State Of Washington v. Carlos Alberto Martinez ( 2018 )

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
STATE OF WASHINGTON, )
) No. 74662-6-I
Respondent, )
) DIVISION ONE
v. )
)
CARLOS ALBERTO MARTINEZ, ) PUBLISHED OPINION
)
Appellant. ) FILED: January 16, 2018
)
LEACH, J. — Carlos Martinez appeals his conviction for possession of
depictions of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Primarily, he
challenges the Washington State Patrol's (WSP) warrantless search of a mirror
image hard drive. But Texas police lawfully seized the hard drive and were not
acting as agents of WSP at the time. The silver platter doctrine allowed the WSP
to later examine the hard drive without a warrant.
Martinez also challenges the trial court's admission of his former spouse's
testimony about confidential marital communications. Because Martinez acted
as a guardian to the victim, the spousal privilege does not apply here. Martinez
raises additional arguments related to a warrant and the prosecutor's conduct at
trial, but those challenges also fail. We affirm Martinez's conviction.
No. 74662-6-1/ 2
FACTS
Carlos Martinez began working at the Monroe Police Department in 1989.
He worked in several capacities, including as a Drug Abuse Resistance
Education (D.A.R.E.) program instructor.1 While working as a D.A.R.E.
instructor, Martinez met A.K., who was in fifth grade at the time.
Beginning in 2001 or 2002, when A.K. was 13 or 14 years old, she began
baby-sitting Martinez's two young children.2 A.K. also came to the Martinezes'
house when she was not baby-sitting. She would sometimes show up
unannounced. She would help Martinez with chores and do her schoolwork at
the house.
A.K. testified that Martinez began touching her in a sexual manner when
she was 14. He would come up behind A.K., grab her hips, and push his hips
against hers. Once, when she stayed overnight after baby-sitting, Martinez lay
down next to her in the bed and touch her breasts and buttocks.
Sometime in late 2003 or early 2004, A.K. told Martinez and Martinez's
then-wife, Julie West,3 that she had accidentally cut herself by running into a
knife on the kitchen counter while baby-sitting for another family. West asked
1 D.A.R.E. is a program in which police officers instruct elementary school
children about the dangers of drugs and violence.
2 A.K. and Martinez gave conflicting testimony about whether A.K. or
Martinez asked if A.K. could baby-sit.
3 Julie West,formerly Julie Martinez, divorced Martinez in 2011.
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No. 74662-6-1 / 3
A.K. to show her the wound. A.K. refused.
Around April 2004, Martinez set up a video camera in a bathroom. A.K.
testified that while West was gone, after she helped Martinez with chores, he
would tell her to take a shower. Over about a month, Martinez made several
recordings of A.K. getting in and out of the shower. Martinez testified that he did
this out of concern for A.K.'s mental health and that he hoped to find out if she
was cutting herself.
In May 2004, West went on vacation. While West was gone, A.K. spent
time at Martinez's house, helping with chores, doing homework, and watching
movies. During this time, Martinez told A.K. to take a shower a number of times
after she finished chores. A.K. described one occasion when she and Martinez
watched a movie, sitting together in a big chair. A.K. testified that Martinez
touched her hair and licked her fingers. A.K. testified that Martinez lay on top of
her on the floor, "dry hump[ed]" her, and put her hand on his erection.
When West returned from vacation, she discovered a love note from A.K.
to Martinez. She also discovered a video recording that Martinez had made of
A.K. getting out of the shower and stored on the family computer. West
confronted Martinez about the recording. He said he wanted to see if A.K. had
cut herself on the kitchen knife as she had claimed. West claimed that when she
asked Martinez why he still had the recording on the computer, he responded
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that it was "nice to look at."
Not long after this, A.K. and her family moved from Monroe to Eastern
Washington. Martinez and A.K. kept in touch. Martinez claims that in February
2007 they began a consensual sexual relationship when A.K. was 18 years old.
In fall 2009, the Army recalled Martinez to active duty and stationed him in San
Antonio, Texas. A.K. moved to Texas to be with him. They lived together for a
short time.
After their relationship deteriorated in October or November 2011,
Martinez gave A.K. the video recordings that he made of her in his bathroom in
2004. A.K. testified that Martinez told her he wanted to watch the tapes one last
time and masturbate to them. She claimed he asked her to touch him as well.
A short time later, A.K. contacted the Texas police to turn over the tapes.
She also told the Texas police that she began an intimate relationship with
Martinez some time before she was 16. She later contacted WSP.
The Texas police obtained a warrant to search Martinez's home and seize
his laptop computer and digital media storage devices. Then, a grand jury was
convened in Texas to consider a possession of child pornography charge. But
the grand jury refused to indict, returning a "no bill." The case was dismissed.
Texas police made a mirror image of Martinez's computer hard drive and,
at WSP's request, sent it to WSP. Without obtaining a separate warrant, WSP
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No. 74662-6-1 / 5
searched this mirror image hard drive. Texas police also sent WSP two actual
laptop computers and hard drives seized from Martinez. After obtaining a
warrant, WSP searched those items.
The State initially charged Martinez with two counts of voyeurism, two
counts of child molestation, one count of rape of a child in the third degree, and
one count of possession of depictions of a minor engaged in sexually explicit
conduct. Later, the State dismissed the molestation and rape charges. It tried
Martinez on only one count of voyeurism and one count of possession of
depictions of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
The jury found Martinez guilty on both counts. Because the voyeurism
charge occurred outside the statute of limitations, the trial court dismissed that
count and convicted him on only the possession count.
ANALYSIS
Warrantless Search
Martinez contends that the trial court should have suppressed evidence
found on the mirror image hard drive because WSP searched it without a
warrant. When an appellate court reviews the trial court's decision on a
suppression motion, it determines whether substantial evidence supports any
challenged findings of fact and whether the findings of fact support the trial
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No. 74662-6-1/6
court's conclusions of law.4 An appellate court treats the trial court's
unchallenged findings of fact as true.5 Martinez challenges only the trial court's
conclusions of law, which this court reviews de novo.6
The Fourth Amendment guarantees "[t]he right of the people to be secure
in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches
and seizures." If a government action intrudes upon an individual's "reasonable
expectation of privacy," a search occurs under the Fourth Amendment.7 The
Washington Constitution provides greater protection of a person's privacy rights
than does the Fourth Amendment.8 Article 1, section 7 of the Washington
Constitution states, "No person shall be disturbed in his private affairs, or his
home invaded, without authority of law." Article 1, section 7 "focuses on those
privacy interests which citizens of this state have held, and should be entitled to
hold, safe from governmental trespass absent a warrant."6
Under the silver platter doctrine, however, evidence lawfully obtained
under the laws of another jurisdiction is admissible in Washington courts even if
the manner the evidence was obtained would violate Washington law.16
4 Statev. Garvin, 166 Wash. 2d 242, 249, 207 P.3d 1266 (2009).
5 Statev. O'Neill, 148 Wash. 2d 564, 571,62 P.3d 489 (2003).
6 Garvin, 166 Wash. 2d at 249.
7 Katz v. United States, 389 U.S. 347, 360-61, 88 S. Ct. 507, 19 L. Ed. 2d
576(1967)(Harlan, J., concurring).
8 State v. Cheatam, 150 Wash. 2d 626, 642, 81 P.3d 830(2003).
9 State v. Myrick, 102 Wash. 2d 506, 510-11, 688 P.2d 151 (1984).
10 State v. Mezquia, 129 Wash. App. 118, 132, 118 P.3d 378 (2005).
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No. 74662-6-1/ 7
"Evidence is admissible under this doctrine when (1) the foreign jurisdiction
lawfully obtained evidence and (2)the forum state's officers did not act as agents
or cooperate or assist the foreign jurisdiction." Martinez does not dispute that
Texas lawfully obtained the hard drive. And he does not challenge the trial
court's findings that "WSP had no involvement in obtaining or serving the Texas
warrant" and "Texas police did not act as agents of WSP when they obtained or
served the warrant." Thus, under the silver platter doctrine, the evidence is
admissible.
Martinez contends that the silver platter doctrine does not apply here
because the Texas officers did not conduct any search that would be unlawful in
Washington.12 But Martinez mistakenly asserts that this doctrine requires that
the search be unlawful in Washington. The doctrine requires that the State show
only two things: (1) the search was lawful in Texas and (2) the Washington
officers did not act as agents for Texas or cooperate or assist Texas in any way.
Because the State proved this, the doctrine applies.
11 Mezquia, 129 Wash. App. at 132.
12 Martinez provides a lengthy discussion of the history of the silver platter
doctrine and disapproves of Washington's decision to apply the doctrine. But he
does not provide any argument for why Washington should abandon the rule.
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No. 74662-6-1/ 8
Particularity
Next, Martinez contends that the warrant issued in Washington allowing
the WSP to search his laptop computers and hard drives was overbroad.13 The
Fourth Amendment provides that "no warrants shall issue, but upon probable
cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to
be searched, and the persons or things to be seized." The search warrant
particularity requirement helps prevent general searches, the seizure of objects
on the mistaken assumption that they fall within the issuing magistrate's
authorization, and the issuance of warrants on loose, vague, or doubtful bases of
fact.14 When a search warrant authorizes a search for materials protected by the
First Amendment, a greater degree of particularity is required, and we employ a
more stringent test.15 While the First Amendment presumptively protects
obscene books and films,16 it does not protect child pornography involving actual
minors.17 We review whether a warrant meets the particularity requirement de
novo.15
13 The State contends that Martinez failed to preserve this challenge but
because the warrant was not overbroad, we do not consider whether Martinez
preserved this claim of error.
14 State v. Perrone, 119 Wash. 2d 538, 545, 834 P.2d 611 (1992).
15 Perrone, 119 Wash. 2d at 550.
16 Perrone, 119 Wash. 2d at 547-48.
17 State v. Luther, 157 Wash. 2d 63, 70-71, 134 P.3d 205 (2006).
15 State v. Reep, 161 Wash. 2d 808, 813, 167 P.3d 1156 (2007).
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No. 74662-6-1 / 9
Martinez claims the warrant is overbroad because its language gives too
much discretion to the officer executing the warrant. The warrant authorizes
seizure of
[a]ny photographs, pictures, albums of photographs, books,
newspapers, magazines, and other writings on the subject of
sexual activities involving children, pictures and/or drawings
depicting children under the age of eighteen years who may be
victims of the aforementioned offenses, and photographs and/or
pictures depicting minors under the age of eighteen years engaged
in sexually explicit conduct as defined in RCW 9.68A.011(3).
Martinez relies on State v. Perronel° where the Supreme Court held that the term
"child pornography" is insufficiently particular because, like the term "obscenity,"
it leaves too much discretion to the officer in deciding what to seize under the
warrant. The court noted that using the language of RCW 9.68A.011 could have
easily made the warrant more particular.2° The warrant here does not use the
overbroad term "child pornography." Instead, as suggested by the Perrone court,
it uses the language of the statute: "sexually explicit conduct." Martinez points
out that in State v. Besola21 our Supreme Court rejected an argument that a
citation to the child pornography statute cured overbreadth. But the warrant here
does more than simply cite to the statute, it uses the language "sexually explicit
19 119 Wash. 2d 538, 553, 834 P.2d 611 (1992).
29 Perrone, 119 Wash. 2d at 553-54.
21 184 Wash. 2d 605, 614, 359 P.3d 799 (2015).
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No. 74662-6-1 / 10
conduct as defined in RCW 9.68A.011(3)."22 This language provides law
enforcement with an objective standard to determine what should be seized.
Martinez also contends that the warrant was overbroad because it allowed
seizure of lawful items. Specifically, the warrant authorized seizure of materials
"on the subject of sexual activity involving children." The question of whether
material is inherently illegal can be relevant to the degree of particularity
required.23 But lawful materials also can be relevant to a crime. The fact that the
warrant authorizes seizure of lawful materials does not automatically make the
warrant overbroad. Here, possession of materials about sexuality involving
children is relevant to the charged offense. The warrant is not overbroad for
authorizing seizure of these relevant materials.
Last, Martinez asserts that the warrant is overbroad because it does not
clearly identify the victim of the charged offenses. But, as the State points out,
the affidavit, which was attached to the warrant and incorporated by reference,
indicated that A.K. was the victim. Thus, the warrant documents contained
enough information for law enforcement to decide what to seize.
The warrant was sufficiently particular.
22 Cf. Besola, 184 Wash. 2d at 614 (noting that if the warrant had used the
statutory language, it would likely have been sufficiently particular).
23 State v. Chambers, 88 Wn. App. 640,644, 945 P.2d 1172 (1997).
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No. 74662-6-1 / 11
Warrant Validity
Next, Martinez contends that the trial court erred when it denied his motion
to suppress evidence after a Franks24 hearing. Specifically, he asserts that the
warrant is invalid because Sergeant Detective Rodriguez left out material facts in
his supporting affidavit.
"A search warrant may be issued only upon a determination of probable
cause."25 A court may invalidate a warrant and suppressed the fruits of the
search if the person making the supporting affidavit recklessly or intentionally
omits material information.26 An omission does not invalidate a search warrant
simply because it tends to negate probable cause.27 Instead, the omitted
information must be such that an affidavit including it could not have supported
probable cause.28 A defendant can show recklessness with evidence that "the
affiant 'in fact entertained serious doubts as to the truth' of facts or statements in
the affidavit."29 "[S]erious doubts can be shown by (1) actual deliberation on the
24 Franks v. Delaware, 438 U.S. 154, 98 S. Ct. 2674, 57 L. Ed. 2d 667
(1978).
25 State v. Jackson, 150 Wash. 2d 251, 264, 76 P.3d 217(2003).
26 State v. Chenoweth, 160 Wash. 2d 454, 477, 479, 158 P.3d 595 (2007)
(holding that "under article 1, section 7, only material falsehoods or omissions
made recklessly or intentionally will invalidate a search warrant").
27 State v. Garrison, 118 Wash. 2d 870, 874, 827 P.2d 1388 (1992).
28 Garrison, 118 Wash. 2d at 874-75.
29 State v. O'Connor, 39 Wash. App. 113, 117, 692 P.2d 208 (1984)(internal
quotation marks omitted) (quoting United States v. Davis, 617 F.2d 677, 694
(D.C. Cir. 1979)).
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No. 74662-6-1/ 12
part of the affiant, or (2)the existence of obvious reasons to doubt the veracity of
the informant or the accuracy of his reports."3° Although an appellate court
generally reviews the issuance of a warrant for abuse of discretion and defers to
the magistrate's determination, the appellate court reviews a trial court's
assessment of probable cause, which is a legal conclusion, de novo.31 The
appellate court treats all unchallenged findings of fact made by a trial court at a
suppression hearing as true on appea1.32
Martinez asserts that the warrant is invalid because the supporting
affidavit failed to state (1)that a Texas grand jury refused to indict him on
charges of possession of child pornography,(2) that A.K. at one time stated that
her first alleged sexual contact with Martinez occurred after she had reached the
age of consent, and (3) certain statements made to A.K.'s school counselor.
First, information about the Texas "no bill" is not material. The trial court
found,"There are a number of reasons a grand jury could return a ``no bill.' Such
proceedings are secret and the Court does not know the underlying reasons for
the decision." That a grand jury in Texas, for an unknown reason, chose not to
indict Martinez for a Texas crime in Texas is not material to whether probable
cause existed to investigate a Washington crime in Washington.
30 O'Connor, 39 Wash. App. at 117.
31 State v. Neth, 165 Wash. 2d 177, 182, 196 P.3d 658 (2008)("Normally we
give great deference to the issuing judge or magistrate.").
32 State v. Gentry, 125 Wash. 2d 570, 605, 888 P.2d 1105 (1995).
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No. 74662-6-1/13
Second, Martinez does not show that the officer deliberately or recklessly
omitted A.K.'s statement that she first had sex with Martinez when she was 17.
Sergeant Detective Rodriguez testified that although A.K. initially told a WSP
investigator that she did not have intercourse with Martinez until she was 17, she
ultimately said that she had sex with him when she was 15. Sergeant Detective
Rodriguez did not think her initial statement was important and believed she first
had sex with Martinez when she was 15. He explained that victims commonly do
not tell the truth immediately, but he believed that her story progressed to the
truth. Because Martinez does not show that Sergeant Detective Rodriguez
entertained serious doubts as to the truth of the facts included in the affidavit, this
omission does not invalidate the warrant.
Third, Martinez does not show that Sergeant Detective Rodriguez
deliberately or recklessly omitted A.K.'s statement to her school counselor. After
West found the love note from A.K., she told A.K.'s school counselor. The
counselor asked A.K. whether she was having an affair with Martinez. A.K.
denied any sexual contact between her and Martinez and said she was disgusted
by the thought. The counselor told a detective about this conversation. Sergeant
Detective Rodriguez did not review this material before he prepared his affidavit,
but he stated that he knew of several reasons why a child might deny sexual
abuse. He said that in his experience, it was not unusual for children to deny the
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No. 74662-6-1 / 14
occurrence of sexual abuse. Detective Sergeant Rodriguez's explanation shows
that he did not intentionally omit this information and that he did not believe it to
be important. Thus, he did not deliberately or recklessly omit it.
Martinez fails to show that any of these omissions were material and
deliberately or recklessly made. The warrant is not invalid because Sergeant
Detective Rodriguez failed to include them.
Martinez makes another argument about Sergeant Detective Rodriguez's
affidavit. He contends that the affidavit did not show a required connection
between the criminal activity and the place to be searched.33 "'[P]robable cause
requires a nexus between criminal activity and the item to be seized, and also a
nexus between the item to be seized and the place to be searched.'"34 The facts
in the warrant adequately establish a connection to possession.35 The boilerplate
in the search warrant about what collectors of child pornography do generally is
not the only evidence in the affidavit to connect the crime to Martinez's computer.
The affidavit describes A.K.'s statements that Martinez stored sexually explicit
images on his computer and that Martinez had several bank accounts to conceal
33 The State does not respond to this argument. Martinez raised this
argument below.
34 State v. Them, 138 Wash. 2d 133, 140, 977 P.2d 582(1999)(quoting State
v. Goble, 88 Wash. App. 503, 509, 945 P.2d 263(1997)).
35 Martinez also contends that the boilerplate language in the affidavit
does not contain facts to show that Martinez engaged in trading or trafficking
child pornography. But the State charged Martinez with possession, not
trafficking child pornography.
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No. 74662-6-1 / 15
things from West. In addition, the affidavit stated that Martinez sent sexually
explicit messages over e-mail while posing as A.K. Thus, the affidavit included
facts to show that relevant evidence could be found by searching Martinez's hard
drives and online accounts.
Harmless Error
Even if the court improperly admitted evidence obtained from the search
of Martinez's hard drives, the error was harmless. "Constitutional error is
presumed to be prejudicial and the State bears the burden of proving that the
error was harmless."36 "A constitutional error is harmless if the appellate court is
convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that any reasonable jury would have
reached the same result in the absence of the error."37 If the evidence untainted
•
by the error is so overwhelming that it necessarily leads to a finding of guilt, the
appellate court should uphold the conviction.38
The State introduced two pieces of evidence obtained from Martinez's
hard drives: (1) screenshots that showed a Facebook message that Martinez
sent to A.K.'s sister and (2) Internet searches for laws in Washington about
voyeurism, Washington's statute of limitations for criminal prosecutions, and the
ability of one state to extradite a person to another state. This evidence, while
36 State v. Guloy, 104 Wash. 2d 412, 425, 705 P.2d 1182(1985).
37 Guloy, 104 Wash. 2d at 425.
38 Guloy, 104 Wash. 2d at 426.
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No. 74662-6-1 / 16
relevant to the charged offenses, was not essential to Martinez's conviction or
necessary for law enforcement to have probable cause to arrest him.
To convict Martinez of possession of depictions of minors engaged in
sexually explicit conduct, the State needed to prove that he knowingly possessed
material showing depictions of the genitals or unclothed pubic or rectal areas of a
minor or the unclothed breast of a female minor for the purpose of sexual
stimulation of the viewer.39 Significantly here, the police received the video
recordings containing this material directly from A.K. Martinez himself testified
that he recorded A.K. when she was a minor and kept the tapes until he gave
them to A.K. years later. A.K.'s testimony about the times Martinez touched her
in a sexual manner around the time Martinez made the recordings indicates he
made the tapes for the purpose of sexual stimulation. And her testimony that he
masturbated to the tapes shows that he watched the tapes for the purpose of
sexual stimulation. In addition, West testified that Martinez had told her that he
kept the tapes because they were "nice to look at." This evidence
overwhelmingly supports Martinez's conviction.
Spousal Privilege
Martinez also challenges the trial court's admission of West's testimony
about confidential marital communications.
39 RCW 9.68A.011(4)(f), .070.
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No. 74662-6-1 / 17
Generally, a current or former spouse cannot be examined about
confidential communications made during the marriage without the consent of the
other spouse.4° This rule tries to "encourage between husband and wife that free
interchange of confidences that is necessary for mutual understanding and
trust."41 But "in some situations the policies that underlie the right to invoke a
testimonial privilege are outweighed by the suppression of truth that may
result."42 Thus, this spousal privilege does not apply in a criminal proceeding for
a crime committed against a child for whom the spouse is a parent or guardian.43
In light of the legislative intent to punish child abusers and protect children from
further mistreatment, Washington courts have liberally interpreted "guardian" to
include a spouse acting in loco parentis, meaning functionally as a parent or
40 RCW 5.60.060(1)("A spouse or domestic partner shall not be examined
for or against his or her spouse or domestic partner, without the consent of the
spouse or domestic partner; nor can either during marriage or during the
domestic partnership or afterward, be without the consent of the other, examined
as to any communication made by one to the other during the marriage or the
domestic partnership.").
41 State v. Thorne, 43 Wash. 2d 47, 55, 260 P.2d 331 (1953).
42 State v. Wood, 52 Wash. App. 159, 164, 758 P.2d 530 (1988); see also
State v. Waleczek, 90 Wash. 2d 746, 751, 585 P.2d 797 (1978) (opining that "the
husband-wife privileges contained in RCW 5.60.060(1) are also subordinated to
the overriding and paramount legislative intent to protect children from physical
and sexual abuse"); State v. Sanders, 66 Wash. App. 878, 884, 833 P.2d 452
(1992) (noting the strong public policy of ensuring effective prosecutions for
crimes of sexual abuse against children).
43 RCW 5.60.060(1).
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No. 74662-6-1/18
guardian, even briefly." Whether a person is a parent or guardian depends on
the particular facts and circumstances of the case.45 We review the trial court's
decision that a spouse acted as a guardian for substantial evidence.46 "Evidence
is 'substantial' if it is sufficient to persuade a fair-minded, rational person that the
finding is true."47
Here, the trial court initially excluded West's testimony about confidential
communications between Martinez and West during their marriage because
insufficient evidence showed Martinez acted as A.K.'s guardian. The next day,
the court reconsidered and concluded that based on West's testimony about the
household and A.K.'s role in the household, Martinez at times acted as A.K.'s
guardian. The court then permitted West to testify about confidential
communications that took place during her marriage to Martinez.
Martinez contends that he was not a guardian of A.K. He claims she was
merely a baby-sitter for his children. But West's testimony shows that the
relationship went beyond this. West testified that they hired A.K. as a baby-sitter,
but that she came over when she was not baby-sitting. A.K. would ask to visit,
and West or Martinez would pick her up. At times, A.K. would show up at the
44 State v. Chenoweth, 188 Wash. App. 521, 529, 354 P.3d 13, review
denied, 184 Wash. 2d 1023 (2015); State v. Modest, 88 Wash. App. 239, 247-48, 944
P.2d 417(1997).
45 Waleczek, 90 Wash. 2d at 753.
46 See Waleczek, 90 Wash. 2d at 753.
47 State v. Jones, 186 Wash. App. 786, 789, 347 P.3d 483(2015).
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No. 74662-6-1 / 19
house, uninvited. On one occasion, she stayed at their house overnight and
West explained that "[Ole wasn't really babysitting." West testified that they
were responsible for A.K.'s care during the time she stayed with them. West
testified that A.K. would help Martinez with house chores and he would help her
with her homework. Martinez also helped A.K. learn to drive a car. A.K. ate
meals with the family and "was invited to go on outings when a babysitter was
not needed." This evidence is sufficient to support a finding that Martinez acted
as A.K.'s guardian. This finding supports the trial court's decision to admit
West's testimony about confidential marital communications.
Martinez attempts to distinguish this case, claiming that in cases where a
court found a nonrelative to be acting in loco parentis, the child was very young.45
But courts liberally construe the meaning of "guardian" under the marital
communications statute." Thus, courts have applied the guardian exception to
cases with older children5° and cases where the defendant acted as a guardian
for the child for only a brief period of time.51 Although the age of the child and the
extent of the care are factors that courts consider, the exception to spousal
48 Waleczek, 90 Wn.2dat 748; Wood,52 Wn. App. at 165.
49 Waleczek, 90 Wash. 2d at 751; Sanders, 66 Wash. App. at 884; Wood, 52
Wash. App. at 164-65.
80 Modest, 88 Wash. App. at 248.
81 Waleczek, 90 Wash. 2d at 748.
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No. 74662-6-1/ 20
privilege has not been reserved for cases where the defendant has assumed all
parental duties of a young child.
Even if the trial court incorrectly admitted West's testimony about
confidential communications, the error was harmless.52 "Error that is not of
constitutional magnitude is harmless unless there is a reasonable probability, in
light of the entire record, that the error materially affected the outcome of the
trial."53
The statement at issue—that Martinez kept the recording because it was
"nice to look at"—relates to whether the recordings served "the purpose of sexual
stimulation of the viewer."54 The State asserts that any error is not prejudicial in
light of the other evidence that showed that Martinez kept the recordings of A.K.
for the purpose of sexual stimulation. In particular, the State points out that
Martinez kept the video for years after he recorded it before he finally gave it to
A.K. And when he gave her the tapes, he told her he wanted to masturbate to
the recordings "one last time" and then have A.K. touch him. Martinez asserts
52 Martinez asserts that the court should not consider whether the
testimony prejudiced his trial because accused persons are entitled to rely on the
spousal privilege in preparing their defense and trial strategy. State v. White, 50
Wash. App. 858, 862, 751 P.2d 1202 (1988). But courts properly consider prejudice
in examining whether there was a violation of the marital communications
privilege. State v. Webb,64 Wn. App. 480, 488, 824 P.2d 1257(1992)(deciding
that any error in admitting a statement protected by the marital communications
privilege was harmless).
53 Webb,64 Wn. App. at 488.
54 RCW 9.68A.011(4)(f), .070.
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No. 74662-6-1/21
that the testimony is particularly prejudicial because it came from the defendant's
wife. That a spouse believes an accusation can be highly prejudicia1.55 But here,
West merely repeated statements by Martinez and did not comment about her
belief in Martinez's guilt. We agree that these facts are sufficient for the jury to
conclude that Martinez kept the recording for the purpose of sexual stimulation
and that West's testimony that Martinez said the recording was "nice to look at"
could not have materially affected the outcome of the trial.
Prosecutorial Misconduct
Next, Martinez claims prosecutorial misconduct denied him a fair trial. A
defendant claiming prosecutorial misconduct bears the burden of establishing
that the prosecutor's conduct was both improper and prejudicia1.56 Because
Martinez failed to object to the prosecutor's conduct at trial, he waived this error
unless the misconduct was so flagrant and ill intentioned that a trial court
instruction could not have cured the prejudice.
Martinez contends that the prosecutor committed misconduct when she
presented evidence and argument to show that Martinez was psychologically
controlling A.K. Martinez claims the prosecutor made improper statements both
in eliciting witness testimony and in comments in closing argument. First, the
prosecutor asked A.K. about her reasons for moving to Texas, to which she
55 State v. Johnson, 152 Wash. App. 924, 933-34, 219 P.3d 958(2009).
56 State v. Emery, 174 Wash. 2d 741, 756, 278 P.3d 653(2012).
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responded that she felt "forced and persuaded" by Martinez. The prosecutor
later asked A.K. to explain if Martinez was sad at their last meeting. She
responded that she was "breaking away and he was losing control." In closing
argument, the prosecutor referred to Martinez as A.K.'s "Svengali" and explained
"that's a literary figure whose name is synonymous with the manipulation of a
young girl for the sexual desires of her master." The prosecutor then said that
Martinez "chained [A.K]to him. Not literally, but emotionally and psychologically,
and it took her many years to break free."
First, Martinez fails to show misconduct because, contrary to Martinez's
contention, the prosecutor did not directly violate a court order. A prosecutor's
violation of a trial court's evidentiary ruling can constitute misconduct.57 But
Martinez misrepresents the court's rulings. The court initially ruled that specific
evidence related to psychological control during their adult relationship was
admissible because it was relevant to the molestation and rape charges. But
when the State dropped those charges, the court reconsidered its prior ruling and
excluded the evidence of prior bad acts under ER 404(b). The court's ruling
excluded evidence that was intended to show psychological control during their
adult relationship but did not exclude other evidence of psychological control.
57 State v. Fisher, 165 Wash. 2d 727, 748-49, 202 P.3d 937(2009).
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The prosecutor's general references to psychological control did not violate this
ruling.
Even assuming Martinez has shown that the prosecutor's statements were
improper, he still fails to show prejudice. Because Martinez failed to object to the
claimed misconduct, he must show that the alleged misconduct was so flagrant
and ill intentioned that an instruction would not have cured it.58 Martinez 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.'"58 "Jurors are presumed to follow the
court's instructions."80 Here, the claimed misconduct did not involve evidence of
specific bad acts that might prejudice the minds of the jurors despite a curative
instruction. The jury could have followed an instruction to disregard the general
evidence about psychological control. Further, evidence of psychological control
is not particularly relevant to the charge on which the jury found Martinez guilty.
Thus, general references were unlikely to have affected the jury's verdict in light
of the other incriminating evidence. Martinez's prosecutorial misconduct claim
fails.
Emery, 174 Wash. 2d at 760-61.
58
Emery, 174 Wash. 2d at 761 (quoting State v. Thorgerson, 172 Wash. 2d 438,
59
455, 258 P.3d 43(2011)).
89 State v. Kalebauqh, 183 Wash. 2d 578, 586, 355 P.3d 253(2015).
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Ineffective Assistance
Finally, Martinez contends that if this court rejects his prosecutorial
misconduct claim, then he received ineffective assistance of counsel. To
succeed in an ineffective assistance claim, Martinez must show his attorney's
performance fell below an objective standard of reasonableness and that
deficient performance prejudiced him.61 Courts give defense counsel's
performance a great deal of deference and the defendant must overcome a
strong presumption of reasonableness.62
First, Martinez does not show that his counsel's failure to object was
unreasonable. The reasonableness inquiry requires the defendant to show the
absence of legitimate strategic or tactical reasons for the challenged conduct.63
"Counsel's decisions regarding whether and when to object fall firmly within the
category of strategic or tactical decisions."64 Martinez does not show that his
counsel's decision not to object to the prosecutor's conduct was not strategic.
Even if the conduct did fall below an objective standard of
reasonableness, Martinez does not show prejudice.66 As explained above, he
61 Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687, 104 S. Ct. 2052, 80 L. Ed.
2d 674 (1984).
62 State v. Grier, 171 Wash. 2d 17, 33, 246 P.3d 1260 (2011).
63 State v. McFarland, 127 Wash. 2d 322, 336, 899 P.2d 1251 (1995).
64 State v. Johnston, 143 Wash. App. 1, 19, 177 P.3d 1127(2007).
65 The State claims that Martinez's argument that the prosecutor's
misconduct prejudiced him (that no instruction could have cured it) conflicts with
his argument that his counsel's ineffective assistance prejudiced him (that his
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does not show that the prosecutor's conduct was improper. Thus, he does not
show that his counsel's failure to object prejudiced him.
CONCLUSION
We affirm Martinez's conviction.
WE CONCUR:
counsel's timely objection and instruction could have cured the prejudice). These
arguments are inconsistent. But defendants are generally permitted to argue
inconsistent defenses. State v. Frost, 160 Wash. 2d 765, 772, 161 P.3d 361 (2007).
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