Personal Restraint Petition Of Jeffery L. Randall ( 2015 )

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IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
DIVISION II
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In re the Personal Restraint Petition of: No. 45994 -9 -II s •,,
JEFFERY LAMONT RANDALL,
Petitioner.
UNPUBLISHED OPINION
MELNICK, J. — In this personal restraint petition ( PRP), Jeffrey Randall petitions us to
vacate his convictions for two counts of unlawful delivery of a controlled substance to a minor
with sexual motivation and two counts of involving a minor in a drug transaction to deliver a
control substance. Randall argues his restraint is unlawful because ( 1) the trial court violated his
right to be present, ( 2) his convictions rest on insufficient evidence, ( 3) the State committed
prosecutorial misconduct, ( 4) the State violated his right to be free from double jeopardy, ( 5) the
appellate record is incomplete, ( 6) the State engaged in discovery violations, ( 7) the trial court
violated his right to a unanimous verdict, ( 8) his time for trial rights were violated, and ( 9) he
received ineffective assistance of trial and appellate counsel.
We deny Randall' s petition because ( 1) Randall fails to establish that the trial court violated
his right to be present, ( 2) his convictions are supported by sufficient evidence, ( 3) the
prosecutorial misconduct claims were already addressed on direct appeal, ( 4) Randall fails to
establish that he was punished multiple times for the same crime, ( 5) Randall fails to show that an
inadequate appellate record caused actual and substantial prejudice, ( 6) Randall fails to meet his
burden to prove that discovery violations occurred, ( 7) the unanimous verdict claims were already
addressed on direct appeal, ( 8) Randall fails to establish his trial was set outside CrR 3. 3 time
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limits, the trial court abused its discretion when it granted continuances, or that his trial delay was
presumptively prejudicial, and ( 9) Randall fails to show. that his trial counsel' s and appellate
counsel' s performance was deficient.
FACTS'
In spring 2008, HT and VN, 15 year-old females, attended Tacoma high schools. Randall,
a 40 -year-old male, had a reputation among the students for providing alcohol, marijuana, and
transportation. HT and VN met Randall through friends and started regularly buying marijuana
from him.
From approximately March to early June 2008, Randall picked up HT and VN every day
after school. They drove around Pierce County selling marijuana out of his car. Before Randall
permitted HT and VN to sell marijuana, he put them through loyalty tests. These tests included
talking about themselves while naked, kissing him, and taking their shirts off for him. Eventually,
he required each girl to have sexual intercourse with him. Randall knew that HT and VN were
only 15 years old at the time and that they did not want to engage in intercourse with him. After
they passed the loyalty tests, HT and VN participated in Randall's sales by weighing marijuana,
collecting money, and selling marijuana at school.
Randall regularly gave HT and VN marijuana and alcohol for their own use and he
sometimes gave them a portion of the sale proceeds as compensation.
In late April or early May 2008, another high school student reported to police rumors that
Randall had raped HT and VN. In June 2008, a Tacoma police officer arrested Randall .on an
unrelated warrant. In a search incident to arrest, law enforcement located marijuana in the interior
Unless otherwise indicated, the facts are taken from this court' s unpublished opinion of
Randall' s direct appeal. State v. Randall, noted at 175 Wash. App. 1061, 2013 WL 3963473.
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compartment of Randall' s car. Randall was charged and pleaded guilty to possession of marijuana
in Tacoma Municipal Court.
In jail, a detective interviewed Randall about the rape and drug allegations relating to HT
and VN. The State, by a third amended information, charged Randall with four counts of third
degree child rape, two counts of involving a minor in a drug transaction, and two counts of
unlawful delivery with sexual motivation. The third amended information did not include specific
dates for the offenses, stating that the offenses had occurred between March 1 and June 4, 2008.
Randall acknowledged receipt of the amended information, waived formal reading, waived any
objection to the amendment, and pleaded not guilty.
Prior to trial, the trial court granted 19 continuances to accommodate appointed counsel' s
withdrawal and appointment of new defense counsel, defense counsel' s requests for additional
time, defense counsel' s unavailability due to scheduling conflicts, the prosecutor' s unavailability
due to scheduling conflicts, the trial court' s determination that it would be unable to complete trial
efficiently because of scheduling conflicts, and Randall' s filing of an affidavit of prejudice against
the assigned trial court judge.
At trial, HT and VN testified consistently with the facts outlined above and admitted that
they had lied during the initial police interviews, that they had lied to their parents, and that they
could not remember specific dates or times of the events occurring nearly three years earlier.
Petrich2
instruction to The trial
Randall proposed a unanimity jury related each charge.
court refused, reasoning that the evidence established a continuing course of conduct involving an
ongoing enterprise with a single objective.
2
State v. Petrich, 101 Wash. 2d 566, 683 P.2d 173 ( 1984), modified in part by State v. Kitchen, 110
Wash. 2d 403, 756 P.2d 105 ( 1988).
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The jury acquitted Randall of the rape charges. The jury found Randall guilty of two counts
of involving a minor in a transaction to deliver a. controlled substance and two counts of unlawful
delivery of a controlled substance to a minor. The jury also found that Randall committed the
unlawful deliveries with sexual motivation.
Randall filed a direct appeal and, in relevant part, Randall argued that the trial court
violated his right to a unanimous verdict because the trial court did not give a Petrich instruction
and failure to do so was not harmless, and that insufficient evidence supported the jury's finding
of sexual motivation. Randall raised numerous other arguments in his statement of additional
grounds ( SAG), including prosecutorial misconduct, discovery violations, time for trial rights
violations, and an incomplete appellate record prejudiced him.
We held, in relevant part, that the failure to give a Petrich instruction constituted harmless
error, sufficient evidence supported the jury's sexual motivation findings, and Randall' s remaining
SAG claims were not preserved for appeal, were too vague, or were reliant on matters outside the
record; therefore this court did not further consider his arguments. This court affirmed the
convictions.
ANALYSIS
A PRP will be granted only if the petitioner is under an unlawful restraint. RAP 16. 4; In
re Pers. Restraint of Yates, 177 Wash. 2d 1, 16, 296 P.3d 872 ( 2013).. A PRP is not a substitute for
a direct appeal. In re Pers. Restraint of Hagler, 97 Wash. 2d 818, 824, 650 P.2d 1103 ( 1982).
Accordingly, there are limits on the use of a PRP to collaterally attack a conviction. Hagler, 97
Wash. 2d at 824.
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When considering constitutional arguments raised in a PRP, we must decide whether the
petitioner can show that a constitutional error caused actual and substantial prejudice. Hagler, 97
Wash. 2d at 826. If the petitioner fails to make a prima facie showing of actual and substantial
prejudice caused by constitutional error, we must deny the PRP. In re Pers. Restraint ofHews, 99
Wash. 2d 80, 88, 660 P.2d 263 ( 1983). If the petitioner makes a prima facie showing of actual and
substantial prejudice from a constitutional error but the record is not sufficient to determine the
merits, we should remand for a reference hearing. Hews, 99 Wash. 2d at 88. If, however, we are
convinced the petitioner has proven actual and substantial prejudice from a constitutional error,
we will grant the petition. Hews, 99 Wash. 2d at 88.
When considering nonconstitutional arguments, we must decide whether the petitioner has
established that the claimed error is " a fundamental defect which inherently results in a complete
miscarriage of justice." In re Pers. Restraint of Cook, 114 Wash. 2d 802, 812, 792 P.2d 506 ( 1990).
Whether it raises constitutional or nonconstitutional issues, a PRP must state with
particularity the factual allegations underlying the petitioner' s claim of unlawful restraint. In re
Pers. Restraint of Rice, 118 Wash. 2d 876, 885- 86, 828 P.2d 1086 ( 1992). Bald assertions and
conclusory allegations are not sufficient. Rice, 118 Wash. 2d at 886.
Further, the factual allegations must have evidentiary support. Rice, 118 Wash. 2d at 886. If
the trial court record does not support the factual allegations, then the petitioner must show through
affidavits or other forms of corroboration that competent and admissible evidence will establish
the factual allegations. Rice, 118 Wash. 2d at 886. The petitioner may not rely on mere speculation,
conjecture, or inadmissible hearsay. Rice, 118 Wash. 2d at 886.
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Lastly, a PRP cannot renew an issue that was raised and rejected on direct appeal, " unless
the interests of justice require relitigation of that issue." In re Pers. Restraint ofDavis, 152 Wash. 2d
647, 671, 101 P.3d 1 ( 2004). An issue was raised and rejected on direct appeal if the direct appeal
determined the issue' s merits adversely to the petitioner. In re Davis, 152 Wash. 2d at 671 n. 14. As
the Washington Supreme Court has explained,
This burden can be met by showing an intervening change in the law " or some
other justification for having failed to raise a crucial point or argument in the prior
application." In re Personal Restraint of Gentry, 137 Wash. 2d 378, 388, 972 P.2d
1250 ( 1999) ( quoting [ In re Pers. Restraint of] Taylor, 1.05 Wn.2d [ 683], 688[, 717
P.2d 755 ( 1986)] ( quoting Sanders v. United States, 373 U.S. 1, 16, 83 S. Ct. 1068,
10 L. Ed. 2d 148 ( 1963))). A defendant may not recast the same issue as an
ineffective assistance claim; simply recasting an argument in that manner does not
create a new ground for relief or constitute good cause for reconsidering the
previously rejected claim. In re Personal Restraint ofBenn, 134 Wash. 2d 868, 906,
952 P.2d 116 ( 1998).
In re Pers. Restraint of Stenson, 142 Wash. 2d 710, 720, 16 P, 3d 1 ( 2001). "`` Simply `` revising' a
previously rejected legal argument ... neither creates a `` new' claim nor constitutes good cause to
reconsider the original claim."' In re Pers. Restraint ofLord, 123 Wash. 2d 296, 329, 868 P.2d 835
1994) ( alterations in original) ( quoting In re Pers. Restrain ofJeffries, 114 Wash. 2d 485, 488, 789
P.2d 731 ( 1990)).
I. RIGHT TO BE PRESENT
Randall argues that the trial court violated his constitutional right to be present when it
failed to recall Randall to court before hearing and answering a jury question and by failing to
make an adequate record. We disagree.
The only support for Randall' s position that the trial court heard and answered a jury
question outside his presence .is his mere allegation. The record contains no evidence that this
event occurred. In a letter. to Randall, Randall' s trial counsel informed him that she " cannot
provide [ Randall] with an Affidavit (or Declaration) regarding whether or not the jury sent out a
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question before they returned their verdict(s) because [ she is] not certain that it happened and [ she]
cannot find a record of it happening." Personal Restraint Petition (PRP) at Ex. A8. Randall' s trial
counsel further stated she contacted " the prosecutor to find out if she remembered a question from
the jury" and that the prosecutor did not. PRP at Ex. A8. Randall also presented a letter from his
appellate counsel in which she stated that " no jury question was reflected in the record— either in
the transcript, nor [ sic] in the clerk' s papers." PRP at Ex. A10.
Because this evidence does not demonstrate that the trial court actually addressed a jury
question and the trial record is void of any such occurrence, Randall' s claim fails. See Rice, 118
Wash. 2d at 886.
H. SUFFICIENCY OF THE EVIDENCE
Randall argues that each of his convictions rests on insufficient evidence. We disagree.
The State presented sufficient evidence for the jury to find Randall involved minors in drug
transactions.
A conviction based on insufficient evidence contravenes the due process clause of the
Fourteenth Amendment and thus results in unlawful restraint." In re Pers. Restraint ofMartinez,
171 Wash. 2d 354, 364, 256 P.3d 277 ( 2011). " Evidence is sufficient to support a finding of guilt if,
after viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the State, a rational trier of fact could find
the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt.", State v. Rose, 175 Wash. 2d 10, 14,
282 P.3d 1087 ( 2012). " A claim of insufficient evidence admits the truth of the State' s evidence
and all inferences that reasonably can be drawn from that evidence." State v. Caton, 174 Wash. 2d
239, 241, 273 P.3d 980 ( 2012). We treat circumstantial and direct evidence with equal reliability.
State v. Delmarter, 94 Wash. 2d 634, 638, 618 P.2d 99 ( 1980). We defer to the trier of fact on issues
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of conflicting testimony, credibility of witnesses, and the persuasiveness of the evidence. State v.
Thomas, 150 Wash. 2d 821, 874- 75, 83 P.3d 970 (2004), aff'd, 166 Wash. 2d 3 80, 208 P.3d 1107 (2009).
A. Involving a Minor in a Transaction to Deliver a Controlled Substance
Involving a minor in a transaction to deliver a controlled substance requires a person to
compensate, threaten, solicit, or in any other manner involve a person under the age of eighteen in
a transaction unlawfully to manufacture, sell, or deliver a controlled substance. RCW 69.50. 4015.
Taken in the light most favorably to the State, sufficient evidence existed that Randall compensated
and involved HT and VN in the sale of marijuana throughout Pierce County. The evidence came
from HT and VN' s testimony. HT and VN, both 15 years old, testified that Randall had HT and
VN weigh and package marijuana for sale and sell marijuana from his car in numerous locations
throughout Pierce County and at their schools every day from approximately March 1 to June 4,
2008.
In viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the State, a reasonable jury could
have found the elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. Therefore, we reject Randall' s
claim.
B. Unlawful Delivery of a Controlled Substance to a Minor
Unlawful delivery of marijuana to a minor requires a person over the age of eighteen to
distribute any controlled substance, including marijuana, to a person under eighteen who is at least
three years his junior. RCW 69. 50. 406( 2). HT and VM testified that Randall, a person more than
three years older than them, gave them marijuana. Several witnesses corroborated this testimony.
In viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the State, a reasonable jury could
have found the elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. Therefore, we reject Randall' s
claim.
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C. Sexual Motivation
Randall next argues that that the jury' s sexual motivation findings associated with his
unlawful delivery to a minor convictions are unsupported by sufficient evidence. Randall raised
this same argument in his direct appeal. We rejected it because the victims' testimony provided
sufficient evidence to support the jury' s finding. State v. Randall, noted at 175 Wn. App.. 1061,
2013 WL 3963473, at * 6. In his PRP, Randall simply recasts this same argument and he fails to
establish that the interests of justice require relitigation of the issue. See Davis, 152 Wash. 2d at 671.
Therefore, we do not consider this argument.
1II. PROSECUTORIAL MISCONDUCT
Randall argues that the State committed misconduct by filing an amended information with
additional charges. Because we already addressed this issue in the direct appeal and Randall fails
to establish that the interests of justice require relitigation of the issue, we do not allow Randall to
renew these arguments.
At trial, Randall expressly waived any objection to the State' s third amended information.
Randall, 2013 WL 3963473, at * 9. On direct appeal, we held that Randall' s prosecutorial
misconduct claim failed because he did not meet his burden to show that the misconduct was so
flagrant or ill -intentioned that the trial court could not have cured the error by instructing the jury.
Randall, 2013 WL 3963473, at * 9 ( citing State v. Weber, 159 Wash. 2d 252, 270, 149 P.3d 646
2006), cert. denied, 551 U.S. 1137 ( 2007)).
Randall now argues that we erred. In support of his argument, Randall presents evidence
that he objected to the State' s amended information in April of 2010. However, the objection went
to the second amended information. The State filed a third amended information to which Randall
did not object. He expressly waived any objection. Randall also fails to carry his burden to show
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3
that the interests of justice require relitigation of this issue. See Davis, 152 Wash. 2d at 671.
Therefore, we reject Randall' s claim.
IV. DOUBLE JEOPARDY
Randall first argues that the State presented the same evidence used to convict him of
misdemeanor possession of marijuana on June 16, 2008 in a separate proceeding to prove his
felony convictions in this case, thus violating his right to be free from double jeopardy. Because
Randall fails to establish that he was punished for the same crime multiple times, his claim fails.
The double jeopardy clause of the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution
provides that "[ n] o person shall ... be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of
life or limb." The double jeopardy clause bars multiple punishments for the same offense. State
v. Villanueva—Gonzalez, 180 Wash. 2d 975, 980, 329 P.3d 78 ( 2014). "`` In order to be the same
offense for. purposes of double jeopardy[,] the offenses must be the same in law and in fact. If
there is an element in each offense which is not included in the other, and proof of one offense
would not necessarily also prove the other, the offenses are not constitutionally the same and the
double j eopardy clause does not prevent convictions for both offenses. "' State v. Calle, 125 Wash. 2d
769, 777, 888 P.2d 155 ( 1995) ( internal quotation marks omitted) ( quoting State v. Vladovic, 99
Wash. 2d 413, 423, 662 P.2d 853 ( 1983)).
Randall seems to argue that his conviction for misdemeanor marijuana possession was
prosecuted a second time in this case. But the offenses are not the same in law and fact. Randall
asserts, and the evidence he presents demonstrates, that he was convicted by guilty plea of
misdemeanor possession of marijuana based on events occurring on June 16, 2008. Randall' s
3 Randall also fails to make a prima facie showing of actual and substantial prejudice resulting
from the additional charges. See Hews, 99 Wash. 2d at 88.
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felony offenses for two counts of unlawful delivery and two counts of involving a minor occurred
between March 1 and June 4, 2008. Randall, 2013 WL 3963473, at * 3. Randall fails to establish
a connection between the marijuana involved in the offenses that occurred between March 1 and
June 4 and the marijuana in his possession on June 16. Therefore, he has failed to establish that
he was punished twice for the same offense. We reject Randall' s claim.
V. APPELLATE RECORDS
Randall argues that the appellate record is incomplete because the transcript's he received
do not contain any report of proceedings from June 2008 to November 2009, making it "unfair and
prejudicial to review the adequacy of the court findings and impossible to determine the actions of
the court['] s conduct." PRP at 28. Randall raised this claim in his direct appeal, but we could not
address the issue on direct appeal because it lacked an adequate record. Randall, 2013 WL
3963473, at * 10.
Randall fails to show that the lack of complete records caused actual and substantial
prejudice. See Hagler, 97 Wash. 2d at 826. Under RAP 9. 2( b), the party must arrange for the
transcript of all the portions of the verbatim report of proceedings necessary to present the issues
raised to be submitted to the appeals court. Although Randall claims that he cannot " completely
address all of his issues," he fails to identify what issues to which he is referring. PRP at 29.
Furthermore, Randall has failed to provide us with any evidence or factual allegations, through
declarations or any other way, to support his argument.4 Thus, Randall' s claim fails.
4 Randall also raises an ineffective assistance of counsel claim relating to an incomplete appellate
record. But again Randall fails to identify which issues he is unable to address and is therefore
unable . to establish that his appellate counsel' s performance was deficient or that he was
prejudiced.
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VI. BRADY AND DISCOVERY VIOLATIONS
Randall argues that the State violated his due process rights through Brady5 and discovery
violations. Because Randall fails to meet his burden to prove that violations occurred, his claim
fails.
The State violates a defendant' s rights to due process when it suppresses evidence that is
material to either guilt or punishment, regardless of whether the prosecutor acted in good faith.
Strickler v. Greene, 527 U.S. 263, 280, 119 S. Ct. 1936, 144 L. Ed. 2d 286 ( 1999) ( citing Brady,
373 U.S. at 87). To establish a Brady violation, the defendant must show that the State suppressed
evidence favorable to the defendant and the suppression prejudiced the defendant. Strickler, 527
U.S. at 281- 82. The State must disclose both impeaching and exculpatory evidence, and the
prosecutor must disclose all favorable evidence known to either the prosecutor or the police.
Strickler, 527 U.S. at 280- 81. A defendant can show prejudice "`` if there is a reasonable probability
that, had the evidence been disclosed to the defense, the result of the proceeding would have been
different."' Strickler, 527 U.S. at 280 ( quoting United States v. Bagley, 473 U.S. 667, 682, 105 S.
Ct. 3375, 87 L. Ed. 2d 481 ( 1985)).
Randall first seems to argue that the State engaged in a Brady violation when it failed to
make witnesses available for the defense to interview. It is true that the State objected to Randall' s
motion to re -interview the victims, but the trial court denied Randall' s motion. Therefore, Randall
fails to prove that the State suppressed the evidence. See Strickler, 527 U.S. at 281- 82.
Randall next argues that the State' s failure to disclose an e- mail from one of the victim' s
pediatricians prejudiced him. Randall raised this same argument in his direct appeal, and we held
that because the State provided Randall with the e- mail several months before his trial, he cannot
5
Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83, 83 S. Ct. 1194, 10 L. Ed. 2d 215 ( 1963).
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6
show prejudice and his claim fails. See Randall, 2013 WL 39634,73, at * 10. Randall fails to
establish that the interests ofjustice require relitigation of this issue. See Davis, 152 Wash. 2d at 671.
We do not readdress this argument.
Randall next seems to argue that the trial court conducted an improper in camera review
of "potentially exculpatory" evidence and the State failed to disclose it. PRP at 36. It is unclear
to what evidence Randall is referring and he fails to show that the evidence would have been
favorable to him. See Strickler, 527 U.S. at 281- 82. Therefore, Randall' s claim fails.
VII. PETRICH INSTRUCTION
Randall argues that the trial court' s failure to give a Petrich instruction violated his right
to a unanimous verdict. Randall raised this same issue in his direct appeal and we held that any
error was harmless. See Randall, 2013 WL 3963473, at * 5. In his PRP, Randall simply recasts
the issue he raised in his direct appeal. He fails to carry his burden to show that the interests of
justice require relitigation of this issue. See Davis, 152 Wash. 2d at 671. Therefore, he cannot renew
the' argument now. See Davis, 152 Wash. 2d at 671.
VIII. TIME FOR TRIAL
Randall first asserts that the trial court violated his speedy trial rights under CrR 3. 3 because.
it granted continuances over his objection. Randall fails to demonstrate that the trial court abused
its discretion by granting any of the continuances or that his trial occurred outside the trial time
limits. Furthermore,. because Randall failed to move the trial court to set a date within CrR 3. 3
time, he has waived this issue. Randall' s claim fails.
6 The State originally provided the e- mail approximately a week before Randall' s scheduled trial.
The trial court granted a continuance of the trial date for a number of reasons. See Randall, 2013
WL 3963473, at * 10. Asa result, Randall had the e- mail several months before his actual trial.
See Randall, 2013 WL 3 963 473, at * 10.
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CrR 3. 3 sets times for trial; however, a "[ t] rial within 60 days is not a constitutional
mandate." State v. Terrovona, 105 Wash. 2d 632, 651, 716 P.2d 295 ( 1986). Nor is there any
constitutional basis for holding that the speedy trial right can be quantified into a specified number
of days or months." Barker v. Wingo, 407 U.S. 514, 523, 92 S. Ct. 2182, 33 L. Ed. 2d 101 ( 1972).
Moreover, a trial court may continue a trial under CrR 3. 3( f)(2) when a continuance is " required
in the administration of justice" and the " defendant will not be prejudiced" in the presentation of
his defense. The reasons for the continuance must be on the record or in writing. CrR 3. 3( f)(
2).
Absent a showing of manifest abuse of discretion, we will not disturb a trial court' s grant
or denial of a continuance or extension request. State v. Williams, 104 Wash. App. 516, 520- 21, 17
P.3d 648 ( 2001). A trial court abuses its discretion if it bases its decision on untenable grounds or .
for untenable reasons. Williams, 104 Wn. App. at 521. It is not a manifest abuse of discretion for
a trial court to grant a continuance to allow defense counsel an opportunity to prepare for trial,
even over the defendant' s express objections, in order to ensure effective representation and a fair
trial. Williams, 104 Wn. App. at 523. Similarly, CrR 3. 3( e)( 8) allows a trial court to extend the
time of trial for "[ u] navoidable or unforeseen circumstances." Our courts have consistently held
that the unavailability of counsel may constitute an unforeseen or unavoidable circumstance,
warranting a trial extension. See State v. Carson, 128 Wash. 2d 805, 814, 912 P.2d 1016 ( 1996).
Here, the trial court granted 19 continuances of Randall' s trial. None of the trial settings
violated CrR 3. 3' s time limits. Even if they had, Randall did not move the trial court to set a trial
date within the rule' s time limits. " A party who objects to the date set upon the ground that it is
not within the time limits prescribed by [ CrR 3. 3] must, within 10 days after the notice is ... given,
move that the court set a trial within those time limits." CrR 3. 3( d)( 3). " A party who fails, for
any reason, to make such a motion shall lose the right to object that a trial commenced on such a
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date is not within the time limits prescribed by this rule." CrR 3. 3( d)( 3); See State v. Chavez -
Romero, 170 Wn. App. 568, 581, 285 P.3d 195.( 2012), review denied, 176 Wash. 2d 1023 ( 2013).
Randall fails to establish that the claimed error is " a fundamental defect which inherently results
in a complete miscarriage of justice." Cook, 114 Wash. 2d at 812. Furthermore, the trial court
granted the continuances for proper reasons. Therefore, Randall' s claim fails.
Randall next'asserts that his trial continuances violated his constitutional rights to a speedy
trial. Because Randall fails to show either actual prejudice or that his trial delays were
presumptively prejudicial, his claim fails.
The United States Constitution provides, " In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall
enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial." U.S. CONST. amend. VI. The Washington
Constitution provides, " In criminal prosecutions the accused shall have the right to ... have a
speedy public trial." WASH. CONST. art. I, § 22. "[ T] he constitutional right to speedy trial attaches .
when a charge is filed or an arrest is made, whichever occurs earlier." State v. Higley, 78 Wn.
App. 172, 184, 902 P.2d 659 ( 1995). The constitutional right is violated at the expiration of a
reasonable time. Higley, 78 Wash. App. at 184- 85.
To prevail on a claim of an alleged violation of the constitutional right to a speedy trial,
Randall must establish actual prejudice from the delay, or that the delay was so lengthy that
prejudice must be conclusively presumed. State v. 011ivier, 178 Wash. 2d 813, 826, 312 P.3d 1
2013). To trigger a speedy trial analysis, "`` an accused must allege that the interval between
accusation and trial has crossed the threshold dividing ordinary from presumptively prejudicial
delay because, by definition, the accused cannot complain that the government has denied him a
his 011ivier, 178
speedy trial if it has, in fact, prosecuted case with customary promptness."'
Wn.2d at 827 ( quoting Doggett v. United States, 505 U.S. 647, 651- 52, 112 S. Ct. 2686, 120 Lans. Ch.
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Ed. 2d 520 ( 1992)) ( internal quotations omitted). If the accused alleges that the delay is
presumptively prejudicial, then the court will use the balancing test set out in Barker v. Wingo,
407 U.S. 514, 92 S. Ct. 2182, 33 L. Ed. 2d 101 ( 1972), to determine whether a constitutional
speedy trial violation has occurred. 011ivier, 178 Wash. 2d at 827.
Here, Randall makes no argument as to how the continuances prejudiced him.
Furthermore, he fails to establish that his trial continuances were presumptively prejudicial. Many
of the delays accommodated the defense. The record does not demonstrate that the State
delayed the trial, Randall presents no evidence of deliberate delay. Although a
deliberately and
few of the continuances were due to court congestion, those only resulted in a delay totaling two
days. Because Randall does not establish, and the record does not demonstrate, that the trial delays
were not presumptively prejudicial, we need not use the Barker test to determine whether a speedy
trial violation occurred. We reject Randall' s speedy trial violation claims.
IX. INEFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL
In a PRP, when the petitioner establishes that he received ineffective assistance of counsel,
he has necessarily met his burden to show that a constitutional violation occurred, and that the
violation caused actual and substantial prejudice. In re Pers. Restraint of Crace, 174 Wash. 2d 835,
846- 47, 280 P.3d 1102 ( 2012).. We review claims of ineffective assistance of counsel de novo,
using the two -prong test from Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687, 104 S. Ct. 2052, 80 L.
Ed. 2d 674 ( 1984). State v. McFarland, 127 Wash. 2d 322, 334- 35, 899 P.2d 1251 ( 1995).
Under the first prong, the petitioner must show that trial counsel' s conduct was deficient,
i. e., that it fell below an objective standard of reasonableness based on all the circumstances.
McFarland, 127 Wash. 2d at 334- 35. Our scrutiny of trial counsel' s performance is highly
deferential, employing a strong presumption of effective representation. McFarland, 127 Wash. 2d
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at 335. To rebut this presumption, the petitioner bears the burden of establishing the absence of
any "`` conceivable legitimate tactic explaining counsel' s performance."' Grier, 171 Wash. 2d at 42
Reichenbach, 153 Wash. 2d 126, 130, 101 P.3d 80 ( 2004)). That a "
quoting State v. strategy
ultimately proved unsuccessful is immaterial to an assessment of defense counsel' s initial calculus;
hindsight has no place in an ineffective assistance analysis." Grier, 171 Wash. 2d at 43. For
ineffective assistance of appellate counsel, a defendant must demonstrate the merits of issues
counsel .failed to argue or argued inadequately. Lord, 123 Wash. 2d at 314.
Under the second prong, the petitioner must show that trial counsel' s error caused him
prejudice, by showing a reasonable probability that the outcome of the trial would have been
different absent trial counsel' s deficient performance. State v. Thomas, 109 Wash. 2d 222, 226, 743
P.2d 816 ( 1987).
Failure on either prong of the test is fatal to an ineffective assistance of counsel claim.
Strickland, 466 U.S. at 697. We reject Randall' s ineffective assistance of counsel claims.
A. Trial Counsel
Randall first argues that his trial counsel was ineffective because she did not re -interview
the victims. But the record demonstrates that Randall' s trial counsel, who.was the fourth attorney
assigned to his case, did move to re -interview the victims, but the trial court denied the motion.
Randall fails to demonstrate that counsel' s performance in bringing this motion was deficient or
that she failed to perfect her argument. Therefore, Randall fails .to demonstrate that his trial
counsel' s performance was deficient and we need not determine whether prejudice occurred.
B. Appellate Counsel
Randall next argues that his appellate counsel was ineffective for failing to challenge the
sufficiency of the sexual motivation findings related to the unlawful delivery to a minor
17
45994 -9 -II
convictions. Appellate counsel did raise this argument in Randall' s direct appeal, but this court
rejected it. See Randall, 2013 WL 3963473, at * 6. In order to prevail on this claim, Randall must
show the merits of the underlying legal issues his appellate counsel either failed to raise or raised
then demonstrate See Lord, 123 Wash. 2d at 314. Randall' s
improperly and actual prejudice.
ineffective assistance of appellate counsel argument fails.
We deny Randall' s petition.
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.
Melnick, J.
We concur:
Johanson, C. J.