Court Opinion

ID: 987670
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-07-02 22:18:54.511798+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T10:32:52.661927
License: Public Domain

FILED
                                                                                    COURT OF APPEALS
                                                                                           f IVISlopq iI

                                                                                   200133 APR
                                                                                                16 AM g.Q$
      IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WAS
                                                                                  STMT '             INGTON
                                        DIVISION II                                E3 Y
                                                                                                  TY
STATE OF WASHINGTON,                                             No. 42091 1 II
                                                                           - -

                               Respondent,

         V.

BRIAN DANIEL BONBRIGHT,                                    UNPUBLISHED OPINION

         PENOYAR, J. — Brian   Daniel Bonbright appeals his convictions of three counts of third

degree child rape, one count of third degree child molestation, and one count of felony
communication with a minor for immoral purposes. Bonbright argues that a public trial right
violation occurred when the trial court met in chambers, without him, to discuss a jury question

with counsel. He also challenges the trial court's imposition of a community custody term that

exceeded the statutory maximum sentence when combined with the term of confinement

imposed. Finally, Bonbright challenges several community custody conditions. There was no

public trial right violation, but we remand for resentencing because the trial court did not have
the statutory authority to (1)impose a community custody term that, when combined with the

term of confinement imposed, exceeded the statutory maximum sentence; 2)
                                                                      ( prohibit Bonbright

from contacting SMK's family members for life; or (3)order Bonbright to obtain a substance .
abuse evaluation.

I
    In violation of RCW 9A. 4.
                        079.
                          4

2
    In violation of RCW 9A. 4.
                        089.
                          4

3
    In violation of RCW   090( 8A.
                          9. )
                             2
                             6
42091 1 II
      - -

                                              FACTS

         In   2009, Bonbright lived in Olympia with his wife and     two young   daughters. SMK,

Bonbright's wife's 15- old cousin, frequently visited the Bonbright home while her parents
                     year -

were   divorcing. SMK went to the Bonbright home after school approximately three times a

week; she also spent the night between five and six times per month. SMK " ecame part of [ he]
                                                                         b               t

family like she was another daughter."3 Report of Proceedings ( P)at 173.
                                                              R

         After SMK's spring break, the nature of her relationship with Bonbright changed.

Bonbright began sending SMK text messages with " irty pictures,"
                                               d               including photographs of his

penis, or " alking about stuff' that he wanted to do with SMK. 2 RP at 19.
          t

         One night, Bonbright was lying on a couch and told SMK he was waiting for her. She

lay next to him; Bonbright then.ook SMK's hand, put it down his pants, and rubbed it against
                               t
his   penis. He also put his hand up SMK's shirt. Approximately a week later, Bonbright had

sexual intercourse with SMK.        Bonbright had sexual intercourse with SMK on two more

occasions.

         In February 2010, SMK met with her mother and a counselor, Becky Cox. At one point

during the appointment; SMK spoke with the counselor alone. SMK told Cox that she had had
sexual intercourse with    Bonbright three times. Cox told SMK that she was required to report

what SMK had told her to law enforcement.

         The State charged Bonbright with three counts of third degree child rape, one count of

third degree child molestation, and one count of communication with a minor for immoral

purposes. The jury found Bonbright guilty as charged. .

4
    At the time of his trial,in April 2011, Bonbright was 37 years old.
                                                  2
42091 1 II
      - -

         During deliberations, the jury sent the judge a written question. The judge, prosecutor,

and defense counsel met in chambers to discuss their response. The question asked the court:

         What. is the   legal                  immoral purposes "?
                                 definition of "                                  Does the jury have to
         unanimously agree to the specific date and time of a specific text message that is
         immoral, or can the jury. unanimously agree that an immoral photograph or
         message was sent by the.Defendant without specific agreement as to a specific
         message? Can the jury unanimously agree that it was sent within a time frame?

Clerk's Papers (CP)at 86. The trial court responded, The Court cannot answer your questions.
                                                     "

Please re read your instructions."CP at 86.
          -

         The trial court imposed a sentence of 60 months' confinement for each count and 36

months of    community custody. The trial court ordered Bonbright to comply with several

conditions during the community custody term. Bonbright appeals.
                                                      ANALYSIS

I.       PUBLIC TRIAL

         Bonbright contends that a public trial right violation occurred when the trial court and

counsel conferred in chambers to determine how to respond to a jury inquiry. On this record, we

hold that the trial court did not violate Bonbright's or the public's right to an open and public
trial.

         Whether a public trial right violation exists is a question of law we review.de novo. State

v. Brightman, 155 Wn. d 506, 514, 122 P. d 150 (2005). The state and federal constitutions
                    2                  3

guarantee criminal defendants and the public the right to open and public trials. U. . CONST.
                                                                                   S
amends. I,VI; WASH. CONST. art. I, §§ 22; State
                                    10,                               v. Bennett, 168 Wn. App. 197, 201, 275

P. d 1224 (2012). The
 3                              right   to   a   public   trial "applies to all   judicial proceedings." State   v.

Momah, 167 Wn. d 140, 148, 217 P. d 321 ( 2009). T] e requirement of a public trial is
             2                  3                "[ h

primarily for the benefit of the accused: that the public may see he is fairly dealt with and not
                                                              3
42091 1 II
      - -

unjustly condemned and that the presence of interested spectators may keep his triers keenly

alive to a sense of the responsibility and to the importance of their functions." Momah, 167

Wn. d at 148.
  2

         Our Supreme Court has recently addressed whether an in-
                                                               chambers conference to discuss

a jury question seeking clarification of a jury instruction implicates the public trial right. State v

Sublett, 176 Wn. d 58, 292 P. d 715 (2012).In Sublett, the jury submitted a question to the trial
               2            3

court   seeking clarification of   a   jury instruction.   176 Wn. d at 67.
                                                                 2            The trial court met with

counsel in chambers to address the question. Sublett, 176 Wn. d at 67. Counsel agreed to the
                                                            2

trial court's answer to the jury question, which stated that the jury must reread its instructions.

Sublett, 176 Wn. d at 67. The Supreme Court applied the experience and logic test and held that
               2

a public trial right violation had not occurred. Sublett, 176 Wn. d at 72. The experience prong
                                                                2

asks "` hether the place and process have historically been open to the press and general
      w

public. "' Sublett, 176 Wn. d at 73 (quoting Press-
                          2                       Enterprise Co. v. Superior Court, 478 U. . 1,
                                                                                         S

8, 106 S. Ct. 2735, 92 L.Ed. 2d 1 ( 1986)). logic prong asks "`
                                         The                 whether public access plays a

significant positive role in the functioning of the particular process in question."'
                                                                                   Sublett, 176

Wn. d at 73 (quoting Press, 478 U. . at 8). court concluded that: Because the jury asked a
  2                              S        The                     "

question concerning the instructions, we view this as similar in nature to proceedings regarding

jury instructions in general. Historically, such proceedings have not necessarily been conducted

in an open courtroom."Sublett, 176 Wn. d at 75.
                                     2

         As in Sublett, here, the in-
                                    chambers conference involved a jury inquiry regarding a jury

instruction.   Historically, open court proceedings have not been required to discuss inquiries

regarding jury instructions. Further, no witnesses or testimony were involved and the question

                                                      0
42091 1 II
      - -

and answer were placed on the record. See Sublett, 176 Wn. d at 77. On this record, we hold
                                                         2
that the conference did not implicate either Bonbright's or the public's right to open proceedings.

H.     COMMUNITY CUSTODY TERM

       Bonbright correctly asserts that the trial court erred by ordering 60 months of

confinement and 36 months of community custody when the maximum sentence was 60 months.

The trial court did not have statutory authority to impose this sentence.

       A court's sentencing authority is limited to that granted by statute. State v. Skillman, 60
Wn.   App. 837, 838, 809 P. d 756 ( 1991). We review de novo questions of statutory
                          2

interpretation. Bennett, 168 Wn. App. at 207.

       A]court may not impose a sentence providing for a term of confinement or community

custody that exceeds the statutory maximum for the crime as provided in chapter 9A. 0 RCW."
                                                                                  2
RCW    505( 4A. Bonbright committed five class C felonies; the statutory maximum
       9. 5).
          9

sentence for each of those crimes is 60 months. RCW 9A. 4.
                                                    079(
                                                       2 RCW 089(
                                                       4 );9A. 4.
                                                                2 RCW
                                                                4 );

090( 8A.RCW 021(
9. );9A. 0.
   2
   6        c) 1)(
               2

       Under former RCW 9. )( the trial( required to sentence
                        a)
                        701( 5A. 2009),
                           1
                           9            court was

Bonbright to three years of community custody. But t] term of community custody specified
                                                   "[ he

by this section shall be reduced by the court whenever an offender's standard range term of
confinement in combination with the term of community custody exceeds the statutory

maximum for the crime as provided in RCW 9A. 0.Former RCW 9. ).
                                         021."
                                           2              701( 4A.
                                                             8
                                                             9

        Here,the trial court sentenced Bonbright to 60 months' confinement. The trial court also

ordered Bonbright to serve 36 months of community custody. Bonbright's standard range term
of confinement in combination with the term of community custody exceeds the statutory

maximum.     We "remand to the trial court to either amend the community custody term or
                                                 5
42091 1 II
      - -

resentence [ Bonbright]   ...   consistent with [former RCW 9.
                                                            701( 4A. State v. Boyd, 174
                                                               8)]."
                                                               9

Wn. d 470, 473, 275 P. d 321 (2012).
  2                  3
III.      COMMUNITY CUSTODY CONDITIONS

          A.     No Contact

          First, Bonbright contends that the trial court erred by imposing the community custody

condition ordering "[ o contact with the victim, SMK[,] immediate family for life and or as
                   n]                                and                              /

noted by the Court."CP at 74. Bonbright contends that the condition is unauthorized because it
exceeds the statutory maximum sentence. Because the judgment and sentence orders Bonbright

not to contact the victim for five years, the maximum statutory sentence, we conclude that the

trial court did not err with regard to its prohibition of contact with SMK; however, the judgment

and sentence is silent as to her family, and we remand to the trial court to clarify that Bonbright

shall not contact SMK's immediate family for five years.

          RCW 9. )( the trial court to impose " rime-
              f)
              703( 4A.authorizes
                 3
                 9                            c     related prohibitions"as

part of   any   community custody   term.   A "[ rime-
                                              c] related prohibition" is "an order of a court

prohibiting conduct that directly relates to the circumstances of the crime for which the offender
has been convicted."Former RCW 9.0).
                               030( 4A. Crime -related prohibitions are subject to the
                                  1
                                  9

same time limit as the statutory maximum for the defendant's crime. See State v. Armendariz,

160 Wn. d 106, 119, 156 P. d 201 (2007). We review crime -related prohibitions to determine
      2                  3

whether the trial court's decision is manifestly unreasonable or based on untenable grounds or

reasons. State v. Corbett, 158 Wn. App. 576, 597, 242 P. d 52 (2010).
                                                       3

5 The State asks us to order the trial court to amend the judgment and sentence to provide for a
term of community custody to coincide with the period of earned release. Bonbright contends
that the trial court must impose a fixed determinate sentence that does not vary according to the
amount of early release. We decline to restrict the resentencing court's discretionary authority
on remand and thus do not address this issue.
                                                  6
42091 1 II
      - -

       Bonbright's felony judgment and sentence reads, The defendant shall not have contact
                                                       "

with S. .
     K.... limited to, personal, verbal, telephonic, written or contact
      M including, but not

through a third party for 5 years (not to exceed the maximum statutory sentence)." at 65.
                                                                                 CP
Accordingly, as noted by the Court,"
             "                     Bonbright may not have contact with SMK for five years;

this is the statutory maximum for the crimes. See RCW 9A. 0.
                                                      c); );
                                                      021(
                                                         1)(
                                                         2  RCW 9A. 4.
                                                                079(
                                                                   2
                                                                   4

RCW 9A. 4.
    089(
       2 RCW 090( 8A. However, the judgment and sentence do not mention
       4 ); 9. ).
                2
                6

SMK's immediate family; therefore, we remand to clarify that Bonbright shall not contact
SMK's immediate family for five years.

       B.          Right to Parent

       Bonbright contends that the condition prohibiting him from having unsupervised contact

with minors unconstitutionally infringes on his fundamental right to parent. Bonbright has three

daughters;   the    children   were   ages   5, 7, and 16   at the time of   Bonbright's trial.   Because

Bonbright viewed SMK as a member of his family, we conclude that the condition is reasonably
necessary.to further the State's compelling interest in preventing harm and protecting children.

       Parents have a fundamental right to raise their children without State interference.

Corbett, 158 Wn. App. at 598. "Sentencing courts can restrict fundamental parenting rights by

conditioning a criminal sentence if the condition is reasonably necessary to further the State's

compelling interest in preventing harm and protecting children."Corbett, 158 Wn. App. at 598.
Accordingly, we must determine whether the record supports the proposition that prohibiting
Bonbright from unsupervised in-
                              person contact with his biological minor children is reasonably
necessary to prevent harm to his children.

                                                       7
42091 1 II
      - -

        This case is factually similar to Corbett, 158 Wn. App. 576, and State v. Berg, 147 Wn.

App. 923, 198 P. d 529 (2008),
               3             abrogated on other grounds by State v. Mutch, 171 Wn. d 646,
                                                                                 2

254 P. d 803 (2011).In Corbett, we upheld a community custody provision that prohibited the
     3

defendant from contact with his biological minor sons when the defendant sexually abused his

minor   stepdaughter   while she   was   living in   his home.   158 Wn. App. at 599. We affirmed the

provision, which prohibited the defendant from contacting all minors, because the defendant had

a history of using the trust established in a parental role to sexually abuse his stepdaughter.

Corbett, 158 Wn. App. at 599. Similarly, in Berg, Division One of this court affirmed the trial

court's order prohibiting the defendant from contact with female minors when the victim lived in
the home where the defendant        was   acting   as   her parent when the sexual abuse occurred. 147

Wn. App. at 942 43.
                -

        SMK was treated like a member of the family when the sexual abuse occurred. At trial,

Bonbright's wife testified that SMK " ecame part of the] family like she was another daughter.
                                    b               [

We treated her just that way."3 RP at 173. Bonbright testified that SMK " ecame basically an
                                                                        b
intricate member of the     family." 3     RP at 202.       SMK spent the night at the Bonbright home

several times per month and visited the house approximately three times each week. Bonbright

abused his role as a parental figure during this time. Because Bonbright's victim was treated as a,

member of his family, we conclude that the trial court did not err by prohibiting Bonbright from

unsupervised     person contact with his
               in-                            biological   minor children.
42091 1 II
      - -

        C.      Sexual Deviancy Treatment

        Bonbright argues that the trial court erred by ordering him to participate in a sexual

deviancy treatment program. Bonbright alleges that (1) condition is not sufficiently crime-
                                                      the

related because there is no evidence he has a sexual deviancy and (2) court did not make the
                                                                     the

requisite findings to order his participation in such a program. He contends that a sex offense

conviction is not "per se sufficient to show an offender has a sexual deviancy." Reply Br. of

Appellant at 8. Because there is evidence that Bonbright has a sexual deviancy and the treatment

program requirement is sufficiently crime related, we hold that the trial court did not err by

ordering the treatment.

        Bonbright relies on State v. Bahl, 164 Wn. d 739, 193 P. d 678 (2008), support his
                                                 2             3             to
assertion. His reliance         on   Bahl is   inapposite. In Bahl, our Supreme Court concluded that a

condition prohibiting the defendant from possessing or controlling sexual stimulus for his

particular deviancy, as defined by the supervising Community Corrections Officer and therapist,
was   unconstitutionally    vague.      164 Wn. d at 761. Bonbright's challenge, in contrast, is not a
                                              2

vagueness challenge.

        Here, a jury convicted Bonbright of 'third degree child rape, third degree child

molestation, and felony communication with                 a   minor for   immoral purposes.   Under RCW

c),
703( 4A.the court may order an offender to "[
9. 3)(
   9                                       p] articipate in crime -related treatment or

counseling   services"     as   part of any      term of   community custody.      Contrary to Bonbright's

assertions, there is evidence that Bonbright has a sexual deviancy: his sexual contact with SMK

was criminal. The sexual deviancy treatment program is related to his crime. We conclude that

the trial court had authority to order Bonbright to participate in a sexual deviancy treatment

program

                                                           9
42091 1 II
      - -

       D.        Sexually Explicit Material

       Bonbright also argues that the condition prohibiting him from possessing or perusing

sexually explicit      material is   unconstitutionally   vague.    He contends that "` exually explicit
                                                                                      s

material' does not provide ordinary persons with clear warning of what is proscribed." Br. of

Appellant    at 41.     Because the phrase is sufficiently clear, we hold that the condition is not

unconstitutionally vague.

       The due process vagueness doctrine under the Fourteenth Amendment and article I,

section 3 of the state constitution requires that citizens have fair warning of proscribed conduct.

Bahl, 164 Wn. d
            2          at 752. "A statute is   unconstitutionally   vague if it `(
                                                                                1)   ... not define the
                                                                                      does

criminal offense with sufficient definiteness that ordinary people can understand what conduct is

               2) ... not provide ascertainable standards of guilt to protect against arbitrary
proscribed, or (   does

enforcement. "'    Bahl, 164 Wn. d at 752 53 (quoting City of Spokane v. Douglass, 115 Wn. d
                               2          -                                              2

171, 178, 795 P. d 693 ( 1990)). statute is presumed to be constitutional unless it appears
               2               A

unconstitutional beyond a reasonable doubt, and the party challenging a statute carries the burden

of proving its unconstitutionality. State v. Halstien, 122 Wn. d 109, 118, 857 P. d 270 (1993).
                                                             2                  2

  I]
   mpossible      standards of   specificity' ... are not required because some degree of vagueness is

inherent in the use of language."Kalstien, 122 Wn. d at 118 (quoting City of Seattle v. Eze, 111
                                                 2

Wn. d 22,26, 759 P. d 366 (1988)).
  2               2

       Both parties rely on Bahl, 164 Wn. d 739. In Bahl, our Supreme Court held that the
                                        2

phrase "sexually explicit" in a community custody condition prohibiting the defendant from

frequenting establishments whose primary business pertains to sexually explicit or erotic
material   was   not   unconstitutionally   vague.   164 Wn. d at 760. The Supreme Court concluded
                                                           2

                                                       10
42091 1 II
      - -

that the condition was sufficiently clear when all of the challenged terms, with their dictionary

definitions, were considered together. Bahl, 164 Wn. d at 759 60.
                                                   2          -

       First, the Bahl court examined the dictionary definition of sexually explicit:"
                                                                   "

                     The dictionary definition of "explicit" is "characterized by full clear
       expression: being without vagueness or ambiguity . . . UNEQUIVOCAL."
       WEBSTER'S THIRD NEW INTERNATIONAL DICTIONARY 801 ( 2002)].
                       [
       The defendant] says that adding "sexual" to the term does not make it any
       clearer, because a "clear expression of sexuality" or "unequivocal sexual" is not
       illuminating. [The defendant's]   parsing of the phrase is artificial. Implementing
       the dictionary definition, the phrase more correctly is "clearly expressed sexual"
       materials or materials that are unequivocally sexual in nature.

164 Wn. d at 758 59.
      2          -

        The Supreme Court also noted that the phrase "sexually explicit" is defined in RCW

130.
9.8. Bahl, 164 Wn. d at 759. Under RCW 9.8. is unlawful to display " exually
  6              2                     130(
                                          l it
                                          6 ),                     s

explicit material if the actor] knowingly exhibits such material on a viewing screen so that the
                     [

sexually explicit material is easily visible from a public thoroughfare, park or playground or

from   one      or   more    family dwelling units." RCW 9.8. defines "[sexually explicit
                                                         130(
                                                            2
                                                            6 )          ]

material"as

        any pictorial material displaying direct physical stimulation of unclothed genitals,
        masturbation, sodomy (i. bestiality or oral or anal intercourse),flagellation or
                                 e.
        torture in the context of a sexual relationship, or emphasizing the depiction of
        adult human           genitals:   PROVIDED HOWEVER, That works of art or of
        anthropological significance shall not be deemed to be within the foregoing
        definition.

        Further, the Supreme Court noted that other courts, including the Ninth Circuit, have
concluded that the          phrase "sexually explicit   conduct" is neither vague   nor   overly broad. See

United States v. Rearden, 349 F. d 608, 620 (9th Cir. 2003). Although the community custody
                               3

provision at issue in Bahl is different from the condition at issue here, the Supreme Court's

analysis   is   helpful. The dictionary definition and the statutory definition of sexually explicit
                                                         11
42091 1 II
      - -

material provide Bonbright with sufficient notice of what conduct is prohibited. We conclude

that the condition Bonbright challenges is not unconstitutionally vague.

       E.        Overbreadth

       Bonbright     asserts   that   the   conditions       ordering him to "[s] out of business
                                                                                tay

establishments offering sexually explicit material or entertainment" and to "[ ] t frequent or
                                                                             no

loiter in areas where children congregate (including, but not limited to, fast food establishments,

shopping malls, parks, playgrounds, schools, video arcades, etc.)" unconstitutionally
                                                                 are
overbroad. Br. of    Appellant    at 42.    Because the prohibitions are crime -related conditions of

community custody, we reject his overbreadth challenge.

       A criminal statute that `sweeps constitutionally protected free speech activities within its

prohibitions' may be overbroad and thus violate the First Amendment."State v. Stephenson, 89

Wn. App. 794, 800, 950 P. d 38 (1998) quoting City of Seattle v. Abercrombie, 85 Wn. App.
                        2             (
393, 397, 945 P. d 1132 (1997). When considering whether a criminal statute is overbroad,
               2

courts consider whether (1)the challenged statute reaches constitutionally protected speech or

expression   and ( 2)whether it       proscribes   a   real and substantial amount of   speech. State v.

Knowles, 91 Wn. App. 367, 372, 957 P. d 797 (1998). However, an offender's constitutional
                                    2               "

rights during community placement are subject to SRA-
                                                    authorized infringements, including
crime -
      related    prohibitions." State v. McKee, 141 Wn. App. 22, 37, 167 P. d 575 ( 2007)
                                                                          3

rejecting defendant's argument that community custody conditions relating to pornography were

overbroad because they were crime -related conditions).

        Here, Bonbright is      not    challenging     criminal statutes.   He is challenging conditions

imposed   as a
                 part of his community custody          sentence.   He does not argue that the trial court

imposed conditions that do not reasonably relate to the circumstances of his offense, his risk of
                                                        12
42091 1 II
      - -

reoffending,   or   the                               703( 4A. We reject Bonbright's
                          community's safety. See RCW 9.
                                                      d).3)(
                                                         9

claims that the conditions at issue are overbroad.

       F.        Substance Abuse

       Bonbright contends that the trial court erred when it imposed conditions ordering him to

1)s] to random urinalysis andor breathalyzer at the direction of a Community
  "[ ubmit                   /

Corrections Officer" and (2)O]tain a Substance Abuse evaluation and comply with any
                            "[ b
recommended treatment." CP at 75. We conclude that the trial court had statutory authority to

prohibit Bonbright from consuming alcohol and to impose related monitoring conditions;
however, the trial court did not have statutory authority to order Bonbright to obtain a substance

abuse evaluation when it played no part in his crimes.

       As part of any term of community custody, the court may order an offender to .. .

r]
 efrain   from                              703( 4A. A court has authority to impose
                    consuming alcohol." RCW 9.
                                            e).3)(
                                               9

                 that              compliance   with   community custody conditions.          See   RCW
requirements              ensure

d)
703( 4A. As part
9. )( of any term of community custody, the court may order an offender to
   3
   9             (           "

    p] in rehabilitative programs or otherwise perform affirmative conduct reasonably
     articipate
related to the circumstances of the offense, the offender's risk of reoffending, or the safety of the

community. ");State v. Combs, 102 Wn. App. 949, 952, 10 P. d 1101 (2000) concluding that
                                                         3               (

trial court had statutory authority to order defendant to submit to polygraph testing to monitor

compliance with the community placement order).

        The State concedes that because substance abuse played no part in Bonbright's crimes,

the trial court erred     by ordering Bonbright   to   obtain   a   substance abuse evaluation. We agree.

Without evidence that substance use or abuse contributed to Bonbright's crimes, the court could

not impose any substance abuse evaluation or treatment conditions.
                                                       13
42091 1 II
      - -

       We affirm Bonbright's convictions but remand for resentencing.

       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:

       Quinn -
             Brintnall, J.

       Worswick, O. .
                  J

                                             14