Court Opinion

ID: 9898567
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-11-14 19:31:33.69241+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:16:21.066484
License: Public Domain

FILED
                                                                    MAY 11, 2023
                                                            In the Office of the Clerk of Court
                                                           WA State Court of Appeals, Division III

         IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
                            DIVISION THREE

STATE OF WASHINGTON,                           )          No. 38745-3-III
                                               )
                     Respondent,               )
                                               )
              v.                               )          UNPUBLISHED OPINION
                                               )
JAMES LAWRENCE JACKSON-                        )
SMITH,                                         )
                                               )
                     Appellant.                )

       LAWRENCE-BERREY, J. — James Jackson-Smith appeals his convictions for assault

in the first degree and kidnapping in the first degree. He argues the trial court abused its

discretion when it admitted a recorded jail call, and trial counsel was ineffective for not

requesting a limiting instruction concerning that call.

       We agree the trial court abused its discretion. The call had no relevance and its

unfair prejudice could have been substantial. But it was not. The jury acquitted Mr.

Jackson-Smith of attempted murder, the crime for which the evidence was offered, and

the offensive comments he made in the recording were similar to his comments at trial.
No. 38745-3-III
State v. Jackson-Smith

We also conclude that defense counsel was not deficient because there was a legitimate

trial strategy for not requesting a limiting instruction. We affirm.

                                          FACTS

       Starr Hernandez was working at the front desk of a motel when Mr. Jackson-

Smith, a guest, called and asked her to come to his room to unclog his toilet. Ms.

Hernandez unclogged the toilet and, as she put the plunger in a bag, Mr. Jackson-Smith’s

left arm went around her neck. Over the next 5 to 10 minutes, Mr. Jackson-Smith choked

and strangled her. He eventually let her go, and she was able to leave the room.

Photographs corroborated Ms. Hernandez’s injuries, which consisted of bruises, injuries

to her face, and strangulation marks around her neck. Later that morning, officers

arrested Mr. Jackson-Smith, who had fled by car.

       Trial

       The State charged Mr. Jackson-Smith with assault in the first degree, kidnapping

in the first degree, and attempted murder in the first degree. Although the State called

several witnesses at trial, we limit our discussion to those necessary to resolve the issues

presented.

                                              2
No. 38745-3-III
State v. Jackson-Smith

              Elizabeth Gonzalez

       Elizabeth Gonzalez testified that she worked the night audit shift the night before

the attack. She recalled a number of interactions with Mr. Jackson-Smith and feeling

apprehensive. He first called the front desk and asked her to bring up a plunger because

his toilet was clogged. She told him to come to the front desk to pick up it up, and he did.

       She testified that Mr. Jackson-Smith called again and asked her to go up to his

room to pick up the plunger because he hurt his hip. She refused because she was the

only employee working and had to be at the front desk.

       Early the next morning, around 5:00 a.m., while she was prepping breakfast, he

approached her and said he locked himself out of his room. She told him she could make

a new key card, but he asked if it would be faster to have her come up and unlock the

door. She declined and instead made a new key card. She planned on warning Ms.

Hernandez about Mr. Jackson-Smith when her shift started that morning, but forgot.

              Starr Hernandez

       Ms. Hernandez testified that just after her shift began at 7:00 in the morning she

received a call from Mr. Jackson-Smith asking for “Elizabeth.” 1 Rep. of Proc. (RP)

(Dec. 15, 2021) at 352. She responded that she was the front desk person for the morning

and asked if she could help. He told her he needed assistance unclogging his toilet. He

                                             3
No. 38745-3-III
State v. Jackson-Smith

said he tried to unclog it but fell and broke the plunger. He asked her to come up to his

room to help him, and she agreed. She grabbed a lanyard, which had the master keys for

the motel, placed it around her neck, grabbed the plunger, and went to Mr. Jackson-

Smith’s room.

       When Mr. Jackson-Smith opened the door, she told him it was motel policy that he

not be inside the room while she was fixing the toilet. He reluctantly agreed and stood

outside. Once inside the bathroom, Ms. Hernandez saw the toilet full of unused toilet

paper and clear water. It looked to her like it was intentionally clogged.

       She unclogged the toilet and, as she was placing the plunger in a bag, she felt Mr.

Jackson-Smith place his left arm around her neck. He said, “‘Shush. It’s okay. It’ll all

be over soon.’” 1 RP (Dec. 15, 2021) at 361. He then began to apply immense pressure

to her neck. At that moment, she thought he was trying to kill her.

       She struggled and clawed Mr. Jackson-Smith’s arms, and he dragged her out of the

bathroom while she screamed. She recalled being on the floor with him grabbing the

lanyard around her neck and strangling her with it and him repeatedly bashing her head

against the floor. During the attack, he was very calm. She thought at that moment she

was going to die. One of Mr. Jackson-Smith’s hands was covering her mouth, so she bit

it. This caused him to loosen his grip, and she inserted two fingers underneath the

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No. 38745-3-III
State v. Jackson-Smith

lanyard so she could breathe. Then he unexpectedly let go. He told her not to move, then

apologized and accused her of attacking him.

       Soon after, Ms. Hernandez walked toward the door to escape. She noticed it was

locked and surmised that her attacker had locked it once he came into the room. She

fumbled with the chain, unlocked the dead bolt, and then escaped.

       She went downstairs and into the front desk area and locked the door with a

deadbolt. She called her manager, who was on his way into work. She began to vomit

blood into a trash can while she waited for her manager to arrive. Once her manager

arrived, he called the police.

              Argument related to recorded jail call

       During a break in trial, the State notified the court it wanted to have admitted a

recording of a jail call between Mr. Jackson-Smith and his mother. During a break, the

trial court listened to the recording. It then requested argument.

       The State argued the call was relevant because in it, Mr. Jackson-Smith expressed

his desire to have Ms. Hernandez killed—“that’s critical to showing what his intent was,

that his intent is consistent, that he wanted her dead at the time this happened and he

continues to want her dead.” 1 RP (Dec. 15, 2021) at 457. Defense counsel disagreed

with the State’s characterization of the call, explained that Mr. Jackson-Smith’s recorded

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No. 38745-3-III
State v. Jackson-Smith

comment that he wanted Ms. Hernandez killed “doesn’t give us anything as to his state of

mind during the event. . . . And it’s clear that what he’s commenting on is him being in

jail believing that she was the person that had . . . attacked him.” 1 RP (Dec. 15, 2021) at

458. He argued the recording should be excluded under ER 403 because “the probative

worth [of the recorded comment] is clearly outweighed by the prejudicial effect.” 1 RP

(Dec. 15, 2021) at 458. The State replied, “[T]he bottom line is there is an Attempted

Murder charge. The State has to prove that the defendant intended to kill the victim for

that charge. And there is evidence on that jail phone call that he wants the victim killed,

so it is critically relevant.” 1 RP (Dec. 15, 2021) at 459.

       The court ruled the recording admissible, and explained:

       [The recording] is relevant. . . . The concern is whether it’s so highly
       prejudicial that it outweighs the probative value of it. But given the fact
       that intent is an . . . element that needs to be proven and he expresses the
       desire to have her dead, I am going to allow the admission of it.

1 RP (Dec. 15, 2021) at 459.

       When trial resumed, the State moved to admit the call recording. The court asked

defense counsel if he had any additional objections. Defense counsel responded that he

did not. The State then played the entire recorded jail call for the jury.

                                              6
No. 38745-3-III
State v. Jackson-Smith

              The recorded jail call

       Mr. Jackson-Smith made the call 14 days after his arrest. The call lasts

approximately 9 minutes. It begins with him telling his mother he pleaded not guilty.

He tells her he hopes for bail because he thinks he will not handle himself well. He vents

about an officer and says he may get into a fight with him because the officer lied to him

and denied him rights. He tells his mother, “my life got fucked over by some fucking

cunt again.” Ex. 35, at 2 min., 10 sec. to 2 min., 19 sec. He and his mother then discuss

the trouble they are having getting ahold of family to assist him. He then vents about the

amount of bail.

       At that point, midway through the call, Mr. Jackson-Smith states: “I’m just going

to say it, I hope somebody kills that fucking bitch. She fucking deserves it. How many

people has she fucked over like me, I don’t know because they don’t give a fuck.”

Ex. 35, at 4 min., 22 sec. to 4 min., 35 sec. He insinuates that Ms. Hernandez stole $300

from his duffle bag and asks if the detective checked it for fingerprints. He continues to

vent, then he asks for the number for a bail bondsman. He then says, “I can’t fucking

grieve my uncle in peace without some cunt attacking me in my own hotel room.”

Ex. 35, at 8 min., 3 sec. to 8 min., 10 sec. The call concludes with him saying, “I love

you and I am sorry you had to hear all that.” Ex. 35, at 8 min., 23 sec. to 8 min., 30 sec.

                                              7
No. 38745-3-III
State v. Jackson-Smith

              The defense’s case

       Mr. Jackson-Smith testified. He claimed he was acting in self-defense.

       He testified about his encounter with Ms. Hernandez. She explained the motel’s

policy about him waiting outside, and he eventually agreed. He left a phone in the room

to record her. He waited outside but eventually became impatient. He walked into the

room and saw Ms. Hernandez on her phone. He tried to get her attention twice with no

response, and said “‘[g]et the fuck off the phone and get out of my room, you stupid

cunt.’” 2 RP (Dec. 16, 2021) at 565. She did not hear him. He then took off his sandal

and threw it, but badly missed.

       He testified he checked his phone and it was still recording, so he turned it off, but

then got hit on the back of his head. He reacted by swinging his left arm backward and

hitting Ms. Hernandez. She advanced and he put his hands up, apologized, and asked her

to leave. He turned around and muttered, “‘Fuckin’ psycho cunt.’” 2 RP (Dec. 16,

2021) at 567. He then heard a “click clack” sound he thought was a gun, but it was Ms.

Hernandez closing and locking the door. 2 RP (Dec. 16, 2021) at 567. She then lunged at

him twice before he threw her onto the bed. She fell off the bed, then stood up “like a

monkey out of a box.” 2 RP (Dec. 16, 2021) at 568-69.

                                              8
No. 38745-3-III
State v. Jackson-Smith

       He testified she advanced again, prompting him to panic and throw an elbow. She

got on top of him and she tried to jab his eyes with her fingers, and she bit him when he

tried to push her off. She tried to stab him with the keys on her lanyard. He then grabbed

her hair and lanyard and yanked her back, while shoving his leg into her stomach as hard

as he could. He described Ms. Hernandez as looking “like a king of hearts buffoon.”

2 RP (Dec. 16, 2021) at 572. He then grabbed her hair, swung her, and slammed her

down. That ended the scuffle, and he asked her why she attacked him. He did not recall

Ms. Hernandez saying he attacked her.

       When asked if calling the police crossed his mind, he explained he “had been in

some not good situations involving women, and the cops do not really help a person who

looks like me when it comes to women . . . .” 2 RP (Dec. 16, 2021) at 575. He testified

he thought he would be in trouble and that she would not. He realized he needed to get

out of there, so he packed up his things and left.

       As for the jail call to his mother, he testified he only called to “bitch” about his

situation. 2 RP (Dec. 16, 2021) at 590. He characterized his comment about killing Ms.

Hernandez as “some weird comedy response stuff.” 2 RP (Dec. 16, 2021) at 591. When

asked if he really wanted to have Ms. Hernandez killed, he explained:

                                               9
No. 38745-3-III
State v. Jackson-Smith

       Not killed, maybe some really off-the-wall, stupid comedy thing like when
       you’re crossing the street one day and then some douche bag in a Hummer
       listening to It’s the End of the World As We Know It playing Candy Crush
       on his cell phone just not paying attention slams into you . . . .

2 RP (Dec. 16, 2021) at 591. The defense rested.

              Verdict

       The jury heard closing arguments, deliberated, and returned its verdicts. It

acquitted Mr. Jackson-Smith of attempted murder in the first degree, but convicted him of

assault in the first degree and kidnapping in the first degree.

       Mr. Jackson-Smith timely appealed.

                                        ANALYSIS

       HARMLESS EVIDENTIARY ERROR

       Mr. Jackson-Smith argues the trial court erred by admitting the recorded jail call

because its probative value, if any, was substantially outweighed by its unfair prejudice.

We agree.

       Only relevant evidence is admissible. ER 402. Relevant evidence is “evidence

having any tendency to make the existence of any fact that is of consequence to the

determination of the action more probable or less probable than it would be without the

evidence.” ER 401.

                                              10
No. 38745-3-III
State v. Jackson-Smith

       At trial, the State argued that the recorded jail call was admissible because it

showed that Mr. Jackson-Smith intended to kill Ms. Hernandez 14 days earlier. We

disagree. There is nothing Mr. Jackson-Smith said during the call that linked his stated

desire to have Ms. Hernandez killed with his attack on her 14 days earlier. Rather, as he

put it, he believed he was “fucked over” again by a woman, meaning she attacked him,

but he was arrested. Ex. 35, at 4 min., 22 sec. to 4 min., 30 sec.

       We review a trial court’s evidentiary ruling for manifest abuse of discretion. State

v. Gregory, 158 Wn.2d 759, 835, 147 P.3d 1201 (2006). Such an abuse is shown if the

evidentiary ruling is based on facts not supported by the evidence. State v. Ramires,

109 Wn. App. 749, 757, 37 P.3d 343 (2002); State v. Williamson, 100 Wn. App. 248, 257,

996 P.2d 1097 (2000). Here, the trial court manifestly abused its discretion by admitting

the recording because the evidence failed to link Mr. Jackson-Smith’s recorded comment

with why he attacked Ms. Hernandez 14 days earlier. See also Bell v. State, 147 Wn.2d

166, 182, 52 P.3d 503 (2002) (Although the threshold for “relevance” is low, a trial court

abuses its discretion when there is only a speculative link between the evidence and the

proponent’s theory.).

                                             11
No. 38745-3-III
State v. Jackson-Smith

       A trial court’s improper admission of evidence generally is a nonconstitutional

error that requires reversal only if the evidence materially impacted the trial’s outcome.

State v. Beadle, 173 Wn.2d 97, 120-21, 265 P.3d 863 (2011). Erroneous admission of

evidence is harmless unless there is a reasonable probability that, but for the error, the

verdict would have been materially different. State v. Ashley, 186 Wn.2d 32, 47, 375

P.3d 673 (2016).

       Mr. Jackson-Smith argues the recording was prejudicial because “it misleadingly

suggested he had a propensity to want to harm or even kill women he encounters

[and p]ropensity evidence is categorically barred under ER 404(b).” Br. of Appellant at

18 (internal quotation marks omitted). He further argues the call reveals he hates women,

and the jurors will likely reason that “his propensity to hate women made it more likely he

attacked Hernandez instead of her attacking him.” Br. of Appellant at 23-24. We decline

to reverse based on these arguments.

       “When the trial court overrules a specific objection and admits evidence,

[a reviewing court] ‘will not reverse on the basis that the evidence should have been

excluded under a different rule which could have been, but was not, argued at trial.’”

State v. Korum, 157 Wn.2d 614, 648, 141 P.3d 13 (2006) (internal quotation marks

omitted) (quoting State v. Ferguson, 100 Wn.2d 131, 138, 667 P.2d 68 (1983)). At trial,

                                             12
No. 38745-3-III
State v. Jackson-Smith

Mr. Jackson-Smith’s sole basis for why the recorded call should not be admitted was

ER 403, i.e., that its relevance was substantially outweighed by its unfair prejudice. He

did not object to the recording under ER 404(b) nor did he argue that the objectionable

statements were improper propensity evidence. For this reason, we decline to reverse

based on this unpreserved argument.

       Nor is there a reasonable probability that the outcome of the trial would have been

materially different had the trial court excluded the offensive jail call. Mr. Jackson-

Smith’s language in the recording was not much different than his language at trial. At

trial, he repeatedly referred to Ms. Hernandez using the same vulgar term he used when

he spoke to his mother on the recorded call. In addition, he admitted to grabbing Ms.

Hernandez by her hair, swinging her around, and throwing her on the floor. He referred

to her as a “monkey out of a box” and as a “king of hearts buffoon.” 2 RP (Dec. 16,

2021) at 569, 572. Finally, the jury heard his odd explanation that he did not want her

killed but would not mind some “stupid comedy thing” like if a Hummer slammed into

her. 2 RP (Dec. 16, 2021) at 591. In light of his own testimony, we conclude that the

trial court’s evidentiary error was harmless.

                                                13
No. 38745-3-III
State v. Jackson-Smith

       EFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL

       Mr. Jackson-Smith claims he received ineffective assistance of counsel because

counsel failed to request a limiting instruction related to the jail call. We disagree.

       We review a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel de novo. State v. Sutherby,

165 Wn.2d 870, 883, 204 P.3d 916 (2009). Criminal defendants have a constitutionally

guaranteed right to effective assistance of counsel. U.S. CONST. amend. VI; WASH.

CONST. art. I, § 22; State v. Lopez, 190 Wn.2d 104, 115, 410 P.3d 1117 (2018).

       Washington follows the Strickland 1 standard for reversal of criminal convictions

based on ineffective assistance of counsel. State v. Grier, 171 Wn.2d 17, 32, 246 P.3d

1260 (2011). A defendant bears the burden of showing that (1) his counsel’s performance

fell below an objective standard of reasonableness based on consideration of all the

circumstances and, if so, (2) there is a reasonable probability that but for counsel’s poor

performance the outcome of the proceedings would have been different. See id. at 32-35.

If either prong is not satisfied, the inquiry ends. State v. Kyllo, 166 Wn.2d 856, 862, 215

P.3d 177 (2009).

       With regard to the first prong, a defendant must overcome a strong presumption

that counsel’s performance was reasonable and, when counsel’s conduct can be

       1
           Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 104 S. Ct. 2052, 80 L. Ed. 2d 674 (1984).

                                                14
No. 38745-3-III
State v. Jackson-Smith

characterized as a legitimate trial strategy, performance will not be deemed deficient.

State v. Breitung, 173 Wn.2d 393, 398, 267 P.3d 1012 (2011). To rebut this presumption,

the defendant bears the burden of establishing the absence of any conceivable legitimate

tactic explaining counsel’s performance. Grier, 171 Wn.2d at 33 (quoting State v.

Reichenbach, 153 Wn.2d 126, 130, 101 P.3d 80 (2004)).

       Mr. Jackson-Smith does not describe what limiting instruction trial counsel should

have requested. Perhaps, he believes trial counsel should have asked the court to instruct

the jury it should consider the recorded comment for the limited purpose of whether he

intended to kill Ms. Hernandez. There was good reason not to request such an

instruction.

       As mentioned previously, the recorded comment had nothing to do with whether

Mr. Jackson-Smith intended to kill Ms. Hernandez 14 days earlier. Had defense counsel

requested the court to instruct the jury that it should consider the comment only for that

purpose, the court’s instruction might have caused the jury to believe the recorded

comment should be so construed. We conclude there was a legitimate trial strategy in not

requesting the court to give such an instruction. Because Mr. Jackson-Smith has failed to

show his trial counsel performed deficiently, we reject his ineffective assistance of

counsel claim.

                                             15
No. 38745-3-111
State v. Jackson-Smith

      Affirmed.

      A majority of the panel has determined 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.

                                         Lawrence-Berrey, J.
I CONCUR:
                                                                           j

Siddoway, J.

                                            16
                                     No. 38745-3-111

      FEARING, C.J. (concurring)-The majority writes in the second paragraph: "The

jury acquitted Mr. Jackson-Smith of attempted murder, the crime for which the evidence

was offered." Majority at 1. Assuming the majority employs this thought to hold, in

part, that the offensive statements from James Jackson-Smith captured on the recording

lacked prejudice because the State only used the evidence to convict for attempted

murder, I disagree.

      The jury also found James Jackson-Smith guilty of first degree assault. The State

also introduced, for purposes of the first degree assault charge, Jackson-Smith's

expression to his mother of his hope that someone kills Starr Hernandez. A motivation to

kill someone would not only bear relevance to a murder charge, but also an assault

charge. I agree, however, that the recording, although irrelevant, caused no prejudice in

the conviction for first degree assault because of Jackson-Smith's inopportune trial

testimony of a wish for a Hummer to strike Hernandez why the oversized vehicle's audio

system played It's the End ofthe World As We Know It.

      I concur:

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                                                 Fearing,