State Of Washington, V Bruce A. Stewart ( 2014 )

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COURT t'OF APPEALS
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2014 JA W77 N 10: 23
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IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF W S IPS . ON
By_
DIVISION II
STATE OF WASHINGTON, No. 43247 -1 - II
Respondent;
UNPUBLISHED OPINION
V.
BRUCE ALBERT STEWART,
0
WORGEN, J. — A jury convicted Bruce Albert Stewart of second degree assault based on
an attack against Richard Yanac. The State' s case against Stewart relied heavily on inculpatory
statements Stewart made to the investigating officer. Stewart appeals his conviction, alleging
that ( 1) an erroneous jury instruction relieved the State of its burden of proving recklessness
beyond a reasonable doubt; ( 2) prosecutorial misconduct infringed on his right to pre -arrest
silence; ( 3) insufficient evidence supports his conviction and the admission of his inculpatory
statements; and ( 4) ineffective assistance of counsel deprived him of a fair trial. We affirm.
FACTS
In June 2010, Yanac was assaulted in front of the residence of Judy Orr. Deputy Donald
Meserve responded to the assault and saw paramedics loading Yanac into an ambulance in front
of Orr' s house. Meserve asked Yanac what had happened, and Yanac stated that he had been
jumped," but could not recall anything else. Verbatim Report of Proceedings ( VRP) at 104 -05.
Yanac sustained severe injuries.
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During his long recovery process, Yanac eventually recalled having seen Stewart outside
Orr' s house shortly before the injury. After Yanac discovered that he had to file a police report
in order to obtain assistance with his medical bills, he contacted police and spoke with Detective
Timothy Keeler.
Based on his conversations with Yanac, Keeler unsuccessfully attempted to contact
Stewart by telephone. A few months later, Stewart appeared at the prosecutor' s office, where
Keeler arrested him. Keeler took Stewart to a conference room, read him the Miranda'
warnings, and interrogated him. Stewart waived his rights and made the inculpatory statements
described below.
The prosecutor ultimately charged. Stewart with second degree assault. After a CrR 3. 5
hearing, the trial court determined that Stewart' s statements to Keeler were admissible. A jury
was selected and trial commenced on February 27, 2012.
At trial, Yanac testified that he remembered arriving at Orr' s house on the day of the
assault and seeing Stewart approach shortly before " the lights went out." VRP at 68 -69. He
found himself sitting on the ground when he regained consciousness, saw his smashed cell phone
nearby, and thought he " might have seen" Stewart again. VRP at 69, 82. Yanac then lost
consciousness again, and had no further memory of the events until he awoke on Orr' s couch.
Yanac admitted that he did not know what caused the injuries or whether Stewart hit him.
Yanac explained that he had suffered from seizures " once or twice every six months or so" since
before the assault. VRP at 75 -76. The seizures caused him to lose consciousness, and he
sometimes could not remember what had happened.
Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 86 S. +Ct. 1602, 16 L. Ed. 2d 694 ( 1966).
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No. 43247 -1 - II
Keeler testified that, after initially denying involvement, Stewart eventually admitted that
he had followed Yanac to Orr' s house and punched him " about three times," although Stewart
also stated that he did not intend to hurt Yanac so badly. VRP at 96 -97. Stewart claimed he was
angry with Yanac because Yanac had visited Stewart' s girl friend and " made her feel
uncomfortable." VRP at 97. Stewart stated that, after the assault, he warned Yanac to stay away
from his girl friend. Keeler referred briefly in his testimony to the fact that, prior to his arrest,
Stewart had failed to return a number of Keeler' s calls. The defense did not object.
Meserve described Yanac' s visible injuries as bruising around the right eye and a large
lump on the left side of the forehead, and the trial court admitted photographs taken at the scene
by another officer. In response to the prosecutor' s questions, Meserve stated that he had asked
Yanac what had happened, and that "[ h] e said he was jumped." VRP at 104. The defense did
not object.
The court instructed the jury on the elements of second degree assault: " A person
commits the crime of assault in the second degree when he or she intentionally assaults another
and thereby recklessly inflicts substantial bodily harm." . Supp. Clerk' s Papers at 43 ( Supp. CP).
The trial court instructed the jury on the definition of "recklessness" for purposes of causing
substantial bodily harm.
A person is reckless or acts recklessly when he or she knows of and disregards a
substantial risk that a wrongful act may occur and this disregard is a gross
deviation from conduct that a reasonable person would exercise in the same
situation. Recklessness is also established if a person acts intentionally or
knowingly.
Supp. CP at 46; 11 Washington Practice, 'Washington Pattern Jury Instructions: Criminal 10. 03,
at 150 ( 2d ed. 1994) ( WPIC). The defense did not object.
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No. 43247 -1 - II
In closing argument, the prosecutor referred to the fact that Stewart had not returned
Keeler' s calls, describing it as "[ his] choice." VRP at 155. The defense did not object.
The jury returned a guilty verdict, and Stewart timely appealed.
ANALYSIS
I. THE TRIAL COURT' S RECKLESSNESS INSTRUCTION
Stewart contends that the trial court' s instruction that "[ r] ecklessness also is established if
a person acts intentionally or knowingly" improperly created a mandatory presumption. Br. of
Appellant at 9 -12. He argues that a reasonable juror could have interpreted this instruction to
require finding recklessness as to the infliction of substantial bodily harm upon proof that
Stewart intentionally punched Yanac.
As a threshold issue, because Stewart did not object to the trial court' s instruction
concerning recklessness, the question arises whether we should even consider the claim. RAP
2.5( a) allows appellate courts to decline to consider issues not properly raised in the trial court,
but provides an exception where a party raises a " manifest error affecting a constitutional right."
The State argues we should not consider Stewart' s claim because the alleged error was not
manifest." Br. of Resp' t at 6.
The test under RAP 2. 5( a) often overlaps with the analysis of the merits of the claimed
error. See State v. Walsh, 143 Wash. 2d 1, 8, 17 P.3d 591 ( 2001) ( in determining whether an error
is manifest, we " preview[] the merits of the claimed constitutional error to determine whether the
argument is likely to succeed "). Therefore, we evaluate whether the instruction was erroneous,
and if so whether the error was " manifest." To fall within the exception in RAP 2. 5( a), the
instruction must both be erroneous and manifest.
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A "misstatement of the law in a jury instruction that relieves the State of its burden to
prove every element of the crime charged" generally requires reversal unless the State shows
beyond a reasonable doubt that the error slid not contribute to the verdict. State v. Thomas, 150
Wash. 2d 821, 844 -45, 83 P.3d 970 ( 2004). A court makes such a misstatement of the law by
giving an instruction which creates " a conclusive or irrebuttable presumption to find an element
of a criminal offense" upon proof of predicate facts. State v. Savage, 94 Wash. 2d 569, 573, 618
P.2d 82 ( 1980). An instruction creates such a presumption if "a reasonable juror might interpret
the presumption as mandatory." State v. Beal, 128 Wash. 2d 693, 701, 911 P.2d 996 ( 1996).
Our decisions reveal some disagreement as to whether the instruction given, former
WPIC 10. 03, was erroneous. Compare State v. Hayward, 152 Wash. App. 632, 645, 217 P.3d 354
2009) ( finding error because " the previous version of WPIC 10. 03 ( 1994) did not adequately
follow" the assault statute, as demonstrated in part by the subsequent change in the instruction)
with State v. Holzknecht, 157 Wn. App. 754, 765, 238 P.3d 1233 ( 2010) ( finding no error and
noting that "[ c] larification of the standard instruction does not amount to an indictment of earlier
versions ") and State v. Keend, 140 Wn. App. 858, 868, 166 P.3d 1268 ( 2007) ( rejecting an
argument identical to Stewart' s on the grounds that the to- convict instruction accurately set out
which mental state applied to the act as opposed to the result, and " the jury is presumed to read
and follow] the trial court' s instructions as a whole, in light of all other instructions "). We do
not reach the issue because even if the instruction were erroneous, the nature of the error was not
manifest" for purposes of RAP 2. 5( a).
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No. 43247 -1 - II
A "manifest" error results in " actual prejudice," namely " practical and identifiable
consequences" at trial. State v. Gordon, 172 Wash. 2d 671, 676, 260 P.3d 884 ( 2011) ( internal
quotation marks omitted) ( quoting State v. O' Hara, 167 Wash. 2d 91, 99, 217 P.3d 756 ( 2009)).
In O' Hara, however, our Supreme Court clarified that " to ensure the actual prejudice and
harmless error analyses are separate, the focus of the actual prejudice must be on whether the
error is so obvious on the record that the error warrants appellate review." O' Hara, 167 Wash. 2d
at 99 -100. Thus, " to determine whether an error is practical and identifiable, the appellate court
must place itself in the shoes of the trial court to ascertain whether, given what the trial court
knew at that time, the court could have corrected the error." O' Hara, 167 Wash. 2d at 100.
Based on what it knew in February 2012, the trial court would not have had the
opportunity to correct any potential error in the instruction absent a timely objection. Were we
to find it erroneous, we could nonetheless point to no consensus of opinion or controlling
authority establishing the error of the instruction. Nor is it so glaring as to promptly draw the
attention of any legally -
trained mind. Thus, for the trial court to properly conclude the
instruction created an impermissible presumption would have required some research and
analysis. It is unreasonable to expect a trial court to engage in that level of inquiry absent a
timely and specific objection. Any potential error was therefore not " manifest" within the
meaning articulated by the O' Hara court, 167 Wash. 2d at 100, and we thus decline to consider the
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issue under RAP 2. 5( a) .
2
We note that the Hayward court held that the use of former WPIC 10. 03 was a manifest error
affecting a constitutional right. Hayward; 152 Wash. App. at 643 n.4 ( citing State v. Goble, 131
Wn. App. 194, 202 -03, 126 P.3d 821 ( 2005)). Hayward, however, was decided before our
Supreme Court clarified RAP 2.5' s use of "manifest" in O' Hara. Following O' Hara, our
analysis concludes that any error in the instruction by the trial court was not manifest under RAP
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No. 43247 -1 - II
II. PROSECUTORIAL MISCONDUCT AND COMMENT ON PRE -ARREST SILENCE
Stewart argues that the prosecutor improperly elicited testimony concerning Stewart' s
failure to return Keeler' s calls, and improperly commented on this evidence in closing. Stewart
alleges this prejudiced him by infringing on his Fifth Amendment privilege against self-
incrimination. We disagree.
A. Standard of Review
An appellate court will generally reverse a conviction due to prosecutorial misconduct
only if the defendant establishes that the conduct was both improper and prejudicial. State v.
Gregory, 158 Wash. 2d 759, 809, 858, 147 P.3d 1201 ( 2006). We must consider the effect of a
prosecutor' s improper conduct in light of the full trial context: the evidence, issues, and
arguments presented in the case, and the instructions given to the jury. State v. Monday, 171
Wash. 2d 667, 675, 257 P.3d 551 ( 2011) ( citing State v. McKenzie, 157 Wash. 2d 44, 52, 134 P.3d 221
2006)).
A defendant establishes sufficient prejudice to require reversal only by showing a
substantial likelihood the misconduct affected the verdict. Monday, 171 Wash. 2d at 675 ( citing
State v. Yates, 161 Wash. 2d 714, 774, 168 P.3d 359 ( 2007)). Furthermore, failure to timely object
to a prosecutor' s improper comment constitutes a waiver, unless the remark was "`` so flagrant
and ill-intentioned that it evinces an enduring and resulting prejudice "' that no curative
instruction could have remedied. Gregory, 158 Wash. 2d at 841 ( quoting State v. Stenson, 132
Wash. 2d 668, 719, 940 P.2d 1239 ( 1997)). Further, even otherwise improper remarks do not
2. 5( a). Thus, for purposes of RAP 2. 5( a) we need not examine further whether it affects a
constitutional right.
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require reversal, " if they were invited or provoked by defense counsel and are in reply to his or
her acts and statements, unless the remarks are not a pertinent reply or are so prejudicial that a
curative instruction would be ineffective." State v. Russell, 125 Wash. 2d 24, 86, 882 P.2d 747
1994).
A prosecutor' s comment on pre -arrest silence violates a defendant' s Fifth Amendment
rights, and we review such misconduct under the constitutional harmless error standard.
Gregory, 158 Wash. 2d at 839; State v. Easter, 130 Wash. 2d 228, 238 -39, 242, 922 P.2d 1285 ( 1996).
Mere passing reference to pre -arrest silence, however, does not amount to a constitutional
violation, and thus does not merit reversal unless the defendant can show sufficient prejudice
under the usual prosecutorial misconduct standard discussed above. State v. Burke, 163 Wash. 2d
204, . 16, 181 P.3d 1 ( 2008).
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B. Discussion
The record shows that the prosecutor did not intentionally elicit or dwell on Keeler' s
testimony concerning Stewart' s failure to return calls:
Q. And what happened when you met with Mr. Stewart?
A. I let him know that I had previously tried to contact him —he hadn' t returned
my calls — and informed him that there was probable cause for his arrest, and I
arrested him.
Q. When you arrest someone, that means they get handcuffed, right?
VRP at 90. In this exchange, the prosecutor did not even ask about Stewart' s failure to return
calls; he simply asked what happened when the officer met with Stewart. Without more, this can
hardly be said to be the intentional eliciting of testimony about not returning calls. Further, the
officer' s statement, " he hadn' t returned my calls" was not even responsive to the question posed
No. 43247 -1 - II
by the prosecutor as to what happened when the officer met with Stewart. It was the defendant' s
responsibility to object to a nonresponsive answer of the witness.
Finally, this testimony qualifies at most as a passing reference to pre -arrest silence. See
Burke, 163 Wash. 2d at 216 n.7 ( discussing the distinction between an improper comment on and a
passing reference to pre -arrest silence and compiling cases); State v. Lewis, 130 Wash. 2d 700, 703-
04, 707, 927 P.2d 235 ( 1996) ( holding that a police officer' s testimony that he told the defendant
that " if he was innocent he should just come in and talk to me about it" did not amount to a
comment on silence). Therefore, because Stewart makes no showing that the prosecutor asked
any improper question or that the passing reference to pre -arrest silence caused prejudice, let
alone that a curative instruction could not have remedied any such prejudice,3 his claim
concerning Keeler' s testimony fails. See Burke, 163 Wash. 2d at 221.
We also find Stewart' s argument concerning the prosecutor' s remarks in closing
unpersuasive. The prosecutor' s statement that Stewart' s failure to " tell the police how he was
involved with the injuries to Mr. Yanac until many months had gone by" was "[ his] choice,"
VRP 155, also appears to qualify as a passing reference to pre -arrest silence because the
prosecutor mentioned it only once and did not suggest that the jury infer guilt from Stewart' s
lack of cooperation. See Burke, 163 Wash. 2d at 216.
More to the point, a prosecutor may present a fair response to defense counsel' s
arguments and argue that the evidence does not support a defense theory. Russell, 125 Wash. 2d at
87. Here, the context makes clear that the prosecutor made the challenged argument in response
3
Stewart merely alleges that "[ b] y calling ... attention to Mr. Stewart' s failure to come forward
and cooperate in the investigation, the government improperly used his pre -arrest silence to
imply guilt." Br. of Appellant at 23.
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No. 43247 -1 - II
to defense counsel' s contention that " recognizing [ that Stewart' s inculpatory] statement is made
eight months later, it' s not exactly the smoking gun that the State implies." Compare VRP at
150 with VRP at 155. Thus, the challenged remark plainly qualifies as a fair response to
argument made by defense counsel.
Stewart shows neither improper conduct nor resulting prejudice. We thus reject
Stewart' s claim that prosecutorial misconduct deprived him of a fair trial.
III. SUFFICIENCY OF t4E EVIDENCE AND CORPUS DELICTI
Stewart contends that the State failed to present sufficient evidence of causation and
recklessness, two essential components of second degree assault. Stewart first argues that these
alleged deficiencies alone require reversal. He also contends that the alleged evidentiary
deficiencies, combined with the absence of independent evidence that Stewart intentionally
assaulted Yanac, required exclusion of his confession under the corpus delicti rule.
In evaluating the sufficiency of the evidence, we review the evidence in the light most
favorable to the State. State v. Ehrhardt, 167 Wn. App. 934, 943, 276 P.3d 332 ( 2012) ( citing
State v. Drum, 168 Wash. 2d 23, 34, 225 P.3d 237 ( 2010)). We ask "`` whether any rational fact
finder could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. "' Drum,
168 Wash. 2d at 34 -35 ( quoting State v. Wentz, 149 Wash. 2d 342, 347, 68 P.3d 282 ( 2003)). An
appellant who claims that insufficient evidence supports his conviction " admits the truth of the
State' s evidence and all reasonable inferences therefrom." Ehrhardt, 167 Wash. App. at 943
citing Drum, 168 Wash. 2d at 35).
Where " the inferences and underlying evidence are strong enough to permit a rational
fact finder to find guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, a conviction may be properly based on
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No. 43247 -1 - II
pyramiding inferences." State v. Bencivenga, 137 Wash. 2d 703, 711, 974 P.2d 832 ( 1999)
internal quotation marks omitted). Inferences drawn from circumstantial evidence " must be
reasonable and cannot be based on speculation." State v. Vasquez, 178 Wash. 2d 1, 16, 309 P.3d
318 ( 2013) ( citing Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319, 99 S. Ct. 2781, 61 L. Ed. 2d 560
1979)). A jury may properly infer the mental element of an offense " from the conduct where it
is plainly indicated as a matter of logical probability." State v. Delmarter, 94 Wash. 2d 634, 638,
618 P.2d 99 ( 1980).
The corpus delicti rule requires the State to prove every element of the specific crime
charged by evidence independent of the defendant' s statement. State v. Brockob, 159 Wash. 2d
311, 329, 150 P.3d 59 ( 2006); State v. Dow, 168 Wash. 2d 243, 254, 227 P.3d 1278 ( 2010). The
State must present evidence sufficient to establish each element of the crime by logical and
reasonable inferences consistent with guilt and inconsistent with a reasonable hypothesis of
innocence. Brockob, 159 Wash. 2d at 327 -28. The independent evidence need only establish a
prima facie case, not " establish the corpus delicti beyond a reasonable doubt, or even by a
preponderance of the proof." State v. Meyer, 37 Wash. 2d 759, 763 -64, 226 P.2d 204 ( 1951)
quoted in State v. Aten, 130 Wash. 2d 640, 656, 927 P.2d 210 ( 1996)). Such a prima facie case,
furthermore, does not require evidence identifying the accused as the perpetrator; the State may
rely on the inculpatory statement itself to prove identity. Meyer, 37 Wash. 2d at 763. In
considering whether sufficient evidence supports admission of a confession, we also review the
evidence in the light most favorable to the State. Brockob, 159 Wash. 2d at 328.
To establish the elements of second degree assault, the State had to prove that Stewart
intentionally assaulted Yanac and thereby recklessly inflicted substantial bodily harm. RCW
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No. 43247 -1 - II
9A. 36. 021( a). Stewart did not raise a corpus delicti objection to the introduction of Keeler' s
testimony about Stewart' s confession and makes no argument that his corpus delicti challenge
may be raised for the first time on appeal under RAP 2.5. Therefore, we consider the corpus
delicti challenge to Stewart' s confession only in the context of Stewart' s claim of ineffective
assistance of counsel.
Alternatively, were we to reach the corpus delicti issue on its merits, ample evidence
Meserve4
supports admission of Stewart' s confession. described Yanac' s injuries, including
significant visible injuries to the face and forehead; laid the foundation for the admission of
photos showing those injuries; and testified that, as the paramedics loaded Yanac into the
ambulance, Yanac stated he had been " jumped." Br. of Resp' t at 24. Because significant facial
bruising alone qualifies as substantial bodily harm, this suffices to establish the corpus delicti of
second degree assault. See State v. McKtgue, 172 Wash. 2d 802, 806, 262 P.3d 1225 ( 2011); State
v. Hovig, 149 Wn. App. 1, 5, 13, 202 P.3d 318 ( 2009); State v. Ashcraft, 71 Wash. App. 444, 455,
859 P.2d 60 ( 1993). Thus, we conclude Stewart' s confession was properly admitted because the
State proved a prima facie case of second degree assault by independent evidence.
With Stewart' s confession, the evidence showed that Stewart admitted to Keeler that he
followed Yanac to Orr' s residence and repeatedly punched Yanac because Yanac had made
Stewart' s girl friend feel uncomfortable. The State introduced photographs showing Yanac' s
4 Stewart also did not object to Meserve' s testimony. that Yanac stated he had been jumped.
Under RAP 2. 5( we review alleged errors not objected to below only if they fall within one of
a),
the rule' s listed exceptions. See, e. g., State v. Scott, 110 Wash. 2d 682, 685, 757 P.2d 492 ( 1988).
Stewart makes no claim that the admission of Yanac' s statement about having been jumped falls
within any of these exceptions. Thus, we consider any challenge to that statement only in the
context of Stewart' s claim of ineffective assistance of counsel.
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No. 43247 -1 - II
injuries shortly after the incident, including significant facial bruising. Yanac testified that he
saw Stewart approaching shortly before the incident and might have seen Stewart near him
during the events.
From this evidence, a rational juror could infer that Stewart ( 1) punched Yanac on
purpose, (2) knew of a substantial risk that the punches would cause injuries resulting in
significant disfigurement or impairment of a bodily function, ( 3) disregarded that risk under
circumstances amounting to a gross deviation from the conduct of a reasonable person under the
circumstances, and finally (4) that Stewart' s punches actually did cause such injuries. This
evidence suffices to support Stewart' s conviction.
IV. INEFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL
Stewart alleges that his attorney' s performance was deficient by failing to object to ( 1)
the admission of Stewart' s confession under the corpus delicti rule, ( 2) the admission of police
testimony concerning the victim' s remarks following the assault, and ( 3) the prosecutor' s
reference to evidence of Stewart' s pre -arrest silence in closing. Stewart alleges that these
failures caused him prejudice because these challenges would have succeeded, effectively
excluding evidence essential to the State' s case.
A. Standard of Review
To prevail on a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, an appellant must show
1) that defense counsel' s conduct was deficient, i.e., that it fell below an
objective standard of reasonableness; and ( 2) that the deficient performance
resulted in prejudice,that there is a reasonable possibility that, but for the
i.e.,
deficient conduct, the outcome of the proceeding would have differed.
State v. Reichenbach, 153 Wash. 2d 126, M, 101 P.3d 80 ( 2004) ( applying the test from
Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687, 104 S. Ct. 2052, 80 L. Ed. 2d 674 ( 1984)). Thus,
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No. 43247 -1 - II
an appellant who bases an ineffective assistance claim on counsel' s failure to object to the
admission of evidence must show that the trial court would likely have sustained the objection
and that a more favorable outcome would have resulted absent that evidence. State v.
McFarland, 127 Wash. 2d 322, 336, 337 n. 4, 899 P.2d 1251 ( 1995). Furthermore, the appellant
only overcomes the strong presumption that counsel performed adequately by showing that " no
conceivable legitimate tactic" explains the attorney' s conduct. Reichenbach, 153 Wash. 2d at 130.
B. Discussion
Stewart' s claim regarding the prosecutor' s comment on pre -arrest silence, addressed
above, has no merit. The prosecutor did nothing improper, so the trial court would have
overruled any objection. Furthermore, Stewart cannot show that the remarks had any effect on
the outcome of the trial.
Without Stewart' s inculpatory statements to Keeler, on the other hand, the State' s case
would likely have collapsed. As discusser) above, however, a challenge to the admission of
Stewart' s inculpatory statements under the corpus delicti rule could only have succeeded without
Meserve' s testimony concerning Yanac' s statement, made shortly after the incident, that he had
been " jumped. "5 This statement, combined with the fact of Yanac' s injuries, gave rise to the
5
Stewart argues that, without an " explanation as to what Yanac meant by the word ``jumped, "'
no evidence establishes an intentional assault. Br. of Appellant at 21. The claim has no merit.
A standard dictionary reveals that, when used as a transitive verb, the word "jump" commonly
to attack suddenly or unexpectedly" or " pounce upon." WEBSTER' s TIC NEw
means "
INTERNATIONAL DICTIONARY 1225 ( 2002). Appellate courts presume that jurors understand
words in their ordinary meaning. See Strandberg v. N. Pac. Ry. Co., 59 Wash. 2d 259, 263, 367
P.2d 137 ( 1961).
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No. 43247 -1 - II
6
reasonable inference that someone had perpetrated second degree assault. Thus, the merit of
Stewart' s ineffective assistance claim depends on whether defense counsel' s failure to object to
Meserve' s testimony fell below an objective standard of reasonableness.
The State argues that a hearsay objection to Meserve' s testimony would have been futile
because Yanac' s statement qualifies as an " excited utterance. ,7 Br. of Resp' t at 24. We agree.
Yanac' s statement that he had been " jumped" was made immediately after the assault as
paramedics were loading him into the ambulance. He had suffered severe injuries and was
obviously under the stress of this traumatic event at the time he said he was " jumped." Knowing
the hearsay objection would likely have been overruled, declining to object to this excited
utterance falls within legitimate trial strategy. Stewart' s counsel conceivably made such a
calculation.
Further, an examination of counsel' s cross examinations and closing argument shows that
the defense strategy aimed to exploit Yanac' s lack of credibility and the weakness of the State' s
evidence concerning causation by implying that Yanac only accused Stewart to get assistance
with medical bills resulting from unrelated injuries. Raising the corpus delicti rule would likely
have prompted the State to present further testimony establishing that Yanac' s injuries resulted
not from a seizure but from an intentional assault. Such testimony would have undermined the
6 Furthermore, the injuries themselves may have sufficed to establish the corpus delicti. See
State v.
App. 587, 598, 141 P.3d 92 ( 2006) ( holding that " logical and
Baxter, 134 Wn.
reasonable inference from the injury itself' established a prima facie case of second degree
assault because that injury was inconsistent with accident or self-infliction).
7 Under Washington evidence law, the rule against hearsay does not exclude a " statement
relating to a startling event or condition made while the declarant was under the stress of
excitement caused by the event or condition, or immediately thereafter." ER 803.
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No. 43247 -1 - II
defense theory concerning causation. Thus, legitimate strategic considerations, apparent in the
record, justify defense counsel' s conduct.
Stewart cannot show that defense Counsel' s performance fell below an objective standard
of reasonableness. Stewart' s hypothesized objections would almost certainly have been futile,
and the record reveals that legitimate strategic considerations support trial counsel' s decision not
to pursue them. We therefore reject Stewart' s ineffective assistance claim.
Affirmed.
A majority of the panel having determined that this opinion will not be printed in the
Washington Appellate Reports, but will be filed for public record in accordance with RCW
2. 06. 040, it is so ordered.
Y
B.T,Y, GEIIXA.
r .
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