Paul David Smith v. Commonwealth of Kentucky ( 2007 )

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NOT TO BE PUBLISHED OPINION
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RENDERED : MAY 24, 2007
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED
,supraur d1ourf of
2005-SC-000840-MR
PAUL DAVID SMITH APPELLANT
APPEAL FROM WHITLEY CIRCUIT COURT
V. HON . PAUL E . BRADEN, JUDGE
NO. 03-CR-00108-001
COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY APPELLEE
M EMORANDUM OPINION OF THE COURT
AFFIRMING
Appellant, Paul David Smith, was convicted of complicity to murder and robbery
by the Whitley Circuit Court and sentenced to fifty years' imprisonment . He appeals to
this Court as a matter of right, asserting three errors. Finding no error, we affirm .
Facts
Appellant was convicted of complicity to the murder of Glenn David Riggleman
on July 28, 2005 . Riggleman was the ex-husband of Appellant's wife, Denise Smith .
The evidence presented at trial established that Denise Smith had an extremely
acrimonious relationship with her ex-husband following a bitter divorce and custody
dispute, marked by claims of Riggleman's physical and verbal abuse of his wife.
Though Denise had been awarded custody of the children, legal disputes concerning
visitation and child support continued. The disputes escalated when, according to
Denise, Riggleman began mistreating the children during visitation . She alleged that
one of her children returned home with bruises inflicted by Riggleman . Appellant's
dislike of Riggleman was well-known, as the two had argued publicly outside of the
courthouse following a hearing concerning visitation . Shortly thereafter, Riggleman was
found shot to death outside of his home .
The Commonwealth's theory of the case was that Appellant had committed the
murder with the help of his nephew, Travis Wagers, after his other nephew, Jason
Wagers, declined to assist in the crime . According to Jason's testimony, Appellant
spoke to him several times about his dislike for Riggleman and his desire to get him "out
of Denise's life ." Eventually, Appellant relayed to Jason a more specific plan. He told
Jason that he would use a shotgun because projectiles could not be matched to any
specific firearm . He revealed that he would check Riggleman's work schedule and kill
him before he left for work, leaving ample time for Appellant to return to his own home
before Denise's children would wake up. Appellant asked Jason to help him establish
an alibi, but Jason refused .
Appellant then sought the assistance of Jason's younger brother, Travis . Though
Travis refused to actually commit the murder, he did agree to help Appellant . The two
agreed that Travis would spend the night at Appellant's house the night before the
murder and leave early the next morning in Appellant's truck . The plan was for Travis to
drop Appellant off so that he could ambush Riggleman as he left for work, steal
Riggleman's truck, and then reunite at an abandoned church nearby . Thereafter, the
plan was to hide Riggleman's truck and for both men to return home quickly in order to
establish an alibi . Appellant also instructed Travis to wear an extra, outer layer of
clothing in case there was blood .
The evidence presented at trial revealed that Appellant and Travis followed this
plan . Travis' mother confirmed that, the night before the murder, Appellant picked up
Travis at home and that he spent the night with Appellant . Later that evening, Appellant
donned rubber gloves and proceeded to thoroughly clean his 20-gauge shotgun and
several 20-gauge slugs. Forensics testing later revealed that Riggleman died as a
result of two gunshots consistent with a 20-gauge shotgun.
Several neighbors testified that they heard gun blasts at approximately six
o'clock in the morning, the time Riggleman would be departing for work. Lola Hall, a
neighbor, saw a vehicle backing down the hill towards the main road immediately after
the gunshots. She testified that the headlights looked light those on Riggleman's pick-
up truck . Another neighbor, Nicole Stevens, testified that she saw two vehicles pull out
of Riggleman's driveway that followed each other briefly before splitting up in opposite
directions .
According to Travis' testimony, he dropped Appellant off near Riggleman's home
and went to the abandoned church, where he waited about fifteen minutes . When
Appellant appeared, he was pale and silent. The two switched trucks so that Travis was
now driving Riggleman's vehicle. Appellant returned home, while Travis drove
Riggleman's truck to remote Kensee Hollow to hide it. On the way, Travis discovered
that the shotgun and shells were still in the truck. He stopped and tossed the gun into a
creek, but did not dispose of the shells. He continued to the hollow, where he parked
Riggleman's truck and concealed it with brush and branches . He stopped momentarily
to take off the outer layer of clothing he had worn, which he hid under some rocks.
Travis then left on foot for his Aunt Sue's home, which was nearby .
When Riggleman's body was discovered later that morning, the police began to
investigate the crime and eventually interviewed Travis . He denied any involvement .
Three months later, however, he confessed to his mother . Thereafter, he turned himself
into police and gave two statements . In the first, he implicated himself and Appellant .
In the second, he implicated Denise Smith . According to Dora Lawson, Appellant's
sister and Travis' mother, Travis confessed to her as well. Dora further testified that she
confronted Appellant about the crime, whereupon Appellant apologized to his sister for
involving Travis in the plot .
Travis, Appellant and Denise Smith were each indicted on one count of murder
and one count of robbery in the first degree . Travis pled guilty in exchange for a
sentence of twenty-five years' imprisonment and his testimony against Appellant and
Smith. Smith and Appellant were jointly tried . Smith was acquitted, while the jury found
Appellant guilty of complicity to murder and robbery.
Further facts will be developed as necessary .
Evidentiary Issues
Appellant first argues that the cumulative effect of six erroneous evidentiary
rulings operated to deny him the opportunity to effectively confront adverse witnesses
and impeded . his ability to present a defense . At the outset, we note that decisions
concerning the admission of evidence are left to the sound discretion of the trial court,
and will only be overturned where an abuse of discretion has occurred . Commonwealth
v. English , 993 S .W.2d 941, 945 (Ky. 1999) . A trial court abuses its discretion when the
decision is arbitrary, unreasonable, unfair, or unsupported by sound legal principles. Id.
David Chadwel! testimony
Appellant complains that he was denied his due process right to present a
defense by the exclusion of evidence that Travis had a motive to commit the murder
independent of Appellant's reasons . Through the testimony of David Chadwell, defense
counsel wished to establish that Travis committed the murder alone in order to steal
Riggleman's truck and sell it for drugs. The trial court sustained the Commonwealth's
objection to this testimony on the grounds that it was irrelevant.
On avowal, Chadwell testified that he had lived with Travis the year before the
crime occurred, and had done drugs with him on a regular basis. According to
Chadwell, Travis was wild and unpredictable when he used crystal methamphetamine,
and that Travis had once told him that he would "shoot a man in the head for drugs" if
he had to . He also described that Travis would be extremely desperate if he went
without meth for several days . However, Chadwell limited his own testimony by
repeatedly stating that he did not think Travis was serious when he made these
statements, and that he believed it was "just the drugs talking."
Appellant contends that Chadwell's testimony was admissible as probative of his
defense theory that Travis committed the murder for drug money. The due process
clause affords a criminal defendant the right to fair opportunity to present and develop a
defense . Crane v. Kentucky , 476 U .S . 683, 690,106 S .Ct. 2142, 2146, 90 L .Ed .2d 636
(1986) . A proper defense includes the right to admit evidence that someone else
committed the crime . Beaty v. Commonwealth , 125 S .W.3d 196, 207 (Ky. 2003).
However, "evidence is not automatically admissible simply because it tends to show that
someone else committed the offense ." Beaty, 125 S .W.3d at 208. A trial court may
limit such evidence when the defense theory is unsupported, speculative and "far-
fetched" and could, therefore, confuse or mislead the jury. Commonwealth v. Maddox,
955 S .W.2d 718, 721 (Ky. 1997). We have stressed that evidence of an alternative
perpetrator is only admissible where it is well established that this other person had both
the motive and the opportunity to commit the crime . Beaty , id . at 208.
This case is positioned differently than our previous decisions concerning so-
called "reverse 404(b) evidence ." Here, Travis had already admitted his involvement in
the crime. Thus, while Travis' opportunity to commit the crime was conceded, defense
counsel sought to establish an alternative motive through Chadwell's testimony . Upon
review of the record, we find no abuse of discretion in the trial court's decision to
exclude Chadwell's testimony.
We are persuaded, primarily, by the generic and vague nature of Travis'
statements to Chadwell . While he allegedly stated that he would "shoot a man in the
head" over drugs, he did not direct that threat specifically at Riggleman nor did he
elaborate on a particular plan or intention. Chadwell was insistent that this comment
was a "figure of speech" or mere posturing by Travis ; it was not made in the context of a
specific plan. Furthermore, as noted by the trial court, the conversations between
Chadwell and Travis had occurred sometime in the year before the crime, making it
unlikely that Travis was referring to a specific plan to kill Riggleman when he made the
statements . Moreover, while Appellant argued that Travis' motive might have been to
steal Riggleman's truck for drug money, there was no other evidence in the record to
support that theory. Travis testified that he never intended on selling Riggleman's truck
and, in fact, simply abandoned it in the woods following the crime . There was likewise
no evidence that Travis was, in fact, on methamphetamines at the time of the crime, or
that he was in a desperate state of withdrawal. Finally, we cannot ignore that
Chadwell's avowal testimony contained absolutely no facts establishing personal
knowledge that Travis killed Riggleman, alone, for drug money.
We agree with the trial court that Chadwell's avowal testimony was too remote
and speculative to be admitted . There was no abuse of discretion .
Prosecution Letter
Appellant next argues that the trial court erroneously excluded a letter from the
Commonwealth's Attorney directed to Travis' attorney, regarding his plea negotiations .
When questioning Travis about his guilty plea, defense counsel asked if he
remembered seeing a letter to his attorney indicating that the Commonwealth may
begin looking at Travis as the shooter. Though the letter has not been made part of the
record before this Court, the record does indicate that the letter discussed the death
penalty as a possible punishment in Travis' case. The Commonwealth objected to
introduction of the letter, and the trial court sustained the objection . The trial court stated
that it would allow inquiry into Travis' plea agreement, but would not allow questioning
specifically about the letter because it involved speculation as to the Commonwealth
Attorney's mental impressions and intentions with respect to Travis' case .
Appellant now argues that he was denied the opportunity to establish Travis' real
motive for implicating his uncle in the crime - to avoid the death penalty - and that he
was denied effective confrontation as a result . Without specifically determining if the
trial court erred or if Appellant's confrontation rights were violated, we can conclude that
any supposed error is harmless beyond a reasonable doubt . Delaware v. Van Arsdall ,
475 U .S. 673, 681, 106 S. Ct. 1431, 1436, 89 L.Ed .2d 674 (1986) ("[W]e have repeatedly
reaffirmed the principle that an otherwise valid conviction should not be set aside if the
reviewing court may confidently say, on the whole record, that the constitutional error
was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt."); RCr 9 .24. When cross-examined by
counsel for Denise Smith, Travis specifically stated that he was avoiding the death
penalty by testifying against Denise and Appellant . In fact, Travis further elaborated
that he avoided even a life sentence . Therefore, the jury was well aware that the death
penalty had been discussed, and that Travis' plea agreement was for twenty-five years'
imprisonment . Moreover, defense counsel's closing argument addressed the issue of
Travis' plea agreement, making clear to the jury that Travis might have falsified his story
in order to avoid harsher punishment. The error, if any, was harmless .
Travis' Motion to Suppress
Appellant challenges the exclusion of a motion to suppress statements that
Travis made to police prior to his ultimate confession. At trial, defense counsel sought
to establish Travis as the shooter, who later implicated Appellant to avoid the death
penalty . To this end, defense counsel questioned Travis extensively about his decision
to plead guilty, drawing attention to the lengthy period between Travis' arrest and his
ultimate confession . During cross-examination, defense counsel asked Travis if his
attorney had tried to "get the charges tossed out" through a motion to suppress Travis'
statements to police. He responded that he could not remember. Defense counsel
asked the question again, and the Commonwealth objected, challenging relevancy .
Defense counsel responded that the motion to suppress was inconsistent with the
Commonwealth's argument that Travis decided to "come clean" by confessing, and
sought admission of the motion for impeachment purposes.
The trial court sustained the objection, concluding that the motion was not
probative of Travis' motive for confessing, particularly in light of his testimony that he did
not even remember the motion. We agree that the actions taken by Travis' attorney
were irrelevant in this instance . Moreover, there is no indication that Appellant's right to
present a defense or his confrontation rights have been infringed upon . Defense
counsel was able to fully cross-examine Travis regarding the motive behind his
confession, and he was therefore not prejudiced by this very minor limitation . Van
Arsdall , 475 U .S . at 680, 106 S. Ct. at 1435 ("[T]he focus of the prejudice inquiry in
determining whether the confrontation right has been violated must be on the particular
witness, not on the outcome of the entire trial."). Through cross-examination, the jury
was made well-aware of the lengthy period of time between Travis' arrest and his
confession, and the possibility that Travis confessed simply to avoid harsher
punishment. The admission of the motion to suppress would not have left the jury with
a "significantly different" impression of Travis . Id . Appellant's confrontation rights were
not infringed upon, nor did the trial court abuse its discretion in excluding the motion .
Marcia Smith Testimony
Attorney Marcia Smith represented Riggleman in his divorce and custody
actions . Because the Commonwealth argued that Appellant killed Riggleman as a
result of the contentious divorce, Smith was called to testify regarding those
proceedings and to establish that Appellant and Denise Smith had access to
Riggleman's work schedule. At the outset, the trial court made clear that Smith would
be permitted to testify regarding her actions in the matter, but could not provide hearsay
statements by Riggleman .
Thereafter, Smith testified primarily about the custody dispute between
Riggleman and Denise Smith, with particular emphasis on the visitation schedule.
Defense counsel for both Appellant and Denise Smith objected continually to Smith's
responses ; several were sustained. However, the trial court did permit some responses
that included statements attributed to Riggleman, but only insofar as it was necessary to
explain why Smith took various actions in the case. Her testimony was limited to her
personal action in the matter. For example, Smith was permitted to state that
Riggleman desired telephone contact with his children as an explanation for why she
filed a motion to modify the visitation schedule.
Appellant now argues that the trial court erred to his substantial prejudice by
permitting these supposed hearsay statements, resulting in a violation of his right to
confront witnesses . According to Appellant, the trial court permitted these hearsay
statements under the erroneous belief that the medical and diagnosis exception to the
rule against hearsay, KRE 803(4), applies equally to the attorney client relationship .
This argument is without merit, as it is based on a blatant misrepresentation of the
record .
Though the trial court briefly referred to KRE 803(4) by way of analogy, it is very
clear that the essence of the ruling was that Smith's testimony was not, in fact, hearsay
because the statements were not offered for their truth . Rather, any statements by
Riggleman were provided simply to explain why Smith took certain action in the case.
Smith's testimony was limited to only those matters within her personal knowledge .
There was no abuse of discretion . Furthermore, Appellant's claim that his confrontation
rights have been infringed upon is equally without merit. The Sixth Amendment
confrontation clause "does not bar the use of testimonial statements for purposes other
than establishing the truth of the matter asserted ." Crawford v. Washington , 541 U .S.
36, 59 n .9,124 S.Ct. 1354, 1369 n.9,158 L.Ed .2d 177 (2004).
Jason Wagers Testimony
Appellant next argues that the trial court admitted portions of Jason Wagers'
testimony in violation of RCr 9 .724(1). Jason Wagers testified that he went to
Appellant's house after the murder and that during the conversation Appellant "broke
down" and said that he "never had wanted to hurt" the Wagers family . Midway through
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Wagers' response, defense counsel objected, arguing that the statement had never
been provided in discovery . The Commonwealth's Attorney responded that he was
equally unaware of the statement . The trial court sustained the objection, and the
Commonwealth's Attorney agreed not to pursue the matter further. Defense counsel
then moved to strike, which was denied .
RCr 7.24(1) requires the Commonwealth to disclose "any oral incriminating
statement known by the attorney for the Commonwealth ." Appellant has pointed to
nothing in the record that would support the inference that the Commonwealth's
Attorney was aware of this statement prior to trial. Therefore, by its plain language, RCr
7 .24(1) does not apply in this instance . RCr 7.26 is equally inapplicable as no written or
recorded statements are involved . Finally, we note that no prejudice could result from
the trial court's refusal to strike the statement, as the jury heard nearly identical
information from Appellant's sister, Dora Lawson . There was no error.
Travis Wagers Testimony
Appellant's final allegation of error with respect to evidentiary rulings concerns
Travis' testimony about a conversation he had with Appellant . Travis provided several
taped statements to police following his confession . In one of these taped statements,
Travis explained that, a few days after the murder, he went to his uncle's house. Travis
further stated that the two discussed "what had happened" and that Appellant
"questioned" him about what he had done after they split up outside Riggleman's house.
At trial, the Commonwealth attempted to question Travis about what Appellant
had told him during this conversation . Defense counsel objected . During a bench
conference, defense counsel conceded that the taped statements had been furnished
but argued that the only reference to this conversation was Travis' statement that
Appellant had "questioned" him. According to defense counsel, Travis' statement that
Appellant had questioned him was insufficient notice of testimony concerning what
Appellant told Travis . The trial court disagreed, concluding that the statement provided
sufficient disclosure of an incriminating statement by Appellant . Travis was thereafter
permitted to testify that Appellant told him that he shot Riggleman in the back as he
exited his home, that Riggleman began moaning, and so he shot Riggleman again in
the side of the head. On cross-examination, Travis admitted that he had not provided
this detail to defense counsel during a pre-trial interview.
A discovery violation warrants reversal where there is a reasonable probability
that the result at trial would have been different had the evidence been disclosed .
Weaver v. Commonwealth, 955 S.W.2d 722, 725 (Ky. 1997) . Assuming arguendo that
a discovery violation occurred in this instance, we are confident that no reasonable
probability exists that the result at trial would have differed . As noted above, Dora
Lawson testified in detail regarding a confession by Appellant to her. Furthermore, the
physical evidence established that Riggleman had been shot in the back and in the
head . The only new information provided by Travis' testimony is that Riggleman began
moaning following the first gunshot. We find no reasonable probability that the result in
this trial would have been any different had the jury not been aware that Riggleman
moaned during the course of the killing.
Cumulative Error
With respect to each of these allegations of evidentiary errors, we have found
either that no error existed or that no prejudice resulted . Accordingly, there can be no
cumulative error. Sanborn v. Commonwealth , 975 S.W.2d 905, 913 (Ky. 1998).
Amendment of the Indictment
Appellant complains that he was substantially prejudiced by an amendment to
the indictment following the close of evidence . Midway through the defense
presentation of evidence, the Commonwealth moved to amend the indictment to include
complicity to murder in addition to murder. The motion was granted over defense
objection . Appellant now argues that he was prejudiced by the timing of the
amendment, as his defense strategy would have been different had he known he would
be tried as both a principal and a complicitor .
RCr 6 .16 permits amendment of the indictment "any time before verdict or finding
if no additional or different offense is charged and if substantial rights of the defendant
are not prejudiced ." "[A]mending the indictment to include an allegation that the
defendant is guilty of the underlying charge by complicity does not constitute charging
an additional or different offense." Commonwealth v. McKenzie, 214 S.W.3d 306, 307
(Ky. 2007). See also KRS 502 .020 . "[T]he essential question when examining variance
between the indictment and the proof is whether the defendant in fact had fair notice
and a fair trial." Johnson v. Commonwealth, 864 S .W.2d 266, 272 (Ky.1993) .
Here, there is no doubt that Appellant had fair notice of the complicity charge.
Travis Wagers had been charged and pled guilty to murder as a principal, and provided
several statements implicating Appellant in the planning and execution of the murder.
Furthermore, "[s]ince the late 1800's Kentucky has allowed the conviction for complicity
to stand where the indictment charged the defendant as a principal ." Epperson v.
Commonwealth , 197 S.W.3d 46, 52 (Ky . 2006). Moreover, the Commonwealth did not
change its trial strategy mid-way through the proceedings . Cf. Wolbrecht v.
Commonwealth , 955 S.W.2d 533, 537 (Ky. 1997) . Rather, it is apparent from the record
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that the Commonwealth moved to amend the indictment in response to the testimony of
Travis Wagers' former cellmate, a defense witness who testified that Travis had
confessed the crime to him, indicating that he was the triggerman . Finally, it must be
noted that defense counsel did not request a continuance to respond to the amended
indictment . See McKenzie , 214 S .W.3d at 308-09 (finding defendant had waived
argument that he was prejudiced by lack of a continuance following amendment of the
indictment where no motion for a continuance was entered) . Appellant was neither
surprised nor prejudiced by the amended indictment . There was no error.
Facilitation Instruction
Appellant's final allegation of error is that, once the trial court decided to instruct
on complicity, he was entitled to an instruction on facilitation to commit murder as well .
Travis had a drug problem and a violent streak, so the argument goes. Appellant knew
about his nephew's flaws . It is argued that Appellant complained to his unstable
kinsman about his own troubles with Riggleman . Therefore the jury could infer that
Travis committed the crime by acting on such information, while the Appellant remained
indifferent . This argument, at best, is a stretch . Upon review of the record, we find no
error .
While the trial court has a duty to instruct on the "whole law of the case", it is
under no duty to instruct on a theory with no evidentiary foundation. Houston v.
Commonwealth , 975 S .W .2d 925, 929 (Ky. 1998) . We have articulated the difference
between complicity and facilitation as follows :
Under the complicity statute, the defendant must intend the crime be
committed ; under the facilitation statute, the defendant acts without such
intent . Facilitation only requires provision of the means or opportunity to
commit a crime, while complicity requires solicitation, conspiracy, or some
form of assistance . Facilitation reflects the mental state of one who is
`wholly indifferent' to the actual completion of the crime .
- 1 4-
Thompkins v. Commonwealth , 54 S .W.3d 147,150 (Ky. 2001) (internal citations
omitted) .
Here, there was no evidence to support the conclusion that Appellant was "wholly
indifferent" to Riggleman's murder. There is likewise no evidence that Appellant
"generally complained" about Riggleman to Travis ; rather, all of the testimony at trial
established that Appellant complained about Riggleman in the context of a plan to
murder him . While the evidence differed as to who was the actual triggerman, neither
the Commonwealth nor defense counsel presented any evidence that Appellant was
aware of, yet indifferent, to the murder. The evidence presented by both sides
supported only three findings : (1) that Appellant was in no way involved in the crime, as
defense counsel argued ; (2) that Appellant was the principal actor; or (3) that Travis
was the actual triggerman but was acting under Appellant's direction and with his
assistance . There was no evidence that Appellant merely facilitated Travis in the crime
and, therefore, the instruction was properly denied.
Conclusion
For the foregoing reasons, the judgment of the Whitley Circuit Court is affirmed .
All sitting . All concur.
COUNSEL FOR APPELLANT:
Susan Jackson Balliet
Assistant Public Advocate
100 Fair Oaks Lane, Suite 302
Frankfort, KY 40601
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COUNSEL FOR APPELLEE :
Gregory D. Stumbo
Attorney General of Kentucky
James C. Shackleford
Assistant Attorney General
Office of Criminal Appeals
Office of the Attorney General
1024 Capital Center Drive
Frankfort, KY 40601