State v. Jackson
State v. Jackson
Opinion of the Court
{1} Defendant Sharoski Jackson appeals his convictions for human trafficking, promoting prostitution, accepting earnings from a prostitute, contributing to a delinquency of a minor, and conspiracy. The charges arose from Defendant's interactions with a minor, B.G., in early 2013. At trial, the State presented its theory that B.G. was engaged in commercial sexual activity at the urging and with the assistance of Defendant. The jury found Defendant guilty of all counts.
{2} Defendant appeals, raising four points of error. First, Defendant claims that the district court erred by failing to properly instruct the jury that to convict him of human trafficking, it must find that he knew his victim was under the age of eighteen. Second, Defendant contends that the district court abused its discretion by admitting text messages without requiring the State to first lay a proper foundation for their admission. Third, Defendant argues that there was insufficient evidence to convict him of the charged crimes. Finally, Defendant insists that the district court abused its discretion when it denied his motion for a new trial, based on new evidence that B.G. purportedly lied during her testimony at trial. We discuss each of Defendant's claims of error in turn. Finding no error, we affirm.
DISCUSSION
A. Human Trafficking and Knowledge
{3} Defendant argues that the instructions submitted to the jury were inadequate because the jury should have been instructed that to convict Defendant, it must find Defendant knew B.G. was under the age of eighteen when the acts giving rise to the human trafficking conviction occurred. This is a novel issue that New Mexico courts have not yet considered-whether knowledge of the victim's age is an essential element of human trafficking under NMSA 1978, Section 30-52-1(A)(2) (2008). We begin our analysis by setting forth our standard of review, which requires a plain language reading of the statute. We then consider interpretations of similar statutory language from other jurisdictions to arrive at the conclusion that knowledge of the victim's age is not an element of human trafficking under Section 30-52-1(A)(2).
{4} Statutory interpretation presents "a question of law that we review de novo." State v. Parvilus ,
{5} Our human trafficking statute provides:
A. Human trafficking consists of a person knowingly:
(1) recruiting, soliciting, enticing, transporting or obtaining by any means another person with the intent or knowledge that force, fraud or coercion will *678be used to subject the person to labor, services or commercial sexual activity;
(2) recruiting, soliciting, enticing, transporting or obtaining by any means a person under the age of eighteen years with the intent or knowledge that the person will be caused to engage in commercial sexual activity; or
(3) benefiting, financially or by receiving anything of value, from the labor, services or commercial sexual activity of another person with the knowledge that force, fraud or coercion was used to obtain the labor, services or commercial sexual activity.
Section 30-52-1(A).
{6} Initially, we note that the Legislature offset "knowingly" from the remainder of the definition of human trafficking, making it applicable to all three subparts of Section 30-52-1(A). Defendant argues that, with regard to Section 30-52-1(A)(2), the "knowingly" requirement refers to the entire phrase, "recruiting, soliciting, enticing, transporting, or obtaining by any means a person under the age of eighteen years." Applying the plain language rule and utilizing rules of grammar, we conclude that the more persuasive interpretation of the statute is that the Legislature intended that the "knowingly" requirement modify "recruiting, soliciting, enticing, transporting or obtaining" as they are used in Section 30-52-1(A)(1) and (2) and "benefiting" as it is used in Section 30-52-1(A)(3). See Wilson v. Denver ,
{7} Indeed, even in instances where the language of a statute is unambiguous, "a statutory subsection ... must be considered in reference to the statute as a whole." State v. Rivera ,
Whoever commits human trafficking is guilty of a third degree felony; except if the victim is under the age of:
(1) sixteen, the person is guilty of a second degree felony; or
(2) thirteen, the person is guilty of a first degree felony.
Given that the plain language indicates that "knowingly" refers to the act of "recruiting, soliciting, enticing, transporting or obtaining," or "benefiting" and in light of the Legislature's omission of a knowledge element in Section 30-52-1(C), we conclude human trafficking does not require knowledge of any of the ages enumerated in Section 30-52-1. The act of knowingly "recruiting, soliciting, enticing, transporting or obtaining," or knowingly "benefiting" is sufficient, regardless of whether the accused knows the victim is under the age of eighteen, sixteen, or thirteen. See § 30-52-1(A), (C).
{8} Our interpretation of Section 30-52-1(A)(2) is in accordance with our statewide policy that minors are entitled to special protection. State v. Gunter ,
{9} Defendant attempts to analogize the human trafficking statute to other statutes that our courts have already interpreted-particularly NMSA 1978, Section 30-6-3 (1990), contributing to the delinquency of a minor (CDM)-in making his argument. Defendant argues that we should require knowledge of the victim's age to be an essential element for human trafficking in the same way that this Court has required knowledge to be an essential element of CDM. As support, Defendant cites to State v. Romero ,
{10} Defendant argues that a human trafficking conviction under Section 30-52-1(A)(2) should require "a degree of knowledge" regarding the victim's age just as a CDM conviction requires a degree of knowledge regarding the order or command of a third party. Romero ,
{11} We also note that the majority of federal appellate courts have reached similar conclusions when faced with a similar question. Those courts have concluded that
{12} Based on our plain language interpretation of the statute and the purpose and policy behind the statute, we hold that the State was not required to prove Defendant knew B.G.'s age as an element of the offense of human trafficking. We therefore need not reach Defendant's argument that the failure to instruct the jury that knowledge of B.G.'s age was an element of the crime was error.
B. Admission of Text Messages
{13} Defendant next argues that the text messages contained in an exhibit at trial were improperly admitted because the State failed to properly authenticate or lay a sufficient foundation for their admission. See State v. Imperial ,
{14} During a pretrial motion hearing, the district court heard arguments from both parties regarding the admissibility of the text messages. The district court conducted a painstaking review of the exhibit with the parties in an effort to determine whether each text message was admissible and reserved ruling until after the State had an opportunity to lay an adequate foundation for each message during trial.
{15} At trial, the State presented a witness who it qualified as an expert in the areas of digital analysis and digital forensic analysis. The State's expert testified that he performed a digital analysis of two cell phones. One phone was associated with a phone number beginning with the digits, 712 (hereinafter referred to as "the 712 number" or "712 phone"), while the other had a phone number beginning with the digits, 804 (hereinafter referred to as "the 804 number" or "804 phone"). Extracting information from the 712 phone, the State's expert created a phone *681examination report setting out a timeline of that cell phone's activity between December 2012 and March 16, 2013. The report showed numerous contacts between the 712 number and the 804 number. B.G. testified that the 712 number belonged to Defendant and that the 804 number belonged to Tiffany, who worked as a prostitute and was named as Defendant's co-conspirator in the indictment.
{16} The State put on evidence that text messages in both the 712 phone and the 804 phone contained references to Tiffany and "Tiff," as well as to Defendant, and his nicknames, "Redd" and "Rock" and Defendant answered calls placed to the 804 number. One witness testified that she knew she was corresponding with Defendant on the 804 number because she recognized his voice when she called the number and his text message answers were consistent with his in-person responses. See Rule 11-901(B)(5) (acknowledging that opinion evidence identifying a person's voice through electronic transmission, in a manner that connects it with the alleged speaker satisfies the Rule's authentication requirement). In addition, copies of Defendant's personal documents, including a social security card, passport, and birth certificate, were sent via email to an email address associated with the 712 number.
{17} The State also presented evidence tying the 712 and 804 numbers to the circumstances giving rise to Defendant's human trafficking and prostitution-related charges. For instance, the State presented evidence that B.G. was depicted in an advertisement on a website known as backpage.com, which is commonly used to advertise prostitution services. That advertisement instructs interested parties to contact the 712 and 804 numbers. The 712 phone accessed backpage.com on more than one occasion and the email associated with the 712 number was listed as a means of contact in the backpage.com advertisements for B.G. and Tiffany. The 712 phone also contained photographs of B.G., some of which were also included in the backpage.com advertisement. Finally, photographs of B.G. were exchanged between the 712 number and 804 number via multimedia messages.
{18} The State's evidence linking Defendant to the 712 and 804 phones, presented prior to moving the text message exhibit into evidence, was adequate to authenticate the exhibit. It established the relevance of the 712 and 804 phones' activities, and presented sufficient evidence to show, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the information in the exhibit came from the 712 and 804 phones. See Imperial ,
{19} In arguing this issue, Defendant relies on evidence in the record that Defendant used the 712 and 804 phones interchangeably, rendering it possible that Defendant did not author the text messages contained in the exhibit. Defendant's argument goes to the weight of the evidence, rather than its admissibility. It was for the jury to decide whether Defendant was the author or recipient of the text messages in the exhibit. The State was free to argue that the jury should infer Defendant was the author or intended recipient of those text messages and was therefore in control of the phone when it was used to conduct activities relating to the human trafficking and prostitution-related charges. Defendant was also free to argue against those inferences by arguing that others had control of the phones and authored and received the text messages, negating Defendant's culpability. Defendant's argument that the text messages in the exhibit could have been authored or received by someone else, does not negate the admissibility of the text messages, but rather presents an alternative to the State's suggested inferences.
{20} Defendant also argues that the text messages constitute inadmissible hearsay because they did not satisfy the requirements of a hearsay exception, such as admissions by a party opponent or co-conspirator, without the State first establishing that Defendant or Tiffany were the authors. It is clear that any text messages authored by Defendant were "non-hearsay" under Rule 11-801(D)(2)(a) NMRA (characterizing a *682statement made by the opposing party as "not hearsay). Similarly, text messages authored by Tiffany are "non-hearsay" under Rule 11-801(D)(2)(e) ; State v. Montes ,
{21} To the extent Defendant's hearsay argument also challenges the admission of the text messages not authored by the 712 number, the 804 number, or B.G., it appears from the record that the majority of those messages were offered for a reason other than "to prove the truth of the matter asserted in the statement." Rule 11-801(C)(2). For example, some text messages appear to be from potential clients, clarifying price and arranging a meeting place. Those messages were not offered for their truth-that the price for services was $150 per hour or that Tiffany was in a certain location at a certain time. Rather, those statements were offered to provide context and establish that Defendant and Tiffany were motivated by money to set up commercial sexual transactions. Because those messages were not offered to prove the truth of the matter asserted in the statements, they do not constitute hearsay. We therefore conclude the district court did not abuse its discretion in admitting the text messages in the exhibit.
C. Sufficiency
{22} Defendant challenges the sufficiency of the evidence supporting all five of his convictions, pursuant to State v. Franklin ,
{23} On the human trafficking count, the jury was instructed that the State must prove Defendant "knowingly recruited, enticed, transported or obtained by any means[,]" B.G. and knew or intended that B.G. "would be caused to engage in commercial sexual activity" when "[B.G.] was under eighteen years" of age. The State presented evidence that Defendant used the 712 phone and an email associated with that phone to create a backpage.com ad for B.G. The State also presented evidence that some of the photographs in the 712 phone were the same as those used in B.G.'s backpage.com ad. B.G. testified that in February 2013 Defendant took her to a gas station and dropped her off there intending for her to exchange sex for money. The State also presented evidence that B.G. was seventeen years old in March 2013 when the indictment alleges Defendant committed human trafficking. We conclude that these facts, taken in the light most favorable to the verdict, are sufficient to satisfy each element of human trafficking.
{24} On the promoting prostitution count, the jury was instructed that the State must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Defendant, acting in a capacity other than as a prostitute or patron of a prostitute, "knowingly solicited a patron for a prostitute[.]" In addition to the evidence that Defendant used the 712 phone to create B.G.'s backpage.com ad and listed the number as the contact number in that ad, the State offered evidence that someone using the 712 phone texted, "U w[a]nt the white [expletive]?? She ready[,]" and that Defendant used that term to identify B.G. This evidence was sufficient to support Defendant's conviction for promoting prostitution.
*683{25} The jury was instructed that Defendant was guilty of accepting the earnings of a prostitute if the State proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Defendant "accepted or received money ... without consideration, from the proceeds of the earnings of [B.G.], a person engaged in prostitution[,]" and Defendant knew that B.G. was engaged in prostitution and he received proceeds from her acts of prostitution. B.G. testified that she gave Defendant money she received as a result of various sexual transactions. Defendant suggests that there is insufficient evidence to support this conviction because there was also evidence to suggest B.G. gave the money to Defendant of her own accord. This potential conflict in the evidence does not negate the sufficiency of the evidence to support the conviction. It is for the jury to resolve conflicts in the evidence at trial, and we resolve conflicts in the light most favorable to the verdict. See State v. Salas ,
{26} The jury was instructed that to find Defendant guilty of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, the State must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Defendant "instructed [B.G.] on how to prostitute" and caused or encouraged B.G. to either commit the act of prostitution or "conduct herself in a manner injurious to her morals, health or welfare[.]" The evidence presented at trial was that Defendant instructed Tiffany to create the backpage.com ad for B.G., and explained to B.G. that she would use the ad in order to exchange sex for money. Defendant also informed B.G. when and where to meet people who responded to the backpage.com ad.
{27} Defendant again challenges the sufficiency of the evidence by asserting that the State failed to prove he encouraged B.G. to commit the act of prostitution because there was evidence B.G. chose to do so voluntarily. Again, it was for the jury to resolve the conflicting evidence at trial, and we resolve any conflicts in favor of the verdict. See Salas ,
{28} The jury was also instructed on conspiracy to commit human trafficking, which requires that the State prove Defendant and another person "by words or acts agreed together to commit human trafficking" and intended to commit human trafficking. The State presented evidence that Defendant instructed Tiffany to post a backpage.com ad for B.G. and that Tiffany agreed to do so. We conclude that there was sufficient evidence to support Defendant's conviction on this count.
{29} After reviewing the record, we conclude that the evidence presented is sufficient, when considered in the light most favorable to the verdict, to support each of Defendant's convictions.
D. Denial of Motion for New Trial
{30} Finally, Defendant also challenges the district court's denial of his motion for a new trial, pursuant to Franklin ,
{31} The district court denied the motion, concluding that Defendant failed to establish two of the six requirements for succeeding on such a motion-that the evidence was not merely for impeachment purposes and that it would have changed the result of the trial. On appeal, Defendant asserts the district court erred in denying the motion for new trial.
{32} A motion for new trial based on newly discovered evidence may be made within two years of final judgment. Rule 5-614(C) NMRA. An appellate court "will not disturb [the district] court's exercise of discretion in denying or granting a motion for a new trial unless there is a manifest abuse of discretion." State v. Garcia ,
1) it will probably change the result if a new trial is granted; 2) it must have been discovered since the trial; 3) it could not have been discovered before the trial by the exercise of due diligence; 4) it must be material; 5) it must not be merely cumulative; and 6) it must not be merely impeaching or contradictory.
Id. ¶ 8 (internal quotation marks and citation omitted).
{33} Defendant argues that the recorded conversation demonstrates B.G. lied when testifying at trial, and that at a new trial, she might testify differently. We are unpersuaded by Defendant's argument. Review of the record reveals that if probative of any issue at all, it is clear that the recorded conversation went to the truthfulness of B.G.'s testimony. Even when arguing the motion for new trial to the district court, defense counsel acknowledged that the evidence went to the truthfulness of B.G.'s testimony, referring to the phone call as evidence of "untruthful, perjured testimony." Furthermore, while Defendant argues on appeal that at a new trial, B.G. might testify differently, nothing in the recorded conversation even suggests what B.G.'s testimony at a new trial might be, how it might differ, or how it might assist Defendant, other than to impeach B.G.'s credibility. See id. Defendant already availed himself of the opportunity to thoroughly address any discrepancies or conflicts in B.G.'s testimony during trial through cross-examination. B.G.'s credibility was an issue that Defendant had already explored extensively at trial.
{34} Finally, our courts treat attacks on the veracity of trial testimony with extreme caution. Cf. State v. Betsellie ,
CONCLUSION
{35} We affirm Defendant's convictions.
{36} IT IS SO ORDERED.
WE CONCUR:
MICHAEL E. VIGIL, Judge
STEPHEN G. FRENCH, Judge
For some unknown reason, the actual recording of the conversation, which the trial court entered as an exhibit, was irretrievably lost. The transcript, which was not formally entered as an exhibit, is contained in the record but its accuracy was the subject of some dispute between the parties in the district court. Given that our conclusion is based on language in the written motions and statements made during the hearings on the motion; however, this irregularity does not preclude our review of the issue, and we need not address it.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- STATE of New Mexico v. Sharoski Bernard JACKSON
- Cited By
- 37 cases
- Status
- Published