Court Opinion

ID: 987512
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-07-02 22:15:51.777318+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:12:34.265326
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON

STATE OF WASHINGTON,
                                                 DIVISION ONE
                        Respondent,
                                                 No. 68120-6-1
                    v.
                                                 UNPUBLISHED OPINION
DONNIE WAYNE DURRETT,

                        Appellant.               FILED: March 11, 2013

       Dwyer, J. — Donnie Durrett appeals from his conviction of failure to

register as a sex offender. On appeal, he contends that both the information

charging him with the offense and the "to convict" instruction given to the jury are

constitutionally deficient because they do not include as an essential element of      .^
the offense the statutory requirement that a person lacking a fixed residence ^        ^:
report weekly to the county sheriff. However, the sex offender registration statgte ^ ;

creates only one punishable offense—failure to register in compliance with theS
requirements set forth in that statute. The particular registration requirements, en

which are based upon the offender's residential status and other circumstances,

do not constitute essential elements of that offense. Accordingly, we affirm

Durrett's conviction.

                                          I

       Durrett, having been previously convicted of a felony sex offense, is
No. 68120-6-1/2

statutorily required to register as a sex offender. In October 2009, Durrett was

registered in King County as lacking a fixed residence, and, thus, he was

required to appear and sign in weekly at the King County Sheriff's Office in order

to maintain compliance with statutory registration requirements. See former

RCW 9A.44.130(6)(b) (2006). Failure to comply with such registration

requirements was punishable as a class C felony. Former RCW

9A.44.130(11)(a) (2006).

       Durrett reported to the sheriffs office on October 30, 2009. Thereafter,

however, he failed to report for 13 weeks.

       On October 24, 2011, the State charged Durrett by amended information

with failure to register as a sex offender. The State alleged that, during a time

intervening between November 2, 2009 and January 29, 2010, Durrett, having
previously been convicted of rape in the first degree, was required to register as
a sex offender and, contrary to RCW 9A.44.130(11)(a), knowingly failed to

comply with the requirements of RCW 9A.44.130. Ajury found Durrett guilty as

charged of failure to register as a sex offender.

       Durrett appeals.

                                          II

       Durrett contends, for the first time on appeal, that the information is

constitutionally inadequate because it does not allege as an essential element of
the offense that he was required to report weekly to the county sheriffs office.

Because that statutory requirement is not an essential element of the offense of
failure to register as a sex offender, his contention is unavailing.

                                         -2-
No. 68120-6-1/3

      A charging document is constitutionally adequate if it sets forth the

essential elements of the charged offense. U.S. Const, amend. VI ("In all

criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right... to be informed of the

nature and cause of the accusation        "); Wash. Const, art. I, § 22 (amend. 10)

("In criminal prosecutions the accused shall have the right... to demand the
nature and cause of the accusation against him . . . ."); State v. Kiorsvik, 117

Wn.2d 93, 97, 812 P.2d 86 (1991). "The purpose of this 'essential elements' rule

is to give notice ofthe nature and cause ofan accusation against the accused so
that a defense can be prepared." State v. Campbell, 125 Wn.2d 797, 801, 888

P.2d 1185 (1995). The charging document need not use the exactwords ofthe
statute. Kiorsvik, 117 Wn.2d at 108. Rather, "the question ... is whether all the

words used would reasonably apprise an accused of the elements of the crime

charged." Kiorsvik, 117 Wn.2d at 109.

       "A challenge to the sufficiency ofa charging document is ofconstitutional
magnitude and may be raised for the first time on appeal." Campbell, 125Wn.2d
at 801. However, where no challenge is raised in the trial court, we liberally

construe the charging document in favor ofvalidity on appeal. Kiorsvik, 117

Wn.2d at 105. In liberally construing the charging document, we ask whether the
elements of the offense "appear in any form, or by fair construction can . . . be

found, in the charging document." Kiorsvik. 117 Wn.2d at 105. Where the
essential elements are present in the charging document, we then determine

whether the defendant was nevertheless "actually prejudiced by the inartful

language which caused a lack of notice." Kiorsvik, 117Wn.2d at 106.

                                         -3-
No. 68120-6-1/4

       The State charged Durrett with failure to register as a sex offender,

alleging in the information:

       That the defendant, DONNIE WAYNE DURRETT, in King County,
       Washington, during a time intervening between November 2, 2009
       through January 29, 2010, having been convicted of a sex offense
       that would be classified as a felony under the laws of Washington,
       to-wit: Rape in the First Degree, for which he was required to
       register under RCW 9A.44.130, did knowingly fail to comply with
       the requirements of RCW 9A.44.130;

       Contrary to RCW 9A.44.130(11)(a) and against the peace and
       dignity of the State of Washington.

       A person commits the crime offailure to register as a sex offender if he or
she "knowingly fails to comply with any of the requirements" of the sex offender
registration statute. Former RCW 9A.44.130(11)(a) (2006).1 The applicable
statute provided that any individual who "has been convicted of any sex
offense . . . shall register with the county sheriff for the county ofthe person's
residence." Former RCW 9A.44.130(1 )(a) (2006). The statute then set forth

various registration requirements, including deadlines for registration based upon
the sex offender's residential status and other circumstances. Former RCW

9A.44.130(4)(a)(i)-(ix) (2006). Relevant here, the statute required that a sex

offender "who lacks a fixed residence must report weekly, in person, to the sheriff

ofthe county where he or she is registered." Former RCW 9A.44.130(6)(b)

(2006).

        Durrett contends that the registration requirement set forth in former RCW

        1The current statute similarly provides that "[a] person commits the crime of failure to
register as a sex offender if the person has a duty to register under RCW 9A.44.130 for a felony
sex offense and knowingly fails to comply with any of the requirements of RCW 9A.44.130."
RCW9A.44.132(1).

                                               -4-
No. 68120-6-1/5

9A.44.130(6)(b)—that a sex offender lacking a fixed residence report weekly with

the county sheriff—constitutes an essential element of the offense of failure to

register as a sex offender. Thus, he asserts, the information charging him with
that offense was constitutionally deficient because it did not allege that he failed

to comply with that particular registration requirement.

       We have previously addressed whether the various deadlines and

procedures for registration set forth in the sex offender registration statute

constitute essential elements of the offense of failure to register as a sex

offender. State v. Bennett. 154 Wn. App. 202, 224 P.3d 849 (2010); State v.

Peterson. 145 Wn. App. 672, 186 P.3d 1179 (2008), affd, 168 Wn.2d 763, 230

P.3d 588 (2010). In Peterson, the defendant contended that the information
charging him with failure to register as a sex offender was constitutionally
inadequate because it did not allege the registration deadline with which he was
required to comply. 145 Wn. App. at 676-78.2 The statute provided various
deadlines for registration where an offender changed his or her address based
upon the offender's residential status thereafter. Peterson, 145 Wn. App. at 676.
As relevant there, it "require[d] reregistration within 48 hours if the offender [was]

homeless, 72 hours if the offender ha[d] a new fixed address, or 10 days if the

offender had moved to an address outside the county." Peterson. 145 Wn. App.

        2There, we reversed Peterson's conviction, determining that the information was
constitutionally inadequate because it did not include the essential element thatthe crime was
committed "knowingly." Peterson, 145 Wn. App. at 675. However, because we concluded that
the issue was likely to be raised again if the case were retried, we addressed Peterson's
contention that the statutory deadlines and procedures for registration are also essential elements
of the offense. Peterson, 145 Wn. App. at 675-76.

                                               -5-
No. 68120-6-1/6

at 674. The State could not determine Peterson's whereabouts after he moved

from his previous address; thus, the information charging Peterson with failure to

register as a sex offender did not include the statutory deadline for registration.

Peterson, 145 Wn. App. at 674-75.

       We rejected Peterson's contention that the various deadlines for

registration based upon residential status constituted essential elements ofthe
offense of failure to register as a sex offender. Peterson, 145 Wn. App. at 677-

78. We noted that the sex offender registration statute, in RCW

9A.44.130(11)(a), established only one punishable offense. Peterson, 145Wn.

App. at 677-78. Moreover, we determined that "[t]he statute impose[d] one duty:
to register with the sheriff." Peterson, 145 Wn. App. at 677 (citing RCW
9A.44.130). Thus, we concluded that the definition of and procedures for
registration, set forth in the remaining subsections ofthe statute, "merely
articulate the definition of continuing compliance. They do not define the

elements or create alternative means of committing the crime of failure to register

as a sex offender." Peterson. 145 Wn. App. at 678.

       Our Supreme Court affirmed our decision. State v. Peterson, 168 Wn.2d
763, 230 P.3d 588 (2010). In so doing, the court noted, "this case requires us to

consider what elements constitute the crime of failure to register as a sex

offender." Peterson, 168 Wn.2d at 765. The court's analysis of the case,

however, differed from our analysis; specifically, the court determined that

whether failure to register was an alternative means crime was a separate

analysis from whether the deadlines for registration constituted essential
                                         -6-
No. 68120-6-1/7

elements of the crime. Peterson, 168 Wn.2d at 770-71 (concluding that "it is not

necessary to draw a distinction between alternatives and definitions of

alternatives where the crime at issue is not an alternative means crime at all").

Nevertheless, the court similarly rejected Peterson's assertion that his residential

status—which, pursuant to the sex offender registration statute, determined the

applicable deadline for registration—constituted an element of the offense.

Peterson, 168 Wn.2d at 774. The court held "that residential status is not an

element of the crime" of failure to register. Peterson. 168 Wn.2d at 774.

       Durrett nevertheless cites to a footnote in our Supreme Court's decision in

Peterson in asserting that the deadlines for registration constitute essential
elements of the offense of failure to register as a sex offender. The footnote

states: "Common sense suggests the statutory deadline is part of the State's

burden of proof." Peterson, 168 Wn.2d at 771 n.7. However, this statement is
not contrary to a determination that the deadlines and procedures for registration
do not constitute elements of the offense. Of course, the State must prove that

the sex offender failed to comply with one of the various registration deadlines or

procedures set forth in the statute. Indeed the statutory provision establishing
the offense requires this, as the offense offailure to register as a sex offender is
committed only where the offender "fails to comply with any ofthe requirements"
of the statute. Former RCW 9A.44.130(11)(a). However, as our Supreme Court

recently concluded, a fact that must be proved by the State in order to obtain a
conviction is not necessarily an essential element of the offense charged. State
v.Allen. No. 86119-6, 2013 WL 259383, at *7 (Wash. Jan. 24, 2013) (holding

                                         -7-
No. 68120-6-1/8

that the "true threat" concept is not an element of the offense of felony

harassment notwithstanding the fact that the State must prove that the threat

constituted a "true threat" in order to obtain a conviction).

        Here, the information charging Durrett with failure to register as a sex

offender alleged that he knowingly failed to comply with the requirements of the

sex offender registration statute. Although Durrett failed to comply with a

different registration deadline and procedure than did the defendant in Peterson,

his contention is the same—Durrett asserts that the particular deadline and

procedure with which he failed to comply constitutes an essential element ofthe
offense of failure to register as a sex offender. However, as we have previously

held, the sex offender registration statute creates only one punishable offense:

"fail[ure] to comply with any ofthe requirements" of that statute. Former RCW
9A.44.130(11)(a) (2006). The particular requirement with which Durrett failed to
comply_reporting weekly to the county sheriffs office—does not constitute an

element of that offense.3

       3 Durrett cites to a recent decision by our Supreme Court, State v. Caton. 174 Wn.2d
239, 273 P.3d 980 (2012), in support of his contention that the weekly reporting registration
requirement is an essential element of the offense. He avers that, "[tjhe 'gravamen of the
offense' is the failure to register or report within the statutory deadline." Appellant's Br. at 7 (citing
Caton. 174Wn.2d at 242). But Caton is inapposite. There, the court addressed whether the
defendant's conviction of failure to register as a sex offender was supported by sufficient
evidence. Caton. 174 Wn.2d at 240. The registration requirement with which the defendant
allegedly failed to comply required that he "'report, in person, every ninety days to the sheriff of
the county where he or she is registered.'" Caton. 174 Wn.2d at 241 (quoting RCW
9A.44.130(7)). Thatsubsection of the statute also provided that "'[reporting shall be on a day
specified by the county sheriffs office.'" Caton, 174Wn.2d at 241 (quoting RCW 9A.44.130(7)).
Although the defendant reported within ninety days, he did not do so on the precise date
indicated by the sheriffs office. Caton, 174Wn.2d at 242-43. The court reversed hisconviction,
holding that "[t]he gravamen of the offense is failure to report every 90 days, notfailure to report
on a specific date." Caton, 174 Wn.2d at 242. The court's analysis was limited to the particular

                                                  -8-
No. 68120-6-1/9

       Because the requirement that Durrett report weekly to the sheriffs office is

not an essential element of the offense of failure to register as a sex offender, the

information was constitutionally adequate. Thus, we reject Durrett's assertion to

the contrary.4
                                                Ill

       Durrett additionally contends that the "to convict" instruction given to the

jury was constitutionally inadequate. Again, he asserts that this is because it did
not include as an essential element the requirement that Durrett report weekly to

the county sheriff. Because, as explained above, the requirement that Durrett
report weekly to the county sheriff does not constitute an essential element ofthe
offense of failure to register as a sex offender, this challenge similarly fails.

        "[A] 'to convict' instruction must contain all ofthe elements ofthe crime
because it serves as a 'yardstick' by which the jury measures the evidence to

determine guilt or innocence." State v. DeRvke. 149 Wn.2d 906, 910, 73 P.3d
1000 (2003) (quoting State v. Smith, 131 Wn.2d 258, 263, 930 P.2d 917 (1997)).
In reviewing the constitutional adequacy of a "to convict" instruction, the
reviewing court may not supply a missing element by relying upon other jury
instructions. DeRvke, 149 Wn.2d at 910. We review de novo the adequacy of a

registration requirement at issue therein, and the court did not address the essential elements of
the offense of failure to register as a sex offender.
        4Where an information contains the essential elements of a crime, we may nevertheless
determine that its "inartful language" prejudiced the defendant such that he or she was not
apprised of the nature of the crime. Kiorsvik. 117Wn.2d at 106. Durrett does not, however,
contend that he was prejudiced by the language ofthe information. Rather, he asserts only that
the information omitted an essential element of the offense. Thus, having determined that the
information contained the essential elements of the offense, we do not address the question of
prejudice.

                                               -9-
No. 68120-6-1/10

"to convict" instruction. State v. Mills. 154 Wn.2d 1, 7, 109 P.3d 415 (2005).

       Here, the "to convict" instruction provided:

              To convict the defendant of the crime of failure to register as
       a sex offender as charged, each of the following elements of the
       crime must be proved beyond a reasonable doubt:
             (1) That during a time intervening between November 2,
       2009, and January 29, 2010, the defendant was required to register
       as a sex offender;
             (2) That during a time intervening between November 2,
       2009 and January 29, 2010, the defendant knowingly failed to
       comply with the requirement of sex offender registration.
             (3) That the act occurred in the State of Washington.

A definitional instruction provided the particular compliance provision relevant in

this case:

              A person commits the crime of failure to register as a sex
       offender when that person, having been convicted of a sex offense
       for which he is required to register as a sex offender with the county
       sheriffs office, knowingly fails to comply with the requirements of
       sex offender registration.
             A requirement of sex offender registration is that a person
       who lacks a fixed residence must report weekly, in person, to the
       sheriff of the county where he or she is registered. The weekly
       report shall be on a day specified by the county sheriff's office, and
       shall occur during normal business hours.

       As explained above, the essential elements of the offense of failure to

register as a sex offender are the knowing failure to comply with the registration
requirements set forth in the statute. Thus, contrary to Durrett's contention, the
"to convict" instruction is not constitutionally inadequate because it does not set

forth the particular registration requirement with which Durrett failed to comply.

Indeed, we have previously rejected this precise argument, holding that a "to

convict" instruction was adequate where it provided that, during the specified

time period, "the defendant knowingly failed to comply with the requirements of

                                        -10-
No. 68120-6-1/11

sex offender registration." Bennett, 154 Wn. App. at 206. Moreover, the jury was

properly instructed regarding the definition of the particular registration

requirement with which Durrett failed to comply. See Allen, 2013 WL 259383, at

*7 (noting that, although the "true threat" concept was not an element of the

offense, the jury was properly instructed regarding the definition of "true threat" in

a separate instruction). The "to convict" instruction included the essential

elements of the offense of failure to register as a sex offender, and, thus, it was

constitutionally adequate.

       Affirmed.

We concur:

 i~j.