Court Opinion

ID: 4188997
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-07-25 00:21:37.333845+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:38:25.832559
License: Public Domain

FILED
                                                               COLIN OP APPEALS DIV !
                                                                                    .
                                                                STATE OF WASIVNGTC"

                                                               2017 JUL 24 Ali 9:07

       IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON

STATE OF WASHINGTON,                    )
                                        )      No. 76795-0-1
                    Respondent,         )
                                        )      DIVISION ONE
             v.                         )
                                        )
DERRICK RAY UNBEWUST,                   )      UNPUBLISHED OPINION
                                        )
                    Appellant.          )      FILED: July 24, 2017
                                        )

      BECKER, J. — The appellant voluntarily pleaded guilty and stipulated to an

exceptional sentence. He thereby waived his right to appeal.

      In appellant Derrick Unbewust's car, police officers found

methamphetamine and evidence of numerous crimes of identity theft, leading to

a variety of charges. The court denied Unbewust's motion to suppress.

      Unbewust pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful possession of

instruments of financial fraud and five counts of unlawful possession of payment

instruments in exchange for dismissal of four other counts. He and the State

stipulated to a 36-month sentence. In accordance with the plea agreement, the

court imposed an exceptional sentence of 36 months.

      Unbewust appeals. He argues that the officers lacked probable cause for

the search warrant and there was no basis for the exceptional sentence.
No. 76795-0-1/2

       Generally, a voluntary guilty plea acts as a waiver of the right to appeal.

State v. Smith, 134 Wash. 2d 849, 852, 953 P.2d 810(1998). When a defendant

completes a plea statement and admits to reading, understanding, and signing it,

this creates a strong presumption that the plea is voluntary. Smith, 134 Wash. 2d at

852. The record provides every reason to believe that Unbewust's plea was

voluntary. Indeed, Unbewust does not challenge the validity of his guilty plea nor

does he seek to withdraw it. Rather, he seeks to relitigate the motion to

suppress. When he pleaded guilty, he waived his right to appeal the denial of the

motion to suppress.

       Unbewust argues that there are no aggravating factors that would allow

for an exceptional sentence. Unbewust stipulated to the aggravating factors

found by the court: the offenses involved multiple victims and multiple incidents

per victim, RCW 9.94A.535(d)(i), and they involved a high degree of

sophistication and planning, RCW 9.94A.535(d)(iii).

       Because Unbewust voluntarily pleaded guilty and stipulated to an

exceptional sentence, he waived his right to appeal the judgment and sentence.

       Appeal dismissed.

                                                            ck.-etk.
WE CONCUR:

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