Court Opinion

ID: 2651717
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-01-30 18:12:42.611977+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:57:14.565386
License: Public Domain

FILED 

                                                                       January 30, 2014 

                                                                 In the Office of the Clerk of Court 

                                                               W A State Court of Appeals, Division III 

         IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON 

                            DMSION THREE 

In the Matter ofthe Personal Restraint        )         No. 29118-9-III
Petition of:                                  )
                                              )
ALEJANDRO ANTONIO GUZMAN,                     )
                                              )         UNPUBLISHED OPINION
                       Petitioner.            )

       SIDDOWAY, 1. -      Alejandro Antonio Guzman petitions for relief from personal

restraint imposed for his 2006 convictions of two counts of second degree rape and two

counts of practicing a profession (massage therapist) without a license. This is his ftrst

personal restraint petition following this court's 2008 opinion affirming his convictions

and is timely.

       He raises ftve grounds for relief, none ofwhich have merit. The petition is

therefore dismissed.

                       FACTS AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROlmD

       The evidence presented in Mr. Guzman's trial is set forth in this court's opinion

affirming the convictions. State v. Guzman, noted at 146 Wn. App. 1035,2008 WL
3523940 (2008). Mr. Guzman was convicted of two counts of second degree rape that

occurred when, while holding himself out as a massage therapist at a spa and providing
No. 29118-9-111
In re Pers. Restraint ofGuzman

massage services to female customers, he placed his finger or fingers in the vagina of a

customer on two separate occasions. An investigation of the women's allegations led to

the discovery that he was unlicensed and thus his conviction of the two licensing crimes.

       In his appeal of right, Mr. Guzman assigned error to the (1) trial court's refusal to

sever the counts concerning the two victims, (2) the court's exclusion of the opinion of

one investigating detective that one victim's allegations were "unfounded," (3) the

court's allowing the two victims' boyfriends (Justin Mallonee and Eric Walls) to testifY

to statements by the victims, (4) a due process violation based on the poor quality of the

transcribed report of proceedings, and (5) a violation of his right to a public trial through

what he contends was a closure of the courtroom during the individual questioning of

some prospective jurors. This court found only one evidentiary error and concluded it

was harmless.

       Mr. Guzman now contends in his personal restraint petition that (1) the trial court

denied his right to a public trial, (2) there was insufficient evidence to support the second

degree rape convictions, (3) he received ineffective assistance of counsel, (4) the trial

court erred in admitting hearsay, and (5) the prosecutor committed misconduct during

closing argument by commenting on Mr. Guzman's credibility. I

       I Mr. Guzman raised cumulative error as a sixth ground for relief, but given our
disposition of the other grounds there is no need to address cumulative error.

                                              2

No. 29118-9-III
In re Pers. Restraint ofGuzman

       We initially stayed Mr. Guzman's petition pending the decision and mandate by

the Washington Supreme Court in State     V.   Wise, 176 Wash. 2d 1, 288 P.3d 1113 (2012) and

In re Personal Restraint ofMorris, 176 Wash. 2d 157, 288 P.3d 1140 (2012). When the

stay was lifted, the petition was referred to a panel ofjudges based on a determination by

the chiefjudge that at least one of the claims-the claim that Mr. Guzman's right to

public trial was violated-was not frivolous.

                                        ANALYSIS

       When considering a timely personal restraint petition, we may grant relief only if

the petitioner is under an unlawful restraint, as defined by RAP 16.4(c). RAP 16.4(a).

Additionally, the availability of collateral relief is limited by court rule and Washington

decisions in two ways, recently summarized in In re Personal Restraint o!Yates, 177

Wn.2d 1,17,296 P.3d 872 (2013):

      First, "[t]he petitioner in a personal restraint petition is prohibited from
      renewing an issue that was raised and rejected on direct appeal unless the
      interests ofjustice require relitigation of that issue." [In re Pers. Restraint
      ofDavis, 152 Wn.2d 647,671, 101 P.3d 1 (2004) (Davis I)] (footnotes
      omitted). The interests ofjustice are served by reconsidering a ground for
      relief if there has been "an intervening change in the law 'or some other
      justification for having failed to raise a crucial point or .argument in the
      prior application. '" In re Pers. Restraint ofStenson, 142 Wash. 2d 710, 720,
       16 P.3d 1 (2001) (internal quotation marks omitted) (quoting In re Pers.
      Restraint ofGentry, 137 Wn.2d 378,388,972 P.2d 1250 (1999) (Gentry
      II)). A petitioner may not avoid this requirement "merely by supporting a
      previous ground for relief with different factual allegations or with different
      legal arguments." Davis I, 152 Wash. 2d at 671. Second, new issues must
      meet a heightened showing before a court will grant relief. For alleged
      constitutional errors, "[a] petitioner has the burden of showing actual

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In re Pers. Restraint ofGuzman

       prejudice ... ; for alleged nonconstitutional error, he must show a
       fundamental defect resulting in a complete miscarriage ofjustice." In re
       Pers. Restraint ofElmore, 162 Wn.2d 236,251, 172 P.3d 335 (2007)
       (Elmore II). The petitioner must make these heightened showings by a
       preponderance of the evidence. See Davis I, 152 Wash. 2d at 671-72.

(Some alterations in original.)

       Dismissal is necessary where a petitioner fails to make a prima facie showing of

actual prejudice for alleged constitutional errors; or, for alleged nonconstitutional errors,

fails to show a fundamental defect resulting in a complete miscarriage ofjustice. In re

Pers. Restraint ofCook, 114 Wn.2d 802,813-14, 792 P.2d 506 (1990).

       Two of the grounds for relief raised by Mr. Guzman's petition-the public trial

. issue and his objection to the hearsay offered by Mr. Mallonee and Mr. Walls-renew

issues that were raised and rejected on direct appeal. We first address those issues

subject to the standard that the interests ofjustice require relitigation. We then tum to his

remaining grounds for relief.

                                     I. Public Trial

       Article I, section 22 of the Washington Constitution guarantees a criminal

defendant the right to "a speedy public trial by an impartial jury," among other rights. In

the three years since we affirmed Mr. Guzman's conviction, "[t]he meaning of the 'public

trial' right has been heavily litigated." State v. Love, 176 Wash. App. 911, 916, 309 P.3d
1209, petition for review filed, No. 89619-4 (Wash. Dec. 9, 2013). The interests of

justice are served by reconsidering a ground for relief if there has been an intervening

                                              4

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In re Pers. Restraint ofGuzman

change in the law. Stenson, 142 Wash. 2d at 720. We review Mr. Guzman's contention that

his public trial right was violated anew because of the possibility that intervening cases

would call for a different conclusion than was reached in 2008.

       The facts have not changed, so we rely on this court's 2008 opinion, which

described the jury selection procedure as determined from the verbatim report of

proceedings (RP):

      On the afternoon of the first day ofjury selection, August 21, 2006, the trial
      court asked the jurors to fill out a questionnaire. The judge informed the
      prospective jurors: "Now, there are going to be some of you perhaps and
      we won't know this until the questionnaires are filled out that may be
      requesting private interviews or we may want to talk to you privately
      outside the presence of the other jurors." RP (Aug. 21, 2006) at 40-41.
              On August 22, the trial court proceeded with the jury selection. The
      trial court advised those present that they were on the record and that they
      were continuing to address the jury questionnaire comments. The
      following statement was made by the trial court:
                     THE COURT: The following folks specifically
              requested a private interview, heard of the case, or indicated
              again on the hardship question that there'may be some
              ongoing issues for them. I'm going to suggest that we
              interview those people individually. That would leave us
              with 47 and 71 being excused, 21 people for this morning.
              And I'm going to give those numbers: 6,23,24,31, 32, 35,
              38,39,42,44,45,49,61,64,65,69,70,76,81, 86, and 89.
              I'm going to suggest that the other jurors we release until
              1:30, and we will hold the 21 and see how far we get this
              morning.
                     Everybody leave with that?
      RP (Aug. 22, 2006) at 1-2. The bailiffwas instructed to line up those
      waiting to be interviewed on the benches outside of the courtroom.
      Defense counsel then asked the trial court where they would be conducting
      the interviews. The judge responded as follows:

                                             5

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                      THE COURT: We're going to put them right here in
               the jury box with the microphone and basically, 1 will do
               essentially the questioning as to whatever their concerns were
               first.
                      MR. ADAME: Okay. 

                      THE COURT: Then I ask counsel if they have any 

               further questions at that point, and that's how we do it.
       RP (Aug. 22, 2006) at 2. At that point, the other jurors were excused until
       the afternoon.
              After having the first prospective juror 6, brought into the courtroom
       to address the concerns the juror had stated in the questionnaire, the trial
       judge seated the juror in the jury box in the seat closest to her, and he was
       provided a handheld microphone. The trial court advised juror 6 that he
       was going to be questioned there in the courtroom because "this is our
       definition of private, out of the presence of the other jurors." RP (Aug. 22,
       2006) at 4. The judge further stated that "[e]veryone else who is present in
       the courtroom we have to have here" but assured him that his request for
       privacy would be respected by those in the courtroom. RP (Aug. 22, 2006)            I

       at 4. The record indicates that the State and Mr. Guzman were present.
       The trial court proceeded to interview the remaining jurors who had
       requested private interviews in this manner.
               The trial court also individually questioned other jurors who had
       indicated that they had heard of the case before or that a trial would impose
       a potential hardship on them. Specifically, the court explained to juror 31,
       who had answered on her questionnaire that she had heard of the case, that
       she was being questioned privately because "I tend to want to do that out of
       the presence of the other jurors, because we're never entirely sure of what
       information will be brought out." RP (Aug. 22, 2006) at 15.

2008 WL 3523940, at *10-11 (alteration in original). From this record, this court

concluded in its 2008 opinion that "there is no indication ... that the court closed the

courtroom to the public. Accordingly, there is no violation of Mr. Guzman's right to

public trial." Id. at *11.

                                             6

No. 29118-9-III
In re Pers. Restraint ofGuzman

       Mr. Guzman's petition presents argument from intervening case law and new

affidavits or declarations from Tammy Madewell (fka Wyrik), a court reporter who was

present for the jury selection; Carie Stryka, a media design consultant who reviewed the

video recording of the proceedings; and former prospective juror Lori Jordan Isley, who

happens to be a licensed attorney.

       Ms. Madewell reviewed the JA VS System 2 disc recordings for the day in question

and was present in court. The recordings and a log of the recordings were provided with

her affidavit. She testifies that the "JAVS disc recordings demonstrate that there were

private interviews of prospective jurors" followed by peremptory challenges. Personal

Restraint Petition (PRP), App. A. But labeling the interviews as "private" admits of

several possible meanings. Ms. Madewell's affidavit and its attachments include nothing

that suggests that the trial judge excluded anyone other than other prospective jurors from

the courtroom. If anything, the log of the recordings includes entries tending to confirm

that only other jurors were excluded. See id. (entries on the log attached to the affidavit

include "J-Due to Jury Questionnaire excusing Jurors," "J-Keep the 21jurors [sic] and

excuse the rest," and, following the individual juror interviews, "Called for prospective

jurors," "Waiting for Prospective jurors," and "The prospective jurors were seated in the

       2"JAVS" is an acronym for and registered trademark of Jefferson Audio Video
Systems Inc., a provider of courtroom audio visual systems, according to the company's
website, http://javs.com (last visited Jan. 28, 2014).

                                             7
No. 29118-9-111
In re Pers. Restraint ofGuzman

courtroom"). The log includes no reference to the judge ever "closing" or "reopening"

the courtroom or to its ever excusing "the public."

       Carie Stryka was retained to review the videotape of the jury selection proceedings

and, according to her affidavit, "my task was to watch the individual private interviews of

the prospective jurors and determine if 'members of the public' were present or excluded

during the interviews of the jurors who were selected for private interviews." PRP,

App. B. In addition to seeing the judge, the lawyers, the defendant, and the jurors being

questioned individually, Ms. Stryka saw both a police officer and a court consultant

present in the courtroom during interviews of individual jurors but testified that she

"[did] not know   ~fbeing   a policewoman means 'public' or if ... a court consultant is

considered a member of the 'public.'" Id. Her affidavit does not state that she observed

anyone being denied entry to the courtroom, anyone asked to leave the courtroom, or any

statements by the judge "closing" the courtroom.

       As to Ms. Isley's declaration, it states, relevant to our issue, only that "I was

selected for individual voir dire. My recollection is that other jurors were not present in

the courtroom. Superior Court Judge Reukauf was present as was counsel for the

Defendant and the Prosecuting Attorney. I believe the Defendant was also present."

PRP, App. C. Again, this is evidence only that there were individual juror interviews at

which the remaining jurors were not present, which was the court's definition of

"private. "

                                               8

No. 29118-9-I11
In re Pers. Restraint 0/ Guzman

       A defendant's right to a public trial extends to the voir dire of prospective jurors.

Presley v. Georgia, 558 U.S. 209, 213-14, 130 S. Ct. 721, 175 L. Ed. 2d 675 (2010);

State v. Strod~, 167 Wn.2d 222,226-27,217 P.3d 310 (2009) (quoting In re Pers.

Restraint o/Orange, 152 Wn.2d 795,804, 100 P.3d 291 (2004». While a trial court may

close the courtroom to the public to protect a compelling interest, it may do so only if it

first considers the five factors identified in State v. Bone-Club, 128 Wn.2d 254,906 P.2d

325 (1995) and enters its specific findings on those factors on the record. State v.

Easterling, 157 Wash. 2d 167, 175, 137 P.3d 825 (2006)? Whether the right to a public

trial has been violated is a question of law reviewed de novo. State v. Lormor, 172
Wash. 2d 85, 90, 257 P.3d 624 (2011).

       3 The Bone-Club factors, which the trial court must weigh on a case-by-case basis
to close a courtroom, are:
               "1. The proponent of closure or sealing must make some showing
       [of a compelling interest], and where that need is based on a right other
       than an accused's right to a fair trial, the proponent must show a 'serious
       and imminent threat' to that right.
               "2. Anyone present when the closure motion is made must be given
       an opportunity to object to the closure.
               "3. The proposed method for curtailing open access must be the
       least restrictive means available for protecting the threatened interests.
               "4. The court must weigh the competing interests of the proponent
       of closure and the public.
               "5. The order must be no broader in its application or duration than
       necessary to serve its purpose."
Bone-Club, 128 Wash. 2d at 258-59 (alteration in original) (quoting Allied Daily
Newspapers o/Wash. v. Eikenberry, 121 Wn.2d 205,210-11,848 P.2d 1258 (1993».

                                              9

f
I
I
I
    No. 29118-9-III
    In re Pers. Restraint o/Guzman

I          In rejecting Mr. Guzman's public trial contention in 2008, this court reasoned that

    the courtroom was never closed; rather, other prospective jurors were excluded from the

I
!
    individual questioning. The conclusion that the courtroom was not closed was based on

    statements made by the trial court as reported in the verbatim report of proceedings.

    Whether the courtroom was closed remains the controlling issue in our reexamination of

    Mr. Guzman's challenge.

           In Lormor, our Supreme Court observed that the rules established by Bone-Club

    and later cases "come into play when the public is fully excluded from proceedings

    within a courtroom." 172 Wash. 2d at 92. It found that the rules did not apply, and the

    Bone-Club factors were not required to be considered, where the trial court excluded the

    defendant's terminally ill daughter out of concern that her medical equipment and needs

    would distract attention from the proceedings. Having reviewed prior Washington cases,

    the Lormor court held that "a 'closure' of a courtroom occurs when the courtroom is

    completely and purposefully closed to spectators so that no one may enter and no one

    may leave." Id. at 93.

           Where no closure exists, any objection to the procedure followed by the trial court

    is "analyze [d] ... as a matter of courtroom operations, where the trial court judge

    possesses broad discretion." Id. A trial court's exclusion of one spectator from trial, or a

    set of persons, such as witnesses excludable under ER 615, is reviewed for abuse of

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I       No. 29ll8-9-III
        In re Pers. Restraint ofGuzman

        discretion and reversed only if the exercise of discretion is manifestly unreasonable or

        based upon untenable grounds or reasons. Id. at 94.

               A trial court does not abuse its discretion by allowing individual juror questioning

        apart from other jurors. See State v. Vega, 144 Wn. App. 914,917,184 P.3d 677 (2008).

        Such questioning may be allowed "considering the court's duty to determine if, given a

I       juror's state of mind, the juror can try the case impartially and without prejudice to the

I       substantial rights of either party" and "mindful of the risks of tainting the neutrality of the

        other jurors by collective questioning." Id.

I
I
               Mr. Guzman fails to meet his burden of demonstrating a closure. The trial court

        did not abuse its discretion by engaging in individualized questioning ofjurors outside

        the presence of other jurors. Mr. Guzman is not entitled to relief on the basis of this first

        ground. 4

                                              II. Hearsay Evidence

               Mr. Guzman's petition also renews his challenge to the admission of hearsay

        testimony by Mr. Walls and Mr. Mallonee. The same assignment of error was rejected

        on direct review on the basis that the statement made to Mr. Walls by his girl friend was

               4 In his reply brief, Mr. Guzman suggests that the determination of whether there
        was a "closure" requires an evidentiary hearing. To obtain an evidentiary hearing,
        however, "the petitioner must demonstrate that he has competent, admissible evidence to
        establish the facts that entitle him to relief." In re Pers. Restraint ofRice, 118 Wn.2d
        876,886,828 P.2d 1086 (1992); see also In re Pers. Restraint ofSpencer, 152 Wash. App.
698, 707, 218 P.3d 924 (2009). Mr. Guzman fails to make that showing.

                                                       11 

No. 29118-9-III
In re Pers. Restraint ofGuzman

an excited utterance and therefore an exception from the hearsay rule, and the statement

made to Mr. Mallonee by his girl friend, while hearsay and not subject to an exception,

was harmless because it was a minor aspect of his testimony and consistent with other

evidence.

      Mr. Guzman fails to argue or otherwise demonstrate that the ends ofjustice would

be served by relitigating the trial court's decision on the hearsay objections. They were

adequately addressed in the direct appeal. See Guzman, 2008 WL 3523940, at *8-9.

                               III. Sufficiency of the Evidence

       We tum now to the new issues raised by Mr. Guzman's petition, the first being his

contention that insufficient evidence supports his two convictions of second degree rape.

Sufficiency of the evidence is a question of constitutional magnitude because due process

requires the State to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt. In re Pers. Restraint of

Tortorelli, 149 Wash. 2d 82, 93, 66 PJd 606 (2003). "Evidence is sufficient to convict

when 'viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution, any rational

trier offact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable

doubt. '" Id. (internal quotation marks omitted) (quoting State v. Green, 94 Wash. 2d 216,

221,616 P.2d 628 (1980».

      Here, the jury was instructed on the reasonable doubt standard and found that the

State met its burden of proof. The crime of rape in the second degree includes sexual

intercourse engaged in by a health care provider with a client during a treatment session.

                                            12 

No. 29118-9-II1
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RCW 9A.44.050( d). The statutory definition of "sexual intercourse" includes "any

penetration of the vagina ... however slight, by an object." RCW 9A.44.01O(l)(b). "A

finger is clearly 'an object.'" State v. Tili, 139 Wash. 2d 107, 111 n.3, 985 P.2d 365 (1999).

Each victim testified that during the course of Mr. Guzman's performing a massage, she

felt his finger or fingers enter her vagina. Ample evidence was presented on the essential

elements of second degree rape for both counts.

                             IV. Ineffective Assistance of Counsel

       Mr. Guzman next contends that his lawyer provided ineffective assistance of

counsel in two instances: first, when he failed to request a limiting instruction after the

testimony of Mr. Mallonee, and second, when he failed to object to the admission of

allegedly improper opinion testimony by Dena Mason, a school counselor and co-worker

of one of the victims.

       In a personal restraint petition, ifthe petitioner successfully shows ineffective

assistance of counsel, the actual and substantial prejudice required for relief on collateral

review has been shown. In re Pers. Restraint ofCrace, 174 Wn.2d 835,846-47,280

P.3d 1102 (2012). To establish a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, the defendant

must demonstrate that counsel's performance was deficient and that the deficient

performance prejudiced the defense. Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687, 104 S.

Ct. 2052, 80 L. Ed. 2d 674 (1984); State v. Nichols, 161 Wash. 2d 1, 8, 162 P.3d 1122

(2007). Deficient performance is that which falls "below an objective standard of

                                              13 

No. 29118-9-111
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reasonableness based on consideration of all the circumstances." State v. McFarland,

127 Wash. 2d 322, 334-35, 899 P.2d 1251 (1995). Prejudice is shown by "a reasonable

probability that, but for counsel's unprofessional errors, the outcome of the proceeding

would have been different." Nichols, 161 Wash. 2d at 8. If a party fails to satisty one ofthe

Strickland prongs, a reviewing court need not consider the other. State v. Foster, 140

Wn. App. 266,273, 166 P.3d 726 (2007).

       In evaluating claims for ineffectiveness, courts are highly deferential to counsel's

decisions and there is a strong presumption that counsel performed adequately.

Strickland, 466 U.S. at 689-91. Strategic and tactical decisions are not grounds for error.

Id.; State v. Reichenbach, 153 Wash. 2d 126, 130, 101 P.3d 80 (2004).
                                                                                              I
       We first address Mr. Guzman's claim that his lawyer was ineffective for failing to

request a limiting instruction after the trial court admitted Mr. Mallonee's hearsay

testimony of statements made by his girl friend. The court ruled that the victim's

statements had not been an excited utterance but were admissible as an "operative fact"

not offered for truth. Report of Proceedings (RP) (Aug. 23, 2006) at 136. This claim of

ineffective assistance is readily resolved on the basis of the prejudice prong, because in

affirming the convictions this court concluded that the hearsay from Mr. Mallonee should

not have been admitted but was harmless. That remains our conclusion: the hearsay,

even without a limiting instruction, was harmless. Because Mr. Guzman does not show

prejudice, we need not consider whether his lawyer's performance was defective.

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No. 29118-9-111
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       The second instance of alleged ineffective assistance was Mr. Guzman's lawyer's

failure to object to testimony of Ms. Mason, a counselor at an elementary school where

one of the victims was a teacher. The victim had been raped during a massage on

December 31, and Ms. Mason testified that after Christmas vacation, the victim appeared

to her to be "transform[ed]," "inward," and "having a hard time functioning." RP (Aug.

24,2006) at 11. Ms. Mason approached the victim and asked whether everything was all

right. The victim later opened up with her about what had happened. At trial, Ms.

Mason characterized the behavior that she observed in the victim as being "classic"

symptoms of trauma. Id. at 13.

       Mr. Guzman characterizes Ms. Mason as a lay witness and argues that under ER

701, a lay witness may offer opinions or inferences that help the jury understand the

witness's testimony "and that are not based upon scientific or specialized knowledge."

PRP at 31 (citing State v. Montgomery, 163 Wash. 2d 577, 183 P.3d 267 (2008)).

       Where an ineffective assistance claim is based on a failure to challenge the

admission of evidence, a defendant must show (1) an absence of legitimate strategic or

tactical reasons supporting the challenged conduct, (2) that an objection to the evidence

would likely have been sustained, and (3) that the result of the trial would have been

different had the evidence not been admitted. State v. Saunders, 91 Wn. App. 575,578,

958 P.2d 364 (1998).

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No. 29118-9-111
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       Mr. Guzman fails to show'that an objection to the evidence was likely to be

sustained because he fails to address the admissibility of Ms. Mason's testimony under

ER 702. That rule provides that "[i]f scientific, technical, or other specialized knowledge

will assist the trier of fact to understand the evidence or to determine a fact in issue, a

witness qualified as an expert by knowledge, skill, experience, or training, or education,

may testify thereto in the form of an opinion or otherwise." ER 702. To determine

whether an opinion is admissible under ER 702, the court engages in a two-part inquiry:

"'(1) does the witness qualify as an expert; and (2) would the witness's testimony be

helpful to the trier offact.'" State v. McPherson, 111 Wash. App. 747, 761,46 P.3d 284

(2002) (quoting State v. Guilliot, 106 Wash. App. 355, 363,22 P.3d 1266 (2001)).

       The State established that Ms. Mason worked as a certified educational school

counselor and had been employed as a licensed mental health therapist for seven years.

She held master's degrees in psychology and administration. As a member of the school

district's crisis team responsible for counseling victims of any large-scale traumatic

event, she had received training in posttraumatic stress syndrome and counseling victims

of trauma. In light of her specialized knowledge, outside the competence of an ordinary

lay person and therefore helpful, one cannot say that an objection to her opinion

testimony was likely to have been sustained. Cj Carlton v. Vancouver Care, LLC, 155
Wash. App. 151, 163,231 P.3d 1241 (2010) (holding such testimony admissible, stating

that "[a]s many courts have realized, rape trauma syndrome evidence is admissible to

                                              16 

No. 29ll8-9-III
In re Pers. Restraint ofGuzman

help explain the trauma process and the manner in which a victim reacts to rape"); State

v. Stevens, 58 Wash. App. 478, 496, 794 P.2d 38 (1990) ("expert testimony generally

describing symptoms exhibited by victims may be admissible when relevant and when

not offered as a direct assessment of the credibility of the victim"). Mr. Guzman is not

entitled to relief on this ground.

                                     V. Prosecutorial Misconduct

       Finally, Mr. Guzman seeks relief on the ground that the prosecutor improperly

commented on Mr. Guzman's credibility when he referred during rebuttal argument to

doctored credentials for Mr. Guzman that were found in a search of the spa and were

admitted in evidence. Drawing the jury's attention to a line on a licensing document

indicating whether Mr. Guzman had "passed" or "failed" a licensing exam and that

appeared to have been altered, the prosecutor argued:

       Why is that important? Because of this word "pass" that he was trying to
       pass off, perpetrating a fraud.
              Again, that goes to credibility. Credibility of their witnesses.

RP (Aug. 25, 2006) at 73. Mr. Guzman's lawyer objected and requested a sidebar.

       Outside of the hearing of the jury, Mr. Guzman's lawyer complained that the

prosecutor was commenting improperly on Mr. Guzman's choice not to testify. The

court was more concerned that this was rebuttal argument, telling the prosecutor that

"right now you're ... far afield of [anything brought up by the defense]." Id. at 74. The

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No. 29118-9-111
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court told the prosecutor to move on. The prosecutor said nothing more about the

exhibits or credibility.

       To establish a claim for prosecutorial misconduct, the defendant bears the burden

of showing that the prosecutor's conduct was both improper and prejudicial. State v.

Thorgerson, 172 Wash. 2d 438, 442, 258 PJd 43 (2011) (quoting State v. Magers, 164

Wn.2d 174,191,189 PJd 126 (2008)). It is improper to vouch for the credibility ofa

witness or express the personal opinion on the guilt or innocence of the accused. See

State v. Reed, 102 Wash. 2d 140, 145,684 PJd 699 (1984); State v. Horton, 116 Wn. App.

909,921,68 P.3d 1145 (2003). On the other hand, ''[t]he prosecutor enjoys reasonable

latitude in arguing inferences from the evidence, including inferences as to witness

credibility." State v. Gregory, 158 Wn.2d 759,810, 147 PJd 1201 (2006). '''[T]here is a

distinction between the individual opinion of the prosecuting attorney, as an independent

fact, and an opinion based upon or deduced from the testimony in the case.'" State v.

McKenzie, 157 Wn.2d 44,53, 134 PJd 221 (2006) (emphasis omitted) (quoting State v.

Armstrong, 37 Wash. 51, 54-55, 79 P. 490 (1905)).

       The prosecutor pointed to evidence that a rational juror could view as reflecting

negatively on the defendant's credibility. He asked the jury to draw that negative

inference. The argument was not an improper expression of personal opinion as to guilt.

We therefore need not address prejudice.

                                            18
No. 291 f8-9-II1
In re Pers. Restraint ofGuzman

       The petition for review is dismissed.

       A majority of the panel has determined that 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.

                                                SiddO~/;P
WE CONCUR:

Kulik, J.

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