Court Opinion

ID: 4635548
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-11-23 22:08:52.557227+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:58:24.139664
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
                        DIVISION ONE
In the Matter of the Personal             )       No. 80370-1-I
Restraint Petition of                     )
                                          )
                                          )
                                          )       ORDER DENYING MOTION
JAARSO AHMED ABDI,                        )       FOR RECONSIDERATION,
                                          )       WITHDRAWING &
                     Petitioner.          )       SUBSTITUTING OPINION
                                          )

       Petitioner filed a motion for reconsideration of the court’s September 21, 2020

opinion. Respondent filed an answer at the court’s request. The court has considered

the motion and determined that reconsideration should be denied but that the opinion

filed on September 21, 2020 should be withdrawn and an unpublished substitute

opinion filed. Now, therefore, it is hereby

       ORDERED that petitioner’s motion for reconsideration is denied. It is further

       ORDERED that the opinion of this court filed September 21, 2020 is withdrawn

and an unpublished substitute opinion be filed.
   IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
                       DIVISION ONE
In the Matter of the Personal              )       No. 80370-1-I
Restraint of                               )
                                           )
                                           )
JAARSO AHMED ABDI,                         )       UNPUBLISHED OPINION
                                           )
                     Petitioner.           )
                                           )

       VERELLEN, J. — In his personal restraint petition, Jaarso Abdi asserts his

counsel was ineffective at trial for failing to timely recognize that discovery from the

prosecutor included exculpatory statements by one victim to police and for failing to

present and properly argue that evidence at trial. But his counsel discovered the

exculpatory statements before trial, and the victim minimized the role of Abdi in her

trial testimony. Whether to cross-examine the victim about the statements or seek to

introduce them through another witness was a legitimate tactical decision. Abdi also

does not establish his counsel’s approach in opening statement or closing argument

was prejudicial.

       Abdi contends his attorney was ineffective at sentencing for failing to

investigate, present, and argue mitigating circumstances of his youth. Abdi was 23

years old at the time of the charged conduct, and he had a traumatic and violent

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No. 80370-1-I/2

childhood. But he does not establish he was prejudiced by his counsel’s approach to

sentencing.

       Because he does not establish ineffective assistance of counsel, we deny his

personal restraint petition.

                                        FACTS

       Jaarso Abdi was convicted of attempted first degree robbery and first degree

unlawful possession of a firearm in March 2015. This court affirmed his judgment

and sentence on direct appeal. Abdi timely filed his personal restraint petition after

the mandate issued.

       The basic facts leading to Abdi’s convictions are set out in his direct appeal.

Mohamed Ali, his wife, Halimo Dalmar, and their seven children were at home. Abdi

and two other men, Said and Forbes, knocked on the door and loudly demanded

money. The family refused to open the door. The three men went to a nearby car,

removed weapons from the trunk, and returned to the family’s apartment. They again

banged on the door while demanding money. When the family did not open the door,

the three men went around the house and attacked a nearby neighbor.

       Dalmar, thinking the coast was clear, left the apartment to drive her son

Mustafe to work. When Dalmar and Mustafe were in the car, the men approached

and again demanded money. Forbes pointed a gun at the window of the family

home where the children were. A neighbor saw a man holding a gun and called 911.

Seattle police arrived in minutes. They saw the three suspects matching the

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No. 80370-1-I/3

descriptions given on the 911 call. The suspects fled. Abdi and Said were quickly

caught and taken into custody. Forbes escaped.

      Witnesses saw the men toss something into a bin, where the police later

retrieved two guns. Ali and Dalmar both identified Abdi and Said in separate lineups

and explained their roles in the crimes. They also identified the three men in court as

the attackers.

      The jury convicted Abdi and Said of first degree attempted robbery against

Dalmar and first degree unlawful possession of a firearm. The jury acquitted Said of

the second count of first degree attempted robbery against Ali but could not reach a

decision as to Abdi on that count.

      The court sentenced Abdi to a standard range sentence of 152 months in

prison.

                                       ANALYSIS

      A petitioner alleging constitutional error in their personal restraint petition

bears the “threshold, prima facie burden of showing by a preponderance of the

evidence that [they were] actually and substantially prejudiced by the alleged error.”1

The petitioner must show that the outcome of their trial “would more likely than not

have been different had the alleged error not occurred.”2

      1   In re Pers. Restraint of Meippen, 193 Wn.2d 310, 315, 440 P.3d 978 (2019).
      2   Id. at 316.

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No. 80370-1-I/4

       A defendant has a constitutional right to effective assistance of counsel.3 Our

analysis of a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel begins with a strong

presumption that counsel was effective.4 The claimant bears the burden of

demonstrating that counsel’s assistance was ineffective.5 The claimant must show

that counsel’s conduct fell below a professional standard of reasonableness and that

but for counsel’s unprofessional conduct, there is a reasonable probability the

outcome at trial would have been different.6 If either of these prongs is not met, the

claim fails.7

       A legitimate tactical decision cannot be the basis of an ineffective assistance

claim.8 “It is all too tempting for a defendant to second-guess counsel’s assistance

after conviction or adverse sentence, and it is all too easy for a court, examining

counsel’s defense after it has proved unsuccessful, to conclude that a particular act

or omission of counsel was unreasonable.”9 Therefore, we make every effort to

“eliminate the distorting effects of hindsight” and evaluate counsel’s performance

from counsel’s perspective at the time.10

       3
       Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687, 104 S. Ct. 2052, 80 L. Ed. 2d
674 (1984); State v. McFarland, 127 Wn.2d 322, 335, 899 P.2d 1251 (1995).
       4   Strickland, 466 U.S. at 690; McFarland, 127 Wn.2d at 335.
       5   McFarland, 127 Wn.2d at 337.
       6 State v. Grier, 171 Wn.2d 17, 32-33, 246 P.3d 1260 (2011) (quoting
Strickland, 466 U.S. at 687).
       7   State v. Garcia, 57 Wn. App. 927, 932, 791 P.2d 244 (1990).
       8   State v. Alvarado, 89 Wn. App. 543, 548, 949 P.2d 831 (1998).
       9   Strickland, 466 U.S. at 689.
       10   Id.

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No. 80370-1-I/5

       Prejudice is not established merely by showing that an error by counsel had

some conceivable effect on the outcome of the proceeding.11 The party claiming

ineffective assistance must show a reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s

errors, the result of the proceeding would have been different.12

Failure to Present Exculpatory Evidence

       In an October 2014 pretrial defense motion, counsel for Abdi asserted she had

not been provided discovery of a police report recounting that Dalmar disclosed to

Abdi and Said’s parents that they “had done nothing to her,” and that Forbes was

“the only one that had a gun.”13 When the detective asked Dalmar why she had

changed her story, she responded that she hadn’t changed her story and had always

maintained that Forbes “was the only one that did anything to her and the only one

that had a gun.”14

       After comparing notes with the prosecutor during a recess of the November

19, 2014 hearing, counsel for Abdi acknowledged she had been provided that portion

of the police report in February of 2014.

       In her opening statement on December 10, 2014, Abdi’s counsel told the jury,

“[Y]ou’re going to hear from Ms. Halimo Dalmar that she tells the detectives and

       11   Id. at 693.
       12   Id. at 694.
       13   PRP, Ex. D at 25.
       14   Id.

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No. 80370-1-I/6

officers in this case in an interview that Mr. Abdi absolutely did nothing to her

whatsoever. She’s going to tell you that herself.”15

       During her direct examination at trial, Dalmar emphasized Forbes’s actions.

She testified Forbes was one of two men knocking and kicking at the door and

demanding money, Forbes was the only one she saw with a gun, and he pointed that

gun at her house. She minimized the roles of Abdi and Said. Abdi was with Forbes

on the porch. Said and Abdi were with Forbes at the car. She noted that Said “only

came towards the side of my [car] window, he did not even use his hands, and he

ha[s] not done anything to me.”16 “He came to my car, but he did not physically take

anything from me. None of these guys took anything from me. . . . [T]hey were all

talking. I cannot identify which one was saying what. They were saying, ‘Give me

money. Give me money.’”17

       On cross-examination, Abdi’s counsel did not ask any questions of Dalmar

about her statements to detectives.

       In closing argument, Abdi’s counsel focused on accomplice liability and Abdi’s

limited role. She noted, “[W]hat you heard from the evidence is that Mr. Abdi did not

have a gun, that he did not threaten anybody,”18 and “what [Dalmar] said is that Mr.

       15   Report of Proceedings (RP) (Dec. 10, 2014) at 1349.
       16   RP (Dec. 18, 2014) at 2264.
       17   Id. at 2265.
       18   RP (Jan. 12, 2015) at 2920.

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No. 80370-1-I/7

Abdi did absolutely nothing to her. She said that one person had a gun, and that was

Mr. Forbes.”19 Later in her argument, she added:

       [W]hat was clear is that Mr. Abdi did not have a gun at any time. . . .
       [The daughter] testified, and I asked her “Was Mr. Abdi holding a gun?,”
       her answer was unequivocally no, he was not. . . . [W]hen I asked
       [Dalmar] did Mr. Abdi have a gun, she said, “I did not see Mr. Abdi
       either with or near a visible gun.” That was her testimony.
       Unequivocally did not have a gun. In fact, she said he didn’t do
       anything.[20]

       Defense counsel should be aware of the contents of discovery provided by the

State, but Abdi does not establish the timing of counsel’s realization was of any

significance. Days before jury selection and opening statements, Abdi’s attorney was

aware of the police report with Dalmar’s statements that neither Abdi nor Said had

done anything to her and that Forbes was the only one with a gun. The essence of

Abdi’s claim is counsel was ineffective for failing to present exculpatory evidence

either on cross-examination of Dalmar or through another witness.

       What direction to take how hard to push on cross-examination are squarely

strategic trial decisions:

                Courts generally entrust cross-examination techniques, like other
       matters of trial strategy, to the professional discretion of counsel. In
       assessing Petitioner's claim that his counsel did not effectively cross-
       examine a witness, we need not determine why trial counsel did not
       cross examine if that approach falls within the range of reasonable
       representation. “In retrospect we might speculate as to whether
       another attorney could have more efficiently attacked the credibility
       of . . . witnesses. . . . The extent of cross-examination is something a

       19   Id. at 2922.
       20   Id. at 2937.

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No. 80370-1-I/8

       lawyer must decide quickly and in the heat of the conflict. This . . . is a
       matter of judgment and strategy.”[21]

And in order to establish prejudice from deficient cross-examination, the petitioner

must show a reasonable probability the testimony to be elicited would have overcome

the evidence against him.22

       Dalmar’s statements to the detectives did not stand in stark contrast to her trial

testimony. It was a matter of judgment and strategy whether to attempt to impeach

by means of the limited differences between her direct testimony and her statement

to the detectives. And further inquiry on cross-examination could have allowed the

prosecutor on redirect to explore whether Dalmar’s version of “not doing anything” to

her was limited to not physically touching her or actually taking property from her.

       And Abdi does not establish that admitting Dalmar’s statements to the

detectives probably would have overcome the weight of the evidence against him as

multiple witnesses described his role in the attempted robbery, including his

possession of a gun.23

       Counsel’s misstatement in closing about Dalmar’s testimony is troubling and

could have undercut her credibility with the jury, but it is clear that the focus of her

       21 In re Pers. Restraint of Davis, 152 Wn.2d 647, 720, 101 P.3d 1 (2004)
(alterations in original) (quoting State v. Stockman, 70 Wn.2d 941, 945, 425 P.2d 898
(1967)).
       22   Id.
       23In the direct appeal, this court determined that sufficient evidence supported
his conviction for possession of a firearm. State v. Abdi, No. 73263-3-I, slip op. at 6,
(Wash. Ct. App. July 31, 2017) (unpublished) http://www.courts.wa.gov/opinions/
pdf/732633.pdf.

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No. 80370-1-I/9

argument was to emphasize the evidence that Abdi did not possess or use a gun in

the context of accomplice liability. Even if deficient, Abdi does not establish a

reasonable probability that a different tack in the opening statement or closing

argument would have made a difference in the outcome of the trial.

       Abdi does not establish ineffective assistance at trial.24

Failure to Present Mitigating Factor of Abdi’s Youth

       Abdi contends his counsel was ineffective at sentencing for failing to present

evidence and advocate for a mitigated sentence based on Abdi’s youth. Specifically,

he argues he was 23 years of age at the time of the underlying crimes and scientific

evidence supports that frontal lobe development continues into the mid-20s. Abdi

also relies on his violent and traumatic experiences as an ethnic minority and

refugee. He contends development of his brain architecture was disrupted by his

migration to new countries and his childhood was filled with fear, violence, poverty,

and hunger. His trial counsel acknowledges in her declaration that it did not occur to

her to investigate or advocate for mitigation based on youthfulness.

       But prejudice for ineffective assistance for failure to present a potential

mitigating factor at sentencing requires a showing that the trial court would have been

       24 The four federal cases cited by Abdi regarding the failure to present
exculpatory evidence are not persuasive. Anderson v. Butler, 858 F.2d 16 (1st Cir.
1988), Ouber v. Guarino, 293 F.3d 19 (1st Cir. 2002), Lord v. Wood, 184 F.3d 1083
(9th Cir. 1999), and Hart v. Gomez, 174 F.3d 1067 (9th Cir. 1999) all involved facts
where the exculpatory evidence was compelling, as opposed to the limited exculpatory
statements here.

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No. 80370-1-I/10

inclined to accept such a factor.25 Abdi contends the sentencing court’s comments

about youthfulness revealed the court would have been receptive to this mitigating

factor. The court was aware of Abdi’s age at the time of the crimes and his immigrant

background, noting, “I also know that young men do stupid things and they grow up,

and fortunately, they grow out of them. And their brains are immature at this age,

but—and I’m a true believer in second chances and sometimes even third

chances.”26

       But the court concluded Abdi had already been given multiple chances. His

criminal history included seven adult felonies and two juvenile matters. The court

was troubled by Abdi’s prior convictions and his “absolute disregard for your fellow

human being[s] and vulnerable people.”27 The court imposed the high end of the

standard range, acknowledging that the only thing the sentence would do is protect

the public for a period of time. The court acknowledged the science underlying

concerns with youthfulness and brain maturity and still chose a high end sentence

based on Abdi’s troubling history of disregard for others. The record reveals the

court was not inclined to mitigate Abdi’s sentence on the basis of youthfulness.

       Abdi does not establish ineffective assistance of counsel at sentencing.

       25 See State v. Knight, 176 Wn. App. 936, 958, 309 P.3d 776 (2013) (where
there is no indication the trial court would have considered or imposed even a low end
standard sentence, let alone an exceptional sentence downward, the defendant fails to
establish he was prejudiced by counsel’s failure to inform the court of the possibility of
an exceptional sentence downward).
       26   RP (Mar. 18, 2015) at 3108.
       27   Id.

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No. 80370-1-I/11

Impact of Recent Supreme Court Decisions

       Abdi argues that the recent decisions In re Personal Restraint of Domingo-

Cornelio,28 and In re Personal Restraint of Ali29 reveal that prejudice for purposes of a

personal restraint petition related to consideration of youthfulness “simply requires

some showing of willingness to consider the missed arguments or evidence

pertaining to youth.”30 He concludes, “Domingo-Cornelio makes clear that, where

evidence and argument [of youthfulness] were lacking below, reviewing courts need

not be concerned with whether the sentencing court signaled a willingness to impose

a reduced sentence.”31

       But Abdi’s arguments regarding prejudice are not compelling here. The

portions of Domingo-Cornelio and Ali regarding prejudice are both in the context of

whether our Supreme Court’s decision in State v. Houston-Sconiers32 represented a

significant change in the law in the sentencing of minors and whether the change

was material to the defendant's sentence. Under Houston-Sconiers, the court is

required by the Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution to consider the

mitigating circumstances of youth when sentencing juveniles adjudicated as adults

       28No. 97205-2, slip op. (Wash. Sept. 17, 2020), http://www.courts.wa.gov/
opinions/pdf/972052.pdf.
       29No. 95578-6, slip op. (Wash. Sept. 17, 2020), http://www.courts.wa.gov/
opinions/pdf/955786.pdf.
       30   Petitioner’s Motion for Reconsideration at 4.
       31   Id. at 5.
       32   188 Wn.2d 1, 391 P.3d 409 (2017).

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No. 80370-1-I/12

and must have absolute discretion to impose anything less than a standard adult

sentence based on that youth.33

       In Domingo-Cornelio, the defendant committed several crimes between the

ages of 15 and 17 but, because of delayed reporting, was not sentenced until he was

20 years old.34 The sentencing court did not indicate on the record whether it had

considered the defendant's youth at the time he committed his crimes but imposed a

standard range adult sentence.35 Regarding prejudice, the court held “a petitioner

establishes actual and substantial prejudice when a sentencing court fails to consider

mitigating factors relating to the youthfulness of a juvenile tried as an adult and/or

does not appreciate its discretion to impose any exceptional sentence in light of that

consideration.”36 In Ali, the defendant committed a series of robberies when he was

16. He was charged and tried in adult court. Our Supreme Court noted the

applicability of Houston-Sconiers to a juvenile tried as an adult and recognized “Ali

has demonstrated actual and substantial prejudice. His sentencing judge was

presented with, and considered, testimony and evidence regarding the mitigating

factors of Ali’s youthfulness, but she found that she lacked the discretion to impose

an exceptional sentence downward based on those mitigating factors.”37

       33   Id. at 19, 21.
       34   Domingo-Cornelio, slip op. at 2.
       35   Id. at 3-4.
       36   Id. at 12 (emphasis added).
       37   Ali, No. 95578-6, slip op. at 25.

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No. 80370-1-I/13

      Unlike Domingo-Cornelio and Ali, Abdi was not a juvenile tried as an adult. He

was 23 when the crimes were committed. The discussion of prejudice in Domingo-

Cornelio and Ali in the context of Houston-Sconiers has no application here.

      Abdi suggests that the court’s general openness to the circumstances of youth

at his sentencing was an adequate showing of prejudice. But in order to satisfy the

prejudice prong of ineffective assistance, he was required to show a reasonable

probability that the outcome would have been different.38 In order to establish actual

and substantial prejudice for purposes of a personal restraint petition, he was

required to establish the outcome would more likely than not have been different.39

Abdi does not satisfy the prejudice requirements.

      We deny Abdi’s petition.

WE CONCUR:

      38   Grier, 171 Wn.2d at 32-33 (quoting Strickland, 466 U.S. at 687).
      39   Meippen, 193 Wn.2d at 316.

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