State of Washington v. Matthew Henry De Vore ( 2016 )

FILED
July 19, 2016
In the Office of the Clerk of Court
WA State Court of Appeals, Division Ill
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
DIVISION THREE
STATE OF WASHINGTON, ) No. 33106-7-111
)
Respondent, )
)
v. ) UNPUBLISHED OPINION
)
MATTHEW HENRY DEVORE, )
)
Appellant. )
LAWRENCE-BERREY, A.C.J. -We granted Matthew DeVore's request for
discretionary review to determine whether the trial court erred in withdrawing Mr.
DeVore's valid guilty plea and allowing the State to file an amended information. We
conclude that the trial court erred and remand this matter to allow Mr. DeVore to plead
guilty to the original information.
FACTS
On November 24, 2014, a stabbing occurred at a business in Kennewick,
Washington. At the scene, the police briefed the responding prosecutors and informed
them the suspect, Mr. DeVore, was in custody. Later that day, Sergeant Randy Maynard
called the prosecutors and summarized the statement Mr. DeVore gave the police.
No. 33106-7-III
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According to Sergeant Maynard, Mr. DeVore admitted he stabbed Thomas Christian but
insisted his contact with Mr. Christian had been inadvertent, and he had been continually
carrying the knife he used to stab Mr. Christian for several weeks.
On November 26, the police briefed the prosecutors again and included witness
statements that called into question whether Mr. DeVore always carried the knife he used
to stab Mr. Christian. During the briefing, the State decided to charge Mr. DeVore with
second degree murder based on his statement and the autopsy reports, but agreed to
continue investigating whether the stabbing was premeditated. That same day, the State
charged Mr. De Vore with second degree murder with an aggravating circumstance of
impact on others.
The business where the stabbing occurred gave Sergeant Maynard a video of the
incident, which Sergeant Maynard delivered to the prosecutors after the State filed the
information. The prosecutors watched the video and agreed the video contradicted Mr.
DeVore's statement that his contact with Mr. Christian at the business was inadvertent.
The prosecutors agreed they would likely end up charging Mr. DeVore with first degree
murder based on the increasing evidence of premeditation. The prosecutors decided to
wait to file the amended information until they had additional written statements and
reports, but agreed to file an amended information if Mr. DeVore attempted to plead
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guilty. On December 3, defense counsel met with Mr. DeVore for several hours, and the
two went over Mr. DeVore's statement on plea of guilty.
On December 4, the trial court held a hearing to arraign Mr. DeVore. At the
beginning of the hearing, defense counsel stated that Mr. DeVore wished to enter a guilty
plea and handed forward the statement of defendant on plea of guilty. The State then
moved to file an amended information charging Mr. DeVore with first degree murder
with an aggravating circumstance of impact on others. The State and defense counsel
disputed whether Mr. DeVore had entered a valid guilty plea and whether the State could
amend the information at that point. The trial court continued the arraignment so the
parties could brief the issue.
The trial court held another hearing on December 22. The trial court advised it had
reviewed the relevant case law, including Martin 1 and Ford. 2 The trial court concluded
that, under Ford, the State may not amend an information under CrR 2.l(d) if amending
the information would prejudice the defendant's substantial rights. The trial court found
that continuing the arraignment to obtain legal authority on the question of whether the
State was permitted to amend the information prejudiced Mr. DeVore's substantial right
1
State v. Martin, 94 Wn.2d 1,614 P.2d 164 (1980).
2
State v. Ford, 125 Wn.2d 919,891 P.2d 712 (1995).
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State v. De Vore
to plead guilty at the time of arraignment. The trial court denied the State's motion to
amend the information.
The trial court then gave Mr. De Vore an opportunity to plead guilty to second
degree murder. The trial court conducted a plea colloquy to determine whether Mr.
DeVore's plea was knowing, intelligent, and voluntary. The trial court then asked Mr.
DeVore to supplement the factual basis for the plea in his own words. Mr. DeVore gave
a verbal description of the incident:
[Mr. DeVore]: Yes, sir. I never, I never intended to--for what
happened happen. I was under a lot of duress for some number of months
and I tried to avoid Mr. Christianson [sic].
And on the day that-on the 24th, when I went there, I was trying to
get there early to avoid him. And I did not intend to meet him in any way,
but rather to avoid him.
And I was under a lot of, a lot of emotional duress, missing my
children. And unfortunately I tried to confront him to talk to him about it.
And, and I don't know what happened, sir, but-just our conversation was
an ongoing conversation between us that always seemed to go wrong.
And I just-at that moment, I-something came over me. It was like
getting hit by a lightning bolt.
And after it happened, I didn't even really recognize what had
happened until later. I was in shock, I think, for an entire week ....
. . . And that moment when I was standing there, I tried to talk to him
and tell him-I was basically trying to tell him that I wanted to see my kids,
but unfortunately it came out wrong and I was angry.
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State v. De Vore
And when we started talking, and I felt like he was treating me like a
dog and told-just bushed [sic] me off and kind of motioned a kick at me
and-I don't believe for any intent but other than just to belittle me. And
that was kind of an ongoing thing. And I just, I snapped and I drew my, I
drew a knife and, and I stabbed him. I attempted to kill him.
THE COURT: Pardon me?
[Mr. DeVore]: In a-an attempt to kill him. That is not true.
THE COURT: Anything else you'd like to say, sir-
[Mr. DeVore]: No, sir.
Report of Proceedings (RP) at 23-24.
The State objected to the trial court accepting Mr. DeVore's plea based on that
statement, arguing that Mr. DeVore did not state an adequate factual basis to support the
intent element of second degree murder. The State then argued that the court had
discretion in the interests of justice to not accept Mr. De Vore' s plea.
The trial court determined that Mr. DeVore's plea was knowing, intelligent, and
voluntary, and also determined Mr. DeVore stated an adequate factual basis for his plea to
second degree murder. The court noted it had some concern whether the entry of Mr.
De Yore's plea served the interests of justice. Defense counsel and the State began to
argue this issue when the trial court declared a recess. There were no further proceedings
that day.
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The trial court held another hearing on December 29, 2014. After argument from
the State and defense counsel, the trial court stated it had considered the case significantly
since the previous hearing and determined that its previous ruling, which denied the
State's motion to amend the information, was incorrect in light of Ford. The court ruled
the December 4, 2014 continuance was required in the administration of justice and did
not prejudice Mr. DeVore's substantial rights. The court further ruled that allowing the
State to amend the information would not prejudice Mr. DeVore's mental health, right to
remain silent, or due process rights. Because there was no prejudice to Mr. DeVore, the
court concluded the State should be allowed to amend the information. Defense counsel
advised the court that Mr. DeVore would not enter a plea at that time. The court then
entered a not guilty plea for Mr. DeVore.
Mr. DeVore filed a notice for discretionary review. This court determined the trial
court's decision constituted probable error and granted discretionary review.
ANALYSIS
Mr. De Vore argues the trial court erred when it allowed the State to amend the
original information charging him with second degree murder and file an amended
information charging him with first degree murder. He contends he entered a valid guilty
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No. 33106-7-III
State v. De Vore
plea on December 22, 2014, and therefore the trial court erred when it withdrew that plea
and allowed the State to amend the information. 3
This court generally reviews the granting of a motion to amend an information for
an abuse of discretion. State v. Brett, 126 Wn.2d 136, 155, 892 P.2d 29 (1995).
However, the issue of whether the trial court deprived a defendant of his or her rule-based
right to plead guilty to the original charges is subject to de novo review. State v. Conwell,
141 Wn.2d 901, 906, 10 P.3d 1056 (2000) (quoting State v. Ledenko, 87 Wn. App. 39, 42,
940 P.2d 280 (1997)).
CrR 2.1 (d) addresses when the State may amend an information. It provides that
"[t]he court may permit any information or bill of particulars to be amended at any time
before verdict or finding if substantial rights of the defendant are not prejudiced." Under
the plain language of CrR 2.l(d), if the trial court had found Mr. DeVore guilty, the State
could no longer amend the information. The trial court never formally found Mr.. DeVore
guilty, so this case is more complicated than a straightforward application of CrR 2.l(d).
3
Mr. DeVore's argument is inconsistent as to when he entered a valid guilty plea.
There are instances where he argues he entered a valid guilty plea at the December 22,
2014 hearing. There are other instances where he argues he entered a valid guilty plea on
December 4, 2014. These inconsistencies are likely due to the fact that Mr. DeVore's
appellate brief reuses substantial portions of the briefs he filed after the December 4
hearing, when the trial court asked for briefing on whether Mr. DeVore had entered a
valid plea. We analyze the issues in light of the December 22 hearing.
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The trial court, however, conducted a full plea colloquy, found Mr. DeYore's plea was
knowing, voluntary, and intelligent, and also found an adequate factual basis supported
the plea.
The question of whether the State was allowed to amend the information is related
to Mr. DeVore's right to plead guilty. Whether the trial court violated Mr. DeYore's right
to plead guilty depends on whether CrR 4.2( d) was satisfied. That rule provides in
relevant part:
The court shall not accept a plea of guilty, without first determining that it
is made voluntarily, competently and with an understanding of the nature of
the charge and the consequences of the plea. The court shall not enter a
judgment upon a plea of guilty unless it is satisfied that there is a factual
basis for the plea.
CrR 4.2(d). Therefore, we first address whether an adequate factual basis supported Mr.
DeYore's plea. We then address whether the trial court violated Mr. DeYore's right to
plead guilty. If the trial court violated Mr. DeVore's right to plead guilty, then the trial
court abused its discretion when it later allowed the State to amend the information.
A. FACTUAL BASIS FOR PLEA
The State argues Mr. DeVore's plea was invalid because it was not supported by
an adequate factual basis. CrR 4.2(d)'s factual basis requirement is satisfied if there is
sufficient evidence from which a jury could conclude the defendant is guilty. State v.
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No. 33106-7-III
State v. De Vore
Rhode, 56 Wn. App. 69, 72, 782 P.2d 567 (1989). The trial court does not need to be
convinced of a defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Id.A person is guilty of second degree murder when, "[w ]ith intent to cause the death
of another person but without premeditation, he or she causes the death of such person or
of a third person." RCW 9A.32.050(l)(a) (emphasis added). "A person acts with intent
or intentionally when he or she acts with the objective or purpose to accomplish a result
which constitutes a crime." RCW 9A.08.010(l)(a). Therefore, to satisfy the intent
element, Mr. DeVore had to act with the objective or purpose to cause Mr. Christian's
death. 4
The State relies on State v. Powell, 29 Wn. App. 163, 627 P.2d 1337 (1981). In
Powell, the trial court never asked the defendant to describe what he did to the victim or
with what intent he acted, but merely asked the defendant questions regarding his
understanding of the statement on plea of guilty and the authenticity of his signature. Id.
at 164. The defendant's written statement on plea of guilty only stated, "' I did participate
in the 1 [degree] murder of [the victim]."' Id. at 165 (first alteration in original). The
4
Mr. DeVore argues that for there to be a factual basis for his guilty plea, he only
needed to intend to stab Mr. Christian, but he did not specifically have to intend for Mr.
Christian to die. The second degree murder statute refutes this argument, which
requires the person to act "[w ]ith intent to cause the death of another person."
RCW 9A.32.050(l)(a) (emphasis added).
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No. 33106-7-III
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Powell court held there was insufficient evidence to support the factual basis for the plea
because "no attempt was made to orally elicit a description of either defendant's acts or
state of mind," and the legal conclusion in the defendant's written statement failed "to set
forth any of the elements from which a jury could have found defendant guilty of first
degree murder." Id. at 167 (emphasis added).
The State also relies on In re Personal Restraint of Taylor, 31 Wn. App. 254, 640
P.2d 737 (1982). The only factual basis in the record to support Bruce Taylor's guilty
plea was his written statement, "' I was directly involved in the planning, carrying out the
plan, and aftermath of the murder of Myrtle Boston, which occurred July 4, 1977."' Id.
at 259. The Taylor court concluded this written statement was analogous to the one in
Powell and failed to set out the elements of first degree murder. Id. at 259-60.
Here, unlike in Powell and Taylor, the trial court asked Mr. DeVore at the
December 22 plea colloquy to describe the facts supporting his plea. The trial court
found Mr. DeVore's description established an adequate factual basis for the plea and
later confirmed this ruling in its conclusions oflaw.
The State argues there was an inadequate factual basis for Mr. DeVore's plea
because Mr. DeVore denied that he intended to kill Mr. Christian when he said:"' And I
just-at that moment, I-something came over me. It was like getting hit by a lightning
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No. 33106-7-III
State v. De Vore
bolt. And after it happened, I didn't even really recognize what had happened until
later."' Br. ofResp't at 10 (quoting RP at 23). However, this statement does not
contradict the trial court's finding that Mr. De Vore acted with the objective or purpose to
accomplish Mr. Christian's death, as RCW 9A.08.0IO(l)(a) requires. Right after this
statement, Mr. DeVore said: "And I just, I snapped and I drew my, I drew a knife and,
and I stabbed him. I attempted to kill him." RP at 24 (emphasis added). Mr. DeVore's
statement that he "attempted to kill" Mr. Christian supports the intent element of second
degree murder.
Unlike the defendants' written statements in Powell and Taylor, which only
contained legal conclusions, Mr. DeYore's oral statement sets out the elements from
which a jury could have found him guilty of second degree murder. Although his
statement may not have establi~hed guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, there is sufficient
evidence for a jury to conclude he was guilty. 5 An adequate factual basis supported his
plea.
5
The State does not explicitly discuss Mr. DeYore's comment that occurred at the
end of his statement to the court, where he vaguely denied an intent to kill. But even had
the State discussed Mr. DeVore's vague denial, Mr. DeVore's statement immediately
prior-where he clearly admitted his intent to kill-is sufficient for us to affirm the trial
court's finding that Mr. DeYore's plea had a sufficient factual basis and was knowingly,
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B. RIGHT TO PLEAD GUILTY
In Washington, CrR 4.2(a) gives criminal defendants the right to plead guilty.
State v. Martin, 94 Wn.2d 1, 4, 614 P.2d 164 (1980). But the trial court is not required to
immediately and automatically accept a proffered guilty plea. See State v. Ford, 125
Wn.2d 919, 924, 891 P.2d 712 (1995). Rather, a trial court's acceptance of the guilty plea
is "explicitly contingent on the trial court's independent evaluation of voluntariness." Id.Mr. De Vore relies on State v. Rhode, 56 Wn. App. 69 and State v. Conwell, 141
Wn.2d 901. In Rhode, the State and Tanya Rhode negotiated a plea agreement. Rhode,
56 Wn. App. at 70. At the plea hearing, the trial court acknowledged Ms. Rhode's plea
was knowing, intelligent, and voluntary, acknowledged she was informed of the nature of
the charge and the consequences of the plea, and acknowledged there was a factual basis
for the plea. Id. at 71. The trial court then accepted M~. Rhode's plea. Id. At
sentencing, the trial court believed the State's recommendation was too low, so it
reversed its order accepting the plea. Id. at 72. The Rhode court held the trial court
"erred by withdrawing its acceptance of the plea which it earlier found to be factually
based and knowingly, intelligently and voluntarily made." Id. at 73.
intelligently, and voluntarily made.
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No. 33106-7-111
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In Conwell, the State and Jeremy Conwell negotiated a plea agreement and Mr.
Conwell proffered a guilty plea at his arraignment. Conwell, 141 Wn.2d at 904. The trial
court inquired as to Mr. Conwell's competence, his understanding of the charges and
consequences of a guilty plea, and the voluntariness of his plea. Id. After a short
continuance, the trial court determined there was an adequate factual basis to support the
plea. Id. at 904-05. However, the trial court then rejected both the plea agreement and
the proffered plea because it was concerned about Mr. Conwell's justification for using a
weapon. Id. at 905. The trial court then arraigned Mr. Conwell and entered a not guilty
plea sua sponte. Id. Several weeks later, the State moved to amend the information and
Mr. Conwell objected, arguing that he should have been allowed to plead guilty to the
charges in the original information. Id. The trial court allowed the amendment. Id. at
905-06.
The Conwell court held the trial court failed to comply with CrR 4.2(f). Id. at 908.
The court noted the trial court rejected Mr. Conwell's proffered plea in the interests of
justice, and stated, "While the court has the discretion to reject a plea agreement it finds
inconsistent with the interests of justice, the court does not have discretion to reject a
valid guilty plea offered notwithstanding that agreement." Id. at 909 (emphasis added).
The Conwell court also stated, "' It is up to the defendant to withdraw the plea, not the
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No. 33106-7-III
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court."' Id. (quoting Rhode, 56 Wn. App. at 73). Accordingly, CrR 4.2(f) required the
trial court to give Mr. Conwell the choice of withdrawing his guilty plea or pleading to
the charges without a plea agreement. Conwell, 141 Wn.2d at 910. The court noted Mr.
Conwell had the right to plead unconditionally to the original charges, and held the trial
court erred when it entered a not guilty plea sua sponte without Mr. Conwell's assent. Id.
at 909. The court vacated the trial court's order amending the original information and
remanded for Mr. Conwell to enter a plea to the original charges. Id. at 910.
In contrast, the State relies on Ford. In Ford, the State charged Mr. Ford with
three counts of first degree murder and at the arraignment Mr. Ford, through counsel,
proffered a guilty plea. Ford, 125 Wn.2d at 921. The State immediately moved to
continue the arraignment, stating it possessed potentially exculpatory material it needed to
disclose prior to any plea. Id. The court continued the arraignment proceeding for a
week and did not accept the proffered guilty plea. Id. During the following week, the
State discovered inculpatory evidence and moved to amend the charge to aggravated first
degree murder. Id. The trial court allowed the amendment. Id.The Ford court held the continuance was not a violation of Mr. Ford's right to
plead guilty. Id. at 925. The court reasoned CrR 4.2(d) obligates the trial court to be
independently satisfied of the voluntariness and factual basis for the plea, and the trial
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No. 33106-7-111
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court continued Mr. Ford's arraignment based in part on a concern the proffered guilty
plea was not knowing, intelligent, or voluntary, as well as a concern that Mr. Ford had a
right to review the exculpatory material. Id. at 924-25.
Ford also held the trial court properly allowed the State to amend the information.
Id. at 928-29. CrR 2.l(d)'s temporal limitation that requires the State to amend the
information before verdict or finding was not relevant, so the court turned to the question
of whether allowing the State to amend the information would prejudice Mr. Ford's
substantial rights. Id. at 928. The court found that allowing the State to amend the
information would not prejudice Mr. Ford's substantial rights, reasoning that ER 410
prohibited the State from using any evidence of Mr. Ford's proffered plea in any
subsequent trial. Id. at 928. Importantly, the court also reasoned Mr. Ford was not
prejudiced because it had "already determined that the Martin right to plead guilty was
not violated." Id.Here, the trial court conducted an extensive plea colloquy during the December 22,
2014 hearing. In the colloquy, Mr. DeVore acknowledged all the constitutional rights he
waived. He acknowledged he understood the elements of second degree murder, his
standard range sentence, and the maximum penalty of life imprisonment. He also
acknowledged he reviewed his statement on plea of guilty with defense counsel and
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No. 33106-7-III
State v. De Vore
understood its contents, stated no one made threats or promises to get him to plead guilty,
and stated he understood the court was not bound by the standard range. In light of this
colloquy, the court found that Mr. DeVore's plea was knowing, intelligent, and voluntary.
The trial court later confirmed this finding in its conclusions of law.
This case is like Conwell and unlike Ford. In Ford, the trial court continued the
arraignment because it was concerned Mr. Ford's proffered guilty plea was not knowing,
intelligent, or voluntary, and was also concerned about Mr. Ford's right to review the
exculpatory material. Because the trial court had not yet determined Mr. Ford's plea was
voluntary, CrR 4.2( d) prohibited the trial court from accepting the plea. Because the trial
court could not accept the plea, it did not err when it continued the arraignment and then
allowed the State to amend the information.
In this case, however, the trial court found that Mr. DeYore's plea was knowing,
intelligent, and voluntary, and also found that an adequate factual basis supported the
plea. CrR 4.2( d) was satisfied. Under Conwell, the trial court had no discretion to reject
Mr. De Yore's guilty plea. Moreover, because Mr. DeYore's plea was not pursuant to a
plea agreement with the State, the trial court also did not have discretion to reject the plea
in the interests of justice. Like in Conwell, Mr. DeVore "had the right to plead
unconditionally" and the trial court did not have authority to enter a plea of not guilty sua
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No. 33106-7-III
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sponte. See Conwell, 141 Wn.2d at 909. Therefore, the trial court violated Mr. DeVore's
right to plead guilty.
The Ford court held that allowing the State to amend the information would not
prejudice Mr. Ford's substantial rights because it had "already determined that the Martin
right to plead guilty was not violated." Ford, 125 Wn.2d at 928. Here, the trial court
violated Mr. DeVore's right to plead guilty, thus prejudicing Mr. DeVore's substantial
rights. We conclude the trial court abused its discretion when it allowed the State to file
an amended information charging Mr. De Vore with first degree murder. We, therefore,
reverse the trial court and remand to allow Mr. DeVore to enter a plea to the original
charge of second degree murder.
Reversed and remanded.
A majority of the panel has determined this opinion will not be printed in the
Washington Appellate Reports, but it will be filed for public record pursuant to
RCW 2.06.040.
WE CONCUR:
j
?-;dh;u;
doway, J. '7J J-
I •
Pennell, J.
17