Opinion ID: 1121511
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 17

Heading: Validity of Prior Convictions.

Text: Young contends that all evidence relating to his conviction in 1963 for four rapes should have been excluded because the jury instructions given there were in error. We disagree. The trial court properly held that the convictions were admissible. [17] [44] We have previously held that the State may use prior convictions without proving their constitutional validity in appropriate circumstances. State v. Ammons, 105 Wn.2d 175, 187, 713 P.2d 719, 718 P.2d 796, cert. denied, 479 U.S. 930 (1986). Because an individual subject to civil commitment would have no greater constitutional protections in this regard, we apply the Ammons case by analogy. In sentencing proceedings, the court has established the following rule: [A] prior conviction which has been previously determined to have been unconstitutionally obtained or which is constitutionally invalid on its face may not be considered. Constitutionally invalid on its face means a conviction which without further elaboration evidences infirmities of a constitutional magnitude. (Citations omitted.) Ammons, at 187-88. To hold otherwise would require appellate review of all prior convictions, which would unduly and unjustifiably overburden the [trial] court. Ammons, at 188. Finally, Young contends that the testimony of interrogating officers concerning his confessions to the rapes was wrongly admitted. He argues that because tape recordings were made (but not offered into evidence) the testimony must be excluded. Furthermore, he asserts that he should have been permitted to offer impeachment evidence of a criminal trespass charge and disciplinary history against the officers. These arguments are patently meritless.