State v. Sharkey

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NOT DESIGNATED FOR PUBLICATION

No. 112,082

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF KANSAS

STATE OF KANSAS,
Appellee,

v.

DEVEON D. SHARKEY,
Appellant.


MEMORANDUM OPINION

Appeal from Sedgwick District Court; BENJAMIN L. BURGESS, judge. Opinion filed March 17,
2017. Affirmed.

Christina M. Kerls, of Kansas Appellate Defender Office, for appellant.

Matt J. Maloney, assistant district attorney, Marc Bennett, district attorney, and Derek Schmidt,
attorney general, for appellee.

Before ATCHESON, P.J., STANDRIDGE and SCHROEDER, JJ.

Per Curiam: Deveon D. Sharkey appeals his convictions for aggravated robbery,
aggravated sodomy, kidnapping, and attempted criminal use of a financial card, claiming
multiple trial errors. Sharkey alleges the district court denied him the right to a speedy
trial; the district court failed to properly instruct the jury on the charge of kidnapping;
insufficient evidence was presented to support his kidnapping conviction; his trial
counsel was ineffective; there was cumulative error; and the use of his criminal history to
establish his sentence violated his rights under Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466,
120 S. Ct. 2348, 147 L. Ed. 2d 435 (2000). We find no error by the district court
sufficient to support reversal. We affirm.
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FACTS

After the events on August 12, 2013, Sharkey was charged with aggravated
robbery, aggravated sodomy, kidnapping, and attempted criminal use of a financial card.

On September 3, 2013—22 days after his arrest—Sharkey filed a pro se motion
asserting his statutory right to a speedy trial and objecting to any continuances. He
waived his preliminary hearing and was arraigned on September 12, 2013. His jury trial
was initially set for November 4, 2013. On November 4, 2013, the trial date was
continued to December 9, 2013. On November 15, 2013, Sharkey filed a pro se motion to
dismiss counsel, alleging his attorney violated his right to be present by continuing his
jury trial without his consent. He informed the court he had filed a motion asserting his
speedy trial rights and objecting to all continuances. Sharkey's motion to dismiss counsel
was heard and granted on December 6, 2013. At the hearing, Sharkey agreed to postpose
the jury trial set for December 9, 2013, so he could obtain new counsel.

New counsel was appointed on December 10, 2013, and the jury trial was
rescheduled for January 6, 2014. After he was appointed, counsel visited Sharkey.
Sharkey informed his counsel he objected to any more continuances and was asserting his
speedy trial rights. Counsel then told Sharkey he had several cases in front of him and it
would be several months before he would be ready for Sharkey's case to go to trial.

Counsel asked the court to continue the trial set for January 6, 2014. Sharkey was
not present at the hearing. A new trial date was set for February 3, 2014. Counsel then
requested a continuance from that date. Counsel did not consult with Sharkey about the
continuance because he had already told Sharkey his case would be continued for several
months. Sharkey was not present at the hearing. The trial was continued two more times
by trial counsel. Sharkey was not present at any of the hearings to continue the trial. On
May 21, 2014, Sharkey filed a motion to dismiss for violation of his right to be present at
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hearings and violation of his statutory speedy trial rights; however, the district court
never addressed the motion.

Sharkey's trial began on May 27, 2014. His victim, S.D.H., testified she had been
out running errands and when she returned home she noticed Sharkey standing in a
driveway across the street. Sharkey walked into her yard and asked S.D.H. if he could use
her cell phone; she allowed him to do so. He then asked S.D.H. for a cigarette and
followed her into her house where he smoked two cigarettes before asking S.D.H. for a
ride. S.D.H. told Sharkey she could not give him a ride and asked him to leave. Sharkey
asked if he could use the bathroom before he left, and S.D.H. allowed him to do so.
Sharkey exited the bathroom with a knife in his hand. He grabbed S.D.H. by her shirt and
asked for money. S.D.H. told him she did not have any. Sharkey then took S.D.H.
through the house at knifepoint looking for valuables. He collected two rings, an MP3
player, and a video game system.

Sharkey then forced S.D.H. into the bathroom, closed the door, and made her
perform oral sex on him. After they exited the bathroom, Sharkey asked S.D.H. for $5.
She told him she did not have any cash but had some credit cards in her wallet which was
out in her car. Sharkey went outside with S.D.H. and took her Vision card and Wal-Mart
money card. S.D.H. wrote down her PIN for the money card and gave it to Sharkey. As
Sharkey left, he took S.D.H.'s phone and car keys. S.D.H. then ran across the street and
asked her neighbor to call the police. Police found Sharkey at a nearby gas station where
he was attempting to use S.D.H.'s money card. A search of Sharkey's person revealed a
knife; S.D.H.'s phone, car keys, rings; the MP3 player; and a paper with S.D.H.'s PIN
number. The videogame system was also found outside by the gas station.

At trial, Sharkey's version of the events was significantly different. He testified
that after asking S.D.H. for a cigarette, he smoked the cigarette on the front porch. He
claimed S.D.H. invited him inside because it started to rain, and once they were inside,
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they made small talk for about 20 minutes. According to Sharkey, S.D.H. asked if he or
anyone he knew had methamphetamine. Sharkey told S.D.H. he knew someone who sold
methamphetamine and asked her if she had any money to pay for it. Sharkey testified
S.D.H. told him to follow her into the bathroom where she performed oral sex on him. He
denied having a knife on him at that time. S.D.H. then gave him the videogame system
and the money card as payment for the drugs he was going to procure. She then became
sick and went to the bathroom. As he was leaving the house, he grabbed her rings, wallet,
and a knife, and walked to the gas station.

At the conclusion of the evidence, the jury was instructed on the law. For
kidnapping, the jury was instructed that it could find Sharkey guilty if the State proved he
confined S.D.H. with the intent to hold her to facilitate the commission of a crime. The
jury instruction did not specify the crime alleged to have been facilitated was aggravated
robbery, as set forth in the State's complaint. The jury convicted Sharkey of aggravated
robbery, aggravated criminal sodomy, kidnapping, and attempted criminal use of a
financial card.

Prior to sentencing, Sharkey renewed his motions to dismiss for violations of his
statutory speedy trial rights and right to be present at all hearings. He also filed a motion
for new trial alleging ineffective assistance of counsel. At the beginning of sentencing,
the district court acknowledged it had received Sharkey's pro se motions but was not
going to take any action on them unless Sharkey's counsel adopted them. Sharkey's
counsel did not adopt the motions. Sharkey was sentenced to 322 months' imprisonment
with lifetime postrelease supervision. Sharkey timely appealed.

After his appeal was docketed, the matter was remanded to the district court for a
hearing on Sharkey's motion for new trial pursuant to State v. Van Cleave, 239 Kan. 117,
716 P.2d 580 (1986). After hearing testimony from Sharkey and his trial counsel, the
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district court found Sharkey had not received ineffective assistance of counsel. The
district court did not address the speedy trial issue at the Van Cleave hearing.

Additional facts are set forth as necessary herein.

ANALYSIS

K.S.A. 2013 Supp. 22-3402(g) Controls

Sharkey claims he is entitled to release because the trial did not start within
the statutory timeframe (90 days) of K.S.A. 2013 Supp. 22-3402(a), the speedy-
trial statute in effect at the time the alleged crimes were committed.

"This court exercises unlimited review over a district court's legal rulings
regarding violations of a defendant's statutory right to a speedy trial. State v. White, 275
Kan. 580, 598, 67 P.3d 138 (2003). The primary issue in such appeals—the computation
of days to be assessed against the so-called speedy trial clock—requires some level of
statutory interpretation and thus is reviewed de novo. 275 Kan. at 600. Nevertheless,
there are times, as in the case we now consider, where the assessment of time under our
speedy trial statute turns on a factual determination by the district court." State v.
Vaughn, 288 Kan. 140, 143, 200 P.3d 446 (2009).

Sharkey claims his attorney requested continuances without his permission or
knowledge and was acting outside his scope of authority. He also claims this action by
his attorney and the district court resulted in a due process violation of his right to be
present at all critical hearings, a point we will discuss in the next section. The attorney
testified at the Van Cleave hearing he told Sharkey when he accepted the appointment his
trial would be delayed until his calendar would allow the matter to be tried. The attorney
acknowledged he did not discuss with Sharkey every continuance since he initially told
him he would need time to prepare for trial.
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Sharkey admits the district court has not ruled on the speedy trial issue; however,
he asserts the record is sufficient for this court to determine whether a speedy trial
violation has occurred. The record reflects the total time from arraignment to trial was
257 days. Sharkey concedes part of that time—52 days—was attributable to his request
for new counsel and the resulting continuance compelled by appointing new counsel. He
also concedes the continuances from November 4, 2013; January 6, 2014; February 3,
2014; March 3, 2014; and March 17, 2014, were all requested by his attorneys but
without his approval or knowledge. As Sharkey acknowledges in his brief, actions of
defense counsel are attributable to the defendant in computing speedy trial violations
unless the defendant timely voices his disagreement with those actions. Vaughn, 288
Kan. at 144. However, as Sharkey points out, when there is a disagreement between
counsel and a defendant regarding a continuance, the defendant's position takes
precedence. State v. Hines, 269 Kan. 698, 703-04, 7 P.3d 1237 (2000).

Here, we find no record of any in-court objection by Sharkey as he was not present
at the November 4, 2013; January 6, 2014; February 3, 2014; March 3, 2014; and March
17, 2014, hearings on counsel's motions for continuances. While Sharkey clearly agreed
to the delay of his trial set for December 9, 2013, with the appointment of new counsel,
the record does not show any written waiver of personal appearance or speedy trial after
new counsel was appointed.

Given the multiple continuances by trial counsel, we are sympathetic to Sharkey's
plight, but the recent amendment to K.S.A. 22-3402 effective on July 1, 2012, adding
subsection (g) applies. It provides:

"If a defendant, or defendant's attorney in consultation with the defendant,
requests a delay and such delay is granted, the delay shall be charged to the defendant
regardless of the reasons for making the request, unless there is prosecutorial misconduct
related to such delay. If a delay is initially attributed to the defendant, but is subsequently
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charged to the state for any reason, such delay shall not be considered against the state
under subsections (a), (b) or (c) and shall not be used as a ground for dismissing a case
or for reversing a conviction unless not considering such delay would result in a
violation of the constitutional right to a speedy trial or there is prosecutorial misconduct
related to such delay." (Emphasis added.) K.S.A. 2013 Supp. 22-3402(g).

In his brief, Sharkey fails to recognize this statutory change and actually argues
the statute in place prior to July 1, 2012, applies. See K.S.A. 22-3402. Sharkey's
complaint is trumped by the statutory addition of subsection (g) before he was charged
with the various crimes in August 2013.

The record reveals Sharkey's attorney obtained several continuances without his
knowledge or permission, and those continuances were charged to him in calculating his
statutory right to a speedy trial. However, subsection (g) now controls, and even if the
district court erred in charging time to Sharkey because of his attorney's actions and
should have charged that time to the State, it does not provide a basis to dismiss the case
or reverse the convictions. Thus, given the statutory directive of K.S.A. 2013 Supp. 22-
3402(g), Sharkey's argument fails. See State v. Brownlee, 302 Kan. 491, 511, 354 P.3d
525 (2015) ("[T]he legislature, which created the statutory right, has decided to eliminate
the remedy for its violation in certain circumstances, providing explicitly that the
violation 'shall not be used as a ground for dismissing a case or for reversing [the
defendant's] conviction.'").

The Right to Be Present at All Hearings

Sharkey raises a separate issue regarding violation of his due process rights
because he was not present at the hearings on counsel's multiple motions to continue the
jury trial. The State agrees the record reflects Sharkey was not present for the hearings
when the various trial dates were continued. We agree Sharkey had a right to be present
at each continuance hearing and it was error for the district court not to have Sharkey
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present to voice his agreement or disagreement with his attorney's requested
continuances. See K.S.A. 2016 Supp. 22-3208(7) (stating a defendant has the right to be
present at a motion hearing). To avoid similar issues in the future, we caution and
recommend district courts make sure the defendant is present in person or by two-way
communication or has waived the right to be present in person, in open court on the
record, or in writing.

We note the facts of this case are similar to the facts in Brownlee. He was not
present for one hearing where the trial date was continued past the statutorily allotted
time for speedy trial purposes. Here, Sharkey—while in custody for this case only—was
not present at four separate hearing dates when his trial date was ultimately set past the
statutorily allotted time for his trial to occur. The comparison between Sharkey and
Brownlee's claims reflects Sharkey's delay was longer. In support of its position the error
does not require reversal, the State cites to State v. Dupree, 304 Kan. 43, 49-50, 371 P.3d
862, cert. denied 137 S. Ct. 310 (2016), where the Supreme Court followed Brownlee and
found when there is no allegation of a constitutional denial of the right to a speedy trial or
an allegation of prosecutorial misconduct, the failure to be present in court does not
reversal of the conviction.

We are duty bound to follow Kansas Supreme Court precedent, absent some
indication the court is departing from its previous position. State v. Belone, 51 Kan. App.
2d 179, 211, 343 P.3d 128, rev. denied 302 Kan. 1012 (2015). With the precedent set by
both Dupree and Brownlee Sharkey is left without relief. Here, he alleges only a statutory
right to a speedy trial. He presents no claim that his constitutional right to a speedy trial
was violated or the delay was caused by prosecutorial misconduct.

There is no doubt, given our review of the record, the district court improperly
denied Sharkey the right to be present at the continuance hearings and incorrectly
charged the time associated with the four continuances to Sharkey. Even with that error,
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K.S.A. 2013 Supp. 22-3402(g) controls, and the error does not result in the reversal of
Sharkey's conviction.

Sufficient Evidence Supports Sharkey's Conviction for Kidnapping

When the sufficiency of evidence is challenged in a criminal case, the appellate
court reviews all evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution. The conviction
will be upheld if the court is convinced that a rational factfinder could have found the
defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt based on that evidence. State v. Dunn, 304
Kan. 773, 821, 375 P.3d 332 (2016).

In determining whether there is sufficient evidence to support a conviction, the
appellate court generally will not reweigh the evidence or credibility of witnesses. Dunn,
304 Kan. at 822. It is only in rare cases where the testimony is so incredible that no
reasonable factfinder could find guilt beyond a reasonable doubt that a guilty verdict will
be reversed. State v. Matlock, 233 Kan. 1, 5-6, 660 P.2d 945 (1983).

The State charged Sharkey with kidnapping, alleging that on or about August
12, 2013, Sharkey "then and there unlawfully [took] or confine[d] a person, to-wit:
S.D.H., accomplished by force, threat or deception, with the intent to hold S.D.H. to
facilitate flight or the commission of a crime, to-wit: Aggravated Robbery." In his brief,
Sharkey appears to concede the evidence was sufficient to support a finding that he
confined S.D.H. to commit the crime of aggravated sodomy; however, he argues the State
failed to prove he confined S.D.H. in order to facilitate aggravated robbery.

In support of his argument, Sharkey correctly cites State v. Trautloff, 289 Kan.
793, 802-03, 217 P.3d 15 (2009), which held "[t]he wording of a complaint is binding on
the State in pursuing its theory before a jury." He is therefore correct in asserting the
State was required to prove he confined S.D.H. to commit aggravated robbery, as
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opposed to confining her to commit any crime, the broader definition of the offense under
K.S.A. 2013 Supp. 21-5408(a)(2)—the applicable kidnapping statute at the time the
offense was committed.

At trial, the State argued Sharkey committed kidnapping by confining S.D.H. to
commit aggravated robbery by: 1) taking her around the house at knifepoint to find
valuable items to steal; and 2) by telling her not to call the police after he left her home.
Sharkey cites to State v. Buggs, 219 Kan. 203, 547 P.2d 720 (1976), in support of his
argument that taking S.D.H. around the house to locate valuables did not constitute
confinement. His reliance on Buggs is misplaced. Sharkey argues Buggs interpreted
movement and taking of a person as interchangeable terms but found confining denotes a
separate actus reus within the meaning of Kansas' kidnapping statute. Even though he is
correct on this point, he has not explained how moving S.D.H. around her house at
knifepoint does not constitute confinement in her home to facilitate aggravated robbery.

While movement and taking may denote an alternative means, nothing in Buggs
suggests confinement requires the person be immobilized or otherwise enclosed in an
area of limited size. In fact, the Buggs holding suggests otherwise. Specifically, Buggs
stated:

"We therefore construe our statute as requiring no particular distance of removal,
nor any particular time or place of confinement. Under our present statute it is still the
fact, not the distance, of a taking (or the fact, not the time or place, of confinement) that
supplies a necessary element of kidnapping." 219 Kan. at 214.

The Buggs court went on to state: "Our statute requires that the taking or
confinement be accomplished not only by the proscribed means (i.e., 'by force, threat or
deception') but also with the specific intent to accomplish one of four types of
objectives." 219 Kan. at 214. Further, Buggs held:
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"[T]o 'facilitate' in our minds means something more than just to make more convenient.
We think that a taking or confining, in order to be said to 'facilitate' a crime, must have
some significant bearing on making the commission of the crime 'easier' as, for example,
by lessening the risk of detection." 219 Kan. at 215.

Given this interpretation, when viewed in the light most favorable to the State, a
reasonable jury could find Sharkey's use of a knife constituted force and/or threat and
made his control of S.D.H. easier to locate the items he took from various rooms of the
house. A reasonable jury could also find that doing so at knifepoint lessened the risk of
detection as a reasonable person in S.D.H.'s circumstances would not feel free to flee or
call for help. Further, it is evident these acts occurred within S.D.H.'s home—an enclosed
area—a reasonable factfinder could find Sharkey confined S.D.H. within her home to
facilitate the aggravated robbery.

As to the State's second argument, telling S.D.H. not to call the police after
Sharkey left her home, likely does not constitute confinement as S.D.H. was outside her
home when Sharkey made the statement. We decline to address that the issue further as
the evidence reflecting he moved S.D.H. from room to room was more than sufficient to
support his conviction for kidnapping.

No Timely Objection to the Kidnapping Instruction; We Review for Clear Error

If a party fails to object to an instruction at trial, the appellate court reviews the
instruction for clear error. State v. Littlejohn, 298 Kan. 632, 644, 316 P.3d 136 (2014)
(citing K.S.A. 22-3414[3]). To determine whether an instruction rises to the level of clear
error, "[r]eversibility is subject to unlimited review and is based on the entire record. It is
the defendant's burden to establish clear error under K.S.A. 22-3414(3). [Citation
omitted.]" State v. Betancourt, 299 Kan. 131, 135, 322 P.3d 353 (2014). The clear error
determination must review the impact of the erroneous instruction in light of the entire
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record including the other instructions, counsel's arguments, and whether the evidence is
overwhelming. In re Care & Treatment of Thomas, 301 Kan. 841, 849, 348 P.3d 576
(2013). "To establish clear error, 'the defendant must firmly convince the appellate court
that the giving of the instruction would have made a difference in the verdict.' [Citation
omitted.]" State v. Cooper, 303 Kan. 764, 771, 366 P.3d 232 (2016).

Sharkey contends the jury was improperly instructed on the kidnapping charge
because the instruction was broader than the offense charged in the complaint. Sharkey
acknowledges he did not object to the instruction at trial. Since Sharkey did not object at
trial, this court reviews for clear error. See Littlejohn, 298 Kan. at 644. Therefore,
Sharkey must firmly convince this court that giving a different instruction would have
made a difference in the verdict. See Cooper, 303 Kan. at 771. The State concedes the
jury instruction was erroneous but argues the instruction does not rise to the level of clear
error and Sharkey was not prejudiced as a result. We agree with the State.

"A jury instruction on the elements of a crime that is broader than the complaint
charging the crime is erroneous. That error is excusable only where the substantial rights
of the defendant are not prejudiced." Trautloff, 289 Kan. at 802. Under Kansas precedent,
a defendant's substantial rights are not prejudiced where the defendant is not "misled by
the original narrow charge into a failure to challenge the State's case or into commitment
to a losing defense strategy." State v. Charles, 304 Kan. 158, 171, 372 P.3d 1109 (2016);
see State v. Hart, 297 Kan. 494, 509-10, 301 P.3d 1279 (2013).

Here, Sharkey was not misled by the original narrow language of the charge. The
State did not make any argument that he could be convicted of kidnapping by confining
S.D.H. to facilitate the commission of a crime; rather, the State specifically argued
Sharkey confined S.D.H. to commit aggravated robbery. As previously discussed, the
evidence was sufficient to support Sharkey's conviction for kidnapping by confining
S.D.H. to facilitate aggravated robbery. The jury also convicted Sharkey of a separate
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count of aggravated robbery and Sharkey does not challenge the sufficiency of the
evidence for that conviction. Sharkey has not shown clear error and has failed to
convince this court the jury would have reached a different verdict had a more narrow
jury instruction been given.

No Ineffective Assistance of Counsel

A claim alleging ineffective assistance of counsel presents mixed questions of fact
and law. When the district court conducts a full evidentiary hearing on such claims, the
appellate courts determine whether the district court's findings are support by substantial
competent evidence and determine whether the factual findings support the court's legal
conclusions; the appellate courts apply a de novo standard to the district court's
conclusions of law. Fuller v. State, 303 Kan. 478, 485, 363 P.3d 373 (2015).

To prevail on a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, "a criminal defendant
must establish (1) the performance of defense counsel was deficient under the totality of
the circumstances, and (2) prejudice, i.e., that there is a reasonable probability the jury
would have reached a different result absent the deficient performance." Sola-Morales v.
State, 300 Kan. 875, 882, 335 P.3d 1162 (2014) (relying on Strickland v. Washington,
466 U.S. 668, 687, 104 S. Ct. 2052, 80 L. Ed. 2d 674 [1984]).

"The Sixth Amendment [to the United States Constitution] right to counsel is the
right to effective assistance of counsel. The benchmark for judging any claim of
ineffectiveness must be whether counsel's conduct so undermined the proper functioning
of the adversarial process that the trial cannot be relied on as having produced a just
result." State v. Rice, 261 Kan. 567, Syl. ¶ 12, 932 P.2d 981 (1997).

"The proper standard for judging attorney performance is that of reasonably
effective assistance, considering all the circumstances. When a convicted defendant
complains of the effectiveness of counsel's assistance, the defendant must show that
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counsel's representation fell below an objective standard of reasonableness. Judicial
scrutiny of counsel's performance must be highly deferential, and a fair assessment of
attorney performance requires that every effort be made to eliminate the distorting effects
of hindsight, to reconstruct the circumstances of counsel's challenged conduct, and to
evaluate the conduct from counsel's perspective at the time. A court must indulge a strong
presumption that counsel's conduct falls within the wide range of reasonable professional
assistance." Rice, 261 Kan. 567, Syl. ¶ 14.

Sharkey's claims of ineffective assistance of counsel essentially relate to two
separate issues: First, whether trial counsel failed to protect Sharkey's statutory speedy
trial rights; and second, whether counsel's preparation and communication prior to trial
was deficient. Neither claim warrants reversal because Sharkey has failed to establish
prejudice. An appellate court may proceed to the second prong of the Strickland test
without addressing the first if doing so will intelligently resolve the issue. See Edgar v.
State, 294 Kan. 828, 843, 283 P.3d 152 (2012) (quoting Strickland, 466 U.S. at 697).

At the Van Cleave hearing, Sharkey's counsel testified he met with Sharkey at
least two times prior to trial. At their initial meeting, counsel got a statement from
Sharkey regarding the incident. He also had an investigator meet with Sharkey and get a
statement from him. When asked about his investigative efforts, counsel indicated his
investigator attempted to locate S.D.H.'s neighbor who called the police, but could not do
so. Counsel explained neither the State nor the defense could locate the neighbor.
Counsel further indicated he had no indication of any evidence that would link S.D.H. to
drug activity, and photographs of S.D.H.'s home showed no indication of drug
paraphernalia or anything else that would support Sharkey's contention she was a drug
addict.

During their initial meeting, counsel told Sharkey he would not "get to jump
ahead" of other cases counsel already had scheduled for trial. Counsel informed Sharkey
he planned on continuing the case and it would be approximately 6 months before he
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would be ready for trial. Counsel acknowledged Sharkey did not want him to continue
the case. Counsel testified that because he explained his plans to Sharkey at the initial
meeting, he did not consult with him before each subsequent request to continue the trial
dates.

Sharkey's claims related to speedy trial concerns do not warrant relief under the
Strickland test. Whether counsel failed to inform the district court of Sharkey's objection
to continuances has no bearing on the evidence presented to the jury at trial. Even if
counsel's performance was deficient, it does not reflect prejudice or undermine the
outcome of the trial; therefore, the second prong of the Strickland test is not met.

As to his second claim of error, the record reflects Sharkey's attorney did not have
frequent communication with Sharkey prior to trial, nor did trial counsel perform a
comprehensive investigation into Sharkey's claim that S.D.H. was a drug addict. While
these claims may show Sharkey's counsel did not provide the best possible
representation, they do not necessarily show counsel's performance was objectively
deficient. Sharkey has failed to demonstrate any prejudice resulting from counsel's
alleged errors. As the district court noted, Sharkey merely speculated further
investigation may have revealed S.D.H. was a drug addict and might have undermined
her credibility with the jury. However, he has failed to offer any evidence in support of
his claim S.D.H. was in fact a drug addict or basis to substantiate his allegation that she
had a drug problem. Further, while Sharkey may have enjoyed more frequent meetings
with counsel, he fails to explain why the number of visits was deficient or how he was
prejudiced. While we acknowledge periodic visits with counsel can be beneficial, it is not
necessary for counsel to be there to babysit the defendant. In fact, at the Van Cleave
hearing, the attorney representing Sharkey admitted he could not show prejudice as a
result. Because Sharkey cannot show prejudice as a result of the errors he claims trial
counsel committed, his claim of ineffective assistance of counsel fails.

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No Cumulative Error


Cumulative error occurs when the totality of the circumstances establishes the
defendant was substantially prejudiced by cumulative errors and was denied a fair trial. In
assessing the cumulative effect of errors during the trial, the appellate court examines the
errors in the context of the entire record, considering how the trial judge dealt with the
errors as they arose; the nature and number of errors and their interrelationship, if any;
and the overall strength of the evidence. State v. Holt, 300 Kan. 985, 1007, 336 P.3d 312
(2014). We are duty bound to find no cumulative error when the record fails to support
the errors the defendant raises on appeal. State v. Marshall, 303 Kan. 438, 451, 362 P.3d
587 (2015).

Here, Sharkey has not established any clear point of error. The issues he raises are
either without merit or do not rise past the level of harmless error. Cumulative error does
not apply. See Marshall, 303 Kan. at 451.

No Apprendi Violation

Finally, Sharkey argues the district court violated his rights under the Sixth and
Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution when it used his prior
convictions to enhance his sentence without proving those convictions to a jury beyond a
reasonable doubt, contrary to the United States Supreme Court's guidance in Apprendi v.
New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466, 120 S. Ct. 2348, 147 L. Ed. 2d 435 (2000). Sharkey
recognizes the Kansas Supreme Court rejected this argument in State v. Ivory, 273 Kan.
44, 46-48, 41 P.3d 781 (2002), but includes the issue to preserve it for federal review.
Because there is no indication the Kansas Supreme Court is departing from this position,
this court is duty bound to follow established precedent. State v. Meyer, 51 Kan. App. 2d
1066, 1072, 360 P.3d 467 (2015). The district court properly used Sharkey's criminal
history to establish his sentence.
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Affirmed.