LYLE PITSONBARGER V. COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY
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2006-SC-000262-MR
LYLE PITSONBARGER
V.
APPELLANT
ON APPEAL FROM HENDERSON CIRCUIT COURT
HONORABLE STEPHEN HAYDEN, JUDGE
NO. 04-CR-000250
COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY
APPELLEE
MEMORANDUM OPINION OF THE COURT
AFFIRMING
Seventeen-year-old Lyle Pitsonbarger' was proceeded against as a youthful
offender after being charged with murder. The district court conducted a probable
cause hearing and transferred the case to the circuit court. Pitsonbarger was tried and
convicted of murder by a jury and sentenced to thirty-five years . He appeals his
conviction as a matter of right in case no . 2005-SC-000335-MR . Case no . 2006-SC000262-MR is an appeal of the trial court's denial of a motion for new trial in said case .
This Court consolidated the two cases.
On May 24, 2004, Pitsonbarger was at Timothy Alderson's house. Ana Spore
and Jeremy Keyes stopped by Alderson's to borrow a jack to change the oil in Spore's
Referred to as Lyle Pitsonbarger III in 2006-SC-000262-MR and Lyle W. Pitsonbarger in the indictment.
2 KRS 640 .010.
3
KRS 635 .020(4), when over 14, charged with a felony, and with a firearm, transfer is essentially
automatic .
car. Pitsonbarger helped Keyes change the oil . Subsequently, Robert Pruitt (the
victim), and David Westerman arrived at Alderson's house. There was testimony that
Pitsonbarger and Pruitt got in an argument, apparently concerning comments Pruitt's
brother had made about Pitsonbarger's father. The argument appeared to be over
when Pruitt surprised Pitsonbarger with a punch in the face (described by witnesses as
"cold-cocked"), breaking Pitsonbarger's nose and knocking him to the ground .
Pitsonbarger got up and deflected a second blow before going towards the rear of
Alderson's house. Pruitt did not follow but asked Spore for a ride home . The witnesses
differed as to whether Pruitt was outside the car next to the front passenger door, or
already in the front passenger seat talking to Alderson, when Pitsonbarger returned with
a gun, raised the gun, pointed it at Pruitt, and fired three shots from a few feet away.
Pruitt ran to a neighbor's yard two houses down and collapsed . Pruitt subsequently
died from the gunshot wounds .
Pitsonbarger was taken to the hospital for treatment for his broken nose. There,
his blood alcohol level measured .12 . At the hospital, a detective took a 28 minute
statement (subject of a pretrial motion to suppress) wherein Pitsonbarger confessed to
the shooting . Describing the events, Pitsonbarger said that he told Pruitt to tell his
(Pruitt's) brother to stop saying things about Pitsonbarger's dad, and that Pruitt said he
would . Pitsonbarger said that he thought everything was fine, turned his head, and
Pruitt punched him, knocking him down. Pitsonbarger said that when he got up after
the first punch, Pruitt grabbed his throat and kept hitting him . Pitsonbarger said that he
ran into the house and got Alderson's gun intending only to scare Pruitt away because
he did not want to be hit anymore . Pitsonbarger said he did not know if the gun was
loaded . Pitsonbarger stated that when he came back out of the house, Pruitt had got in
the car, but then got out, yelled something about killing him, and started coming towards
him again. Pitsonbarger said he got scared, raised the gun, shut his eyes and fired .
After the case was transferred to the circuit court, a trial was initially set for
September 8, 2004 . On August 11, 2004, Pitsonbarger moved for a competency
evaluation, which was granted . The Kentucky Correctional Psychiatric Center (KCPC)
performed an evaluation and submitted a report dated December 8, 2004, and filed
January 4, 2005. The report concluded that Pitsonbarger was competent to stand trial.
On January 18, 2005, the trial was rescheduled for March 22, 2005.
On March 16, 2005, about a week before the date scheduled for trial,
Pitsonbarger filed a motion for a two week continuance in order to have Dr. Eric Drogin,
an expert retained by Pitsonbarger's family, evaluate Pitsonbarger and testify at trial.
Dr. Drogin was scheduled to evaluate Pitsonbarger on March 20, 2005, but due to
previous commitments, would not be available to testify until after April 3, 2005. The
motion stated that it was anticipated that Dr. Drogin would testify that Pitsonbarger was
suffering from diminished mental capacity at the time of the offense due to his youth and
intoxication . The trial court heard arguments the next day, March 17. Defense counsel
explained that the reason for waiting until so close to trial to retain the expert was that
the family was hoping for an offer for a plea along with the family's lack of, and therefore
having to borrow, funds for an independent expert . The prosecution asserted it
communicated no deals from the very beginning. The Court denied the motion,
primarily because Dr. Drogin had not even examined Pitsonbarger yet, and therefore
there was no affidavit by the witness as to what he would testify to. RCr 9 .04 . Counsel
stated he would file the affidavit Monday morning, March 21, 2005, as Dr. Drogin was
scheduled to examine Pitsonbarger on March 20, and would like to be heard on the
motion again on March 21 .
On March 21, 2005, Pitsonbarger filed an amended motion for a
continuance, which included an affidavit from Dr. Drogin . The motion stated that Dr.
Drogin had evaluated Pitsonbarger on March 20, 2005, and that Dr. Drogin would testify
that Pitsonbarger's confession on May 24, 2004, may have been involuntarily given due
to the fact that he was under the influence of alchohol (.12) and seventeen years old .
Defense counsel anticipated that Dr. Drogin would testify at both the suppression
hearing and the jury trial. The accompanying affidavit by Dr. Drogin, dated March 20,
2005, stated that the circumstances surrounding the confession - that Pitsonbarger was
physically injured, highly intoxicated, and a minor bereft of the support and counsel of
his parents when questioned by law enforcement - raise serious doubts as to his ability
to provide a valid waiver of his rights . Dr. Drogin's affidavit also stated that the
opportunity to compare the confession and signed waiver form with Pitsonbarger's
childhood special education records would substantially augment his ability to proffer a
forensic psychological opinion concerning the validity of the waiver. Following a hearing
on March 21, 2005, the trial court denied the motion. However, the Commonwealth
agreed to the reading of Dr. Drogin's March 20, 2005, affidavit for the jury, and said
affidavit was, in fact, introduced as a defense exhibit at trial.
On the day of trial, the trial court held a hearing to decide Pitsonbarger's
competency to stand trial and consider his motion to suppress his statements made to
police . The court found Pitsonbarger competent to stand trial, denied the motion to
suppress, and proceeded with trial . Pitsonbarger was convicted of murder and
sentenced to thirty-five years imprisonment . On appeal, Pitsonbarger alleges six errors
by the trial court.
1. DENIAL OF CONTINUANCE
First, Pitsonbarger alleges the trial court abused its discretion when it denied the
motion for a continuance in order to have Dr. Drogin testify at trial. "The decision to
delay trial rests solely within the court's discretion ." Snodgrass v. Commonwealth , 814
S.W.2d 579, 581 (Ky. 1991), overruled on other rounds by Lawson v. Commonwealth ,
53 S .W.3d 534 (Ky. 2001). Additionally,
[f]actors the trial court is to consider in exercising its
discretion are : length of delay; previous continuances;
inconvenience to litigants, witnesses, counsel and the court;
whether the delay is purposeful or is caused by the accused ;
availability of other competent counsel ; complexity of the
case; and whether denying the continuance will lead to
identifiable prejudice .
The trial court explicitly considered the Snod_ rass factors at the March 21, 2005,
hearing on the amended motion for a continuance . In denying the motion, the trial court
relied primarily on the following : the fact that the Commonwealth had subpoenaed 14
witnesses, the court's inability due to a full calendar to reschedule the trial until late
June or early August of 2005 (with the incident having occurred ten months earlier in
May, 2004), that the delay was due to the defendant's waiting until such a late date to
retain the expert, and that Dr. Drogin's affidavit was still somewhat speculative as to
what he would testify to (based on his statement regarding the childhood records) .
In the present case, having considered the Snodgrass factors, we cannot say the
trial court abused its discretion in denying a continuance for the reasons it stated . We
further note that if funds were needed for an independent expert, the defense could
have requested funds from the trial court under KRS 31 .110 rather than wait until the
family could raise the funds for an independent evaluation.
11 . FAILURE TO GIVE INSTRUCTION ON IMPERFECT SELF DEFENSE
Pitsonbarger's second argument is that the trial court erred by failing to give
instructions on a theory of imperfect self defense. Pistonbarger concedes that this
alleged error was not preserved, but requests review under RCr 10 .26 . Pitsonbarger
was charged with an intentional homicide, murder (KRS 507.020) . He was given an
instruction on intentional murder; first-degree manslaughter (KRS 507.030); seconddegree manslaughter (KRS 507.040); and was given a self-protection instruction under
KRS 503 .050, which allows the use of deadly physical force by a defendant who
believes such force is necessary to protect himself against death or serious physical
injury .
"A mistaken belief in the need to act in self-protection does not affect the
privilege to act in self-protection unless the mistaken belief is so unreasonably held as
to rise to the level of wantonness or recklessness with respect to the circumstance then
being encountered by the defendant ." Commonwealth v. Hager, 41 S .W.3d 828, 84142 (Ky. 2001) (citing Elliott v. Commonwealth, 976 S.W.2d 416, 420 (Ky. 1998)).
"Imperfect self-defense" does not provide for complete exoneration, but instead allows a
jury to convict a defendant for a lesser offense, one for which wantonness or
recklessness is the culpable mental state . Elliott , 976 S.W.2d at 420 . Therefore,
[i]f the charged offense is intentional murder or first-degree
manslaughter, a wantonly held belief in the need for selfprotection reduces the offense to second-degree
manslaughter and a recklessly held belief reduces the
offense to reckless homicide. If the charged offense is
second-degree manslaughter, a recklessly held belief in the
need for self-protection reduces the offense to reckless
homicide .
Id. at 420 n.3.
Because the alleged error is unpreserved, we review only for palpable error
under RCr 10.26. "A palpable error is one that `affects the substantial rights of a party'
and will result in `manifest injustice' if not considered by the court." Schoenbachler v.
Commonwealth , 95 S.W.3d 830, 836 (Ky. 2003) (citing RCr 10 .26). "Manifest injustice"
requires showing a "probability of a different result or error so fundamental as to
threaten a defendant's entitlement to due process of law." Martin v. Commonwealth ,
207 S .W.3d 1, 3 (Ky. 2006) .
Under the facts of this case, had Pitsonbarger requested an imperfect selfdefense instruction he would have been entitled to such. Hilbert v. Commonwealth , 162
S .W.3d 921 (Ky. 2005). It was, however, undisputed that Pruitt had, in fact, attacked
Pitsonbarger just prior to the shooting . Further, "all KRS 503 justifications, including
self-protection, are premised upon a defendant's actual subjective belief in the need for
the conduct constituting the justification and not on the objective reasonableness of that
belief." Hager, 41 S .W .3d at 842 ( citing Elliott, 976 S .W .2d at 419) (emphasis added) .
The self-protection instruction Pitsonbarger received allowed for exoneration if the jury
found Pitsonbarger used deadly physical force "if he believed it to be necessary" to
protect himself from death or serious physical injury. Under this instruction, had the jury
determined that Pitsonbarger held any subjective belief in the need to protect himself
from death or serious physical injury (even if such belief were wanton or reckless), the
jury would have been required to acquit Pitsonbarger, rather than convict him of a lesser
included offense . In this case, it would have likely been the Commonwealth seeking the
imperfect self-defense instruction in order to save their case. Therefore, we see no
palpable error.
III. DENIAL OF REQUEST FOR RECKLESS HOMICIDE INSTRUCTION
The third allegation of error is that the trial court erred in denying Pitsonbarger's
request for a reckless homicide instruction .4 "An instruction on a lesser-included
offense is appropriate if and only if on the given evidence a reasonable juror could
entertain reasonable doubt of the defendant's guilt on the greater charge, but believe
beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant is guilty of the lesser offense ." Skinner v.
Commonwealth , 864 S.W .2d 290, 298 (Ky. 1993). KRS 501 .020(4) defines "recklessly"
as follows:
A person acts recklessly with respect to a result or to a
circumstance described by a statute defining an offense
when he fails to perceive a substantial and unjustifiable risk
that the result will occur or that the circumstance exists. The
risk must be of such nature and degree that failure to
perceive it constitutes a gross deviation from the standard of
care that a reasonable person would observe in the
situation .
The evidence in this case did not support a reckless homicide instruction . It was
uncontroverted that Pitsonbarger pointed the gun at Pruitt from a few feet away and
fired . We reject that in such a circumstance, one could fail to perceive a substantial and
unjustifiable risk that serious injury or death will occur. Pitsonbarger's denial that he
knew the gun was loaded, particularly in light of the fact the gun he fired was not his and
had been in someone else's possession, does not change the analysis . Accordingly,
the trial court did not err in declining to give a reckless homicide instruction .
IV. EXCLUDED EVIDENCE REGARDING TIMOTHY ALDERSON
Pitsonbarger's fourth alleged error involves excluded evidence regarding Timothy
Alderson . Pitsonbarger dropped the gun (a .22 pistol belonging to Alderson) after the
shooting . Alderson was convicted of tampering with physical evidence and interfering
a
This issue is preserved except as it relates to the issue of imperfect self defense . The defense
tendered a reckless homicide instruction, which was denied by the trial court.
8
with the apprehension of Pistonbarger in connection with this case, apparently for
putting the gun back in his house after the shooting and giving evasive answers to
police as to his knowledge of the gun . On appeal, Pitsonbarger alleges that the trial
court denied his confrontation right by denying him the right to cross-examine Alderson
on the tampering conviction other than on avowal . On appeal, Pitsonbarger alleges
that this evidence was relevant to show Alderson's interest, bias, or motivation .
The trial court did allow the defense to ask Alderson if he was a convicted felon,
to which he replied "I am now." Although the trial court would not allow the defense to
specifically ask Alderson if he was convicted of tampering, or introduce a certified copy
of the conviction, it did allow defense counsel to go into the specifics as to Alderson's
actions in concealing the whereabouts of the gun used in the shooting, which was the
basis for the tampering conviction. After a lengthy cross-examination on this issue,
Alderson basically acknowledged these facts were what caused him to be a convicted
felon . Accordingly, defense counsel was able to develop a clear picture for the jury that
Alderson had been convicted of a felony in connection with this case for his actions
involving the gun. We see no error in the trial court's rulings .
V. EXCLUDED EVIDENCE OF PRUITT'S PRIOR ASSAULT CONVICTIONS
Pitsonbarger's fifth argument is that the trial court erred by excluding evidence
that Pruitt had a prior history of assault convictions . This Court's opinion in Saylor v.
Commonwealth , 144 S.W .3d 812, 815-16 (Ky. 2004), is instructive on this issue,
wherein we stated :
5 Having reviewed the record, we first note that defense counsel's argument at trial as to the purpose of
the avowal testimony did not pertain to the tampering conviction. The avowal testimony pertained to the
trial court's precluding defense counsel from questioning Alderson as to the statements that Alderson had
made to him when defense counsel interviewed him a few days after the shooting; that Pruitt was a bully
and a convicted felon . While defense counsel brought out on avowal that Alderson was convicted of
tampering, this related to why Alderson was in jail when defense counsel interviewed him.
9
Appellant posits that whenever a claim of self-defense
is asserted, any evidence tending to show that the victim
was a violent person is admissible . He is mistaken .
Generally, a homicide defendant may introduce evidence of
the victim's character for violence in support of a claim that
he acted in self-defense or that the victim was the initial
aggressor . KRE 404(a)(2) ; Johnson v. Commonwealth, Ky.,
477 S.W.2d 159,161 (1972); Robert G. Lawson, The
Kentucky Evidence Law Handbook § 2 .15[4][b], at 104 (4th
ed. LexisNexis 2003). However, such evidence may only be
in the form of reputation or opinion, not specific acts of
misconduct . KRE 405(a); Lawson, supra, § 2 .20 [4], at 116
("By providing only for the use of reputation or opinion
evidence in this situation, the rule plainly implies a
prohibition on evidence of particular acts of conduct.").
Specifically, in Johnson, our predecessor court held that a
homicide defendant could not introduce the victim's police
record for the purpose of showing his propensity for
violence . Johnson, 477 S.W.2d at 161 .
An exception exists, however, when evidence of the
victim's prior acts of violence, threats, and even hearsay
evidence of such acts and threats, is offered to prove that
the defendant so feared the victim that he believed it was
necessary to use physical force (or deadly physical force) in
self-protection, "provided that the defendant knew of such
acts, threats, or statements at the time of the encounter ."
Lawson, supra, § 2.15[4][d], at 105-06 . See also
Commonwealth v. Higgs , Ky., 59 S .W .3d 886, 892 (2001) ;
Commonwealth v. Davis . Ky., 14 S .W.3d 9,14 (2000);
Wilson v. Commonwealth , Ky.App ., 880 S .W.2d 877, 878
(1994). In that scenario, the evidence is not offered to prove
the victim's character to show action in conformity therewith
but to prove the defendant's state of mind (fear of the victim)
at the time he acted in self-defense . "Obviously, such
evidence could not be used to prove fear by the accused
without accompanying proof that the defendant knew of such
matters at the time of the alleged homicide or assault ."
Lawson, supra, § 2 .15[4][d], at 106 (citing Baze v.
Commonwealth, Ky., 965 S.W.2d 817, 824-25 (1997)) .
In this case, Pistonbarger did not testify, and there was no evidence presented
that he knew of the assault convictions, as would allow their admission to prove his
state of mind . Id . Rather, Pistonbarger argues that he should have been able to offer
specific bad acts by the victim, Pruitt, through the doctrine of curative admissibility,
10
because the Commonwealth opened the door by admitting improper character evidence
through Pruitt's fiancée, Elizabeth Collins . Collins was called as the Commonwealth's
second witness . After asking Collins a few general questions about her relationship
with Pruitt, and asking her to tell about Pruitt and what Pruitt liked to do, the prosecutor
asked, "What about his disposition, his attitude about others?" to which she replied,
"He's always accepted by others around him. Always in good terms with people around
him, most of the time ." In his cross-examination of Alderson, defense counsel argued
that the prosecutor opened the door through this inquiry, and as a result he should be
allowed to question Alderson concerning the fact that Pruitt had six prior assault
convictions .
The trial court found, and we agree, that the prosecutor opened the door with this
inadmissible evidence. We also agree with the trial court that curative inadmissible
evidence could therefore be admitted . The trial court specifically stated it would allow
Alderson to be questioned about specific assaults if he knew about them. The problem
was Alderson turned out to be a hostile witness and denied knowing much about Pruitt's
reputation for violence, etc. Therefore, defense counsel was at a dead end . While
defense counsel informed the trial court that he had certified copies of the convictions,
he never moved to admit the certified convictions into the record, nor attempted to
introduce them by avowal . Therefore, the trial court committed no error.
VI. ADMISSION OF HEARSAY STATEMENTS OF THE VICTIM
Pitsonbarger's sixth and final allegation of error is that the trial court erred in
admitting hearsay statements of Pruitt. Over objection, Ana Spore testified that after
Pruitt punched Pitsonbarger in the face, Pitsonbarger asked Pruitt what he did that for,
and Pruitt said, "Nobody says they're going to kill my brother. Nobody." Spore went on
to testify that Pitsonbarger responded by saying, "I didn't say I was going to, I said my
dad was going to." Pitsonbarger argues that Pruitt's statement was inadmissible
hearsay and prejudicial as it contradicted his statement to police (which was played for
the jury) that he only threatened to "whoop [Pruitt's brother's] ass" if the brother kept
saying things about Pitsonbarger's dad .
Pruitt's statement was hearsay, not falling under any exception . However,
because Spore went on to testify that Pitsonbarger denied making such a statement ("1
didn't say 1 was going to, I said my dad was going to"), this served to minimize any
prejudice resulting from the admission of Pruitt's hearsay statement. Therefore, under
the totality of the circumstances, the error is harmless because there is no reasonable
possibility it affected the verdict .
VII. CASE NO. 2006-SC-000262-MR
In the second appeal, no. 2006-SC-000262-MR, the Commonwealth argues that
this Court did not have jurisdiction to grant a belated appeal of the trial court's denial of
the motion for new trial, which was entered on May 23, 2005, and consolidated with the
matter of right appeal . We disagree . The guilty verdict was returned on March 24,
2005. Prior to sentencing, Pitsonbarger filed motions and an amended motion for a new
trial under RCr 10 .02 . On April 18, 2005, the trial court held a sentencing hearing and
sentenced Pitsonbarger to 35 years . The judgment was not entered until April 26, 2005.
After the verdict and before judgment, Pitsonbarger twice refiled his RCr 10 .02 motion
for a new trial, noticing different dates for a hearing . Pitsonbarger filed a notice of
appeal on April 27, 2005 . After judgment was entered and a notice of appeal was filed,
Pitsonbarger filed a second amended motion for a new trial under RCr 10 .06. On May
23, 2005, the trial court entered an order denying Pitsonbarger's RCr 10.02 motion for a
12
new trial (the post-verdict prejudgment motion, not the postjudgment RCr 10 .06
motion).6 Our Court granted and consolidated the appeal of the prejudgment RCr
10.02 denial of a new trial, which was proper. See Carding v. Commonwealth , 102
S .W.3d 927 (Ky. 2003); Johnson v. Commonwealth, 17 S.W.3d 109 (Ky. 2000) .
Case No . 2006-SC-000262-MR pertains to Pitsonbarger's motion for a new trial .
As grounds, Pistonbarger alleged that one of the eyewitnesses, Ana Spore, committed
perjury at trial . The motion was based upon an affidavit from an individual, Barry Bugg,
claiming Spore told him a different version of the events on the night of the shooting
than she testified to at trial. At trial, Spore testified that after Pruitt punched
Pitsonbarger, Pitsonbarger took off towards the back of the house, returned with the
gun, and shot Pruitt. Bugg's affidavit states that Spore told him that after punching
Pitsonbarger, Pruitt had continued to beat and choke Pitsonbarger on the ground, and
when Pitsonbarger got away, Pruitt yelled at Pitsonbarger to, "Get back here so I can go
ahead and finish you off." Bugg's affidavit also stated that Spore told him that
Pitsonbarger never went in the house, but that Alderson went into the house, came out
with the gun, and gave it Pitsonbarger, and told him to "handle his business ." Bugg's
affidavit explained that he did not know Spore testified otherwise at trial until he read
about it in the newspaper. The motion argued that had this evidence been presented at
trial, Pitsonbarger would not have been convicted of murder, and possibly acquitted .
The Commonwealth subsequently filed a counter-affidavit from Spore wherein she
denied Bugg's contentions .
6 Technically, the sentencing and entering of a final judgment was a denial of all pending motions for a
new trial . The subsequent order of May 23, 2005, did not change things . Our order granting a belated
appeal is of the denial by the trial court of the motion under RCr 10.02, not from the order of May 23,
2005. Therefore, there is no problem with jurisdiction under Johnson , 17 S.W.3d 109 .
13
"[F]or newly discovered evidence to support a motion for new trial in a criminal
case it must be of such decisive value or force that it would with reasonable certainty,
change the verdict or that it would probably change the result if a new trial [were]
granted ." Coots v. Commonwealth, 418 S.W .2d 752, 754 (Ky. 1967) ; see also Caldwell
v. Commonwealth , 133 S .W .3d 445, 454-55 (Ky. 2004) . There were four eyewitnesses
(Spore, Keyes, Alderson, and Westerman) to the events in this case. In light of the
testimony from the other three eyewitnesses, and Spore's denial of Bugg's contentions,
we cannot say this new evidence would with reasonable certainty change the verdict or
change the result if a new trial were granted . Accordingly, the trial court did not abuse
its discretion in denying the motion.
For the aforementioned reasons the judgment of the Henderson Circuit Court
and its order denying Pitsonbarger's motion for a new trial are affirmed .
All sitting . All concur .
COUNSEL FOR APPELLANT :
Timothy G . Arnold
Assistant Public Advocate
Department of Public Advocacy
100 Fair Oaks Lane
Suite 302
Frankfort, KY 40601
Rebecca Lynn Hobbs
Department of Public Advocacy
100 Fair Oaks Lane
Suite 302
Frankfort, KY 40601
COUNSEL FOR APPELLEES:
Jack Conway
Attorney General
Jeffrey A. Cross
Criminal Appellate Division
Office of the Attorney General
1024 Capital Center Drive
Frankfort, KY 40601
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