Court Opinion

ID: 3183279
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-03-07 23:33:48.808612+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:29:09.073640
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON

STATE OF WASHINGTON,                                   No. 73009-6-1                 G*3

                                                                                     ^     5>1
                      Respondent,                      DIVISION ONE
                                                                                     I
             v.

                                                                                    3S     3E***-3
IGNACIO MOLINA PEREZ,                                  UNPUBLISHED

                     Appellant.                        FILED: March 7, 2016

       Cox, J. - "'Generally, witnesses are not permitted to testify regarding the

veracity of another witness because such testimony invades the province of the

jury as the fact finder in a trial.'"1 Here, a detective did not provide improper

opinion testimony on a witness's credibility. Even if the detective's testimony was

improper opinion testimony, the error was harmless because it did not materially

affect the trial outcome. We affirm.

       In October 2013, the Seattle police department collaborated with other

agencies in an undercover drug operation. Detective Pete Lazarou worked with

a confidential informant, Justin Woodard, in the operation. Woodard approached

Ignacio Perez to purchase cocaine while under surveillance. Woodard and

Perez allegedly exchanged money for the cocaine. Woodard returned to

Detective Lazarou with the cocaine. The police arrested Perez.

       1 State v. Mohamed. 187 Wn. App. 630, 650, 350 P.3d 671 (2015)
(quoting State v. Demerv. 144 Wn.2d 753, 764, 30 P.3d 1278 (2001) (plurality
opinion)).
No. 73009-6-1/2

       The State charged Perez with delivering a controlled substance. Perez's

case proceeded to trial, and Detective Lazarou testified.

       On direct examination, the State asked Detective Lazarou about the

process of using a confidential informant. Detective Lazarou stated that the

Seattle police department conducts "reliability buys [to] prove [informants] to be

reliable." The State then asked Detective Lazarou to describe the "reliability buy"

process, and Perez objected on the basis of "[i]mproper bolstering." The trial

court overruled the objection. Detective Lazarou described the process, stating

police "deem [the informant] reliable" if the informant follows their directions while

buying narcotics before the informant is placed into the field. Detective Lazarou

then testified that he performed these preliminary buys with Woodard before

placing him in the field.

       The jury found Perez guilty as charged. The court entered its judgment

and sentence on the jury verdict.

       Perez appeals.

                              WITNESS VOUCHING

       Perez argues that Detective Lazarou vouched for Woodard, depriving

Perez of a fair trial. We disagree.

       Trial courts have "wide discretion to determine the admissibility of

evidence."2 We review for abuse of discretion a trial court's decision to admit

evidence.3

       2 Demerv, 144 Wn.2d at 758.
       3 State v. Quaale, 182Wn.2d 191, 196, 340 P.3d 213 (2014).
No. 73009-6-1/3

                                  Opinion Testimony

       "'Generally, witnesses are not permitted to testify regarding the veracity of

another witness because such testimony invades the province of the jury as the

fact finder in a trial.'"4 A witness's expression of personal belief about a witness's

veracity is inappropriate opinion testimony.5

       The trial court must determine whether evidence is admissible opinion

testimony when it is offered.6 The court must consider "(1) the type of witness

involved, (2) the specific nature of the testimony, (3) the nature of the charges,

(4) the type of defense, and (5) the other evidence before the trier of fact."7

       Specifically, the State cannot indirectly vouch for a witness by eliciting

police officer testimony concerning the credibility of a crucial witness.8 "Such

testimony from a law enforcement officer may be especially prejudicial because

the officer's testimony often carries a special aura of reliability."9

       State v. Kirkman10 is instructive. In that case, Charles Kirkman and Ruben

Candia were convicted of child rape.11 Detective Kerr's testimony described his

involvement in Kirkman's case.12 He interviewed the victim and testified to the

"preliminary competency protocol" he used to determine the victim's ability to tell

       4 Mohamed, 187 Wn. App. at 650 (quoting Demerv. 144 Wn.2d at 764).
       5 State v. Perez-Valdez, 172 Wn.2d 808, 817, 265 P.3d 853 (2011).
       6 Quaale, 182 Wn.2d at 199.
       7 id at 199-200.
       8 State v. Chavez, 76 Wn. App. 293, 299, 884 P.2d 624 (1994).
       9 Demerv, 144 Wn.2d at 765.
       10159Wn.2d918, 155P.3d 125(2007).
       11 id, at 921.
       12 Id. at 922.
No. 73009-6-1/4

the truth.13 He conducted this protocol because he was "'interested in'" the

victim's ability "'to distinguish between truth and lies.'"14 He stated that the victim

distinguished truth from lies, that he asked the victim to promise to tell the truth,

and that the victim explicitly promised to do so.15

        Similarly, in Candia's case, Detective Greer's testimony described the

competency protocol she conducted to determine the victim's ability to

distinguish truth from lies.16 Detective Greer also asked the victim to promise to

tell the truth.17

        Kirkman and Candia argued that the detectives improperly testified to the

victims' credibility.18 The supreme court determined that Detective Kerr's

testimony "simply" accounted for the interview protocol used to obtain the victim's

statement and "'merely provided the necessary context that enabled the jury to

assess the reasonableness of the .. . responses.'"19 The court also concluded

that Detective Kerr did not testify that he believed the victim or that she told the

truth.20 The court made a similar conclusion as to Detective Greer's testimony.21

        The court also stated that such protocol "does not carry a 'special aura of

reliability' beyond the 'special aura of reliability' conferred upon a witness when a

        13 id at 922-23.
        14 jd, at 930.
        15 Id, at 922, 930.
        16 Id, at 925.
        17 Id,
        18 ]d, at 929.
        19 ]d, at 931 (alteration in original) (quoting Demerv, 144 Wn.2d at 764).
        20 jd,
        21 Id. at 934.
No. 73009-6-1/5

judge swears him or her to tell the truth in front of the jury at trial."22 Thus, the

court concluded that a detective's testimony as to interview protocol "does not

improperly comment of the truthfulness of the victim."23

        Here, the portion of Detective Lazarou's testimony at issue described the

process of obtaining and using a confidential informant. The testimony included

descriptions of how the police connect with the informant, the preliminary actions

taken, and informant compensation. Detective Lazarou's testimony did not

speak to the ultimate issue at trial—whether Perez delivered a controlled

substance.

        On direct examination, Detective Lazarou was asked about the process of

using a confidential informant. Detective Lazarou stated that Seattle police

department conducts "reliability buys [to] prove [informants] to be reliable."

Detective Lazarou also stated they "deem [the informant] reliable" ifthe informant

follows their directions while buying narcotics before placing the informant in the

field. Detective Lazarou then testified that Woodard performed these preliminary

buys.

        This testimony "simply" accounted for the protocol used to obtain

confidential informants and "'provided the necessary context'" for Woodard's prior

testimony, enabling the jury to assess Woodard's involvement and the

        22 jd, at 931.
        23 Id. at 934.
No. 73009-6-1/6

"'reasonableness of [his] responses.'"24 More importantly, Detective Lazarou did

not testify that he believed Woodard or that Woodard told the truth.

       Thus, this evidence was not improper opinion testimony. Accordingly, the

trial court did not abuse its discretion by admitting this testimony.

                                   Harmless error

       Even if we concluded that Detective Lazarou's testimony was improper

opinion testimony, the error was harmless under the facts of this case.

       We apply the nonconstitutional harmless error standard to evidentiary

errors.25 Under this standard, "'an accused cannot avail himself of error as a

ground for reversal unless it has been prejudicial.'"26 An "'error is not prejudicial

unless, within reasonable probabilities, had the error not occurred, the outcome

of the trial would have been materially affected.'"27

       Here, admitting the portion of Detective Lazarou's testimony at issue did

not prejudice Perez. His testimony was cumulative of other evidence.

       Woodard testified that he and Perez exchanged the money and cocaine in

a "hand to hand" manner, where they essentially shook hands to do the

exchange. Woodard later testified that the exchange was not a hand to hand

transaction and that he "was wrong." Rather, Perez placed the cocaine on a

newspaper stand, then Woodard handed him the money and took the cocaine.

       24 [d, at 931 (quoting Demerv, 144 Wn.2d at 764).
       25 See State v. Garcia, 179 Wn.2d 828, 848, 318 P.3d 266 (2014).
      26 State v. Barry, 183 Wn.2d 297, 303, 352 P.3d 161 (2015) (quoting State
v. Cunningham, 93 Wn.2d 823, 831, 613 P.2d 1139 (1980)).
       27 ]d, (emphasis omitted) (internal quotation marks omitted) (quoting State
v. Smith, 106 Wn.2d 772, 780, 725 P.2d 951 (1986)).
No. 73009-6-1/7

      Detective Edward Hagerty testified to his involvement in the case, stating

that he saw Detective Lazarou search Woodard to ensure Woodard did not

possess narcotics before the transaction with Perez. Detective Lazarou went

through Woodard's pockets and had Woodard empty his pockets. No

contraband was found during this search.

      Detective Hagerty saw that Woodard had returned with cocaine after

meeting Perez. Detective Hagerty also observed Detective Lazarou search

Woodard after the transaction. Again, there was no contraband.

      Detective Lazarou described his search of Woodard before the

transaction. He found no contraband on Woodard. He also found no contraband

on Woodard when he returned with cocaine.

      Officer Andrew Zwaschka testified that he observed the transaction.

Officer Zwaschka observed Woodard and Perez meet and "exchanged

something." He also observed Woodard "g[i]ve the [successful buy] signal." This

led Officer Zwaschka "to believe that a suspected narcotics transaction had just

occurred." He also "saw what [he] suspected was a hand-to-hand transaction."

       Detective Clayton Agate also testified to seeing and photographing

Woodard's meeting with Perez during the alleged transaction.

       In sum, the testimony of detectives and officers other than Detective

Lazarou evidenced their observations and involvement in Woodard's transaction

with Perez. Thus, this testimony was not the only evidence available to the jury

to determine guilt. Accordingly, admission of this detective's testimony was

cumulative for purposes of the jury finding Perez guilty.
No. 73009-6-1/8

       In sum, any prejudice that could have resulted from an erroneous

admission of the detective's testimony would not have "'materially affected'" the

trial outcome.28

       Perez argues that Detective Lazarou's vouching for Woodard deprived

Perez of a fair trial. He specifically argues that Detective Lazarou's testimony

constituted the police's opinion "that Woodard was a proven reliable and thus

credible witness."

       As explained earlier, admission of this portion of Detective Lazarou's

testimony was proper. And even if this were improper, itwould be harmless.
       Perez also argues that the erroneous admission of Detective Lazarou's

testimony was prejudicial because "Woodard's testimony was crucial to the
State's case." As previously discussed, Woodard's testimony was not crucial for
the jury to find Perez guilty. Other detectives and officers testified to their
involvement in the case and their observation of the transaction. Thus, their

testimony was also available to the jury as evidence of guilt.
                     STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL GROUNDS

       Pursuant to RAP 10.10, Perez raises three additional grounds for review.

He argues that he received ineffective assistance of counsel due to a "failure to
investigate or consult."29 He also argues that the trial court abused its discretion
by allowing a false statement. Lastly, he argues that the trial court abused its

        28 Barry, 183 Wn.2d at 303 (internal quotation marks omitted) (quoting
 Smith, 106Wn.2dat780).
        29 Statement of Additional Grounds at 1.

                                           8
No. 73009-6-1/9

discretion by improperly limiting his time for trial preparation. Because this

record is inadequate to review these issues, we decline to review them.

       On direct appeal, we do not consider matters outside the record.30 "The

appropriate means of raising matters outside our record is through the filing of a

personal restraint petition."31

       Here, this record on appeal does not allow us to review Perez's claims.

Specifically, the record is silent as to how or what his counsel allegedly failed to

investigate. The record is also silent as to how Perez's counsel allegedly failed

to consult with him, what statement was "false" and how the court allowed it, or

how the court improperly limited Perez's time for trial preparation.

       We affirm the judgment and sentence.
                                                             ^b?^, X

WE CONCUR:

*    v^-//\^^/u       c   Ov

       30 State v. Kinzle, 181 Wn. App. 774, 786, 326 P.3d 870, review denied,
181 Wn.2d 1019(2014).
     31 State v. Hart, 188 Wn. App. 453, 466, 353 P.3d 253 (2015).