Court Opinion

ID: 1033310
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-07-09 20:26:51.755223+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:18:40.529630
License: Public Domain

July 9,2013

                                                                In the Office of the Clerk oFCourt
                                                              WW State Court of Appeals, Division 111

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

STATE OF WASHINGTON,                          1
                                              1         No. 30089-7-111
                     Respondent,              1
                                              1
       v.                                     1
                                              1
NIBARDO ANDRADE MENDOZA,                      1         UNPUBLISHED OPINION
                                              1
                     Appellant.               1
       SIDDOWAY, -Nibardo Andrade Mendoza was convicted of manufacture of a
               J.

controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance afier a large marijuana

grow operation was discovered at a greenhouse that he owned but had rented out for

several years. The State's theory was that he was an accomplice to the operation. Its

principal evidence against him was obtained in a search of his home and his brother's

home, which Mr. ~ n d r a d e used as a business address.
                              '

       He makes several assignments of error on appeal, but we find one dispositive: Mr.

Andrade received ineffective assistance of counsel when his lawyer failed to challenge

        The defendant is referred to as Mr. Andrade throughout the record, which
appears to be his preference.
NO. 30089-7-111
State v. Andrade Mendoza

probable cause for the search of his home and business address. We reverse the judgment

and sentence and remand for a new trial.

                    FACTS AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

       On July 18, 2010, firemen fighting a large wildfire in Yalcima County were sent to

Carvo Road to assess which homes and other structures located in the path of the fire

could be saved and should be the first to be protected. One of the firemen circled a

greenhouse at 23 1 Carvo Road whose windows wcre covered internally, in an effort to

see what, if anything, was inside. Through slits in the window coverings he saw a large

number of marijuana plants. The information was passed up the chain of command and

on to the Yakima County Sheriffs Department. Sheriffs detectives determined frorn

county records that Nibardo Andrade and his wife, Martha, were the property owners.

       By the time four Yaltirna County deputies arrived at the Carvo Road address, it

was dark. Upon detecting the strong sinell of marijuana and concluding it was a large

grow operation, the officers, concerned for their safety, decided to enter the buildings and

secure them rather than wait the 45 minutes to an hour it would take to get a search

warrant. Both the shop and the greenhouse were locked, so they rammed the doors,

entered, and made sure that no one was present in either building. Detective Robert

Tucker then prepared the paperwork to secure a telephonic search warrant for the

greenhouse and an adjacent shop.
No. 30089-7-111
State v. Andrade Mendoza

         A search warrant was obtained and search of the greenhouse produced many large

marijuana plants having an estimated value, in total, of three and a half million dollars.

Detectives estimated that the grow operation had been ongoing for at least two to three

years.

         The shop appeared to have been recently occupied as living quarters. Unspoiled

food was found in a kitchen area and male clothing was found in the bathroom. Evidence

located in the search of the shop included an envelope with a phone number on it, a retail

receipt, a March 2007 Hzgh Times magazine,* and a Grower's Supply catalog addressed

to "Nibardo Andrade or Current Occupant, Flora Care, 23 1 Carvo Road, Yaltiina."

Report of Proceedings (RP) at 204. Deputies also found other dominion papers, which

one detective explained was "anything that will have---that's been mailed to you that

shows at least you're receiving mail at that location, or possibly control over that

property." RP at 244. The other dominion papers were associated with a woman and

three men other than Mr. Andrade and included a power bill addressed to Julio Cesar

Torres and a bus ticket for a Mr. Areano.

         A few days later, Detective Tucker applied for a search warrant for two other

Yaltima properties-908     North 9th Avenue and 2603 West King Court-that        he had

determined to be addresses, respectively, for a landscaping business conducted by Mr.

          H g Times describes itself as featuring content about marijuana and other
           ih
currently illegal substances, as well as hemp and other cannabis-related subject matter.
No. 30089-7-111
State v. Andvade Mendoza

Andrade (Flora Care Nursery) and for Mr. Andrade's home. Detective Tucker's affidavit

included a four-and-a-half-page single-spaced recount of the basis for probable cause but

most was a detailed narrative of the earlier search of the Carvo Road greenhouse and

shop. The affidavit reported that during the Carvo Road search, officers located

unidentilied dominion papers in the bedroom of the shop that belonged to Mr. Andrade

and had found tax information addressed to Mr. Andrade in the living room. It

acknowledged that dominion papers had also been found for Victor Javier Arrelano and

Julio Cesar Torres and that the only address on any of the documents, including those

associated with Mr. Andrade, was 23 1 Carvo Road.

       The detective's only statements in the affidavit supporting a nexus between the

grow operation and Mr. Andrade's business and home addresses consisted of the

following:

       For the business address, 908 North 9th Avenue:

       Jesus Andrade (later determined to be Mr. Andrade's brother13 is listed as
       owner of this property.

       This is a prior address for Mr. Andrade.

       Detectives were told by several neighbors at the Carvo Road address that
       Mr. Andrade operates a landscaping business. They determined that he
       holds a business license for a landscaping business called Flora Care
       Nursery, which is shown as operating out of this residence addrcss.

         All of our refercnces to "Mr. Andrade" are to the defendant, Nibardo Andrade.
For clarity, we will use the first names of Jesus Andrade and his son, Jesus Andrade Jr.,
in referring to them.
No. 30089-7-111
State v. Andrade Mendoza

      Police saw a small blue barrel in the backyard, similar to a blue barrel
      observed at the greenhouse property.

      Police did not see any cars belonging to Mr. Andrade at this address,
      although a car located there appeared to match a vehicle seen in pictures
      postcd on the Auditor's Office site of the driveway at the 2603 West King
      Court address.

Clerk's Papers (CP) at 66-67.

      For Mr. Andrade's home address. 2603 West Kina Court:

      The Auditor's Office showed that Mr. Andrade owned this property and
      that it may be in foreclosure although he still resided there.

      He was listed as the grantor of a deed of trust on this property.

      Police received information that he was paying the utility bills for this
      address.

      Department of Licensing showed this as his residence address and that he
      had several vehicles registered at this address.

      Police saw a car in the driveway that was registered to Mr. Andrade at this
      address.

Id.
      Additional information included in the affidavit but not tied to either address

included the results of a criminal history check on Mr. Andrade, revealing two felony

convictions for drug-related crimes 22 years earlier (1988) in Oltanogan County; that

John Ferry, a neighbor on Carvo Road, saw Mr. Andrade tending to a waterline at the

Carvo Road property approxi~nately week before the July 18 fire but could not confir~n
                                 a

that Mr. Andrade had entered either building; that Mr. Ferry and another Carvo Road

neighbor had seen two other Hispanic males at the 23 1 Carvo Road property; and that
No. 30089-7-111
State v. Andrade Mendoza

another unidentified Carvo Road neighbor had seen the marijuana plants at the 23 1 Carvo

Road property during a windstorm when a piece of the plastic roof blew off.

       Detective Tucker concluded his statement of probable cause with the observation

that

              [affiant] believes that drug traffickinglmanufacturing is a continuous
       pattern of illegal acts and not just an isolated event. [Affiant] believes that
       ANDRADE is in possession of additional quantities of marijuana and drug
       paraphernalia for packaging, cutting, weighing, harvestinglgrowing
       equipment. [Affiant] additionally believes that ANDRADE will be in
       possession of documentation indicating dominion and control of the
       residence at 2603 West King Court in Yaki~na 23 1 Carvo Road in
                                                         and
       Yakiina along with documents related to the distributionimanufacturing of
       controlled substances such as crib notes, phone numbers, addresses and
       names o r associates in the drug trafficking organization, which can be
       stored inside of cellular telephones.

Id, at 68.

       A search warrant for the two properties was obtained and executed. Mr. Andrade

was arrested and brought to his home in handcuffs as police were serving the search

warrant. When Mr. Andrade asked why he was being arrested, the police said it was

because marijuana had been found on his property. He remarked he had suspected within

the last few months that there might have been a marijuana grow operation going on.

       Inside Mr. Andrade's home, officers found a number o r horticulture books and a

2009 issue of High Tinzes. Mr. Andrade told officers he acquired the magazine for

growing tips for the other plants he grew. Officers also found receipts from Lowe's for

bags of Organic Choice gardening soil, and keys, two of which opened a door to the
No. 30089-7-111
State v. Andvade Mendoza

Carvo Road shop. In file cabinets police Sound a 2007 lease agreement for the Carvo

Road property to Carlos Mai-tinez, a 2008 lease agreeinent to Endoc Mendoza, a 2009

lease agreement to Ruben Sosa, and a 20 10 lease agreement to Luis Algonoso Areano-

Areano. Photocopies of the lessees' identification cards were attached to the lease

copies. Detectives would later testify that they had tried to locate the several lessees

without success.

       Officers also found some scribbled notes in Spanish that said "Ranch Lease for

2010" on the top of the page. RP at 353. The notes were of inonthly payment amounts

that varied over the year and made reference to a bonus of $1,000 for each 10 pounds of

production. They included other rental obligations and conditions for a lessor and lessee.

       Outside the home. police found a number of empty plant pots and a large roll of

tarp that appeared to be a new greenhouse cover.

       Before trial, Mr. Andrade moved to suppress all of the State's evidence traceable

to the initial search of the Carvo Road property. I-Ie relied on the fact that officers had

entered the greenhouse before obtaining a search warrant and argued that no exception to

the warrant requirement applied. In a suppieinental motion, he argued that Detective

Tucker's affidavit in support of the search warrant for the Ninth Avenue and King Court

properties contained material oinissions and misrepresentations that, when stricken,

would invalidate the warrant. He did not otherwise challenge the search of the Ninth

Avenue and King Court properties. The trial court denied the suppression motions.

                                               7
NO. 30089-7-111
State v. Andvade Mendoza

       At trial, the State presented what it agreed was an overwhelmingly circumstantial

case supporting Mr. Andrade's liability as an accomplice in the grow operation. In

resisting a motion to dismiss at the end of its case, it summarized its evidence as

including proof that Mr. Andrade owned the property; that he had leased the greenhouse

for the three years the evidence suggested it was used for the grow operation; that his

testimony about his lease arrangements, rent collection, and possession at his home of a

High Times magazine was confused and not credible; and that the search of his home

produced evidence that he had purchased the same potting soil as was being used in the

grow operation.

       The State had also presented evidence impeaching the testimony of Mr. Andrade's

nephew, Jesus Andrade Jr. The State first called Jesus Jr. and asked if he had admitted

knowing anything about marijuana being grown at the greenhouse, which he denied. It

then called Detective Robert Hubbard, who testified that he had spoken to the then 18-

year-old nephew during the search of the boy's father's Ninth Avenue property. The

detective testified that Jesus Jr. told him his uncle purchased the greenhouse several years

earlicr and initially opera~ed nursery there, but that the last time Jesus Jr. had been to
                             a

the greenhouse-in    2008-his   uncle told him that he was renting it to men who were

growing marijuana and that he should stay away.

       Mr. Andrade presented evidence that he and his wife bought the Carvo Road

property in 2005 with the intention of operating Flora Care Nursery to sell flowers and
NO. 30089-7-111
State v. Andrade Mendoza

grow products for his landscaping business. Their initial plan had been to operate it

together. The situation with his wife changed, he was left to operate it alone, and he was

unable to operate successfully given the demands of his landscaping business. At the

time of his arrest, Mr. Andrade was working as a landscaper and as a social worker at

Memorial Hospital. Mr. Andrade testified that after briefly living at the property, he

moved back to the city and beginning in late 2007 rented out the property to others. He

testified that monthly rent for the Carvo Road property was paid by the tenants in cash.

       The jury found Mr. Andrade guilty as charged. It inadc a finding by special

verdict that the crime was a major violation of the Uniform Controlled Substances Act,

chapter 69.50 RCW. The court imposed an exceptional sentence of 36 months 011count

one based on the special verdict finding, and a concurrent high-end standard range

sentence of 6 months on count two. Mr. Andrade appeals.

                                        ANALYSIS

       Mr. Andrade raises several issues on appeal, two of which the State concedes. We

find his claim of ineffective assistance of counsel to be dispositive. Mr. Andrade argues

that there was no tactical reason for his trial lawyer not to move to suppress the fruits of

the search of the Ninth Avenue business address and his home for lack of probable cause,

that the failure to move to suppress that evidence was ineffective assistance, and that he

was prejudiced by the failure. We agree.
No. 30089-7-111
State v. Andrade Mendoza

       The Sixth Amendment guarantees the right to counsel. An attorney must perform

to the standards of the profession; failure to live up to those standards will require a new

trial when ihe client has been prejudiced by counsel's failure. State v. McFarland, 127

Wn.2d 322, 334-35, 899 P.2d 1251 (1995). To demonstrate ineffective assistance of

counsel, a defendant must show that his lawyer's representation was deficient and the

deficient representation prejudiced the defendant. Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S.

668, 687, 104 S. Ct. 2052, 80 L. Ed. 2d 674 (1984). An attorney's representation is

deficient when his perforrnance falls below an objective standard of reasonableness.

State v. Stenson, 132 Wn.2d 668,705,940 P.2d 1239 (1997). Prejudice occurs when, but

for the deficient performance, there is a reasonable probability that the outcome would

have been different. State v. Reichenbach, 153 Wn.2d 126, 130, 101 P.3d 80 (2004). A

claim for ineffective assistance presents a mixed question of law and fact, which

appellate courts review de novo. State v. Cross, 156 Wn.2d 580, 605, 132 P.3d 80

(2006); State v Cham, 165 Wn. App. 438,445, 267 P.3d 528 (201 I), modiJied on

remand, noted at 172 Wn. App. 1002 (2012).

       "Judicial scrutiny of counsel's performance must be highly deferential" and "a

court must indulge a strong presumption that counsel's conduct falls within the wide

range of reasonable professional assistance; that is, the defendant must overcome the

presumption that, under the circuinsiances, the challenged action 'might be considered
No. 30089-7-111
State v. Andrade Mendoza

sound trial strategy.'" Strickland, 466 U.S. at 689 (quoting Michel v. Louisiana, 350 U.S.

91, l01,76 S. Ct. 158, 100 L. Ed. 83 (1955)).

       Mr. Andrade argues persuasively that there was no legitimate tactical rcason for

not moving to suppress the evidence obtained in the search of the Ninth Avenue and King

Court homes. There was no evidence he was a principal in the marijuana grow operation;

the State's evidence established at best that he was an accomplice. Its case was

circumstantial and substantially depended on evidence seized in the second search. Some

of the evidence seized was arguably helpful to Mr. Andrade, so if he had not testified one

might presume that his lawyer elected to allow the evidence to come in so he could rely

on any that helped. Mr. Andrade did testify, howevcr, so he was in a position to present

whatever evidence was helpful, subject to legitimate impeachment.

       The only strategy the State suggests for the trial lawyer's failure to challenge

probable cause is that success with the suppression motion that he did make-to       suppress

evidence from the search of Carvo Road-would       invalidate all of the search warrants.

While true, that does not explain why a reasonable lawyer would forgo a motion that

could result in suppression of most ofthe State's evidence, even if not all of it.

       Although we presume the effectiveness of counsel, the presumption fails if there is

no legitimate tactical explanation for his or her actions. State v Aho, 137 Wn.2d 736,

745-46. 975 P.2d 512 (1999). Here, the State's circumstantial case would have been

~naterially
          weakened without the fruits of the second search, yet Mr. Andrade's lawyer
NO. 30089-7-111
State v. Andrade Mendoza

did not challenge probable cause for the warrant despite a serious question whether there

was a sufficient nexus between the information in thc possession of police on July 23 and

Mr. Andrade's home or business address. Counsel's conduct was therefore deficient. Cf
Reichenbach, 153 Wn.2d at 130-3 1.

       We also conclude that failure to make the suppression motioil was prejudicial.

When the record demonstrates a motion to suppress material evidence would liltely be

granted, the failure to move for suppression is prejudicial. State v. Rainey, 107 Wn. App.

129, 136, 28 P.3d 10 (2001).

       A search warrant may issue only upon a determination of probable cause. Slate v.

Cole, 128 Wn.2d 262, 286, 906 P.2d 925 (1995). An application for a warrant must state

the underlying facts and circumstances on which it is based to facilitate a detached and

independent evaluation of the evidence by the issuing magistrate. State v. Smith, 93

W11.2d 329, 352,610 P.2d 869 (1980). The affidavit in support of the search warrant

must adequately show circumstances that extend beyond suspicion and mere personal

belief that evidence of a crime will be found on the premises to be searched. State v.

Klinger, 96 Wn. App. 619, 624, 980 P.2d 282 (1999) (citing State v. Seagull, 95 Wi1.2d

898,907,632 P.2d 44 (1981)).

       Probable cause requires not only a nexus between criminal activity and the item to

be seized but also a nexus between the item to be seized and the place to be searched.

State v. Thein, 138 Wn.2d 133, 140, 977 P.2d 582 (1999). "Absent a sufficient basis in

                                             12
No. 30089-7-111
State v. Andrade Mendoza

fact from which to conclude evidence of illegal activity will likely be found at the place

to be searched, a reasonable nexus is not established as a matter of law." Id. at 147.

       Thein is on all fours in demonstrating the insufficiency of Detective Tucker's

afkidavit to establish probable cause for the second warrant. In Tkein, the police executed

a valid search warrant on a house containing a marijuana grow operation. During the

search the police uncovered several copies of inoney orders from McKone (a suspect,

living in the house) made out to Stephen Thein, bearing the notation "rent." Several

individuals told the police that a Inan named "Steve" was McKone's landlord and one of

the people who supplied McKone with marijuana. Thein did not reside at the house. In

addition to the money orders, evidence relating to Thein found at the house included a

box of nails addressed to Thein at his own residence address. It also included boxes of

oil filters, one of which was marked "Toyota." Police determined that Thein owned a

1994 Toyota truck, a inodel that the oil filters fit.

       The Supreme Court found that the nails and oil filter were innocuous and

incapable of establishing a nexus between the grow operation and Thein's residence. It

rejected the State's argument for a per se rule that a nexus is established "where there is

sufficient evidence to believe a suspect is probably involved in drug dealing and the

suspect resides at the place to be searched." Id. at 141. It agreed with Thein that even if

police had probable cause to believe he was involved in a grow opcration, there was no

evidence connecting any illegal activity to his residence.

                                               13
NO. 30089-7-111
State v. Andrade Mendoza

       In light of Thein and other Washington cases establishing the nexus requirement, a

motion challenging the existence of probable cause for the second search warrant was

lilcely to be granted. A trial court ruling on the probable cause to support a magistrate's

warrant sits in an appellate-like capacity, with its review limited to the four corners of the

affidavit supporting probable cause. State v. Neth, 165 Wn.2d 177, 182, 196 P.3d 658

(2008). Although deference is given to the magistrate's determination, the assessment of

probable cause is a legal conclusion. State v. Chamberlin, 161 Wn.2d 30, 40, 162 P.3d

389 (2007). To repeat Thein: "Absent a sufficient basis in fact from which to coilclude

evidence of illegal activity will likely be found at the place to be searched, a reasonable

nexus is not established as a matter of law."

       Concluding that the motion to suppress would likely have been granted does not

entirely answer the issue of prejudice, for we must still consider the impact on the trial of

a decision excluding the evidence. The prejudicial effect of counsel's error is viewed

against the baclcdrop of the evidence in the record. State v. Hendrickson, 129 Wn.2d 61,

80,917 P.2d 563 (1996).

       Without the fruits of the second search, the State's only evidence against Mr.

Andrade was his name on a couple of iteins of mail addressed to him at the Carvo Road

address where he formerly worked and lived, and the blue barrels seen at both the

greenhouse (the former business location of the nursery) and the Ninth Avenue business

address (the business address of the nursery at the lime the warranl was served). The
No. 30089-7-111
State v. Andrade Mendoza

circumstantial evidence against him, then, would be substantially reduced by a

suppression decision in his favor.

        In his affidavit of probable cause Detective Tucker had stated that a neighbor, John

Ferry, had seen Mr. Andrade on the property a week before the grow operation was

discovered but Mr. Ferry had written a letter to the court at the time of thc hearing on the

suppression motion stating he had been misunderstood. He was called as a defense witness

at trial and testified that he had not seen Mr. Andrade at the Carvo Road property in 2010

or, as far as he could recall, in 2009. The State made no effort to impeach Mr. Ferry.

        Because Mr. Andrade received ineffective assistance of counsel and the failure of

representation was prejudicial, we reverse the judgment and sentence and remand the

matter for retrial. Our disposition renders Mr. Andrade's other assignments of error

moot.

        Reversed and remanded for proceedings consistent with this opinion.

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

Washington Appellate Reports but it will be filed for public record pursuant to RCW
       ICORSMO, C.J. (concurring) - It was error under Thein' to issue the search warrant

for the home and office addresses. I do not agree that counsel provided ineffective

assistance since the evidence obtained at the defendant's home was inore important to the

defense case than for the prosecutor's case. Since the defendant challenged the warrants

generally, I believe that he can pursue his Thein argument in this appeal. Accordingly, I

concur in the result.

       The State's case against Nibardo Andrade was quite strong-he      owncd the

property where the grow operation was found and no one else was located there who

could be tied to the crime. There were dominion and control papers there that further tied

Mr. Andrade to the site.' Under those facts alone, the prosecutor had a pretty nice case

and the defense, to have a realistic chance of escaping liability, would want to show that

someone else grew the marijuana without Mr. Andrade's Imowledge. Aware that the

State had the rental agreements in hand and would liltcly introduce thein (along with the

other fruits of the house search) to further show defendant's control of the property, the

       IState v. Thein, 138 Wn.2d 133, 140, 977 P.2d 582 (1999).
       2
        There were also documents found thcre naming other people, but none of those
people were ever reported to have been at the scene.
No. 30089-7-111
State v. Andrade

defense had an easy way to point to someone else as the perpetrator(s) of the grow

operation.' The documents would clearly be inadmissible hearsay if offered by Mr.

Andrade. Since they added little to the State's overall case, it was reasonable for defense

counsel to not raise the Thein argument in the event his challenge to the original warrant

failed to result in suppression of the grow operation itself.

       Accordingly, I am not convinced that counsel erred by failing to make the specific

argument that Thein required suppression of the evidence froin the two secondary

locations. However, counsel did challenge all of the warrants generally as laclting

probable cause and he also specifically attacked the two secondary warrants although on

other grounds. For those reasons. I think he can maintain the l'lzein challenge here as

si~nply specific application of his probable cause argument. The necessary facts arc in
      a

the record due to the fact that he brought his suppression motion. Thus, his issue is

manifest and can be considered here. RAP 2.5(a); State v. McFarland, 127 Wn.2d 322,

899 P.2d 125 1 (1995).

       3
        If the prosecutor did not offer the documents, defense counsel inay well have
been able to offer thein during cross-examination of the detectivcs to impeach the State's
theory of the case.
No. 30089-7-111
State v. Andrade

      The majority correctly demonstrates that the Thein problem exists here.

Accordingly, I concur in its coilclusion that the evidence seized from the two secondary

locations should be suppressed and a new trial is required.