Court Opinion

ID: 4271202
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-04-30 19:48:21.740346+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:32:29.734289
License: Public Domain

FILED
                                                                      COURT OF APPEALS DIV I
                                                                       STATE OF WASHINGTON
                                                                      2018 APR 30 AM 9:3j

 IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
STATE OF WASHINGTON,
                                                      No. 75655-9-1
                       Respondent,
                                                      DIVISION ONE
               V.
                                                      UNPUBLISHED OPINION
CHARLIE SHAKER HELO,

                       Appellant.                     FILED: April 30, 2018

         TRICKEY, J. — A jury convicted Charlie Helo of second degree assault with
aggravating circumstances based on an incident involving his nephew, Tawfique

Helo.1    After trial, Charlie moved for relief from judgment, alleging ineffective

assistance of counsel. The trial court denied the request and Charlie appeals.

Because Charlie cannot demonstrate the prejudice required for ineffective

assistance, we affirm.

                                          FACTS

         For several years, Tawfique stored one of Charlie's vehicles at his home as

a favor to Charlie. In July 2013, Charlie called and sent text messages demanding

that Tawfique return the vehicle. Tawfique and his cousin, Joseph Helo, drove the

vehicle to Charlie's house, while Tawfique's girlfriend, Ashley Newcomb,followed

in his car.

1 We will refer to members of the Helo family by their first names for clarity. No disrespect
is intended.
No. 75655-9-1/ 2

       When Tawfique arrived at aharlie's house, he began'recording a video with

his cell phone. Charlie came out of his house with a gun and a cell phone

connected to the Marysville Police Department. Charlie pointed the gun at

Tawfique and the two exchanged heated words. Charlie's two young children

came outside and stood next to their father as he pointed the weapon and yelled

at Tawfique. Molli Helo, Charlie's wife, did not come out of the house. Newcomb

and Joseph waited nearby in Talwfique's car. Charlie and Tawfique exchanged

more insults and accusations at each other before Tawfique departed in his car.

       Marysville Police Officer Chris Farley was speaking to Charlie on the phone

when Tawfique arrived at Charlie's house. Charlie was rambling and not making

sense. Charlie told Officer Farley that he had a gun. Officer Farley heard the slide

being racked on a semiautomatic pistol, which was the sound of a bullet being

chambered into the gun. Officer Farley apprised dispatch and other police units of

the situation so that the closest unit could respond.

       Another unit was closer to Charlie's house and responded to his call. Officer

Farley went to the location where a police unit had stopped Tawfique and Joseph.2

Officer Farley watched the cell phone video of the incident and then released

Tawfique and Joseph.

       Marysville Police Officer Brad Smith contacted Charlie at his house in

response to the dispatch. When Officer Smith arrived, Tawfique had already

departed and Charlie was inside is house. Charlie made no mention of the events

that had just occurred. Instead, Charlie talked at length about having cancer.

2 Newcomb was no longer in the vehicle, haying been dropped off because she had a
warrant and did not want to be stopped by the police.
                                         2
No. 75655-9-1 /3

Similarly, Molli epoke only about Charlie's cancer and "[c]ommon everyday

things."3     Neither Molli nor Ch al rlie discussed the incident or reported any

information about the altercation to Officer Smith. Officer Smith felt that the

discussion about Charlie's cancer was an attempt to draw his attention away from

the altercation between Tawfique land Charlie.

         At trial, Helo claimed that he was acting in self-defense and that the State

could not prove that Tawfique haild the requisite fear to support a second degree

assault charge. The State played, Tawfique's cell phone video for the jury. Charlie

and Molli did not testify.

          At trial, Joseph testified on Charlie's behalf. He stated that Tawfique had

his firearm in his lap while driving to Charlie's house. During the altercation,

Tawfique had his gun in a holster On his hip and kept his hand next to the holstered

weapon. He testified that Tawfique was angry, wanted to agitate Charlie, and

began yelling at Charlie as soon as they arrived at the house. According to Joseph,

Tawfique was acting as a manipulator and instigator during the incident.

         Joseph gave equivocal testimony about whether he saw Charlie point a gun

at Tawfique. Joseph stated that Charlie initially pointed his finger to direct

Tawfique to get off the property and did not point his gun at Tawfique until Tawfique

failed to leave the property and continued provoking Charlie. Joseph then stated

that he had not seen a gun in C14-lie's hand. Based on this later testimony, Joseph

only saw Charlie holding a gun When he watched the cell phone video during the

police stop with Officer Farley.

3   Report of Proceedings(RP)(Feb. 17, 2016) at 7.
                                           3
No. 75655-9-1/4

       Joseph testified that Tawfique had previously tried to convince him to tie up

and rob Charlie, Molli, and their children. Tawfique wanted Charlie's prescription

pills. Joseph said that he had linformed Charlie of Tawfique's plan. Joseph

reiterated several times that Tawfique was "manipulating" and "being an

instigator." He testified that Tawfique's behavior had recently changed, possibly

due to "supplements."5

       Newcomb offered contradicting testimony.         She testified that Charlie

pointed a gun at Tawfique without provocation. According to Newcomb, Tawfique

was holding only his cell phone and the keys to Charlie's vehicle in his hands

during the incident. She stated that Charlie was yelling and acting crazy.

       Tawfique testified that he as afraid when Charlie pointed the gun toward

him because the gun could go off accidentally and shoot him or Charlie's children.

Tawfique stated that he had a cOncealed weapons permit and owned a firearm.

Tawfique testified that he did not typically take the gun out of the house, and had

left his gun at his house on the $:* of the incident.6 Subsequently, Charlie elicited

testimony that Tawfique had owned another gun that had been stolen from

Tawfique's vehicle.

        In closing arguments, Charlie's trial counsel emphasized Joseph's

testimony to support the self-defense claim.       Specifically, counsel reiterated

Joseph's statements about Tawfique having his hand on his belt next to a holstered

gun. He also reminded the jury of Joseph's testimony that Tawfique had plans to

4 RP (Feb. 17, 2016) at 18, 20.
5 RP (Feb. 17, 2016) at 18.
6 RP (Feb. 16, 2016) at 77-78.

                                         4
No. 75655-9-1/ 5

tie up and rob Charlie and his family, and that Joseph had informed Charlie of

these plans. Charlie's trial counsel highlighted this evidence to explain the context

of Charlie's actions and to emphasize that Charlie was entitled to defend himself

in light of this information.

       The jury convicted Charlie of second degree assault. The jury also found

the aggravating factors of domestic violence and commission of the crime while

armed with a firearm.

       Following his conviction, Charlie brought a motion for relief from judgment.

He requested that the trial court Jacate his conviction and grant a new trial due to
                                   I
ineffective assistance of counsel. He argued that his trial counsel was deficient in

the investigation and preparation of his case.

       The trial court held a hearing on the motion. Charlie requested either a new

trial or an evidentiary hearing on the issue of ineffective assistance of counsel. He

argued that his counsel failed to interview and prepare witnesses, including

himself, Molli, and his brother, Tony Helo. Charlie claims that he had wanted to

testify, which might have bolstered the self-defense claim. Charlie also raised the
                                 I
issue of a threatening text meSsage from Tawfique to Charlie that had been

provided to trial counsel but never investigated. Charlie introduced a declaration
                                 I
from an anonymous source claiming to have been solicited by Tawfique to kill
                                 1
Charlie. Charlie cited this elvidence to support allegations of insufficient

investigation and presentation of evidence in his case. Finally, Charlie claimed

that his attorney-client relationsh p with trial counsel was deficient and that counsel

did not communicate with him.

                                          5
No. 75655-9-1 /6

         The trial court stated that Charlie's trial counsel had argued viable defense

theories, made strategic decisions about witness testimony, and properly relied on

an investigator for witness interviews. Additionally, the trial court determined that

the text message was a screen shot with insufficient foundation for admission as

evidence. The trial court denied Charlie's motion and sentenced him to 48 months

of confinement.

         Charlie appeals.

                                      ANALYSIS

                            Ineffective Assistance of Counsel

         Charlie argues that the tril court erred by failing to grant him either a new

trial or an evidentiary hearing because he received ineffective assistance of

counsel.      Specifically, Charlie alleges that his trial counsel was deficient in

investigating and presenting his self-defense claim. This allegation includes trial

counsel's failure to investigate a6d use Molli as a witness. Charlie claims that he

was prejudiced by his counsel's failure to present compelling evidence of

Tawfique's history of aggressive behavior toward him, which would have presented

a "materially different picture" of the incident.7 But even if Charlie's trial counsel's

performance was deficient as argued, Charlie cannot demonstrate a reasonable

probability that the additional information would have yielded a different result.

         Effective assistance of counsel is guaranteed by the Sixth Amendment of

the United States Constitution and article 1, section 22 of the Washington

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

7   Appellant's Opening Br. at 18.
                                           6
No. 75655-9-1 /7

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

both deficient performance and prejudice. State v. Jones, 183 Wn.2d 327, 339,

352 P.3d 776(2015).

       Establishing deficient performance requires a showing that counsel's

representation fell below an objective standard of reasonableness based on

consideration of all the circumstances. State v. Thomas, 109 Wn.2d 222, 226,743

P.2d 816 (1987)(citing Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687, 104 S. Ct.

2052, 80 L. Ed. 2d 674 (1984)). "[S]crutiny of counsel's performance is highly
                                  I
deferential and courts will indulge in a strong presumption of reasonableness."

Thomas, 109 Wn.2d at 226. Legitimate trial tactics do not establish deficient

performance. State v. Humphries, 181 Wn.2d 708, 720, 336 P.3d 1121 (2014).

But failure to investigate or interview witnesses may support a claim of ineffective

assistance of counsel. State v. Ray, 116 Wn.2d 531, 548, 806 P.2d 1220 (1991).

       Prejudice sufficient to support a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel

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

trial. Hendrickson, 129 Wn.2d at 78. The defendant must show a "reasonable

probability that, but for counsel's errors, the result of the trial would have been

different." Hendrickson, 129 Wn.2d at 78.

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

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

       At trial, Charlie's trial counsel presented evidence to support the self-

defense claim.     This included evidence to establish Tawfique's antagonistic

behavior and the danger he potentially posed to Charlie. Charlie's counsel elicited

                                         7
No. 75655-9-1/8

testimony that Tawfique was armed with a gun and acted as an instigator during

the altercation. The jury also heard about Tawfique's plan to tie up and rob Charlie

and his family, and that Charlie knew of this plan. Charlie's counsel argued that

Charlie was aware of these facts and acted reasonably in responding to Tawfique

in light of this information. Charlie's counsel also emphasized that Tawfique did

not appear frightened during the incident as illustrated by the video evidence that

showed Tawfique yelling profanities and insults at Charlie, rather than leaving

quickly at Charlie's request.8

        Despite these efforts, Charlie's trial counsel faced the challenge of the cell

phone video depiction of the incident. The video clearly showed Charlie coming

out of his house and pointing a gun at Tawfique, without apparent provocation.

Other than Joseph's testimony, the evidence presented at trial did not establish

that Tawfique had a gun. Furtheijmore, Charlie did not mention a gun, threats, or

his fear of Tawfique to Officer Smith immediately after the incident.8 Given the

graphic video evidence of Charlie's behavior and his failure to report anything

8 Trial counsel argued that Tawfique diid not have the necessary fear to support an assault
conviction as seen by his behavior on the video recording. This argument was also
bolstered by Joseph's testimony about Tawfique engaging with Charlie as an instigator
and manipulator.
         Charlie's trial counsel also attempted to prove that Charlie did not have a firearm.
Charlie admitted to the police that he had a gun. The trial court cited the questions about
the firearm as a sound argument for Ithe jury's consideration.
9 Similarly, Molli's testimony would not have changed the outcome. Molli was not present
outside the house during the incident between Charlie and Tawfique. Regardless of what
she might have seen or heard, Molli Made no mention of the incident to Officer Smith. In
light of her failure to report any information to Officer Smith immediately after the incident,
Molli would have faced significant challenges to her credibility when testifying. Any
testimony about Charlie's fear wou d have been countered with questions about their
failure to express any concerns to the responding officer. Therefore, trial counsel's
decision not to call Molli was a legitimate trial tactic and cannot support a claim of
ineffective assistance. See Humphr'es, 181 Wn.2d at 720.
                                              8
No. 75655-9-1 /9

about the incident to the police, there is little probability that additional evidence of

the history between Charlie and Tawfique would have changed the outcome of the

trial.

         Given the existing evidence at trial, Charlie has not shown that any errors

by his trial counsel were so sericius that the result of the trial would have been

different absent the errors. See Hendrickson, 129 Wn.2d at 78. Thus, he has

failed to demonstrate the prejudice required to succeed on a claim of ineffective
                                 ;
assistance of counsel. Therefore, we conclude that Charlie did not receive

ineffective assistance of counsel at trial.

         Affirmed.

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WE CONCUR:

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