Smith v. LeGrand et al

Filing 71

ORDERED that the Amended Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus (ECF No. 15 ) is denied. It is further ordered that Petitioner is denied a certificate of appealability. Signed by Chief Judge Miranda M. Du on 3/31/2020. (Copies have been distributed pursuant to the NEF - DRM)

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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DISTRICT OF NEVADA

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***

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KEITH G. SMITH,

Case No. 3:14-cv-00029-MMD-CLB
Petitioner,

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ORDER

v.

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ROBERT LeGRAND, et al.,
Respondents.

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I.

SUMMARY

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Petitioner Keith G. Smith filed a petition for writ of habeas corpus under 28 U.S.C.

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§ 2254. This matter is before the Court for adjudication of the merits of the remaining

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grounds of the petition. For the reasons discussed below, the Court denies the petition,

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denies a certificate of appealability, and directs the Clerk of the Court to enter judgment

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accordingly.

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II.

BACKGROUND

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Smith’s convictions are the result of events that occurred in Clark County, Nevada

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on September 3, 2001. (ECF No. 16-6.) Sonia Solorzano visited Las Vegas, Nevada

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with two friends for Labor Day weekend 2001 and stayed at the Luxor Hotel and Casino.

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(ECF No. 16-18 at 6–7, 9.) On Sunday, September 2, 2001, Solorzano and her friends

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had dinner, walked around, and gambled at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino; took

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a cab to the Rio Hotel and Casino around midnight; and then took a cab to the Hard

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Rock Hotel and Casino a few hours later. (Id. at 16–17, 19.) Solorzano drank alcohol

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throughout the night. (Id. at 21.) One of Solorzano’s friends left the Hard Rock Hotel and

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Casino at approximately 5:30 a.m. and went back to their hotel room. (Id. at 23.)

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Thereafter, Solorzano met a man named Jeff at a bar in the Hard Rock Hotel and

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Casino, and, after believing her second friend had left to go back to their hotel room as

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well, shared a cab with Jeff sometime between 9:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. on Monday,

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September 3, 2001. (Id. at 25, 31, 33.)

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The cab dropped Jeff off, and the next thing Solorzano remembered was “waking

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up in a room” wearing just her blouse “with [her] left arm dangling from what appeared

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to be something hooked to the ceiling.” (Id. at 34–35.) There was a man, who Solorzano

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identified as Smith, in the room who eventually untied her arm, and Solorzano got

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dressed. (Id. at 36–38.) Solorzano felt lubrication in her vagina and felt that something

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had been inserted into her vagina. (Id. at 39-40.) After leaving the dark room, Solorzano

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saw a cab parked in front of the residence and realized that Smith must have been her

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cab driver. (Id. at 41–42.) Smith drove Solorzano to the Luxor Hotel and Casino. (Id. at

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43.) When she got out of the cab, Solorzano told Smith, “‘I know what you did. I know

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what you did to me, and I’m going to tell the cops.’” (Id. at 47.) Solorzano got the cab’s

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license plate number and notified security. (Id. at 49.)

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Smith was charged with first-degree kidnapping and sexual assault. (ECF No.

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16-6 at 2–3.) Following a jury trial, Smith was found guilty of both charges on August 8,

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2003. (ECF No. 16-22.) Smith was sentenced to life with the possibility of parole after

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five years for the first-degree kidnapping conviction and life with the possibility of parole

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after ten years for the sexual assault conviction. (ECF No. 16-25.) Smith’s sentences

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were ordered to run consecutively. (Id.) Smith appealed, and the Nevada Supreme

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Court affirmed. 1 (ECF No. 17-1.) Remittitur issued on January 17, 2006. (ECF No. 17-

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2.)

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Smith filed a state habeas petition on November 29, 2006. (ECF No. 17-8.)

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Following an evidentiary hearing, the state district court denied the petition on October

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16, 2007. (ECF No. 17-14.) Smith appealed, and the Nevada Supreme Court reversed

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and remanded the case for the state district court to appoint counsel to assist Smith in

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Nevada Supreme Court issued a limited remand to correct the judgment of
conviction because it “incorrectly state[d] that Smith was convicted pursuant to a guilty
plea.” (ECF No. 17-1 at 8.)
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his post-conviction proceedings. (ECF No. 17-20.) Smith was appointed counsel and

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filed a counseled, supplemental brief in support of his original state habeas petition.

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(ECF No. 17-25.) The state district court again denied Smith’s petition on January 6,

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2012. (ECF No. 17-34.) Smith appealed, and the Nevada Supreme Court affirmed. (ECF

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No. 17-39.) Remittitur issued on October 18, 2013. (ECF No. 18.)

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Smith filed his federal habeas petition on July 3, 2014. (ECF No. 4.) Smith later

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filed a counseled, amended petition on April 27, 2015. (ECF No. 15.) Respondents

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moved to dismiss the amended petition on October 14, 2016. (ECF No. 29.) This Court

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granted the motion in part. (ECF No. 50.) Specifically, this Court dismissed Ground 6(a)

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as untimely and determined that Ground 7, Ground 8, and a portion of Ground 6(e) were

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unexhausted. (Id. at 9.) Smith moved for the partial dismissal of Ground 7, Ground 8,

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and the portion of Ground 6(e) that this Court previously determined were unexhausted.

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(ECF No. 51.) This Court granted the motion. (ECF No. 53.) Respondents answered the

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grounds remaining in Smith’s amended Petition on February 5, 2018. (ECF No. 61.)

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Smith replied on August 10, 2018. (ECF No. 68.)

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In his remaining grounds for relief, Smith asserts the following violations of his
federal constitutional rights:
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The state district court allowed a police officer to testify about
his recorded statements without allowing Smith to present the
actual record of those statements to the jury.
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The state district court improperly allowed a witness to
describe the complaining witness as a “typical rape victim.”
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The State committed multiple instances of misconduct during
closing argument.
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The State committed misconduct by failing to further test a
blood sample for methamphetamine and then by arguing facts
not in evidence.
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He was denied the right to testify in his own defense.
6(b). His trial counsel failed to have him testify in his own defense,
failed to consult with him regarding his right to testify, and
failed to secure a waiver of that right.
6(c). His trial counsel failed to seek testing of the blood sample.
6(d). His trial counsel failed to obtain the victim’s criminal record.
6(e). His trial counsel failed to make contemporaneous objections
to two of the State’s improper closing comments.
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6(f).

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His trial counsel failed to object to the introduction of
prejudicial evidence.

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(ECF No. 15 at 11–35.)

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III.

LEGAL STANDARD

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28 U.S.C. § 2254(d) sets forth the standard of review generally applicable in

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habeas corpus cases under the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act

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(“AEDPA”):

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An application for a writ of habeas corpus on behalf of a person in custody
pursuant to the judgment of a State court shall not be granted with respect
to any claim that was adjudicated on the merits in State court proceedings
unless the adjudication of the claim --

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(1) resulted in a decision that was contrary to, or involved an
unreasonable application of, clearly established Federal law, as
determined by the Supreme Court of the United States; or

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(2) resulted in a decision that was based on an unreasonable
determination of the facts in light of the evidence presented in the
State court proceeding.

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A state court decision is contrary to clearly established Supreme Court precedent, within

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the meaning of 28 U.S.C. § 2254, “if the state court applies a rule that contradicts the

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governing law set forth in [the Supreme Court’s] cases” or “if the state court confronts a

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set of facts that are materially indistinguishable from a decision of [the Supreme] Court.”

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Lockyer v. Andrade, 538 U.S. 63, 73 (2003) (quoting Williams v. Taylor, 529 U.S. 362,

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405–06 (2000), and citing Bell v. Cone, 535 U.S. 685, 694 (2002)). A state court decision

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is an unreasonable application of clearly established Supreme Court precedent within

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the meaning of 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d) “if the state court identifies the correct governing

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legal principle from [the Supreme] Court’s decisions but unreasonably applies that

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principle to the facts of the prisoner’s case.” Id. at 75 (quoting Williams, 529 U.S. at 413).

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“The ‘unreasonable application’ clause requires the state court decision to be more than

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incorrect or erroneous. The state court’s application of clearly established law must be

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objectively unreasonable.” Id. (quoting Williams, 529 U.S. at 409–10) (internal citation

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omitted).

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The Supreme Court has instructed that “[a] state court’s determination that a

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claim lacks merit precludes federal habeas relief so long as ‘fairminded jurists could

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disagree’ on the correctness of the state court’s decision.” Harrington v. Richter, 562

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U.S. 86, 101 (2011) (citing Yarborough v. Alvarado, 541 U.S. 652, 664 (2004)). The

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Supreme Court has stated “that even a strong case for relief does not mean the state

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court’s contrary conclusion was unreasonable.” Id. at 102 (citing Lockyer, 538 U.S. at

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75); see also Cullen v. Pinholster, 563 U.S. 170, 181 (2011) (describing the standard as

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a “difficult to meet” and “highly deferential standard for evaluating state-court rulings,

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which demands that state-court decisions be given the benefit of the doubt” (internal

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quotation marks and citations omitted)).

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IV.

DISCUSSION
Smith’s amended petition asserts ten remaining grounds for relief. The Court will

address each ground in turn.

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A.

Ground 1

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In Ground 1, Smith asserts that his Fifth Amendment due process right to a fair

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trial and his Sixth Amendment right to present a defense were violated when the state

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district court allowed Detective Hendrix to testify about Smith’s recorded police interview

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statements without allowing Smith to present the actual record of those statements—

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either the tape recordings or the transcripts—to the jury. (ECF No. 15 at 11.) Smith

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contends that Detective Hendrix’s testimony regarding his statement was inaccurate,

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selective, and misleading. (Id. at 18.) Smith also argues that the exclusion of the

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recordings and transcripts violated his Fifth Amendment right not to testify, or at least,

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improperly forced him to choose between his right to testify and his right to have a fair

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trial and present a complete defense. (Id. at 20.)

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In his appeal of his judgment of conviction, Smith argued that the state district

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court violated his right to a fair trial and to due process when it failed to play the tape
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recordings of his police interview. (ECF No. 16-29 at 25.) This claim contained several

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subparts, including an argument that the exclusion of this evidence violated his right to

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present a defense, an argument that the exclusion of this evidence violated his right not

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to be compelled to testify, and the argument that the evidence was inadmissible under

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Nevada law. (Id. at 29, 38.). Regarding the admissibility of the evidence under Nevada

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law, the Nevada Supreme Court held:

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Smith asserts that the district court erred in preventing him from admitting
the audiotaped and transcribed forms of statements Smith made to
Detective Hendrix regarding the incident. Specifically, Smith argues that
NRS 47.120(1) required admission of his statements in both forms. Smith
also argues that the tapes and transcript constitute the “best evidence” of
his statements.
This court reviews decisions to admit or exclude evidence for an abuse of
discretion. NRS 47.120(1) provides the following:
When any part of a writing or recorded statement is introduced
by a party, he may be required at that time to introduce any
other part of it which is relevant to the part introduced, and
any party may introduce any other relevant parts.
In Collman v. State, this court determined that the defense’s use of a
forensic report during cross-examination of its preparer amounted to an
introduction of part of the report for purposes of NRS 47.120(1). From this,
the court concluded that the district court properly admitted the report in its
entirety under the statute, because introduction of parts of the report
required admissibility of other relevant parts.
Regardless of whether the State’s direct examination of Detective Hendrix
concerning Smith’s statements amounted to an introduction of these
statements under NRS 47.120(1), we conclude the district court did not
abuse its discretion in excluding the tapes and transcript of Smith’s
statements to Detective Hendrix. First, the district court permitted use of the
transcript to refresh the detective’s recollection of Smith’s statements;
therefore, Smith had the opportunity to utilize the transcript on crossexamination to remedy the instances in which Detective Hendrix lacked
memory of particular statements. Second, the district court determined that
several of Smith’s responses on the tape were unintelligible.
Despite Smith’s contention that the tapes and their transcription constitute
the “best evidence” of his statements, we are unable to ascertain the merits
of this argument because neither party submitted the tapes or the transcript
on appeal. Therefore, we conclude that it was not unreasonable for the
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district court to exclude the tapes and the transcript due to the potential for
confusing or misleading the jury under NRS 48.035(1).

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(ECF No. 17-1 at 2–4 (internal footnotes omitted).)

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Regarding Smith’s contention that the exclusion of the tape recordings and

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transcripts violated his right to present a defense and right not be compelled to testify,

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the Nevada Supreme Court simply held these arguments lacked merit. (Id. at 8.) Smith’s

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federal habeas petition only deals with the constitutional violations and not the

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evidentiary ruling under Nevada law. (See ECF No. 15 at 11.) Because Smith’s

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constitutional violation arguments were denied on the merits without explanation by the

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Nevada Supreme Court, this Court “determine[s] what arguments or theories supported

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or . . . could have supported, the state court’s decision; and then it must ask whether it

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is possible fairminded jurists could disagree that those arguments or theories are

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inconsistent with the holding in a prior decision of [the United States Supreme] Court.”

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Harrington, 562 U.S. at 102.

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Respondents argue that Smith did not present the Nevada Supreme Court with

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the tape recordings or transcripts of his police interview, so this Court is prohibited from

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considering them in its review of this claim. (ECF No. 61 at 6.) Smith rebuts that because

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the Nevada Supreme Court failed to analyze his constitutional arguments, this Court’s

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review is de novo, meaning that this Court can consider the tape recordings and

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transcripts. (ECF No. 68 at 28–29.) The Supreme Court has held that “[i]f a claim has

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been adjudicated on the merits by a state court, a federal habeas petitioner must

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overcome the limitation of § 2254(d)(1) on the record that was before that state court.”

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Cullen, 563 U.S. at 185. The Nevada Supreme Court failed to explain the reasoning

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behind its decision to deny the constitutional portion of Smith’s claim; nonetheless, it still

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denied the claim on the merits. (See ECF No. 17-1 at 8.) Accordingly, this Court agrees

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with Respondents and will not consider the tape recordings or transcripts of Smith’s

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police interview, as they were not a part of the record that the Nevada Supreme Court

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reviewed at the time it decided Smith’s direct appeal.
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Turning to the evidence presented at Smith’s trial, Detective Todd Hendrix

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testified that he arrested Smith outside of Smith’s home and took him to his unmarked

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police vehicle for an interview. (ECF No 16-20 at 24, 35–38.) Smith told Detective

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Hendrix that he had been driving a cab earlier in the day and that he had “picked up a

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man and a lady [who he presumed to be in a relationship] . . . and that at some point he

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dropped the man off, but the lady stayed in the car.” (Id. at 38.) Smith indicated that the

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woman had been drinking and had “stated that she wanted to go back to the Luxor, but

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then stated that she didn’t want to go to the Luxor” and instead “started asking questions

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about his house.” (Id. at 38, 40.) Smith then decided to take the woman to his house.

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(Id. at 41.)

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Upon arriving at Smith’s house, Smith explained that the woman “got out of the

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cab and walked with him into his bedroom, that they subsequently laid down on the bed,

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that he bound her hands, that he took her clothes off and his clothes off, and had penis

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to vagina sex with her.” (Id. at 43.) Smith also explained, at one point, that he bound her

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wrists to the bedpost and, at another point, that he bound her wrists “to a contraption on

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the ceiling.” (Id. at 44.)

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The state asked Detective Hendrix about inconsistencies in Smith’s story. (Id. at

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45). Detective Hendrix listed a few inconsistencies and then commented, “[i]t’s been two

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years. I had a transcript of this that would refresh my recollection.” (Id. at 45–46.) The

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state district court then commented, “[w]e’ll use his memory at this point,” and responded

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in the negative when asked by the state, “[y]ou don’t want to refresh his recollection with

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the transcript, Judge?” (Id. at 46.)

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Detective Hendrix then testified that Smith believed the woman wanted to have

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sexual intercourse with him because she smiled at him. (Id. at 46.) Smith, however, also

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explained that the woman “was in and out. Sometimes her eyes were closed, and

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sometimes they were open.” (Id. at 47.) The state clarified, “[s]o he said at some point

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while he was having sex with her she was out of consciousness,” and Detective Hendrix

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answered, “[d]uring the time she was on the bed, yes.” (Id.) Smith also told Detective
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Hendrix that “she was kind of in and out throughout his encounter with her,” and at some

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point, he was not sure if she was really passed out. (Id. at 48.) After Detective Hendrix

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explained that a woman cannot legally consent to sexual intercourse “if she’s in an

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inebriated state or whatever,” Smith said that “he did not think she consented based on

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that definition.” (Id. at 51.) Later, in a second interview, Smith told Detective Hendrix that

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“[h]e put [a] gas mask up to [the woman’s] face for a short period of time” while she was

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passed out “before he started having sex with her.” (Id. at 57.)

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After the state finished its direct examination, the state district court excused the

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jury and asked Detective Hendrix about “a tape and transcript” of the interviews. (Id. at

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60–61.) Detective Hendrix indicated that the tapes were two-and-a-half hours long and

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that he believed “the majority of it is relevant because there are certain things [Smith]

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says towards the beginning of the interview, and contradicts himself layer [sic] in the

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interview.” (Id. at 62.) The state district court indicated that it was concerned about the

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tapes because “there’s been some discussion before [the] trial here about possible

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inaccuracies in the transcript.” (Id.)

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The state district court indicated that it was going to listen to the tapes during the

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lunchbreak “to try to get a sense of just how clear these are” based on Detective

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Hendrix’s previous testimony during direct examination that Smith “mumbled a lot, the

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sentences trail off, he was hard to understand, he was unintelligible.” (Id. at 63, 66–67.)

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Smith’s trial counsel requested that the tapes be played for the jury because “[t]he best

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evidence of Mr. Detective Hendrix’s impression of what happened during the interview

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is on that tape.” (Id. at 68.) The state district court responded that Smith’s trial counsel

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could question Detective Hendrix’s memory, “[a]nd, of course, [Smith] can give his

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rendition if he feels it’s appropriate.” (Id.)

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Following a recess, both the state and Smith’s trial counsel urged the state district

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court to play the tapes. (Id. at 69–70.) The state argued “that the entire taped statements

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are very relevant and should be played” and commented that it “had all along been

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intending on playing the tapes in their entirety, and had conveyed that to the Defense.”

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(Id. at 70.) The state them commented:

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I think because it’s the defendant’s statement it’s important to my case. I
think the Defense believes it’s important to their case because there are
portions that are helpful to the Defense. This is obviously a consent
defense. And there are two ways the defendant’s position can be made
known to the jury. One is through his statement to the police, and two is if
he testifies himself. My concern is, the Court indicated earlier on the record
to the Defense that the defendant can clear it up by getting on the stand
and testifying. And I think that that almost forces the defendant to testify
which he has a constitutional right not to do. He has a constitutional right to
stay off the stand and to present his case through his statement to the
police. And I think that the only realistic way at this point to present his
statement to the police to the jury, is by playing those tapes. . . . I don’t want
to compound error or create error. I think it would not be error for that part
of the tape to come in. I don’t know that I would argue that but it’s certainly
an inference that the jury can infer. . . . My concern is that the state of the
record right now, if the tapes do not come in it will be reversible error, and
we’ll be here in three years trying it again.

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(Id. at 70–72.) The state district court then explained:
I gave one of these tapes to my bailiff, and one to my secretary, and I took
one. We played them on three different tape records. My secretary’s view
of it, first she said it sounded like a horse galloping on her tape. . . . My bailiff
listened to his tape, and it was such that he could hear the officer pretty
clearly, but he could not hear the response of the defendant on the tape.
And that was what I found with my tape. The problem with that is, that it
necessarily allows the jury to guess what the response is. And I suppose
that either side can bolster their rendition of what they think the tape says,
but to me it is just asking for trouble. And, [Smith’s trial counsel], you’ve
exclaimed [sic] your view of the law, which I don’t disagree with what it talks
about is bringing in the entire record, not just play excerpts and make the
most of it, and not let the other side have the complete view of it. Certainly,
we all recognize that. But my view of this is, that evidence must be of a
quality which will assist or aid the jury in reaching a determination of the
facts. And my listening of this is that it is subject to various interpretations. .
. . If the quality of the tape is such that it’s anyone’s guess on occasion of
what’s being said, then we’ve got a problem. And as I indicated to [Smith’s
trial counsel], the transcript seems to be a problem. We’ve already
mentioned one. I can understand why it’s a problem. If I was trying to
transcribe this thing, I would have a heck of a time. So you can reserve the
issue for appeal. I’m going to disallow the tape and the transcript.
(Id. at 73–74.)
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In response, Smith’s trial counsel commented that Detective Hendrix’s memory

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of the interview was cloudy due to the interview occurring approximately two years

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earlier and that the state district court’s ruling “places Mr. Smith in a possible situation,

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as far as his Fifth Amendment rights, not to testify in this particular case.” (Id. at 76–77.)

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The state district court commented, “[t]he problem is, the tape is not constructive use, in

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my view, so we will have to deal with what we have, which is a witness who is testifying

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based on his memory.” (Id. at 77.) Rather, the state district court explained that Smith’s

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trial counsel “can ask [Detective Hendrix] questions that would suggest a different

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response and [sic] that which was given to the tape.” (Id. at 77.) The state district court,

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however, did allow the transcript to be used “to refresh memory in instances where it is

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genuinely a possibility and looks like we can do so.” (Id. at 88.)

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“The right of an accused in a criminal trial to due process is, in essence, the right

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to a fair opportunity to defend against the State’s accusations.” Chambers v. Mississippi,

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410 U.S. 284, 294 (1973) (holding that the exclusion of critical corroborative evidence

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was unconstitutional because it interfered with the defendant’s right to defend himself).

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Indeed, “[t]he Supreme Court has made clear that the erroneous exclusion of critical,

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corroborative defense evidence may violate both the Fifth Amendment due process right

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to a fair trial and the Sixth Amendment right to present a defense.” DePetris v.

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Kuykendall, 239 F.3d 1057, 1062 (9th Cir. 2001) (holding that the erroneous exclusion

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of the petitioner’s journal and any reference to it, even petitioner’s own testimony,

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“unconstitutionally interfered with her ability to defend against the charges against her”

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because “this highly probative evidence went to the crux of the case, and the harm

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caused by its exclusion was not cured by the receipt of other evidence that was

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significantly less compelling”).

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“[T]he Constitution [also] guarantees criminal defendants ‘a meaningful

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opportunity to present a complete defense.’” Crane v. Kentucky, 476 U.S. 683, 690

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(1986) (quoting California v. Trombetta, 467 U.S. 479, 485 (1984)). A defendant’s

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opportunity to be heard “would be an empty one if the State were permitted to exclude
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competent, reliable evidence . . . when such evidence is central to the defendant’s claim

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of innocence.” Id. This is because, “[i]n the absence of any valid state justification,

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exclusion of . . . exculpatory evidence deprives a defendant of the basic right to have

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the prosecutor’s case encounter and ‘survive the crucible of meaningful adversarial

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testing.’” Id. at 690–91 (quoting United States v. Cronic, 466 U.S. 648, 656 (1984)). That

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being said, the United States Supreme Court has “never questioned the power of States

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to exclude evidence through the application of evidentiary rules that themselves serve

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the interests of fairness and reliability—even if the defendant would prefer to see that

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evidence admitted.” Id. at 690.

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To be sure, Smith’s police interview statements were critical defense evidence

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because they were Smith’s only opportunity—absent testifying at trial—to explain his

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version of the events that transpired. However, even if portions of Smith’s police

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interview statement were exculpatory, as the state admitted, it cannot be concluded that

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Smith’s constitutional rights were violated by the state district court’s decision to disallow

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the tape recordings and transcripts of the interview to be admitted. The state district

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court determined that Nevada law prohibited the introduction of the tape recordings and

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transcripts because they were of poor quality, would not have assisted the jury, and

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were open to various interpretations. (ECF No. 16-20 at 73–74.) The Nevada Supreme

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Court, the final arbiter of Nevada law, agreed, finding that “it was not unreasonable for

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the district court to exclude the tapes and the transcript due to the potential for confusing

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or misleading the jury under NRS 48.035(1).” (ECF No. 17-1 at 4.) Accordingly, because

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the state district court determined that the evidence was unreliable, thereby constituting

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a valid state justification for disallowing the evidence, id. at 690–91, it cannot be

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concluded that Smith’s right to present a complete defense, right to due process, and

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right to a fair trial were violated.

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Moreover, importantly, Smith’s trial counsel was able to cross-examine Detective

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Hendrix with Smith’s exculpatory interview statements and to use the police interview

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transcript to refresh Detective Hendrix’s recollection of any statements he may have
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forgotten about. Indeed, during cross-examination, Smith’s trial counsel indicated to

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Detective Hendrix that he had a copy of the transcript and he was “going through it as

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[questioning went] along.” (ECF No. 16-20 at 95.) Thereafter, Smith’s trial counsel asked

4

Detective Hendrix numerous questions highlighting Smith’s exculpatory interview

5

statements: whether “Mr. Smith had told [him] that he had a conversation with Ms.

6

Solorzano in the back of the cab;” whether Smith “told [him] that she had said ‘yeah’ to

7

the question to come over to his house;” whether “Mr. Smith actually told [him] that Ms.

8

Solorzano, at some point while Mr. Smith was putting on the straps or something, said

9

something to the effect of: Ow, that hurts;” whether Smith told him “that she was

10

responsive to his questions;” whether Smith told him that “he was sorry that such a

11

mistake had been made” and that “he just wished the whole thing wouldn’t have

12

happened;” whether Smith had told him that Solorzano “seemed as if she was enjoying

13

[the sexual encounter] when her eyes were closed;” whether Smith had told him that he

14

and Solorzano sat on his bed talking and enjoying themselves before starting to have

15

sexual intercourse; whether Smith had told him that Solorzano was sitting up when he

16

placed her arms in the straps; whether Smith had told him that Solorazano walked from

17

the cab into his bedroom; whether Smith had told him that Solorzano “was acting like

18

normal”; whether Smith had told him that Solorzano was not passed out during the

19

encounter; whether Smith had told him that “at some point towards the end of their

20

encounter together, he had noticed a change in her attitude”; whether Smith had told

21

him that he “thought she knew what she was doing;” whether Smith had told him in

22

various ways on many occasions that he “thought it was mutual between the both of us;”

23

and whether Smith had told him that “up until the point where Ms. Solorzano actually got

24

out of the cab, he really didn’t think there was anything wrong.” (Id. at 95–112). Smith’s

25

trial counsel also confirmed, through Detective Hendrix’s testimony, that Smith was not

26

defiant during the interview and attempted to respond to all the questions asked. (Id. at

27

98.)

28

///
13

1

The foregoing cross-examination questions demonstrate that Smith’s police

2

interview statements were presented to the jury—albeit not in the fashion that Smith

3

desired. Accordingly, Smith’s argument that the exclusion of the recordings and

4

transcripts violated his right not to testify, right to present a complete defense, right to

5

due process, and right to a fair trial lacks merit. Smith was able to adequately present

6

his consent defense to the jury through his trial counsel’s cross-examination of Detective

7

Hendrix thereby negating the need for Smith to testify in order to present his version of

8

the events. Because the Court determines that fairminded jurists would agree that this

9

reasoning establishing that Smith’s federal constitutional rights were not violated was

10

not inconsistent with prior decisions of the United States Supreme Court, Harrington,

11

562 U.S. at 102, Smith is not entitled to relief on Ground 1.

12

B.

13

In Ground 2, Smith asserts that his federal constitutional rights were violated

14

when the state district court improperly allowed a witness to describe Solorzano as a

15

“typical rape victim.” (ECF No. 15 at 20.) In Smith’s appeal of his judgment of conviction,

16

the Nevada Supreme Court held:

17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28

Ground 2

Smith argues that the district court improperly permitted Leroy Dumag, an
EMT and security officer with the Luxor Hotel, to characterize Solorzano as
a “typical rape victim” he had encountered in the past. The State responds
by asserting that Dumag was qualified to characterize Solorzano in this
manner because of his experience as a police officer and deputy sheriff,
and his handling of several sexual assault cases in the past.
“[A] district court has discretion to qualify a particular witness as an expert
and to permit that witness to give opinion evidence.” NRS 50.345 permits
introduction of expert testimony to demonstrate that a victim’s mental or
physical condition is consistent with that of one who has suffered sexual
assault. Further, NRS 50.265 permits a lay witness to testify only as to
observations rationally based on the witness’s perceptions and helpful to a
clear understanding of the witness’s testimony.
We conclude that the district court abused its discretion in permitting Dumag
to refer to Solorzano as a “typical rape victim.” NRS 50.345 permits no other
type of testimony, other than that given by an expert, regarding the physical
and mental condition of a sexual assault victim. The State never offered
Dumag as an expert, or complied with the procedures necessary to qualify
14

1
2

Dumag as an expert. Regardless, we conclude that the error does not
compel reversal, as explained below.
Harmless error

3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12

Despite the errors associated with prosecutorial delivery of improper
statements during closing argument and admission of improper lay witness
testimony, we conclude that these errors are harmless beyond a reasonable
doubt.
First, Evidence [sic] at trial indicated that Solorzano was mentally unable to
consent to sex per NRS 200.366(1). Both Solorzano and Patricia Caballero
testified regarding Solorzano’s extensive and prolonged drinking at dinner
the night before the incident and ending shortly before Solorzano got into
the cab with Smith. Also, Smith told police that Solorzano was in an out of
consciousness in the cab and at his house, and that he could smell alcohol
on her breath. Second, Luxor security personnel testified as to Solorzano’s
distraught behavior after Smith dropped her off at the hotel. Third,
Solorzano testified with some particularity regarding the incident, which is
sufficient in itself to uphold a conviction. Therefore, we also conclude that
sufficient evidence supports the jury’s verdict.

13

(ECF No. 17-1 at 5–7 (internal footnotes omitted).) The Nevada Supreme Court’s

14

rejection of this claim was neither contrary to nor an unreasonable application of clearly

15

established law as determined by the United States Supreme Court.

16

Leroy Dumag, an EMT and security officer at the Luxor Hotel and Casino, testified

17

that he was previously employed as a police officer and deputy sheriff for an aggregate

18

of nine years. (ECF No. 16-16 at 24–25.) During his time in those positions, Dumag

19

worked on “several” rape cases. (Id. at 25.) Dumag explained that he received training

20

through his law enforcement duties regarding rape victims. (Id. at 26.) Regarding the

21

incident in question, Dumag testified that he “was called out to a case where it was a

22

hysterical woman and they needed an EMT to try and see what the problem was.” (Id.)

23

After explaining that he approached Solorzano, the following discussion took place

24

between the state and Dumag:

25
26
27
28

Q.
A.

What did you do?
I reached over, like I normally do, I put a gentle hand on her and said,
‘How can I help you?’ And she pulled away from me and she said,
‘I’ve just been - - I can’t remember her exact words, but she said in
the sense of I was just assaulted. And the way she was crying, I just
didn’t want to touch her.
15

1
2

Q.
A.

Why did she not want you to touch her?
Because she reacted as a typical rape victim that I’ve handled in the
past.

3

(Id. at 27–28.) Smith’s trial counsel objected, but the state district court ruled that “[i]f

4

that’s his opinion based on his experience, I’ll let him voice it. Go ahead.” (Id. at 28.)

5

“A habeas petitioner bears a heavy burden in showing a due process violation

6

based on an evidentiary decision.” Boyde v. Brown, 404 F.3d 1159, 1172 (9th Cir. 2005),

7

as amended on reh’g, 421 F.3d 1154 (9th Cir. 2005). “[C]laims deal[ing] with admission

8

of evidence” are “issue[s] of state law.” Holley v. Yarborough, 568 F.3d 1091, 1101 (9th

9

Cir. 2009); see also Lewis v. Jeffers, 497 U.S. 764 (1990) (“[F]ederal habeas corpus

10

relief does not lie for errors of state law.”). Therefore, the issue before this Court is

11

“whether the state proceedings satisfied due process.” Jammal v. Van de Kamp, 926

12

F.2d 918, 919–20 (9th Cir. 1991). In order for the admission of evidence to provide a

13

basis for habeas relief, the evidence must have “rendered the trial fundamentally unfair

14

in violation of due process.” Johnson v. Sublett, 63 F.3d 926, 930 (9th Cir. 1995) (citing

15

Estelle v. McGuire, 502 U.S. 62, 67 (1991)). Not only must there be “no permissible

16

inference the jury may draw from the evidence,” but also the evidence must “be of such

17

quality as necessarily prevents a fair trial.” Jammal, 926 F.2d at 920 (emphasis in

18

original) (citation omitted).

19

Although Dumag’s statement that Solorzano acted like a typical rape victim had

20

no permissible inference, it cannot be concluded that this statement rendered Smith’s

21

trial fundamentally unfair in violation of his due process rights. Estelle, 502 U.S. at 67;

22

Sublett, 63 F.3d at 930; Jammal, 926 F.2d at 920. As the Nevada Supreme Court

23

reasonably noted, Dumag was never offered as an expert by the state, so his statement

24

was improper. However, this single statement by an EMT and security officer in

25

response to being asked why he did not touch Solorzano cannot be considered

26

especially inflammatory. See Hovey v. Ayers, 458 F.3d 892, 923 (9th Cir. 2006)

27

(explaining that “even if there are no permissible inferences the jury can draw from the

28

evidence in question, due process is violated only if the evidence is ‘of such quality as
16

1

necessarily prevents a fair trial’” and reasoning that “[w]e have held that admission of

2

far more inflammatory evidence did not violate due process”). Further, “[u]nder AEDPA,

3

even clearly erroneous admissions of evidence that render a trial fundamentally unfair

4

may not permit the grant of federal habeas corpus relief if not forbidden by ‘clearly

5

established Federal law,’ as laid out by the Supreme Court.” Yarborough, 568 F.3d at

6

1101 (citing 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d)); see also Dowling v. United States, 493 U.S. 342, 352

7

(1990) (explaining that the Supreme Court has “defined the category of infractions that

8

violate ‘fundamental fairness’ very narrowly”). And importantly, the Supreme Court “has

9

not yet made a ruling that admission of irrelevant or overtly prejudicial evidence

10
11
12

constitutes a due process violation sufficient to warrant issuance of the writ.” Id.
Accordingly, the Nevada Supreme Court’s decision denying Smith relief on this
claim was reasonable. Smith is denied federal habeas relief for Ground 2.

13

C.

14

In Ground 3, Smith asserts that his federal constitutional rights were violated

15

when the state committed multiple instances of misconduct during closing argument.

16

(ECF No. 15 at 22.) In Smith’s appeal of his judgment of conviction, the Nevada

17

Supreme Court held:

18
19
20
21
22
23

Ground 3

Smith takes issue with several of the prosecution’s statements delivered in
opening and closing arguments. Smith failed to object to these arguments;
therefore, we will assess each in turn for plain error. In undertaking plain
error review, we examine whether an “error” occurred, whether the error
was “plain” or clear, and whether the error affected the defendant’s
substantial rights.
Motive to lie
The prosecution delivered the following statement in closing argument:

24
25
26
27
28

Who is the only person that you saw in this entire room who
has got something to lose? Him, the defendant, the person
charged with these crimes, the only person who has a reason
to not be honest.
We conclude that this type of argument is always improper. First, it is
improper to characterize the defendant as a liar. Second, under this
17

1
2

argument, the State need only charge a person to motivate that person to
be dishonest. However, this argument does not merit reversal, as it did not
affect Smith’s substantial rights, as explained in the harmless error analysis
below.

3
4
5
6
7
8
9

Disparaging defense counsel
The prosecution also stated in closing argument the following:
[Defense counsel] talked a little bit about the defendant being
consistent in what he said to Detective Hendrix. Was he in the
same courtroom we were?
We conclude that this argument was not improper. In any event, the
argument does not warrant reversal of the convictions below.

10

Implications in larger social problems

11

Lastly, the prosecutor argued the following in its rebuttal closing argument:

12

They want you to believe that we inflamed you by bringing in
all these sex toys. You know what, you should be inflamed.
This happened in our town. A cab driver took somebody who
is a tourist in our town, and we survive based on tourists. We
don’t pay state income taxes because of tourists.

13
14
15
16
17

The cab driver from our town took a tourist to our town and
did this to her. You should be inflamed, and look at what he
did to her. He took her into his bed while she was passed out
and she was, basically, poured into the cab.

18
19
20
21
22

This commentary was inappropriate because it shifts the jury’s focus away
from whether Smith committed the crimes at issue, and toward implication
of Smith in greater general social and economic issues, which are irrelevant
and potentially prejudicial. Under the circumstances presented in this case,
reversal is unwarranted, as explained below. Nonetheless, we caution the
prosecution to refrain from such commentary in the future.
...
Harmless error

23
24
25

Despite the errors associated with prosecutorial delivery of improper
statements during closing argument and admission of improper lay witness
testimony, we conclude that these errors are harmless beyond a reasonable
doubt.

26
27
28

First, Evidence [sic] at trial indicated that Solorzano was mentally unable to
consent to sex per NRS 200.366(1). Both Solorzano and Patricia Caballero
testified regarding Solorzano’s extensive and prolonged drinking at dinner
18

1
2
3
4
5

the night before the incident and ending shortly before Solorzano got into
the cab with Smith. Also, Smith told police that Solorzano was in an out of
consciousness in the cab and at his house, and that he could smell alcohol
on her breath. Second, Luxor security personnel testified as to Solorzano’s
distraught behavior after Smith dropped her off at the hotel. Third,
Solorzano testified with some particularity regarding the incident, which is
sufficient in itself to uphold a conviction. Therefore, we also conclude that
sufficient evidence supports the jury’s verdict.

6

(ECF No. 17-1 at 4–7 (internal footnotes omitted).) The Nevada Supreme Court’s

7

rejection of this claim was neither contrary to nor an unreasonable application of clearly

8

established law as determined by the United States Supreme Court.

9

“[T]he touchstone of due process analysis in cases of alleged prosecutorial

10

misconduct is the fairness of the trial, not the culpability of the prosecutor.” Smith v.

11

Phillips, 455 U.S. 209, 219 (1982). “The relevant question is whether the prosecutors’

12

comments ‘so infected the trial with unfairness as to make the resulting conviction a

13

denial of due process.’” Darden v. Wainwright, 477 U.S. 168, 181 (1986) (quoting

14

Donnelly v. DeChristoforo, 416 U.S. 637, 643 (1974)); see also Brown v. Borg, 951 F.2d

15

1011, 1017 (9th Cir. 1991) (“Improprieties in closing arguments can, themselves, violate

16

due process.”). A court must judge the remarks “in the context in which they are made.”

17

Boyde v. California, 494 U.S. 370, 385 (1990). The fairness of a trial is measured “by

18

considering, inter alia, (1) whether the prosecutor’s comments manipulated or misstated

19

the evidence; (2) whether the trial court gave a curative instruction; and (3) the weight

20

of the evidence against the accused.” Tan v. Runnels, 413 F.3d 1101, 1115 (9th Cir.

21

2005). “[P]rosecutorial misconduct[ ] warrant[s] relief only if [it] ‘had substantial and

22

injurious effect or influence in determining the jury’s verdict.’” Wood v. Ryan, 693 F.3d

23

1104, 1113 (9th Cir. 2012) (quoting Brecht v. Abrahamson, 507 U.S. 619, 637–38

24

(1993)).

25
26
27
28

First, Smith takes issue with the following comment by the state during its
surrebuttal argument:
They want you to believe that we inflamed you by bringing in all these sex
toys. You know what, you should be inflamed. This happened in our town.
19

1
2
3
4

A cab driver took somebody who is a tourist in our town, and we survive
based on tourists. We don’t pay state income taxes because of tourists.
The cab driver from our town took a tourist to our town and did this to her.
You should be inflamed, and look at what he did to her. He took her into his
bed while she was passed out and she was, basically, poured into the cab.

5

(ECF No. 16-20 at 173.) Smith argues that this comment sought to inflame the jury,

6

blame Smith for Nevada’s tourism and tax issues, and called upon the jury to convict

7

Smith to correct these issues. (ECF No. 15 at 23.) It appears that this comment was

8

made in rebuttal to Smith’s trial counsel’s closing argument that “they’ve brought out all

9

of these things, all of these different devices and lubrication . . . they’ve put on this side

10

show in order to inflame you.” (ECF No. 16-20 at 148.) Because this comment

11

irrelevantly turned the focus of Smith’s trial to social and economic issues in an attempt

12

to appeal to the jurors’ emotions, the Nevada Supreme Court reasonably concluded that

13

the state’s comment was inappropriate. See United States v. Weatherspoon, 410 F.3d

14

1142, 1149 (9th Cir. 2005) (“We have consistently cautioned against prosecutorial

15

statements designed to appeal to the passions, fears and vulnerabilities of the jury”);

16

United States v. Nobari, 574 F.3d 1065, 1077 (9th Cir. 2009) (finding that “[t]he

17

prosecution’s comment was an improper appeal to jurors’ emotions and fears”).

18

However, the Nevada Supreme Court also reasonably concluded that this inappropriate

19

comment did not warrant the granting of relief.

20

Detective Hendrix testified that Smith told him that Solorzano “was in and out,”

21

that “at some point while he was having sex with her she was out of consciousness,”

22

and that at some point, he was not sure if she was really passed out. (ECF No. 16-20 at

23

47–48.) Additionally, Solorzano testified that when she woke up, she felt that something

24

had been inserted into her vagina, but she did not consent to sexual intercourse with

25

Smith. (ECF No. 16-18 at 39–40.) Due to this substantial evidence of Smith’s guilt, it

26

cannot be concluded that the state’s improper closing argument “had [a] substantial and

27

injurious effect or influence in determining the jury’s verdict.” Brecht, 507 U.S. at 637–

28

38. Moreover, the jury was instructed that “[s]tatements, arguments and opinions of
20

1

counsel are not evidence in this case.” (ECF No. 16-21 at 14.) Therefore, it cannot be

2

concluded that the state’s outlying comment about tourism constituted a due process

3

violation. See Allen v. Woodford, 395 F.3d 979, 998 (9th Cir. 2005) (finding that

4

prosecutorial misconduct did not amount to a due process violation where the trial court

5

gave an instruction that the attorneys’ statements were not evidence and where the

6

prosecutors presented substantial evidence of the defendant’s guilt).

7

Second, Smith takes issue with the following comment by the state during its

8

surrebuttal argument: “Who is the only person that you saw in this entire courtroom who

9

has got something to lose? Him, the defendant, the person charged with these crimes,

10

the only person who has a reason to not be honest.” (ECF No. 16-20 at 176.) The

11

Nevada Supreme Court reasonably concluded that this comment was improper. See

12

United States v. Garcia-Guizar, 160 F.3d 511, 520 (9th Cir. 1998) (agreeing that the

13

prosecutor committed misconduct when the “prosecutor asserted a personal opinion

14

regarding [the defendant’s] credibility by calling him ‘a liar’”); see also United States v.

15

Potter, 616 F.2d 384, 392 (9th Cir. 1979) (recognizing that it was unprofessional for the

16

prosecutor to have commented “that the defendant’s testimony was ‘inherently

17

incredible’”). However, for the same reasons identified previously regarding the state’s

18

improper argument about tourism, the Nevada Supreme Court also reasonably

19

concluded that this inappropriate comment did not warrant the granting of relief.

20

Third, Smith takes issue with the following comment by the state during its

21

surrebuttal argument: “[Smith’s trial counsel] talked a little bit about the defendant being

22

consistent in what he said to Detective Hendrix. Was he in the same courtroom that we

23

were?” (ECF No. 16-20 at 179.) Following this comment, the state elaborated: “Detective

24

Hendrix sat here and said repeatedly that the defendant gave inconsistent statements,

25

that he would go ask him a question at one point in the interview, and ask him the same

26

or similar question later in the interview, and he kept getting different answers.” (Id.) The

27

Nevada Supreme Court reasonably concluded that the state’s comment allegedly

28

disparaging Smith’s trial counsel was not improper. See United States v. Sayetsitty, 107
21

1

F.3d 1405, 1409 (9th Cir. 1997) (“Criticism of defense theories and tactics is a proper

2

subject of closing argument.”); see also United States v. Lopez-Alvarez, 970 F.2d 583,

3

597 (9th Cir. 1992) (“[T]he propriety of the prosecutor’s remarks must be judged in

4

relation to what would constitute a fair response to the remarks of defense counsel.”).

5
6

Because the Nevada Supreme Court reasonably denied Smith relief on his
prosecutorial misconduct claims, Smith is denied federal habeas relief for Ground 3.

7

D.

Ground 4

8

In Ground 4, Smith asserts that his federal constitutional rights were violated

9

when the state committed misconduct by failing to test Solorzano’s blood sample for

10

methamphetamine after her urine sample came back positive for amphetamines. (ECF

11

No. 15 at 24.) Smith elaborates that the state, having chosen not to conduct further

12

testing that would have confirmed whether Solorzano had taken illegal drugs, could not

13

later argue facts not in evidence by suggesting an innocent explanation for the positive

14

urine test—and thereby profit from its lack of testing—when there was no evidence at

15

trial supporting such an innocent explanation. (Id.)

16

In Smith’s appeal of his judgment of conviction, the Nevada Supreme Court held

17

that Smith’s argument that there was “prosecutorial misconduct in failing to test

18

Solorzano’s blood for drugs” was without merit. (ECF No. 17-1 at 8.) Because Smith’s

19

claim was denied on the merits without explanation by the Nevada Supreme Court, this

20

Court “determine[s] what arguments or theories supported or . . . could have supported,

21

the state court’s decision; and then it must ask whether it is possible fairminded jurists

22

could disagree that those arguments or theories are inconsistent with the holding in a

23

prior decision of [the United States Supreme] Court.” Harrington, 562 U.S. at 102.

24

Marian Adams, a sexual assault nurse examiner, testified that she performed a

25

sexual assault exam on Solorzano on September 3, 2001, which entailed, in part, the

26

obtainment of a blood and a urine sample. (ECF No. 16-17 at 47, 50.) Adams testified

27

that Solorzano’s blood alcohol level was .189 and her urine tested positive for

28

amphetamines. (Id. at 56.) The following colloquy then occurred:
22

1
2

Q.
A.

3
4

Q.
A.

5
6
7
8
9

Q.

A.

What does that mean? What kind of a test is this to determine there
was a positive test for amphetamines?
It’s a prelim, and it tells us that if we want to - - there would be another
further test if we wanted to go further with that.
What do you mean by prelim?
There are different groups that can come positive for an
amphetamine. Anything with ephedra could be positive for an
amphetamine. Any kind of cough syrup, the power drinks that they
now have ephedrine in it. Diet pills have ephedrine in it. Some basic
food groups have ephedrine in it which could show positive for
amphetamines.
So the positive test that we have here could be from some food,
could be some diet pills? It could be from some drink, but it doesn’t
necessarily mean the actual methamphetamine?
That’s correct.

10
11
12

(Id. at 57.) Later, Smith’s trial counsel cross-examined Adams about these tests:
Q.

13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21

A.
Q.
A.
Q.

A.
Q.
A.
Q.
A.
Q.
A.

22
23
24
25

Q.
A.

. . . this urine screen that you did for the ephedra or for the
amphetamines could test positive for amphetamines because a
person is taking cold medication, as you testified to?
Yes, sir.
Or it could be maybe some sort of allergy pill or something, correct?
That’s correct.
And in your report you indicate that there are other tests that can be
done on the urine to determine whether or not, in fact, it is
methamphetamine, correct?
That’s correct, sir.
Or some other controlled substance?
That’s correct, sir.
To your knowledge, none of those follow-up tests were done in this
particular case, correct?
That blood sample was taken to the crime lab, sir.
To your knowledge, do you know the results of those.
I don’t know. I have no idea, sir. Once I finish with my exam, I have
no contact with the crime lab.
To the best of your knowledge here today, you don’t know whether
or not those tests were ever actually performed, correct?
No, sir, I don’t.

(Id. at 60–61.)

26

First, Smith’s argument that his constitutional rights were violated when the state

27

failed to submit Solorzano’s blood for further testing lacks merit. “[T]he police do not

28

have a constitutional duty to perform any particular tests.” Arizona v. Youngblood, 488
23

1

U.S. 51, 59 (1988) (explaining that the Due Process Clause is not violated when the

2

police fail to use a particular investigatory tool); see also Mitchell v. Goldsmith, 878 F.2d

3

319, 322 (9th Cir. 1989) (explaining that the state has “no constitutional duty to perform

4

any particular test”). Second, Smith’s argument that the state improperly suggested an

5

innocent explanation for Solorzano’s urine test, which showed a positive result for

6

amphetamines, also lacks merit. Importantly, the state did not suggest that cough syrup,

7

power drinks or diet pills could have been the cause of Solorzano’s positive test—the

8

nurse brought this up without prompting from the state. (See ECF No. 16-70 at 57.) The

9

state then clarified that the positive test result for amphetamines “doesn’t necessarily

10

mean [Solorzano had taken] actual methamphetamine,” (id.) thereby indicating that

11

although there may have been an innocent explanation for the urine test result, there

12

was also the possibility that the urine test result was due to illegal drug use. Accordingly,

13

this questioning by the state does not amount to prosecutorial misconduct. Darden, 477

14

U.S. at 181. Because the Court determines that fairminded jurists would agree that this

15

reasoning establishing that Smith’s federal constitutional rights were not violated was

16

not inconsistent with prior decisions of the United States Supreme Court, Harrington,

17

562 U.S. at 102, Smith is not entitled to relief on Ground 4.
Ground 6 2

18

E.

19

In Ground 6, Smith alleges that his federal constitutional rights were violated due

20

to several instances of ineffective assistance of his trial counsel. (ECF No. 15 at 26.) In

21

Strickland, the Supreme Court propounded a two-prong test for analysis of claims of

22

ineffective assistance of counsel requiring the petitioner to demonstrate (1) that the

23

attorney’s “representation fell below an objective standard of reasonableness,” and (2)

24

that the attorney’s deficient performance prejudiced the defendant such that “there is a

25

reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s unprofessional errors, the result of the

26

proceeding would have been different.” Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 688,

27

694 (1984). A court considering a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel must apply

28

2Ground

5 will be discussed with Ground 6(b).
24

1

a “strong presumption that counsel’s conduct falls within the wide range of reasonable

2

professional assistance.” Id. at 689. The petitioner’s burden is to show “that counsel

3

made errors so serious that counsel was not functioning as the ‘counsel’ guaranteed the

4

defendant by the Sixth Amendment.” Id. at 687. Additionally, to establish prejudice under

5

Strickland, it is not enough for the habeas petitioner “to show that the errors had some

6

conceivable effect on the outcome of the proceeding.” Id. at 693. Rather, the errors must

7

be “so serious as to deprive the defendant of a fair trial, a trial whose result is reliable.”

8

Id. at 687.

9

Where a state district court previously adjudicated the claim of ineffective

10

assistance of counsel under Strickland, establishing that the decision was unreasonable

11

is especially difficult. See Harrington, 562 U.S. at 104–05. In Harrington, the United

12

States Supreme Court instructed:

13

19

The standards created by Strickland and § 2254(d) are both “highly
deferential,” [Strickland, 466 U.S. at 689]; Lindh v. Murphy, 521 U.S. 320,
333, n.7, 117 S.Ct. 2059, 138 L.Ed.2d 481 (1997), and when the two apply
in tandem, review is “doubly” so, Knowles [v. Mirzayance, 556 U.S. 111,
123 (2009)]. The Strickland standard is a general one, so the range of
reasonable applications is substantial. 556 U.S., at 123, 129 S.Ct. at 1420.
Federal habeas courts must guard against the danger of equating
unreasonableness under Strickland with unreasonableness under §
2254(d). When § 2254(d) applies, the question is not whether counsel’s
actions were reasonable. The question is whether there is any reasonably
argument that counsel satisfied Strickland’s deferential standard.

20

Id. at 105; see also Cheney v. Washington, 614 F.3d 987, 995 (9th Cir. 2010) (internal

21

quotation marks omitted) (“When a federal court reviews a state court’s Strickland

22

determination under AEDPA, both AEDPA and Strickland’s deferential standards apply;

23

hence, the Supreme Court’s description of the standard as doubly deferential.”).

14
15
16
17
18

24

1. Ground 6(b) and Ground 5

25

In Ground 6(b), Smith asserts that his trial counsel failed to have him testify in his

26

own defense once the state district court excluded his police interview tape recordings

27

and transcripts, failed to consult with him regarding his right to testify, and failed to

28

secure a waiver of his right to testify. (ECF No. 15 at 27.) This Court previously
25

1

determined that Smith failed to allege some of these arguments in his state-court post-

2

conviction proceedings. (See ECF No. 50 at 6.) However, this Court determined that

3

these additional arguments did not fundamentally alter the claim that the Nevada

4

Supreme Court considered. (Id. (citing Vasquez v. Hillery, 474 U.S. 254, 260 (1986)

5

(holding that “the supplemental evidence presented by respondent did not

6

fundamentally alter the legal claim already considered by the state courts, and,

7

therefore, did not require that respondent be remitted to state court for consideration of

8

that evidence”)).)

9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18

In Smith’s appeal of the denial of his state habeas petition, the Nevada Supreme
Court held:
[A]ppellant claims that counsel was ineffective for commenting on
appellant’s right to remain silent during closing arguments. Appellant fails
to demonstrate that counsel was deficient. Trial counsel stated during
closing arguments, “[o]ne of the most important witnesses in this case didn’t
get on the stand and testify, but you heard what they had to say, and that is
Keith in that interview.” At the evidentiary hearing counsel testified that his
choice to make this statement was a tactical decision. He wanted to use
appellant’s statements in the interview in order to tell appellant’s side
because appellant did not testify at trial. “Tactical decisions [of counsel] are
virtually unchallengeable absent extraordinary circumstances,” Ford v.
State, 105 Nev. 850, 853, 784 P.2d 951, 953 (1989), and appellant failed to
demonstrate any extraordinary circumstances. Therefore, the district court
did not err in denying this claim.

19
20

(ECF No. 17-39 at 3.)

21

Similarly, in Ground 5, Smith asserts that his federal constitutional rights were

22

violated when he was denied the right to testify in his own defense. (ECF No. 15 at 25.)

23

Smith raised this issue in his original appeal of the denial of his state habeas petition.

24

(See ECF No. 17-17 at 38–41.) However, the Nevada Supreme Court did not address

25

it. (See ECF Nos. 17-20, 17-39.) “When a federal claim has been presented to a state

26

court and the state court has denied relief, it may be presumed that the state court

27

adjudicated the claim on the merits in the absence of any indication or state-law

28

procedural principles to the contrary.” Harrington, 562 U.S. at 99. Thus, this court must
26

1

“determine what arguments or theories supported or . . . could have supported, the state

2

court’s decision; and then it must ask whether it is possible fairminded jurists could

3

disagree that those arguments or theories are inconsistent with the holding in a prior

4

decision of [the United States Supreme] Court.” Id. at 102.

5

Following Detective Hendrix’s testimony, outside the presence of the jury, the

6

state district court informed Smith that he had “a right under the Constitution of the

7

United States, and under the Constitution of the State of Nevada not to be compelled to

8

testify,” but Smith “may, if [he] wish[ed], give up this right and take the witness stand and

9

testify.” (ECF No. 16-20 at 129.) Smith indicated that he understood these rights. (Id. at

10

129–130.) The state district court then explained:

11

There’s a lot involved here as to whether or not you testify. There’s some
strategic reasons that you not testify, or testify, whatever, that I’m sure
you’re not aware of because it’s very subtle. And it takes experienced
attorneys to evaluate just all the nuances as to when it’s good or not good
to testify.

12
13
14

It is your right. It is your decision to make. But what I tell people is, whatever
your attorneys told you should be considered, because there’s [a] lot to this
that the average individual who is not involved in the practice of law wouldn’t
understand.

15
16
17
18

(Id. at 131.) Smith again indicated that he understood. (Id. at 132.)

19

The state district court then stated that “we’re going to take a recess. When we

20

reconvene, of course, we’ll have to have an answer one way or the other.” (Id.) During

21

the recess, it appears that counsel convened in the state district court judge’s chambers.

22

(Id.) Following the recess, the state district court and counsel settled jury instructions.

23

(Id. at 132–34.) During those discussions, the state district court asked Smith’s trial

24

counsel if he elected “not to have the Carter instruction read having to do with [Smith]

25

not testifying,” and Smith’s trial counsel responded, “[t]hat’s correct.” (Id. at 134.)

26

Thereafter, the jury was brought back into the courtroom, and both the state and the

27

defense rested. (Id.)

28

///
27

1

Years later at Smith’s post-conviction evidentiary hearing, Smith’s trial counsel

2

testified that “Mr. Smith decided not to testify in the case.” (ECF No. 17-32 at 23.) Smith’s

3

trial counsel explained that he “presumed that the [police interview] tapes would be

4

played so that the jury could hear Mr. Smith’s explanation of what had happened,” which

5

would have been helpful to his defense because Smith made exculpatory statements in

6

the police interview and “was fairly consistent . . . that this was a consensual encounter

7

between himself and the alleged victim.” (Id. at 8, 10–11.) However, if Smith had decided

8

to testify after the state district court disallowed the tape recordings and transcripts of

9

the police interview, he would have been subject to cross-examination by “[i]ncredibly

10

experienced prosecutors.” (Id. at 23.) Instead, Smith’s trial counsel explained that he

11

was “able to elicit all of Mr. Smith’s self-exculpatory statements about consent” through

12

his cross-examination of Detective Hendrix. (Id. at 34.) Additionally, Smith’s trial counsel

13

used his closing argument to essentially “testify for Mr. Smith” by “using his words from

14

the transcript.” (Id. at 23.)

15

First, Smith’s contention that his trial counsel was deficient for failing to have him

16

testify after the police interview tape recordings and transcripts were disallowed lacks

17

merit. As this Court previously determined in Ground 1, Smith’s trial counsel was able

18

to cross-examine Detective Hendrix with Smith’s exculpatory interview statements,

19

thereby presenting Smith’s police interview statements to the jury. Importantly, Smith’s

20

trial counsel confirmed that his cross-examination of Detective Hendrix was successful

21

in eliciting all of Smith’s exculpatory police interview statements. (ECF No. 17-32 at 34.)

22

Accordingly, the need for Smith to testify was negated by the cross-examination of

23

Detective Hendrix. Further, if Smith had testified, he would have been subject to harsh

24

cross-examination. (Id. at 23.) Therefore, Smith fails to demonstrate that his trial counsel

25

was deficient for not having him testify. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 688, 694 (1984).

26

Second, Smith’s contention that his trial counsel was deficient for failing to consult

27

with him about testifying also lacks merit. Importantly, there is no evidence that Smith’s

28

trial counsel failed to consult with him. Rather, Smith’s trial counsel testified that “Mr.
28

1

Smith decided not to testify in the case.” (ECF No. 17-32 at 23.) The fact that Smith

2

made a decision about testifying and conveyed that decision to his trial counsel implies

3

that there was at least some discussion between Smith and his trial counsel about

4

testifying. Moreover, the state district court advised Smith to consider his trial counsel’s

5

advice about testifying, and Smith indicated that he understood. (ECF No. 16-20 at 131–

6

32.) Thus, Smith fails to meet his burden of demonstrating that his trial counsel was

7

deficient for not consulting him about testifying. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 688, 694 (1984).

8

Finally, Smith’s contentions that he was denied the right to testify and that his trial

9

counsel failed to secure a waiver of his right to testify lack merit. “[A] defendant in a

10

criminal case has the right to take the witness stand and to testify in his or her own

11

defense.” Rock v. Arkansas, 483 U.S. 44, 49 (1987). While a court cannot “presum[e]

12

waiver of a fundamental right from inaction,” Barker v. Wingo, 407 U.S. 514, 525 (1972),

13

the rule in the Ninth Circuit is that a knowing and voluntary waiver of the right to testify

14

is inferred when a defendant sits silently by when his attorney does not call him during

15

the defense’s case-in-chief:

16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26

[W]hile waiver of the right to testify must be knowing and voluntary, it need
not be explicit. [United States v. Joelson, 7 F.3d 174, 177 (9th Cir. 1993).]
A defendant is “presumed to assent to his attorney’s tactical decision not to
have him testify.” Id. The district court has no duty to affirmatively inform
defendants of their right to testify, or to inquire whether they wish to exercise
that right. United States v. Edwards, 897 F.2d 445, 447 (9th Cir. 1990);
United States v. Martinez, 883 F.2d 750, 760 (9th Cir. 1989), vacated on
other grounds, 928 F.2d 1470 (9th Cir. 1991). “[W]aiver of the right to testify
may be inferred from the defendant’s conduct and is presumed from the
defendant’s failure to testify or notify the court of his desire to do so.”
Joelson, 7 F.3d at 177. A defendant who wants to reject his attorney’s
advice and take the stand may do so “by insisting on testifying, speaking to
the court, or discharging his lawyer.” Id. When a defendant remains “silent
in the face of his attorney’s decision not to call him as a witness,” he waives
the right to testify. United States v. Nohara, 3 F.3d 1239, 1244 (9th Cir.
1993).
United States v. Pino-Noriega, 189 F.3d 1089, 1094–95 (9th Cir. 1999).

27

Here, Smith sat silently by during trial and made no claim on the record that he

28

allegedly wished to testify. (ECF No. 16-20 at 129–34.) Due to his silence, Smith waived
29

1

his right to testify. Id. at 1094–95; Nohara, 3 F.3d at 1244. Accordingly, Smith’s claims

2

that his trial counsel was deficient for failing to secure his waiver of the right to testify,

3

Strickland, 466 U.S. at 688, and that he was the denied the right to testify fail.

4

In sum, regarding Ground 6(b), the Nevada Supreme Court reasonably denied

5

Smith relief on his Strickland claim. And, regarding Ground 5, the Court determines that

6

fairminded jurists would agree that the foregoing reasoning establishing that Smith’s

7

right to testify was not violated was not inconsistent with prior decisions of the United

8

States Supreme Court. Harrington, 562 U.S. at 102. Therefore, Smith is denied federal

9

habeas relief for Grounds 6(b) and 5.
2. Ground 6(c)

10
11

In Ground 6(c), Smith asserts that his trial counsel failed to seek testing of

12

Solorzano’s blood sample. (ECF No. 15 at 30.) Smith explains that proof that Solorzano

13

used methamphetamine could have been used to impeach her and show that the effects

14

of her alcohol consumption were counteracted by methamphetamine, a stimulant. (Id.)

15

In Smith’s appeal of the denial of his state habeas petition, the Nevada Supreme Court

16

held:

17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28

[A]ppellant claims that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to test the
victim’s blood sample to see if it was positive for methamphetamine.
Appellant fails to demonstrate that trial counsel was deficient or that he was
prejudiced. [Footnote 3: Further, to the extent that appellant claims that the
district court erred by denying his motion for discovery regarding the testing
of the blood sample, appellant fails to demonstrate that the district court
abused its discretion in denying the motion. Id.] Trial counsel testified at the
evidentiary hearing that he did not pursue the blood sample because the
theory of the prosecution was that the victim was too intoxicated to consent,
and if the victim was also on methamphetamine in addition to drinking, that
would only help the State. “Tactical decisions [of counsel] are virtually
unchallengeable absent extraordinary circumstances,” Ford, 105 Nev. at
853, 784 P.2d at 953, and appellant failed to demonstrate any extraordinary
circumstances. Further, appellant fails to demonstrate a reasonable
probability of a different outcome at trial had counsel further tested the blood
sample. Appellant claims that because methamphetamine is a stimulant it
may have shown that the victim was aware of what she was doing and that
she consented to the sexual contact. As stated above, appellant’s own
statements to the police demonstrate that the victim was in and out of
consciousness during the entire incident, which does not change even if
30

1

counsel demonstrated that she was using methamphetamine. Therefore,
the district court did not err in denying this claim.

2
3

(ECF No. 17-39 at 5–6.) The Nevada Supreme Court’s rejection of Smith’s Strickland

4

claim was neither contrary to nor an unreasonable application of clearly established law

5

as determined by the United States Supreme Court.

6

Smith’s trial counsel testified at the post-conviction evidentiary hearing that

7

nothing was “done to confirm whether, in fact, [Solorzano] was under the influence of

8

methamphetamine.” (ECF No. 17-32 at 14, 17.) Smith’s trial counsel then explained why

9

he did not have Solorzano’s blood sample tested:

10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28

[T]he State’s theory was a little bit different than in many of the cases[,]
where as their primary complaining witness, the alleged victim in this case,
her testimony was that she couldn’t remember what had occurred in the
sense that she couldn’t recall having sexual intercourse with Mr. Smith. I
think she came to realize or believe that she had based on how she felt and
other things, but she didn’t have a specific visual memory of having a sexual
encounter with Mr. Smith, consensual or non-consensual.
And so the issue of intoxication was central to the State’s case in the sense
that the State, for lack of a better term, needed her as drunk as possible, as
intoxicated as possible in order to support their claim that no reasonable
person, Mr. Smith, or no reasonable jury could come to the conclusion that
this woman would be in any condition to consent based on her intoxication,
that any reasonable person would know that this person was obviously
intoxicated. So what that did was and it was just like a Gordian knot from
the defense perspective, is you’re kind of damned if you do and you’re
damned if you don’t. The more drunk she was, the more I supported the
State’s argument that this woman could not have told or could not have - well, could not have consented. And then when you add in the additional
issue of whatever substance it was, the amphetamines, methamphetamine,
whatever it was, it places you in another uniquely exquisite position of
making her more intoxicated.
. . . [N]o one knows what the ramifications of . . . that intoxication would be.
But it also fell into the trap, and at least in my estimate, that it supported the
State’s theory that this person was obviously so intoxicated that any
reasonable person, i.e., the defendant, would have known that this person
couldn’t consent under any circumstances.
And so I made the decision that . . . there was amphetamines there, the jury
could make what it wanted of it, but it was a very difficult tightrope to walk
from a defense perspective because the State’s theory was intoxication and
31

inability to be able to consent. And normally as a defense - - as a defense
attorney in a case, if I can prove that a witness is on drugs, that’s a good
thing from a credibility standpoint. But this case, in the unique contours of
it, it was completely opposite of that for many reasons. So I didn’t have the
substance tested.

1
2
3
4

(Id. at 31–32.)

5

Defense counsel has a “duty to make reasonable investigations or to make a

6

reasonable decision that makes particular investigations unnecessary.” Strickland, 466

7

U.S. at 691. And “[i]n any ineffectiveness case, a particular decision not to investigate

8

must be directly assessed for reasonableness in all the circumstances, applying a heavy

9

measure of deference to counsel’s judgments.” Id. This investigatory duty includes

10

investigating the defendant’s “most important defense,” Sanders v. Ratelle, 21 F.3d

11

1446, 1457 (9th Cir. 1994), and investigating and introducing evidence that

12

demonstrates factual innocence or evidence that raises sufficient doubt about the

13

defendant’s innocence. Hart v. Gomez, 174 F.3d 1067, 1070 (9th Cir. 1999).

14

“[I]neffective assistance claims based on a duty to investigate must be considered in

15

light of the strength of the government’s case.” Eggleston v. United States, 798 F.2d

16

374, 376 (9th Cir. 1986).
Smith’s trial counsel testified that he did not test Solorzano’s blood sample for

17
18

methamphetamine

because

proving

that

19

methamphetamine—not just alcohol—would not have aided Smith’s consent defense.

20

(See ECF No. 31-32.) Although a positive result for methamphetamine may have

21

impeached Solorzano’s testimony, it would not have seriously undermined the state’s

22

case, especially considering some of Smith’s statements to Detective Hendrix regarding

23

Solorzano’s lack of consciousness. Rather, as Smith’s trial counsel reasonably testified,

24

a positive result for methamphetamine could have strengthened the state’s position that

25

Solorzano was too intoxicated to consent. Accordingly, Smith’s trial counsel’s decision

26

not to investigate Solorzano’s blood sample was reasonable. Strickland, 466 U.S. at

27

691. Because the Nevada Supreme Court reasonably concluded that, based on his

28

///
32

she

was

under

the

influence

of

1

post-conviction evidentiary hearing testimony, Smith’s trial counsel was not deficient, id.

2

at 688, Smith is denied federal habeas relief for Ground 6(c).

3

3. Ground 6(d)

4

In Ground 6(d), Smith asserts that his trial counsel failed to investigate or move

5

for the discovery of Solorzano’s criminal history. (ECF No. 15 at 30–31.) In Smith’s

6

appeal of the denial of his state habeas petition, the Nevada Supreme Court held:

7

[A]ppellant claims that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to request the
criminal history of the victim from the State. Appellant fails to demonstrate
that counsel was deficient or that he was prejudiced. [Footnote 2: Further,
to the extent that appellant claims that the district court erred by denying his
motion for discovery regarding the victim’s criminal history, appellant fails
to demonstrate that the district court abused its discretion in denying the
motion. Means, 120 Nev. at 1007, 103 P.3d at 29.] Trial counsel testified at
the evidentiary hearing that his office had access to computer programs that
could produce a person’s criminal history. He stated that he asked his
investigator to look into the victim’s criminal history and that the investigator
did not inform him of any criminal history. Further, appellant fails to
demonstrate a reasonable probability of a different outcome at trial had
counsel requested the criminal history from the State given the
overwhelming evidence presented at trial, including appellant’s statements
to the police that the victim was in and out of consciousness. Therefore, the
district court did not err in denying this claim.

8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17

(ECF No. 17-39 at 4–5.) The Nevada Supreme Court’s rejection of Smith’s Strickland

18

claim was neither contrary to nor an unreasonable application of clearly established law

19

as determined by the United States Supreme Court.

20

Smith’s trial counsel testified at the post-conviction evidentiary hearing that he

21

believed he “instructed [his investigator] to make inquiries as to whether or not there

22

was any kind of criminal history that [Solorzano] might have in upstate New York.” (ECF

23

No. 1-32 at 18.) Smith’s trial counsel explained that he “never received a report back

24

from [his] investigator that she had any criminal history” and that when he fails to get a

25

response back from investigator on an issue or question he has posed, he presumes

26

that there was nothing found. (Id. at 18, 30.) Smith’s trial counsel also explained that

27

“the State never provided to [him], . . . under Brady, any convictions or other arrest that

28

would be exculpatory in nature.” (Id. at 18.) Thus, Smith’s trial counsel “never, ever came
33

1

to the conclusion that . . . there was criminal history . . . alleged in the victim’s

2

background.” (Id. at 30.)

3

Because Smith’s trial counsel testified that he asked his investigator to research

4

Solorzano’s criminal history and got no information in response, Smith’s trial counsel

5

fulfilled his “duty to make reasonable investigations.” Id. at 691. Therefore, because the

6

Nevada Supreme Court reasonably concluded that, based on his post-conviction

7

evidentiary hearing testimony, Smith’s trial counsel was not deficient, id. at 688, Smith

8

is denied federal habeas relief for Ground 6(d).
4. Ground 6(e)

9
10

In Ground 6(e), Smith asserts that his trial counsel failed to make

11

contemporaneous objections to two of the state’s closing comments because if he had

12

done so, the Nevada Supreme Court would have reviewed these issues on appeal under

13

a more favorable standard of review. 3 (ECF No. 15 at 31.) Specifically, as is further

14

explained in Ground 3, Smith’s trial counsel failed to object to the state’s closing

15

argument commenting that Smith had a motive to lie and urging the jury to convict Smith

16

in order to solve larger social problems. (Id.)

17

Smith raised this issue in his original appeal of the denial of his state habeas

18

petition. (See ECF No. 17-17 at 31–33.) However, the Nevada Supreme Court did not

19

address it. (See ECF Nos. 17-20, 17–39.)

20

If a defendant objected to a potential error at trial, the appellate court reviews for

21

harmless error: “[a]ny error, defect, irregularity or variance which does not affect

22

substantial rights shall be disregarded.” NRS § 178.598. And if a defendant failed to

23

object to a potential error at trial, the appellate court reviews for plain error: “[p]lain errors

24

or defects affecting substantial rights may be noticed although they were not brought to

25

the attention of the court.” NRS § 178.602. In the case of plain-error review, “the burden

26

is on the defendant to show actual prejudice or a miscarriage of justice.” See Green v.

27
28

3This

Court previously determined that a third comment by the state, which
disparaged Smith’s trial counsel, was unexhausted. (ECF No. 50 at 6.) That portion of
Ground 6(e) was later dismissed. (ECF No. 53 at 1.)
34

1

State, 80 P.3d 93, 95 (2003). Accordingly, if an error is identified by the appellate court,

2

the only difference between harmless-error review and plain-error review in determining

3

whether relief should be granted is the burden of proof: a forfeited error requires the

4

defendant, rather than the government, to “bear[ ] the burden of persuasion with respect

5

to prejudice.” United States v. Olano, 507 U.S. 725, 734 (1993); see also Green, 80 P.3d

6

at 95 n.7 (explaining that “Fed. R. Crim. P. 52(b) . . . is identical to NRS 178.602”).

7

The Nevada Supreme Court determined that the state’s arguments that Smith

8

had a motive to lie and that the jury should convict Smith in order to solve larger social

9

problems amounted to plain error. (ECF No. 17-1 at 4–5.) However, the Nevada

10

Supreme Court determined that relief was not warranted because there was “sufficient

11

evidence [to] support[ ] the jury’s verdict.” (Id. at 7.) Because the Nevada Supreme Court

12

determined that there was sufficient evidence to support the jury’s verdict, Smith fails to

13

demonstrate that there is a reasonable probability that, had his trial counsel objected to

14

the state’s arguments and procured harmless-error review rather than plain-error review,

15

thereby shifting the burden of proof regarding prejudice, the result of his appeal would

16

have been different. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 694. Accordingly, the Court determines that

17

fairminded jurists would agree that the foregoing reasoning establishing that Smith’s

18

constitutional rights were not violated was not inconsistent with prior decisions of the

19

United States Supreme Court. Harrington, 562 U.S. at 102. Therefore, Smith is denied

20

federal habeas relief for Ground 6(e).

21

5. Ground 6(f)

22

In Ground 6(f), Smith asserts that his trial counsel failed to object to the

23

introduction of prejudicial evidence, including the “plethora of sexual paraphernalia

24

recovered at Smith’s home.” (ECF No. 15 at 31.) Smith argues that this evidence had

25

no relevance to the issues at trial. (Id. at 32.) In Smith’s appeal of the denial of his state

26

habeas petition, the Nevada Supreme Court held:

27
28

[A]ppellant claims that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to object to
other bad act evidence that was introduced at trial. Specifically, appellant
35

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12

claims that counsel should have objected to the State’s introduction of other
“sex toys” and apparatuses found in appellant’s home that were not used in
the crime. We note that owning sex toys and apparatuses would not be a
bad act pursuant to NRS 48.045(2) as owning these objects is not illegal.
However, appellant also argues that the evidence was irrelevant and that
the probative value of the evidence was substantially outweighed by the
prejudicial effect of the evidence. Appellant fails to demonstrate that he was
prejudiced by trial counsel’s failure to argue that the evidence was
irrelevant. Specifically, appellant fails to demonstrate a reasonable
probability of a different outcome at trial because there was overwhelming
evidence presented at trial. The evidence presented demonstrated that the
victim was unable to consent to sexual contact because the victim had been
heavily drinking prior to getting into appellant’s cab. Appellant told the police
in his interview that the victim was in and out of consciousness during the
cab ride and at his home. Further, this court concluded on appeal that the
victim testified with some particularity regarding the incident, which was
sufficient in itself to uphold the conviction. Smith v. State, Docket No. 42069
(Order of Affirmance and Limited Remand to Correct the Judgment of
Conviction, December 21, 2005). Therefore, the district court did not err in
denying this claim.

13

(ECF No. 17-39 at 3–4.) The Nevada Supreme Court’s rejection of Smith’s Strickland

14

claim was neither contrary to nor an unreasonable application of clearly established law

15

as determined by the United States Supreme Court.

16

Detective Dolphis Boucher testified that he assisted in the search of Smith’s

17

residence following Smith’s arrest. (ECF No. 16-18 at 136, 143.) Detective Boucher

18

testified that the following items were located during that search: a sex swing, a blind

19

fold, petroleum jelly, lubricants, an anal stimulator, a French tickler, and a rubber piece

20

of hose. (Id. at 150, 158.) Later, during Smith’s trial counsel’s closing argument, he

21

commented that “they’ve brought out all of these things, all of these different devices

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and lubrication . . . they’ve put on this side show in order to inflame you.” (ECF No. 16-

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20 at 148.)

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Smith’s trial counsel testified at the post-conviction evidentiary hearing that he

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would not have opposed a hypothetical motion by the state to introduce the sexual toys

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because “in this particular case [he did not] necessarily think it would have been a bad

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act.” (ECF No. 17-32 at 20.) Smith trial counsel explained that “Smith always alleged

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that this was a consensual encounter, . . . [so] the presence of sex toys one way or the
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other wasn’t going to effect the defense.” (Id. at 28–29.) Further, Smith’s trial counsel

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explained that he did not believe these items would have been excluded because sexual

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toys “are not inherently bad” and “the sex toys themselves would have been proof that

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there was an intention to have sex or that there was sex,” which is one thing that the

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state has to prove in a sexual assault case. (Id. at 29.)

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Although moving to exclude the sexual toys may not have aided in Smith’s

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consent defense, Smith’s trial counsel may have still been deficient for not attempting

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to exclude these salacious items, especially in light of his closing argument that the

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items were presented only to “inflame” the jury and in light of the fact that Smith admitted

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to the sexual act, thereby negating the need for the state to use the sexual toys to

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establish that a sexual act occurred. However, the Nevada Supreme Court reasonably

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concluded that Smith failed to demonstrate prejudice because there was overwhelming

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evidence of Smith’s guilt presented at trial. Indeed, Detective Hendrix testified that Smith

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told him that Solorzano “was in and out,” that “at some point while he was having sex

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with her she was out of consciousness,” and that at some point, he was not sure if she

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was really passed out. (ECF No. 16-20 at 47–48.) Additionally, Solorzano testified that

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when she woke up, she felt that something had been inserted into her vagina, but she

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did not consent to sexual intercourse with Smith. (ECF No. 16-18 at 39–40.) Based on

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this evidence, Smith fails to demonstrate that “there is a reasonable probability that, but

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for counsel’s [potential failure to exclude the sexual toys], the result of the proceeding

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would have been different.” Strickland, 466 U.S. at 694. Thus, because the Nevada

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Supreme Court reasonably denied Smith’s ineffective-assistance-of-counsel claim,

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Smith is denied federal habeas relief for Ground 6(f).

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V.

CERTIFICATE OF APPEALABILITY

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This is a final order adverse to Smith. As such, Rule 11 of the Rules Governing

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Section 2254 Cases requires this Court to issue or deny a certificate of appealability

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(“COA”). Therefore, this Court has sua sponte evaluated the claims within the petition for

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suitability for the issuance of a COA. See 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c); Turner v. Calderon, 281
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F.3d 851, 864–65 (9th Cir. 2002). Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)(2), a COA may issue

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only when the petitioner “has made a substantial showing of the denial of a constitutional

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right.” With respect to claims rejected on the merits, a petitioner “must demonstrate that

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reasonable jurists would find the district court’s assessment of the constitutional claims

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debatable or wrong.” Slack v. McDaniel, 529 U.S. 473, 484 (2000) (citing Barefoot v.

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Estelle, 463 U.S. 880, 893 & n.4 (1983)). Applying this standard, the Court finds that a

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certificate of appealability is unwarranted.

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VI.

CONCLUSION
It is therefore ordered that the Amended Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus (ECF

No. 15) is denied.

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It is further ordered that Petitioner is denied a certificate of appealability.

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The Clerk of Court is directed to enter judgment accordingly and close this case.

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DATED THIS 31st day of March 2020.

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MIRANDA M. DU
CHIEF UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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