State v. Garza

THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF KANSAS

No. 100,359

STATE OF KANSAS,
Appellee,

v.

MERARDO GARZA, JR.,
Appellant.


SYLLABUS BY THE COURT

1.
A district court is justified in denying a defendant's request for new counsel if
there is a reasonable basis for believing the attorney-client relationship has not
deteriorated to a point that appointed counsel could not give effective aid in the
presentation of the client's defense.

2.

K.S.A. 60-401(b) defines relevant evidence as "evidence having any tendency in
reason to prove any material fact." This definition encompasses two components: (a)
whether the evidence is probative and (b) whether it is material. Probative evidence is
evidence that furnishes, establishes, or contributes toward proof. Material evidence goes
to a fact at issue that is significant under the substantive law of the case.

3.

This court will apply the harmless error analysis to the omission of an element
from jury instructions when a review of the evidence leads to the conclusion beyond a
reasonable doubt that the omitted element was uncontested and supported by
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overwhelming evidence, such that the jury verdict would have been the same absent the
error.

4.

Issues raised in passing that are not supported by argument or cited authority are
deemed waived.

5.

When a defendant has been charged in the alternative, the defendant may be
convicted of only one of the alternative offenses.


Appeal from Sedgwick District Court; CLARK V. OWENS II, judge. Opinion filed July 30, 2010.
Affirmed in part and reversed in part.

Michelle A. Davis, of Kansas Appellate Defender Office, argued the cause and was on the brief
for appellant.

Lesley A. Isherwood, assistant district attorney, argued the cause, and Nola Tedesco Foulston,
district attorney, and Steve Six, attorney general, were with her on the brief for appellee.

The opinion of the court was delivered by

BILES, J.: Merardo Garza, Jr., appeals his sentence and convictions of aggravated
indecent liberties with a child pursuant to K.S.A. 21-3504(a)(3)(A) and rape of a child
under 14 years of age pursuant to K.S.A. 21-3502(a)(2). He was sentenced to life in
prison with a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years under K.S.A. 21-4643,
commonly known as Jessica's Law. This court has jurisdiction under K.S.A. 22-
3601(b)(1) (off-grid crime; life sentence).
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The following questions are raised on appeal: (1) Was Garza entitled to new
counsel before trial? (2) Did the district court exclude relevant evidence? (3) Was the
charging document insufficient to sentence Garza to an off-grid crime because it did not
list his age as an element of the crime? (4) Should Garza's sentence be vacated and
remanded for resentencing under State v. Bello, 289 Kan. 191, 195-200, 211 P.3d 139
(2009), and its progeny? (5) Did Garza preserve his claim that the off-grid sentence
amounts to a cruel and unusual punishment? (6) Is the departure provision in K.S.A. 21-
4643(d) unconstitutional because it allows arbitrary and capricious decision making? and
(7) Should Garza's conviction of aggravated indecent liberties with a child be reversed
and vacated because he was charged in the alternative?

We affirm Garza's conviction of rape of a child under 14 years of age. We reverse
and vacate his conviction of aggravated indecent liberties with a child because this
offense was charged in the alternative. Our case law holds a defendant cannot be
convicted of both offenses when the crimes are charged in the alternative. State v. Dixon,
252 Kan. 39, 49, 843 P.2d 182 (1992). But Garza's sentence is affirmed nonetheless
because the district court did not actually sentence him for the aggravated indecent
liberties conviction. Other issues raised are addressed below and resolved against Garza.

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

Garza and his wife, Amy, have four children, including the child victim, M.G.
Garza also has two stepdaughters, X.S., who was 13 years old, and A.C., who was 11
years old. They lived with Garza. The incident giving rise to this case occurred on a
Saturday evening after M.G. and other family members returned home from visiting
relatives after midnight.

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M.G. testified she lay down on the living room floor to go to sleep. Garza was
lying on the couch. M.G. testified Garza lay beside her, "put his fingers in [her] vagina
and like wiggled them." She took his hand out of her pants two times, and then he rubbed
her bottom on the outside of her pants. The next day, M.G. told her stepsisters. Then, she
told her mother. Her mother took her to the hospital for an evaluation, and the incident
was reported to police.

Garza's defense theory was that Amy forced M.G. to make a false accusation. He
relied on testimony from one of his other daughters, who testified Garza and Amy had
previously fought and that Amy went to jail. The daughter also testified Amy had said
she would lie to put Garza in jail. Garza testified he caught Amy communicating with
other men on the Internet. He also testified M.G. was supposed to go to Kansas City with
her uncle the night of the incident, but Amy did not let her go.

The information charged Garza with aggravated indecent liberties with a child
under K.S.A. 21-3504(a)(3)(A),(c) and, in the alternative, rape under K.S.A. 21-
3502(a)(2), (c). Both were listed as off-grid person felonies, and Garza's date of birth was
listed as 1969. Neither charge included Garza's age as an element of the offense. At trial,
the investigating detective testified Garza was over 18 years of age. The district court
issued the elements instruction from PIK Crim. 3d 57.06 and PIK Crim. 3d 57.01. The
instructions did not include Garza's age as an element of the offenses, and the jury did not
make a finding regarding his age. He was convicted of both offenses.

Garza filed a downward departure motion on his own behalf, and his counsel also
filed a motion seeking a downward departure. Garza's counsel's motion stated: "This is a
'Jessica's Law' case and the presumptive sentence is Life with parole eligibility in 25
years. The defendant would state that such a sentence would amount to cruel and unusual
5



punishment. The Court has the option to depart to the sentencing guidelines and impose a
guideline sentence."

At the hearing on these motions, Garza argued a departure was appropriate
because a life sentence exceeds the degree of harm committed in this case. He also
argued he was entitled to a departure sentence because his criminal history only includes
one misdemeanor conviction. Finally, Garza cited the sexual offender evaluation, which
determined Garza had a low risk of reoffending and that sexual offender treatment would
be appropriate. The district court held it was required to find substantial and compelling
reasons to depart. After addressing each claim, it held departure was not warranted. Garza
filed a timely appeal.

While his appeal was pending, Garza filed a letter of additional authority under
Supreme Court Rule 6.09(b) (2009 Kan. Ct. R. Annot. 47), citing this court's recent
holdings that the defendant's age is an element of the offense that must be determined by
the jury to sentence for an off-grid offense. See State v. Morningstar, 289 Kan. 488, Syl.
¶¶ 2-3, 213 P.3d 1045 (2009); State v. Gonzales, 289 Kan. 351, Syl. ¶¶ 10-11, 212 P.3d
215 (2009); Bello, 289 Kan. 191, Syl. ¶¶ 3-4.

Issue 1: Entitlement to New Counsel

Before voir dire, Garza requested substitute counsel. The district court denied the
motion finding Garza had not presented sufficient grounds to appoint new counsel. On
appeal, Garza argues he established "justifiable dissatisfaction" with his appointed
counsel and he was entitled to have new counsel appointed. He argues his trial counsel
was not prepared, citing concerns about the attorney's failure to provide a preliminary
transcript and to secure witness testimony. The State argues the district court did not err
6



by refusing to appoint new counsel because Garza did not establish justifiable
dissatisfaction with his trial counsel.

Standard of Review

Appellate courts review the district court's refusal to appoint substitute trial
counsel for an abuse of discretion. "Judicial discretion is abused when the district court's
action is arbitrary, fanciful, or unreasonable." State v. McGee, 280 Kan. 890, 894, 126
P.3d 1110 (2006). The test is whether any reasonable person would take the view adopted
by the district court. 280 Kan. at 894.

Before substitute counsel is appointed, a defendant must establish "justifiable
dissatisfaction" with his or her current counsel. This may be established by showing a
conflict of interest, an irreconcilable conflict, or a complete breakdown in communication
between the defendant and appointed counsel. 280 Kan. at 894. Ultimately, a district
court is justified in denying a request for new counsel if there is a reasonable basis for
believing the attorney-client relationship has not deteriorated to a point that appointed
counsel could not give effective aid in the presentation of the client's defense. State v.
Bryant, 285 Kan. 970, 986, 179 P.3d 1122 (2008). Garza argues there was an
irreconcilable conflict.

Analysis

Garza requested new counsel citing the following complaints: (1) Counsel failed
to provide him with a copy of the preliminary hearing transcript; (2) counsel failed to
contact witnesses; (3) counsel lied; and (4) Garza did not feel counsel was prepared to
proceed.

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Regarding the preliminary hearing transcript, counsel stated he was unsure if a
preliminary transcript had been ordered, but he would check and provide Garza a copy if
one was available. The district court indicated counsel should look into getting the
transcript but noted the failure to provide a transcript was not grounds for appointing new
counsel because defendants do not have a constitutional right to a transcript. Counsel
subsequently asked for a continuance to check the clerk's office, which was granted. The
proceedings resumed without mentioning whether a transcript was provided, but the
record indicates the preliminary hearing transcript was not prepared until after trial.

We must decide whether the failure to have the preliminary hearing transcript
prepared for use at trial demonstrates an irreconcilable conflict existed between Garza
and his attorney. We find it does not. Defendants are not automatically entitled to
preliminary hearing transcripts. Indigent defendants are only entitled to transcripts
required for an effective defense. Two factors are used to determine whether a transcript
is required (1) the necessity of the transcript for the defendant and (2) the availability of
alternative devices. State v. Ruebke, 240 Kan. 493, 497, 731 P.2d 842, cert. denied 483
U.S. 1024 (1987).

Garza's wife and M.G. both testified at the preliminary hearing. A review of the
record demonstrates they were thoroughly cross-examined during trial. Garza's counsel
was present at the preliminary hearing, so he was personally aware of these witnesses'
prior testimony at the preliminary hearing. As such, the district court correctly found the
failure to request a transcript did not demonstrate an irreconcilable conflict.

The complaints regarding counsel's failure to contact witnesses and Garza's
accusation that his counsel lied are actually the same issue. Garza did not believe one
witness would be willing to appear in court because the witness had an outstanding
warrant. Garza believed counsel lied when counsel told him the witness had agreed to
8



testify. Counsel stated he became aware of the witness the previous evening, spoke with
him, and the witness agreed to testify. The attorney said he was meeting with the witness
that afternoon. Counsel also acknowledged Garza may have had valid reservations about
the witness because of the outstanding warrants, but he intended to follow up. Finally, the
attorney said he intended to issue a subpoena for the witness if he kept the scheduled
appointment and had meaningful testimony.

The district court held it was not counsel's fault the witness was not subpoenaed
earlier because the information had just come to light and a continuance would be the
more appropriate remedy if the witness could not be subpoenaed. A reasonable person
would agree with the district court's denial on this issue. Garza's argument anticipated
problems that had not occurred, and the better remedy would be to seek a continuance if
the subpoena could not be served. At trial, no witnesses were called for the defense, but
the record is silent as to why. No additional argument was made on appeal about the
failure to call any defense witnesses.

As to Garza's final point raised at trial–that he did not feel counsel was prepared to
proceed–Garza's counsel said he was prepared. The district court found counsel had not
done anything that prevented him from being prepared for trial. We agree.

For the first time on appeal Garza argues he was entitled to new counsel because
Garza stated he wanted to seek a continuance before voir dire to subpoena the witness but
his counsel did not file the motion. Generally, new legal theories cannot be raised for the
first time on appeal. State v. Kirtdoll, 281 Kan. 1138, 1149, 136 P.3d 417 (2006). Garza
does not assert an exception applies. The district court could not have erred by refusing to
appoint new counsel when the theory was not presented.

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But even if this issue were properly raised, it would fail because counsel had time
to seek a continuance after the scheduled meeting with the witness if he could not issue
the subpoena to secure the witness' presence at trial. This circumstance does not signal an
irreconcilable conflict existed between Garza and his attorney.

Issue 2: Exclusion of Evidence

Garza next argues the district court twice improperly excluded relevant evidence.
The State disputes this. On review, we find only one instance in which the district court
actually excluded evidence as claimed, and that evidence was irrelevant.

Standard of Review

The first step when reviewing the exclusion of evidence is to determine whether
the evidence is relevant. K.S.A. 60-401(b) defines relevant evidence as "evidence having
any tendency in reason to prove any material fact." See State v. Henson, 287 Kan. 574,
578, 197 P.3d 456 (2008). This definition encompasses two components: whether the
evidence is probative and whether it is material. 287 Kan. at 578; see State v. Dixon, 289
Kan. 46, 69-70, 209 P.3d 675 (2009). Probative evidence is evidence that "'furnishes,
establishes or contributes toward proof.'" Klose v. Wood Valley Racquet Club, Inc., 267
Kan. 164, 167, 975 P.2d 1218 (1999). It is reviewed under an abuse of discretion
standard. Dixon, 289 Kan. at 69. Material evidence goes to a fact at issue that is
significant under the substantive law of the case. State v. Reid, 286 Kan. 494, 505, 186
P.3d 713 (2008). The determination whether evidence is material is reviewed under a de
novo standard. Dixon, 289 Kan. at 69.

Once relevance is established, the evidentiary rules governing the admission or
exclusion of evidence are applied as a matter of law or in the exercise of judicial
10



discretion, depending on the applicable rule. But if the adequacy of the legal basis is
questioned, appellate courts review this issue de novo. 289 Kan. at 70; State v. Gunby,
282 Kan. 39, 47-48, 144 P.3d 647 (2006).

Analysis

First, Garza sought to admit evidence that Amy (M.G.'s mother and Garza's wife)
had an Internet relationship with another man, who moved in after Garza's arrest, and
Amy left the man alone with the children. The district court allowed testimony that a man
moved into the house after Garza's arrest. The State objected before the next question.
During a discussion at the bench, Garza's counsel stated he intended to ask whether Amy
left the children alone with this man to show she was not concerned for her children's
safety. The following exchange occurred:

"THE COURT: Now that's getting way out of field on it because that doesn't
have anything to do with the motive for her having her child falsify the aggravated
situation.
"[THE STATE]: Before he goes into anything like this in his case in chief, I
want to have a hearing outside the presence of the jury because I don't think it's relevant.
"[GARZA'S COUNSEL]: I won't go there.
"THE COURT: Okay."

Garza's counsel returned and began questioning Amy on another issue. The
transcript demonstrates only that the trial court questioned relevance, but it did not rule
on the objection. Garza voluntarily declined to pursue the questioning further,
presumably to avoid submitting additional testimony to establish relevance. Therefore,
Garza's challenge to this issue on appeal is misplaced.

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Second, Garza challenges the exclusion of testimony from the victim's sister, A.C.,
regarding whether Garza once became upset "with you and the siblings and even Amy
looking at inappropriate websites." Garza argued it was relevant to show how the
household was run, would demonstrate Garza was firm on inappropriate behaviors, and
was admissible because it was not a specific instance of conduct. The State objected,
arguing it was irrelevant and inadmissible as a specific instance of conduct described to
impeach. The State argued Garza had already established how the household was run
because one of Garza's stepdaughters had just testified she thought her dad would ground
them for looking at inappropriate material. The district court sustained the objection.

Before addressing the testimony's relevance, it should be noted Garza failed to
proffer how A.C. would have testified. The question itself does not clearly indicate the
substance of the evidence as required by K.S.A. 60-405, which states:

"A verdict or finding shall not be set aside, nor shall the judgment or decision
based thereon be reversed, by reason of the erroneous exclusion of evidence unless it
appears of record that the proponent of the evidence either made known the substance of
the evidence in a form and by method approved by the judge, or indicated the substance
of the expected evidence by questions indicating the desired answers."

Counsel's question contained a vague reference to inappropriate websites and
suggested the websites were sexually explicit. Garza's appellate counsel now argues for
the first time on appeal that this information was relevant to establish the children's
knowledge of sexual material. But this assumes evidence not in the record because
counsel did not establish what he deemed an "inappropriate website" for an 11-year-old
child, and it is unclear whether the victim, M.G., was involved in the incident allegedly
involving her sister. Garza is not entitled to claim error because he did not make a
proffer. See State v. Coleman, 253 Kan. 335, 344, 856 P.2d 121 (1993) ("It is well
12



established that a party may not assert error based on the erroneous exclusion of evidence
in the absence of a proffer of that excluded evidence.").

But even assuming the term "inappropriate websites" establishes A.C., her
siblings, and Amy viewed pornography and Garza subsequently disciplined the children,
this subject matter does not support Garza's case. His defense theory was that M.G. made
a false allegation because Amy encouraged it to get Garza out of the house without losing
custody of the children. Evidence the children viewed pornography does not establish or
contribute toward proof that Garza's testimony was more credible than M.G.'s or Amy's.
In addition, while evidence suggesting Garza was the only parent who disciplined the
children for viewing inappropriate websites helps establish Garza was firm on
inappropriate behaviors, as he claimed, the evidence was not material to a fact at issue.
Garza argued at trial that M.G. lied because Amy made her. The district court was correct
to exclude this evidence.

Issue 3: Sufficiency of the Charging Document

Garza next argues the district court lacked jurisdiction to sentence him under
K.S.A. 21-4643 because the charging instrument did not allege he was 18 years of age or
older. He argues he should be sentenced under the guidelines because of this defect. This
issue was raised for the first time on appeal, and it fails under this court's analysis in
Gonzales, 289 Kan. 351, and State v. Gracey, 288 Kan. 252, 200 P.3d 1275 (2009).

Whether a charging document sufficiently confers subject matter jurisdiction is a
question of law subject to unlimited review. The test governing the sufficiency of the
charging document depends upon when the issue is raised. If it is challenged for the first
time on appeal, the defendant must show the alleged defect either: (1) prejudiced the
defendant's preparation of a defense; (2) impaired the defendant's ability to plead the
13



conviction in any subsequent prosecution; or (3) limited the defendant's substantial rights
to a fair trial. Gracey, 288 Kan. at 254.

In Gonzales, 289 Kan. at 368-69, and Gracey, 288 Kan. at 256-57, this court
upheld the charging document's validity under identical facts to those presented here. In
all three cases, the information's caption contained the defendant's date of birth and the
document stated it was for an off-grid felony. Under these circumstances and in light of
the standard of review, this court held the defendant was adequately informed about the
crime charged and the penalty. Gonzales, 289 Kan. at 369; Gracey, 288 Kan. at 257. We
believe the same is true in this appeal. The failure to allege Garza was 18 years of age or
older does not invalidate his conviction.

Issue 4: Proof of defendant's age under Jessica's Law

As mentioned above, in Morningstar, Gonzales, and State v. Bello, 289 Kan. 191,
211 P.3d 139 (2009), this court held the defendant's age had to be submitted to the jury
before a defendant could be sentenced to an off-grid offense under K.S.A. 21-4643.
Garza was convicted of rape, and he was sentenced to an off-grid offense under K.S.A.
21-3502 and K.S.A. 21-4643. The State concedes Garza's age was not submitted to or
determined by the jury.

But unlike Morningstar, Gonzales, and Bello, there was evidence regarding
Garza's age presented to the jury. In this case, a detective testified Garza was older than
18 years of age. Nevertheless, Garza argues his sentence violates Apprendi v. New Jersey,
530 U.S. 466, 490, 147 L. Ed. 2d 435, 120 S. Ct. 2348 (2000), because his age–or the
determination of whether he was 18 years of age or older–was an element of both
aggravated indecent liberties with a child and rape when sentenced to the off-grid crimes
14



under K.S.A. 21-4643. Bello and its progeny rely on Apprendi and the subsequent cases
following Apprendi for their holdings.

Garza also argues the harmless error analysis recognized in State v. Daniels, 278
Kan. 53, 91 P.3d 1147, cert. denied 543 U.S. 982 (2004), does not apply because of the
importance assigned to the right to have a jury determine each element of the offense
under Apprendi. The State argues Garza's age is not an element of the offense and it was
not required to be submitted to the jury. The State does not address whether the harmless
error analysis in Daniels applies.

According to Daniels, the failure to instruct a jury on an essential element is
harmless error if "'a reviewing court concludes beyond a reasonable doubt that the
omitted element was uncontested and supported by overwhelming evidence, such that the
jury verdict would have been the same absent the error.'" 278 Kan. at 62. This analysis is
based upon Neder v. United States, 527 U.S. 1, 17-19, 144 L. Ed. 2d 35, 119 S. Ct. 1827
(1999).

In State v. Reyna, No. 100,000, filed June 11, 2010, we recently considered
whether the failure to instruct the jury on this element of the crime was harmless when
the trial record actually contained uncontested evidence about the defendant's age that
would have permitted the jury to make the appropriate finding, if properly instructed to
do so. In Reyna, we concluded that a harmless error analysis was applicable. Slip op. at
17-21.

The Reyna court analyzed the issue in light of this court's decisions in Daniels,
278 Kan. at 57, and State v. Davis, 275 Kan. 107, 115, 61 P.3d 701 (2003), as well as
Apprendi and Washington v. Recuenco, 548 U.S. 212, 165 L. Ed. 2d 466, 126 S. Ct. 2546
(2006). In Recuenco, the Court concluded that "[f]ailure to submit a sentencing factor to
15



the jury, like failure to submit an element to the jury, is not structural error." 548 U.S. at
222. After reviewing these decisions, our court in Reyna explained its holding as follows:

"Daniels stands for the proposition that this court will apply the harmless error analysis to
the omission of an element from the instructions to the jury when a review of the
evidence leads to the conclusion beyond a reasonable doubt that the omitted element was
uncontested and supported by overwhelming evidence, such that the jury verdict would
have been the same absent the error. And Recuenco stands for the proposition that
characterizing the omission as an Apprendi-type error, i.e., judicial factfinding of the
omitted element when that element enhances the maximum applicable sentence, does not
change that analysis." Reyna, slip op. at 20.

In Garza's case, there was testimony Garza was more than 18 years of age. There
was no dispute about this as the trial progressed. Therefore, there was uncontested
evidence before the jury on which it could have based a finding about Garza's age at the
time of the offense, if properly instructed to do so. This evidence distinguishes Garza's
case from Morningstar, Gonzales, and Bello. As in Reyna, we are convinced the
Apprendi-type error that occurred in Garza's case, i.e., when the trial court made the age
determination rather than having the jury make the actual finding, was harmless.

Issue 5: Cruel and Unusual Punishment Argument


Garza argues his life sentence violates the constitutional prohibition against cruel
and unusual punishment under the Eight Amendment to the United States Constitution
and § 9 of the Kansas Constitution Bill of Rights. He argues this issue was preserved for
appeal because he stated the sentence would "amount to cruel and unusual punishment"
in his departure motion. Finally, Garza cites the applicable analysis in State v. Freeman,
223 Kan. 362, 367, 574 P.2d 950 (1978), and argues the test for disproportionality is
16



satisfied because the punishment for this offense is greater than the punishment for more
serious crimes.

The State argues this issue should not be reached because it is raised for the first
time on appeal, citing State v. Ortega-Cadelan, 287 Kan. 157, Syl. ¶ 2, 194 P.3d 1195
(2008). The State also argues the first prong for the Freeman analysis is factually driven
and must be raised before the district court. In the alternative, the State argues the
sentence is not unconstitutional.

In previous cases, this court declined to review this issue for the first time on
appeal. State v. Easterling, 289 Kan. 470, 485-87, 213 P.3d 418 (2009); State v. Spotts,
288 Kan. 650, 652-54, 206 P.3d 510 (2009); State v. Thomas, 288 Kan. 157, 160-61, 199
P.3d 1265 (2009); Ortega-Cadelan, 287 Kan. at 161. These cases used the three-part test
established in Freeman to determine whether a sentence is a cruel and unusual
punishment. This test provides:

"(1) The nature of the offense and the character of the offender should be
examined with particular regard to the degree of danger present to society; relevant to this
inquiry are the facts of the crime, the violent or nonviolent nature of the offense, the
extent of culpability for the injury resulting, and the penological purposes of the
prescribed punishment;
"(2) A comparison of the punishment with punishments imposed in this
jurisdiction for more serious offenses, and if among them are found more serious crimes
punished less severely than the offense in question the challenged penalty is to that extent
suspect; and
"(3) A comparison of the penalty with punishments in other jurisdictions for the
same offense." 223 Kan. at 367.

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Since these factors include both legal and factual inquires and the district court did
not make these required findings, this court declined to address the issue. Easterling, 289
Kan. at 487; Thomas, 288 Kan. at 161. Garza argues this barrier should not apply because
he raised the issue in his departure motion. But this argument has limited merit under
State v. Seward, 289 Kan. 715, 721, 217 P.3d 443 (2009), in which this court remanded
the issue for the district court to make the necessary findings.

In Seward, the defendant mentioned this claim during plea negotiations, included
it in his written downward departure motion, and reiterated the claim on the record at the
sentencing hearing. This court held the issue was sufficiently raised before the district
court. It then addressed whether the failure to move for additional findings under
Supreme Court Rule 165 barred the claim. See Rule 165 (2009 Kan. Ct. R. Annot. 239).
The court concluded it was not barred. This court remanded the issue to the district court
to make the required factual and legal determinations. 289 Kan. at 720-21. But the
Seward court cautioned:

"We emphasize that we believe this case to be exceptional. In the future, a
defendant who wishes to appeal on the basis of a constitutional challenge to a sentencing
statute must ensure the findings and conclusions by the district judge are sufficient to
support appellate argument, by filing of a motion invoking the judge's duty under Rule
165, if necessary." 289 Kan. at 721.

Garza's claim is distinguishable from Seward because he failed to sufficiently raise
the issue before the district court. In his departure motion, Garza stated a life sentence
would constitute a cruel and unusual punishment. But he did not cite any authority,
address the three-prong Freeman test, or argue this point during the departure hearing. In
contrast to the defendant in Seward, there is no evidence of an effort to preserve this issue
18



for appeal. Issues raised in passing that are not supported by argument or cited authority
are deemed waived. Morningstar, 289 Kan. 488, Syl. ¶ 4.

Issue 6: Arbitrary and Capricious Argument

Garza next argues that K.S.A. 21-4643(d), the departure statute contained in
Jessica's Law, violates his due process rights under the Fourteenth Amendment to the
United States Constitution and § 18 of the Kansas Constitution Bill of Rights because it
allows for arbitrary and discriminatory decision making.

Principally, Garza argues the departure statute is unconstitutional because it allows
arbitrary decision making. The State treats this as a challenge to the district court's
determination that substantial and compelling reasons did not exist to justify departure.
This court recently addressed a defendant's due process rights at sentencing, and a part of
our analysis determined that the sentencing court's discretion, by itself, does not violate
due process if the discretion is exercised within the requirements of procedural due
process. Easterling, 289 Kan. at 482.

In Easterling, the defendant argued his due process rights were violated because
the sentencing judge based his sentence, in part, on information contained in an arrest
report that the defendant could not dispute and the State did not prove. This court
recognized a defendant is entitled to due process at sentencing. 289 Kan. at 476. It also
recognized a sentencing court may consider any circumstance providing a more complete
and accurate picture of the defendant's background, history, or behavior, and that the use
of such information does not by itself violate a defendant's due process rights. 289 Kan.
at 481. But this court added that due process required a court to assure itself the
information was reliable, accurate, and trustworthy, and the defendant must have an
opportunity to rebut the evidence. 289 Kan. at 482.
19




Garza does not argue the judge violated his due process rights while using his
discretion. Instead, he argues the discretion itself violates due process. Under the analysis
in Easterling, this argument lacks merit.

Issue 7: Conviction of the Alternative Charge

Finally, Garza argues the district court erred by entering convictions for both
aggravated indecent liberties with a child and rape of a child under 14 years of age
because the information charged these counts in the alternative. Garza contends he is
prejudiced by this error because the aggravated indecent liberties conviction appears on
his criminal record. The State argues the conviction does not have to be reversed and
vacated because these charges are not multiplicitous.

In State v. Dixon, 252 Kan. 39, 49, 843 P.2d 182 (1992), this court held that "[a]
defendant charged with more than one offense in a multiple-count complaint may be
convicted of more than one offense. In contrast where, as here, the defendant has been
charged in the alternative, he may be convicted of only one offense." See State v.
Blanchette, 35 Kan. App. 2d 686, 704, 134 P.3d 19, rev. denied 282 Kan. 792 (2006),
cert. denied 549 U.S. 1229 (2007). The State attempts to distinguish Dixon by arguing it
only applies when the charges are multiplicitous. But Dixon goes on to find that the jury
does not need to deliberate on the lesser alternative charge if the defendant is convicted
of the greater offense and the charges are multiplicitous. 252 Kan. at 49. Rather than
supporting the State's argument, this cuts against it because it reiterates that a defendant
can only be convicted of one of the alternative crimes when charged in the alternative.

Dixon clearly holds that a defendant cannot be convicted of both offenses when
the crimes are charged in the alternative. The district court appeared to partially
20



understand this since it did not sentence Garza for aggravated indecent liberties with a
child. But the aggravated indecent liberties conviction must be reversed.

Affirmed in part and reversed in part.

* * *

JOHNSON, J., dissenting: I respectfully disagree with the majority's decision to
affirm Garza's sentence for the off-grid version of rape under K.S.A. 21-3502(a)(2). I
believe Garza should have been sentenced for the crime with which he was charged and
of which he was convicted by the jury, i.e., the severity level 1 version of the offense.

I discussed my reasons for dissenting on this issue in State v. Reyna, No. 100,000,
filed June 11, 2010, upon which the majority in this case relies. I will not replow that
ground here. However, the majority's opinion in this case has sparked some additional
thoughts which I will share.

In discussing Garza's claim that the district court erroneously excluded relevant
evidence, the majority notes that the materiality component of relevance requires that the
evidence be material to a fact at issue in the case. If the defendant's age was not identified
as an element of the crime in either the charging document or the jury instructions, what
made the defendant's age a fact at issue during the guilt phase of the trial? I would submit
that where the jury will not be asked to find that the defendant is age 18 years or older,
that fact is not at issue during the trial and, therefore, is not material evidence.
Accordingly, Garza received an enhanced sentence based upon evidence which was
irrelevant when it was introduced.

21



Apparently, the prosecutors in the State v. Morningstar, 289 Kan. 488, 213 P.3d
1045 (2009), State v. Gonzales, 289 Kan. 351, 212 P.3d 215 (2009), and State v. Bello,
289 Kan. 191, 211 P.3d 139 (2009), cases did not believe the defendants' respective ages
were material evidence, because no evidence of age was introduced at their trials. In fact,
the evidence of Reyna's age came not from the State but from Reyna's direct testimony.
One can only surmise, but it would not be totally unfair to presume, that defense counsel
did not believe that the client's age was a fact at issue in that trial when asking Reyna to
recite his age. The result is that Reyna and Garza received hard 25 life sentences, whereas
Morningstar, Gonzales, and Bello did not, based solely upon the fortuitous circumstance
that immaterial evidence just happened to be placed in evidence at trial. One might
ponder whether the framers of our federal and state Constitutions envisioned such a
circumstance as comporting with due process of law and fundamental fairness. I think
not.