Fahringer v. Commonwealth

• Decision Date: 30 April 2019
• Docket Number: Record No. 0370-18-3
• Parties: Justin Godfrey FAHRINGER v. COMMONWEALTH of Virginia
• Court: Virginia Court of Appeals

70 Va.App. 208

827 S.E.2d 1

Justin Godfrey FAHRINGER

v.COMMONWEALTH of Virginia

Record No. 0370-18-3

Court of Appeals of Virginia, Lexington.

APRIL 30, 2019

Matthew B. Roberts (Davidson & Kitzmann, PLC, on brief), for appellant.

Virginia B. Theisen, Senior Assistant Attorney General (Mark R. Herring, Attorney General, on brief), for appellee.

Present: Judges Humphreys, Chafin and AtLee

OPINION BY JUDGE TERESA M. CHAFIN

Following a jury trial, Justin Fahringer was convicted of fourteen felony sexual crimes, including abduction with intent to defile, rape, forcible sodomy, conspiracy to commit the offenses, and participation in the offenses as a principal in the second degree. On appeal, Fahringer contends that the trial court erred in refusing to give a proffered jury instruction regarding the consideration of prior sexual conduct between Fahringer and the victim. He maintains that the act of kissing fits the legal definition of "sexual conduct." For the following reasons, we affirm Fahringer’s convictions.

I. STANDARD OF REVIEW AND BACKGROUND

"A reviewing court’s responsibility in reviewing jury instructions is ‘to see that the law has been clearly stated and that the instructions cover all issues which the evidence fairly raises.’ " Darnell v. Commonwealth, 6 Va. App. 485, 488, 370 S.E.2d 717 (1988) (quoting Swisher v. Swisher, 223 Va. 499, 503, 290 S.E.2d 856 (1982) ). This Court reviews the trial court’s decisions in giving or denying jury instructions under an abuse of discretion standard. Gaines v. Commonwealth, 39 Va. App. 562, 568, 574 S.E.2d 775 (2003) (en banc ). "If the principles set forth in a proposed instruction are fully and fairly covered in other instructions that have been granted, a trial court does not abuse its discretion in refusing to grant a repetitious instruction." Joseph v. Commonwealth, 249 Va. 78, 90, 452 S.E.2d 862 (1995). We review de novo , however, whether a proffered instruction states the law with accuracy. Sarafin v. Commonwealth, 288 Va. 320, 326, 764 S.E.2d 71 (2014). A proffered jury instruction "must be supported by ‘more than a scintilla’ of evidence." Graves v. Commonwealth, 65 Va. App. 702, 708, 780 S.E.2d 904 (2016) (quoting Turman v. Commonwealth, 276 Va. 558, 564, 667 S.E.2d 767 (2008) ). "When reviewing a trial court’s refusal to give a proffered jury instruction, we view the evidence in the light most favorable to the proponent of the instruction," in this case Fahringer.

Williams v. Commonwealth, 64 Va. App. 240, 244, 767 S.E.2d 252 (2015) (quoting Commonwealth v. Vaughn, 263 Va. 31, 33, 557 S.E.2d 220 (2002) ). So viewed, the facts are as follows.

On October 1, 2016, K.C., a thirty-four-year-old female, went alone to Sharkey’s Bar in Radford, where she ordered a pitcher of beer and a sandwich. She was playing pool when she met Fahringer, Matthew Moles, and James Smith. Fahringer told K.C. that Moles thought she was cute. After some time, Fahringer suggested that they leave Sharkey’s and continue drinking at Smith’s apartment. K.C., Moles, and Fahringer proceeded to walk across the Radford University campus in route to Smith’s apartment.

At approximately 1:14 a.m. on the morning of October 2, 2016, Officer Scott Isom of the Radford University Police stopped Fahringer, Moles, and K.C.¹ Isom observed that the two men assisted K.C. in walking. K.C. had trouble standing during the encounter and eventually sat on the sidewalk. She did, however, talk to Isom and was able to give him her age. Isom allowed them to leave with the caveat of finding a ride home. Fahringer called James Tolbert to pick them up approximately five minutes later. Tolbert testified that he drove all three individuals to Smith’s apartment, which was located above the Radford Deli Mart. During the drive, he testified that "the female was kissing on both of them, like I don’t know if it was necessarily on the lips or on the cheek, but I remember her kissing both of them."

Smith testified that after Fahringer, Moles, and K.C. arrived at his apartment, he observed "sexual things going on" between K.C. and both Fahringer and Moles. He observed K.C. kiss "both [Fahringer and Moles] at some point or another." Smith further stated that he saw K.C. and Fahringer go into a bathroom together and remain there for fifteen to twenty minutes. Smith’s girlfriend denied seeing K.C. kiss either man, but did observe K.C. going back and forth from "kind of like laying on [Fahringer]" to "sitting on [Moles’s] lap." While at the apartment, Moles propositioned K.C. for sex, and K.C. complained to Fahringer about Moles’s advances.

Upon leaving Smith’s apartment, Fahringer and Moles dragged K.C., who was nearly unconscious, into an alcove behind the Deli Mart. A surveillance video that was approximately thirty minutes long was introduced into evidence. The video showed that the men removed K.C.’s shoes, pants, and underwear. They then took turns engaging in sexual intercourse and sodomy with her. At times both of K.C.’s feet were off the ground. K.C. testified that she told the men to stop because they were hurting her. She further testified that she was fading in and out of consciousness during the incident.

Two college students walked by while the incident was in progress. After one of the individuals told the men to stop to no avail, the other individual called the Radford Police Department. Officer Mark Mills responded to the call. Once on the scene, he saw K.C. bent over. Fahringer had his groin region against K.C.’s backside while K.C.’s mouth was at Moles’s groin region. Moles was holding K.C.’s head with his hands. Mills ordered the men to the ground. Mills spoke to K.C., immediately recognizing that she was extremely intoxicated. She was given a preliminary breath test, which registered a .23. She was placed in a police car. Another officer, Detective Jerry Holdaway, arrived several minutes later. He testified that K.C. still appeared intoxicated and "reeked" of alcohol. K.C. was taken home. She was taken to the hospital the next morning for a forensic examination.

Fahringer was interviewed by the police twice on the morning of October 2, 2016. During the first interview, he stated that he, Moles, and K.C. were just "fooling around" in the alley. He denied that he had his pants down and denied that he touched K.C. below the waist. He specifically denied that his penis had been inside of K.C. He further denied that any oral sex had occurred.

During the second interview, Fahringer stated that Moles had intercourse with K.C., but he did not. Fahringer admitted that both he and Moles had oral sex with K.C. He insisted that K.C. was in control of her faculties and that the activity between them was consensual.

At trial, Fahringer argued that he was entitled to a jury instruction on prior sexual conduct of the victim because evidence had been presented that Fahringer and K.C. had been observed "kissing reasonably near the time of the offense alleged." The Commonwealth contended that K.C. was so intoxicated that she was incapable of consenting to sex and asserted that Fahringer’s proffered jury instruction on prior sexual conduct was not supported by the evidence. Specifically, the Commonwealth argued that "kissing" does not constitute "prior sexual conduct." The trial court denied the instruction. Fahringer now appeals to this Court.

II. ANALYSIS

Fahringer’s sole contention on appeal is that the trial court wrongfully refused to give a proffered jury instruction regarding the consideration of prior sexual conduct between Fahringer and K.C. He specifically argues that the act of kissing fits the legal definition of "sexual conduct." For the reasons that follow, we affirm the decision of the trial court.

Fahringer proffered, and the trial court refused, the following instruction, which mirrors Virginia Model Jury Instruction 44.720:

In considering whether the sexual intercourse was accomplished through force, threat, or intimidation, or through the use of the complaining witness’s mental incapacity or physical helplessness, you may consider prior acts of sexual conduct with the complaining witness occurring reasonably near the time of the crime charged.

This jury instruction clearly tracks the language of Code § 18.2-67.7 and Virginia Rule of Evidence 2:412.²

Code § 18.2-67.7(A) provides, in pertinent part, that "[i]n prosecutions under this article, ... general reputation or opinion evidence of the complaining witness’s unchaste character or prior sexual conduct shall not be admitted." This code section is referred to as Virginia’s "Rape Shield Law." Neeley v. Commonwealth, 17 Va. App. 349, 353-54, 437 S.E.2d 721 (1993). The purpose of Virginia’s Rape Shield Law is to "exclude evidence in sexual assault cases of the ‘general reputation ... of the complaining witness’s unchaste character or prior sexual conduct.’ " League v. Commonwealth, 9 Va. App. 199, 206, 385 S.E.2d 232 (1989) (quoting Winfield v. Commonwealth, 225 Va. 211, 217-19, 301 S.E.2d 15 (1983) ). Code § 18.2-67.7 incorporates an exception for evidence of "specific instances" of "prior sexual conduct ... between the complaining witness and the accused" if the evidence is relevant and is "offered to support a contention that the alleged offense was not accomplished by force, threat or intimidation or through the use of the complaining witness’s mental incapacity or physical helplessness." Code § 18.2-67.7(A)(2). Additionally, the evidence must concern conduct that "occurred within a period of time reasonably proximate to the offense charged under the circumstances." Id.

In order to determine whether the trial court erroneously denied the proffered jury instruction at issue, we must first determine whether the act of kissing fits within the definition of "sexual conduct" as contemplated by Code § 18.2-67.7.

Fahringer contends that the act of kissing fits the legal definition of "sexual conduct" as used in Code § 18.2-67.7. However, Code § 18.2-67.7 does not define "sexual...