Okla. Stat. tit. 22 § 894

F-2018-867

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**IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA** **BILLIE WAYNE BYRD,** Appellant, vs. **THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA,** Appellee. **No. F-2018-867** **Not for Publication** **FILED** **IN COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS** **STATE OF OKLAHOMA** **SEP 19 2019** **JOHN D. HADDEN, CLERK** --- **SUMMARY OPINION** **KUEHN, VICE PRESIDING JUDGE:** Billie Wayne Byrd was tried by jury and convicted of Child Sexual Abuse - Under 12 in violation of 21 O.S.Supp.2014, § 843.5(F), in the District Court of Muskogee County, Case No. CF-2017-621. Following the jury's recommendation, the Honorable Norman D. Thygesen sentenced Appellant to twenty-five (25) years imprisonment, with a three-year term of post-imprisonment supervision. Appellant appeals this conviction and sentence. **Propositions of Error:** 1. Plain error occurred when the jury sought to see the judge but was directed to submit any question in writing. 2. Prosecutorial misconduct deprived Appellant of a fair trial. **Analysis:** After thorough consideration of the entire record, including the original record, transcripts, exhibits, and briefs, we find that the law and evidence do not require relief. **Proposition I: Jury Communication** We find that the trial court's failure to follow the mandatory procedure set forth in 22 O.S.2011, § 894 did not prejudice Appellant. He did not object to the use of written communication, so we review for plain error. Plain error must be an actual error that is evident and affects the defendant's substantial rights (Thompson v. State, 2018 OK CR 5). Jurors seeking information during deliberations must require the officer to conduct them into court, and answers must be given in the presence of, or after notice to, counsel and the defendant. The written response to a juror question is a plain violation of the statute (Nicholson v. State, 2018 OK CR 10). While we presume prejudice due to this error, it can be rebutted by demonstrating there was no actual prejudice. Here, the jury's questions were addressed accurately and appropriately. The judge's written response to the jurors' first inquiry did not prejudice Appellant. The second question resulted in a prompt indication for further written inquiries, which indicates communication continued rather than being foreclosed. Ultimately, no actual prejudice against the Appellant is evident on the face of the record. The minimum sentence imposed and lack of indications of serious jury concerns further support no shown prejudice. Thus, we find no error requiring reversal. **Proposition II: Prosecutorial Misconduct** The arguments presented in closing did not amount to prosecutorial misconduct. Attorneys have latitude in arguing evidence and its inferences unless such arguments negatively affect trial fairness (Barnes v. State, 2017 OK CR 26). Appellant did not object to the statements raised on appeal, so we review for plain error (Mathis v. State, 2012 OK CR 1). One contested statement asserted the victim's trustworthiness, which was in response to defense claims of inconsistency. While prosecutors should refrain from personal endorsements of credibility, the context mitigated the impact of this statement. In analyzing the comments regarding the victim's emotional struggles, the remarks were reasonable inferences drawn from evidence presented in trial. The overall context did not compromise the trial's fairness. **Decision:** The Judgment and Sentence of the District Court of Muskogee County is AFFIRMED. Pursuant to Rule 3.15, Rules of the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals, Title 22, Ch. 18, App. (2019), the MANDATE is ordered issued upon the delivery and filing of this decision. **AN APPEAL FROM THE DISTRICT COURT OF MUSKOGEE COUNTY** **THE HONORABLE NORMAN D. THYGESEN** --- **Attorneys on Appeal:** **Counsel for Defendant:** Dan Medlock **Counsel for Appellant:** Jeremy Stillwell **Counsel for the State:** Morgan Muzljakovich, Mike Hunter (Assistant District Attorney), Julie Pittman (Assistant Attorney General) --- **OPINION BY KUEHN, V.P.J.** **LEWIS, P.J.:** CONCUR **LUMPKIN, J.:** CONCUR **HUDSON, J.:** CONCUR **ROWLAND, J.:** CONCUR

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F-2016-194

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**IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA** **DONTE LEMAR PAYTON,** Appellant, *Case No. F-2016-194* v. **STATE OF OKLAHOMA,** Appellee. **SUMMARY OPINION** **HUDSON, JUDGE:** Appellant, Donte Lemar Payton, was convicted in the Oklahoma County District Court, Case No. CF-2014-7586, of Manslaughter in the First Degree, in violation of 21 O.S.2011, § 711(3). The jury acquitted him of first-degree murder but found him guilty of the lesser-included offense. The Honorable Donald L. Deason sentenced him to life imprisonment, and Payton appeals, presenting six propositions of error: **I.** The trial court erred in failing to comply with statutory law regarding juror contact, violating Appellant's Sixth and Fourteenth Amendment rights. **II.** The court's communication with the jury improperly suggested they could avoid their duty to assess punishment. **III.** Appellant was denied effective assistance of counsel. **IV.** The life sentence imposed was excessive under the circumstances. **V.** The trial court erroneously refused to instruct the jury on self-defense, violating Appellant's rights. **VI.** Cumulative errors deprived Appellant of due process. Upon thorough review, including the evidence and arguments presented, the Court finds no relief necessary. The judgment and sentence are AFFIRMED. ### Propositions I and II A presumption of prejudice arises from unauthorized judicial communications with a jury after they commence deliberations (Givens v. State, 1985 OK CR 104). In this case, the jury was informed by the bailiff about the trial court's potential to impose a sentence if they could not reach an agreement. This occurred after they had already found Appellant guilty. An evidentiary hearing confirmed that the communication, while improper, was addressed within the statutory framework (22 O.S.2011, § 927.1) regarding jury deadlock. The communication was limited and factual, and the jury was informed to continue deliberations, which ultimately established that they were deadlocked. Appellant failed to object to any of these proceedings or request an Allen charge, thus forfeiting those claims on appeal. The communication did not undermine the integrity of the proceedings, and therefore the presumption of prejudice was adequately overcome. Hence, we deny Propositions I and II. ### Proposition III To establish ineffective assistance of counsel, Appellant must show both deficient performance and resulting prejudice (Strickland v. Washington, 1984). In this case, the existing record did not support claims of ineffective assistance. Furthermore, there is no clear and convincing evidence suggesting that counsel's failure to present character witness statements at sentencing prejudiced the outcome. Accordingly, Proposition III is denied. ### Proposition IV Considering the complete context, we agree that Appellant's life sentence is not so excessive as to shock the conscience (Duclos v. State, 2017 OK CR 8). The nature of the crime was severe, further justifying the sentence based on the facts presented. ### Proposition V The trial court's decision to deny a self-defense instruction was within its discretion. The standard for prima facie evidence was not met since Appellant's testimony did not suggest a reasonable belief in imminent danger, thus precluding such an instruction (Davis v. State, 2011). ### Proposition VI Allegations of cumulative error must be based on actual determinations of error, which were not established here (Neloms v. State, 2012). Therefore, we deny Proposition VI as well. ### DECISION The judgment and sentence of the District Court are AFFIRMED. Appellant's Application for an Evidentiary Hearing on Sixth Amendment Claims is DENIED. **APPEARANCES:** * For Appellant: Stacy Smith, Attorney at Law * For Appellee: Mike Hunter, Attorney General; John Salmon, Assistant District Attorney; Matthew D. Haire, Assistant Attorney General **OPINION BY:** HUDSON, J. *LUMPKIN, P.J.: CONCUR* *LEWIS, V.P.J.: CONCUR IN RESULTS* *KUEHN, J.: CONCUR* *ROWLAND, J.: RECUSE* **NOTE**: The presence of procedural errors warrants caution, but in this instance, they did not materially affect the outcome. Trial courts should maintain vigilance regarding communications with jurors to avoid future complications.

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F-2015-1007

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In OCCA case No. F-2015-1007, Johnny Lee Ingram appealed his conviction for Assault and Battery with a Deadly Weapon. In an unpublished decision, the court decided to reverse the conviction and remand for a new trial. One judge dissented. The case began when Ingram was tried for two crimes: one for Assault and Battery with a Deadly Weapon and the other for Possession of a Firearm after prior convictions. The jury found him guilty of the first charge and not guilty of the second. He was sentenced to twenty-five years in prison based on the jury's recommendation. Ingram raised several points during his appeal. He claimed that the trial court made mistakes, such as not properly answering the jury's questions about the law, which led to confusion. The court agreed that the trial court's responses to the jury were not clear and this could have impacted the jury's decision. During the jury's deliberation, they asked about the meaning of certain instructions related to the case. The trial judge referred them to another instruction without clearly addressing their concerns. This left the jury confused about what constituted criminal intent and whether Ingram could be guilty based on his presence at the scene but not guilty of the other charge. The court emphasized that when jurors express confusion, it is crucial for judges to clearly resolve that confusion. Since the jury found Ingram guilty despite being confused, and considering that the instructions did not help clarify the legal standards, the appellate court concluded that Ingram was not given a fair trial. Thus, they overturned the conviction and ordered a new trial to ensure that the jury could properly consider the evidence laid out, without the confusion created by the previous instructions.

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F-2014-336

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In OCCA case No. F-2014-336, Deandre Bethel appealed his conviction for First Degree Felony Murder, Robbery with a Firearm, Transporting a Loaded Firearm in a Motor Vehicle, and Public Intoxication. In a published decision, the court decided to affirm his convictions for First Degree Felony Murder and the other charges except for Robbery with a Firearm, which was reversed and remanded with instructions to dismiss that charge. One judge dissented. Bethel was convicted by a jury in Tulsa County for crimes related to the death of a victim during a robbery. The jury sentenced him to life in prison for murder, along with additional sentences for the other charges. During the appeal, Bethel raised several issues, arguing that there was not enough evidence for his convictions, that he should not be punished for both murder and robbery based on the same incident, and that he did not receive a fair trial for various reasons, including how the jury was instructed and what evidence was allowed. The court found that the evidence was sufficient to convict him of murder and upheld that conviction. However, they agreed that having separate convictions for robbery and murder from the same act violated his rights under the Double Jeopardy Clause, so they reversed the robbery conviction. Bethel also argued that the trial court made errors in not instructing the jury about lesser offenses and in handling jury questions, but the court found these claims did not warrant a new trial. Other claims, such as the admission of jail phone calls and victim impact statements, were also rejected. In the end, the court affirmed the convictions for murder and the other charges, but dismissed the robbery charge, allowing Bethel to focus his appeal on the correct aspects of his case.

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F-2011-509

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In OCCA case No. F-2011-509, Mark Anthony Clayborne appealed his conviction for Perjury by Subornation and Allowing the Production of a False Exhibit. In an unpublished decision, the court decided to affirm the conviction for Perjury by Subornation but reversed the conviction for Allowing the Production of a False Exhibit. One judge dissented. Clayborne, a lawyer, represented a defendant accused of selling drugs. During the trial, he presented a video as evidence showing his client was in Mexico at the time of the alleged crime. However, a forensic video analyst testified that the date stamp on the video was altered. As a result, Clayborne was charged with subornation of perjury for allowing false evidence and for producing a false exhibit. Throughout his appeal, Clayborne raised several issues. He argued that the trial court made errors by improperly answering jury questions, violating his rights due to prosecutorial misconduct, and mishandling evidence. He also contended that certain jury instructions were incorrect, particularly a lack of clear mention of required knowledge of the false exhibit. The court ruled that while there was an error regarding jury instructions, it was not enough to require a reversal of the conviction for subornation of perjury because the outcome was still supported by strong evidence. However, they found that the trial court erred in how they handled the issues related to the false exhibit, leading to that conviction being overturned. The decision covered various claims of error including jury questions, prosecutorial misconduct during closing arguments, and evidence issues. Ultimately, the court decided to keep one conviction while reversing the other due to significant procedural concerns.

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F-2012-916

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In OCCA case No. F-2012-916, Andrew Lee Harris appealed his conviction for Possession of a Controlled Substance (Cocaine) after being found guilty by a jury in the District Court of McCurtain County. In an unpublished decision, the court decided to modify his sentence from thirty years to twenty years in prison. One judge dissented. Andrew Lee Harris was found guilty on charges for having cocaine. His punishment was set at thirty years, but he did not agree with the decision and decided to appeal. During the appeal, he argued that: 1. The jury wasn't given the right instructions about possession of paraphernalia, which he thought was unfair. 2. The prosecutor gave improper evidence and made comments that affected the fairness of his sentencing. 3. The trial court did not follow required procedures in his case. The court analyzed these claims carefully. In the first point, they decided that the jury did not need to be told about possession of paraphernalia because it was not a lesser included offense of cocaine possession. This means it was a separate crime, and the judge was right not to give those instructions. In his second point, the court looked at the information that was presented during the trial. They said there were some mistakes with what was allowed as evidence. A former probation officer talked about Harris's past, which shouldn't have been mentioned because it could make the jury think about parole and probation unfairly when deciding his sentence. The court found that this could have influenced the jury, especially since they asked questions about how long Harris would be on parole. Therefore, they decided that because of this, it was necessary to reduce his sentence to twenty years. As for the third point, the court felt that the way the trial judge handled certain procedures was not a problem anymore because they had already decided to change Harris's sentence based on the earlier mistake. In the end, the court agreed with Harris’s reasoning about how he should have been sentenced, leading them to change his punishment. They affirmed his conviction but modified the sentence to twenty years in prison.

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F-2010-651

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In OCCA case No. F-2010-651, Frank Leroy Gibson appealed his conviction for Manufacture of Controlled Dangerous Substance (Methamphetamine) and Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. In an unpublished decision, the court decided to affirm Gibson's convictions but modified his sentence on Count I to 25 years of imprisonment instead of Life. One judge dissented regarding the sentencing modification. Gibson was found guilty by a jury of manufacturing methamphetamine and possessing drug paraphernalia after a police search of his home. The jury considered various pieces of evidence, including burned pseudoephedrine blister packs and a coffee grinder with traces of the drug. Gibson argued that there wasn't enough evidence to prove he manufactured methamphetamine, but the court disagreed, stating sufficient circumstantial evidence pointed to his involvement. Gibson also raised concerns about how the jury was instructed regarding a question they had during sentencing discussions. He claimed the response given by the judge was improper. However, the court found that the response did not negatively affect his rights. Another point of appeal involved how the State proved Gibson’s prior felony convictions. Gibson argued that the use of certain documents to establish his past convictions was wrong. The court noted he did not object to this during the trial, so it upheld the use of the documents. Gibson also claimed that his post-arrest silence was mentioned inappropriately during the trial, which could lead to unfair treatment. The court assessed this point and found that the reference did not affect the fairness of the trial overall. Gibson argued that the prosecutor acted inappropriately during the trial, making inflammatory comments and expressing personal opinions. The court examined these claims and concluded that while some comments by the prosecutor were improper, they did not affect the outcome of the trial. There was also a concern about the trial judge informing the jury that Gibson's attorney was facing criminal charges. The court acknowledged the trial court's comments were poorly chosen but ultimately decided that they did not cause significant harm to Gibson’s case. The court determined that while Gibson's sentence was initially excessive due to the previous errors and comments related to the trial, the evidence of his guilt was strong, and thus reduced his sentence on the methamphetamine charge to 25 years in prison. The possession charge remained unchanged and the sentences were to run concurrently. In conclusion, while Gibson’s convictions were upheld, the court modified his sentence for fairness considering the cumulative effects of the prosecutor's statements and the judge's comments.

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F-2008-434

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In OCCA case No. F-2008-434, Dusty Ray McGee appealed his conviction for First Degree Murder. In an unpublished decision, the court decided to reverse the conviction and remand the case for a new trial. One judge dissented. Dusty Ray McGee was found guilty of murdering a homeless man named John Seeley after a brutal attack. The attack happened when McGee and others returned to an abandoned apartment complex where Seeley was staying. They confronted him because they were stealing metal from the site. During this attack, McGee, along with his accomplices, kicked and hit Seeley multiple times with different objects. After the assault, they took pictures of the injured Seeley, who was still alive at that time. McGee was arrested a few days later and admitted to being part of the attack but claimed he didn't intend to kill Seeley. He mentioned that he wanted to call an ambulance afterward but was threatened by one of his accomplices. During McGee's trial, there were several issues. The jury asked many questions that showed they were confused about what made a crime first or second-degree murder and how sentencing worked. The judge didn’t handle these questions properly and didn’t bring the jurors back to discuss their worries in front of everyone. This made it hard for the jury to understand everything they needed to know to make a fair decision. The court acknowledged that the improper handling of the jury's questions likely impacted McGee's rights to a fair trial. Because of these errors, the court reversed McGee's conviction and ordered a new trial, suggesting that the previous trial did not follow the required legal procedures properly.

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F-2007-638

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In OCCA case No. F-2007-638, Watson appealed his conviction for multiple drug-related offenses. In an unpublished decision, the court decided to reverse some of his convictions, modify others, and rescind certain fines. One judge dissented. Watson was found guilty of trafficking in illegal drugs, possession of a firearm during a felony, and other charges. He was sentenced to many years in prison, with his sentences running one after another. Watson argued that the search warrant used to search his home was not valid, that he was unfairly tried for multiple offenses that seemed to be the same crime, that he had been treated unfairly during the trial, and that he didn’t have good representation from his attorney. The court looked closely at the evidence and found that the warrant to search his home was valid. They noticed that the charges for drug trafficking should not have occurred at the same time for methamphetamine and cocaine since this counted as double punishment for one act. Therefore, they decided to reverse that conviction. They also reversed the conviction for possession of a sawed-off shotgun because it was tied to the same act as possessing a firearm during the crime. The court agreed there was enough evidence to support his convictions for having a firearm during a felony and for concealing stolen property. They noted that while the prosecutor made a small mistake during their closing argument, it was unlikely that it would change the outcome of the case since the evidence against Watson was strong. Watson's convictions were modified, which means his sentences were reduced. The court overturned specific unfair fines and affirmed the remaining charges, stating that the changes would not shock anyone’s sense of fairness. The judges believed the final combined sentence still made sense and was fair. In conclusion, while the court made changes to Watson’s convictions and sentences, they found most of the trial's foundation to be reasonable, ensuring that these decisions aligned with the law. The case will return to the lower court to fix some details in line with the appellate court's ruling.

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F-2007-1151

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In OCCA case No. F-2007-1151, Keynon Michael Owens appealed his conviction for First-Degree Felony Murder and Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon. In an unpublished decision, the court decided to reverse the conviction for felony murder and to affirm the conviction for robbery. One judge dissented. Owens was tried for the murder of Javier Carranza and robbery of Jesus Carranza. He was convicted of felony murder, with the court determining that the murder happened during a robbery. However, the jury had previously acquitted Owens of the robbery charge against Javier Carranza. The court noted that this inconsistency needed to be addressed. Owens argued the evidence was not enough to support his convictions. The court examined the evidence and determined it was sufficient for the robbery charge against Jesus, but not necessarily for the felony murder related to Javier since the robbery charge for Javier was not convicted. The jury had expressed confusion during deliberations, asking questions that suggested they weren’t clear on how the charges connected. The court found errors related to jury instructions and how the trial court responded to the jury’s inquiries during deliberation. Due to this confusion and because the acquittal was logically inconsistent with the felony murder conviction, the court decided to reverse the felony murder conviction but upheld the robbery conviction. The dissenting judge disagreed with reversing the felony murder conviction, arguing that the jury's decision, even if inconsistent, could still be valid and supported by evidence.

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F-2008-255

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In OCCA case No. F-2008-255, Kayla D. Robertson appealed her conviction for manufacturing a controlled dangerous substance, possession of a firearm during a felony, possession of a controlled drug within 1,000 feet of a school, and destroying evidence. In a published decision, the court decided to vacate the $50,000 fine imposed for the manufacturing charge but affirmed the other convictions and sentences. One judge dissented.

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F-2007-575

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In OCCA case No. F-2007-575, Jeffrey Marler appealed his conviction for three counts of Sexual Abuse of a Minor and one count of Possession of Child Pornography. In an unpublished decision, the court decided to modify the sentence for the possession count, vacate the fines imposed on all counts, and otherwise affirm the convictions. One judge dissented regarding the sentencing structure for the sexual abuse counts.

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F-2007-438

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In OCCA case No. F-2007-438, Gregory Lynn Bryant appealed his conviction for Lewd Molestation. In an unpublished decision, the court decided to affirm his conviction and sentence of six years imprisonment, while vacating the $2500 fine. One judge dissented. Bryant was found guilty of lewd molestation after a jury trial. He had previously faced charges of first-degree rape but was acquitted of that charge. The jury recommended Bryant receive a six-year prison sentence and a fine. Bryant then appealed the decision, listing several reasons for his appeal. He claimed that there were errors that affected his trial. First, he argued the prosecution suggested he had a history of similar misconduct, which he believed was unfair because there was no evidence to support that. Next, he argued that an expert witness's testimony was improperly allowed, which affected the truthfulness of a key witness for the state. Bryant also argued that he should receive credit for time he spent in county jail while waiting for his trial. He further believed that the jury was wrongly instructed about the fine they imposed and that the trial court did not follow proper procedures when jurors had questions. Lastly, he claimed that the trial judge was wrong to stop an expert from testifying about psychological tests he performed on him. After reviewing all the evidence, the court found no errors that would lead to overturning the conviction. The court decided the prosecution did not improperly suggest past crimes. They also stated the expert witness did not comment on the victim's truthfulness and that Bryant was not entitled to credit for time served. Regarding the fine, the court ruled the previous instructions to the jury were incorrect, which led to the fine being vacated. Furthermore, they noted that the rules for communication with jurors were not followed, but this did not harm Bryant's case. Lastly, they concluded that the expert testimony he wanted to present was not relevant to his guilt or innocence. Overall, the court upheld the conviction and confirmed the six-year prison sentence, while directing the trial court to reassess his jail fees.

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F-2004-1277

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In OCCA case No. F-2004-1277, Hammons appealed his conviction for trafficking in illegal drugs and related charges. In a published decision, the court decided to affirm the judgments and sentences for Counts 1, 2, 4, and 5, but reversed the judgment and sentence for Count 3. One judge dissented regarding the communication with the jury.

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