Court Opinion

ID: 2714951
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-08-06 17:06:37.473622+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:47:16.515080
License: Public Domain

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     IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON

     STATE OF WASHINGTON,.

                           Respondent,                             No. 88118-9

               v.                                                     En Bane
                                                                       .~UL 1 7    2014
                                                                                    .. ·
                                                                                  ::~   ~   .:

     ALVIN LESLIE WITHERSPOON,                                 Filed - - - - -

                           Petitioner.

              J.M. JOHNSON, J. *-Petitioner Alvin Witherspoon · challenges                        his

    conviction and life sentence for second degree robbery. 1 Because the robbery

    conviction was his third "most serious offense," he was sentenced to life in prison

    *Justice James M. Johnson is serving as a justice pro tempore of the Supreme Court pursuant to
    Washington Constitution article IV, section 2(a).
    1
     The Court of Appeals erred by stating that the challenged conviction was for second degree
    robbery while armed with a deadly weapon. See State v. Witherspoon, 171 Wash. App. 271, 280,
    286 P.3d 996 (2012). The trial court never made· a finding that Witherspoon was armed with a
    deadly weapon. See Clerk's Papers at 5. The presentence investigation report also contains this
    error. See Reporter's Tr. on Appeal (Sentencing) at 2 (identifying this inaccuracy and noting that
    the trial court did not rely on it for sentencing purposes).
State v. Witherspoon, No. 88118-9

without the possibility of release under the Persistent Offender Accountability Act

(POAA) of the Sentencing Reform Act of 1981 (SRA), chapter 9.94A RCW; RCW

9.94A.570. We affirm the Court of Appeals, upholding Witherspoon's conviction

and sentence.

                           FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

       On November 12, 2009, Witherspoon and his fiancee drove to the victim's

home. Witherspoon does not dispute that he then broke into the victim's home and

stole several items. While the burglary was in progress, the victim returned home

and noticed an unknown car parked in her driveway. The victim exited her car and

saw Witherspoon walking from around the side of her home. He was holding his

left hand behind his back. The victim testified at trial that she asked Witherspoon

what he had behind his back, and he said he had a pistol. He then got in his car and

drove away. The victim noticed some of her belongings in the back of his car,

followed him in her own car, and called 911 as he fled the scene. Police arrested

Witherspoon and his fiancee, obtained a search warrant, and found multiple items

belonging to the victim in their home. From jail, Witherspoon called his fiancee,

attempting to convince her to stop talking to the police and lie about the crime. The

phone conversation was recorded by the jail.

                                             2
State v. Witherspoon, No. 88118-9

       A jury found Witherspoon guilty of first degree burglary and second degree

robbery based on the events of November 12,2009. See RCW 9A.52.025(1); RCW

9A.56.190, .210(1). The jury also found him guilty of witness tampering based on

the jailhouse phone conversation he made to his fiancee after his arrest. See RCW

9A.72.120(1 ). At sentencing, the court determined that the certified conviction

documents met the State's burden to prove two prior strike convictions. The court

found that Witherspoon is a persistent offender and sentenced him to life in prison

without the possibility of early release.

       On appeal, he challenged his convictions and sentence on a number of

grounds. The Court of Appeals affirmed his convictions and sentence. State v.

Witherspoon, 171 Wash. App. 271, 286 P.3d 996 (2012).           Witherspoon sought

discretionary review in this court, which was granted on only four issues. State v.

Witherspoon, 177 Wash. 2d 1007, 300 P.3d 416 (2013).

                                        ISSUES

      1.    Whether there was sufficient evidence to support Witherspoon's second
degree robbery conviction.

       2.    Whether Witherspoon's counsel was ineffective in not asking for an
instruction on first degree theft as a lesser included offense.

       3.    Whether Witherspoon's persistent offender sentence constitutes cruel
or cruel and unusual punishment.

                                             3
State v. Witherspoon, No. 88118-9

      4.     Whether Witherspoon's previous strike offenses should have been
proved to a jury beyond a reasonable doubt.

                                     ANALYSIS

1.     There Was Sufficient Evidence To Support Witherspoon's Second Degree
       Robbery Conviction
       Witherspoon claims that insufficient evidence exists to prove all elements of

second degree robbery, as instructed to the jury. "The test for determining the

sufficiency of the evidence is whether, after viewing the evidence in the light most

favorable to the State, any rational trier of fact could have found guilt beyond a

reasonable doubt." State v. Salinas, 119 Wash. 2d 192, 201, 829 P.2d 1068 (1992)

(citing State v. Green, 94 Wash. 2d 216, 220-22, 616 P.2d 628 (1980)). Witherspoon

must accordingly admit the truth of the State's evidence and all reasonable

inferences that can be drawn from such evidence. Id. We must also defer to the fact

finder on issues of witness credibility. State v. Drum, 168 Wash. 2d 23, 35, 225 P.3d
237 (2010) (citing State v. Camarillo, 115 Wash. 2d 60, 71, 794 P.2d 850 (1990)). In

this case, a rational trier of fact could have found guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Consequently, sufficient evidence exists to support the jury's verdict.

       Pursuant to RCW 9A.56.190:

             A person commits robbery when he or she unlawfully takes
       personal property from the person of another or in his or her presence
       against his or her will by the use or threatened use of immediate force,
       violence, or fear of injury to that person or his or her property or the

                                             4
State v. Witherspoon, No. 88118-9

       person or property of anyone. Such force or fear must be used to obtain
       or retain possession of the property, or to prevent or overcome
       resistance to the taking; in either of which cases the degree of force is
       immaterial. Such taking constitutes robbery whenever it appears that,
       although the taking was fully completed without the knowledge of the
       person from whom taken, such lmowledge was prevented by the use of
       force or fear. [ZJ

(Emphasis added.) The jury instruction in this case included the statutory language

above, but omitted the word "such" from the phrase "such force or fear must be used

to obtain or retain possession of the property." It therefore read, in part, "That force

or fear was used by the Defendant to obtain or retain possession of the property or

to prevent or overcome resistance to the taking or to prevent lmowledge of the

taking." Clerk's Papers (CP) at 55 (Instruction 11 ).

       Witherspoon asserts that under the law of the case doctrine, the jury

instruction required the State to prove actual force or fear. This doctrine provides

that a jury instruction not objected to becomes the law of the case. State v. Willis,

153 Wash. 2d 366, 374, 103 P.3d 1213 (2005) (citing State v. Hickman, 135 Wash. 2d 97,

102, 954 P.2d 900 (1998)). "In a criminal case, the State assumes the burden of

proving otherwise unnecessary elements of the offense when such elements are

included without objection in a jury instruction." Id. at 374-75 (citing Hickman, 135

2
 In 2011, the legislature amended this statute to be gender neutral. This amendment did not affect
the substance ofthe statute.

                                                    5
State v. Witherspoon, No. 88118-9

Wn.2d at 102). Contrary to Witherspoon's assertion, the exclusion of the word

"such" does not change the plain meaning of the instruction in a way that requires

the State to prove actual force or fear.

       Witherspoon claims that he made, at most, an implied threat that instilled no

fear. He further claims that even if there had been force or fear, it did not help

accomplish the robbery because the victim did not know that Witherspoon had taken

any of her property until he drove away. He contends that her ignorance did not

stem from force, fear, or threats. Because we determine intimidation based on an

objective test, Witherspoon's argument does not stand.

       "Robbery encompasses any 'taking of ... property [that is] attended with such

circumstances of terror, or such threatening by menace, word or gesture as in

common experience is likely to create an apprehension of danger and induce a man

to part with property for the safety of his person."' State v. Shcherenkov, 146 Wn.

App. 619, 624-25, 191 P.3d 99 (2008) (alterations in original) (quoting State v.

Redmond, 122 Wash. 392, 393, 210 P. 772 (1922)). To determine whether the

defendant used intimidation, we use an objective test. We consider whether an

ordinary person in the victim's position could reasonably infer a threat of bodily

harm from the defendant's acts. Jd. at 625 (quoting 67 AM.    JUR.   2D Robbery§ 89,

at 114 (2003)).

                                             6
State v. Witherspoon, No. 88118-9

       Taking the facts in the light most favorable to the State, a rational jury could

have found that Witherspoon used force or the threatened use of force in this case.

The victim testified at trial that she noticed an unknown car in her driveway when

she arrived home. As she exited her car, she saw Witherspoon come around the side

of her home with one hand behind his back. She testified that she asked him what

he had behind his back, and he said he had a pistol. A rational jury could have found

that this was an implied threat that he would use force if necessary to retain her

property. The evidence is sufficient to prove the elements of second degree robbery

beyond a reasonable doubt. We accordingly affirm the Court of Appeals, which

upheld Witherspoon's robbery conviction.

2.     Witherspoon Does Not Prove That Counsel Was Ineffective in Not Asking for
       an Instruction on First Degree Theft as a Lesser Included Offense

       Witherspoon argues ineffective assistance of counsel because his trial counsel

did not request an instruction on theft as a lesser included offense.        Counsel's

performance, however, did not fall below an objective standard of reasonableness.

       In order for a petitioner to prevail on an ineffective assistance claim, he must

overcome the presumption that his counsel was effective. State v. Thiefault, 160
Wash. 2d 409, 414, 158 P.3d 580 (2007). "[C]ounsel is strongly presumed to have

rendered adequate assistance and made all significant decisions in the exercise of

reasonable professional judgment." Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 690,

                                              7
State v. Witherspoon, No. 88118-9

104 S. Ct. 2052, 80 L. Ed. 2d 674 (1984).          To overcome this presumption,

Witherspoon must demonstrate that "(1) 'counsel's representation fell below an

objective standard of reasonableness' and (2) 'the deficient performance prejudiced

the defense."' In re Pers. Restraint of Yates, 177 Wash. 2d 1, 35,296 P.3d 872 (2013)

(quoting Strickland, 466 U.S. at 687-88). However, "if a personal restraint petitioner

makes a successful ineffective assistance of counsel claim, he has necessarily met

his burden to show actual and substantial prejudice." In re Pers. Restraint of Crace,

174 Wash. 2d 835, 846-47,280 P.3d 1102 (2012). Accordingly, to prevail on his claim,

Witherspoon must prove that trial counsel's "acts or omissions were outside the wide

range of professionally competent assistance." Strickland, 466 U.S. at 690.

       Under RCW 10.61.006, both the defendant and the State have the right to

present a lesser included offense to the jury. State v. Stevens, 158 Wash. 2d 304, 310,

143 P.3d 817 (2006). To prove the lesser included offense, the party requesting the

instruction must meet a two-pronged test: (1) "under the legal prong, all of the

elements of the lesser offense must be a necessary element of the charged offense"

and (2) "under the factual prong, the evidence must support an inference that the

lesser crime was committed." !d. (citing State v. Gamble, 154 Wash. 2d 457, 462-63,

 114 P.3d 646 (2005)).

                                              8
State v. Witherspoon, No. 88118-9

       In State v. Grier, 171 Wash. 2d 17, 39,246 P.3d 1260 (2011), we recognized that

whether to request a jury instruction on lesser included offenses is a tactical decision.

"Thus, assuming that defense counsel has consulted with the client in pursuing an

all or nothing approach, a court should not second-guess that course of action, even

where, by the court's analysis, the level of risk is excessive and a more conservative

approach would be more prudent." !d. Here, the tactical decision was prudent, if

unsuccessful.

       Witherspoon's trial counsel chose to take an "all or nothing" approach that

included not requesting a jury instruction on the lesser included offense of theft.

Admittedly, conviction for the robbery charge was a close call. Witherspoon and

his counsel chose to tactically defend on the possibility that the State could not prove

to the jury that the property was taken by the use or threatened use of force or injury.

See RCW 9A.56.190. They lost that bet, and the jury convicted Witherspoon of

second degree robbery.

       Witherspoon failed to meet his burden of proving ineffective assistance of

counsel under Strickland. Accordingly, we affirm the Court of Appeals on this issue.

3.     Witherspoon's Persistent Offender Sentence Does Not Constitute Cruel or
       Cruel and Unusual Punishment

       In addition to challenging his robbery conviction, Witherspoon also

challenges his POAA sentence. He claims that his life sentence violates the Eighth

                                               9
State v. Witherspoon, No. 88118-9

Amendment to the United States Constitution and article I, section 14 of the

Washington State Constitution. The Eighth Amendment bars cruel and unusual

punishment while article I, section 14 bars cruel punishment. This court has held

that the state constitutional provision is more protective than the Eighth Amendment

in this context. State v. Rivers, 129 Wash. 2d 697, 712, 921 P.2d 495 (1996) (citing

State v. Fain, 94 Wash. 2d 387, 392-93, 617 P.2d 720 (1980)). Consequently, if we

hold that Witherspoon's life sentence does not violate the more protective state

provision, we do not need to further analyze the sentence under the Eighth

Amendment. See id.

       Fain provides four factors to consider in analyzing whether punishment is

prohibited as cruel under article I, section 14: "(1) the nature ofthe offense, (2) the

legislative purpose behind the statute, (3) the punishment the defendant would have

received in other jurisdictions, and (4) the punishment meted out for other offenses

in the same jurisdiction." !d. at 713 (citing Fain, 94 Wash. 2d at 397). In Rivers, we

analyzed facts similar to the ones in this case under the Fain factors. In Rivers, a

jury returned a verdict of guilty on the robbery charge. Rivers was sentenced to life

in prison without the possibility of release because he was found to have committed

three most serious offenses. He challenged his sentence on a number of grounds,

including that it violated both the Eighth Amendment and article I, section 14. This

                                              10
State v. Witherspoon, No. 88118-9

court applied the Fain factors, concluding that the POAA, as applied to Rivers, was

not unconstitutional. Id. We reach the same conclusion in this case.

       The first Fain factor is the nature of the offense. Id. As was noted in Rivers,

robbery is a most serious offense. Id.; RCW 9.94A.030(32)(o). "The nature of the

crime of robbery includes the threat of violence against another person." Rivers, 129
Wash. 2d at 713. Here, the victim testified that the defendant told her he had a gun

behind his back. This statement contains an implied threat.

       The second Fain factor is the legislative purpose behind the statute. Id. In

Rivers, we recognized that "the purposes of the persistent offender law include

deterrence of criminals who commit three 'most serious offenses' and the

segregation of those criminals from the rest of society." !d. (citing State v. Thorne,

129 Wash. 2d 736, 775, 921 P.2d 514 (1996), abrogated on other grounds by Blakely

v. Washington, 542 U.S. 296, 124 S. Ct. 2531, 159 L. Ed. 2d 403 (2004)).

       The third Fain factor is the punishment that the defendant would have

received in other jurisdictions. Id. at 714. According to the concurrence/dissent,

there are only four states outside of Washington in which a conviction of second

degree robbery as a "third strike" offense triggers a mandatory sentence of life

without parole. Concurrence/dissent at 18. Although these four states' treatment of

similar crimes indicates that Washington is not alone in this area, the

                                              11
State v. Witherspoon, No. 88118-9

concurrence/dissent is correct that this Fain factor weighs in favor of a finding of

disproportionality. However, this factor alone is not dispositive.

       The fourth Fain factor is the punishment meted out for other offenses in the

same jurisdiction. Rivers, 129 Wash. 2d at 714. In Washington, all adult offenders

convicted of three "most serious offenses" are sentenced to life in prison without the

possibility of release under the POAA. In State v. Lee, we held that a life sentence

imposed on a defendant convicted of robbery and found to be a habitual criminal

was not cruel and unusual punishment. !d. at 714 (citing State v. Lee, 87 Wash. 2d 932,

558 P.2d 236 (1976)). In that case, this court held, "'Appellant's sentence does not

constitute cruel and unusual punishment. The life sentence contained in RCW

9.92.090 is not cumulative punishment for prior crimes. The repetition of criminal

conduct aggravates the guilt of the last conviction and justifies a heavier penalty for

the crime."' Id. at 714-15 (quoting Lee, 87 Wash. 2d at 937). In Washington, "most

serious offenses," including robbery, carry with them the sentence of life in prison

without the possibility of release when the offender has a history of at least two other

similarly serious offenses.

       Considering the four Fain factors, Witherspoon's sentence of life in prison

without the possibility of release does not violate article I, section 14 of the

Washington State Constitution or the Eighth Amendment to the United States

                                              12
State v. Witherspoon, No. 88118-9

Constitution. This court has repeatedly held that a life sentence after a conviction

for robbery is neither cruel nor cruel and unusual. See Rivers, 129 Wash. 2d at 715;

State v. Manussier, 129 Wash. 2d 652, 677, 921 P.2d 473 (1996) (a life sentence

imposed for second degree robbery under POAA did not constitute cruel or cruel

and unusual punishment where defendant's prior convictions were for first degree

robbery); Lee, 87 Wash. 2d at 937 (holding that a life sentence imposed for robbery

under habitual criminal statute did not constitute cruel and unusual punishment

where defendant's prior convictions were for robbery, two second degree burglaries,

and second degree assault). Here, Witherspoon's earlier offenses were for first

degree burglary and residential burglary with a firearm. The sentence of life in

prison without the possibility of release for this third strike offense is proportionate

to the crime.

       As noted, because we hold that Witherspoon's life sentence does not violate

the Washington Constitution's prohibition on cruel punishment, we do not need to

further analyze Witherspoon's sentence under the Eighth Amendment. However,

Witherspoon claims that recent United States Supreme Court precedent regarding

the Eighth Amendment prohibits life sentences for offenders in his position. This

argument is entirely without merit.

                                              13
State v. Witherspoon, No. 88118-9

       Witherspoon cites to Graham v. Florida, 560 U.S. 48, 130 S. Ct. 2011, 176
L. Ed. 2d 825 (2010), and Miller v. Alabama,_ U.S._, 132 S. Ct. 2455, 183 L.

Ed. 2d 407 (2012), for the proposition that a second degree robbery conviction

cannot give rise to a mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of

release. He contends that the sentencing court must be able to reject such sentences

when warranted by the pettiness of the offense or the characteristics of the offender.

Graham and Miller are readily distinguishable and do not support such a claim.

       In Graham, 132 S. Ct. at 2034, the United States Supreme Court held that the

Eighth Amendment prohibits the imposition of life sentences without the possibility

of release on juvenile offenders who did not commit homicide. Two years later in

Miller, 132 S. Ct. at 2460, the Court held that mandatory sentencing of life without

release for those under the age of 18 at the time of their crimes violates the Eighth

Amendment. In Miller, the Court noted that Roper v. Simmons, 543 U.S. 551, 569,

125 S. Ct. 1183, 161 L. Ed. 2d 1 (2005), and Graham establish that children are

constitutionally different from adults for sentencing purposes. Miller, 132 S. Ct. at

2464. This line of cases has relied on three argued differences between children and

adults:    (1) children lack maturity and have an underdeveloped sense of

responsibility that can lead to impulsivity and risk taking; (2) children are vulnerable

to negative influences and have little control over their environments; and

                                              14
State v. Witherspoon, No. 88118-9

(3) children's characters are not well formed, meaning that their actions are less

likely than adults to be evidence of depravity. Id.

       Graham and Miller unmistakably rest on the differences between children and

adults and the attendant propriety of sentencing children to life in prison without the

possibility of release. Witherspoon was an adult when he committed all three of his

strike offenses.    These cases do not support Witherspoon's argument that all

sentencing systems that mandate life in prison without the possibility of release for

second degree robbery are per se invalid under the Eighth Amendment.

       Under our established precedent, along with that of the United States Supreme

Court, Witherspoon's sentence violates neither article I, section 14 of our state

constitution nor the Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution. We

accordingly affirm the Court of Appeals, upholding Witherspoon's POAA sentence.

4.     The Law Does Not Require That Witherspoon's Previous Strike Offenses Be
       Proved to a Jury Beyond a Reasonable Doubt

       Witherspoon claims that previous strike offenses must be proved to a jury

beyond a reasonable doubt within the context of sentencing under the POAA. He

argues that prior convictions are elements of a crime when they elevate a class B

felony to a third strike offense. Witherspoon concedes that Blakely contains an

                                              15
State v. Witherspoon, No. 88118-9

exception for prior convictions3 but contends that the United States Supreme Court's

recent decision in Alleyne v. United States,_ U.S._, 133 S. Ct. 2151, 186 L. Ed.
2d 314 (2013), eliminates justification for this exception. This argument fails.

       In Apprendi v. New Jersey the United States Supreme Court held that"[ O]ther

than the fact of a prior conviction, any fact that increases the penalty for a crime

beyond the prescribed statutory maximum must be submitted to a jury, and proved

beyond a reasonable doubt." 530 U.S. 466, 490, 120 S. Ct. 2348, 147 L. Ed. 2d 435

(2000) (emphasis added). Several years later in Blakely, 542 U.S. at 313-14, the

United States Supreme Court held that sentencing above the statutory maximum of

the standard range based on the sentencing judge's finding of deliberate cruelty

violated a defendant's right to trial by jury under the Sixth Amendment to the United

States Constitution.     However, the Court specifically noted, "By reversing the

judgment below, we are not . . . 'find[ing] determinate sentencing schemes

unconstitutional.'     This case is not about whether determinate sentencing is

constitutional, only about how it can be implemented in a way that respects the Sixth

Amendment." I d. at 308 (second alteration in original) (citation omitted). Nowhere

3
 State v. Magers, 164 Wash. 2d 174, 193, 189 P.3d 126 (2008) ("[T]he Court of Appeals has held
that Blakely does not apply to sentencing under the POAA, Blakely being specifically directed at
exceptional sentences. State v. Ball, 127 Wash. App. 956, 957, 959-60, 113 P.3d 520 (2005). We
agree with this conclusion.").

                                                  16
State v. Witherspoon, No. 88118-9

in Blakely did the Court question Apprendi's exception for prior convictions or the

propriety of determinate sentencing schemes.

       Earlier this year, the United States Supreme Court again considered which

facts must be proved to a jury under the Sixth Amendment if such facts may increase

a criminal sentence. Alleyne, 133 S. Ct. 2151. The Court held that any fact that

increases a mandatory minimum sentence for a crime is an element of the crime that

must be submitted to the jury. Id. at 2155. Witherspoon argues that under Alleyne's

reasoning, prior convictions must be proved to a jury beyond a reasonable doubt

before they can be used to enhance a sentence. This is, however, incorrect. Like

Blakely, nowhere in Alleyne did the Court question Apprendi' s exception for prior

convictions. It is improper for us to read this exception out of Sixth Amendment

doctrine unless and until the United States Supreme Court says otherwise.

Accordingly, Witherspoon's argument that recent United States Supreme Court

precedent dictates that his prior convictions must be proved to a jury beyond a

reasonable doubt is unsupported.

       We have long held that for the purposes of the POAA, a judge may find the

fact of a prior conviction by a preponderance of the evidence. In Manussier, 129
Wash. 2d at 681-84, we held that because other portions of the SRA utilize a

preponderance standard, the appropriate standard for the POAA is by a

                                            17
State v. Witherspoon, No. 88118-9

preponderance of the evidence. We also held that the POAA does not violate state

or federal due process by not requiring that the existence of prior strike offenses be

decided by a jury. Id. at 682-83. This court has consistently followed this holding.

We have repeatedly held that the right to jury determinations does not extend to the

fact of prior convictions for sentencing purposes. See State v. McKague, 172 Wash. 2d
802, 803 n.1, 262 P .3d 1225 (20 11) (collecting cases); see also In re Pers. Restraint

of Lavery, 154 Wash. 2d 249, 256, 111 P.3d 837 (2005) ("In applying Apprendi, we

have held that the existence of a prior conviction need not be presented to a jury and

proved beyond a reasonable doubt."); State v. Smith, 150 Wash. 2d 135, 139, 75 P.3d
934 (2003) (prior convictions do not need to be proved to a jury beyond a reasonable

doubt for the purposes of sentencing under the POAA).

       "The doctrine [of stare decisis] requires a clear showing that an established

rule is incorrect and harmful before it is abandoned." In re Rights to Waters of

Stranger Creek, 77 Wash. 2d 649, 653, 466 P.2d 508 (1970). Witherspoon has not

made such a showing. Accordingly, it is settled law in this state that the procedures

of the POAA do not violate federal or state due process. Neither the federal nor state

constitution requires that previous strike offenses be proved to a jury. Furthermore,

the proper standard of proof for prior convictions is by a preponderance of the

evidence.

                                              18
State v. Witherspoon, No. 88118-9

       The State bears the burden of proving by a preponderance of the evidence the

existence of prior convictions as predicate strike offenses for the purposes of the

POAA. State v. Knippling, 166 Wash. 2d 93, 100, 206 P.3d 332 (2009) (quoting In re

Pers. Restraint of Cadwallader, 155 Wash. 2d 867, 876, 123 P.3d 456 (2005)). In State

v. Hunley, 175 Wash. 2d 901, 915, 287 P.3d 584 (2012), this court held that

"constitutional due process requires at least some evidence of the alleged

convictions." Furthermore, "'[t]he best evidence of a prior conviction is a certified

copy of the judgment."' !d. at 910 (quoting State v. Ford, 137 Wash. 2d 472, 480, 973
P.2d 452 (1999)).

       Here, the trial court possessed certified copies of three judgments and

sentences from Snohomish County. Exs. 2-4. Exhibit 3 showed the defendant had

committed a residential burglary with a firearm, which is a most serious offense

pursuant to RCW 9.94A.030(32)(t). Exhibit 4 demonstrated that the defendant had

committed a first degree burglary, which is a most serious offense pursuant to RCW

9.94A.030(32)(a). The court noted at sentencing, "I believe that it is the same person

in light of the presentence investigation as well as the certified copy that's entered."

Reporter's Tr. on Appeal (Sentencing) at 35. Accordingly, the State met its burden

 of proving two previous strike offenses by a preponderance of the evidence.

                                              19
State v. Witherspoon, No. 88118-9

       United States Supreme Court precedent, as well as this court's own precedent,

dictate that under the POAA, the State must prove previous convictions by a

preponderance of the evidence and the defendant is not entitled to a jury

determination on this issue. Here, based on certified copies of two judgments and

sentences, the trial court determined that Witherspoon is a persistent offender and

must be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of release. We affirm the

Court of Appeals, upholding Witherspoon's POAA sentence.

                                     CONCLUSION

       We affirm the Court of Appeals on all four issues accepted for review. First,

there was sufficient evidence to support Witherspoon's second degree robbery

conviction. Second, Witherspoon failed to meet his burden of proving ineffective

assistance of counsel on the grounds that he and his counsel tactically determined

not to request a jury instruction on first degree theft as a lesser included offense,

hoping for a not guilty verdict if the State failed to prove all elements of the greater

offense. Third, Witherspoon's life sentence without the possibility of release does

not constitute cruel or cruel and unusual punishment. Finally, the law does not

require that Witherspoon's previous strike offenses be proved to a jury beyond a

reasonable doubt.      We accordingly affirm the Court of Appeals, upholding the

robbery conviction and the POAA life sentence without the possibility of release.

                                              20
State v. Witherspoon., No. 88118-9

       WE CONCUR:

                                     21
State v. Witherspoon, No. 88118-9
(Gordon McCloud, J., Concurrence/Dissent)

                                 NO. 88118-9

      GORDON McCLOUD, J. (concurring and dissenting)-! agree that

Alvin Witherspoon's conviction must be affirmed.           There was certainly

sufficient evidence to support his conviction of second degree robbery, despite

the bravery of the victim in this case. The robbery statute focuses on the

defendant's "use or threatened use" of force, fear, etc., not on the courage of

the victim in response. RCW 9A.56.190.

      In addition, following State v. Grier, 171 Wash. 2d 17, 246 P.3d 1260

(20 11 ), the ineffective assistance of counsel claim fails on this direct appeal:

if Mr. Witherspoon seeks to prove that his lawyer's failure to ask for a lesser

included offense instruction was something other than tactical, he must submit

some evidence to prove it.

      I respectfully disagree, however, with the majority's decision to affirm

the sentence. The trial judge in this case-an experienced jurist-stated that

life without parole was disproportionately harsh for Witherspoon's offense

and that if he had any discretion to impose a lower sentence, he would have

done so.     The controlling Washington case interpreting the applicable

                                        1
State v. Witherspoon, No. 88118-9
(Gordon McCloud, J., Concurrence/Dissent)

provision of the Washington State Constitution is State v. Fain, 94 Wash. 2d 387,

617 P.2d 720 (1980). Fain requires us to do just such a disproportionality

analysis now, in reviewing the sentence.

       We should therefore subject Witherspoon's sentence to the four-factor

disproportionality analysis this court adopted in Fain. Under that analysis, I

conclude that Witherspoon's         sentence-a mandatory term           of life

imprisonment without the possibility of parole for the third "strike" offense

of second degree robbery-violates article I, section 14 of our state

constitution. I therefore respectfully dissent from the majority's holding on

that issue.

       I.     The Experienced Trial Judge Stated That He Would Not Have
              Imposed a Sentence of Life without the Possibility of Parole If
              He Was Not Required To Do So

       Witherspoon received his "third strike" life sentence for a second

degree robbery that is best described as inept. His victim attested to this at

the sentencing hearing, where she exhorted him to pursue an interest to which

he was better suited:

       I just would like to address Alvin ... because I really had a lot
       of sleepless nights over this and felt that ... I wanted a fair and
       just sentence or whatever for him. And [I] felt really bad for him
       and talked to a lot of people about this and nobody seemed to
       really have any compassion for him whatsoever. I think I had
       more compassion for him than anybody. And then I learned that

                                       2
State v. Witherspoon, No. 88118-9
(Gordon McCloud, J., Concurrence/Dissent)

      he just does this over and over and over again and he doesn't
      know anything else and I feel for his mom and his girlfriend and
      they stand behind him and he just keeps doing this over and over
      and he is a really lousy thief and he needs to know that he has
      other potential and that he could learn something else and he
      might not be so lucky next time, because I'm damned if I'm
      going to be the one dead .... I hope you, Alvin, get some --
      there's a lot of opportunities in jail and that you should take every
      one of them, and find what you're good at, and it's not being a
      thief so find something else and something that you like is --
      probably something you're interested [in] is probably something
      that you're good at and I doubt if it's being a thiefbecause you're
      [not] getting much out of it.

Reporter's Transcript on Appeal (TR) (Sentencing) at 37-38.

      I quote Ms. Pittario's statement at length not only because it captures

the bumbling nature of Witherspoon's crime but also because it expresses her

sincere belief that Mr. Witherspoon, who was 36 at the time, might reform.

      The trial judge who sentenced Witherspoon, the late Judge Craddock

Verser, clearly shared this belief. His statement at sentencing, which I will

also quote at length, leaves no doubt that were it not for the constraints

imposed on him by the Persistent Offender Accountability Act (POAA) of the

Sentencing Reform Act of 1981 (SRA), chapter 9.94A RCW, he would not

have sentenced Witherspoon to a life term:

             When I first started in this profession years ago in 1980,
      there was a prison and parole system and judges had discretion
      to send people to jail, prison, parole, a number of different
      discretionary possibilities at every sentencing and you could take

                                        3
State v. Witherspoon, No. 88118-9
(Gordon McCloud, J., Concurrence/Dissent)

      something like this crime and look at it and go, okay, serious
      crime, it obviously affected Ms. Pittario. Nevertheless, is this the
      type of crime that you want to put somebody in prison for the rest
      of their life for. And, urn, exercising discretion I wouldn't do
      that.

             I -- over the last week, I -- I've never done a persistent
      offender sentencing, we just don't have that many in Jefferson
      County. Over the last week I looked at the statute and I was
      looking at the case law of what kind of discretion if any I had. I
      don't. I don't have any discretion. I don't take any pleasure, Mr.
      Witherspoon, in sentencing you as a persistent offender. That's
      a choice that was made in the filing decision and the decision that
      went to trial. ...

            The arguments that I should arrest judgment are -- quite
      frankly they were appealing to me. I said this young man is [3 6]
      years old ....

             . . . I didn't think you should go to prison the rest ofyour
      life and I don 't mind putting that on the record but I have no
      discretion at all.

Id. at 41-43 (emphasis added). This is an accurate statement of the law. Under

Washington's persistent offender statute, the trial court had no discretion to

sentence Witherspoon to anything other than life imprisonment with no

possibility of parole.   RCW 9.94A.570 ("[n]otwithstanding the statutory

maximum sentence or any other provision of this chapter, a persistent offender

shall be sentenced to a term of total confinement for life without the possibility

of release").

                                        4
State v. Witherspoon, No. 88118-9
(Gordon McCloud, J., Concurrence/Dissent)

      II.    For Purposes of Article I, Section 14, of the Washington State
             Constitution, Life without Parole Is a Harsher Penalty than Life
             with the Possibility of Parole; the Rivers Holding Ignores This
             Distinction and Is No Longer Good Law

      The majority rejects Witherspoon's article I, section 14 challenge solely

on the basis of this court's decisions in In re Personal Restraint of Grisby, 121
Wash. 2d 419, 527, 858 P.2d 901 (1993), and State v. Rivers, 129 Wash. 2d 697,

921 P.2d 495 (1996). In so doing, the majority errs.

      To the extent that Grisby applies at all to SRA convictions, 1 it is strictly

limited to the Sixth Amendment context. Grisby, 121 Wash. 2d at 430 ("The

case before us is not an Eighth Amendment case [but] rather[] a Sixth

Amendment case relating to a defendant's right to a jury trial."); U.S. CONST.

amends. VI, VIII. The petitioner in Grisby argued that the statute under which

he had been sentenced to life without the possibility of parole violated the

Sixth Amendment because it penalized him for invoking his right to a jury

trial. Id. at 421. That statute imposed a maximum penalty of life without

parole on a defendant convicted of aggravated murder following a jury trial,

but a maximum of life with parole for a defendant who pleaded guilty. Id.

This court rejected Grisby's Sixth Amendment argument on the basis that

       1
       1 note that State v. Thomas explicitly distinguishes Grisby as a "pre-
Sentencing Reform Act ... case." 150 Wash. 2d 821, 848, 83 P.3d 970 (2004).
                                        5
State v. Witherspoon, No. 88118-9
(Gordon McCloud, J., Concurrence/Dissent)

because parole is granted '"strictly by grace through the Board of Prison

Terms and Paroles,'" a defendant sentenced to life with the possibility of

parole cannot actually expect to serve less than a life sentence. Id. at 426-27

(quoting State v. Frampton, 95 Wash. 2d 469, 529, 627 P.2d 922 (1981)

(Dimmick, J., concurring in part, dissenting in part)). That conclusion did not

lead the Grisby court to hold that there is never a significant distinction

between life with and without the possibility of parole. Rather, it led to the

much narrower holding that the distinction was not significant enough to

trigger the prohibition ~under United States v. Jackson, 390 U.S. 570, 583, 88
S. Ct. 1209, 20 L. Ed. 2d 138 (1968)) against '"needless encouragement of

guilty pleas."' Grisby, 121 Wash. 2d at 427 (quoting Frampton, 95 Wash. 2d at

530 (Dimmick, J., concurring in part, dissenting in part)). 2

       Despite the narrowness of that holding and its limitation to the Sixth

Amendment context, the Rivers majority relied on Grisby to conclude that life

       2 Notably, the Ninth Circuit granted Mr. Grisby's petition for writ of habeas
corpus challenging that sentencing decision and compelled the State to resentence
him, precisely because it rejected our decision that there is no constitutional
distinction between life with and without parole. Grisby v. Blodgett, 130 F.3d 365,
369-70 (9th Cir. 1997) (noting that federal precedent "establishes that, as a matter
of law, a sentence of life without the possibility of parole is significantly different
from a sentence of life with the possibility of parole" for purposes of the Jackson
decision).

                                          6
State v. Witherspoon, No. 88118-9
(Gordon McCloud, J., Concurrence/Dissent)

with and without the possibility of parole are indistinguishable for purposes

of an article I, section 14 challenge. 3 The court reached that conclusion

without analyzing Grisby's relevance to article I, section 14 and Fain.

      This court has never expressly overruled Rivers' holding on the

distinction between life with and without the possibility of parole. But it did

so impliedly in State v. Thomas, 150 Wash. 2d 821, 83 P.3d 970 (2004). Thomas

held that there is a significant difference between life with and without the

possibility of parole for purposes of the Apprendi rule. 4 15 0 Wash. 2d at 84 7-

48. After Thomas, a defendant convicted of murder under Washington's SRA

cannot be sentenced to life without parole unless aggravating factors are found

by a jury, because a "sentence of life without parole is an increased sentence

       3
         Rivers, 129 Wash. 2d at 714 ("This court has held that the distinction between
life sentences with and without parole is not significant." (citing Grisby, 121 Wash. 2d
at 427)). In Fain, the State urged this court to proceed as if Jimmy Fain had not
actually received a life sentence, since "the availability of parole and 'good
behavior' credits" created "a likelihood" that Fain would actually serve far less than
a lifetime behind bars. Fain, 94 Wash. 2d at 393 (citing RCW 9.95.110, .070). We
declined this invitation on the ground that a prisoner "has no right to parole, which
is merely a privilege granted by [an] administrative body." !d. at 394 (citing
January v. Porter, 75 Wash. 2d 768, 774, 453 P.2d 876 (1969)).
       4
        Under the Apprendi rule, "any fact that increases the penalty for a crime
beyond the prescribed statutory maximum must be submitted to a jury, and proved
beyond a reasonable doubt." Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466, 490, 120 S. Ct.
2348, 147 L. Ed. 2d 435 (2000).
                                          7
State v. Witherspoon, No. 88118-9
(Gordon McCloud, J., Concurrence/Dissent)

as compared to life with the possibility of parole in capital cases." !d. at 848

(emphasis added). 5

       As the majority notes, the Thomas court purported to distinguish Rivers

on the basis that it did not involve an "Apprendi problem." !d. But for

purposes of the question presented in this case, that is a distinction without a

difference. Neither logic nor precedent supports the theory that an "increase"

under Thomas/Apprendi is meaningless for purposes of an article I, section

14/Fain analysis. In spite of its dicta to the contrary, the Thomas decision

cannot be confined to the Sixth Amendment context. It is directly relevant to

the question presented in this case.

       5
          The majority asserts that Thomas is limited to capital sentencing cases.
Majority at 13 n.2. It is true that the Thomas court cited the "statutory scheme" at
issue in that case-according to which "a defendant charged with murder is not
eligible for either life without parole or the death penalty unless aggravators are
found beyond a reasonable doubt"-as support for its conclusion that the legislature
intended life with and without parole to be "wholly different" sentences in the
context of a capital case. Thomas, 150 Wash. 2d at 848. But it would be absurd to
reach a contrary conclusion in the context of the three strikes statute simply because
that statute makes no provision whatsoever for the more lenient sentence. Like the
capital sentencing statute at issue in Thomas, the POAA imposes life without parole
as punishment for the "aggravat[ ed] ... guilt" associated with particular criminal
conduct. Rivers, 129 Wash. 2d at 714-15 ('"The repetition of criminal conduct
aggravates the guilt of the last conviction and justifies a heavier penalty for the
crime."' (quoting State v. Lee, 87 Wash. 2d 932, 937, 558 P.2d 236 (1976))). Under
the POAA, as under the capital sentencing statutes at issue in Thomas, a "sentence
of life without parole is an increased sentence as compared to life with the possibility
of parole." Thomas, 150 Wash. 2d at 848.

                                           8
State v. Witherspoon, No. 88118-9
(Gordon McCloud, J., Concurrence/Dissent)

       I would therefore not resolve Witherspoon's article I, section 14

argument by resurrecting Rivers' reliance on Grisby. To the extent Rivers

held that there is no distinction between a sentence of life with and without

parole, it is no longer good law. As this court acknowledged in Thomas, life

without parole is a unique sentence, harsher and more punitive than life with

the possibility of parole. 6

       6
         While the Thomas decision alone precludes the majority's reliance on
Grisby and Rivers to reject Witherspoon's article I, section 14 challenge, it should
be noted that that reliance is also inconsistent with United States Supreme Court
precedent. In Graham v. Florida, the Court concluded that for purposes of the
Eighth Amendment's ban on cruel and unusual punishments, the sentence of life
without parole has severe and punitive characteristics distinguishing it from a
sentence of life with the possibility of parole. 560 U.S. 48, 69, 130 S. Ct. 2011, 176
L. Ed. 2d 825 (20 10) ("The State does not execute the offender sentenced to life
without parole, but the sentence alters the offender's life by a forfeiture that is
irrevocable."). The Graham holding rested on those characteristics-not, as the
majority would have it, on "the differences between children and adults," majority
at 16-and on prior Eighth Amendment cases in which "the severity of sentences
that deny convicts the possibility of parole" played an integral part in the Court's
decision. 560 U.S. at 59-60 (citing Rummel v. Estelle, 445 U.S. 263, 100 S. Ct.
1133, 63 L. Ed. 2d 382 (1980) and Solem v. Helm, 463 U.S. 277, 103 S. Ct. 3001,
77 L. Ed. 2d 637 (1983)). In short, Graham unambiguously holds that the sentence
of life without parole is more severe, for purposes of the Eighth Amendment, than
the sentence of life with the possibility of parole.

       As the majority acknowledges, article I, section 14 of the Washington
Constitution is more protective of individual rights than the Eighth Amendment.
Majority at 10 (citing Fain, 94 Wash. 2d at 392). It follows that article I, section 14
must recognize the unique severity oflife without parole. It cannot be that our more
protective constitutional provision would fail to account for "harshness" that is
dispositive in Eighth Amendment cases. Graham, 560 U.S. at 70.

                                          9
State v. Witherspoon, No. 88118-9
(Gordon McCloud, J., Concurrence/Dissent)

      Just as life without parole is harsher than life with parole, for purposes

of article I, section 14, mandatory life without parole is harsher than

discretionary life without parole. This is true as a factual matter: the trial

judge in this case explicitly stated that he would not impose a life without

parole sentence if it were not mandatory. It is also true as a legal matter; in

Fain, we noted that "Washington [was then] one of only three states which

still retains a habitual criminal statute imposing a mandatory life sentence

after any three felonies." Fain, 94 Wash. 2d at 399 (emphasis added) (citing

Rummel v. Estelle, 445 U.S. 263, 279, 100 S. Ct. 1133, 63 L. Ed. 2d 382

(1980); id. at 296 (Powell, J., dissenting)); see also Harmelin v. Michigan,

501 U.S. 957, 996, 111 S. Ct. 2680, 115 L. Ed. 2d 836 (1991) (acknowledging

that the petitioner's sentence-life without the possibility of parole-was

"unique in that it is the second most severe known to the law," more severe

than discretionary life without parole ). 7

       7
          In Harmelin, the majority rejected the argument that the Eighth Amendment
requires a sentencing court to exercise discretion (to consider mitigating or
aggravating circumstances) before imposing a sentence of life without parole. 501
U.S. at 994-95; id. at 1004 (Kennedy, J., concurring). The Court rejected that
argument, however, because it declined to apply a proportionality analysis to the
petitioner's sentence. Harmelin, 501 U.S. at 994-95. In Fain, this court adopted
the proportionality analysis endorsed by the dissenters in Harmelin. For purposes
of that analysis, a mandatory sentence is more severe than a sentence that permits
the trial court to consider the individual circumstances of a defendant's offense.
                                         10
State v. Witherspoon, No. 88118-9
(Gordon McCloud, J., Concurrence/Dissent)

      As a mandatory sentence of life without the possibility of parole,

Witherspoon's sentence is almost as unusual as the sentence imposed in Fain.

Of the 4 7 jurisdictions that have habitual offender statutes, only 5 (including

Washington) would impose a mandatory sentence of life without parole for a

third strike conviction of second degree robbery. See infra Part III.3.

      III.   A Mandatory Sentence of Life without Parole Is
             Disproportionate to the Offense of Second Degree Robbery
             Committed as a "Third Strike"; Witherspoon's Sentence Thus
             Violates Article I, Section 14 of the Washington State
             Constitution

      The proportionality analysis this court adopted in Fain requires us to

consider four factors in an article I, section 14 challenge: (1) the legislative

purpose behind the challenged statute, (2) the nature of the defendant's

offense, (3) the punishment the defendant would have received in other

jurisdictions for the same offense, and (4) the punishment the defendant would

have received in Washington for other offenses. Fain, 94 Wash. 2d at 397 (citing

Hart v. Coiner, 483 F.2d 136, 140-43 (4th Cir. 1973)). In light of these

factors, a sentence of mandatory life without the possibility of parole violates

article I, section 14 protections when imposed for a second degree robbery

offense.

             1.     Legislative purpose behind the POAA

                                       11
State v. Witherspoon, No. 88118-9
(Gordon McCloud, J., Concurrence/Dissent)

       The POAA was enacted pursuant to popular initiative in 1993. LAws

OF   1994, ch. 1, § 2.   Its statement of findings and intent identified four

purposes served by the new law:

              (2) By sentencing three-time, most serious offenders to
       prison for life without the possibility of parole, the people intend
       to:
              (a) Improve public safety by placing the most dangerous
       criminals in prison.
              (b) Reduce the number of serious, repeat offenders by
       tougher sentencing.
              (c) Set proper and simplified sentencing practices that both
       the victims and persistent offenders can understand.
              (d) Restore public trust in our criminal justice system by
       directly involving the people in the process.

I d. § 1 (emphasis added).

       Washington's POAA was the nation's first "three strikes" law; it was

passed in the wake of several high profile and horrific crimes committed by

repeat offenders. 8 Proponents of the POAA were motivated by the belief that

harsh sentencing laws would effectively deter and incapacitate the "relatively

small component of the offender population" who posed the greatest danger

to public safety. 9

        8
         Jennifer Cox Shapiro, Comment, Life in Prison for Stealing $48?:
Rethinking Second-Degree Robbery as a Strike Offense in Washington State, 34
SEATTLE U. L. REV. 935, 939-44 (2011).

        9
         Id. at 940 (quoting Edwin Meese III, Three-Strikes Laws Punish and
Protect, 7 FED. SENT'G REP. 58, 58 (1994).
                                        12
State v. Witherspoon, No. 88118-9
(Gordon McCloud, J., Concurrence/Dissent)

             As we acknowledged in State v. Lee, habitual offender statutes

in general, including the one that predated the POAA in Washington, serve

punitive as well as preventative purposes: "[t]he repetition of criminal conduct

aggravates the guilt of the last conviction and justifies a heavier penalty for

the crime." 87 Wash. 2d 932, 937, 558 P.2d 236 (1976) (citing State v. Miles,

34 Wash. 2d 55, 61-62, 207 P.2d 1209 (1949)); accord State v. Manussier, 129
Wash. 2d 652, 677 n.108, 921 P.2d 473 (1996) (citing Lee, 87 Wash. 2d at 937).

But the POAA differs from the prior habitual offender statute in its imposition

of mandatory life sentences without parole.     LAWS OF    1994, ch. 1, § 2(4). 10

The legislative history indicates that the primary impetus for this change was

the desire to protect the public by incapacitating the most dangerous

offenders.

             This factor would weigh in favor of upholding Witherspoon's

sentence if he were in "the relatively small component of the offender

population," who are the most incorrigible, that is, the worst of the worst. But

neither the victim nor the trial judge believed that he fell into that category.

       10
         See also id. at 939 & n.38 (describing the habitual offender statute that
predated the POAA in Washington); LAWS OF 1992, ch. 145, § 8 (describing ways
in which defendants sentenced to total confinement under the 1992 sentencing
reform act can earn early release credits).
                                          13
State v. Witherspoon, No. 88118-9
(Gordon McCloud, J., Concurrence/Dissent)

Thus, I cannot conclude that this factor weighs in favor of a finding of

proportionality.

             2.    Nature of Witherspoon's offense

      Witherspoon's two prior "strike" convictions were for first degree

burglary and residential burglary with a firearm; his third strike conviction

was for second degree robbery. These are serious offenses-certainly more

serious than the "wholly nonviolent crimes involving small amounts of

property" at issue in Fain. 94 Wash. 2d at 402.

      But Witherspoon's final offense stands m stark contrast to those

triggering the harshest penalties under Washington's SRA. See infra Part

III.4. As noted by the majority, Witherspoon's victim did not realize that

Witherspoon had retained any of her property until after Witherspoon was

already driving away from her house. Majority at 6. Because of that fact, the

dissenting judge in the Court of Appeals below concluded that Witherspoon

had used stealth to accomplish the taking but had not employed the "force or

fear" necessary to a robbery conviction under RCW 9A.56.190. See State v.

Witherspoon, 171 Wash. App. 271, 320,286 P.3d 996 (2012) (Armstrong, J.,

dissenting). Indeed, the dissent concluded that it was "logically impossible"

to find that Witherspoon used "force or fear" to prevent his victim from

                                     14
State v. Witherspoon, No. 88118-9
(Gordon McCloud, J., Concurrence/Dissent)

recovering her possessions, since Witherspoon was already leaving when the

victim noticed that her possessions were in Witherspoon's car and since she

was not in fact prevented from giving chase. !d. at 321 ("It is logically

impossible to find that Pittario had the will to retain or recover property, which

she did not know had been stolen. And the State offered no evidence that

Witherspoon made any threat that Pittario should not follow them. Pittario

testified that she was not afraid and, in fact, she gave chase.").

      I agree with the majority that the State need not prove the victim's

actual, subjective fear in order to sustain a robbery conviction, and I therefore

disagree with the conclusion of the dissent below. But the fact that the State

need not prove actual fear to sustain a robbery conviction shows how broadly

the robbery statute sweeps. In Washington, as in many other states, a person

can commit the crime of second degree robbery by means of brutal assault

or-as in Witherspoon's case-by an "implied threat" that the victim seems

to have regarded as more confusing than frightening. Majority at 7; TR (Trial

Day 1) at 42-49 (Pittario testimony). 11 Thus, the nature of a second degree

       11
          Ms. Pittario testified that she was not frightened by Mr. Witherspoon's
statement that he had a pistol concealed behind his back, that she in fact believed
that he was scared during their brief encounter, and that Mr. Witherspoon never
threatened her. TR (Trial Day 1) at 42 ("Q. So you must not have been concerned
that [Mr. Witherspoon] had a pistol? A. No."), 44 ("Q. Now, in fact, the man you
                                        15
State v. Witherspoon, No. 88118-9
(Gordon McCloud, J., Concurrence/Dissent)

robbery offense may vary significantly from case to case.

      Outside the POAA context, a court can consider the facts underlying a

robbery conviction when imposing a sentence. It may impose a sentence

anywhere within the standard sentence range; it may also depart from the

standard range if mitigating circumstances are established.                  RCW

9.94A.535(1). This discretion is a crucial means of avoiding sentences that

are "clearly excessive in light of the [SRA's] purpose[s]," id. § (l)(g), which

include ensuring that punishments are both "just" and "proportionate to the

seriousness ofthe offense," RCW 9.94A.010(2), (1).

      Under the POAA, a court lacks that discretion. In this case, the result

is severe: a defendant who neither injured nor frightened his victim received

a sentence generally reserved for society's most violent and predatory

offenders. Thus, I cannot conclude that the nature of the offense factor weighs

in favor of upholding this sentence under Fain's second factor.

      In fact, lack of discretion to depart from a habitual offender sentence is

frequently cited by critics of habitual offender statutes. 12 It has prompted

saw, you thought he was scared didn't you? A. Yes."), 46 ("Q. But he never
threatened you in any way? A. No."), 48 ("Q. You didn't fear any injury to yourself,
your person? A. No.").

       12
            See Robert G. Lawson, PFO Law Reform, A Crucial Step Toward
                                        16
State v. Witherspoon, No. 88118-9
(Gordon McCloud, J., Concurrence/Dissent)

courts in several jurisdictions to adopt sentencing procedures specifically

designed to prevent the mandatory imposition of excessive punishments under

recidivist statutes. 13 Indeed, courts have done so in two of the three states

with habitual offender statutes equivalent to Washington's. 14

Sentencing Sanity in Kentucky, 97 KY. L.J. 1, 22 (2008-2009) (describing "typical"
defendants in persistent felony offender case study as those who "suffered
punishments grossly disproportionate to the seriousness of their crimes"); Michael
Vitiello, Three Strikes: Can We Return to Rationality?, 87 J. CRIM. L. &
CRIMINOLOGY 395,396 & n.8 (1997) (collecting cases of"grossly disproportionate
prison terms" imposed for "minor third strikes"); Erik G. Luna, Foreward: Three
Strikes in a Nutshell, 20 T. JEFFERSON L. REv. 1, 24 & n.177 (1998) (noting that
"some judges have simply refused to apply [a three strikes] law when it would lead
to a disproportionate and unfair sentence").

       13
          State v. Dorthey, 623 So. 2d 1276, 1280-81 (La. 1993) (adopting rule for
applying the state's habitual offender statute whereby sentencing court must reduce
the statutorily mandated minimum if it finds that that minimum "'makes no
measurable contribution to acceptable goals of punishment' [or] amount[s] to
nothing more than 'the purposeful imposition of pain and suffering' and 'is grossly
out of proportion to the severity of the crime"' (quoting State v. Scott, 593 So. 2d
704, 710 (La. App. 1991); LA. REV. STAT. 15:529.1)); State v. Barker, 186 W.Va.
73, 74-75, 410 S.E.2d 712 (1991) (explaining "procedure for analyzing a life
recidivist sentence under [West Virginia's] proportionality principle" and holding
that life sentence for third strike offense of "forgery and uttering" violated state
constitutional protection against cruel and unusual punishments); Ashley v. State,
538 So. 2d 1181, 1184-85 (Miss. 1989) (trial court must perform proportionality
analysis when imposing life without parole for third strike attempted robbery
conviction; life without parole is unconstitutional as applied to defendant who stole
three or four cans of sardines); People v. Anaya, 894 P .2d 28, 32 (Colo. App. 1994)
(noting that defendant is automatically entitled to proportionality review when
sentenced under the State's habitual offender statute (citing People v. Mershon, 87 4
P.2d 1025 (Colo. 1994))).

       14
            Dorthey, 623 So. 2d at 1280-81; Ashley, 538 So. 2d at 1185.

                                          17
State v. Witherspoon, No. 88118-9
(Gordon McCloud, J., Concurrence/Dissent)

      As noted above, Washington's POAA was enacted mainly in response

to public safety concerns: it was designed to ensure that dangerous, violent

offenders would be permanently segregated from society.                      Applied

mechanically, the statute can exceed this purpose.

              3.     Punishment in other jurisdictions for second degree
                     robbery as a ((third strike" offense

      As noted above, Witherspoon's sentence is almost as rare as the

sentence this court overturned in Fain. Outside of Washington, there are only

three states in which a conviction of second degree robbery as a "third strike"

offense triggers a mandatory sentence of life without parole. 15 In the vast

       15
          These are Louisiana, Massachusetts, and Mississippi. See App. There was
certainly some decision making involved in my choice of sister-state robbery
statutes to use in the appendix. I chose sister-state statutes with elements most
nearly identical to the crime of which Mr. Witherspoon was convicted. That crime
was second degree robbery in violation of RCW 9A.56.200 and .190, with no
aggravating factor alleged (other than the "free crimes" factor, see RCW
9.94A.535(2)(c)), which does not relate to the manner in which the robbery was
committed).

        I believe this is the required comparison for three reasons. First, it comports
with Washington's case law on "comparability" under the SRA, which limits the
comparability analysis to facts/elements actually admitted to or proved beyond a
reasonable doubt. State v. Thiefault, 160 Wash. 2d 409,414-15, 158 P.3d 580 (2007);
In re Pers. Restraint ofLavery, 154 Wash. 2d 249, 258, 111 PJd 837 (2005). Second,
it is consistent with the comparison undertaken in Fain, 94 Wash. 2d at 399-400: a
statute-to-statute, elements-based comparison. Third, as discussed in State v. Olsen,
No. 89134-6 (Wash. May 15, 2014), the problems inherent in comparing factual
allegations, rather than proven factual elements, are virtually insurmountable when
evaluating other states' crimes.
                                          18
State v. Witherspoon, No. 88118-9
(Gordon McCloud, J., Concurrence/Dissent)

majority of jurisdictions with habitual offender statutes-34 out of 48-such

a conviction would result in a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years or

less. 16 Six states impose a mandatory minimum of 25 years or less for a third

strike offense comparable to Witherspoon's. 17

       This Fain        factor   clearly weighs     in   favor   of a finding        of

disproportion ali ty.

        Nevertheless, if I had compared certain uncharged facts underlying the
State's theory of how Witherspoon committed his third "strike" offense-the theory
that this was a robbery based on a verbal threat involving a nonexistent gun-the
results under the third Fain factor would be similar. That comparison would add
only three states to the list of jurisdictions that punish unarmed robbery as a third
strike with mandatory life without parole. (These are Delaware, New Jersey, and
Wisconsin. DEL. CODE ANN. tit. 11, § 832(a)(2), § 4214(b); N.J. STAT. ANN. §
2C:15-1(1)(b), § 2C:43-7.1.(b)(2); WIS. STAT.§ 939.62(2m)(a)(2m), § 943.32(2).)
       16
          There are 31 jurisdictions in which a third strike conviction for second
degree robbery triggers an enhanced mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years or
less. See App. These are Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut,
Washington, DC, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine,
Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, North
Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas,
Utah, Wisconsin, Wyoming, and Montana. !d. Montana imposes a mandatory life
sentence on recidivist offenders in most cases, but not where (as in Witherspoon's
case) injury or threat of injury is an element of the third-strike offense but no injury
to the victim actually occurs. Id. In those cases, the sentence is discretionary. Id.
In four other states (Delaware, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Vermont),
habitual offender statutes exist but are not triggered by a third strike conviction for
second degree robbery. Id.
       17
        These are California, Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Nevada, and
Oklahoma. See id.

                                          19
State v. Witherspoon, No. 88118-9
(Gordon McCloud, J., Concurrence/Dissent)

              4.     Punishment in Washington for other offenses

      In the non-POAA context, Washington punishes only one crime with a

sentence of mandatory life without parole: aggravated first degree murder.

RCW 9.94A.510, .515. Aggravated first degree murder is a level16 offense,

the highest "seriousness level" in the SRA. RCW 9.94A.515. The next most

serious level of offense, level 15, includes homicide by abuse and

nonaggravated first degree murder. RCW 9.94A.515. In the non-POAA

context, a person convicted of those crimes might serve as little as 20 years-

far less than life without parole. 18

       In the non-POAA context, Washington imposes mandatory minimum

sentences for only five offenses: aggravated and nonaggravated first degree

murder, first degree assault involving "force or means likely to result in death

or intended to kill the victim," rape in the first degree, and sexually violent

predator escape. RCW 9.94A.540(1)(b)-(d). A person convicted of first

degree murder faces a 20-year mandatory minimum, while a person convicted

       18
         For a defendant with no criminal history, the standard range sentence for
homicide by abuse or non-aggravated murder is 240-320 months. RCW 9.94A.510.
For a defendant with two violent prior offenses, the standard range sentence is 281-
374 months. Id.~ RCW 9.94A.525(9) (if present conviction is for a serious violent
offense, count two points for each prior violent conviction and one point for each
prior nonviolent felony conviction).
                                        20
State v. Witherspoon, No. 88118-9
(Gordon McCloud, J., Concurrence/Dissent)

of first degree rape, first degree assault, or sexually violent predator escape

faces a mandatory minimum of five years. !d. For every other offense, the

court may impose a sentence below the standard sentence range if "mitigating

circumstances are established by a preponderance of the evidence." RCW

9.94A.535.

      The gravity of Witherspoon's third strike offense must not be

understated; it was deliberate, and the fact that his victim exhibited

uncommon courage during the offense and extraordinary compassion

thereafter does not minimize the crime. But neither should that offense be

amplified beyond all recognition. To punish it with a sentence greater than

that imposed for the most brutal crimes-homicide, first degree assault, and

first degree rape-is to disregard two central purposes of the SRA: justice and

proportionality. RCW 9.94A.010(1), (2).

      Thus, this final Fain factor also weighs m favor of a finding of

disproportionali ty.

              5.       The proper remedy for the constitutional violation in this
                       case is remand for resentencing under the SRA guidelines

       For the reasons given in the analysis above, RCW 9.94A.570 is

unconstitutional as applied to the particular second degree robbery in this

case. Article I, section 14 of the Washington Constitution does not permit the

                                         21
State v. Witherspoon, No. 88118-9
(Gordon McCloud, J., Concurrence/Dissent)

imposition of mandatory life without parole-the harshest penalty short of

death-on a second degree robber whose victim testified that he neither

frightened nor threatened her. Because the POAA is unconstitutional as

applied to Witherspoon, the proper remedy is to remand for resentencing

under the SRA guidelines-without the application of the POAA. State v.

Hunley, 175 Wash. 2d 901, 916, 287 P.3d 584 (2012) (holding a statute

unconstitutional as applied does not render it completely inoperable; rather, it

prohibits the future application of the statute in a similar context).

      At Witherspoon's original sentencing hearing, the State characterized

its charging decision as "suspenders and belt." TR (Sentencing) at 30. The

State is correct.    Its second degree robbery charge also included the

aggravating factor that "[t]he defendant has committed multiple current

offenses and the defendant's high offender score results in some of the current

offenses going unpunished." RCW 9.94A.535(2)(c). That statute places the

determination of whether that aggravating factor exists, and whether it

supports a sentence above the standard range, in the hands of the judge. !d.

At the original sentencing, where the judge felt compelled to impose life

without parole, the judge had no reason to address that aggravating factor.

The court is free to address it at resentencing.

                                        22
State v. Witherspoon, No. 88118-9
(Gordon McCloud, J., Concurrence/Dissent)

                               CONCLUSION

      The question before us in this case is narrow. We are asked whether it

is unconstitutional to force a trial court judge to impose a mandatory sentence

of life without parole on a defendant whose third "strike" is a second degree

robbery committed in a manner that did not cause physical harm or actual fear.

The answer to that question is yes.

      This answer is based on the legal description of the crime of second

degree robbery (RCW 9A.56.190), the facts of its accomplishment in this

case, and the mandatory nature of the penalty.

      We have not been asked to rule on whether it would be unconstitutional

to sentence a defendant to life without parole for a different crime, or for this

crime committed in a different manner.        The remedy I would impose is

therefore particular to this case. The legislature, not this court, is the body

with the power to draft a procedure that would be constitutional in all cases.

I express no opinion as to what sort of procedure might comply with article I,

section 14 protections. Pursuant to the Fain analysis conducted above, I

conclude only that the current procedure, according to which a sentencing

judge has no discretion to impose a sentence lower than life without parole,

                                       23
State v. Witherspoon, No. 88118-9
(Gordon McCloud, J., Concurrence/Dissent)

does not comply with state constitutional requirements. 19             A different

procedure certainly would. 20

       19
          Other states have taken a variety of approaches to the problem of
disproportionate sentencing in the "three strikes" context-there are no doubt
multiple ways this problem could be resolved. In at least four states, persons
convicted under habitual offender statutes are automatically entitled to a
constitutional proportionality review upon sentencing.           See supra note 13
(explaining sentencing procedures in Colorado, Louisiana, Mississippi, and West
Virginia). In one state, third strike offenders receive mandatory life sentences in
most cases, but not where (as in Witherspoon's case) injury or threat of injury is an
element ofthe third strike offense but no injury to the victim actually occurs. MONT.
CODE ANN. § 46-18-219(b ), § 46-18-222. In those cases, the sentence is
discretionary. MONT. CODE ANN. § 46-18-222. See also supra note 16, discussing
the various penalties less harsh than mandatory life without parole, which are
imposed for third strike second degree robbery convictions in the overwhelming
majority of jurisdictions.

       20
         See State v. Pillatos, 159 Wash. 2d 459, 470-76, 150 P.3d 1130 (2007)
(applying new legislation, designed to fix the sentencing scheme declared
unconstitutional in Blakely v. Washington, 542 U.S. 296, 124 S. Ct. 2531, 159 L.
Ed. 2d 403 (2004), retroactively).
                                         24
State v. Witherspoon, No. 88118-9
(Gordon McCloud, J., Concurrence/Dissent)

                                25
State v. Witherspoon, No. 88118-9
(Gordon McCloud, J., Concurrence/Dissent)
Appendix

               APPENDIX OF "PERSISTENT OFFENDER" LAWS
       State        Mandatory Minimum for            Applicable Statutes
                     Second Degree Robbery
                    Equivalent Committed as
                       Third Strike Offense
 Alabama            10 years                ALA. CODE§ 13A-8-43(2)(b) (third
                                            degree robbery equivalent is class
                                            C felony),§ 13A-5-9(b)(l) (third
                                            strike class C felony punished as if
                                            class A felony), § 13A-5-6(a)(l)
                                            (class A felony punished with 10
                                            years to life)
 Alaska             4 years                 ALASKA STAT.§ 11.41.510 (second
                                            degree robbery equivalent is class
                                            B felony), § 12.55.125(d)(3) (class
                                            B felony as third felony conviction
                                            triggers 4 to 7 year sentence)
 Arizona            6 years                 ARIZ. REV. STAT. ANN. § 13-1902
                                            (second degree robbery equivalent
                                            is class 4 felony); § 13-703(C), (J),
                                            § 13-706 (third strike class 4 felony
                                            triggers 8 year minimum sentence)
 Arkansas           5 years                 ARK. CODE ANN.§ 5-12-102
                                            (second degree robbery equivalent
                                            is class B felony), § 5-4-50l(a)(l),
                                            (2)(C) (third strike class B felony
                                            triggers 5 to 30 year sentence)
 California         25 years                CAL. PENAL CODE§ 212.5(c), §
                                            213(a)(2), § 1192.7(c)(19) (second
                                            degree robbery equivalent is serious
                                            felony punishable by a 2 to 5 year
                                            sentence);§ 667(e)(2)(A)(ii) (third
                                            serious and/or violent felony
                                            conviction triggers minimum 25
                                            year sentence)

                                      1
State v. Witherspoon, No. 88118-9
(Gordon McCloud, J., Concurrence/Dissent)
Appendix
                                -                                              ··-
       State        Mandatory Minimum for            Applicable Statutes
                    Second Degree Robbery
                    Equivalent Committed as
                       Third Strike Offense
 Colorado           18 years                COLO. REV. STAT. § 18-4-301
                                            (second degree robbery equivalent
                                            is class 4 felony), § 18-1.3-
                                            401(1)(V)(A) (presumptive
                                            maximum for class 4 felony is 6
                                            years),§ 18-1.3-801(1.5)(a) (third
                                            strike triggers sentence three times
                                            the maximum presumptive range
                                            for strike as first offense: 18 years
                                            for class 4 felony)
 Connecticut        1 year                  CONN. GEN. STAT. § 53a-133, §
                                            53a-136, § 53a-35a(8) (second
                                            degree robbery equivalent is class
                                            D felony, carrying term of not less
                                            than 1 to 5 years); § 53a-40G), §
                                            53a-35a(7) (third strike offense
                                            triggers sentence for next most
                                            serious degree of felony: 1 to 10
                                            years)
 Delaware           not applicable (N/A)    DEL. CODE ANN. tit. 11, § 5-
                                             831(a)(2), § 11-42-4201(a)(5), (c),
                                             § 11-42-4205(b)(5) (second degree
                                            robbery equivalent a class E violent
                                             felony, punishable by 5 year
                                            maximum sentence); § 11-42-
                                             4215(a) (may trigger greater
                                             sentence than maximum for third
                                             felony conviction);§ 11-42-4214
                                             (habitual offender statute triggered
                                             by four strikes law)

                                      2
State v. Witherspoon, No. 88118-9
(Gordon McCloud, J., Concurrence/Dissent)
Appendix

       State        Mandatory Minimum for                Applicable Statutes
                    Second Degree Robbery
                   Equivalent Committed as
                       Third Strike Offense
 District of       None, unless both priors D.C. CODE§ 22-2801 (minimum for
 Columbia          and current conviction     first robbery offense is two years); §
                   are crimes of violence; in 22-1804a(a)(l), (2) (third conviction
                   that case, mandatory       for crime of violence triggers 15
                   minimum is 2 years         year minimum sentence; otherwise,
                                              minimum is standard sentence for
                                              current offense)
 Florida           15 years                   FLA. STAT.§ 812.13(1), (2)(c)
                                              (second degree robbery equivalent is
                                              second degree felony), §
                                              775.084(1 )( c)(1 )(c), (2)(b ),
                                              (4)( c)(1 )(c) (three-time violent
                                              offender mandatory minimum term
                                              of 15 years)
 Georgia            1 year                    GA. CODE ANN.§ 16-8-40(a)(2), (b)
                                              (statutory term for second degree
                                              robbery equivalent is 1 to 20 years),
                                              § 17-1 0-7 (a) (second felony repeat
                                              offender conviction triggers
                                              statutory maximum for underlying
                                              offense but gives judge discretion to
                                              "probate or suspend the maximum
                                              sentence prescribed")
 Hawaii             6 years, 8 months         HAW. REV. STAT.§ 708-841(1)(b)
                                              (second degree robbery equivalent is
                                              class B felony), § 706-06.5(1 )(b )(iii)
                                              (third strike class B felony triggers
                                               sentence of 6 years, 8 months before
                                               eligible for parole)

                                        3
State v. Witherspoon, No. 88118-9
(Gordon McCloud, J., Concurrence/Dissent)
Appendix

         State     Mandatory Minimum for             Applicable Statutes
                    Second Degree Robbery
                   Equivalent Committed as
                      T~ird Strike Offense
 Idaho             5 years                   IDAHO CODE ANN. § 18-6501, § 18-
                                             6502(2), § 18-6503 (second degree
                                             robbery equivalent presumptive
                                             sentence of 5 years to life); § 19-
                                             2514 ("persistent violator" third
                                             strike felony triggers sentence of 5
                                             years to life)
 Illinois          6 years                   720 ILL. COMP. STAT. 5/18-1(a), (c),
                                             730 ILL. COMP. STAT. 5/5-4.5-35(a)
                                             (second degree robbery equivalent
                                             is class 2 felony triggering 3 to 7
                                             year sentence); 5/5-4.5-95(b)
                                             (habitual criminal third strike class
                                              1 or 2 felony conviction triggers
                                             class X offender status); 5/5-4.5-25
                                             (class X offender gets 6-30 years)
 Indiana           Advisory minimum of 4     IND. CODE§ 35-42-5-1(2) (second
                   years                     degree robbery equivalent is class C
                                             felony), § 35-50-2-6(a) (class C
                                             felony advisory sentence is 4 years),
                                              § 35-50-2-8(h) ("habitual offender"
                                             third strike felony triggers sentence
                                              of "not less than the advisory
                                              sentence for the underlying offense
                                              nor more than three (3) times the
                                              advisory sentence for the underlying
                        .   -
                                              offense")

                                      4
State v. Witherspoon, No. 88118-9
(Gordon McCloud, J., Concurrence/Dissent)
Appendix

        State      Mandatory Minimum for              Applicable Statutes
                    Second Degree Robbery
                   Equivalent Committed as
                      Third Strike Offense
 Iowa              3 years without parole    IOWA CODE§ 711.1(1)(b), § 711.3,
                                             § 902.9(1 )(d) (second degree
                                             robbery equivalent is Class C felony
                                             triggering maximum sentence of 10
                                             years); § 902.8 ("habitual offender"
                                             third felony conviction triggers
                                             sentence of no more than 15 years
                                             or 3 without parole eligibility)
 Kansas            N/A (no habitual offender KAN, STAT. ANN. § 21-5420(a),
                   statute for crimes        (c)( 1), § 21-6804 (second degree
                   committed after 1993)     robbery equivalent is level 5
                                             personal felony with presumptive
                                             term of 50 months)
 Kentucky          10 years without parole   KY. REV. STAT. ANN.
                                             § 515.030, § 532.020(1)(b) (second
                                             degree robbery equivalent is class C
                                             felony, presumptive term of 5 to 10
                                             years); § 532.080(3), (6)(b)
                                             ("persistent felony offender" class C
                                              felony as third strike triggers
                                             mandatory minimum of 10 years)
 Louisiana         Life without parole       LA. REV. STAT. ANN.§ 14:65, §
                                              14:2(B)(23) (second degree robbery
                                              equivalent is violent crime with
                                             maximum term of7 years);
                                              § 15:529.1(A)(3)(b) (third strike
                                              violent crime triggers sentence of
                                              life without parole where two priors
                                              are also crimes of violence)

                                      5
State v. Witherspoon, No. 88118-9
(Gordon McCloud, J., Concurrence/Dissent)
Appendix

         State     Mandatory Minimum for             Applicable Statutes
                    Second Degree Robbery
                   Equivalent Committed as
                      Third Strike Offense
 Maine             9 months                  ME. REv. STAT. tit. 17-A §
                                             651(l)(B)(2), 17-A § 1252(2)(B)
                                             (second degree robbery equivalent
                                             is class B crime carrying maximum
                                             term of 10 years); 17-A § 1252(4-
                                             A) (third strike felony, such as
                                             robbery, triggers sentencing class
                                             that is one class higher than it would
                                             otherwise be); 17-A § 1252(2)(A),
                                             (5-A)(A)-(C) (class A felony
                                             triggers sentence minimum of 9
                                             months to 30 years)
 Maryland          25 years without parole   MD. CODE ANN., CRIM. LAW § 3-
                                             402, § 14-101(a)(9), (c)(1)(i), (2),
                                             (3) (second degree robbery
                                             equivalent is crime of violence,
                                             third crime of violence triggers
                                             minimum sentence of 25 years)
 Massachusetts     Life without parole       MASS. GEN. LAWS ch. 265, § 21
                                             (maximum sentence allowable for
                                             second degree robbery equivalent is
                                             life), ch. 279, § 25 (b) ("habitual
                                             criminal" third felony conviction for
                                             second degree robbery equivalent
                                             triggers maximum sentence
                                             allowable by law for the underlying
                                             crime, without parole)
 Michigan          None                      MICH. COMP. LAWS § 750.530
                                              (second degree robbery equivalent
                                             triggers maximum sentence of 15
                                             years); § 769.11(1)(a) (third strike
                                              offender may be sentenced to twice
                                              the maximum for the underlying
                                              crime)
                                         6
State v. Witherspoon, No. 88118-9
(Gordon McCloud, J., Concurrence/Dissent)
Appendix

       State       Mandatory Minimum for             Applicable Statutes
                    Second Degree Robbery
                   Equivalent Committed as
                      Third Strike Offense
 Minnesota         10 years without parole   MINN. STAT. § 609.24 (second
                                             degree robbery equivalent triggers
                                             maximum sentence of 10 years), §
                                             609.1 095(1 )(d), (3) (dangerous
                                             offender third violent felony
                                             triggers at least the length of the
                                             presumptive sentence for the
                                             underlying offense; violent felonies
                                             include second degree robbery
                                             equivalent)
 Mississippi       Life without parole       MISS. CODE ANN. § 97-3-73; Ashley
                                             v. State, 538 So. 2d 1181 (Miss.
                                             1989) (second degree robbery
                                             equivalent is crime of violence);
                                             MISS. CODE ANN.§ 99-19-83
                                             (where any of three strike offenses
                                             was crime of violence, defendant
                                             shall be sentenced to life term
                                             without parole)
 Missouri          5 years                   Mo. REV. STAT. § 569.030, §
                                             558.011(2) (second degree robbery
                                             equivalent is class B felony
                                             triggering sentence of 5 to 15
                                             years); § 558.016(3), (7)(2), §
                                              558.011(1) (persistent offender
                                             class B felony may be punished as if
                                             class A felony, triggering sentence
                                             of 10 to 30 years)

                                         7
State v. Witherspoon, No. 88118-9
(Gordon McCloud, J., Concurrence/Dissent)
Appendix

       State       Mandatory Minimum for                Applicable Statutes
                    Second Degree Robbery
                   Equivalent Committed as
                      Third Strike Offense
 Montana           10 years (first 5 years      MONT. CODE ANN. § 45-5-
                   without parole)              401(1)(b), (2), § 46-18-219 (b)
                                                (second degree robbery equivalent
                                                triggers term of2 to 40 years);§ 46-
                                                18-501 (definition of "persistent
                                                felony offender"), § 46-18-
                                                219(1)(b)(iv), § 46-18-222(5) (if
                                                third strike offense did not result in
                                                any serious injury to the victim and
                                                if weapon was not used, then judge
                                                has discretion to sentence defendant
                                                to less than a life term);§ 46-18-
                                                502(2), (3) (persistent felony
                                                offender sentenced to mandatory
                                                minimum of 10 years)
 Nebraska           10 years                    NEB. REV. STAT. § 28-324, § 28-
                                                 105(1) (sentence for second degree
                                                robbery equivalent, class II felony,
                                                is 1 to 50 years), § 29-2221(1)
                                                (person convicted on separate
                                                occasions of two crimes triggering
                                                 sentences of at least one year is
                                                "habitual criminal" who receives
                                                minimum sentence of 10 years)
 Nevada             25 years (parole eligible   NEV. REv. STAT. § 200.380(1)(a),
                    after 10 years)              (b), (2) (second degree robbery
                                                 equivalent is category B felony,
                                                 penalty of 2 to 15 years), §
                                                 207.012(1)(a),(b)(3), (2) ("habitual
                                                 felon" defined as two prior second
                                                 degree robbery equivalent
                                                 convictions, mandatory minimum of
                                                 25 years, eligibility for parole after
                                                 10 years)
                                         8
State v. Witherspoon, No. 88118-9
(Gordon McCloud, J., Concurrence/Dissent)
Appendix

       State       Mandatory Minimum for              Applicable Statutes
                    Second Degree Robbery
                   Equivalent Committed as
                      Third Strike Offense
 New Hampshire     N/A (no persistent        N.H. REV. STAT. ANN.§ 636:1(I)(b),
                   offender statute)         (III), § 651 :2(II)(b) (second degree
                                             robbery equivalent is class B felony,
                                             triggering maximum term of7
                                             years)
 New Jersey         10 years                 N.J. STAT. ANN.§ 2C:15-1(a)(2),
                                             (b),§ 2C:43-7.1(b), § 2C:43-7(a)(3)
                                             (person convicted of crime
                                             including second degree robbery
                                             equivalent, who has previously been
                                             convicted of two or more crimes,
                                             shall be sentenced to a fixed term
                                             between 10 and 20 years)
 New Mexico        7 years without parole    N.M. STAT. ANN.§ 30-16-2 (second
               \
                                             degree robbery equivalent is third
                                             degree felony),§ 31-18-15(A)(9)
                                             (third degree felony as first offense
                                             triggers 3 year sentence), § 31-18-
                                              17(B) (person with 2 prior felony
                                             convictions is habitual offender;
                                             sentence for habitual offender shall
                                             be increased by 4 years)
 New York          4 years                   N.Y. PENAL LAW§ 160.05 (second
                                             degree robbery equivalent is class D
                                             felony), § 70.00(2)-(4) (sentence for
                                             class D felony as first offense is 1 to
                                              7 years, with judicial discretion for
                                              imposing a fixed term of 1 year or
                                              less),§ 70.06(1), (3)(d) ("second
                                              felony offender" term is 4 to 7
                                             years)

                                       9
State v. Witherspoon, No. 88118-9
(Gordon McCloud, J., Concurrence/Dissent)
Appendix

        State      Mandatory Minimum for             Applicable Statutes
                    Second Degree Robbery
                   Equivalent Committed as
                      Third Strike Offense
 North Carolina    77 months                 N.C. GEN. STAT. § 14-87.1 (second
                                             degree robbery equivalent is class G
                                             felony);§ 14-7.2, § 14-7.6
                                             ("habitual felon" must be sentenced
                                             at a class level four higher than
                                             underlying felony); § 14-7.1
                                             ("habitual felon" is any person
                                             convicted of a felony three times); §
                                             15A-1340.17(c) (class C felony as
                                             third offense triggers presumptive
                                             sentence of 77-96 months)
 North Dakota      No minimum                N.D. CENT. CODE§ 12.1-22-01(1),
                                             (2), § 12.1-32-01(4) (second degree
                                             robbery equivalent is class C felony,
                                             carrying a maximum penalty of 5
                                             years and/or fine of$10,000);
                                             § 12.1-32-09(1)(c), (2)(c) (an adult
                                             who has previously been convicted
                                             of two felonies of class C or above
                                             is an "habitual offender"; third
                                             strike offense of class C triggers
                                             maximum sentence of 10 years)
 Ohio               1 year                   OHIO REV. CODE ANN.§
                                             2911.02(A)(3), (B), §
                                             2929.14(A)(3)(b) (second degree
                                             robbery equivalent is third degree
                                             felony, triggering minimum term of
                                             9 months);§ 2929.14(A)(3)(a)
                                             (upon third conviction or guilty
                                             plea, person convicted of third
                                             degree felony shall be sentenced to
                                             term of 1 to 5 years)

                                      10
State v. Witherspoon, No. 88118-9
(Gordon McCloud, J., Concurrence/Dissent)
Appendix

       State       Mandatory Minimum for               Applicable Statutes
                    Second Degree Robbery
                   Equivalent Committed as
                      Third Strike Offense
 Oklahoma          20 years                  OKLA. STAT. tit. 21, § 791, § 792, §
                                             794, § 797, § 799, tit. 57,§ 571
                                             (second degree robbery equivalent
                                             is a nonviolent offense, triggering
                                             maximum term of 10 years); OKLA.
                                             STAT. tit. 21, § 5l.l(B) (third felony
                                             conviction within 10 year period
                                             triggers sentence of 20 years to life)
 Oregon            N/A (no habitual offender OR. REv. STAT.§ 164.395(l)(a), (2),
                   statute)                  § 161.605(3) (second degree
                                             robbery equivalent is a class C
                                             felony, triggering maximum term of
                                             5 years)
 Pennsylvania      NIA (second degree         18 PA. CONS. STAT.§
                   robbery equivalent does   370l(a)(l)(iv), (b),§ 106(a)(4),
                   not trigger habitual      (b)(4) (second degree robbery
                   offender statute)         equivalent is second degree felony,
                                             triggering maximum term of 7
                                             years); 42 PA. CONS. STAT. §
                                             9714(g) (second degree robbery
                                             equivalent not a "'crime of
                                             violence'" and does not trigger
                                             Pennsylvania's habitual offender
                                              statute)

                                      11
State v. Witherspoon, No. 88118-9
(Gordon McCloud, J., Concurrence/Dissent)
Appendix

       State       Mandatory Minimum for              Applicable Statutes
                    Second Degree Robbery
                   Equivalent Committed as
                      Third Strike Offense
 Rhode Island      5 years                    R.I. GEN. LAWS§ 11-39-1(a), (b)
                                              (second degree robbery equivalent
                                              as first offense triggers minimum
                                              sentence of five years),§ 12-19-
                                              21(a) (person convicted of a felony
                                              three times and sentenced to more
                                              than 1 year of imprisonment is an
                                              "habitual criminal" and shall be
                                              sentenced to not more than 25 years
                                              in addition to sentence for which he
                                              or she was last convicted)
 South Carolina    N/A (second degree         S.C. CODE ANN.§ 16-11-325, § 16-
                   robbery equivalent does    1-10(A)(4), (D) (second degree
                   not trigger the habitual   robbery equivalent is a class D
                   offender statute)          felony and triggers maximum
                                              sentence of 15 years); § 16-1-120(1)
                                              (repeat offender statute triggered
                                              only by class A, B, or C felonies or
                                              exempt offenses punishable with 20
                                              year sentence)
 South Dakota      No minimum                 S.D. CODIFIED LAWS§ 22-30-1, §
                                              22-30-6, § 22-30-7, § 22-6-1(7)
                                               (second degree robbery equivalent
                                               is class 4 felony, triggering
                                               maximum term of 10 years);§ 22-7-
                                               7 (second or third felony conviction
                                               triggers sentence for felony of next
                                               higher class);§ 22-6-1(6) (class 3
                                               felony punishable by maximum
                                               term of 15 years)

                                       12
State v. Witherspoon, No. 88118-9
(Gordon McCloud, J., Concurrence/Dissent)
Appendix

         State     Mandatory Minimum for             Applicable Statutes
                    Second Degree Robbery
                   Equivalent Committed as
                      Third Strike Offense                                     --
 Tennessee         6 years                   TENN. CODE ANN. § 39-13-401, §
                                             40-35-105(b) (second degree
                                             robbery equivalent is a range I class
                                             C felony, triggering minimum term
                                             of3 years); § 40-35-105(a)(2), §
                                             40-35-106(a)(l), (c),§ 40-35-
                                             112(b)(3) (multiple offender second
                                             degree robbery equivalent triggers
                                             range II class C felony, carrying
                                             minimum term of 6 years)
 Texas             5 years                   TEX. PENAL CODE ANN.
                                             § 29.02(a)(2), (b) (second degree
                                             robbery equivalent is second degree
                                             felony), § 12.33(a) (second degree
                                             felony punishable by 2 to 20 years),
                                             § 12.42(b) (person convicted of
                                             second degree felony, who has
                                             previously been convicted of a
                                             felony, shall be sentenced for a
                                             felony of the first degree), §
                                              12.32(a) (first degree felony
                                             punishable by term of 5 to 99 years
                                             or life)

                                      13
State v. Witherspoon, No. 88118-9
(Gordon McCloud, J., Concurrence/Dissent)
Appendix

         State     Mandatory Minimum for              Applicable Statutes
                    Second Degree Robbery
                   Equivalent Committed as
f-·
                      Third Strike Offense
 Utah              5 years                    UTAH CODE ANN.§ 76-6-301(1)(b),
                                              (3), § 76-3-203(2), § 76-3-
                                              203.5(1)(c)(i)(BB), (l)(b), (2)(b)
                                              (second degree robbery equivalent
                                              is second degree violent felony,
                                              punishable by term of 1 to 15 years;
                                              if defendant is a habitual violent
                                              offender, the penalty for a second
                                              degree felony is as if the conviction
                                              were for a first degree felony; a
                                              habitual violent offender is a person
                                              convicted of any "violent" felony
                                              who has also been convicted of a
                                              violent felony on any two previous
                                              occasions; minimum sentence for
!-----
                                              first degree felony is 5 years)
  Vermont          N/A ("habitual criminal"   VT. STAT. ANN. tit. 13, § 608(a), §
                   statute triggered only     2507 (second degree robbery
                   where there were three     equivalent triggers maximum term
                   prior convictions)         of 10 years; § 11 (habitual criminal
                                              enhanced sentence permitted for
                                              fourth felony conviction, triggering
                                              maximum life sentence)

                                      14
State v. Witherspoon, No. 88118-9
(Gordon McCloud, J., Concurrence/Dissent)
Appendix

       State       Mandatory Minimum for                 Applicable Statutes
                    Second Degree Robbery
                   Equivalent Committed as
                      Third Strike O!Jense
 Virginia          Life without possibility of   VA. CODE ANN.§ 18.2-58, § 18.2-
                   parole until defendant is     288(2) (second degree robbery
                   60 (if already served 10      equivalent crime of violence
                   years) or 65 (if already      triggers minimum term of 5 years
                   served 5 years)               up to life);§ 19.2-297.1(A)(e), (C)
                                                 (third act of violence conviction,
                                                 including second degree robbery
                                                 equivalent, shall be sentenced to life
                                                 without parole, subject to
                                                 exceptions for persons age 60 or
                                                 older)
 Washington        Life without parole           RCW 9A.56.190, 9A.56.210,
                                                 9A.20.021(1)(b) (second degree
                                                 robbery is a class B felony,
                                                 triggering 10 year term or $20,000
                                                 fine or both term and fine);
                                                 9.94A.570, 9.94A.030(32)( o),
                                                 (37)(a)(i), (ii) (persistent offender
                                                 third most serious offense
                                                 conviction triggers sentence of life
                                                 without parole)
 West Virginia     Life                          W.VA. CODER.§ 61-2-12(b)
                                                 (second degree robbery equivalent
                                                 triggers term of 5 to 18 years), § 61-
                                                  11-18(c) (third felony offense
                                                 conviction triggers life sentence)

                                         15
State v. Witherspoon, No. 88118-9
(Gordon McCloud, J., Concurrence/Dissent)
Appendix

       State       Mandatory Minimum for             Applicable Statutes
                   Second Degree Robbery
                   Equivalent Committed as
                     Third Strike Offense
 Wisconsin         No minimum                WIS. STAT.§ 943.32(1)(b), §
                                             939.50(l)(e), (3)(e) (second degree
                                             robbery equivalent is class E felony,
                                             triggering maximum term of 15
                                             years);§ 973.12, § 939.62(1)(c), (2)
                                             (person convicted of second degree
                                             robbery equivalent as second strike
                                             is a "repeater" and shall have his or
                                             her sentence increased by not more
                                             than 6 years)
 Wyoming           10 years                  WYO. STAT. ANN. § 6-2-40l(a)(ii),
                                             (b) (second degree robbery
                                             equivalent triggers term not to
                                             exceed 10 years);§ 6-l-104(a)(xii)
                                             (second degree robbery equivalent
                                             is violent felony),§ 6-10-20l(a)(i),
                                             (ii), (b )(i) (person convicted of a
                                             "violent felony" who has previously
                                             been convicted of two other felonies
                                              is an "habitual criminal," punishable
                                             by term of 10 to 50 years if he or
                                              she has only two prior convictions)

                                      16