Court Opinion

ID: 4382985
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-04-01 19:49:15.645494+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:22:48.966498
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE STATE OF WASHINGTON

STATE OF WASHINGTON,
                                              No. 76074-2-I
                       Respondent,
           v.                                 DIVISION ONE

ONELIO CARDONA-HERNANDEZ,                     UNPUBLISHED OPINION

                       Appellant.             FILED: April 1, 2019

       LEACH, J.   —   Onelio Cardona-Hernandez appeals the high-end standard

range sentence and conditions of community custody the trial court imposed after

his conviction for second degree rape.1    He claims that the sentence was a

“penalty” that violates his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.2

Because Cardona-Hernandez voluntarily spoke at his sentencing, the sentence

falls within the standard range, and the challenges to conditions of community

custody fail, we affirm the trial court.

                                    BACKGROUND

       The trial court convicted Cardona-Hernandez of rape in the second degree

and two counts of burglary in the first degree with sexual motivation. Cardona

       1 The Supreme Court of Washington directed this court to reconsider its
April 16, 2018, opinion in light of State v. Hal Minh Nguyen, 191 Wash. 2d 681, 425
P.3d 847 (2018). After reconsideration, this court withdraws its April 16, 2018,
opinion and replaces it with this opinion.
       2 U.S. CONST. amend. V.
No. 76074-2-I I 2

Hernandez also pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of criminal trespass in the first

degree with sexual motivation.

      At sentencing, Cardona-Hernandez faced a standard range for the rape

conviction of 146 to 194 months.      For the two counts of burglary, he faced a

standard range of 57 to 75 months. The State recommended the high end of the

standard range for the rape conviction. At the sentencing hearing, the trial court

told Cardona-Hernandez that he had the right of allocution but that he also had the

“absolute right to say nothing.” Cardona-Hernandez chose to speak. He explained

that he refused to plead guilty and take a plea offer because he was innocent.

      After Cardona-Hernandez’s statement, the trial court imposed the high-end

term, 194 months, for the second degree rape. The trial court considered a number

of factors before deciding to impose the high-end term. These included (1) the

defense’s argument of lack of relative force, (2) the nature of the crime, including

exploiting his employer for the purpose of victimizing, (3) the nature of the crime

scene (located in the University District which is a place of freedom and innocence

where the defendant undoubtedly observed vulnerability), (4) the vulnerability of

the victim given her infirmity, and (5) “the defendant’s apparent lack of remorse

and choice here rather than to apologize, to use this as an opportunity to cross

examine one of his rape victims.”

      The trial court sentenced Cardona-Hernandez to 66 months on the two

counts of burglary, concurrent with his sentence for the rape count. The trial court

also imposed lifetime community custody after Cardona-Hernandez’s release.

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No. 76074-2-I I 3

       Cardona-Hernandez appeals.

                                    ANALYSIS

                             Standard Range Sentence

       Cardona-Hernandez challenges the standard sentence range for the rape

conviction. Under the Sentencing Reform Act of 1981 (SRA),3 a criminal defendant

generally may not appeal the imposition of the standard sentence range.4 But a

defendant may appeal a standard range sentence when a sentencing court does

not comply with procedural requirements of the SRA or constitutional

requirements.5

      Cardona-Hernandez contends that the trial court violated his Fifth

Amendment right against self-incrimination by considering his “remorseless”

allocution when imposing the high end of the standard range sentence. The Fifth

Amendment prevents a person from being “compelled in any criminal case to be a

witness against himself.”6     A defendant may assert the right against self-

incrimination in any proceeding, “civil or criminal, formal or informal, where the

answers might incriminate him in future criminal proceedings.”7 This includes a

sentencing hearing.8

       ~ Ch. 9.94 RCW.
       ~ RCW 9.94A.585(1).
       ~ State v. Osman, 157 Wash. 2d 474, 481-82, 139 P.3d 334 (2006).
       6 U.S. CONST. amend. V; see McKune v. Lile, 536 U.S. 24, 35, 122 5. Ct.
2017, 153 L. Ed. 2d 47(2002).
       ~ Lefkowitzv. Turley, 414 U.S. 70, 77,94 S. Ct. 316,38 L. Ed. 2d 274 (1 973).
       8 See Mitchell v. United States, 526 U.S. 314, 325-27, 119 S. Ct. 1307, 143
L. Ed. 2d 424 (1999).

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No. 76074-2-1/4

          But no one compelled Cardona-Hernandez to speak. The trial court told

Cardona-Hernandez that he had the right to allocution and the right to remain

silent.    The judge’s advice eliminates any claim of any compulsion to self-

incrimination.9 Cardona-Hernandez chose to speak after the court told him he

could remain silent. By choosing to speak, he waived his Fifth Amendment right.

          “Trial courts may not use a defendant’s silence or continued denial of guilt

as a basis for justifying an exceptional sentence.”1° Here, the parties concede that

no Washington case law directly addresses the issue of whether a court can

consider a denial of guilt when imposing a standard range sentence. Cardona

Hernandez relies on a Montana decision, State v. Shreves.11 There, the defendant

maintained his innocence throughout the trial and chose to remain silent during

sentencing.12 The trial court imposed the 100-year sentence recommended by the

State.13 The trial court imposed this sentence in large part due to the defendant’s

lack of remorse and equated the defendant’s silence to a lack of remorse.14 The

Montana Supreme Court held that the trial court “improperly penalized Shreves for

maintaining his innocence pursuant to his constitutional right to remain silent.”15

But the court also made clear that a trial court can consider a defendant’s lack of

       ~ United States v. Washington, 431 U.S. 181, 188, 97 S. Ct. 1814,52 L. Ed.
2d 238 (1977) (stating when a respondent was explicitly advised of the right to
remain silent, “This advice also eliminated any possible compulsion to self-
incrimination which might otherwise exist.”).
       10 State v. Garibay, 67 Wash. App. 773, 782, 841 P.2d 49 (1992).
       11 2002 MT 333, 313 Mont. 252, 60 P.3d 991.
       12 Shreves, 2002 MT 333, ~ 6.
       13 .Shreves, 2002 MT 333, ~ 3.
       14 Shreves, 2002 MT 333, ¶ 20.
       15 Shreves, 2002 MT 333, ¶ 20.

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No. 76074-2-lI 5

remorse during pretrial, at trial, or posttrial as a sentencing factor.16 But the court

prohibited a sentencing court from drawing “a negative inference of lack of remorse

from the defendant’s silence at sentencing where he has maintained, throughout

the proceedings, that he did not commit the offense of which he stands

convicted.”17

       We distinguish Shreves.      Cardona-.Hernandez did not remain silent at

sentencing. So the trial court did not penalize him by drawing an impermissible

inference from his silence.      Cardona-Hernandez cites no authority for the

proposition that the trial court must ignore the content of his allocution statement

when imposing sentence. Once Cardona-Hernandez chose to speak, the Fifth

Amendment did not require that the trial court ignore what he had to say.

       For an additional reason to affirm, the State relies on United States v.

Klotz,18 where the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals established that a sentence

within the federal sentencing guidelines is not presumed to be a penalty. The

defendant in Klotz wanted the court to set the lower limit as the benchmark and to

find a higher sentence within the range as a penalty.19 The “range itself is the apt

starting point, and choices within the range cannot readily be assigned particular

causes.”2° The court stated it was proper to impose a sentence which was near

the upper limit of the guidelines range, based in part on the refusal of the defendant

       16 Shreves, 2002 MT 333, ~ 21.
       17 Shreves, 2002 MT 333, ~ 22.
       18943 F.2d 707, 71 0-11 (7th Cir. 1991).
       19 Klotz, 943 F.2d at 710.
       20 Klotz, 943 F.2d at 710.

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No. 76074-2-I I 6

to assist authorities in investigations, and did not penalize the defendant for

exercising his constitutional right to remain silent.21 Because we conclude that no

Fifth Amendment violation occurred, we do not address the State’s argument.

                          Community Custody Conditions

       Cardona-Hernandez challenges three conditions of community custody. He

claims that the trial court exceeded its statutory authority by imposing one condition

that is not crime related and two that are unconstitutionally vague. This Court

reviews the trial court’s statutory authority to impose community custody conditions

de novo.22

       (1)    Crime Related

       Cardona-Hernandez contends that condition 10 should be stricken because

the condition is unrelated to the offense of his conviction.23 Condition 10 states,

‘Do not enter sex-related businesses, including: X-rated movies, adult bookstores,

strip clubs, and any location where the primary source of business is related to

sexually explicit material.” A trial court has the authority to impose “crime-related

prohibitions” as a condition of community custody.24 The SRA defines crime-

related prohibition as “an order of the court prohibiting conduct that directly relates

to the circumstances of the crime for which the offender has been convicted.”25

       21 Klotz, 943 F.2d at 710-11.
       22 State v. Johnson, 180 Wash. App. 318, 325, 327 P.3d 704 (2014).
       23 Cardona-Hernandez did not challenge the community conditions below,
but defendants may challenge erroneous sentences for the first time on appeal.
State v. Bahl, 164 Wash. 2d 739, 744, 193 P.3d 678 (2008).
       24 RCW 9.94A.703(3)(f).
       25 RCW 9.94A.030(10).

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No. 76074-2-I I 7

“‘Directly related’ includes conditions that are ‘reasonably related’ to the crime.”26

“This court reviews the factual bases for crime-related conditions under a

‘substantial evidence’ standard ~“27 “Community custody conditions are ‘usually

upheld if reasonably crime related.”28

       Our Supreme Court recently considered the validity of a similar condition

imposed on a defendant convicted of two counts of rape in the second degree and

found the condition sufficiently crime related even though the record included

nothing suggesting that the defendant met her victim in a “sex-related business” or

that her presence in this type of business played any role in her crimes.29 The

court found that the condition related to the defendant’s “inability to control her

urges and impulsivities   .   .   .   “   and that she would “struggle to rehabilitate from her

sexual deviance so long as she frequents ‘sex-related businesses.”30 It found that

the trial court did not abuse its discretion by imposing the challenged restriction.

Becausewe cannot distinguish this case, we similarly conclude that the trial court

did not exceed its authority by imposing condition 10.

       (2)    Vagueness

       Cardona-Hernandez                  contends     that   condition   5,   regarding   dating

relationships, and condition 11, regarding sexually explicit material and conduct,

       26State v. Irwin, 191 Wash. App. 644, 656, 364 P.3d 830 (2015) (citing State
v. Kinzle, 181 Wash. App. 774, 785, 326 P.3d 870 (2014)).
       27 Irwin, 191 Wn. App. at 656.
       28State v. Norris, 1 Wash. App. 2d 87, 97, 404 P.3d 83 (2017) (quoting State
v. Warren, 165 Wash. 2d. 17, 32, 195 P.3d 940 (2008)), rev’d on other grounds, State
v. Hai Minh Nguyen, 191 Wash. 2d 681, 687, 425 P.3d 847 (2018).
       29 Hai Minh Nguyen, 191 Wn.2d at 687.
       30 Hai Minh Nguyen, 191 Wn.2d at 687.

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No. 76074-2-I I 8

are unconstitutionally vague. Under the Fourteenth Amendment to the United

States Constitution and article I, section 3 of the Washington Constitution, citizens

have the right to fair warning of proscribed conduct.31       A community custody

condition is unconstitutionally vague if it (I) does not define the prohibited conduct

with sufficient definiteness that ordinary people can understand what conduct is

proscribed or (2) does not provide ascertainable standards to protect against

arbitrary enforcement.32    A community custody condition is unconstitutionally

vague if it does not meet either of these requirements.33

       The court considers the context of the term to determine whether the term

is unconstitutionally vague.34 When a statute does not define a term, the court

may consider the plain and ordinary meaning from a standard dictionary.35 A

community custody condition is sufficiently definite “[i]f ‘persons of ordinary

intelligence can understand what the [law] proscribes, notwithstanding some

possible areas of disagreement.”36

       Cardona-Hernandez contends condition 5, which requires him to inform the

CCC and sexual deviancy treatment provider of “any dating relationship,” is

unconstitutionally vague. Condition 5 states, “Inform the supervising CCC and

       31BahI, 164 Wn.2d at 752 (citing City of Spokane v. Douglass, 115 Wash. 2d
171, 178, 795 P.2d 693 (1990)).
      32 BahI, 164 Wn.2d at 752-53 (quoting Douglass, 115 Wn.2d at 178).
       ~ BahI, 164 Wn.2d at 752-53.
      ~ BahI, 164 Wn.2d at 754 (citing Douglass, 115 Wn.2d at 180).
      ~ BahI, 164 Wn.2d at 754 (citing Statev. Sullivan, 143 Wash. 2d 162, 184-85,
19 P.3d 1012 (2001)).
      36 BahI, 164 Wn.2d at 754 (second alteration in original) (quoting Douglass,

115 Wn.2d at 179).

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No. 76074-2-I / 9

sexual deviancy treatment provider of any dating relationship.        Disclose sex

offender status prior to any sexual contact. Sexual contact in a relationship is

prohibited until the treatment provider approves of such.”

       Cardona-Hernandez contends that this condition does not give adequate

notice of how to avoid a sanction and does not prevent arbitrary enforcement.

Cardona-Hernandez cites a federal case, United States v. Reeves,37 as support

for his argument.   But recently, in Norris, this court held that the term “dating

relationship” is easily distinguishable from the condition reviewed in Reeves.38

This court concluded that “[t]he requirement to report a dating relationship’ does

not contain highly subjective qualifiers like ‘significant’ and        romantic.”39

Therefore, the condition in Norris was “neither unconstitutionally vague nor subject

to arbitrary enforcement.”4° Our decision in Norris controls.    Condition 5 is not

unconstitutionally vague.

       Cardona-Hernandez also contends that condition 11 is unconstitutionally

vague. Condition 11 states, “Do not possess, use, access or view any sexually

explicit material as defined by RCW 9.68.130 or erotic materials as defined by

RCW 9.68.050 or any material depicting any person engaged in sexually explicit

conduct as defined by RCW 9.68A.011(4) unless given prior approval by your

sexual deviancy provider.”

      ~~591 F.3d 77 (2d Cir. 2010).
      38 Norris, 1 Wash. App. 2d at 94-95.
      ~ Norris, I Wn. App. 2d at 95.
      40 Norris, I Wn. App. 2d at 95.

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No. 76074-2-1/10

       Cardona-Hernandez notes that this condition implicates materials protected

by the First Amendment. When a community custody condition involves material

having First Amendment protection, a vague condition can have a chilling effect

on the exercise of First Amendment rights.41 Any restriction on protected materials

that a defendant may access or possess must be clear and “must be reasonably

necessary to accomplish essential state needs and public order.”42              “Thus,

conditions may be imposed that restrict free speech rights if reasonably necessary,

but they must be sensitively imposed.”43

       Cardona-Hernandez relies on State v. Bahl,44 where our Supreme Court

found a condition restricting access to pornography unconstitutionally vague.

Cardona-Hernandez correctly notes that this condition did not define pornography

or reference the term in another statute.45 But the same court found lawful a

condition prohibiting the defendant from frequenting establishments whose

primary business pertains to sexually explicit or erotic material.46

       Because this condition did not define “sexually explicit” or “erotic,” the court

looked to dictionary definitions and statutory definitions to help it assess whether

the conditions was impermissibly vague.47 The court did not decide whether the

definition alone would provide sufficient notice to overcome a vagueness

       41 Bahl, 164 Wn.2d at 753.
       42 BahI, 164 Wn.2d at 757-58.
       ~ Bahl, 164 Wn.2d at 757.
       ~~164 Wash. 2d 739, 743, 193 P.3d 678 (2008).
       ~ Bahl, 164 Wn.2d at 743.
       46Bahl, 164 Wn.2d at 759.
       ~ BahI, 164 Wn.2d at 759.

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No. 76074-2-I / 11

challenge.48    But the court stated that the available definition “bolsters our

conclusion that ‘sexually explicit,’ in the context used, is not unconstitutionally

vague.”49 Similarly, the statutory definitions referred to in condition 11 support the

conclusion that “sexually explicit material,” “erotic material,” and “sexually explicit

conduct” are not unconstitutionally vague.50

       Unlike the condition upheld in BahI, condition 11 incorporates statutory

definitions.   With these definitions, an ordinary person would understand the

conduct proscribed.      Also, the condition contains explicit standards for its

application. Thus, we conclude condition 11 is not unconstitutionally vague.

                              NEW JUDGE REQUEST

       Cardona-Hernandez also requests assignment to a new judge for

resentencing. A party may seek reassignment for the first time on appeal where

the judge will exercise discretion on remand regarding the very issue that triggered

the appeaL51     But this remedy is limited, and reassignment is not generally

available because the appellate opinion may offer sufficient guidance to effectively

limit trial court discretion on remand.52 Because we conclude that the trial court

did not err in sentencing Cardona-Hernandez and remand for the limited purpose

of striking one community custody condition, we deny Cardona-Hernandez’s

request.

       48 BahI, 164 Wn.2d at 760.
       ~ BahI, 164 Wn.2d at 760.
       50 See Soundqarden v. Eikenberrv, 123 Wash. 2d 750, 758-59, 871 P.2d 1050
(1994) (finding the term “erotic” under RCW 9.68.050 not unconstitutionally vague).
       51 State v. Solis-Diaz, 187 Wash. 2d 535, 539-40, 387 P.3d 703 (2017).
       52 Solis-Diaz, 187 Wn.2d at 539-40.

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No. 76074-2-I /12

           STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL GROUNDS FOR REVIEW

       Cardona-Hernandez raises several additional grounds for review. None of

his claims have merit.

                                 Jury Instructions

       Cardona-Hernandez challenges three of the court’s instructions to the jury.

We review challenged jury instructions de novo.53

       Consent

       First, Cardona-Hernandez challenges the court’s instruction that “[c]onsent

means that at the time of the act of sexual intercourse there are actual words or

conduct indicating freely given agreement to have sexual intercourse.” He claims

that this instruction improperly shifted the burden of proof. The due process clause

of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution requires the State

to prove every element of a crime beyond a reasonable doubt.54 Instructing the

jury in a manner that relieves the State of this burden is reversible error.55 Our

Supreme Court has held that consent negates the element of forcible compulsion

of second degree rape.56 Thus, a court violates a defendant’s due process rights

when it requires the defendant to prove consent by a preponderance of evidence.57

But, here, the instructions did not improperly shift the burden of proof. The case

that Cardona-Hernandez relies on, State v. W.R.,58 involves the former version of

      ~ State v. Pirtle, 127 Wash. 2d 628, 656, 904 P.2d 245 (1995).
      54.State v. W.R., 181 Wash. 2d 757, 762, 336 P.3d 1134 (2014).
      ~ Pirtle, 127 Wn. 2d at 656.
      56WR 181 Wn.2d at 763.
      57W.R., 181 Wn.2d at 762-63.
      58 181 Wash. 2d 757, 336 P.3d 1134 (2014).

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No. 76074-2-I / 13

WPIC 18.25,~~ which did shift the burden.          But, unlike in W.R., the court’s

instructions here did not place the burden of showing lack of consent on the

defendant. The court instructed the jury that the State had the burden to show that

the victim was incapable of consent by reason of being physically helpless. The

court properly instructed the jury that the State had to prove each element of rape

in the second degree beyond a reasonable doubt.

       Knowingly Entered

       Cardona-Hernandez also challenges the trial court’s elements instruction

for residential burglary. He specifically contends that the court erred by omitting

an element that he “knowingly entered” a dwelling. Failure to instruct the jury on

every element of a crime is reversible error because such an error relieves the

State of its burden to prove every element beyond a reasonable doubt.6° “A person

is guilty of residential burglary if, with intent to commit a crime against a person or

property therein, the person enters or remains unlawfully in a dwelling other than

a vehicle.”61 Here, the trial court gave the statutory elements of the offense for

burglary in the first degree.62 Knowing entry is not an element of burglary in the

first degree.63 The court’s instruction was proper.

       Comment on the Evidence

       Next, Cardona-Hernandez challenges this limiting instruction:

      ~ 11 WASHINGTON PRACTICE: WASHINGTON PATTERN JURY INSTRUCTIONS:
CRIMINAL 18.25, at 288 (3d ed. 2008).
      60 State v. Byrd, 125 Wash. 2d 707, 713-14, 887 P.2d 396 (1995).
      61 RCW 9A.52.025(1).

      62RCW 9A.52.025(1).
      63 RCW 9A.52.025.

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No. 76074-2-1/14

                Certain evidence has been admitted in this case for bnly a
        limited purpose. This evidence relates to uncharged, alleged victims
        [E.R., C.H., E.S., and K.S.J. This evidence may be considered by
        you only for the purposes of knowledge, opportunity, and considering
        whether the defendant’s alleged conduct is part of a common
        scheme or plan for each count. You may not consider it for any other
        purpose. Any discussion of the evidence during your deliberations
        must be consistent with this limitation.
Cardona-Hernandez contends that this instruction is an improper comment on the

evidence. Under article IV, section 16 of the Washington Constitution, judges may

not comment to the jury on matters     of fact or convey to the jury his or her opinion
about the testimony.64 Here, the court’s instruction does not assume any facts

have been established by the evidence. It merely limits the jury’s use of some

evidence,. We reject Cardona-Hernandez’s contention.

                                        Hearsay

        Next, Cardona-Hernandez contends that the court improperly admitted a

hearsay statement in K.L.’s deposition testimony. Cardona-Hernandez does not

identify the challenged statement in the record. We are not obligated to search the

record in support of his claim.65

                                Sufficiency of Evidence

        Cardona-Hernandez contends that the evidence was insufficient to convict

him of count 4, first degree burglary with sexual motivation, for his conduct with

respect to K.L. We review challenges to the sufficiency of the evidence de novo.66

        64   State v. Dewey, 93 Wash. App. 50, 58-59, 966 P.2d 414 (1998).
        65   RAP 10.10(c).
        66   State v. Merritt, 200 Wash. App. 398, 408, 402 P.3d 862 (2017), affd,
Wn.2d         , 434 P.3d 1016 (2019).

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No. 76074-2-I /15

When reviewing the sufficiency of evidence, we view the evidence in the light most

favorable to the State and ask whether any rational finder of fact could have found

guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.67 To convict Cardona-.Hernandez of burglary in

the first degree, the State must prove that he acted with intent to commit a crime

against a person or property therein, entered or remained unlawfully in a building

and, while in the building or in immediate flight therefrom, he was armed with a

deadly weapon or assaulted any person.68

       Cardona-Hernandez first contends that the identification by K.L. is

insufficient to show he was the person who assaulted her; although she picked him

from a montage, she was unable to identify him for certain in the courtroom. The

Seattle Police Department had K.L. identify the person who assaulted her out of a

montage of six photographs.       K.L. picked out Cardona-Hernandez.         She later

stated that she did not recognize the defendant in the courtroom but believed that

was due to the length of time since the incident.        Notwithstanding K.L.’s later

uncertainty, the trier of fact could reasonably find that K.L.’s initial identification

was sufficient to prove that Card ona.-Hernandez assaulted K.L.69

       Cardona-Hernandez also contends that he did not assault any person. The

court instructed the jury that “[am   assault is an intentional touching of another

person that is harmful or offensive regardless of whether any physical injury is

       67 State v. Salinas, 119 Wash. 2d 192, 201, 829 P.2d 1068 (1992).
       68 RCW 9A.52.020.
       69 Cardona-Hernandez also points out that there is no DNA evidence to link
him to count 4. But evidence of K.L.’s identification is sufficient to link him to the
crime.

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No. 76074-2-I /16

done to the person.” Here, K.L. testified that the next thing she remembered after

falling asleep was someone spooning her from behind, kissing her neck, and

groping her breast. She later identified Cardona-Hernandez as that person. Thus,

the record contains sufficient evidence that he assaulted K.L.

                             Prosecutorial Misconduct

       Cardona-Hernandez contends that prosecutorial misconduct during closing

arguments deprived him of a fair trial. To establish prosecutorial misconduct,

Cardona-Hernandez must show the prosecutor’s comments were “both improper

and prejudicial in the context of the entire record and the circumstances at trial.”70

Cardona-Hernandez has the burden to prove that “‘there is a substantial likelihood

[that] the instances of misconduct affected the jury’s verdict.”71        We review

allegations of prosecutorial misconduct under an abuse of discretion standard.72

       Cardona-Hernandez contends that a comment made by the State during

closing arguments bolstered the witnesses’ credibility and mischaracterized the

role of the jury. The prosecution stated,

              With respect to [K.L.] and [CR.], I suspect the primary issue
      will be identity. Was it the defendant who came into [C.R.]’s house?
      Was it the defendant who was spooning [K.L.] and kissing her neck?
      I suggest to you that even if all you had was the testimony of [S.M.]
      and [C.R.] and [K.L.], the DNA results, and the montage picks of
      [CR.] and [K.L.], that would be more than sufficient evidence for you
      to find the defendant guilty as charged in counts three and four.

       70 State v. Thorgerson, 172 Wash. 2d 438, 442, 258 P.3d 43 (2011) (internal
quotation marks omitted) (quoting State v. Magers, 164 Wash. 2d 174, 191, 189 P.3d
126 (2008)).
       71 Maqers, 164 Wn.2d at 191 (alteration in original) (quoting Pirtle, 127
Wn.2d at 672).
       72Thorqerson, 172 Wn.2d at 460.

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No. 76074-2-I / 17

The defense objected. The court overruled the objection but reminded the jurors

“that the lawyer’s arguments are not themselves evidence and that the law is

defined by the court in its instruction to the jury.” Assuming the court improperly

overruled this objection, Cardona-Hernandez cannot show prejudice. The court

followed this sole incident of claimed misconduct with a curative comment. There

is not a substantial likelihood that the comment affected the jury’s verdict.

                          Motion to Suppress and Sever

       Finally, Cardona-Hernandez contends that the trial court abused its

discretion because it did not grant the motion to suppress and the motion to sever.

But defendants must, at the least, inform the court of the nature of the claimed

error.73 Because Cardona-Hernandez does not, we do not consider this claim.

                                  CONCLUSION

      We affirm Cardona-Hernandez’s sentence.

                                                         ~LJ V
WE CONCUR:

             I

         RAP 10.10(c).

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