Opinion ID: 2580978
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Operation of the Multiple Offense Policy

Text: Former RCW 9.94A.390(2)(i) (1998) provides that an exceptional sentence may be imposed if the operation of the multiple offense policy of [former] RCW 9.94A.400 results in a presumptive sentence that is clearly too lenient in light of the purpose of [the SRA]. The `multiple offense policy' comes from two general rules in [former RCW 9.94A.400(1)(a), (b)]: one, the same criminal conduct rule for determining the offender score; and two, the default use of concurrent sentences for multiple current convictions. State v. Borg, 145 Wash.2d 329, 337, 36 P.3d 546 (2001) (footnote omitted). This section gives discretion to the sentencing court to impose an exceptional sentence when, under the above rules, the presumptive sentence is clearly too lenient. Id. at 338, 36 P.3d 546. In keeping with this discretionary rule, we will reverse the trial court's finding on this aggravating circumstance only if we consider the leniency determination to be an abuse of discretion. See Pryor, 115 Wash.2d at 450, 799 P.2d 244. With no attendant discussion, Tili cites Borg in a statement of additional authorities. See State v. Borg, 145 Wash.2d 329, 36 P.3d 546 (2001). In Borg, the defendant was convicted of six counts of unlawful possession of a firearm. The trial court imposed an exceptional sentence even though the same criminal conduct rule required that all six crimes be treated as one for sentencing. Borg, 145 Wash.2d at 331, 36 P.3d 546. The trial court's sole reason for doing so was that Borg had committed multiple crimes. Id. This court held that the multiple offense policy should be used in exceptional cases involving multiple offensesnot in any case involving multiple offenses. Id. at 339, 36 P.3d 546. Thus, the exceptional sentence was reversed because the multiple offenses were the trial court's only basis for relying on the multiple offense policy. Id. [5] The State persuasively discourages the blind application of Borg that Tili apparently advocates. The harm Borg causes society does not significantly differ with the number of guns he possesses. However, a rape victim suffers significantly greater harm by the rapist's repeated and varied assaults on her personal autonomy. Suppl. Br. of Resp't at 7. Each penetration, in each orifice, increases the victim's sense of danger, humiliation, and degradation. A rapist should not be rewarded with the same sentence for multiple rapes that he would have received for a single penetration. Suppl. Br. of Resp't at 7. Based on these distinctions, we perceive Tili's situation as precisely the type of exceptional case, warranting application of the multiple offense policy, envisioned by this court in Borg. An exceptional sentence may not be based on an unproved or uncharged crime, but the underlying facts and nature of the crime may serve as the basis for an exceptional sentence. State v. Quiros, 78 Wash.App. 134, 138-39, 896 P.2d 91 (1995) (in vehicular assault sentencing, court could consider excessive speed even though reckless driving not charged). In this case, the trial court's finding at resentencing that in essence, the defendant would be getting three or more rapes for `free' may be debated. Clerk's Papers at 294. However, it is true that the same criminal conduct finding actually resulted in no additional incarceration for two of the rapes. In addition, there were acts which could have supported additional units of prosecution, such as licking L.M.'s anus. Thus, the court was within its statutory authority to conclude the sentence was clearly too lenient in light of the purposes of the SRA as a result of the multiple offense policy of former RCW 9.94A.400 and we cannot say there was an abuse of discretion.