Court Opinion

ID: 4464962
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-12-17 19:18:32.259088+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:28:07.795458
License: Public Domain

Filed
                                                                                     Washington State
                                                                                     Court of Appeals
                                                                                      Division Two

                                                                                    December 17, 2019

    IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON

                                       DIVISION II
 STATE OF WASHINGTON,                                             No. 51777-9-II

                Appellant/Cross-Respondent,

           v.

 CORY PRATT,                                                   PUBLISHED OPINION

                Respondent/Cross-Appellant.

       MELNICK, J. — The superior court sentenced Cory Pratt under the special sex offender

sentencing alternative (SSOSA). The State appeals the SSOSA sentence. It argues that Pratt did

not qualify for this sentencing option because he did not have the required statutory connection

with the victim to qualify for a SSOSA sentence.

       Pratt cross-appeals and argues that the court abused its discretion in excluding proposed

expert testimony about the phenomena of sexsomnia to support Pratt’s defense. He argues that

this exclusion violated his Sixth Amendment right to the United States Constitution to present a

defense.

       We affirm the conviction and remand for resentencing.
51777-9-II

                                                FACTS

        The State charged Cory Pratt with child molestation in the first degree based on an

allegation by MB that Pratt had sexually assaulted her while they were both sleeping in a tent for

her cousin’s birthday sleepover party.1 The party occurred at the home of Pratt’s aunt and uncle.

MB is the daughter of Pratt’s aunt’s stepsister.

        Before trial, Dr. C. Kirk Johnson, a psychologist, evaluated Pratt to determine if he suffered

from a sleep disorder called sexsomnia.            Sexsomnia is an abnormal activity, similar to

sleepwalking, that involves people engaging in sexual acts during sleep. Johnson concluded that

a possible explanation for Pratt’s actions included sexsomnia, but he could not confirm it

happened. Johnson further concluded that no psychological evaluation could determine if a

particular behavior did or did not occur. Johnson reported that Pratt completely denied engaging

in the alleged conduct and “[r]egarding sexsomnia, Mr. Pratt does not feel that this is the case,

saying that this has not been a past problem.” Clerk’s Papers (CP) at 201.

        At a pretrial evidentiary hearing, Pratt indicated he wanted Johnson to testify as an expert

at trial about sexsomnia. Although Johnson could not conclude that Pratt had the disorder, he

would testify that sexsomnia exists. Pratt wanted to use this testimony to support his general denial

defense. Pratt wanted to argue at trial that if a person is asleep, they cannot be guilty because any

touching would not have been done for the purpose of sexual gratification.2 Pratt viewed being

asleep as a general denial.

1
 Pratt was also charged with attempted child molestation in the first degree. The court dismissed
the charge without prejudice as a lesser included crime pursuant to double jeopardy.
2
  Sexual gratification is not an element of child molestation in the first degree, but it is a definition
that clarifies the meaning of the element “sexual contact.” State v. Lorenz, 152 Wash. 2d 22, 36, 93
P.3d 133 (2004); RCW 9A.44.083.

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51777-9-II

        The State moved to exclude the testimony on grounds of relevance. The trial court

expressed concern that calling an expert to testify about sexsomnia could amount to “a back door

diminished capacity.” Report of Proceedings (RP) (Sept. 19, 2017) at 65. The trial court granted

the State’s motion to exclude.

        The case proceeded to trial where the testimony established the following: The young

guests at the party slept in a tent set up in the back yard. Pratt attended the party with his daughter,

who had requested that Pratt sleep in the tent with her because she was scared. The day after the

sleepover, MB told her parents that she had woken up to Pratt touching her.

        MB’s parents reported the touching and an investigator from the Children’s Justice Center

(CJC) conducted a taped interview with her. In that interview, MB told the investigator that she

had never met Pratt and had never met his daughter until the party.

        An investigator also conducted a taped interview with Pratt. Pratt stated that he may have

met MB’s family years ago, because his aunt and uncle have had “get togethers” that included

MB’s parents, but he could not say with certainty if their children had also attended. RP (Oct. 2,

2017) at 118. When asked if he had any interaction with MB at the party before the guests went

to bed, Pratt replied “Not really. About the most I had was . . . I handed out the skewers that had

the marshmallows on . . . handing that to her was about the most that I had with her.” RP (Oct. 2,

2017) at 118. When asked if he had any conversations with MB, Pratt replied “Not really” but on

the day after the party, she sat near him and he thinks he asked her name. RP (Oct. 2, 2017) at

118-19.

        Several witnesses also testified to the relationship between MB and Pratt. Pratt’s aunt said

MB met Pratt but she did not know when. She added that she and her long time husband saw Pratt

often because he always received invitations to parties. However, she did not know if Pratt and

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51777-9-II

MB had “really talked to each other ever.” RP (Oct. 2, 2017) at 135. Pratt’s aunt told the jury that

MB’s parents may have said “hi and bye” to Pratt but otherwise she didn’t think they ever really

had a conversation with each other. RP (Oct. 2, 2017) at 136.

       MB’s mother did not know Pratt, never interacted with him, never had a conversation with

him, and never met him. To her knowledge, they had never been at a gathering at the same time,

and Pratt had never met her husband. To her knowledge, MB had never had any interaction with

Pratt. To his knowledge, MB’s father had never met or spoken to Pratt nor had his daughter.

       Pratt, on the other hand, conclusively remembered meeting MB’s parents at a specific party

before the alleged incident. He did not, however, remember meeting MB before the sleepover.

       Pratt waived a jury and the court found Pratt guilty of child molestation in the first degree.

       Over the State’s and the victim’s objections, the court imposed a SSOSA disposition. The

court entered findings of fact regarding the SSOSA sentence.3 The factual findings included that

“the Defendant knew of the Victim, and had been acquainted with the Victim’s family,” and that

“the Victim and Defendant had contact during the course of said party other than the actions that

constitute the crime herein.” CP at 99.

       The State appealed the sentence.        Pratt cross-appealed the exclusion of Johnson’s

testimony.

3
  “The court shall give great weight to the victim’s opinion” on whether a defendant should receive
treatment under SSOSA. When the SSOSA disposition is given contrary to the victim’s opinion,
the court shall enter written findings stating its reasons for imposing such a sentence. RCW
9.94A.670(4).

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                                           ANALYSIS

I.     IMPOSITION OF SSOSA

       The State can appeal a sentence that is based on an erroneous legal conclusion or that is

imposed contrary to law. State v. Willhoite, 165 Wash. App. 911, 914, 268 P.3d 994 (2012). A party

may also challenge the underlying facts and legal conclusions relied on by the court in imposing a

sentencing option. Willhoite, 165 Wash. App. at 914. Additionally, RAP 2.2(b)(6)(C) allows the

state to appeal a criminal sentence that “includes provisions that are unauthorized by law.”

       The SSOSA statute states in relevant part:

       (2) An offender is eligible for the special sex offender sentencing alternative if:

       (a) The offender has been convicted of a sex offense other than a violation of RCW
       9A.44.050 or a sex offense that is also a serious violent offense.
       ....

       (e) The offender had an established relationship with, or connection to, the victim
       such that the sole connection with the victim was not the commission of the crime

RCW 9.94A.670.

       A.      Eligibility for a SSOSA Sentence

       The State argues that substantial evidence does not support the trial court’s factual findings

that Pratt had been acquainted with MB’s family and that Pratt and MB had contact at the party,

other than the molestation. Because the factual findings were not supported by substantial

evidence, the court erred in finding that Pratt had a connection to the victim such that the sole

connection with the victim was not the commission of the crime. Connection with the victim is a

statutory requirement for an offender to be eligible for a SSOSA sentence; therefore, the court

erred in granting the SSOSA sentence.

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51777-9-II

               1.      Legal Principles

       Appellate review of a trial court's findings of fact and conclusions of law is limited to

determining whether the trial court's findings of fact are supported by substantial evidence in the

record and, if so, whether the conclusions of law are supported by those findings of fact. Scott v.

Trans-Sys. Inc., 148 Wash. 2d 701, 707-08, 64 P.3d 1 (2003). Substantial evidence is evidence

sufficient to persuade a fair-minded, rational person of the finding's truth. State v. Stevenson, 128
Wash. App. 179, 193, 114 P.3d 699 (2005).

       A trial court cannot impose a SSOSA sentence if the defendant does not meet the statutory

criteria. State v. Adams, 119 Wash. App. 373, 376-77, 82 P.3d 1195 (2003); RCW 9.94A.670(2).

We review eligibility for a SSOSA sentence de novo, because it is a matter of statutory

interpretation. State v. Landsiedel, 165 Wash. App. 886, 889, 269 P.3d 347 (2012).

       We employ statutory interpretation “‘to determine and give effect to the intent of the

legislature.’” State v. Evans, 177 Wash. 2d 186, 192, 298 P.3d 724 (2013) (quoting State v. Sweany,

174 Wash. 2d 909, 914, 281 P.3d 305 (2012)). To determine legislative intent, we first look to the

plain language of the statute considering the text of the provision in question, the context of the

statute, and the statutory scheme as a whole. Evans, 177 Wash. 2d at 192. If the plain language of

the statute is susceptible to more than one reasonable interpretation, the statute is ambiguous. State

v. Ervin, 169 Wash. 2d 815, 820, 239 P.3d 354 (2010). We first attempt to resolve the ambiguity and

determine the legislature’s intent by resorting to other indicia of legislative intent, including

legislative history, and relevant case law. Ervin, 169 Wash. 2d at 820.

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51777-9-II

               2.      Analysis

       At issue are the court’s findings that “the Defendant knew of the Victim, and had been

acquainted with the Victim's family” and that “the Victim and Defendant had contact during the

course of said party other than the actions that constitute the crime herein.” CP at 99.4

       There is conflicting evidence whether Pratt was “acquainted” with MB’s family. In the

interview with CJC, when asked if he had met MB before, Pratt said that he may have met the

family years ago, but he could not be certain if their children had also attended. At trial, he stated

conclusively that he remembered meeting MB’s parents at a specific party before the incident.

Pratt said that he played volleyball with MB’s father at the party. He stated that he did not

remember meeting MB before the sleepover.

       Both MB’s mother and father testified that neither they nor their daughter had ever met or

spoken to Pratt. However, Pratt’s aunt stated that they had met, even if it was “hi and bye.” MB

told the investigator that she had never met Pratt and had never met his daughter.

       In regard to Pratt and MB’s interaction at the party, Pratt admitted he had “handed out the

skewers that had the marshmallows on . . . handing that to her was about the most that I had with

her.” RP (Oct. 2, 2017) at 118. He also testified that the day after the party, she was sitting near

him and he thinks he asked her what her name was. MB told the CJC investigator that she had

“tried not to” talk to him the day after the incident. RP (Oct. 2, 2017) at 296

       Although the evidence is minimal and conflicting, it is sufficient to persuade a fair-minded

rational person that “the Defendant knew of the Victim, and had been acquainted with the Victim’s

family,” and that “the Victim and Defendant had contact during the course of said party other than

4
 Although the SSOSA statute addresses the relationship between the offender and the victim,
RCW 9.94A.670, the court’s findings addressed the relationship between the offender and the
victim’s family. As such, we review the findings for substantial evidence.

                                                  7
51777-9-II

the actions that constitute the crime herein.” CP at 99. We determine that the findings of fact are

supported by substantial evidence.

       Having made that determination, we next review de novo if the conclusions of law are

supported by the findings of fact. We conclude that the conclusion of law, that Pratt had a

connection to the victim such that the sole connection to the victim was not the commission of the

crime, does not flow from the findings of fact.

       To be eligible for a SSOSA sentence, Pratt must have a connection with MB independent

of the crime. The statute requires that “[t]he offender had an established relationship with, or

connection to, the victim such that the sole connection with the victim was not the commission of

the crime.” RCW 9.94A.670(2)(e). None of the court’s findings of fact establish this required

connection.

       RCW 9.94A.670(2)(e) is susceptible to two possible interpretations.               The word

“established” could either modify only “relationship” or it could modify both “relationship” and

“connection.”     We conclude the word “established” modifies both “relationship” and

“connection,” meaning that the statute requires an “established relationship with” or an

“established connection to” the victim.

       In this case, it is clear that Pratt did not have an “established connection,” with MB.5 Pratt

and MB met for the first time at the party. Other than the sexual molestation, their only connections

involved Pratt giving MB a skewer with marshmallows and asking MB her name.

5
  Neither party argues that Pratt and MB had an established relationship. Neither the record nor
the findings of fact would support such a conclusion.

                                                  8
51777-9-II

       While we interpret the statute as indicated above, we recognize that even if “established”

does not modify “connection,” Pratt and MB’s connection is too attenuated to satisfy the statutory

requirement and Pratt is ineligible for a SSOSA disposition.

       In interpreting the SSOSA eligibility statute under this alternative, we first look to the

dictionary, which defines connection as “a person connected with others by marriage, remote blood

relationship, or such a tie as a common interest.” WEBSTER’S THIRD NEW INT’L DICTIONARY 481

(3d ed. 2002).

       Connection could be subject to multiple meanings, depending on how close the legislature

intended the connection to be. It could mean two people connected very closely or very distantly

by blood or marriage. A familial connection by marriage could extend infinitely. 6 Because

connection is subject to more than one meaning, we look to legislative history and relevant case

law to determine legislative intent. Ervin, 169 Wash. 2d at 820.

       Because a family would be more likely to report abuse if a court had sentencing alternatives

other than incarceration, one of the original purposes of a SSOSA sentence included promoting

the reporting of sex crimes by children against family members. See State v. Jackson, 61 Wn.

App. 86, 92, 809 P.2d 221 (1991) (“providing alternatives to confinement had resulted in increased

reporting of sex crimes, especially in the case of intrafamily abuse”). In 2004, the legislature added

that to be eligible for a SSOSA sentence an offender had to have “an established relationship with,

or connection to, the victim” apart from the commission of the crime. RCW 9.94A.670(2)(e);

6
  There is a sociological theory, based on a study published in 1967, that every person on the planet
is separated from any other person by only six associations. This theory sparked a popular board
game called “Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon” where players must link one actor to the actor Kevin
Bacon within six associations. Thomas MacMillan, The Classic Study That Showed the World Is
Smaller Than You Think, THE CUT (Mar. 14, 2018), https://www.thecut.com/2018/03/the-history-
of-the-six-degrees-of-separation-study.html.

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51777-9-II

LAWS OF 2004, ch. 176, § 4. The House Bill report stated that “[t]he majority of sex crimes against

children are committed by people who have a relationship with the child. For those kids and their

parents, you have to have the SSOSA option available. If the treatment option is eliminated, people

will go underground.” S.B. REP. ON H.B. 2400, 58th Leg., Reg. Sess. (Wash. 2004). By limiting

SSOSA eligible sentences to a specific group, the legislature intended to restrict who the courts

could sentence under this option. The legislature’s goal included promoting reporting and

protecting children. “Persons guilty of victimizing our children must serve time. A message must

be sent for the sake of children—if you do the crime, you do hard time. This bill will give families

and victims justice.” S.B. REP. ON H.B. 2400.

       The legislature intended the connection between the victim and the offender to be close

enough that a SSOSA sentence would encourage reporting despite that connection. It was not

meant to apply to an offender who could not remember meeting or speaking to the victim before

the incident and had nothing beyond a possible “hi-bye” acquaintance with her parents. MB’s

familial relationship to Pratt is also tenuous. MB’s mother’s stepsister is married to Pratt’s uncle.

The legislature did not intend to make a person eligible for a SSOSA sentence based on this type

of attenuated connection. We are also mindful that the connections articulated by the court in its

findings of fact are, for the most part, between the victim’s family and Pratt, not the victim, MB,

and Pratt.

       In reviewing the dissent, it becomes clear that if we were to adopt the dissent’s reasoning,

any connection between the offender and the victim, no matter how attenuated or tenuous it was,

would qualify an offender for a SSOSA sentence. This reasoning would render the meaning of

the statute superfluous and lead to absurd results. We presume the legislature does not intend

absurd results and we interpret statutory language to avoid absurdity. Ervin, 169 Wash. 2d at 824.

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51777-9-II

       We conclude that Pratt is not eligible for a SSOSA sentence and we remand for

resentencing.7

II.    CROSS-APPEAL: EXCLUSION OF EXPERT TESTIMONY

       Pratt argues that the trial court abused its discretion by excluding Johnson’s testimony and

that such exclusion violated his constitutional right to present a defense under the Sixth

Amendment to the United States Constitution. He argues the court utilized the wrong standard for

excluding the evidence. We disagree with Pratt.

       A.        No Abuse of Discretion

       We review a trial court's evidentiary rulings for abuse of discretion. State v. Clark, 187
Wash. 2d 641, 648, 389 P.3d 462 (2017). A trial court abuses its discretion when its decision is

manifestly unreasonable, or when it is based untenable grounds or untenable reasons. State v.

Blackwell, 120 Wash. 2d 822, 830, 845 P.2d 1017 (1993). A decision is based on untenable grounds

“‘if it rests on facts unsupported in the record or was reached by applying the wrong legal

standard.’” State v. Dixon, 159 Wash. 2d 65, 75-76, 147 P.3d 991 (2006) (quoting State v. Rohrich,

149 Wash. 2d 647 654, 71 P.3d 638 (2003)).

       Expert testimony is admissible “[i]f scientific, technical, or other specialized knowledge

will assist the trier of fact to understand the evidence or to determine a fact in issue, a witness

qualified as an expert by knowledge, skill, experience, training, or education, may testify thereto

in the form of an opinion or otherwise.” ER 702. “Under ER 702, expert testimony will be

considered helpful to the trier of fact only if its relevance can be established.” State v. Atsbeha,

142 Wash. 2d 904, 917-18, 16 P.3d 626 (2001). “Evidence is relevant if a logical nexus exists

7
  Because we have determined that Pratt is not eligible for a SSOSA sentence, we do not address
the State’s other arguments.

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51777-9-II

between the evidence and the fact to be established.” State v. Burkins, 94 Wash. App. 677, 692, 973
P.2d 15 (1999).

        We can affirm a trial court on any legal grounds supported by the record. State v. Costich,

152 Wash. 2d 463, 477, 98 P.3d 795 (2004).

        Here, the trial court stated it was excluding Johnson’s testimony because it could amount

to “a back door diminished capacity.” RP (Sept. 19, 2017) at 65. Pratt entered a defense of general

denial and sought to introduce Johnson’s testimony to support it. On appeal, Pratt argues instead

that Johnson’s testimony would support the claim that he was asleep, which he argues is a defense

of lack of volition.

        Washington courts have recognized a defense of involuntary action due to sleepwalking,

“‘where, at the time of the [crime], the [offender] was clearly unconscious [whereby], such

unconsciousness will constitute a defense, as in the case of a homicide committed by one in a state

of somnambulism, or while delirious from disease.’” State v. Utter, 4 Wash. App. 137, 141-42, 479
P.2d 946 (1971) (quoting 1 O. WARREN & B. BILAS, WARREN ON HOMICIDE § 61 (perm. ed. 1938)).

However, the court “recogniz[ed] that the theory of involuntary or automatistic acts is ‘similar to

one of mental incapacity,’ though ‘distinct from that concept.’” State v. Deer, 175 Wash. 2d 725,

734, 287 P.3d 539 (2012) (quoting Utter, 4 Wash. App. at 141). The defense of involuntary action

as a result of being asleep, therefore, should not be treated as one of diminished capacity. Instead,

involuntariness due to sleep is an affirmative defense that must be proved by the defendant by a

preponderance of the evidence. Deer, 175 Wash. 2d at 733-34.

        Once the court properly determined that Pratt could not meet the evidentiary requirements

to present a defense of diminished capacity, Pratt proffered Johnson’s testimony to prove that

sexsomnia is a recognized psychiatric disorder. Pratt agreed to limit the testimony to saying that

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51777-9-II

there are documented cases where it has occurred. Although the court excluded the evidence for

the wrong reason, the evidence was properly excluded. It had no relevance. “‘Relevant evidence’

means evidence having any tendency to make the existence of any fact that is of consequence to

the determination of the action more probably or less probably than it would be without the

evidence.” ER 401.

       Johnson could not testify that Pratt suffered from sexsomnia either on the night of the

sexual molestation or ever. The fact that this disorder exists is irrelevant without some tendency

to make the existence of sexsomnia of consequence to the determination of the action more

probable than it would without the evidence. No nexus existed between Pratt, sexsomnia, and his

actions on the night of the molestation.

       Therefore, the court properly excluded Johnson’s testimony because it was irrelevant to

both the general denial defense and to a defense of lack of volition. No “logical nexus exists

between the evidence and the fact to be established.” Burkins, 94 Wash. App. at 692.

       B.      Sixth Amendment Violation

       The United States Constitution and the Washington State Constitution guarantee

defendants the right to present a defense. U.S. CONST. amend. VI, XIV; WASH. CONST. art. I, §

22; State v. Wittenbarger, 124 Wash. 2d 467, 474, 880 P.2d 517 (1994); State v. Yokel, 196 Wash. App.
424, 433, 383 P.3d 619 (2016). Accordingly, a defendant has a “right to present a defense

‘consisting of relevant evidence that is not otherwise inadmissible.’” State v. Mee Hui Kim, 134
Wash. App. 27, 41, 139 P.3d 354 (2006) (quoting State v Rehak, 67 Wash. App. 157, 162, 834 P.2d
651 (1992)). But, “‘a criminal defendant has no constitutional right to have irrelevant evidence

admitted in his or her defense.’” Mee Hui Kim, 134 Wash. App. at 41 (quoting State v. Thomas, 150
Wash. 2d 821, 857, 83 P.3d 970 (2004)). We review the court’s evidentiary decision for an abuse of

                                               13
51777-9-II

discretion. State v. Blair, 3 Wash. App. 2d 343, 350-52, 415 P.3d 1232 (2018). If the court did not

abuse its discretion in excluding evidence, then there is no error. Blair, 3 Wash. App. 2d at 350-52.

       The court properly excluded Johnson’s testimony. Pratt has no constitutional right to have

irrelevant evidence admitted in his defense. We conclude that no violation of Pratt’s constitutional

right to present a defense occurred.

       We affirm the conviction and remand for resentencing.

                                                             Melnick, J.

I concur:

       Lee, J.

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51777-9-II

         MAXA, C.J. (dissenting in part) – I agree that Cory Pratt’s conviction should be affirmed.

I disagree with the majority’s conclusion that Pratt was not eligible for a Special Sex Offender

Sentencing Alternative (SSOSA) sentence under RCW 9.94A.670(2)(e).

         RCW 9.94A.670(2) states that an offender is eligible for a SSOSA sentence if six

requirements are satisfied. The only requirement at issue here is contained in RCW

9.94A.670(2)(e) – that “[t]he offender had an established relationship with, or connection to, the

victim such that the sole connection with the victim was not the commission of the crime.”

         The majority focuses on the nature of the relationship or connection between the offender

and the victim, and concludes that a relatively minimal connection is not sufficient under RCW

9.94A.670(2)(e). But the majority ignores the second part of that subsection. The relationship or

connection need only be enough that “the sole connection with the victim was not the

commission of the crime.” Therefore, the real question is not whether the connection between

the offender and the victim rose to a certain level. The question is whether the sole connection

between the offender and the victim was the commission of the crime.

         Here, it is undisputed that the sole connection between Pratt and MB was not the

commission of the crime. Pratt and the victim were both invited to, and attended, the same

birthday party. There was a tangential family connection between Pratt’s family and the victim’s

family. And Pratt had a face-to-face connection with the victim – he handed her a skewer for

roasting marshmallows. In fact, the trial court made a specific finding of fact – which the

majority concludes is supported by substantial evidence – that Pratt and MB “had contact during

the course of [the] party other than the actions that constitute the crime herein.” Clerk’s Papers

at 99.

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51777-9-II

         Given this evidence and the trial court’s factual finding, RCW 9.94A.670(2)(e)

necessarily was satisfied here. Pratt and MB had some connection before the crime was

committed. And the sole connection between Pratt and MB was not the commission of the

crime.

         Whether the trial court here should have imposed a SSOSA sentence in the exercise of its

discretion is a separate issue. But Pratt clearly was eligible for a SSOSA under the plain

language of RCW 9.94A.670(2)(e).

                                                             Maxa, C.J.

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