September 2013 KSC Docket

Here are the criminal cases on the KSC docket for September 9-13, 2013.  These summaries are based on the issues listed in the briefs filed and may not very accurately or fully describe the actual issues in the cases. I recommend you review the briefs yourself if you would like more details.

September 9--Monday--a.m.

Martin Miller v. State, No. 103,915 (Douglass)
K.S.A. 60-1507 appeal (petition for review)
Jessica R. Kunen
[Rvd/rmd; Biles; Feb. 14, 2014]

• Ineffective assistance of trial and appellate counsel

State v. Donald Dean, No. 105,625 (Meade)
Direct appeal; Rape
Ryan Eddinger (brief); Deborah L. Hughes (argue)
[Affd/Vacd; Moritz; Feb. 28, 2014]

• Improper admission of prior bad act evidence
• Erroneous limiting instruction re: prior bad act evidence
• Improper admission of official version of offense at sentencing
• Improper prosecutorial argument
• Life sentence is Cruel and Unusual Punishment

State v. Joshua Robertson, No. 105,882 (Butler)
Motion to correct illegal sentence appeal
Michael C. Brown
[Affirmed; Beier; Nov. 8, 2013]

• Improper denial of motion to correct illegal sentence

September 10--Tuesday--a.m.

Jorge Prado, No. 105,401 (Johnson)
Sentencing appeal
Matthew J. Edge (brief); Lydia Krebs (argue)
[Rvd/Vacd; Mortiz; July 18, 2014]

• Failure to inquire into dissatisfaction with counsel
• Improper denial of motion for substitute counsel

State v. Antonio Armstrong, No. 103,120 (Shawnee)
Direct appeal; First-degree (premeditated) murder
Shawn E. Minihan (brief); Heather R. Cessna (argue)
[Affirmed; Luckert; May 23, 2014]

• Prosecutorial misconduct
• Failure to instruct on reckless second-degree murder
• Improper instruction on voluntary manslaughter
• Failure to grant mistrial (sleeping jurors)
• Lack of jurisdiction to grant restitution after sentencing

State v. Corky Williams, No. 103,785 (Shawnee)
Direct appeal; First-degree (premeditated) murder
Bonnie Boryca (brief); Michael P. Whalen (argue)
[Affirmed; Luckert; May 23, 2014]

• Insufficient evidence of premeditation and conspiracy
• Improper denial of Batson challenge
• Improper prosecutorial argument
• Improper admission of defendant's statements
• Failure to grant mistrial after violation of in limine order
• Improper instruction on constructive possession of firearm
• Juror misconduct
• Improper admission of rebuttal evidence

State v. Drake Kettler, No. 103,272 (Shawnee)
Direct appeal; First-degree (premeditated) murder
Nancy Ogle
[Affirmed; Luckert; May 23, 2014]

• Improper denial of Batson challenge
• Improper prosecutorial argument
• Insufficient evidence of premeditation and conspiracy

State v. Kelvin Phillips, No. 103,399 (Shawnee)
Direct appeal; First-degree (premeditated) murder
Gerald E. Wells
[Affirmed; Luckert; May 23, 2014]

• Double Jeopardy violation (failure to declare mistrial in first trial)
• Improper prosecutorial argument
• Insufficient evidence

September 11--Wednesday--a.m.

State v. Melvin Frierson, No. 103,304 (Sedgwick)
Direct appeal (petition for review); Agg robbery
Heather R. Cessna
[Affirmed; Beier; Feb. 28, 2014]

• Insufficient evidence of alternative means
• Improper denial of motion in limine
• Failure to instruct on battery as lesser of robbery
• Improper modification of restitution award

State v. Calvin Charles, No. 102,981 (Reno)
Direct appeal (petition for review); Agg burglary
Meryl Carver-Allmond
[Affd/Vacd; Beier; Feb. 28, 2014]

• Insufficient evidence of alternative means
• Insufficient evidence of theft convictions
• Improper modification and determination of restitution award

State v. Anthony Hall, No. 102,495 (Shawnee)
Sentencing appeal (petition for review)
Jennifer E. Bazin (brief); Jonathan B. Phelps (argue)
[Affirmed; Beier; Feb. 28, 2014]

• No jurisdiction to impose restitution after sentencing
• Improper calculation of restitution

State v. Ira Flynn, No. 103,566 (Sumner)
Direct appeal (petition for review); Rape
Heather R. Cessna
[Rev/Rmd; Moritz; July 11, 2014]

• Improper failure to give Bunyard instruction

September 12--Thursday--a.m.

State v. George Brooks, No. 102,452 (Shawnee)
Direct appeal (petition for review); Rape
Lydia Krebs
[Affirmed; Rosen; Jan. 24, 2014]

• Insufficient evidence of rape
• Insufficient evidence of breach of privacy

State v. Armando Nunez, No. 102,377 (Finney)
Direct appeal (petition for review); Rape
Ryan Eddinger (brief); Deborah L. Hughes (argue)
[Affirmed; Rosen; Jan. 24, 2014]

• Insufficient evidence of alternative means
• Improper admission of defendant's statements

State v. Daniel Brown, No. 105,678 (Atchison)
Direct appeal; Rape
Rachel L. Pickering
[Affd/Vacd; Johnson; Feb. 28, 2014]

• Improper acceptance of jury verdict
• Failure to instruct on essential element of offense
• Insufficient evidence
• Improper prosecutorial argument

September 13--Friday--a.m.

State v. Michael Akins, No. 105,809 (McPherson)
Direct appeal; Agg Indecent Liberties
Daniel E. Monnat
[Rvd/rmd; Nuss; Jan. 10, 2014]

• Prosecutorial misconduct
• Improper exclusion of prior false allegations
• Failure to give written unanimity instruction
• Failure to poll jury
• Disproportionate sentence

State v. Christy Owen, No. 102,814 (Sedgwick)
Direct appeal (petition for review); Forgery
Meryl Carver-Allmond
[Rvd/rmd; per curiam; March 13, 2015]

• Insufficient evidence of alternative means of forgery
• Insufficient evidence of identity theft

State v. Stephen Foster, No. 104,083 (Shawnee)
Direct appeal (petition for review); Forgery
Heather R. Cessna
[Affirmed; Johnson; Nov. 15, 2013]

• Insufficient evidence of forgery

State v. Ryan Powell, No. 102,749 (Greenwood)
Direct appeal (petition for review); Felony theft
Korey A. Kaul
[Rvd/Rmd; Biles; June 6, 2014]

• Improper application of good-faith exception
• Statute does not authorize warrant for blood