Title: State v. Valenzuela
Citation: 454 P.2d 199, 75 Wash. 2d 876
Docket Number: 40260
State: Washington
Issuer: Washington Supreme Court
Date: May 1, 1969

75 Wn.2d 876 (1969) 454 P.2d 199 THE STATE OF WASHINGTON, Respondent, v. MAURO MEDINA VALENZUELA, Appellant.[*] No. 40260. The Supreme Court of Washington, Department Two. May 1, 1969. W.L. Weigand, Jr. (of Lyon, Beaulaurier &amp; Aaron), for appellant (appointed counsel for appeal). Lincoln E. Shropshire and Donald R. Shaw, for respondent. DONWORTH, J.[] Defendant, Mauro Medina Valenzuela, was charged by information filed on December 29, 1967 with two counts of unlawful sale of narcotics. He brings this appeal from the judgment and sentence based upon his jury conviction on both counts. On January 5, 1968, prior to the trial, defendant moved for a change of venue from Yakima County alleging that *877 the charges involved had been given such wide publicity through television broadcasting and newspaper articles in Yakima County and the surrounding area, in a manner so prejudicial to defendant's interests, that it was impossible for him to have a fair trial in that county by an impartial and unprejudiced jury. This motion was supported solely by affidavit of defendant's counsel alleging that the television coverage by Yakima television stations, KNDO and KIMA, and related newspaper coverage deprived defendant of his constitutional right to a speedy, fair and impartial trial by jury. No other affidavits or witnesses were produced to show such community prejudice which would have deprived defendant of his right to an impartial and unprejudiced jury trial. After a hearing on the merits of the motion, the trial court entered a lengthy oral opinion in which it ruled that defendant's right to a trial by an impartial and unprejudiced jury would not be infringed upon by the news media's coverage. Thereafter, the court entered an order denying defendant's motion for a change of venue. Subsequently, on February 21, 1968, defendant was tried and convicted. The record shows that the alleged prejudicial broadcast resulted from coverage by KNDO and KIMA of a marijuana raid conducted by Yakima County sheriff's deputies early the morning of December 31, 1967. This raid was the culmination of about 6 months of investigation made by a plain clothes, undercover agent, Charles Addone, into illegal narcotic activities in the Yakima Valley. Before the raid took place, Robert McMillan, Chief Criminal Deputy of the Yakima County Sheriff's Office, called the news media in Yakima and informed them of the upcoming operation. The newspapers and radio stations indicated they were not interested in attending. But, KIMA and KNDO not only accepted the invitation, but also asked if they could film the raid. McMillan approved the film coverage with the restriction that no filming could be conducted in the house which was the target of the sheriff's midnight operations. KNDO and KIMA news representatives *878 then accompanied the sheriff's deputies in a patrol car to the scene. While the raid was in progress, they filmed the arrest, search and subsequent booking of a number of suspects, including the defendant. On January 2, 1968, KNDO and KIMA ran the film strips with accompanying narration by the newscaster of what had taken place at the raid both on their evening and late evening newscasts. On KNDO, as the film was being shown, the newscaster noted in his narration of the events that the defendant (who was named) was one of those charged with the unlawful sale of marijuana. Only a fleeting glimpse of defendant could be identified in the film as the suspects passed in the camera's view. On KIMA, the newscaster narrated a similar account of the raid but included, along with the defendant's name, his age, the charge, his hometown, and the amount of bail set. This procedure was followed as to all those charged in connection with the raid. When the KIMA news film was shown in the courtroom, defendant's counsel noted that defendant's face was not shown and said: Following its showing of the film and the narration, KIMA added the following editorial comment: Both stations showed similar films and the coverage given to the event was about 2 or 2 1/2 minutes in length. No evidence was introduced into the record as to the prejudicial effect of any newspaper articles. The main issue determinative of this appeal is: Was there a manifest abuse of discretion by the trial court in denying defendant's motion for a change of venue on the grounds that he could not obtain a fair and impartial trial by jury in Yakima County and the surrounding area? We think the answer must be in the negative. The statutes governing the change of venue in criminal cases, relevant to this case, read as follows: In State v. Lindberg, 125 Wash. 51, 215 P. 41 (1923), we said at 55: (Italics ours.) See also State v. Beck, 56 Wn.2d 474, 489, 349 P.2d 387, 353 P.2d 429 (1959-60). [1] In referring to the aforementioned statutes governing motions for change of venue in criminal actions, we said in State v. Welty, 65 Wash. 244, 118 P. 9 (1911) at 248-49: See State v. Hawkins, 70 Wn.2d 697, 425 P.2d 390 (1967); State v. Beck, supra; State v. Brown, 31 Wn.2d 475, 197 P.2d 590, 202 P.2d 461 (1948-49); State v. Guthrie, 185 Wash. 464, 56 P.2d 160 (1936). In the instant case, the only evidence indicating that defendant would not get a fair and impartial jury trial is the unsupported affidavit of defendant's counsel. There is neither record of the voir dire examination of the jury nor is there any evidence which would indicate that the prejudice in the community, or of individual jurors, was such as to deny the defendant a fair and impartial trial by jury. *881 Defendant had the burden of showing that he could not obtain a fair and impartial jury trial and that the trial court had abused its discretion in refusing to grant the motion for change of venue. Our review of the record indicates that he failed to meet this burden of proof. In addition, the television news coverage was not of an inflammatory nature and the film strips and narration in the broadcast did not focus entirely on defendant. When defendant was shown, he was shown as one of a group of several suspects apprehended and no effort was made to single him out for special mention. In so ruling, however, we do not intend to encourage law enforcement agencies in this state in giving advance notice of police raids to the news media so the news media can be present. See State v. Malone, ante p. 612, 452 P.2d 963 (1969). [2] Defendant's final assignment of error relates to the alleged misconduct of one juror who fell asleep during the prosecution's closing argument, and the prosecutor had to have one of the jurors wake him up. Defendant concedes that he made no objection at that time and did not move for a mistrial at the time of the alleged misconduct. Where defendant made no motion for mistrial and in no way preserved an objection, he is deemed to have waived his right to claim error for the alleged misconduct of the jury. See Casey v. Williams, 47 Wn.2d 255, 287 P.2d 343 (1955). The judgment and sentence of the trial court is affirmed. HUNTER, C.J., HILL, HALE, and NEILL, JJ., concur. June 25, 1969. Petition for rehearing denied. [*] Reported in 454 P.2d 199. [] Judge Donworth is serving as a judge pro tempore of the Supreme Court pursuant to Art. 4, § 2(a) (amendment 38), state constitution.