Court Opinion

ID: 3201782
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-05-09 19:28:26.772106+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:28:15.689213
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
                                             DIVISION ONE
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MAX ORTIZ-TRIANA,                                                                                   **

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                              Appellant.                FILED: May 9, 2016

        Schindler, J. — A jury found Max Ortiz-Triana guilty of rape in the second

degree. Ortiz-Triana appealed, arguing the trial court erred in giving the State's

proposed jury instruction on consent and refusing to give the defense jury instruction

clarifying the relationship between the defense of consent and the burden of the State to

prove forcible compulsion. Relying on Supreme Court precedent, State v. Camara. 113

Wn.2d631.781 P.2d 483 (1989). and State v. Gregory. 158Wn.2d759, 147 P.3d 1201

(2006), we affirmed.1 State v. Ortiz-Triana. 169 Wash. App. 1026, 2012 WL 2989603, at

*3-*4. In State v.W.R.. 181 Wash. 2d 757, 770-71, 336 P.3d 1134 (2014), our Supreme

Court held that because consent negates the element of forcible compulsion, shifting

the burden to the defendant to prove consent violates due process, and overruled

        1We also rejected the argument that the trial court erred in failing to give a unanimity instruction
and refusing to instruct the jury on the lesser degree offense of rape in the third degree. State v. Ortiz-
Triana. 169 Wash. App. 1026, 2012 WL 2989603, at *5.
No. 67039-5-1/2

Camara and Gregory. The court granted the petition for review as to the consent

instruction and remanded for reconsideration in light of W.R. State v. Ortiz-Triana, 182
Wash. 2d 1022, 349 P.3d 819 (2015). On remand, Ortiz-Triana contends he is entitled to

reversal because the consent instruction violated his right to due process. The State

asserts the doctrine of invited error precludes his challenge to the jury instruction. In the

alternative, the State argues the error was harmless. We hold the invited error doctrine

does not preclude review and the error was not harmless. We reverse the conviction of

rape in the second degree and remand for a new trial.

       The facts are set forth in detail in the prior opinion. Ortiz-Triana, 2012 WL
2989603, at *1. The State charged Ortiz-Triana with one count of rape of M.P. in the

first degree with a deadly weapon and one count of child molestation of M.P. in the third

degree. Ortiz-Triana initially denied having sexual contact with M.P.

       At trial, M.P. testified Ortiz-Triana raped her over the course of several hours.

M.P. said that during the rape, Ortiz-Triana held a kitchen knife and threatened to kill

her. Ortiz-Triana admitted having sexual intercourse with M.P. but testified itwas

consensual. Ortiz-Triana denied displaying a knife or threatening M.P.

       The State proposed an instruction on the defense of consent based on former 11

Washington Practice: Washington Pattern Jury Instructions: Criminal (WPIC) 18.25, at

288 (3d ed. 2008). Former WPIC 18.25 states the defendant bears the burden of

proving the defense of consent by a preponderance of the evidence, and if "the
defendant has established this defense, it will be your duty to return a verdict of not
No. 67039-5-1/3

guilty."2

        Defense counsel objected to giving the proposed jury instruction on consent.

The attorney argued former WPIC 18.25 did not adequately describe the relationship

between the defense of consent and the burden of the State to prove forcible

compulsion beyond a reasonable doubt.

               So the obvious concern is, from the Defense perspective, the way
        the instruction is written is that it confuses the jury into believing that the
        State does not have a burden or the Defendant has some sort of burden
        regarding forcible compulsion, which he does not.

The defense proposed an alternative jury instruction. The proposed alternative

instruction clarified that even if the defendant did not prove consent, the jury could still

consider evidence of consent in determining whether the State proved forcible

compulsion beyond a reasonable doubt.

        [T]he reason I propose [the instruction]... is to make sure that the jury
        understands that they can also consider the consent and as far as dealing
        with forcible compulsion, the State is not relieved of that burden.

        The State acknowledged the defense proposed instruction "is an accurate

reflection of the law." But the prosecutor argued the instruction was not necessary and

deferred to the trial court.

        The trial court refused to give the defense proposed instruction on consent. The

court concluded the instruction was unnecessary and confusing, "It seems to me that

        2 Former WPIC 18.25 states, in pertinent part:
                A person is not guilty of [rape]... if the [sexual intercourse]... is consensual.
        Consent means that at the time of the act of [sexual intercourse]... there are actual
        words or conduct indicating freely given agreement to have [sexual intercourse]....
                The defendant has the burden of proving that the [sexual intercourse]. . . was
        consensual by a preponderance of the evidence. Preponderance of the evidence means
        that you must be persuaded, considering all of the evidence in the case, that it is more
        probably true than not true. If vou find that the defendant has established this defense, it
        will be your duty to return a verdict of not guilty fas to this charge],
(Emphasis added.)
No. 67039-5-1/4

the WPIC instruction is simpler for the jury." The court instructed the jury on consent

using the instruction proposed by the State.

       Jury instruction 14 states:

              A person is not guilty of rape if the sexual intercourse is
       consensual. Consent means that at the time of the act of sexual
       intercourse there are actual words or conduct indicating freely given
       agreement to have sexual intercourse.
             The defendant has the burden of proving this defense by a
       preponderance ofthe evidence. Preponderance ofthe evidence means
       that you must be persuaded, considering all the evidence in the case, that
       it is more probably true than not true. If you find that the defendant has
       established this defense, it will be your duty to return a verdict of not guilty
       as to this charge.

       The jury found Ortiz-Triana guilty of the lesser degree offense of rape in the
second degree and not guilty of child molestation in the third degree.
       On appeal, Ortiz-Triana argued the trial court erred in refusing to give his
proposed alternative jury instruction on consent that clarified the defense of consent and
the State's burden to prove forcible compulsion beyond a reasonable doubt. Relying on
Camara and Gregory, we affirmed. Ortiz-Triana, 2012 WL 2989603, at *3-*4.
       In Camara, the Washington Supreme Court held that "while there is a conceptual
overlap between the consent defense to rape and the rape crime's element of forcible
compulsion," placing the burden on the defendant to prove consent by a preponderance
 ofthe evidence did not violate due process. Camara, 113 Wash. 2d at 640. In Gregory,
 the court expressly declined to overrule Camara and reaffirmed that "due process
 permits an instruction requiring the defendant to prove consent." Gregory, 158 Wash. 2d
 at 802-03.

        Ortiz-Triana filed a petition for review. The Washington Supreme Court stayed
 the petition pending a decision in W.R.
No. 67039-5-1/5

       The Due Process Clause "protects the accused against conviction except upon

proof beyond a reasonable doubt of every fact necessary to constitute the crime with

which he is charged." In re Winship, 397 U.S. 358, 364, 90 S. Ct. 1068, 25 L. Ed. 2d
368 (1970); U.S. Const, amend. XIV, § 1 ("No state shall. .. deprive any person of life,

liberty, or property, without due process of law.").

       In Smith v. United States.           U.S.      , 133 S. Ct. 714, 184 L. Ed. 2d 570

(2013), the Court clarified that due process prohibits the State from shifting the burden

of proof to the defendant when an affirmative defense negates an element of the crime

charged. The Court held the burden of proving withdrawal from a criminal conspiracy

"rested firmly on the defendant" because the defense did not controvert any of the

elements of the offense itself. Smith, 133 S. Ct. at 718-19.

        In W.R., the court reexamined the relationship between the defense of consent3

and whether placing the burden of proving consent on the defendant violates due

process. The court held consent negates the forcible compulsion element of rape as
defined in RCW 9A.44.010(6). W.R.. 181 Wash. 2d at 765. RCW 9A.44.010(6) defines

"forcible compulsion" to mean "physical force which overcomes resistance, or a threat,

express or implied, that places a person in fear of death or physical injury to herself or

himself or another person, or in fear that she or he or another person will be kidnapped."

        [FJorcible compulsion contemplates force that overcomes actual
        resistance or threats that place a person in actual fear. There can be no
        forcible compulsion when the victim consents, as there is no resistance to

        3 RCW 9A.44.010(7) defines "consent" to mean that "at the time of the act of sexual intercourse
or sexual contact there are actual words or conduct indicating freely given agreement to have sexual
intercourse or sexual contact."
No. 67039-5-1/6

      overcome. Nor is there actual fear of death, physical injury, or kidnapping
      when the victim consents.

W.R.. 181 Wn.2dat765.

      The court held that because consent negates the element of forcible compulsion,

shifting the burden to the defendant to prove consent violates due process. W.R., 181
Wash. 2d at 765. "[W]hen a defense necessarily negates an element of the crime, it

violates due process to place the burden of proof on the defendant." W.R., 181 Wash. 2d

at 765. The court made clear that "[wjhile the defendant may be tasked with producing

evidence to put consent in issue, such evidence need only create reasonable doubt as

to the victim's consent." W.R., 181 Wash. 2d at 768. The court overruled the decision in

Camara and Gregory that consent does not negate forcible compulsion and that the

defendant must prove consent by a preponderance of the evidence. W.R., 181 Wash. 2d

at 771.

          The Washington Supreme Court granted the petition for review and remanded for

reconsideration in light ofW.R. Ortiz-Triana, 182 Wash. 2d at 1022. On remand, the State

concedes the jury instruction violated due process by requiring Ortiz-Triana to prove

consent by a preponderance of the evidence. However, the State maintains we may

not review the erroneous instruction because Ortiz-Triana invited the error. In the

alternative, the State argues the error was harmless.

Invited Error

          The doctrine of invited error is well established in Washington. State v. McNeil,

161 Wash. 221, 223, 296 P. 555 (1931).

          Generally speaking, no rule of law is better established than the rule that a
          party will not be heard to complain of an error which he induced the trial
          court to commit. Our own reports are replete with cases where the rule
No. 67039-5-1/7

      has been applied; so numerous, in fact, are the cases that no specific
      reference need be made to them.

McNeil, 161 Wash, at 223.

      Under the invited error doctrine, a defendant "may not request an instruction and

later complain on appeal that the requested instruction was given." State v. Henderson.

114 Wash. 2d 867, 870, 792 P.2d 514 (1990)4 (quoting State v. Bover, 91 Wash. 2d 342, 345,

588 P.2d 1151 (1979)). The invited error doctrine is strictlyenforced to prevent "parties

from benefiting from an error they caused at trial regardless of whether it was done

intentionally or unintentionally." State v. Recuenco. 154Wn.2d 156, 163, 110 P.3d 188

(2005). rev'd on other grounds by Washington v. Recuenco, 548 U.S. 212, 126 S. Ct.
2546, 165 L. Ed. 2d 466 (2006). The doctrine applies to errors of constitutional

magnitude. Recuenco, 154 Wash. 2d at 163: see also In re Pers. Restraint of Griffith. 102
Wash. 2d 100, 101-02, 683 P.2d 194 (1984); Bover, 91 Wash. 2d at 344-45.

       In Henderson, the trial court gave the defense proposed WPIC instructions

defining burglary. Henderson, 114 Wash. 2d at 868. The instructions did not identify the

intended crime. Henderson, 114 Wash. 2d at 869; see State v. Bergeron, 105Wn.2d 1,

16, 711 P.2d 1000 (1985) (instructions in burglary prosecution need not specify the

intended crime). For the first time on appeal, the defendant argued the trial courterred

by not instructing the jury on the intended crime based on case law at the time the

defendant committed the offense. Henderson, 114 Wash. 2d at 869; see State v. Johnson,

100 Wash. 2d 607, 625, 674 P.2d 145 (1983) (instructions in burglary prosecution must

specify and define the crimes intended). Our Supreme Court held the alleged error fell
squarely within the invited errordoctrine and precluded review. Henderson, 114Wn.2d

        Emphasis omitted.
No. 67039-5-1/8

at 868. "[Ejven if error was committed, of whatever kind, it was at the defendant's

invitation and he is therefore precluded from claiming on appeal that it is reversible

error." Henderson, 114 Wash. 2d at 870.

       Despite generally applying the invited error rule strictly, our Supreme Court has

recognized an exception. The court has declined to apply the invited error doctrine

where the defendant proposed an erroneous instruction but also proposed an

instruction that attempted to remedy or mitigate the error.

       In State v. Studd. 137 Wash. 2d 533, 538, 973 P.2d 1049 (1999), the court

considered six consolidated appeals challenging jury instructions on the law of self-

defense. In each case, the defendant challenged giving an instruction based on former

WPIC 16.01. WPIC 16.01, at 172 (2d ed. 1994). The former WPIC erroneously did not

clarify that "a defendant need not be in actual danger of imminent harm in order to act in

self-defense against a perceived aggressor, provided the defendant reasonably

believes himself to be in danger." Studd, 137 Wash. 2d at 538. Although the error was of

constitutional magnitude and presumed prejudicial, the court held the defendants who

proposed the erroneous instruction without attempting to add a remedial instruction had

invited the error. Studd, 137 Wash. 2d at 546-47.

       By contrast, the court held the invited error doctrine did not preclude review for

the defendants who requested the erroneous instruction but attempted to remedy or

clarify the deficient WPIC instruction. Studd, 137 Wash. 2d at 552.

       The fact that [the defendant] proposed much the same instruction is no
       bar to his challenge to it, for he also proposed a curative instruction that
       was not given and, thus, did not invite the error that he complains of now.

              The trial court in [the defendant's] case gave WPIC 16.02 verbatim
       to the jury, consistent with [the defendant's] request. [The defendant] had,

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No. 67039-5-1/9

      however, additionally requested an instruction identical to WPIC 16.07 as
      a curative instruction, and the trial court rejected that request. Thus the
      ambiguous language of WPIC 16.02 was unmitigated, and the jury might
      have understood a self-defense claim to require a showing that actual
      harm was imminent. Because the fatal ambiguity resulted from the State's
      successful objection to the clarifying instruction that [the defendant]
      proposed, [the defendant] cannot be said to have invited the error he
      complains of.

Studd, 137Wn.2dat552.5

       Here, the State argues the invited error doctrine precludes review because the

proposed defense consent instruction contained the same erroneous burden of proof.

The State's argument ignores the language of the defendant's proposed instruction that

attempts to clarify the burden of proof.

       The State proposed a consent jury instruction based on former WPIC 18.25.

Defense counsel objected to using former WPIC 18.25 and proposed an instruction that

attempted to clarify the relationship between the consent defense and the State's

burden of proving forcible compulsion within the constraints of Camara and Gregory.

       The proposed defense instruction on consent erroneously placed the burden of

proofon the defendant, but as the defense attorney explained, the instruction would

clarify that even if Ortiz-Triana failed to prove consent by a preponderance of the

evidence, the jury could still consider evidence of consent in determining whether the

State proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Ortiz-Triana acted with forcible

compulsion.

       [T]he obvious concern is, from the Defense perspective, the way the
       instruction is written is that it confuses the jury into believing that the State
       does not have a burden or the Defendant has some sort of burden
       regarding forcible compulsion, which he does not. He does have a burden
       under the case law — as strongly as I may disagree with the case law, the

       5 Internal quotation marks and citation omitted.
No. 67039-5-1/10

      case law does say the preponderance of the evidence is on the Defendant
      to establish the defense of consent.
              However, the reason I propose [the alternative instruction] — and
      it's quoted directly out of State v. Gregory, or at least the way I drafted it is
      very, very close to State v. Gregory, the portion that I read — is to make
      sure that the jury understands that they can also consider the consent and
      as far as dealing with forcible compulsion, the State is not relieved of that
      burden.

      The proposed alternative instruction states:

              Consent is an affirmative defense to the crime of rape and the
      defense bears the burden of proving consent by a preponderance of the
      evidence. Even if. however, you do not find consent established by a
       preponderance of the evidence, vou may still consider evidence of
      consent in determining whether or not the defendant acted with forcible
      compulsion and if vou find that there is sufficient evidence to raise a
      reasonable doubt as to that element, vou must acguit the defendant of the
       charge of rape in the first degree.®

The underlined clarifying portion of the defense proposed instruction is consistent with

the decision in W.R. that "[wjhile the defendant may be tasked with producing evidence

to put consent in issue, such evidence need only create reasonable doubt as to the

victim's consent." W.R., 181 Wash. 2d at 768.

       The record also clearly establishes defense counsel could have done nothing to

prevent the trial court from instructing the jury on the consent burden of proof using the
State's proposed WPIC instruction. Cf. State v. Vander Houwen, 163Wn.2d 25, 37,
177 P.3d 93 (2008) (invited errordoctrine did not bar review where trial court refused
defendant's original proposed instructions and defendant "was faced with either

submitting the case to the jury with no justification instruction at all, or else requesting
an alternate instruction that, while inadequate, provided at least some support for his

defense").

       6 Emphasis added.

                                              10
No. 67039-5-1/11

       Because the inclusion of the erroneous burden of proof in the defense proposed

instruction did not set up the instructional error, contribute even in part to the error, or

mislead the trial court in any manner, we conclude the invited error doctrine does not

preclude review.

Harmless Error

       In the alternative, the State contends the error was harmless because the to-

convict instruction set forth the State's burden to prove forcible compulsion beyond a

reasonable doubt, and the instructions directed the jury to consider all the evidence.

Because the consent jury instruction violated due process, "reversal is ordinarily the

proper remedy unless the State can prove the error was harmless beyond a reasonable

doubt." W.R., 181 Wash. 2d at 770.

       Although W.R. involved a bench trial, the analysis of harmless error provides

guidance. In W.R.. the defendant initially denied having any sexual contact but later
testified at trial that sexual intercourse was consensual. W.R., 181 Wash. 2d at 760. At

the conclusion of the bench trial, the judge stated credibility was the key issue and the

defendant was not credible. W.R., 181 Wash. 2d at 761. The judge concluded the State

had proved rape in the second degree beyond a reasonable doubt and the defendant

failed to prove consent by a preponderance of the evidence. W.R., 181 Wash. 2d at 761.

       The State argued any error related to the burden of proof on consent was

harmless because the trial judge found the defendant's guilt rested on credibility

determinations that were not subject to review on appeal. W.R., 181 Wash. 2d at 770.

The Supreme Court disagreed. The court held that because the trier offact and the
parties were acting under a misunderstanding of the law, the State could not

                                               11
No. 67039-5-1/12

demonstrate beyond a reasonable doubt that consideration of the correct burden of

proof would not have "swayed" the decision of the fact finder. W.R., 181 Wash. 2d at 770.
      [W]e cannot overlook the fact that the trial judge, in making his credibility
      determinations, acted within the incorrect framework.
             The defense and prosecution both relied on an incorrect
      understanding of the law when they fashioned and presented their
      arguments surrounding consent. Creating a reasonable doubt for the
      defense is far easier than proving the defense by a preponderance of the
      evidence. And the trial court's express conclusion was that W.R. did not
      prove consent. .. . The record does not show any consideration ofthe
      interplay between consent and forcible compulsion under the negates
      analysis, making it impossible for us to conclude beyond a reasonable
      doubt that a reasonable fact finder would not have been swayed by
      arguments made using the correct burden of proof.

W.R., 181 Wn.2dat770.

       Here, as in W.R., credibility was a primary issue. Ortiz-Triana initially denied

having sex with M.P. but testified at trial that sexual intercourse was consensual. As the
court states in W.R., even if the evidence does not establish consent by a

preponderance, it may still be sufficient to raise a reasonable doubt on the element of
forcible compulsion. SeeW.R., 181 Wash. 2d at 766 ("credible evidence ofconsent
necessarily raises doubt as to the defendant's guilt"). While the to-convict instruction
informed the jury the State had the burden of proving forcible compulsion, the
instructions provided no guidance on the correct relationship between consent and
forcible compulsion. Nor did the instructions suggest or clarify how the jury was to
assess the evidence of consent if itfound Ortiz-Triana failed to prove consent by a

preponderance of the evidence.

       As in W.R., because the trier of fact "acted within the incorrect framework," the

 record does not establish beyond a reasonable doubt that an understanding ofthe
 correct burden of proof would not have affected the outcome. W.R.. 181 Wash. 2d at 770.

                                             12
No. 67039-5-1/13

      We reverse Ortiz-Triana's conviction and remand for a new trial.

                                            SnJ>)-u\AdU>v
WE CONCUR:

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