22-3601(b)(3)-(4) (life sentence
imposed; defendant convicted of off-grid crime).
BROWN'S STATEMENTS TO POLICE
Brown argues inculpatory statements he made to police should have been
suppressed because he claims: (1) The officers violated his Miranda rights by failing to
honor his request for counsel, (2) the statements were not voluntary, and (3) officers
failed to read him the Miranda rights after every break in the questioning. The district
court denied a motion to suppress prior to trial. We agree with the district court.
Additional facts
Police took Brown into custody around 7 p.m. on October 4, 2011. At about 8
p.m., two investigators began a recorded interview. Brown read, initialed, and signed a
form, confirming that he understood he had the right to remain silent, that his statements
could be used against him in court, that he had a right to have an attorney present, and
that an attorney would be appointed for him if he could not afford one. While he was
completing the form, Brown asked about the right to counsel.
He said he had a lawyer in a prior case but did not know if that person was still his
lawyer or if the lawyer should be present. Brown asked if he could call his roommate to
have him get in touch with the lawyer to see if Brown needed to have an attorney present
for the questioning. An investigator told Brown they would discuss that after finishing the
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waiver form. Brown responded it did not matter because he would still talk to the
officers.
As the investigators were witnessing the form's execution, Brown again
volunteered, "Actually it doesn't matter because I have nothing to hide." An investigator
began to respond, "Well I want to clarify a couple of . . . ."
The remainder of this sentence and any response appear to be edited from the
video included with the appellate record because the video immediately jumps to the
following exchange:
"Brown: I can't afford an attorney right now.
"Investigator #1: OK.
"Brown: Well I don't have the money in my pocket but my roommate, you
know, he's been helping me, you know, on my last case. He was involved in it.
But he helps me kind of financially, you know, to help with my lawyer. And he
would, you know, we both have the same lawyer and that's the only reason I need
to, you know, ask him.
"Investigator #1: I understand that. Can't really go through that route. What I
could do is I can afford you the opportunity for a phone book and a phone to be
able to call but going through your roommate is not going to happen.
"Brown: How about my fiancé?
"Investigator #1: That I can't do.
"Brown: That's fine. That's fine. Like I said I'm not worried about it.
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"Investigator #1: OK. But I can afford you the opportunity to you know call your
attorney via the phone I have no problems with that.
"Brown: Like I said I don't know if he's still my attorney well because I took off
on parole you know and I don't know if that drops the whole fuckin' case? I mean
I don't know?
"Investigator #2: We can't answer that for you.
"Brown: I mean I don't know. Do you mind if I call him? You guys can sit here
and . . . .
"Investigator #1: Yeah, go right ahead.
"Brown: Like I said I don't have nothing to hide so it don't matter to me. So but
....
"Investigator #1: Yeah, go right ahead."
Both investigators assisted Brown in locating the attorney's telephone number.
Brown tried unsuccessfully to reach the attorney at two different numbers. The following
exchange then occurred:
"Investigator #1: No answer?
"Brown: No [inaudible].
"Investigator #1: Well, um . . . .
"Brown: Um I understand what's going on. You know what I'm saying. I
understand fully what's going on.
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"Investigator #1: Right. OK.
"Brown: You know I mean this . . . .
"Investigator #2: Our goal is to figure out the situation.
"Brown: Yeah. I'll—I'll—I'll talk . . . .
"Investigator #1: Without the presence of attorneys?
"Brown: Yes sir, yes sir, yes sir. Like I said I have nothing to hide, you know.
"Investigator #1: OK."
The investigators proceeded to interview Brown until about 2 a.m., during which
time he made incriminating statements. He admitted he was the only person watching
Clayden during the day for the last week and a half. He conceded he had a bad temper,
was strict, and a little mean. But he also said he would not hurt Clayden. He disclosed he
had been upset with the child, but not to the point of hurting him, and sometimes grabbed
him in a way that scared Betzold. He admitted spanking the child with a wooden paddle
the Friday before the child died because he was not listening to Betzold, being
"obnoxious," and getting into everything. He said he knew he had put bruises on
Clayden's buttocks.
Brown told investigators Clayden's fatal injuries happened when he fell off the
couch and hit his head on the carpet. But he insisted he did not kill the child and denied
hitting him on the head, face, or stomach. He said he did not know what happened to
Clayden's stomach. Brown could not explain the injuries when confronted with the
investigators' claim they could not have been caused by a fall. He admitted only he or
Betzold could have killed the child and conceded the circumstances did not look good for
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him, while maintaining he did not do it. At one point, Brown said his answers "probably
seem[] like some bullshit."
Brown also admitted he was aware of the bruises on Clayden's face, buttocks, and
side. But he offered innocent explanations for some, e.g., the child fell and hit his head on
a baby wipe container, or Brown squeezed his mouth to retrieve objects the child had put
in it. Brown said he took a video of Clayden playing and tripping so Betzold could see he
did not treat Clayden "like shit," but accidentally deleted it. He also made disparaging
remarks about the child, e.g., he was an "obnoxious little guy" and acted like a "little
asshole."
Brown had been in custody for about seven hours when the interview ended,
although the interview itself lasted about six hours with three 15-35 minute breaks.
Investigators provided Brown with water and coffee but no food because Brown said he
had eaten earlier. They let Brown use the restroom. Investigators did not smell alcohol on
Brown and said Brown did not fall asleep or nod off during questioning and appeared to
understand the questions and answer them appropriately. Brown was 27 years old at the
time and had been previously arrested numerous times. An investigator admitted he was
unsure whether Brown graduated high school. Brown became emotional at times during
the interview but never asked to stop the questioning.
Brown moved to suppress the interview on the grounds he now raises on appeal.
Following an evidentiary hearing and a review of the interview video, the district court
addressed each basis asserted to support suppression and denied the motion. At trial,
Brown preserved his arguments by timely objecting to his interview's audio recording.
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Standard of review
On review of a district court's decision on a motion to suppress, factual findings
are reviewed for substantial competent evidence. Legal conclusions drawn from those
facts are reviewed de novo. See State v. Cline, 295 Kan. 104, 113, 283 P.3d 194 (2012)
(reviewing trial court's decision that interview statement was made freely, voluntarily,
and intelligently); State v Appleby, 289 Kan. 1017, 1038, 221 P.3d 525 (2009) (reviewing
trial court's conclusion that defendant failed to invoke right to attorney for assistance in
custodial interview).
Alleged denial of right to counsel
Police are free to interview a suspect who is in custody after the suspect waives
Miranda rights. See Davis v. United States, 512 U.S. 452, 458, 114 S. Ct. 2350, 129 L.
Ed. 2d 362 (1994). But if the suspect invokes one or more of those rights, such as the
right to counsel, the interview must end. A suspect who has invoked the right to counsel
is not subject to further questioning until counsel has been made available—unless the
suspect initiates further communication, exchanges, or conversations with the police. 512
U.S. at 458 (citing Edwards v. Arizona, 451 U.S. 477, 484-85, 101 S. Ct. 1880, 68 L. Ed.
2d 378 [1981]); see also State v. Walker, 276 Kan. 939, 946, 80 P.3d 1132 (2003).
In their briefs, the parties appear to agree Brown invoked the right to counsel
when he asked to call his lawyer. But at oral arguments, the State maintained Brown did
not invoke the right to counsel. We do not believe this position has merit. Brown
unequivocally expressed his desire for the assistance of counsel when he attempted to call
an attorney from the interview room after receiving the Miranda warnings. See Abela v.
Martin, 380 F.3d 915, 926 (6th Cir. 2004) (suspect invoked right to counsel by telling
officers "maybe I should talk to an attorney by the name of William Evans," and showing
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them the attorney's business card); United States v. de la Jara, 973 F.2d 746, 752 (9th
Cir. 1992) (suspect invoked right to counsel by asking to call his attorney); United States
v. Porter, 764 F.2d 1, 6 (1st Cir. 1985) (suspect invoked right to counsel when, upon
being given opportunity to make a telephone call, suspect called information to get
lawyer's number then called lawyer).
The district court's ruling on this point is a little unclear because it noted Brown
asked to contact an attorney who was representing him in another matter and found
Brown "did not make an unequivocal request for counsel." To avoid mischaracterization,
we quote the district court's ruling:
"The court finds based upon the testimony of the officers and reviewing the
videotape, that Mr. Brown was read his Miranda rights in the room prior to the interview.
He was read those rights by [an investigator]. He then asked that the defendant read the
first line of the Miranda rights form. And after he demonstrated [ ] that he could read, [an
investigator] asked to read—read the remainder of that form and sign and initial, which
the defendant did.
"The defendant did ask to call a friend to see whether he needed an attorney or to
get in contact with an attorney. That was not permitted by the officers.
"The defendant did ask to contact Roger Struble who, apparently, represented
him in another matter. And at that time the questioning stopped with the exception there
was one question asking the defendant the name of his roommate. [The investigators]
looked up Roger Struble's telephone number and that telephone number was provided to
the defendant and the defendant was provided access to a telephone and the defendant
was given the opportunity to attempt to contact Roger Struble who, apparently, was not
available. He was then given the number—the 1-800 number to contact his attorney
Roger Struble and, apparently, was unable to get in contact with Mr. Struble through a 1-
800 number. After not being able to contact Roger Struble, the defendant then reinitiated
contact with the officers, and the videotape demonstrated that the decision to reinitiate
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contact was defendant's decision. Neither officer pressured him, coerced him, or
threatened him into speaking to them. And the defendant stated that he had nothing to
hide, and the defendant began speaking to the officers. During the course of the entire
interview the defendant at no additional time invoked his right to counsel or asked to
terminate the interview.
"And the court finds that the defendant did not make an unequivocal request for
counsel. And that after he did initially indicate that he asked to speak with Roger Struble,
he chose to reinitiate contact with law enforcement, so the court is going to find that the
defendant was not deprived of his Sixth Amendment Constitutional right to counsel."
It is clear to us that, despite the mention of an unequivocal request for counsel, the
district court ultimately viewed the circumstances correctly and focused on the real
question—whether Brown reinitiated the questioning.
To determine whether a suspect to whom a lawyer has not been made available
has waived a previously-asserted right to counsel, a court must determine "whether the
accused (1) initiated further discussions with police and (2) knowingly and intelligently
waived the previously asserted right." Walker, 276 Kan. at 947; see Oregon v. Bradshaw,
462 U.S. 1039, 1045, 103 S. Ct. 2830, 77 L. Ed. 2d 405 (1983). The parties' arguments
focus on the first prong of the test—whether Brown initiated the post-invocation
conversation with the investigators.
A suspect who previously invoked his right to counsel initiates further
conversation about an investigation when his statements can be "fairly said to represent a
desire . . . to open up a more generalized discussion relating directly or indirectly to the
investigation." Bradshaw, 462 U.S. at 1045. On the other hand, "inquiries or statements,
by either an accused or a police officer, relating to routine incidents of the custodial
relationship, will not generally 'initiate' a conversation in the sense in which that word
13
was used in Edwards." 462 U.S. at 1045. Moreover, "a valid[, post-request] waiver
cannot be established by showing only that [the suspect] responded to further police-
initiated custodial interrogation . . . ." Edwards, 451 U.S. at 484. Whether a suspect's
statement indicated a desire to reinitiate discussion turns on "both the content and
context" of the statement when "viewed from the perspective of a reasonable officer
. . . ." United States v. Straker, 800 F.3d 570, 623 (D.C. Cir. 2015).
As shown in the quoted interview extract, after Brown unsuccessfully attempted to
contact Struble, he immediately indicated he understood "fully" his rights and the
interview protocol, would talk without an attorney present, and had "nothing to hide."
Viewing this in light of Brown's numerous declarations that it did not matter if he reached
the attorney, we hold that Brown reinitiated the questioning and in doing so knowingly
and intelligently waived the previously-asserted right to counsel.
Voluntariness of the statements
Brown next argues his statements must be suppressed because they were
involuntary. The district court addressed each relevant factor associated with
voluntariness and denied suppression. It stated, "after considering the totality of the
circumstances, [the court] finds that the defendant's statements made—were freely and
voluntarily made and the product of his own free will."
When challenged, the State must prove by a preponderance of the evidence that
statements made in a custodial interview were voluntary. See State v. Betancourt, 301
Kan. 282, 290, 342 P.3d 916 (2015). Voluntariness is assessed by examining the totality
of the circumstances, including: (1) defendant's mental condition; (2) the manner and
duration of the interview; (3) defendant's ability to communicate on request with the
outside world; (4) defendant's age, intellect and background; (5) the officers' fairness in
14
conducting the interview; and (6) defendant's fluency with the English language. "Any
one factor or a combination of factors 'may inevitably lead to a conclusion that under the
totality of the circumstances a suspect's will was overborne and the confession was not
therefore a free and voluntary act.'" 301 Kan. at 290.
There is little to support Brown's claim. The officers permitted him to
communicate with the outside world by allowing him to call an attorney and helping him
with that process. Though information on Brown's education is not in the record, he was
27 years old at the time. He is fluent in English. He appeared on the interview recordings
and to the officers to understand the questions asked and gave appropriate answers. He
had prior experience with police, having been arrested a considerable number of times.
There is no claim officers made any promises or threats.
Brown focuses on three factors: his own mental condition, the officers' fairness,
and the interview's manner and duration. He argues the district court failed to give
appropriate weight to the fact the officers asked emotionally charged questions and the
interview's length. As to Brown's mental state and the officers' fairness, Brown argues he
was "in tears" at times and "very emotional." He contends the officers appealed to his
sentiments by using "emotionally charged questions" when accusing Brown of
wrongdoing and lying; asking him if Clayden's father deserved an explanation about what
happened; showing him pictures of the child; and telling him Clayden was dead and "not
coming back."
Showing the victim's photographs to a suspect "'is not inherently coercive police
conduct.'" United States v. Sanchez, 614 F.3d 876, 885 (8th Cir. 2010). Nor is urging a
suspect to tell the truth. State v. Brown, 285 Kan. 261, 276, 173 P.3d 612 (2007).
Importantly, Brown does not direct our attention to any caselaw supporting his argument
15
that the officers' actions were coercive or that his reaction renders his statements
involuntary.
In our 2007 Brown decision, defendant was charged with first-degree murder after
a gang dispute and his conviction was supported by a confession. In determining whether
the confession was voluntary, the court considered "emotional pressure" placed on
defendant by asking him whether he wanted officers to tell his son he put a gang before
him, and by telling him he was hurting his mother and his son by continuing to deny
involvement. 285 Kan. at 275-76. The court construed the officers' statements as
"basically asking [defendant] to tell the truth." 285 Kan. at 276. It explained the
difference between permissible exhortations to tell the truth and coercive ones:
"'"'"If [an extrajudicial confession] has been extorted by fear or induced by hope of profit,
benefit, or amelioration, it will be excluded as involuntary. However, the advice or
admonition to the defendant to speak the truth, which does not import either a threat or
benefit, will not make a following confession incompetent."'" [Citations omitted.]' State
v. Wakefield, 267 Kan. 116, 128, 977 P.2d 941 (1999)." 285 Kan. at 276.
The Brown court concluded: "The officers' statements regarding Brown's family
were not an attempt to extort by fear; they were merely admonitions to be honest." 285
Kan. at 276.
As to emotional state, as challenged here, in United States v. Duran, 957 F.2d 499,
503 (7th Cir. 1992), the suspect's crying during the interview was insufficient to
demonstrate the confession was involuntary "absent a showing that her emotional distress
was so profound as to impair her capacity for self-determination or understanding of what
the police were seeking." No such display has been made in this case either. Brown's
emotional outbursts constitute a small portion of the interview and do not depict Brown
so distraught as to be incapable of understanding of the circumstances.
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In terms of the interview's length, Brown was questioned for about six hours over
the course of a seven-hour detention. This court has held a confession voluntary when the
defendant's interview lasted just under five hours over the course of a 12-hour detention,
during which time defendant was handcuffed to a table. See Brown, 285 Kan. at 273-74.
And we have held a confession to be voluntary when defendant was in the interview
room for almost 13 hours and subjected to questioning for about eight hours. State v.
Walker, 283 Kan. 587, 597, 153 P.3d 1257 (2007).
We hold the officers' conduct, Brown's emotional state, and the length of the
detention and questioning did not render Brown's confession involuntary. His statements
to investigators were voluntary under the totality of the circumstances.
Renewed Miranda warnings
Finally, Brown argues his statements should be suppressed because officers did
not advise him of his Miranda rights after each break during the interview. He concedes
this court has held this to be unnecessary. See State v. Ransom, 288 Kan. 697, 708, 207
P.3d 208 (2009) ("[W]e have no trouble concluding as a matter of law that it was
unnecessary to re-Mirandize [defendant] at the beginning of each portion of his
interview.").
Whether renewed Miranda warnings are necessary is a question of law this court
answers by considering the totality of the circumstances. 288 Kan. at 706. One factor is
"the time between the waiver and the statements sought to be suppressed." 288 Kan. at
706-07. The Ransom court held two breaks—one 25 minutes long and another 45 minutes
long—"did not put the later portions of the interview outside a reasonable time" from the
initial Miranda warnings. 288 Kan. at 708. In reaching this conclusion, the court cited an
17
earlier case, which in turn observed that courts have permitted lengthy gaps of several
hours, five hours, 11 ½ hours, and even an entire day between Miranda warnings and the
challenged statements. See 288 Kan. at 707-08; State v. Mattox, 280 Kan. 473, 487-88,
124 P.3d 6 (2005). But Brown argues because Miranda warnings serve such an important
purpose, they should be given after every break as a matter of course. This court has
rejected this argument:
"'[O]nce the mandate of Miranda is complied with at the threshold of the interrogation by
law enforcement officers, the warnings need not be repeated at the beginning of each
successive interview. To adopt an automatic second warning system would be to add a
perfunctory ritual to police procedures rather than provide the meaningful set of
procedural safeguards envisioned by Miranda. [Citations omitted.]' State v. Boyle, 207
Kan. 833, 841, 486 P.2d 849 (1971)." Mattox, 280 Kan. at 488.
We hold that at no point between the initial Miranda warnings and the end of the
interview did the length of time become unreasonable or otherwise make renewed
warnings necessary.
LESSER INCLUDED OFFENSES OF FELONY MURDER
Brown argues the district court erred in failing to instruct the jury on reckless and
intentional second-degree murder as lesser included offenses of felony murder. The
circumstances require additional explanation.
K.S.A. 2015 Supp. 21-5109(b)(1) and K.S.A. 2015 Supp. 21-5402(d) would have
prohibited giving Brown's requested instruction because by statute there are no lesser
degrees of felony murder, although those statutes were not in effect when Brown
committed his crimes. K.S.A. 2015 Supp. 21-5402(e) provides that the rule applies
retroactively to matters pending when it was adopted—a class of cases to which Brown's
18
case belongs. He argues that the statutes should not control because: (1) retroactive
application of K.S.A. 2015 Supp. 21-5402(d) violates the Ex Post Facto Clause; (2) the
statutory elimination of lesser included offenses for felony murder violates due process;
and (3) the statutes infringe on his right to a jury trial under Section 5 of the Kansas
Constitution Bill of Rights. Our caselaw has already addressed these arguments.
We rejected the Ex Post Facto claim in State v. Todd, 299 Kan. 263, 278-79, 323
P.3d 829 (2014). We continue to believe Todd correctly states the law and decline
Brown's invitation to reverse it. See State v. Love, No. 112,611, this day decided.
Brown's arguments that elimination of lesser included offenses for felony murder
violates due process and the right to a jury trial under Section 5 of the Kansas
Constitution Bill of Rights also fail. We rejected identical challenges to the statutes in
Love, slip op. at 26. Brown's federal due process claim fails because there is no federal
constitutional requirement that the jury be instructed on offenses not recognized by state
law as lesser included offenses. Love, slip op. at 23; cf. Hopkins v. Reeves, 524 U.S. 88,
99, 118 S. Ct. 1895, 141 L. Ed. 2d 76 (1988) (no constitutional error occurred when in
prosecution for capital crime trial court did not instruct jury on a lesser crime that the
state supreme court had previously held was not a lesser included offense of the charged
crime under state law). And the state constitutional argument fails because Section 5
secures a criminal defendant the right to have a jury determine guilt of the charged
offense, and it "'applies no further than to give the right of such trial upon issues of fact
so tried at common law . . . .'" Love, slip op. at 25 (quoting Hasty v. Pierpoint, 146 Kan.
517, 519, 72 P.2d 69 [1937]). The challenged statutes do not infringe upon these rights
because determining what additional crimes upon which the jury should be instructed as
lesser included offenses is a matter of law for the court outside the scope of the jury's role
as a factfinder. Love, slip op. at 26-27.
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Because these constitutional attacks on K.S.A. 2015 Supp. 21-5109(b)(1) and
K.S.A. 2015 Supp. 21-5402(d) fail, the instructions as given are deemed legally
appropriate. Brown has failed to demonstrate any error with the jury instructions. See
State v. Plummer, 295 Kan. 156, 162, 283 P.3d 202 (2012) (instructional error occurs
when a district court refuses to give requested instruction that is legally appropriate and
factually supported).
INTERFERENCE WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT
Brown next argues the evidence was insufficient to sustain his conviction for
interference with law enforcement because it did not demonstrate he substantially
hindered the officers.
Additional facts
Brown spent the afternoon of October 4 at Ana Heberly's house. When police
arrived looking for Brown, Heberly let them in and said Brown was in the basement.
Heberly's sister told officers Brown was in the crawl space or hiding behind a wall. Three
officers entered the house. At the top of the basement stairs, an officer called out that they
were Salina police and ordered Brown out of the basement.
When Brown did not emerge, officers went into the basement. They thought
Brown was in an area not accessible to them, so one officer radioed for a K-9 unit, while
another looked around. When an officer moved a piece of clothing, Brown announced he
was there and would cooperate, and he emerged from behind a ledge. He was taken into
custody.
20
To support the charge of interference with law enforcement, an officer testified
they were in the basement a total of five to ten minutes. The K-9 unit never arrived.
Another officer testified Brown's hiding slowed their effort to locate and arrest him. But
the State did not claim the officers had a warrant to arrest Brown. Even though they
commanded Brown to surrender, there was no evidence that they advised him they were
there to arrest him, or that they were there on suspicion that Brown had committed any
particular crime. See K.S.A. 22-2401(c)(1) (officer may arrest a person when the officer
has probable cause to believe the person committed a felony).
The district court instructed the jury that it had to find: (1) The officers were
"discharging official duty, namely investigating the abuse of a child and felony murder of
[Clayden];" (2) Brown "knowingly obstructed, resisted, or opposed [the officers] in
discharging that official duty;" (3) Brown's acts "substantially hindered or increased the
burden of the officers in the performance of the officers' official duty;" and (4) Brown
"knew or should have known [the officers] were law enforcement officers."
Standard of review
"'"When sufficiency of the evidence is challenged in a criminal case, the standard
of review is whether, after reviewing all the evidence in a light most favorable to the
prosecution, the appellate court is convinced a rational factfinder could have found the
defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Appellate courts do not reweigh evidence,
resolve evidentiary conflicts, or make witness credibility determinations." State v. Lloyd,
299 Kan. 620, 632, 325 P.3d 1122 (2014).' State v. Woods, 301 Kan. 852, 874, 348 P.3d
583 (2015)." State v. Brown, 303 Kan. 995, 1001, 368 P.3d 1101 (2016).
21
Discussion
"Interference with law enforcement is . . . knowingly obstructing, resisting or opposing
any person authorized by law to serve process in the service or execution or in the
attempt to serve or execute any writ, warrant, process or order of a court, or in the
discharge of any official duty." K.S.A. 2015 Supp. 21-5904(a)(3).
The offense's elements are: (1) an identified law enforcement officer carrying out
some official duty; (2) "defendant knowingly and willfully obstructed or opposed [the]
officer; and (3) "defendant knew or should have known the person he opposed was a law
enforcement officer." State v. Parker, 236 Kan. 353, 364-65, 690 P.2d 1353 (1984). The
question is whether the evidence established that Brown "obstructed or opposed" the
officers.
"[W]hether there has been an obstruction of official duty must depend upon the
particular facts of each case . . . ." 236 Kan. at 364. "'[T]o obstruct is to interpose
obstacles or impediments, to hinder, impede or in any manner interrupt or prevent, and
this term does not necessarily imply the employment of direct force, or the exercise of
direct means.'" State v. Lee, 242 Kan. 38, 40, 744 P.2d 845 (1987). While actual force is
not necessary, "[t]here must . . . be some actual overt act of obstruction." Parker, 236
Kan. at 360. The crime encompasses both physical acts and oral statements. 236 Kan. at
363.
"'The statute does not limit the offense to resistance alone. It includes also willful
acts of obstruction or opposition, and to obstruct is to interpose obstacles or impediments,
to hinder, impede or in any manner interrupt or prevent, and this term does not
necessarily imply the employment of direct force, or the exercise of direct means. It
includes any passive, indirect or circuitous impediments to the service or execution of
process; such as hindering or preventing an officer by not opening a door. It may be
stated as a general rule that under statutes containing the words "obstruct, resist, or
22
oppose," or the single word "resist," the offense of resisting an officer can be committed
without the employment of actual violence or direct force.'" 236 Kan. at 361 (quoting
State v. Merrifield, 180 Kan. 267, 270-71, 303 P.2d 155 [1956]).
The defendant's act "must have substantially hindered or increased the burden of
the officer in carrying out his official duty." 236 Kan. at 364.
"The principal purpose of criminalizing conduct that resists and obstructs officers
in the performance of their duty is to protect officers from physical harm . . . . The
statutes de-escalate the potential for violence which exists whenever a police officer
encounters an individual in the line of duty, and the concern is not limited to the officer's
safety but extends to all parties involved, including the prospective arrestee." 67 C.J.S.,
Obstructing Justice § 25.
Brown argues the State failed to put on evidence sufficient to demonstrate he
substantially hindered the officers. He focuses solely on the fact that he remained hiding
in the basement for only five to ten minutes before he surrendered himself to the officers.
Brown relies entirely on State v. Everest, 45 Kan. App. 2d 923, 256 P.3d 890 (2011), for
the proposition that "[s]ubstantial hindrance is more than a few minutes."
In Everest, defendant gave a false name during a traffic stop, so dispatch personnel
were unable to locate records associated with defendant. The Court of Appeals held there
was insufficient evidence to support conviction because the defendant's identity was
quickly established when the officer discovered an identification card, which was "before
[the] misidentification caused any substantial burden to [the officer]." 45 Kan. App. 2d at
930. The State distinguishes Everest on its facts, arguing that giving a false name is
different from hiding and refusing to appear. We agree.
23
We have held a person could not be guilty of obstruction of official duty when she
fled the crime scene and failed to turn herself in to police. See Lee, 242 Kan. 38, Syl. ¶ 2.
In that situation, there was "no officer whose official duty [the person] could obstruct."
See Lee, 242 Kan. at 42 (defendant's flight and failure to turn herself in occurred before
she was under investigation or charged with a crime). And we have held a person could
not be guilty of obstruction of official duty when she merely refused to assist an officer in
the execution of process. See State v. Hatfield, 213 Kan. 832, 518 P.2d 389 (1974)
(defendant, who was outside her home, did not comply with sheriff's request that she let
him in to serve order of protective custody on child believed to be inside).
But in this case the evidence viewed in the light most favorable to the State shows
Brown was hiding in the basement from officers who identified themselves and ordered
him to come out. His failure to do so created an immediate safety issue for both the
officers and Brown. And the officers had to engage in additional actions to address the
heightened security concerns.
Given the limitations of our standard of review and the purpose underlying the
interference with law enforcement statute, we hold under these circumstances a rational
factfinder could have concluded Brown's failure to emerge from hiding when called by
police substantially hindered the officers. The evidence supports the conviction.
AGGRAVATED SENTENCES FOR CHILD ABUSE
Brown next argues his upward departure sentences for child abuse were not
supported by substantial and compelling reasons and that the aggravated sentencing
statute is unconstitutionally vague. Because we conclude Clayden's vulnerability due to
his young age was a substantial and compelling reason to impose departure sentences for
these crimes, we affirm the sentences and need not reach Brown's vagueness claim.
24
Additional facts
Prior to trial, the State moved for departure sentences on both child abuse counts:
the October 4 child abuse (Count 2), and the child abuse occurring between September 26
and October 3 (Count 4). During the penalty phase, both parties waived the opportunity
to present additional evidence to the jury.
As to Count 2, the district court instructed the jury that the State alleged three
aggravating factors: (1) Clayden was particularly vulnerable due to age; (2) the crime
involved a fiduciary relationship between Brown and the child; and (3) Brown failed to
render aid as Clayden's medical condition declined. With regard to Count 4, the trial
court instructed that the State alleged the same three aggravating factors, and,
additionally, that Count 4 involved excessive brutality in a manner not normally present
in the offense. The jury found the State proved beyond a reasonable doubt each factor
associated with the respective counts.
At sentencing, Brown opposed upward departure, arguing he was already facing a
lengthy prison sentence. The district court explained its departure decision on both counts
together, stating:
"[T]he court finds that there are substantial and—substantial and compelling reasons for
granting an upward durational departure based upon the following aggravating factors
which were unanimously found by the jury to have been proven beyond a reasonable
doubt: The first is that Clayden Urbanek was particularly vulnerable due to his age or
reduced physical or mental capacity which was known or should have been known to the
defendant. The court notes Clayden was 14 months old at the time of his death and the
time that these offenses were committed. Secondly, the defendant's conduct during the
commission of the current offense manifested excessive brutality to Clayden in a manner
25
not normally present for that offense. The court notes that the medical testimony from the
trial was that Clayden had bruises all over his body; he had been beaten so badly on the
buttock that the tissue had died; and had he survived his injuries, he would have required
skin grafting; and he had been struck so forcefully in his abdomen that he suffered
extensive internal injuries that resulted in his death. Third, the offense involved a
fiduciary relationship which existed between the defendant and Clayden Urbanek. The
court finds that the defendant was providing child care for Clayden while Brittney
Betzold worked at Tony's to support herself, Clayden, and the defendant. Fourth, the
defendant failed to render aid to Clayden as his medical condition declined. As to this
factor the court notes the defendant recognized that Clayden was extremely ill when he
called Brittney to come home from work on the morning of his death, yet he did not seek
medical attention for Clayden. After Brittney returned home, he convinced Brittney not to
seek medical attention and EMS was not called until after Clayden had stopped breathing.
And so the court does find these are substantial and compelling reasons to grant an
upward durational departure in this case. And that relates to Counts 2 and 4." (Emphasis
added.)
For Count 2, the court sentenced Brown to 120 months' imprisonment. This was
double the aggravated grid-block sentence for Brown's criminal history score. For the
Count 4, the court sentenced Brown to 68 months' imprisonment, which was double the
aggravated grid-block sentence with no criminal history score applied. The court ran
these sentences consecutive to each other and the sentences for felony murder and
interference with a law enforcement officer.
Standard of review
A sentencing judge must impose the presumptive sentence in the applicable
KSGA grid-box, "unless the judge finds substantial and compelling reasons to impose a
departure sentence." K.S.A. 2015 Supp. 21-6815(a). The standard of review for departure
decisions depends on the issue presented.
26
When an issue is whether the record supports an articulated reason for departing,
the court reviews for substantial competent evidence. When an issue is whether a "factor
can 'ever, as a matter of law, be substantial and compelling in any case,'" review is
unlimited. State v. Bird, 298 Kan. 393, 397-98, 312 P.3d 1265 (2013). The court also has
unlimited review of whether "'the reasons, as a whole, [are] substantial and compelling
reasons for departure in a given case.'" State v. Martin, 285 Kan. 735, 739, 175 P.3d 832
(2008).
A departure sentence should be upheld when even one factor relied upon by the
sentencing court is substantial and compelling. Moreover, the individual factors need not
be sufficient on their own to justify departure, so long as the factors collectively
constitute a substantial and compelling basis for departure. Bird, 298 Kan. at 398.
Preservation
Brown suggests there may be a preservation issue because he did not argue to the
district court that there were not substantial and compelling reasons to depart, even
though he argued departure was unwarranted. See Kansas Supreme Court Rule 6.02(a)(5)
(2015 Kan. Ct. R. Annot. 41) (brief must contain reference to location in record where
issue raised and ruled upon). The State did not respond to this.
A departure sentence is subject to appeal. K.S.A. 2015 Supp. 21-6820(a). And
given the State's failure to argue why Brown should be precluded from arguing on appeal
that the departure sentences were not authorized, we will reach the merits.
27
Count 2: October 4 child abuse
When imposing the departure sentence for Count 2, the district court relied on four
factors, even though the jury was only presented and found three. Excessive brutality was
not an aggravating fact submitted to the jury, so it cannot be a proper basis for departure
for the October 4 child abuse conviction. See K.S.A. 2015 Supp. 21-6815(b) ("[A]ny fact
that would increase the penalty for a crime beyond the statutory maximum, other than a
prior conviction, shall be submitted to a jury and proved beyond a reasonable doubt.").
But this error is harmless because the departure for this count is supported by another
factor: the child was particularly vulnerable due to his age.
Under K.S.A. 2015 Supp. 21-6815(c)(2)(A), when determining whether
substantial and compelling reasons for departure exist, a court may consider whether
"[t]he victim was particularly vulnerable due to age, infirmity, or reduced physical or
mental capacity which was known or should have been known to the offender." But
K.S.A. 2015 Supp. 21-6815(c)(3) provides:
"If a factual aspect of a crime is a statutory element of the crime or is used to
subclassify the crime on the crime severity scale, that aspect of the current crime of
conviction may be used as an aggravating or mitigating factor only if the criminal
conduct constituting that aspect of the current crime of conviction is significantly
different from the usual criminal conduct captured by the aspect of the crime."
Brown argues we should not consider this factor as a sufficient justification for
departure because age is an element of the child abuse offense.
In State v. Salcido-Corral, 262 Kan. 392, 940 P.2d 11 (1997), on which Brown
relies, the court vacated upward departure sentences imposed for convictions of
aggravated indecent liberties and aggravated criminal sodomy—both of which require as
28
an element that the victim be under 14 years old. The departures were imposed based on
the seven-year-old victim's young age. The Salcido-Corral court held because the
victim's young age was an element of the crimes of conviction, the victim's vulnerability
due to age was an improper aggravating factor without evidence the victim was any more
vulnerable than any other child of her age would be. 262 Kan. at 415.
We have not extended Salcido-Corral to other scenarios in which a child's age is
both an element of the offense and a factor relied on to impose a departure, although it
was mentioned in passing in another case. See State v. Gould, 271 Kan. 394, 413, 23 P.3d
801 (2001) ("We question, but need not decide, if the tender age of the children here
qualifies as an aggravating factor for an upward departure, since age is an element of
child abuse . . . .").
The State directs our attention to two cases that the Court of Appeals held the
sentencing court did not err in imposing upward departure sentences based on the victims'
vulnerability due to age. They are State v. Peterson, 25 Kan. App. 2d 354, 357, 964 P.2d
695 (1998), and State v. Leonard, No. 104,646, 2011 WL 5833375, at *3 (Kan. App.
2011) (unpublished opinion). But these are distinguishable because the victims' ages were
not an element of the crimes for which the departure sentences were imposed. Peterson,
25 Kan. App. 2d at 355 (robbery and aggravated burglary); Leonard, 2011 WL 5833375,
at *1 (theft).
The State also argues we should consider whether in some factual situations, the
victim's age may be a factor for departure when compared to the age of others within the
age range protected by the statute, but does not support this argument with any authority.
Even so, the argument has merit under the circumstances because the 14-month-old
victim was particularly vulnerable to abuse as compared to other child victims, whose
29
ages can range as high as 17 years old. See K.S.A. 2015 Supp. 21-5602(a) (any child
under the age of 18 years).
In State v. Mohamed, 779 N.W.2d 93 (Minn. App. 2010), the Minnesota Court of
Appeals held a child abuse victim's infancy could be used as an aggravating factor under
that state's similar aggravated sentencing scheme, even though the victim's age was also
an element of the crime. The court explained:
"The legislature has taken the victim's age into account to the extent that it
recognizes the special vulnerability of those under the age of 18. But we hold that, given
the broad spectrum of physical development captured in this 18-year time span, the
legislature's recognition does not preclude consideration of the victim's infancy as an
aggravating factor here. The age element in the statute does not account for the particular
vulnerability of [the victim], an extremely young victim who, because of his early stage
of development, is incapable of perceiving danger, fleeing or shielding himself from
harm, seeking help, or reporting the abuse. Indeed, [the victim's] vulnerability is absolute.
He is particularly vulnerable among the broad class of child victims who are covered by
the statute." 779 N.W.2d at 98.
We find this reasoning persuasive. Salcido-Corral suggests vulnerability due to
age "'significantly different from the usual criminal conduct captured by the aspect of the
crime'" turn solely on the victim's particular vulnerability as compared to others his or her
own age. 262 Kan. at 414-15. We clarify this is not the case. We hold Clayden's
vulnerability due to his age compared to others within the range of ages encompassed by
the statute could be an aggravating factor here.
This leads us to the next question as to whether vulnerability due to age was a
substantial and compelling reason to impose a departure sentence. A reason for departure
is "'substantial'" if it is "'real, not imagined, and of substance, not ephemeral.'" Bird, 298
Kan. at 397. It is "'compelling'" if it '''forces the court, by the facts of the case, to abandon
30
the status quo and venture beyond the sentence that it would ordinarily impose.'" 298
Kan. at 397.
"'"Reasons which may in one case justify departure may not in all cases justify a
departure." [State v. Grady ], 258 Kan. at 83[, 900 P.2d 227 (1995)]. Rather, we must
evaluate the offense of conviction, the defendant's criminal history, and the departure
reason stated, as well as the purposes and principles of the Kansas Sentencing Guidelines.
State v. Tiffany, 267 Kan. 495, 504-05, 986 P.2d 1064 (1999); Grady, 258 Kan. at 83.'
[Citation omitted.]" Martin, 285 Kan. at 744.
"Since one of the purposes of the sentencing guidelines is to ensure uniformity in
sentencing, departures should only be allowed in extraordinary cases." State v. Eisele,
262 Kan. 80, 90, 936 P.2d 742 (1997).
The district court found the victim's particular vulnerability due to age supported
departure because Clayden was only 14 months old at the time of the crime. We hold in
this case this was a substantial and compelling reason to impose an aggravated sentence.
Count 4: Child abuse between September 26 and October 3
As to Count 4, the district court imposed the upward departure based on four
aggravating factors: (1) Clayden's vulnerability due to age; (2) the presence of excessive
brutality in a manner not normally present for the offense; (3) Brown's fiduciary
relationship; and (4) Brown's failure to render aid.
For the reasons set out above, Clayden's vulnerability was a substantial and
compelling reason to justify departure on this count as well. And we note the excessive
brutality of this crime would suffice independently as a reason to impose a departure
sentence given that the extent of the child's injuries substantiate physical brutality well
31
beyond that minimally necessary to commit child abuse. See State v. Cox, 258 Kan. 557,
579, 908 P.2d 603 (1995). We hold there were substantial and compelling reasons to
impose the aggravated sentence as to Count 4.
Based on these holdings, which rest on statutorily enumerated aggravating factors,
we need not address Brown's argument that permitting a sentencing court to rely on
nonenumerated aggravating factors renders K.S.A. 2015 Supp. 21-6815
unconstitutionally vague. "[A] party asserting vagueness 'cannot challenge the
constitutionality of the statute on the grounds that the statute may conceivably be applied
unconstitutionally in circumstances other than those before the court.'" State v. Williams,
299 Kan. 911, 919, 329 P.3d 400 (2014) (defendant lacked standing to challenge statute
as unconstitutionally vague when his conduct clearly fell within statute); see also Holder
v. Humanitarian Law Project, 561 U.S. 1, 18-19, 130 S. Ct. 2705, 177 L. Ed. 2d 355
(2010) ("We consider whether a statute is vague as applied to the particular facts at issue,
for '[a] [litigant] who engages in some conduct that is clearly proscribed cannot complain
of the vagueness of the law as applied to the conduct of others.'"); Hearn v. City of
Overland Park, 244 Kan. 638, 639, 772 P.2d 758 (1989) ("One to whose conduct a
statute clearly applies may not successfully challenge it for vagueness.").
Affirmed.
32