Court Opinion

ID: 4167257
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-05-09 18:23:10.471909+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:38:28.874216
License: Public Domain

Filed
                                                                                           Washington State
                                                                                           Court of Appeals
                                                                                            Division Two

                                                                                              May 9, 2017

      IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON

                                          DIVISION II
    STATE OF WASHINGTON,                                              No. 48651-2-II

                                Respondent,

           v.

    ALLEN CHAGLUAK BAKER,                                       UNPUBLISHED OPINION

                                Appellant.

          MELNICK, J. – Allen Baker appeals from the judgment and sentence which ordered him to

pay legal financial obligations (LFOs) following his conviction for assault in the third degree. He

asserts that the trial court failed to adequately inquire about his ability to pay the LFOs before

imposing them.1 Baker also requests that we waive the imposition of appellate costs if the State

prevails in this appeal. Because Baker conceded at sentencing that he had the likely future ability

to pay the proposed LFOs, the trial court did not err by failing to inquire further about his financial

circumstances before imposing discretionary LFOs. Additionally, we refer the matter of appellate

costs to a commissioner of this court if the State files a cost bill and if Baker objects to it. We

affirm.

1
  Baker also asserts that his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to object to imposition of
discretionary LFOs and for failing to ensure the trial court conduct a proper colloquy on Baker’s
ability to pay. Baker merely makes this assertion. He neither argues it nor cites to authority. We
do not consider the assertions. Cowiche Canyon Conservancy v. Bosley, 118 Wn.2d 801, 809, 828
P.2d 549 (1992) (this court will not consider a challenge unsupported by argument or authority).
Although we decline to address Baker’s LFO challenge in the context of an ineffective assistance
of counsel claim, we exercise out discretion to address the issue under RAP 2.5 as discussed below.
48651-2-II

                                              FACTS

       A jury convicted Baker of assault in the third degree. At a subsequent sentencing hearing,

the State requested LFOs that included a $500 victim assessment, a $200 criminal filing fee, $1,200

for court appointed defense counsel, $1,000 for jail reimbursement, and a $100 DNA

(deoxyribonucleic acid) collection fee. Baker’s lawyer told the trial court, “I believe Mr. Baker at

this time, of course, is unemployed and receives assistance from the state in the form of food

stamps but is potentially employable upon his release.” Report of Proceedings (RP) at 118. The

following exchange then took place:

                 [Trial court]: All right. Mr. Baker, I have two questions to ask you, and the
       first has to do with your financial situation and your ability to earn a living once
       you get out of custody.
                 Is there anything about you emotionally, physically, mentally, financially,
       whatever, that would prevent you from being able to pay your financial obligations
       if I set them at a reasonable rate, say, $25 a month?
                 [Baker]: I would say not. I don’t believe so, sir.

RP at 118. The trial court did not inquire further about Baker’s ability to pay LFOs. It sentenced

Baker within the standard range and imposed the State’s recommended LFOs, except for the DNA

collection fee. Baker appeals from the portion of his sentence imposing discretionary LFOs.

                                           ANALYSIS

I.     LEGAL FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS

       Baker contends that the trial court erred by failing to make an adequate inquiry of his

financial situation before imposing discretionary LFOs. We disagree.2

2
  As an initial matter, the State contends that Baker has not properly preserved for our review his
contention with the imposition of LFOs. Assuming without deciding that Baker failed to preserve
his contention with his LFOs, we nonetheless exercise our discretion under RAP 2.5 to address the
issue. State v. Blazina, 182 Wn.2d 827, 834-35, 344 P.3d 680 (2015).

                                                 2
48651-2-II

       RCW 10.01.160(3) provides:

               The court shall not order a defendant to pay costs unless the defendant is or
       will be able to pay them. In determining the amount and method of payment of
       costs, the court shall take account of the financial resources of the defendant and
       the nature of the burden that payment of costs will impose.

This requirement applies only to the imposition of discretionary LFOs. State v. Mathers, 193 Wn.

App. 913, 918-24, 376 P.3d 1163, review denied, 186 Wn.2d 1015 (2016). It is undisputed that

the trial court inquired about Baker’s ability to pay discretionary LFOs before imposing them.

Baker argues, however, that the trial court’s inquiry was insufficient under RCW 10.01.160(3) and

State v. Blazina, 182 Wn.2d 827, 344 P.3d 680 (2015).

       Blazina held that RCW 10.01.160(3) requires trial courts to make an individualized inquiry

into a defendant’s current and likely future ability to pay discretionary LFOs before imposing

them. 182 Wn.2d at 837-39. Blazina further held that the record must reflect that the trial court

made this required inquiry. 182 Wn.2d at 838-39. “[T]he court must do more than sign a judgment

and sentence with boilerplate language stating that it engaged in the required inquiry. The record

must reflect that the trial court made an individualized inquiry into the defendant’s current and

future ability to pay.” Blazina, 182 Wn.2d at 838.

       Although the issue of what constitutes an adequate inquiry under RCW 10.01.160(3) was

not squarely before it, Blazina provided guidance to trial courts.

       Within this inquiry, the court must also consider important factors, as amici suggest,
       such as incarceration and a defendant's other debts, including restitution, when
       determining a defendant's ability to pay.
               Courts should also look to the comment in court rule GR 34 for guidance.
       This rule allows a person to obtain a waiver of filing fees and surcharges on the
       basis of indigent status, and the comment to the rule lists ways that a person may
       prove indigent status. GR 34. For example, under the rule, courts must find a
       person indigent if the person establishes that he or she receives assistance from a

                                                 3
48651-2-II

       needs-based, means-tested assistance program, such as Social Security or food
       stamps. Id. (comment listing facts that prove indigent status). In addition, courts
       must find a person indigent if his or her household income falls below 125 percent
       of the federal poverty guideline. Id. Although the ways to establish indigent status
       remain nonexhaustive, see id., if someone does meet the GR 34 standard for
       indigency, courts should seriously question that person's ability to pay LFOs.

Blazina, 182 Wn.2d at 838–39.

       Here, the trial court’s question to Baker regarding whether he had any emotional, physical,

mental, financial, or other reason why he could not pay the proposed discretionary LFOs was

clearly designed to determine whether he had the current or likely future ability to pay the LFOs,

as required under RCW 10.01.160(3) and Blazina.             Baker’s response to this inquiry was

tantamount to a concession that he had the current or likely future ability to pay the discretionary

LFOs and, thus, relieved the trial court of any further obligation to inquire about his financial

situation before imposing the LFOs. Although a more thorough inquiry may have been preferable

notwithstanding Baker’s concession, the trial court did not err by failing to do so under these

circumstances.

       While acknowledging that, on its surface, the trial court’s question to Baker would appear

to be a sufficient inquiry of his ability to pay discretionary LFOs, the dissent finds reversible error

in its failure to disregard Baker’s own concession and further scrutinize Baker’s financial situation.

Although Blazina unequivocally places the burden on trial courts to inquire about a defendant’s

ability to pay LFOs, trial courts are neither required to advocate for a defendant nor produce

evidence supporting a position on the defendant’s financial situation. 182 Wn.2d at 837-39. To

the contrary, a defendant and his or her attorney always retain the responsibility of making

arguments and producing evidence supporting them. In holding that the trial court’s inquiry was

sufficient, we are aware of the significant burden LFOs may place upon defendants such as Baker.

See e.g., Blazina, 182 Wn.2d at 835-37. However, where a defendant does not merely fail to object

                                                  4
48651-2-II

to the imposition of discretionary LFOs but instead affirmatively concedes his or her current or

likely future ability to pay those LFOs, a trial court does not err by imposing the LFOs absent

further inquiry.

       Furthermore, where a defendant’s concession regarding his or her ability to pay is

mistaken, a defendant unable to pay LFOs is not without recourse. RCW 10.01.160(4) provides

that a defendant ordered to pay costs may petition the sentencing court at any time for remission

of all or part of the amount owing and may be granted relief upon a showing that the amount due

will impose a manifest hardship on the defendant or the defendant’s immediate family. In addition,

interest on LFOs, excluding restitution, may be reduced or waived. RCW 10.82.090(2). Because

we hold that the trial court did not err in failing to conduct a more thorough inquiry before imposing

discretionary LFOs, we need not address Baker’s contention that the $200 criminal filing fee was

a discretionary LFO.

II.    APPELLATE COSTS

       Baker argues that, should the State prevail on appeal, we should not require him to pay

appellate costs. He opposes appellate costs in light of State v. Sinclair, 192 Wn. App. 380, 367

P.3d 612, review denied, 185 Wn.2d 1034 (2016), asserting that he does not have the ability to pay

because he is indigent. A commissioner of this court will consider whether to award appellate

costs under RAP 14.2 if the State decides to file a cost bill and if Baker objects to that cost bill.

                                                   5
48651-2-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 2.06.040,

it is so ordered.

                                                            Melnick, J.

I concur:

        Lee, J.

                                                6
48651-2-II

        BJORGEN, C.J. (dissenting) — The trial judge’s inquiry into Allen Baker’s ability to pay

legal financial obligations (LFOs) was undoubtedly a well-intended attempt to comply with the

requirements of State v. Blazina, 182 Wn.2d 827, 344 P.3d 680 (2015). Nonetheless, for several

reasons the trial judge’s inquiry was insufficient under that decision.

        In discussing Baker’s ability to pay LFOs defense counsel stated, “I believe Mr. Baker at

this time, of course, is unemployed and receives assistance from the state in the form of food

stamps but is potentially employable upon his release.” Report of Proceedings (RP) at 118. The

following exchange then took place:

                  [Trial court]: All right. Mr. Baker, I have two questions to ask you, and the
        first has to do with your financial situation and your ability to earn a living once
        you get out of custody.
                  Is there anything about you emotionally, physically, mentally, financially,
        whatever, that would prevent you from being able to pay your financial obligations
        if I set them at a reasonable rate, say, $25 a month?
                  [Baker]: I would say not. I don’t believe so, sir.

RP at 118. The trial court did not inquire further into Baker’s ability to pay LFOs.

        On its surface, the question, “[i]s there anything about you emotionally, physically,

mentally, financially, whatever, that would prevent you from being able to pay” might seem a

comprehensive inquiry into the subject. However, the surface sheen of lexical meaning is not

always a true guide to the effect of a statement in the real world. Considering the lack of

specificity in this inquiry, its shifting of responsibility to the defendant to think of the absent

specifics, and its context, the inquiry neither complies with the requirements of Blazina nor

serves the critical purposes of that decision.

        First, Blazina categorically states that in this inquiry, “the court must also consider

important factors, as amici suggest, such as incarceration and a defendant’s other debts,

including restitution, when determining a defendant’s ability to pay.” Blazina, 182 Wn.2d at

                                                   7
48651-2-II

838. The trial court here did not inquire into Baker’s debts, assets, education, work experience

or any other specific characteristic. Instead, by asking whether there was anything “emotionally,

physically, mentally, financially, whatever”, it effectively placed the burden on Baker to raise the

specific features that were the court’s responsibility to discuss under Blazina.

       By itself, this sort of inquiry would be a closer call. Its inadequacy, however, was

compounded by asking whether there was anything preventing payment “at a reasonable rate,

say, $25 a month.” RP at 118. The low rate and the court’s characterization of it as reasonable

surely inclines one to assent. Our Supreme Court, though, has recognized that on average, a

person who pays $25 per month toward their LFOs at the statutory interest rate will owe the state

more 10 years after conviction than when the LFOs were initially assessed. Blazina, 182 Wn.2d

at 836. Thus, the court’s characterization of its proposed LFOs as a sort of bargain was

inadvertently misleading. It only helped draw Baker to his equivocal assent to an assessment

that would assure his debt would increase even if he made every payment.

       Finally, in addition to its strong and precise directives, the Supreme Court in Blazina held

also that if “someone does meet the GR 34 standard for indigency, courts should seriously

question that person’s ability to pay LFOs.” Blazina, 182 Wn.2d at 839. Baker was indigent

under GR 34. Clerk’s Papers at 44. However, instead of respecting the admonition of GR 34,

the court’s inquiry failed to ask about the specific features required by Blazina, improperly

shifted the responsibility to Baker to raise them, and drew Baker to assent to payments that

would only increase his debt if he made them. In no manner can this be deemed serious

questioning of Baker’s ability to pay.

       The court’s inquiry resulted in an unemployed homeless man on public assistance facing

LFOs at a rate that likely assures his obligation will increase even if he makes every payment.

                                                 8
48651-2-II

No inquiry was made into Baker’s debts, assets, education or other features to determine if he

could avoid this guaranteed delinquency by making greater payments. Nor was any inquiry

made into these specifics to determine if he could even make the minimal payment imposed.

This cursory inquiry is inconsistent with the directives of Blazina and works directly against its

vital purposes. This case should be remanded to the trial court with instructions to inquire into

Baker’s ability to pay discretionary LFOs in a manner that fully honors Blazina.

                                              ______________________________
                                              BJORGEN, C.J.

                                                 9