Court Opinion

ID: 2783368
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-03-02 22:07:55.488398+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:28:27.389222
License: Public Domain

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                                                         2015 nm -2 msQ.
        IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON

STATE OF WASHINGTON,                                  No. 71005-2-1

                      Respondent,                     DIVISION ONE

   v.

GERARDO ARELLANO-GAMA,                                UNPUBLISHED

                      Appellant.                       FILED: March 2. 2015

        Cox, J. - A jury found Gerardo Arellano-Gama guilty of unlawful

possession of a firearm in the first degree and driving under the influence (DUI).

On appeal, he contends that the deputy prosecutor committed reversible

misconduct during closing argument and that the trial court violated his public

trial rights and imposed an unconstitutionally vague condition of community

supervision. But Arellano-Gama did not object to the deputy prosecutor's

argument, and he has failed to establish that a curative instruction would have

been ineffective and that any misconduct was prejudicial. Nor did the trial court

violate Arellano-Gama's public trial rights by permitting the exercise of

peremptory challenges at a sidebar, or abuse its discretion by prohibiting

Arellano-Gama, as a condition of community supervision, from possessing "drug

paraphernalia." We therefore affirm.

        During the early morning hours of January 6, 2013, Sylvia Alvarez heard a

loud noise outside of her Mount Vernon apartment. Alvarez looked out her
No. 71005-2-1/2

window and saw a white car dragging a bumper and speeding into the parking

lot. Alvarez called 911.

       After the car parked, the driver got out and went into a nearby apartment.

The driver appeared to be drunk from the way he was walking. A woman got out

of the car from the passenger door. Alvarez identified Arellano-Gama in court as

the driver.

       A short time later, Arellano-Gama emerged from the apartment. The

woman put him into the back seat of the white car and then got into the driver's

seat. Police officers arrived just as the woman started to drive away.

       Mount Vernon police officers Chester Curry and Zachary Wright

responded to the 911 report. Upon arriving, Officer Curry saw a white Nissan

Murano stopped partially offthe roadway and straddling the sidewalk. The right

front wheel rim was broken and the tire was flat.

       As he approached the car, Officer Curry saw Arellano-Gama get out of the
front passenger door and stagger toward him "on unsteady legs." When

Arellano-Gama ignored his command to stop, Officer Curry restrained him on the
shoulder. Arellano-Gama expressed a desire to go into the apartment. Officer

Curry noticed that Arellano-Gama's eyes were bloodshot, that he smelled
strongly of alcohol, and that he slurred his words.
       While Officer Curry engaged Arellano-Gama, Officer Wright approached
the Nissan and observed a small silver .22 caliber "pocket gun" lying on the front

passenger seat. Officer Wright later determined that the gun was loaded. When
No. 71005-2-1/3

Officer Wright informed Officer Curry about the gun, Arellano-Gama responded,

"that's nothing" or "that's no big deal."

       The officers arrested Arellano-Gama and transported him to the station for

a breath test. The two tests showed blood alcohol levels of .215 grams per

milliliter and .242 grams per milliliter.

       The State charged Arellano-Gama with DUI and unlawful possession of a

firearm in the first degree.1

       At trial, Arellano-Gama testified that he spent the evening before his arrest

at a bowling alley. He explained that the white Nissan belonged to his fiancee.

Before driving to the bowling alley, he consumed two cups of brandy and cola in

the car. He recalled having five or six beers at the bowling alley, but could not

recall leaving. He could not remember anything until the officers tackled him and

he took the breath tests at the police station. Arellano-Gama denied ever having

seen the gun or knowing to whom it belonged.

       The jury found Arellano-Gama guilty as charged. The court sentenced

him to 24 months on the firearm charge and 364 days, with 363 days suspended,

on the DUI charge.

                                       Public Trial

       Arellano-Gama contends that the trial court violated his public trial rights

by allowing the parties to exercise their peremptory challenges during a sidebar

    1The court dismissed a charge of being an alien in possession of a firearm for
insufficient evidence.
No. 71005-2-1/4

conference. He argues that peremptory challenges are an integral part of jury

voir dire and jury selection and must therefore be exercised in open court.

       A criminal defendant has a right to a public trial under both the state and

federal constitutions.2 But "not every interaction between the court, counsel, and

defendants will implicate the right to a public trial, or constitute a closure if closed

to the public."3 Consequently, before determining whether a public trial violation

occurred, an appellate court first considers "whether the proceeding at issue was

one to which the constitutional right to a public trial attaches."4

       Here, the parties questioned the jury venire in open court and on the

record. The court then announced that counsel would discuss jury selection at a

sidebar conference. At the conclusion of the conference, the court identified in

open court which jurors had been selected. The court also documented, as part

of the public record, the identity of each juror challenged, the order of the

challenges, and the party that exercised the challenge.

       Washington appellate court have repeatedly held that identical or

analogous procedures for peremptory challenges do not implicate a defendant's

public trial rights.5 We adhere to the analysis in these decisions. The trial court

did not violate Arellano-Gama's public trial rights.

    2 State v. Lormor. 172 Wash. 2d 85, 90-91, 257 P.3d 624 (2011); see U.S. Const,
amends. VI, XIV; Wash. Const, art. I, § 22.
    3 State v. Koss. 181 Wash. 2d 493, 499, 334 P.3d 1042 (2014) (quoting State v.
Sublett. 176 Wash. 2d 58, 71, 292 P.3d 715 (2012)).
    4 Koss. 181 Wn.2dat499.
    5See, e^, State v. Dunn. 180 Wash. App. 570, 574-75, 321 P.3d 1283 (2014), review
denied. 181 Wash. 2d 1030 (2015) (the exercise of peremptory challenges at clerk's station
does not implicate public trial right); State v. Marks Wn. App.     339 P.3d 196

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No. 71005-2-1/5

                                Prosecutorial Misconduct

       Arellano-Gama contends that prosecutorial misconduct during closing

argument violated his right to a fair trial. He maintains that the deputy prosecutor

used an improper "fill in the blank" argument that misstated the burden of proof

and then highlighted the misstatements with a PowerPoint slide. Defense

counsel did not object to the challenged comments or the slide.

       A defendant claiming prosecutorial misconduct bears the burden of

establishing that the challenged conduct was both improper and prejudicial.6
Prejudice occurs only if"there is a substantial likelihood the instances of

misconduct affected the jury's verdict."7 We review misconduct claims in the

context of the total argument, the evidence addressed, the issues in the case,

and the jury instructions.8 Where, as here, the defendant fails to object, we will
not review the alleged error unless the defendant demonstrates that the

misconduct was "so flagrant and ill intentioned that no curative instructions could

have obviated the prejudice engendered by the misconduct."9 This analysis

(2014) (exercise of peremptory challenges in writing at sidebar conference did not
implicate public trial rights), petition for review filed; State v. Love, 176 Wash. App. 911,
919-20, 309 P.3d 1209 (2013) (challenges for cause and peremptory challenges at a
sidebar do not implicate public trial rights), review granted in part, 181 Wash. 2d 1029
(2015): see also State v. Filitaula       Wn. App.      , 339 P.3d 221 (2014) (exercise of
peremptory challenges in writing, rather than orally, does not implicate defendant's
public trial rights), petition for review filed; State v. Smith. 181 Wash. 2d 508, 334 P.3d 1049
(2014) (sidebar conferences in hallway do not implicate public trial rights).
    6 State v. Cheatam. 150 Wash. 2d 626, 652, 81 P.3d 830 (2003).
    7 State v. Pirtle. 127 Wash. 2d 628, 672, 904 P.2d 245 (1995).
    8 State v. Boehning. 127 Wash. App. 511, 519, 111 P.3d 899 (2005).
    9 State v. Belqarde. 110 Wash. 2d 504, 507, 755 P.2d 174 (1988).

                                              -5-
No. 71005-2-1/6

focuses more on whether any resulting prejudice could have been cured, rather

than on the flagrant or ill-intentioned nature of the comments.10

       During closing argument, the deputy prosecutor informed the jury that the

State had the burden of proving the elements of the crime beyond a reasonable

doubt. He then attempted to explain that burden:

         So in doing that, you're applying that reasonable doubt standard.
       And you get an instruction about reasonable doubt, Instruction
       Number 3, which describes what reasonable doubt is. But it's a
       little bit circular. I like to look at it more of what that concept is and
       think about it in breaking it down. Reasonable means there has to
       be a reason. It's a doubt with a reason you can attach to it. In
       other words, you have to say why there's a reason that this doubt
       exists in mv mind as a particular element. If you're going to find it's
       not proven beyond a reasonable doubt, if vou don't have any
       reason that vou can attach to that, that vou can explain to your
       jurors then it's proven beyond a reasonable doubt, ifthere's not
       something vou can attach to it.[11]

During this portion of the argument, the deputy prosecutor displayed a

PowerPoint slide stating that reasonable doubt was "a doubt with a REASON you

can attach to it" and "A REASON you can explain to your fellow jurors."12

       Arellano-Gama contends that the highlighted comment was essentially

identical to "fill in the blank" arguments that Washington courts have repeatedly

found to be improper.13 In State v. Emery, the deputy prosecutor argued that:

    10 State v. Emery. 174 Wash. 2d 741, 762, 278 P.3d 653 (2012).
    11 Report of Proceedings (Sept. 24, 2013) at 127-28 (emphasis added).
    12 Brief of Respondent at 11.
    13 See, ejg., Emery, 174 Wash. 2d at 759; State v. Anderson. 153 Wash. App. 417, 431,
220 P.3d 1273 (2009).
No. 71005-2-1/7

       [l]n order for you to find the defendant not guilty, you have to ask
       yourselves or you'd have to say, quote, I doubt the defendant is
       guilty, and my reason is blank. A doubt for which a reason exists. If
       you think that you have a doubt, you must fill in that blank.[14]
Our Supreme Court concluded that the "fill in the blank" argument was improper

because it implied that the jury "must be able to articulate its reasonable doubt by

filling in the blank."15 The court found that this argument "subtly shifts the burden

to the defense" and "could potentially have confused the jury about its role and

the burden of proof."16

       Contrary to the State's assertions, we agree with Arellano-Gama that the

deputy prosecutor's remarks were analogous to the improper argument in Emery.

First, the deputy prosecutor incorrectly suggested that the jury had to articulate a

basis for any reasonable doubt. The deputy prosecutor then informed the jury

that if it could not articulate a basis for reasonable doubt -- "that you can explain

to your jurors"- "then it's proven beyond a reasonable doubt." As in Emery, the
argument improperly suggested that the jury could acquit only if it could articulate

a reason for doubt.

       Although the deputy prosecutor's comments were improper, Arellano-

Gama must also demonstrate that a curative instruction could not have obviated

the prejudicial effect of the misstatements and that the argument had a
substantial likelihood of affecting the jury verdict.17 He fails to satisfy this burden.

    14 174 Wash. 2d at 750-51.
    15 id at 760.
    16 ]d at 760, 763.
    17 Id. at 761.
No. 71005-2-1/8

       The Emery court concluded that the improper arguments were potentially

confusing, but not "inflammatory."18 Consequently, a timely objection could have

cured any potential confusion or prejudice and permitted the trial court to

reiterate the State's burden of proof.19 In determining that the defendants could

not show a substantial likelihood that the misstatements affected the jury's

verdict, the court considered the context of the improper comments and jury

instructions that correctly set forth the State's burden of proof.20

       Here, as in Emery, the deputy prosecutor's misstatements formed a

discrete and limited portion of the total argument. The deputy prosecutor

repeatedly told the jury that the State bore the burden of proving the elements of
the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. The court's instructions correctly informed
the jury of the State's burden of proof, that the defendant "has no burden of
proving that a reasonable doubt exists,"21 and "to disregard any remark,
statement, or argument that is not supported by the evidence or the law in [the
courtjs] instructions."22

       Arellano-Gama argues that the PowerPoint slide emphasized the

misconduct and exacerbated the resulting prejudice. But the single slide

reproduced only a portion of the improper argument. A timely objection and

    18 Jd at 763.
    19 Id at 764.
    20 id at 762-64.
    21 Clerk's Papers at 20.
    22 Id. at 17.

                                          -8-
No. 71005-2-1/9

curative instruction could have negated any potential confusion and prejudice

resulting from both the comments and the slide.

       Given the discrete and limited scope of the misstatements, the State's

repeated reliance on the correct burden of proof throughout the entire closing

argument, and the trial court's instructions setting forth the correct burden of

proof, Arellano-Gama has failed to establish that the improper comments were

incurable and prejudicial.

                                Sentencing Condition

       Arellano-Gama contends that the trial court erred in imposing, as a

condition of community supervision, a prohibition from possessing "drug

paraphernalia." He argues that the term "drug paraphernalia" is

unconstitutionally vague.

       "[T]he due process vagueness doctrine under the Fourteenth Amendment

and article I, section 3 of the state constitution requires that citizens have fair

warning of proscribed conduct."23 Statutes and other legal standards are

unconstitutionally vague if they do not "define the criminal offense with sufficient

definiteness that ordinary people can understand what conduct is proscribed," or

do not "provide ascertainable standards of guilt to protect against arbitrary

enforcement."24

    23 State v. Bahl. 164 Wash. 2d 739, 752, 193 P.3d 678 (2008).
    24 Id. at 752-53.
No. 71005-2-1/10

       When assessing vagueness, a court considers terms in the context of their

use.25 Because of the inherent vagueness of language, citizens may have to

consult statutes and court rulings to clarify the meaning of a specific term.26 Such

sources are "presumptively available to all citizens."27 If "persons of ordinary

intelligence can understand what the [law] proscribes, notwithstanding some

possible areas of disagreement, the [law] is sufficiently definite."28 We do not

accord a sentencing condition the presumption of constitutionality.29

       We will overturn the trial court's imposition of a sentencing condition only

for a manifest abuse of discretion.30

       Arellano-Gama relies solely on State v. Sanchez Valencia,31 in which the

court held that a sentencing condition prohibiting the possession of "any

paraphernalia that can be used for the ingestion or processing of controlled

substances" was unconstitutionally vague.32 The court concluded that the term

"paraphernalia" was too broad to provide fair notice of prohibited conduct and

failed to provide ascertainable standards to protect against arbitrary

enforcement.33

    25 id at 754.
    26 id at 756.
    27 id (quoting State v. Watson. 160 Wash. 2d 1, 8, 154 P.3d 909 (2007)).
    28 City of Spokane v. Douglass. 115Wn.2d 171, 179, 795 P.2d 693 (1990).
    29 State v. Sanchez Valencia. 169 Wash. 2d 782, 792, 239 P.3d 1059 (2010).
    30 Bahl, 164Wn.2dat753.
    31 169 Wash. 2d 782, 792, 239 P.3d 1059 (2010).
    32 id at 785.
    33 Id. at 794-95.

                                         -10-
No. 71005-2-1/11

       In determining that the term "paraphernalia" was unconstitutionally vague,

the court in Sanchez Valencia expressly distinguished the more specific term

"drug paraphernalia."34 Moreover, the Uniform Controlled Substances Act

expressly defines "drug paraphernalia":

       "[D]rug paraphernalia" means all equipment, products, and
       materials of any kind which are used, intended for use, or designed
       for use in planting, propagating, cultivating, growing, harvesting,
       manufacturing, compounding, converting, producing, processing,
       preparing, testing, analyzing, packaging, repackaging, storing,
       containing, concealing, injecting, ingesting, inhaling, or otherwise
       introducing into the human body a controlled substance.[35]
The statutory definition not only includes a lengthy, non-exclusive list of specific

items that constitute drug paraphernalia, but also imposes express intent

requirements that the prohibited objects be "intended for use" in conjunction with

controlled substances. The detailed statutory definition and intent requirements

for "drug paraphernalia" serve to provide fair notice of the prohibited conduct and

protect against arbitrary enforcement, the two deficiencies that the court in

Sanchez Valencia identified for the term "paraphernalia." The condition

prohibiting "drug paraphernalia" is not unconstitutionally vague.

       Affirmed.
                                                         Cm^-
WE CONCUR:

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                                                                    y
                                                                      a :
    34 id at 794.
    35 RCW 69.50.102(a).

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