Court Opinion

ID: 9949754
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2024-03-12 15:18:50.010507+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:25:59.515392
License: Public Domain

FILED
                                                               MARCH 12, 2024
                                                         In the Office of the Clerk of Court
                                                        WA State Court of Appeals, Division III

            IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
                               DIVISION THREE

STATE OF WASHINGTON,                          )          No. 39002-1-III
                                              )          (consolidated with
                     Respondent,              )          No. 39003-9-III)
                                              )
       v.                                     )
                                              )         UNPUBLISHED OPINION
KYLE L. PAYMENT,                              )
                                              )
                     Appellant.               )

       PENNELL, J. — Kyle Payment appeals his convictions for second degree assault

(two counts), third degree assault, and second degree malicious mischief; his 199-month

sentence; and his term of community custody. We reject Mr. Payment’s challenges

to his convictions and his claim that the sentencing court committed legal error in

rejecting his argument for an exceptional sentence downward. However, we agree with

Mr. Payment that he is entitled to relief on the following issues: (1) reduction of the term

of community custody for third degree assault to comport with the statutory maximum;

(2) reconsideration of the State’s request for an exceptional sentence upward; and

(3) reassessment of two legal financial obligations—the crime victim penalty assessment

and interest on restitution—to comply with recent statutory changes.
Nos. 39002-1-III; 39003-9-III
State v. Payment

                                           FACTS

       Kyle Payment is an inmate in the custody of the Department of Corrections

(DOC). In 2020 and 2021, Mr. Payment was involved in two separate incidents in which

he assaulted DOC counselors and another inmate. The incidents resulted in property

damage as well as extensive physical injuries to the victims. The State brought charges

against Mr. Payment and the parties eventually reached an agreement whereby

Mr. Payment would plead guilty to two counts of second degree assault, one count

of third degree assault, and one count of second degree malicious mischief. The

agreement contemplated a contested sentencing, at which both Mr. Payment and the

State would argue for exceptional sentences and the defense would seek a mental health

sentencing alternative (MHSA). The parties stipulated Mr. Payment would be permitted

to call a psychiatrist to testify on his behalf as an expert witness at his sentencing hearing.

       As relevant here, the guilty plea statement signed by Mr. Payment advised him that

his third degree assault charge “carrie[d] a . . . Standard Sentence Range” including

51 to 60 months of confinement and a community custody term of 12 months, and that

the maximum sentence was 5 years. Clerk’s Papers, State v. Payment, No. 39003-9-III

(2 CP) at 126 (boldface omitted). During his plea hearing, the court advised Mr. Payment

                                               2
Nos. 39002-1-III; 39003-9-III
State v. Payment

that his standard sentencing range was 51 to 60 months and that there was a “possible”

12-month term of community custody. Rep. of Proc. (RP) (Apr. 1, 2022) at 9.

       In advance of the plea and sentencing hearing, the State filed a memorandum

arguing for an exceptional sentence upward, citing the so-called “free-crimes” aggravator.

See RCW 9.94A.535(2)(c). 1 The State urged the trial court to impose the high end of

the standard range on each charge and to run the sentences consecutively. The State

further argued Mr. Payment was not a suitable candidate for an MHSA.

       In Mr. Payment’s sentencing brief, he asked the court to impose an MHSA and, in

the alternative, to impose an exceptional sentence below the standard range. Mr. Payment

cited two statutorily enumerated mitigating circumstances: first, he claimed his “capacity

to appreciate the wrongfulness of his . . . conduct, or to conform his . . . conduct to the

requirements of the law, was significantly impaired,” RCW 9.94A.535(1)(e), and second,

he argued the “presumptive sentence” was “clearly excessive,” RCW 9.94A.535(1)(g).

Mr. Payment argued that he was caught in a vicious cycle of behavioral problems leading

to continuous incarceration, and he desperately needed help that he was not getting due

       1
        “The trial court may impose an aggravated exceptional sentence without a
finding of fact by a jury [if] . . . [t]he defendant has committed multiple current offenses
and the defendant’s high offender score results in some of the current offenses going
unpunished.” Id.

                                              3
Nos. 39002-1-III; 39003-9-III
State v. Payment

to his current prison classification. Mr. Payment further claimed that prolonged solitary

confinement had impaired his ability to conform his conduct to the law. If the court was

not inclined to impose an MHSA, Mr. Payment requested an exceptional sentence

downward of 90 days on each charge, to run concurrently.

       At sentencing, the court received lengthy testimony from Mr. Payment’s expert,

a board-certified psychiatrist. The expert testified as to Mr. Payment’s mental health

diagnoses, along with the horrendous circumstances surrounding Mr. Payment’s youth

and time in custody. The expert pointed out that Mr. Payment had been incarcerated

almost continuously since 1999, when he was 13 years old, and that he had spent most

of his adult life in solitary confinement. According to the expert, Mr. Payment’s

vulnerability as a child coupled with his extensive exposure to solitary confinement

significantly impaired his ability to conform his conduct to legal expectations. The

expert expressed concern that Mr. Payment might spend the rest of his life in solitary

confinement.

       During the State’s presentation, the prosecutor mentioned Mr. Payment’s history

of “upwards of 475 serious infractions while he’s been incarcerated,” referencing a

DOC presentence investigation report. RP (Jun. 1, 2022) at 78; see Clerk’s Papers,

State v. Payment, No. 39002-1-III (1 CP) at 224-25. The prosecutor also described

                                             4
Nos. 39002-1-III; 39003-9-III
State v. Payment

Mr. Payment as a “master manipulator” with a “long-standing history of assaultive

behavior,” arguing that “when he decides he’s going to assault someone, he doesn’t care

who it is. . . . [H]e doesn’t care about them as a person.” RP (Jun. 1, 2022) at 80. The

prosecutor reiterated the State’s opposition to an MHSA and its request for an exceptional

sentence upward. The prosecutor also cited the applicability of the free-crimes

aggravator, contending that “[i]f we run any of this concurrent, he’s getting away with it

for nothing.” Id. at 83-84.

       In his statement to the court, Mr. Payment apologized to one of his victims who

was present in the courtroom. Notwithstanding his counsel’s arguments for an exceptional

sentence downward, Mr. Payment further stated, “I would argue that the exceptional

sentence downward is inappropriate because it provides for nothing.” Id. at 120. He

elaborated: “[I]f you’re throwing me to the wolves, I wouldn’t be surprised if I came

back. For me, I think the [MHSA] is the only solution . . . .” Id.

       The court then proceeded to its ruling. The judge acknowledged that Mr. Payment

had experienced “horrific things” and that the DOC’s purported mishandling of his

mental health treatment was “a tragedy.” Id. at 124-25. Nevertheless, the court opined the

testimony of Mr. Payment’s psychiatrist expert constituted arguments for broader prison

reform rather than leniency in this specific case.

                                              5
Nos. 39002-1-III; 39003-9-III
State v. Payment

       The judge rejected Mr. Payment’s request for an MHSA, reasoning that, to

be eligible for such a sentencing alternative, a defendant must be “willing to participate”

in the program. Id. at 125; see RCW 9.94A.695(1)(d). The judge reasoned that:

       Mr. Payment is not able to modulate his behavior and be compliant. That
       is apparent in . . . the 475 violations with DOC while he was incarcerated.
       And it begs the question, how can you treat somebody if they’re not able
       to comply.
       ....
       I don’t doubt that Mr. Payment needs some mental health treatment.
       But this sentencing alternative is contingent on compliance coming first.

Id. at 126-27. The judge moved on to Mr. Payment’s term of confinement:

       The sentencing that the Court is looking at today is going to be a sentence
       that keeps in mind that these are very significant crimes against persons that
       Mr. Payment committed. And I know he’s aware he committed them. He
       [pleaded] guilty to them. I appreciate very much the apology to [one of the
       victims] and his family in court today. But it doesn’t diminish the fact that
       these were significant offenses perpetrated against individuals with really
       very little thought to what the consequence was going to look like.
               Mr. Payment is a very intelligent man. And despite the fact that he
       might suffer from impulse control and a tendency to anger quickly, he
       understood what the result or the consequences of his behavior was going
       to be. And in this particular case I cannot turn a blind eye to the fact that
       there are victims who will suffer significant, long-term effects as a result
       of Mr. Payment’s actions.
               ....
               The State, first of all, is asking me to run those sentences
       consecutive. And I will indicate that under the [free-crimes aggravator]
       statute, . . . [Mr. Payment] has committed multiple current offenses, and
       [Mr. Payment]’s high offender score results in some of the current offenses
       going unpunished.

                                             6
Nos. 39002-1-III; 39003-9-III
State v. Payment

               If I were to run these sentences . . . concurrently, it would simply
       take the highest number of months within the standard range for one count
       and encompass everything else within it. In essence, as [the prosecutor]
       indicated, that would be free crimes.
               What I am choosing to do is recognize that each of these crimes,
       each of these charges does come with it a consequence that needs to be
       paid by Mr. Payment for his actions against these individuals in each of
       their capacities. This does meet the criteria under the statute to find an
       exceptional upward sentence to order the sentences to run consecutive.
       And I am going to do that.

Id. at 128-29.

       Although the court granted the State’s request to run Mr. Payment’s sentences

consecutively, it opted not to impose the high end of the standard range as to each count.

Instead, the court imposed the low end of the standard range for each charge, to run

consecutively, for a total of 199 months’ confinement. The court found Mr. Payment was

indigent, but noted the $500 crime victim penalty assessment would be imposed in each

of the two cases, along with restitution.

       The court subsequently entered a written judgment and sentence in each case,

imposing a total of 199 months’ confinement 2 and noting that it had found substantial

and compelling reasons to justify an exceptional sentence above the standard range.

       2
        As relevant to this appeal, the court sentenced Mr. Payment to 51 months’
confinement for third degree assault, noting that the maximum sentence for that crime
was 5 years.

                                             7
Nos. 39002-1-III; 39003-9-III
State v. Payment

The court ordered Mr. Payment to pay $60,881.28 in restitution, including interest at the

rate applicable to civil judgments. The court further sentenced Mr. Payment to 18 months’

community custody pursuant to his convictions for second degree assault, but did not

specify a community custody term for third degree assault.

       In addition to the judgment and sentence, the court entered a written document

entitled, “Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law Re: Exceptional Above Sentence.”

1 CP at 154-56; 2 CP at 275-77. The written findings included details about Mr.

Payment’s criminal history. In addition, there was a finding that Mr. Payment “has had

475 serious infractions while an inmate of the [DOC].” 1 CP at 155; 2 CP at 276. There

was also a finding that Mr. Payment “committed significant crimes against persons with

little thought of the consequences.” Id. In its conclusions of law, the court referenced the

free-crimes aggravator, RCW 9.94A.535(2)(c), as a basis for imposing an exceptional

sentence upward, and incorporated its “oral findings and conclusions” from the

sentencing hearing. 1 CP at 155-56; 2 CP at 276-77.

       Mr. Payment separately appealed from each judgment and sentence. 3 Months after

Mr. Payment initiated his appeals, the trial court entered an order clarifying its judgment

and sentence. The order stated Mr. Payment would serve 18 months’ community custody

       3
           This court later granted Mr. Payment’s motion to consolidate his two appeals.

                                              8
Nos. 39002-1-III; 39003-9-III
State v. Payment

given his convictions for second degree assault, but that his third degree assault

conviction carried a term of 12 months’ community custody. 4 This court, citing

RAP 7.2(e), granted the State’s unopposed motion to authorize the superior court to

enter the postappeal order.

                                        ANALYSIS

Length of sentence for third degree assault

       Mr. Payment contends, and the State concedes, that the 12-month term of

community custody for third degree assault must be adjusted downward because it causes

the total sentence to exceed the statutory maximum term of 5 years. We accept the State’s

concession and remand to correct this error.

       As a crime against persons, a conviction for third degree assault typically

requires a 12-month term of community custody. See RCW 9.94A.701(3)(a);

RCW 9.94A.411(2)(a). But this rule must yield when imposition of the 12-month

term would cause a defendant’s total sentence—incarceration plus community custody—

to exceed the statutory maximum sentence for the crime of conviction. See

RCW 9.94A.505(5); RCW 9.94A.701(10). When imposition of the usually-required

       4
         The terms of Mr. Payment’s community custody shall run concurrently because
the sentencing court did not state otherwise. See RCW 9.94A.589(2)(a).

                                               9
Nos. 39002-1-III; 39003-9-III
State v. Payment

community custody term would result in an excessive sentence, the court must reduce

the term of community custody so that the total sentence will fall within the statutory

maximum. RCW 9.94A.701(10).

       The maximum sentence for third degree assault is 5 years, or 60 months.

See RCW 9A.36.031(2); RCW 9A.20.021(1)(c). Because the trial court sentenced

Mr. Payment to 51 months’ confinement for third degree assault, it could not impose a

12-month term of community custody for that crime. Instead, the maximum possible term

of community custody was 9 months. We remand with instructions to correct the term of

community custody as to third degree assault.

Validity of guilty plea

       Mr. Payment contends his guilty pleas were invalid in violation of his right to due

process because he was misinformed as to a direct consequence of his plea. Specifically,

he faults the trial court for advising him that 12 months of community custody applied to

his third degree assault charge, given that, if the court imposed a standard-range sentence,

the longest term of community custody he could have lawfully received was 9 months.

The State counters that the court correctly informed Mr. Payment that third degree assault

ordinarily carries a term of 12 months’ community custody, a term the court would have

                                            10
Nos. 39002-1-III; 39003-9-III
State v. Payment

been bound to impose if it granted Mr. Payment’s impending request for an exceptional

sentence downward. We agree with the State.

       Before a court may accept a guilty plea, the defendant must be informed of all

“direct consequences” flowing from the plea, including standard terms of confinement

and community custody. State v. Gregg, 196 Wn.2d 473, 483, 474 P.3d 539 (2020); see

In re Pers. Restraint of Quinn, 154 Wn. App. 816, 820, 836, 841, 226 P.3d 208 (2010).

“Affirmative misinformation as to a direct consequence renders a plea constitutionally

invalid.” Gregg, 196 Wn.2d at 484. Such misinformation renders a plea involuntary

regardless of whether the actual sentence is lower or higher than anticipated. State v.

Buckman, 190 Wn.2d 51, 59, 409 P.3d 193 (2018).

       Mr. Payment was not misinformed about the consequences of his third degree

assault conviction. The trial court accurately advised Mr. Payment of the standard term

of community custody that could apply to his third degree assault charge. Although the

record indicated the standard 12-month term would not apply if Mr. Payment received

a standard-range sentence, the plea agreement materials indicated Mr. Payment would

be requesting an exceptional sentence downward. Had the court granted this request,

a 12-month term of community custody would have been possible, if not mandatory,

depending on the extent of the departure. It was therefore appropriate for the trial court

                                             11
Nos. 39002-1-III; 39003-9-III
State v. Payment

to advise Mr. Payment of the 12-month term. See Buckman, 190 Wn.2d at 59 (noting due

process requires a defendant be advised of possible sentencing consequences at the time

of plea).

Exceptional sentence downward

       Mr. Payment claims the sentencing court abused its discretion in refusing to

consider his request for an exceptional sentence downward. For our court to review this

type of claim, Mr. Payment must show legal error such as a categorical refusal to consider

an exceptional sentence downward, reliance on a constitutionally improper basis, or a

failure to recognize discretion to deviate downward. See State v. McFarland, 189 Wn.2d

47, 56, 399 P.3d 1106 (2017); State v. Garcia-Martinez, 88 Wn. App. 322, 328-29, 944

P.2d 1104 (1997).

       Mr. Payment has not established any basis for overturning the sentencing judge’s

denial of an exceptional sentence downward. The court did not categorically refuse to

consider Mr. Payment’s request. It listened to Mr. Payment’s evidence and argument and,

in its discretion, declined to impose a sentence below the standard range. There is no

indication the trial court’s rejection of an exceptional sentence downward rested on legal

error or an improper consideration. We therefore must defer to the sentencing judge’s

decision.

                                            12
Nos. 39002-1-III; 39003-9-III
State v. Payment

Exceptional sentence upward

       A sentencing judge’s decision to grant an exceptional sentence request is reviewed

with more scrutiny than a denial. See RCW 9.94A.585(4). As always, we will review

claims of legal error de novo. State v. Law, 154 Wn.2d 85, 93-94, 110 P.3d 717 (2005).

But we review the purported excessiveness of an exceptional sentence for abuse of

discretion and the factual findings supporting the trial court’s decision for clear error.

Id. at 93.

       The general rule is that a court may impose a sentence above the standard

sentencing range only if aggravating facts have been proven to a jury beyond a reasonable

doubt. RCW 9.94A.535, .537. A narrow exception exists for an upward departure based

on the “fact of a prior conviction.” RCW 9.94A.535; see also State v. Alvarado, 164

Wn.2d 556, 567-68, 192 P.3d 345 (2008).

       Because it is based solely on criminal history, a permissible exception to the

requirement of jury findings is the so-called free-crimes aggravator. See Alvarado,

164 Wn.2d at 567-68. This statutorily approved aggravator enables a court to impose a

sentence above the standard range if “[t]he defendant has committed multiple current

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

                                              13
Nos. 39002-1-III; 39003-9-III
State v. Payment

going unpunished.” RCW 9.94A.535(2)(c). The free-crimes aggravator can be effectuated

by ordering multiple offenses to run consecutively. See RCW 9.94A.589(1).

       Here, there is no dispute that the sentencing court could have imposed an

exceptional sentence upward without the need for any jury findings based on the

free-crimes aggravator. The parties disagree as to whether the trial court relied on

impermissible facts in reaching its exceptional sentencing decision. Mr. Payment

recognizes the court was allowed to consider facts that flowed directly from his criminal

history. See Alvarado, 164 Wn.2d at 567-68. But he claims the court went beyond this

scope of permissible information and based its exceptional sentencing decision, at least

in part, on factual findings regarding his DOC infraction history and his purported

indifference to the consequences of his actions.

       The State acknowledges the sentencing court’s written findings included facts

beyond Mr. Payment’s criminal history that were never proven to a jury, but nevertheless

asks us to affirm. According to the State, the court’s improper findings did not actually

inform its decision to impose an exceptional sentence. The State urges us to look to

the court’s oral ruling. The State observes the sentencing judge’s oral comments about

Mr. Payment’s DOC infractions were made in the context of rejecting his MHSA request,

and claims the finding about Mr. Payment’s indifference to his victims “related to

                                             14
Nos. 39002-1-III; 39003-9-III
State v. Payment

the reasons that it was declining an exceptional sentence below the standard range.”

Br. of Resp’t at 35. When issuing its oral ruling, the court did not expressly link

Mr. Payment’s infraction history or indifference to his victims to the exceptional sentence

upward.

       We reject the State’s approach. The rule in Washington is that “[t]he written order

is controlling.” State v. Molina, 16 Wn. App. 2d 908, 922, 485 P.3d 963, review denied,

198 Wn.2d 1008, 493 P.3d 731 (2021). “[T]he trial court’s oral statements at sentencing

are no more than a verbal expression of its informal opinion at the time.” Id. To be sure,

we “may resort to the trial court’s oral decision to interpret findings and conclusions.”

State v. Hinds, 85 Wn. App. 474, 486, 936 P.2d 1135 (1997). But “the trial court’s oral

opinion cannot be used to impeach or contradict an unambiguous written finding.”

Shinn v. Thrust IV, Inc., 56 Wn. App. 827, 838, 786 P.2d 285 (1990).

       Here, the court entered written factual findings explicitly designated as justifying

the exceptional sentence upward; no other purpose for the findings was specified. Given

the court decided to include findings about Mr. Payment’s infraction history and his

indifference to his victims in its written justification for the exceptional sentence, we are

not satisfied the court “would have imposed the same sentence” without the inclusion

of the impermissible facts. State v. Perry, 6 Wn. App. 2d 544, 558, 431 P.3d 543 (2018).

                                              15
Nos. 39002-1-III; 39003-9-III
State v. Payment

It could be, for example, that had the court not considered the extraneous facts, it would

have decided to run at least some of Mr. Payment’s convictions concurrently. We must

therefore remand for resentencing. Based on the nature of our disposition, resentencing

shall be limited to reconsideration of the State’s request for an exceptional sentence

upward.

Crime victim penalty assessment and interest on restitution

       The parties agree that, on remand, the sentencing court must reconsider two legal

financial obligations. First, imposition of the crime victim penalty assessment must be

stricken based on Mr. Payment’s indigence. See RCW 7.68.035(4), (5)(b). And second,

the sentencing court must exercise its discretion under RCW 10.82.090(2) on whether

to waive interest on Mr. Payment’s restitution obligation. We concur with the parties’

agreement and remand for reconsideration of both financial obligations.

Reassignment on remand

       Mr. Payment asks this court to order reassignment of this matter to a different trial

judge on remand, baldly asserting that the appearance of fairness doctrine requires this

remedy. We reject this request. Mr. Payment has not set forth any reason to question the

sentencing judge’s impartiality. Mere displeasure with an erroneous ruling is not a valid

                                             16
Nos. 39002-1-III; 39003-9-III
State v. Payment

reason for reassignment. See State v. McEnroe, 181 Wn.2d 375, 388, 333 P.3d 402

(2014).

                                     CONCLUSION

       This matter is remanded for resentencing limited to the following issues:

(1) reduction of the term of community custody for third degree assault so that the total

sentence does not exceed the statutory maximum, (2) reconsideration of the State’s

request for an exceptional sentence upward pursuant to the terms of this opinion,

(3) striking of the crime victim penalty assessment, and (4) reconsideration of the

imposition of interest on restitution pursuant to RCW 10.82.090(2).

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

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

RCW 2.06.040.

                                          _________________________________
                                          Pennell, J.

I CONCUR:

______________________________
Fearing, C.J.

                                            17
                                        No. 39002-1-III
                              (consolidated with No. 39003-9-III)

       COONEY, J. (dissenting in part) — I concur with all but one of the majority’s

conclusions. The trial court did not err by including extraneous facts in its “Findings of

Fact and Conclusions of Law Re: Exceptional Above SentenceAppendix 2.4.” Clerk’s

Papers at 275 (emphasis and boldface omitted). Remand for resentencing is both

unnecessary and inordinately burdensome to the trial court.

       At sentencing hearings, trial courts often receive and consider a significant amount

of information. RCW 9.94A.500. However, not all of the information is assigned equal

weight, nor does all the information underlie a court’s decision to order an exceptional

sentence. Here, as properly recognized by the majority, the trial court made two findings

that are unrelated to the statutory basis for an unpunished crimes enhancement. 1

However, the trial court gave no weight to the superfluous findings when it ordered Mr.

Payment to serve an exceptional sentence. Indeed, we need look no further than the trial

court’s conclusions of law to ascertain the foundation of its decision. Accordingly, I

dissent in part.

       In passing, we recently recognized that under RCW 9.94A.535(2)(c) a trial court

possesses the authority to impose consecutive standard range sentences when it finds

       1
           The trial court’s extraneous findings of fact included:
       10. That the Defendant has had 475 serious infractions while an inmate of
           the Department of Corrections.
       11. That the Defendant has committed significant crimes against persons
           with little thought of the consequences.

CP at 276.
                                                1
No. 39002-1-III; No. 39003-9-III
State v. Payment

“substantial and compelling reasons justifying” an exceptional sentence. State v. Eller,

     Wn. App. 2d         , 541 P.3d 1001, *1003 (2024). The statute allows a trial court to

“impose an aggravated exceptional sentence without a finding of fact by a jury” if “[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).

Provided, however, that “[w]henever a sentence outside the standard sentence range is

imposed, the court shall set forth the reasons for its decision in written findings of fact

and conclusions of law.” RCW 9.94A.535.

       The question before us is not whether the record supports the trials court’s

exceptional sentenceindisputably it does. Rather, the question is whether the trial court

assigned any weight to the two superfluous findings when it decided to order consecutive

standard-range sentences. The remedy for superfluous findings of fact can vary based on

the specific circumstances of the case. In certain situations, additional findings may not

necessitate any remedial action at all. See, e.g., State ex rel. Zempel v. Twitchell,

59 Wn.2d 419, 425, 367 P.2d 985 (1962). To date, a bright-line rule has not been

established that would restrict a sentencing court from entering irrelevant findings,

provided one or more of the court’s findings justifies the exceptional sentence.

Consequently, it becomes unnecessary to remand for resentencing when a trial court

demonstrates it imposed an exceptional sentence based on a valid statutory basis.

                                              2
No. 39002-1-III; No. 39003-9-III
State v. Payment

       However, if the reviewing court deems that the trial court placed “considerable

weight” on invalid factors during sentencing, remanding for resentencing may be

warranted. State v. Fisher, 108 Wn.2d 419, 429-30, 430 n.7, 739 P.2d 683 (1987).

Considerable weight can be inferred from the imposed sentence length and from the

strength of the remaining valid factors. See, e.g., State v. Dunaway, 109 Wn.2d 207, 220,

743 P.2d 1237 (1987); State v. Gaines, 122 Wn.2d 502, 512, 859 P.2d 36 (1993).

       Here, the free-crimes aggravator indubitably provided the trial court authority to

order an exceptional sentence. The trial court ordered the low end of the standard-range

sentence for each conviction. The exceptional sentence was presented in the form of

consecutive standard-range sentences. The trial court clearly announced in its

conclusions of law that the exceptional sentence was based on the free-crimes aggravator.

Conspicuously absent from the trial court’s conclusions of law is any reference to the two

extraneous findings of fact.

       Under the guise of a resentencing, the majority is essentially directing the trial

court to excise two superfluous findings from its findings of fact. Fisher, 108 Wn.2d at

430 n.7. Because the trial court did not assign any weight to the extraneous findings, as

evidenced by its conclusions of law, remanding for resentencing is both unnecessary and

begets an unwarranted strain on an already overburdened trial court.

                                                  Cooney, J.

                                              3