Court Opinion

ID: 3215342
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-06-21 16:27:28.48788+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:04:17.524631
License: Public Domain

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 IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON

STATE OF WASHINGTON,                                    No. 73652-3-1

                      Respondent,
                                                        DIVISION ONE
               v.

                                                        UNPUBLISHED OPINION
T.M.K,

                      Appellant.                        FILED: June 20, 2016

         Appelwick, J. — T.M.K. appeals the manifest injustice disposition imposed

by the juvenile court following his guilty plea to one count of indecent liberties.

He contends that the manifest injustice finding was not supported by clear and

convincing evidence in the record and that the length of the disposition was

clearly excessive. We affirm.

                                        FACTS

         On November 8, 2014, T.M.K.'s stepmother fell asleep in a recliner after

having been sedated for dental work earlier in the day. While she was physically

incapacitated, T.M.K. fondled her breasts underneath her shirt. T.M.K. pleaded

guilty to one count of indecent liberties.

         Both the prosecutor and T.M.K.'s juvenile probation counselor, Kirsten

Knutson, recommended a finding of manifest injustice and a disposition higher

than the standard range of 15-36 weeks confinement. T.M.K.'s family testified

regarding T.M.K.'s history of concerning behaviors, including setting fires, hurting

animals, punching holes in the walls of their home, bringing weapons to school
No. 73652-3-1/2

and sexually propositioning a young child at church.        They also testified that

T.M.K. had been provided multiple different types of mental health services since

he was six years old, including family therapy, individual counseling, and

psychiatric medication management, but had generally not been willing to

participate in them.    T.M.K.'s family stated they had "no control over his

behavior."

       Knutson testified regarding the treatment services available to T.M.K. in a

Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration (JRA) facility, including dialectical behavior

therapy (DBT), group therapy, aggression replacement training, monitoring of his

psychiatric medication, and a "behavioral chain analysis" specific to his offense.

Knutson testified that since T.M.K. had already served seven weeks in detention,

a standard range sentence could result in as little as eight weeks confinement,

and T.M.K. "would barely be able to get settled into a treatment program during

that period of time." Knutson also stated that a standard range sentence would

provide insufficient time for "release planning," which would be critical to reducing

T.M.K.'s risk of reoffense. Finally, Knutson stated that T.M.K. could "potentially"

be transferred to a sex offender treatment program in a minimum security facility

if he had time to make adequate progress in treatment.

       The juvenile court entered findings of fact as follows:

       A number of aggravating factors support a manifest injustice
       disposition:

       a) According to the Juvenile Probation Counselor (JPC), sex
          offense specific treatment in the community is not available
          for the respondent. A standard range sentence would not
          allow the respondent to complete offense specific treatment
             available at JRA,   and the manifest injustice sentence

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No. 73652-3-1/3

          imposed may allow him to receive treatment from a certified
          sex offender treatment provider.

       b) As indicated in the JPC report, there is a lack of sustaining
          family control. The respondent's mother indicated that she is,
          at times, afraid of the respondent, who has " 'rages' that are
          uncontrollable" when she sets limits. Twice he has kicked in
          her locked bedroom door. He has physically assaulted her,
          and has a history of fire-setting, abuse of animals, and
          viewing pornography. Both families (mother, and father and
          stepmother) report similar issues.

       c) The respondent has been in therapy in the community since
          he was six years old.       These services have included
          individual counseling, in-home counseling, and WRAP team
          services. He committed this offense despite these services.
          The JPC reported that "he has difficulty applying adaptive
          skills discussed in counseling to his day-to-day life." The
          respondent needs a higher level of intervention than is
          available in the community.

       For the reasons listed above, a disposition within the standard
       range would not protect the community and would not provide the
       intensive services the respondent needs in a secure and structured
       environment.

The juvenile court imposed a manifest injustice disposition of 39 to 52 weeks

confinement, and concluded that any one of the aggravating factors found would

justify the imposition of a manifest injustice disposition. T.M.K. appeals.

                                   DISCUSSION

       A juvenile court may impose a disposition outside the standard range only

if it determines that a sentence within the standard range would "effectuate a

manifest injustice."   A "manifest injustice" results if the standard range would

"impose a serious and clear danger to society" in light of the purposes of the

Juvenile Justice Act, chapter 13.40 RCW.          RCW 13.40.020(19).          " These

purposes include protection of the citizenry and provision of necessary treatment,
No. 73652-3-1/4

supervision!,] and custody for juvenile offenders.' " State v. K.E.. 97 Wn. App.

273, 279, 982 P.2d 1212 (1999) (quoting State v. Duncan. 90 Wn. App. 808, 812,

960P.2d941 (1998)).

       In determining the appropriate disposition, a juvenile court may consider

both statutory and nonstatutory aggravating factors. State v. T.E.C.. 122 Wn.

App. 9, 17, 92 P.3d 263 (2004). These may include a lack of parental control or

a juvenile's need for treatment.    ]d_.   Once a juvenile court concludes that a

disposition within the standard range would effectuate a manifest injustice, it is

vested with broad discretion in determining the disposition. State v. J.V.. 132

Wn. App. 533, 545, 132 P.3d 1116 (2006). A manifest injustice disposition is

excessive "only when it cannot be justified by any reasonable view which may be

taken of the record." State v. Strong. 23 Wn. App. 789, 795, 599 P.2d 20 (1979).

We will uphold a manifest injustice disposition if we find that: (1) the juvenile

court's reasons are supported by the record; (2) those reasons clearly and

convincingly support the conclusion that a disposition within the standard range

would constitute a manifest injustice; and (3) the sentence is neither clearly too

lenient nor clearly too excessive. RCW 13.40.230(2).

      T.M.K. contends that the factors cited by the juvenile court are not

supported by the record and that they do not clearly and convincingly support a

manifest injustice disposition. We disagree.       Here, the juvenile court identified

two primary factors supporting the manifest injustice disposition: lack of parental

control and T.M.K.'s treatment needs.         Both are supported by substantial

evidence.   The record showed that T.M.K.'s family was unable to control his

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No. 73652-3-1/5

aggressive and violent behavior and expressed fear that he would hurt himself or

others. The record also showed that, despite the efforts of T.M.K.'s family to

involve him in counseling services, T.M.K. needed a higher level of treatment

than was available to him in the community. The juvenile court's findings clearly

and convincingly support the conclusion that a disposition within the standard

range would constitute a manifest injustice.

       We also reject T.M.K.'s claim that the disposition is clearly excessive.

Knutson testified that a standard range sentence would not give T.M.K. sufficient

time to enter treatment and make sufficient progress such that he would benefit

from   release     planning   or   sex   offense-specific   treatment.   Knutson's

recommendation provided a tenable basis for the length of the disposition

imposed by the juvenile court.

       Affirmed.

WE CONCUR:

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