Court Opinion

ID: 2715084
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-08-06 17:13:36.629934+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:49:38.291014
License: Public Domain

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                                                                                                                 COURT
                                                                                                                 C,
                                                                                                                   URTtOF     APPEALS
                                                                                                                                   LI

                                                                                                               2014 JUN 1 U
                                                                                                                                    8: 39

      IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHIN

                                                        DIVISION II

STATE OF WASHINGTON,                                                                   No. 43585 -3 - II

                           Respondent /Cross -Appellant,

            v.

STEVEN CRAIG POWELL,                                                            PUBLISHED OPINION

                           Appellant /Cross -Respondent.

            WORSWICK, J. —               Steven Powell appeals his convictions for 12 counts of voyeurism,

arguing that the trial court erred by denying his CrR 3. 6 motion to suppress evidence seized
                                                                                                           Knapstadl

pursuant         to   an   invalid    search warrant.   The State   cross appeals   the trial   court' s

dismissal of the charge of second degree possession of depictions of a minor engaged in sexually

explicit conduct.

            Powell argues that the trial court erred by failing to make written findings of fact and

conclusions of law as required by CrR 3. 6, and ruling that the affidavit supporting the search

warrant established probable cause to issue the warrant. In its cross appeal, the State argues that

the legislature'           s   2010               to former RCW 9. 68A. 011( 3) ( 2002) expanded the definition

of sexually explicit conduct to include the conduct depicted within the images that Powell

possessed.

1
    State   v.   Knapstad, 107 Wn.2d 346, 729 P. 2d 48 ( 1986); CrR 8. 3( c).

2
    LAWS OF 2010,              ch.   227, § 3.
No. 43585 -3 -I1

          Because the trial court was not required to enter written findings and conclusions in this

case and the supporting affidavit established probable cause to issue the search warrant, we

affirm the trial court' s denial of Powell' s CrR 3. 6 motion. But because the legislature' s 2010

amendment to the definition of sexually explicit conduct expanded the definition to include the

conduct depicted within the images in Powell' s possession, we reverse the trial court' s Knapstad

dismissal of the charge of second degree possession of depictions of a minor engaged in sexually

explicit conduct and remand for further proceedings.

                                                          FACTS

A.        The Affidavit

          Joshua Powell was married to Susan Powell, who disappeared under suspicious

circumstances. The State investigated Susan' s disappearance as a kidnapping and murder;
                                                                        3
Joshua    was a person of      interest in her disappearance.               During the investigation, Joshua and his
                                                                                                                 4
father Steven Powell         stated   that   they had   over   2, 000   pages of   Susan' s journal   entries.

          The State requested a search warrant to search Powell' s house and to seize physical and

digital   copies     of Susan' s journal entries ( collectively Susan' s journals). The request stated:

          That, on or about the 6th day of December, 2009 in West Valley, Utah, felonies,
          to -wit: Murder in the First Degree, a violation of R.C. W. 9A.32. 030, Kidnapping,
          a violation of     R.C. W. 9A[.]
                                       40. 020, and Obstructing a Public Servant, a violation
          of R.C. W. 9A.76. 020, were committed by the act, procurement or omission of
          another, that the following evidence, to -wit:

          1.         Journals belonging to Susan Powell.

3 We refer to Joshua and Susan Powell by their first names for clarity. We intend no disrespect.
4
    Joshua     and   Powell lived together in Powell'          s   house.
No. 43585 -3 -II

             2.     Digital media to include but not limited to laptop computers, traditional
             tower desk top computers, any type of device that could store digital media such
             as electronic and or digital copies of Susan Powell' s journals.

              I] s material to the investigation or prosecution of the above described felony.

Clerk'   s   Papers ( CP)   at   52 -53.   The affidavit supporting the search warrant provided the

following facts:

             Your Affiant was told by Detective Maxwell, that assisting detectives recovered a
                   belonging to Susan Powell from her place of employment .... Detective
             journal
             Maxwell reviewed this journal and advised your Affiant of the following
             information....      Susan articulates when she was 19 years of age she was engaged
             to   Joshua Powell.           This journal also contains writings from Susan Powell
             describing marital discord between her and Joshua Powell from 2005 through and
             to her last entry on October 26, 2009.

             Detective Maxwell described to          your   A ff a nt that ...
                                                                i                 Joshua Powell and Steven
             Powell appeared on the NBC Today Show. The following facts were broadcasted
             on national television.   Joshua and Steven Powell admitted to possessing 2000
             pages of journal entries belonging to Susan Powell.

             Steven Powell has announced to the media the importance of these journals to the
             investigation because Susan Powell describes her relationships with males prior to
             Joshua Powell; her sexual[] fantasies, and it shows how unstable Susan Powell

             really is.   Steven Powell also announced that he and Joshua Powell plan on
             sharing / eleasing
                     r               more     journal   entries    in   the      coming   weeks   using   the
             susanpowell. org                The statement that they plan on releasing more
                                   webste. ...

             journal entries leads your Affiant to believe that they have, and are in the act of,
              or will be scanning and digitally storing additional copies of Susan Powell' s
             journals on their computers and or digital media devices.

CP at 58 -60.

B.           Search ofPowell' s House, Seizure of the Computer Disk, and CrR 3. 6 Motion

              The warrant to search Powell' s house and seize Susan' s journals was issued and the

police searched Powell' s house. During the search, the police seized a computer disk from

Powell' s bedroom, and later searched its contents. The disk contained photographic images of

female minors bathing and using the bathroom. Some of these images zoomed in on the minors'

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No. 43585 -3 -II

genitalia and breasts, covered and uncovered. The images were photographed from Powell' s

bedroom, through the window of a neighboring house.

          Based   on   these images, the State       charged    Powell   with   fourteen   counts of voyeurism5 and

one count of second degree possession of depictions of a minor engaged in sexually explicit

conduct.   6 In the State' s declaration for a determination of probable cause for the charges, the

State alleged that the police found images of unclothed minors bathing and using the bathroom in

Powell'   s   home,   and    that these   images   were " stored with ...     images of Steven Powell himself

 that] are sexual in nature and include images of him naked, images of his genitals, and images

of   him masturbating."         CP at 11.

          Powell made a CrR 3. 6 motion to suppress the images on grounds that the search warrant

was issued without probable cause. At the motion hearing, the attorneys argued the motion' s

merits, but did not present testimony or additional evidence. The trial court ruled that the

affidavit established probable cause to issue the search warrant, and denied Powell' s CrR 3. 6

motion. The trial court did not enter written findings or conclusions.

C.        Powell' sKnapstad Motion

          Powell made a Knapstad motion to dismiss the charge of second degree possession of

depictions of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Citing this court' s pre -2010

interpretations       of   former RCW 9. 68A. 011( 3)'     s   definition   of "sexually explicit conduct,"   Powell

argued that the minors in the images were not engaged in sexually explicit conduct. The State

argued that the legislature' s 2010 amendment to the definition of sexually explicit conduct

5 RCW 9A.44. 115.

6 RCW 9. 68A.070( 2).

                                                               4
No. 43585 -3 - II

expanded the definition to encompass the conduct depicted in the images. Based upon our pre-

2010 interpretations of the statutory definition of sexually explicit conduct, the trial court

dismissed the charge.

D.      Convictions and Appeal

        The jury convicted Powell of 14 counts of voyeurism, two of which the trial court

vacated on double jeopardy grounds. Powell appeals the trial court' s denial of his CrR 3. 6

motion. The State cross appeals the trial court' s Knapstad dismissal of the charge of second

degree possession of depictions of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

                                                  ANALYSIS

                     I. FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS ON POWELL' S CrR 3. 6 MOTION

        Powell argues that the trial court erred by failing to enter written findings of fact and

conclusions of law upon dismissing his CrR 3. 6 motion. The State argues that CrR 3. 6 did not

require the trial court to enter written findings and conclusions because it did not conduct an

evidentiary hearing. We agree with the State.

        We review a court rule' s construction de novo. State v. Robinson, 153 Wn.2d 689, 693,

107 P. 3d 90 ( 2005).       CrR 3. 6 states:

                    a)   Pleadings. Motions to    suppress ...   shall be in writing supported by an
        affidavit    or    document ....       The court shall determine whether an evidentiary
        hearing is required based upon the moving papers.
                    b) Hearing. If an evidentiary hearing is conducted, at its conclusion the
        court shall enter written findings of fact and conclusions of law.

Under CrR 3. 6( b),       the trial court is required to enter written findings and conclusions only if the

trial court decided to hold an evidentiary hearing on the CrR 3. 6 motion.

                                                         5
No. 43585 -3 - II

          Here, the trial court did not hold an evidentiary hearing. The CrR 3. 6 hearing was limited

to argument, and did not involve the admission or consideration of evidence. Because the trial

court did not conduct an evidentiary hearing on Powell' s CrR 3. 6 motion, it did not violate CrR

3. 6( b) by not entering written findings of fact and conclusions of law:

                               II. PROBABLE CAUSE FOR SEARCH WARRANT

          Powell next argues that the affidavit supporting the search warrant did not establish

probable cause because the affidavit failed to establish a nexus between criminal activity

 Susan'   s   kidnapping   and murder) and         the items to be    seized (   Susan' s journals). We disagree.

A.        Standard ofReview

          We review de novo the trial court' s legal conclusion of whether evidence meets the

probable cause standard.       State   v.   Neth, 165 Wn.2d 177, 182, 196 P. 3d 658 ( 2008).           But our de

novo review gives great deference to the issuing judge' s assessment of probable cause and

resolves any doubts in favor of the search warrant' s validity. State v. Chenoweth, 160 Wn.2d

454, 477, 158 P. 3d 595 ( 2007).        The issuing judge " is entitled to make reasonable inferences

from the facts and circumstances            set   out in the affidavit." State v. Maddox, 152 Wn.2d 499, 505,

98 P. 3d 1199 ( 2004).

          A search warrant may be issued only if the affidavit shows probable cause. State v.

Thein, 138 Wn.2d 133, 140, 977 P. 2d 582 ( 1999). To establish probable cause, the affidavit

supporting the     search warrant must " set[]           forth facts and circumstances sufficient to establish a

reasonable inference that the defendant is probably involved in criminal activity and that

evidence of     the crime can be   found      at   the   place   to be .
                                                                       searched."    Thein, 138 Wn.2d at 140. The

affidavit must establish "`    a nexus between criminal activity and the item to be seized, and also a

                                                                 6
No. 43585 -3 - I1

nexus   between the item to be    seized and   the   place   to be   searched. '   Thein, 138 Wn.2d at 140

 quoting State   v.   Goble,, 88 Wn. App. 503, 509, 945 P. 2d 263 ( 1997)). When reviewing the

issuing judge' s decision to issue a search warrant, our review is limited to the four corners of the

affidavit. Neth, 165 Wn.2d at 182.

         Powell does not challenge that the affidavit ( 1) set forth facts and circumstances

sufficient to establish a reasonable inference that Joshua was probably involved in Susan' s

kidnapping and murder, and ( 2) established a nexus between the items to be seized and the place

to be searched. The affidavit indisputably accomplished both tasks. Thus, the singular issue

before us is whether the affidavit established a nexus between criminal activity and the items to

be seized.

B.       Nexus Between Susan' s Kidnapping and Murder and Susan' s Journals

         Powell argues that the affidavit failed to establish a nexus between Susan' s kidnapping

and murder and Susan' s journals. We disagree for three reasons.

         First, the affidavit stated that the one journal in police custody discussed Susan' s marital

problems with Joshua, who was a person of interest in Susan' s kidnapping and murder. Powell

and Joshua had admitted to possessing other journal entries consisting of over 2, 000 pages. The

police did not know the dates Susan wrote the pages of journal entries in Powell and Joshua' s

custody, but they knew that Powell had announced that these entries were important as to the

investigation of Susan' s disappearance. These facts establish a reasonable inference that Susan' s

journals would have provided further information as to the relationship problems between Susan

and Joshua, a person of interest in Susan' s kidnapping and murder.

                                                         7
No. 43585 -3 -II

         Second, the affidavit stated that Powell announced to the media that Susan' s journals

provided information as to Susan' s state of mind. Information about Susan' s state of mind

would have provided critical evidence explaining the circumstances of Susan' s disappearance,

and whether those circumstances constitute kidnapping and murder.

         Third, Powell announced to the media that Susan' s journals discussed her prior romantic

relationships. Information about Susan' s prior romantic relationships would have assisted the

police in determining the existence of any additional persons of interest involved in Susan' s

kidnapping and murder.

         The affidavit established a nexus between criminal activity (Susan' s kidnapping and

murder) and       the items to be   seized (   Susan' s journals). Thus, we affirm the trial court' s denial of

Powell' s CrR 3. 6 motion.

                                III. CROSS APPEAL: DISMISSAL OF CHARGES

             The State argues that the trial court erroneously applied an outdated statutory definition

of sexually explicit conduct to dismiss the charge of second degree possession of depictions of a

minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct under Knapstad. We agree.

             The trial court may dismiss a charge without prejudice on a Knapstad motion when the

State' s pleadings fail to support a prima facie showing of all the elements of the crime charged.

State   v.   Snedden, 112 Wn.    App.    122, 127, 47 P. 3d 184 ( 2002) ( citing   State v. Knapstad, 107

Wn.2d 346, 352, 729 P. 2d 48 ( 1986)).            We review a trial court' s Knapstad dismissal de novo,

viewing the facts and all reasonable inferences from those,facts in the light most favorable to the

State. State v. O' Meara, 143 Wn. App. 638, 642, 180 P. 3d 196 ( 2008).

                                                            8
No. 43585 -3 - II

          We review issues involving statutory interpretation de novo and we interpret statutes to

give effect to the legislature' s intent. State v. Bunker, 169 Wn.2d 571, 577 -78, 238 P. 3d 487

 2010).    When interpreting a statute, we first examine the statute' s plain meaning. Bunker, 169

Wn.2d at 578. We generally give all statutory language effect so that no portion is rendered

meaningless or superfluous. State v. Roggenkamp, 153 Wn.2d 614, 624, 106 P. 3d 196 ( 2005).

          RCW 9. 68A.070( 2)( a) states:

          A person commits the crime of possession of depictions of a minor engaged in
          sexually explicit conduct in the second degree when he or she knowingly
          possesses any visual or printed matter depicting a minor engaged in sexually
          explicit conduct.

Former RCW 9. 68A.011( 3) provided the definition of sexually explicit conduct that applied to

RCW 9. 68A.070( 2)(     a).   This definition provided seven categories of sexually explicit conduct.

Former RCW 9. 68A.011( 3)(        a) —(
                                      g).   The category considered by the trial court was codified at

former RCW 9. 68A.011( 3):

          Sexually explicit conduct means actual or simulated:

                 e) Exhibition of the genitals or unclothed pubic or rectal areas of any
          minor, or the unclothed breast of a female minor, for the purpose of sexual
          stimulation of the viewer.

          We interpreted former RCW 9. 68A.011( 3)( e) in State v. Grannis, 84 Wn. App. 546, 930

P. 2d 327,   review   denied 133 Wn.2d 1018 ( 1997). In Grannis, we held that for a minor within a

depiction to be     engaged   in sexually   explicit conduct under   former RCW 9. 68A. 011( 3)(   e),   either

the minor whose conduct created the exhibition, or one who initiated, contributed to, or

influenced that minor' s conduct, had to have the purpose of sexually stimulating a viewer:

          By itself, an exhibition is inanimate and without any purpose of its own.
          Necessarily, then, its purpose is the purpose of the person or persons who initiate,
          contribute to, or otherwise influence its occurrence. The initiator or contributor

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No. 43585 -3 -II

         need not be the accused or the minor whose conduct is at issue. Whoever the
         initiator or contributor is, however, his or her purpose must be to sexually
         stimulate a viewer. If his or her purpose is different, the conduct will not be
         sexually explicit by virtue of [former] RCW 9. 68A.011( 3)( e).

84 Wn.   App.     at   549 -50 ( footnotes   omitted).   This court further explained:

         Here, [ the
                   count] is based on photographs showing the conduct of minor girls on a
         playground, and the conduct of one minor girl taking a bath. It is obvious and
         undisputed that none of the girls had a purpose of sexually stimulating a viewer,
         and there is no evidence that Grannis initiated, contributed to, or in any way
         influenced the girls' conduct. Thus, the evidence does not show an exhibition of
         the genitals or breasts for the purpose of sexually stimulating a viewer, or that the
         girls engaged in sexually explicit conduct within the meaning of [former] RCW
         9. 68A.011( 3).

                   Nothing said herein means that the Legislature could or could not
         criminalize conduct of  the sort at issue in this case. We hold only that it did not

         do so.

84 Wn.   App.     at   551 -52 ( emphasis    added) (   footnotes   omitted).   In State v. Whipple, we reaffirmed

the holding in Grannis on very similar facts. 144 Wn. App. 654, 659 -60, 183 P. 3d 1105 ( 2008)).

         In 2010, following Grannis and Whipple, the legislature passed ENGROSSED SUBSTITUTE

H.B. 2424, 61st        Leg., Reg.   Sess. ( Wash. 2010), which amended former RCW 9. 68A.011( 3)' s

definition of sexually explicit conduct:

            3))) ( 4) "   Sexually explicit conduct" means actual or simulated:

                e) Exhibition of the genitals or unclothed pubic or rectal areas of any
         minor, or the unclothed breast of a female minor, for the purpose of sexual
         stimulation of the viewer;

                       0)) • ;
                       f) Depiction of the genitals or unclothed pubic or rectal areas of any
         minor, or the unclothed breast of a female minor, for the purpose of sexual
         stimulation of the viewer. For the purposes of this subsection ( 4)( f), it is not

         necessary that the minor know that he or she is participating in the described
         conduct, or any aspect of it

 Emphasis added.)

                                                             10
No. 43585 -3 - I1

         The legislature' s 2010 amendment to former RCW 9. 68A.011( 3)' s definition of sexually

explicit conduct superseded Grannis and its progeny, by using " depiction" in place of

 exhibition."   Following this amendment, RCW 9. 68A.011( 4)( f)'s plain meaning is that the

person who creates the depiction, rather than the person who creates the exhibition that is

depicted,   must   have the " purpose      of sexual stimulation of       the   viewer."   Stated another way, the

creator of the " exhibition that is depicted" is the minor or one who initiates, contributes to, or

influences the minor' s conduct, but the creator of the " depiction" is the person who creates the

image, such as a photographer.

         RCW 9. 68A.011( 4)( f) lends further support to this interpretation with the added language

stating that " it is not necessary that the minor know that he or she is participating in the described
conduct, or   any   aspect of    it."   The plain meaning of this language shows that the legislature

intended to extend criminal liability to those who possess depictions made by secretly recording

minors without their knowledge.

         Here, a State pleading, namely the declaration for determination of probable cause for the

charges against Powell, states that the police found images in Powell' s home of unclothed

minors   bathing    and   using the bathroom,     and   that these images        were " stored with ...   images of

Steven Powell himself [that] are sexual in nature and include images of him naked, images of his

genitals, and   images     of   him masturbating."      CP   at   11.   Viewing the facts and all reasonable

inferences from those facts in the light most favorable to the State, this pleading supports a prima

facie showing of all the elements of second degree possession of depictions of a minor engaged

 7 Powell argues that this interpretation will unconstitutionally punish the sexual thoughts of the
 possessor of a depiction of an unclothed child, regardless of how " innocent" the depiction.
 Powell' s argument is based on the inaccurate premise that the purpose of the possessor controls.
 To the contrary, the purpose of the depiction' s creator controls.

                                                             11
No.. 43585 -3 -II

in sexually explicit conduct. The State' s pleadings support a prima facie showing that Powell,

the creator of the depictions in Powell' s possession, had the purpose of sexual stimulation of the

viewer ( Powell).   Thus, we reverse the trial court' s Knapstad dismissal of the charge of second

degree possession of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct and remand for reinstatement

of this charge and further proceedings.

        Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded.

We concur:
                                                                      Worswick, .
                                                                                    d°°*

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