Court Opinion

ID: 1034034
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-07-16 22:45:30.276473+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:40:10.660369
License: Public Domain

AILED
                                                                                     C`] I OF APPEA S
                                                                                      UR
                                                                                           Divislon, 11
                                                                                                              ta
                                                                                    ST T
                                                                                            F
                                                                                                  a
                                                                                                      rNG oll
                                                                                                          T

    IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF W.
                                                                                              P

                                         DIVISION II

STATE OF     WASHINGTON,                                            No. 42696 0 II
                                                                              - -

                               Respondent,

       V.

MICHAEL W. PICKERING,                                         UNPUBLISHED OPINION

                               Appellant.

       JOHANSON, A. . Michael W. Pickering appeals his jury conviction for second degree
                 J.
                  C     —

burglary. Pickering claims, for the first time, that the prosecutor violated his right to a fair trial

during closing argument when he (1)shifted the burden of proof, undermining the presumption

of innocence; and ( 2)misrepresented the reasonable doubt standard.             We affirm because

Pickering fails to demonstrate that the prosecutor committed any error, much less flagrant and

ill-
   intentioned misconduct Accordingly, - has not preserved these -arguments for.review.
                                     he -                                   -

                                               FACTS

        On   May 9, 2010, Ocean Market       and Gas ( "the   Hillbilly ") employee Katrina Cahoon

arrived at the store and discovered signs of a,
                                              burglary. She noticed what she thought was fresh

blood on the floor. Grays Harbor County Sheriff Sergeant Brad Johansson responded and found

a hole in the wall that he thought may have been the entry point, as well as fresh blood. The

DNA (
    deoxyribonucleic      acid) profile of the blood drops matched that   of Pickering.
No. 42696 0 II
          - -

         The State charged Pickering with second degree burglary. At trial, Pickering stipulated

that the DNA profile of the blood collected at the Hillbilly matched his DNA

         Before closing arguments, the trial court instructed the jury regarding the reasonable

doubt standard, following 11 Washington Practice: Washington Pattern Jury Instructions:

Criminal, 4.1, at 85 (3d ed. 2008)WPIC).During his closing argument, the prosecutor argued,
           0                      (

P] can talk about doubts all of the time and then you look at him and say, well,that's not
 eople

reasonable at all. I mean that doesn't make sense. Yeah, you just say that but that doesn't mean

I have to lose faith in mymy belief."Verbatim Report of Proceedings (VRP)Oct. 11, 2011)
                          —                                              (

at 49.   The prosecutor then described abiding beliefs, Y] u go and deliberate and you talk
                                                        "[ o

amongst each other that tests your belief and in the end your belief survives this whole process,

it' an abiding belief."
  s                    VRP ( ct. 11, 2011)at 50. The prosecutor also argued,
                           O

         You   come   out and you   see   the   snow on   the   ground ....   Somebody said, well,
         you don't know, maybe somebody took a snow machine and covered the country
         side with it. But you know that's just not practical and it doesn't raise a
         reasonable doubt in your mind about where the snow came from. So in this case
         if you trust in your belief and use your common sense you will come to the
         conclusion the defendant is,in fact, guilty.

VRP ( Oct. 11,    2011) at   51 52.
                                -         He then added that the reasonable doubt standard is "not

something that you normally use in your everyday life."
                                                      VRP (Oct. 11, 2011)at 49. Finally the

prosecutor added,

         T] e Court has given you an instruction kind of enlightening you what
          h
         reasonable doubt means. And it states that if I have proven to you to an abiding
         belief that the defendant is guilty, I have proven to you beyond a reasonable
                        s something that I think a – probably easier for you to understand
         doubt. And that'
         because that's an idea that people deal with everyday. It' what do you believe.
                                                                  s
         You know how strongly you hold your beliefs.

VRP ( ct. 11, 2011) at 49. Pickering did not object to these statements.
    O

                                                          2
No. 42696 0 II
          - -

         The jury convicted Pickering of second degree burglary. Pickering appeals.

                                           ANALYSIS

                                  PROSECUTORIAL MISCONDUCT

         Pickering argues that the prosecutor committed flagrant and ill-
                                                                        intentioned misconduct by

shifting the burden of proof and misrepresenting the reasonable doubt standard, such that a

curative instruction would have been ineffective. Specifically, he claims that the prosecutor: (1)

undermined Pickering's presumption of innocence and shifted the burden of proof to Pickering;

and ( 2)misrepresented the reasonable doubt standard, improperly equating it to everyday

decision making and common sense. But Pickering cannot raise these. laims for the first time on
                                                                  c

appeal because he did not object to the prosecutor's arguments at trial, and he does not now

demonstrate that the arguments were flagrant and ill intentioned, and incurable by a remedial

instruction.

                                      A. Standard of Review

         The Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution and article I,

section 3 and article I,section 22 of the Washington Constitution guarantee the right to a fair

trial.   State v. Finch, 137 Wn. d 792, 843, 975 P. d 967, cent. denied, 528 U. . 922 (1999).
                               2                  2                           S

Prosecutorial misconduct may deprive a defendant of his constitutional right to a fair trial. State

v. Davenport, 100 Wn. d 757, 762, 675 P. d 1213 (1984).
                    2                  2

1
    Pickering also argues that he may raise this issue for the first time on appeal under RAP
a)( He
2. ( relies on State v. Lynn, 67 Wn. App. 339, 835 P. d 251 (1992).Lynn, however,
     3).
     5                                                          2
did not involve preserving a prosecutorial misconduct claim, 67 Wn. App. at 340, and we do not
evaluate unchallenged prosecutorial misconduct claims under RAP 2. (
                                                                  a)(3).
                                                                     5

                                                 3
No. 42696 0 II
          - -

        To prevail on a prosecutorial misconduct claim, a defendant must show that in the

context of the record and all the trial circumstances, the prosecutor's conduct was improper and

prejudicial. State v. Thorgerson, 172 Wn. d 438, 442, 258 P. d 43 (2011).To show prejudice, a
                                        2                  3

defendant must show a substantial likelihood that the misconduct affected the jury verdict.

Thorgerson, 172 Wn. d at 442 43. If a defendant fails to object to misconduct at trial,he fails to
                  2          -

preserve the issue unless he establishes that the misconduct was so flagrant and ill intentioned

that an instruction would not have cured the prejudice. Thorgerson, 172 Wn. d at 443. Courts
                                                                          2

have   generally found   that misconduct is    flagrant    and ill intentioned when the prosecutor: ( 1)

undermines the presumption of innocence by,for example, stating that a defendant is not entitled

to the benefit of the doubt, see State v. Warren, 165 Wn. d 17, 26 27, 195 P. d 940 (2008),
                                                        2          -        3             cent.

denied, 129 S. Ct. 2007 (2009); ( points out a defendant's or witness's assertion of his or her
                              2)

Fifth Amendment privilege, see State v. Nelson, 72 Wn. d 269, 282 85,432 P. d 857 (1967);
                                                     2            -       2             or

3)inserts racial bias into the proceedings. State v. Monday, 171 Wn. d 667, 680, 257 P. d 551
                                                                   2                  3

2011). We consider the prosecutor's alleged improper conduct in the context of the total

argument, the issues in the case, the evidence addressed in the argument, and the jury

instructions. State v. Anderson, 153 Wn. App. 417, 430, 220 P. d 1273 (2009),
                                                             3              review denied,

170 Wn. d 1002 (2010).
      2

        We focus less on whether the prosecutor's misconduct was flagrant and ill intentioned

and more on whether the resulting prejudice could have been cured. State v. Emery, 174 Wn. d
                                                                                         2

741, 762, 278 P. d 653 (2012).We must decide whether there is a substantial likelihood that the
               3
misconduct affected the    jury's   verdict.   State v. Dhaliwal, 150 Wn. d 559, 578, 79 P. d 432
                                                                        2                 3

2003).

                                                     PAR
No. 42696 0 II
          - -

                                       B. Issue Preservation

        Because Pickering did not object to any of the prosecutor's remarks that he now

challenges, he must first show that the prosecutor's misconduct was flagrant and ill intentioned.

Pickering argues that employing arguments that have been repudiated by appellate courts is

flagrant and ill-
                intentioned misconduct. He asserts that the prosecutor acted contrary to earlier

appellate court directives in minimizing the presumption of innocence by shifting the burden of

proof   and   misrepresenting   the reasonable   doubt   standard.   Pickering, however, fails to

demonstrate that the prosecutor used improper arguments that our courts have repudiated.

        Pickering cites two cases to support his claim that our courts have repudiated the types of

arguments that he alleges minimized the presumption of innocence. See State v. Fleming, 83

Wn. App. 209, 214 15, 921 P. d 1076 ( 1996),review denied, 131 Wn. d 1018 ( 1997);
                  -        2                                     2

Anderson, 153 Wn. App. at 429 32. These cases; however, do not demonstrate that our courts
                              -

have ever held that the prosecutor's arguments here, describing "abiding belief' and using the

snow analogy, are improper. VRP (Oct. 11, 2011)at 49 50.
                                                     -

        First, Pickering claims that the prosecutor minimized the presumption of innocence when

he stated, I mean people can talk about doubts all of the time and then you look at him and say,
           "

well, that's not reasonable at all. I mean that doesn't make sense. Yeah, you just say that but

that doesn't mean I have to lose faith in mymy belief."VRP (Oct. 11, 2011) at 49. He claims
                                            —

the prosecutor also minimized the presumption of innocence by arguing, T]en you go and
                                                                       "[ h

deliberate and you talk amongst each other that tests your belief and in the end [if]your belief

survives this whole process, it' an abiding belief."VRP (Oct. 11, 2011) at 50. Next, Pickering
                               s

claims that the prosecutor minimized his presumption of innocence by using a snow analogy to

                                                  5
No.42696 0 II
         - -

describe reasonable doubt. In discussing reasonable doubt, the prosecutor introduced a scenario

in which one woke up to find fresh snow outside his home. He argued that though it is possible

that someone "took a snow machine.and covered the country side with it," possibility is not
                                                                      this

practical and "doesn't raise a reasonable doubt in your mind about where the snow came from."

VRP (Oct. 11, 2011)at 51.

       Neither Fleming nor Anderson, which both involved variations of the improper fill in-
                                                                                          -

the blank argument,
    -                 applies   to the   prosecutor's arguments   here.   Because Pickering does not

demonstrate that our courts have already repudiated the arguments the prosecutor made. ere, he
                                                                                     h

does not show that the prosecutor made known-
                                            improper arguments, such that they constituted

flagrant and ill-
                intentioned conduct. Absent a showing of flagrant and ill-
                                                                         intentioned conduct,

Pickering   may not raise his   prosecutorial   misconduct claim for the first time   on   appeal.   See

Thorgerson, 172 Wn. d at 443.
                  2

       Second, Pickering claims that the prosecutor misrepresented the reasonable doubt

standard by equating it to everyday decision making and common sense. Pickering again cites

three cases to support his claim that our courts have repudiated the types of arguments that he

alleges improperly equate reasonable doubt to everyday decision -making and common sense.

See State v. Johnson, 158 Wn. App. 677, 684 85, 243 P. d 936 (2010),
                                            -        3             review denied, 171

Wn. d 1013 (2011);
  2              State v. Venegas, 155 Wn. App. 507, 523 25,228 P. d 813, review denied,
                                                         -       3

170 Wn. d 1003 (2010);
      2              State v. Walker, 164 Wn. App. 724, 731 33, 265 P. d 191 ( 2011).
                                                            -        3

None of these cases, however, demonstrate that our courts have ever held that the prosecutor's

arguments here were improper.

                                                    0
No.42696 0 II
         - -

       Pickering argues that the prosecutor improperly argued, I] I have proven to you to an
                                                               "[ f

abiding belief that the defendant is guilty, I have proven to you beyond a reasonable doubt."

VRP (
    Oct. 1. , 2011) at 49. He also claimed the prosecutor inaccurately articulated the standard,
          1

abiding    belief ... [   is]an idea that people deal with everyday. It' what do you believe. You
                                                                       s

know how strongly you hold your beliefs," that the purpose of the trial is to "
                                        and                                   test your belief

in my evidence ..         and [if]in the end your belief survives this whole process, it' an abiding
                                                                                        s

belief."VRP (Oct. 11, 2011) at 50. Finally, he again challenges the prosecutor's snow analogy

because he claims it improperly equates reasonable doubt to common sense.

       Pickering relies specifically on Anderson to support his claim that these statements

constituted    improper    conduct.    In Anderson, the prosecutor argued that "beyond a reasonable

doubt is   a   standard that you    apply   every   single day." 153 Wn. App. at 425. The prosecutor

compared the standard to decisions to leave children with a babysitter or change lanes on the

freeway. Anderson,         153 Wn. App. at 425.        We held that discussing reasonable doubt in the

context of everyday decision making improperly "minimized the importance of the reasonable

doubt standard and of the jury's role in determining whether the State has met its burden." 153

Wn. App. at 431.

       Unlike Anderson, Pickering cannot show that the arguments here constituted improper

conduct.       Here, the prosecutor did not give examples of what constitutes everyday decision

making, like selecting        a   babysitter, electing   surgery,   or   changing   lanes.   Conversely, the

prosecutor remarked that the reasonable doubt standard is "not something that you normally use

in your everyday life."
                      VRP ( ct. 11, 2011) at 49.
                          O

                                                         7
No. 42696 0 II
          - -

       Next, the prosecutor's discussion of what do you believe" as an abiding belief did not
                                            "

lower the standard of proof, especially when viewed in light of the context in which it was

spoken. VRP ( ct. 11, 2011)at 49. The prosecutor argued:
            O

       But the Court has given you an instruction kind of enlightening you what
       reasonable doubt means. And it states that if I have proven to you to an abiding
       belief that the defendant is guilty, I have proven to you beyond a reasonable
       doubt. And that's something that I think a— easier for you to understand
                                                      probably
       because that's an idea that people deal with everyday. It' what do you believe.
                                                                    s
       You know how strongly you hold your beliefs.
               Now, abiding belief is a belief that survives this process.

VRP (Oct. 11,    2011) at   49 50.
                               -     The prosecutor was reiterating the abiding belief concept.

Accordingly, in the context of the whole record, Pickering does not demonstrate how the

prosecutor, like the prosecutor in any of the other cases he cites, improperly lowered the burden

of proof.

       Also, the prosecutor's remarks to the jury to "test your belief in my evidence"and that if

in the end your belief survives this whole process, it' an abiding belief' are not misstatements
                                                      s

of the law. VRP ( ct. 11, 2011) at 50. 11 WPIC 4.1 instructs the jury that reasonable doubt is
                O                               0

such a doubt as would exist in of a reasonable person after fully,fairly, and carefully

considering all of the evidence." 11 WPIC 4.1, at 85. 11 WPIC 4.1 further states, If,
                                           0                   0                  " from

such consideration, you have an abiding belief in the truth of the charge, you are satisfied beyond

a reasonable doubt."11 WPIC 4.1, at 85. By informing the jury that an abiding belief is one
             "               0

that " urvives this whole process," prosecutor was reiterating a valid jury instruction that an
     s                            the

abiding belief is one that the jury has after considering all of the evidence presented at trial.

VRP ( ct. 11. 2011)at 50. Therefore, the prosecutor did not improperly misstate the law.
    O

                                                 3
       Moreover, the prosecutor's snow analogy did not improperly state the law. He used the

snow analogy to illustrate reasonable doubt. He remarked that if a juror woke up and looked out

the window to see fresh snow outside, the juror would know beyond a reasonable doubt that it

snowed overnight. The prosecutor argued that despite not seeing it snow with the juror's own

eyes, the juror would know it snowed because she has common sense. In this context, common

sense did not minimize the reasonable doubt standard.

       Ultimately, here the trial court instructed the jury that if after fully, fairly, and carefully

considering all of the evidence, the jury has an abiding belief in the truth of the charge, the jury

is satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt. Therefore, the prosecuto'r'
                                                       s statements were nothing like

those in Anderson or any of the other cases Pickering cites, and he does not demonstrate that they

were otherwise improper. In the absence of a showing that the prosecutor's comments were in

error, much less flagrant and ill-
                                 intentioned misconduct, Pickering failed to preserve this issue

for appeal. See Thorgerson, 172 Wn. d at 443.
                                  2

2 Even if Pickering could show that the prosecutor committed flagrant and ill-   intentioned
conduct thus preserving the argument for review, he must still demonstrate that the conduct
could not have been cured     by   an   instruction.    Pickering relies on State v. Castillo, in which
Division One of this court stated, sound judicial practice requires that [WPIC 4.1] be given
                                     "                                                 0
until a better instruction is approved." 150 Wn. App. 466, 471, 208 P. d 1201 (2009) quoting
                                                                         3                 (
State v. Bennett, 161 Wn. d 303, 318, 165 P. d 1241 (2007)). Castillo, the trial court had
                            2                   3                  In
substituted the WPIC for a different instruction. 150 Wn. App. at 469 70. But Castillo does not
                                                                       -
apply because here, the trial court gave the required WPIC 4.1 reasonable doubt standard
                                                                    0
instruction to the jury. Therefore, Pickering's misplaced reliance on Castillo fails to demonstrate
how any misconduct could not have been cured by a remedial instruction.

Pickering also contends that because the prosecutor shifted the burden of proof to Pickering, we
should apply a constitutional harmless error standard. Even had Pickering preserved this issue
for appeal, he does not demonstrate that the prosecutor improperly shifted the burden of proof.
Therefore, we need not decide whether a constitutional harmless error standard applies here.

                                                       01
No.42696 0 II
         - -

      We affirm.

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

Washington Appellate Reports, but will be filed for public record in accordance with RCW

040,
2.6.it is so ordered.
 0

                                                               Johanson, J.
We con

                Worswic ,   J.

  G                    UJ 6D4.
                      9T.
                      art' y,
                         T
                         h .
                Mc,

                                            10