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Feb. 24, 2026 Get Citation Alerts Download PDF Add Note

J.N.W. v. Commonwealth of Virginia

Court of Appeals of Virginia

• Citations: None known
• Docket Number: 0163251
• Precedential Status: Non-Precedential

• Disposition: Judgment affirmed as trial court did not err denying motion to suppress confession; any error harmless as other strong, independent evidence of guilt; no abuse of discretion determining competency and excluding expert testimony of effect of drug on appellant's cognitive state where she failed to demonstrate a particularized need for expert assistance

• Opinion

• Authorities (25)

• Cited By (0)

• Summaries (0)

• Similar Cases (197)

• PDF

Disposition

Judgment affirmed as trial court did not err denying motion to suppress confession; any error harmless as other strong, independent evidence of guilt; no abuse of discretion determining competency and excluding expert testimony of effect of drug on appellant's cognitive state where she failed to demonstrate a particularized need for expert assistance

Combined Opinion

COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA

Present: Judges Beales, Malveaux and Frucci
UNPUBLISHED

Argued at Norfolk, Virginia

J.N.W.
MEMORANDUM OPINION* BY
v. Record No. 0163-25-1 JUDGE STEVEN C. FRUCCI
FEBRUARY 24, 2026
COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE CITY OF VIRGINIA BEACH
Salvatore R. Iaquinto, Judge

(Ashton H. Pully Jr.; Counseling & Litigation, P.C., on brief), for
appellant. Appellant submitting on brief.

Matthew J. Beyrau, Assistant Attorney General (Jason S. Miyares,1
Attorney General, on brief), for appellee.

Following a bench trial, the circuit court convicted J.N.W. of unlawful shooting within an

occupied building, involuntary manslaughter, and possession of a firearm by a person under 18

years of age. On appeal, J.N.W. challenges the circuit court’s denial of her motions to suppress

her confession given to Detective Smolin and to determine her competency and its “exclusi[on

of] expert testimony regarding the effects of hydroxyzine on [her] cognitive state.” For the

following reasons, we affirm the circuit court’s judgment.

*
This opinion is not designated for publication. See Code § 17.1-413(A).
1
Jay C. Jones succeeded Jason S. Miyares as Attorney General on January 17, 2026.
BACKGROUND2

In August 2023, J.N.W.3 and her friend took an Uber to an apartment complex. They met

two boys there, N.T. and Z.S., and together the group went into an unlocked, vacant apartment.4

They sat down and began to “liste[n] to music” and “chil[l].” N.T. showed the others a handgun he

brought. N.T. gave the handgun to J.N.W. J.N.W. “wav[ed] it around,” acting “cute.”5 While

doing so, the handgun went “off,” and the bullet struck Z.S. in the head.

After firing it, J.N.W. dropped the handgun on the floor. J.N.W.’s friend told J.N.W. to

leave, so she walked to a nearby CVS and sat down on a chair by the photo-development section.

There, J.N.W. called her mother and told her that she “accidentally shot the boy.”

Once J.N.W. left the apartment, her friend called 911. Officer Mones of the Virginia Beach

Police Department responded to the scene and found Z.S. on the floor, unresponsive. Z.S. died

eighteen days later, after being declared brain dead and being removed from life support. His

manner of death was determined to be a homicide and his cause of death was a gunshot wound to

the head.

2
We recite the facts “in the ‘light most favorable’ to the Commonwealth, the prevailing
party in the trial court.” Hammer v. Commonwealth, 74 Va. App. 225, 231 (2022) (quoting
Commonwealth v. Cady, 300 Va. 325, 329 (2021)). In doing so, we discard any evidence that
conflicts with the Commonwealth’s evidence, and regard as true all the credible evidence
favorable to the Commonwealth and all inferences that can be fairly drawn from that evidence.
Cady, 300 Va. at 329.
Portions of the record in this case are sealed. “To the extent that certain facts mentioned
in this opinion are found in the sealed portions of the record, we unseal only those portions.”
Herbert v. Joubert, 83 Va. App. 592, 604 n.1 (2025) (quoting Chaphe v. Skeens, 80 Va. App.
556, 559 n.2 (2024)).
3
J.N.W. was fifteen years old at the time. We use initials, rather than names, to protect
the privacy of the minor.
4
At the time, Z.S. was twelve years old and N.T. was a teenager. We use initials, rather
than names, to protect the privacy of the minor witnesses and victim mentioned throughout the
opinion.
5
J.N.W. referred to her actions as acting “cute.”
-2-
After receiving a call that there “was a witness at the CVS,” Detectives Hile and Crawford

of the Virginia Beach Police Department went to the CVS and found J.N.W. J.N.W. was “upset”

and “emotional.” J.N.W. told Detective Hile that she had been at the apartment with her friend and

the boys, that “[t]hey began to play with a gun,” and that while “pass[ing] it around,” the handgun

“went off, striking [Z.S.] in the head.” The detective gave J.N.W. some water, and J.N.W. called

her mother again. While on speakerphone, J.N.W.’s mother told her she was on her way and “not to

say anything.” J.N.W. began to “panic” and hyperventilate, so the detectives called an ambulance.

While they waited for J.N.W.’s mother and the ambulance to arrive, the detectives and J.N.W. sat

on the hood of the detectives’ vehicle.6 J.N.W. and her mother rode together in the ambulance, and

the detectives followed behind in their vehicle.

At the hospital, J.N.W. began to calm down.7 After her mother requested that J.N.W. not

be given anything that would cause her to be drowsy and unable to answer any questions the

detectives had, J.N.W. was given medication.8 Afterwards, Detective Crawford was informed that

developments in the investigation of the shooting led to J.N.W. being identified as the primary

suspect. Detective Crawford then told J.N.W. and her mother that J.N.W. was “required to go down

to the detective bureau” and that an officer was coming to escort her.

J.N.W. was subsequently transported to the bureau and placed into an interview room.

Detective Smolin of the Virginia Beach Police Department conducted the interview.9 At the

6
J.N.W. was not handcuffed at the time.
7
J.N.W. was not handcuffed at the time.
8
At pre-trial hearings, it was proffered that the medication was Atarax, which is the
brand name for hydroxyzine.
9
The interview was recorded as a video. Since conducting the interview, Detective
Smolin was promoted to sergeant. As such, at points in the record he is referred to as Sergeant
Smolin. We will refer to him as Detective Smolin throughout this opinion.
-3-
beginning of the interview, Detective Smolin determined J.N.W.’s age and address. Next, Detective

Smolin told J.N.W. that he had to “read [her] rights.” Detective Smolin subsequently began to read

the Miranda10 warnings to J.N.W. from a preprinted card. After he advised her that she had “the

right to talk to a lawyer and have [one] present with [her] while [she was] being questioned,” J.N.W.

interrupted to ask: “I can do it right now?” Detective Smolin replied with “[that]’s a perfectly valid

question” and further stated: “So, you’re entitled to legal representation. That’s what that means.”

J.N.W. then asked if her mother could be present, and Detective Smolin first said “no” but then

clarified that she could be if she was a lawyer. Detective Smolin further stated:

So generally, what happens is, is retaining a lawyer is a process.
We’re not gonna call a lawyer and like have a guy just—they’re not
gonna–you know it’s Sunday. They’re, they’re in their pool right
now with their kids and barbecuing out back. They’re not gonna
jump down here and just come in here with somebody that they don’t
know. And they don’t know if you can pay them, right. ’Cause
they’re all about the money.

After, J.N.W. said: “Oh, yeah. No, I do not have no money.” Detective Smolin then reiterated that

J.N.W. “was entitled to representation.” He said: “If you don’t want to talk to me at all . . . and you

would rather have a lawyer, then I won’t talk to you, and we’ll do what we gotta do, and if you need

a lawyer, you get a lawyer.” Detective Smolin then started over and read the Miranda warnings to

J.N.W. from the beginning, which included telling her that if she could not “afford to hire a lawyer,

one [would] be appointed to represent [her] before any questioning if [she] wish[ed].” After,

J.N.W. stated she understood her rights.

Detective Smolin then asked J.N.W. about the shooting incident at the apartment. J.N.W.

told him that N.T. gave her the gun and that she was just “waving it around,” acting “cute.” She

said that she “accidentally shot the boy.” According to her, they had not been drinking alcohol or

using drugs, and she had thought that the safety was on.

10
Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436 (1966).
-4-
Later, J.N.W. was charged with unlawfully shooting within an occupied building,

involuntary manslaughter, and possession of a firearm by a person under 18 years of age.

I. Motions to Suppress

In March 2024, J.N.W. moved to suppress “the statements of [J.N.W.] wherein the Police

Officers failed to properly advise [J.N.W.] of her 5th Amendment right regarding self-incrimination

when first detained and further abide by her request to have a lawyer present.” J.N.W. also stated

that “the age and mental capacity of [J.N.W.] was not addressed by the investigating Officer.” At a

hearing on the motion, J.N.W. argued that her age and lack of criminal history prevented her from

being able to waive her Miranda rights and that her mother should have been present for the

questioning. J.N.W. also argued that Detective Smolin’s statements about when a lawyer could

arrive were inappropriate and that he should have “addressed” J.N.W.’s “age and mental capacity.”

After reviewing a video of J.N.W.’s interview with Detective Smolin, the circuit court found, in

part, that J.N.W. was “extremely articulate, mature, extremely responsive to the questions that the

officer was asking, . . . appeared intelligent, . . . [and] conversed with the officers with no

problems.” The circuit court also found that J.N.W. “had the mental capacity to understand the

Miranda warning.” The circuit court denied the motion.

In May 2024, J.N.W. filed a motion to reconsider, arguing that J.N.W. was questioned

without “being advised of her Fifth Amendment rights,” without being provided with a lawyer after

requesting one, without the presence of her mother, without properly waiving her Miranda rights,

and while under the influence of “the medication Atarax (hydroxyzine).” In June 2024, J.N.W. filed

a second motion to suppress, arguing that J.N.W.’s Miranda rights waiver was not voluntary due to

her being under the influence of “a psychotropic drug, Atarax (hydroxyzine).” Emphasizing that

there were “no indications of impairment at all,” the circuit court denied both motions.

-5-
II. Motion for Competency Evaluation

In May 2024, J.N.W.’s counsel moved for J.N.W. to be evaluated for competency. In the

filed motion, defense counsel asserted that J.N.W. “recently” “suffered significant impact to the

back of the head” and was “prescribed medication which may be psychotropic in nature at an

early age.” At a hearing on the motion, defense counsel asserted that “the motion for

competency was based on the fact that a recent CLE with the appellate judges–one of them who

used to be a public defender–commented that whenever you’re representing a juvenile, the

competency isn’t just one time.” Later in the hearing, it was mentioned that J.N.W. had “banged

her head” at some point since the date of offense. J.N.W.’s guardian ad litem also said that

J.N.W. had expressed suicidal ideations and an evaluation “might” be needed.11 J.N.W. did not

present any evidence, nor did her counsel proffer any additional information, about her ability to

understand the proceedings or assist with her defense.

With the agreement of both parties, the circuit court conducted a “voir dire” of J.N.W.

“about competency,” asking her questions about the judicial process and courtroom proceedings

of her case. J.N.W. was able to answer questions asked of her and stated that she “underst[ood]

what happened” that day. During the questioning, her defense counsel stated that there was

“nothing” at “this juncture” that he believed J.N.W. could not assist with. Finding a competency

to stand trial evaluation unnecessary, the circuit court denied the motion at that time.

III. Motion to Appoint an Expert Witness

In May 2024, J.N.W. moved “to engage expert witness.” In the written motion, J.N.W.

asserted that her “ability to knowingly and willingly waive her Miranda Rights was impaired by the

psychotropic medication.” However, the written motion did not name an expert witness nor specify

11
In part due to J.N.W.’s age and her mother’s “transportation issues,” a guardian ad
litem was appointed for J.N.W. in May of 2024.
-6-
what opinion would be given or sought, rather it only requested the appointment of an expert

witness to testify about the effects of “Atarax (generic name: Hydroxyzine).” The written motion

did state that “[t]he medication in question is a prescription anxiolytic drug, which causes, among

other things, brain fog, drowsiness, and impaired cognitive function” that “is recommended to be

prescribed with caution when being administered to adolescents.”

At a hearing on the motion, J.N.W.’s counsel claimed that he filed the motion after seeing

“information that [he] had gleaned from the internet as far as hydroxyzine is concerned.”

Defense counsel further stated that “it’s [his] concern that that had a bearing on her ability to

properly waive her Miranda rights with the detective,” so he thought “it should be addressed by

expert testimony.” Though at the hearing he gave a name of an expert and said the expert told

him a fee, defense counsel did not proffer to the circuit court what the expert’s opinion would be

or its necessity to J.N.W.’s defense. The circuit court denied the motion.

After a bench trial, J.N.W. was convicted of unlawfully shooting within an occupied

building, involuntary manslaughter, and possession of a firearm by a person under 18 years of

age. J.N.W. appeals.

ANALYSIS

I. Motion to Suppress

“The law regarding appellate review of a trial court’s decision on a motion to suppress is

well settled. The appellant bears the burden of establishing that reversible error occurred.”

Williams v. Commonwealth, 71 Va. App. 462, 474 (2020). J.N.W. contends that she invoked her

right to counsel. She also claims that any waiver of her Miranda rights was not knowingly,

intelligently, and voluntarily made, primarily due to “her mother’s absence during the critical

moments of custodial interrogation” and “Detective Smolin’s misleading statements regarding

the availability of legal counsel.”

-7-
A. Invocation of Right to Counsel

The right to the presence and assistance of counsel is one of the rights that a police

officer must inform a suspect in custody prior to interrogating them. Commonwealth v. Hilliard,

270 Va. 42, 49 (2005). “If the suspect waives [her] . . . righ[t], the police are free to begin

questioning [her]; however, if the suspect changes [her] mind during the interrogation and

requests the assistance of counsel, the interrogation must cease until an attorney has been made

available to the suspect or the suspect reinitiates the interrogation.” Id.

In order to invoke the right to counsel, a suspect must do so unambiguously and

unequivocally. See Berghuis v. Thompkins, 560 U.S. 370, 382 (2010). “Not all statements

mentioning a lawyer are an effective request for the presence of counsel[; a] suspect ‘must

articulate his desire to have counsel present sufficiently clearly that a reasonable police officer in

the circumstances would understand the statement to be a request for an attorney.’” Burrell v.

Commonwealth, 58 Va. App. 417, 429 (2011) (citation omitted) (quoting Davis v. United States,

512 U.S. 452, 459 (1994)). The subjective understanding of the officer and goal of the suspect

are irrelevant, as “the determination whether an accused actually invoked his right to counsel is a

purely objective inquiry.” Hilliard, 270 Va. at 50. If the reference to an attorney is one that a

reasonable officer in light of the circumstances may only have understood that the suspect might

be invoking his right to counsel, police questioning may continue. See Davis, 512 U.S. 452. It is

only when a suspect has clearly asserted his right to counsel that the right is effectively invoked

and questioning must cease. See id.12

12
For this reason, the Supreme Court of the United States has held that a statement such
as, “maybe I should talk to a lawyer,” was not an invocation of the right to counsel. See Davis,
512 U.S. 452 (declining to adopt a rule requiring officers to ask clarifying questions and finding
that if the suspect’s statement is not an unambiguous or unequivocal request for counsel, the
officers have no obligation to stop questioning him). Additionally, the Supreme Court of
Virginia has found statements such as, “can I speak to my lawyer” and “I’ll be honest with you,
I’m scared to say anything without talking to a lawyer,” to be ambiguous and not effectively
-8-
The issue of whether a criminal suspect invoked his right to counsel is one of a mixed

question of law and fact, which requires the application of these constitutional standards to the

facts of a given case. Redmond v. Commonwealth, 264 Va. 321, 326 (2002). “When an

appellate court conducts its independent review of a circuit court’s determination of this issue,

the appellate court may review the circuit court’s findings of historical fact only for clear error

and must give deference to the inferences that may be drawn from those factual findings.”

Hilliard, 270 Va. at 49-50.

Here, after being told that she had “the right to talk to a lawyer and have [one] present with

[her] while [she was] being questioned,” J.N.W. asked: “I can do it right now?” Detective Smolin

replied with “[that]’s a perfectly valid question” and further stated: “So, you’re entitled to legal

representation. That’s what that means.” He then continued to inform her of her rights, after which

she stated she understood her rights and willingly answered the questions asked. “At most,

[J.N.W.’s question] sought to clarify one of the rights of which [she] had already been advised.”

Poyner v. Commonwealth, 229 Va. 401, 410 (1985). It “was neither a request for counsel nor a

statement of unwillingness to proceed without counsel.” Bolding v. Commonwealth, 15 Va. App.

320, 323 (1992). Therefore, the circuit court did not err in finding that J.N.W. did not invoke her

right to counsel.

B. Knowing, Intelligent, and Voluntary Waiver

As articulated by the Supreme Court of the United States in Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S.

436, 469-73 (1966), before interrogating a suspect who is in police custody, law enforcement

officers must inform the suspect of certain rights. A suspect can waive these rights “if the waiver

is made knowingly and intelligently.” Angel v. Commonwealth, 281 Va. 248, 257 (2011). “The

invoking the right to counsel. See Redmond v. Commonwealth, 264 Va. 321 (2002); Midkiff v.
Commonwealth, 250 Va. 262 (1995).
-9-
determination of whether the waiver was made knowingly and intelligently is a question of fact

that will not be set aside on appeal unless plainly wrong.” Id. at 258. On the other hand,

whether a statement was voluntary is a “legal rather than factual question.” Gray v.

Commonwealth, 233 Va. 313, 324 (1987) (citations omitted).

Thus, whether a waiver of Miranda was “made voluntarily,
knowingly, and intelligently” has two components: “First, the
relinquishment of the right must have been voluntary in the sense
that it was the product of a free and deliberate choice rather than
intimidation, coercion, or deception. Second, the waiver must
have been made with a full awareness of both the nature of the
right being abandoned and the consequences of the decision to
abandon it. Only if the totality of the circumstances surrounding
the interrogation reveals both an uncoerced choice and the
requisite level of comprehension may a court properly conclude
that the Miranda rights have been waived.”

Tirado v. Commonwealth, 296 Va. 15, 28 (2018) (quoting Moran v. Burbine, 475 U.S. 412, 421

(1986)). “The ‘test to be applied in determining voluntariness is whether the statement is the

product of an essentially free and unconstrained choice by its maker, or whether the maker’s will

has been overborne and his capacity for self-determination critically impaired.’” Id. (quoting

Gray, 233 Va. at 324). “In determining whether a defendant’s will has been overborne, courts

look to the totality of all the surrounding circumstances.” Id. “Where a juvenile is involved,

‘this includes evaluation of the juvenile’s age, experience, education, background, and

intelligence, and whether [she] has the capacity to understand the warnings given [to her], the

nature of [her] Fifth Amendment rights, and the consequences of waiving those rights.” Potts v.

Commonwealth, 35 Va. App. 485, 495 (2001) (quoting Fare v. Michael C., 442 U.S. 707, 717

(1979)).

In reviewing the totality of the circumstances, the circuit court’s ruling that J.N.W.’s

waiver was knowingly and intelligently made is supported by the evidence. While J.N.W. was

fifteen years old, she appeared intelligent and articulate and said she understood her rights. The

• 10 - evidence supports the circuit court’s finding that she did not show “indications of impairment.”13

“Although ‘it is desirable to have a parent, counsel or some other interested adult or guardian

present when . . . a juvenile waives fundamental constitutional rights and confesses to a serious

crime . . . , the mere absence of a parent or counsel does not render the waiver invalid.” Potts, 35

Va. App. at 496 (alterations in original) (quoting Grogg v. Commonwealth, 6 Va. App. 598, 613

(1988)).

As for whether the statement was voluntary, even assuming without deciding that it was

an error to admit the statements J.N.W. made at the bureau to Detective Smolin because of

Detective Smolin’s comments about the availability of a lawyer, any error was harmless. “An

erroneous evidentiary ruling does not require reversal of a criminal conviction where the error is

harmless.” Dean v. Commonwealth, 30 Va. App. 49, 54 (1999) (quoting Brown v.

Commonwealth, 25 Va. App. 171, 182 (1997) (en banc)). In cases such as this where the error

would be constitutional in nature, this Court determines if it is clear beyond a reasonable doubt

that a rational trier of fact would have found the defendant guilty absent the error. See

Commonwealth v. White, 293 Va. 411, 420-21 (2017). Under this standard, it is not “presume[d]

that an error cannot be harmless if the factfinder considered erroneously admitted evidence.” Id.

at 421. “Rather, we must determine whether it is ‘clear beyond a reasonable doubt that a rational

[factfinder] would have found the defendant guilty absent the error.’” Commonwealth v. Paxton,

304 Va. 298, 305 (2025) (alteration in original) (quoting White, 293 Va. at 422).

In making that determination, the reviewing court is to consider a
host of factors, including the importance of the tainted evidence in
the prosecution’s case, whether that evidence was cumulative, the
presence or absence of evidence corroborating or contradicting the

13
Though defense counsel continuously proffered that J.N.W. was given a medication
that may cause drowsiness, no evidence that J.N.W. had any side effects from the medication
was given, and the circuit court did not find any signs of impairment.
- 11 -
tainted evidence on material points, and the overall strength of the
prosecution’s case.

Id. at 305-06 (quoting Lilly v. Commonwealth, 258 Va. 548, 551 (1999)).

Here, the circuit court convicted J.N.W. of unlawfully shooting within an occupied

building, involuntary manslaughter, and possession of a firearm by a person under 18 years of

age. Beyond the statements made by J.N.W. to Detective Smolin, the prosecution’s case

included: (1) a stipulation that Z.S. died from a gunshot wound to the head; (2) testimony that

Z.S. and others occupied a building when he was shot; (3) statements from J.N.W. made to

Detective Hile outside CVS that she had been at the apartment with her friend and the boys, that

“[t]hey began to play with a gun,” and that while “pass[ing] it around,” the handgun “went off,

striking [Z.S.] in the head”; and (4) testimony from J.N.W.’s friend that detailed the events of the

shooting, including that J.N.W. had the handgun in her hands when it went off and shot Z.S. This

was strong, independent evidence of J.N.W.’s guilt and corroborated the material points, and at

times was cumulative, of the statements made by J.N.W. to Detective Smolin. As far as how

important J.N.W.’s statements to Detective Smolin were for the prosecution’s case, we note that

when making its ruling, the circuit court referred to the video of the statements but stated that

“[r]egardless of whether you see the video or not, actually, there is evidence from the witness of

what happened, the witness who was there.” After making this statement, the circuit court found

J.N.W. guilty of the three charges. Accordingly, any error in admitting the statements J.N.W.

made to Detective Smolin was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt.

II. Competency Evaluation

J.N.W. also assigns error to the circuit court’s denial of her motion to evaluate her

competency. “A defendant is competent to stand trial when he has the present ability to

understand the proceedings against him and consult with his lawyer with a reasonable degree of

understanding.” Clark v. Commonwealth, 73 Va. App. 695, 704-05 (2021). Code
- 12 -
§ 19.2-169.1(A) requires a court to order a competency evaluation if there is “probable cause to

believe” the defendant “lacks substantial capacity to understand the proceedings against him or

to assist his attorney in his own defense.” “Because a trial court is in the best position to weigh

the evidence presented on a defendant’s competency, we will reverse a trial court’s decision

denying a competency evaluation under Code § 19.2-169.1(A) only if the trial court abused its

discretion.” Clark, 73 Va. App. at 705. “A trial court abuses its discretion when it (1) does not

consider a ‘relevant factor’ that should have been given ‘significant weight,’ (2) considers an

‘irrelevant or improper factor’ and gives it significant weight, or (3) considers all relevant factors

but makes a ‘clear error of judgment’ in weighing the factors.” Id. (quoting Dang v.

Commonwealth, 287 Va. 132, 146 (2014)).

“[P]robable cause warranting a competency evaluation depends on ‘probabilities that are

based upon the factual and practical considerations in everyday life as perceived by reasonable

and prudent persons.’” Id. at 707 (quoting Johnson v. Commonwealth, 53 Va. App. 79, 93

(2008)). “While one factor standing alone may be sufficient for probable cause, a judge most

often evaluates several relevant factors to determine if [a competency] evaluation is warranted

under the circumstances.” Id. at 708. Defense counsel’s opinion of a client’s competency is a

“persuasive factor” which a court “should ‘strongly consider’” because counsel “is in the best

position to speak to a client’s ability to understand proceedings and assist counsel at trial.” Id.

(quoting Johnson, 53 Va. App. at 94). Therefore, “courts have found counsel’s detailed proffer

about a client’s mental state sufficient to satisfy the probable cause standard.” Id. However,

“while persuasive, counsel’s assertions, ‘standing alone, do not typically provide probable cause

for an evaluation.’” Id. (quoting Johnson, 53 Va. App. at 94). “[C]ounsel’s ‘general impression’

of a client’s incompetence or testimony about limited instances of a client’s irrational behavior

• 13 - alone does not establish sufficient doubt” in competency. Id. (quoting Johnson, 53 Va. App. at

95).

Here, notwithstanding J.N.W.’s counsel’s requests for J.N.W. to be evaluated, the circuit

court had insufficient evidence to establish probable cause that J.N.W. “lack[ed] substantial

capacity to understand the proceedings against [her] or assist [her] attorney in [her] own

defense.”14 Code § 19.2-169.1(A). At the time of the motion, J.N.W. was able to intelligently

answer questions asked of her and stated that she “underst[ood] what happened” that day. Her

defense counsel even opined that there was “nothing” at “this juncture” that he believed J.N.W.

couldn’t assist with. Viewing the circumstances in their entirety, the circuit court did not abuse

its discretion by denying the request for a competency evaluation.15

III. Expert Testimony

J.N.W. also argues that the circuit court erred in “excluding expert testimony regarding

the effects of hydroxyzine on [her] cognitive state” by denying her motion “to engage expert.”

“[T]he Due Process and Equal Protection clauses [of the United States Constitution] require the

appointment of . . . expert[ witnesses] to indigent defendants” if “the defendants ma[ke] a

particularized showing of the need for the assistance of such experts.” Husske v.

Commonwealth, 252 Va. 203, 211 (1996). “[W]hether a defendant has made the required

14
While in the filed motion, defense counsel asserted that J.N.W. had an impact to the
back of her head and was prescribed medication that “may” have certain side effects, J.N.W.
never actually presented evidence about side effects or her ability to understand the proceedings
or assist with her defense.
15
On brief, J.N.W. at times refers to whether she was competent to “waive her Miranda
rights and provide voluntary statements,” and at other times, she appears to refer to whether she
was competent to stand trial. J.N.W.’s motion to evaluate her competency was made to address
her competency to stand trial. Therefore, the circuit court only addressed whether she was
competent to stand trial at the time. As such, any other argument made on appeal that the circuit
court erred in ruling on the motion to evaluate competency is procedurally defaulted under Rule
5A:18.
- 14 -
showing of particularized need is a determination that lies within the sound discretion of the trial

court.” Johnson v. Commonwealth, 292 Va. 772, 778 (2016) (quoting Commonwealth v.

Sanchez, 268 Va. 161, 165 (2004)). “A particularized need is more than a ‘mere hope’ that

favorable evidence can be obtained through the services of an expert.” Id. (quoting Green v.

Commonwealth, 266 Va. 81, 92 (2003)).

Here, J.N.W. failed to demonstrate a particularized need for expert assistance. At the

hearing on the motion to “engage expert witness,” J.N.W.’s counsel claimed that he filed the

motion after seeing “information that [he] had gleaned from the internet as far as hydroxyzine is

concerned.” Defense counsel further stated that “it’s [his] concern that that had a bearing on her

ability to properly waive her Miranda rights with the detective,” so he thought “it should be

addressed by expert testimony.” Though he gave a name of an expert and said the expert told

him a fee, defense counsel never proffered to the circuit court what the expert’s opinion would

be or its necessity to J.N.W.’s defense.16 Further, the circuit court was not given any

particularized statements that indicated anything more than J.N.W.’s “hope or suspicion”

regarding favorable evidence to her. See Sanchez, 268 Va. at 166. “As a result, the [circuit]

court was left only to guess whether the unknown, unexplained potential testimony of [J.N.W.’s]

expert would be a significant or material factor in [her] defense and, consequently, whether the

lack of that testimony would prejudice” her. Id. Accordingly, the circuit court did not err when

it denied her motion to engage an expert.17

16
Even in her filed written motion, all that was communicated to the circuit court in
relation to an opinion was that a “medical doctor” was “expected to testify to the effects of
certain psychotropic drugs administered to [J.N.W.], specifically the anxiolytic drug, Atarax.”
17
In her final assignment of error, J.N.W. contends that the circuit court’s “cumulative
errors violated [her] due process rights.” However, for the reasons stated above, we have
affirmed the circuit court on all other assignments of error. Consequently, we also do not disturb
the judgment of the circuit court on this final assignment of error. See Prieto v. Warden of the
Sussex I State Prison, 286 Va. 99, 117 (2013) (“Having rejected each of petitioner’s individual
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CONCLUSION

For the foregoing reasons, this Court affirms the circuit court’s judgment.

Affirmed.

claims, there is no support for the proposition that such actions when considered collectively
have deprived petitioner of his constitutional right.” (quoting Lenz v. Warden, 267 Va. 318, 340
(2004))).
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