Court Opinion

ID: 4448840
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-10-22 17:15:57.432983+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:45:31.929333
License: Public Domain

Filed
                                                                                       Washington State
                                                                                       Court of Appeals
                                                                                        Division Two

                                                                                       October 22, 2019

    IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON

                                        DIVISION II
 In the Matter of the                                              No. 52722-7-II
 Personal Restraint of

 JOHN EDWARD FLETCHER, JR.,

                         Petitioner.
                                                             UNPUBLISHED OPINION

       LEE, J. — John Fletcher Jr. filed a personal restraint petition (PRP) seeking relief from

personal restraint imposed as a result of the December 2017 decision of the Indeterminate Sentence

Review Board (ISRB) that found him not releasable and added 60 months to his minimum term of

confinement. We deny Fletcher’s PRP.

                                           I. FACTS

       Fletcher pleaded guilty to first degree robbery in 1981, before the enactment of the

Sentencing Reform Act of 1981, ch. 9.94A RCW (SRA), and was sentenced to a maximum term

of confinement of life. The predecessor to the ISRB set his minimum term of confinement at 108

months. The ISRB then reset his minimum term at 102 months.

       The ISRB paroled Fletcher in 1990, but it revoked his parole in 2007 for infractions

committed while serving a term of confinement for a first degree burglary and first degree assault

he committed after being paroled. After a 2013 parolability hearing, the ISRB found Fletcher
No. 52722-7-II

conditionally parolable and added 30 months to his minimum term to complete a mutual reentry

plan.

        After Fletcher committed infractions while on work release, the ISRB conducted another

parolability hearing in 2016. The ISRB again found Fletcher conditionally parolable and added

24 months to his minimum term to complete his mutual reentry plan.

        In October 2017, Fletcher received two serious infractions. The first was for violating

WAC 137-25-030(557) for refusing to participate in an available work, training, education, or

other mandatory programming assignment. The infraction report stated that Fletcher had missed

8 out of 10 of his assigned classes and completed 0 out of 13 assignments. At his hearing, Fletcher

stated that he could not attend class because of his bad shoulder and back and had an “HSR”

(Health Status Report) excusing him from class. Pet. at 6. The hearing examiner noted that staff

advised there was not an HSR on file for Fletcher. The hearing examiner found Fletcher guilty of

violating WAC 137-25-030(557).

        The second infraction was for WAC 137-25-030(724) for refusing a cell or housing

assignment. The infraction report stated that Fletcher “refused numerous directives [to] return to

his cell.” Resp., Ex. 24 at 2. At his hearing, Fletcher told the hearing examiner he had mental

health problems and “was hearing voices telling [him] to leave the Evergreen Unit.” Resp., Ex.

24 at 2. The hearing examiner found Fletcher guilty of violating WAC 137-25-030(724).

        Before his December 2017 parolability hearing, Fletcher underwent a psychological

evaluation with Deborah Wentworth, Ph.D. The evaluation determined that Fletcher “has a rather

passive or victim stance about obtaining necessary programming to enable him to transition to the

community.” Resp., Ex. 20 at 9. And Dr. Wentworth characterized Fletcher’s motivation to be

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No. 52722-7-II

released as “questionable.” Resp., Ex. 20 at 9. Dr. Wentworth determined that Fletcher was a

high risk level with only slight mitigation factors. The evaluation noted, “[Fletcher] states he

wants to release and obtain work, but has done nothing over the more than 30 years of incarceration

to improve his training and skill level.” Resp., Ex. 20 at 15. The evaluation did not recommend

release or transition to a less restrictive setting.

        At Fletcher’s December 2017 parolability hearing, Fletcher’s classification counselor

testified that Fletcher had been transferred to “camp” as part of his release plan, but he had been

transferred back to prison in September because he felt threatened and asked to be removed from

camp. Resp., Ex. 2 at 3. The classification counselor also explained Fletcher had been signed up

for a building maintenance class but he failed to attend. And Fletcher failed to attend his scheduled

mental health appointments. Fletcher told the ISRB that he had a shoulder injury that prevented

him from attending class. And Fletcher explained he missed the mental health appointments

because nobody reminded him.

        The ISRB noted that Fletcher “took little personal responsibility for himself.” Resp., Ex.

2 at 4. The Board also noted that Fletcher had incurred two serious infractions since his return

from camp. And “[Fletcher] denied responsibility for these though he was found guilty in a

disciplinary hearing.” Resp., Ex. 2 at 4. The ISRB’s decision did not contain any other reference

to Fletcher’s recent infractions.

        The ISRB found,

        Mr. Fletcher has shown little motivation for self-improvement. He presents as one
        who believes everyone else is responsible for him. His psychological evaluation is
        not positive. The descriptor for his probability to reoffend violently is considered
        high based upon his [Violence Risk Appraisal Guide-Revised] VRAG-R score.
        Overall, Mr. Fletcher presents as too unmotivated and too irresponsible to consider
        for release at this time. He could be taking more positive steps to prepare for release

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No. 52722-7-II

          and has failed to do so. The Board expects he will participate in recommended
          programming and remain serious infraction free.

Resp., Ex. 2 at 5. The ISRB added 60 months to his minimum term. In this PRP, Fletcher raises

eight issues.

                                           II. ANALYSIS

          First, Fletcher argues that the Department of Corrections erred in finding that he had

violated WAC 137-25-030(724) (refusing a housing assignment) and WAC 137-25-030(557)

(refusing to participate in a mandatory programming assignment). He contends that as to the

former, the notice of infraction was insufficiently detailed, and as to the latter, the hearing officer

erred in not contacting the medical unit to confirm that he had an excuse for not attending. We

review prison disciplinary proceedings to determine whether the Department’s action was so

arbitrary and capricious as to deny the petitioner a fundamentally fair proceeding. In re Pers.

Restraint of Reismiller, 101 Wash. 2d 291, 294, 678 P.2d 323 (1984). In doing so, we look to whether

petitioner received the due process protections afforded him under Wolff v. McDonnell, 418 U.S.
539, 563-65, 94 S. Ct. 2963, 41 L. Ed. 2d 935 (1974). These protections include (1) advance

written notice of the charged violations, (2) the opportunity to present documentary evidence and

call witnesses when not unduly hazardous to institutional safety and correctional goals, and (3) a

written statement of the evidence relied on and the reasons for the disciplinary action. Fletcher

received all of these protections. When there is “some evidence” in the record, we will affirm the

Department’s disciplinary decision. Superintendent v. Hill, 472 U.S. 445, 455, 105 S. Ct. 2768,

86 L. Ed. 2d 356 (1985); In re Pers. Restraint of Johnston, 109 Wash. 2d 493, 497, 745 P.2d 864

(1987).

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No. 52722-7-II

       Here, the Department presented some evidence to support the violation of WAC 137-25-

030(557) because the infraction report stated that Fletcher had not completed any class

assignments and had only attended two classes. And the Department presented some evidence to

support the violation of WAC 137-25-030(724) because the infraction report stated that Fletcher

refused to return to his cell. Fletcher even appeared to admit he refused to return to his cell because

of the voices he was hearing. Therefore, we affirm the Department’s decisions finding Fletcher

guilty of the two infractions.

       Second, Fletcher argues that the ISRB abused its discretion in relying on the above

infractions as part of its reasons for finding him not parolable and adding to his minimum term.

He contends that the ISRB is required to redetermine whether the infractions were committed,

rather than relying on the Department’s decisions. But he does not show that there is any such

requirement. The ISRB did not abuse its discretion in considering the disciplinary infractions. In

re Pers. Restraint of Addleman, 151 Wash. 2d 769, 776-77, 92 P.3d 221 (2004).

       Third, Fletcher argues that the ISRB abused its discretion in not giving him a copy of the

psychological evaluation report 30 days in advance of the parolability hearing. But when Fletcher

informed the ISRB at the parolability hearing that he had not had an opportunity to review his file,

the ISRB offered to continue the hearing to allow him time to do so. He declined that offer. The

ISRB did not abuse its discretion in considering the psychological evaluation.

       Fourth, Fletcher argues that the ISRB abused its discretion in considering the psychological

evaluation because it contains inaccuracies.          But the inaccuracies he claims relate to his

correctional history, and the ISRB gave him the opportunity to submit a written statement after the

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No. 52722-7-II

parolability hearing to contest the psychological evaluation. Fletcher did not submit such a

statement. The ISRB did not abuse its discretion in considering the psychological evaluation.

       Fifth, Fletcher argues that the ISRB abused its discretion in basing its decisions on evidence

that was “erroneous or misleading or even petty.” Pet. at 4. Fletcher does not show that the ISRB

abused its discretion in finding that he was not rehabilitated and, therefore, in adding to his

minimum term of confinement. In re Pers. Restraint of Ecklund, 139 Wash. 2d 166, 176, 985 P.2d
342 (1999).

       Sixth, Fletcher argues that the ISRB violated its duty to take into account the sentencing

recommendations of the trial court and the State. But he does not demonstrate any such violation.

Fletcher’s ISRB file, which the ISRB considered in its December 2017 decision, contains the

sentencing recommendations of 7.5 years from the sentencing court and 20 years from the State,

respectively. He also argues that the ISRB violated its duty under RCW 9.95.009(2) to make his

minimum term reasonably consistent with the SRA sentencing range for his crime. But the ISRB

must balance that duty with the duty to determine if the offender is fit for release on parole.

Addleman, 151 Wash. 2d at 775. Given the lack of progress that Fletcher had made toward becoming

fit for release on parole, the ISRB did not abuse its discretion in setting his minimum term.

       Seventh, Fletcher argues that the ISRB abused its discretion when it did not give adequate

written reasons for adding 60 months to his minimum term. Again, given the lack of progress that

Fletcher had made toward becoming fit for release on parole, the ISRB did not abuse its discretion

in adding 60 months to his minimum term.

       Finally, Fletcher argues that the ISRB gave him a disproportionate sentence when it added

60 months to his minimum term. But until it is satisfied that Fletcher is parolable, the ISRB is

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No. 52722-7-II

required to extend his minimum term of confinement. In re Pers. Restraint of Cashaw, 123 Wash. 2d
138, 143, 866 P.2d 8 (1994). Because the ISRB did not find Fletcher parolable, it did not abuse

its discretion in adding to his minimum term.

        Fletcher’s challenges to the ISRB’s December 2017 parolability decision fail. Therefore,

we deny his PRP.

        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.

                                                    LEE, J.
 We concur:

 MAXA, C.J.

 MELNICK, J.

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