Court Opinion

ID: 4321048
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-10-15 20:43:53.743433+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:45:31.154745
License: Public Domain

FILE D
                                             UOURT OF API:E.ALS DIV I
                                              STATE OF WASHitiGION

                                             20100C1 15        10: 4 1

       IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON

 THE STATE OF WASHINGTON,       )
                                )                  No. 76891-3-1
                  Respondent, )
                                )                  DIVISION ONE
              v.                )
                                )                  UNPUBLISHED OPINION
                                )
 RESHAUD TODD BROWN,            )
                                )
                     Appellant. )                  FILED: October 15, 2018
                                )

       CHUN, J. — The State charged Reshaud Brown with multiple crimes,
including assault in the second degree. During trial, Brown requested a jury

instruction on assault in the third degree. The trial court denied the request but

issued a jury instruction on assault in the fourth degree in addition to second

degree assault by strangulation. A jury convicted Brown of assault in the second

degree. He appeals the trial court's refusal to issue a jury instruction on assault

in the third degree. He also contends his mandatory life sentence under the

Persistent Offender Accountability Act(POAA)violates the Eighth Amendment of

the United States Constitution and article I, section 14 of the Washington

Constitution as cruel and unusual punishment because of his mental and

emotional deficits. Finding no error, we affirm.
No. 76891-3-1/2

                                      BACKGROUND

       On September 21, 2015, the Kent Police Department(KPD)responded to

a call about sounds of a domestic struggle in one of the rooms of a Howard

Johnson motel. Throughout the night before, a couple in the neighboring unit

heard loud noises, crying, and a female voice saying "No, no." The couple

reported the noises to the hotel clerk who called the police.

       When they arrived, KPD officers heard a male voice followed by a frantic

female voice saying,"He's killing me. Help me." KPD had obtained a key but

kicked the door open because the woman continued to scream for help. Upon

entering the hotel room, KPD found Brown standing just inside the door with his

girlfriend, Natalie Gumtow,seated in a chair to the right.

       KPD officers found Gumtow "extremely frantic." KPD detained Brown and

took a statement from Gumtow. KPD observed marks on Gumtow's neck and

minor scrapes on her arm, legs, and face. Gumtow told KPD Brown had

strangled her with the cord of a Roto Hammer,1 which they found between the

bed and bathroom Of the motel room. Gumtow also reported Brown had told her

the tool was a nail gun and threatened to shoot her with it.

       An EMT at the scene evaluated Gumtow and noted red marks on her neck

and leg. Gumtow told the EMT she had been hit and choked. After transfer to

the emergency room, the evaluating physician noted,"R]he patient states that

        A Roto Hammer is a tool for drilling concrete.

                                               2
No. 76891-3-1/3

she was in a hotel with her boyfriend and he choked her with his hands, and also

wrapped a cord around her neck and was strangling her."

        KPD arrested Brown and took him into custody. The State charged Brown

with assault in the second degree by strangulation and felony harassment, both

with domestic violence allegations.2

       At trial, Gumtow told a very different version of the events: She testified

she left the hotel to visit her ex-pimp, Mikey, at his apartment to obtain

methamphetamines. Gumtow and Mikey smoked together and Mikey became

upset and began beating her. He wrapped a cord around her neck. Gumtow

thought she blacked out for a few seconds. She eventually left Mikey's

apartment and returned to the Howard Johnson motel. When Gumtow arrived

back at the motel, she told Brown about the incident with Mikey. Brown became

angry and told Gumtow he would leave her for someone else. Gumtow and

Brown argued. Gumtow became upset and began "throwing things, including

Brown's shoes.

        Throughout this testimony, the State confronted Gumtow with her prior

statements to police that Brown choked her at least four times that night and

threatened to shoot her with a nail gun, chop her up, or stab her. Gumtow

admitted she told the police Brown assaulted her, but denied any memory of

Brown choking her. She also denied Brown threatened her. She testified Brown

never "put hands" on her. According to Gumtow, she told the police Brown

        2 The State amended the information several times to include a charge of tampering with
a witness, and multiple charges of domestic violence felony violation of a court order. None of
these additional charges are at issue on appeal.

                                               3
No. 76891-3-1/4

choked her because she was upset and did not want Brown to leave her.

Gumtow denied any wrongdoing by Brown.

       Toward the end of trial, Brown requested an instruction for third degree

assault. Brown raised the issue as a request for a lesser included offense

instruction. The trial court refused to give the instruction for third degree assault

as a lesser included offense because second and third degree assault required

different elements. Instead the trial court issued a jury instruction on fourth

degree assault as a lesser degree offense:

           The defendant is charged in Count 1 with assault in the second
       degree. If, after full and careful deliberation on this charge, you are
       not satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant is guilty,
       then you will consider whether the defendant is guilty of the lesser
       crime of assault in the fourth degree.

           When a crime has been proved against a person, and there
       exists a reasonable doubt as to which of two or more degrees that
       person is guilty, he or she shall be convicted only of the lowest
       degree crime.
       The jury convicted Brown of second degree assault, harassment,

tampering with a witness, and seven counts of violation of a court order. The jury

also found the existence of a domestic relationship between Brown and Gumtow

at the time of commission of all crimes.

       Due to prior offenses of first degree burglary and first degree robbery,

Brown's second degree assault conviction constituted his third "most serious

offense" under the POAA. Brown requested the trial court exercise discretion at

sentencing and not impose the life sentence required by the POAA. The trial

                                           4
No. 76891-3-1/5

court did not believe it had discretion to deviate from the POAA in this case and

sentenced Brown to life without the possibility of early relief.

       Brown appeals.

                                     ANALYSIS

       A.     Inferior Degree Offense Instruction
       Brown claims the jury should have received an inferior degree offense

instruction for assault in the third degree. The State argues the trial court

properly refused the instruction because the evidence did not show Brown

negligently assaulted Gumtow. We agree the evidence failed to establish only

third degree assault and conclude the trial court properly denied the third degree

assault instruction.

       "Generally, a criminal defendant may only be convicted of crimes charged

in the State's information." State v. Corey, 181 Wash. App. 272, 275, 325 P.3d 250

(2014). But, a jury may find a defendant guilty of a crime that is an inferior

degree to the crime charged. RCW 10.61.003; State v. Fernandez-Medina, 141
Wash. 2d 448, 453,6 P.3d 1150(2000). A trial court may instruct the jury on an

inferior degree offense only when:

       (1)the statutes for both the charged offense and the proposed
       inferior degree offense 'proscribe but one offense';(2)the
       information charges an offense that is divided into degrees, and the
       proposed offense is an inferior degree of the charged offense; and
       (3) there is evidence that the defendant committed only the inferior
       offense.
Fernandez-Medina, 141 Wn. 2d at 454(quoting State v. Peterson, 133 Wash. 2d
885, 891, 948 P.2d 381 (1997)).

                                          5
No. 76891-3-1/6

       Based on Brown's request, the trial court considered whether to give a .

third degree assault jury instruction as a lesser included offense rather than an

inferior degree offense. The legal standard for entitlement to a lesser included

offense differs from that of an inferior degree offense. Fernandez-Medina, 141
Wash. 2d at 454. But in this case, any confusion means little because the parties

do not dispute the legal component of the test for entitlement to an inferior

degree offense instruction. See Fernandez-Medina, 141 Wash. 2d at 454-55. On

appeal, the parties only dispute the factual element of the test.

       Whether to instruct a jury on an inferior degree offense requires the

application of law to facts and is reviewed de novo. Corey, 181 Wash. App. at 276.

We view the supporting evidence in the light most favorable to the party who

requested the instruction. Fernandez-Medina, 141 Wash. 2d at 455-56. The

supporting evidence must affirmatively establish the defendant's theory of the

case. Fernandez-Medina, 141 Wash. 2d at 456.

       A defendant must make a "more particularized" factual showing for an

inferior degree offense instruction than for other jury instructions. Fernandez-

Medina, 141 Wash. 2d at 455. The evidence must raise an inference that only the

inferior degree offense was committed. Fernandez-Medina, 141 Wash. 2d at 455.

"[W]hen substantial evidence in the record supports a rational inference that the

defendant committed only the lesser included or inferior degree offense to the

exclusion of the greater offense, the factual component of the test for entitlement

to an inferior degree offense instruction is satisfied." Fernandez-Medina, 141
Wash. 2d at 461. The inference does not arise merely because the jury does not

                                         6
No. 76891-3-1/7

believe the State's evidence. State v. McClam,69 Wn. App. 885, 888, 850 P.2d

1377(1993)(citing State v. Speece, 115 Wash. 2d 360, 362, 798 P.2d 294 (1990)).

"[S]ome evidence must be presented which affirmatively establishes the

defendant's theory." State v. Fowler, 114 Wash. 2d 59, 67-68, 785 P.2d 808(1990),

overruled on other grounds by State v. Blair, 117 Wash. 2d 479, 816 P.2d 718

(1991).

      The State argued Brown committed assault in the second degree by

strangulation. A defendant is guilty of this category of assault in the second

degree if, "under circumstances not amounting to assault in the first degree," he

or she "assaults another by strangulation or suffocation." RCW 9A.36.021(1)(g).

Brown requested an instruction for assault in the third degree with substantial

pain. Under the proposed instruction, a person commits assault in the third

degree if he or she, under circumstances not amounting to assault in the first or

second degree, "with criminal negligence, causes bodily harm accompanied by

substantial pain that extends for a period sufficient to cause considerable

suffering." RCW 9A.36.031(1)(f). To be entitled to an inferior degree offense

instruction on this type of third degree assault, the evidence must affirmatively

establish Brown did not strangle Gumtow but caused her bodily harm resulting in

substantial pain.

       In this case, the State provided evidence from witnesses who testified

Gumtow reported Brown had strangled her. On direct examination, Gumtow

denied Brown had strangled her, attributing the strangulation to Mikey instead.

The State repeatedly countered Gumtow's testimony with reference to her prior

                                         7
No. 76891-3-1/8

statements that Brown strangled her, but Gumtow continued to deny the events

and claimed she made the statements because Brown upset her when he

threatened to leave her.

        If believed by the jury, this testimony created the inference that Brown did

not commit assault in the second degree by strangulation. In fact, based on

Gumtow's testimony, Mikey caused Gumtow's injuries and Brown did not "put

hands" on her. Rather than establish Brown inflicted bodily harm and substantial

pain as required for third degree assault, this affirmative evidence suggests

Brown never assaulted Gumtow. Therefore, the evidence does not show Brown

committed only the inferior degree offense of third degree assault to the

exclusion of the greater offense of second degree assault.

        The conclusion Brown committed third degree assault required the jury to

selectively disbelieve parts of Gumtow's prior statements and her testimony.

Disbelief of evidence of guilt does not satisfy the factual element of the test for an

inferior degree instruction. Fernandez-Medina, 141 Wash. 2d at 456. Brown was

not entitled to an instruction for third degree assault.3

        B.      Ineffective Assistance of Counsel
        Brown argues his trial counsel was ineffective for proposing and arguing

the legal standard for a lesser included offense instruction rather than an inferior

         3 The State argues third degree assault is inapplicable due to the required element of
"criminal negligence." According to the State, the evidence shows the strangulation was
intentional. Brown correctly argues the issue of criminal negligence is immaterial in this case.
Under RCW 9A.08.010(2),"[w]hen a statute provides that criminal negligence suffices to
establish an element of an offense, such element also is established if a person acts intentionally,
knowingly, or recklessly." Therefore, evidence Brown intentionally strangled Gumtow satisfies the
criminal negligence component.

                                                 8
No. 76891-3-1/9

degree offense instruction. Brown acknowledges Washington Supreme Court

precedent forecloses this result, but raises the claim to preserve the issue for

future review. In keeping with the binding case law, we conclude counsel was

not ineffective.

       The Sixth Amendment of the United States Constitution and article 1,

section 22 of the Washington Constitution guarantees effective assistance of

counsel. State v. Hendrickson, 129 Wash. 2d 61, 77, 917 P.2d 563(1996). To

prevail on a claim of ineffective assistance of trial counsel, a defendant must

prove both deficient performance and prejudice. State *v. Jones, 183 Wash. 2d 327,

339, 352 P.3d 776(2015).

       Establishing deficient performance requires a showing that counsel's

representation fell below an objective standard of reasonableness based on

consideration of all the circumstances. State v. Thomas, 109 Wash. 2d 222, 225-

26, 743 P.2d 816(1987). "[S]crutiny of counsel's performance is highly

deferential and courts will indulge in a strong presumption of reasonableness."

Thomas, 109 Wash. 2d at 226. The defendant bears the burden of establishing

deficient performance. State v. Grier, 171 Wash. 2d 17, 33, 246 P.3d 1260(2011).

       Prejudice sufficient to support a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel

occurs when counsel's errors were so serious as to deprive the defendant of a

fair trial. Hendrickson, 129 Wash. 2d at 78. The defendant must demonstrate a

"reasonable probability that, but for counsel's errors, the result of the trial would

have been different." Hendrickson, 129 Wash. 2d at 78.

                                           9
No. 76891-3-1/10

       A claim of ineffective assistance of counsel is a mixed question of law and

fact that an appellate court reviews de novo. Jones, 183 Wash. 2d at 338-39.

       Counsel's failure to request a lesser offense instruction does not establish

prejudice, as required for ineffective assistance of counsel, where a jury has

convicted the defendant of the higher offense. Grier, 171 Wash. 2d at 43-44; In re

Personal Restraint of Grace, 174 Wash. 2d 835, 847, 280 P.3d 1102(2012).

Because courts presume a jury acts according to the law, courts must assume

the jury would not have convicted the defendant of the higher degree offense

unless the State had met its burden of proof. Grier, 171 Wash. 2d at 43-44; Crace,
174 Wash. 2d at 847.

       Here, the jury convicted Brown of second degree assault by strangulation.

Without evidence to the contrary, the presumption holds the jury arrived at this

verdict because the State proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Brown

committed assault by strangulation. As a result, the availability of a compromise

verdict would not have changed the outcome of the trial. Grier, 171 Wash. 2d at 44;

Crace, 174 Wash. 2d at 847. Brown, therefore, cannot demonstrate prejudice from

trial counsel's failure to properly request an inferior degree offense instruction.

       C.     Mandatory Life Sentence Under the POAA
       Brown contends his mandatory life sentence under the POAA constitutes

cruel and unusual punishment and the trial court erred by failing to exercise its

discretion to impose a lower punishment. Brown premises this claim on his

"characteristics of youth" due to his mental and intellectual deficits. The State

argues the trial court had no discretion in sentencing an adult under the POAA

                                         10
No. 76891-3-1/11

and a mandatory life sentence under the POAA has properly withstood

constitutional challenges. We agree.

        We review alleged constitutional violations de novo. State v. Siers, 174
Wash. 2d 269, 273-74, 274 P.3d 358(2012).

       Under the POAA,"[n]otwithstanding the statutory maximum sentence or

any other provision of this chapter, a persistent offender shall be sentenced to a

term of total confinement for life without the possibility of release."

RCW 9.94A.570. The use of "shall" imposes a mandatory requirement unless a

contrary legislative intent is apparent. Erection Co. v. Dep't of Labor and Indus.,

121 Wash. 2d 513, 518, 852 P.2d 288 (1993). Therefore, the POAA requires a life

sentence for a persistent offender. This mandatory life sentence under the

POAA does not violate the Eighth Amendment of the United States Constitution

when imposed on a defendant who committed all three strike offenses as an

adult. State v. Witherspoon, 180 Wash. 2d 875, 890, 329 P.3d 888(2014).

       Brown committed the assault in this case at 27 years of age. He

committed his prior POAA crimes at ages 21 and 22. As an adult persistent

offender, Brown's sentence of life without the possibility of early release was

mandatory and constitutional. The trial court lacked discretion to deviate from

this sentence.

       Brown argues his mental and emotional impairments result in a level of

developmental maturity equivalent to a child, which the trial court should have

considered before imposing the life sentence. The Washington Supreme Court

has acknowledged an offender's age has ramifications for the Eighth

                                          11
No. 76891-3-1/12

Amendment, such that criminal procedure laws must take a defendant's

youthfulness into account. State v. Houston-Sconiers, 188 Wash. 2d 1, 8, 391 P.3d

409(2017)(quoting Graham v. Florida, 560 U.S. 48, 76, 130 S. Ct. 2011, 176

L.Ed.2d 825(2010)). As a result, "sentencing courts must have complete

discretion to consider mitigating circumstances associated with the youth of any

juvenile defendant, even in the adult criminal justice system." Houston-Sconiers,
188 Wash. 2d at 21. Brown contends the trial court should have exercised this

discretion in his sentencing.

       But Brown was not a juvenile when he committed any of his POAA eligible

crimes. While Brown claims his mental and intellectual deficits give him

"characteristics of youth," he fails to provide case law to support the exercise of

discretion in sentencing adults with such disabilities. Given the lack of authority

for this position, we decline to extend Houston-Sconiers to the facts of this case.

              Affirmed.

WE CONCUR:

    issisoff !icor'
   Il

                                         12