Court Opinion

ID: 4512178
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-03-03 16:21:27.881343+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:48:42.902726
License: Public Domain

FILED
                                                                       MARCH 3, 2020
                                                                In the Office of the Clerk of Court
                                                               WA State Court of Appeals, Division III

            IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
                               DIVISION THREE

STATE OF WASHINGTON,                          )
                                              )         No. 36467-4-III
                     Respondent,              )
                                              )
       v.                                     )
                                              )
JASON LEE PLANQUE,                            )         UNPUBLISHED OPINION
                                              )
                     Appellant.               )

       KORSMO, J. — Jason Planque appeals from convictions for third degree assault

and resisting arrest, primarily challenging the refusal to grant a drug offender sentencing

alternative (DOSA) sentence. We affirm.

                                          FACTS

       An intoxicated Planque was accused of assaulting his mother; she called law

enforcement and reported that he had shoved her. Planque lived in a house he shared

with his mother and grandmother. Okanagan Deputy Sheriff Isaiah Holloway arrived at

the location shortly after midnight. The trial testimony painted distinctly different

versions of the ensuing encounter.
No. 36467-4-III
State v. Planque

       Holloway testified that Planque refused to shake hands with him and, after seeing

that Planque wore a knife sheath, the deputy advised Planque that he would be detained

pending the investigation. When the deputy attempted to handcuff Planque, the man

wrenched his arm free and twice shoved the deputy. The deputy eventually wrestled

Planque to the ground and handcuffed him. Mr. Planque never contended that he was

injured in the scuffle or that he had any physical limitations.

       In contrast, Planque testified that Holloway approached and struck him in the face.

When the deputy grabbed his arms, Planque protested that he had limited range of motion

in his arms. Because of his physical limitations, he could not have shoved the deputy.1

       The prosecutor argued in closing that Planque’s physical limitation argument was

uncorroborated and that no evidence supported the theory other than the defendant’s own

testimony. The jury convicted Planque of third degree assault and resisting arrest, but

acquitted him of fourth degree assault of his mother.

       At sentencing, Planque sought a residential DOSA sentence, relying on a letter

from his mother and his own allocution reporting a long-term struggle with alcoholism.

The court declined to grant the DOSA sentence, reasoning that voluntary treatment was

more appropriate in light of the lack of evidence that he was amenable to treatment. The

court imposed a standard range prison sentence.

       1
        Planque’s mother testified at trial that she did not remember her son shoving her.
The jury acquitted Planque of assaulting his mother.

                                              2
No. 36467-4-III
State v. Planque

       Mr. Planque timely appealed to this court. A panel considered his appeal without

hearing argument.

                                         ANALYSIS

       Mr. Planque argues that the prosecutor committed misconduct in closing argument

and that the court erred in declining his request for a DOSA sentence. We address those

arguments in the order listed. The parties also note that the judgment and sentence

references the former third degree assault statute instead of the current statute. We direct

that the trial court correct that notation on remand and do not otherwise discuss the issue.

       Prosecutorial Misconduct

       Mr. Planque first argues that the prosecutor committed misconduct in closing

argument by noting that his claim of physical limitation was uncorroborated. There was

no misconduct.

       Our review of this claim is in accordance with a basic principle of appellate

litigation. Appellate courts review trial court rulings; where, as here, there is no trial

court ruling to challenge, appellate review normally is not available. RAP 2.5(a). There

are certain exceptions to this doctrine that recognize a small class of errors that can be

reviewed even in the absence of a trial court challenge. The most common of those

exceptions, found in RAP 2.5(a)(3), permits review of a manifest error affecting a

constitutional right. A party claiming the existence of manifest constitutional error is first

required to establish the existence of error that is constitutional in nature. If such an error

                                               3
No. 36467-4-III
State v. Planque

is demonstrated, the party must then show that the error was not harmless and actually

had an identifiable and practical impact on the case. State v. Kirkman, 159 Wash. 2d 918,

934-935, 155 P.3d 125 (2007); State v. Scott, 110 Wash. 2d 682, 687-688, 757 P.2d 492

(1988).

       The case law reflects the application of this principle to claims of prosecutorial

misconduct. The appellant bears the burden of demonstrating prosecutorial misconduct

on appeal and must establish that the conduct was both improper and prejudicial. State v.

Stenson, 132 Wash. 2d 668, 718, 940 P.2d 1239 (1997). Prejudice occurs where there is a

substantial likelihood that the misconduct affected the jury’s verdict. Id. at 718-719. The

allegedly improper statements should be viewed within the context of the prosecutor’s

entire argument, the issues in the case, the evidence discussed in the argument, and the

jury instructions. State v. Brown, 132 Wash. 2d 529, 561, 940 P.2d 546 (1997).

       Reversal is not required where the alleged error could have been obviated by a

curative instruction. State v. Gentry, 125 Wash. 2d 570, 596, 888 P.2d 1105 (1995). The

failure to object constitutes a waiver unless the remark was so flagrant and ill-intentioned

that it evinced an enduring and resulting prejudice that could not have been neutralized

by an admonition to the jury. Id.; State v. Swan, 114 Wash. 2d 613, 665, 790 P.2d 610

(1990); State v. Belgarde, 110 Wash. 2d 504, 507, 755 P.2d 174 (1988). Finally, a

prosecutor has “wide latitude” in arguing inferences from the evidence presented.

Stenson, 132 Wash. 2d at 727. However, it is inappropriate for a prosecutor to suggest that

                                             4
No. 36467-4-III
State v. Planque

the defendant bears any burden of proof. State v. Fiallo-Lopez, 78 Wash. App. 717, 728-

729, 899 P.2d 1294 (1995).

       Mr. Planque testified that he could not have committed the crime as alleged due to

existing injuries. The prosecutor was free to attack the quality of that evidence in closing

argument. Once a defendant presents evidence, a prosecutor can fairly comment on what

was not produced. State v. Barrow, 60 Wash. App. 869, 871-873, 809 P.2d 209 (1991);

State v. Guizzotti, 60 Wash. App. 289, 298, 803 P.2d 808 (1991); State v. Contreras, 57
Wash. App. 471, 788 P.2d 1114 (1990). Here, Mr. Planque’s mother testified at trial and

could easily have been asked about her son’s injuries and alleged inability to shove

another adult. The defense never posited the question. It was not improper for the

prosecutor to comment on the lack of corroboration.

       The prosecutor did not engage in misconduct in closing argument. Because the

claim fails for that reason, we need not discuss whether this alleged error was prejudicial.

       Sentencing

       Mr. Planque also argues that the court erred in denying him a DOSA sentence.

Since he did not establish that he was amenable to treatment, there was no error.

       Mr. Planque received a standard range sentence. By statute, affirmed by our case

law, he cannot challenge that sentence. RCW 9.94A.585(1); State v. Grayson, 154
Wash. 2d 333, 338, 111 P.3d 1183 (2005). Instead, all he can challenge is the trial court’s

failure to follow a mandatory procedure at sentencing. State v. Mail, 121 Wash. 2d 707,

                                             5
No. 36467-4-III
State v. Planque

712, 854 P.2d 1042 (1993). Process-based challenges must point to a failure of the trial

court to follow a specific process required by the Sentencing Reform Act of 1981, ch.

9.94A RCW. Id. The refusal to consider a statutorily authorized procedure is an abuse of

discretion. State v. Garcia-Martinez, 88 Wash. App. 322, 330, 944 P.2d 1104 (1997).

Discretion is abused when it is exercised on untenable grounds or for untenable reasons.

State ex rel. Carroll v. Junker, 79 Wash. 2d 12, 26, 482 P.2d 775 (1971).

       A DOSA sentence is available when the seven eligibility criteria are satisfied and

the court deems a DOSA sentence appropriate. RCW 9.94A.660(1), (3). The trial

court’s decision to grant or deny DOSA is not reviewable. Grayson, 154 Wash. 2d at 338;

State v. Hender, 180 Wash. App. 895, 900, 324 P.3d 780 (2014). The trial judge has the

discretion to determine whether use of the sentencing alternative is appropriate. Hender,
180 Wash. App. at 900-901. However, the trial court abuses its discretion if it does not

actually consider the request. Id.

       That did not happen here. The court listened to Mr. Planque’s request, but deemed

it inappropriate. The court was not required to do more. Id. The sentence simply is not

appealable because the trial court did not fail to follow any mandatory procedure.

Grayson, 154 Wash. 2d at 338. But, even if the sentencing could be considered, there was

no abuse of discretion. Mr. Planque presented no evidence that he was amenable to

treatment. That failure was a tenable basis for declining the DOSA request.

                                            6
No. 36467-4-III
State v. Planque

       The court did not abuse its discretion in declining to grant a DOSA sentence.

Since he has not identified a failure of the trial court to follow a mandatory procedure,

this claim also is not reviewable.

      Affirmed and remanded to correct the scrivener's error.

      A majority of the panel has determined this opinion will not be printed in the

Washington Appellate Reports, but it will be filed for public record pursuant to RCW

2.06.040.

WE CONCUR:

 L,., ... ,v, tl _ gw...1q ,
        Lawrence-Berrey  ,.J. C.' �,

       Pennell, J.

                                             7