Opinion ID: 1134803
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 10

Heading: Issue 6: Did the Prosecutor Improperly Fail to Disclose Pirtle's One-Sentence Statement to Deputy Walker During Pirtle's Arrest?

Text: As in issue four, Pirtle again argues prosecutorial misconduct requires a new trial. However, [t]o prevail on this argument, the defendant must establish both improper conduct by the prosecutor and prejudicial effect. Pirtle, 127 Wash.2d at 672, 904 P.2d 245 (citing Furman, 122 Wash.2d at 455, 858 P.2d 1092). And, this conduct must constitute actual and substantial prejudice resulting in a violation of petitioner's constitutional rights or a fundamental error of law. Cook, 114 Wash.2d at 810, 792 P.2d 506; Lord, 123 Wash.2d at 303, 868 P.2d 835. At the core of Pirtle's argument on this issue is a one-sentence statement by prosecution witness, Deputy Walker, given during direct examination. In his testimony, Deputy Walker stated that, immediately after placing Pirtle into custody, he asked Pirtle if he knew why he was under arrest. Pirtle responded by saying, Of course I do, you might as well shoot me now. RP at 2607. First, Pirtle contends the State violated Washington's criminal discovery rules which require the prosecuting attorney to disclose to the defendant any written or recorded statements and the substance of any oral statements made by the defendant.... CrR 4.7(a)(1)(ii). However, Pirtle ignores the fact that the police report did not mention any statement made by Pirtle and it was not in the State's possession. In fact, Deputy Walker supplied a certificate, acknowledging this statement was not in his report because he only recalled it while testifying. Moreover, the prosecutor's question to Walker, at best, was merely a general statement asking Walker to describe Pirtle's unusual behavior. It was not a solicitation of any specific statements. Based on these facts, the State did not violate CrR 4.7's discovery provision because Pirtle has not established the State had knowledge that Deputy Walker's testimony would include Pirtle's one-sentence statement. Second, Pirtle claims his due process rights were violated because the State failed to provide notice of the alleged statement and, thus, the trial court was neither able to hold an admissibility hearing under CrR 3.5 nor evaluate the prejudicial impact of this statement under ER 403. Again, Pirtle ignores the fact that the State had no knowledge Deputy Walker would mention this previously unknown statement in his testimony. No error by the State has been established. Third, Pirtle contends his due process rights were violated because the State introduced an involuntary, non-Miranda statement. The key question to Pirtle's claim is whether or not he was being interrogated. If he was being interrogated by Deputy Walker upon his arrest, Pirtle argues the statement would have been excluded under Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 86 S.Ct. 1602, 16 L.Ed.2d 694, 10 A.L.R.3d 974 (1966). However, Deputy Walker asked Pirtle if he knew why he was being arrested, which occurred at the time of the arrest. The expected response to Deputy Walker's question was likely yes or no and falls into the background questioning category under which Miranda warnings are not applicable. See State v. Bradley, 105 Wash.2d 898, 904, 719 P.2d 546 (1986); State v. Walton, 64 Wash.App. 410, 824 P.2d 533 (1992); State v. Franklin, 48 Wash.App. 61, 737 P.2d 1047 (1987). [8] Finally, Pirtle asserts prejudice because the prosecutor misstated the evidence when he claimed Pirtle told the police, Yeah, I know what I did. Pirtle Brief at 139-41 (citing RP at 2786-87). While the prosecutor's rendition differs somewhat from the statement, Of course I do, you might as well shoot me now (RP at 2607), the prosecutor's comments, which are not evidence, did not prejudice Pirtle.