Opinion ID: 1275140
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Monetary Loss and Lengthy Period of Time

Text: As noted above, the clearly erroneous standard of review is used to review a sentencing court's findings of fact made in support of an exceptional sentence. See Garza, 123 Wash.2d at 889, 872 P.2d 1087. Under the clearly erroneous standard, reversal is required only if there is not substantial evidence supporting the findings. State v. Russell, 69 Wash.App. 237, 250, 848 P.2d 743, review denied, 122 Wash.2d 1003, 859 P.2d 603 (1993). In this case, the sentencing court found the loss as a result of Branch's crime was $398,652.91 and the crime occurred between July 2, 1987 and October 25, 1989. The record before the sentencing court included the transcript of the plea hearing, the amended information, the plea statement, the certificate of probable cause, and the defense presentence report. As recorded in the transcript of the plea hearing, Branch and his attorney agreed to restitution of over $400,000 and to allow the sentencing judge to consider the facts in the certificate of probable cause as real facts. The certificate of probable cause lists 46 withdrawals from the Partnership account and 44 corresponding deposits to Branch's personal accounts, which funds were later used for Branch's personal expenses. Those withdrawals covered a 27-month period of time and totaled over $390,000. The certificate of probable cause states that over $600,000 of the Partnership's capital was missing and unaccounted for. Additionally, in the defense presentence report, defense conceded the amount of money involved was greater than the amount in a typical first degree theft. Finally, paragraph 11 of Branch's plea statement admits the theft occurred over a two-year period. This record contains substantial evidence supporting the sentencing court's factual findings of actual monetary loss greater than typical and lengthy period of time; therefore, those findings are not clearly erroneous.