Court Opinion

ID: 9854565
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-24 06:09:17.726916+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:23:09.474541
License: Public Domain

Donworth, J.†
(dissenting)—I am of the opinion that the judgment and sentence (imposing two maximum periods of 20 years imprisonment to be served concurrently) should be vacated and the cause remanded to the trial court for the entry of more complete findings of fact and conclusions of law.
This procedure is required by our recent decisions in the following cases: State v. Wood, 68 Wn.2d 303, 412 P.2d 779 (1966); State v. Russell, 68 Wn.2d 748, 415 P.2d 503 (1966) and State v. Wilks, 70 Wn.2d 626, 424 P.2d 663 (1967) and cases cited—(See footnote 1 on page 628.)
In the cited cases the trial court had entered no findings of fact; whereas in the present case the following findings were made:
I
That during a period of time intervening between the 15th day of September, 1966, through and including the 5th day of January, 1967, the defendant Edward Louns-bery, did attempt to carnally know and abuse one ....
II
That during a period of time intervening between the 15th day of September, 1966, through and including the 5th day of January, 1967, the defendant Edward Louns-bery, did take indecent liberties with and on the person of one ....
III
That . . . was then a female child under the age of ten years;
*666IV
That . . . was not then the wife of the defendant Edward Lounsbery;
V
That all of the above acts occurred in King County, Washington.
The conclusions of law (in addition to concluding that the trial court had jurisdiction) stated:
II
That the defendant is guilty of crimes of attempted carnal knowledge, and indecent liberties as charged in the amended information herein.
III
That judgment and sentence should be entered in accordance with Conclusion of Law number II above.
At the close of the state’s case appellant also rested. Oral arguments were made by counsel for each of the parties. The trial court then gave a-brief oral decision as follows:
The Court: Well, for the record, I have ordered stricken the testimony of the little girl purely because I felt that under the law there is a pretty close question, especially in view of some of her answers. I think that she truthfully attempted to relate a story, to relate what actually happened. I regret that I feel that I must as a matter of law strike her testimony; but I do feel that there is ample evidence here under which I should find the defendant guilty of both offenses, attempted carnal knowledge and indecent liberties.
In State v. Wilks, supra, this court stated at 628:
The record contains .no 'written findings by the trial court. In such 'case-it is the duty of counsel for the prevailing party to' propose such findings. Our Rule of Pleading, Practice arid Procedure 52.04W and Rule 101.20W require them.
In State v. Russell, 68 Wn.2d 748, 750, 415 P.2d 503 (1966), this court stated:
Findings of fact and conclusions of law are required by RCW 4.44.050, Rule of Pleading, Practice and Procedure 52.04W, RCW voL .O, and RCW 10.46.070, providing that, in criniinál cases, the-trial shall be' conducted *667in the same manner as civil actions. State v. Marchand, 62 Wn.2d 767, 384 P.2d 865 (1963).
The statements “has been duly convicted” and “is guilty of” used here do not meet the requirement of RCW 4.44.050 that the facts found and the conclusions of law shall be separately stated. In a criminal cause, the findings should at least treat with the elements of the crime separately, indicating the factual basis for each of these ultimate conclusions. . . .
This court finds itself in the same position as in State v. Russell, supra, namely that we cannot consider the merits of the appeal because the record contains no findings of fact relating to the issues involved herein.
As we said in State v. Mallory, 69 Wn.2d 532, 533, 419 P.2d 324 (1966):
Appellants, in their arguments in support of their appeal, refer to the oral opinion and the memorandum opinion of the trial court. These may be considered in interpreting the findings of fact and conclusions of law, but they cannot be considered as the basis for the trial court’s judgment and sentence. A trial court’s oral or memorandum opinion is no more than an expression of its informal opinion at the time it is rendered. It has no final or binding effect unless formally incorporated into the findings, conclusions, and judgment. See Ferree v. Doric Co., 62 Wn.2d 561, 383 P.2d 900 (1963); Clifford v. State, 20 Wn.2d 527, 148 P.2d 302 (1944).
The present case differs from the cited cases (where no findings were made) only in the respect that here purported findings were made, which, in my opinion, were inadequate because they do not inform this court as to the acts of appellant which constituted the elements of the two crimes charged in the information. In order to ascertain what acts appellant did perform it is necessary to read 80 pages of the statement of facts. RCW 4.44.050 and 10.46.070 and our rules (CR 52 (a) (1) and CrR 101.20W—RCW vol. 0) were enacted to prevent such a situation from arising.
In the case at bar the findings only inform this court that between two specific dates appellant did attempt to carnally know and abuse the female child named in count 1 and also that during that period he took indecent liberties *668with her. The trial court’s conclusions inform us that he is guilty of the two crimes charged in the amended information.
I am of the opinion that under State v. Russell, supra, this is not a sufficient compliance with the cited statutes and our rules.
The judgment and sentence should be vacated and the cause remanded to the trial court for the entry of findings of fact and conclusions of law which are adequate to advise this court as to the elements of the two crimes of which appellant was convicted by the trial court.
December 13,1968. Petition for rehearing denied.

Judge Donworth is serving as a judge pro tempore of the Supreme Court pursuant to Art. 4, § 2(a) (amendment 38), state constitution.