Court Opinion

ID: 9898396
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-11-14 19:30:25.326256+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:16:17.657586
License: Public Domain

FILED
                                                                         JULY 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. 38793-3-III
                     Respondent,             )
                                             )
       v.                                    )         UNPUBLISHED OPINION
                                             )
VIKTOR MORGUNENKO,                           )
                                             )
                     Appellant.              )

       FEARING, J. — Viktor Morgunenko appeals his convictions for violating a

protection order and assault. He seeks reversal of his convictions based on ineffective

assistance of counsel. He also asks us to vacate the portion of his sentence ordering a

mental health evaluation. Because of an undeveloped factual record, we reject

Morgunenko’s appeal of his convictions. We, however, remand Morgunenko’s sentence

for the sentencing court to assess whether Morgunenko qualifies for such an evaluation.

                                         FACTS

       Defendant Viktor Morgunenko (Morgunenko), his father Nikoly Morgunenko

(Nikoly), and his brother Sergey Morgunenko reside together in a home in Stevens

County. Viktor Morgunenko’s sister, Irina Tsibulko (Irina), lives on an adjacent parcel of

land owned by the father. Irina’s husband, Alexei Tsibulko (Alexei) and the couple’s two

daughters, Ranitta and Emma, live with Irina. Both families speak Russian.
No. 38793-3-III
State v. Morgunenko

      The extended Morgunenko-Tsibulko family has a history of conflict between the

Morgunenkos and Tsibulkos. This conflict caused Alexei Tsibulko to obtain an anti-

harassment order against Viktor Morgunenko. The protection order listed Alexei and all

of his children as protected persons, listed Morgunenko as the respondent, and ordered

Morgunenko “to not contact, keep under surveillance, stay away from the [Tsibulko]

residence, and school of the [Tsibulko] children.” Clerk’s Papers (CP) at 5.

      On June 22, 2020, Alexei Tsibulko and daughter Ranitta exited their home and

walked along a public access road to retrieve mail. To reach the mailbox, Alexei and

Ranitta passed through or near Viktor Morgunenko’s property. Alexei recorded with

video a portion of the events that occurred on June 22, but some unrecorded particulars

remained in dispute.

      When Alexei and Ranitta Tsibulko neared Viktor Morgunenko’s property,

Morgunenko yelled obscenities at them. Alexei retreated to his house and called the

police. When he returned outside, Morgunenko threw little rocks at Alexei’s head.

Morgunenko then released two aggressive dogs. The dogs bit Ranitta and Alexei

multiple times. Ranitta yelled at Morgunenko to call his dogs off, but Morgunenko did

nothing.

      On June 27, 2020, Ranitta and Emma Tsibulko ran and bicycled on the public

access road. After Ranitta and Emma passed Viktor Morgunenko’s property,

                                            2
No. 38793-3-III
State v. Morgunenko

Morgunenko entered his vehicle and followed them. As Morgunenko passed the two

girls, he cursed at them and spat. The two became frightened.

       Stevens County Sheriff’s Deputy Cameron Craddock arrived on Viktor

Morgunenko’s property on June 27. Deputy Craddock intended to speak to Morgunenko

about his violation of the protection order that day and to arrest him for the assaults he

committed on June 22. An altercation between Morgunenko and Deputy Craddock

ensued before Morgunenko was arrested.

                                       PROCEDURE

       The process of this prosecution bears more importance to the appeal than the

underlying facts. The State charged Viktor Morgunenko with two counts of violating an

antiharassment order and three counts of assault in the third degree, including an assault

on a police officer while resisting arrest. Because Morgunenko’s primary language is

Russian, the Stevens County Superior Court provided him with a certified interpreter.

       On October 1, 2020, the State presented a written plea offer set to expire on

November 30, 2020. The offer dropped count V, the second charge for violation of an

antiharassment order. Additionally, the offer imposed a first-time offender sentencing

waiver and identified similar confinement conditions as those later implemented by the

sentencing court.

       On appeal, Viktor Morgunenko contends defense counsel John Perry never

conveyed the offer of settlement to him. Nevertheless, Morgunenko filed no statement

                                              3
No. 38793-3-III
State v. Morgunenko

under oath confirming this claim. Even in his briefing, he does not assert that he would

have accepted the State’s offer.

       The State scheduled a CrR 3.5 hearing for May 17, 2021 in order to introduce, at

trial, statements uttered by Viktor Morgunenko to officers. The State requested a

continuance for the hearing, to which defense counsel John Perry did not object. When

asked by the trial court if the proposed dates for the postponed 3.5 hearing and trial were

acceptable to Morgunenko, Perry replied:

              I spoke—I spoke to Mr. Morgunenko, and based on the language
       difficulty I wasn’t certain if he’s okay with that. I did explain to him the
       necessity of it. I agree with the necessity of it; but, if we could ask Mr.
       Morgunenko.

Report of Proceedings (RP) at 6. When asked by the trial court if the proposed dates

were acceptable to him, Morgunenko responded:

              So, yes, I—I [indiscernible] I am not a criminal here. The only thing
       I did have is two speeding tickets, to both of—to both of [indiscernible].
       He shot a person. He wasn’t ordered chains. He said that he will take
       revenge to all of us, to all—against all of us. He can’t go. He provoked
       conflict. He false testified to the Prosecutor, it’s called—and I will say it in
       English—perjury to Prosecutor, and I have all the facts about him lying
       about that. And therefore, I just want to be—this game to be all over as
       soon as possible.

RP at 7. After agreeing to the proposed dates, Morgunenko added:

              But, I want you to know that all of [indiscernible] it’s been one year.
       When I haven’t had any interview with Mr. Perry [indiscernible] but one on
       phone. I have all the facts. I just need to have an interview, in person, with
       Mr. Perry and I can bring all of that there, and then something about him
       teaching his children or something like that [indiscernible].

                                              4
No. 38793-3-III
State v. Morgunenko

RP at 8-9.

       The motion to admit a confession hearing transpired on August 2, 2021. After

speaking with Viktor Morgunenko, John Perry informed the trial court that Morgunenko

elected not to testify at the hearing.

       Trial was set to begin on January 24, 2022. On the morning of trial, defense

counsel John Perry, however, requested a continuance because Viktor Morgunenko

suffered headaches and faced a retina surgery. The trial court corrected Perry by

confirming the retina surgery had occurred in 2021. Attorney Perry also informed the

trial court he had just learned that Morgunenko received supplemental security income

(SSI) for cognitive difficulties. Perry lacked records verifying Morgunenko suffered

from cognitive impediments, but he told the trial court that Morgunenko’s family

members confirmed Morgunenko “is cognitively slow.” RP at 36. Perry inserted:

              And in my dealings with him [Morgunenko], and they came more to
       the forward over the weekend, of—I came to realize that this was true. . .
              ....
              I have concerns, as a result, that Mr. Morgunenko may not have
       competency to comprehend these charges, as well as competency to
       effectively work with Counsel, through no fault of Mr. Morgunenko. In—
       in discussing the case with him, which I’ve done on a number of occasions,
       of course, but in discussing the case with him, I have come to the
       conclusion that it is very difficult for him to discuss actual defenses and,
       basically, he continues to go into the history of—history of his dealings and
       his family’s dealings with the complaining witness in this matter Mr.
       Tsibulko. And I believe today much of that may be relevant, but I believe
       competency should—should be looked at.
              I’ve also come across a discovery issue only recently, in that there
       are a number of videos that were taken by the complainant, Mr. Tsibulko—

                                             5
No. 38793-3-III
State v. Morgunenko

      Tsibulko, I believe, and they’re—basically, I think it’s one continuous
      video, but it’s broken down into different short videos, but I think it would
      be one continuous video of the instances alleged in this complaint in which
      Mr. Morgunenko’s dog did—did bite or nip one of the alleged victims in
      this case. I believe it’s Ranitta or Ranitta Tsibulko—Mr. Tsibulko’s
      daughter. And it is alleged that the dog also bit Mr. Tsibulko.
              The defenses to these issues are that—that—that that is something
      that happened, but through no fault of Mr. Morgunenko. In viewing these
      videos, Your Honor, I hadn’t viewed them with sound before. This is the
      first time I realized that there is a great deal of dialogue between a number
      of people involved in this incident, including Mr. Tsibulko and Mr.
      Morgunenko. And that dialogue is in Russian, of course, which is the
      native language of both of these individuals.
              Obviously, given at the time I wasn’t able to interpret that, so I do
      have some concerns about that. I understand the State hasn’t had those
      translated, either. So, that resource wasn’t available to me either, in
      attempting to—to determine what the conversation is.
              In short, Your Honor, these issues, I think combine, to make it
      questionable as to whether I can, under these circumstances, effectively do
      [indiscernible] to Mr. Morgunenko in this case. And the case is
      approximately a year and a half old, which is—you know, which it has
      been around for a while and we’ve had numerous discussions regarding it.
      But the items that I mentioned very recently came to my attention,
      especially the competency issue. And in discussions with Mr. Tsibulko’s
      (sic) family, they believe that there are some issues, as well.
              Mr. Tsibulko (sic)—I’m sorry, Mr. Morgunenko’s family—I’m
      speaking too fast—Mr. Morgunenko’s—Mr. Morgunenko resides with his
      father, who is present in court, and the family basically takes care of him.
      He does have an income from SSI, which he is able to receive, and his
      immigration status is that of a legal, permanent resident, which I believe is
      equal to a green card holder.
              So, that has affected settlement negotiations, in so far as, obviously,
      under Supreme Court case law, Defense Counsel has an obligation to do his
      or her best to ensure that immigration consequences would be minimized to
      the extent possible by the plea.

RP at 37-39 (emphasis added) (alteration in original).

      The trial court denied the request for a trial continuance. The court commented:

                                             6
No. 38793-3-III
State v. Morgunenko

             [G]iven that, as Mr. Perry indicates, he was appointed to represent
      Mr. Morgunenko on June 29th of 2020, has represented him continuously
      since July 6th, 2020, and now on, basically, the eve of trial suggests there
      are significant issues preventing trial, that’s simply not enough. There
      would be—I don’t see anything from the doctor, as was indicated in an
      email. As I said, the Court is willing to accommodate Mr. Morgunenko for
      any pain-related issues, any breaks that he might need, just as it would the
      interpreter.

RP at 43. John Perry responded:

             Your Honor, I do want to reiterate before we move on, if I may, that
      I have—I have significant issues as to whether we are sufficiently prepared
      to proceed based on all of these items.

RP at 44.

      Defense counsel John Perry did not file a witness list on Viktor Morgunenko’s

behalf. Perry informed the trial court he anticipated calling Sergey and Nikoly

Morgunenko.

      Before trial commenced, Viktor Morgunenko, through counsel, submitted a

CrR 4.4 motion to sever, while his counsel acknowledged the failure to write a brief in

support of the motion. Morgunenko, through counsel, sought to sever the charges based

on the June 22 conduct from charges attributed to the June 27 behavior. While arguing in

support of this motion, John Perry mistakenly referred to Morgunenko as “Mr. Tsibulko”

for the second time. RP at 49-50. The trial court denied the motion and trial began.

      During trial testimony of Alexei Tsibulko, the State played for the jury the video

recording taken by Alexei on June 22. The language spoken in the video was Russian.

                                            7
No. 38793-3-III
State v. Morgunenko

The trial court repeatedly paused the video and asked Alexei to identify the action

depicted.

         The jury found Viktor Morgunenko guilty on all five charges.

         Before sentencing, Viktor Morgunenko filed a complaint with the state bar

association against attorney John Perry. In the complaint, Morgunenko wrote:

                My public defender shows no interest [in] defending me or
         discuss[ing] my situation. I have tried repeatedly to speak to him to no
         avail. He is distant, unhelpful and no[t] responsive. He appears determined
         to [ignore] me. I’m starting to think he is biased against me and may
         purposefully be sabotaging my case. I am asking to be assigned a a new
         public defender, someone who will actually show [i]nterest in [l]istening to
         me and helping me with my case.
                For as long as 1.5 years I never met him once.
                Thank you very much in advance.

CP at 69. Morgunenko retained new counsel, Michael Golden, before the sentencing

hearing.

         The superior court ordered that the parties address Viktor Morgunenko’s criticisms

of John Perry during sentencing. In a sentencing memorandum, counsel Michael Golden

wrote:

                [Morgunenko’s] family insists that they tried to meet with Mr. Perry
         on multiple occasions to explain the history with Mr. Tsibulko but that he
         would only meet with him in the hallway outside the courtroom on court
         days. There is no indication Viktor [Morgunenko] ever sat down with Mr.
         Perry in his office or anywhere else other than the hallway of the
         courthouse. Viktor and the family believe that Mr. Perry never reviewed
         the video of the charged incident until very close to trial, even though they
         kept asking him about it.

                                               8
No. 38793-3-III
State v. Morgunenko

              There was an offer in the case (attached), but Viktor denies that it
      was ever provided to him. There are clearly immigration consequences for
      a Soviet immigrant who is not a U.S. citizen being convicted of several
      felonies, including an assault upon a police officer, but Viktor states this
      was never discussed with him. At the time of trial, he had no idea what
      immigration consequences might result.
              There is a practice advisory available to attorneys with regard to
      potential Assault 3 convictions (attached), and it is clear that Viktor
      Morgunenko is at risk of a federal removal prosecution as a result of the
      Assault 3 Resisting Arrest conviction. He should have been advised of this
      and this should have been part of plea discussions in the case, but it appears
      this did not happen. The twist here is that Viktor is a man without a
      country. The USSR no longer exists, and Viktor cannot be deported to a
      country that no longer exists, so it is likely that even if the federal
      government looks to take action against Mr. Morgunenko as a result of
      these convictions, he may ultimately be released back to this community.
      Given the current political climate involving Russia and the Ukraine, we
      can only hope that the federal government does not take a special interest in
      this case.

CP at 83-84.

      Viktor Morgunenko’s sentencing hearing occurred on March 1, 2022. The

sentencing court imposed a first-time offender waiver and ordered Morgunenko undergo

a mental health evaluation as part of his community custody conditions. The sentencing

court commented:

              I think there are some intellectual challenges for Mr. Morgunenko;
      but, I also think that those at least appear to be exacerbated by mental
      health problems. The [d]efense [b]rief indicated some mental health
      problems that had been treated after he arrived in the United States, but
      there’s no record of them, perhaps by passage of time.
              But it’s evident to me that he would benefit from a mental health
      evaluation and following any recommended treatment. Mr. Morgunenko
      also referenced himself medication that he takes, and it didn’t sound as if it

                                            9
No. 38793-3-III
State v. Morgunenko

       was for his physical condition. So, I’m not sure who he sees, or whether he
       sees someone for mental health.

RP at 432.

                                    LAW AND ANALYSIS

       On appeal, Viktor Morgunenko challenges his convictions because of ineffective

assistance of counsel. He also challenges the portion of his sentence that directs him to

submit to a mental health evaluation.

                             Ineffective Assistance of Counsel

       Viktor Morgunenko challenges the adequacy of the legal representation by defense

counsel John Perry because Perry failed to communicate an offer of settlement to

Morgunenko, failed to inform him of immigration consequences of a conviction, failed to

timely seek a competency evaluation of Morgunenko, inadequately communicated with

him in order to understand the case, failed to sufficiently review evidence before trial,

and failed to follow court rules.

       The Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution and article I, section 22 of

the Washington Constitution guarantee effective assistance of counsel. State v. Classen,

4 Wn. App. 2d 520, 535, 422 P.3d 489 (2018). To prevail on an ineffective assistance of

counsel claim, a defendant must prove that (1) his or her counsel performed deficiently,

and (2) counsel’s deficient performance resulted in prejudice. Strickland v. Washington,

466 U.S. 668, 687, 104 S. Ct. 2052, 80 L. Ed. 2d 674 (1984); State v. Classen, 4 Wn.

                                             10
No. 38793-3-III
State v. Morgunenko

App. 2d 520, 535 (2018). Performance is deficient if it falls below an objective standard

of reasonableness. State v. Grier, 171 Wn.2d 17, 33, 246 P.3d 1260 (2011). To show

prejudice, a defendant must demonstrate a reasonable possibility that, but for counsel’s

purportedly deficient conduct, the outcome of the proceeding would have differed. State

v. Classen, 4 Wn. App. 2d 520, 535 (2018).

       If a defendant fails to satisfy either prong, a court need not inquire further.

Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 697 (1984); State v. Kyllo, 166 Wn.2d 856, 862,

215 P.3d 177 (2009). We separately analyze each of the grounds on which Viktor

Morgunenko asserts ineffective assistance.

                                     offer of settlement

       Viktor Morgunenko first asserts ineffective assistance of counsel based on the

purported failure of attorney John Perry to notify him of the October 2020 offer to settle

the prosecution. We agree with Morgunenko that effective representation must include

communicating settlement offers from the State. State v. Estes, 193 Wn. App. 479, 493-

94, 372 P.3d 163 (2016), aff’d, 188 Wn.2d 450, 395 P.3d 1045 (2017). Nevertheless, we

reject his contention because the trial court record lacks any testimony under oath of a

failure to forward the settlement offer and Morgunenko does not contend he would have

accepted the offer.

       The record on appeal contains only one reference to John Perry’s alleged failure to

forward the settlement offer. In the sentencing memorandum, Viktor Morgunenko’s

                                              11
No. 38793-3-III
State v. Morgunenko

sentencing counsel reported that, when he spoke with Morgunenko, Morgunenko denied

that Perry ever communicated the State’s plea offer to him.

       We adjudge competency of counsel based upon the entire record below. State v.

McFarland, 127 Wn.2d 322, 335, 899 P.2d 1251 (1995); State v. Munoz-Rivera, 190 Wn.

App. 870, 887, 361 P.3d 182 (2015). When the accused asserts the claim of ineffective

assistance of counsel on direct appeal, this court will not consider matters outside the trial

court record. State v. McFarland, 127 Wn.2d 322, 335 (1995).

       No Washington court has addressed whether this court should consider statements

written by counsel in a legal memorandum when deciding claims of ineffective

assistance. One southern court has held that an assertion of ineffective assistance of

counsel must not only be supported by affidavits, but affidavits other than the defendant’s

affidavit. Miles v. State, 2019-CA-00797-COA, 301 So. 3d 718, 722 (Miss. Ct. App.

2020). The Mississippi court will excuse that obligation by a showing that the petitioner

has good cause for failing to obtain those affidavits. Walden v. State, 2014-CT-00165-

SC, 201 So. 3d 1042, 1045 (Miss. 2016). We do not follow the Mississippi court

completely and would accept an affidavit from Viktor Morgunenko, but decline to

entertain an unsworn comment by counsel.

       We recognize difficulty in sentencing counsel’s communicating with Viktor

Morgunenko because of a difference in primary languages. Nevertheless, counsel could

have employed an interpreter to assist in obtaining a sworn statement from Morgunenko.

                                             12
No. 38793-3-III
State v. Morgunenko

Morgunenko does not explain on appeal any reason for his not supplying the superior

court with an affidavit at sentencing.

       We might be more lenient in holding Viktor Morgunenko to his burden of

showing ineffective assistance of counsel except that Morgunenko may file a timely

personal restraint petition, at which time this court will review matters outside the trial

court record. State v. McFarland, 127 Wn.2d 322, 338 (1995). Morgunenko may then

submit a comprehensive sworn statement to support his claim that attorney John Perry

ineffectively represented him.

       Even if we accepted as verity the failure to communicate the offer, Viktor

Morgunenko fails to assert that he would have accepted the offer. He also fails to

contend, let alone demonstrate, that he might have been able to negotiate a better plea

agreement. Thus, he falls short in showing prejudice. If an accused seeks to overturn a

conviction based on his trial counsel’s failure to forward an offer to settle, the accused

must establish that he would have accepted the offer and the trial court would have

confirmed the plea agreement. State v. Drath, 7 Wn. App. 2d 255, 267, 431 P.3d 1098

(2018).

                                 immigration consequences

       In his sentencing memorandum, sentencing counsel Michael Golden wrote that

Viktor Morgunenko is a Soviet Union émigré who has not gained United States

citizenship. Counsel suggested that Morgunenko will suffer immigration consequences,

                                              13
No. 38793-3-III
State v. Morgunenko

including possible removal from this country, as the result of his five convictions,

particularly his assault on a police officer. Counsel posed the interesting problem of

Morgunenko’s departed nation, the Soviet Union, no longer existing. Counsel also

expressed fear for Morgunenko as a result of Russia being at war with Ukraine. He did

not identify Morgunenko as Ukrainian, although we recognize his surname as Ukrainian.

According to the memorandum, attorney John Perry never discussed with Morgunenko

immigration consequences resulting from convictions.

       We recognize that, when the person charged with a crime is not a citizen of our

nation, the right to effective counsel includes the right to be advised, by counsel, of any

easily ascertainable immigration consequences that result from the charge. Padilla v.

Kentucky, 559 U.S. 356, 360, 130 S. Ct. 1473, 176 L. Ed. 2d 284 (2010); In re Personal

Restraint of Garcia-Mendoza, 196 Wn.2d 836, 840, 479 P.3d 674 (2021). Nevertheless,

we reject Viktor Morgunenko’s contention because the lack of support for the claim

outside the memorandum written by counsel. Morgunenko filed no affidavit supporting

the allegations. Morgunenko does not identify what steps he would have taken had he

been given proper immigration advice, assuming him to lack United States citizenship.

We do not know what, if any, immigration consequences result from a conviction. We

note that sentencing counsel particularly worried about the conviction for assaulting a law

enforcement officer. Under the plea offer from the State, Morgunenko would have pled

guilty to this offense.

                                             14
No. 38793-3-III
State v. Morgunenko

       On the day trial commenced, trial attorney John Perry informed the court of a

concern about Victor Morgunenko’s citizenship status as a lawful permanent resident,

and he commented that Morgunenko’s status as a noncitizen resident affected settlement

negotiations. This comment by Perry does not enlighten us to whether Perry failed to

know and failed to research immigration law, the dictates of immigration law as

pertaining to Morgunenko, whether the immigration consequences were easily

ascertainable, and how concerns of Morgunenko’s status affected settlement negotiations.

       Viktor Morgunenko relies on State v. Estes, 188 Wn.2d 450 (2017), to support his

contention that his attorney performed ineffectively by failing to know the immigration

consequences of his conviction. In State v. Estes, the Supreme Court held that Kevin

Estes’ trial counsel performed substandardly by failing to advise Estes that one of the

crimes, with which the State charged him, qualified him as a persistent offender if

convicted. Nevertheless, trial counsel had admitted on the record that he lacked

knowledge of this section of the law. The record further showed that Estes may have

accepted a settlement offer that would have freed him from the peril of a persistent

offender status if his counsel properly advised him.

       Victor Morgunenko’s appeal lacks such a concession on the record by his trial

counsel, let alone any establishment of prejudice resulting from any failure on the part of

counsel to know immigration law. Kevin Estes’ conviction indisputably had adverse

                                            15
No. 38793-3-III
State v. Morgunenko

consequences. We do not know if Morgunenko’s conviction garnered immigration

penalties.

                          competency evaluation of Morgunenko

       Viktor Morgunenko next contends attorney John Perry performed below the

requisite standard of care by failing to timely seek a competency evaluation.

Morgunenko argues that, as a result of the lack of communication between Perry and

him, critical questions about the latter’s competency only came to light late in the

process. Morgunenko adds that, by the time of trial, he was indisputably incompetent.

       We agree that the record shows questions about Viktor Morgunenko’s

competency, although we disagree that the record establishes incompetency. The record

also shows John Perry delayed in informing the trial court of questions about

competency. On the day of the trial, attorney Perry informed the trial court he had just

learned that Morgunenko received government support for cognitive difficulties. Perry

then notified the court that Morgunenko’s family described Morgunenko as mentally

slow and that Perry’s own contact with Morgunenko during the past weekend had

suggested cognitive impairment. Perry encountered difficulty discussing the case with

his client without Morgunenko perseverating. Still, Perry lacked records verifying

Morgunenko suffered from cognitive impediments. At sentencing, Morgunenko

provided no records establishing any difficulty in understanding the charges against him

or an inability to assist his counsel in defending the charges.

                                             16
No. 38793-3-III
State v. Morgunenko

       Without deciding the question of whether attorney John Perry performed

ineffectively by failing to explore Viktor Morgunenko’s competency, we recognize some

evidence supports such a conclusion. Nevertheless, we need not decide any substandard

performance because the record does not establish any prejudice. We lack sufficient

evidence to conclude that Morgunenko was incompetent at the time he stood trial.

                                inadequate communication

       Viktor Morgunenko complains that attorney John Perry failed to communicate

with him during the course of the prosecution. He emphasizes Perry’s failure, before

trial, to review with him the video played to the jury. Morgunenko argues that Perry’s

failure to communicate impacted the outcome of his trial.

       We note that evidence supports the contention that trial defense counsel failed to

reasonably communicate with Viktor Morgunenko. During the motion to postpone trial

argued at the beginning of trial, attorney John Perry all but admitted forsaking

communications with Morgunenko in preparation for trial. In his sentencing

memorandum, sentencing counsel Michael Golden highlighted that Morgunenko’s family

repeatedly, but unsuccessfully, tried to talk with Perry about the video. We agree defense

counsel holds a duty to communicate with his client. State v. Estes, 188 Wn.2d 450, 466

(2017).

       Viktor Morgunenko broadly contends that a failure to communicate casts doubt on

the validity of his convictions. But, Morgunenko provides no reasoned analysis as to

                                            17
No. 38793-3-III
State v. Morgunenko

what communications occurred, the number of communications, what specific

communications were needed other than a review of the video, how the review of the

video in advance with Morgunenko would have changed John Perry’s presentation at

trial, and how Perry would have improved the presentation of the case with sufficient

communications. Morgunenko carries the burden of showing prejudice. Based on the

sparse record before this court on appeal, we conclude that Morgunenko did not meet this

burden.

                                  insufficient preparation

       Related to Viktor Morgunenko’s contention of his counsel’s failure to

communicate, Morgunenko also contends his counsel failed to properly prepare for trial.

He underscores that, during the motion to continue the trial, attorney John Perry admitted

he had only recently reviewed the video documenting the June 22, 2020 altercation.

Perry added that he had not known the video contained sound. We readily admit that one

of the most important duties of criminal trial counsel is to thoroughly investigate the facts

behind the criminal charges and to prepare for trial. Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S.

668, 688 (1984); State v. Lopez, 190 Wn.2d 104, 115, 410 P.3d 1117 (2018).

       We provide the same answer to this additional allegation of ineffective assistance

as with the charge of failing to communicate. Other than the failure to timely listen, if

not view, the video of the altercation and the failure to speak with him, Viktor

Morgunenko fails to identify what other steps attorney John Perry should have taken to

                                             18
No. 38793-3-III
State v. Morgunenko

prepare for trial and to supply him legal advice. Although he asserts that the failure to

prepare casts doubt on his convictions, he provides insufficient analysis for us to

conclude he met his burden of proof to show prejudice.

                                  violation of court rules

       In passing, Viktor Morgunenko contends his counsel violated court rules. He does

not identify the rules and how the violation impacted the presentation of his case.

Generally, a party’s failure to provide argument and citation to authority in support of an

assignment of error, as required by RAP 10.3, precludes appellate consideration of an

alleged error. In re Dependency of W.W.S., 14 Wn. App. 2d 342, 350 n.4, 469 P.3d 1190

(2020).

                                 Mental Health Evaluation

       Viktor Morgunenko argues that the trial court abused its discretion by ordering he

undergo a mental health evaluation as part of his community custody conditions without

making findings demanded by RCW 9.94B.080 and RCW 71.24.025. RCW 9.94B.080

declares in part:

               The court may order an offender whose sentence includes
       community placement or community supervision to undergo a mental status
       evaluation and to participate in available outpatient mental health treatment,
       if the court finds that reasonable grounds exist to believe that the offender
       is a mentally ill person as defined in RCW 71.24.025, and that this
       condition is likely to have influenced the offense.

                                             19
No. 38793-3-III
State v. Morgunenko

(Emphasis added.) RCW 71.24.025(36) defines “mentally ill person” by referencing

other definitions within the same statute:

              “Mentally ill persons,” “persons who are mentally ill,” and “the
       mentally ill” mean persons and conditions defined in subsections (2), (12),
       (44), and (45) of this section.

The listed subsections read:

              (2) “Acutely mentally ill” means a condition which is limited to a
       short-term severe crisis episode of:
              (a) A mental disorder as defined in RCW 71.05.020 or, in the case of
       a child, as defined in RCW 71.34.020;
              (b) Being gravely disabled as defined in RCW 71.05.020 or, in the
       case of a child, a gravely disabled minor as defined in RCW 71.34.020; or
              (c) Presenting a likelihood of serious harm as defined in
       RCW 71.05.020 or, in the case of a child, as defined in RCW 71.34.020.
              ....
              (12) “Chronically mentally ill adult” or “adult who is chronically
       mentally ill” means an adult who has a mental disorder and meets at least
       one of the following criteria:
              (a) Has undergone two or more episodes of hospital care for a
       mental disorder within the preceding two years; or
              (b) Has experienced a continuous psychiatric hospitalization or
       residential treatment exceeding six months’ duration within the preceding
       year; or
              (c) Has been unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by
       reason of any mental disorder which has lasted for a continuous period of
       not less than twelve months. “Substantial gainful activity” shall be defined
       by the authority by rule consistent with Public Law 92-603, as amended.
              ....
              (44) “Seriously disturbed person” means a person who:
              (a) Is gravely disabled or presents a likelihood of serious harm to
       himself or herself or others, or to the property of others, as a result of a
       mental disorder as defined in chapter 71.05 RCW;
              (b) Has been on conditional release status, or under a less restrictive
       alternative order, at some time during the preceding two years from an
       evaluation and treatment facility or a state mental health hospital;

                                             20
No. 38793-3-III
State v. Morgunenko

                 (c) Has a mental disorder which causes major impairment in several
          areas of daily living;
                 (d) Exhibits suicidal preoccupation or attempts.

RCW 71.24.025(45) lacks relevance because it defines a “severely emotionally disturbed

child.”

          In State v. Shelton, 194 Wn. App. 660, 378 P.3d 230 (2016), the State conceded

that the trial court did not comply with the requirements of RCW 9.94B.080 in ordering

Michael Shelton to undergo a mental health evaluation. The trial court instead found that

mental health issues contributed to the offense and that treatment was reasonably related

to the circumstances of the crime and reasonably necessary to benefit the defendant and

the community. This court read the plain and unambiguous language of former

RCW 9.94B.080 (2008) to state the superior court may order a mental health evaluation

only if the court found Shelton was a mentally ill person as defined in RCW 71.24.025.

This court remanded the prosecution to the superior court to determine whether Shelton’s

condition qualified as a mental health illness under the statute.

          This court reached an identical result in State v. Brooks, 142 Wn. App. 842, 176

P.3d 549 (2008). The sentencing court found Terry Brooks competent to stand trial but

never entered a finding that Brooks was mentally ill and that the condition most likely

influenced the offense. This court held that the sentencing court had no authority to

impose mental health evaluation and treatment.

                                              21
No. 38793-3-III
State v. Morgunenko

       Viktor Morgunenko’s sentencing court failed to comply with the requirements of

RCW 9.94B.080 when ordering that Morgunenko undergo a mental health evaluation.

Thus, we rule that the trial court abused its discretion.

                                       CONCLUSION

       We reject Viktor Morgunenko’s contention that ineffective assistance of counsel

requires a reversal of his five convictions. We instead affirm the convictions without

prejudice to Morgunenko to seek relief through a personal restraint petition. We vacate

the order directing Morgunenko to undergo a mental health evaluation and remand for a

hearing in conformance with RCW 9.94B.080.

       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.

                                            _________________________________
                                            Fearing, C.J.

WE CONCUR:

______________________________
Siddoway, J.

______________________________
Lawrence-Berrey, J.

                                              22