Court Opinion

ID: 4523394
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-04-07 20:21:20.967042+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:25:58.057109
License: Public Domain

Filed
                                                                                            Washington State
                                                                                            Court of Appeals
                                                                                             Division Two

                                                                                              April 7, 2020

    IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON

                                           DIVISION II
 STATE OF WASHINGTON,                                                  No. 51817-1-II

                                 Respondent,

         v.

 MARCUS KEITH MCCLAIN,                                          UNPUBLISHED OPINION

                                 Appellant.

        MELNICK, J. — A jury convicted Marcus McClain of a felony domestic violence court order

violation. McClain argues that the State violated his substantive due process rights in the months

leading up to his trial when it failed to comply with the court’s order requiring that he be transferred

to the state hospital for a competency evaluation. He contends that this violation warrants reversal

of his conviction. He also argues that the State committed prosecutorial misconduct in its rebuttal

closing argument when it told the jury to disregard relevant evidence. In the event we conclude

that the argument was not prosecutorial misconduct, McClain contends that he received ineffective

assistance of counsel based on his attorney’s failure to object to the State’s argument. Finally,

McClain argues that the court erroneously calculated his offender score.

        We affirm McClain’s conviction but remand for the trial court to correct McClain’s

criminal history and offender score in his judgment and sentence.
51817-1-II

                                               FACTS

I.        BACKGROUND AND CONVICTION

          On July 22, 2016, the police responded to a call that McClain’s mother, Annette,1 was dead

in her apartment. Although the medical examiner later reported that Annette had died from natural

causes, the police initially treated her death as a potential homicide.

          During the investigation, Annette’s apartment manager reviewed surveillance footage from

July 20. She saw McClain entering and leaving the apartment complex. At this time, a no-contact

order prohibited McClain from contacting Annette. The no-contact order was entered in 2015,

and McClain’s signature appeared on it.

          The police interviewed McClain. After waiving his Miranda2 rights, McClain admitted to

visiting Annette in her apartment on July 20. They had an argument over his current dating

relationship, and a fight ensued in which Annette received injuries.

          The State charged McClain with two counts of a felony domestic violence court order

violation. Count I alleged a felony based on McClain’s two previous convictions for violating no-

contact orders. Count II alleged a felony because the conduct that violated the order constituted

an assault. McClain pled not guilty, and the court set a trial date.

          However, on May 5, 2017, the court found that McClain was not competent to stand trial.

Four days later, the court ordered that McClain receive competency restoration treatment at

Western State Hospital (WSH). The court’s order required McClain to be transported to WSH

within 7 days.

1
  Because McClain and his mother share the same last name, we refer to her by her first name. We
intend no disrespect.
2
     Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 86 S. Ct. 1602, 16 L. Ed. 2d 694 (1966).

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51817-1-II

       On June 13, when he still had not been transported to WSH, McClain filed a motion to

dismiss his criminal charges. The court denied McClain’s motion.

       On July 18, McClain was transferred and admitted to WSH for competency restoration

treatment. On August 30, the Department of Social and Health Services opined that McClain had

regained competency. Subsequently, the court found McClain competent to stand trial.

       At trial, Annette’s apartment manager testified that McClain sometimes came to the

apartment complex and that Annette would usually go to the main entrance to let him in. The

manager stated that the entrance McClain used on July 20 had cameras on both the inside and

outside of the building, whereas the other entrance only had a camera on the inside of the building.

Thus, she stated that the entrance McClain used would not be the best entrance if he had been

trying to avoid detection.

       McClain questioned both the police officer who responded to Annette’s apartment and the

detective assigned to investigate Annette’s death. He asked both whether they were aware if

Annette requested or wanted the no-contact order. Both responded that they did not know whether

she wanted it or not.

       McClain testified that he did not know an active no-contact order existed on July 20. He

and Annette had gone to court to have the order recalled, and the judge did so. Additionally,

McClain testified that Annette had told him that the order had been recalled and she showed him

paperwork confirming it had been. After the order had been recalled, he started visiting Annette

and helping her. McClain stated that he would not have gone to Annette’s apartment if he knew a

no-contact order existed. McClain denied both intentionally violating the no-contact order and

intentionally injuring Annette.

       McClain did admit to previously violating four court orders that restricted contact.

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51817-1-II

       The court then instructed the jury. Relevant here, the to-convict instruction for count I

required the jury to find, among other elements, that a no-contact order existed on July 20, 2016,

that McClain “knew of the existence of [the no-contact] order,” and that he “knowingly violated a

provision of th[e] order.” Clerk’s Papers (CP) at 117. Another jury instruction provided: “It is not

a defense to a charge of violation of a court order that a person protected by the order invited or

consented to the contact.” CP at 122.

       In the State’s closing argument, it recognized that it had to prove that McClain knew of the

existence of the no-contact order and argued that the evidence showed he did. The State also

discussed McClain’s testimony that the no-contact order had been recalled but noted that there was

“no evidence of that.” Report of Proceedings (RP) (Jan. 11, 2018) at 331.

       In McClain’s closing argument, he discussed entering Annette’s apartment through the

entrance with surveillance cameras. McClain argued how he and his mother would not have taken

such conspicuous actions if he believed a no-contact order existed. McClain also argued that he

would not have admitted to the detective who interviewed him that he visited Annette’s apartment

if he knew about the no-contact order. He later suggested that it was unclear whether the no-

contact order had in fact been recalled.

       McClain further argued that all the evidence showed was that a no-contact order existed in

2015, but “[t]here was no evidence that Annette . . . wanted this no contact order or she had not

taken steps to get this no-contact order recalled.” RP (Jan. 11, 2018) at 345-46.

       McClain concluded closing argument by conceding that the State had proven, among other

elements, that a no-contact order existed. However, the State had “not proven beyond a reasonable

doubt that he knew about the existence of the order.” RP (Jan. 11, 2018) at 355.

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51817-1-II

       In its rebuttal closing, the State argued that whether Annette wanted the order or not was

“not relevant to the proceedings.” RP (Jan. 11, 2018) at 367. The State continued:

       [W]hether or not [Annette] wanted that order is not an element the State has to
       prove. In fact, the jury instructions we talked about indicate that whether or not she
       even invites him over, wants the contact, that’s not a defense. You don’t get to
       reference that. So you need to disregard counsel’s arguments to that effect, is that
       it’s not a defense in this case whether or not she wanted this order or not.
                ....
                [McClain] doesn’t want you to believe that the order was in effect, but
       there’s no evidence that it wasn’t.

RP (Jan. 11, 2018) at 367, 369.

       The jury convicted McClain only of count I. The jury also returned a special verdict that

McClain and Annette were members of the same family or household.

II.    SENTENCING

       At sentencing, the State asserted that McClain had an offender score of 10 based on his

prior felony and misdemeanor convictions. The State produced certified copies of McClain’s prior

convictions. Relevant here, the State argued that felony convictions from 2005 and 2012 counted

as two points each and two misdemeanor convictions from 2014 counted as one point each.

       Regarding McClain’s 2012 felony conviction, the State presented the following evidence.

McClain pled guilty to a second amended information that included a charge of “Unlawful

Imprisonment DV” as count II. CP at 255.

       McClain’s 2012 judgment and sentence stated that the court found him guilty of unlawful

imprisonment domestic violence as charged in the second amended information. However, the

judgment and sentence stated: “The State has pleaded and proved that the crime charged in

Count(s) I involve(s) domestic violence.” CP at 229.

       Regarding McClain’s 2014 misdemeanor convictions, the State showed that it charged

McClain with two counts of violation of a court order. In addition, the crimes were against a

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51817-1-II

family or household member contrary to RCW 10.99.020. McClain pled guilty to the charges.

McClain’s judgment and sentence noted that he was charged with two counts of a no-contact

violation “DV.” CP at 271. For these charges, the court found that “domestic violence was pled

and proved.” CP at 271.

       The court found that McClain had an offender score of 10 and a standard range sentence

of 60 months. RCW 9.94A.515, .533(3)(c); RCW 9A.20.021. The State requested a standard

range sentence. McClain requested an exceptional sentence below the standard range of 24 months

of confinement.

       The court imposed an exceptional sentence below the standard range of 48 months of

confinement with 12 months of community custody. McClain appeals.

                                           ANALYSIS

I.     SUBSTANTIVE DUE PROCESS

       McClain argues that the 70-day delay in admitting him for competency restoration

treatment violated his substantive due process rights. McClain contends that the appropriate

remedy is for us to reverse his conviction and dismiss his case with prejudice. We disagree with

McClain’s proposed remedy.

       “‘Incompetency’ means a person lacks the capacity to understand the nature of the

proceedings against him or her or to assist in his or her own defense as a result of mental disease

or defect.” RCW 10.77.010(15).3 Under RCW 10.77.050, “[n]o incompetent person shall be tried,

convicted, or sentenced for the commission of an offense so long as such incapacity continues.”

3
 The statute was amended in 2016, which became effective in April 2018. LAWS OF 2016, ch. 29,
§ 408. However, where there has been no change in the relevant language, we cite to the current
version of the statute.

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51817-1-II

          When there is reason to doubt a defendant’s competency to stand trial, the trial court must

order an expert to evaluate the defendant’s mental condition. RCW 10.77.060(1)(a). Following

the evaluation, if the court finds the defendant incompetent, the court shall stay the criminal

proceedings and may commit the defendant to restoration treatment. RCW 10.77.084(1)(a)-(b).

If the defendant’s competency is restored following treatment, the court must lift the stay and

continue the proceedings. RCW 10.77.084(1)(c).

          The Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution “requires the State to admit

an incompetent defendant to a state hospital for competency restoration treatment within seven

days of the order calling for treatment.” State v. Hand, 192 Wash. 2d 289, 296, 429 P.3d 502 (2018).

The State violates an incompetent criminal defendant’s substantive and procedural due process

rights when it refuses to admit them to restorative treatment in a timely manner. Hand, 192 Wash. 2d

at 296.

          Hand has nearly identical facts to what occurred here. In Hand, after finding the defendant

incompetent, the trial court ordered that WSH admit the defendant for restorative treatment within

15 days. 192 Wash. 2d at 292. After WSH failed to comply with the order, the defendant filed

various motions, including motions to dismiss alleging due process violations. Hand, 192 Wash. 2d

at 292, 298. The court denied the motions. Hand, 192 Wash. 2d at 292-93. WSH eventually admitted

the defendant for treatment 76 days after the court’s order. Hand, 192 Wash. 2d at 298. After being

found competent, he was convicted. Hand, 192 Wash. 2d at 293.

          Although the court concluded that the delay violated the defendant’s substantive due

process rights, the court also concluded that dismissal with prejudice, the defendant’s proffered

remedy, was “simply not warranted under the[] facts.” Hand, 192 Wash. 2d at 302.

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51817-1-II

       The facts of McClain’s case are very similar to those in Hand. Here, the court found that

McClain was not competent to stand trial and ordered that McClain receive competency restoration

treatment at WSH within 7 days. After the court’s deadline passed, McClain filed a motion to

dismiss. The court denied McClain’s motion.

       McClain was eventually transported to WSH 70 days after the trial court issued its order,

while the defendant in Hand was transported 76 days after the court’s order. Subsequently, the

court found McClain competent to stand trial, and he was later convicted. On appeal, McClain

argues that his convictions should be dismissed with prejudice.

       We conclude that Hand controls because the facts here are nearly identical to those in Hand

and the relief McClain seeks is identical to the relief sought in Hand. Accordingly, we conclude

“that dismissal with prejudice is not warranted.” Hand, 192 Wash. 2d at 302.4

II.    PROSECUTORIAL MISCONDUCT

       McClain argues that the State committed prosecutorial misconduct in its rebuttal closing

argument because its argument relieved the State of its burden to prove McClain’s knowledge

beyond a reasonable doubt. McClain contends that the argument was flagrant and ill-intentioned

because it went to the only disputed element and could not have been cured by an instruction. We

disagree.

       A.      Legal Principles

       “Prosecutorial misconduct may deprive a defendant of his constitutional right to a fair

trial.” In re Pers. Restraint of Glasmann, 175 Wash. 2d 696, 703-04, 286 P.3d 673 (2012). To prevail

on a claim of prosecutorial misconduct, a defendant must show that “in the context of the record

4
 McClain makes an identical argument in his statement of additional grounds for review. We do
not independently consider this argument. State v. Thompson, 169 Wash. App. 436, 493, 290 P.3d
996 (2012).

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51817-1-II

and all of the circumstances of the trial, the prosecutor’s conduct was both improper and

prejudicial.” Glasmann, 175 Wash. 2d at 704.

       We review the prosecutor’s conduct and whether prejudice resulted therefrom “by

examining that conduct in the full trial context, including the evidence presented, ‘the context of

the total argument, the issues in the case, the evidence addressed in the argument, and the

instructions given to the jury.’” State v. Monday, 171 Wash. 2d 667, 675, 257 P.3d 551 (2011)

(internal quotation marks omitted) (quoting State v. McKenzie, 157 Wash. 2d 44, 52, 134 P.3d 221

(2006)).

       During closing argument, a prosecutor “has wide latitude in drawing and expressing

reasonable inferences from the evidence.” State v. Hoffman, 116 Wash. 2d 51, 95, 804 P.2d 577

(1991). But a prosecutor may not argue facts not in evidence or make arguments appealing to a

jury’s passion that prejudices the defendant. State v. Belgarde, 110 Wash. 2d 504, 507-08, 755 P.2d
174 (1988); State v. Boehning, 127 Wash. App. 511, 519, 111 P.3d 899 (2005).

       In a prosecutorial misconduct claim, a defendant who fails to object to improper conduct

may be deemed to have waived the issue on appeal unless the prosecutor’s statements are so

flagrant and ill-intentioned that the resulting prejudice could not be corrected by a jury instruction.

State v. Emery, 174 Wash. 2d 741, 760-61, 278 P.3d 653 (2012). The defendant must show that no

curative instruction would have eliminated the prejudicial effect and the misconduct resulted in

prejudice that had a substantial likelihood of affecting the verdict. Emery, 174 Wash. 2d at 761. The

focus of this inquiry is more on whether the resulting prejudice could have been cured, rather than

the flagrant or ill-intentioned nature of the remarks. Emery, 174 Wash. 2d at 762.

       Here, the court instructed the jury that, to convict McClain, it had to find beyond a

reasonable doubt that a no-contact order existed on July 20, 2016, that McClain knew of the

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51817-1-II

existence of the no-contact order, and that he knowingly violated the order. Additionally, the court

instructed the jury that it was not a defense if Annette invited or consented to McClain contacting

her.

       At trial, McClain testified that he and Annette went to court and the judge had recalled the

no-contact order. He also testified that Annette had shown him the paperwork recalling the order.

However, no corroborating evidence existed.

       In the State’s closing, it told the jury that it had the burden of proving every element of the

crimes beyond a reasonable doubt. It then argued the supporting evidence.

       In his closing, McClain argued how the evidence only showed that a no-contact order was

issued in 2015. He claimed that no evidence suggested whether Annette wanted the no-contact

order or whether she had taken steps to recall the order. While McClain’s argument focused on

the fact that he did not believe an order was in place, he also asked the jury: “If there’s a no-contact

order in place, would [he] be so open and blatant about the[] no-contact order violation?” RP (Jan.

11, 2018) at 342. He also suggested that it was unclear whether the no-contact order had in fact

been recalled.

       The State’s rebuttal closing argued that, because no evidence suggested that the order was

not in place on July 20, whether Annette did or did not want the no-contact order was irrelevant as

to whether the order had in fact been recalled.

       We conclude that the State’s argument was proper. While McClain conceded in closing

argument that the State had proved the existence of the no-contact order, much of his testimony

seemed to dispute that element. Additionally, a reasonable view of McClain’s closing argument

is that he used the evidence that Annette did not want the no-contact order to dispute both whether

the order was in fact in place on July 20 and whether he knew of the order’s existence at that time.

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51817-1-II

       Thus, because McClain’s testimony and closing argument appeared to dispute the existence

of a no-contact order on July 20, 2016, the State properly argued that Annette not wanting the no-

contact order was irrelevant.

III.   INEFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL

       McClain argues that the he received ineffective assistance of counsel when his attorney

failed to object to the above-described argument by the State and that he suffered prejudice. We

disagree.

       The Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution and article I, section 22 of the

Washington State Constitution guarantee the right to effective assistance of counsel. Strickland v.

Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 685-86, 104 S. Ct. 2052, 80 L. Ed. 2d 674 (1984); State v. Grier, 171
Wash. 2d 17, 32, 246 P.3d 1260 (2011).

       We review claims of ineffective assistance of counsel de novo. State v. Sutherby, 165
Wash. 2d 870, 883, 204 P.3d 916 (2009). To prevail on a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel,

the defendant must show both that defense counsel’s representation was deficient and that the

deficient representation prejudiced the defendant. Grier, 171 Wash. 2d at 32-33. If either prong is

not satisfied, the defendant’s claim fails. In re Pers. Restraint of Davis, 152 Wash. 2d 647, 673, 101
P.3d 1 (2004).

       Representation is deficient if, after considering all the circumstances, the performance

“falls ‘below an objective standard of reasonableness.’”      Grier, 171 Wash. 2d at 33 (quoting

Strickland, 466 U.S. at 688). “The burden is on a defendant alleging ineffective assistance of

counsel to show deficient representation based on the record established in the proceedings

below.” State v. McFarland, 127 Wash. 2d 322, 335, 899 P.2d 1251 (1995). We do not consider

matters outside the trial record. State v. Linville, 191 Wash. 2d 513, 525, 423 P.3d 842 (2018).

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51817-1-II

Additionally, where the appellant claims ineffective assistance based on his trial counsel’s failure

to object, the appellant must also show that such an objection, if made, would have been successful

in order to establish deficient performance. State v. Gerdts, 136 Wash. App. 720, 727, 150 P.3d 627

(2007).

          As discussed above, we conclude that the State did not make an improper argument.

Therefore, McClain’s counsel was not deficient for failing to object. Gerdts, 136 Wash. App. at 727.

IV.       OFFENDER SCORE

          McClain argues that the court erroneously calculated his offender score as 10, when it

should have been 6. McClain contends that two of his prior felonies should have only counted as

one point and two prior misdemeanors should have counted as zero points.

          The State agrees that McClain’s 2005 felony conviction should only have counted as one

point. However, the State argues that the court properly counted his other prior offenses. We

agree with the State.

          A.     Legal Principles

          Under Washington’s Sentencing Reform Act of 1981, the standard sentencing range for

any given offense is a function of the offense’s seriousness level and the defendant’s offender

score. RCW 9.94A.525. The offender score is calculated by counting the prior and current

convictions in accordance with RCW 9.94A.525. The State has the burden to prove prior criminal

convictions by a preponderance of the evidence. State v. Ramirez, 190 Wash. App. 731, 733, 359
P.3d 929 (2015). Current felony offenses are treated as if they were prior offenses when scoring

the other crimes being sentenced. RCW 9.94A.525(1), .589(1)(a). “We review offender score

calculations de novo.” State v. Hernandez, 185 Wash. App. 680, 684, 342 P.3d 820 (2015).

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51817-1-II

       B.      Prior Felonies

       Generally, if the current conviction is a nonviolent offense, prior felony convictions count

as one point. RCW 9.94A.525(7). However, where the current offense is a felony domestic

violence offense as defined in RCW 9.94.A.030, each adult prior felony conviction, where

domestic violence was pleaded and proven after August 1, 2011, counts as two points. RCW

9.94A.525(21)(a).

       Under RCW 9.94A.030(20), “‘[d]omestic violence’ has the same meaning as defined in

RCW 10.99.020 and 26.50.010.” Under RCW 10.99.020(5), “domestic violence” includes but is

not limited to certain crimes, including unlawful imprisonment and violations of a no-contact

order, when committed by one family or household member against another.

       The parties agree that the McClain’s 2005 conviction occurred before August 1, 2011;

therefore, it should have only been counted as one point. We agree.

       Regarding McClain’s 2012 conviction, McClain pled guilty to count II, unlawful

imprisonment—domestic violence, and count III, assault in the third degree. In his statement on

plea of guilty, McClain acknowledged that the amended information charged him with “Unlawful

Imprisonment DV” as count II. CP at 255. The court found McClain “guilty as charged.” CP at

264.

       McClain’s 2012 judgment and sentence stated: “The State has pleaded and proved that the

crime charged in Count(s) I involve(s) domestic violence.” CP at 229. McClain did not plead

guilty to count I, and nowhere else in the judgment and sentence does it mention count I.

       We conclude that the scrivener’s error described above does not mean that the State failed

to plead and prove that McClain’s unlawful imprisonment charge involved domestic violence.

Therefore, the trial court properly counted McClain’s 2012 conviction as two points.

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51817-1-II

       C.     Prior Misdemeanors

       McClain argues that the court erroneously counted his two 2014 misdemeanor convictions

as one point each. McClain contends that because the judgment and sentence “only list[ed] the

offenses as ‘DV’ without specifying whether domestic violence, under any definition, was pleaded

or proved,” those misdemeanors did not fall within RCW 9.94A.525(21)(d). Br. of Appellant at

28. We disagree.

       Generally, prior misdemeanors do not count toward a defendant’s offender score. State v.

Rodriguez, 183 Wash. App. 947, 955 n.4, 335 P.3d 448 (2014).               However, under RCW

9.94A.525(21)(d), if the current offense is a felony domestic violence offense as defined in RCW

9.94A.030, a prior misdemeanor counts as one point if it was “a repetitive domestic violence

offense as defined in RCW 9.94A.030, where domestic violence as defined in RCW 9.94A.030,

was pleaded and proven after August 1, 2011.” See Rodriguez, 183 Wash. App. at 957-58.

       “Repetitive domestic violence” is defined as:

               (ii) Domestic violence violation of a no-contact order under chapter 10.99
       RCW that is not a felony offense;
               (iii) Domestic violence violation of a protection order under chapter 26.09,
       26.10, ***26.26, or 26.50 RCW that is not a felony offense.

Former RCW 9.94A.030(42) (2018).

       In 2014, the State charged McClain with two counts of violation of a court order, domestic

violence, contrary to RCW 10.99.020. McClain pled guilty. In his statement on plea of guilty,

McClain acknowledged that the elements of each crime were “set out in the charging document.”

CP at 266. McClain’s judgment and sentence noted that he was charged with two counts of a no-

contact violation “DV.” CP at 271. For these charges, the court found that “domestic violence

was pled and proved.” CP at 271.

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51817-1-II

          Although McClain’s judgment and sentence did not specifically mention the relevant

statutes, based on the above, we conclude that the State nonetheless carried its burden to prove by

a preponderance of evidence that McClain’s 2014 misdemeanor convictions were repetitive

domestic violence offenses as defined in chapter 9.94A RCW. Accordingly, we conclude that the

trial court properly counted each misdemeanor conviction as one point.

          Thus, the trial court erroneously calculated McClain’s offender score as 10, when it should

have been 9. But, an offender score of 9 still gave McClain the same standard range. See RCW

9.94A.515, .533(3)(c); RCW 9A.20.021; State v. King, 162 Wash. App. 234, 241, 253 P.3d 120

(2011).

          We affirm McClain’s conviction, but we remand for the trial court to correct McClain’s

criminal history and offender score in his judgment and sentence.

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

Washington Appellate Reports, but will be filed for public record in accordance with RCW 2.06.040,

it is so ordered.

                                                               Melnick, J.

We concur:

          Worswick, J.

          Lee, C.J.

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