Court Opinion

ID: 9898129
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-11-14 19:28:39.627667+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:14:54.972730
License: Public Domain

Filed
                                                                                      Washington State
                                                                                      Court of Appeals
                                                                                       Division Two

                                                                                       October 24, 2023

    IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON

                                         DIVISION II
 In the Matter of the Personal Restraint of:                       No. 57449-7-II

 JEFFREY WILLIAM HOCH,
                                                            UNPUBLISHED OPINION
                               Petitioner.

       LEE, J. — Jeffrey W. Hoch has filed a personal restraint petition (PRP) seeking relief from

restraint following the Indeterminate Sentencing Review Board’s (ISRB) March 17, 2022 decision

finding him not releasable and adding 30 months to his minimum term. However, Hoch’s petition

is now moot. Accordingly, we dismiss Hoch’s petition.

                                               FACTS

       On August 4, 2005, Hoch pleaded guilty to two counts of second degree rape of a child.

On September 27, 2005, the superior court sentenced Hoch to a minimum term of 136 months’

confinement and a maximum term of life.

       On May 21, 2019, Hoch was released from confinement subject to community custody

conditions. On September 19, 2020, the ISRB revoked Hoch’s release based on several violations.

       On March 1, 2022, the ISRB held a hearing to determine whether to release Hoch from

confinement. Following the hearing, the ISRB found that Hoch was not releasable and added 30

months’ confinement to Hoch’s minimum term. Hoch filed a PRP challenging the ISRB’s March

17, 2022 releaseability decision.
No. 57449-7-II

       The ISRB provided a revised releasability decision entered on July 26, 2023. On August

18, 2023, the ISRB moved to dismiss Hoch’s petition as moot because Hoch is no longer being

restrained by the March 17, 2022 releaseability decision. Hoch did not file a response to the

ISRB’s motion to dismiss.

                                           ANALYSIS

       Hoch filed this PRP challenging the ISRB’s March 17, 2022 releasablility decision. The

ISRB argues that the petition is moot because the ISRB’s March 17, 2022 releasabiltiy decision is

no longer restraining Hoch. We agree with the ISRB and dismiss Hoch’s petition as moot.

       We will dismiss a case if it is moot. RAP 18.9(c). “‘A case is moot if a court can no longer

provide effective relief.’” State v. Ross, 152 Wn.2d 220, 228, 95 P.3d 1225 (2004) (quoting State

v. Gentry, 125 Wn.2d 570, 616, 888 P.2d 1105, cert. denied, 516 U.S. 843 (1995)).

       In light of the August 18, 2023 releasability decision, we can no longer grant Hoch effective

relief on his challenge to the ISRB’s March 17, 2022 releasability decision because that decision

is no longer restraining Hoch. The only remedy available in this petition is reversing the ISRB’s

March 17, 2022 releasability decision and ordering the ISRB to enter a new releasability

decision—which has already occurred with the July 26, 2023 releasability decision. Because we

cannot provide any effective relief on Hoch’s challenge to the ISRB’s March 17, 2022 releasability

decision, Hoch’s petition is moot. Accordingly, we dismiss Hoch’s petition.

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No. 57449-7-II

        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, J.

 Cruser, A.C.J.

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