Court Opinion

ID: 9793712
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-31 02:51:48.643071+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:06:41.410145
License: Public Domain

Ringold, J.
(dissenting)—I respectfully dissent and would reverse. The precise issue presented here, as in most entrapment cases, is whether the defendant had a "predisposition" to commit the crime. State v. Smith, 101 Wn.2d 36, 42, 677 P.2d 100 (1984). This is a factual determination which normally falls within the province of the jury. State v. Pleasant, 38 Wn. App. 78, 80, 684 P.2d 761, review denied, 103 Wn.2d 1006 (1984).
Enriquez argues that the informant's testimony would be helpful to establish his defense of entrapment to the jury, because it would corroborate his testimony as to what occurred. The privilege asserted by the State against revealing an informant's identity must give way if "disclosure of an informer's identity, or of the contents of his communication, is relevant and helpful to the defense of an accused, or is essential to a fair determination of a cause . . ." Roviaro v. United States, 353 U.S. 53, 60-61, 1 L. Ed. 2d 639, 77 S. Ct. 623 (1957).
The preferred method of determining whether an informant's information would be helpful is to hold an in camera hearing where the judge hears the informant's testimony. State v. Smith, supra at 44. It is not necessary to hold a hearing unless the "defendant makes an initial showing that the confidential informant may have evidence that would be relevant to the defendant's innocence." State v. Allen, 27 Wn. App. 41, 48, 615 P.2d 526 (citing State v. *588Potter, 25 Wn. App. 624, 628, 611 P.2d 1282 (1980)), review denied, 94 Wn.2d 1025 (1980). Doubt, however, should be resolved in favor of holding the in camera hearing. State v. Cleppe, 96 Wn.2d 373, 382, 635 P.2d 435 (1981), cert. denied, 456 U.S. 1006, 73 L. Ed. 2d 1300, 102 S. Ct. 2296 (1982).
When the criminal motions judge refused to grant the in camera hearing, he stated:
I was very careful at the time that Mr. Enriquez was testifying to make sure of what he said, and even taking his statement on the stand at its best, there is nothing that would . . . say that the confidential informant entrapped him. The confidential informant . . . made the opportunity available, and as I read the cases that is not entrapment . . .
I don't see any need for [an in camera hearing]. ... If the showing were such that would indicate that there may have been entrapment, then I think that would be appropriate, but I don't think that the showing that is before this court is sufficient to clarify that question.
It is apparent from reading the record on the motion requesting the in camera hearing that the pretrial judge was making the factual inference that Enriquez was predisposed to commit the offense. The proper test should have been whether any rational trier of the fact at the time of trial would, from the evidence, find or be able to find a reasonable doubt as to whether the defendant had the "predisposition" or "intent" to commit the crime.
Some cases have held that where the defendant failed to make a prima facie case of entrapment as a matter of law, the denial of an in camera hearing is not error. State v. Smith, supra; State v. Helfrich, 33 Wn. App. 338, 656 P.2d 506 (1982). This is what the majority concludes happened here. I disagree.
Enriquez testified that he had never before sold cocaine. At the pretrial hearing the State elicited the following testimony from Enriquez:
*589Q: After awhile you decided you are going to support your habit better and sell some cocaine?
A: Yes, because he [the informant] kept telling me about it.
Q: He kept telling you about it and you agreed at the end; is that correct?
A: Yes.
The informant also coached Enriquez concerning what to say to the undercover police officer and what to sell him.
The majority correctly states that the State's informant may use a normal amount of persuasion to overcome an expected resistance to sell drugs. State v. Smith, supra at 42-43. It is not necessary, however, to prove outrageous conduct when asserting the statutory defense of entrapment. State v. Keller, 30 Wn. App. 644, 647, 637 P.2d 985 (1981).
Three weeks elapsed before the informant indicated that Enriquez was willing to consider selling drugs.3 This suggests to me that Enriquez' claim is credible. Certainly a jury could infer that Enriquez did not have a prior disposition to sell drugs.
The determination of "predisposition" or "intent" is always a matter which must be inferred from all of the evidence. In my view the person who instigated the transaction, the informant, would in all likelihood be in the best position to cast light on the defendant's intent at the time that he was contacted by the informant.
The majority at page 587 states: "The fact that subsequently the trial judge decided to give an instruction on entrapment does not bear upon the correctness of the ruling made by the criminal motions judge." The evidence adduced at the hearing for disclosure of the informant was essentially the same as at trial, i.e., the defendant's own *590testimony. While not decisive, it is persuasive that the trial court ruled that there was sufficient evidence of the elements of entrapment to give an instruction to the jury. In ruling upon a motion to disclose an informant's identity, it is essential for a trial judge to consider whether there would be alternative inferences which could be drawn from the defendant's testimony. The court must pose the question: "If the informant testified, would there be sufficient evidence to raise a doubt in the minds of the jury as to the defendant's intent or predisposition at the time of the contact with the informant?" The issue before the criminal motions judge, therefore, is whether from the evidence presented a trier of fact could find that the elements of entrapment were indicated, rather than only the opportunity for the crime made available.
Under the circumstances here, the criminal motions judge was required to convene an in camera hearing to determine whether there could be more than one inference which could be raised at the time of trial with respect to the defense of entrapment. I would reverse and order an in camera hearing.
Review denied by Supreme Court January 6,1987.

 In State v. Smith, 101 Wn.2d 36, 40, 677 P.2d 100 (1984), the informant asked the defendant several times to sell him marijuana before the defendant agreed. It is not clear from the opinion, however, if the length of time it took to wear down the defendant was as long as the present case. Here there are enough facts, if believed, for the jury to infer that the defendant had no predisposition to sell drugs. See State v. Keller, 30 Wn. App. 644, 637 P.2d 985 (1981).