Court Opinion

ID: 4015811
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-07-14 16:19:29.224334+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:27:27.051592
License: Public Domain

FILED
                                                                         JULY 14, 2016
                                                                  In the Office of the Clerk of Court
                                                                WA State Court of Appeals, Division Ill
            IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
                               DIVISION THREE

STATE OF WASHINGTON,                          )
                                              )         No. 32113-4-111
                     Respondent,              )
                                              )
       V.                                     )
                                              )
LUIS A. A VILA,                               )         UNPUBLISHED OPINION
                                              )
                     Appellant.               )

       SIDDOWAY, J. - Luis Avila was convicted of second degree rape. At trial,

Detective Jackie Nichols testified about statements Mr. Avila made to her during an

interview. No CrR 3.5 hearing had been conducted prior to trial to determine whether her

statements were admissible. Mr. Avila appealed, and the case was remanded for a CrR

3.5 hearing, at which the trial court concluded the statements were voluntary and were

properly admitted at trial. Mr. Avila again appeals, arguing that (1) nine of the findings

of fact in the court's order lack substantial evidence in the CrR 3.5 hearing record, and

(2) the trial court erred when it found the interview was not a custodial interrogation.

Finding no error, we affirm.

                    FACTS AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

       On June 13, 2011, Detective Jackie Nichols received a report that Bonnie Larson,

an elderly woman residing at Sycamore Glen Family Home-an adult care facility-had
No. 32113-4-III
State v. Avila

been raped at the facility by an employee later identified as Luis Avila.

       Upon receiving this report, Detective Nichols called Mr. Avila and "asked if he

would be willing to come in for an interview." Clerk's Papers (CP) at 99. Mr. Avila

agreed, and together they "arranged a time which would be mutually convenient." Id.

Sharee Kromrei, the owner of Sycamore Glen, and a friend of Mr. Avila's, then contacted

Detective Nichols and asked to be present at the interview. Detective Nichols agreed.

       On June 16, 2011, Ms. Kromrei drove Mr. Avila to the sheriffs office. Detective

Nichols escorted them to the interview room, which is

       where we conduct all our interviews, victim interviews, child/victim
       interviews, adult interviews. So it's, the setting is conducive to being
       comfortable it's got upholstered chairs, pictures on the walls kind of a
       neutral tone to the paint, carpet, you know, it's like a throw rug type carpet
       on the floor.

Report of Proceedings (RP) (Jan. 15, 2015) at 9. Once in the interview room, Ms.

Kromrei and Mr. Avila sat next to each other on the side of the table nearest to the door.

Nothing blocked Mr. Avila's path to the door.

       Detective Nichols, in full uniform, told Mr. Avila he was free to leave at any time.

At no time was Mr. Avila handcuffed or physically restrained. Neither Ms. Kromrei nor

Mr. Avila were searched. Detective Nichols did not inform Mr. Avila of his Miranda 1

rights before interviewing him.

       1
           Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 86 S. Ct. 1602, 16 L. Ed. 2d 694 (1966).
                                              2
No. 32113-4-111
State v. Avila

       During the interview, which lasted no more than 20 minutes, Mr. Avila appeared

to understand the questions he was asked and the allegations at issue, never declined to

answer any questions, never requested an interpreter or a lawyer, and never asked to

leave. When the interview was over, Mr. Avila and Ms. Kromrei walked out of the

sheriffs office together.

       Nearly a year later, on May 15, 2012, the State charged Luis Avila with the second

degree rape of Bonnie Larson. In preparation for trial, defense counsel did not request a

CrR 3.5 hearing to determine whether Mr. Avila's statements to Detective Nichols had

been made voluntarily. At trial, Detective Nichols testified about the statements Mr.

Avila made during the interview. Mr. Avila also testified at trial in his own defense. The

statements Detective Nichols attributed to Mr. Avila were inconsistent with Mr. Avila's

trial testimony. At the conclusion of the trial, the jury found Mr. Avila guilty, and the

court sentenced him to 90 months to life.

       Mr. Avila appealed, challenging for the first time the voluntariness of the

interview statements to which Detective Nichols testified. In response, the State

requested the matter be remanded to the trial court for a CrR 3 .5 hearing. A

commissioner of this court granted the State's motion and issued an order remanding the

case for a CrR 3.5 hearing.

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No. 32113-4-III
State v. Avila

        The CrR 3.5 hearing occurred on January 15, 2015. The court entered an order

concluding the interview was not a custodial interrogation and therefore Mr. Avila's

statements were voluntary and admissible. The order contains the following findings of

fact:

        1.    On June 12, 2011, Bonnie J. Larson, an elderly resident of the
              Sycamore Glen Family Home, a facility licensed by the state for
              long-term care, told various people at her church that she had been
              forcibly raped by an employee of the home the previous night.
        2.    On June 13, 2011 while at a local hospital for a routine appointment,
              Ms. Larson reported again that she had been raped at Sycamore Glen
              on June 11, 2011 by a caregiver named "Luis." She was given a
              rape examination but there were no overt signs of assault. The
              medical personnel collected "swabs" as part of a standard rape kit,
              which were sent to the Washington State Patrol Crime Lab for
              analysis.
        3.    The medical personnel contacted law enforcement and Detective
              Jackie Nichols of the Asotin County Sheriffs Office was assigned
              the case and responded to the hospital to investigate.
        4.    Detective Nichols interviewed Ms. Larson at the hospital and spoke
              with other potential witnesses.
        5.    The Detective contacted [Sharee] Kromrei, the Administrator of
              Sycamore Glen. Ms. Kromrei told Detective Nichols that the
              employee identified as "Luis" was LUIS A. A VILA. She indicated
              that she was a friend of Mr. AVILA's and that she had heard about
              the report but did not believe it. She told the Detective that she had
              already spoken with Mr. AVILA and that he had told her that the
              accusations were "completely false." Throughout the entire
              investigation Ms. Kromrei advocated for, and assisted Mr. AVILA.

        8.    On June 16, 2011, during regular working hours, LUIS A. AVILA
              and Sharee Kromrei arrived at the Asotin County Sheriffs Office for
              the interview, having driven to that location in a private vehicle.

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No. 32113-4-111
State v. Avila

                They were met by Detective Nichols in the lobby and escorted to the
                interview room inside of the Sheriffs Office.
       9.       The interview room is regularly used for non-custodial interviews of
                witnesses, victims (including child victims), and persons of interest.
                The room is decorated in a nonthreatening manner with "homey"
                decor which includes muted lighting, upholstered chairs, pictures on
                the walls, and small throw rug on the floor.

       13.      Prior to asking any questions, Detective Nichols told Mr. A VILA
                that he was not under arrest and that he was free to leave at any time.
                At no time during the interview was Mr. AVILA handcuffed or
                physically restrained in any manner. Neither he nor Ms. Kromrei
                was searched nor were they even asked whether they were carrying
                any weapons.
       16.      The Detective began the interview by telling Mr. AVILA about the
                accusations and asked him for his account of the evening in
                question.

CP at 98-100.

                                         ANALYSIS

       Mr. Avila appeals, arguing that (1) insufficient evidence supports nine of the trial

court's findings of fact, and (2) the trial court erred when it concluded the interview with

Detective Nichols was not a custodial interrogation. Each argument is addressed in tum.

    1. Because we may take judicial notice of the record in the case presently before us,
                   substantial evidence supports the trial court's findings

       Mr. Avila argues the court included numerous findings of fact in its order on the

CrR 3 .5 hearing that were not supported by any evidence in that hearing record.

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No. 32113-4-111
State v. Avila

       This argument lacks merit. Judicial notice is allowed at any stage of the

proceeding. ER 201 (f). "We may take judicial notice of the record in the case presently

before us or 'in proceedings engrafted, ancillary, or supplementary to it.'" In re

Adoption ofE.T., 150 Wn.2d 409,415, 78 P.3d 634 (2003) (quoting Swakv. Dep't of

Labor & Indus., 40 Wash. 2d 51, 53,240 P.2d 560 (1952)). The CrR 3.5 hearing was

conducted to determine whether certain evidence was admissible at trial and was part of

the same case. Accordingly, we, like the trial court, may take judicial notice of the trial

record. It contains substantial evidence for each of the challenged findings of fact.

"Substantial evidence is evidence in sufficient quantum to persuade a fair-minded person

of the truth of the declared premise." Holland v. Boeing Co., 90 Wash. 2d 384, 390-91, 583
P.2d 621 (1978).

       The record shows Ms. Larson was a resident at Sycamore Glen Family Home,

which is a licensed adult care facility. Ms. Larson testified that she told "several people"

at church that she had been raped. RP (Oct. 8, 2013) at 96. This report was made "the

morning after" the rape, on June 12, 2011. Id. at 72. Substantial evidence supports

finding of fact 1.

       There was testimony that on June 13, 2011, Ms. Larson had a routine appointment

with her counselor at a facility affiliated with St. Joseph's Hospital. The record shows

that when Ms. Larson told her counselor she had been raped by a caregiver named "Luis"

                                              6
No. 32113-4-III
State v. Avila

at Sycamore Glen on June 11, 2011, he sent her to the emergency room for a sexual

assault exam. Detective Nichols testified that the exam found no overt signs of sexual

assault. The record reflects that the nurse at the hospital collected swabs as part of a

sexual assault exam, and sent them to the Washington State Patrol Crime Lab for

analysis. Substantial evidence supports finding of fact 2.

       Detective Nichols testified that the medical personnel at "St. Joseph's Hospital or

a medical facility affiliated with St. Joseph's" called the Asotin County Sherifrs Office

to report the sexual assault. RP (Oct. 8, 2013) at 38. Detective Nichols stated she

responded to the report and went to St. Joseph's to interview Ms. Larson. Detective

Nichols also said she spoke with other potential witnesses. Substantial evidence supports

findings of fact 3 and 4.

       Detective Nichols testified she contacted Ms. Kromrei to ask her about Ms.

Larson's report. The record does not reflect that Ms. Kromrei is the "administrator" of

Sycamore Glen, but rather that she is the "owner" and "operator" of that facility. RP

(Oct. 9, 2013) at 232. This difference is inconsequential. Detective Nichols testified that

Ms. Kromrei identified herself as Mr. Avila's friend. The record reflects that upon

receiving the report of the rape from one of her caregivers, Ms. Kromrei responded that

"that couldn't have happened" because Mr. Avila was from her church and had just

gotten married and had a baby. RP (Oct. 8, 2013) at 82. Testimony shows Ms. Kromrei

                                              7
No. 32113-4-III
State v. Avila

asked to attend Mr. Avila's interview with Detective Nichols, told Mr. Avila not to worry

because she would be present and if he were arrested she would be able to help him, and

then drove him to the interview. The evidence also shows that at the interview Mr. Avila

consulted Ms. Kromrei about whether to allow Detective Nichols to record the interview.

This is sufficient evidence to support a finding that Ms. Kromrei advocated for Mr. Avila

throughout the investigation. Sufficient evidence supports finding of fact 5.

       The record demonstrates that on June 16, 2011, Ms. Kromrei drove Mr. Avila to

the Asotin County Sheriffs Office for an interview with Detective Nichols. Mr. Avila

testified they were met by Detective Nichols, who led them to the interview room. There

is no direct evidence that the interview occurred during "regular working hours," but the

record shows that Detective Nichols and Ms. Kromrei arranged a time for the interview

that was "mutually convenient," RP (Jan. 15, 2015) at 11, and that between 5 to 10

officers were present at the sheriffs office at the time of the interview, which provides

substantial evidence for that finding. Substantial evidence supports finding of fact 8.

       Detective Nichols testified that the interview room at the sheriffs office is used

for all interviews, including victim, child victim, and adult interviews. She stated the

room has upholstered chairs, pictures on the wall, and "a throw rug type carpet on the

floor." RP (Jan. 15, 2015) at 12. She said the room was more like a home than a jail.

The record does not reflect that the lighting is muted, but rather that the paint on the walls

                                              8
No. 32113-4-111
State v. Avila

is neutral in tone. Neither does the record reflect that the throw rug is "small." However,

the remainder of the evidence supports the finding that the room is nonthreatening and

comfortable. Substantial evidence supports finding of fact 9.

       Before asking any questions in the interview, Detective Nichols testified she told

Mr. Avila he was free to leave at any time. The record does not reflect that Detective

Nichols told Mr. Avila that he was not under arrest. But the record shows Mr. Avila was

not handcuffed or restrained in any manner, and neither he nor Ms. Kromrei were

searched. The record contains no evidence whatsoever about whether they were asked if

they had weapons. Though substantial evidence supports only part of finding of fact 13,

the unsupported portions do not affect our ultimate conclusion and need not be stricken.

       Detective Nichols testified she began the interview by telling Mr. Avila she knew

he was aware of the allegations, and then asked him to tell her what happened on the

night of June 11, 2011. The record does not reflect that Detective Nichols told Mr. Avila

about the allegations, but it does reflect that Mr. Avila knew of the allegations. Again,

though substantial evidence supports only part of finding of fact 16, this does not affect

our ultimate conclusion and the unsupported portion need not be stricken.

                             2. The interview was not custodial

       Mr. Avila argues the court should not have allowed Detective Nichols to testify at

trial about the statements he made to her during the interview on June 16, 2011, because

                                             9
No. 32113-4-III
State v. Avila

the interview was a custodial interrogation and he was not informed of his Miranda

rights.

          The Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution provides: "No person ...

shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself." U.S. CONST.

amend. V. To protect this right and to ensure a defendant's statements are voluntary,

Miranda warnings are required whenever a defendant is subjected to a custodial

interrogation by a state agent. Miranda, 384 U.S. at 439; State v. Lorenz, 152 Wash. 2d 22,

36, 93 P.3d 133 (2004). The failure to administer Miranda warnings when the defendant

is in custodial interrogation renders the defendant's statements involuntary and

inadmissible at trial. State v. Lozano, 76 Wash. App. 116, 118-19, 882 P.2d 1191 (1994)

(citing Oregon v. Elstad, 470 U.S. 298, 307, 105 S. Ct. 1285, 84 L. Ed. 2d 222 (1985)).

A trial court's custodial determination is reviewed de novo. Lorenz, 152 Wash. 2d at 36.

          "[T]he term 'interrogation' under Miranda refers not only to express questioning,

but also to any words or actions ... that the police should know are reasonably likely to

elicit an incriminating response from the suspect." Rhode Island v. Innis, 446 U.S. 291,

301, 100 S. Ct. 1682, 64 L. Ed. 2d 297 (1980) (footnote omitted); State v. Sargent, 111
Wash. 2d 641, 649, 762 P.2d 1127 (1988).

          The State concedes Detective Nichols's interview of Mr. Avila was an

"interrogation." We, therefore, need only consider whether it was "custodial."

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No. 32113-4-III
State v. Avila

       An interrogation is "custodial" if the defendant's freedom of movement is

curtailed. Sargent, 111 Wash. 2d at 649-50. "An objective test is used to determine

whether a defendant was in custody-whether a reasonable person in the individual's

position would believe he or she was in police custody to a degree associated with formal

arrest." Lorenz, 152 Wash. 2d at 36-37 (citing Berkemer v. McCarty, 468 U.S. 420,440,

104 S. Ct. 3138, 82 L. Ed. 2d 317 (1984)). The "freedom of movement, not the

atmosphere or the psychological state of the defendant, is the determining factor in

deciding whether an interview is 'custodial."' Sargent, 111 Wash. 2d at 649-50 (citing

California v. Beheler, 463 U.S. 1121, 1125, 103 S. Ct. 3517, 77 L. Ed. 2d 1275 (1983)).

       Mr. Avila makes a number of arguments as to why a person in his position would

not believe he had a right to leave the interview with Detective Nichols. First, he argues

he has limited English comprehension and nothing is known about his education.

However, though Mr. Avila is Guatemalan, Detective Nichols testified he appeared to

understand her questions and that his answers to the questions were appropriate.

Moreover, Mr. Avila prepared a written statement that he read to the court at the CrR 3.5

hearing that demonstrated his high level of English proficiency. His ability to understand

sophisticated legal concepts is also demonstrated by his first statement of additional

grounds for review (SAG). There is strong evidence that Mr. Avila had a sufficient grasp

of English to understand that his participation in the interview was not compulsory.

                                             11
No. 32113-4-III
State v. Avila

       Moreover, his experience with the legal system is some evidence that he was

aware of what a custodial law enforcement environment looks like. He was arrested

twice in 2006, twice in 2007, and once in both 2008 and 2010. The trial court could

reasonably consider whether, after six arrests, Mr. Avila had enough experience to

understand that the interview with Detective Nichols was not a custodial interrogation.

       Second, Mr. Avila argues he understood Detective Nichols's "asking" him to

come to the sheriffs office as an order and not a request. The trial court's unchallenged

findings weaken this argument. The court found that Detective Nichols "asked" Mr.

Avila ifhe would be "willing" to come down for an interview, and that they agreed to a

time that was "mutually convenient." CP at 99. Additionally, the court found that Ms.

Kromrei drove Mr. Avila to the interview-he was not transported there by law

enforcement. These facts are indicative of a request, rather than an order, to come to the

interview.

       Third, Mr. Avila argues he did not understand he could leave because the

interview room was behind locked doors at the stationhouse, and Detective Nichols was

in uniform when she questioned him. However, the court found that before beginning the

interview, Detective Nichols told Mr. Avila he was free to leave at any time. The court

also found that Mr. Avila was not searched, handcuffed, or restrained in any way, that he

sat on the side of the table nearest the door, and that no obstacle blocked his path to the

                                             12

                                                                                              l
No. 32113-4-111
State v. Avila

door. Moreover, the interview only lasted 20 minutes and when it was over Mr. Avila

simply walked out. A reasonable person in Mr. Avila's position would have known he

was free to leave.

       Fourth, Mr. Avila argues the court improperly placed great weight on the fact that

Ms. Kromrei was present during the interview. Mr. Avila states he was never asked ifhe

would allow Ms. Kromrei to be present, and that no information suggests she would be

qualified to help him. Mr. Avila's own testimony at the hearing undercuts these

arguments:

       When I agreed about the interview that was after talking to [Sharee] and I
       explain her what I was afraid of and she is the one that told me not to be
       afraid because she was going to talk to Det. Nichols and she asked if she
       could be with me during the interview and she said that if I would have
       been arrested then she would have been able to help me. That's the reason
       why [Sharee] was present during the interview.

RP (Jan. 15, 2015) at 27. This shows Mr. Avila knew Ms. Kromrei was going to be at the

interview, and that he wanted her there. In addition, he conferred with her about whether

to allow the interview to be recorded, which not only shows that she helped him, but that

he knew he had the right to refuse. The simple fact of Ms. Kromrei's presence shows Mr.

Avila was not isolated and indicates a noncustodial environment. See Miranda, 384 U.S.

at 461 (noting that isolation may be used in a custodial interrogation to compel the

witness to speak).

                                            13
No. 32113-4-111
State v. Avila

       Fifth, Mr. Avila argues that his choice to attend the interview was constrained

because he thought the interview might concern working for Ms. Kromrei "under the

table," and because he knew he was suspected of raping Ms. Larson. Appellant's Supp.

Br. at 14. This argument is not persuasive because Detective Nichols told him he was

free to leave at any time. Mr. Avila's psychological state of mind does not show the

interview was custodial in the absence of any indication that his freedom of movement

was restricted.

       Finally, Mr. Avila argues the trial court improperly took judicial notice of the

setup of the interview room. As discussed above, sufficient evidence supports the court's

finding about the environment of the interview room.

       Nothing about the interview suggested a custodial interrogation. The record

supports the trial court's finding that the interview was not a custodial interrogation. The

court did not err in concluding Mr. Avila's statements in the interview were voluntary

and admissible at trial.

              STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL GROUNDS FOR REVIEW

       In a prose statement of additional grounds for review (SAG), as well as a

supplemental SAG, Mr. Avila raises four grounds for review.

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No. 32113-4-111
State v. Avila

       1. Expert Testimony on DNA 2

       Mr. Avila argues that the DNA expert's testimony about his genotype being

unique in the population, and the testimony that under the "product rule" there was a 1 in

400 quadrillion chance that the DNA would match another person, was inadmissible.

       Mr. Avila cites State v. Cauthron, 120 Wash. 2d 879, 846 P.2d 502 (1993) and State

v. Buckner, 125 Wn.2d 915,890 P.2d 460 (1995) for support. However, the Supreme

Court overruled Cauthron, and reversed Buckner in State v. Buckner, 133 Wash. 2d 63, 941

P .2d 667 ( 1997). There the court stated that the "product rule" is a generally accepted

method of calculating statistical probabilities and that experts may give their opinion that

a DNA profile is unique within the population. Buckner, 133 Wash. 2d at 67. "Briefly

restated, the product rule ( or 'multiplication rule') ... means that the probability of a

genetic profile occurring in the population is the product of the probabilities of each

individual allele's occurrence in the population." State v. Copeland, 130 Wash. 2d 244,

264-65, 922 P.2d 1304 (1996).

       The DNA expert described his application of the product rule, by which he

concluded there was a 1 in 400 quadrillion chance that the DNA could have come from

someone other than Mr. Avila:

       2
           Deoxyribonucleic acid.
                                              15
No. 32113-4-III
State v. Avila

       So, each number has what's called a probability or a chance that it is
       supposed to occur within the U.S. population. That program then takes
       each of those numbers I obtain and multiplies them together. And so since
       you have a lot of numbers, you get a very low probability because I :400
       quadrillion is actually a very small chance that it will happen again.

RP at 184. The expert's testimony was therefore proper.

       Mr. Avila also objects to the DNA evidence in general, arguing it is susceptible to

laboratory error, mishandling, mislabeling, and contamination.

       [O]nce DNA evidence is determined to be generally admissible, then both
       proponents and opponents of a particular test should be able to garner the
       necessary information to present both sides of the issue to the factfinder
       when there is a challenge to the validity of a given laboratory procedure.

State v. Kalakosky, 121 Wash. 2d 525, 541, 852 P.2d 1064 (1993). Only where laboratory

error is so serious that the results will not be helpful to the jury can the trial court, in its

discretion, rule the evidence inadmissible. Id. In Mr. Avila's case, defense counsel had

an opportunity to cross-examine the expert, and the only issue about the validity of the

tests was whether the results were compromised by the length of time (six months) that

the sample sat in the laboratory before testing. The delay was due to backlogging and

does not appear to have compromised the evidence. Accordingly, where Mr. Avila has

failed to identify any evidence to suggest laboratory error in this specific case, the trial

court did not abuse its discretion when it admitted the evidence. To the extent Mr. Avila

                                                16
No. 32113-4-111
State v. Avila

challenges the credibility of the evidence, it is the province of the jury to determine what

weight to assign that evidence. Copeland, 130 Wash. 2d at 270.

       2. Improper Closing Argument

       Mr. Avila claims the State improperly vouched for its witness's credibility when

the prosecutor said during closing arguments: "She told the truth." SAG at 4. This is a

slight misquote of the prosecutor's actual words, which were: "Old lady, told the truth

every time." RP (Oct. 10, 2013) at 349.

       "It is improper for a prosecutor personally to vouch for the credibility of a

witness." State v. Brett, 126 Wash. 2d 136, 175, 892 P.2d 29 (1995). "Prosecutors may,

however, argue an inference from the evidence, and prejudicial error will not be found

unless it is 'clear and unmistakable' that counsel is expressing a personal opinion." Id.

(quoting State v. Sargent, 40 Wash. App. 340, 344, 698 P.2d 598 (1985)). Where, as here,

defense counsel did not object to the prosecutor's statements, reversal is required only if

the "' misconduct is so flagrant that no instruction can cure it.'" State v. Belgarde, 110
Wash. 2d 504, 508, 755 P.2d 174 (1988), ajf'd, 119 Wash. 2d 711, 837 P.2d 599 (1992)

(quoting State v. Case, 49 Wash. 2d 66, 74, 298 P.2d 500 (1956)).

       In this case, it is clear from the context that the prosecutor did not offer a personal

opinion, but instead summarized all of the evidence and made an inference from that

evidence that Ms. Larson-who he also described as having "some bad mental problems"

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No. 32113-4-III
State v. Avila

and "get[ting] confused sometimes"-told the truth. RP (Oct. 10, 2013) at 348.

Accordingly, the prosecutor's comment was not improper. See State v. Jackson, 150 Wn.

App. 877, 884-85, 209 P.3d 553 (2009) (finding that the prosecutor did not vouch for a

witness's credibility where he reminded the jury that it was the sole judge of credibility,

outlined the evidence and the reasonable inferences from it, and concluded that the jury

could find the witness credible).

       Furthermore, the trial court instructed the jury that counsel's statements were not

evidence and should be disregarded if not supported by the evidence. This instruction

was sufficient to limit any prejudice. See State v. Castro, 32 Wash. App. 559, 567, 648
P.2d 485 (1982) (finding prosecutor's statement that a witness told the truth was not

prejudicial error because the court told the jury to disregard any statements not supported

by the evidence).

       3. Ineffective Assistance o(Counsel

       Mr. Avila argues defense counsel provided ineffective assistance when he moved

to dismiss charges rather than for a mistrial. Here, though, the record shows the court

considered a motion for mistrial. The court first stated: "Your motion for mistrial is

respectfully denied." RP (Oct. 9, 2013) at 228. The court then said: "And so for the

record the motion to dismiss and/or mistrial are both denied." Id. Mr. Avila cannot

complain that defense counsel did not move to dismiss when the court clearly understood

                                             18
No. 32113-4-111
State v. Avila

the motion was for dismissal or mistrial. Mr. Avila did not receive ineffective assistance

of counsel.

       4. Due Process

       Mr. Avila argues the State violated his due process right to gather evidence in his

own defense, alleging the State withheld evidence. Specifically, he alleges the State did

not disclose that some of the DNA sample remained and could have been tested. Id. at

216. This claim fails. The record shows it was not the raw DNA sample that remained,

but the DNA extract that was left over after the DNA had been tested. In addition, the

defense was notified that this extract existed in the crime lab report of June 27, 2012.

Where the prosecution did not withhold any evidence, there was no violation of the

discovery rules and no violation of due process.

       Affirmed.

       A majority of the panel has determined this opinion will not be printed in the

Washington Appellate Reports, but it will be filed for public record pursuant to RCW

2.06.040.

                                                       dzd,LoW615 t , .
                                                   Siddoway, J.

WE CONCUR:

                                                   Pennell, J.
                                             19