State Of Washington v. Mary E. Sandoval , 438 P.3d 165 ( 2019 )

Filed
Washington State
Court of Appeals
Division Two
April 2, 2019
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
DIVISION II
STATE OF WASHINGTON, No. 50814-1-II
Respondent,
v.
MARY E. SANDOVAL, PUBLISHED OPINION
Appellant.
MELNICK, J. — Mary Sandoval appeals her convictions for possession of stolen property
in the second degree and possession of a controlled substance.1 She argues that insufficient
evidence supports the jury’s finding that the credit card found in her possession was an “access
device,” and that the jury instruction defining “access device” misstated the law and constituted
an improper comment on the evidence. Sandoval also argues that she received ineffective
assistance of counsel when her attorney failed to request an “unwitting possession” jury
instruction. Finally, Sandoval argues that we should remand for the trial court to inquire into her
ability to pay legal financial obligations (LFOs).
We affirm the convictions but remand for the trial court to reconsider the imposition of
LFOs.
1
The jury also convicted Sandoval of possession of a stolen motor vehicle. She does not raise any
issues relating to this conviction.
50814-1-II
FACTS
I. INCIDENT
On March 6, Sandoval entered into an agreement with a car dealership. The agreement
allowed Sandoval to take home and use a vehicle for three days to determine whether she wanted
to purchase it.
After three days, the dealership lost contact with Sandoval and made unsuccessful attempts
to retrieve the vehicle. The dealership reported the vehicle stolen.
On April 2, the police found Sandoval and her husband in the stolen vehicle at the address
listed in the agreement. The police arrested Sandoval for possession of a stolen vehicle and
searched her incident to that arrest. In Sandoval’s purse, the police found a credit card with
somebody else’s name on it, Sandoval’s sister’s birth certificate, and a pipe with methamphetamine
residue.
The credit card had been stolen in early February. At that time, the card was active and
could have been used to buy goods. Shortly thereafter, the card’s owner cancelled the card.
The State charged Sandoval with possession of a stolen vehicle, possession of stolen
property in the second degree, identity theft in the second degree, and possession of a controlled
substance.
II. TRIAL AND SENTENCING
As relevant here, the court instructed the jury on the elements of possession of stolen
property in the second degree. The court told the jury that the State had to prove beyond a
reasonable doubt that the stolen property was an access device.
The court defined an access device as, “any card, plate, code, account number, or other
means of account access that can be used alone or in conjunction with another access device to
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obtain money, goods, services, or anything else of value.” Clerk’s Papers (CP) at 47. In the same
instruction, the court stated, “The phrase ‘can be used’ refers to the status of the access device
when it was last in possession of its lawful owner, regardless of its status at a later time.” CP at
47.
The jury convicted Sandoval on all charges except identity theft in the second degree. The
State dismissed that charge.
At sentencing, the court imposed numerous LFOs, including a $250 jury-demand fee.
Sandoval appeals.
ANALYSIS
I. ACCESS DEVICE DEFINED
Sandoval makes three assignments of error which are premised on her argument that the
court incorrectly instructed the jury on the definition of the term “access device.” According to
Sandoval, an access device must be able to obtain something of value at the time it is found on a
defendant, not at the time it was last in the possession of its lawful owner. Sandoval argues that
insufficient evidence supports her conviction for possession of stolen property in the second
degree, that the trial court erroneously instructed the jury on the definition of access device, and
that the court impermissibly commented on the evidence with the instruction. We disagree with
Sandoval.
A. Legal Principles
RCW 9A.56.010(1) defines “access device.” The definition contains the phrase “can be
used.” “Can be used” is not statutorily defined. Sandoval argues that the court’s jury instruction
contained an erroneous definition for the phrase “can be used.” Sandoval’s argument is two-fold.
First, Sandoval argues that we should not follow State v. Schloredt, 97 Wn. App. 789, 987 P.2d
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647 (1999),2 which interpreted the phrase “can be used,” because it is not supported by sound
reasoning. Sandoval argues in the alternative that State v. Rose, 175 Wn.2d 10, 282 P.3d 1087(2012), effectively overruled Schloredt. We disagree with both arguments.
We review questions of statutory interpretation de novo. State v. Wentz, 149 Wn.2d 342,
346, 68 P.3d 282 (2003). Our primary duty in interpreting statutes is to determine and implement
the legislature’s intent. State v. J.P., 149 Wn.2d 444, 450, 69 P.3d 318 (2003). If the statute’s
plain language and ordinary meaning is clear, we look only to the statute’s language to determine
intent. Wentz, 149 Wn.2d at 346. “[W]e discern plain meaning from ‘all that the Legislature has
said in the statute and related statutes which disclose legislative intent about the provision in
question.’” State v. Sanchez, 177 Wn.2d 835, 843, 306 P.3d 935 (2013) (quoting Dep’t of Ecology
v. Campbell & Gwinn, LLC, 146 Wn.2d 1, 11, 43 P.3d 4 (2002)). We consider “‘all the terms and
provisions of the act in relation to the subject of the legislation, the nature of the act, the general
object to be accomplished and consequences that would result from construing the particular
statute in one way or another.’” State v. Krall, 125 Wn.2d 146, 148, 881 P.2d 1040 (1994) (quoting
State v. Huntzinger, 92 Wn.2d 128, 133, 594 P.2d 917 (1979)). “[W]e presume the legislature
does not intend absurd results and, where possible, interpret ambiguous language to avoid such
absurdity.” State v. Ervin, 169 Wn.2d 815, 823-24, 239 P.3d 354 (2010).
“[L]egislative inaction following a judicial decision interpreting a statute is often deemed
to indicate legislative acquiescence in or acceptance of the decision.” State v. Stalker, 152 Wn.
App. 805, 813, 219 P.3d 722 (2009). “‘[E]vidence of legislative acquiescence is not conclusive,
2
Division I of this court decided Schloredt. We are not bound by the decisions of another division,
but we do respectfully consider them. In re Pers. Restraint of Arnold, 190 Wn.2d 136, 154, 410
P.3d 1133 (2018).
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but is merely one factor to consider.’” Fast v. Kennewick Pub. Hosp. Dist., 187 Wn.2d 27, 39,
384 P.3d 232 (2016) (quoting Safeco Ins. Cos. v. Meyering, 102 Wn.2d 385, 392, 687 P.2d 195(1984)).
RCW 9A.56.010(1) defines “access device” as
any card, plate, code, account number, or other means of account access that can
be used alone or in conjunction with another access device to obtain money, goods,
services, or anything else of value, or that can be used to initiate a transfer of funds,
other than a transfer originated solely by paper instrument.
(Emphasis added.)
In Schloredt, the court affirmed the defendant’s convictions for possession of stolen
property in the second degree based on his possession of four stolen credit cards. 97 Wn. App. at
790-91. Schloredt made the same argument that Sandoval makes. He argued that because the
term “can be used” in RCW 9A.56.0101(1) is written in the present tense, the state must show that
an access device can be used at the time the device is found on a defendant. Schloredt, 97 Wn.
App. at 793. Thus, Schloredt argued that insufficient evidence supported his convictions because
the state “failed to prove [that the cards] were ‘operational’ on the date [he] possessed them.”
Schloredt, 97 Wn. App. at 793. He argued that cancelled cards cannot be used to obtain something
of value and therefore cancelled cards are not “access devices” under the statute. Schloredt, 97
Wn. App. at 793.
The court rejected the argument. It concluded that the language “can be used” referred “to
the status of the access device when last in possession of its lawful owner.” Schloredt, 97 Wn.
App. at 794. The court looked to the legislative history and intent of RCW 9A.56.010(1), and
reasoned that whether a victim cancelled his or her account prior to a defendant’s arrest was
irrelevant in determining whether stolen credit cards were “access devices” under the statute.
Schloredt, 97 Wn. App. at 794. The court concluded that a contrary result would be an absurdity
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and would contravene the legislature’s intent to broadly construe the term “access device.”
Schloredt, 97 Wn. App. at 793-94. “It begs reason to assume the legislature intended that a
defendant could not be charged with possessing a stolen credit card or other access device solely
because the victim discovered the theft and cancelled the account on the stolen card before the
defendant was apprehended.” Schloredt, 97 Wn. App. at 794. We agree that Sandoval’s
interpretation leads to an absurd result.
Since Schloredt was decided in 1999, the legislature has amended RCW 9A.56.010 four
times. LAWS OF 2017 ch. 266, § 7; LAWS OF 2011 ch. 164, § 2; LAWS OF 2006 ch. 277, § 4; LAWS
OF 2002 ch. 97, § 1. Not once has the legislature amended the definition of “access device.”
We conclude that Schloredt accurately interpreted the phrase “can be used” as that phrase
is used in the definition of “access device.” Moreover, we conclude that the legislature’s inaction
following Schloredt indicates its acquiescence in Schloredt’s interpretation of the phrase “can be
used.”
Sandoval next argues that Rose overruled Schloredt. In Rose, the victim testified that she
received a credit card offer which included an unactivated credit card in her name. 175 Wn.2d at
13. The victim never activated the card and threw it away. 175 Wn.2d at 13. Because she never
activated the card, no account was associated with it. Rose, 175 Wn.2d at 13-15. The card, later
found in the defendant’s possession, led to the state charging him with possession of stolen
property in the second degree. Rose, 175 Wn.2d at 12.
The court concluded that because the “card was not linked to an existing, active account,”
and had not been signed, “[i]t stretche[d] the inference beyond the evidence to conclude that th[e]
card could be used to obtain something of value.” Rose, 175 Wn.2d at 17-18. The court also noted
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that although the state may have been able to prove the card could have been used to obtain goods
or services, it did not. Rose, 175 Wn.2d at 17.
In coming to its conclusion, Rose discussed Schloredt but did not conclude or even hint
that the case had been wrongly decided. Rose, 175 Wn.2d at 16-17. Instead, Rose factually
distinguished Schloredt. In Rose, the card was never activated, was never linked to an existing
account, and required a $30 payment to activate. 175 Wn.2d at 13, 15. The court therefore
recognized that, unlike in Schloredt, the card could not have been used to obtain something of
value when it was last in the possession of its lawful owner. Rose, 175 Wn.2d at 17-18. In fact,
because the state failed to prove that the card in Rose was ever able to be used to obtain something
of value, there was no need for the court to examine the appropriate point in time for determining
when something “can be used.”
Sandoval further argues that Rose overruled Schloredt because Rose “held that if the access
device in question is not tied to an existing, active account, the State must present affirmative
evidence that the card can be used to obtain something of value.” Reply Br. of Appellant at 2-3
(emphasis omitted). This language from Rose, however, does not advance Sandoval’s argument
because it was used to distinguish State v. Clay, 144 Wn. App. 894, 184 P.3d 674 (2008), not
Schloredt. 175 Wn.2d at 18 n.1.
Clay involved an unactivated card linked to an already existing account. 144 Wn. App. at
899. In Rose, the court distinguished its facts recognizing that, unlike in Clay, the unactivated card
was not linked to an existing account. 175 Wn.2d at 18 n.1. Here, the facts are more analogous
to Clay because, as evidenced by the card owner’s ability to purchase items using the credit card,
the card was linked to an active account.
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Based on the foregoing, we conclude that Rose did not overrule Schloredt and that
Schloredt correctly interpreted the phrase “can be used” in RCW 9A.56.010(1).
B. Sufficiency of the Evidence
Sandoval argues that insufficient evidence supports her conviction for possession of stolen
property in the second degree because the State never proved she possessed an “access device.”
We disagree.
To determine whether sufficient evidence supports a conviction, we view the evidence in
the light most favorable to the State and determine whether any rational fact finder could have
found the elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. State v. Engel, 166 Wn.2d 572, 576,
210 P.3d 1007 (2009). “In claiming insufficient evidence, the defendant necessarily admits the
truth of the State’s evidence and all reasonable inferences that can be drawn from it.” State v.
Drum, 168 Wn.2d 23, 35, 225 P.3d 237 (2010).
Sufficient evidence supports Sandoval’s conviction. As discussed above, Sandoval
possessed a stolen access device. A reasonable jury could have concluded, when viewing the
evidence in the light most favorable to the State, that sufficient evidence supports Sandoval’s
conviction.
C. Jury Instructions Misstated the Law
Sandoval argues that the trial court erroneously defined the terms “access device” and “can
be used” when it instructed the jury. As discussed above, we disagree. The court did not err.
D. Comment on the Evidence
Sandoval argues that the jury instruction defining “access device” and “can be used”
constituted an impermissible comment on the evidence by the court because it resolved a factual
issue in favor of the State and relieved the State of its burden to prove that Sandoval possessed an
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“access device.” Sandoval also argues that the jury instruction was an improper comment because
its standard is derived from the facts of a previous sufficiency of the evidence case, Schloredt. We
disagree with Sandoval.
We review jury instructions de novo to determine whether the trial court improperly
commented on the evidence. State v. Levy, 156 Wn.2d 709, 721, 132 P.3d 1076 (2006). “Judges
shall not charge juries with respect to matters of fact, nor comment thereon, but shall declare the
law.” WASH. CONST. art. IV, § 16. “A jury instruction that does no more than accurately state the
law pertaining to an issue . . . does not constitute an impermissible comment on the evidence.”
State v. Woods, 143 Wn.2d 561, 591, 23 P.3d 1046 (2001). However, a definitional jury instruction
that “essentially resolve[s] a contested factual issue” is an improper comment on the evidence
because it “effectively relieve[s] the prosecution of its burden of establishing an element of the
[crime].” State v. Brush, 183 Wn.2d 550, 557, 353 P.3d 213 (2015).
Sandoval relies on Brush. In Brush, the jury had to decide if the defendant committed an
aggravated domestic violence offense. 183 Wn.2d at 554. To make that determination, the jury
had to decide if “the offense was part of an ongoing pattern of psychological abuse of the victim
‘manifested by multiple incidents over a prolonged period of time.’” Brush, 183 Wn.2d at 555(quoting RCW 9.94A.535(3)(h)(i)). Using a pattern jury instruction, the trial court instructed the
jury that “‘[t]he term prolonged period of time means more than a few weeks.’” Brush, 183 Wn.2d
at 555 (internal quotation marks omitted); 11A WASHINGTON PRACTICE: WASHINGTON PATTERN
JURY INSTRUCTIONS: CRIMINAL 300.17, at 719 (3d ed. 2008) (WPIC).
That instruction derived from State v. Barnett, 104 Wn. App. 191, 203, 16 P.3d 74 (2001),
abrogated on other grounds by State v. Epefanio, 156 Wn. App. 378, 234 P.3d 253 (2010). Brush,
183 Wn.2d at 557. In Barnett, the court concluded that two weeks was not a “prolonged period of
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time” as a matter of law; therefore, because the evidence at trial only showed two weeks of abuse,
insufficient evidence supported the jury’s finding that the defendant’s crime was an aggravated
domestic violence offense. 104 Wn. App. at 203; see Brush, 183 Wn.2d at 557.
In Brush, the court reversed and decided that the jury instruction was “an inaccurate
interpretation of the holding of Barnett because it implies that any abuse that occurs for more than
a few weeks is a ‘prolonged period of time.’” 183 Wn.2d at 558, 561. The court stated “that two
weeks was not legally sufficient to be a ‘prolonged period of time’—not that abuse occurring
longer than two weeks would be legally sufficient.” Brush, 183 Wn.2d at 558.
In Brush, the jury instruction did not accurately state the law, which in turn meant that the
trial court commented on the evidence. But here, the issue is different because, as discussed above,
the court’s jury instruction accurately stated the law. Furthermore, the trial court did not instruct
the jury that the card was active at the time the lawful owner possessed it. Rather it merely stated
the law and allowed the jury to determine whether the card was active at the relevant time.
We recognize that Brush also contained a sweeping admonition that “legal definitions
should not be fashioned out of courts’ findings regarding legal sufficiency.” 183 Wn.2d at 558.
Subsequent courts have recognized that the reason for this admonition is because appellate courts
review the sufficiency of evidence for whether any rational jury could have found guilt beyond a
reasonable doubt and construe facts in the light most favorable to the state, while juries must find
guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. State v. Sinrud, 200 Wn. App. 643, 650, 403 P.3d 96 (2017).
“Therefore, fashioning a jury instruction based on an appellate court’s sufficiency holding
effectively replaces the jury standard with the lesser appellate standard.” Sinrud, 200 Wn. App. at
651.
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Here, the jury instruction defining “can be used” was based on Schloredt. See WPIC 79.07,
at 206 (4th ed. 2016). And although Schloredt resolved a sufficiency of the evidence challenge,
we conclude that the policy implications regarding Brush’s admonition are not implicated by the
jury instruction in this case.3
The language in Brush should not be read in isolation. After discussing why the instruction
inaccurately interpreted Barnett, the court stated:
Furthermore, the question faced by the court in Barnett was whether the
specific facts in that case were legally sufficient for the court to uphold an
exceptional sentence based on abuse occurring over a “prolonged period of time.”
This is not an appropriate basis on which to create a jury instruction defining
“prolonged period of time.” Thus, we clarify that legal definitions should not be
fashioned out of courts’ findings regarding legal sufficiency.
Brush, 183 Wn.2d at 558. Read in its entirety, it is clear that the court had concerns about defining
highly fact-specific terms, such as “prolonged,” based on previous sufficiency of the evidence
rulings.
Whether abuse occurs over a prolonged period of time is a fact-specific and subjective
determination. One jury’s finding, based on its facts, should not control or dictate the outcome of
later cases, based on their facts.
Thus, Brush recognizes that courts should not fashion jury instructions based on previous
sufficiency of the evidence cases to define certain terms, e.g., prolonged, which should be left to
the sound discretion of the jury. Doing otherwise could constrain later juries in making findings.
It also could relieve the State of having to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt in subsequent
cases.
3
We note that the admonition in Brush was dicta.
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In contrast, determining the point in time for a jury to calculate whether an instrument
“can be used” is not a fact-specific inquiry. Defining the phrase does not constrain juries in
subsequent cases. Unlike a definition of the word “prolonged,” the proper definition of the phrase
“can be used” is independent of the facts of any given case.
This conclusion is further supported by Schloredt’s analysis. Schloredt engaged in
statutory interpretation to define the phrase “can be used.” See 97 Wn. App. at 793-94. The court
did not construe facts in the state’s favor or determine whether any reasonable jury could find that
“can be used” is susceptible to the interpretation that the relevant time is the time in which the
instrument was last in possession of its lawful owner. Instead, only after the court reached its legal
conclusion for the appropriate definition of “can be used” did it look to the evidence presented to
determine whether sufficient evidence supported the finding that the instrument was an “access
device.” Schloredt, 97 Wn. App. at 794.
Accordingly, the policies behind Brush’s admonition are not implicated by the court’s
instructions in this case. Based on the above, we conclude that the court did not improperly
comment on the evidence.
II. INEFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL
Sandoval argues that she received ineffective assistance of counsel when her attorney failed
to request a jury instruction for unwitting possession as an affirmative defense for her possession
of a controlled substance charge. We disagree.
A. Legal Principles
The Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution and article I, section 22 of the
Washington State Constitution guarantee the right to effective assistance of counsel. Strickland v.
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Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 685-86, 104 S. Ct. 2052, 80 L. Ed. 2d 674 (1984); State v. Grier, 171
Wn.2d 17, 32, 246 P.3d 1260 (2011).
We review claims of ineffective assistance of counsel de novo. State v. Sutherby, 165
Wn.2d 870, 883, 204 P.3d 916 (2009). To prevail on a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel,
the defendant must show both (1) that defense counsel’s representation was deficient, and (2) that
the deficient representation prejudiced the defendant. Grier, 171 Wn.2d at 32-33. If either prong
is not satisfied, the defendant’s claim fails. In re Pers. Restraint of Davis, 152 Wn.2d 647, 673,
101 P.3d 1 (2004).
Unwitting possession is an affirmative defense to the charge of unlawful possession of a
controlled substance. State v. Higgs, 177 Wn. App. 414, 437, 311 P.3d 1266 (2013). To prove
unwitting possession, a defendant must show by a preponderance of the evidence that she did not
know that the substance was in her possession or did not know the nature of the substance. State
v. Olinger, 130 Wn. App. 22, 26, 121 P.3d 724 (2005).
B. Prejudice
Sandoval argues that she was prejudiced because, without the unwitting possession
instruction, “the jury could give no weight to [her] testimony concerning how she inadvertently
possessed the methamphetamine.” Br. of Appellant at 32. Sandoval argues that without the
instruction, the jury was given no choice but to convict her, and therefore, she was denied a fair
trial. We disagree.
In an ineffective assistance of counsel claim, prejudice exists if there is a reasonable
probability that, except for counsel’s errors, the results of the proceedings would have differed.
Grier, 171 Wn.2d at 34. A reasonable probability is a probability sufficient to undermine
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confidence in the outcome after considering the totality of evidence before the jury. Strickland,
466 U.S. at 694-95. Such probability is lacking here.
Viewing the evidence, jury instructions, and verdicts leads to the conclusion that the jury
disbelieved Sandoval’s testimony. For instance, Sandoval testified that she was not aware that
another person’s credit card was in her purse until after she was arrested. However, in convicting
Sandoval of possession of stolen property in the second degree, the jury necessarily found to the
contrary. The jury found beyond a reasonable doubt that Sandoval knowingly possessed the credit
card.
Furthermore, Sandoval testified that she obtained the credit card and methamphetamine
pipe at the same time, and both items were found on Sandoval in the same location. Therefore, if
the jury found that the State carried its burden in showing beyond a reasonable doubt that Sandoval
knowingly possessed the credit card, then it is doubtful that Sandoval could have carried her burden
to show, by a preponderance of the evidence, that she unwittingly possessed the methamphetamine
pipe.
Thus, we conclude that it was not reasonably probable that the jury would have found
Sandoval not guilty of possession of a controlled substance if they had been instructed on the
unwitting possession defense. Sandoval was not prejudiced by her counsel’s failure to request the
instruction. Because Sandoval has not met her burden to prove prejudice, her ineffective assistance
of counsel claim fails.
III. LFOs
Sandoval argues, and the State agrees, that the sentencing court did not adequately inquire
into her ability to pay LFOs and erred when it imposed a discretionary jury-demand LFO. We
accept the State’s concession.
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We remand for the court to reconsider the imposition of LFOs. On remand, the trial court
should consider all of the LFOs in light of the 2018 amendments to the LFO provisions, LAWS OF
2018, ch. 269, and State v. Ramirez, 191 Wn.2d 732, 426 P.3d 714 (2018).
CONCLUSION
We affirm the defendant’s convictions but remand for the court to reconsider the imposition
LFOs.
Melnick, J.
We concur:
Worswick, P.J.
Sutton, J.
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