In Re The Personal Restraint Petition Of Aaron Guster Cloud ( 2018 )

Filed
Washington State
Court of Appeals
Division Two
March 13, 2018
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
DIVISION II
In re the Personal Restraint Petition of: No. 50216-0-II
AARON GUSTER CLOUD,
Petitioner.
UNPUBLISHED OPINION
MELNICK, J. — Aaron Guster Cloud seeks relief from personal restraint imposed following
his convictions for drive-by shooting, unlawful possession of a firearm in the first degree, and
assault in the first degree.
We deny Cloud’s petition because he has not shown that he received ineffective assistance
of trial or appellate counsel and the inference of intent instruction is not unconstitutional.
FACTS
I. INCIDENT
On July 24, 2013, Michele Ross drove Cloud and Brandon Egeler from Port Orchard to
Bremerton. Cloud sat in the passenger seat and Egeler sat in the backseat behind Ross.
Ross stopped at a stoplight next to a truck driven by Kyle Fortuna. Fortuna and Cloud had
a verbal confrontation but never left their respective vehicles. Ross was afraid “because of the
demeanor of the other guy in the truck” so she turned to drive away, but Fortuna turned and began
chasing her car. Ross slammed on the breaks in an effort to get the truck to pass her, and as it
passed she heard a “pop.” Report of Proceedings (RP) (Oct. 15, 2013) at 86.
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Fortuna called 911 and reported he had been shot at by a white male with a shaved head in
a car that matched Ross’s. State v. Cloud, No. 45579-0-II, slip op. at 2 (Wash. Ct. App. Sept. 1,
2015) (unpublished), http://www.courts.wa.gov/opinions/. He met with police nearby and officers
removed a bullet from the door panel of his truck.
Ross continued driving and soon she encountered a police car blocking the road. She
stopped the car and an officer exited the police car. Cloud exited the car and the officer heard
gunshots from the area of Ross’s vehicle.
Cloud ran away down the street, ignoring the officer’s commands for him to stop. Cloud
fell, got up, and then continued running. The officer found a handgun on the ground in the
direction Cloud had fled. After a lengthy chase, Officers Matthew Thuring and Stephen Forbragd
apprehended Cloud some distance away. Fortuna positively identified Cloud as the man who shot
at him.
The State charged Cloud with one count of drive-by shooting, one count of unlawful
possession of a firearm in the first degree, and one count of assault in the first degree.1 It further
alleged that Cloud was armed with a firearm at the time of the assault.2
II. TRIAL
A. MOTIONS IN LIMINE
Before trial, the State moved in limine to prohibit the admission of Cloud’s “self-serving
hearsay statements to potential witnesses.” Clerk’s Papers (CP) at 40. It also moved to exclude
“‘other suspect’ evidence, including but not limited to evidence pertaining to Brandon Egeler,
without prior finding by the trial court that the other suspect evidence is established by proper
1
RCW 9A.36.045, 9.41.040(1)(a), 9A.36.011.
2
RCW 9.94A.825.
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foundation, as held in State v. Mak.”3 CP at 40. Cloud opposed both of these motions in limine.
The court granted both motions, but left open the option for Cloud to readdress the issues at trial
outside the presence of the jury.
B. DOC WARRANT
On cross-examination, the defense sought to elicit testimony from Detective Crystal Gray
that Cloud had been apprehended not only for the crimes in the case, but also for an outstanding
Department of Corrections (DOC) warrant. The State objected to this testimony, arguing that it
would “go down the road” to self-serving hearsay from Cloud. RP (Oct. 21, 2013) at 525. The
defense argued that the DOC warrant was admissible as evidence relating to Cloud’s motivation
for fleeing and it contrasted with the State’s position that his flight was evidence of consciousness
of guilt.
The trial court asked Cloud if he intended to present any other evidence connecting the
DOC warrant to the issue of flight. He answered that he did not. 4 The court then sustained the
State’s objection. It ruled that evidence of the DOC warrant alone was speculative to explain
Cloud’s flight. The court stated that “the mere existence of a warrant . . . is insufficient to argue
that that was the cause for the flight without any other information” but that there was “sufficient
information . . . as part of the record for the prosecution to argue consciousness of guilt as it relates
to flight.” RP (Oct. 21, 2013) at 530.
3
105 Wash. 2d 692, 718 P.2d 407 (1986).
4
On direct appeal, Cloud argued that the trial court erred by excluding evidence of his DOC
warrant. Cloud, No. 45579-0-II, slip op. at 11. We ruled that the invited error doctrine precluded
him from making this argument, because he “complain[ed] that the trial court excluded evidence
that Cloud said he was not offering.” Cloud, No. 45579-0-II, slip op. at 7.
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After the State rested, the defense recalled Forbragd to testify that, when he had
apprehended Cloud, Cloud said “Gee, guys, it’s just a DOC warrant. All I have is a warrant.” RP
(Oct. 21, 2013) at 558. The State objected, arguing that this testimony would be self-serving
hearsay precluded by its motion in limine.
The court ruled that the statement was non-hearsay because it showed Cloud’s state of
mind and because it was relevant to provide an explanation for Cloud’s flight other than
consciousness of guilt.
C. JURY INSTRUCTIONS
Jury instruction 10 stated:
A person is reckless or acts recklessly when he or she knows of and
disregards a substantial risk that death or a serious physical injury to another person
may occur and this disregard is a gross deviation from conduct that a reasonable
person would exercise in the same situation.
When recklessness is required to establish an element of a crime, the
element is also established if a person acts intentionally.
CP at 103.
Jury instruction 13 stated: “A person who unlawfully discharges a firearm from a moving
motor vehicle may be inferred to have engaged in reckless conduct. This inference is not binding
upon you and it is for you to determine what weight, if any, such inference shall be given.” CP at
106.
Neither party objected to either of these instructions.
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D. CLOSING ARGUMENTS
Before closing arguments, Cloud announced that he intended to argue the issue of
identification because there were two people in the car described as white males with shaved
heads.5
The trial court stated that the State’s motion in limine required that, before any “other-
suspect evidence” be admitted, it must be established by proper foundation per Mak. RP (Oct. 22,
2013) at 582. Cloud argued that “there is evidence to show there are potentially more suspects to
this case than just Mr. Cloud.” RP (Oct. 22, 2013) at 583. He further argued that his proposed
argument would go toward reasonable doubt. “Rather than saying there’s another suspect, it goes
to the issue of reasonable doubt as to whether they got the right suspect.” RP (Oct. 22, 2013) at
583. He contended that Mak was only about the admission of evidence and not about limiting the
defense’s ability to argue the evidence in closing.
The trial court asked Cloud if he intended to specifically argue that Egeler was “likely our
shooter,” and he responded that he did not. RP (Oct. 22, 2013) at 584. He only intended to argue
“[t]hat the identification by Mr. Fortuna of a white male with a shaved head could cover more than
one person in that car.” RP (Oct. 22, 2013) at 584. The court allowed the defense to make this
argument because the evidence at trial supported it. The court forbade Cloud from arguing that
Egeler “must have been the shooter.” RP (Oct. 22, 2013) at 586.
The State also moved to prohibit the defense from arguing facts not in evidence, including
what a DOC warrant is or why it would be a reason to flee. Cloud and the court both agreed.
5
Forbragd testified that Egeler had a shaved head. Several other witnesses testified that Egeler
had medium or short hair.
5
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In his closing arguments, Cloud argued that the State had failed to satisfy its burden to
prove Cloud was the shooter. He argued that Fortuna had identified a man with “a shaved head”
and pointed out that a witness had testified “that the other male passenger in that car had a shaved
head.” RP (Oct. 22, 2013) at 639. Cloud also argued that he had run from police because he knew
there was a warrant out for his arrest.
The jury found Cloud guilty on all counts.
III. POST-CONVICTION PROCEEDINGS
This court affirmed Cloud’s convictions on direct appeal. Cloud, No. 45579-0-II. He filed
this timely personal restraint petition (PRP).
ANALYSIS
I. PERSONAL RESTRAINT PETITION STANDARD OF REVIEW
A petitioner may request relief through a PRP when he or she is under an unlawful restraint.
RAP 16.4(a)-(c). “A personal restraint petitioner must prove either a (1) constitutional error that
results in actual and substantial prejudice or (2) nonconstitutional error that ‘constitutes a
fundamental defect which inherently results in a complete miscarriage of justice.’” In re Pers.
Restraint of Monschke, 160 Wash. App. 479, 488, 251 P.2d 884 (2010) (quoting In re Pers. Restraint
of Davis, 152 Wash. 2d 647, 672, 101 P.3d 1 (2004)). The petitioner must prove prejudice by a
preponderance of the evidence. In re Pers. Restraint of Lord, 152 Wash. 2d 182, 188, 94 P.3d 952
(2004). In addition, “the petitioner must support the petition with facts or evidence and may not
rely solely on conclusory allegations.” Monschke, 160 Wash. App. at 488; RAP 16.7(a)(2)(i).
In evaluating PRPs, we may (1) dismiss the petition if the petitioner fails to make a prima
facie showing of constitutional or nonconstitutional error; (2) remand for a full hearing if the
petitioner makes a prima facie showing but the merits of the contentions cannot be determined
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solely from the record; or (3) grant the personal restraint petition without further hearing if the
petitioner has proven actual prejudice or a miscarriage of justice. In re Pers. Restraint of Stockwell,
160 Wash. App. 172, 176-77, 248 P.3d 576 (2011).
In PRPs, we ordinarily will not review issues previously raised and resolved on direct
review. In re Pers. Restraint of Gentry, 137 Wash. 2d 378, 388, 972 P.2d 1250 (1999). Raising the
same issue but presenting it in a different form does not justify a second review. In re Pers.
Restraint of Stenson, 142 Wash. 2d 710, 719-20, 16 P.3d 1 (2001); In re Pers. Restraint of Jeffries,
114 Wash. 2d 485, 488, 789 P.2d 731 (1990).
II. INEFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL
A. LEGAL PRINCIPLES
The Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution and article I, section 22 of the
Washington Constitution guarantee the right to effective assistance of counsel. Strickland v.
Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 685-86, 104 S. Ct. 2052, 80 L. Ed. 2d 674 (1984); State v. Grier, 171
Wash. 2d 17, 32, 246 P.3d 1260 (2011).
We review claims of ineffective assistance of counsel de novo. State v. Sutherby, 165
Wash. 2d 870, 883, 204 P.3d 916 (2009). To prevail on a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel,
the defendant must show both (1) that defense counsel’s representation was deficient, and (2) that
the deficient representation prejudiced the defendant. Grier, 171 Wash. 2d at 32-33. Representation
is deficient if, after considering all the circumstances, the performance falls below an objective
standard of reasonableness. Grier, 171 Wash. 2d at 33. Prejudice exists if there is a reasonable
probability that, except for counsel’s errors, the results of the proceeding would have been
different. Grier, 171 Wash. 2d at 34. The prejudice that a petitioner must show in a personal restraint
petition that alleges ineffective assistance of counsel is the same as if it was raised in a direct
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appeal. In re Pers. Restraint of Crace, 174 Wash. 2d 835, 845, 280 P.3d 1102 (2012). If either prong
is not satisfied, the defendant’s claim fails. Davis, 152 Wash. 2d at 673. .
An appellant faces a strong presumption that counsel’s representation was effective. Grier,
171 Wash. 2d at 33. Legitimate trial strategy or tactics cannot serve as the basis for a claim of
ineffective assistance of counsel. State v. Kyllo, 166 Wash. 2d 856, 863, 215 P.3d 177 (2009).
“Conversely, a criminal defendant can rebut the presumption of reasonable performance
by demonstrating that ‘there is no conceivable legitimate tactic explaining counsel’s
performance.’” Grier, 171 Wash. 2d at 33 (quoting State v. Reichenbach, 153 Wash. 2d 126, 130, 101
P.3d 80 (2004)). The defense counsel’s strategic decisions must be reasonable. Grier, 171 Wash. 2d
at 34. The standard for proving prejudice is the same on collateral attack as on direct appeal.
Crace, 174 Wash. 2d at 846-47.
To show ineffective assistance of appellate counsel on collateral review, a petitioner must
show “that the legal issue that appellate counsel failed to raise had merit” and that “he or she was
actually prejudiced by appellate counsel’s failure to raise the issue.” In re Pers. Restraint of
Dalluge, 152 Wash. 2d 772, 778, 100 P.3d 279 (2004).
B. DOC WARRANT
Cloud alleges that his trial attorney’s failure to offer his DOC warrant into evidence
constituted ineffective assistance of counsel. He contends that no reasonable counsel would have
failed to introduce the warrant and that Cloud was prejudiced because the warrant would have
“bolstered his defense and undermined a prominent theme advanced by the State.” PRP at 8.
There is “no claim for ineffective assistance of counsel when the challenged action goes to
a legitimate trial strategy or tactic.” State v. Kolesnik, 146 Wash. App. 790, 801, 192 P.3d 937
(2008). To overcome the presumption that his trial counsel was effective, Cloud must demonstrate
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that “there is no conceivable legitimate tactic explaining counsel’s performance.” Reichenbach,
153 Wash. 2d at 130. Here, it is conceivable that Cloud’s trial attorney did not want to offer evidence
of Cloud’s prior misconduct. Instead, he found a way to get Cloud’s knowledge of the warrant
before the jury so he could argue why Cloud fled without introducing evidence of the warrant
itself. Failure to introduce the actual warrant as evidence did not constitute deficient conduct.
Even if we assume deficient conduct, Cloud must also show a reasonable probability that
the outcome of the proceedings would have been different had his attorney introduced the warrant.
Grier, 171 Wash. 2d at 34. Cloud does not offer any argument that an attempt to admit his DOC
warrant into evidence would have been successful, nor how it would have changed the outcome of
the case. His trial attorney argued in closing that Cloud fled from police because of the warrant.
Cloud does not explain, nor can we understand, how admitting the actual warrant would have
changed the outcome of the proceedings. Thus this argument fails.
C. IDENTITY OF SHOOTER
Cloud contends that his attorney was ineffective for voluntarily foregoing his chance to
argue that Egeler was the shooter. He claims that his attorney disclaimed his right to argue that
Egeler was the shooter and that, if counsel had made the argument, it would have raised a
reasonable doubt as to the shooter’s identity.
Assuming, without deciding that Cloud’s attorney’s conduct was deficient, Cloud must
show a reasonable probability that his attorney’s decision to forego arguing that he should have
been allowed to argue that Egeler was the shooter changed the outcome of the case. Cloud cannot
show any such prejudice. He does not suggest any ground upon which the trial court would have
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allowed argument that Egeler was the shooter.6 Cloud’s attorney would not have been permitted
to argue facts not in evidence. State v. Perez-Cervantes, 141 Wash. 2d 468, 474, 6 P.3d 1160 (2000).
To the extent Cloud generally complains of his attorney’s failure to argue the identity of
the shooter, his claim fails. His attorney did argue in closing that Fortuna had identified a
passenger in the car who was “white with a shaved head” and that a police officer had indicated
that that described multiple passengers in the car. RP (Oct. 22, 2013) at 639. Because Cloud’s
attorney actually argued the identity issue, Cloud cannot demonstrate any prejudice.
D. RECKLESSNESS INSTRUCTION
Cloud contends that his trial counsel was ineffective because he failed to object to the use
of a standard jury instruction defining recklessness. Cloud argues that the recklessness instruction
should not have been given because a WPIC comment states that it impermissibly lowers the
State’s burden of proof. We disagree with Cloud.
The disputed jury instructions states:
A person is reckless or acts recklessly when he or she knows of and
disregards a substantial risk that death or a serious physical injury to another person
may occur and this disregard is a gross deviation from conduct that a reasonable
person would exercise in the same situation.
When recklessness is required to establish an element of a crime, the
element is also established if a person acts intentionally.
CP at 103 (Instr. 10). The WPIC comment to the standard drive-by shooting instruction cautions:
By the phrasing of this statute, the adverb “recklessly” appears to modify only the
discharge of the firearm. Under the statute, a separate element that must also be
proven is the substantial risk of death or injury that was actually created by that
“wrongful act.” Thus, the risk of death or injury should not be incorporated into
the definition of recklessness as it might be with differently phrased crimes. For
this crime, recklessness should be defined as including a disregard of “the
6
Cloud argues that evidence that Egeler perpetrated the crime would have been admissible because
it would be relevant. PRP at 14. However, he does not suggest that any evidence that Egeler was
the shooter exists. He alleges that his attorney failed to effectively argue in closing, not that he
failed to introduce evidence.
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substantial risk that discharge of a firearm may occur.” Of course, the jury would
also be instructed that an intentional or knowing discharge would establish this
element.
11 WASHINGTON PRACTICE: WASHINGTON PATTER JURY INSTRUCTIONS: CRIMINAL 35.31 cmt. at
512 (4th ed. 2016) (WPIC) (internal citations omitted).
There is “no claim for ineffective assistance of counsel when the challenged action goes to
a legitimate trial strategy or tactic.” Kolesnik, 146 Wash. App. at 801. It is unclear what effect, if
any, the instruction had on the State’s burden of proof. The comment suggests that “reckless”
refers only to the discharge of a firearm, such that a person could be convicted without evidence
of recklessness with regard to a substantial risk of death or injury. WPIC 35.31. The instruction
as provided, however, required the State to prove additionally that Cloud knew of and disregarded
“a substantial risk that death or a serious physical injury to another person may occur.” CP at 103.
It is conceivable that Cloud’s trial attorney tactically decided not to challenge this instruction
because he believed that giving it effectively heightened the State’s burden of proof. Therefore,
Cloud cannot show his attorney’s actions were deficient.
III. INFERENCE JURY INSTRUCTION
Cloud contends that the instruction allowing the jury to infer recklessness from the
discharge of a firearm from a moving vehicle violated his due process rights. He claims that
allowing the jury to infer recklessness impermissibly lowered the State’s burden of proof. He
compares this instruction to the “flight = consciousness of guilt” instruction determined to be
unconstitutional in State v. Reed, 25 Wash. App. 46, 49-50, 604 P.2d 1330 (1979). PRP at 18-19.
A person is guilty of the crime of drive-by shooting:
[W]hen he or she recklessly discharges a firearm as defined in RCW 9.41.010 in a
manner which creates a substantial risk of death or serious physical injury to
another person and the discharge is either from a motor vehicle or from the
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immediate area of a motor vehicle that was used to transport the shooter or the
firearm, or both, to the scene of the discharge.
RCW 9A.36.045(1). The statute also provides that: “A person who unlawfully discharges a
firearm from a moving motor vehicle may be inferred to have engaged in reckless conduct, unless
the discharge is shown by evidence satisfactory to the trier of fact to have been made without such
recklessness.” RCW 9A.36.045(2).
Jury instructions are sufficient “if they are supported by substantial evidence, allow the
parties to argue their theories of the case, and when read as a whole properly inform the jury of the
applicable law.” State v. Irons, 101 Wash. App. 544, 549, 4 P.3d 174 (2000). “[J]ury instructions
read as a whole must make the relevant legal standards manifestly apparent to the average juror.”
State v. Marquez, 131 Wash. App. 566, 575, 127 P.3d 786 (2006).
A valid permissive inference instruction is one which “‘allows—but does not require—the
trier of fact to infer the elemental fact from proof by the prosecutor of the basic one and which
places no burden of any kind on the defendant.’” State v. Garbaccio, 151 Wash. App. 716, 740, 214
P.3d 168 (2009) (quoting County Court v. Allen, 442 U.S. 140, 157, 99 S. Ct. 2213, 60 L. Ed. 2d
777 (1979)). Such an inference “is constitutional only when it is ‘rationally related’ to the proven
facts from which it is drawn.” State v. Washington, 64 Wash. App. 118, 127, 822 P.2d 1245 (1992).
When “an inference is only part of the prosecution’s proof supporting an element of the
crime, due process requires the presumed fact to flow ‘more likely than not’ from proof of the
basic fact.” State v. Hanna, 123 Wash. 2d 704, 710, 871 P.2d 135 (1994) (quoting Allen, 442 U.S. at
167). If the inference is the “sole and sufficient” proof of an element, the presumed fact must flow
beyond a reasonable doubt to prevent the State from circumventing its burden of proof using
inferences. State v. Brunson, 128 Wash. 2d 98, 107, 905 P.2d 346 (1995). Cloud acknowledges that,
in his case, the standard for whether the permissive inference instruction is constitutional is “more
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likely than not.” PRP at 18. That means the inference is only a part of the prosecution’s proof
supporting an element of the crime.
The instruction Cloud challenges stated: “A person who unlawfully discharges a firearm
from a moving motor vehicle may be inferred to have engaged in reckless conduct. This inference
is not binding upon you and it is for you to determine what weight, if any, such inference shall be
given.”7 CP at 106 (Instr. 13).
Washington addressed the specific drive-by instruction that Cloud challenges in this case.
64 Wash. App. at 126-27. The defendant argued that there was “no rational connection between the
inferred fact of recklessness and the proven fact of ‘unlawful discharge.’” Washington, 64 Wn.
App. at 126. The court concluded that the “jury may infer that the discharge of the gun, if unlawful,
is reckless behavior.” Washington, 64 Wash. App. at 128.
As in Washington, recklessness “more likely than not” followed from Cloud’s unlawful
discharge of a firearm from a moving vehicle. Permitting the jury to draw this inference did not
deprive Cloud of due process of law.
IV. INEFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF APPELLATE COUNSEL
Cloud raises ineffective assistance of appellate counsel claims related to many of his above
assignments of error, arguing that his attorney on direct appeal was ineffective for failing to raise
many argument.
“If a petitioner raises ineffective assistance of appellate counsel on collateral review, he or
she must first show that the legal issue that appellate counsel failed to raise had merit.” Dalluge,
152 Wash. 2d at 777-78. The petitioner must additionally show actual prejudice caused by appellate
counsel’s failure to raise the issue. Dalluge, 152 Wash. 2d at 778. “Failure to raise all possible
7
WPIC 35.30.01.
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nonfrivolous issues on appeal is not ineffective assistance, and the exercise of independent
judgment in deciding what issues may lead to success is the heart of the appellate attorney’s role.”
Dalluge, 152 Wash. 2d at 787.
Cloud has not demonstrated that any of the above arguments have merit. Therefore, he has
not shown ineffective assistance of appellate counsel for failure to raise them.
We deny Cloud’s petition.
A majority of the panel having determined that this opinion will not be printed in the
Washington Appellate Reports, but will be filed for the public record in accordance with RCW
2.06.40, it is so ordered.
Melnick, J.
We concur:
Worswick, J.
Bjorgen, C.J.
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