State v. Beaudoin
Full Opinion (html_with_citations)
¶ 1. Defendant Ronald Beaudoin appeals from his convictions, after a jury trial, for two counts of lewd or lascivious conduct with a child, 13 V.S.A. § 2602. Defendant received concurrent sentences of twenty-five years to life, all suspended except seven years.
I. Competency
¶ 3. Defendant asserts numerous claims of error specific to competency. Defendant argues that the court (1) erred in finding defendant competent to stand trial; (2) erred in failing to conduct a second competency evaluation during pretrial proceedings; and (3) failed to follow the courtâs own recommendations for ensuring defendant received a fair trial. We will take each issue in turn.
¶ 4. Between defendantâs arraignment in February 2005 and his trial in October 2006, competency was discussed multiple times. The issue first arose at a status conference on April 12, 2005, when the court inquired about why the thirty-seven-year-old defendant had a guardian who was present in court, and defense counsel requested a competency evaluation. Dr. Jonathan Weker, a forensic psychiatrist who had conducted approximately 1,000 competency evaluations, performed the evaluation and submitted a report dated May 26, 2005, concluding that defendant was competent to stand trial. Disputing Dr. Wekerâs conclusion, defendant moved for a competency hearing.
¶ 5. At the contested competency hearing, Dr. Weker testified that he based his opinion on the fact that defendant was aware of the charges against him, he was aware of who his attorney was and of their relationship, and he was aware that trial is fundamentally an adversarial process.
¶ 6. After the first day of testimony, the parties discovered that defendant had been evaluated for competency to stand trial on three prior occasions. The hearing was rescheduled to allow Dr. Weker to review the previous evaluations. When the hearing resumed, Dr. Weker testified that defendant has a sense of the basic paradigm of a trial involving two adversarial parties and a neutral fact-finder, is capable of understanding how evidence and witness testimony might be presented, has an understanding of the concept of guilt, and has some understanding of a plea
¶ 7. The district court also heard testimony from defendantâs expert, Dr. Patricia Stone, a clinical psychologist. The court found that Dr. Stone had performed approximately fifteen to twenty competency evaluations.
¶ 8. Defendant first claims that the trial court erred in finding him competent to stand trial. We will not overturn the trial courtâs competency determination if it is supported by findings and if the findings are supported by credible evidence and are not clearly erroneous. State v. Tribble, 2005 VT 132, ¶ 10, 179 Vt. 235, 892 A.2d 232. To be competent to stand trial, a defendant must have âsufficient present ability to consult with his lawyer with a reasonable degree of rational understanding â and [must have] a rational as well as factual understanding of the proceedings against him.â Dusky v. United States, 362 U.S. 402, 402 (1960); accord State v. Bean, 171 Vt. 290, 294, 762 A.2d 1259, 1262 (2000). Trying an incompetent defendant deprives him of his due process right to a fair trial. Pate v. Robinson, 383 U.S. 375, 385 (1966).
¶ 10. The court found that Dr. Wekerâs opinion and conclusion were based on an interview with defendant and a review of the Stateâs information and affidavit. Dr. Wekerâs conclusion was that defendant was competent and noted in support that defendant was able to give a detailed account of the incident in question to Detective Duffy, including a denial of any wrongdoing and a refusal to answer any more questions until he spoke to a lawyer. Dr. Weker found that defendant was able to speak of the charges against him and the court proceeding.
¶ 11. Based on the extensive testimony and evidence presented during the competency hearing, and on Dr. Wekerâs interview with defendant and resulting competency evaluation, the court found that:
[defendant] was able to inform Dr. Weker of the charges against him and their relative severity. He knew that his case was being heard in the Chittenden Court. He was able to identify his attorney and where she worked. He believe[d] that his attorney was trying to do a good job for him. She had informed him that the state wanted a 5 to 20 year sentence. He had no disagreements with his attorney and if one arose he believed that he could speak up to her.
[Defendant] was able to describe the basic function of a trial. He was able to distinguish between pleas of guilty and not guilty, and knew that he could plead the latter. He knew that his lawyer was trying to fight the case and that the prosecutor was advocating that he be punished. Dr. Weker then described the trial process for [defendant], returning to the subject several minutes later to see how well [defendant] had retained the information. [Defendant] was able to describe the process. He was also*170 aware of proper courtroom decorum and believed that he could conform appropriately. He was able to assess the likelihood of being found not guilty and the consequences for being found guilty (maximum life sentence) or not guilty (release). He knew he could receive less than the maximum sentence and was familiar with probation. He was unfamiliar with plea bargaining and with his right to appeal, but appeared to understand Dr. Wekerâs explanation.
¶ 12. The court concluded that Dr. Wekerâs opinion was persuasive as he had vast experience and focused his evaluation on the issues particularly pertinent to a competency determination. The court concluded that Dr. Wekerâs opinion was consistent with prior forensic psychiatric evaluations of defendant. In addition, the court concluded that defendantâs extensive experience in the criminal court bolstered Dr. Wekerâs conclusion.
¶ 13. There is sufficient evidence in the record to support the courtâs findings, which in turn support its conclusion that defendant was competent to stand trial. As outlined above, Dr. Weker found that defendant knew the charges against him and their relative severity, he could describe the basic functions of a trial, he could distinguish between guilty and not guilty, he knew the role of his attorney and the prosecutor, and he appeared to understand the concept of plea bargaining and his right to appeal after Dr. Wekerâs explanation. The court noted that defendant had been found competent to stand trial in 2001 and 1994 and had extensive experience with the criminal court system. The courtâs competency determination was not clearly erroneous; therefore we affirm its determination. Tribble, 2005 VT 132, ¶ 10.
¶ 14. Second, defendant asserts that the trial court erred in failing to hold a second hearing on competency during pretrial motion hearings. This claim is made for the first time on appeal. While defense counsel repeatedly stated her objection to the competency determination, she at no time asked the court for a second hearing and never objected to the courtâs failure to' conduct a second inquiry.
¶ 15. We find that the trial court did not commit plain error in faffing to convene a new competency hearing because counsel for the defendant did not state the existence of new evidence, nor did she advance any new evidence for the court to consider. The trial court has a duty to conduct a competency hearing if there is âreason to believe that [the defendant] may be incompetent to stand trial.â 13 V.S.A. § 4817(b). âOnce a defendant has been found competent, the trial court must be alert to changed circumstances that would indicate the need for a new determination of competency.â State v. Lockwood, 160 Vt. 547, 554-55, 632 A.2d 655, 660 (1993) (citing Drope v. Missouri, 420 U.S. 162, 181 (1975)).
¶ 16. Here, the court had no indication of any changed circumstances that would warrant a new inquiry. Defense counsel repeatedly stated that defendant was not competent, but the statements were in the nature of a continuing objection to the earlier competency determination. At no point did defense counsel offer to make a showing that defendantâs circumstances had changed in a way that would warrant a new competency determination.
¶ 18. The record reveals two pretrial occasions in which, upon conferring with defendant about court proceedings, defense counsel reported to the court that in her opinion defendant did not sufficiently understand the issues. Certainly, defense counselâs representation concerning a clientâs competency is one factor to be considered in making a competency determination, Drope, 420 U.S. at 177 n.13, but it is not the only factor. In each of these instances, defense counsel did not provide the court with new information to warrant a second determination based on changed circumstances, nor did counsel explicitly request a new competency hearing.
¶ 19. At a March 13, 2006 motion hearing to admit hearsay testimony, defense counsel informed the court that she had tried
¶ 20. During a June 27, 2006 hearing on the motion to suppress, defense counsel was given an opportunity to confer with defendant during a break in testimony. Counsel then reported to the court that in her opinion defendant did not have a comprehensive understanding of the testimony. She again reported that defendant had an IQ of sixty-six and developmental disabilities. She said that he could not retain and comprehend information and that â[t]his is consistent with my experience of him over the course of this case.â Counsel did not assert that defendantâs condition had changed or that her objection was based on a factor not previously addressed by the court. Defense counsel merely renewed her continuing objection to the courtâs original competency determination.
¶ 21. At the same motion hearing, defense counsel noted that defendant was âheavily medicated.â Initially defense counsel simply wanted to note for the record that defendant appeared lethargic. After the court ordered a recess to determine what medications defendant was taking and their effects, defense counsel stated, âMy client tells me he does feel sleepy this morning, but I donât see that this combination â the medical result of this combination of drugs â so my objection to his competency remains on the basis of his mental retardation in combination with his other disabilities.â Defendantâs contention that the trial court took no action is inaccurate. The court ordered a recess and asked the parties to determine what medications defendant was taking.
¶ 22. Moreover, at no point during trial did defense counsel offer new evidence indicating a change in defendantâs competency
¶ 23. Defense counsel reiterated her standing objection on the second day of trial. Defense counsel was given frequent opportunities during the presentation of evidence to consult with defendant. At no point did counsel raise an objection after these breaks or inform the court that there was a change in circumstances. As noted, the record does not reveal any such change.
¶24. After the close of evidence, the parties discussed jury instructions. The court requested that defense counsel discuss a paragraph in the instructions making specific reference to defendant not testifying. Defense counsel reported that she showed the instruction to defendant but he couldnât understand what it meant. She reiterated her objection to defendantâs competency. The court asked defendant âIs that paragraph okay with you if itâs okay with your lawyer, Mr. Beaudoin?â Defendant responded affirmatively. There is nothing in this interaction that would trigger the court to make a second competency determination.
¶ 25. At no point during pretrial proceedings or during the trial did defense counsel argue that her clientâs condition had changed from when the pretrial competency determination was completed. Defense counsel maintained her disagreement with the courtâs competency determination throughout the entire proceedings, but did not suggest new evidence existed or present a new issue to the court that could trigger a new competency determination. Therefore, the court did not commit plain error in failing to conduct a second competency determination.
¶26. Third, defendant contends that the trial court failed to provide defendant with the recommended accommodations and that due to its failure, under the courtâs own competency deter
¶ 27. Nor did the trial court commit plain error in providing accommodations to defendant at trial. Defendant interprets the courtâs competency determination as being contingent upon the recommended accommodations. This interpretation is not supported by the record. A court may qualify its competency finding and suggest or mandate accommodations. State v. Cleary, 2003 VT 9, ¶ 12, 175 Vt. 142, 824 A.2d 509. Here, the court did not take the mandatory route. The court concluded that defendant was competent to stand trial, and agreed with Dr. Wekerâs recommendation that defendant receive accommodations. But that suggestion was aspirational. The court stated that defendant âshould have accommodations to insure the utmost fairness.â We are unable to read this language as a mandate.
¶ 28. Nevertheless, we find nothing in the record to suggest that the court did not provide defendant with the recommended accommodations. Prior to the start of the trial, the court queried defense counsel as to how the court should address the jury regarding its intent to take more frequent breaks than normal. The court noted that the jury was aware that the court typically took breaks about once an hour and if the court started taking breaks every half-hour, the jury would notice. Accordingly, the jury was instructed that breaks would be taken more frequently than normal in order to allow defendant to consult with his attorney. During trial, the court recessed frequently.
¶ 29. Therefore, the court did not err in concluding that defendant was competent to stand trial, or in declining to conduct a second competency hearing. The courtâs competency ruling was not contingent on the suggested accommodations, but it nevertheless provided those accommodations.
II. Lesser-included Offense
¶ 30. Finally, defendant takes issue with the trial courtâs refusal to instruct the jury on the lesser-included offense of engaging in
¶ 31. The question of whether an offense is lesser-included is one of law. Our review is nondeferential and plenary. State v. Koch, 169 Vt. 109, 112, 730 A.2d 577, 580 (1999). The pertinent rule is V.R.Cr.P. 31(c): âThe defendant may be found guilty of an offense necessarily included in the offense charged or of an attempt to commit either the offense charged or an offense necessarily included therein if the attempt is an offense.â A criminal defendant is entitled to have the jury instructed on all lesser-included offenses. State v. Delisle, 162 Vt. 293, 301, 648 A.2d 632, 637 (1994). A lesser-included-offense instruction is required when the elements of a lesser offense must necessarily be included in the greater offense. State v. Bolio, 159 Vt. 250, 252, 617 A.2d 885, 886 (1992). The test is outlined in State v. Forbes, which states that â[a]n offense is a lesser-included offense of another if it is composed of some, but not all, elements of the greater offense and does not have any element not included in the greater offense.â 147 Vt. 612, 616-17, 523 A.2d 1232, 1235 (1987) (citing Blockburger v. United States, 284 U.S. 299, 304 (1932)).
¶ 32. Here, defendant was charged with lewd or lascivious conduct with a child. 13 V.S.A. § 2602. The elements of that offense are that the . defendant (1) willfully and lewdly; (2)
¶ 33. Defendant argues that § 2631âs definition of âlewdnessâ as âopen and gross lewdnessâ applies to âany lewd or lascivious actâ in §2602 as well as to § 2632(a)(8), which prohibits âlewdness.â According to defendant, the âopenâ element requires at least one witness, and lewd or lascivious conduct with a child is, by definition, âopen,â insofar as it necessarily involves a child witness. The State, on the other hand, contends that âopen and grossâ lewdness is omitted as an element of the offense of lewd or lascivious conduct with a child. The State points out that the Legislature specifically expressed an intent to punish the felony of âopen and gross lewdness and lascivious behaviorâ under §2601 and the misdemeanor âprohibited actâ of lewdness under § 2632(a)(8) (defined as âopen and grossâ in § 2631), but did not so express that âany lewd or lascivious actâ against a child be âopen and grossâ as a necessary element for prosecution under §2602. According to the State, if the Legislature had intended the State to prove under § 2602 that a defendantâs lewd acts against a child were open and gross, it would have expressly stated so, as it did in §§ 2601, 2631, and 2632(a)(8).
¶ 34. We agree with the Stateâs position. The plain language of the statute prohibiting lewd conduct with a child criminalizes âany lewd or lascivious act.â Id. §2602 (emphasis added); see State v. OâDell, 2007 VT 34, ¶ 7, 181 Vt. 475, 924 A.2d 87 (construing statutory language requires looking first at plain, ordinary meaning). The inclusion of the word âanyâ before the term âlewd or lascivious actâ conveys that the Legislature did not intend to require that the State prove that the lewd act was open and gross. As the State argues, the Legislature certainly knew how to do that, and in fact did so with respect to other sections
¶ 35. The organization of chapter 59 further supports this conclusion and leads us to reject defendantâs contention that the definition of lewdness in § 2631 also applies to § 2602. See State v. Wright, 154 Vt. 512, 527, 581 A.2d 720, 729 (1989) (construing statutory language requires looking at âthe whole statuteâ). Chapter 59 of Title 13 addresses âLewdness and Prostitution,â with subchapter one dedicated to âLewd and Indecent Conductâ and subchapter two dedicated to âProstitution.â Subchapter 1 includes §§ 2601 and 2602 and a section on voyeurism, 13 V.S.A. § 2605. Section 2601 makes it a felony to engage in âopen and gross lewdness,â while § 2602 makes it a felony to commit âany lewd or lascivious actâ on a child. Subchapter 2 prohibits prostitution, lewdness, or assignation, id. § 2632, and also prohibits slave traffic, unlawful procurement, and appropriating or levying upon the earnings of a prostitute, id. §§2635-2637. As noted, the definition section at the beginning of subchapter 2 defines âlewdnessâ as âopen and gross lewdness.â Id. § 2631.
¶ 36. We conclude that the definition in § 2631 applies only to the sections contained in subchapter 2. If the definition applied to subchapter 1, the Legislatureâs requirement of âopen and grossâ lewdness in § 2601 would be entirely superfluous. See State v. Carroll, 2003 VT 57, ¶ 7, 175 Vt. 571, 830 A.2d 89 (mem.) (stating that statutory language is presumed to be âinserted advisedly and not intended to create surplusageâ). In numerous Title 13 chapters, the Legislature has expressly provided that the definitions apply throughout an entire chapter, see, e.g., 13 Y.S.A. §§ 351, 1021, 1603, 2404, 2573, 2821 & 3251, but the Legislature did not do so in § 2631. We recognize that some Title 13 chapters explicitly state that their definitions apply only to the particular subchapter in which they are found, see, e.g., 13 V.S.A. §§ 1041, 1901, 2581 & 3431, but we are not convinced that the absence of an explicit statement limiting § 2631 to subchapter 2 indicates that the Legislature intended the section to apply to all of chapter 59.
¶ 37. Moreover, it is entirely rational for the Legislature to require proof of open and gross conduct when generally criminalizing lewd behavior, but not to require such proof when criminalizing sexually motivated conduct against children. The general proscription against lewd behavior is âaimed at conduct which, by its openness and notoriety, tends to affront the public conscience and debase the community morality.â Everett v. Commonwealth, 200 S.E.2d 564, 566 (Va. 1973). Conduct is open when it is neither disguised nor concealed and is witnessed by at least one person. State v. Benoit, 158 Vt. 359, 361, 609 A.2d 230, 231 (1992). Conduct between consenting adults that would be subject to prosecution under §2601 or §.2632(a)(8) when done openly would not necessarily be subject to a charge of lewdness when done in private. See Everett, 200 S.E.2d at 566.
¶ 38. In contrast, the plain language of § 2602 indicates that the statute is aimed at preventing the sexual exploitation of children, irrespective of whether that exploitation is done openly or secretly. Indeed, to hold otherwise would create absurd results, such as allowing the sexual exploitation of children who âconsentedâ to the offensive conduct or who were asleep or unconscious when the offense occurred. Cf. State v. Penn, 2003 VT 110, ¶ 13, 176 Vt. 565, 845 A.2d 313 (mem.) (upholding denial of judgment of acquittal on charge under §2601, where defendant committed lewd act upon unconscious woman in full view of womanâs daughter); Benoit, 158 Vt. at 361, 609 A.2d at 231 (upholding conviction under § 2601, where witness observed naked body of sleeping child whom defendant had undressed). Plainly, this is not what the Legislature intended.
¶ 39. In sum, the State is not required to prove that a lewd or lascivious act was âopen and grossâ to convict under § 2602. In contrast, § 2632(a)(8) requires proof of open and gross lewdness.
Affirmed.
Defendant was also charged as a habitual offender. 13 V.S.A. § 11. After the jury reached a verdict on the two counts of lewd or lascivious conduct with a child, defendant waived his right to a jury trial on the habitual-offender charge. The district court found that the State had proven beyond a reasonable doubt that defendant was convicted of three felonies prior to February 2005.
As defendant points out, the courtâs finding that Dr. Stone performed fifteen to twenty competency evaluations is not supported by the testimony. The transcript from the competency hearing reveals that Dr. Stone had testified to matters of competency fifteen to twenty times in the last three years. This relatively minor error does not convince us to disturb the trial courtâs discretionary decision to credit one expert over another.
At a June 27, 2006 motion hearing, defense counsel stated, âJudge, before we begin, I just want to note for the record that I have a continuing objection to Defendantâs competency. I understand Judge Pineles has made a finding that heâs
At a status conference, defense counsel stated: âAnd I just want to make the Court aware that we do have the, in my opinion, a continuing problem with the defendantâs competency in this case. . . . [tjhere was a long, prolonged competency issue that was decided by Judge Pineles at the end of December, but the defendant does have an IQ of sixty-six and I can assure the Court that when we
Defense counsel stated that, â[i]n Mr. Beaudoinâs case, I donât think that thereâs been any significant change. His disabilities are a result of mental retardation and other conditions which are, my understanding . . . theyâre chronic and not subject to improvement with any kind of medical treatment.â The following exchange with the court is to the same effect:
Court: Well, this should be a pretty static situation. I mean, itâs not like mental illness. If youâre talking about IQ then.
Defense: Thatâs right.
Even if a burden existed for the court to reevaluate competency, the court satisfied any such burden through its ordered recess and inquiry.