Court Opinion

ID: 4311037
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-09-10 20:11:35.012169+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:44:28.016878
License: Public Domain

-FILED
                                                                            COURT OF APPEALS DIV I
                                                                             STATE OF WASHINGTON

                                                                             2018 SEP 10 AM 8:5

      IN THE COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE STATE OF WASHINGTON

STATE OF WASHINGTON,                      )
                                          )       No. 76805-1
                     Respondent,          )
                                          )       DIVISION ONE
      V.                                  )
                                          )
MICHAEL GRIFFIN,                          )       UNPUBLISHED OPINION
                                          )
                     Appellant.           )       FILED: September 10, 2018
                                          )

      PER CURIAM-To preserve a claim that the court imposed a standard range

sentence based on unproven facts, a defendant must object at the time of

sentencing. Michael Griffin appeals his standard range sentence, arguing that the

court relied on unproven facts and thus violated the real facts doctrine. Because

Griffin failed to object at sentencing, the issue is barred. We affirm.

                                       FACTS

       Griffin lived with his girlfriend, Grace Stevens, but in 2016 their relationship

deteriorated. While Griffin was out of town for a few days, Stevens changed the

locks to her apartment. Griffin returned and, on October 27, tried to enter the

apartment. When Stevens would not let him in, Griffin kicked the door until it broke.

Stevens called 911. Griffin admitted to the responding police officers that he

became aggressive and broke the door.

       Following this incident, Stevens obtained a no-contact order. On November

7, Griffin returned. He shoved his way into the apartment, pushed Stevens through

a screen door, and slapped and punched her. When Stevens said she was going
No: 76805-1-1/2

to call the police, Griffin pushed her to the ground and then ran. Griffin later turned

himself in to the police, telling them that he had choked Stevens, punched her in

the stomach, and violated a no-contact order.

       The State brought several charges against Griffin. Based on the October

27 incident, the State charged him with harassment, alleging that he threatened to

harm Steven's person or property or threatened to restrain her against her will. As

to the November 7 incident, the State charged Griffin with felony violation of a court

order and assault in the second degree by strangulation.'

       At trial, Stevens did not testify. The trial court admitted recordings of the

911 calls she made on October 27 and November 7. Griffin's theory on the

harassment charge was that the State failed to prove the October 27 incident

involved a threat. Relying on the 911 call from that day, Griffin argued that, at

most, he committed trespass and property destruction, offenses the State did not

charge. As to the November 7 incident, Griffin's theory was that the State did not

prove assault by strangulation. He relied on the 911 call from that day, in which

Stevens reported that Griffin hit her but did not report that he choked or strangled

her. Griffin urged the jury to convict on only the lesser included offense of assault

in the fourth degree.

       The jury acquitted Griffin of harassment and assault in the second degree

by strangulation. It found Griffin guilty of felony violation of a court order and

assault in the fourth degree.

         The State also charged Griffin with interfering with domestic violence reporting. That
charge was later dismissed.
No. 76805-1-1/3

         At sentencing, the court dismissed the fourth degree assault conviction as

subsumed by the felony violation of a court order. On the remaining conviction for

felony violation of a court order, the court sentenced Griffin to 18 months, the

middle of the standard range. The court stated that, in determining the sentence,

it considered Griffin's positive attributes as well as the need for him to take

responsibility for his conduct. In particular, the court referenced the terror that

could be heard in Stevens's voice on the 911 call. The court stated,"[T]he crimes

[sic] of domestic violence here was serious, it was on two separate days. And I

think you have to own up to that past before we can talk about the future that you

hopefully will have."

                                     ANALYSIS

         Griffin appeals his sentence, arguing that the sentencing court improperly

relied on unproven facts. Because the sentencing court has discretion to impose

any sentence within the standard range, a standard range sentence is generally

not appealable. State v. Williams, 149 Wn.2d 143, 146-47, 65 P.3d 1214 (2003);

see also RCW 9.94A.585(1). A defendant may appeal a standard range sentence

only if the sentencing court failed to comply with procedural requirements. State

v. Mail, 121 Wn.2d 707, 712, 854 P.2d 1042(1993).

         Griffin contends his standard range sentence is appealable because the

sentencing court violated the real facts doctrine and thus committed a procedural

error.    Under the real facts doctrine, the sentencing court may rely on only

information that is "admitted, acknowledged, or proved in a trial or at the time of

sentencing." RCW 9.94A.530(2). Griffin relies on the court's statement that "the

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No. 76805-1-1/4

crimes [sic] of domestic violence here was serious, it was on two separate days."

He asserts that, by referencing domestic violence that occurred on two days, the

court took into consideration the harassment that the State alleged occurred on

October 27, conduct that was not admitted, acknowledged, or proved.

      But, to raise a real facts issue on appeal, Griffin must show that he raised a

"timely and specific objection" to the sentencing court's consideration of the

allegedly improper information. Mail, 121 Wn.2d at 712; see also State v. Handley,

115 Wn.2d 275,283,796 P.2d 1266(1990). Because Griffin failed to object below,

he may not raise the argument on appeal. To argue for a contrary result, Griffin

relies on cases involving exceptional sentences, rather than standard range

sentences. See State v. Houf, 120 Wn.2d 327, 332-33, 841 P.2d 42(1992); State

v. Morreira, 107 Wn. App. 450, 455-57, 27 P.3d 639 (2001); State v. Tierney, 74

Wn.App. 346, 350-51,872 P.2d 1145(1994). The cited cases do not control here,

where the sentencing court did not impose an exceptional sentence. We hold that

Griffin's standard range sentence is not appealable.

      Affirmed.

      FOR THE COURT:

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