Court Opinion

ID: 4014940
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-07-12 16:20:34.195959+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:04:09.190506
License: Public Domain

FILED
                                                           July 12, 2016
                                                   In the Office of the Clerk of Court
                                                 WA State Court of Appeals, Division Ill

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

STATE OF WASHINGTON,                         )          No. 33139-3-111
                                             )
                    Respondent,              )
                                             )
             v.                              )          UNPUBLISHED OPINION
                                             )
THOMAS RAY MCBRIDE,                          )
                                             )
                    Appellant.               )

      LAWRENCE-BERREY, A.CJ. -        Thomas McBride appeals his conviction for

possession of methamphetamine. He raises three issues on appeal. First, he argues that

RCW 69.50.4013 violates the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States

Constitution because it makes it a felony to possess drug residue without a culpable

mental state. He also argues he received ineffective assistance of counsel because

defense counsel did not object when the sergeant testified that he knew Mr. McBride

through his line of work. Finally, Mr. McBride argues the trial court exceeded its

statutory authority when it imposed the community custody condition that he not possess

or use marijuana because the condition is not crime related. We disagree with his

arguments and affirm.
No. 33139-3-III
State v. McBride

                                         FACTS

       Sergeant Dan Brown was on patrol a few miles north of Colfax, Washington, when

he saw Mr. McBride driving southbound. Sergeant Brown knew Mr. McBride and

suspected that he did not have a valid driver's license. Sergeant Brown then followed Mr.

McBride and had the police dispatcher run Mr. McBride's driver's license. The

dispatcher told Sergeant Brown that Mr. McBride's license was suspended. Sergeant

Brown then pulled Mr. McBride over and arrested him for driving with a suspended

license.

       After arresting Mr. McBride, Sergeant Brown searched him. Mr. McBride pulled

a blue metal container from his left coat pocket and handed it to Sergeant Brown.

Sergeant Brown looked in the container and saw a white residue. Sergeant Brown sent

the container to the Washington State Crime Laboratory. The residue tested positive for

methamphetamine.

       The State charged Mr. McBride with possession of methamphetamine. During

Sergeant Brown's direct examination, the following exchange occurred:

             [PROSECUTOR]: Alright. And did you observe anything when
       you were in that area that day?
             [SERGEANT] BROWN: Yes. I did.
             [PROSECUTOR]: What did you observe?
             [SERGEANT] BROWN: I saw a vehicle driving southbound. I
       recognized the driver as Thomas McBride, the defendant.

                                            2
No. 33139-3-III
State v. McBride

             [PROSECUTOR]: How do you know Mr. McBride?
             [SERGEANT] BROWN: I've known Mr. McBride for
       approximately 15 years.
             [PROSECUTOR]: Why?
             [SERGEANT] BROWN: I've dealt with him in my line of work.

Report of Proceedings (RP) at 72-73. Defense counsel did not object to this testimony.

The scientist from the state crime laboratory testified that there was not a weighable

amount of the methamphetamine in the container, but just a residue.

       The jury convicted Mr. McBride. At sentencing, the trial court imposed

community custody conditions on Mr. McBride, one of which was that Mr. McBride

could "not possess or consume marijuana or unprescribed controlled substances." Clerk's

Papers (CP) at 61. Mr. McBride appeals.

                                       ANALYSIS

       A.     CONSTITUTIONALITY OF RCW 69.50.4013

       Mr. McBride argues that RCW 69.50.4013 violates the Eighth Amendment's

prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment and the Fourteenth Amendment's guarantee

of due process because it makes possession of drug residue a felony without requiring any

culpable mental state. 1

       1
         Mr. McBride emphasizes that he was convicted of possessing "drug residue"
rather than a larger amount of methamphetamine. However, under Washington law,
possessing any amount of a controlled substance supports a conviction. See State v.

                                             3
No. 33139-3-III
State v. McBride

       RCW 69.50.4013 makes it unlawful to possess a controlled substance without a

valid prescription or as otherwise authorized. This statute contains no mens rea

requirement. State v. Bradshaw, 152 Wash. 2d 528, 539, 98 P.3d 1190 (2004).

       This court reviews the constitutionality of a statute de novo. State v. Schmeling,

191 Wash. App. 795,798,365 P.3d 202 (2015). A statute is presumed to be constitutional,

and the party challenging the constitutionality of a statute must prove its

unconstitutionality beyond a reasonable doubt. Id.

              1.     Eighth Amendment Challenge

       The Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution prohibits cruel and

unusual punishment. U.S. CONST. amend. VIII. There are two types of Eighth

Amendment analyses: (1) determining whether a sentence is disproportionate to the

particular crime, and (2) using categorical rules to define constitutional standards for

certain classes of crimes or offenders. Graham v. Florida, 560 U.S. 48, 59-60, 130 S. Ct.
2011, 176 L. Ed. 2d 825 (2010) (holding that juvenile offenders cannot be sentenced to

life imprisonment without parole for nonhomicide offenses). The categorical analysis

addresses whether a particular punishment is categorically unconstitutional given the

Schmeling, 191 Wash. App. 795, 797 n.2, 365 P.3d 202 (2015).

                                             4
No. 33139-3-III
State v. McBride

nature of the offense or the characteristics of the offender. Id. at 60. Mr. McBride brings

his Eighth Amendment challenge solely under the categorical analysis.

       Division Two of this court recently addressed an identical Eighth Amendment

categorical challenge to RCW 69.50.4013 in Schmeling, 191 Wash. App. at 799-800. Like

Mr. McBride argues in this case, Mr. Schmeling also argued that Graham required the

court to find RCW 69.50.4013 unconstitutional as applied because it makes possessing

drug residue without any culpable mental state a felony. Id. at 800-01. The Schmeling

court rejected this argument, reasoning that the United States Supreme Court has only

applied the Eighth Amendment categorical analysis to death penalty cases and cases

involving life imprisonment for juveniles. Id. at 800. Because Graham "did not hold or

even suggest that the categorical approach should be applied to all adult sentences under

the Eighth Amendment," the Schmeling court declined to apply it to punishment of adult

drug offenders in the absence of any authority extending it to cases not involving the

death penalty or juvenile offenders. Id.

                                             5
No. 33139-3-III
State v. McBride

       Like in Schmeling, Mr. McBride has provided no authority extending the Eighth

Amendment categorical analysis to cases not involving the death penalty or juvenile

offenders. We also decline to extend the analysis here. 2

              2.     Due process Challenge

       Mr. McBride also raises a due process challenge to RCW 69.50.4013. Schmeling

held that RCW 69.50.4013 does not violate due process even though it makes possession

of drug residue a felony without requiring any culpable mental state. Id. at 801. The

court reasoned that the Washington Supreme Court has considered whether the

possession of a controlled substance statute contains a mens rea element twice, and both

times our Supreme Court concluded that the legislature intentionally omitted a mens rea

element and also declined to imply the existence of those elements. Id. (citing State v.

Cleppe, 96 Wash. 2d 373, 380-81, 635 P.2d 435 (1981); Bradshaw, 152 Wash. 2d at 534-38).

       Like Mr. Schmeling, Mr. McBride cites several cases from other jurisdictions

holding that various strict liability offenses violated due process. See United States v.

       2
         The Schmeling court also noted that even if the categorical analysis was
applicable, Mr. Schmeling failed to demonstrate a national consensus against punishing
the possession of drug residue as a felony. Schmeling, 191 Wash. App. at 800 n.4. The
Graham court reasoned that 39 of 50 states did not impose a life without parole sentence
for nonhomicide juvenile offenses. See Graham, 560 U.S. at 64. Here, Mr. McBride
points to only 15 of 50 states that do not impose a felony sentence for possessing drug
residue.

                                              6
No. 33139-3-III
State v. McBride

Macias, 740 F.3d 96, 105 (2d Cir. 2014) (Raggi, J., concurring) (reasoning that the

federal illegal reentry statute requires at least some proof of mens rea in order to comport

with due process); United States v. Wulff, 758 F.2d 1121, 1125 (6th Cir. 1985) (felony

provision of Migratory Bird Treaty Act violates due process without some proof of mens

rea); State v. Brown, 389 So. 2d 48, 50-51 (La. 1980) (statute that criminalized

"unknowing" possession of a controlled substance was overbroad). The Schmeling court

considered these other cases but concluded that they were unpersuasive in light of our

Supreme Court's repeated approval of the legislature's authority to adopt strict liability

crimes and the express findings in Bradshaw and Cleppe that the possession statute

contains no mens rea element. See Schmeling, 191 Wash. App. at 802. We similarly

conclude that RCW 69.50.4013 does not violate due process.

       B.     INEFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE

       Mr. McBride argues defense counsel provided ineffective assistance because he

failed to object when Sergeant Brown testified that he knew Mr. McBride because he had

"dealt with him in [his] line of work." RP at 73. Mr. McBride argues that the only

purpose of this testimony was to show his past propensity for criminal activity, that the

trial court would have sustained an objection to it, and that defense counsel's failure to

object was not tactical.

                                              7
No. 33139-3-III
State v. McBride

       The Sixth Amendment guarantees criminal defendants the right to effective

assistance of counsel. Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 685-86, 104 S. Ct. 2052,

80 L. Ed. 2d 674 (1984). A defendant receives ineffective assistance if the attorney's

conduct ( 1) falls below a minimum objective standard of reasonable attorney conduct, and

(2) prejudiced the defendant, i.e., there is a reasonable probability the attorney's conduct

affected the case's outcome. State v. Benn, 120 Wn.2d 631,663,845 P.2d 289 (1993).

"A defendant m~st affirmatively prove prejudice, not simply show that 'the errors had

some conceivable effect on the outcome.'" State v. Crawford, 159 Wash. 2d 86, 99, 147

PJd 1288 (2006) (quoting Strickland, 466 U.S. at 693). Because ineffective assistance of

counsel is an issue of constitutional magnitude, it may be considered for the first time on

appeal. State v. Kyllo, 166 Wn.2d 856,862,215 P.3d 177 (2009).

       "There is a strong presumption that counsel has rendered adequate assistance and

has made all significant decisions in the exercise of reasonable professional judgment."

Benn, 120 Wash. 2d at 665. A defendant cannot claim ineffective assistance if defense

counsel's trial conduct can be characterized as legitimate trial strategy or tactic. Id.

(quoting State v. Lord, 117 Wash. 2d 829, 883, 822 P.2d 177 (1991)). "The decision

whether to object is a classic example of trial tactics, and only in egregious circumstances

will the failure to object constitute ineffective assistance of counsel." State v. Kolesnik,

                                              8
No. 33139-3-III
State v. McBride

146 Wash. App. 790, 801, 192 P.3d 937 (2008). Ineffective assistance is a mixed question

of law and fact and reviewed de novo. State v. Sutherby, 165 Wn.2d 870,883,204 P.3d

916 (2009).

       ER 404(b) provides that "[ e]vidence of other crimes, wrongs, or acts is not

admissible to prove the character of a person in order to show action in conformity

therewith." Evidence of prior bad acts is not admissible to show a defendant is a

"criminal type." State v. Brown, 132 Wash. 2d 529, 570, 940 P.2d 546 (1997). Being

known to a police officer may be suggestive of prior bad acts, but it is not conclusive.

State v. Clemons, 56 Wash. App. 57, 62, 782 P.2d 219 (1989).

       The State argues that Sergeant Brown's testimony did not trigger ER 404(b) at all

because "[t]here is nothing in Sergeant Brown's testimony that would supply the jury with

a specific crime, wrong, or act," and it was just as likely that Sergeant Brown knew Mr.

McBride from noncriminal circumstances. Br. of Resp't at 10. While it is true that

Sergeant Brown did not expressly testify that he knew Mr. McBride from prior criminal

activity, he strongly implied it. The testimony was improper.

      However, applying the strong presumption that counsel has rendered adequate

assistance and has made all significant decisions in the exercise of reasonable

professional judgment, defense counsel's decision not to object to Sergeant Brown's

                                             9
No. 33139-3-III
State v. McBride

testimony can be properly characterized as a strategic one. An objection would have

drawn the jury's attention to the fact that Sergeant Brown had dealt with Mr. McBride "in

[his] line of work" more so than simply allowing Sergeant Brown to continue his

testimony. We conclude that defense counsel was not ineffective by not objecting to

Sergeant Brown's improper testimony.

       C.     MARIJUANA COMMUNITY CUSTODY CONDITION

       Mr. McBride argues the trial court exceeded its statutory authority in imposing the

community custody condition prohibiting his possession or use of marijuana because the

condition is not crime related.

       "The trial court lacks authority to impose a community custody condition unless

authorized by the legislature." State v. Warnock, 174 Wn. App. 608,611,299 P.3d 1173

(2013). This court reviews a trial court's statutory authority to impose a particular

community custody condition de novo. Id. A defendant may challenge an unlawful

sentence for the first time on appeal. 3 Id.; State v. Jones, 118 Wash. App. 199,204, 76 P.3d
258 (2003).

       3
          Although a sentence imposed without statutory authority may be addressed for
the first time on appeal, the appropriateness of a particular community custody condition
that involves a trial court's discretion is susceptible to waiver. See State v. Coombes, 191
Wash. App. 241, 254, 361 P.3d 270 (2015), review denied, 185 Wash. 2d 1020, 369 P.3d 500
(2016). Because Mr. McBride argues the trial court had no discretionary authority to

                                             10
No. 33139-3-III
State v. McBride

       RCW 9.94A.703 sets forth community custody conditions that a court must or may

impose. The statute provides in pertinent part:

       When a court sentences a person to a term of community custody, the court
       shall impose conditions of community custody as provided in this section.

              (2) Waivable conditions. Unless waived by the court, as part of
       any term of community custody, the court shall order the offender to:

              (c) Refrain from possessing or consuming controlled substances
       except purs~ant to lawfully issued prescriptions;

             (3) Discretionary conditions. As part of any term of community
       custody, the court may order an offender to:

              (f) Comply with any crime-related prohibitions.

RCW 9.94A.703. A "crime-related prohibition" is defined as "an order of a court

prohibiting conduct that directly relates to the circumstances of the crime for which the

offender has been convicted." RCW 9.94A.030(10). Courts review the imposition of

crime-related prohibitions for an abuse of discretion. State v. Williams, 157 Wn. App.

689,691,239 P.3d 600 (2010).

       Mr. McBride argues the community custody condition prohibiting his possession

or use of marijuana is not crime related, and the trial court therefore abused its discretion

in imposing it, because there was no evidence marijuana was involved in his

impose the condition absent a finding the condition was crime related, we address his

                                              11
No. 33139-3-III
State v. McBride

methamphetamine possession offense. However, the question of whether marijuana was

involved in Mr. McBride's offense is irrelevant in this case because the trial court did not

impose the condition as a crime-related prohibition under RCW 9.94A.703(3)(f). Rather,

the court relied on RCW 9.94A.703(2)(c) as its basis for imposing the condition because,

despite Washington's legalization of possession and use of small amounts of marijuana, it

is still a banned controlled substance under federal law.

       A "controlled substance" is "a drug, substance, or immediate precursor included in

Schedules I through Vas set forth infederal or state laws, or federal or board rules."

Former RCW 69.50.lOl(d) (2013) (emphasis added). Marijuana is a schedule I drug

under the United States Controlled Substance Act. 21 U.S.C. § 812. Therefore,

prohibiting the possession or use of marijuana can survive as a community custody

condition because marijuana is a "controlled substance."

       To support his argument, Mr. McBride cites Jones, 118 Wash. App. 199. However,

Jones actually helps the State's position. Jones held that the trial court could order

Everett Jones not to consume alcohol, even though alcohol was unrelated to Mr. Jones's

crime, because a separate subsection expressly authorized the alcohol prohibition-just

like a separate subsection authorized the marijuana prohibition in this case. See id. at

argument.

                                             12
No. 33139-3-III
State v. McBride

206-07. Jones also held that the trial court exceeded its authority when it ordered Mr.

Jones to participate in alcohol counseling. Id. at 207-08. However, the statute that

authorized the trial court to order treatment or counseling required those conditions to be

crime related. Id. at 207 (citing former RCW 9.94A.700(5)(c)). As discussed above,

RCW 9.94A.703(2)(c) does not require the community custody condition prohibiting Mr.

McBride from possessing or consuming marijuana to be crime related, so Jones is

inapposite.

       Mr. McBride also appears to argue that the trial court exceeded its statutory

authority when it imposed this community custody condition because it never made any

findings that he was chemically dependent. However, RCW 9.94A.703 does not require a

trial court to find that a defendant is chemically dependent before it imposes any of the

enumerated community custody conditions. Rather, the statute provides that "as part of

any term of community custody, the court shall order an offender to ... [r]efrain from

possessing or consuming controlled substances." RCW 9.94A.703(2) (emphasis added).

We conclude that the trial court did not err when it imposed the community custody

condition that Mr. McBride not possess or use marijuana.

                                             13
No. 33139-3-III
State v. McBride

      Affirmed.

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

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

RCW 2.06.040.

                                         Lawrence-Berrey, A.C.J.
                                                                              j
WE CONCUR:

                                         Pennell, J.

                                            14