State Of Washington v. James Johnson ( 2017 )

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
THE STATE OF WASHINGTON, )
) No. 75429-7-1
Respondent, )
) DIVISION ONE
v. )
) UNPUBLISHED OPINION
JAMES LARRY JOHNSON, III, )
)
Appellant. ) FILED: December 26, 2017
)
APPELWICK, J. — A jury convicted Johnson of two counts of rape of a child.
Johnson argues that the trial court erred in admitting into evidence other alleged
sexual assaults against children under ER 404(b). He also challenges his
community custody conditions on various grounds, and alleges numerous errors
in a SAG. We remand for the trial court to strike four community custody conditions
and modify another. We affirm in all other respects.
FACTS
In 2013, James Johnson began dating a woman. Johnson was the
exclusive child care provider for the woman's eight year old son, M.D., while she
was at work. It was normal for Johnson and M.D. to wrestle together at home.
According to M.D., Johnson, while in his boxers, would wrestle M.D. to the ground,
position himself behind M.D., and insert his penis into M.D.'s anus. These assaults
would happen this same way each time.
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M.D. told his mother that Johnson had "put something in his butt." Johnson
was charged with two counts of rape of a child in the first degree for his acts against
M.D.
The State sought to introduce at trial evidence of similar assaults against
two other children as a common scheme or plan. First, Johnson had also been
accused of raping his female cousin, M.G.1 M.G. is seven and a half years younger
than Johnson. Johnson would babysit her. M.G. was expected to follow Johnson's
instructions while he was watching her.
M.G. alleged that, while she was between nine and 12 years old, Johnson
repeatedly molested and raped her. On one occasion, M.G. and Johnson were
home alone, sitting on a couch. Johnson bent M.G. over on the couch, pulled
down her pants, and attempted to put his penis inside of her anus. Johnson's
penis slightly penetrated her, but Johnson stopped once M.G. started crying. The
trial court admitted this act as evidence of a common scheme or plan, but excluded
other instances of alleged molestation of M.G. as not sufficiently similar to the facts
alleged by M.D.
Second, Johnson was accused of raping another cousin, P.P.J.2 P.P.J. is
eight years younger than Johnson. Like M.G., Johnson would also look after P.P.J.
P.P.J. alleged that he and Johnson would "fake wrestle" emulating wrestlers that
1 The evidence regarding M.G. was reported to police after the charges
were filed against Johnson. The investigation therefore took place after the
investigation into M.D.'s allegations had begun.
2 P.P.J.'s mother spoke to a detective about the accusations. But, the
record does not indicate that Johnson was ever prosecuted for these accusations.
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they saw on television. Some of Johnson's wrestling moves turned into touching
P.P.J.'s genitalia and buttocks. The wrestling lasted ten minutes and the touching
occurred the entire time.
In an 11 page written findings of fact and conclusions of law, the trial court
explained that it would admit only some of the evidence:
The Court is only finding that certain, specific acts of sexual
misconduct against M.G. and P.P.J. are admissible to demonstrate
the defendant's common scheme or plan. These acts include the
following: (1) the defendant anally raping M.G, when he was
babysitting her and no other adults were present, and (2) the
defendant repeatedly fondling P.P.J.'s genitalia during an incident of
play-wrestling. The other acts, referenced above, are not admissible
because they do not contain sufficient similarities to be considered
part of the same common scheme or plan. However, these two
specific prior acts demonstrate substantial degrees of similarity such
that they can be explained as individual manifestations of a common
plan.
The Court is very mindful about not admitting propensity evidence.
This case is based on the testimony of a young child, M.D., who
delayed reporting the alleged abuse. There is no physical evidence
to corroborate M.D.'s testimony. The defendant allegedly raped
M.D. in secrecy so no other adults could bear witness to the abuse
or protect M.D. Evidence of prior bad acts is highly probative
because it tends to prove material issues of the charged crime:
whether the defendant had sexual contact with M.D. The Court has
conducted an ER 403 balancing test and finds that the probative
value of the evidence is not substantially outweighed by the danger
of unfair prejudice. The evidence is highly probative for all the
reasons discussed above. Finally, to cure any potential prejudice,
the Court will provide the jury with a limiting instruction, which will
specifically tell the jury that they shall evaluate the prior sexual
misconduct evidence only for the limited purpose of assessing
common scheme or plan.
A jury found Johnson guilty of both counts of rape of a child in the second degree.
Johnson appeals.
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DISCUSSION
Johnson argues that the trial court erred in admitting the common scheme
or plan evidence. He challenges the community custody conditions on various
grounds. He also makes numerous arguments in a statement of additional
grounds (SAG).
I. Common Scheme or Plan Evidence
Johnson first argues that the trial court abused its discretion in admitting the
acts against M.G. and P.P.J. as part of a common scheme or plan under ER
404(b). When, as here, a trial court interprets an evidentiary rule correctly,3 this
court reviews the trial court's determination to admit or exclude evidence for an
abuse of discretion. State v. Gresham, 173 Wn.2d 405,419,269 P.3d 207(2012).
ER 404(b) provides that
[e]vidence of other crimes, wrongs, or acts is not admissible to prove
the character of a person in order to show action in conformity
therewith. It may, however, be admissible for other purposes, such
as proof of motive, opportunity, intent, preparation, plan, knowledge,
identity, or absence of mistake or accident.
Proof of a "plan" is admissible if the prior acts are (1) proved by a preponderance
of the evidence,(2)admitted for the purpose of proving a common plan or scheme,
(3) relevant to prove an element of the crime charged or to rebut a defense, and
(4) more probative than prejudicial. State v. Lough, 125 Wash. 2d 847, 852,889 P.2d
487(1995).
There are two instances when evidence is admissible to prove a common
scheme or plan:(1) where several crimes constitute constituent parts of a plan in
3 Johnson does not contend that the trial court misinterpreted ER 404(b).
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which each crime is but a piece of the larger plan and (2) where an individual
devises a plan and uses it repeatedly to perpetrate separate but very similar
crimes. Gresham, 173 Wash. 2d at 421-22. This case involves the second category.
Evidence of this second type of common scheme or plan is admissible because it
is not an effort to prove the character of the defendant. Id. at 422. Instead, it is
offered to show that the defendant has developed a plan and has again put that
particular plan into action. Id.
To introduce evidence of this type of common scheme or plan, the prior
misconduct and the charged crime must demonstrate common features such that
they are naturally explained as a general plan of which the two are simply individual
manifestations. Id. Mere similarity in results is insufficient. Id. While the prior act
and charged crime must be markedly and substantially similar, the commonality
need not be a unique method of committing the crime. Id.
A handful of cases illustrate the bounds of a trial court's discretion regarding
common scheme or plan evidence. First, in Lough, our Supreme Court allowed
common plan evidence where the defendant was alleged to have drugged and
raped several women and he warned the women not to report the rape because
no one would believe them. 125 Wash. 2d at 864-65. The court noted that the
common plan victims were all strangers to the victim, Lough surreptitiously
drugged them, and raped them while unconscious. Id. at 865. The court stated,
"Far from being inadmissible 'character' evidence, it is powerful, convincing,
reliable and relevant evidence." Id.
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Shortly after Lough, this Court found no abuse of discretion in State v.
Krause,82 Wn. App.688,697,919 P.2d 123(1996). There, Krause was convicted
of child molestation and child rape. Id. at 690. He had repeatedly fondled and had
sexual contact with two charged victims: J., a member of his girlfriend's family, and
B., a boy who frequently visited their residence. Id. at 690-91. The trial court
admitted common plan evidence of molestation offour previous victims. Id. at 692.
Krause became acquainted with these victims in different ways. Id. One victim
was a son of a friend's girlfriend. Id. at 691. A second victim was a son of one of
Krause's friends. Id. at 692. A third victim was the young stepbrother of one of
Krause's friends. Id. The fourth victim he befriended in the course of his
employment as a hotel manager. Id. However, this court found it important that
Krause gained the children's affection through games and outings, and eventually
placed himself in a position where molestation would occur. Id. at 691-92, 695.
We therefore held that a rational trier of fact could find that these similarities
showed an overarching plan. Id. at 695.
Johnson argues that this case is more like State v. Slocum, 183 Wash. App.
438, 333 P.3d 541 (2014). Slocum was charged with child molestation and rape
of a child for the alleged inappropriate sexual contact with his 15 year old
stepgranddaughter. Id. at 443. The alleged molestation occurred while the
granddaughter was between ages three and 14. Id. The abuse typically occurred
when Slocum would be sitting in a recliner chair, and would ask the victim to sit on
his lap. Id. at 444. He would then rub the victim's genitals. Id. On another
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instance, Slocum locked the victim in a family trailer, pushed her onto a couch, and
inserted his fingers into her vagina. Id.
The State moved to admit common plan evidence of Slocum sexually
abusing the alleged victim's mother and aunt many years earlier. Id. at 443-44.
The mother testified that when she was 12 years old, around 1981, Slocum had
rubbed her vagina while she sat on Slocum's lap in a recliner chair. Id. at 445. In
another instance, Slocum had fondled her breasts while she was lying on the floor.
Id. The aunt testified that in 1996 or 1997, when she was about 12, Slocum briefly
placed his hands on her breasts after she granted his request to apply sunscreen
on her. Id. at 446. The trial court admitted the allegations of both the mother and
the aunt. Id.
The Court of Appeals found no abuse of discretion in admitting the mother's
abuse on the recliner, given that the granddaughter also alleged abuse on a
recliner, and involved "grandfatherly behavior." Id. at 455. But, it found an abuse
of discretion in admitting the evidence of fondling the mother on the floor, and
fondling the aunt while applying sunscreen. Id. at 455-56. These instances
appeared to be nothing more than opportunistic and therefore were not a common
scheme or plan. Id.
A. M.G.
Here, the common plan evidence shares similarities with Johnson's
molestation of the charged victim, M.D. M.G. was between ages 9 and 12 during
the assault. M.D. was age 8 or 9 during the assault. The assaults of M.G. and
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M.D. occurred while Johnson was babysitting alone. Like M.D., Johnson had
gained the trust of M.G.'s and M.D.'s mothers to babysit the children when the
mothers were gone. And, prior to the assaults of M.G. and M.D., Johnson used
physical violence to dominate both children—he hit both M.G. and M.D. prior to the
assault. The assaults of M.G. and M.D. occurred in a similar physical position.
With both M.G. and M.D., Johnson pulled down their underwear and inserted his
penis into their anus from behind. He took specific steps to make sure the victims
did not see his penis. When the victims expressed their pain and distress, Johnson
took steps to calm them. Given these similarities, the trial court acted within its
discretion in deciding that the incidents involving M.D. and M.G. were part of a
common scheme or plan.
B. P.P.J.
While the acts against P.P.J. did not involve anal penetration, they too
developed out of a similar pattern. P.P.J. is Johnson's cousin, and is eight years
younger than Johnson. The assaults occurred when he was six years old, and at
Johnson's home. He had frequently spent time with Johnson growing up. They
would play video games together. Johnson had a position of trust over P.P.J., and,
P.P.J.'s mother trusted Johnson to watch over him. Johnson and P.P.J. would
occasionally "fake wrestle" imitating moves of professional wrestlers. But, some
of Johnson's wrestling "moves" involved touching P.P.J.'s genitals and buttocks.
Johnson would say "whoops" and "sorry" when the touching occurred. But, it
happened repeatedly over the course of about ten minutes.
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No. 75429-7-1/9
The similarities with the assault of M.D. are numerous. Johnson developed
trust with the both children's mothers so that he could look after the child. P.P.J.
was six, while M.D. was eight or nine years old. Both assaults began with
wrestling,4 a physical but playful activity. Johnson then made sexual advances.
The trial court also acted within its discretion in finding the assaults of P.P.J. and
M.G. were part of a common scheme or plan.
Johnson argues that, despite these similarities, there is no evidence that
Johnson deliberately isolated M.G. and P.P.J. to prey upon them. Rather, he
contends that the evidence showed he took advantage of a mere opportunity and
that does not amount to a common scheme. But, a rational trier of fact could easily
conclude that development of the trust relationships with M.D.'s, M.G.'s, and
P.P.J.'s mothers were each intended to create the opportunity to sexually assault
the children.
Johnson also argues that the molestation of P.P.J. is critically different than
M.D. because the assault on P.P.J. did not involve anal penetration. But, in State
v. DeVincentis, 150 Wash. 2d 11, 14-15, 16, 25, 74 P.3d 119 (2003), our Supreme
Court affirmed the admission of common scheme or plan evidence involving oral
sex, where the charged crime did not involve oral sex. Johnson's goal in both
4 The common thread of wrestling is comparable to the common thread of
the recliner chair in Slocum, 183 Wash. App. at 444. It is a key precipitating factual
circumstance that evidences the similarities in the defendant's design. Similarly,
in Lough, the assaults would start with Lough drugging the victims. 125 Wash. 2d at
865. Here, the assaults against M.D. and P.P.J. began as playful wrestling with
unassuming children.
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circumstances was sexual stimulation involving a child of similar age, over whom
Johnson had a position of authority.
The lengthy findings and conclusions illustrate the trial court understood and
properly applied the rule to exclude other acts the state sought to admit. The
carefully reasoned decision properly admitted the challenged evidence under ER
404(b). The trial court did not abuse its discretion.5
II. Community Custody Conditions
Johnson challenges various community custody conditions. He challenges
conditions regarding curfew, alcohol, sexual materials, sex related businesses,
contact with children, and dating relationships.
Trial courts may impose crime-related prohibitions while a defendant is in
community custody. RCW 9.94A.505(9), .703(3)(f). A "crime-related prohibition"
prohibits conduct that directly relates to the circumstances of the crime for which
the offender has been convicted. RCW 9.94A.030(10). "Directly related" includes
conditions that are reasonably related to the crime. State v. Irwin, 191 Wash. App.
644, 656, 364 P.3d 830 (2015). "'[B]ecause the imposition of crime-related
prohibitions is necessarily fact-specific and based upon the sentencing judge's in-
Johnson's ER 404(b) challenge is primarily that the acts are insufficiently
similar. But, his brief also includes a single sentence that argues that the
evidence's probative value was substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair
prejudice. But, the probative value of the evidence was very high, because the
facts aligned closely with the alleged crime. And, while the evidence surely created
prejudice, numerous cases have found that the prejudicial effect of prior similar
molestations that are offered as common plan evidence does not substantially
outweigh the probative value. See, e.g., DeVincentis, 150 Wash. 2d at 23-24. And,
the trial court explicitly noted its balancing of the probative value and prejudicial
effect, and for that reason gave a limiting instruction that the jury was to use the
evidence only for assessing the common scheme or plan.
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person appraisal of the trial and the offender,' the appropriate standard of review
is abuse of discretion." State v. Norris, 1 Wash. App. 2d 87, 97, P.3d (2017)
(quoting In re Pers. Restraint of Rainey, 168 Wash. 2d 367, 374-75, 229 P.3d 686
(2010)). A sentencing court abuses its discretion if its decision is manifestly
unreasonable or if exercised on untenable grounds or for untenable reasons.
Irwin, 191 Wash. App. at 656.
A. Curfew and Alcohol
Johnson challenges community custody conditions 7 and 12, which impose
a curfew and prohibit alcohol use, respectively. The State concedes that these
conditions should be stricken, because they are unrelated to the crime. We accept
the State's concession and remand with instructions to strike the conditions that
impose a curfew and prohibit alcohol use.
B. Sexually Explicit Materials and Sex Related Businesses
Johnson next challenges the community custody conditions that prohibit
possession of sexually explicit materials and prohibit him from patronizing sex
related businesses. He argues that (1) they are not crime related, and (2) even if
they are crime related, they violate his First Amendment rights to free speech.
1. Sexually Explicit Materials
Condition 11 states,
Do not possess, use, access or view any sexually explicit material as
defined by RCW 9.68.130 or erotic materials as defined by RCW
9.68.050 or any material depicting any person engaged in sexually
explicit conduct as defined by RCW 9.68A.011(4) unless given prior
approval by your sexual deviancy provider.
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Johnson notes that this court accepted the State's concession on a similar
argument in State v. Kinzle, 181 Wash. App. 774, 785, 326 P.3d 870 (2014). There
Kinzie was convicted of two counts of first degree child molestation. Id. at 777.
This court accepted the State's concession on whether a prohibition on sexually
explicit materials condition was reasonably related to the crime. Id. at 785.
However, a recent opinion resulted in a different outcome.- See Norris, 1
Wash. App. 2d at 90. The Norris court found a prohibition on sexually explicit
materials to be sufficiently related to second degree child molestation. Id. It
emphasized that the relationship of a community custody condition to the crime
must be based on the facts of the crime, rather than the class of the crime. See
id. at 96-97. For example,the Norris court upheld a prohibition on sexual materials,
because the crime involved exchanging sexually explicit text messages and
images with the child victim. Id. at 99. Here, besides the fact that the crime is
sexual in nature, there are no facts that pertain specifically to sexually explicit
materials or images. This is insufficient to connect the crime to the condition. We
remand with instructions that the trial court strike condition 11. Because we find
that condition 11 is insufficiently related to the crime, we need not address whether
the sexually explicit materials restriction violates Johnson's First Amendment
rights.
2. Sex Related Businesses
Condition 10 states, "Do not enter sex-related businesses, including: x-
rated movies, adult bookstores, strip clubs, and any location where the primary
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source of business is related to sexually explicit material." In Norris a prohibition
on entering sex related business was insufficiently related to a sexual crime
against children, when the record does not show that frequenting sex related
business was in any way related to the crime. Norris, 1 Wash. App. 2d at 98. Here,
as in Norris, the only relationship between the crime and sex related business is
that they are both sexual in nature. Id.
We remand with instructions to strike condition 10, and therefore decline to
address Johnson's First Amendment arguments with respect to sex related
businesses.
C. Contact with Children
Johnson next argues that condition 16, which prohibits contact with minors,
infringes on his constitutional right to parent his child. Johnson requests only that
he have the opportunity for supervised contact with his child. The State concedes
that the condition should be modified to prohibit only contact with minors without
the supervision of a responsible adult with knowledge of this conviction. We accept
this concession and remand with instructions to modify the condition to allow
Johnson to have contact with his child under the supervision of a responsible adult
that has knowledge of this conviction.
D. Dating Relationship
Johnson next contends that the community custody condition that requires
him to disclose a dating relationship is unconstitutionally vague. But, in Norris, we
rejected an identical argument and held that the term is sufficiently specific. Id. at
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95. The "dating relationship" community custody provision is not unconstitutionally
vague.
III. Statement of Additional Grounds for Review
Johnson makes numerous arguments in his SAG.
A. Right to Present a Complete Defense
In additional grounds one and six, Johnson first argues that he was denied
a right to present a complete defense. He claims that he wanted to present
evidence that M.D. rescinded his accusation, but he was prevented from doing so.
It is Johnson's burden on appeal to present facts sufficient to support his
assignment of error. State v. Holbrook, 66 Wash. 2d 278, 280, 401 P.2d 971 (1965).
He has not.
B. Ineffective Assistance of Counsel
Johnson argues that his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to impeach
or cross-examine M.D. and other state witnesses, and by issuing an inadequate
subpoena'during investigation of the case.
As to the impeachment and cross-examination issue, this court employs a
strong presumption that counsel was effective. State v. McFarland, 127 Wash. 2d
322, 335, 899 P.2d 1251 (1995). Johnson claims that counsel should have
confronted M.D. about rescinding his accusation. But, the trial court record shows
a lengthy cross-examination of M.D., a child witness. Therefore, counsel's choice
not to use Johnson's preferred strategy for impeachment is insufficient to
overcome the strong presumption of effective representation. See In Re Det. of
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No. 75429-7-1/15
Hatfield, 191 Wash. App. 378, 398, 362 P.3d 997 (2015)("The array of trial tactics
and strategy available to the attorney as a means of achieving the client's goals is .
considerable, including decisions as to who to call and how to question a
witness.").
Johnson also claims that counsel was ineffective in impeaching and cross-
examining other witnesses. But, he fails to identify who those witnesses are, and
why counsel should have employed a different strategy. He does note that the trial
court once asked counsel not to repeat direct examination. But, this is also
insufficient to overcome the presumption of effective representation.
As to the subpoena, Johnson claims that counsel's subpoena of school
records contained language that inadequately described the records sought. But,
the defendant bears the burden of showing ineffective assistance based on the
record. Id. at 337. The subpoena he describes is not in the record, nor does he
point to any portion of the record ,that discusses the circumstances of that
subpoena. This argument therefore fails.
C. Jury Instructions
Johnson also claims that the jury was improperly instructed on the definition
of sexual intercourse. But, this argument was not raised below, and it is therefore
waived under RAP 2.5(a) (stating that appellate courts need not address issues
raised for the first time on appeal).
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D. Expert Testimony
Johnson argues that the opinions of the State's expert on child abuse and
psychology are not based on a recognized scientific principle, and are not
generally accepted in the field. But, nothing in the record shows that Johnson
objected to the expert's testimony on this ground. Therefore, this argument is also
waived under RAP 2.5(a) (stating that appellate courts need not address issues
raised for the first time on appeal).
E. Sufficiency of Evidence
Johnson next claims that the evidence was insufficient to show (1) that he
committed two distinct acts that would support the two counts he was charged with,
and (2) that he penetrated the victim's anus. The test for determining the
sufficiency of the evidence is whether, after viewing the evidence in the light most
favorable to the State, any rational trier of fact could have found guilt beyond a
reasonable doubt. State v. Salinas, 119 Wash. 2d 192, 201, 829 P.2d 1068 (1992).
Johnson was charged with two counts of rape of a child in the first degree.
The only grounds he gives for this sufficiency challenge is that the evidence did
not delineate between specific incidents of rape. But, when asked how many times
Johnson had penetrated him, the victim, M.D., testified that it happened more than
once, and occurred on both weekends and weekdays. Viewed in the light most
favorable to the State, this testimony alone establishes that multiple rapes
occurred.
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Johnson also argues that, because M.D. testified only that Johnson
penetrated his "butt," the evidence was insufficient to show that Johnson
penetrated M.D.'s anus. When the sufficiency of the evidence is challenged in a
criminal case, all reasonable inferences from the evidence must be drawn in favor
of the State and interpreted most strongly against the defendant. Id. M.D. testified
that Johnson would come out of his room in his boxers, get on top of M.D., use his
"boy body part," and M.D. would feel pain in his "butt." It is a reasonable inference
to determine that M.D. was referring to penetration of his anus.
The evidence was sufficient to prove two counts of rape of a child in the first
degree.
F. Pretrial Rulings
Johnson's next SAG argument claims that the "trial court abused its
discretion in basing pre-trial rulings on erroneous views of the law." He then cites
to a case regarding the proper remedy when charging information is insufficient.
He makes no further argument on this issue, and it fails to identify any ground for
reversal.
G. Racial Bias
Finally, Johnson argues that the trial court was required to inquire into
possible racial bias of jurors. But, our Supreme Court has clearly stated that a trial
court has "no obligation to raise the question of racial prejudice when it was not
requested by the defendant or his counsel." State v. Davis, 141 Wash. 2d 798, 834,
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10 P.3d 977(2000). Johnson does not point to any part of the record where he or
his attorney made any such request. This argument fails.
We remand for the trial court to strike condition 7(curfew), condition 10(sex
related businesses), condition 11 (sexually explicit materials), and condition 12
(alcohol), and modify condition 16 (contact with minors). We affirm in all other
respects.
WE CONCUR:
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