Opinion ID: 1347595
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Extraordinarily Small Amount of a Controlled Substance

Text: We first examine the trial court's reliance on the fact Alexander's crime involved only an extraordinarily small amount of cocaine as a reason for departure from the standard range and conclude this reliance is permissible. [4] With respect to the first portion of the Grewe test, which directs us to question whether the Legislature necessarily considered the factor in establishing the standard sentence range, we note the Legislature did not necessarily contemplate the inclusion of all amounts of controlled substances, even extraordinarily small amounts, in establishing the standard sentence range for a violation of RCW 69.50.401(a)(1)(i). Whether the Legislature necessarily contemplated the inclusion of a factor in establishing the standard sentence range depends both on whether the factor is an element of the crime of which the defendant has been convicted, [15] and on whether the factor is considered in the computation of a defendant's standard sentence range under RCW 9.94A.370(1). [16] [5] Although the Legislature defined violations of RCW 69.50.401(a)(1)(i)(A) to include crimes involving less than 2 kilograms of a drug, it did not establish a minimum amount for which a defendant could be prosecuted. Where the Legislature has defined a range only by reference to one end of a range, we do not generally consider it to have contemplated the particular features of crimes which may occur at the undefined end of the range. [17] We therefore conclude the Legislature did not intend to mandate that the standard sentence range uniformly govern all crimes in the 0- to 2-kilogram range. Accepting as a verity for the purposes of this case that .00003 kilogram is an extraordinarily small amount of cocaine, we conclude the amount involved in Alexander's crime is not an element of the crime defined by RCW 69.50.401(a)(1)(i)(A). In addition, the precise amount of a controlled substance within the range of 0 to 2 kilograms is not considered in the computation of a person's offender score. See RCW 9.94A.370(1). Because the Legislature did not necessarily consider extraordinarily small amounts of cocaine in establishing the standard range, this factor satisfies the first part of the Grewe test. With respect to the second part of the Grewe analysis, which directs that we consider whether the factor distinguishes the crime from other crimes of the same statutory class, we note that the delivery of an extraordinarily small amount of a controlled substance is a factor present in Alexander's violation of RCW 69.50.401(a)(1)(i)(A) but certainly not inherent in all crimes which are part of the class of crimes defined by RCW 69.50.401(a)(1)(i)(A). An extraordinarily small amount of controlled substance therefore distinguishes Alexander's crime from others in the same category, and meets the second requirement of the Grewe test. We thus reverse the Court of Appeals and conclude that a trial court may treat an extraordinarily small amount of a controlled substance as a substantial and compelling reason for downward departure from the standard sentence range. [18] In so doing, we permit sentencing judges to distinguish between crimes typical of a defined class and those which are truly distinguishable as extraordinary. By permitting judges to tailor the sentence in this manner, we also promote proportionality between the punishment and the seriousness of the offense and respect for the law. See RCW 9.94A.010. The State disagrees with our holding, contending that because Alexander's conduct falls within the definition of the crime defined by RCW 69.50.401(a)(1)(i)(A), he must be sentenced within the standard sentence range. [19] However, the State misapprehends the proper focus of the inquiry under RCW 9.94A.210(4)(a) and RCW 9.94A.120(2). The issue in this case is not whether Alexander was properly convicted, but rather whether an extraordinarily small amount of cocaine may be offered as a substantial and compelling reason for departing from the standard sentence range. [6] The State's interpretation would eliminate the ability of courts to ever impose departure since the issue of departure from the standard sentence range by definition only arises once a defendant has committed a crime. This interpretation would contravene RCW 9.94A.120(2) which expressly permits for departure from the standard range, notwithstanding the fact a defendant has been properly convicted of a crime. Because we will not construe a statute so as to render portions of it superfluous, Cossel v. Skagit Cy., 119 Wn.2d 434, 834 P.2d 609 (1992), and based on the other reasons just discussed, we conclude the trial court may treat an extraordinarily small amount of a controlled substance as a substantial and compelling reason for imposing a sentence below the standard range. B