State Of Washington, V Thomas Saunders Lomax ( 2017 )

Filed
Washington State
Court of Appeals
Division Two
June 13, 2017
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
DIVISION II
STATE OF WASHINGTON, No. 48072-7-II
Respondent, UNPUBLISHED OPINION
v.
THOMAS LOMAX,
Appellant.
BJORGEN, C.J. — Thomas Lomax appeals his conviction and sentencing conditions for
first degree burglary. He argues that the trial court erred by (1) improperly requiring him to wear
leg shackles, resulting in prejudicial error, and (2) preventing him from impeaching the State’s
witness, Mariah McCarty, with her prior juvenile adjudications, which (a) was an abuse of
discretion under ER 609(d), and (b) violated his constitutional right to confront witnesses.
Lomax also argues that (3) the State committed prosecutorial misconduct when it vouched for
McCarty by stating in closing argument that “she’s not making this up,” and (4) even if each
claimed error on its own would not result in a reversal of his conviction, the cumulative
prejudice resulted in a fundamentally unfair trial. Report of Proceedings (RP) at 428. Lomax
further contends that the following sentencing errors occurred: (5) the mandatory
deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) fee of $100 violated his constitutional rights to (a) substantive due
process and (b) equal protection, (6) the sentencing court abused its discretion when it required
him to give a DNA sample, and (7) his judgment and sentence contained two scrivener’s errors,
one for the wrong date of the crime and the other for the wrong term of punishment. He also
No. 48072-7-II
objects to appellate costs and raises two additional arguments in his statement of additional
grounds (SAG).
We hold that Lomax fails to demonstrate a prejudicial trial error warranting reversal of
his conviction. We also hold that except for the scrivener’s errors that need to be corrected, no
sentencing error occurred. Finally, under newly amended RAP 14.2, Lomax may challenge costs
on appeal before our commissioner if the State requests them. Accordingly, we affirm Lomax’s
conviction and sentence, but remand to the sentencing court to correct the scrivener’s errors in
the judgment and sentence.
FACTS
I. SEPTEMBER 20 INCIDENT
Donna Grow lives in the Hoquiam Castle with her grandson, Chris Adamson. Hoquiam
Castle is a historic home with 20 rooms and 3 floors; Grow slept in the “Queen’s room,” located
on the second floor. RP at 143. In the early morning of September 20, 2013, Grow was
suddenly awakened by a stranger in the Queen’s room. The stranger told her to stay in bed.
Despite the stranger’s order, she got out of bed, which prompted the stranger to strike her several
times in the shoulder and face. Grow then activated an alarm, and the stranger fled Hoquiam
Castle.
David Blundred and Shane Krohn, detectives with the Hoquiam Police Department,
investigated, discovering that the Queen’s room was in disarray and jewelry had been stolen.
Atop a dresser in the Queen’s room, they found a partly filled “Budweiser Light Straw-ber-Rita”
can. RP at 244-45. Neither Grow nor Adamson drank Straw-ber-Rita and that kind of alcohol
was not kept in Hoqiuam Castle.
2
No. 48072-7-II
Later in the investigation, police received a tip that Lomax was the individual who
burgled Hoquiam Castle. The police interviewed Lomax, who denied any involvement with the
burglary. They also obtained a buccal DNA swab from Lomax and sent the Straw-ber-Rita can,
along with Lomax’s buccal swab, to the Washington State Patrol Crime Laboratory Division for
comparative DNA testing. Marion Clark, a forensic scientist with the lab, was able to develop a
DNA profile from saliva discovered on the portion of the can where a person would drink. It
was a match to Lomax’s DNA profile with an estimated probability of approximately 1 in 7.5
quadrillion of selecting an unrelated individual at random from the United States’ population.1
II. PROCEDURE
Lomax was charged with first degree burglary. At trial, the facts above were brought out
through the testimony of Grow, Adamson, Blundred, Krohn, and Clark. In addition, the
following pertinent events occurred at trial.
1. Mariah McCarty
McCarty, who was allegedly an accomplice to Lomax in the burglary, was a witness for
the State. Despite being given transactional immunity, the State was only able to elicit from her
that (1) she dropped off Lomax in front of Hoquiam Castle on some night in September 2013, (2)
she fell asleep for several hours, and (3) when Lomax returned, he had jewelry. When the State
attempted to gather more information from McCarty, she refused to testify, resulting in her being
deemed a hostile witness and later being held in contempt of court.
1
The lab also tested a buccal swab from another suspect, Dwight Warden, as well as Grow and
Adamson. The DNA profile from the Straw-ber-Rita can did not match any of those individuals.
3
No. 48072-7-II
The day before McCarty was to testify, defense counsel moved the trial court to admit her
three prior juvenile adjudications for taking a motor vehicle without permission to impeach her
credibility. The trial court declined to make a ruling on the impeachment issue at that time,
stating, “I will take a look at that issue and the cases interpreting that issue and provide you with
a ruling.” RP at 278. During McCarty’s testimony the next day, defense counsel renewed his
motion to impeach her “on priors,” to which the court responded, “I’m not going to permit her to
be impeached with juvenile convictions.” RP at 385.
Although Lomax’s defense counsel was not allowed to impeach McCarty with her prior
juvenile adjudications, he was able to elicit the following from her during cross-examination:
[Defense Counsel]: You don’t recall the day that you guys went to the Hoquiam
Castle, do you?
[McCarty]: No, sir.
[Defense Counsel]: Were you using drugs on that—on that day?
[McCarty]: Yes, sir.
[Defense Counsel]: What drugs were you using?
[McCarty]: Meth. Meth and heroin.
....
[Defense Counsel]: Okay. You don’t remember the day?
[McCarty]: No, sir.
[Defense Counsel]: And you were using drugs?
[McCarty]: Yes, sir.
[Defense Counsel]: And you, in fact, fell asleep?
[McCarty]: Yes, sir.
RP at 397-98.
4
No. 48072-7-II
2. Shackles
After the State rested its case, the trial court required Lomax to wear leg shackles after
hearing from a correction’s officer that he might run away if given the chance. Defense counsel
objected to the use of shackles, stating:
Apparently Mr. Lomax, security told me that he was going to be shackled
while we're finishing this trial. My concern is, I think from the jury’s - proximity
of the jury relationship to Mr. Lomax they can see under the table and see that his
leg is shackled with chains. I’m going to ask that the Court not do that. I think that
is going to represent a significant prejudice to him.
RP at 411. The court responded with the following ruling:
All right. I was informed that Mr. Lomax had made statements to correction
staff that given the opportunity to flee that he intended to do so and I felt that that
was a sufficient security concern for Mr. Lomax to be shackled and I instructed the
court administrator to tell the corrections officers that . . . I wanted Mr. Lomax to
be shackled the remainder of the trial. I do not agree that . . . it’s openly visible to
the jury. From where the jury is sitting there’s a panel on the table that blocks view
of Mr. Lomax. The shackles are down around his ankles very - I can barely see
them from here and I have a direct view of Mr. Lomax.
If you are concerned about it you can have him sit on the other side of Mr.
Ehrhardt where the jury clearly would not be able to see his feet. So if you’re
concerned about the jury seeing the shackles have Mr. Lomax move to the left of
Mr. Ehrhardt. But otherwise, I believe that there is a sufficient security concern for
Mr. Lomax to be shackled for the remainder of this trial.
RP at 411-12. After defense counsel talked with his co-counsel about whether to move Lomax,
the defense stated that “he’s going to stay.” RP at 412.
3. Closing Argument
During its closing argument, the State addressed the trustworthiness of McCarty’s
testimony:
She was put on the stand, didn't want to testify given immunity so she couldn’t be
prosecuted and she still wouldn’t . . . tell you everything, but she did tell you
enough. She did tell you enough. And she’s not making this up, because if she
were, well, she could say, oh, yeah, that’s exactly the place.
5
No. 48072-7-II
RP at 427-28 (emphasis added).
4. Verdict/Sentencing
The jury found Lomax guilty of first degree burglary. At sentencing, the court imposed a
mandatory sentence of life without the possibility of release because Lomax met the definition of
a persistent offender. RCW 9.94A.570. In addition, the trial court imposed a mandatory $100
DNA fee, required Lomax to provide his DNA sample, and signed the judgment and sentence
with the date of the offense listed as “9/20/2014” and the maximum term for that offense as “25
years to life and/or a $50,000 fine.” Clerk’s Papers (CP) at 12-16.
Lomax appeals.
ANALYSIS
I. SHACKLES
Lomax argues that the trial court’s ordering of leg shackles toward the end of his trial was
a presumptively prejudicial error requiring reversal of his conviction. Although we agree that
the use of shackles was an abuse of discretion, Lomax fails to show prejudice, i.e. that the
shackling had a substantial or injurious effect or influence on the jury’s verdict. In the absence
of that showing, the use of shackles does not warrant reversal. See In re Davis, 152 Wash. 2d 647,
694, 101 P.3d 1 (2004).
6
No. 48072-7-II
1. Imposition of Shackles
“‘We review the trial court’s decision to shackle a defendant under an abuse of discretion
standard.’” State v. Turner, 143 Wash. 2d 715, 724, 23 P.3d 499 (2001) (quoting State v.
Breedlove, 79 Wash. App. 101, 113, 900 P.2d 586 (1995)). “‘Discretion is abused when the trial
court’s decision is manifestly unreasonable, or is exercised on untenable grounds, or for
untenable reasons.’” Id. (quoting State v. Blackwell, 120 Wash. 2d 822, 830, 845 P.2d 1017
(1993)).
A defendant is entitled to appear at trial free from shackles except in extraordinary
circumstances. State v. Finch, 137 Wash. 2d 792, 842, 975 P.2d 967 (1999). Several reasons
implore this rule—the sight of a shackled defendant may suggest he is a dangerous and
untrustworthy person, may violate his presumption of innocence, restrict his ability to assist
counsel, interfere with the right to testify in his own behalf, or deprive him of the full use of his
faculties. State v. Damon, 144 Wash. 2d 686, 690-91, 25 P.3d 418 (2001).
The trial court has broad discretion to determine what security measures are necessary to
maintain decorum in the courtroom and to protect the safety of its occupants. Id. at 691.
Generally, shackles should “‘be used only when necessary to prevent injury to those in the
courtroom, to prevent disorderly conduct at trial, or to prevent an escape.’” Id. (quoting State v.
Hartzog, 96 Wash. 2d 383, 398, 635 P.2d 694 (1981)). In determining whether the use of shackles
is justified, the trial court may consider the following factors:
“The seriousness of the present charge against the defendant; defendant’s
temperament and character; his age and physical attributes; his past record; past
escapes or attempted escapes, and evidence of a present plan to escape; threats to
harm others or cause a disturbance; self-destructive tendencies; the risk of mob
violence or of attempted revenge by others; the possibility of rescue by other
offenders still at large; the size and the mood of the audience; the nature and
7
No. 48072-7-II
physical security of the courtroom; and the adequacy and availability of alternative
remedies.”
Id. (quoting Finch, 137 Wn.2d at 848) (alteration marks omitted).
The trial court must make its decision based on facts set forth in the record, Hartzog, 96
Wash. 2d at 400, and should allow the use of shackles only after conducting a hearing and entering
findings into the record that are sufficient to justify the use of the shackles. Damon, 144 Wash. 2d
at 691-92. Importantly, because shackles and other forms of restraint are a measure of “last
resort,” the trial court “must consider less restrictive alternatives before imposing physical
restraints,” Finch, 137 Wash. 2d at 850 (emphasis added), such as the use of additional security
personnel, metal detectors, or other security devices. Hartzog, 96 Wash. 2d at 401.
Here, after defense counsel objected to the use of shackles, the trial court responded that
Lomax had suggested he would flee if given the opportunity to do so. On that basis,2 the trial
court required Lomax to be shackled for the remainder of the trial. The trial court, however,
made no attempt to examine whether less restrictive alternatives to leg shackles may have
addressed Lomax’s escape risk.
In State v. Afeworki, 189 Wash. App. 327, 355, 358 P.3d 1186 (2015), review denied, 184
Wash. 2d 1036 (2016), Division One of our court upheld the trial court’s decision to impose
shackles on a defendant, noting:
2
The State also argues that because Lomax was facing a mandatory life sentence that the trial
court did not abuse its discretion in imposing the shackles. But nothing in the record indicates
that the trial court considered Lomax’s potential punishment in determining whether to impose
shackles on him. We cannot make this assumption when a trial court may only impose shackles
“after a hearing with a record evidencing the reasons for the action taken.” Hartzog, 96 Wash. 2d
at 401 (emphasis added). Here, the record indicates that the trial court imposed shackles on the
sole basis that Lomax was an escape risk.
8
No. 48072-7-II
[A]s required, the court considered alternative security measures. For example, the
court rejected the use of more restrictive physical restraints. . . . Moreover, as noted,
the court ordered other security measures that would work in concert with the
[restraint].
With nothing in the record or findings showing that the trial court considered whether additional
security guards, for example, may have adequately reduced Lomax’s potential escape risk, we
cannot say the trial court was justified in imposing the leg shackles. Thus, we hold that the trial
court abused its discretion in imposing shackles because it failed to consider less restrictive
alternatives.3
2. Prejudice
Because the trial court abused its discretion when it ordered Lomax to wear shackles, we
next examine whether he has shown prejudice. See Davis, 152 Wash. 2d at 694. Prejudice is
shown if the defendant demonstrates that the shackling “‘had substantial or injurious effect or
influence on the jury’s verdict.’” Id. (quoting State v. Hutchinson, 135 Wash. 2d 863, 888, 959
P.2d 1061 (1998)). To meet this burden, the defendant must show that, based on the record, the
jury could observe the shackles or that the shackles substantially impaired the defendant’s ability
to assist in his trial defense. State v. Monschke, 133 Wash. App. 313, 336, 135 P.3d 566 (2006)
(citing Finch, 137 Wash. 2d at 845). Only if prejudice is shown from the defendant wearing
shackles does the burden shift to the State to prove that the use of restraints was harmless beyond
a reasonable doubt. See Davis, 152 Wash. 2d at 694.
3
In addition, Lomax argues that the trial court abused its discretion because it deferred to the
judgment of correctional officers. A trial court cannot base its decision solely on a correctional
officer’s recommendation that shackles should be imposed. Finch, 137 Wash. 2d at 853; Damon,
144 Wash. 2d at 692. However, finding that the trial court clearly did not consider less restrictive
alternatives, we decline to examine the merits of this alleged error.
9
No. 48072-7-II
Damon, 144 Wash. 2d 686 and State v. Flieger, 91 Wash. App. 236, 955 P.2d 872 (1998)
involve situations where the defendant met his initial burden to prove that the use of restraints
had a substantial or injurious effect or influence on the jury’s verdict. In Damon, the defendant
was required to use a restraint chair that had straps across both his shoulders, down and across
his waist, and his legs were strapped and manacled. Id. at 693. The Damon court held that the
jurors must have observed that he was in a restraint chair and could have inferred that he was a
dangerous individual. Id. Similarly, in Flieger, 91 Wash. App. at 238-39, the defendant was
required to wear a shock box, and the record reflected that jurors noticed the shock box and
discussed why the defendant had to wear it. The court held that because the jurors were aware of
the shock box and were speculating about it, they could have inferred that the defendant was a
dangerous person who could not be trusted or controlled. Id. at 242.
Here, Lomax does not show that the jury was aware he was wearing leg shackles or that
he was otherwise prejudiced from having to wear them. After defense counsel argued that the
jury could see the leg shackles under the table, the trial court disagreed that the shackles were
“openly visible to the jury.” RP at 412. The trial court observed that “[f]rom where the jury is
sitting there’s a panel on the table that blocks view of Mr. Lomax. The shackles are down
around his ankles. . . . I can barely see them from here and I have a direct view of Mr. Lomax.”
RP at 412. At best, the record reflects that defense counsel and the trial court disputed whether
the jurors in fact could see the shackles from their point of view. Unlike Damon and Flieger,
where the record clearly indicated that jurors could observe the defendant in shackles, the
conflicting observations of defense counsel and the trial court do not establish that the jurors
10
No. 48072-7-II
could see Lomax wearing shackles. Thus, Lomax fails to carry the burden to show that the jury
observed the shackles and was subject to some prejudice therefrom.
Lomax argues, though, that if we only measure prejudice based on whether the jury could
observe his shackles, it would “ignore[] the actual effect and prejudice caused by restraint,” such
as his ability to assist in his defense. Br. of Appellant at 13 (citing Riggins v. Nevada, 504 U.S.
127, 137, 112 S. Ct. 1810, 118 L. Ed. 2d 479 (1992)). Lomax suggests that the “prejudice
analysis [is] far more searching than simply determining whether the restraint was visible.” Br.
of Appellant at 14.
In Riggins, 504 U.S. at 137, the Court rejected the proposition that the defendant had to
demonstrate actual prejudice from the record because it was nearly impossible, beyond
speculation, to show how the trial would have proceeded differently if the defendant had not
been on Mellaril, a psychotropic drug. Although it was nearly impossible to show prejudice, the
defendant in Riggins had evidentiary support that Mellaril could substantially impair his ability
to assist in his trial defense. Id. The record provided that the amount of Mellaril administered to
Riggins had the potential to impair his cognitive abilities during trial. Id. Thus, Riggins does not
undermine Lomax’s burden to show prejudice by providing evidence of the prejudicial effect of
the shackles. Monschke, 133 Wash. App. at 336.
In State v. Walker, 185 Wash. App. 790, 802-03, 344 P.3d 227, review denied, 183 Wash. 2d
1025 (2015), the court found no prejudice could be presumed based on shackling when the
defendant failed to point to any evidence that the shackles impaired his ability to assist with his
defense. In Monschke, 133 Wash. App. at 337, the court held that the defendant failed to show that
a stun belt underneath the defendant’s clothes hampered his ability to participate in his defense
11
No. 48072-7-II
when he only offered “conclusory statements” to support his claim. Like Walker and Monschke,
we have no evidentiary basis on which to find Lomax’s ability to assist with his trial was
undermined.
Lomax also argues that Illinois v. Allen, 397 U.S. 337, 90 S. Ct. 1057, 25 L. Ed. 2d 253
(1970) and Estelle v. Williams, 425 U.S. 501, 504, 96 S. Ct. 1691, 48 L. Ed. 2d 126 (1976), both
cited in Riggins, require us to presume his leg shackles prejudiced his ability to assist in his
defense. In those two cases, where one defendant was forced to wear prison clothing, Estelle,
425 U.S. at 504, and the other bound and gagged for his trial, Allen, 397 U.S. at 344, the courts
found prejudice because of the obvious consequences from the jury observing the defendant.
Further, in Allen, 397 U.S. at 344, the defendant, who was in a condition of total physical
restraint from the gag and bounds, was prejudiced because he was unable to assist at his trial.
Estelle and Allen dictate the same prejudice standard that Riggins, Damon, Flieger,
Walker, and Monschke command: that Lomax must show, based on the record, that the jury
could observe the shackles or that the shackles substantially impaired his ability to assist in his
trial defense. Prison clothing and the use of bindings and a gag carry an inherent imprimatur of
prejudice. But where a defendant is only restrained by the use of leg shackles, he must
demonstrate that they were either observed or that the shackles somehow impaired his ability to
participate in the trial.
Lomax fails to show that the jury observed his leg shackles or that the shackles otherwise
compromised his defense. Thus, even though the trial court abused its discretion in requiring
Lomax to wear the shackles, he fails to show prejudice, i.e. that “the shackling ‘had substantial
or injurious effect or influence on the jury’s verdict.’” Davis, 152 Wash. 2d at 694 (quoting
12
No. 48072-7-II
Hutchinson, 135 Wash. 2d at 888). Because Lomax fails to meet his burden in showing prejudice,
we need not reach the issue of whether the State has demonstrated that the use of shackles was
harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. See Id. Accordingly, Lomax’s shackling claim fails.
II. IMPEACHMENT OF MCCARTY
Lomax argues that by not allowing him to impeach McCarty with her three prior juvenile
adjudications for taking a motor vehicle without permission, the trial court (1) abused its
discretion and (2) violated his constitutional right to confront witnesses. For the reasons below,
we disagree.
1. ER 609(d)
We review rulings under ER 609 for an abuse of discretion. State v. Rivers, 129 Wash. 2d
697, 704-05, 921 P.2d 495 (1996). ER 609(d), which governs the admissibility of prior juvenile
adjudications, states:
Evidence of juvenile adjudications is generally not admissible under this rule. The
court may, however, in a criminal case allow evidence of a finding of guilt in a
juvenile offense proceeding of a witness other than the accused [1] if conviction of
the offense would be admissible to attack the credibility of an adult and [2] the court
is satisfied that admission in evidence is necessary for a fair determination of the
issue of guilt or innocence.
Taking a motor vehicle without permission qualifies as a crime of dishonesty, making it
normally admissible against a witness under ER 609(a)(2).4 State v. Trepanier, 71 Wash. App.
372, 381, 858 P.2d 511 (1993). Thus, the first prong of the ER 609(d) test is met.
4
“For the purpose of attacking the credibility of a witness in a criminal or civil case,
evidence that the witness has been convicted of a crime shall be admitted if elicited from
the witness or established by public record during examination of the witness but only if
the crime . . . involved dishonesty or false statement, regardless of the punishment.” ER
609(a)(2).
13
No. 48072-7-II
The second prong of ER 609(d) required Lomax to make a “positive showing” that the
admission of McCarty’s taking of motor vehicle adjudications was necessary for a fair
determination of the issue of guilt or innocence. State v. Gerard, 36 Wash. App. 7, 12, 671 P.2d
286 (1983). “In the absence of any indication of special reasons favoring admissibility, the
general rule is that the adjudications are inadmissible.” Id. If the juvenile adjudications are
offered simply to impeach a witness, the defendant does not meet his burden in showing that the
evidence was necessary for a fair determination of guilt. See Id.
Defense counsel only offered McCarty’s three juvenile adjudications for purposes of
impeachment. Counsel moved the court to admit them only to attack her credibility and did not
offer any additional reasons beyond the general statement that “they’re relevant given the weight
her testimony has.” RP at 278.
On this record, defense counsel failed to make a showing that there was any reason, other
than a general attack on her credibility, that admitting the three prior juvenile adjudications was
necessary to determine Lomax’s innocence or guilt. Under Gerard, 36 Wash. App. at 12, the
burden was on Lomax to present reasons other than impeachment to demonstrate that the
evidence was necessary for a fair determination. A general statement that a witness’s credibility
is relevant given the weight of her testimony does not sufficiently articulate why those
adjudications are “necessary for a fair determination of the issue of guilt or innocence.” ER
609(d).
Lomax argues that without the prior juvenile adjudications, “the jury could not properly
assess Ms. McCarty’s honesty as a witness. . . . Lomax did not have other evidence from which
to argue Ms. McCarty may not have been a truthful witness.” Br. of Appellant at 17. Defense
14
No. 48072-7-II
counsel, however, was able to attack McCarty’s veracity in a similar fashion as the prior
adjudications would have. Defense counsel was able to elicit that she was on methamphetamine
and heroin and had forgotten what happened on the day that she dropped off Lomax. This,
coupled with the fact that McCarty was a hostile witness and would hardly answer the State’s
questions, presented reasons to question her credibility to the jury. For these reasons, the prior
juvenile adjudications were not essential to evaluating McCarty’s veracity.
Accordingly, the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying Lomax’s ER 609(d)
motion.
2. Right to Confrontation
Next, Lomax argues that his confrontation clause rights were violated because of the trial
court’s refusal to admit the prior juvenile adjudications against McCarty. We disagree.
Lomax did not raise a confrontation clause challenge below. Under RAP 2.5(a),5 we
“may refuse to review any claim of error which was not raised in the trial court.” However, a
party may raise for the first time on appeal a “manifest error affecting a constitutional right.”
RAP 2.5(a)(3). Because the right of confrontation is of constitutional magnitude, Lomax only
needs to show that the alleged error was “manifest” in order for us to reach it. RAP 2.5(a)(3);
see also State v. Hart, 195 Wash. App. 449, 460, 381 P.3d 142 (2016), review denied, 187 Wash. 2d
1011 (2017). To show an error was “manifest,” one must show “actual prejudice.” State v.
O’Hara, 167 Wash. 2d 91, 99, 217 P.3d 756 (2009), as corrected (Jan. 21, 2010). To demonstrate
5
We view RAP 2.5 as a procedural rule governing when challenges under the confrontation
clause may be raised consistent with Melendez-Diaz v. Massachusetts, 557 U.S. 305, 313-14 n.3,
129 S. Ct. 2527, 174 L. Ed. 2d 314 (2009).
15
No. 48072-7-II
actual prejudice, one must make a plausible showing that the asserted error had practical and
identifiable consequences in the trial of the case. Id.
In order to determine whether Lomax has demonstrated a “manifest” confrontational
clause error, we review the general standards governing a confrontation clause challenge. A
confrontation clause challenge is reviewed de novo. State v. Jasper, 174 Wash. 2d 96, 108, 271
P.3d 876 (2012). Under the sixth amendment to the United States Constitution and article 1,
section 22 of the Washington Constitution, a defendant possesses the right to confront and cross-
examine adverse witnesses. State v. Barnes, 54 Wash. App. 536, 538, 774 P.2d 547 (1989); State
v. Hudlow, 99 Wash. 2d 1, 14-15, 659 P.2d 514 (1983). However, this right is not absolute. State
v. Darden, 145 Wash. 2d 612, 620, 41 P.3d 1189 (2002). Courts may, within their discretion, deny
cross-examination if the evidence sought is vague, argumentative, or speculative. Id. at 620-21.
Thus, the confrontation right is subject to the following test:
First, the evidence must be of at least minimal relevance. Second, if relevant, the
burden is on the State to show the evidence is so prejudicial as to disrupt the fairness
of the fact-finding process at trial. Finally, the State’s interest to exclude prejudicial
evidence must be balanced against the defendant's need for the information sought,
and only if the State’s interest outweighs the defendant’s need can otherwise
relevant information be withheld.
Id. at 622.
McCarty’s prior juvenile adjudications for taking a motor vehicle without permission
were at least relevant to impeach her veracity. However, our prior cases have established that the
16
No. 48072-7-II
State has a compelling interest “in insuring that witnesses are not discouraged from coming
forward with evidence of a crime out of fear of having a prior conviction brought forward.”
State v. Martinez, 38 Wash. App. 421, 424, 685 P.2d 650 (1984); accord Barnes, 54 Wash. App. at
539. We must, then, determine whether the State’s interest in excluding the prejudicial evidence
outweighed Lomax’s need to admit the prior juvenile adjudications.
In weighing these two interests, the State’s interest will prevail if the defendant has the
opportunity to impeach the State’s witness in a similar way. In Barnes, 54 Wash. App. at 539, the
court held that the defendant’s interest did not outweigh the State’s need to exclude a prior
conviction for the reason that “the impeachment through use of the prior conviction was minimal
because . . . there was other evidence of a sufficient quantity before the jury to impeach Mr.
Redmond.” Similarly, in Martinez, 38 Wash. App. at 424-25, the court reasoned that “Martinez’s
interest in impeaching the victim with his prior conviction is minimal . . . because there was
already abundant evidence impeaching him” and thus held that the defendant’s right to
confrontation was not violated.
McCarty was a key witness for the State’s case because her testimony corroborated the
DNA evidence. Thus, impeachment of that testimony was crucial to creating a reasonable doubt
in the jury’s minds. As discussed earlier, however, defense counsel was able to impeach
McCarty’s credibility during cross-examination by bringing out that she was on
methamphetamine and heroin and did not remember what happened on the day of the burglary.
In the same fashion as Barnes and Martinez, the admission of McCarty’s three prior juvenile
adjudications would have minimally, if at all, further impeached the crumbling veracity of
McCarty’s testimony. The State’s interest in protecting its witness outweighed Lomax’s little
17
No. 48072-7-II
need to admit the prior juvenile adjudications, and he fails to show a confrontation clause
violation.
Because no confrontation clause violation occurred, Lomax fails to show that he suffered
from actual prejudice with practical and identifiable consequences. O’Hara, 167 Wash. 2d at 99.
Accordingly, we deem this alleged error waived because it was not manifest. RAP 2.5(a)(3).
III. PROSECUTORIAL MISCONDUCT
Lomax argues that the State improperly vouched for McCarty when the prosecutor stated
in closing argument that “she’s not making this up.” Br. of Appellant at 23-26.
To establish prosecutorial misconduct, the defendant must prove that the prosecuting
attorney’s remarks were both improper and prejudicial. State v. Allen, 182 Wash. 2d 364, 373, 341
P.3d 268 (2015). “In analyzing prejudice, we do not look at the comments in isolation, but in the
context of the total argument, the issues in the case, the evidence, and the instructions given to
the jury.” State v. Warren, 165 Wash. 2d 17, 28, 195 P.3d 940 (2008).
If the defendant did not object to the alleged misconduct, he is deemed to have waived
any error, unless the prosecutor’s misconduct was so flagrant and ill-intentioned that an
instruction could not have cured the resulting prejudice. State v. Emery, 174 Wash. 2d 741, 760-61,
278 P.3d 653 (2012). “Under this heightened standard, the defendant must show that (1) ‘no
curative instruction would have obviated any prejudicial effect on the jury’ and (2) the
misconduct resulted in prejudice that ‘had a substantial likelihood of affecting the jury verdict.’”
Id. at 761 (quoting State v. Thorgerson, 172 Wash. 2d 438, 455, 258 P.3d 43 (2011)).
It is improper for a prosecutor to vouch for a witness’s credibility. State v. Lewis, 156
Wash. App. 230, 240, 233 P.3d 891 (2010). Lomax contends that the State improperly vouched for
18
No. 48072-7-II
McCarty when it stated that “she’s not making this up.” RP at 428. Assuming without deciding
that this remark was improper, Lomax’s challenge to it was waived. If Lomax had objected, a
curative jury instruction could have obviated any prejudice from the State’s single remark. Thus,
Lomax’s prosecutorial misconduct claim fails.
IV. PREJUDICE/CUMULATIVE ERROR
Lomax argues that even if we believe that each error alone—the imposition of shackles,
the restriction on Lomax from impeaching McCarty with prior juvenile adjudications, and the
prosecutor’s improper vouching—would not result in an unfair trial, in the aggregate, they do.
“Under the cumulative error doctrine, a defendant may be entitled to a new trial when
cumulative errors produce a trial that is fundamentally unfair.” Emery, 174 Wash. 2d at 766. As
determined in Part I and II above, we found that Lomax failed to demonstrate prejudice from
making him wear leg shackles, and that the trial court did not abuse its discretion or violate his
confrontation right by preventing him from impeaching McCarty with her prior adjudications.
Thus, no prejudice from these errors can contribute to a cumulative prejudice calculus. We are
left only with the prejudice from the assumed improper vouching, which we deemed waived in
Part III because the remark could have easily been remedied with a curative instruction.
Accordingly, the cumulative error claim fails.
V. MANDATORY DNA FEE
Lomax argues that the mandatory $100 DNA fee assessed under RCW 43.43.75416
violated his constitutional rights to substantive due process and equal protection. We disagree.
6
RCW 43.43.7541 was amended in 2015. This amendment does not affect our disposition of
this case.
19
No. 48072-7-II
RCW 43.43.7541 requires every defendant to pay a $100 DNA fee when subjected to a
sentence for any felony conviction or other specified misdemeanors and juvenile equivalents
listed under RCW 43.43.754(1)(a).7 In State v. Mathers, 193 Wash. App. 913, 926, 928-29, 376
P.3d 1163, review denied, 186 Wash. 2d 1015 (2016), our court held that the mandatory $100 DNA
fee did not violate Mathers’ rights to substantive due process or equal protection.
In Lomax’s opening briefing, he acknowledges Mathers is contrary to his position, but
states that “[i]n anticipation of a Motion for Reconsideration [on Mathers], I am leaving my
version of these issues unchanged.” Br. of Appellant at 27 n.5. No reconsideration motion was
ever submitted, and Mathers’ petition for review to the Supreme Court was denied. State v.
Mathers, 186 Wash. 2d 1015, 380 P.3d 482 (2016). After the date the petition for review was
denied, Lomax stated in his reply brief that all three divisions of the Court of Appeals,8 which
includes our opinion in Mathers, resolve “the issue contrary to the position taken by Lomax” and
does not ask us to consider his arguments again. Reply Br. of Appellant at 4. Because Lomax
essentially concedes his argument is futile and does not invite the court to readdress his
arguments, we simply follow Mathers and decline to further address any substantive due process
and equal protection challenges to the $100 DNA fee.
7
RCW 43.43.754 was amended in 2015. This amendment does not affect our disposition of this
case.
8
In his reply brief, Lomax acknowledges that every division of the Court of Appeals has issued
opinions contrary to his position. Reply Br. of Appellant at 4 (citing e.g. Mathers, 193 Wash. App.
at 927-28; State v. Shelton, 194 Wash. App. 660, 663, 378 P.3d 230 (2016), review denied, 187
Wash. 2d 1002 (2017); State v. Stoddard, 192 Wash. App. 222, 224, 366 P.3d 474 (2016)). We note
that our division’s opinion in Mathers holds that the $100 mandatory DNA fee did not violate
Mathers’ rights to substantive due process or equal protection. Neither Shelton from Division
One nor Stoddard from Division Three addresses an equal protection challenge.
20
No. 48072-7-II
VI. DNA SAMPLE
Lomax argues that the sentencing court abused its discretion by ordering him to submit
another DNA sample despite the fact that he had already given one. We disagree.
“A biological sample must be collected for purposes of DNA identification analysis from
. . . [e]very adult or juvenile individual convicted of a felony.” RCW 43.43.754(1)(a). However,
“[i]f the Washington state patrol crime laboratory already has a DNA sample from an individual
for a qualifying offense, a subsequent submission is not required to be submitted.” RCW
43.43.754(2).
In State v. Lewis, 194 Wash. App. 709, 720, 379 P.3d 129, review denied, 186 Wash. 2d 1025
(2016), Lewis claimed that the trial court erred by ordering him to submit another DNA sample.
To support his argument, Lewis attached his judgment and sentence that lists his criminal history
from 1995-2004, which was riddled with felony convictions. Id. at 720-21. However, the court
declined to address his challenge because
[n]othing in the record shows that Lewis actually submitted a DNA sample or that
the Washington State Patrol Crime Laboratory already has a DNA sample for a
qualifying offense. Because Lewis makes no showing that RCW 43.43.754(2)
applies, the record does not support his argument that the court erred by ordering
him to submit a DNA sample for testing.
Id. at 721 (citation omitted).
Similarly to Lewis, Lomax relies on his prior judgment and sentences and argues that we
can infer that his DNA sample has already been taken because of his uncontested criminal
history between 1999 and 2013 for numerous felonies when the mandatory DNA collection law
was effective. As in Lewis, we hold that despite Lomax’s circumstantial evidence, he fails to
21
No. 48072-7-II
show that a DNA sample has already been submitted for one of his prior offenses. Accordingly,
this claim fails.
VII. SCRIVENER’S ERRORS
Lomax argues that we should remand his case to the sentencing court to correct two
scrivener’s errors on his judgment and sentence: one for the wrong date of the crime and the
other for the wrong term of punishment. The State concedes that we should remand to correct
the wrong date, but does not address the wrong term of punishment. We accept the State’s
concession to correct the date, as well as order the sentencing court to correct the maximum term
of punishment.
We are empowered to remand a case to correct a judgment and sentence, even if no
prejudice is demonstrated from the scrivener’s error. See State v. Moten, 95 Wash. App. 927, 929,
976 P.2d 1286 (1999). Lomax’s judgment and sentence states he committed a burglary on
September 20, 2014, but he was convicted for a September 20, 2013 offense. Further, his
judgment and sentence lists that the maximum term he will serve is 25 years to life for his first
degree burglary conviction. Under RCW 9A.20.0219 the maximum term of punishment for a
class A felony, such as first degree burglary, RCW 9A.52.020, is life imprisonment—not 25
years to life.10
9
RCW 9A.20.021 was amended in 2015. This amendment does not affect our disposition of this
case.
10
In his briefing, Lomax cites to RCW 9.94A.570, part of the Sentencing Reform Act of 1981
(SRA), as the source for correcting the maximum term. However, the error as to the term was in
the box with information as to the count itself, not the SRA sentence.
22
No. 48072-7-II
Accordingly, we remand this case to the sentencing court to correct these scrivener’s
errors by changing the date of the offense to September 20, 2013 and changing the maximum
term of punishment to life imprisonment.
VIII. APPELLATE COSTS
Lomax asks that we exercise our discretion to deny any appellate costs the State requests.
The State objects to our consideration of appellate costs at this time, noting that it has not yet
decided whether to request costs.
Under the newly revised provisions of RAP 14.2, a commissioner of this court will
determine whether to award appellate costs if the State decides to file a cost bill and if Lomax
objects to that cost bill.
IX. SAG
In his SAG, Lomax argues that (1) juror number 25 had a conflict of interest that
prejudiced his trial and (2) the trial court abused its discretion in denying his counsel’s requests
for a mistrial. For the reasons below, we disagree.
1. Juror Number 25
Lomax argues that he was prejudiced by the presence of juror 25, a “court clerk” in the
Grays Harbor County Courthouse, because she had a “major conflict of interest” in that she knew
the judge, prosecutor, and defense attorney involved in the case. SAG, Att. 1. Indeed, the voir
dire process brought out that juror 25 knew the judge, prosecutor, and defense attorney in her
role as court clerk. After that, she was questioned whether there was “any reason that [she]
would not be comfortable being a juror in this case or any reason that would make it difficult for
[her] to be fair and impartial to both sides,” to which she responded in the negative. RP at 52.
23
No. 48072-7-II
On this record, Lomax fails to show that juror 25 had a conflict of interest due to her relationship
with the judge or attorneys.
Lomax also claims that juror 25 had a conflict of interest because she witnessed him
dressed in a jump suit and in shackles as he moved in and out of the courthouse. We have
nothing in the record, though, to indicate that juror 25 actually observed Lomax in this capacity.
Lomax may raise this issue again in a personal restraint petition (PRP), where he can supplement
the record to support his argument. See State v. McFarland, 127 Wash. 2d 322, 338, 899 P.2d 1251
(1995).
Lomax also contends that he told his defense counsel to remove juror 25 from his case,
but his attorney declined to do so. Lomax’s unsworn statements in his SAG cannot supplement
the record before us. Again, he may raise this issue again in a PRP, where he can properly
supplement the record. Id.
Accordingly, the claims related to juror 25 fail.
2. Mistrial
Lomax argues that the trial court abused its discretion in denying his requests for a
mistrial after the State elicited from its witnesses, Blundred and Krohn, that they received
anonymous tips that Lomax was involved in the burglary.
We apply the abuse of discretion standard in reviewing a trial court’s denial of a motion
for mistrial. State v. Hopson, 113 Wash. 2d 273, 284, 778 P.2d 1014 (1989). We will find abuse
only if no reasonable judge would have reached the same conclusion. Id.
The trial court should grant a mistrial only when the defendant has been so prejudiced
that nothing short of a new trial can insure that the defendant will be tried fairly. Id. In
24
No. 48072-7-II
determining whether a trial court abused its discretion, we gauge the effect of an irregularity by
examining (1) its seriousness, (2) whether it involved cumulative evidence, and (3) whether the
trial court properly instructed the jury to disregard it. Id.
The first motion for a mistrial occurred during Blundred’s direct examination, where it
was brought out that Lomax’s name came up after Krohn received “tips” during the
investigation. RP at 251-52. In commenting on his interview with Lomax, Blundred stated,
“[Lomax] denied any involvement, denied any knowledge. When asked about why his name
would be brought up in this time [sic] of a situation.” RP at 252 (emphasis added). Before
Blundred could continue, defense counsel objected, and the prosecutor agreed to move on from
this line of questioning. After Blundred’s testimony finished, defense counsel moved for a
mistrial, stating that the tip evidence was a “bell that I don’t think we can unring with a jury
instruction or . . . curative comment.” RP at 272. The trial court denied the motion, stating:
[I]t may have been a bell, but it wasn’t a very loud bell, it was more like a tinkle. I
agree there was a reference to a tip. There was no objection at the time, no motion
to strike. I would entertain a motion right now to give the jury a curative instruction
and ask to disregard that testimony and strike testimony from Detective Blundred
regarding the fact that he contacted Mr. Lomax in response to a tip he had received.
RP at 272. Defense counsel declined the court’s offer for a curative instruction.
The second motion for a mistrial occurred later in Krohn’s direct, where in referencing
his interview with Lomax, he stated that he challenged Lomax’s denial of the offense by
“ask[ing] him why somebody would say that.” RP at 318. This statement received an immediate
objection from defense counsel, which was overruled. Krohn’s testimony continued, in which he
stated that he “asked [Lomax] why somebody would claim that he was the one,” which again
received an objection. RP at 318 (emphasis added). At this time, the trial court admonished the
25
No. 48072-7-II
State, saying that it could not introduce inadmissible hearsay and that Krohn’s statements “tell[]
the jury that someone who Mr. Lomax is not able to confront at this trial accused him of
committing the crime.” RP at 318-20. Defense counsel, again, moved for a mistrial, which the
trial court denied. The trial court, however, stated it would instruct the jury to disregard Krohn’s
last comment, which defense counsel agreed was a sufficient remedy.
On this record, the trial court’s denial of the motions for mistrial was not an abuse of
discretion. In both instances, the trial court examined the possible prejudice inflicted on Lomax
from Blundred and Krohn’s remarks. It also provided a reasonable solution to those problems.
In the first instance, it offered the defense a curative instruction, which Lomax declined. In the
second instance, the trial court instructed the jury to disregard Krohn’s problematic comments,
which defense counsel agreed was an appropriate remedy. Given the nature of the errors
presented, we hold that the trial court appropriately exercised its discretion in these instances and
thus Lomax’s claims fail.
CONCLUSION
We hold that Lomax fails to demonstrate a prejudicial trial error. We also hold that no
sentencing error occurred except for the two scrivener’s errors. Accordingly, we affirm Lomax’s
conviction and sentencing conditions, but remand for the sentencing court to correct the
26
No. 48072-7-II
scrivener’s errors as directed.
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.
BJORGEN, C.J.
We concur:
LEE, J.
MELNICK, J.
27