                                       No. 118,380

             IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF KANSAS

                                    STATE OF KANSAS,
                                        Appellee,

                                              v.

                                   TERI LYNN JOHNSON,
                                        Appellant.


                             SYLLABUS BY THE COURT


1.
       Courts must presume the constitutionality of a statute and resolve all doubts in the
favor of validity.


2.
       The term "other person in a position of authority" in K.S.A. 2015 Supp. 21-
5512(a)(9) is not unconstitutionally vague.


3.
       The party claiming an error occurred has the burden of designating a record
affirmatively showing prejudicial error. Without such a record, an appellate court
presumes the action of the trial court was proper.


4.
       When sufficiency of the evidence is challenged in a criminal case, the standard of
review is whether, after reviewing all the evidence in a light most favorable to the
prosecution, the appellate court is convinced a rational fact-finder could have found the



                                              1
defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Appellate courts do not reweigh evidence,
resolve evidentiary conflicts, or make witness credibility determinations.


5.
       An appellate court must first attempt to ascertain legislative intent through the
statutory language enacted, giving common words their ordinary meanings. When a
statute is plain and unambiguous, an appellate court should not speculate about the
legislative intent behind that clear language, and it should refrain from reading something
into the statute not readily found in its words.


6.
       Ultimately, the courts must construe statutes to avoid unreasonable or absurd
results and presume the Legislature does not intend to enact meaningless legislation.


7.
       K.S.A. 2015 Supp. 21-5512(a)(9) defines unlawful sexual relations as "engaging
in consensual sexual intercourse, lewd fondling or touching, or sodomy with a person
who is not married to the offender if . . . the offender is a teacher or other person in a
position of authority and the person with whom the offender is engaging in consensual
sexual intercourse, lewd fondling or touching, or sodomy is a person 16 years of age or
older who is a student enrolled at the school where the offender is employed."


8.
       K.S.A. 2015 Supp. 21-5512(d)(9) defines a teacher to include "teachers, coaches,
supervisors, principals, superintendents and any other professional employee in any
public or private school offering any of grades kindergarten through 12."




                                               2
9.
        A paraprofessional educator assigned to a school is a person in a position of
authority as set out in K.S.A. 2015 Supp. 21-5512(a)(9).


10.
        Under K.S.A. 2015 Supp. 21-5510(a)(1), sexual exploitation of a child by enticing
a child to engage in sexually explicit conduct with the intent to promote any performance
is not an alternative means crime.


11.
        The subpoints in the definition subparagraph of K.S.A. 2015 Supp. 21-
5510(d)(2)(A) and (B) describe options under the definition of "promoting" and do not
create an alternative means crime requiring super-sufficiency of the evidence.


12.
        K.S.A. 2015 Supp. 21-6401(f)(2) defines "material" as "any tangible thing which
is capable of being used or adapted to arouse interest, whether through the medium of
reading, observation, sound or other manner."


13.
        "Material" as used in K.SA. 2015 Supp. 21-6401(f)(2) includes digital media
shared by sending or transmitting it to another person.


        Appeal from Douglas District Court; PEGGY C. KITTEL, judge. Opinion filed June 21, 2019.
Affirmed.


        Clayton J. Perkins, of Capital Appellate Defender Office, for appellant.


        Kate Duncan Butler, assistant district attorney, Charles E. Branson, district attorney, and Derek
Schmidt, attorney general, for appellee.

                                                    3
Before GREEN, P.J., SCHROEDER, J., and STUTZMAN, S.J.


       SCHROEDER, J.: Teri Lynn Johnson appeals her jury convictions for unlawful
sexual relations, sexual exploitation of a child, and promoting obscenity to a minor. She
challenges the sufficiency of the evidence under each count and also claims K.S.A. 2015
Supp. 21-5512(a)(9) as applied is unconstitutionally vague as it fails to give notice of
who is covered by the law and does not support her conviction for unlawful sexual
relations. She also complains K.S.A. 2015 Supp. 21-5510(a)(1) requires super-sufficiency
of the evidence, claiming it is an alternative means crime. The jury found Johnson guilty
as charged stemming from her sexually oriented relationship with K.E., a minor. The
record shows the court ordered K.E. to attend school where Johnson worked as a
classroom paraprofessional. Their relationship began with flirtations in school. Johnson
exchanged sexually explicit communications with K.E. on social media, resulting in
Johnson ultimately going to K.E.'s home where they engaged in sexual intercourse. In a
light most favorable to the State, the evidence presented supports Johnson's convictions.
K.S.A. 2015 Supp. 21-5512(a)(9) is not unconstitutionally vague, and K.S.A. 2015 Supp.
21-5510(a)(1) is not an alternative means crime. We affirm.


                                           FACTS

Johnson's job and duties


       Johnson worked as a paraprofessional educator for U.S.D. 497. She was assigned
as a paraeducator to the Douglas County Detention Center in what is commonly referred
to as the Day School at the Juvenile Detention Center (JDC). Johnson worked at the Day
School under the supervision of a licensed teacher. The essential functions of Johnson's
position included adapting classroom activities, administering discipline, conferring with
teachers, participating in team meetings to assist in evaluating student progress,
implementing academic instruction, implementing behavior plans, and monitoring

                                             4
classrooms and students to ensure their safety and welfare. Paraeducators had supervision
responsibilities and were also responsible for leading, guiding, and coordinating with
others, including the students. If needed, Johnson would also "take over" and substitute
for various teachers at the Day School.


K.E.'s enrollment and status as a student


         K.E. was a student enrolled in the 12th grade in the Lawrence Public School
system during the 2015-2016 school year. He was court ordered to attend school at the
JDC that year.


The relationship between Johnson and K.E.


         K.E. testified he found Johnson attractive and would joke with his friends about
who would have sex with her first. He would flirt with Johnson a couple of times a week
by staring at her breasts and deliberately getting caught by her to see how she would
react.


         A relationship developed and Johnson began communicating with K.E. outside of
school using two social media applications: Facebook Messenger and Snapchat. Johnson
told K.E. in their first exchange on Facebook she could be fired if their contacts were
discovered. They switched to using Snapchat to send pictures, videos, and text messages
to each other. K.E. testified they favored Snapchat because it deletes messages, pictures,
and videos after a user views them. However, a Snapchat user can actively save images
sent to the user. If saved by the recipient, the sender is sent a notification explaining the
last sent item was saved by the recipient. K.E. testified he initially saved messages
exchanged with Johnson through the chat function, but he "unsaved" them because he did
not want anyone to see them.


                                               5
       K.E. testified they started sending pictures early in their communications and that
"sex was already on my mind." He also testified that they discussed the age of consent in
Kansas. Johnson was concerned because K.E. was not yet 18 years old. He searched on
Google for the age of consent in Kansas, determined it was 16, and told Johnson he was
over the "age of statutory rape."


       Johnson went to K.E.'s house on the Saturday before Thanksgiving, and the two
had sexual intercourse one time in his bedroom.


       After having sex, K.E. and Johnson continued to communicate on Snapchat. They
discussed their sexual encounter, having sex again, and mutually agreed to not tell
anyone. Over the course of the relationship, Johnson sent K.E. approximately 20 pictures
over Snapchat, and "all but like four or five" included pictures of her breasts. The rest
included images of things such as lingerie and her vagina. K.E. also received pictures and
at least two videos from Johnson over Facebook, one of her "rubbing her breasts and then
playing with her vagina and [in] the other one she was in the shower playing with her
vagina."


       K.E. testified he requested most of the photographs and videos Johnson sent to
him; however, Johnson also sent him videos and pictures he had not requested. He also
testified prior to having sex, Johnson asked him for a picture of his penis and he sent it.
He did not recall her asking him for a video of himself. At trial, K.E. identified a video of
himself masturbating. He did not recall sending the video to Johnson. This video of K.E.
masturbating, as well as other images of an erect penis—believed by police, in context, to
be of K.E.—were located on Johnson's cellphone.


       Johnson told K.E. throughout all of their communications to not save the content.
K.E. testified "[i]f it involved naked pictures I saved it."


                                               6
Report and criminal investigation


       K.E. disclosed his relationship with Johnson to his father. His father told K.E.'s
mother, and she contacted law enforcement. Law enforcement interviewed K.E. Then
detectives went to the JDC and requested Johnson accompany them to the police
department for an interview. Johnson did not testify at her trial, but the court admitted a
video recording of her interview which was played for the jury. At the end of her police
interview, Johnson provided a written statement, which was also admitted at her trial.
Throughout the course of the investigation, the detectives reviewed Facebook and
Snapchat records and phone reports downloaded from K.E.'s and Johnson's cellphones.
These downloaded records included some restored information previously deleted by
Johnson and K.E.


       As the interview progressed, Johnson admitted she had exchanged photos with
K.E., first claiming she had done so by accident. After the police told her they could
retrieve even some deleted information, Johnson admitted she sent K.E. images. At first,
she claimed she was not unclothed but then acknowledged she intentionally sent K.E.
pictures of her breasts and vagina. She told police their contacts were exclusively
messaging.


       Later in the interview, she acknowledged she went to K.E.'s house but claimed
they only talked. When asked if her DNA would be on K.E.'s bed, Johnson replied, "I
guess you know?" Johnson then admitted she had sexual intercourse with K.E. with
K.E.'s penis penetrating her vagina, and K.E. also performed oral sex on her.


       Johnson also admitted she and K.E. exchanged videos involving both of them
masturbating. Johnson acknowledged K.E. sent her a picture of his penis.




                                              7
Trial and sentencing


       The State charged Johnson with one count of unlawful sexual relations, a severity
level 5 person felony; one count of sexual exploitation of a child, also a severity level 5
person felony; and one count of promoting obscenity to a minor, a class A nonperson
misdemeanor. The jury convicted her on all three charges.


       Johnson moved for a downward dispositional departure, or in the alternative, a
downward durational departure. After hearing the evidence, a statement from K.E.'s
mother, and arguments of counsel, the district court continued the sentencing to review
the records and caselaw citations. In ruling on the motion, the district court stated the
following:


           Johnson was in a position of authority;
           K.E. was a student at the school where Johnson was a paraprofessional
              educator;
           Johnson had engaged in a course of conduct;
           The relationship grew over time from inappropriate discussions in the
              classroom to secretive communications on Facebook and Snapchat;
           Johnson violated the educator/student fiduciary relationship; and
           There were insufficient compelling reasons to grant a departure.


Therefore, the district court denied Johnson's motion.


       The district court then sentenced Johnson to the standard sentence of 32 months
with the Department of Corrections for unlawful sexual relations, 32 months for sexual
exploitation of a child, and 12 months for promoting obscenity to a minor, all to run




                                              8
concurrent to each other with 24 months of postrelease supervision. Finally Johnson was
ordered to register under the Kansas Offender Registration Act for 25 years.


                                          ANALYSIS

Is the use of "other person in a position of authority" unconstitutionally vague as set out
in K.S.A. 2015 Supp. 21-5512(a)(9)?

       K.S.A. 2015 Supp. 21-5512(a)(9) under these facts prohibits consensual sexual
intercourse, lewd fondling or touching, or sodomy with a person who is not married to
the offender when the offender is a teacher or other person in a position of authority
employed at a school where the child is enrolled.


       Johnson argues K.S.A. 2015 Supp. 21-5512(a)(9) is unconstitutionally vague
when applying the term "other person in a position of authority." Whether a statute is
unconstitutionally vague is a question of law, and this court's review is unlimited. This
court must presume the constitutionality of a statute and resolve all doubts in favor of its
validity. State v. Whitesell, 270 Kan. 259, 268, 13 P.3d 887 (2000).


       Interpretation of a statute is also a question of law over which appellate courts
have unlimited review. State v. Collins, 303 Kan. 472, 473-74, 362 P.3d 1098 (2015).
The most fundamental rule of statutory construction is that the intent of the Legislature
governs if that intent can be ascertained. State v. Jordan, 303 Kan. 1017, 1019, 370 P.3d
417 (2016). An appellate court must first attempt to ascertain legislative intent through
the statutory language enacted, giving common words their ordinary meanings. When a
statute is plain and unambiguous, an appellate court should not speculate about the
legislative intent behind that clear language, and it should refrain from reading something
into the statute that is not readily found in its words. Where there is no ambiguity, the
court need not resort to statutory construction. Only if the statute's language or text is
unclear or ambiguous does the court use canons of construction or legislative history to

                                              9
construe the legislature's intent. State v. Barlow, 303 Kan. 804, 813, 368 P.3d 331 (2016).
When construing statutes to determine legislative intent, appellate courts must consider
various provisions of an act in pari materia with a view of reconciling and bringing the
provisions into workable harmony, if possible. State v. Keel, 302 Kan. 560, Syl. ¶ 7, 357
P.3d 251 (2015).


       A. Preservation

       Johnson acknowledges she raises this issue for the first time on appeal. Issues not
raised before the trial court cannot be raised on appeal. See State v. Kelly, 298 Kan. 965,
971, 318 P.3d 987 (2014). Constitutional grounds for reversal asserted for the first time
on appeal are also not properly before the appellate court for review. State v. Daniel, 307
Kan. 428, 430, 410 P.3d 877 (2018).


       However, consideration of the theory is necessary to serve the ends of justice or to
prevent denial of fundamental rights, so we may address Johnson's claim. See State v.
Phillips, 299 Kan. 479, 493, 325 P.3d 1095 (2014); see also State v. White, 53 Kan. App.
2d 44, 55, 384 P.3d 13 (2016), rev. denied 306 Kan. 1331 (2017).


       B. Analysis

       Johnson argues that K.S.A. 2015 Supp. 21-5512(a)(9) requires people of common
intelligence to guess at its meaning of "other person in a position of authority," and so it
"is unconstitutionally vague in violation of due process." The State, however, contends
that there is no ambiguity regarding the word "authority," and the statute clearly
elucidates which people are "embraced by the phrase at issue in this case." The State's
argument is persuasive.




                                             10
       Courts use a two-prong inquiry to determine if a statute is unconstitutionally
vague. City of Lincoln Center v. Farmway Co-Op, Inc., 298 Kan. 540, 545, 316 P.3d 707
(2013); White v. Shipman, 54 Kan. App. 2d 84, 94-95, 396 P.3d 1250 (2017). First, courts
determine whether the statute conveys a sufficiently definite warning and fair notice of
the prohibited conduct in light of common understanding and practice. Second, courts
determine whether the statute's terms are precise enough to guard against arbitrary and
discriminatory enforcement. City of Lincoln Center, 298 Kan. at 545. A statute is
unconstitutionally vague if it "'forbids the doing of an act in terms so vague that persons
of common intelligence must necessarily guess at its meaning and differ as to its
application.' [Citations omitted.]." White, 53 Kan. App. 2d at 54. Courts can resolve void-
for-vagueness arguments based on the language of the statute alone. See, e.g., State v.
Teter, 47 Kan. App. 2d 608, 612-15, 278 P.3d 968 (2012) (finding statute regulating the
purchase of pseudoephedrine and ephedrine was not unconstitutionally vague based
solely on the language of the statute).


       Again, the conduct prohibited by K.S.A. 2015 Supp. 21-5512(a) is consensual
sexual intercourse, lewd fondling or touching, or sodomy with a person who is not
married to the offender. This conduct is prohibited if the offender is a teacher or "other
person in a position of authority" employed at the school where the child is enrolled.
(Emphasis added.) K.S.A. 2015 Supp. 21-5512(a)(9). "Teacher" is defined, in part, to
include any other professional employee at a public school offering any of grades
kindergarten through 12. K.S.A. 2015 Supp. 21-5512(d)(9).


       Next, Johnson contends the law criminalizes otherwise lawful conduct based upon
an offender's professional status, so "determining what professions are subject to the law
is key." However, in failing to read the statute in light of common understanding and
practice, Johnson's interpretation of the statute makes unsupported legal conclusions.




                                             11
       The purpose of the statute, read in context, is to prohibit sexual relations within a
relationship in which there is an inherent power differential, e.g., employees at a
correctional facility and inmates, parole officers and parolees, law enforcement officers
and those jailed, foster parents and their foster children, etc. See K.S.A. 2015 Supp. 21-
5512(a). The statute is not about "qualifying profession[s]" but preventing those in
positions of authority from using their authority to coerce sex from those entrusted to
their care.


       The term "authority" is understood by persons of common intelligence to mean
"the power or right to give commands, enforce obedience, take action." Webster's New
World College Dictionary 96 (5th ed. 2014). Contrary to Johnson's contention that a
reference to a dictionary "presents disparate examples of what 'authority' could mean," all
of her quoted examples reflect the ordinary meaning of the term. This is consistent with
the purpose of the statute in context—prohibiting conduct whereby persons in positions
of authority abuse their authority to engage in sexual relations with those entrusted to
their care.


       Johnson argues the phrase in question is an unconstitutionally vague "catchall
clause." She cites to Johnson v. United States, 576 U.S. __, 135 S. Ct. 2551, 192 L. Ed.
2d 569 (2015), in support of her argument. Her reliance on Johnson is misplaced. There,
the United States Supreme Court specifically found the residual clause within the federal
criminal statute at issue asked whether the crime "'involves conduct'" that presents too
much risk of physical injury. In so finding, the Court held the indeterminacy of the
"wide-ranging inquiry" denied fair notice to defendants and invited arbitrary enforcement
by judges. 135 S. Ct. at 2557. Here, there is no need for a wide-ranging inquiry regarding
prohibited conduct. The inquiry is a simple one: whether the school employee—
Johnson—was in a position of authority.




                                             12
       Finally, Johnson claims the Legislature attempted to limit the statute's applicability
to persons in certain professions at schools and so the statute does not apply to all school
employees. Johnson then essentially claims the Legislature disregarded itself when it
included the phrase "other person in a position of authority" in the statute: "the inclusion
of a catchall phrase applying to other persons in a position of authority allows the
arbitrary disregard of the limitations put in place by the legislature."


       The statute, however, does not exclude the possibility it could apply to most, if not
all, employees in a school. The test within the language of the statute is not an employee's
title, but whether the employee was in a position of authority—a fact question. The State
attempts to distinguish between school employees who have regular and direct contact
with students in the context of the students' presence at the school—librarians, teaching
assistants—and those whose primary work tasks do not require interactions with students.


       In a dynamic and insulated environment such as a school where children are
expected to be deferential to adults, interpreting the statute to mean it cannot apply to all
employees is too narrow a reading. Even the broadest reading of the phrase at issue—
other person in a position of authority—is precise enough to guard against arbitrary and
discriminatory enforcement because it puts school employees on notice the statute could
apply to them when acting in a position of authority.


       The statute is not unconstitutionally vague and reasonably describes to all persons
interacting with others what conduct a person of common intelligence would understand
is prohibited. Having found the statute's use of "other person in a position of authority" is
not unconstitutionally vague, we turn to address Johnson's claim the evidence presented
was insufficient to support her convictions.




                                               13
Was the evidence sufficient?

       Next, Johnson claims the State presented insufficient evidence to support her
convictions for unlawful sexual relations, sexual exploitation of a child, and promoting
obscenity to a minor. However, Johnson designated only a fraction of the trial's evidence
as part of her record on appeal.


       The party claiming an error occurred has the burden of designating a record
affirmatively showing prejudicial error. State v. Sisson, 302 Kan. 123, 128, 351 P.3d
1235 (2015). Without such a record, an appellate court presumes the action of the trial
court was proper. State v. Bridges, 297 Kan. 989, 1001, 306 P.3d 244 (2013). Even with
the limited record available, the record is sufficient to support Johnson's three
convictions. We will address the sufficiency of the evidence for each crime separately.
Additionally, we will address Johnson's argument that sexual exploitation of a child is an
alternative means crime.


       A. Unlawful sexual relations

       Johnson contends the State did not present sufficient evidence to establish certain
elements of the crime of unlawful sexual relations—specifically, whether she was in a
position of authority and whether K.E. was a student enrolled at a school where she was
employed. The State argues it presented sufficient evidence to support Johnson's
conviction because she was in a position of authority as a paraeducator, and K.E. was a
student in the Lawrence public schools required to attend the Day School at the JDC. The
State's argument is more persuasive.


       When sufficiency of the evidence is challenged in a criminal case, the standard of
review is "'whether, after reviewing all the evidence in a light most favorable to the
prosecution, the appellate court is convinced a rational factfinder could have found the

                                             14
defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Appellate courts do not reweigh evidence,
resolve evidentiary conflicts, or make witness credibility determinations.' [Citation
omitted.]" State v. Chandler, 307 Kan. 657, 668, 414 P.3d 713 (2018).


       K.S.A. 2015 Supp. 21-5512(a)(9) defines unlawful sexual relations as engaging in
consensual sexual intercourse, lewd fondling or touching, or sodomy with a person who
is not married to the offender if


       "the offender is a teacher or other person in a position of authority and the person with
       whom the offender is engaging in consensual sexual intercourse, lewd fondling or
       touching, or sodomy is a person 16 years of age or older who is a student enrolled at the
       school where the offender is employed." (Emphases added.)


       Significantly, according to the statute, a "teacher" includes teachers, coaches,
supervisors, principals, superintendents, and "any other professional employee in any
public or private school offering any of grades kindergarten through 12." (Emphases
added.) K.S.A. 2015 Supp. 21-5512(d)(9).


       1. Johnson was in a position of authority.

       To the degree analysis of this issue requires statutory interpretation, that is a
question of law and this court's review is unlimited. Collins, 303 Kan. at 473-74. The
most fundamental rule of statutory construction is the intent of the Legislature governs if
that intent can be ascertained. Jordan, 303 Kan. at 1019.


       An appellate court must first attempt to ascertain legislative intent through the
statutory language enacted, giving common words their ordinary meanings. When a
statute is plain and unambiguous, an appellate court should not speculate about the
legislative intent behind that clear language, and it should refrain from reading something
into the statute not readily found in its words. Where there is no ambiguity, the court need
                                                   15
not resort to statutory construction. Only if the statute's language or text is unclear or
ambiguous does the court use canons of construction or legislative history to construe the
Legislature's intent. Barlow, 303 Kan. at 813.


       Thus, the State had to prove Johnson was a "person in a position of authority." As
a paraprofessional educator at the JDC, Johnson contends the State failed to establish this
element. She argues she was not in a position of authority "either in terms of her job
working for Lawrence Public Schools or over K.E. in particular." She claims as a
paraprofessional educator, her primary duty "was working with children requiring special
education." She also claims because she worked under the supervision of a licensed
teacher, it was the teacher who was the "person in a position of authority," not her.


       Johnson's arguments on their face are not realistic. Even if Johnson's primary duty
was working with children requiring special education, she does not explain how her
primary duty did not reflect authority or how it otherwise negated any authority she had
by virtue of her other job responsibilities. Further, her argument regarding the licensed
teacher's authority suggests no one other than the licensed teacher had any authority in
that classroom. Johnson's argument fails to acknowledge positions of authority can be
shared.


       Johnson also fails to cite to any evidence in the record to support her arguments.
Issues not briefed are deemed waived or abandoned. State v. Arnett, 307 Kan. 648, 650,
413 P.3d 787 (2018). A point raised incidentally in a brief and not argued therein is also
deemed abandoned. State v. Sprague, 303 Kan. 418, 425, 362 P.3d 828 (2015). Also,
failure to support a point with pertinent authority or show why it is sound despite a lack
of supporting authority or in the face of contrary authority is akin to failing to brief the
issue. State v. Pewenofkit, 307 Kan. 730, 731, 415 P.3d 398 (2018).




                                              16
       The plain language of the statute addresses Johnson's role at the school as a person
in a position of authority. The evidence at trial regarding Johnson's authority in the
classroom was uncontested. The record reflects:


             Her job description and self-acknowledged responsibilities;
             K.E.'s perception of her authority;
             Her exercise of that authority in the classroom by sending students,
               including K.E., to "cool downs";
             Her assigning and grading work; and
             Her interactions with other staff members.


       When construing statutes to determine legislative intent, appellate courts must
consider various provisions of an act in pari materia with a view of reconciling and
bringing the provisions into workable harmony, if possible. Keel, 302 Kan. 560, Syl. ¶ 7.
Ultimately, the courts must construe statutes to avoid unreasonable or absurd results and
presume the Legislature does not intend to enact meaningless legislation. State v.
Frierson, 298 Kan. 1005, 1013, 319 P.3d 515 (2014).


       Reading subparagraph (a)(9) in pari materia with the rest of the statute, we see
other subsections of K.S.A. 2015 Supp. 21-5512 similarly prohibit sexual conduct
between department of corrections employees and inmates; parole officers and parolees;
and workers, volunteers, "or other person[s] in a position of authority" in a family foster
home and their foster children aged 16 years or older. See K.S.A. 2015 Supp. 21-
5512(a)(1), (2), and (8). When read in its entirety, it is clear the intent of this statute is to
prohibit sexual conduct of certain persons who have authority over other persons where
the ability to freely consent is questionable. See State v. Edwards, 48 Kan. App. 2d 264,
269, 288 P.3d 494 (2012).




                                               17
       We have previously defined a person in a position of authority as one who has "the
power or right to give commands, enforce obedience, take action" (Webster's New World
College Dictionary 96), all of which are examples of what Johnson exercised in her role
as a paraeducator in the classroom at the JDC. We find the Legislature intended for
persons like Johnson to be held to the same standards as teachers when it comes to
preventing sexual relations with the students. Johnson, while employed at the JDC, was a
"person in a position of authority" as contemplated by K.S.A. 2015 Supp. 21-5512(a)(9).
To find otherwise would result in an absurd and unreasonable interpretation of the statute.
See Frierson, 298 Kan. at 1013.


       2. K.E. was a student.

       Next, Johnson contends the State failed to prove K.E. was "a student enrolled at
the school where the offender was employed" and argues K.E. was not a student at the
school where she was employed. Rather, she claims he was court ordered to attend
"educational training at a juvenile detention facility," and she was "not employed at that
school" but by Lawrence Public Schools and assigned to the JDC. Johnson argues the
Day School was not a school and K.E. was not a student for purposes of determining
school district enrollment. Johnson's argument lacks logic.


       Giving common words their ordinary meaning, "school" is defined as "[a]n
institution of learning and education, esp. for children." Black's Law Dictionary 1546
(10th ed. 2014). A student is "a person who studies, or investigates . . . [or] is enrolled for
study at a school." Webster's New World College Dictionary 1441 (5th ed. 2014). The
record reflects K.E. was enrolled in Lawrence Public Schools for the 2015-2016
academic year as a 12th grader and assigned by the school district to attend the JDC
under a court order.




                                              18
       In sum, the evidence available in the record reflects K.E. was a student enrolled at
the JDC school where Johnson was assigned to work. To find otherwise would lead to an
absurd and unreasonable application of the statutes. See Frierson, 298 Kan. at 1013.


       Johnson's real argument about her conviction for unlawful sexual relations
amounts to a request for reweighing of the evidence, which this court does not do. See
Chandler, 307 Kan. at 668. The record before us reflects Johnson was employed at the
JDC school and was in a "position of authority" to manage the classroom—including
K.E. who was a 17-year-old 12th grade student court ordered to attend the JDC school.


       B. Sexual exploitation of a child

       Here, Johnson contends the evidence was insufficient to convict her of sexual
exploitation of a child because the State did not prove she enticed K.E. to engage in
sexually explicit conduct for profit. She argues sexual exploitation of a child is an
alternative means crime, which required the State to prove all of the listed means of
committing the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. The State argues there is no alternative
means issue presented in this case. Accordingly, the State was not required to prove
Johnson promoted K.E.'s sexually explicit performance "both for profit and to arouse
sexual desires." (Emphasis added.) The State has the better argument.


       Sufficiency of the evidence is reviewed to determine whether in the context of all
the evidence and in a light most favorable to the State, this court is convinced the jury
could have found the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This court determines
this without reweighing the evidence, resolving evidentiary conflicts, or making witness
credibility determinations. Chandler, 307 Kan. at 668.


       Here, Johnson does not argue the evidence was insufficient to prove she promoted
K.E.'s sexually explicit performance to arouse sexual desires. See K.S.A. 2015 Supp. 21-

                                             19
5510(a)(1), (d)(2)(B). Again, issues not briefed are deemed waived or abandoned. Arnett,
307 Kan. at 650. Likewise, a point raised incidentally in a brief and not argued therein is
also deemed abandoned. Sprague, 303 Kan. at 425.


       Consequently, Johnson asks us to determine whether the Kansas statute
prohibiting sexual exploitation of a child is an alternative means statute. "'Whether a
statute creates alternative means of committing a crime is a matter of statutory
interpretation and construction and is a question of law subject to de novo review on
appeal.' [Citation omitted.]" State v. Castleberry, 301 Kan. 170, 181, 339 P.3d 795
(2014); State v. Cottrell, 53 Kan. App. 2d 425, 433, 390 P.3d 44, rev. granted 306 Kan.
1322 (2017).


       The alternative-means doctrine is defined as "[t]he principle that when a crime
might have been committed in more than one way, the jury must be unanimous on the
defendant's guilt but need not be unanimous on the possible different methods of
committing the crime, as long as each possible method is supported by substantial
evidence." (Emphasis added.) Black's Law Dictionary 95 (10th ed. 2014). The Kansas
Supreme Court has applied a "super-sufficiency" requirement for evidence in alternative
means cases:


       "When a single criminal offense may be committed by alternative means, jury unanimity
       is not required as to the means by which the crime was committed, as long as substantial
       evidence supports each alternative means set out in the jury instructions. If the evidence
       is insufficient on one or more of the means on which the jury has been instructed, the
       conviction must be reversed." State v. Brown, 295 Kan. 181, 184, 284 P.3d 977 (2012).


       "When criminal statutes create two or more distinct ways of committing an
offense, those ways reflect alternative means. Other criminal statutes establish only one
way to commit an offense, although they may use synonymous or redundant terms to
define the prohibited conduct." State v. Schreiner, 46 Kan. App. 2d 778, Syl. ¶ 1, 264
                                                   20
P.3d 1033 (2011). In this case, the record shows Johnson enticed K.E. to create and send
to her sexually explicit images and videos.


       The purpose of the alternative-means doctrine is generally to avoid concerns
regarding jury unanimity. See State v. Wright, 290 Kan. 194, 206, 224 P.3d 1159 (2010);
State v. Timley, 255 Kan. 286, 289-90, 875 P.2d 242 (1994); see also Khan v. State, 204
P.3d 1036, 1042 (Alaska Ct. App. 2009) (when a defendant is charged with a crime
under more than one theory, the jurors need not unanimously agree on the theory that
serves as the basis for the defendant's conviction, but the jurors must unanimously agree
that the defendant committed the wrongful deed).


       "[A] statute—and any [jury] instruction that incorporates it—must list distinct
       alternatives for a material element of the crime, not merely describe a material element or
       a factual circumstance that would prove the crime, in order to qualify for an alternative
       means analysis and application of the super-sufficiency requirement." (Emphasis added.)
       Brown, 295 Kan. at 184.


       Our Supreme Court established the framework for alternative means analysis in
Brown, instructing us to look at the plain language of the statute first to determine
whether the Legislature intended to create alternative means of committing the crime.
295 Kan. at 193.


       Johnson was prosecuted for violating K.S.A. 2015 Supp. 21-5510(a)(1), which
provides sexual exploitation of a child is: Enticing a child under the age of 18 to engage
in sexually explicit conduct with the intent to promote any performance.


       Johnson argues the statutory definition of "promote" creates alternative means. See
K.S.A. 2015 Supp. 21-5510(d)(2). Under K.S.A. 2015 Supp. 21-5510(d)(2), "promoting"
is defined as:


                                                   21
       "[P]rocuring, transmitting, distributing, circulating, presenting, producing, directing,
       manufacturing, issuing, publishing, displaying, exhibiting or advertising:
               (A) For pecuniary profit; or
               (B) with intent to arouse or gratify the sexual desire or appeal to the prurient
       interest of the offender or any other person." (Emphasis added.)


       Johnson argues the jury in this case was "presented with alternative means for
committing the crime of [sexual exploitation of a child] through the presentation of two
alternative mens rea requiring the crime to be committed: (1) [for] pecuniary profit, or
(2) with intent to appeal to the prurient interest of the defendant or another person." She
suggests the Legislature signaled its intent to create alternative means here through the
structure of the statute by separating alternatives into distinct subsections or "elements"
of the statute, i.e., (d)(2)(A) and (d)(2)(B), which require different mens rea.


       However, the Kansas Supreme Court has held that an "or" does not necessarily
equal an alternative means. See Brown, 295 Kan. at 192. The United States Supreme
Court recognized in Schad v. Arizona, 501 U.S. 624, 638, 111 S. Ct. 2491, 115 L. Ed. 2d.
555 (1991) (plurality opinion): "Decisions about what facts are material and what are
immaterial, or . . . what 'fact[s] [are] necessary to constitute the crime,' and therefore must
be proved individually, and what facts are mere means, represent value choices more
appropriately made in the first instance by a legislature than by a court. [Citation
omitted.]"


       In examining legislative intent, a court must determine for each statute what the
Legislature's use of a disjunctive "or" is intended to accomplish. "Is it to list alternative
distinct, material elements of a crime—that is, the necessary mens rea, actus reus, and, in
some statutes, a causation element? Or is it to merely describe a material element or a
factual circumstance that would prove the crime?" Brown, 295 Kan. at 194. The listing of
alternative distinct, material elements, when incorporated into an elements instruction,
creates an alternative means issue demanding super-sufficiency of the evidence. Again,
                                                    22
however, merely describing a material element or a factual circumstance that would
prove the crime does not create alternative means, even if the description is included in a
jury instruction. 295 Kan. at 194 (citing Wright, 290 Kan. at 201).


       The Legislature specified the material elements in K.S.A. 2015 Supp. 21-5510
which the State was required to establish to prove sexual exploitation of a child under
subparagraph (a)(1): (i) enticing K.E., (ii) a child under 18, (iii) to engage in sexually
explicit conduct, (iv) with intent, (v) to promote any performance. Here, jury Instruction
No. 6 read in its entirety:


               "The defendant is charged with sexual exploitation of a child. The defendant
       pleads not guilty.
               "To establish this charge, each of the following claims must be proved:
               "1. The defendant, with the intent to promote a performance, enticed K.E. to
       engage in sexually explicit conduct.
               "2. K.E. was less than 18 years old at the time the conduct occurred. The State
       need not prove that the defendant [knew] the child's age.
               "3. This act occurred on or about the 1st day of October, 2015 to the 10th day of
       December, 2015, in Douglas County, Kansas.
               "For purposes of this instruction, 'Promoting' means procuring, transmitting,
       distributing, circulating, presenting, producing, directing, manufacturing, issuing,
       publishing, displaying, exhibiting, or advertising, for pecuniary profit or with intent to
       arouse or gratify the sexual desire or appeal to the prurient interest of the defendant or
       another person.
               "For purposes of this instruction, 'performance' means any film, photograph,
       negative, slide, book, magazine or other printed or visual medium, any audio tape
       recording or any photocopy, video, tape, video laser disk, computer hardware, software,
       floppy disk or any other computer related equipment or computer generated image that
       contains or incorporates in any manner any film, photograph, negative, photocopy, video
       tape or video laser disk, or any play or other live presentation.
               "For purposes of this instruction, 'Sexually explicit conduct' means actual or
       simulated: Exhibition in the nude; sexual intercourse or sodomy, including genital-


                                                    23
       genital, oral-genital, anal-genital, or oral-anal contact, whether between persons of the
       same or opposite sex, masturbation, sadomasochistic abuse with the intent of sexual
       stimulation; or lewd exhibition of the genitals, female breasts or pubic area of any person.
                  "The State must prove the defendant committed the crime intentionally. A
       defendant acts intentionally when it is the defendant's desire or conscious objective to
       cause the result complained about by the State.
                  "The State claims distinct multiple acts which each could separately constitute
       the crime of sexual exploitation of a child. In order for the defendant to be found guilty of
       sexual exploitation of a child, you must unanimously agree upon the same underlying
       act." (Emphasis added.)


       The jury instruction signaled the material elements with paragraph numbers 1
through 3. The instruction provided all of the relevant statutory definitions under
subsection (d), but did not mirror the statute by dividing the motives included under the
definition in subparagraph (d)(2). See K.S.A. 2015 Supp. 21-5510(d)(1)-(3).


       Additionally, the jury instruction informed the jurors in order to convict Johnson
of sexual exploitation of a child, they had to find she acted intentionally and then defined
intentional. Johnson argues there were two "mens rea" found in the statute under the
definition of "promoting" and suggests the State had to offer evidence of those two
possible intentions—pecuniary profit and sexual gratification—behind her enticing K.E.
to engage in sexually explicit conduct, record it on video or in a photograph, and then
send it to her.


       Mens rea is defined as: "The state of mind that the prosecution, to secure a
conviction, must prove that a defendant had when committing a crime." Black's Law
Dictionary 1134 (10th ed. 2014). Essentially, the term means a defendant's intention. The
jury instruction signaled one intention—the jury had to determine whether Johnson's
intention was to entice K.E. into a sexually explicit performance. The evidence indicated
the sexually explicit performance Johnson elicited K.E. to engage in was nude

                                                     24
photographs of his genitalia and a video of him masturbating. The evidence consistently
demonstrated Johnson did this to arouse or gratify her or K.E.'s sexual desires.


       Definitional language that merely elaborates on elements rather than defining the
subject crime signals secondary matters—options within means—that do not raise an
alternative means issue. Brown, 295 Kan. at 198-200. A plain reading of the statute
reflects the Legislature used synonymous or redundant terms to define sexual exploitation
of a child under subparagraph (a)(1) regarding the various ways in which a defendant can
entice a child under the age of 18 to engage in sexually explicit conduct, and to further
define "sexually explicit conduct," "promoting," and "performance" under subsection (d).
The State was required to prove the elements in (a)(1) individually, not every
synonymous term under the statute's subparagraph regarding certain definitions—several
of which are divided by the word "or." The statute requires only the State alleges and
proves a defendant enticed a child under the age of 18 to engage in sexually explicit
conduct with the intent to promote such a performance of sexually explicit conduct by
that child. The essential element of the offense the State must prove is the defendant, e.g.,
persuaded, induced, enticed, or coerced the child to engage in the sexually explicit
conduct.


       How Johnson ultimately intended to use K.E.'s enticed sexually explicit
performance was not a material element of the crime. In other words, what Johnson did
(sold or used for sexual gratification) with the product of what she did is a demonstration
or manifestation of her intention to elicit the performance; it is not a material element of
the crime itself.


       Further, there is no concern here regarding jury unanimity. The record
demonstrates the State did not allege in the complaint or information Johnson exploited
K.E. sexually for pecuniary profit. It did not present any evidence at trial or argue to the
jury Johnson sexually exploited K.E. for pecuniary profit. There is no question the jury

                                             25
found Johnson sexually exploited K.E. for sexual gratification. The evidence established
Johnson enticed K.E.'s sexually explicit conduct to display it with the intent to arouse or
gratify her or his sexual desire. Subparagraph (d)(2)(B) merely describes a factual
circumstance that serves to prove Johnson's intention to commit the crime; it does not
create alternative means.


       Under the facts here, the offense was committed in one way: enticing K.E. to
engage in sexually explicit conduct on video or in photographs. Johnson then used the
product of his performance for her or K.E.'s sexual gratification. This demonstrated her
intent to entice the performance. The subpoints in the definitional subparagraph
describing options within the means of "promoting" do not create an alternative means
crime requiring super-sufficiency of the evidence.


       C. Promoting obscenity to a minor

       As her final issue, Johnson contends the evidence was insufficient to convict her
of promoting obscenity to a minor. She argues for the statute to apply, she had to transmit
physical things, rather than the digital photographs and videos transmitted in her case.
The State argues Johnson's reading of the statute and its definition of the word "tangible"
leads to an absurd result. The State's argument is persuasive.


       As stated earlier, sufficiency of the evidence is reviewed to determine whether in
the context of all the evidence and in a light most favorable to the State, this court is
convinced the jury could have found the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This court determines this without reweighing the evidence, resolving evidentiary
conflicts, or making witness credibility determinations. Chandler, 307 Kan. at 668. To
the degree analysis of this issue requires statutory interpretation, it is a question of law
subject to de novo review. Collins, 303 Kan. at 473-74.


                                              26
       Promoting obscenity to a minor arises under K.S.A. 2015 Supp. 21-6401(a)(1) and
(b), which define "promoting obscenity" as recklessly "[m]anufacturing, mailing,
transmitting, publishing, distributing, presenting, exhibiting or advertising any obscene
material . . . where a recipient of the obscene material . . . is a child under the age of 18
years." (Emphasis added.) Johnson's sole argument here is the State failed to prove
several photographs of her breasts and vagina and the two masturbation videos she sent to
K.E. were "material," as defined by the statute. She does not challenge the jury's finding
the material was obscene or transmitted but only that it was "material."


       Under K.S.A. 2015 Supp. 21-6401(f)(2), "material" is defined as "any tangible
thing which is capable of being used or adapted to arouse interest, whether through the
medium of reading, observation, sound or other manner." (Emphasis added.) Johnson
argues the statute does not apply to digital photographs or videos because they are not
"tangible." "The files simply do not exist in a physical format." In contrast, the State
provides several definitions of "tangible," many of which do not include the requirement
of a three-dimensional physicality or touchability. Again, we find the State's argument
convincing.


       The most fundamental rule of statutory construction is the intent of the Legislature
governs if that intent can be ascertained. Jordan, 303 Kan. at 1019. An appellate court
must first attempt to ascertain legislative intent through the statutory language enacted,
giving common words their ordinary meanings. When a statute is plain and unambiguous,
an appellate court should not speculate about the legislative intent behind that clear
language, and it should refrain from reading something into the statute not readily found
in its words. Where there is no ambiguity, the court need not resort to statutory
construction. Only if the statute's language or text is unclear or ambiguous does the court
use canons of construction or legislative history to construe the Legislature's intent.
Barlow, 303 Kan. at 813.


                                              27
       Significantly, while the statute defines "material" to include something "tangible,"
it does not define "tangible." The jury was not instructed beyond the word "material,"
which was part of an element of the crime the State was required to prove.


       It is relevant to note that during deliberations, the jury presented the trial court
with a question regarding an undefined word in jury Instruction 6 asking the court for a
definition of the word "enticed." The parties and the court agreed they could not answer
questions regarding definitions not already provided. Johnson's defense counsel also
requested the court admonish the jurors to not use their phones to look up the definition.
The district court stated its response to the jurors would be: "'The court cannot provide
the jury with definitions beyond those already provided in the instructions.'" When the
jury came in, the district judge read that response to its question and then reminded the
jurors not to use their phones to look up the definition.


       The jury heard the evidence and was instructed on the elements the State had to
prove. After being so instructed, the jury found Johnson guilty of promoting obscenity to
a minor. Juries are presumed to have followed the instructions given by the district court.
State v. Kettler, 299 Kan. 448, 478, 325 P.3d 1075 (2014); State v. Fulton, 269 Kan. 835,
842, 9 P.3d 18 (2000). Johnson does not make any arguments on appeal to rebut this
presumption.


       Since "tangible" was not defined for the jury, whether the images and videos in
evidence were "material" as contemplated by the statute was a question for the jury.
Appellate courts do not reweigh evidence or resolve evidentiary conflicts. Chandler, 307
Kan. at 668.


       Additionally, canons of statutory construction support Johnson's conviction for
promoting obscenity to a minor. When construing statutes to determine legislative intent,
appellate courts must consider various provisions of an act in pari materia with a view of

                                              28
reconciling and bringing the provisions into workable harmony if possible. Keel, 302
Kan. 560, Syl. ¶ 7. Ultimately, the courts must construe statutes to avoid unreasonable or
absurd results and presume the Legislature does not intend to enact meaningless
legislation. Frierson, 298 Kan. at 1013.


       Here, the jury was instructed the State had to prove Johnson "transmitted" the
obscene material. While the statute defined "material," it did not define the aspect of the
element "transmit." However, the word can commonly be understood to mean "to
communicate (news, etc.)," or "to send out (radio or television broadcasts, etc.) by
electromagnetic waves—vi. to send out radio or television signals." Webster's New
World College Dictionary 1540 (5th ed. 2014). Giving common words their ordinary
meaning, the word "transmit" is indicative of electronically stored images or digital
media. Johnson does not explain how one "transmits" physical photographs and videos.


       Considering the various provisions of K.S.A. 2015 Supp. 21-6401 in pari materia,
we find the Legislature intended "material" to include digital media, which is shared by
sending or transmitting it to another person. The intent in sending the material to
someone else is to share it with another person and for that person to see it. To construe
the statute otherwise would lead to an unreasonable and absurd result.


       When we review the record as submitted and in a light most favorable to the State,
we are convinced the jury reasonably found Johnson guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of
unlawful sexual relations, sexual exploitation of a child, and promoting obscenity to a
minor by transmitting obscene digital images to K.E.


       Affirmed.




                                             29
