Appeal from the Superior Court of Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney By Deputy Prosecuting ...

105 Pages·2015·3.27 MB·English

NO. 45374-6-11
COURT OF APPEALS, DIVISION II
STATE OF WASHINGTON
STATE OF WASHINGTON, RESPONDENT
v.
ZYION DONTICE HOUSTON -S CONIERS
and
TRESON LEE ROBERTS, APPELLANTS
Appeal from the Superior Court ofPierce County
The Honorable John R. Hickman
No. 12 -1- 04161 -1 & 12 -1- 04160 -3
BriefofRespondent
MARK LINDQUIST
Prosecuting Attorney
By
Brian Wasankari
Deputy Prosecuting Attorney
WSB # 28945
930 Tacoma Avenue South
Room 946
Tacoma, WA 98402
PH: ( 253) 798 -7400
Table ofContents
A. ISSUES PERTAINING TO APPELLANT'S ASSIGNMENTS OF
ERROR. 1
1. Whether the trial court properly admitted the statement of
James Wright as an excited utterance where that statement
was nontestimonial and hence, not subject to the
Confrontation Clause ofthe Sixth Amendment or Article I,
section 22 ofthe Washington State Constitution 1
2. Whether Defendants' convictions and enhancements should
be affirmed where, viewing the evidence in the lightmost
favorable to the State, there is sufficient evidence from
which arational trier offact could have found the essential
elements ofthe charged crimes and enhancements beyond a
reasonable doubt 1
3. Whether Defendants failed to meet their burden ofshowing
prosecutorial misconduct by failing to show either
improper conduct or prejudice 1
4. Whether, although not properly preserved at trial and not
ripe for review, the trial court's imposition ofthe legal
financial obligation was proper where the record shows it
took account ofDefendants' future ability to pay as
required by statute 1
5. Whether Defendants' convictions and sentences should be
affirmed where both RCW 13.04.030(1)( e)( v), which
requires the adult superior court to take exclusive original
jurisdiction ofthe crimes here at issue, and RCW
9.94A.533, which allows for the firearm sentence
enhancements herein, are consistent with the Eighth
Amendment to the United States Constitution as interpreted
by recent decisions such as Miller v. Alabama, 132 S. Ct
2455, 183 L.Ed.2d 407 (2012) 1
6. Whether Defendant Roberts failed to show ineffective
assistance ofcounsel where he failed to show thathis trial
counsel' s performance was deficient 1
B. STATEMENT OF THE CASE. 2
1. Procedure 2
2. Facts 9
C. ARGUMENT 32
1. THE TRIAL COURT PROPERLY ADMITTED THE
STATEMENT OF JAMES WRIGHT AS AN EXCITED
UTTERANCE BECAUSE THAT STATEMENT WAS
NONTESTIMONIAL AND HENCE, NOT SUBJECT TO
THE CONFRONTATION CLAUSE OF THE SIXTH
AMENDMENT TO THE UNITED STATES
CONSTITUTION OR THAT OF ARTICLE I, SECTION
22 OF THE WASHINGTON STATE
CONSTITUTION 32
2. DEFENDANTS' CONVICTIONS AND
ENHANCEMENTS SHOULD BE AFFIRMED
BECAUSE, VIEWING THE EVIDENCE IN THE LIGHT
MOST FAVORABLE TO THE STATE, THERE WAS
SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE FROM WHICH A RATIONAL
TRIER OF FACT COULD HAVE FOUND THE
ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS OF THE CHARGED CRIMES
AND ENHANCEMENTS BEYOND A REASONABLE
DOUBT 44
3. THE DEFENDANT FAILED TO MEET HIS BURDEN
OF SHOWING PROSECUTORIAL MISCONDUCT BY
FAILING TO SHOW EITHER IMPROPER CONDUCT
OR PREJUDICE 56
4. ALTHOUGH THE ISSUE WAS NOT PRESERVED AND
IS NOT RIPE, THE TRIAL COURT'S IMPOSITION OF
THE LEGAL FINANCIAL OBLIGATION WAS
PROPER BECAUSE IT CONSIDERED DEFENDANTS'
FUTURE ABILITY TO PAY 75
5. DEFENDANTS' CONVICTIONS AND SENTENCES,
SHOULD BE AFFIRMED BECAUSE BOTH RCW
13.04.030(1)( e)( v), WHICH REQUIRES THE ADULT
SUPERIOR COURT TO TAKE EXCLUSIVE ORIGINAL
JURISDICTION OF THE CRIMES AT ISSUE, AND
RCW 9.94A.533, WHICH ALLOWS FOR THE
FIREARM SENTENCE ENHANCEMENTS HEREIN,
ARE CONSISTENT WITH THE EIGHTH
AMENDMENT AS INTERPRETED BY RECENT
DECISIONS SUCH AS MILLER v. ALABAMA, 132 S.
Ct 2455, 183 L.Ed.2d 407 (2012) 81
6. DEFENDANT ROBERTS HAS FAILED TO SHOW
INEFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL BECAUSE
HE HAS FAILED TO SHOW THAT HIS TRIAL
COUNSEL' S PERFORMANCE WAS DEFICIENT 86
D. CONCLUSION. 92 -93
Table ofAuthorities
State Cases
In re Boot, 130 Wn.2d 553, 569, 925 P.2d 964 (1996) 81, 83, 84, 85, 86
In Re Elmore, 162 Wn.2d 236, 251, 172 P.3d 335 (2007) • 87
In Re Rice, 118 Wn.2d 876, 889, 828 P.2d 1086 (1992) 87, 88
Riofta v. State, 134 Wn. App. 669, 693, 142 P.3d 193 ( 2006) 88, 89
State v. Adams, 91 Wn.2d 86, 90, 586 P.2d 1168 ( 1978) 89
State v. Anderson, 153 Wn. App. 417, 427, 220 P.3d 1273 (2009) 57
State v. Bahl, 164 Wn.2d 729, 193 P.3d 678 (2008) 78
State v. Barnes, 153 Wn.2d 378, 383, 103 P.3d 1219 (2005) 50
State v. Belgarde, 110 Wn.2d 504, 508, 755 P.2d 174 ( 1988) 60
State v. Bertrand, 165 Wn. App. 393, 404, 267 P.3d 511 ( 2011),
review denied, 175 Wn.2d 1914, 287 P.3d 10 (2012) 79
State v. Blank, 131 Wn.2d 230, 241 -42, 930 P.2d 1213 ( 1997) 76
State v. Blazina, 174 Wn. App. 906, 911, 301 P.3d 492 (2013),
review granted, 178 Wn.2d 1010 (2013) 79
State v. Boehning, 127 Wn. App. 511, 518,
111 P.3d 899, 903 (2005) 56, 59, 60, 63, 65, 75
State v. Bowerman, 115 Wn.2d 794, 808, 802 P.2d 116 ( 1990) 87
State v. Brockob, 159 Wn.2d 311, 336, P.3d 59 (2006) 44, 45
State v. Brown, 132 Wn.2d 529, 561, 940 P.2d 546 (1997) 57, 58
State v. Calvin, 316 P.3d 496, 507 (2013) 76, 79
State v. Cannon, 120 Wn. App. 86, 90, 84 P.3d 283 (2004) 44, 48, 55
State v. Carson, 179 Wn. App. 961, 976, 320 P.3d 185 (2014) 89
State v. Cienfuegos, 144 Wn.2d 222, 25 P.3d 1011 ( 2001) 87, 90
State v. Contreras, 57 Wn. App. 471, 476, 788 P.2d 1114, review denied,
115 Wn.2d 1014, 797 P.2d 514 ( 1990) 57
State v. Crawford, 159 Wn.2d 147, 99, 147 P.3d 1288 (2006) 5, 90
State v. Curtiss, 161 Wn. App. 673, 250 P.3d 496 (2011) 56, 61, 62
State v. Dodd, 120 Wn.2d 1, 13 n. 2, 838 P.2d 86 81
State v. Easterlin, 159 Wn.2d 203, 206, 149 P.3d 366 (2006) 49
State v. Eckenrode, 159 Wn.2d 488, 493,
150 P.3d 1116 (2007) 49, 51, 52, 53
State v. Ermert, 94 Wn.2d 839, 621 P.2d 121 ( 1980) 91
State v. Faust, 93 Wn. App. 373, 380, 967 P.2d 1284 ( 1998) 54
State v. Fisher, 165 Wn.2d 727, 746 -47, 202 P.3d 937 (2009) 57, 58
State v. Garrett, 124 Wn.2d 504, 518, 881 P.2d 185 ( 1994) 88
State v. Gilmore, 76 Wn.2d 293, 456 P.2d 344 (1969) 88
State v. Graham, 59 Wn. App. 418, 429, 798 P.2d 314 (1990) 57
State v. Green, 94 Wn.2d 216, 221, 616 P.2d 628 ( 1980) 44
State v. Gregory, 158 Wn.2d 759, 841, 147 P.3d 1201 ( 2006) 56
State v. Guloy, 104 Wn.2d 412, 421, 705 P.2d 1182 ( 1985) 76
State v. Hendrickson, 129 Wn.2d 61, 78, 917 P.2d 563, 571 ( 1996) 87
State v. Hettich, 70 Wn. App. 586, 592, 854 P.2d 1112 ( 1993) 76
State v. Johnson, 158 Wn. App. 677, 683, 243 P.3d 936 (2010) 58
State v. Johnston, 143 Wn. App. 1, 177 P.3d 1127 (2007) 87, 88
State v. Koslowski, 166 Wn.2d 409, 413,
209 P.3d 479 (2009) 32, 33, 34, 35, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42
State v. Kyllo, 166 Wn.2d 856, 863, 215 P.3d 177 (2009) 89
State v. Larios -L opez, 156 Wn. App. 257, 233 P.3d 899 (2010) 56, 58
State v. Lindsay, 180 Wn.2d 423, 431 -32, 326 P.3d 125 ( 2014) 67, 71
State v. Lopez, 107 Wn. App. 270, 276, 27 P.3d 237 (2001) 44
State v. Lundy, 176 Wn. App. 96, 108, 308 P.3d 755 (2013) 77, 78
State v. Madison, 53 Wn. App. 754, 763, 770 P.2d 662 (1989) 90
State v. Mason, 160 Wn.2d 910, 912, 162 P.3d 396 (2007) 35
State v. McFarland, 127 Wn.2d 322, 334 -35, 899 P.2d 1251 ( 1995) 87, 88
State v. McKenzie, 157 Wn.2d 44, 134 P.3d 221 (2006) 57, 72
State v. McNeal, 145 Wn.2d 352, 362, 37 P.3d 280 (2002) 89
State v. Myers, 133 Wn.2d 26, 37, 941 P.2d 1102 ( 1997) 45
State v. Pastrana, 94 Wn. App. 463, 479, 972 P.2d 557 ( 1999) 58
State v. Pugh, 167 Wn.2d 825, 225 P.3d 892 (2009) 32, 33, 34
State v. Reed, 102 Wn.2d 140, 684 P.2d 699 (1984) 72, 74, 75
State v. Riley, 121 Wn.2d 22, 31, 846 P.2d 1365 ( 1993) 77
State v. Russell, 125 Wn.2d 24, 87,
882 P.2d 747 (1994) 57, 58, 59, 67, 68, 69, 70, 72
State v. Salinas, 119 Wn.2d 192, 201, 829 P.2d 1068 ( 1992) 47, 52, 53
State v. Saunders, 91 Wn. App. 575, 578, 958 P.2d 364 (1998) 91
State v. Sisouvanh, 175 Wn.2d 607, 618, 290 P.3d 942 (2012) 77, 79
State v. Smits, 152 Wn. App. 514, 523 -24, 216 P.3d 1097 (2009) 77
State v. Stenson, 132 Wn.2d 668, 719, 940 P.2d 1239 ( 1997), cert. denied,
523 U.S. 1008, 118 S. Ct. 1193, 140 L. Ed. 2d 323 ( 1998) 56
State v. Swan, 114 Wn.2d 613, 661, 790 P.2d 610 (1990) 57
State v. Thetford, 109 Wn.2d 392, 397, 745 P.2d 496 (1987) 76
State v. Thomas, 109 Wn.2d 222, 743 P.2d 816 ( 1987) 87
State v. Thorgerson, 172 Wn.2d 438, 442, 258 P.3d 43 (2011) 57
State v. Townsend, 142 Wn.2d 838, 15 P.3d 145 (2001) 88
State v. Tracy, 128 Wn. App. 388, 294 -95, 115 P.3d 381 ( 2005), affd,
158 Wn.2d 683, 147 P.3d 559 (2006) 79
State v. Valdobinos, 122 Wn.2d 270, 282, 858 P.2d 199 ( 1993) 49, 50
State v. Wade, 138 Wn.2d 460, 464, 979 P.2d 850 ( 1999) 79
State v. Warren, 165 Wn.2d 17, 30, 195 P.3d 940 (2008) 72
State v. Weber, 99 Wn.2d 158, 166, 659 P.2d 1102 ( 1983) 59, 61
State v. Witherspoon, 180 Wn.2d 875, 329 P.3d 888 (2014) 81
State v. Yarbrough, 151 Wn. App. 66, 210 P.3d 1029 (2009) 86, 87, 88, 89
State v. Yates, 161 Wn.2d 714, 774, 168 P.3d 359 (2007) 58, 64
Federal and OtherJurisdictions
Beck v. Washington, 369 U.S. 541, 557, 82 S. Ct. 955,
8 L. Ed. 2d 834 (1962) 57
Crawford [ v. Washington, 541 U.S. 36, 53 -54, 124 S. Ct. 1354,
158 L.Ed.2d 177 (2004) 32, 35
Davis v. Washington, 547 U.S. 813, 821, 126 S. Ct. 2266,
165 L. Ed. 2d 224 (2006) 33, 34, 35, 37, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43
Graham v. Florida, 560 U.S. 48, 67 -75, 130 S. Ct. 2011,
176 L. Ed. 2d 825 (2011) 84, 85, 86
Harrington v. Richter, 131 S. Ct. 770, 178 L. Ed. 2d 624 (2011) 89
Lily v. Virginia, 567 U.S. 116, 139 -40, 119 S. Ct. 1887,
144 L.Ed.2d 117 ( 1999) 35
Miller v. Alabama, 132 S. Ct 2455,
183 L.Ed.2d 407 (2012) 1, 81, 84, 85, 86, 93
Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 86 S. Ct. 1602,
16 L.Ed.2d 694 (1966) 21, 22
Robinson v. California, 370 U.S. 660, 82 S. Ct. 1417,
8 L.Ed.2d 758 ( 1962) 81
Roper v. Simmons, 543 U.S. 551,568 -75, S. Ct. 1183 (2005) 84, 86
Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687, 104 S. Ct. 2052,
80 L. Ed. 2d 674 (1984) 87, 88, 89, 90, 91
Constitutional Provisions
Article I, section 22 1, 32, 86, 92
Eighth Amendment 81, 84, 86, 93
Fourteenth Amendment 81
Sixth Amendment 1, 32, 33, 86, 92
Wn. Cont. Art. I, § 14 81
Statutes
RCW 10.01. 160 75, 76
RCW 10.01. 160(3) 79
RCW 13.04.030(1)( e)( v) 1, 81, 83, 92
RCW 13.040.030 81
RCW 13.40.020 82
RCW 13.40.110 83
RCW 13.40.230 82
RCW 13.40.300 83
RCW 36.18.020(h) 75
RCW 43.43.7541 75
RCW 7.68.035 75
RCW 9.41.010 49
RCW 9.41.010(9) 50, 54
RCW 9.94A.030 82
RCW 9.94A.030(54)(a)(ii) 49
RCW 9.94A.530 49
RCW 9.94A.533 1, 49, 81, 92
RCW 9.94A.533(3) 49
RCW 9A.28.040 49
RCW 9A.28.040(3)( b) 49
RCW 9A.36.021( 1)( c) 45
RCW 9A.56.190 48, 49
RCW 9A.56.200(1)( a)(i)(ii) 48, 49
RCW 9A.56.200(2) 49