State of West Virginia v. Nelson, No. 33188

Mark Hobbs, Esq.
Chapmanville, West Virginia
Attorney for the Appellant Darrell V. McGraw, Jr., Esq.
Attorney General
R. Christopher Smith, Esq.
Assistant Attorney General
Charleston, West Virginia
Attorneys for the Appellee

The Opinion of the Court was delivered PER CURIAM.

JUSTICE MAYNARD dissents and reserves the right to file a dissenting opinion.

JUSTICE STARCHER concurs and reserves the right to file a concurring opinion.

SYLLABUS BY THE COURT

1. “Where an offer of evidence is made under Rule 404(b) of the West Virginia Rules of Evidence, the trial court, pursuant to Rule 104(a) of the West Virginia Rules of Evidence, is to determine its admissibility. Before admitting the evidence, the trial court should conduct an in camera hearing as stated in State v. Dolin, 176 W. Va. 688, 347 S.E.2d 208 (1986). After hearing the evidence and arguments of counsel, the trial court must be satisfied by a preponderance of the evidence that the acts or conduct occurred and that the defendant committed the acts. If the trial court does not find by a preponderance of the evidence that the acts or conduct was committed or that the defendant was the actor, the evidence should be excluded under Rule 404(b). If a sufficient showing has been made, the trial court must then determine the relevancy of the evidence under Rules 401 and 402 of the West Virginia Rules of Evidence and conduct the balancing required under Rule 403 of the West Virginia Rules of Evidence. If the trial court is then satisfied that the Rule 404(b) evidence is admissible, it should instruct the jury on the limited purpose for which such evidence has been admitted. A limiting instruction should be given at the time the evidence is offered, and we recommend that it be repeated in the trial court's general charge to the jury at the conclusion of the evidence.” Syl. pt. 2, State v. McGinnis,193 W. Va. 147, 455 S.E.2d 516 (1994).

            2.      “In the exercise of discretion to admit or exclude evidence of collateral crimes and charges, the overriding considerations for the trial court are to scrupulously protect the accused in his right to a fair trial while adequately preserving the right of the State to prove evidence which is relevant and legally connected with the charge for which the accused is being tried.” Syl. pt. 16, State v. Thomas, 157 W. Va. 640, 203 S.E.2d 445 (1974).

Per Curiam:

            This case is before this Court upon the appeal of David Nelson from his convictions in the Circuit Court of Mingo County, West Virginia, of six felony offenses relating to the death of Wanda Lesher. The convictions are: murder of the first degree, kidnapping, sexual assault in the first degree and three counts of conspiracy relating to those offenses. By order entered on May 20, 2005, appellant Nelson was sentenced to two penitentiary terms of life without mercy upon the murder and kidnapping convictions, 15 to 35 years upon the sexual assault conviction and three terms of 1 to 5 years upon the conspiracy convictions. The Circuit Court directed that the sentences be served consecutively.

            The facts surrounding Wanda Lesher's death are egregious. Of the four individuals with whom Nelson allegedly participated, three have been convicted of various felonies in the case including murder of the first and second degree, kidnapping and sexual assault in the first degree. At the time of Nelson's trial, the fourth individual was expecting to enter a plea to murder of the first degree with the hope of receiving a sentence of life with mercy.

Appellant Nelson relied upon the defense of alibi and testified at trial. On cross-examination, however, he was challenged with acts of misconduct he allegedly committed in the past. Nelson contends, inter alia, that he was denied a fair trial because those acts constituted matters covered by Rule 404(b) of the West Virginia Rules of Evidence, as to which the Circuit Court took none of the required cautionary measures. The State responds by stating that, inasmuch as Nelson placed his character in issue at trial, the Circuit Court acted within its discretion in allowing the cross-examination as rebuttal.

This Court has devoted considerable time to examining the appellant's petition, the record of the proceedings below and the briefs and argument of counsel. This Court concludes that the alleged acts of past misconduct raised by the state during the cross- examination were unverified, were inflammatory and were subject to the requirements of Rule 404(b). Nor in the context of rebuttal upon the issue of character were the alleged acts admissible. Consequently, Nelson was denied a fair trial. The convictions, as well as the May 20, 2005, sentencing order, are set aside, and this case is remanded to the Circuit Court for a new trial.

Factual Background

            On the evening of August 30, 2002, Wanda Lesher exited a tavern and drove away accompanied by Aaron Nelson and Alfred Dingess, Jr. Soon after, she was told to drive up a mountain road to Canterbury Cemetery. Shortly after their arrival, Clinty Nelson and Zandell Bryant appeared at the Cemetery. (See footnote 1) According to the State, appellant David Nelson was also present, and each of the five men sexually assaulted Wanda Lesher in spite of her pleas to be allowed to return home to her children.

            Following the sexual assault, Aaron Nelson took a two-by-four board from a nearby picnic table, and each of the men repeatedly struck and beat Wanda Lesher, fatally injuring her by way of skull fractures and broken facial, jaw and rib bones. She was then allegedly transported by appellant Nelson in his pick-up truck to Messenger Hollow, also in Mingo County, where, barely alive, the men placed her in a pond. Noticing that her body was still visible in the water, the men removed her from the pond and constructed a shallow grave where she was then covered with sticks and branches. When the body of Wanda Lesher was ultimately recovered by the State Police, it was determined that, after she was removed from the pond, she had been strangled with a shoe string and her hands tied behind her back. The State Medical Examiner testified at trial that the cause of Wanda Lesher's death was multiple blunt force injuries to the head, back and torso with drowning and strangulation as contributing factors. She most likely died in the early morning hours of August 31, 2002.

            In addition to the recovery of the body at Messenger Hollow, the two-by-four and some of Wanda's jewelry were found at Canterbury Cemetery. Her car, destroyed by fire, was located in Logan County.

            In September 2002, Alfred Dingess, Jr., gave the State Police a statement implicating himself and Aaron Nelson in the crimes committed against Wanda Lesher. Fourteen months later, Zandell Bryant gave a statement implicating himself as well as Clinty Nelson and appellant David Nelson. Thereafter, Alfred Dingess, Jr., spoke with the State Police again, this time including appellant Nelson as one of the assailants. On November 14, 2003, appellant Nelson gave a statement to Trooper B. L. Keefer of the State Police in which he stated that, at the time the crimes were committed against Wanda Lesher, he was at work at Classic Conveyors in Chapmanville, West Virginia. (See footnote 2)

II.

Procedural Background

            Aaron Nelson, Clinty Nelson and Zandell Bryant were convicted of a number of felony offenses relating to the death of Wanda Lesher, including murder of the first and second degree, kidnapping and sexual assault in the first degree. (See footnote 3) Those convictions were obtained by the State prior to the trial of appellant David Nelson. At the time of Nelson's trial, Alfred Dingess, Jr., was expecting to enter a plea to murder of the first degree with the hope of receiving a sentence of life with mercy.

            In the January 2005 term, a separate indictment was returned by a Mingo County grand jury against appellant Nelson charging him, in six counts, with crimes relating to the death of Wanda Lesher including: murder of the first degree, kidnapping, sexual assault in the first degree and three counts of conspiracy with regard to those offenses. (See footnote 4)

            The appellant's trial began in April 2005. Alfred Dingess, Jr., and Zandell Bryant, called by the State, testified that appellant Nelson, as well as the other men, sexually assaulted Wanda Lesher and participated in killing her. They also indicated that, after the beating at the Cemetery, her body was placed in a pick-up truck the appellant had driven to the scene. No physical evidence was submitted directly connecting the appellant to the crimes.

            The appellant's wife, Lynetta Nelson, called by the defense, testified that she left home on the evening in question, August 30, 2002, to report to work at Logan General Hospital as a nursing assistant, leaving the appellant at the house with their two daughters, approximate ages 14 and 5. Lynetta Nelson stated that she spoke with the appellant that
night by telephone and saw him the next morning when she returned home. The oldest daughter, Keisha, testified that the appellant was home that evening.

            Appellant Nelson took the stand, denied ever meeting Wanda Lesher, and stated that he was at home with his daughters during the period in question. He further testified that, having lived with Lynetta since 1988, he was a “family man” and not a person who would rape or sexually assault women. As more fully discussed below, during cross- examination the State revealed for the first time to the Circuit Court and defense counsel a 1987 report from a child protective services worker indicating that Shelia Nelson, one of the appellant's sisters, alleged that, in 1983 or 1984 when she was 13 years old, the appellant committed acts of sexual abuse or sexual assault against her. (See footnote 5) The Circuit Court concluded that, in view of the report, cross-examination concerning the allegations would be permitted as rebuttal character evidence with regard to the appellant's assertion that he was a “family man” who would not engage in sexual offenses against women. As a result, the requirements pertaining to Rule 404(b) of the West Virginia Rules of Evidence, such as the conducting of an in camera hearing concerning the allegations and the giving of a limiting instruction to the jury, were deemed inapplicable. During the ensuing cross-examination, appellant Nelson denied any misconduct toward his sister, and the Circuit Court denied defense counsel's motion for a mistrial.

            On April 15, 2005, the jury returned its verdict finding the appellant guilty as charged in the indictment and declining to recommend mercy upon either the murder or kidnapping charges. The appellant's post-trial motions were denied, and by order entered on May 20, 2005, he was sentenced to two penitentiary terms of life without mercy upon the murder and kidnapping convictions, 15 to 35 years upon the sexual assault conviction and three terms of 1 to 5 years upon the conspiracy convictions. The sentences were ordered to be served consecutively. The appellant's petition for appeal was granted by this Court in September 2006.

III.

Standards of Review

The principal assignment of error before this Court is whether the alleged past acts of the appellant toward his sister, Shelia Nelson, constituted proper rebuttal evidence by the State concerning the appellant's character under Rule 404(a)(1) of the West Virginia Rules of Evidence, or whether the alleged past acts constituted matters covered by Rule 404(b) as to which a number a precautionary measures are required.

            With regard to character, Rule 404(a)(1) provides in relevant part that “[e]vidence of a person's character or a trait of character is not admissible,” except for evidence of a pertinent trait of character of the accused offered “by the prosecution to rebut the same.” On the other hand, Rule 404(b) states:

                    Evidence of other crimes, wrongs, or acts is not admissible to prove the character of a person in order to show that he or she acted in conformity therewith. It may, however, be admissible for other purposes, such as proof of motive, opportunity, intent, preparation, plan, knowledge, identity, or absence of mistake or accident, provided that upon request by the accused, the prosecution in a criminal case shall provide reasonable notice in advance of trial, or during trial if the court excuses pretrial notice on good cause shown, of the general nature of any such evidence it intends to introduce at trial. (See footnote 6)

            Consequently, the issue concerning the alleged past acts of appellant Nelson involves an interpretation by this Court of the West Virginia Rules of Evidence which is a separate matter from simply determining whether the cross-examination was within the Circuit Court's discretion. As recognized in State v. Sutphin, 195 W. Va. 551, 466 S.E.2d 402 (1995), “a trial court's ruling on the admissibility of testimony is reviewed for an abuse of discretion,” but to the extent the ruling turns on an interpretation of the Rules of Evidence “review is plenary.” 195 W. Va. at 560, 466 S.E.2d at 411. State v. McDaniel, 211 W. Va. 9, 12, 560 S.E.2d 484, 487 (2001). Thus, in considering whether the Circuit Court in the current matter committed error in applying Rule 404(a)(1) rather than the substantially different Rule 404(b), the standard of review is de novo. (See footnote 7)

IV.

Discussion

Appellant Nelson contends that he was denied a fair trial because his cross- examination by the State, upon the 1987 report, brought out alleged acts of past sexual misconduct which should have been subjected to a Rule 404(b) disposition by the Circuit Court. The precautionary measures to be taken under Rule 404(b) were set forth by this Court in syllabus point 2 of State v. McGinnis,193 W. Va. 147, 455 S.E.2d 516 (1994):

Where an offer of evidence is made under Rule 404(b) of the West Virginia Rules of Evidence, the trial court, pursuant to Rule 104(a) of the West Virginia Rules of Evidence, is to determine its admissibility. Before admitting the evidence, the trial court should conduct an in camera hearing as stated in State v. Dolin, 176 W. Va. 688, 347 S.E.2d 208 (1986). After hearing the evidence and arguments of counsel, the trial court must be satisfied by a preponderance of the evidence that the acts or conduct occurred and that the defendant committed the acts. If the trial court does not find by a preponderance of the evidence that the acts or conduct was committed or that the defendant was the actor, the evidence should be excluded under Rule 404(b). If a sufficient showing has been made, the trial court must then determine the relevancy of the evidence under Rules 401 and 402 of the West Virginia Rules of Evidence and conduct the balancing required under Rule 403 of the West Virginia Rules of Evidence. If the trial court is then satisfied that the Rule 404(b) evidence is admissible, it should instruct the jury on the limited purpose for which such evidence has been admitted. A limiting instruction should be given at the time the evidence is offered, and we recommend that it be repeated in the trial court's general charge to the jury at the conclusion of the evidence. (See footnote 8)

Syl. pt. 4, State v. McIntosh, 207 W. Va. 561, 534 S.E.2d 757 (2000); syl. pt. 4, State v. Scott, 206 W. Va. 158, 522 S.E.2d 626 (1999); syl. pt. 2, State v. Williams, 198 W. Va. 274, 480 S.E.2d 162 (1996). See, Vol. 1, F. D. Cleckley, Handbook on Evidence for West Virginia Lawyers § 4-5(B)(2) p. 60 (3^rd ed. Cum. Supp. 1999).

            In the case to be determined, a review of the State's cross-examination of appellant Nelson reveals that alleged acts of past sexual misconduct substantially beyond the scope and reach of character evidence under Rule 404(a)(1) were brought out before the jury. The cross-examination was not limited to whether the appellant sexually abused or sexually assaulted his sister, Shelia Nelson, one time when she was 13 years old. In spite of his denials and objection by defense counsel, the State's cross-examination suggested: (1) that the appellant sexually abused or assaulted Shelia a number of times, (2) that both he and his brother Clinty committed some of the acts, (3) that the misconduct continued for an unspecified period of time because it had occurred since Shelia was 13 years old, (4) that the appellant abused his other sisters and (5) that the appellant sexually assaulted Shelia “just like Wanda Lesher on August 31, 2002.” The cross-examination of the appellant transpired, in part, as follows:

                    Q. In fact, you, Clinty Nelson, both sexually abused your younger sister?
                    A. No, sir.
                    Q. Since she was age 13?
                    A. No.
                    Q. You had sex with her a couple of times in Logan County, didn't you?
                    A. No, sir, I didn't.
                    Q. She stayed home[,] you would come in her room and force her to have sexual intercourse with you and you did it at least four times?
                    A. No, sir, I didn't.
                    Q. You abused your other sisters, too?
                    A. No, sir, I didn't. * * *
                    Q. You sexually assaulted your sister just like Wanda Lesher on August 31, 2002?
                    A. No, I didn't. (See footnote 9)

            No evidence was submitted indicating that any court proceedings took place with regard to the above allegations of sexual misconduct. Shelia Nelson, 34 years old in 2005 and a resident of Breeden, Mingo County, was not called to testify during the appellant's trial. In ruling that the cross-examination would be allowed, the Circuit Court concluded that the previously undisclosed 1987 report from the child protective services worker was a sufficient basis to permit the State to rebut the appellant's character evidence that he was a family man who would not rape or sexually assault women. The report, sealed or unsealed, was never admitted into evidence.

            Reviewing the Circuit Court's ruling de novo in the context of Rules 404(a)(1) and 404(b), this Court finds it difficult to sustain the proposition that the cross-examination elicited nothing more than rebuttal character evidence. Although the alleged acts may have been relevant to whether the appellant was a person who would rape or sexually assault women, the Circuit Court, beyond summarily concluding that the report could serve as a basis for the State's cross-examination, never engaged in a factual determination concerning whether there was sufficient evidence to show that the past acts occurred. LaRock, supra. No in camera hearing was conducted, and no specific findings were made with regard to whether the appellant committed multiple acts, whether he committed them against one or more of his sisters, the extent to which he and his brother, Clinty Nelson, may have both committed them and whether the alleged acts were remote in time to the current charges.

            Moreover, the State's cross-examination concerning the alleged acts of past sexual misconduct was noticeably prejudicial. Not only were the accusations with regard to the sisters inflammatory in themselves, their impact before the jury was, no doubt, enhanced by the suggestion that some of the acts were committed by both the appellant and Clinty. By the time the appellant was cross-examined, the jury had been told by the Circuit Court during the jury selection process that Clinty Nelson had been convicted of crimes concerning Wanda Lesher, and the jury had heard about Clinty Nelson's involvement in those crimes from Alfred Dingess, Jr., and Zandell Bryant. Consequently, to the extent the appellant was associated with Clinty Nelson during the State's cross-examination upon the alleged past acts, the Circuit Court's conclusion that the cross-examination brought out evidence only related to the appellant's character is problematic. In any event, the Circuit Court did not weigh the propriety of that evidence against its prejudicial effect as provided under Rule 403.

            Finally, during the cross-examination of appellant Nelson, and in closing argument, the State suggested that the appellant sexually assaulted his sister, Shelia Nelson, “just like” Wanda Lesher, or did the “same things” to Wanda Lesher as he did to his sister, see n. 9, supra, which, a fortiori, necessitated the precautionary measures required under Rule 404(b). In addition to the absence of an in camera hearing and the balancing of considerations incumbent under Rule 404(b), no limiting instructions concerning the State's cross-examination were given to the jury.

            In State v. McDaniel, 211 W. Va. 9, 560 S.E.2d 484 (2001), this Court confirmed the above principles of LaRock and McGinnis, and, in doing so, cited syllabus point 16 of State v. Thomas, 157 W. Va. 640, 203 S.E.2d 445 (1974), which observes:

                    In the exercise of discretion to admit or exclude evidence of collateral crimes and charges, the overriding considerations for the trial court are to scrupulously protect the accused in his right to a fair trial while adequately preserving the right of the State to prove evidence which is relevant and legally connected with the charge for which the accused is being tried.

State v. Compton, 167 W. Va. 16, 20, 277 S.E.2d 724, 727 (1981); syl. pt. 2, State v. Messer, 166 W. Va. 806, 277 S.E.2d 634 (1981).

Conclusion

The facts in this case are difficult to comprehend. It was undisputed at trial that Wanda Lesher suffered multiple sexual assaults by her assailants and repeated beatings with the two-by-four at the Cemetery while pleading to be allowed to go home. Shortly thereafter, she was put in a pond in Messenger Hollow, unconscious but still alive, and ultimately strangled before being left in a shallow grave. No physical evidence, however, directly connected the appellant with those terrible crimes, and, thus, the verdict of the jury rested largely upon the credibility of the witnesses, primarily Alfred Dingess, Jr., and Zandell Bryant. The witnesses included the appellant himself who denied committing the crimes against Wanda Lesher and who denied committing the alleged acts of past misconduct raised by the State, for the first time, during his cross-examination. One such allegation so raised was that both the appellant and Clinty Nelson had sexually abused their sister, whereas the current indictment, in Count VI, associated the appellant with others, including Clinty Nelson, in the charge of conspiracy to commit sexual assault against Wanda Lesher. As difficult as this case may be, this Court can only conclude that, in the absence of the protections afforded by Rule 404(b), the cross-examination by the State, as allowed by the Circuit Court, denied the appellant a fair trial.

The verdict of the jury returned on April 14, 2005, the resulting convictions, as well as the May 20, 2005, sentencing order, are set aside, and this case is remanded to the Circuit Court of Mingo County, West Virginia, for a new trial. (See footnote 10)