State v. Solano
Solano
Citation
341 Or. App. 397
Court
Court of Appeals of Oregon
Decided
June 18, 2025
Jurisdiction
SA
Importance
46%
Practice Areas
Case Summary
No. 556 June 18, 2025 397 This is a nonprecedential memorandum opinion pursuant to ORAP 10.30 and may not be cited except as provided in ORAP 10.30(1). IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF OREGON STATE OF OREGON, Plaintiff-Respondent, v. AUSENCIO ZURITA SOLANO, aka Ausencio Solano Zurita, aka Ausencio Zuritasolano, Defendant-Appellant. Clackamas County Circuit Court 19CR58379; A182148 Thomas J. Rastetter, Judge. Submitted April 21, 2025. Ernest G. Lannet, Chief Defender, Criminal Appellate Section, and Daniel C. Bennett, Deputy Public Defender, Oregon Public Defense Commission, filed the brief for appellant. Ellen F. Rosenblum, Attorney General, Benjamin Gutman, Solicitor General, and Patricia G. Rincon, Assistant Attorney General, filed the brief for respondent. Before Ortega, Presiding Judge, Hellman, Judge, and O’Connor, Judge. O’CONNOR, J. Affirmed. 398 State v. Solano O’CONNOR, J. Defendant was convicted of first-degree rape, ORS 163.375, and two counts of first-degree sexual abuse, ORS 163.427. In defendant’s sole assignment of error, he argues that the trial court plainly erred when it allowed the pros- ecutor to make three statements in closing argument that denied him a fair trial.1 We conclude that the statements were not obviously improper and therefore affirm. In closing argument, the prosecutor made the fol- lowing statements to the jury: “And so here’s the proposition I have for you; What you saw from [the victim] yesterday on that witness stand detailing this rape and sexual abuse, that was either real raw emotion of someone doing their best to recap in front of you strangers, this [j]udge, and this courtroom what hap- pened, or it was rehearsed. It was real or rehearsed and that’s your decision today[.] “* * * * * “Does she have a motive to make this up? I told you, this comes down to her testimony ultimately, whether it is real or rehearsed, whether this is a grand conspiracy orches- trated by [the victim] or if she’s just here doing the best she can to tell you about what happened. “* * * * * “[W]as [the victim]’s testimony, was her description here what happened, was it real or rehearsed? Is this a grand conspiracy by [the victim] to set up someone that was no longer in her life[?]” Defendant did not object to the statements during trial. To reach an unpreserved error as plain error, we must determine that the assigned error is (1) one of law; (2) obvi- ous and not reasonably in dispute; and (3) apparent on the face of the record. State v. Chitwood, 370 Or 305, 311, 518 P3d 903 (2022). If the error is plain, we may exercise our discretion to correct it if the prosecutorial statements were 1 Defendant asserts that the statements were made in the state’s closing rebuttal, which made them all the more prejudicial because it left him without an opportunity to respond during the trial. However, our review of the record shows that the prosecutor made the statements in the state’s first closing argument. Nonprecedential Memo Op: 341 Or App 397 (2025) 399 “so prejudicial that they deprived defendant of a fair trial.” Id. at 314. In defendant’s view, the prosecutor’s statements were obviously improper because they improperly shifted the burden to defendant by suggesting that defendant failed to show evidence to undermine an element, disparaged defense counsel and mischaracterized their role, commented on defendant’s exercise of his constitutional rights, and imper- missibly urged the jury to decide the case on an improper basis. Defendant argues that even if he had objected to the “numerous comments,” a curative instruction from the trial court could not have overcome their cumulative prejudicial effect. The state responds that the statements were not obvi- ously improper, and even if they were, the comments were not so prejudicial as to be incurable with a jury instruction and deprive defendant of a fair trial. A prosecutor may not “encourage the jury to decide the case on an improper basis,” Chitwood, 370 Or at 315; give personal opinions on witness credibility, State v. Sperou, 365 Or 121, 134, 442 P3d 581 (2019); or make statements about the jury’s fact-finding function that are likely to confuse the jury, State v. Totland, 296 Or App 527, 530-31, 438 P3d 399, rev den, 365 Or 502 (2019). However, a prosecutor has “wide latitude to make arguments from the evidence,” and they may “argue that the jury should regard a witness as cred- ible (or not) based on, for instance, the witness’s demeanor and
Case Details
Case Details
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Status
Decided
Date Decided
June 18, 2025
Jurisdiction
SA
Court Type
federal
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Case Summary
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Case Overview
Case Name: State v. Solano
Citation: 341 Or. App. 397
Court: Court of Appeals of Oregon
Date: June 18, 2025
Jurisdiction: SA
In the case of State v. Solano, the Court of Appeals of Oregon affirmed the convictions of Ausencio Zurita Solano for first-degree rape and two counts of first-degree sexual abuse. The defendant's appeal centered on alleged prosecutorial misconduct during closing arguments, claiming it denied him a fair trial.
Key Legal Issues
- Prosecutorial Misconduct: Did the prosecutor's statements during closing arguments constitute plain error?
- Fair Trial Rights: Were the defendant's rights to a fair trial compromised by the prosecutor's comments?
Court's Decision
The court affirmed the trial court's decision, concluding that the prosecutor's statements were not obviously improper and did not constitute plain error.
Legal Reasoning
The court analyzed the prosecutor's statements in the context of the trial. The defendant argued that the comments shifted the burden of proof and disparaged defense counsel. However, the court found that:
- The statements were not obviously improper and did not shift the burden of proof to the defendant.
- The prosecutor's comments were permissible as they related to the credibility of the victim's testimony, which is a legitimate area for argument.
- The absence of an objection during the trial indicated that the defense did not perceive the comments as prejudicial at the time.
The court referenced State v. Chitwood and State v. Sperou to support its reasoning, emphasizing the wide latitude granted to prosecutors in making arguments based on evidence presented during the trial.
Key Holdings
- The prosecutor's statements did not constitute plain error.
- The trial court did not err in allowing the statements during closing arguments.
- The defendant's rights to a fair trial were not compromised by the prosecutor's comments.
Precedents and Citations
- State v. Chitwood, 370 Or 305, 311, 518 P3d 903 (2022)
- State v. Sperou, 365 Or 121, 134, 442 P3d 581 (2019)
- State v. Totland, 296 Or App 527, 530-31, 438 P3d 399 (2019)
- State v. Perez, 373 Or 591, 607, 568 P3d 940 (2025)
Practical Implications
This case underscores the importance of:
- Prosecutorial Discretion: Prosecutors are granted significant leeway in their closing arguments, particularly regarding witness credibility.
- Defense Strategy: The absence of timely objections to prosecutorial comments may weaken an appeal based on claims of misconduct.
- Fair Trial Considerations: Courts will closely examine whether statements made by prosecutors are likely to confuse juries or improperly influence their decision-making.
Legal professionals should take note of the court's emphasis on the balance between vigorous prosecution and the rights of the accused, particularly in sensitive cases involving sexual offenses. The decision in State v. Solano serves as a reminder of the procedural nuances that can impact the outcome of appeals in criminal cases.
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Case Details
Legal case information
Status
Decided
Date Decided
June 18, 2025
Jurisdiction
SA
Court Type
federal
Legal Significance
Case importance metrics
Metadata
Additional information
Quick Actions
Case management tools