Court Opinion

ID: 4693838
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-06-08 19:19:13.200793+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:05:25.615047
License: Public Domain

Filed
                                                                                         Washington State
                                                                                         Court of Appeals
                                                                                          Division Two

                                                                                            June 8, 2021

    IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON

                                         DIVISION II

 STATE OF WASHINGTON,                                                No. 53814-8-II

                        Respondent,

         v.
                                                              UNPUBLISHED OPINION
 CHARLES ANDREW STOCKER,

                        Appellant.

       SUTTON, J. — Charles Andrew Stocker was convicted of one count of first degree custodial

sexual misconduct. He appeals his conviction, arguing that (1) the trial court judge abused his

discretion by failing to recuse himself when he knew one of the witnesses from his time presiding

over the drug court program, (2) he received ineffective assistance of counsel because his counsel

did not object to the trial court judge presiding over the case, and (3) the conviction cannot stand

because RCW 9A.04.080 dictates that the correct statute of limitations is three years and the

alleged criminal conduct includes conduct that occurred outside that applicable statute of

limitations.

       We hold that the recusal issue was not preserved for appeal, defense counsel was not

ineffective for failing to object to the trial court judge presiding over this matter, the applicable
No. 53814-8-II

statute of limitations is 10 years under former RCW 9A.04.080(1)(b)(i) (2017),1 and the alleged

conduct occurred within the applicable statute of limitations of 10 years. We affirm Stocker’s

conviction.

                                                  FACTS

          Stocker worked as a corrections officer for the City of Aberdeen from 2010 to 2016.

Stocker took an oath to uphold and follow the law and abide by the Aberdeen Police Department’s

code of ethical conduct when he was hired. In 2018, the State charged Stocker with two counts of

first degree custodial sexual misconduct regarding two victims, AS and JG.2 Stocker waived his

right to a jury trial.

          At a pretrial hearing, both Stocker and the State advised the trial judge, who was the drug

court judge that one of the State’s witnesses, JG, was in the drug court program. Stocker did not

say that this was a concern; rather that the trial judge “would be the only one to know if [he] would

have to recuse [himself] or not.” Verbatim Report of Proceedings (VRP) (April 22, 2019) at 4.

The judge said he would “base [his] decision upon the evidence and the law.” VRP (April 22,

2019) at 5. Stocker’s counsel said, “Very good,” and moved on to additional matters. VRP (April

22, 2019) at 5. At no point did Stocker’s counsel make a motion asking the judge to recuse himself

from the case.

          At trial, JG testified that she has a history of drug abuse. She testified that she maintained

her sobriety by attending meetings and enrolling in the drug court program.

1
    Former RCW 9A.04.080(1)(b)(i)(2017) has been recodified as RCW 9A.04.080(1)(c)(i).
2
    We use the victims’ initials to protect their identity.

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No. 53814-8-II

       She further testified that she first met Stocker on April 16, 2010, in a courtroom when he

appeared as the corrections officer in another matter. Stocker told her to come by the police station

because he could help her out and give her some money. That evening, she stopped by the police

station as instructed, and the two met in an empty interview room. Stocker put some money on

the table and told JG, “This money is not free,” and began to undo his belt. VRP (May 7, 2019)

at 174. JG convinced Stocker that she had a friend waiting outside for her and stated that she had

to leave. JG did not take the money.

       JG further testified that she met Stocker again on April 20, when she was booked into the

Aberdeen city jail on drug related charges. While she was in jail, she was going through drug

withdrawal and Stocker provided her Nyquil in exchange for oral sex.

       JG testified that between that first incident and Stocker’s arrest in 2016, she had been

booked into the Aberdeen jail approximated six to ten times. She testified that almost every time

Stocker was working alone, he demanded she perform oral sex on him.

       The trial court dismissed the first degree custodial sexual misconduct charges involving

AS. The court found Stocker guilty on the remaining first degree custodial sexual misconduct

charge involving JG. The trial court judge explained his ruling as follows:

                 So when you hear the testimony of addicts who are in recovery, especially
       [TM] I think was on medically assisted treatment, her testimony, she was pretty
       shaky. She is still – to me, still dealing a lot with the effects of her addiction. But
       her testimony, the testimony of [CB], [AM], addicts in recovery, we have this
       duality. An addict will basically say and do anything to get what they need, which
       is to get their next fix, so their credibility is basically close to zero. On the other
       hand, once they’re in recovery it’s – in listening and observing their testimony in
       this . . . case, the individuals who testified that were in recovery, they’re – at that
       point [when] they become brutally honest about their addiction and what they do.

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No. 53814-8-II

                 There still are questions about – because they’re testifying from their
        memory about what they did. What did that addiction do to their memory and are
        there memories about what occurred and what happened and who said what? Is
        that still accurate? Is that still sufficiently credible[?] But as far as how they testify
        about things that would occur, just coming from them they – they’re testifying from
        their memories of the events and it comes across as brutally honest at that point.
        So here we are.

        ....

        As far as the credibility of [JG] [goes], I think what I just said applies to her as well.

VRP (May 8, 2019) at 483-84.

        The trial court sentenced Stocker to nine months in custody.               Stocker appeals his

conviction.

                                              ANALYSIS

                                         I. JUDICIAL RECUSAL

        Stocker first argues that the trial court judge should have recused himself because he

presided over drug court and JG, one of the State’s witnesses, was in the drug court program. The

State disagrees and argues that the trial court judge was not required to recuse himself from the

case. We decline to review this issue because it was not preserved for appellate review.

        Under RAP 2.5(a),

        [A] party may raise the following claimed errors for the first time in the appellate
        court: (1) lack of trial court jurisdiction, (2) failure to establish facts upon which
        relief can be granted, and (3) manifest error affecting a constitutional right.

        Stocker is raising the recusal issue for the first time on appeal because he did not make a

motion for the trial court judge to recuse himself below. However, Stocker fails to argue that we

should consider this issue under RAP 2.5. Stocker does not argue the recusal issue is an error due

to the lack of trial court jurisdiction, the failure to establish facts upon which relief can be granted,

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No. 53814-8-II

or that the issue is a manifest error affecting a constitutional right. RAP 2.5(a). Accordingly,

whether the trial court judge should have recused himself is not an issue that has been preserved

for appellate review.

        Because the issue of whether the trial court judge should have recused himself has not been

preserved for appellate review, we decline to review this issue.

                             II. INEFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL

        Stocker next argues that if we determine that he has not preserved the recusal issue, then

we should hold that his counsel was ineffective for failing to object to the trial court judge presiding

over his case. We disagree that counsel was ineffective for not objecting to the trial court judge.

        The Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution and article I, section 22 of the

Washington Constitution guarantee criminal defendants the right to effective assistance of counsel.

State v. Estes, 188 Wn.2d 450, 457, 395 P.3d 1045 (2017). To prevail on an ineffective assistance

of counsel claim, the defendant must show both that (1) defense counsel’s representation was

deficient and (2) the deficient representation prejudiced the defendant. Estes, 188 Wn.2d at 457-

58. Representation is deficient if, after considering all the circumstances, it falls below an

objective standard of reasonableness. Estes, 188 Wn.2d at 458. Prejudice exists if there is a

reasonable probability that except for counsel’s errors, the result of the proceeding would have

differed. Estes, 188 Wn.2d at 458. Reasonable probability in this context means a probability

sufficient to undermine confidence in the outcome. Estes, 188 Wn.2d at 458. “[W]hen ‘the claim

is brought on direct appeal, the reviewing court will not consider matters outside the trial record.’”

State v. Linville, 191 Wn.2d 513, 525, 423 P.3d 842 (2018) (quoting State v. McFarland, 127

Wn.2d 322, 335, 899 P.2d 1251 (1995)).

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No. 53814-8-II

       We apply a strong presumption that defense counsel’s performance was reasonable. Estes,

188 Wn.2d at 458. Counsel’s conduct is not deficient if it was based on what “can be characterized

as legitimate trial strategy or tactics.” Estes, 188 Wn.2d at 458. To rebut the strong presumption

that counsel’s performance was effective, “the defendant bears the burden of establishing the

absence of any ‘conceivable legitimate tactic explaining counsel’s performance.’” State v. Grier,

171 Wn.2d 17, 42, 246 P.3d 1260 (2011) (quoting State v. Reichenbach, 153 Wn.2d 126, 130, 101

P.3d 80 (2004)) (emphasis omitted).

       Stocker’s counsel did not make a motion for the trial court judge to recuse himself. See

VRP (April 22, 2019) at 1-12. Nor did Stocker’s counsel make a motion for disqualification of

the trial court judge under RCW 4.12.050(1).3 At a pretrial hearing, both the State and Stocker’s

counsel pointed out that one of the victims would be testifying for the State, and that she was

currently in the drug court program that the trial court judge happened to be presiding over. The

trial court judge explicitly stated that he would “base [his] decision on the evidence and the law.”

VRP (April 22, 2019) at 5. Stocker’s counsel said, “Very good,” and moved on to additional

matters. VRP (April 22, 2019) at 5. There are no facts in the record regarding JG’s contact with

the trial court judge, other than she was in that judge’s drug court.

       Stocker cannot demonstrate on this record that his trial counsel acted deficiently by

accepting the trial court’s statement that his decision would be based on the evidence and the law.

Judges in bench trials are presumed to follow the law and to consider evidence solely for proper

purposes. State v. Adams, 91 Wn.2d 86, 93, 586 P.2d 1168 (1978); State v. Miles, 77 Wn.2d 593,

3
  Under RCW 4.12.050(1), “[a]ny party to or any attorney appearing in any action or proceeding
in a superior court may disqualify a judge from hearing the matter, subject to [four] limitations.”

                                                  6
No. 53814-8-II

601, 464 P.2d 723 (1970); State v. Bell, 59 Wn.2d 338, 360, 368 P.2d 177 (1962). There is no

evidence to the contrary.

        Because Stocker cannot demonstrate that his counsel performed deficiently, we hold that

his ineffective assistance of counsel claim fails.

                                   III. STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS

        Finally, Stocker argues that we should reverse his conviction because the alleged conduct

includes conduct that occurred outside the applicable statute of limitations of three years. The

State disagrees and argues that the applicable statute of limitations is 10 years under former RCW

9A.04.080(1)(b)(i) because Stocker, as a corrections officer for the City of Aberdeen, took an oath

of office, acted pursuant to his position when he committed this crime, and he is a public officer.

We agree with the State.

        RCW 9A.04.080 sets a three-year statute of limitations for most felonies. However, former

RCW 9A.04.080(1)(b)(i), which was in effect at the time of the offense, sets a ten-year statute of

limitations for “[a]ny felony committed by a public officer if the commission is in connection with

the duties of his or her office or constitutes a breach of his or her public duty or a violation of the

oath of office.” (Emphasis added.) “It is well settled that a sworn police officer is a ‘public officer’

while performing the functions of his employment.” State v. Cook, 125 Wn. App. 709, 714, 106

P.3d 251 (2005) (citing State v. Austin, 65 Wn.2d 916, 923, 400 P.2d 603 (1965)). In Cook, we

applied a ten-year statute of limitations to a crime committed by a police officer who had taken an

oath of office as part of his employment, was considered a public officer, and committed the felony

while off duty. 125 Wn. App. at 714.

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No. 53814-8-II

       Here, the State charged Stocker with first degree custodial sexual misconduct, alleging the

misconduct with JG occurred during Stocker’s official duties as a corrections officer and alleging

violations between January 1, 2011 and February 28, 2016, on April 3, 2018. The State amended

these charges on April 22, 2019, and added a charge of first degree computer trespass.

       Stocker, as a corrections officer for the City of Aberdeen, is a “public officer” by virtue of

his employment. Cook, 125 Wn. App. at 714. First degree custodial sexual misconduct is a class

C felony and Stocker’s conduct constituting this crime took place while he was executing the duties

of his office. Moreover, he took an oath of office to uphold and follow the law and abide by the

Aberdeen Police Department’s code of ethical conduct when he was hired. Additionally, custodial

sexual misconduct “constitutes a breach of his or her public duty.”                   Former RCW

9A.04.08(1)(b)(i).

       Stocker was a public officer who committed this felony in connection with his official

duties as a corrections officer, and this conduct violated his oath of office. He was a public officer

at the time he committed the acts constituting the crime and he committed the crime in connection

with his official duties as a corrections officer. Consequently, we hold that, under former RCW

9A.04.080(1)(b)(i), the applicable statute of limitations is 10 years. Because the applicable statute

of limitations is 10 years, we hold that the alleged conduct occurred within the applicable statute

of limitations. Accordingly, we affirm Stocker’s conviction.

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No. 53814-8-II

                                         CONCLUSION

        We hold that the recusal issue was not preserved for appeal, defense counsel was not

ineffective for failing to object to the trial court judge presiding over this matter, and Stocker’s

alleged conduct occurred within the applicable ten-year statute of limitations. We affirm Stocker’s

conviction.

        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:

 LEE, C.J.

 WORSWICK, J.

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