State Of Washington v. Robert A. Baker ( 2015 )

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IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
STATE OF WASHINGTON,
—», il p
No. 71034-6-1
Respondent, vO
DIVISION ONE
v.
ROBERT ALLAN BAKER, UNPUBLISHED OPINION
Appellant. FILED: November 9, 2015
Lau, J. — A jury convicted Robert Baker of first degree premeditated murder with
a deadly weapon enhancement and aggravating circumstances. He contends that (1)
police officers violated his constitutional rights under the Fifth Amendment of the United
States Constitution and article I, section 9 of the Washington State Constitution by
questioning him after he invoked his right to remain silent; (2) the court improperly
imposed an exceptional sentence based on victim vulnerability; and (3) his attorney's
complete silence at sentencing constitutes ineffective assistance. We conclude no
violation of Baker's right to remain silent occurred and the trial court properly imposed
an exceptional sentence based on victim vulnerability. We affirm Baker's conviction.
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Because Baker's counsel completely abandoned him at sentencing by remaining
silent, prejudice is presumed. We remand to the trial court with instructions that Baker
must be resentenced with assistance of competent counsel. We affirm the conviction
and remand for resentencing in accordance with this opinion.
FACTS
Kathie Baker lived with her husband, Robert Baker1 on a wooded, 13-acre
property in Greenbank, Washington.
In June 2011, Kathie and Baker opened Harbor Pizzeria restaurant. They both
worked almost daily at the restaurant. Kathie also worked as an engineer for Raytheon
Corporation. Kathie telecommuted most of the time because Raytheon Corporation is
located in Denver. She occasionally traveled for work.
Kathie was last seen alive on June 2, 2012, when she and Baker celebrated their
restaurant's one-year anniversary.
That evening, two employees from Harbor Pizzeria phoned the Baker residence.
One employee spoke with both Baker and Kathie on the phone. At around 10:30 pm
another employee spoke with Baker on the phone and Kathie was part of the
conversation in the background. No one heard from Kathie after this phone call.
Raytheon employee Ray Dunham was unable to reach Kathie after calling her on
June 4, 5, 6, and 7. Dunham's last contact with Kathie was on June 1 when she texted
that she was with her "hubby." Report of Proceedings (RP) (Oct. 8, 2013) at 270.
On June 7, 2012, a different Raytheon employee tried to contact Kathie at Harbor
Pizzeria. He was told that Kathie was in Colorado. Dunham knew that Kathie was not
1 For clarity, we refer to Kathie Baker as "Kathie" in this opinion.
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in Colorado and informed the company. Raytheon security contacted the Island County
Sheriff's Office on June 7, 2012.
Police Investigation
On June 7, Lieutenant Evan Tingstad and Deputy Leif Haugen were dispatched
to the Bakers' home to perform a welfare check. They contacted Baker around 4:45 pm
by his mailbox. Baker told the officers that Kathie was in Denver for work and left on
Saturday, June 2. Baker told the officers he last talked to Kathie when he dropped her
off at SeaTac airport on Saturday, June 2. The deputies noticed a female's silhouette
inside the house.
Baker said the person inside was a mutual friend named Lisa Schuldt. He said
Kathie agreed to let Schuldt stay at the home. Baker gave Lieutenant Tingstad Kathie's
cell phone number. He called it and left a message. On June 8, Detective Laura Price
talked to Baker at Harbor Pizzeria. Schuldt was also present. He agreed to talk with
Detective Price at the station. Detective Price and Baker drove separately to the
station.
Detective Price suspected that Kathie left Baker and made a withdrawal from
their bank accounts. Detective Price and Baker reviewed some of the couple's joint
accounts. Baker forgot some of his passwords. He agreed to return home with
Detective Price so they could view the remaining accounts there.
Between 3:30 p.m. and 4:40 p.m. that afternoon, Baker, Schuldt, Detective Price,
and Deputy Haugen arrived at Baker's house. Baker drove separately.
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Baker invited Detective Price into the house. She noticed the home was neat
and clean except for a stain on the living room carpet. Baker explained a dog dragged
its rear on the carpet.
Detective Price asked if she could look around to see if Kathie was in the house.
She told Baker he could refuse permission. Baker agreed and led Detective Price into
the master bedroom. Detective Price saw a red carpet stain partially concealed by a
pillow. Baker said his dogs often relieved themselves on the carpet, and one of the
dogs had a sore, bleeding paw. An inspection of the two dogs showed no bleeding
paws or observable sores.
Lieutenant Tingstad asked Baker to go through the preceding two weeks with
"specific clarity" to help police locate Kathie. RP (Oct. 9, 2013) at 529-30. Baker told
Lieutenant Tingstad that he took Kathie to SeaTac airport on Sunday, June 3, and
dropped her off for a flight to Denver. He said Kathie moved out and was living in
Denver. He never explained why Kathie's dogs were in the house and her car in the
garage.
Lieutenant Tingstad noted what he thought might be faint drag marks in the
kitchen, into the garage, and from there to an outside door. He saw a white comforter in
a sink in the garage with a red stain.
Lieutenant Tingstad and Baker stood outside in the driveway. Lieutenant
Tingstad was concerned about a violent act in the home and wanted to ask "some direct
questions." RP (Aug. 16, 2013) at 35-36. He advised Baker of his Miranda2 rights.
Lieutenant Tingstad said Baker was not in custody at this time. At first, Baker agreed to
2 Miranda v. Arizona. 384 U.S. 436, 479, 86 S. Ct. 1602, 16 L Ed. 2d 694 (1966).
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speak. After Lieutenant Tingstad asked him to explain the blood on the comforter Baker
declined, "I don't think I want to answer any more questions." RP (Aug. 16, 2013) at 37.
Lieutenant Tingstad discontinued questioning.
Baker was told he could not reenter the house pending application for a search
warrant. No one told Baker to remain. He was not hand cuffed, placed in a patrol car,
threatened, or promised anything. Lieutenant Tingstad asked Officer Haugen to "keep
an eye" on Baker for officer safety as he waited outside. RP (Aug. 16, 2013) at 37.
Baker stood next to his pickup truck. After roughly three hours he was asked to
leave and given identification, a credit card, and a jacket. Baker said he would be
staying at the Harbor Pizzeria. He left in a taxi.
On June 9, after obtaining a search warrant for the Baker property, police
discovered a body wrapped in a blue tarp hidden in a wooded ravine on the property.
The body was covered with pieces of carpet, vegetation, a rain poncho, and a welcome
mat.
Later that day, Lieutenant Tingstad and Deputy Haugen tried to locate Baker at
Harbor Pizzeria. He was not there. Lieutenant Tingstad checked at a local motel in
Freeland where Baker booked a room. Shortly before noon, Deputy Haugen went to
Baker's room. Baker agreed to talk to officers about Kathie. He finished dressing and
rode with officers to the station. He was not hand cuffed, arrested, or ordered to go with
them.
At the station, Baker wrote out a statement after officers advised him of his
Miranda rights and he waived those rights.
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Baker's statement said he was romantically involved with Schmidt without
Kathie's knowledge. He denied knowledge of when Kathie left. He denied that he and
Kathie got into a physical fight. He wrote that "most of the stories I told you yesterday
were not true. I had two stories for two women." Exhibit (Ex.) at 368. Baker claimed he
noticed Kathie was gone on Sunday morning, June 3. He denied knowledge of the
stains in the house. He stated the comforter in the laundry room was already there
when he returned home.
Lieutenant Tingstad asked Baker follow up questions. He wrote the questions
and answers on the form, which Baker initialed. Lieutenant Tingstad also asked Baker
questions that were not written on the form. About an hour after beginning the written
statement, Baker declined to answer any more questions and was arrested.
The Washington State Patrol Crime Scene Response Team discovered
significant amounts of Kathie's blood in the home. Blood was discovered on the carpet,
the mattress in the master bedroom, Kathie's nightstand, and the mattress pad.
Evidence showed that Kathie's body had been dragged from the bedroom through the
house, downstairs, through the garage, and then outside. The team discovered blood
on the comforter in the garage, along with a mop and a bucket containing bloody water.
Evidence also showed efforts made to clean up the blood.
The team discovered a hammer in the trash with hairs on the flat head and a
carpet cleaner containing blood. An autopsy revealed that Kathie suffered a head injury
caused by blunt force trauma, which an expert described as a "punched out, circular
hole in the skull just beneath those two lacerations." RP (Oct. 9, 2013) at 602; Ex. at
254. An expert opined that the trauma was the result of at least two blows. The
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autopsy further revealed evidence of strangulation. There was no evidence of
defensive wounds. The medical examiner concluded the cause of death was blunt
force trauma and ligature strangulation.
The State charged Baker with first degree murder committed with premeditated
intent. The charge included a deadly weapon enhancement and the aggravating factor
of the victim's particular vulnerability.
A jury convicted Baker as charged. He appeals.
ANALYSIS
Miranda
Baker contends that the State improperly elicited statements from him after he
invoked his right to remain silent.
When a suspect is questioned by police, he has the right to cut off questioning at
any time by making an unequivocal statement of his desire to cease communication
with interrogating officers. State v. Piatnitskv. 180 Wn.2d 407, 412, 325 P.3d 167(2014); Miranda v. Arizona. 384 U.S. 436, 479, 86 S. Ct. 1602, 16 L Ed. 2d 694 (1966);
U.S. Const, amend. V; Wash. Const, art. I, § 9. Where a suspect initially waives the
right to silence, he retains the right to cut off questioning at any time. Miranda. 384 U.S.
at 474.
Compliance with Miranda is required when a defendant's statement is the
product of custodial interrogation. A suspect is in custody once his or her freedom of
action is curtailed to a degree associated with formal arrest. Berkemer v. McCartv. 468
U.S. 420, 440, 104 S. Ct. 3138, 82 L Ed. 2d 317 (1984). Custody is determined by
looking at whether a reasonable person in the suspect's position would have felt his or
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her freedom was curtailed to a degree associated with a formal arrest. State v. Daniels.
160 Wn.2d 256, 266, 156 P.3d 905 (2007); State v. Heritage. 152 Wn.2d 210, 217-18,
95 P.3d 345 (2004); Yarborouoh v. Alvarado. 541 U.S. 652, 662, 124 S. Ct. 2140, 158
L. Ed. 2d 938 (2004).
Sufficiency of the Evidence
The trial court entered comprehensive written findings of fact and conclusions of
law after an evidentiary hearing pursuant to CrR 3.5. Baker challenges findings of fact
5,15,19, and 28 as "erroneously entered" and "incorrect." Br. of Appellant at 15.
5. The defendant answered questions knowingly, intelligently and
voluntarily. The defendant did not request an attorney or ask the officers
to halt their questioning.
15. The defendant answered questions both at Harbor Pizza and his
residence knowingly, intelligently and voluntarily. The defendant did not
request an attorney or ask the deputies to halt their questioning or their
search of the residence. The defendant did ask the deputies not to look in
the guest room where his houseguest, Lisa Schuldt, was staying. The
deputies complied with the defendant's request.
19. After spending three hours standing at his truck in the driveway, the
defendant left the scene in a taxi at approximately 10:00 pm. The
defendant was not told where to go and the deputies did not know where
the defendant was going.
28. The defendant was then placed under arrest and was not asked any
further questions. Prior to being told he was under arrest on June 9, 2012,
the defendant was not subject to photographing, fingerprinting or any
other booking procedure. None of the interviews were overly long nor did
they take place at off hours, nor were the deputies aggressive in their
questioning. The defendant was not handcuffed while making any
statement.
CP at 43-47.
On review, this court looks to whether a trial court's findings are supported by
substantial evidence and whether those findings support the conclusions of law. State
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v. Broadway. 133 Wn.2d 118,130-31, 942 P.2d 363 (1997). Substantial evidence is
evidence sufficient to persuade a fair-minded, rational person of the truth of the premise
asserted. State v. Halstien. 122 Wn.2d 109, 128, 857 P.2d 270 (1993). Unchallenged
findings, and findings supported by substantial evidence are verities on appeal. State v.
Homan, 181 Wn.2d 102,106, 330 P.3d 182 (2014). Credibility determinations are for
the trial court and will not be disturbed on appeal. State v. O'Neal. 126 Wn. App. 395,
419, 109 P.3d 429 (2005).
To the extent that Baker challenges whether substantial evidence exists to
support findings of fact 5, 15,19 and 28, those findings are amply supported by the
record in this case. The trial court's findings of fact constitute verities on appeal.
On June 7, sheriff deputies were dispatched to Baker's residence to do a welfare
check on Kathie. Her employer had not heard from her since June 1. Baker voluntarily
talked to the sheriff's deputies outside of the residence about her whereabouts. The
entire contact with the deputies was about 12 minutes.
On June 8, Detective Price contacted Baker at Harbor Pizzeria. Baker agreed to
talk to Detective Price at the nearby station. He drove himself to the station. There, he
talked to Detective Price for about 30 minutes in a conference room with the door open.
He was not "under any particular suspicion for anything." RP (Aug. 16, 2013) at 13-14.
Baker agreed to meet Detective Price at his residence. He drove his car home
with Schuldt. He brought his laptops to the kitchen where they looked at information
and continued to talk about Kathie's absence. After Baker was told he could refuse or
limit the search, Baker agreed to a search of his home. He led Detective Price through
the house. When he asked them not to enter Schmidt's room, they complied.
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Lieutenant Tingstad read Baker his Miranda rights when deputies thought they might be
"investigating a criminal offense." RP (Aug. 16, 2013) at 35. They stopped questioning
Baker at 6:30 p.m. when he declined to answer any more questions. Baker was not
detained. They told him not to go back into the house while deputies applied for a
search warrant. For officer safety, Lieutenant Tingstad asked Deputy Haugen to "keep
an eye on Mr. Baker" while deputies continued their investigation.
No one made threats or promises to Baker. He understood the questions.
Deputies did not place Baker in handcuffs, a patrol car, or detain him. "We basically
didn't do anything with Mr. Baker" after he said he did not want to talk. RP (Aug. 16,
2013) at 38. He just stood by his car for about three hours as deputies continued their
investigation. No one restricted his movements or told him "he couldn't go anywhere."
RP(Aug. 16, 2013) at 38.
Deputies told Baker to leave, police personnel would be at the house, and no one
would be allowed to come or go into the home. Lieutenant Tingstad offered to get
Baker's identification, jacket, and a credit card. A deputy brought Baker these items. A
deputy or Baker called for a taxi cab. No one restricted where he could go. He told
deputies he would stay at the pizzeria when they asked how to contact him.
On June 9, about 18 hours after Baker left in a taxi and about 21 hours after
Lieutenant Tingstad asked his last question, deputies contacted Baker at a motel room
around noon. They knocked on the door and Baker agreed to talk to them. Deputies
drove him to the precinct. He was not placed in handcuffs or restrained.
They sat in a conference room and offered Baker water and coffee. Lieutenant
Tingstad asked him "if we could talk about where his wife was." RP (Aug. 16, 2013) at
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42. Baker agreed to talk to the deputies. Lieutenant Tingstad placed a preprinted form
on the table and read Baker his Miranda rights as Baker followed along. He indicated
he understood his rights. He placed his initials next to each right. Baker signed the
waiver, indicating he understood his rights, wished to waive the rights, and provide a
written statement. Baker asked clarifying questions about his rights including whether
he could talk now and later invoke his rights. Lieutenant Tingstad told him that he
could.
Lieutenant Tingstad explained that he was confused about the information they
obtained yesterday. He asked Baker "if we could sit down and go over the events and
find out where Kathie was." RP (Aug. 16, 2013) at 46. "[Baker] stated that he would."
RP (Aug. 16, 2013) at 46. Baker said he wanted to write his own statement. Lieutenant
Tingstad left the dooropen, walked out, and left Baker alone in the room to write out his
statement.
When Baker said he was finished, 15 to 20 minutes later, Lieutenant Tingstad
and Detective Haugen returned to the room, read Baker's statement, and asked Baker
some questions. They arrested Baker when he declined to answer any more questions.
The entire contact at the precinct was one hour.
We conclude that substantial evidence supports the trial court's findings of fact.3
In a statement of additional authorities, Baker relies on United States v.
Borostowski, 775 F.3d 851 (7th Cir. 2014). This case is distinguishable. There, the
court concluded that defendant was in police custody when 13 law enforcement officers
executed a search warrant at the defendant's home at approximately 6:00 a.m. The
3Detective Laura Price, Lieutenant Evan Tingstad, and Deputy Leif Haugen
testified at the CrR 3.5 hearing. The trial court found their testimony was credible.
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initial entry team consisted of seven agents armed with handguns, including one who
carried a ballistic shield. The agents ordered the defendant to place his hands on his
head, escorted him to the front lawn, and handcuffed him. Once the home was secure,
the defendant was brought back into a room. An agent stood between him and the
door. Over the next three hours, eleven officers searched the home and questioned the
defendant. During his interactions with the officers, the defendant three times
requested an attorney. The agents asked if the defendant would submit to a polygraph.
When he agreed, they drove him 52 miles restrained with handcuffs and leg shackles.
The court considered several factors in concluding that a reasonable person in the
defendant's position would not feel free to terminate the encounter and walk away.
Borostowski. 775 F.3d at 863. Among those factors were the presence of armed
officers controlling the defendant's actions, the use of physical restraints like handcuffs
and shackles, that the suspect was confined in a small room, whether the defendant
voluntarily agreed to meet with officers, and that the defendant was not released at the
end of the encounter. Borostowski. 775 F.3d at 860-62.
Unlike in Borostowski. Baker voluntarily escorted police around his home, was
never restrained, and freely departed with no police intervention. A suspect is not
placed in custody merely because he is not allowed to enter his residence. State v.
Lorenz. 152 Wn.2d 22, 37-38, 93 P.3d 133 (2004) (fact that defendant was not allowed
into her trailer during police search did not place her in "custody" for Miranda purposes
because she was not required to remain on the premises).
Baker was not in custody on June 9 when police located him at the motel nearly
18 hours after Baker left in a taxi the prior evening, and nearly 21 hours after he was
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last asked a question. During this interval, Baker was free to go anywhere except to his
residence. The deputies asked him if he would be willing to go to the station. He
agreed. Because Baker left the prior night without his vehicle, officers gave him a ride
to the station. Baker was frisked for officer safety before getting into the police vehicle.
He was not handcuffed and rode as a passenger. He was offered water or coffee in the
conference room and no booking procedures were performed. Baker asked questions
about his rights and Lieutenant Tingstad properly responded. Baker was alone in the
room to write his statement.
The mere fact that a defendant willingly goes to a police station does not
transform an interaction with police into a custodial encounter. The Supreme Court has
"explicitly recognized that Miranda warnings are not required 'simply because the
questioning takes place in the station house, or because the questioned person is one
whom the police suspect.'" California v. Beheler. 463 U.S. 1121,1125,103 S. Ct. 3517,
77 L Ed. 2d 1275 (1983) (quoting Oregon v. Mathiason. 429 U.S. 492, 97 S. Ct. 711, 50
L.Ed. 2d 714 (1977)).
We conclude there was substantial evidence that a reasonable person in Baker's
position would not consider his freedom curtailed to a degree associated with formal
arrest. Because Baker was not in custody at the time of questioning, we are not
persuaded by his claim that police violated his right to silence. But even if we assume
that Baker was in custody, the record shows that law enforcement officers scrupulously
honored his invocation of the right to remain silent.
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Invocation of Right to Silence
Baker argues that on June 8 at about 6:30 p.m., he properly invoked his right to
remain silent when he told Lieutenant Tingstad "I don't think I want to answer any
questions—any more questions." RP (August 16, 2013) at 37, 40. He asserts that
when officers located him around noon the next day at the motel they were not free to
disregard his earlier invocation of his right to silence.4
Baker relies principally on Michigan v. Moslev. 423 U.S. 96, 96 S. Ct. 321, 46 L.
Ed. 2d 313 (1975), arguing that police may not reinitiate questioning once the right to
silence has been invoked. In that case, police arrested Mosley for several robberies of
a local bar and diner. Officers advised him of his Miranda rights and questioned him.
Mosley invoked his right not to answer any questions. Police promptly ceased
questioning and confined him. More than two hours later, a different detective
questioned Mosley about a homicide unrelated to the robberies. The detective gave
new Miranda warnings. Mosley made incriminating statements. He was charged and
convicted of the murder.
On appeal, Mosley claimed officers could not resume questioning after he
invoked his right to silence. The Supreme Court disagreed. The Court held that the
critical safeguard of the right to silence is the right to cut off questioning. Moslev. 423
U.S. at 103. The Court noted that in each instance, officers carefully advised Mosley of
his rights and immediately cut off questioning when Mosley indicated he no longer
wished to answer questions. It explained that this was not a case where officers failed
4 The trial court entered alternative conclusions of law that Baker was fully
advised of his Miranda rights, that he acknowledged those rights, that the officers
honored his request to cut off questioning, and that there was a significant "cooling off
period" between questioning. CP at 47-48.
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No. 71034-6-1/15
to honor a defendant's rights, refused to discontinue questioning upon request, or tried
to wear down the defendant's resistance with persistent questioning:
In contrast to such practices, the police here immediately ceased the
interrogation, resumed questioning only after the passage of a significant
period of time and the provision of a fresh set of warnings, and restricted
the second interrogation to a crime that had not been a subject of the
earlier interrogation.
Moslev. 423 U.S. at 106. Moselv supports admissibility of Baker's statements.
Baker points out that Mosley was questioned about an unrelated crime. Unlike in
Moslev. Baker argues that he was questioned about the same crime after he had "been
questioned at length by the police for many hours as the police narrowed their
investigation to believe he committed a 'violent act' in his home against his wife." Br. of
Appellant at 13. He argues that his final "Mirandized statements came after a long day
of police questioning, including barring him from his home or from accessing his
personal property." Br. of Appellant at 15.
Admissibility under Moslev depends on the absence of evidence of "attempted
persuasion" through efforts to wear down the defendant. Later cases interpret Moslev
as prohibiting law enforcement efforts to overcome a defendant's right to silence, not as
a per se bar on questioning related to the same subject. See Kellv v. Lvnauoh. 862
F.2d 1126, 1131 (5th Cir. 1988) ("it is not decisive that the interrogations covered the
same crime"); United States v. Hsu. 852 F.2d 407, 409-12 (9th Cir. 1988) (law
enforcement "scrupulously honored" defendant's rights where he was twice questioned
about the same crime in a short period but interrogation promptly ceased when
defendant asserted right (quoting Miranda. 384 U.S. at 479)). The critical factor is a
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No. 71034-6-1/16
"cooling off" period followed by a fresh set of warnings. Hill v. Kemp. 833 F.2d 927, 929
(11th Cir. 1987); Hsu, 852 F.2d at 411.
Washington follows the "cooling off" period approach. For instance, in State v.
Robbins. 15 Wn. App. 108, 547 P.2d 108 (1976), the defendant was taken into custody
on a Friday. Police gave proper Miranda warnings and the defendant invoked her right
to silence. The following Monday, after giving a fresh set of Miranda warnings, police
resumed questioning about the same crime. The defendant signed a written
confession. We held that nothing about the defendant's weekend incarceration or
questioning about the same subject matter, suggested the police refused to take "no" for
an answer. Robbins. 15 Wn. App. at 109-13. We concluded no violation of the
defendant's rights occurred.
Similarly, in State v. Vannov. 25 Wn. App. 464, 610 P.2d 380 (1980), officers
promptly halted questioning where a defendant asserted his right to remain silent.
About four hours later, the defendant was given new Miranda warnings, waived his
rights, and signed a confession. Vannov. 25 Wn. App. at 469. We determined that
there was nothing in the record suggesting the intent of the second interrogation was to
wear down the defendant and thus force him to change his mind. Vannov. 25 Wn. App.
at 469.
Baker contends that once a defendant makes it clear he wishes to cut off
questioning, police may not resume interrogation about the same criminal investigation
"unless the accused himself initiates further communication, exchanges, or
conversations with the police," citing Edwards v. Arizona. 451 U.S. 477, 485, 101 S. Ct.
1880, 68 L Ed. 2d 378 (1981). Edwards is inapposite. That case involved a
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defendant's Fifth Amendment right to counsel. Edwards. 451 U.S. at 485. Likewise,
Baker's reliance on Maryland v. Shatzer. 559 U.S. 98, 130 S. Ct. 1213, 175 L Ed. 2d
1045 (2010) is misplaced.5 In that case, the court concluded that once a defendant
invokes his right to counsel under the Fifth Amendment, police must wait 14 days before
questioning the defendant again without counsel present. Shatzer. 559 U.S. 110-11.
Baker makes no claim that he requested the assistance of an attorney at any point
during the police investigation preceding his arrest.
Assuming Baker was in custody, no constitutional rights were violated. The
second round of questioning occurred nearly 18 hours after he left his home the
previous night in a taxi, unescorted by police, and 21 hours after the last question was
asked. He spent the night in a motel after telling police he would stay at his pizza
restaurant. The following afternoon he was given new Miranda warnings. Nothing in
the record indicates that officers failed to scrupulously honor Baker's invocation of his
rights. At trial, Baker admitted he was under no pressure to make his written statement.
We conclude the trial court properly admitted Baker's statements made to police
officers.6
Finally, even assuming error in the admission of Baker's statements to police
officers, the error is harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. The remaining overwhelming
5 Baker included this case in a statement of additional authorities filed after oral
argument.
6 Baker argues that article I, section 9 of the Washington State Constitution is
more protective of the right to remain silent than the 5th Amendment of the United
States Constitution. We disagree. Well settled authority holds that Article I, Section 9
of the Washington State Constitution provides no greater protection than the Fifth
Amendment of the United States Constitution. State v. Mecca Twin Theater & Film
Exch.. Inc.. 82 Wn.2d 87, 91, 507 P.2d 1165 (1973); In re Pers. Restraint of Ecklund.
139 Wn.2d 166, 172, 985 P.2d 342 (1999); State v. Terry. 181 Wn. App. 880, 889, P.3d
932 (2014).
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untainted evidence of guilt, summarized above, establishes guilt beyond a reasonable
doubt.
Particularly Vulnerable Person Aggravator
Baker contends that the State failed to establish that Kathie was a particularly
vulnerable victim of premeditated murder beyond a reasonable doubt. He asserts two
main grounds: first, there was insufficient evidence to support a jury's finding that Kathie
was particularly vulnerable or incapable of resistance when she was murdered.
Second, the particularly vulnerable person aggravator is incompatible with a charge of
murder in the first degree.
The State charged Baker with the aggravating factor that he knew or should have
known the victim was particularly vulnerable or incapable of resistance. The court
instructed the jury that the aggravator must be proved beyond a reasonable doubt and:
If you find the defendant guilty of Murder in the First Degree, then you
must determine if the following aggravating circumstance exists:
Whether the defendant knew or should have known that the victim was
particularly vulnerable or incapable of resistance.
CP at 33.
Sufficiency of the Evidence
The prosecution bears the burden of proving the essential elements of a crime.
In re Winship. 397 U.S. 358, 364, 90 S. Ct. 1068, 25 L. Ed. 2d 368 (1970). We review a
challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence supporting an aggravating circumstance
under the same standard applied to guilty verdicts. State v. Chanthaboulv. 164 Wn.
App. 104, 142-43, 262 P.3d 144 (2011). We view the evidence in the light most
favorable to the State to determine whether any rational trier of fact could have found
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the presence of the aggravating circumstance beyond a reasonable doubt.
Chanthaboulv. 164 Wn. App. at 143. By challenging the sufficiency of the evidence,
Baker admits the truth of the State's evidence and all reasonable inferences that may
be drawn therefrom. State v. Salinas. 119 Wn.2d 192, 201, 829 P.2d 1068 (1992).
Circumstantial evidence is equally probative as direct evidence. State v. Moles. 130
Wn. App. 461, 465, 123 P.3d 132 (2005).
To support the aggravator, the State relied on Kathie's particular vulnerability
because, "[s]he was asleep in her bed," when she was killed. RP (Oct. 14, 2013) at
1070. Baker claims that lack of evidence indicating Kathie was asleep defeats the
aggravator.
We disagree. Ample record evidence exists that Kathie was asleep at the time
she was killed. Overwhelming physical evidence demonstrates Kathie was killed in her
bed. Kathie's body lacked defensive wounds despite suffering multiple blows to the
head and evidence of ligature strangulation. When her body was discovered, she was
dressed in a nightshirt and shorts. Baker told an employee not to call again because
Kathie was in bed.
Viewing this evidence in the light most favorable to the State, a rational trier of
fact could have found that Kathie was particularly vulnerable because it shows she was
in bed asleep when initially attacked with the first weapon. When the second attack
occurred she was incapable of resisting since she was rendered incapable of resisting
by the first attack.
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No. 71034-6-1/20
Applicability of Aggravator
Baker argues that "[mjerely being asleep does not satisfy the particular
vulnerability required to set apart one first degree murder offense as substantially more
egregious than typical." Br. of Appellant at 31. He claims that planning and violence
are inherent in committing first degree premeditated murder. In reply, he argues that
since the murder involves planning, it is more likely the perpetrator will surprise the
victim.
In establishing a particularly vulnerable person aggravator, the focus is on
determining whether the victim was more vulnerable than other victims and whether the
defendant knew of the particular vulnerability. State v. Barnett. 104 Wn. App. 191, 204,
16 P.3d 74 (2001). Courts have generally applied the particular vulnerability factor to
victims who are vulnerable at the time the attack begins. Barnett. 104 Wn. App. at 204.
But the aggravator has also been applied when a victim is rendered particularly
vulnerable by their attacker. State v. Ooden. 102 Wn. App. 357, 366, 7 P.3d 839(2000).
The reasons for an exceptional sentence must take into account factors other
than those that are necessarily considered in determining the presumptive range for the
sentence. State v. Chadderton. 119 Wn.2d 390, 395, 832 P.2d 481 (1992). "In other
words, an enhanced sentence may not be based on those factors the legislature
necessarily considered in setting the sentence range for the type of offense.
Nonetheless, the trial court may base an enhanced sentence on other sorts of factors,
including those the trial court considered in establishing the elements of the particular
offense." Chadderton. 119 Wn.2d at 395.
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No. 71034-6-1/21
To establish that the victim's vulnerability justifies an exceptional sentence, the
State is required to show that (1) the defendant knew or should have known, (2) of the
victim's particular vulnerability, and (3) that vulnerability was a substantial factor in the
commission of the crime. State v. Gordon. 172 Wn.2d 671, 680, 260 P.3d 884 (2011).
Baker tries to distinguish State v. Baird. 83 Wn. App. 477, 488, 922 P.2d 157(1996). Baird beat his wife with lead gloves until she was unconscious. While
unconscious he disfigured her face by removing her eyelids and her nose. The
sentencing court imposed an exceptional sentence for two reasons: the defendant acted
with deliberate cruelty and his wife was particularly vulnerable because she was
unconscious. The court upheld the particularly vulnerable aggravator on the basis that
being unconscious was analogous to being asleep. Baird. 83 Wn. App. at 488-89.
Baker argues, unlike the present case, Baird involved a nonlethal injury. He
claims that because first degree murder necessarily contemplates the victim's death,
the legislature set the standard range for the offense fully cognizant that the victim
would be incapacitated. We disagree. It is the vulnerability of the victim before the
crime is carried out that supports the aggravating circumstance in this case.
Baker cites State v. Barnett. 104 Wn. App. 191,16 P.3d 74 (2001). In Barnett.
the jury found that a victim was particularly vulnerable because she was 17 at the time
of the attack and home alone. Barnett. 104 Wn. App. at 205. Division Three of this
court disagreed. The court explained that the victim fled, was involved in a prolonged
chase, avoided Barnett's attempt to stab her, and was not incapacitated by the attack
and thereby rendered vulnerable. The court found that Barnett selected the victim
based on their failed relationship.
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No. 71034-6-1/22
Baker argues that like the victim in Barnett. Kathie was not particularly vulnerable
at the time of the attack because her vulnerability was not the substantial motivating
factor. We disagree.
Barnett is readily distinguishable. The victim there was not incapacitated. She
escaped after a long chase. Barnett. 104 Wn. App. at 203-04.
Sleep renders the victim particularly vulnerable to attack. In State v. Hicks. 61
Wn. App. 923, 812 P.2d 893 (1991), we found the particularly vulnerable victim
aggravator applied to a 50-year-old rape victim who was attacked while sleeping. We
reasoned that "[although her age was not advanced, because she was attacked as she
slept, she was quickly rendered incapable of attempting to resist as compared to other
rape victims who are awake and could, in some way, resist. Vulnerability in the
circumstances presented here requires this type of comparison to determine its
presence." Hicks. 61 Wn. App. at 931. We rejected Hicks' argument that since all
those who are sleeping are vulnerable, there could be no "particular" vulnerability.
Hicks. 61 Wn. App. at 931.
That Kathie was asleep when she was ruthlessly attacked constitutes a
substantial motivating factor in the commission of the crime. To be a substantial factor,
the condition must have rendered the victim more vulnerable to the particular offense
than a non-vulnerable victim would have been. State v. Mitchell. 149 Wn. App. 716,
724, 205 P.3d 920 (2009). Like the victim in Hicks, that Kathie was asleep rendered her
significantly more vulnerable to Baker's attack than an awake victim.
We are not persuaded by Baker's arguments. He is correct that planning is
necessarily inherent in a charge of first degree premeditated murder, as is the notion
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No. 71034-6-1/23
that the victim is ultimately incapacitated. But the particularly vulnerable person
aggravator's focus is on whether the vulnerable condition affected the victim's ability to
resist. As discussed above, the case law establishes that sleep is a proper basis for
this aggravator in other contexts. A person need not be asleep or in bed to be a victim
of premeditated murder. Therefore, sleep is not an element the legislature necessarily
considered in setting the presumptive range for the offense and may be the basis for an
aggravator. Under the circumstances here, the State established as a matter of fact
and law, the particularly vulnerable person aggravator—Kathie was asleep when
murdered.
Due Process Vagueness Doctrine
Baker next argues that the particularly vulnerable person aggravator violates
constitutional due process vagueness doctrine. He relies on Blakelv v. Washington.
542 U.S. 296, 124 S. Ct. 2531, 159 L. Ed. 403 (2004), to argue that "aggravating
circumstances operate as elements of a higher offense which must be found by a jury
beyond a reasonable doubt " Br. of Appellant at 35.
State v. Baldwin. 150 Wn.2d 448, 461, 78 P.3d 1005 (2003) controls. There, the
Washington Supreme Court held that sentencing guidelines do not create a liberty
interest protected by the due process clause because they are intended only to
structure discretionary decisions affecting sentences and do not require a particular
sentence be imposed. Baldwin. 150 Wn.2d at 1012.
Blakelv involved the question of whether the facts authorizing a sentence above
the statutory maximum must be determined by a judge or the jury. The Court held that
under the Sixth Amendment jury trial right, a judge may not impose a sentencing
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No. 71034-6-1/24
enhancement without either findings by the jury or a stipulation by the defendant. That
inquiry is distinct from the constitutional vagueness doctrine, which implicates issues of
public notice and preventing arbitrary state intrusion. State v. Smith. 111 Wn.2d 1, 4-5,
759 P.2d 372 (1988). Baker's due process vagueness challenge fails.
Ineffective Assistance of Counsel
Baker claims he received ineffective assistance of counsel at sentencing
because he was represented by substitute counsel who had not participated in the trial,
who did not subject the State's remarks to adversarial testing, and who did not advocate
on his behalf. We agree.
Baker's assigned attorney was Thomas Pacher. On October 7, after the start of
trial, Pacher unexpectedly failed to attend court due to illness.7 He sent attorney
Matthew Montoya to court to inform the court about his absence. The court asked
Montoya whether he was able to proceed to trial. Montoya told the court that he "would
certainly not be up to speed" and that he was "not at all" prepared to go forward. RP
(Oct. 7, 2013) at 228. The court expressed justifiable displeasure at Pacher's
impromptu absence. It warned Montoya that only a "serious medical condition" would
justify Pacher's future absences. It instructed Montoya to warn Pacher that his absence
due to mere illness was "unacceptable":
So, naturally, it's a huge concern when this happens when we have a jury
picked and waiting to resume with the trial after spending thousands of
dollars selecting a jury and having a jury available. And so I just wanted to
say that it is unacceptable to do this, to simply indicate that one is ill and
one will not be in court. More, much more, is going to be needed in order
for the Court to excuse any further absence.
7 This was not the first time Pacher failed to appear in court as required. He was
late one day and failed to appear another day.
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No. 71034-6-1/25
I expect [Pacher] to be here each and every day on time unless there is
some extremely serious medical condition that would absolutely preclude
him from being here. Otherwise, he needs to be here and I want that
message relayed to him.
RP(Oct. 7, 2013) at 238.
On October 14, the parties presented closing argument and the jury returned a
verdict of guilty as charged.
After the jury was discharged, the court turned to scheduling of the sentencing
hearing. It suggested the next day as appropriate for sentencing and the State and
Pacher readily agreed to the day and time.
THE COURT: We will need to set a time for sentencing, and I would just
like to note that I would like to do sentencing as quickly as possible. I
wondered if the parties might be available tomorrow for sentencing?
MR. OHME: State's available, Your Honor.
THE COURT: Mr. Pacher.
MR. PACHER: I'll be available, Your Honor.
THE COURT: Okay. Would 9:30 be appropriate? I believe I am available
at 9:30 tomorrow.
MR. OHME: That's okay with me, Your Honor.
MR. PACHER: Fine by me, Your Honor.
THE COURT: Okay. Very well.
RP(Oct. 14, 2013) at 1131-32.
The record shows that neither the State nor Pacher filed a presentencing report
with the court.
On October 15, the morning of sentencing, Pacher inexplicably failed to appear.
Montoya appeared instead and gave the court no explanation for Pacher's absence.
During the State's sentencing presentation, the trial deputy remarked that the
courtroom was filled with Kathie's friends and family. He recounted Baker's criminal
and probation violation history involving multiple sexual offenses against minors dating
back to 1991. He told the court that Baker lied about obtaining a college degree. He
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No. 71034-6-1/26
referred to Baker as a "monster," undeserving of leniency. He told the court that Baker
"blatantly lied again and again" to save himself. He briefly described the brutality and
viciousness of Kathie's murder.
He then urged the court to impose a sentence above the standard range of 240-
320 months. He argued for 600 months plus 24 months for the deadly weapon
enhancement, essentially a life sentence.
Seven family members and friends of Kathie made emotional pleas to the court
to impose the maximum sentence.
When it came time for the defense presentation, Montoya made no objections
and said nothing on behalf of Baker except, "No argument at this time, Your Honor." He
informed the court that Baker declined to make any statements. The court told Baker of
his right to allocution and asked if he wanted to exercise that right. Baker declined.
Before imposing sentence the court acknowledged receipt of letters written by
Kathie's family members and friends.
The court recessed for 20 minutes to consider the sentence. Before imposing
sentence the court briefly mentioned the comments in each letter. It also stated:
The Court is appalled by what the defendant has done, and it is difficult to
understand how any person could do what he did. Not only did he murder
Kathie Hill in the most violent manner, he lied to Liza [sic] Schuldt about
the situation. He had lied to Kathie Hill leading up to the crime. He lied to
the police. And as the jury necessarily determined, he shamelessly lied
and perjured himself in this court.
RP(Oct. 15, 2013) at 1158.
The court imposed the State's requested exceptional sentence of 624 months of
confinement.
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No. 71034-6-1/27
Criminal defendants are guaranteed effective assistance of counsel at all critical
stages in a case. Strickland v. Washington. 466 U.S. 668, 685, 104 S. Ct. 2052, 80 L
Ed. 2d 674 (1984). Sentencing is a critical stage in a criminal case. State v. Bandura.
85 Wn. App. 87, 97, 931 P.2d 174 (1997).
In most cases, the law presumes an attorney's representation was competent
and a defendant bears the burden of demonstrating a constitutional violation. See, e.g..
State v. McFarland. 73 Wn. App. 57, 71, 867 P.2d 660 (1994). But in a narrow class of
cases, exceptional circumstances are "so likely to prejudice the accused that the cost of
litigating their effect in a particular case is unjustified." United States v. Cronic. 466 U.S.
648, 658, 104 S. Ct. 2039, 80 L. Ed. 2d 657 (1984). Under Cronic. decided the same
day as Strickland, prejudice may be presumed in three categories of cases: (1) where
counsel is absent or prevented from assisting the defendant, (2) where counsel "entirely
fails to subject the prosecution's case to meaningful adversarial testing"; or (3) where
counsel is called upon to represent a client in circumstances under which no lawyer
could provide effective assistance. Miller v. Martin. 481 F.3d 468, 472 (7th Cir. 2007)
(quoting Cronic. 466 U.S. at 659-61); In re Pers. Restraint of Davis. 152 Wn.2d 647,
673-74,101 P.3d 1 (2004). Under any of these three circumstances, there has been a
denial of Sixth Amendment rights that makes the adversarial process itself
presumptively unreliable. Cronic, 466 U.S. at 659.
Baker argues his case falls into the second class of cases in which counsel
entirely failed to subject the prosecutor's case to adversarial testing. Over time, the
scope of this category has narrowed. For example, the United States Supreme Court
explained that the holding in Cronic only allows for the presumption of prejudice "'if
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No. 71034-6-1/28
counsel entirely fails to subject the prosecution's case to meaningful adversarial
testing.'" Bell v. Cone. 535 U.S. 685, 697, 122 S. Ct. 1843, 152 L Ed. 2d 914 (2002)
(quoting Cronic. 104 U.S. at 659). The Court reasoned for there to be a presumption of
prejudice, "the attorney's failure must be complete." Bell. 535 U.S. at 697. Otherwise,
the traditional Strickland test for ineffective assistance of counsel applies. Bell, 535
U.S. at 697.
An attorney's effective abandonment of a defendant at sentencing remains a
circumstance under which prejudice may be presumed. In Miller, a defendant faced
sentencing after being convicted in absentia for six counts of selling unregistered
securities. Because the defendant's attorney incorrectly assumed that trial in absentia
was a "nullity," he instructed the defendant to say nothing at sentencing and made no
argument to the court. In subsequent habeas proceedings, the attorney admitted he
made no presentation to the trial court and "did nothing." Miller. 481 F.3d at 471. The
court concluded that the attorney's "advocacy at sentencing was so non-existent as to
fall within even a very narrow exception." Miller. 481 F.3d at 473. The court rejected
the State's contention that the silence was strategic, noting that "no discernable strategy
was at work here." Miller. 481 F.3d at 473. The court concluded that prejudice should
be presumed and remanded for resentencing. Miller. 481 F.3d at 472.
Other federal courts have reached the same conclusion under similar
circumstances. In Patrasso v. Nelson. 121 F.3d 297 (7th Cir. 1997), a defendant's
attorney performed no investigation and presented no mitigating evidence at
sentencing. When asked at the sentencing hearing whether he had anything to say, the
attorney said "I have nothing." When asked whether he would present mitigating
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No. 71034-6-1/29
evidence, the attorney said "No. Court: Nothing." Patrasso. 121 F.3d at 303. The court
concluded this constituted a complete failure of counsel warranting the presumption of
prejudice.
In Tucker v. Day. 969 F.2d 155 (5th Cir. 1992), a defendant's attorney also said
nothing at sentencing. According to the defendant, at one point he asked "Do I have
counsel here?" The defendant claimed his appointed counsel responded "Oh, I am just
standing in for this one." Tucker. 969 F.2d at 159. The court found that a presumption
of prejudice was justified on the basis that the defendant's attorney failed to participate
at all in the sentencing hearing. Tucker. 969 F.2d at 159.
The State does not dispute the facts. It does not respond to Baker's argument
that the presumption of prejudice applies here given his counsel's deficient performance
at sentencing. It argues that Strickland's analysis applies. Under that analysis, the
State argues that Baker cannot demonstrate no strategic reason to remain silent or
prejudice. We see no strategic reason for an attorney's complete silence at this
sentencing under the facts presented here.8 At the bare minimum, faced with the
State's request for what amounts to a life sentence,9 any competent attorney would
have argued against an exceptional sentence and the length of the sentence.
We decline to apply Strickland here. This case falls squarely within that narrow
category of cases where prejudice is presumed. Baker's stand-in attorney
demonstrated no familiarity with this case. He had not participated in any part of the
trial. We question whether he even discussed sentencing with Baker before sentence
was imposed. He made no objections to the State's presentation, submitted no
8 It's questionable why defense counsel agreed to a next-day sentencing date.
9 Baker was 64-years-old when sentenced.
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No. 71034-6-1/30
presentence report, and told the court that he had "no argument at this time." Standby
counsel's complete lack of advocacy left Baker to go it alone. This failure is the
equivalent of complete denial of counsel at sentencing. As the Supreme Court
observed in Cronic. "The right to the effective assistance of counsel is thus the right of
the accused to require the prosecution's case to survive the crucible of meaningful
adversarial testing." 466 U.S. at 656. The State's arguments at sentencing were not
subjected to any adversarial testing. We remand for resentencing so that Baker may be
represented by constitutionally competent counsel.
Resentencing Before a Different Judge
Baker argues for remand to a different sentencing judge, claiming the trial court
has already expressed its views on the disposition of the case in announcing the
sentencing. The cases he relies on are inapposite.
In City of Seattle v. Clewis. 159 Wn. App. 842, 247 P.3d 449 (2011), a judge
ordered the State to issue a material witness warrant before recusing himself. The
court noted that remand before a different judge was the appropriate remedy if there
was an appearance of unfairness, but found the issue moot because the judge recused
himself. Clewis. 159 Wn. App. at 851.
In State v. Aouilar-Rivera, 83 Wn. App. 199, 203, 920 P.2d 623 (1996),
resentencing was ordered before a different sentencing judge because the trial court
announced its sentence before allowing the defendant the right of allocution. Aouilar-
Rivera, 83 Wn. App. at 203.
In State v. Sledge. 133 Wn.2d 828, 947 P.2d 1199 (1997), a trial court concluded
the defendant should be confined until his 18th birthday, and in fashioning a sentence
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No. 71034-6-1/31
that would achieve this goal relied on a "speculative entitlemenf to early release time.
Sledge. 133 Wn.2d at 846. The Supreme Court remanded for a disposition hearing
before a different judge "in light of the trial court's already-expressed views on the
disposition." State v. Sledge. 133 Wn.2d at 846 n.9.
The record in this case does not establish that the trial court held a
predetermined view of the case. The court's comments are typical of the judicial
comments made in a superior court criminal case of this nature. We are confident that
the experienced trial judge will fairly and properly sentence Baker on remand. We
decline to grant the remedy requested by Baker.
CONCLUSION
For the reasons discussed above, we affirm Baker's conviction. Because
Baker's counsel at sentencing abandoned him by remaining silent, we presume
prejudice. Accordingly, we remand to the trial court to resentence Baker with competent
counsel to assist him.
We affirm the conviction and remand for resentencing consistent with this
opinion.
WE CONCUR:
b
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