Court Opinion

ID: 4375406
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-03-08 20:45:14.583089+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:49:40.583246
License: Public Domain

Filed
                                                                                       Washington State
                                                                                       Court of Appeals
                                                                                        Division Two

                                                                                        March 8, 2019

    IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON

                                        DIVISION II
 STATE OF WASHINGTON,                                              No. 50951-2-II

                               Respondent,

        v.

 MIN SIK KIM,                                            PUBLISHED IN PART OPINION

                               Appellant.

       MELNICK, J. — Min Sik Kim plead guilty to murder in the second degree, a serious violent

offense. He appeals his sentence. In the published portion of this opinion, we reject Kim’s

argument that he should have received credit for his presentence electronic home monitoring

(EHM). The 2015 amendment to RCW 9.94A.505 precludes felons convicted of certain crimes,

including murder in the second degree, from receiving credit for time served on EHM before

sentencing. In the unpublished portion of this opinion, we reject Kim’s other arguments regarding

his sentence. We affirm.

                                             FACTS

       In March 2016, Kim shot and killed Jakeel Mason who attempted to steal items from Kim’s

convenience store. The State charged Kim with murder in the second degree. Pretrial, the court

released Kim from custody but imposed numerous conditions including he could only reside at his

home address, he could not travel outside Pierce, King, Thurston, or Kitsap counties, he could not

contact victims or witnesses, he could not possess weapons or firearms, and he could not consume

or possess alcohol or marijuana. The court also ordered him to be on EHM.
50951-2-II

          Approximately one year later, Kim plead guilty to the murder charge. Pending sentencing,

the court released Kim on similar conditions, including continued EHM.

          The court sentenced Kim to 100 months. Kim sought credit for the 450 days he had spent

on EHM. Because of RCW 9.94A.505(7), the court did not give Kim credit for time spent on

EHM. Kim appeals.

                                             ANALYSIS

          Kim argues that RCW 9.94A.505(7) violates the double jeopardy, equal protection, and

due process clauses of the United States and Washington constitutions.1 We disagree.

I.        APPLICABLE STATUTES

          The general rule is that a person shall receive credit for time served in confinement. RCW

9.94A.505(6). The term “confinement” means “total or partial confinement.” RCW 9.94A.030(8).

Under RCW 9.94A.030(36), “partial confinement” includes electronic monitoring. However, a

“sentencing court shall not give [an] offender credit for any time the offender was required to

comply with an electronic monitoring program prior to sentencing if the offender was convicted

of . . . [a] violent offense.” RCW 9.94A.505(7)(a).2

          Murder in the second degree is a serious violent offense and a subcategory of a violent

offense. RCW 9.94A.030(46)(a)(iii).

1
  The State argues that Kim failed to present an adequate record for review of Kim’s double
jeopardy, equal protection, and due process claims. We disagree. However, as to Kim’s due
process claim, Kim only provided conclusory arguments and passing treatment to this issue;
therefore, we do not consider it. RAP 10.3(a)(6); State v. Thomas, 150 Wash. 2d 821, 868-69, 83
P.3d 970 (2004).
2
     The legislature added this subsection in 2015. LAWS OF 2015, ch. 287, § 10.

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II.       DOUBLE JEOPARDY

          Kim argues that because he served 450 days on EHM, and because EHM continues to be

statutorily defined as “confinement,” RCW 9.94A.505(7) is punitive in intent. Therefore, Kim

claims that he is being subjected to unconstitutional “confinement” twice for the 450 days he

served on EHM. We disagree.

          The Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution3 and article I, section 9 of the

Washington Constitution provide a prohibition against double jeopardy that protects defendants

from multiple punishments for the same offense. State v. Kelley, 168 Wash. 2d 72, 76, 226 P.3d 773

(2010).

          Double jeopardy challenges are analyzed using a two-part test. The first part asks whether

the government intends the action to be punitive, and if it does not, the second part asks whether

the action’s purpose or effect is nevertheless so punitive as to negate the government’s nonpunitive

intent. Harris v. Charles, 171 Wash. 2d 455, 467, 256 P.3d 328 (2011). Kim only alleges a violation

of the first part of the test.

          As noted previously, partial confinement includes EHM. RCW 9.94A.030(36). In 2015,

the legislature amended RCW 9.94A.505 to exclude credit for any time served presentence on

EHM if the offender was convicted of a violent offense. RCW 9.94A.505(7); LAWS OF 2015, ch.

287, § 10. The 2015 amendment did not affect RCW 9.94A.505(6) or any relevant RCW

9.94A.030 definitions. We need to determine if the legislature’s changes evince an intent that

presentence EHM is punitive. Harris, 171 Wash. 2d at 467.

3
 This provision applies to states through the Fourteenth Amendment. Benton v. Maryland, 395
U.S. 784, 794, 89 S. Ct. 2056, 23 L. Ed. 2d 707 (1969).

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       In Harris, the court decided that pretrial EHM for a misdemeanor was not punitive. When

“imposed as a condition of pretrial release pursuant to CrR 3.2 or CrRLJ 3.2, [EHM] is not intended

as punishment but rather as a means of alleviating the burdens of pretrial detention and of assuring

the defendant’s future appearance in court.” Harris, 171 Wash. 2d at 469 n.10. In determining

whether the purpose or effect was punitive, Harris noted the “clear distinction [Washington courts

recognize] between jail time and nonjail time.” 171 Wash. 2d at 470. Harris concluded that the

petitioner failed to “explain how his time on EHM was so punitive in effect as to overcome its

intended nonpunitive purpose.” 171 Wash. 2d at 472.

       For further support that presentence EHM is not punitive, as stated in Harris, “a defendant

in pretrial detention ‘is severely handicapped in his defense preparation’ and ‘is often unable to

retain his job and support his family, and is made to suffer the public stigma of incarceration even

though he may later be found not guilty.’” 171 Wash. 2d at 468 (quoting CRIMINAL RULES TASK

FORCE, WASHINGTON PROPOSED RULES OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE Rule 3.2 cmt. at 22 (1971)).

“As a condition of pretrial or presentencing release, EHM addresses these concerns and furthers

the intent of the original pretrial release rule because a defendant on EHM may visit his attorney

and continue to go to a job.” Harris, 171 Wash. 2d at 469.

       The Minority and Justice Commission proposed adding EHM as an alternative to be used

with pretrial release to avoid discrimination based on people who are economically disadvantaged.

Harris, 171 Wash. 2d at 469 (citing Proposed amendment to CrR 3.2, 145 Wn.2d Proposed–67

(Official Advance Sheet No. 4, Jan. 8, 2002)). It was not proposed as punishment. Harris, 171
Wash. 2d at 469.

       Kim argues that because the legislature amended RCW 9.94A.505 to deny EHM credit for

certain crimes but did not modify the definition of “confinement” in RCW 9.94A.030, Kim is

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subject to double “confinement,” and the amended law fails the first prong of the double jeopardy

test because it is punitive in its intent. We disagree.

       Kim’s argument conflates the statutory definition of “confinement” with the

constitutionally mandated double jeopardy term of “incarceration.” The Washington and United

States constitutions require only that defendants receive credit for time served for the latter.

Harris, 171 Wash. 2d at 470-71 (“[T]his court has acknowledged that credit for home detention time

might not be constitutionally required. . . . [While] double jeopardy demand[s] that all defendants

receive credit for time spent in incarceration prior to sentencing.”).

       As discussed above, Harris makes clear that EHM as a condition of pretrial release is not

intended as punishment. 171 Wash. 2d at 469 & n.10. As a result, we conclude that the legislature

did not intend presentence EHM as punishment.

IV.    EQUAL PROTECTION

       Kim argues that the 2015 amendment to RCW 9.94A.505 violates equal protection because

it makes two arbitrary classifications. First, Kim argues that it draws improper classifications

between different crimes. For example, the amendment permits sentencing courts to give credit

for EHM to white collar criminals but not to murderers, as is the case here. Second, he contends

it draws improper classifications among defendants who have committed the same crime. For

example, Kim argues that if one person is released without any conditions and the other is released

subject to EHM, the person who is subject to EHM will end up serving more time in “confinement”

for the same crime and for the same sentence. We disagree that there is an equal protection

violation.

       “Equal protection requires that persons similarly situated with respect to the legitimate

purpose of the law receive like treatment.” State v. Simmons, 152 Wash. 2d 450, 458, 98 P.3d 789

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(2004). Article I section 12 of the Washington Constitution and the equal protection clause of the

Fourteenth Amendment are “substantially identical and they are thus considered one issue.” In re

Pers. Restraint of Ramsey, 102 Wash. App. 567, 573, 9 P.3d 231 (2000). “Equal protection is not

intended to provide complete equality among individuals or classes but equal application of the

laws.” Simmons, 152 Wash. 2d at 458.

       The parties agree that under Harris, Kim’s equal protection argument should be analyzed

under the rational basis test because “it does not involve a suspect or semisuspect class or a

fundamental right.” 171 Wash. 2d at 463. Under rational basis review, “[a] party challenging the

application of a law as violating equal protection principles has the burden of showing that the law

is irrelevant to maintaining a state objective or that it creates an arbitrary classification.” Simmons,
152 Wash. 2d at 458.

       In Harris, the court concluded that two legitimate government interests rationally related

to the legislature’s decision to allow felons, but not misdemeanants, sentencing credit for

presentence EHM. 171 Wash. 2d at 462-66. First, “[r]equiring courts to grant misdemeanants credit

for time on EHM would hinder the ability of sentencing judges to order jail time for misdemeanor

offenses.” Harris, 171 Wash. 2d at 473. Second, the distinction maintained misdemeanor sentencing

courts’ discretion to impose rehabilitative sentencing, which is a goal of nonfelony sentencing but

is “not a justification for [felony] sentencing under the [Sentencing Reform Act of 1981 (SRA)].”

Harris, 171 Wash. 2d at 465.

       But in State v. Anderson, 132 Wash. 2d 203, 213, 937 P.2d 581 (1997), the court held that no

rational basis existed for the legislature to distinguish between presentence and post-sentence

EHM. The statutes at issue in Anderson required sentencing courts to give credit for the former

but not the latter. 132 Wash. 2d at 208-09.

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        Here and in Harris we are looking at what crimes are eligible for credit for presentence

time spent on EHM. Anderson discussed the differences between presentence and post-sentence

EHM. Therefore, Harris is more on point. A rational basis supports the legislature’s decision.

        Here, as Kim points out, the 2015 amendment leads to two classifications. First, the

amendment distinguishes between felons convicted of violent offenses and felons convicted of all

other felonies not listed in the statute.        RCW 9.94A.505(6)-(7).         Second, the amendment

distinguishes between violent offenders, i.e., between defendants released on presentence EHM

who are “confined” but not given credit for that confinement and defendants released with no

conditions who do not serve an additional and unaccounted for “confinement” period.

        Regarding Kim’s first argument, a rational basis exists for the legislature’s decision to not

allow credit for time served on presentence EHM release.                  The legislature has made a

determination that people who are convicted of more serious crimes should not get credit for time

served on presentence EHM.

        The State has at least two legitimate interests and must balance these sometimes-competing

interests. First, it has a legitimate interest in protecting its citizens. It also has a legitimate interest

in affording criminal defendants adequate defense preparation. EHM can conflict with the State’s

first interest, but it undoubtedly furthers the State’s second interest. See Harris, 171 Wash. 2d at 469.

In an attempt to balance these interests, the legislature looked to the relative seriousness of various

crimes to determine which felons should receive credit for presentence EHM. Thus, the legislature

has made a determination that people who are charged with more serious crimes are a greater threat

to society and should not receive presentence EHM credit. There is a sufficient rational basis for

the legislature to make this distinction because it is an attempt to balance and further its two

legitimate interests identified above.

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50951-2-II

       As to Kim’s second argument, there is also a rational basis.             Kim argues that the

legislature’s action had no rational basis because, as currently defined, the statute imposes more

“confinement” on defendants subject to EHM than on defendants who committed the same crime

and were sentenced identically but who were released without any conditions. However, there is

a rational basis for the legislature to distinguish between these two types of defendants because

other factors, including a person’s flight risk, are taken into consideration by a judge in determining

whether a defendant should be released on EHM or without conditions. CrR 3.2. Kim’s argument

is based on the legislature’s use of the term “confinement.” But the legislature, in making a

specific statute, carved out an exception for when confinement does not include EHM. Kim’s

argument is based on nomenclature, not constitutional grounds.

       We conclude that RCW 9.94A.505(7) does not violate Kim’s equal protections rights.

                                          CONCLUSION

       RCW 9.94A.505(7) does not infringe Kim’s constitutional rights under the double jeopardy

or equal protection clauses under the United States and Washington constitutions. We affirm.

       A majority of the panel having determined that only the foregoing portion of this opinion

will be printed in the Washington Appellate Reports and that the remainder shall be filed for public

record in accordance with RCW 2.06.040, it is so ordered.

                                      ADDITIONAL FACTS

       Kim plead guilty to felony murder in the second degree predicated on assault in the second

degree. Kim’s standard range for felony murder in the second degree was 123 to 220 months. The

State recommended a 123-month sentence, and Kim sought an exceptional downward sentence of

24 months. Kim’s sentencing memorandum detailed his immigration from South Korea, his work

ethic, his commitment to family and worship, his compliance with law enforcement after the

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50951-2-II

incident, and the fact that his wife had been shot by a robber at their convenience store one month

prior to the incident. Kim stated that he was still under the influence of that traumatic experience

on the day of the incident. Kim’s sentencing memorandum attached 10 letters of support from

members of the community.

          At Kim’s sentencing hearing, he attempted to present three individuals to make statements

on his behalf. The court stated,

          I’ve read the letters, and if these people are here to simply retell what they’ve
          already written in the letters, it kind of gets—you know, I don’t need to hear it again
          necessarily, but if there’s one person that you would like to have speak on your
          behalf, I would be more than—even if he’s written a letter before, I would be happy
          to hear that person.

Report of Proceedings (RP) (June 23, 2017) at 7. Kim’s wife gave a statement on his behalf. Kim

also gave a statement.

          The State requested that the judge review three excerpts of security footage from the

incident. The court refused, stating,

                  Counsel, I’m not going to have time to review this tape. I’ve got a jury
          deliberating, and they have a question that we’ve deferred until we can resolve this
          case because this case has priority.

RP (June 23, 2017) at 13. At the court’s request, the State then discussed how it viewed the

surveillance footage: “when I look at these tapes, I see a very angry man, and I see a man that’s

taking out his anger about what happened to his wife against a shoplifter.” RP (June 23, 2017) at

14.

          The court then permitted the defense to supplement the State’s statement. The defense

stated,

          I don’t disagree with what [the State] said, in that most of what [it] said is in the
          probable cause statement that the Court referred to. I would only add that there
          were some disputed issues with a witness who said there was a struggle about the
          firearm as [Kim and Mason] were fighting on the ground.

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50951-2-II

RP (June 23, 2017) at 15-16. The court then concluded,

       Well, I’m not going to view the video because I have a sense of what occurred here
       from listening to you, as well as reading the Affidavit of Probable Cause, which I
       think is pretty accurate in terms of what the video showed.

RP (June 23, 2017) at 16.

       The court then discussed its reasons for granting the defense’s request for an exceptional

downward sentence. The court did not grant the defense’s request for a 24-month sentence;

instead, the court imposed a 100-month sentence. The court stated,

               I don’t believe 24 months, Counsel, in all fairness, would reflect a just
       sentence for the deliberate taking of a life, but I am taking into consideration the
       other factors that you’ve argued and making the mitigation to 100 months.

RP (June 23, 2017) at 19. The court then entered findings of fact and conclusions of law.

                                           ANALYSIS

I.     FAILURE TO CONSIDER EVIDENCE AT SENTENCING

       Kim argues that the sentencing court committed reversible error when it restricted who

spoke on Kim’s behalf and when it relied on the State’s version of what the surveillance video

showed. We disagree.

       A.     Restricting Who Spoke4

              1.      Allocution

       Kim argues that the trial judge violated his right to allocution by refusing to hear from the

defense’s proffered witnesses. We disagree.

       “Allocution is the right of a criminal defendant to make a personal argument or statement

to the court before the pronouncement of sentence.” State v. Canfield, 154 Wash. 2d 698, 701, 116

4
 We reject the State’s argument that Kim did not preserve this issue, and we decide it on the
merits. CR 46; CrR 8.6.

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P.3d 391 (2005). Because Kim was allowed to speak at his sentencing hearing, we conclude that

his statutory right to allocution was not denied.

                  2.    SRA

       Kim argues that the trial judge violated the SRA by refusing to hear the defense’s proffered

witnesses. We disagree.

       “[A]n offender may always challenge the procedure by which a sentence was imposed.”

State v. Grayson, 154 Wash. 2d 333, 338, 111 P.3d 1183 (2005). But, in order to allege such a

procedural error, the appellant must show “that the sentencing court had a duty to follow some

specific procedure required by the SRA, and that the court failed to do so.” State v. Mail, 121
Wash. 2d 707, 712, 854 P.2d 1042 (1993).

       Under the SRA,

               The court shall consider the risk assessment report and presentence reports, if any,
       including any victim impact statement and criminal history, and allow arguments from the
       prosecutor, the defense counsel, the offender, the victim, the survivor of the victim, or a
       representative of the victim or survivor, and an investigative law enforcement officer as to
       the sentence to be imposed.

RCW 9.94A.500(1).

       Here, Kim has not shown how the sentencing court’s decision to restrict the number of

statements given on his behalf violated the SRA. Accordingly, we conclude that no procedural

error occurred.

       B.         The State’s Comment on the Unwatched Video

       Kim argues that the court violated the SRA by allowing the prosecution to describe what

the video showed rather than watching the video. We disagree.

       The record shows that Kim did not object to the State’s comment or request an evidentiary

hearing. Generally, we will not review an issue raised for the first time on appeal. RAP 2.5(a). A

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50951-2-II

party must make a timely and specific objection at trial unless the error constitutes a “manifest

error affecting a constitutional right.” RAP 2.5(a)(3). When the defendant fails to object to an

alleged error at trial, he “has the initial burden of showing that (1) the error was ‘truly of

constitutional dimension’ and (2) the error was ‘manifest.’” State v. Grimes, 165 Wash. App. 172,

185-86, 267 P.3d 454 (2011) (quoting State v. O’Hara, 167 Wash. 2d 91, 98, 217 P.3d 756 (2009)).

         Kim fails to show how the State’s comment constituted manifest error affecting a

constitutional right. Accordingly, we conclude that Kim waived his challenge to the State’s

comment.

II.      ERRONEOUSLY CLASSIFYING KIM’S CONVICTION

         Kim argues that the sentencing court abused its discretion by basing the length of his

exceptional sentence below the standard range on a misunderstanding of his crime. We disagree.

         The duration of an exceptional sentence is clearly too excessive or lenient only when it

constitutes an abuse of discretion. State v. Oxborrow, 106 Wash. 2d 525, 530, 723 P.2d 1123 (1986).

“[D]iscretion is abused if it is exercised on untenable grounds or for untenable reasons, such as a

misunderstanding of the underlying law that causes nonharmless error.” State v. Burke, 163 Wash. 2d
204, 210, 181 P.3d 1 (2008).

         “Washington is a written order state.” State v. Huckins, 5 Wash. App. 2d 457, 469, 426 P.3d
797 (2018). “[A] trial court’s oral statements are ‘no more than a verbal expression . . . and may

be altered, modified, or completely abandoned.’” State v. Dailey, 93 Wash. 2d 454, 458, 610 P.2d
357 (1980) (quoting Ferree v. Doric Co., 62 Wash. 2d 561, 567, 383 P.2d 900 (1963)).

         Here, the State charged felony murder in the second degree5 and Kim plead guilty to it.

This crime does not require the “intent to cause the death of another person.”               RCW

5
    RCW 9A.32.050(1)(b).

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9A.32.050(1)(a). At Kim’s sentencing hearing, however, the judge indicated that Kim plead guilty

to murder in the second degree predicated on intentional murder. But Kim’s judgment and

sentence, filed the same day as his sentencing hearing, recognized that Kim plead guilty to felony

murder under RCW 9A.32.050(1)(b). Therefore, to the extent the judge erroneously described

Kim’s conviction during his sentencing hearing, the judgment and sentence clarified that the judge

was aware of the crime to which Kim plead guilty. Accordingly, we conclude that the trial court

did not base its decision of imposing an exceptional downward sentence of 100 months on a

misunderstanding of the legal violation to which Kim plead guilty, and therefore, it did not abuse

its discretion.

        We affirm.

                                                            Melnick, J.

We concur:

        Maxa, C.J.

        Lee, J.

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