Title: State v. Beard

State: washington

Issuer: Washington Supreme Court

Document:

74 Wn.2d 335 (1968) 444 P.2d 651 THE STATE OF WASHINGTON, Respondent, v. EUGENE BEARD et al., Appellants.[*] Nos. 39385, 39434, 39386. The Supreme Court of Washington, Department Two. August 22, 1968. Kempton, Savage & Gossard, by Anthony Savage, Jr., for appellants (appointed counsel for appeal). Charles O. Carroll and Herbert L. Onstad, for respondent. *336 NEILL, J. Defendants were jointly charged with robbery and found guilty by a jury. Judgment and sentences were imposed from which defendants now appeal.[1] The state's evidence which the jury was entitled to accept established that on Sunday, September 11, 1966, near midday, the complaining witness, Wright, and a friend, Fleenor, were walking along First Avenue South in the Skid Road area of Seattle. As the two men passed by the doorway to a cafe, Wright was pulled into the doorway, knocked to the ground, kicked and searched. His change, cigarettes, and a partially consumed bottle of wine were taken from him. Two policemen testified that at the time of the robbery they were in the second story of a hotel across the street and on the corner of the next block from the cafe; that through a window they observed Mr. Wright walking down the street; that they observed the three defendants standing in front of the cafe; that they saw Beard grab Wright, knock him down and take a bottle of wine; that, although neither Black nor Madison touched Wright, they did participate in drinking the wine; and that both Madison and Black attempted to shield Beard's actions. The policemen immediately left the hotel and apprehended all three defendants. [1] Prior to trial, Beard moved for the production by the state of copies of statements of witnesses. Defendants contend that the court's refusal to grant the motion was reversible error. Defendants concede that the state is not obligated to submit its evidence to an accused or his counsel (State v. Clark, 21 Wn.2d 774, 153 P.2d 297 (1944); State v. Payne, 25 Wn.2d 407, 171 P.2d 227, 175 P.2d 494 (1946); State v. Petersen, 47 Wn.2d 836, 289 P.2d 1013 (1955)); and that the granting of any discovery in criminal cases is a matter peculiarly within the discretion of the trial court (State v. Thompson, 54 Wn.2d 100, 338 P.2d 319 (1959); State v. Mesaros, 62 Wn.2d 579, 384 P.2d 372 *337 (1963); State v. Gilman, 63 Wn.2d 7, 385 P.2d 369 (1963); State v. Peele, 67 Wn.2d 893, 410 P.2d 599 (1966)). Defendants quote from page 632 of State v. Boehme, 71 Wn.2d 621, 430 P.2d 527 (1967): But they fail to note that in that same opinion we reaffirmed the rule of discretion as set forth in State v. Mesaros, supra. The only statements held by the state were the police officers' report and Mr. Wright's statement. Defendants' counsel were permitted to interview Mr. Wright. The discrepancies in statements given by these witnesses were fully explored in cross-examination and the jury could believe or disbelieve as it saw fit. We cannot find that defendants were prejudiced by the court's ruling, much less that there has been a manifest abuse of discretion in refusing the motion to produce. Defendants contend that the prosecutor committed reversible error by questioning defendant Madison concerning prior criminal convictions without producing proof thereof. The portion of the testimony relevant to this contention is set forth in full as it is short and constitutes the entire record relative to the alleged misconduct. During cross-examination of defendant Madison, the following occurred: No attempt was made by the state to prove the convictions denied by defendant Madison. [2] The prosecutor was entitled to question Madison on cross-examination concerning his prior convictions, the kinds of crimes involved and the sentences imposed. However, charges, arrests or time spent in custody without convictions are not admissible to affect credibility. State v. Sayward, 66 Wn.2d 698, 404 P.2d 783 (1965); Lundberg v. Baumgartner, 5 Wn.2d 619, 106 P.2d 566 (1940). Had Madison admitted the alleged convictions or had the state proved them, the prosecutor's cross-examination would have been entirely proper. The examination of a witness by the state with regard to prior convictions, when the prosecutor is either unwilling or unable to prove the alleged convictions upon the witness's denial has been condemned in prior cases. Warren v. Hynes, 4 Wn.2d 128, 102 P.2d 691 (1940); State v. Stevick, *339 23 Wn.2d 420, 161 P.2d 181 (1945); State v. Lindsey, 27 Wn.2d 186, 177 P.2d 387, 181 P.2d 830 (1947); State v. Goodwin, 29 Wn.2d 276, 186 P.2d 935 (1947). In Stevick, supra, we said at 425: In Lindsey, supra, we said at 192: The prosecutor's questions and his inability or unwillingness to produce proof of the alleged convictions following Madison's denial thereof did constitute error. We have not overlooked State v. Maloney, 135 Wash. 309, 237 Pac. 726 (1925), but in that case the state showed good faith in attempting to prove the conviction, but failed on the matter of identification. We held no damage was done to the defendant. [3] However, not every error is reversible error. A defendant must make use of the trial motions available to him to correct errors at trial. It is the general rule that timely objections must be made in order to preserve an alleged error relating to misconduct of counsel when such misconduct can be removed from the jury's consideration by an appropriate instruction. Seattle v. Harclaon, 56 Wn.2d 596, 354 P.2d 928 (1960). See, State v. Jacobsen, ante p. 36, 442 P.2d 629 (1968). Moreover, when the alleged misconduct is such that its prejudicial effect may not be corrected by an appropriate admonition to the jury, the *340 proper remedy is to call the matter to the trial court's attention, claim a mistrial and ask that the jury be discharged. Workman v. Marshall, 68 Wn.2d 578, 414 P.2d 625 (1966); Jones v. Hogan, 56 Wn.2d 23, 351 P.2d 153 (1960); Sun Life Assur. Co. of Canada v. Cushman, 22 Wn.2d 930, 158 P.2d 101 (1945). As we stated in Jones, supra, at 27: See also, State v. Huson, 73 Wn.2d 660, 440 P.2d 192 (1968); State v. Johnson, 69 Wn.2d 264, 418 P.2d 238 (1966); State v. Miller, 66 Wn.2d 535, 403 P.2d 884 (1966). Cf., State v. Noyes, 69 Wn.2d 441, 418 P.2d 471 (1966); State v. Louie, 68 Wn.2d 304, 413 P.2d 7 (1966). We have on occasion, however, recognized an exception to the general rule requiring that proper objections and motions must be made at trial. In State v. Morris, 70 Wn.2d 27, 33, 422 P.2d 27 (1966), we held: Similarly, in State v. Suleski, 67 Wn.2d 45, 50, 406 P.2d 613 (1965), we said: See also, Warren v. Hart, 71 Wn.2d 512, 429 P.2d 873 (1967); State v. Case, 49 Wn.2d 66, 298 P.2d 500 (1956); State v. Reeder, 46 Wn.2d 888, 285 P.2d 884 (1955). Cf., State v. Peterson, 73 Wn.2d 303, 438 P.2d 183 (1968); State v. Louie, supra. The issue in the instant case, therefore, is whether the prosecution's misconduct was so flagrant, persistent, ill-intentioned, or prejudicial as to come within the exception to the general rule requiring the preservation of error. In resolving this issue, our holding in State v. Martin, 73 Wn.2d 616, 627, 440 P.2d 429 (1968), is apropos: Also appropriate to our consideration of the possible prejudicial effects of the prosecution's misconduct is the following statement found in State v. Navone, 186 Wash. 532, 538, 58 P.2d 1208 (1936): After carefully reviewing the record and considering the prosecution's misconduct in light of the crime with which the defendants are charged, the evidence introduced and the nature of the prior convictions alluded to but unproved, we are of the opinion that defendants did, in fact, receive a fair and unbiased trial upon the charge which the trial court submitted to the jury. Defendants' two objections were properly overruled as the state had the right to make the inquiry. The reference to a "rapsheet" was by defense counsel. The prosecutor promptly terminated the line of inquiry although invited by counsel to continue. We are convinced that the jury's verdict was based on competent and sufficient evidence which conclusively proved defendants' guilt and was not induced by any prejudice resulting *343 from the misconduct. Furthermore, it is clear that the prosecution's misconduct was neither deliberate nor ill-intentioned and that any possible adverse effect of such misconduct could have been fully neutralized by an appropriate corrective instruction or admonition. Judgments are affirmed. FINLEY, C.J., HILL and HUNTER, JJ., and EVANS, J. Pro Tem., concur. September 26, 1968. Petition for rehearing denied. [*] Reported in 444 P.2d 651. [1] Defendants were represented at trial by separate court-appointed counsel, all of whom withdrew after trial. Counsel on appeal was appointed to represent all defendants.