Court Opinion

ID: 987640
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-07-02 22:18:41.249672+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:18:49.196828
License: Public Domain

rE, FILED
                                                                                        oPT
                                                                                            F APPEALS
                                                                                            DIVIStON
                                                                                     101 J AP i 23
                                                                                                   P1112. Of
    IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WAS
                                                                                                 ASH

                                        DIVISION II
                                                                                                     T
STATE OF WASHINGTON,                                              No. 42233 6 II
                                                                            - -
                                                                 consolidated with
                              Respondent,                         No. 42236 14I
                                                                            -

       V.

JERRY ALLEN ANDERSON,                                        UNPUBLISHED OPINION

       PENOYAR, J. —Jerry     Anderson appeals his convictions for violation of a no contact order

and fourth degree assault. He argues that the trial court erred by (1)admitting written statements

by the victim and two witnesses as prior inconsistent statements because they were not given
under oath subject to penalty of perjury and were not made at an "other proceeding;"and (2)
including a prior class C felony conviction in his offender score and criminal record. Because
the trial court found that the witnesses were aware that their signed statements included the

penalty of perjury" language and because the statements were used in the standard process for
determining probable cause, we affirm the trial court's decision to admit the written statements
into evidence as prior inconsistent statements. Additionally, Anderson concedes that even if his
prior class C felony conviction is removed his offender score would remain unchanged. The
State's failure to provide reliable evidence establishing the accuracy of Anderson's offender
score is harmless. We affirm.

                                              FACTS

        On March 25, 2009, Anderson's fiancee, Lisa Garner, contacted the Longview Police
                                                                her.     Officer Leak arrived at
Department   to   report that Anderson had physically assaulted

Garner's home     shortly thereafter, at which time   Garner stated that Anderson had choked her.
42233 641 / 42236-
      -          1 II
                    -

Anderson was arrested and issued a citation for assault, and the Longview Municipal Court

subsequently entered a no contact order prohibiting Anderson from contacting Garner.

          On May 25, 2009, while the no contact order was still in effect, Anderson attended a

party with Garner at their Longview home. Garner's family members were also in attendance,
including her sister, Crystal Alvarado, and her brother inlaw,Eric Smith. Anderson attempted
                                                         - -

to leave the party. Garner did not want Anderson to leave, so she stood between him and the

door. Anderson pushed past Garner and went upstairs to get his jacket. Again Garner stood in

the door to prevent Anderson from leaving. Anderson pushed Garner to the ground and left the
house. At some point during this dispute, Anderson got on top of Garner and held her to the
ground.

           The next day, Garner called her daughter, Tiffany Denton, and told her that she had been
in   a   fight with Anderson   and that she needed to go to the   hospital. Denton took her to the

hospital    and called the   police. Dr. Martin Gillen examined Garner at the hospital and noted

marks on her neck consistent with strangulation.

           While at the hospital, Garner called Alvarado. and asked Alvarado to meet her there:
Alvarado and Smith arrived at the hospital where they discussed the previous day's events with
Garner.      The police took written statements from Garner, Alvarado, and Smith, all of whom
wrote their names in the blank of the perjury statement located at the bottom of each page.
Officer Charles Meadows took a second written statement from Garner on May 27, 2009 using

the same form. Garner's written statements said that Anderson body slammed and choked her in

their bedroom.        Alvarado's and Smith's written statements said that they each witnessed

Anderson pin down and choke Garner in the garage.

                                                   2
42233 6 II /42236 1 II
      - -         - -

       On January 20, 2011, the State charged Anderson with two counts of second degree

assault and violation of   a no    contact, protection, or restraining order.    On April 19, the State

further charged Anderson with second degree assault (domestic violence),second degree theft

domestic violence),and obstructing           a   law enforcement officer.     Anderson made a pretrial

motion to exclude Garner's, s, Alvarado's written statements, claiming they were
                           Smith' and

inadmissible hearsay. The trial court ruled that all of the statements were admissible.

       On May 20, the jury found Anderson guilty of violating a no contact order under RCW

110(
26. 0.
   4 fourth
   5 ), degree assault for his altercation with Garner on May 26, 2009 under RCW
041(
9A. 6.
   1),
   3  and obstructing               a   law enforcement officer under RCW       9A. 6. The trial
                                                                                020(
                                                                                   1).
                                                                                   7

court calculated Anderson's offender score at eight and sentenced him to 60 months in prison

with 12 months' community custody for violating a no contact order and two concurrent 30 day
                                                                                         -
sentences for the   fourth    degree assault and obstruction      of   justice convictions.'    Anderson

appeals.

                                                 ANALYSIS

I.     ADMISSIBILITY OF PRIOR INCONSISTENT STATEMENTS

        Anderson argues that the trial court abused its discretion by admitting Garner's, s,
                                                                                        Smith'
and Alvarado's written statements as prior inconsistent statements because the statements do not
meet   ER   1)( requirements.
            801(
               i)
               d)(                                Because each statement satisfies ER 801(
                                                                                      1)(i)
                                                                                         d)(

requirements, Anderson's arguments are not persuasive.

  Anderson's criminal history includes a September 8, 1997 second degree theft conviction and a
conviction for   possession   of   a    controlled substance committed   on   June   4, 2003. There is no
information in the record about how long Anderson was confined after his 1997 conviction.
                                                       93
42233 6 II /42236 1 II
      - -         - -

        A witness's prior inconsistent statement is admissible as substantive evidence if it
satisfies the elements of ER        1)( Under ER 801(
                                    801(
                                       i).
                                       d)(       1)( a prior written statement
                                                    i),
                                                    d)(

qualifies as nonhearsay evidence if t] declarant testifies at the trial or hearing and is subject
                                    "[ he
to cross examination concerning the statement, and the statement is (i)
                                                                      inconsistent with the

declarant's testimony, and was given under oath subject to the penalty of perjury at a trial,

hearing, or other proceeding, or in a deposition." Anderson concedes that Garner, Smith, and
Alvarado testified at trial and were subject to cross examination concerning their statements. It

is also undisputed that Garner's, s, Alvarado's trial testimony was inconsistent with
                                Smith' and
their prior written statements to police, so the two remaining issues are whether the statements

were given under oath subject to the penalty of perjury and whether the statements were given at
an " ther proceeding."
   o

         A.       Standard of Review

         Decisions involving evidentiary issues lie largely within the trial court's sound discretion

and will not be reversed on appeal unless it is clearly shown that the trial court 'exercised its

discretion in a manifestly unreasonable way, or on untenable grounds, or for untenable reasons.
State v. Castellanos, 132 Wn. d 94, 97, 935 P. d 1353 (1997);
                            2                2              State ex rel. Carroll v. Junker, 79
Wn. d 12, 26, 482 P. d 775 ( 1971).
  2                2                            The trial court is entrusted with determining whether

sufficient facts have been proven on preliminary questions addressing the admission of evidence.
State   v.   Guloy, 104 Wn. d 412, 419 20, 705 P. d 1182 ( 1985). When the admissibility of
                          2            -        2

evidence turns on a witness's credibility, the fact finderin this case the trial court—
                                                           —                          measures

witness credibility. State     v.   Camarillo, 115 Wn. d 60, 71, 794 P. d
                                                     2                2         850 ( 1990). We do not

review                 determinations        appeal. Camarillo, 115   Wn. d at 71.
                                                                        2
         credibility                    on
1-
11/
42233- 2236-
     11
     4
     6-

       B.      Oath Requirement

       Anderson argues that Garner's, s, Alvarado's statements were not made under
                                    Smith' and

oath subject.to the penalty of perjury as ER 801(
                                             1)(requires. Because the statements each
                                                i)
                                                d)(
satisfy RCW 9A. 2.requirements, Anderson's arguments are not persuasive.
            085
              7

       A declarant's prior written statement will meet the oath requirement if the declarant
actually takes an oath or his written statement complies with RCW 9A. 2. State v. Sua, 115
                                                                  085.
                                                                    7
Wn. App. 29, 48, 60 P. d 1234 (2003).
                     3              Under RCW 9A. 2.an unsworn written statement
                                              085,
                                                7

will satisfy the oath requirement if it:

        1)Recites that it is certified or declared by the person to be true under penalty of
        perjury;
        2) subscribed by the person;
          Is
        3)States the date and place of its execution; and
        4) States that it is so certified or declared under the laws of the state of
        Washington.

In other words, an unsworn written statement will satisfy the oath requirement if it is signed and
contains language such as, I certify (or declare) under penalty of perjury under the laws of the
                           "
State. of Washington that the foregoing is true and correct."State v. Nieto, 119 Wn. App. 157.,
161, 79 P. d 473 ( 2003) quoting RCW 9A. 2. But, it is not enough for a declarant to
         3               (           085).
                                       7

simply sign a document declaring that it is being made under penalty of perjury. Rather, the
declarant must understand that their statement is being made under penalty of perjury. State v.

Nelson, 74 Wn. App. 380, 390, 874 P. d 170 (1994).
                                   2

        Here, Anderson argues that the statements do not satisfy the oath requirements because

the witnesses all testified that they did not read or understand the perjury language in their
statements.    The trial   judge   did not find this testimony credible.    The Longview Police

Department Statement form upon which the statements were executed includes a clause stating:

                                                  E
42233 6 II /42236 1 II
      - -         - -

        I                   have read the above statement and I certify and declare it to be
        true and correct under the penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of
        Washington."

Exs.   13, 14, 15, 16, &   17. Garner, Smith, and Alvarado entered their names into the blank on

each page of their written statements and signed their names on the signature line beneath each
statement. They each listed the date and location where they gave their statements on the bottom
of each page. At trial, they admitted that they made the statements, and Alvarado stated that it
would seem odd for her to have placed her name in the blank without having read the perjury

statement. Garner, Smith, and Alvarado gave their statements under the penalty of perjury, they
subscribed the statements themselves, they included specific information as to the date and place

of the execution of the statement, and they made the statements under the laws of the State of

Washington. The statements comply. ith RCW 9A. 2.
                                 w         085.
                                             9

         Although Garner, Smith, and Alvarado testified that they did not understand that their
statements were made under penalty of perjury, the trial court did not find this testimony
credible 2
         .      We give deference to the trial court's credibility determinations and hold that
Garner's, s, Alvarado's statements all satisfy the ER 801(
        Smith' and                                    1)(oath requirement.
                                                         i)
                                                         d)(
         C. .     Other Proceeding Requirement

         Anderson further argues that the statements were not given at an "other proceeding" as

ER 801( )( because they do not contain minimal guaranties of truthfulness and they
   1)(requires
      i)
      d
were    not used to determine    probable   cause.   Because the statements were made under oath

2
    The trial court discussed the admissibility of Garner's statements at length during pretrial
proceedings, and determined that the statements were admissible. But, the trial court does not
 discuss the admissibility of Smith's and Alvarado's statements beyond overruling objections to
their admission. Because Smith's and Alvarado's statements were executed at the same time as
 one of Garner's statements, regarding the same events, and under the same conditions, it is
 apparent that the trial court extended the same reasoning for Garner's statements to the other two
 statements.
                                                     6
42233 6 II /42236 1 II
      - -         - -

subject to penalty of perjury and were used to determine probable cause, Anderson's argument
fails.

          To determine if               inconsistent statement   was   given   at   an "other   proceeding ",   courts
                            a   prior

consider the four Smith factors, which are: (1)whether the witness voluntarily made the

statement; ( )whether there are minimal guaranties of truthfulness; ( )whether the statement
           2                                                        3
was taken as standard procedure in one of the four legally permissible methods for determining

the existence of probable cause; and (4)whether the witness was subject to cross examination
when giving the subsequent inconsistent statement. State v. Smith, 97 Wn.2d 856, 861 63, 651
                                                                                     -
P. d 207 (1982). In determining whether evidence should be admitted, reliability is the key."
 2                "
Smith, 97 Wn.2d at 861. Courts should consider that the inconsistent statement is more likely to
be true than the testimony at trial because it was made closer to the events with less chance of
being influenced by fear or-forgetfulness. Smith, 97 Wn.2d at 861. The first and fourth Smith
factors   are   straightforward    and    are   not in   dispute in this   case.     The second factor, minimal

guaranties of truthfulness, is satisfied if the statement was attested to before a notary, given
under oath, and subject to penalty of perjury. Smith, 97 Wn. d at 862. Where a statement is
                                                           2
made under oath and subject to perjury, it is not required that the statement also be notarized.
State v. Binh Phach, 126 Wn. App. 297, 308, 106 P. d 782 (2005) holding that a declarant's
                                                 3              (
statement had minimal guaranties of truthfulness even though it was not notarized); Nelson, 74
Wn. App. at 389 90 (applying the same analysis to the oath requirement of ER 801(
                -                                                            1)(as
                                                                                i)
                                                                                d)(
the minimal guaranties of truthfulness requirement from Smith).
          The third Smith factor is met if the statement was taken as part of a standard procedure

 for filing an information by the prosecutor in superior court, a grand jury indictment, inquest
 proceedings, or filing a criminal complaint before a magistrate. Binh Thach, 126 Wn. App. at
                                                            7
42233 6 II /42236 1 II
      - -         - -

309 (quoting Smith, 97 Wn. d at 862).Where an officer gathers written statements related to a
                         2
domestic violence case and forwards those statements to the prosecutor and where the prosecutor

uses those statements to establish probable cause, the third Smith factor is met. Binh Thach, 126

Wn. App. at 309.

       Anderson concedes that Garner's Smith's, Alvarado's written statements satisfy the
                                              and

first and fourth criteria.        Therefore, the remaining issues are whether Garner's, s,
                                                                                       Smith' and

Alvarado's statements have minimal guaranties of truthfulness in satisfaction of the second

prong and whether they were used to determine the existence of probable cause in satisfaction of
the third prong.

       First, the statements have minimal guaranties of truthfulness because they were made

under oath and subject to the penalty of perjury. The statements were made under oath because
they satisfy the RCW 9A. 2.elements. They were made under penalty of perjury because
                     085
                       7
each party completed the perjury statement, and the trial court determined that their claims of
ignorance were not credible. Therefore, the statements have minimal guaranties of truthfulness
in satisfaction of the second Smith factor.

        Next, the statements were taken as standard procedure in one of the four legally

permissible methods for determining the existence of probable cause; therefore, they satisfy the
third Smith factor. Binh Thach, 126 Wn. App. at 308 09 (emphasizing that Smith statements
                                                    -

must be taken      as   part of   a   standard   procedure). The investigating officer who took Smith's

statement, Meadows, testified that he sent Garner's, s, Alvarado's statements to the
                                                   Smith' and
                                                                   statement of   probable   cause.   We held in
prosecutor and used those          statements to    complete   a

Binh Thach that similar use of a victim's statement by an officer and prosecutor satisfied the

third Smith factor, and the same reasoning applies here. See 126 Wn. App. at 309.
                                                         N.
42233 6 II /42236 1 II
      - -         - -

II.      OFFENDER SCORE AND CRIMINAL HISTORY

         Anderson also argues that his 1997 class C felony conviction was washed out under

RCW 9.
    c),
    525( 4A.and, therefore, it was improperly included in his criminal history and
       2)(
       9
offender score. Because Anderson's offender score and sentence remain the same whether or not

the class C felony is included in his offender score, the State's failure to reliably establish
Anderson's offender score was harmless.

         A defendant may challenge an illegal or erroneous sentence for the first time on appeal.
State   v.   Rivers, 130 Wn. App. 689, 697, 128 P. d 608 ( 2005). The State has the burden to
                                                 3

             reliable evidence to establish the accuracy of     an   offender   score   calculation. State v.
provide

Wilson, 113 Wn. App. 122, 136, 52 P. d 545 (2002).Where a trial court incorrectly calculates
                                   3
the standard sentencing range, as established by the defendant's offender score, the remedy is to

remand for resentencing unless the record clearly indicates that the sentencing court would have

imposed      the   same   sentence   anyway.   State v. Parker, 132 Wn. d 182, 192 93, 937 P. d 575
                                                                      2            -        2

1997).Under RCW 9. )( only wash out if the offender remains in the
                c),
                525( 4A.convictions
                   2
                   9
community without committing any crime that subsequently results in a conviction for the
specified period, which in this case is five years.

          In this case, while there were over five years between Anderson's 1997 conviction and

2003 crime, we cannot tell when he was released from custody for the 1997 conviction and thus
cannot tell if he     spent five crime free
                                        -      years in the   community. Therefore, the State failed to

provide reliable evidence establishing the accuracy of Anderson's offender score. But,Anderson
concedes that even if his offender score were changed to reflect the removal of his 1997 class C

felony conviction, his offender score would remain at eight and his sentence would remain
unchanged. Because the State's error was harmless, Anderson's argument fails.
                                                       9
1-
11/
42233- 2236-
     4
     6 11                 -

      We affirm.

      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

040,
2.6.it is so ordered.
 0

We concur:

      Van Deren, J.

         J,
         orswick,`
                C.

                                            r0