Court Opinion

ID: 9898121
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-11-14 19:28:36.320944+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:16:11.079555
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON

 STATE OF WASHINGTON,
                                               No. 83921-7-I
                            Respondent,
                                               DIVISION ONE
                v.
                                               UNPUBLISHED OPINION
 JEREMIAH GRAHAM,

                               Appellant.

       DÍAZ, J. — A jury convicted Jeremiah Graham of violating a no contact order

against his girlfriend, J.R. 1 Graham now claims that the trial court should have

awarded him a new trial, as he then requested, because the State committed

misconduct during its closing argument.         Assuming misconduct occurred, but

finding no prejudice, we affirm the trial court’s judgment and sentence and remand

only to enter an order waiving Graham’s victim penalty assessment.

                                I.     BACKGROUND

       J.R. obtained a no contact order against Graham. Sometime later, in 2019,

someone saw them arguing outside a fast food restaurant in Marysville, and called

911. A police officer responded to the 911 call and saw the two of them arguing.

1 J.R. is referred to by her initials to protect her privacy.
No. 83921-7-I/2

The officer arrested Graham. According to the officer, upon his arrest, Graham

said he knew he violated the no contact order, and claimed he only wanted to say

goodbye to J.R.

       Before trial, counsel for Graham moved in limine to exclude, among other

things, the contents of the 911 call and the reason the officer was dispatched. The

State agreed and the court ordered that the officer would testify only “that he was

dispatched to a potential dispute.”

       At trial, only two witnesses testified. The officer testified for the State. On

behalf of the defense, a friend of Graham testified that J.R. had initiated the

contact, and Graham was attempting to walk away. In its closing argument, as will

be discussed in more detail below, the State, admittedly, violated the trial court’s

order in limine regarding the admissibility of a 911 call regarding the incident.

Graham’s trial counsel objected to this argument—referred to herein as “the

State’s 911 argument”—and the trial court promptly gave a curative instruction.

       The jury found Graham guilty of violating the no contact order. Graham

then moved for a new trial, claiming that the State’s 911 argument constituted

prosecutorial misconduct, for reasons we discuss below. The trial court granted

the motion.

       The State moved for reconsideration of the order for new trial. During oral

argument on the State’s motion, it admitted that it had committed, and apologized

for its, misconduct in making its 911 argument, but averred that any misconduct

was not prejudicial. The trial court granted the State’s motion for reconsideration.

Graham was subsequently sentenced and now timely appeals.

                                          2
No. 83921-7-I/3

       After Graham filed his appeal, he filed a motion to strike the victim penalty

assessment from his judgment as well.

                                 II.    ANALYSIS

A.     Was denial of a new trial improper?

     1. Law

       Under CrR 7.5(a), a defendant may move for a new trial. Under CrR

7.5(a)(2), a defendant may seek a new trial because of prosecutorial misconduct

under certain conditions, namely: 2

       (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: . . .

           (2) Misconduct of the prosecution or jury.

CrR 7.5(a)(2).

       The substantial right at issue here is the right to a fair trial, which is a

fundamental liberty secured by the Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments to the

United States Constitution and article I, section 22 of the Washington State

Constitution.    In re Glasmann, 175 Wn.2d 696, 703, 286 P.3d 673 (2012).

Prosecutorial misconduct may deprive a defendant of their constitutional right to a

fair trial. Id. at 703-704.

2 Under CrR 7.5(a)(6), a defendant also may move for a new trial if an error of law

occurs at the trial that the defendant objected to at the time, which we review de
novo. State v. Sanchez, 14 Wn. App. 2d 261, 266, 471 P.3d 910 (2020). However,
on appeal, Graham does not argue that the trial court committed an error of law.
He argues the trial court abused its discretion by misconstruing the facts, stating:
“[t]he court’s decision to deny Graham’s new trial motion was an abuse of
discretion because it was based on untenable grounds.”
                                         3
No. 83921-7-I/4

       “The defendant bears the burden of showing that the [State’s] comments

were improper and prejudicial.” State v. Lindsay, 180 Wn.2d 423, 430, 326 P.3d

125 (2014). Our inquiry of prosecutorial misconduct “consists of two prongs: (1)

whether the prosecutor's comments were improper; and (2) if so, whether the

improper comments caused prejudice.”            Id. at 431.   To show prejudice, “the

petitioners must show a substantial likelihood that the prosecutor’s statements

affected the jury’s verdict.” Id. at 440.

       “‘Except where questions of law are involved, a trial judge is invested with

broad discretion in granting motions for new trial.’” State v. Sanchez, 14 Wn. App.

2d 261, 266, 471 P.3d 910 (2020) (quoting State v. Williams, 96 Wn.2d 215, 221,

634 P.2d 868 (1981)). We review the factual determinations underlying allegations

of prosecutorial misconduct for an abuse of discretion. Lindsay, 180 Wn.2d at 430.

   2. Discussion

       On appeal, Graham argues that the State committed misconduct in making

its 911 argument, both because it encouraged the jury to speculate about facts not

in the record and because the 911 argument violated the court’s order on the

motion in limine.

           a. Preserved error

       As a preliminary matter, the State argues that Graham did not adequately

preserve his claim of prosecutorial misconduct for appeal. Specifically, the State

avers that Graham failed to preserve the error below because (a) he did not object

to the State’s 911 argument as a violation of the motion in limine (but only because

it encouraged the jury to speculate), and (b) because he did not request a curative

                                            4
No. 83921-7-I/5

instruction. For that reason, the State continues, Graham waived the objection

unless he shows the State’s misconduct was both flagrant and ill-intentioned, such

that the resulting prejudice could not be cured by the missing instruction.

       Indeed, at trial, Graham objected to the State’s 911 argument as asking the

jury to speculate “as to things that are not in evidence.” And on appeal, Graham

does not address the State’s challenge to the preservation of error because it first

appeared in the State’s response brief, and Graham did not file a reply.

Nonetheless, we find the State’s challenge unpersuasive.

       Generally, a party may preserve an error for appeal if, among other things,

“the record has been sufficiently developed to fairly consider the ground.” RAP

2.5(a). Moreover, “[i]n a case where the nature of the appeal is clear and the

relevant issues are argued in the body of the brief and citations are supplied so

that the Court is not greatly inconvenienced and the respondent is not prejudiced,

there is no compelling reason for the appellate court not to exercise its discretion

to consider the merits of the case or issue.” State v. Olson, 126 Wn.2d 315, 323,

893 P.2d 629 (1995). This issue meets these standards.

       Three unique aspects of this case counsel us to exercise our discretion to

consider the merits of Graham’s argument. First, the parties litigated the issue of

whether misconduct occurred twice below. In his motion for new trial, Graham

argued the State committed prosecutorial misconduct because the State exceeded

the agreed upon scope of the motion in limine. Then, the State briefed the same

issue in its motion for reconsideration. Both parties referred to the full record and

cited caselaw in their briefing. In neither set of briefing did the State claim that

                                         5
No. 83921-7-I/6

Graham waived the claim of error by not stating this specific basis of his objection.

As such, the general “nature of the appeal is clear,” the “relevant issues” are

relatively developed, and there appears no “compelling reason” for the court to fail

to exercise its discretion to reach the merits of Graham’s argument. Olson, 126

Wn.2d at 323.

       Second, to the extent that the specific objection was not fully litigated below,

this omission may be in part because the State quickly conceded, on the record,

that it committed misconduct in making its 911 argument:

       Your honor must find that the improper remark that I made in rebuttal
       – and I also want to . . . point out I am not disputing that it was
       improper. I conceded that . . . [i]t wasn’t until after I reflected upon it
       . . . that I realized yes, it did go beyond the limited purpose for which
       it was admitted . . . [a]nd so I want to apologize to your [sic] and
       defense.

       Moreover, the State conceded in its written motion for reconsideration the

precise basis of the misconduct was the violation of the motion in limine:

       The State does not dispute the Court’s previous finding that the
       challenged remark was misconduct because the remark did go
       beyond the limited purpose agreed to in motions in limine.

(emphasis added). This concession effectively shut down further consideration

about the legal basis of why the State committed misconduct.

       Instead, the State pivoted and focused its opposition to the motion for a new

trial on whether such misconduct prejudiced the result against Graham, stating:

“even if it was improper, the State’s position is that it is not prejudicial.” Thus, given

these concessions, the trial court had no further reason to consider the precise

basis of the State’s misconduct.

                                            6
No. 83921-7-I/7

       Third, in its briefing on appeal, the State does not contest the merits of

whether its 911 argument violated the motion in limine. The State only argues that

its prosecutor did not encourage the jurors to engage in speculation and that it did

not commit prosecutorial misconduct on that basis. We will accept that effective

concession.

       In short, Graham objected to the State’s 911 argument sufficiently below,

and this issue is sufficiently preserved for appeal. Thus, under RAP 2.5(a), we

choose to exercise our discretion to consider it.

       In turn, as the State conceded below (and by its silence on appeal) that

misconduct occurred, we will assume, without finding, that misconduct occurred

for purposes of the remaining analysis. Thus, we now examine whether that

misconduct prejudiced the result.

          b. Prejudice

                  i. Additional factual background

    In its closing argument, the State stated:

       This 911 caller felt the need to call 911 for a potential dispute. Would
       it be enough to cause someone to call 911 if they see a woman with
       her arms out, as Mr. Scharpp said, just saying, “Jeremiah, stop,” over
       and over, after two men walking away? Or is it more likely and
       reasonable that this 911 caller called it in because it was a man
       following a woman aggressively.

       Graham’s trial counsel objected: “Your Honor, I don’t think this is

permissible.   I think that’s calling for improper speculation.”      The trial court

responded by instructing the jury as follows:

       The jury knows the facts that were testified to. I’ll remind you that
       argument is not evidence, and you can draw whatever reasonable

                                          7
No. 83921-7-I/8

       inferences from that evidence. That the jury will determine what the
       evidence was at trial.

       In later granting the State’s motion for reconsideration (and denying the

motion for a new trial), the court found the State’s closing argument “created

substantial prejudice that would affect the jury’s verdict in the context of everything

. . . fundamental to the jury’s finding of guilt. And I have to conclude no.”

                  ii. Discussion 3

       Graham argues the misconduct was prejudicial “because it insinuated the

existence of facts the state had no evidence to support and invited the jury to

convict based on those insinuated facts.” In other words, according to Graham,

the State’s 911 argument was prejudicial, not just because it was a technical

violation of the motion in limine, but because it corroborated the officer’s version

of events at the scene. Graham claims he suffered the same type of prejudice

here as the defendant in State v. Fisher, 165 Wn.2d 727, 747, 202 P.3d 937 (2009).

       In Fisher, the trial court considered whether to admit evidence of Fisher

physically abusing his biological son and stepchildren, “in the form of Fisher

spanking, hitting, slapping, and kicking” them. Id. at 734. The trial court “expressly

conditioned” the admission of that evidence “only” to explain the victim’s delay in

3 The parties do not argue, and thus we do not address, the possibly gendered

nature of the State’s 911 argument, either that men are viewed as more dangerous
than women, or that women need protection. See Dalton M., LLC v. N. Cascade
Tr. Servs., 2 Wn.3d 36, 40, 534 P.3d 339 (2023) (“an appellate court may not raise
a new issue sua sponte if it is separate and distinct from the questions presented
and unnecessary to resolve those questions—especially when the new ‘issue’ is
more like a whole new unpleaded claim depending on factual allegations that were
never presented in or proved to the trial court”).
                                          8
No. 83921-7-I/9

reporting the charged sexual abuse, which delay the court expected would “come

up in the trial and be a major issue” for the defense. Id. at 734 & 746-47. “Despite

the pretrial ruling, comments and testimony regarding Fisher’s alleged physical

abuse came up throughout the proceedings”—including in the State’s opening

statement, its examination of several witnesses, and in its closing argument—even

though the defense did not raise the issue of delayed reporting. Id. at 734-735 &

747-48.

       With this evidence, the State “generate[d] a theme throughout the trial that

Fisher’s sexual abuse” of one child “was consistent with his physical abuse of all

his stepchildren and biological children,” which our Supreme Court found to be “an

impermissible use of the evidence,” as it violated ER 404(b) and constituted

misconduct. Id. at 748-49. Moreover, the Court held that there was a substantial

likelihood that the prosecuting attorney’s misconduct affected the jury because the

jury was “left with the wrong impression that it must convict Fisher to obtain justice

for the harm caused to [the other children], in addition to [the alleged victim of the

sexual abuse].” Id. at 749.

       The circumstances of this appeal are quite different.

       First, unlike Fisher, the State did not make its 911 argument in its opening

statement, nor did it explore it while examining any witness. Rather, the State

made one passing comment in its closing argument. Our courts have held that

similar inappropriate but passing comments in closing arguments may not

constitute misconduct. See, e.g., State v. Irby, 3 Wn. App. 2d 247, 265, 415 P.3d

                                          9
No. 83921-7-I/10

611 (2018) (two brief “challenged sentences” that evidence is not disputed is not

prosecutorial misconduct).

       Second, here, unlike in Fisher, Graham objected and the court issued a

limiting instruction. The limiting instruction reminded the jury not to consider the

argument as evidence.        We presume that the jury follows the trial court’s

instructions. State v. Emery, 174 Wn.2d 741, 754, 278 P.3d 653 (2012). Thus,

we presume this instruction sufficiently limited how the jury would consider the

State’s 911 argument, i.e., not as new substantive corroborating evidence, but as

the State’s view of the previously admitted fact that a 911 call occurred.

       Finally, the State’s inference from the 911 call was not the only evidence to

inform the jury’s verdict generally or even the only evidence about the state of

affairs at the scene. The jury heard testimony from two eyewitnesses, the police

officer and Graham’s friend. The officer testified that he saw Graham and J.R.

standing face to face arguing. The officer testified Graham answered his questions

and stated he knew he violated the no contact order, but wanted to “say good-

bye,” which admission was unrebutted. Graham did not contest these facts on

cross-examination.

       For his part, Graham’s friend testified Graham tried to avoid J.R. because

he knew he was not supposed to talk to her, but the friend otherwise left the scene

when the officer arrived, which left the officers testimony as the only evidence in

the record about the officer’s observations.

       In short, the State’s passing 911 argument did not create a substantial

likelihood that the prosecuting attorney’s misconduct affected the jury, which was

                                        10
No. 83921-7-I/11

instructed to not consider the 911 argument as evidence and which heard

overwhelming evidence of his guilt. Thus, the trial court did not err in declining to

grant a new trial on these facts.

B.     Victim Penalty Assessment

       In 2023, our legislature passed Engrossed Substitute House Bill (ESHB)

1169. LAWS OF 2023, ch. 449. ESHB 1169 prohibits courts from imposing the

Victim Penalty Assessment (VPA) upon indigent defendants. LAWS OF 2023, ch.

449, § 1; RCW 7.68.035(4); State v. Ellis, 27 Wn. App. 2d 1, 16, 530 P.3d 1048

(2023). The statute further requires trial courts to waive any VPA imposed prior to

the effective date if the offender is indigent. Id. The amendment took effect July

1, 2023. Id.

       After the law was enacted, this court decided Ellis. In that case, it concluded

that the amendment applied to Ellis because the case was on direct appeal. Id.

(citing State v. Ramirez, 191 Wn.2d 732, 748-49, 426 P.3d 714 (2018)). Because

there was not a finding on the record that Ellis was indigent, the court remanded

the case to “reconsider the imposition of the VPA based on that determination.”

Id.

       The trial court here sentenced Graham on April 12, 2022 before RCW

7.68.035(4) was effective.    However, his appeal was pending review on RCW

7.68.035(4)’s effective date. Graham filed a motion to strike the VPA from his

verdict on June 23, 2023. The Commissioner ruled that this motion should be

considered by the court on the merits due to the question of law.

                                         11
No. 83921-7-I/12

       The trial court deemed Graham indigent at the time of trial, and his counsel

declared that he remained indigent due to his incarceration at the time of his

appeal. The trial court granted his motion to appeal in pauperis.

       In response, while it objects to certain aspects of Graham’s motion to strike,

the State concedes that, because Graham is incarcerated at the time of appeal,

he is most likely still indigent. Further, the State does not object to allowing a post-

conviction motion to waive the previously imposed VPA. Therefore, accepting the

State’s concession, we remand this matter only for the trial court to waive the VPA.

                                III.   CONCLUSION

       We affirm the trial court’s judgment and sentence but remand this matter to

the trial court to waive the imposition of the VPA.

WE CONCUR:

                                          12