Court Opinion

ID: 4254988
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-03-15 15:35:00.182129+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:44:32.244438
License: Public Domain

FILED
                                                                       MARCH 15, 2018
                                                                 In the Office of the Clerk of Court
                                                                WA State Court of Appeals, Division III

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

STATE OF WASHINGTON,                           )
                                               )         No. 34753-2-III
                     Respondent,               )
                                               )
       v.                                      )
                                               )         UNPUBLISHED OPINION
CHRISTOPHER GLEN STANDLEY,                     )
                                               )
                     Appellant.                )

       SIDDOWAY, J. — Christopher Glen Standley appeals his convictions following a

bench trial for five crimes committed during a roughly 12-hour-long drug- or withdrawal-

fueled spree. He challenges the sufficiency of the evidence and the trial court’s findings

on four counts, claims a violation of his constitutional protection against double jeopardy,

and contends his trial lawyer provided ineffective representation by not arguing at

sentencing that three of his crimes amounted to the same criminal conduct.

       The State reasonably concedes that two of the trial court’s convictions for second

degree assault violate the protection against double jeopardy, and we remand with

directions to vacate Mr. Standley’s conviction for one of the counts. While the evidence

was sufficient to support the remaining convictions, the trial court’s findings fall short of

supporting its conclusion that four of the counts were proved. We remand with directions
No. 34753-2-III
State v. Standley

to the trial court either to make further findings in support of its convictions on those

counts or to vacate those convictions. We otherwise affirm.

                       FACTS AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

       The State charged Christopher Standley with eight crimes, some in the alternative,

for a series of crimes committed against his former girlfriend and their drug dealer on

February 27, 2016. Mr. Standley does not assign error to most of the trial court’s

findings of fact,1 on which we largely base the following factual background.

       The first crime was Mr. Standley’s assault of his former girlfriend, Amanda

Hedrick. It took place in her car, where she and Mr. Standley, then essentially homeless,

were spending the night. For an hour, enraged because he believed Ms. Hedrick had

taken more than her share of heroin purchased from their dealer, Mason Beeman, Mr.

Standley brutally attacked her. He beat her with his closed fists, her boots, and a can of

food, and poked her repeatedly with a metal pin. There was also evidence at trial that

while intermittently smoking methamphetamine, he threatened to stab her with his knife.

He told her to write a letter to her family because she would be dead before sunrise if she

tried to leave or contact the police. Ms. Hedrick testified at trial that the car was locked

during the assault, and Mr. Standley would not let her leave.

       1
           He assigns error to only findings of fact 18 and 19. Br. of Appellant at 1.

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State v. Standley

       The next morning, Mr. Standley required Ms. Hedrick to join him on a forced

march across town to Mr. Beeman’s home. According to Ms. Hedrick, Mr. Standley

wanted to go there to “get to the bottom of why [the heroin] looked short.” Report of

Proceedings (RP) at 110. At one point during their trek, Mr. Standley told Ms. Hedrick

she needed to prostitute herself to get money to pay what she owed him, going so far as

to point out a man she should approach to offer sex for money.

       Once at Mr. Beeman’s home, Mr. Standley and Ms. Hedrick entered, Mr. Standley

accused Mr. Beeman of shorting him, and the two men argued and then fought. Although

Mr. Beeman testified he was eventually able to throw Mr. Standley out of his room, it

was not before Mr. Standley struck Mr. Beeman’s face with a small knife. Mr. Beeman

was hospitalized in intensive care for several days as a result. Ms. Hedrick was also

taken to the hospital, having sustained facial bruising and chipped teeth.

       In an amended information, the State charged Mr. Standley with the following

eight crimes, some charged in the alternative, as indicated:

    Count 1: Assault in the First Degree of Mr. Beeman under RCW
     9A.36.011(1)(a) (assault with intent to inflict great bodily harm, with a firearm or
     any deadly weapon or force or means likely to produce great bodily harm or death)
       OR IN THE ALTERNATIVE,
             Count 2: Assault in the Second Degree of Mr. Beeman under RCW
              9A.36.021(1)(a) (intentional assault that recklessly inflicts substantial
              bodily harm),
       OR IN THE ALTERNATIVE,

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State v. Standley

             Count 3: Assault in the Second Degree of Mr. Beeman under RCW
              9A.36.021(1)(c) (assault with a deadly weapon),
    Count 4: Assault in the First Degree of Ms. Hedrick under RCW
     9A.36.011(1)(c) (assault with intent to inflict great bodily harm that does inflict
     great bodily harm)
       OR IN THE ALTERNATIVE
             Count 5: Assault in the Second Degree of Ms. Hedrick under RCW
              9A.36.021(1)(a) (intentional assault that recklessly inflicts substantial
              bodily harm),
    Count 6: Attempt to Promote Prostitution in the First Degree under RCW
     9A.88.070, 9A.28.020(1),
    Count 7: Felony Harassment of Ms. Hedrick under RCW 9A.46.020(2)(b)(ii)
     (threat to kill), and
    Count 8: Unlawful Imprisonment of Ms. Hedrick under RCW 9A.40.040.

For the counts involving the assault on Mr. Beeman (counts 1 through 3), the State

included a special allegation that Mr. Standley was armed with a deadly weapon. For

counts 4, 5, 7 and 8 involving Ms. Hedrick, the State included a special allegation of

domestic violence.

       Mr. Standley’s two-day bench trial was completed on a Friday and the court

delivered its oral ruling the following Monday. It found Mr. Standley guilty of only a

second degree assault of Mr. Beeman, finding him guilty of both counts two and three. It

found him not guilty of the deadly weapon enhancement. It found him guilty of only a

second degree assault of Ms. Hedrick, with a domestic violence finding. It found him

guilty of the remaining charges of attempted first degree promoting prostitution, felony

harassment, and unlawful imprisonment.

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State v. Standley

       Written findings and conclusions were presented by the State at the time of

sentencing. Mr. Standley appeals.

                                        ANALYSIS

       We accept the State’s concession that Mr. Standley’s convictions for both means

of the second degree assault of Mr. Beeman charged in counts 2 and 3 violated his

guaranty against double jeopardy. We remand with directions to vacate one of the

convictions.

       Mr. Standley’s remaining arguments on appeal are first, that the trial court’s

findings of fact do not support its conclusion of guilt on four counts and with respect to

one of those counts, the evidence is insufficient; and, second, that his offender score and

sentencing range were incorrect due to a failure to treat three of his crimes as same

criminal conduct. He challenges the allegedly erroneous offender score and sentencing

ranges as both trial court error and the result of ineffective assistance of counsel. We

address the claimed errors in the order stated.

                             Insufficient evidence and findings

       Mr. Standley contends the trial court’s findings are insufficient to support its

conclusions that the State proved him guilty of attempted first degree promotion of

prostitution, the second degree assaults of Mr. Beeman and Ms. Hedrick, and felony

harassment.

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No. 34753-2-III
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       Following a bench trial, a trial court need not make findings on all the evidence

introduced, but its findings need to address all ultimate facts and material issues. State v.

Mewes, 84 Wn. App. 620, 622, 929 P.2d 505 (1997). “Ultimate facts are the essential

and determining facts upon which the conclusion rests and without which the judgment

would lack support in an essential particular.” Wold v. Wold, 7 Wn. App. 872, 875, 503

P.2d 118 (1972). In the absence of a finding on a material factual issue, we ordinarily

presume the party with the burden of proof failed to sustain its burden. State v. Armenta,

134 Wn.2d 1, 14, 948 P.2d 1280 (1997). But if a trial court’s findings are insufficient yet

it unequivocally concluded a crime was proved and the evidence was sufficient to prove

the crime’s essential elements, the remedy is to remand. See State v. Webb, 147 Wn.

App. 264, 270-71, 195 P.3d 550 (2008). The trial court can then correct any oversight in

making essential findings or, if there was no oversight, it must vacate the conviction.

       Mr. Standley concedes that the missing findings in support of the assault and the

felony harassment convictions might have been an oversight. With respect to the

attempted first degree promotion of prostitution charge, however, he argues that the

evidence is insufficient.

                     Attempted first degree promotion of prostitution

       RCW 9A.88.070(1) provides in relevant part that “[a] person is guilty of

promoting prostitution in the first degree if he or she knowingly advances prostitution: (a)

by compelling a person by threat or force to engage in prostitution.” Mr. Standley’s

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No. 34753-2-III
State v. Standley

argument on appeal focuses on the specific intent required for criminal attempt. “A

person is guilty of an attempt to commit a crime if, with intent to commit a specific crime,

he or she does any act which is a substantial step toward the commission of that crime.”

RCW 9A.28.020(1) (emphasis added). Mr. Standley contends the State’s evidence

proved at most equivocal intent, arguing:

              The facts suggest Mr. Standley intended to shame Hedrick and to
       vent his anger, not to get her to engage in prostitution. He may also have
       believed he could test her veracity or force her to confess by threatening to
       force her to prostitute herself.
              However, his actions show he did not intend for her to engage
       in prostitution. If his true aim had been to compel her to engage in
       prostitution, her refusal would have prompted him to use additional force
       or threats: the evidence showed he had no qualms about physical violence.

Br. of Appellant at 9 (citation omitted).

       “A person acts with intent or intentionally when he or she acts with the objective

or purpose to accomplish a result which constitutes a crime.” RCW 9A.08.010(1)(a).

“[I]ntent may be inferred from circumstantial evidence.” State v. Caliguri, 99 Wn.2d

501, 506, 664 P.2d 466 (1983). Additionally, “a trier of fact may infer that a defendant

intends the natural and probable consequences of his or her acts.” Id.

       In orally announcing its findings and conclusions, the trial court said:

       The [Court] finds that [Mr. Standley commanded Ms. Hedrick to sell
       herself] in all seriousness and it was not puffery and he was not joking.
       The Court finds the Defendant attempted to force Ms. Hedrick to engage in
       prostitution by threat or force as he was not making a mere request, rather
       he was demanding that she engage in prostitution and these demands were
       made within the events in which he terrorized and repeatedly, brutally and

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No. 34753-2-III
State v. Standley

       violently attacked her. This was an attempt to compel her into an act of
       submission and prostitution by threat or force. [Mr. Standley] is guilty on
       Count 6.

RP at 336-37.

       Ms. Hedrick testified clearly and unequivocally that Mr. Standley demanded she

engage in prostitution. Mr. Standley’s contention that he was not serious is nonetheless

one inference that can be drawn from the evidence. But another inference that can be

drawn is that Mr. Standley was serious, yet would not risk committing an assault in

public in the light of day. A further inference that can be drawn and appears to have been

drawn by the trial court in its oral ruling, is that Mr. Standley believed a verbal demand

would suffice in light of his brutalization of Ms. Hedrick that preceded it.

       The evidence supports the trial court’s findings relevant to the first degree

promotion of prostitution charge (count 6) to which Mr. Standley assigns error:

       18. During the walk, Mr. Standley struck Ms. Hedrick at least once, and
       told her that she would have to prostitute herself to make money that she
       owed him;
       19. At one point, Mr. Standley identified a male individual and told Ms.
       Hedrick that she needed to approach him and offer to sell him sexual
       favors. Ms. Hedrick refused to do so.

Clerk’s Papers at 23. The evidence is also sufficient to support a finding that Mr.

Standley acted with the specific intent to compel Ms. Hedrick by threat or force to engage

in prostitution. Because the omission of a finding of specific intent might have been an

oversight, remand of count 6 is appropriate.

                                               8
No. 34753-2-III
State v. Standley

                              Assaults and felony harassment

       Mr. Standley argues that the trial court’s findings are insufficient to support his

convictions for the second degree assaults of Mr. Beeman and Ms. Hedrick under RCW

9A.36.021(1)(a) (counts 2 and 5, respectively) because there was no finding that Mr.

Standley recklessly inflicted substantial bodily harm on either of them. Br. of Appellant

at 10. Because the record contains evidence sufficient to support a finding that Mr.

Standley recklessly inflicted substantial bodily harm on Mr. Beeman and Ms. Hedrick,

remand of counts 2 and 5 is appropriate.

       Mr. Standley argues that the trial court’s findings are insufficient to support his

conviction for felony harassment under RCW 9A.46.020 (count 7) because there were no

findings that Mr. Standley threatened to kill Ms. Hedrick or that his statements met the

definition of a “true threat.” Br. of Appellant at 11-12. To prove a “true threat,” which is

required by constitutional speech protections, the State must prove that “‘a reasonable

person would foresee the statement would be interpreted as a serious expression of

intention to inflict bodily harm upon or take the life of another person.’” Id. (quoting

State v. Schaler, 169 Wn.2d 274, 283, 236 P.3d 858 (2010)). Here again, because the

record contains evidence sufficient to support such findings, remand of count 7 is

appropriate.

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No. 34753-2-III
State v. Standley

                    Challenges to offender score and sentencing range

                                  Alleged trial court error

       For the first time on appeal, Mr. Standley argues that the trial court should have

scored the three crimes that he committed against Ms. Hedrick in her car (second degree

assault, unlawful imprisonment, and felony harassment) as the same criminal conduct. In

the trial court, Mr. Standley’s trial lawyer agreed with the offender scores identified on

the State’s proposed judgment and sentence.

       A trial court calculates a defendant’s offender score for sentencing purposes by

counting current offenses and past convictions. RCW 9.94A.589(1)(a). The offender

score for a given current offense includes all other current offenses unless the trial court

finds “that some or all of the current offenses encompass the same criminal conduct.” Id.

In that event, those current offenses are counted as one crime in arriving at the offender

score. Id. Offenses constitute the same criminal conduct if they “require the same

criminal intent, are committed at the same time and place, and involve the same victim.”

Id. All three criteria must be present. State v. Lessley, 118 Wn.2d 773, 778, 827 P.2d

996 (1992).

       “Deciding whether crimes involve the same time, place, and victim often involves

determinations of fact,” and it is well settled that “a court’s determination of same

criminal conduct will not be disturbed unless the sentencing court abuses its discretion or

misapplies the law.” State v. Chenoweth, 185 Wn.2d 218, 220-21, 370 P.3d 6 (2016).

                                             10
No. 34753-2-III
State v. Standley

For issues that involve discretion, a failure to raise the issue in the trial court operates as a

waiver. In re Pers. Restraint of Goodwin, 146 Wn.2d 861, 874, 50 P.3d 618 (2002). A

trial court is not required to undertake a same criminal conduct analysis sua sponte. State

v. Nitsch, 100 Wn. App. 512, 524-25, 997 P.2d 1000 (2000). We will not entertain Mr.

Standley’s unpreserved challenge to the trial court’s calculation of his offender score.

                               Ineffective assistance of counsel

       Alternatively, Mr. Standley argues that his trial lawyer’s failure to request a

finding of same criminal conduct constituted ineffective assistance of counsel.

Ineffective assistance of counsel is a manifest error affecting a constitutional right and

can be raised for the first time on appeal. State v. Brown, 159 Wn. App. 1, 17, 248 P.3d

518 (2010).

       Effective assistance of counsel is guaranteed by both the Sixth Amendment to the

United States Constitution and article I, section 22 of the Washington Constitution. U.S.

CONST. amend. VI; WASH. CONST. art. I, § 22; Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668,

686, 104 S. Ct. 2052, 80 L. Ed. 2d 674 (1984); State v. Mierz, 127 Wn.2d 460, 471, 901

P.2d 286 (1995). To demonstrate ineffective assistance of counsel, a defendant must

show two things: “(1) defense counsel’s representation was deficient, i.e., it fell below an

objective standard of reasonableness based on consideration of all the circumstances; and

(2) defense counsel’s deficient representation prejudiced the defendant, i.e., there is a

reasonable probability that, except for counsel’s unprofessional errors, the result of the

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No. 34753-2-III
State v. Standley

proceeding would have been different.” State v. McFarland, 127 Wn.2d 322, 334-35,

899 P.2d 1251 (1995) (citing State v. Thomas, 109 Wn.2d 222, 225-26, 743 P.2d 816

(1987)). When a claim can be disposed of on one ground, this court need not consider

both. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 697. A claim for ineffective assistance of counsel presents

a mixed question of law and fact, which this court reviews de novo. State v. Cross, 156

Wn.2d 580, 605, 132 P.3d 80 (2006).

       Mr. Standley relies on State v. Phuong, 174 Wn. App. 494, 547-48, 299 P.3d 37

(2013), which held that ineffective assistance of counsel is shown when a defendant

demonstrates a reasonable possibility that a sentencing court would have found that

offenses constituted the same criminal conduct if his or her lawyer had so argued. In

Phuong, as here, the current offenses at issue were committed at the same time and place

and involved the same victim. In Phuong, however, this court also found that the crimes

were committed with the same criminal intent. That conclusion was reached applying

case law holding that it was enough to show that the defendant acted with the same

objective criminal purpose in committing the crimes. Id. at 548.

       More recently, our Supreme Court held in Chenoweth that determining whether

crimes involved the same criminal intent under RCW 9.94A.589(1)(a) requires

examining the statutory criminal intent required for each crime. 185 Wn.2d at 223. It

held that if an otherwise single act comprises separate and distinct statutory criminal

intents, it does not meet the statute’s definition of “same criminal conduct.” Id.

                                             12
No. 34753-2-III
State v. Standley

       For second degree assault, the statutorily-required intent is to intentionally assault

another person. RCW 9A.36.021(1)(a). The statutory intent required for felony

harassment (threat to kill) is to knowingly threaten to kill the person threatened or any

other person. RCW 9A.46.020(1)(a)(i), (2)(b)(ii). For unlawful imprisonment, the

statutory intent required is to knowingly restrain another person. RCW 9A.40.040(1).

Applied to these facts, Mr. Standley’s statutorily-required criminal intents in connection

with the crimes committed in Ms. Hedrick’s car were, in the case of unlawfully

imprisoning her, to knowingly confine her in the car; in the case of felony harassment, to

knowingly threaten to kill her; and in the case of the second degree assault, to

intentionally assault her.

       It is the defendant who must establish at sentencing that crimes constitute the same

criminal conduct. Phuong, 174 Wn. App. at 547 (citing State v. Graciano, 176 Wn.2d

531, 539, 295 P.3d 219 (2013)). Because Mr. Standley does not demonstrate a

reasonable possibility that the trial court would have found the crimes in the car were

committed with the same criminal intent, ineffective assistance of counsel is not shown.

       We remand to the trial court with directions to vacate the conviction for either

count 2 or count 3 and, with respect to counts 2 (if not vacated), 5, 6, and 7, either to

                                              13
No. 34753-2-111
State v. Standley

make supplemental findings based on the existing record sufficient to support the

conviction or to vacate the conviction. The trial court is otherwise affirmed. 2

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

Washington Appellate Reports, but it will be filed for public record pursuant to RCW

2.06.040.

                                                    ~d,Locva ,~·
                                                    ddoway, J.          (}

WE CONCUR:

Pennell, J.

       2Because the State concedes one of Mr. Standley's assignments of error and fails
to prevail in connection with several others, his request that we decline to award the State
costs on appeal is moot.

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