Court Opinion

ID: 4435619
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-09-03 19:21:50.226444+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:53:11.376990
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON

In the Matter of the                     )      No. 79554-6-I
Post-Sentence Review of:                 )
                                                DIVISION ONE
KEENAN PEARSON,
                                         )      UNPUBLISHED OPINION
                     Petitioner.
                                         )      FILED: September 3, 2019
       PER CURIAM.   The Department of Corrections (DCC) filed this petition under

RCW 9.94A.585(7) and RAP 16.18 seeking post-sentence review of the

community custody term imposed in State v. Keenan Pearson, King County

Superior Court No. 18-1-02985-2 SEA. DCC contends that the sentencing court

erred in (1) sentencing Pearson to 36 months of community custody for an

ineligible offense and (2) not sentencing him for up to 12 months of community

custody for an eligible offense. The State agrees with the merits of DOC’s

petition. We agree that the court erred in imposing community custody for an

ineligible offense, and we remand for resentencing.

      We review DOC’s petition for post-sentence review of the trial court’s

sentence for errors of law. RCW 9.94A.585(7); In re Postsentence Rev, of

Bercier, 178 Wash. App. 148, 150, 313 P.3d 491 (2013). The requirements of

RCW 9.94A.585(7) are strictly construed. In re Sentence of Hilborn, 63 Wash. App.
102, 104-05, 816 P.2d 1247 (1991). The superior court can only impose a

sentence that is authorized by statute. In re Postsentence Rev, of Leach, 161
No. 79554-6-1/2

The superior court can only impose a sentence that is authorized by statute. In re

Postsentence Rev, of Leach, 161 Wash. 2d 180, 184, 163 P.3d 782 (2007). This rule

applies even if the sentence is imposed pursuant to a plea agreement. State v. Barber,

170 Wash. 2d 854, 870, 248 P.3d 494 (2011). Whether the trial court exceeded its

statutory authority in issuing a particular sentence is a question of law reviewed de

novo. State v. Button, 184 Wash. App. 442, 446, 339 P.3d 182 (2014).

       The State charged Pearson with one count of voyeurism in the first degree

(Count I) and one count of attempted residential burglary with sexual motivation (Count

II). In exchange for Pearson’s plea of guilty, the State moved to dismiss the sexual

motivation enhancement related to Count II. On Count I, the State agreed to

recommend 12 months of confinement plus zero months of community custody. On

Count II, the State agreed to recommend 12 months plus one day of confinement

concurrent with Count 1, pIus 36 months of community custody. The court sentenced

Pearson in accordance with the plea agreement.

       DOC first contends that the court erred in imposing a 36-month term of

community custody on Count II. For sentences of more than one year, RCW

9.94A.701(1) authorizes a 36-month term of community custody for sex crimes and

serious violent offenses. But attempted residential burglary, a violation of RCW

9A.28.020 and RCW 9A.52.025, is not a sex crime or a serious violent offense. See

RCW 9.94A.030. The court specifically acknowledged in the judgment and sentence

that this was not a sex crime. A court lacks authority to impose a term of community

custody on any offense not authorized by statute. In re Post Sentence Review of

Childers, 135 Wash. App. 37, 40, 143 P.3d 831, 832 (2006). Thus, Pearson is ineligible for
                                            2
No. 79554-6-113

community custody for that offense. The State and Pearson agree with the merits of

DOC’s petition on this issue. We also agree, and we remand to the superior court to

strike the community custody term imposed for Count II.

       DCC further contends that the court erred in failing to sentence Pearson for up to

12 months of community custody for Count I. RCW 9.94A.702 lists offenses with a

sentence of one year or less for which the court may, in the exercise of its discretion,

impose up to one year of community custody. Voyeurism in the first degree, a violation

of RCW 9A.44.115(2), is a sex offense eligible for up to 12 months of community

custody. See RCW 9.94A.702(1)(a), RCW 9.94A.030(48)(a)(i).

       Pearson asserts that the court properly exercised its discretion not to impose a

term of community custody on Count I. Because the resulting sentence is statutorily

permissible, Pearson contends that it is not an “error of law” subject to review or

modification pursuant to RCW 9.94A.585(7). However, the record is inadequate for us

to determine whether or to what extent the error of law regarding sentencing on Count II

impacted the court’s exercise of discretion regarding sentencing on Count I. Because it

is not clear whether the error of law on Count II influenced the court’s exercise of

discretion on Count I, we remand to allow the court to exercise its sentencing discretion

regarding community custody on Count I without the influence of this legal error.

       In sum, because the court lacked authority to impose any term of community

custody for Count II, we remand to the superior court to (1) strike the legally erroneous

term of community custody from Pearson’s judgment and sentence on Count II and (2) to

permit the court to specify its exercise of discretion regarding community custody on Count

I in the absence of this legal error.
                                              3
No. 79554-6-1/4

      Granted.

                  For the court:

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