State v. Wills ( 1966 )

Finley, J.

A Pierce County jury found the defendant-appellant guilty of the crime of forgery in the first degree on three separate counts. Judgment and sentence were entered upon the verdict ordering that the defendant be confined in the penitentiary for a maximum term of not more than 20 years on each count, the sentences to run concurrently. The judgment provided:

[A] 11 three sentences suspended on condition that the defendant serve 7 months in the county jail, with credit for time served commencing on the 16th of October, 1962.

Pursuant to the above-quoted provisions of the judgment, this convicted criminal offender was not committed to the custody of a state penal institution. He was placed on probation, which meant he would be in semicustody and under the supervision of a probation officer. Thus, Dale Wills was allowed to remain at liberty in the community, subject, of course, to specified conditions of probation and strict compliance therewith. Reports were received indicating that appellant had violated the terms of his probation. He apparently was unable to convince his probation officer that he had complied with the conditions of his probation, or that the alleged violations were so inconsequential that he should be allowed the privilege of continued probation status.

After an admittedly somewhat peremptory hearing in the Superior Court for Pierce County, Dale Wills’ probation was revoked, the suspension of his sentence was vacated, and the imposition of his sentence for forgery followed promptly, in accordance with the provisions of RCW 9.95.220, reading in part as follows:

Whenever the state parole officer or other officer under whose supervision the probationer has been placed shall have reason to believe such probationer is violating the terms of his probation, or engaging in criminal practices, or is abandoned to improper associates, or living a vicious life, he shall cause the probationer to be brought before the court wherein the probation was granted. For this purpose any peace officer or state parole officer may rearrest any such person without warrant or other process. The court may thereupon in its discretion without notice revoke and terminate such probation. In the event the judgment has been pronounced by the court and the execution thereof suspended, the court may revoke such suspension, whereupon the judgment shall be in full force and effect, and the defendant shall be delivered to the sheriff to be transported to the penitentiary or reformatory as the case may be. (Italics ours.)

This appeal seeks to review the action taken by the Pierce County Superior Court. The assignments of error are as follows:

(1) The appellant was not reasonably informed of the allegations of probation violation at the revocation proceedings.

(2) The revocation proceedings violated appellant’s constitutional rights as guaranteed by the Washington State Constitution, Art. 1, Section 22, Amendment 10, because appellant was denied the right to demand the nature and cause of the accusation against him, to have a copy thereof, to testify in his own behalf, to meet the witnesses against him face to face, to have compulsory process, to compel the attendance of witnesses in his own behalf.

(3) At the revocation proceedings, the appellant was limited in his right to cross-examined [sic] probation officer Jaekowsky.

(4) At the revocation proceedings, the appellant was denied his right of a continuance in the matter.

(5) The sentence imposed by the court on April 3, 1964, failed to accord appellant credit for time previously served.

It is significant and should be mentioned at this point that the appellant was competently represented by counsel in the Pierce County Court when (a) probation was revoked, (b) the suspension of sentence was vacated, and (c) imposition of sentence followed. Mr. F. Curtis Hilton, of the Tacoma Bar, served as court-appointed counsel. He had previously served in this capacity at the time Dale Wills was tried and convicted on three counts of the crime of forgery in the first degree and probation status was granted to him by the court. Mr. Hilton is continuing to serve as counsel on this appeal. Admitting, arguendo, that the assignments of error have some significant factual support, our decision and the opinion in In re Mempa v. Rhay, ante p. 882, 416 P.2d 104 (1966), is controlling and dispositive of in the instant appeal. In Mempa, we stated that probation is not a matter of constitutional right, but a matter of privilege or grace based upon statutory authority and dependent solely upon the discretion of the judges of the superior courts of the state of Washington. We stated further that revocation of probation, the vacation of either (1) a suspended or (2) a deferred sentence, followed by imposition of sentence under the provisions of RCW 9.95.220, involves quasi-administrative functions resting solely in the judgment and discretion of the superior court judges. No aspect of such proceedings is subject to review here on claims of denial of constitutional criminal due process procedural rights. We see no meaningful distinction, legally or factually, between the instant appeal and Mempa.

As to appellant’s fifth assignment of error, set out hereinbefore, we will comment as follows: The time served in jail was one of the conditions of probation granted appellant. No provision was made that such time served would be credited in the event probation should be revoked, the suspension of sentence vacated, and sentence imposed. Furthermore, there is no statutory authority for giving the defendant credit for the time served in jail. However, this fact or factor can be accorded attention in a “statement of the prosecuting attorney,” as provided in RCW 9.95.030, and can be evaluated subject to the discretion of the Board of Prison Terms and Paroles in fixing minimum sentence.

The action taken by the trial court should in all respects be upheld. It is so ordered.

Rosellini, C. J., Hill, Ott, Hunter, and Hale, JJ., concur.