Court Opinion

ID: 4299607
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-07-31 18:59:51.226766+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:23:23.482535
License: Public Domain

Filed
                                                                                          Washington State
                                                                                          Court of Appeals
                                                                                           Division Two

                                                                                            July 31, 2018
      IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON

                                         DIVISION II
    STATE OF WASHINGTON,                                             No. 49474-4-II

                                 Respondent,

           v.

    CLEON ORVILLE MOEN,                                          PUBLISHED OPINION

                                 Appellant.

         WORSWICK, J. — Cleon Orville Moen appeals his conviction for aggravated first degree

murder and his sentence to mandatory life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. Moen

argues that the trial court abused its discretion by denying his midtrial motion to excuse a juror

and that his sentence under RCW 10.95.030(1) violates the constitutional prohibition against

cruel punishment. Moen raises several additional issues in his Statement of Additional Grounds

(SAG) for Review. We affirm Moen’s conviction and sentence.

                                               FACTS

                                          I. BACKGROUND

         In 2014, Moen was charged with fourth degree assault against his wife, Michelle.1

Michelle testified at the trial. The trial resulted in a hung jury. Immediately after the trial, Moen

attempted to commit suicide by shooting himself in the head with a shotgun in the courthouse

parking lot. Moen sustained a number of injuries as a result of the gunshot.

1
    We refer to Michelle Moen by her first name to avoid confusion and intend no disrespect.
No. 49474-4-II

       Soon after, Moen filed for divorce and moved out of the residence he shared with

Michelle. Later, Michelle filed a motion to hold Moen in contempt for failing to make required

property and maintenance payments. After Moen was served with notice of Michelle’s motion,

he hid in a trailer located on Michelle’s property. Moen waited for Michelle to leave the home

and broke into the residence. When Michelle returned, Moen struck her in the head with an axe.

A struggle ensued, and Moen strangled Michelle to death with an electrical cord.

       After strangling Michelle, Moen attempted to commit suicide by asphyxiating himself.

The police apprehended Moen, and the State charged him with aggravated first degree murder.2

Moen was 73 years old.

                                             II. TRIAL

       At trial, witnesses testified to the above facts. During a break on the first day of trial,

juror 4 notified the bailiff that Moen’s family had contacted her to establish long-term care for

Moen after his gunshot injuries. Juror 4 was the executive director of an assisted living facility.

The trial court questioned juror 4:

       THE COURT: Okay. So why don’t you tell us what happened or what information
       you learned . . . .
       JUROR: I don’t recall if it was the family that first came to us or if we received
       paperwork from the hospital with medical information about the gunshot wound. I
       didn’t realize that until it was mentioned this morning that there was a gunshot
       wound. And the family did come in shortly after that looking for placement. I only
       met family. We did not take him. We didn’t feel that that was the right care for
       him.
       THE COURT: Okay. So the family that came in, do you remember who the family
       members were?
       JUROR: I don’t, no.

2
  RCW 9A.32.030(1)(a); see RCW 10.95.020(8), (11), (14); former RCW 9.94A.533(3), (4)
(2015).

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No. 49474-4-II

       THE COURT: How many people, any idea?
       JUROR: I want to say it was one, maybe two.
       THE COURT: Maybe two people? And do you have an estimate about the time
       that you spent with them?
       JUROR: Maybe a half-hour, if that.
       THE COURT: Okay. And do you recall any information that they may have shared
       related to why the care needed to be or just any background information?
       JUROR: The only thing that I recall is that the family was looking for placement
       because of the gunshot wound.
       ....
       THE COURT: . . . [D]id you gain information or learn any information about Mr.
       Moen, the circumstances of how the gunshot was inflicted or the circumstances
       surrounding it?
       JUROR: Just that it happened outside the courthouse.
       ....
       [MOEN]: . . . Because it was Mr. Moen’s family members, I mean, would you feel
       now that you’d have to convict him because you’d have to bend over backwards to
       show neutrality?
       JUROR: No.
       [MOEN]: You can still keep an open mind on it?
       JUROR: Yes.

3 Verbatim Report of Proceedings (VRP) at 317-19. Juror 4 also stated that she was able to

decide the case based on the facts and evidence.

       Moen moved to excuse juror 4, arguing that she could not be impartial because she had

met Moen’s family members and because she would convict Moen to prove her impartiality.

The trial court denied Moen’s motion. The trial court determined that juror 4 did not

demonstrate bias or prejudice because she stated that she would be able to keep an open mind

throughout trial. The trial court also noted that juror 4 had limited contact with Moen’s family

and could not recall anything of substance.

       Moen asserted a diminished capacity defense at trial. Moen’s expert witness, Robert

Stanulis, diagnosed Moen with frontal temporal dementia and testified that Moen’s symptoms

                                                   3
No. 49474-4-II

were more consistent with dementia than a personality disorder. Stanulis also stated that those

with dementia suffer from memory problems, personality changes, and disordered thinking. The

State’s expert witness, Ray Hendrickson, diagnosed Moen with adjustment disorder and a history

of major depressive disorder.

       The jury found Moen guilty of aggravated first degree murder.

                                        III. SENTENCING

       At sentencing, Moen requested that the trial court impose an exceptional downward

sentence because his dementia diagnosis was a mitigating circumstance. Moen argued that

although RCW 10.95.030(1) prescribes a mandatory life sentence without the possibility of

parole, a life imprisonment sentence constituted cruel punishment under the federal and state

constitutions because Moen had been diagnosed with dementia.

       The trial court denied Moen’s request, determining that a sentence of life imprisonment

was not cruel punishment and that any consideration of mitigating circumstances was barred by

RCW 10.95.030(1). The trial court subsequently sentenced Moen to mandatory life

imprisonment without the possibility of parole under RCW 10.95.030(1). Moen appeals.

                                          ANALYSIS

       Moen argues that the trial court abused its discretion by denying his midtrial motion to

excuse juror 4 and that his sentence under RCW 10.95.030(1) violates the constitutional

prohibition against cruel punishment. We disagree.

                                                4
No. 49474-4-II

                                  I. MOTION TO EXCUSE JUROR

       Moen argues that the trial court abused its discretion in denying his midtrial motion to

excuse juror 4 because the juror failed to disclose that she met with members of Moen’s family

to discuss long-term care.3 We disagree.

       We review a trial court’s decision about whether to excuse a juror for an abuse of

discretion. State v. Depaz, 165 Wn.2d 842, 852, 204 P.3d 217 (2009). The trial court is best

able to observe the juror’s demeanor and, based on that observation, interpret and evaluate the

juror’s answers to determine the juror’s impartiality. State v. Davis, 175 Wn.2d 287, 312, 290

P.3d 43 (2012). A trial court abuses its discretion when its decision is based on untenable

grounds or reasons. Depaz, 165 Wn.2d at 852.

       The Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution and article I, section 22 of the

Washington Constitution guarantee a defendant the right to a criminal trial by an impartial jury.

State v. Yates, 161 Wn.2d 714, 742, 168 P.3d 359 (2007). A trial court is required to excuse

from further jury service any juror, who in the opinion of the judge, has manifested unfitness by

reason of bias or prejudice. RCW 2.36.110. “The question for the judge is whether the

3
  Moen suggests that juror 4 demonstrated implied bias because she had an affinity within the
fourth degree to Moen. A juror must be excluded when she demonstrates implied bias. State v.
Slert, 186 Wn.2d 869, 877, 383 P.3d 466 (2016). RCW 4.44.180(1) provides four bases by
which a juror may be excluded for implied bias, including a juror’s “[c]onsanguinity or affinity
within the fourth degree to either party.” But juror 4 did not have any relation to Moen. See
State v. Boiko, 138 Wn. App. 256, 264, 156 P.3d 934 (2007). Moreover, RCW 4.44.180 does not
provide that a juror’s knowledge of a case demonstrates implied bias. Accordingly, juror 4 did
not demonstrate implied bias under RCW 4.44.180(1).

                                                5
No. 49474-4-II

challenged juror can set aside preconceived ideas and try the case fairly and impartially.” Hough

v. Stockbridge, 152 Wn. App. 328, 341, 216 P.3d 1077 (2009).

        Moen relies on State v. Cho, 108 Wn. App. 315, 30 P.3d 496 (2001), to support his

argument that juror 4 failed to disclose material information and exhibited bias. However, Cho

is distinguishable. In Cho, a juror did not disclose that he was a retired police officer during voir

dire. 108 Wn. App. at 319. The juror’s answers during voir dire “raise[d] a troubling inference

of deliberate concealment.” 108 Wn. App. at 327. The Cho court determined that it could

presume the juror’s bias because he deliberately construed his answers during voir dire to

conceal that he had been employed as a police officer. 108 Wn. App. at 328.

        Here, there is no inference that juror 4 deliberately concealed any facts. During voir dire,

the jury was not offered any information regarding Moen’s attempted suicide. In addition, juror

4 informed the bailiff of the potential conflict soon after hearing trial testimony regarding

Moen’s attempted suicide and resulting injuries.

        The trial court examined juror 4 about any potential bias, and juror 4 unequivocally stated

that she would decide the case fairly, based on the facts and evidence presented. Juror 4 did not

demonstrate bias or prejudice. Accordingly, the trial court’s decision not to excuse juror 4 was

based on tenable grounds, and the court did not abuse its discretion.

                                       II. CRUEL PUNISHMENT

        Moen argues that RCW 10.95.030(1), which requires that a defendant convicted of

aggravated first degree murder be sentenced to mandatory life imprisonment without the

possibility of parole, is unconstitutional because the statute violates article I, section 14’s

                                                   6
No. 49474-4-II

prohibition against cruel punishment. Specifically, Moen argues that the cruel punishment

clause of both the federal and state constitutions categorically bars those with dementia from

being sentenced under RCW 10.95.030(1).4 We disagree. Sentencing a defendant with dementia

to mandatory life imprisonment without the possibility of parole under RCW 10.95.030(1) is not

categorically barred by article I, section 14’s prohibition against cruel punishment.

A.     Legal Principles

       The constitutionality of a statute is a question of law that we review de novo. State v.

Abrams, 163 Wn.2d 277, 282, 178 P.3d 1021 (2008). We presume that a statute is

constitutional. 163 Wn.2d at 282. The party challenging the statute bears the burden of proving

its unconstitutionality beyond a reasonable doubt. 163 Wn.2d at 282.

       RCW 10.95.030(1) provides that “any person convicted of the crime of aggravated first

degree murder shall be sentenced to life imprisonment without possibility of release or parole.”

RCW 10.95.030(1) does not give a trial court discretion to consider mitigating factors and depart

from the prescribed life sentence. State v. Meas, 118 Wn. App. 297, 306, 75 P.3d 998 (2003).

       Article I, section 14 of the Washington Constitution prohibits “cruel punishment.” State

v. Witherspoon, 180 Wn.2d 875, 887, 329 P.3d 888 (2014). Similarly, the Eighth Amendment to

the United States Constitution prohibits cruel and unusual punishment. 180 Wn.2d at 887.

4
 Moen argues that it is cruel to sentence “elderly persons with age-related mental infirmities” to
mandatory life imprisonment without the possibility of parole under RCW 10.95.030(1). Br. of
Appellant at 33. Moen alleges that he suffers from the age-related mental infirmity of
dementia. As a result, we address only the narrow issue of whether it is cruel to sentence a
person diagnosed with dementia to mandatory life imprisonment without the possibility of
parole.

                                                 7
No. 49474-4-II

Washington’s constitutional provision is more protective than its Eighth Amendment

counterpart. 180 Wn.2d at 887.

       A defendant’s sentence is considered cruel “when it is grossly disproportionate to the

crime for which it is imposed.” State v. Morin, 100 Wn. App. 25, 29, 995 P.2d 113 (2000). A

defendant may challenge the proportionality of his sentence in two different ways.5 Graham v.

Florida, 560 U.S. 48, 130 S. Ct. 2011, 2021, 176 L. Ed. 2d 825 (2010). First, a defendant may

argue that his sentence is grossly disproportionate given the circumstances of that particular

defendant. 130 S. Ct. at 2021. Federal courts refer to this type of challenge as an “as-applied”

challenge. See United States v. Shill, 740 F.3d 1347, 1355 (9th Cir. 2014); United States v.

Cobler, 748 F.3d 570, 575 (4th Cir. 2014). When reviewing an as-applied challenge, we

compare the defendant’s sentence to (1) the gravity of the defendant’s offense and the harshness

of the penalty, (2) sentences for other offenses in the same jurisdiction, and (3) sentences for

similar offenses in other jurisdictions. Graham, 130 S. Ct. at 2022; see Cobler, 748 F.3d at 576.

       Second, a defendant may assert a categorical challenge, arguing that an entire class of

sentences is disproportionate based on “the nature of the offense” or the characteristics of a class

of offenders. Graham, 130 S. Ct. at 2022. When a defendant raises a categorical challenge to

his sentence, we conduct a two-step analysis. See 130 S. Ct. at 2022. First, we consider

“‘objective indicia of society’s standards, as expressed in legislative enactments and state

5
  “Although the federal courts’ interpretations of federal law are not binding on this state’s
interpretation of parallel state laws and constitutional provisions, the opinions of the United
States Supreme Court ‘are nevertheless important guides on the subjects which they squarely
address.’” State v. Fortune, 128 Wn.2d 464, 474-75, 909 P.2d 930 (1996) (quoting State v.
Gunwall, 106 Wn.2d 54, 61, 720 P.2d 808 (1986)).

                                                 8
No. 49474-4-II

practice’ to determine whether there is a national consensus against the sentencing practice at

issue.” 130 S. Ct. at 2022 (quoting Roper v. Simmons, 543 U.S. 551, 572, 125 S. Ct. 1183, 161

L. Ed. 2d 1 (2005)). We also consider actual sentencing practices in our consensus inquiry. 130

S. Ct. at 2023.

       Then, we look to “the standards elaborated by controlling precedents and by the Court’s

own understanding and interpretation of the Eighth Amendment’s text, history, meaning, and

purpose.” Kennedy v. Louisiana, 554 U.S. 407, 128 S. Ct. 2641, 2650, 171 L. Ed. 2d 525 (2008).

We also exercise our independent judgment and consider the culpability of the defendants at

issue in light of their crimes and characteristics, as well as the severity of the sentence at

issue. Graham, 130 S. Ct. at 2026.

B.        Categorical and As-Applied Challenges

       As an initial matter, the State argues that we should analyze Moen’s argument as an as-

applied challenge to his sentence, the standard of which is detailed in State v. Fain, 94 Wn.2d

387, 617 P.2d 720 (1980). We disagree.

       In Fain, the defendant argued that his life sentence under the habitual offender statute

was unconstitutional because it constituted cruel punishment under article I, section 14 of the

state constitution and was disproportionate to the nature of his crimes. 94 Wn.2d at 390-91, 402.

The Washington Supreme Court held that courts are to consider four factors when determining

whether a defendant’s sentence is proportional to the specific set of facts in his case. 94 Wn.2d

at 396-97. The four factors are: “(1) the nature of the offense; (2) the legislative purpose behind

the . . . statute; (3) the punishment defendant would have received in other jurisdictions for the

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No. 49474-4-II

same offense; and (4) the punishment meted out for other offenses in the same jurisdiction.” 94

Wn.2d at 397.

       Fain is inapposite here. The Fain court addressed whether the defendant’s life

imprisonment sentence was disproportionate given the circumstances of the particular

defendant’s crime. As a result, the defendant brought an as-applied challenge to his sentence.

See Graham, 130 S. Ct. at 2022. Moen’s argument on appeal is wholly different from an as-

applied challenge. Moen does not argue that his sentence is disproportionate only because he

was diagnosed with dementia. Instead, Moen argues that, as a rule, it is unconstitutional to

sentence a class of defendants, those suffering from dementia, to mandatory life imprisonment.

Accordingly, Moen raises a categorical challenge to his sentence. See 130 S. Ct. at 2022.

       Because Moen “challenges a sentencing statute as applied to a class of [defendants],

rather than solely the constitutionality of his sentence alone, the categorical approach is

necessary.” State v. Bassett, 198 Wn. App. 714, 738, 394 P.3d 430 (2017). Thus, we reject the

State’s argument, and we review Moen’s argument as a categorical challenge to his mandatory

life imprisonment sentence.

C.      Categorical Challenge Analysis

       The two-step analysis for a categorical challenge requires us to consider (1) objective

indicia of society’s standards to determine whether there is national consensus against sentencing

those with dementia to mandatory life imprisonment and (2) our own understanding of the

prohibition of cruel punishment. See Graham, 130 S. Ct. at 2022, 2026. We hold that

sentencing a defendant with dementia to mandatory life imprisonment without the possibility of

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No. 49474-4-II

parole under RCW 10.95.030(1) is not categorically barred by article I, section 14’s prohibition

against cruel punishment.

       Moen does not provide any legislative enactments or state practices regarding sentencing

those with dementia to mandatory life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. And our

review of other jurisdictions’ statutes and case law shows that there is no national consensus

against sentencing those with dementia to life imprisonment. Rather, several jurisdictions have

held that it is not cruel or unusual to sentence an elderly defendant with infirmities to either death

or life imprisonment. Allen v. Ornoski, 435 F.3d 946, 954 (9th Cir. 2006) (holding that the

Eighth Amendment does not forbid execution of “elderly and infirm” death-row inmates);

Commonwealth v. Green, 406 Pa. Super. 120, 122, 593 A.2d 899 (1991) (holding that sentencing

an elderly defendant who suffers from a number of infirmities to life imprisonment does not

violate the prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment).

       Moreover, in our independent judgment, sentencing a defendant diagnosed with dementia

to mandatory life imprisonment is not cruel punishment under article I, section 14. Washington

courts have historically held that it is not cruel to sentence a defendant convicted of aggravated

first degree murder to a mandatory sentence of life without the possibility of parole. In re Pers.

Restraint of Snook, 67 Wn. App. 714, 720, 840 P.2d 207 (1992). Moen suggests that those

diagnosed with dementia are less morally culpable. However, the jury rejected Moen’s

diminished capacity defense at trial. Even assuming that those with dementia are less culpable

due to mental deficiencies, Moen has not shown that it is cruel to imprison such a defendant for

the remainder of his life.

                                                 11
No. 49474-4-II

       Moen argues that we should extend our holding in Bassett to defendants who have been

diagnosed with dementia because both juveniles and those with dementia “have difficulty

regulating impulse control, are poor at estimating risks, and engage in ill-considered behavior.”

Br. of Appellant at 38-39. But Moen’s comparison of those with dementia to juveniles is

unavailing.

       In Bassett, we determined that juvenile defendants are categorically barred from being

sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole under RCW 10.95.030(3)(a)(ii).

198 Wn. App. at 744. Precedent establishes that juveniles are constitutionally different than

adults for purposes of sentencing because juveniles have diminished culpability and greater

prospects for reform. Miller v. Alabama, 567 U.S. 460, 132 S. Ct. 2455, 2464, 183 L. Ed. 2d 407

(2012). Juveniles have “a ‘lack of maturity and an underdeveloped sense of responsibility,’

leading to recklessness, impulsivity, and heedless risk-taking.” 132 S. Ct. at 2464 (quoting

Roper, 125 S. Ct. at 1195). Juveniles also have a greater capacity to change and reform their

deficiencies than adults. 132 S. Ct. at 2464-65.

       Moen’s argument is unpersuasive because he fails to show that those who suffer from

dementia similarly have diminished culpability. Juveniles are precluded from mandatory life

sentences in part because of their prospects to rehabilitate as their brains develop. But Moen

does not argue that defendants diagnosed with dementia may improve their mental conditions or

be rehabilitated. In addition, Moen does not demonstrate that the moral culpability of those with

dementia is lessened by virtue of their illness.

                                                   12
No. 49474-4-II

       Moen’s citation to cases prohibiting death sentences for those with intellectual disabilities

is similarly unpersuasive because Moen was not sentenced to death. A number of jurisdictions

have affirmed sentences of life imprisonment without parole for intellectually disabled or brain

damaged defendants. Commonwealth v. Jones, 479 Mass. 1, 18, 90 N.E.3d 1238 (2018) (holding

that it is not cruel and unusual punishment to sentence a defendant who has been diagnosed with

a developmental disability to life in prison without the possibility of parole); Baxter v.

Mississippi, 2012-KA-01032-COA, 177 So. 3d 423, ¶ 83 (Miss. Ct. App. 2014) (stating that the

defendant’s “intellectual disability only precluded the death penalty, not life imprisonment

without parole”), aff’d, 2012-CT-01032-SCT, 177 So. 3d 394 (Miss. 2015). These decisions

implicitly recognize that it is not unconstitutional to sentence a defendant with mental deficits to

prison for the remainder of his life.

       Moen fails to meet his burden in showing that RCW 10.95.030(1) is unconstitutional.

Consequently, we hold that sentencing a defendant with dementia to mandatory life

imprisonment without the possibility of parole under RCW 10.95.030(1) is not categorically

barred by article I, section 14’s prohibition against cruel punishment.6

D.     Consideration of Mitigating Circumstances

       Moen also briefly argues that the trial court erred by failing to consider his dementia as a

mitigating circumstance during sentencing. A trial court’s discretion to impose a sentence is

6
 Because we determine that Moen’s mandatory life imprisonment without the possibility of
parole does not violate article I, section 14 of the state constitution, we do not further analyze
Moen’s sentence under the Eighth Amendment. Witherspoon, 180 Wn.2d at 887.

                                                 13
No. 49474-4-II

limited to that granted by the legislature. State v. Soto, 177 Wn. App. 706, 713, 309 P.3d 596

(2013). As stated above, RCW 10.95.030(1) does not give the trial court discretion to consider

mitigating factors and depart from the prescribed life sentence. Meas, 118 Wn. App. at 306.

Accordingly, the trial court did not err in determining that RCW 10.95.030(1) prohibited it from

considering mitigating circumstances when imposing Moen’s sentence.7

                                          CONCLUSION

          We affirm Moen’s conviction and sentence because the trial court did not abuse its

discretion in denying Moen’s midtrial motion to excuse a juror and because sentencing a

defendant with dementia to mandatory life imprisonment without the possibility of parole under

RCW 10.95.030(1) is not categorically barred by article I, section 14’s prohibition against cruel

punishment.

                                                                      Worswick, J.
    We concur:

    Maxa, C.J.

    Lee, J.

7
  Moen filed a SAG contending that he received ineffective assistance of counsel and that the
trial court erred in denying his expert witness’s, Stanulis, request to testify out of order due to a
pre-scheduled vacation. Because Moen’s ineffective assistance of counsel claim depends on
facts outside the record on appeal, we do not review it. Additionally, the record does not support
Moen’s claim that the trial court erred in denying Stanulis’s request to testify out of order. On
the contrary, the trial court permitted Stanulis to testify out of order.

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