Court Opinion

ID: 4236930
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-01-16 22:40:32.393646+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:42:51.473022
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE STATE OF WASHINGTON

STATE OF WASHINGTON,
                                                 No. 74962-5-1
                                                                                 e=t     01c.,
                      Respondent,                                                        -4c
        v.                                       DIVISION ONE
                                                                                 m:        Q
                                                                                         =w-ya
 HUNG VAN NGUYEN,                                UNPUBLISHED OPINION             —           ---
                                                                                         - -01-
                                                                                         ›--tRr,
                                                                                 2A      (4t-n,--.'
                      Appellant.                 FILED: January 16, 2018
                                                                                 ••      MO)
                                                                                          c:3
                                                                                 CA,

       LEACH, J. — Hung Van Nguyen appeals his convictions and his sentence.                —

Nguyen challenges the trial court's competency determination. He also challenges

his aggravated sentence of life without the possibility of parole under the Persistent

Offender Accountability Act of the Sentencing Reform Act of 1981 (POAA)1 based

on multiple constitutional grounds. We reject his challenges and affirm.

                                   BACKGROUND

       At the time of the offense, Hung Van Nguyen had known Thu Nguyen and

her boyfriend for almost 20 years. They had previously allowed Nguyen to stay

at their home. In December 2014, Thu repeatedly called police because she had

asked Nguyen to leave her home and he had refused. On December 12, 2014,

Thu woke up from a nap to see Nguyen walking out of her bedroom closet with a

       1 Ch. 9.94A RCW.
No. 74962-5-1/ 2

knife. Nguyen stabbed Thu more than 10 times. Nguyen stopped stabbing Thu

only when Thu's friend Linh Truong intervened. Nguyen also stabbed Truong in

the side.

      The State charged Nguyen with assault in the first degree of Thu and

assault in the second degree of Truong. The court ordered a mental health

evaluation. Consistent with the evaluator's conclusion, the court found Nguyen

competent to stand trial. A jury found Nguyen guilty as charged. The court

concluded that the State had proved Nguyen had committed two prior strike

offenses and was a persistent offender under the POAA.2 Nguyen's prior strike

offenses include a 1994 conviction for first degree burglary and a 2012 conviction

for second degree assault by strangulation. As required by the POAA,the court

imposed a term of life in prison without the possibility of parole. Nguyen appeals

his convictions and his sentence.

                            STANDARD OF REVIEW

       Reviewing courts defer to the trial court's judgment of a defendant's

competency.3 We will reverse a trial court's competency decision only upon finding

an abuse of discretion.4 We review constitutional issues de novo.5

       2 RCW  9.94A.570.
       3 Statev. Coley, 180 Wash. 2d 543, 551, 326 P.3d 702(2014).
      4 Coley, 180 Wash. 2d at 551.
      5 State v. Langstead, 155 Wash. App. 448, 452, 228 P.3d 799 (2010).

                                        -2-
No. 74962-5-1/ 3

                                    ANALYSIS

                                    Competency

       Nguyen asserts that the trial court abused its discretion in ruling that he was

competent to stand trial. "A defendant's competency is a necessary prerequisite

for a fair criminal trial."6 If a court has reason to doubt a defendant's competency,

its failure to observe adequate procedures to determine competency violates the

defendant's Fourteenth Amendment due process right.7 Chapter 10.77 RCW

provides the procedures necessary to determine competency.8 "[S]o long as a

defendant maintains a challenge to competency, the chapter 10.77 RCW

procedures are mandatory to satisfy due process."9 The trial court's compliance

with these procedures satisfies the defendant's due process right.16

       If a court has reason to doubt the defendant's competency, the statute

requires that court to order an expert to "evaluate and report upon the mental

condition of the defendant."11 To establish competency in Washington, the expert

must find that the defendant(1) understands the nature of the charges and (2) is

capable of assisting in his defense.12 The party challenging competency must

prove that the defendant is incompetent by a preponderance of the evidence.13

       6 State  v. Heddrick, 166 Wash. 2d 898, 900, 215 P.3d 201 (2009).
       7 Heddrick, 166 Wash. 2d at 904.
       8 Heddrick, 166 Wash. 2d at 904.
       9 Heddrick, 166 Wash. 2d at 909.
       10 Coley, 180 Wash. 2d at 559.
       11 RCW 10.77.060(1)(a).
       12 In re Pers. Restraint of Fleming, 142 Wn.2d 853,862, 16 P.3d 610(2001).
       13 Coley, 180 Wash. 2d at 555.

                                         -3-
No. 74962-5-1/4

       Nguyen contends that the trial court did not give adequate weight to his

counsel's representations about his lack of competency and thus violated the

procedures it is required to follow to ensure him due process. We disagree.

       The trial court followed the statutory procedures required by chapter 10.77

RCW to determine whether Nguyen was competent to stand trial. Nguyen's

counsel raised concerns about Nguyen's competency. The State concurred in a

request for a competency evaluation. The trial court granted the request. Dr.

Deanna Frantz evaluated Nguyen and concluded that he was competent to stand

trial. An expert opinion that a defendant is competent provides a reasonable basis

for a trial court's conclusion that the defendant is competent.14 The trial court held

a competency hearing and, consistent with Frantz's opinion, found that Nguyen

was competent to proceed.

       During the competency hearing, Nguyen's counsel stated that he had

concerns regarding Nguyen's capacity to assist counsel. Counsel noted that

Frantz did not have access to medical records relating to a likely head injury.

Nguyen asserts that the trial court should have accepted his counsel's opinion

instead of Frantz's. He cites State v. Lord15 for the proposition that the trial court

must give "considerable weight" to defense counsel's opinion regarding his client's

competency and ability to assist the defense. But this deference to counsel is

relevant only when the court is making the initial determination on whether to grant

       14 State v. Lawrence, 166 Wash. App. 378, 389, 271 P.3d 280(2012).
       15 117 Wash. 2d 829, 901, 822 P.2d 177(1991).

                                         -4-
No. 74962-5-1 / 5

a motion to determine competency, not when the court is ruling on the defendant's

competency.

       At the sentencing hearing, counsel repeated his concerns about Nguyen's

competency. Counsel stated, "[My] concerns have remained with me during this

entire matter." But once the court makes a competency determination, it is not

required to revisit competency unless "new information presented has altered the

status quo ante."16 Counsel's concerns did not provide new information requiring

the court to revisit its competency determination. Thus,the trial court did not abuse

its discretion when it decided that Nguyen was competent to stand trial.

                             Facial Validity of Prior Conviction

       Nguyen next asserts that his 2012 conviction for second degree assault was

not a qualifying offense under the POAA because the conviction is constitutionality

invalid on its face. To impose a life sentence without the possibility of parole under

the POAA, the defendant must have two prior qualifying convictions.17 The court

cannot consider a prior conviction that is unconstitutional on its face.16 "Invalid on

its face' means the judgment and sentence evidences the invalidity without further

elaboration."19 Although the court may consider documents signed as part of a

       16 State v. Ortiz, 119 Wash. 2d 294, 301, 831 P.2d 1060 (1992).
       17 RCW 9.94A.570. "Persistent offender" is an offender who has been
convicted in Washington of any felony considered a "most serious offense" in
addition to two prior felonies in Washington considered "most serious offenses."
RCW 9.94A.030(38)(a).
       18 State v. Ammons, 105 Wash. 2d 175, 187-88, 713 P.2d 719 (1986).
       19 In re Pers. Restraint of Hemenwav, 147 Wash. 2d 529, 532, 55 P.3d 615
(2002)(citing In re Pers. Restraint of Goodwin, 146 Wash. 2d 861, 866, 50 P.3d 618
(2002)).

                                         -5-
No. 74962-5-1/6

plea agreement in determining facial invalidity, they are relevant only in assessing

the validity of the judgment and sentence.2°

       Nguyen pleaded guilty to second degree assault by strangulation in 2012.

He claims that while the statute requires proof that the defendant actually

assaulted another by strangulation, he admitted only to attempting to strangle the

victim. He maintains that because he did not admit in his guilty plea statement the

conduct that constitutes the offense, his plea was not knowing, intelligent, and

voluntary and thus constitutionally invalid. We disagree.

       Due process requires that a defendant's guilty plea be knowing, intelligent,

and voluntary.21 Whether the defendant establishes the factual basis for the

offense in his guilty plea statement provides an indication of whether the plea was

voluntary.22 But any reliable information contained in the record can provide the

factual basis for a plea and prove that the plea was voluntary.23 Thus, we need

not determine whether the facts Nguyen admitted in his guilty plea statement

satisfy the elements of second degree assault by strangulation because failure to

establish a factual basis in the guilty plea statement alone does not show that the

plea was involuntary. And Nguyen fails to show that the record does not otherwise

       20 Hemenwav, 147 Wash. 2d at 532.
       21 In re Pers. Restraint of Hews, 108 Wash. 2d 579, 590,741 P.2d 983(1987).
       22 Hews, 108 Wash. 2d at 592 ("The Constitution does not require the
establishment in all cases of a factual basis for a guilty plea, but it does require
that a plea be voluntary. Failure to establish a factual basis is likely to affect
voluntariness." (citations omitted) (quoting United States v. Johnson, 612 F.2d
305, 309 (7th Cir. 1980)))).
       23 In re Pers. Restraint of Keene, 95 Wash. 2d 203, 210 n.2, 622 P.2d 360
(1980).

                                        -6-
No. 74962-5-1/ 7

prove that he was aware of the elements of the crime. Thus, he does not establish

that his plea was involuntary or that his judgment and sentence was facially

invalid.24 The trial court did not err in relying on Nguyen's 2012 conviction to

aggravate his sentence under the POAA.

                          Cruel and Unusual Punishment

       Nguyen also claims that a sentence of life without the possibility of parole

violates the federal and state constitutions' prohibition against cruel and unusual

punishment because he committed his first strike offense when he was only 20

years old. The Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution25 and article

I, section 14 of the Washington Constitution26 prohibit cruel punishment. This

includes punishment disproportionate to the crime committed.27 Nguyen cites a

number of United States Supreme Court cases to support that life in prison without

the possibility of parole is a disproportionate punishment for youth.28

       24 See Langstead, 155 Wash. App. at 457-58 (holding that Langstead failed to
establish the facial invalidity of his judgment and sentence because the guilty plea
form did not prove that he was not otherwise informed that an unlawful taking of
property was an element of the offense).
       25 Solem v. Helm, 463 U.S. 277, 284, 103 S. Ct. 3001, 77 L. Ed. 2d 637
(1983).
       26 State v. Manussier, 129 Wash. 2d 652, 676, 921 P.2d 473(1996).
       27 Solem, 463 U.S. at 284 (discussing the Eighth Amendment); Manussier,
129 Wash. 2d at 676 (discussing article 1, section 14).
       28 See, e.g., Graham v. Florida, 560 U.S. 48, 74-75, 130 S. Ct. 2011, 176 L.
Ed. 2d 825 (2010)(holding that juveniles who commit a nonhomicide crime may
not be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole); Roper v.
Simmons, 543 U.S. 551, 578, 125 S. Ct. 1183, 161 L. Ed. 2d 1 (2005)(holding
unconstitutional imposition of the death penalty on offenders who were under the
age of 18 when they committed their crimes).

                                        -7-
No. 74962-5-1 /8

       But here, the trial court did not sentence Nguyen for his first strike offense

that he committed when he was 20 years old; the court sentenced Nguyen for his

third strike offense that he committed when he was 41 years old. In affirming a life

sentence under the former habitual criminal law, our Supreme Court stated, "The

life sentence contained in RCW 9.92.090 is not cumulative punishment for prior

crimes. The repetition of criminal conduct aggravates the guilt of the last conviction

and justifies a heavier penalty for the crime."29 Thus, neither the fact that Nguyen

was 20 years old when he committed his first strike offense nor the constitutional

limits on sentences imposed on juveniles is relevant. In addition, our Supreme

Court has held that the mandatory sentence imposed on persistent offenders does

not violate the state or federal constitutions.3° The trial court did not err in imposing

a term of life sentence under the POAA.

                                   Equal Protection

       Finally, Nguyen asserts that the POAA violates the equal protection clause

of the United States Constitution.31 The right to equal protection of the law requires

that"persons similarly situated with respect to the legitimate purpose of the law be

similarly treated."32 Nguyen explains that when a prior conviction is an element of

a crime rather than a basis for aggravating a sentence, the State must prove its

existence to a jury beyond a reasonable doubt.33 For example, the State must

       29 State v. Lee, 87 Wash. 2d 932, 937, 558 P.2d 236(1976).
       39 See State v. Witherspoon, 180 Wash. 2d 875, 887-91, 329 P.3d 888(2014).
       31 He makes an identical argument in his statement of additional grounds
for review.
       32 State v. Shawn P., 122 Wash. 2d 553, 560, 859 P.2d 1220 (1993).
       33 State v. Roswell, 165 Wash. 2d 186, 189, 196 P.3d 705 (2008).

                                          -8-
No. 74962-5-1/ 9

prove two prior convictions for violation of a no-contact order to a jury beyond a

reasonable doubt to punish a current conviction for violation of a no-contact order

as a felony because these prior convictions are elements of the crime.34 But when

prior convictions are aggravators that elevate the maximum sentence that a court

may impose, as under the POAA, the State need only prove the prior convictions

to a judge by a preponderance of the evidence.35         Nguyen asserts that this

distinction does not rationally relate36 to the government's interest in punishing

repeat criminal offenders more severely than first-time offenders.

       We rejected this argument in State v. Lanpstead.37 We held that "recidivists

whose conduct is inherently culpable enough to incur a felony sanction are, as a

group, rationally distinguishable from persons whose conduct is felonious only if

preceded by a prior conviction for the same or a similar offense."35 Our Supreme

Court has also affirmed that a rational basis exists for the difference in treatment

between "an aggravating factor and a prior conviction element" because "[t]he prior

conviction is not used to merely increase the sentence beyond the standard range

      34  Roswell, 165 Wash. 2d at 196.
      36 Witherspoon, 180 Wash. 2d   at 893.
       36 Although Nguyen contends that the court should apply strict scrutiny, he
concedes that Washington courts have applied rational basis review to equal
protection claims related to sentencing under the POAA. See Manussier, 129
Wash. 2d at 673-74 (explaining that because recidivists do not constitute a suspect
or semisuspect class and because physical liberty is not a fundamental right,
rational basis review is proper).
       37 155 Wash. App. 448, 228 P.3d 799(2010).
       38 Lanpstead, 155 Wash. App. at 456-57.

                                        -9-
No. 74962-5-1 / 10

but actually alters the crime that may be charged."39 We follow our decision in

Langstead. The trial court did not err in imposing a life sentence under the POAA.

                         Right to a Jury and Due Process

       In his statement of additional grounds, Nguyen appears to assert a violation

of his Sixth and Fourteenth Amendment due process rights because the judge,

and not a jury, found the existence of his two prior strikes for sentencing purposes

under the POAA. But both the United States Supreme Court and the Washington

Supreme Court have rejected this argument. We must follow their decisions.

      The constitutional right to due process and a jury entitle a criminal defendant

to a jury determination that he is guilty of every element of the crime beyond a

reasonable doubt.49 In Apprendi v. New Jersev,41 the United States Supreme

Court held, "Other than the fact of a prior conviction, any fact that increases the

penalty for a crime beyond the prescribed statutory maximum must be submitted

to a jury, and proved beyond a reasonable doubt." Consistent with Apprendi, the

Washington Supreme Court has "repeatedly rejected" the argument that due

process requires the fact of a prior conviction to be submitted to a jury for

sentencing purposes.42

       Here, Nguyen's prior convictions were not elements of his current offense.

Instead, consistent with the POAA,the trial court considered Nguyen's prior strike

       39Roswell, 165 Wash. 2d at 192.
       49Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466, 476-77, 120 S. Ct. 2348, 147 L.
Ed. 2d 435 (2000).
      41 530 U.S. 466, 490, 120 S. Ct. 2348, 147 L. Ed. 2d 435(2000).
      42 State v. Thiefault, 160 Wash. 2d 409, 418, 158 P.3d 580 (2007).

                                       -10-
No. 74962-5-1 /11

convictions as aggravating factors in sentencing.        In accordance with well-

established federal and Washington law, the fact that a judge, and not a jury,

recognized Nguyen's prior convictions for sentencing purposes did not violate his

Sixth Amendment or Fourteenth Amendment due process rights. The trial court

did not err in imposing a life sentence without parole under the POAA.

                                    CONCLUSION

          We reject Nguyen's challenge to the trial court's competency determination

and his constitutional challenges to his aggravated sentence under the POAA. We

affirm.

                                            '
                                            th 1,1
                                                                             .)

                                         -11-