Court Opinion

ID: 4279564
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-05-30 17:51:09.263+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:24:19.918707
License: Public Domain

Filed
                                                                                        Washington State
                                                                                        Court of Appeals
                                                                                         Division Two

                                                                                          May 30, 2018
    IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON

                                        DIVISION II
 STATE OF WASHINGTON,                                               No. 49773-5-II

                        Respondent,

        v.

 TINA MARIE HUGHES,                                           UNPUBLISHED OPINION

                        Appellant.

       SUTTON, J. — Tina Marie Hughes appeals her jury trial conviction for unlawful possession

of a controlled substance (methamphetamine). She argues that she received ineffective assistance

of counsel because her trial counsel failed to object to improper propensity evidence and improper

opinion testimony. She also argues that the trial court erred by imposing mandatory legal financial

obligations (LFOs) without inquiring into her present and future ability to pay and erred by

ordering forfeiture of certain property. We affirm the conviction and the imposition of the

mandatory LFOs. But we accept the State’s concession that the forfeiture was improper and

remand for the trial court to strike the forfeiture provision from the judgment and sentence.

                                             FACTS

                                         I. BACKGROUND

       On May 27, 2016, Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office Deputy John Bass was on patrol when

he noticed a truck that had been reported stolen. Deputy Bass stopped the truck to investigate.

When backup arrived, Deputy Bass ordered Hughes, who was the driver, and the male passenger

out of the truck. Hughes and the passenger complied. Deputy Bass later released the passenger.
No. 49773-5-II

       After Deputy Bass placed Hughes in his patrol car, Hughes gave him permission to take

her license out of the wallet in her purse. Deputy Bass located the purse in front of the truck’s

driver’s seat. There were no other purses in the truck.

       After verifying Hughes’s identity with her license, Deputy Bass asked Hughes whether she

wanted to take the purse with her to jail or to give it to the passenger. Hughes asked to take the

purse with them.

       Deputy Bass secured the purse in the patrol car’s trunk and took Hughes to jail. While he

was transporting Hughes, Deputy Bass asked her if there was anything she should not have.

Hughes responded that there was not and that she was not a drug user. During the booking

procedure, a jail corrections officer found methamphetamine inside a “makeup container” that was

in the purse. RP (Nov. 14-17, 2016) at 95.

                                         II. PROCEDURE

       The State charged Hughes with unlawful possession of a controlled substance

(methamphetamine). Hughes pleaded not guilty.

A. MOTION IN LIMINE

       Before trial, the State argued in limine to be allowed to ask Deputy Bass about why he

stopped Hughes. The State argued that this evidence should be allowed under the res gestae rule

and that the evidence was necessary to explain that Deputy Bass “wasn’t just pulling [Hughes]

over just to pull her over” or that the deputy was not “just harassing someone for no reason.” RP

(Nov. 14-17, 2016) at 15. Defense counsel responded, “I would probably agree with that in that—

I would agree with that, because that is an important part of my witness’[s] and also my client’s

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No. 49773-5-II

case as to why they were originally—why she was originally pulled over.” RP (Nov. 14-17, 2016)

at 15.

         The trial court ruled that the State could explain that Deputy Bass had stopped Hughes

because the truck was listed as a stolen vehicle. But it further ruled that the State could not discuss

any additional facts such as the deputy’s inability to reach the owner or the fact that any charges

were threatened.

B. OPENING STATEMENTS

         In its opening statement, the State indicated that Deputy Bass stopped the truck because he

had run the license plate and the vehicle had been reported as stolen and that he had arrested and

taken Hughes to jail based on this same information. Defense counsel did not object to this

statement. In her opening statement, defense counsel did not mention that the vehicle had been

reported stolen.

         Before calling the witnesses, the State again asked the trial court about what could be said

about the vehicle being stolen. The trial court reiterated that the State “could say [the vehicle] was

listed as stolen.” RP (Nov. 14-17, 2016) at 56. Defense counsel did not object.

C. TESTIMONY

         Deputy Bass, the corrections officer who found the drugs in the purse, and the forensic

scientist who tested the drugs testified for the State. The witnesses testified as described above.

         Deputy Bass testified that (1) the plates on the truck Hughes was driving belonged to a

vehicle that had been reported stolen, and (2) when an officer makes a stop of a vehicle reported

as stolen, the stop is considered “high risk” and the officer needs to approach the vehicle with

caution. RP (Nov. 14-17, 2016) at 62, 67. But Deputy Bass also testified that he had no issues

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No. 49773-5-II

stopping the truck because the way Hughes had stopped the vehicle did not cause him any concern

and that the only reason he treated the stop as high-risk was because the truck had been reported

as stolen. Defense counsel did not object to any of this testimony.

       Deputy Bass also testified that he did not fingerprint the container with the drugs. When

the State asked him why he did not fingerprint this item, the deputy responded,

       Typically, when you find something in someone’s wallet or purse, that’s their
       property. I’m not going to fingerprint the gun I find on your hip. That’s just not
       common practice.
              Typically, if we have a burglary occur and you don’t have a suspect, we’re
       not going to fingerprint, because we don’t have anything to—we don’t have
       anything to tie it to. But in this case, no.

RP (Nov. 14-17, 2016) at 73. Defense counsel did not object.

       On cross-examination, defense counsel questioned Deputy Bass about when and how he

initially accessed the purse. During this questioning, Deputy Bass stated, “Well, at that point

[Hughes is] under arrest for the possession of the stolen vehicle.” RP (Nov. 14-17, 2016) at 77.

Defense counsel did not object to this testimony.

       Hughes was the only defense witness. Hughes denied owning the methamphetamine or

the container that contained the drugs. She testified that on the day of the arrest, her purse was in

the truck unattended for about five hours while people were working on the truck. She also

testified that someone had sold her the truck that night and that she was unaware the truck had

been reported as stolen. When she found out the truck had been reported as stolen, she thought

that “the guy who was selling it to us stole it” or that he was selling her a stolen truck. RP (Nov.

14-17, 2016) at 132. She also testified that she had been driving the truck that night because her

friend did not have a driver’s license.

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No. 49773-5-II

D. CLOSING ARGUMENTS, JURY INSTRUCTIONS, AND VERDICT

          In its closing argument, the State argued that Hughes possessed the methamphetamine

because it was in her purse. The State asserted that Hughes’s claim that someone put the drugs in

her purse when the purse was unattended did not make sense because she was not likely to have

left her purse unattended for hours.

          In her closing argument, Hughes argued unwitting possession. She noted that the fact she

chose to take the purse with her to jail when she had the chance to leave it behind was inconsistent

with her knowing that there were drugs in her purse. She also reminded the jury that she had told

the deputy that she did not use drugs.

          The trial court instructed the jury on the defense of unwitting possession. The jury found

Hughes guilty of unlawful possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine).

E. SENTENCING

          At sentencing, the trial court imposed the following mandatory LFOs: (1) $500 victim

assessment; (2) $200 filing fee, and (3) $100 DNA/Biological sample fee. The trial court

specifically declined to impose any discretionary LFOs.

          In addition, on the judgment and sentence, the trial court marked the box stating:

“FORFEITURE—Forfeit all seized property referenced in the discovery to the originating law

enforcement agency unless otherwise stated.”1 Clerk’s Papers at 70.

          Hughes appeals her conviction, the mandatory LFOs, and the forfeiture provision.

1
    There was no statement regarding what this property was or citation to any statute or case law.

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No. 49773-5-II

                                           ANALYSIS

                        I. INEFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL CLAIM

       Hughes first argues that she received ineffective assistance of counsel because defense

counsel failed to object (1) to Deputy Bass’s testimony about the truck having been reported as

stolen, which she characterizes as improper propensity evidence, and (2) to Deputy Bass’s

testimony about the purse belonging to Hughes, which she characterizes as improper opinion

testimony. We disagree.

A. STANDARD OF REVIEW

       To establish ineffective assistance of counsel, Hughes must show that (1) defense counsel’s

performance was deficient and (2) this deficient performance resulted in prejudice. State v. Grier,

171 Wn.2d 17, 32-33, 246 P.3d 1260 (2011). Performance is deficient if it falls “‘below an

objective standard of reasonableness.’” Grier, 171 Wn.2d at 33 (quoting Strickland v. Washington,

466 U.S. 668, 688, 104 S. Ct. 2052, 80 L. Ed. 2d 674 (1984)). Hughes bears the burden of

establishing deficient performance and must overcome “‘a strong presumption that counsel’s

performance was reasonable.’” Grier, 171 Wn.2d at 33 (quoting State v. Kyllo, 166 Wn.2d 856,

862, 215 P.3d 177 (2009)). Legitimate trial tactics and strategies generally do not constitute

deficient performance. Grier, 171 Wn.2d at 33. A failure to demonstrate either deficient

performance or prejudice defeats an ineffective assistance of counsel claim. State v. Emery, 161

Wn. App. 172, 188, 253 P.3d 413 (2011), aff’d, 174 Wn.2d 741, 278 P.3d 653 (2012).

B. PROPENSITY EVIDENCE

       Hughes argues that defense counsel’s performance was deficient because she failed to

object to the State’s introduction of evidence that Hughes was driving a suspected stolen vehicle.

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No. 49773-5-II

Hughes further argues that this error was compounded by Deputy Bass’s testimony emphasizing

the high risk nature of the stop. Hughes contends that this evidence was inadmissible propensity

evidence.2

       The record shows that the trial court admitted the testimony about why Deputy Bass

stopped Hughes to explain why Hughes was arrested. And defense counsel agreed with this

approach, stating that it was necessary to explain why Hughes was originally pulled over. Hughes

does not show that this was not a reasonable tactical decision. Without an explanation for the stop

and arrest, the jury could have wondered why Hughes was arrested. Explaining that the stop and

arrest was based on information that the truck she was driving had been stolen eliminated the

possibility that the jury might assume Hughes was arrested for a drug-related offense. Because

there was a legitimate tactical reason to allow this evidence, Hughes fails to establish ineffective

assistance of counsel on this ground.

C. OPINION ON GUILT TESTIMONY

       Hughes further argues that defense counsel’s performance was deficient because she failed

to object to Deputy Bass’s testimony about why he did not fingerprint the packet containing the

drugs. She contends that Deputy Bass’s testimony was “improper opinion that it was, in fact, her

purse” and that this testimony was highly prejudicial. Br. of Appellant at 11 (emphasis added).

2
  “Evidence of other crimes, wrongs, or acts is not admissible to prove the character of a person
in order to show action in conformity therewith.” ER 404(b).

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No. 49773-5-II

       In general, no witness, lay or expert, may “testify to his opinion as to the guilt of a

defendant, whether by direct statement or inference.” State v. Black, 109 Wn.2d 336, 348, 745

P.2d 12 (1987). Such testimony is characterized as unfairly prejudicial because it “invad[es] the

exclusive province of the finder of fact.” Black, 109 Wn.2d at 348.

       As noted above, in response to the State questioning him about why he did not fingerprint

the drug evidence, Deputy Bass explained, “Typically, when you find something in someone’s

wallet or purse, that’s their property. I’m not going to fingerprint the gun I find on your hip. That’s

just not common practice.” RP (Nov. 14-17, 2016) at 73. Hughes contends that this testimony

amounted to opinion testimony that the purse the deputy found in the truck was hers (Hughes’s).

       This argument is difficult to understand because Deputy Bass’s testimony appears to refer

to the packet of drugs, not to the purse. But to the extent that we can construe the challenged

testimony as suggesting that Deputy Bass believed the purse belonged to Hughes, the testimony

was clearly not prejudicial in light of the other evidence. Hughes herself testified that the purse

was hers. She asserted only that the purse had been unattended for several hours. Because any

potential testimony suggesting that Deputy Bass believed the purse belonged to Hughes was not

prejudicial, Hughes fails to show ineffective assistance of counsel on this ground.

                                      II. MANDATORY LFO’S

       Hughes next argues that the trial court erred when it imposed mandatory LFOs without

following the requirements of RCW 10.01.160 and State v. Blazina, 182 Wn.2d 827, 344 P.3d 680

(2015). We disagree.

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No. 49773-5-II

       The statutory requirement that the trial court consider the defendant’s ability to pay applies

only to discretionary LFOs. State v. Clark, 195 Wn. App. 868, 871-72, 381 P.3d 198 (2016),

review granted in part on other grounds, 187 Wn.2d 1009 (2017); State v. Mathers, 193 Wn. App.

913, 918-19, 376 P.3d 1163, review denied, 186 Wn.2d 1015 (2016). Hughes argues that the trial

court is required to make findings of fact regarding a defendant’s ability to pay before imposing

mandatory LFOs citing State v. Duncan, 185 Wn.2d 430, 374 P.3d 83 (2016).

       But Duncan does not require that the trial court enter formal findings, although it

acknowledges that findings of fact are a good practice and are helpful on review. 185 Wn.2d at

436-37. Duncan does not help Hughes because (1) findings are not required, and (2) Hughes is

not asserting a constitutional claim that she is being sanctioned for nonwillful failure to pay, but,

rather, is asserting a statutory claim that the trial court violated RCW 10.01.160(3) in imposing the

mandatory LFOs. Accordingly, this argument fails.

                                          III. FORFEITURE

       Finally, Hughes argues that the trial court erred in ordering the forfeiture without statutory

authority.3 The State concedes that this was error.

       Because the trial court failed to refer to any statutory authority authorizing the forfeiture

and the State does not assert there was a statutory basis, we accept the State’s concession. See

State v. Roberts, 185 Wn. App. 94, 96, 339 P.3d 995 (2014) (reversing forfeiture provision in the

defendant’s judgment and sentence because the State failed to provide statutory authority for the

3
  Hughes also argues that defense counsel provided ineffective assistance of counsel by failing to
challenge the forfeiture. Because we accept the State’s concession on this issue, we do not address
it in the ineffective assistance of counsel context.

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No. 49773-5-II

forfeiture and the sentencing court lacked statutory authority to order the forfeiture).

        Accordingly, we affirm the conviction and the imposition of the mandatory LFO, but we

remand for the trial court to strike the forfeiture clause from the judgment and sentence.

        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.

                                                     SUTTON, J.
 We concur:

 WORSWICK, P.J.

 BJORGEN, J.

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