Court Opinion

ID: 4281299
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-06-05 16:56:18.810548+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:07:30.205980
License: Public Domain

Filed
                                                                                          Washington State
                                                                                          Court of Appeals
                                                                                           Division Two

                                                                                                June 5, 2018
    IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON

                                         DIVISION II
 STATE OF WASHINGTON,                                                No. 49890-1-II

                                Respondent,                    UNPUBLISHED OPINION

         v.

 CHRISTOPHER LEE COBB,

                                Appellant.

       BJORGEN, J. — A jury returned verdicts finding Christopher Lee Cobb guilty of two

counts of unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and first degree

unlawful possession of a firearm. Cobb appeals, asserting that (1) the trial court abused its

discretion by denying his CrR 7.5 motion for a new trial based on the jury finding previously

undiscovered evidence during its deliberations and, alternatively, (2) his defense counsel was

ineffective for failing to discover the evidence before trial. In his statement of additional

grounds (SAG), Cobb argues that the trial court erred by failing to suppress evidence based on a

search warrant that he contends lacked probable cause in support. We affirm.

                                              FACTS

       On February 9, 2016, the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department obtained a warrant to

search Cobb and his 2016 Chevrolet Impala for evidence of illegal drug activity. On February

13, the sheriff’s department obtained a second warrant to search Cobb and his 2014 Dodge

Charger.

       On February 16, Deputy Kory Shaffer saw Cobb leave an apartment and place a small

dark backpack in the trunk of his Impala. Shaffer then saw Cobb drive to multiple parking lots
No. 49890-1-II

and have brief interactions with people who approached his vehicle. Based on his training and

experience, Shaffer believed these short interactions were consistent with illegal drug

transactions. Shaffer lost sight of Cobb and the Impala after Cobb drove to a parking lot in an

apartment complex. Officers later saw Cobb leaving the parking lot in the Charger. Officers

followed Cobb to another parking lot and executed the search warrant.

         Officers from Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) and the Special Investigations Unit

(SIU) approached the parked Charger while Cobb was sitting the driver’s seat. Another man,

identified outside the presence of the jury as Lamontez Patton, was standing outside the

passenger door. SWAT officers announced their presence before deploying a flash-bang device

to disorient Cobb and Patton. Officers also broke the rear driver’s side window and front

passenger side window before opening the front driver’s side door and removing Cobb from the

vehicle and arresting him.

         Officers found a Glock .45 semi-automatic handgun and $6,193 in cash on Cobb’s

person. Officers also found a camouflage backpack on the rear passenger seat of the Charger.

Inside of the backpack, officers found latex gloves, assorted baggies, a baggie containing 45

grams of methamphetamine, a baggie containing 76-78 grams of heroin, a baggie containing

brown sugar, a digital scale with apparent heroin residue on it, a blender with apparent heroin

residue, a plastic cup with white residue, and a partially filled box of .45 ammunition.

         After being advised of his Miranda1 rights, Cobb agreed to speak with Shaffer. Cobb

told Shaffer that he was not employed, used heroin and methamphetamine, and sold drugs in

1
    Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 86 S. Ct. 1602, 16 L. Ed. 2d 694 (1966).

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No. 49890-1-II

quantities of “teeners” and “balls”2 to support his habit. Verbatim Report of Proceedings (VRP)

(Volume III) at 73. Cobb also stated that he knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm

but that he carried it for safety because “he has been ripped before.” VRP (Volume III) at 73-74.

Cobb told Shaffer that he was planning to pick up an ounce of heroin and methamphetamine that

day.

       The State charged Cobb with two counts of unlawful possession of a controlled substance

with intent to deliver and one count of first degree unlawful possession of a firearm. Before trial,

Cobb moved to suppress evidence seized during the February 16 arrest and search of his person

and vehicle. Cobb’s suppression motion asserted that the February 13 search warrant was based

on stale probable cause. Following a hearing, the trial court denied Cobb’s suppression motion

and later entered findings of fact and conclusions of law in support of its ruling.

       At trial, witnesses testified consistently with the facts as stated above. Additionally,

Pierce County Sheriff’s Deputy Tom Olesen testified that officers had attempted to execute a

search warrant on Cobb on February 13, three days prior to his February 16 arrest. Deputy

Olesen stated that on February 13, three unmarked police vehicles attempted to block the vehicle

Cobb was driving. Cobb struck two of the vehicles when he fled. Deputy Olesen was unable to

pursue Cobb because his vehicle had been disabled by Cobb’s collision with it.

       During deliberations, the jury found an empty bag with brown residue and a casino card

with Patton’s name on it in the front zipper pocket of the camouflage backpack that was admitted

as a trial exhibit. The jury submitted a question asking whether they were to consider those

2
 Shaffer testified at trial that a “teener” means “one sixteenth of an ounce” and that a “ball” or
“8-ball” means “an eighth of an ounce.” VRP (Volume III) at 73.

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No. 49890-1-II

items as evidence in the case. The State and defense counsel agreed that the jury could consider

those items as evidence. The trial court submitted a response to the jury’s question stating, “The

exhibit is being marked as 49(a), part of the admitted exhibit.” Clerk’s Papers (CP) at 144. The

jury thereafter returned verdicts finding Cobb guilty of the charged offenses. The jury also

returned special verdicts finding that Cobb was armed with a firearm during the commission of

his two counts of unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver.

       Before sentencing, Cobb filed a CrR 7.5 motion for a new trial based on the jury finding

previously undiscovered evidence in the backpack during its deliberations, which motion the trial

court denied. Cobb appeals.

                                           ANALYSIS

                                   I. MOTION FOR NEW TRIAL

       Cobb first contends that the trial court abused its discretion by denying his CrR 7.5

motion for a new trial. We disagree.

       CrR 7.5 governs motions for a new trial and provides in relevant part:

              (a) Grounds for New Trial. The court on motion of a defendant may grant
       a new trial for any one of the following causes when it affirmatively appears that a
       substantial right of the defendant was materially affected:
              ....

              (3) Newly discovered evidence material for the defendant, which the
       defendant could not have discovered with reasonable diligence and produced at the
       trial;

               (4) Accident or surprise;

              (5) Irregularity in the proceedings of the court, jury or prosecution, or any
       order of court, or abuse of discretion, by which the defendant was prevented from
       having a fair trial.

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No. 49890-1-II

A new trial in a criminal proceeding “is necessitated only when the defendant ‘has been so

prejudiced that nothing short of a new trial can insure that the defendant will be treated fairly.’”

State v. Bourgeois, 133 Wash. 2d 389, 406, 945 P.2d 1120 (1997) (quoting State v. Russell, 125
Wash. 2d 24, 85, 882 P.2d 747 (1994)). The mere possibility of prejudice is insufficient to warrant

a new trial. State v. Lemieux, 75 Wash. 2d 89, 91, 448 P.2d 943 (1968).

       We will not disturb a trial court’s ruling on a motion for a new trial absent “‘clear abuse

of discretion.’” State v. McKenzie, 157 Wash. 2d 44, 51-52, 134 P.3d 221 (2006) (quoting State v.

Wilson, 71 Wash. 2d 895, 899, 431 P.2d 221 (1967)). “An abuse of discretion will be found ‘only

when no reasonable judge would have reached the same conclusion.’” McKenzie, 157 Wash. 2d at

52 (internal quotation marks omitted) (quoting Bourgeois, 133 Wash. 2d at 406). As an initial

matter, the State argues that Cobb waived his contentions with the jury’s consideration of

previously undiscovered evidence found in the backpack by failing to object until after it had

reached its verdicts. We agree with the State.

       Our Supreme Court has held that a “motion for a new trial is not a substitute for raising a

timely objection that could have completely cured the error.” State v. Jones, 185 Wash. 2d 412,

426, 372 P.3d 755 (2016). “Indeed, the failure to raise a timely objection strongly indicates that

the party did not perceive any prejudicial error until after receiving an unfavorable verdict.”

Jones, 185 Wash. 2d at 426-27.

       Cobb contends that the purported error in the jury finding previously undiscovered

evidence prejudiced his right to present a complete defense and to a fair trial because, had

defense counsel known that Patton’s casino card was contained in the backpack, counsel could

have presented the defense that another suspect had possessed the backpack found in the

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No. 49890-1-II

backseat of Cobb’s vehicle. However, Cobb could have sought remedial measures short of a

new trial upon his discovery that Patton’s casino card was contained in the backpack. For

example, Cobb could have sought a continuance to reevaluate his trial strategy and could have

moved to reopen the case to present additional evidence concerning possession of the backpack

at issue.

        It is well established that a trial court has discretion to allow a party to reopen its case to

present additional evidence. Estes v. Hopp, 73 Wash. 2d 263, 270-71, 438 P.2d 205 (1968); State v.

Miles, 168 Wash. 654, 13 P.2d 48 (1932); State v. Brinkley, 66 Wash. App. 844, 848, 837 P.2d 20

(1992). Had Cobb been granted a motion to reopen the case, he could have presented a defense

that another suspect had possessed the backpack at issue and thereby cured the prejudice he had

claimed for the first time in his motion for a new trial. Instead, Cobb declined to raise any

objection regarding the previously undiscovered evidence until after the jury returned its adverse

verdicts. By doing so, he has waived his grounds for a new trial under CrR 7.5. Jones, 185
Wash. 2d at 426-27.

                             II. INEFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL

        Next, Cobb argues that his defense counsel was ineffective for failing to discover

Patton’s casino card before trial. On this record, we disagree.

        To demonstrate ineffective assistance of counsel, Cobb must show both (1) that defense

counsel’s conduct was deficient and (2) that the deficient performance resulted in prejudice.

State v. Reichenbach, 153 Wash. 2d 126, 130, 101 P.3d 80 (2004). Prejudice occurs where there is

a reasonable probability that, but for the deficient performance, the outcome of the proceedings

would have been different. State v. McFarland, 127 Wash. 2d 322, 335, 899 P.2d 1251 (1995).

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No. 49890-1-II

We need “not address both prongs of the ineffective assistance test if the defendant’s showing on

one prong is insufficient.” State v. Foster, 140 Wash. App. 266, 273, 166 P.3d 726 (2007).

       Here, Cobb contends that he was prejudiced by defense counsel’s failure to discover the

casino card because “[t]here is a reasonable probability that evidence of Patton’s connection to

the crime would have raised a reasonable doubt as to Cobb’s guilt.” Br. of Appellant at 20.

However, the presence of Patton’s casino card in the backpack, alone, did not undermine the

evidence showing Cobb’s constructive possession of the backpack and the items contained

therein.

       Constructive possession may be established by evidence that the defendant had dominion

and control over an item. State v. Jones, 146 Wash. 2d 328, 333, 45 P.3d 1062 (2002). Dominion

and control can be over “either the drugs or the premises on which the drugs were found.” State

v. Callahan, 77 Wash. 2d 27, 30-31, 459 P.2d 400 (1969). Dominion and control need not be

exclusive to establish constructive possession, but close proximity alone is insufficient; other

facts must enable the trier of fact to infer dominion and control. State v. George, 146 Wash. App.
906, 920, 193 P.3d 693 (2008).

       Here, the backpack and items in it were located on the backseat of the Charger Cobb was

driving. Facts apart from close proximity tended to show Cobb’s dominion and control over the

backpack. Shaffer observed Cobb possess a similar backpack while engaged in suspected illegal

drug transactions. Additionally, the backpack contained a partially-filled box of .45 ammunition,

and a Glock .45 handgun was found on Cobb’s person. Cobb also admitted to selling the same

type of narcotics found in the backpack and that he was planning to obtain more of those same

narcotics on the day of his arrest. Evidence that another person’s casino card was contained in

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No. 49890-1-II

the backpack does not undermine this evidence of Cobb’s dominion and control over the

backpack. Accordingly, Cobb fails to make the necessary showing of prejudice in support of his

ineffective assistance of counsel claim.

       To the extent that Cobb is asserting Patton’s connection to the backpack could have

resulted in the discovery of additional evidence raising a reasonable doubt as to his guilt if

discovered before trial, such assertion is unsupported by the record before us. Although defense

counsel was unaware of the casino card contained in the backpack, the record shows that counsel

was aware of Patton’s presence near the Charger when Cobb was arrested, had spoken with him,

and declined to call him as a witness. As such, Cobb’s claim that he was prejudiced by defense

counsel’s failure to discover the casino card before trial is speculative and lacks support in the

record. Accordingly, we hold that Cobb fails to demonstrate ineffective assistance of counsel.

                                  III. SAG/MOTION TO SUPPRESS

       In his SAG, Cobb asserts that the trial court erred by failing to grant his motion to

suppress evidence seized pursuant to the February 13 search warrant. Specifically, Cobb

contends that (1) the February 13 search warrant was based on stale probable cause and (2) the

affidavit in support of the February 13 search warrant failed to establish a nexus between the

alleged criminal activity and the Charger. On both contentions, we disagree.

       A search warrant may issue only upon a determination of probable cause “based upon

facts and circumstances sufficient to establish a reasonable inference that criminal activity is

occurring or that contraband exists at a certain location.” State v. Cole, 128 Wash. 2d 262, 286, 906
P.2d 925 (1995). Probable cause exists as a matter of law if the affidavit in support of the

warrant contains sufficient facts and circumstances to establish a reasonable inference that the

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No. 49890-1-II

defendant probably engaged in illegal activity and that evidence of that illegal activity is at the

location to be searched. State v. Thein, 138 Wash. 2d 133, 140, 977 P.2d 582 (1999). Thus,

“‘probable cause requires a nexus between criminal activity and the item to be seized, and also a

nexus between the item to be seized and the place to be searched.’” Thein, 138 Wash. 2d at 140

(quoting State v. Goble, 88 Wash. App. 503, 509, 945 P.2d 263 (1997)).

       We generally review the validity of a search warrant for abuse of discretion, giving great

deference to the issuing judge or magistrate. State v. Neth, 165 Wash. 2d 177, 182, 196 P.3d 658

(2008). However, in reviewing a trial court’s determination of probable cause at a suppression

hearing, we review the trial court’s conclusions of law de novo. State v. Dunn, 186 Wash. App.
889, 896, 348 P.3d 791 (2015). Under our de novo review, we determine “whether the

qualifying information as a whole amounts to probable cause.” Dunn, 186 Wash. App. at 896.

This review is limited to the four corners of the document supporting probable cause. Neth, 165
Wash. 2d at 182. Facts that, standing alone, do not support probable cause can support probable

cause when viewed together with other facts. Cole, 128 Wash. 2d at 286. We review a search

warrant’s supporting affidavit “‘in a commonsense manner, rather than hypertechnically’” and

resolve any doubts in favor of the warrant. State v. Lyons, 174 Wash. 2d 354, 360, 275 P.3d 314

(2012) (quoting State v. Jackson, 150 Wash. 2d 251, 265, 76 P.3d 217 (2003)).

A.     Staleness

       Cobb first contends that the trial court erred in denying his suppression motion because

the information presented in the probable cause affidavit was stale. We disagree.

       Whether information contained within a search warrant affidavit is stale depends on the

circumstances of each case. Lyons, 174 Wash. 2d at 361. Some length of time naturally passes

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No. 49890-1-II

between observations of suspected criminal activity and the presentation of an affidavit to an

issuing magistrate or judge. Lyons, 174 Wash. 2d at 360. However, when the passage of time is so

prolonged that it is no longer probable that a search will uncover evidence of criminal activity,

the information underlying the affidavit is deemed stale. Lyons, 174 Wash. 2d at 360-61.

       Cobb asserts that the information underlying the affidavit in support of the February 13

search warrant was stale because it contains the following language, which was identical to that

in the affidavit in support of the February 9 search warrant:

       Within the past seventy two hours the C/I [(Confidential Informant)], while under
       constant surveillance of the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department Special
       Investigations Unit, has made a controlled buy of methamphetamine from [Cobb].
       Prior to the buy the C/I was searched. No money or narcotics were located. The
       C/I called [Cobb] on his cellular telephone and they agreed to meet in a public
       parking lot in Pierce County.

CP at 27. Cobb argues that this information, as it pertains to the February 13 search warrant, was

stale because it did not provide sufficient information from which the issuing magistrate could

determine whether the “past seventy two hours” was in reference to the date of the second search

warrant application or merely reiterated the facts supporting the issuance of the first search

warrant. In resolving this argument at the suppression hearing, the trial court concluded as

follows:

       Chronologically, the description of the controlled buy in the February 13 search
       warrant complaint is placed after [a description of the February 13] encounter with
       law enforcement. The encounter with law enforcement occurred after Deputy
       Shaffer obtained the February 9 search warrant. In addition, the February 13 search
       warrant complaint contains additional information not included in the February 9
       affidavit, regarding the fact that defendant retrieved the methamphetamine from the
       brown back pack before selling it to the CI. A common sense reading of the search
       warrant complaints would indicate that the controlled buy, which was said to have
       occurred within the last 72 hours, is not the same controlled buy referenced in the
       February 9 complaint.

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No. 49890-1-II

CP at 105. We agree with the trial court’s conclusion.

       A commonsense reading of the February 13 search warrant affidavit indicates that the

controlled buy described therein was within 72 hours of that warrant’s application, and not the

same controlled buy described in the application for the February 9 search warrant. As the trial

court recognized, although using the same language as in the previous search warrant affidavit,

the February 13 reference to a controlled buy occurring within the past 72 hours follows a

description of the facts underlying the attempted service of the February 9 search warrant. When

read in a commonsense manner and in context with the otherwise chronological description of

facts supporting probable cause in the February 13 affidavit, the controlled buy described therein

occurred after February 9 and, thus, could not be the same controlled buy described in the

February 9 search warrant application.

       Additionally, the February 13 search warrant affidavit described particular facts

regarding the controlled buy not described in the previous affidavit, namely that Cobb had

retrieved the suspected methamphetamine from a brown backpack. In short, there was nothing

within the four corners of the February 13 search warrant affidavit showing that the controlled

buy described therein occurred at any time other than 72 hours before submission of that search

warrant application. Accordingly, the trial court properly concluded that the information

contained therein was not stale.

B.     Nexus

       Next, Cobb appears to argue that the February 13 search warrant affidavit failed to

establish a nexus between evidence of suspected illegal narcotics activity and the Charger. We

disagree.

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No. 49890-1-II

       Cobb’s argument on this point relies on the search warrant affidavit lacking facts that a

controlled buy had occurred while he was in the Charger. However, such facts are not required

to establish probable cause. Rather, the affidavit was required only to present sufficient facts to

establish a reasonable inference that evidence of Cobb’s alleged illegal activity would be found

in the Charger. Thein, 138 Wash. 2d at 140.

       Here, the February 13 search warrant affidavit provided the following facts supporting a

nexus between Cobb’s suspected criminal activity and the Charger. The CI stated that Cobb had

retrieved methamphetamines from a brown backpack during the controlled buy that had taken

place in the Impala. Sometime after the controlled buy, Shaffer observed Cobb carrying a brown

backpack while leaving an apartment where he commonly parked his Impala. Shaffer then saw

Cobb look around the parking lot, open the trunk to the Charger, and place the backpack inside.

Shaffer saw another individual approach the Charger and talk with Cobb while Cobb retrieved

something from the trunk. After the other individual left, Cobb slowly drove the Charger to

another location of the parking lot and parked. After Cobb appeared to be using his cell phone,

another individual approached the driver’s side of the Charger and appeared to make contact

with Cobb as Cobb sat in the driver’s seat of the vehicle. After the apparent contact, Cobb

slowly drove away from the parking lot.

       Taken together, and when read in a commonsense manner, the above facts establish a

reasonable inference that evidence of Cobb’s suspected illegal narcotics activity would be found

in the Charger. Accordingly, we affirm the trial court’s ruling denying Cobb’s motion to

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No. 49890-1-II

suppress, and we affirm Cobb’s convictions.

        A majority of the panel having determined that this opinion will not be printed in the

Washington Appellate Reports, but will be filed for public record in accordance with RCW

2.06.040, it is so ordered.

                                                      Bjorgen, J.
 We concur:

 Johanson, P.J.

 Sutton, J.

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