Opinion ID: 1347595
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: factual determinations are treated as verities on appeal

Text: [1] First, we examine whether the record supports the findings of fact used to justify the exceptional sentence. RCW 9.94A.210(4)(a). Appellate courts ordinarily review a finding of fact to see whether the finding is clearly erroneous. State v. Estrella, 115 Wn.2d 350, 355, 798 P.2d 289 (1990) (citing State v. Pennington, 112 Wn.2d 606, 608, 772 P.2d 1009 (1989)). However, because the State did not properly contest the findings that the crime involved an extraordinarily small amount of cocaine, that Alexander's crime reflected a low degree of involvement or sophistication, or that Alexander had only peripheral participation in the drug hierarchy, [10] we treat such facts as verities on appeal. Morris v. Woodside, 101 Wn.2d 812, 815, 682 P.2d 905 (1984) (because State failed to provide verbatim report of proceedings which constituted evidence relevant to the disputed findings of fact, Court of Appeals would consider factual findings to be verities on appeal); see also State v. Alexander, 70 Wn. App. 608, 612, 854 P.2d 1105 (1993) (citing Morris v. Woodside, 101 Wn.2d 812, 815, 682 P.2d 905 (1984)). [11]