Opinion ID: 2571543
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The United States and Washington Constitutions Prohibit Multiple Punishments for a Single Offense

Text: ¶ 12 Brian Womac was found to have committed a single offense against a single victim yet three separate convictions remain on his record. That it is unjust and oppressive to multiply punishments for a single offense is a concept which has gained recognition in the courts of this state. State v. Johnson, 92 Wash.2d 671, 678, 600 P.2d 1249 (1979) (citing State v. Maloney, 78 Wash.2d 922, 481 P.2d 1 (1971)); see also State v. Calle, 125 Wash.2d 769, 776, 888 P.2d 155 (1995) (Courts may not exceed legislative authority by imposing multiple punishments for the same offense. (citing Albernaz v. United States, 450 U.S. 333, 334, 101 S.Ct. 1137, 67 L.Ed.2d 275 (1981) (citing Brown v. Ohio, 432 U.S. 161, 165, 97 S.Ct. 2221, 53 L.Ed.2d 187 (1977)))). ¶ 13 The double jeopardy doctrine protects defendants against prosecution oppression. 5 WAYNE R. LAFAVE, JEROLD H. ISRAEL & NANCY J. KING, CRIMINAL PROCEDURE § 25.1(b), at 630 (2d ed.1999). The fifth amendment to the United States Constitution provides [n]o person shall . . . be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb. . . . Article I, section 9 of the Washington Constitution mirrors the federal constitution stating [n]o person shall be . . . twice put in jeopardy for the same offense. Washington's double jeopardy clause offers the same scope of protection as the federal double jeopardy clause. In re Pers. Restraint of Percer, 150 Wash.2d 41, 49, 75 P.3d 488 (2003) (citing State v. Gocken, 127 Wash.2d 95, 107, 896 P.2d 1267 (1995)). Both prohibit (1) a second prosecution for the same offense after acquittal, (2) a second prosecution for the same offense after conviction, and (3) multiple punishments for the same offense imposed in the same proceeding. Percer, 150 Wash.2d at 48-49, 75 P.3d 488 (citing State v. Bobic, 140 Wash.2d 250, 260, 996 P.2d 610 (2000); Gocken, 127 Wash.2d at 100, 896 P.2d 1267). RCW 10.43.050 also affords defendants protections against double jeopardy, providing in part: Whenever a defendant shall be acquitted or convicted upon an indictment or information charging a crime consisting of different degrees, he cannot be proceeded against or tried for the same crime in another degree, nor for an attempt to commit such crime, or any degree thereof. ¶ 14 Jeopardy means exposure to danger. 1 LINDA S. PORTNOY, WASHINGTON CRIMINAL PRACTICE IN COURTS OF LIMITED JURISDICTION § 15.05(C), at 15-7 (3d ed.2005). Womac remains exposed to danger as three separate convictions (arising from a single offense) remain on his record after the trial court determined that sentencing on all three would violate double jeopardy. As Womac's counsel correctly asserts, it is unjust to find a double jeopardy violation and hold these convictions in a safe for a rainy day, in the event that the homicide by abuse gets reversed . . . then they can sort of rise from the dead like Jesus on the third day and bite my client, and he can be sentenced on convictions that the court already ruled violated double jeopardy. 7 VRP at 1072. ¶ 15 To permit such a practice allows the State multiple bites at the apple by labeling one crime by three different names and upholding any and all resulting convictions. And the State, with all its resources and power should not be allowed to make repeated attempts to convict an individual for an alleged offense, thereby subjecting him to embarrassment, expense and ordeal and compelling him to live in a continuing state of anxiety and insecurity, as well as enhancing the possibility that even though innocent he may be found guilty. Green v. United States, 355 U.S. 184, 187-88, 78 S.Ct. 221, 2 L.Ed.2d 199 (1957).