Court Opinion

ID: 4407811
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-06-18 17:50:49.967093+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:36:37.418105
License: Public Domain

Filed
                                                                                        Washington State
                                                                                        Court of Appeals
                                                                                         Division Two

                                                                                          June 18, 2019
    IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON

                                         DIVISION II
 STATE OF WASHINGTON,                                               No. 50731-5-II

                               Respondent.
                                                             UNPUBLISHED OPINION
        v.

 GINA LYNN BUSH-FORD,

                               Appellant.

       MAXA, C.J. – Gina Lynn Bush-Ford appeals the imposition of three mandatory legal

financial obligations (LFOs) in her judgment and sentence: the criminal filing fee, the DNA

collection fee, and the crime victim penalty assessment. Originally, Bush-Ford’s primary

argument was that imposition of mandatory LFOs conflicted with the antiattachment provision of

the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. § 407(a), because she was receiving social security disability

insurance (SSDI) benefits at the time of sentencing. We stayed this case because the Supreme

Court was considering the same issue in another case.

       The Supreme Court subsequently decided State v. Catling, 193 Wash. 2d 252, 438 P.3d
1174 (2019). The court held that (1) the 2018 amendments to LFO statutes govern the

imposition of the criminal filing fee and DNA collection fee, id. at 257-58; (2) the imposition of

the crime victim penalty assessment on a person receiving SSDI does not violate 42 U.S.C. §

407(a), id. at 264; and (3) the judgment and sentence for a person receiving SSDI must reflect

that the crime victim penalty assessment may not be satisfied out of funds subject to 42 U.S.C. §

407(a). Id. at 266.
No. 50731-5-II

       The parties agree that Catling controls here. Therefore, we hold that (1) as the State

concedes, the criminal filing fee and DNA collection fee must be stricken under the 2018

amendments to LFO statutes; (2) the imposition of the crime victim penalty assessment on Bush-

Ford does not conflict with 42 U.S.C. § 407(a); and (3) the judgment and sentence must be

amended to reflect that the crime victim penalty assessment may not be satisfied out of Bush-

Ford’s funds that are subject to 42 U.S.C. § 407(a). We remand for the trial court to implement

these holdings.

                                             FACTS

       Bush-Ford pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of methamphetamine with intent to

deliver. At sentencing Bush-Ford informed the court that she was indigent and disabled, and that

she was receiving SSDI benefits. In the judgment and sentence, the trial court imposed three

mandatory LFOs: the $200 criminal filing fee, the $100 DNA collection fee, and the $500 crime

victim penalty assessment. Bush-Ford appeals the trial court’s imposition of the LFOs.

                                           ANALYSIS

A.     CRIMINAL FILING FEE AND DNA COLLECTION FEE

       Bush-Ford argues, and the State concedes, that the criminal filing fee and DNA collection

fee must be stricken. We agree.

       In 2018, the legislature amended certain LFO statutes. LAWS OF 2018, ch. 269. RCW

36.18.020(2)(h) now prohibits imposition of the criminal filing fee on a defendant who is

indigent as defined in RCW 10.101.010(3)(a)-(c). RCW 43.43.7541 now provides that the DNA

collection fee no longer is mandatory if the offender’s DNA previously had been collected as a

result of a prior conviction. These statutes apply prospectively to cases pending on direct appeal.

State v. Ramirez, 191 Wash. 2d 732, 749-50, 426 P.3d 714 (2018).

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No. 50731-5-II

       Regarding the criminal filing fee, RCW 10.101.010(3)(a) states that a person is indigent

if he or she is receiving public assistance such as “disabled assistance benefits.” Bush-Ford’s

receipt of SSDI benefits falls within this definition. Therefore, RCW 36.18.020(2)(h) prohibits

imposition of the criminal filing fee on her.

       Regarding the DNA collection fee, the State’s records show that a sample of her DNA

previously has been collected. Therefore, RCW 43.43.7541 does not require the imposition of

the DNA collection fee and the State does not oppose striking this fee.

B.     CRIME VICTIM PENALTY ASSESSMENT

       The crime victim penalty assessment authorized under RCW 7.68.035(1) remains a

mandatory LFO after the 2018 amendments. Catling, 193 Wash. 2d at 259. In fact, RCW

9.94A.760(1) now provides that an offender’s indigence is not grounds for failing to impose the

crime victim penalty assessment. Therefore, we must address whether this assessment can be

assessed and collected against a person such as Bush-Ford who receives SSDI.

       42 U.S.C. § 407(a), the Social Security Act’s antiattachment provision, states:

       The right of any person to any future payment under this subchapter shall not be
       transferable or assignable, at law or in equity, and none of the moneys paid or payable or
       rights existing under this subchapter shall be subject to execution, levy, attachment,
       garnishment, or other legal process, or to the operation of any bankruptcy or insolvency
       law.

Under this statute, “Social Security moneys cannot be reached to satisfy a debt.” Catling, 193
Wash. 2d at 260.

       The Supreme Court in Catling established that the imposition of the crime victim penalty

assessment on a person receiving SSDI does not violate 42 U.S.C. § 407(a). Id. at 264.

However, the court also held that the crime victim penalty assessment cannot be satisfied out of

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No. 50731-5-II

funds subject to 42 U.S.C. § 407(a). Id. at 264-65. The court remanded for the trial court to

revise the judgment and sentence to state this limitation. Id. at 265.

        Catling controls here. The trial court did not err in imposing the crime victim penalty

assessment on Bush-Ford. But the trial court on remand must amend the judgment and sentence

to reflect that this assessment cannot be satisfied out of funds subject to 42 U.S.C. § 407(a).

                                          CONCLUSION

        We remand for the trial court to strike the criminal filing fee and DNA collection fee.

We affirm the trial court’s imposition of the crime victim penalty assessment, but on remand the

trial court must amend the judgment and sentence to reflect that the crime victim penalty

assessment may not be satisfied out of Bush-Ford’s funds that are subject to 42 U.S.C. § 407(a).

        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

2.06.040, it is so ordered.

                                                      MAXA, C.J.
 We concur:

 WORSWICK, J.

 MELNICK, J.

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