State of Washington v. Richard Todd Ludvik ( 2016 )

FILED
NOVEMBER 17, 2016
In the Office of the Clerk of Court
WA State Court of Appeals, Division III
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
DIVISION THREE
STATE OF WASHINGTON, )
) No. 33959-9-111
Respondent, )
)
v. )
)
RICHARD TODD LUDVIK, ) UNPUBLISHED OPINION
)
Appellant. )
)
JOSEFINE M. SMILEY )
ROBERT W. THOMPSON )
)
Defendants. )
KORSMO, J. -Richard Todd Ludvik challenges his conviction for residential
burglary. He argues that he received ineffective assistance of counsel both when his trial
counsel failed to object to an officer's testimony about the crime and when his counsel
failed to request an instruction on second degree burglary. In a statement of additional
grounds (SAG), he challenges the sufficiency of the State's evidence for his burglary
conviction. Finally, he preemptively asks this court not to impose appellate costs should
he lose his appeal. We affirm, and a majority of the panel denies his request regarding
costs.
No. 33959-9-III
State v. Ludvik
FACTS
The underlying facts are not particularly relevant to the appeal and are otherwise
known to the parties. Briefly, Spokane County deputies found Mr. Ludvik in an old,
unoccupied house with antique doorknobs in his pocket and he was charged with
residential burglary. At trial, the State elicited testimony from one of the deputies about
the investigation. The deputy responded without objection that he delayed entering the
residence because he thought they "were starting to investigate an ·active residential
burglary," which can be dangerous. Report of Proceedings at 31. At the close of trial,
Mr. Ludvik's counsel sought an instruction on the lesser included offense of trespass, but
did not seek an instruction on second degree burglary. The jury found Mr. Ludvik guilty
of residential burglary.
ANALYSIS
Well-settled principles of law govern this appeal. To establish ineffective
assistance of counsel, the defendant must show that counsel's performance was deficient
and that this deficient performance prejudiced him. State v. Grier, 171 Wash. 2d 17, 32-33,
246 P.3d 1260 (2011) (citing Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687, 104 S. Ct.
2052, 80 L. Ed. 2d 674 (1984)). A defendant demonstrates deficient performance if
counsel's conduct fell below an objective standard of reasonableness. Id. at 33.
Prejudice occurs when the defendant can show with reasonable probability that, but for
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No. 33959-9-III
State v. Ludvik
counsel's deficient performance, the result of the proceedings would have been different.
Id. at 34. A challenge to effective assistance of counsel is reviewed de novo. State v.
Rainey, 107 Wash. App. 129, 135, 28 P.3d 10 (2001).
Because the presumption runs in fayor of effective representation, the defendant
must show the absence of legitimate strategic or tactical reasons supporting the
challenged conduct by counsel. State v. McFarland, 127 Wash. 2d 322, 336, 899 P.2d 1251
(1995). The presumption of effective representation can be overcome only by a showing
of deficient representation based on the record of the proceedings. Id. . Where the alleged
error is failure to object to evidence, the defendant must show that the objection would
have been sustained. State v. Saunders, 91 Wash. App. 575, 578, 958 P.2d 364 (1998).
Here, Mr. Ludvik cannot establish deficient performance. The failure to request a
lesser included instruction can be reasonable trial strategy. See Grier, 171 Wash. 2d at 42-
43. The crimes of residential burglary and second degree burglary are both class B
felonies. RCW 9A.52.025, .030. They are only one seriousness level apart, creating a
six-month difference in the standard range for the two crimes. RCW 9.94A.515. Given
the slight difference in punishment, Mr. Ludvik's counsel may have thought it was not
worthwhile to have second degree burglary as an option when a trespass instruction also
was given the jury. Under Grier, this was a reasonable trial strategy.
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No. 33959-9-III
State v. Ludvik
Regarding the deputy's testimony about investigating a "residential burglary," Mr.
Ludvik again fails to demonstrate his counsel's failure to object constituted deficient
performance. The deputy's testimony was benign. In context, he was merely explaining
why he did what he did and not attempting to relay an opinion on guilt. It was reasonable
for Mr. Ludvik's counsel not to object, and we are not persuaded that any objection
would have been sustained. We find State v. Quaale, 182 Wn.2d 191,340 P.3d 213
(2014) distinguishable because there context made clear the officer was relaying an
opinion on the core issue of a disputed element. Id. at 200.
Finally, we reject Mr. Ludvik's SAG argument that insufficient evidence supports
his conviction because there was no evidence that he had the intent to steal. In a
sufficiency challenge, the court reads all inferences in favor of the State. State v. Salinas,
119 Wash. 2d 192, 201, 829 P.2d 1068 (1992). Here, a jury could reasonably infer from the
fact that Mr. Ludvik had antique doorknobs in his pocket-an odd thing to have in one's
pocket 1-that he had the intent to steal items in the old house when he entered.
As noted previously, a majority of the panel rejects Mr. Ludvik's request to deny
appellate costs.
1
Though not a true riddle, Gollum certainly would not have guessed antique
doorknobs had Mr. Ludvik asked him, "What have I got in my pocket?" J.R.R. TOLKIEN,
THE HOBBIT 74 (1937).
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No. 33959-9-III
State v. Ludvik
Affirmed.
A majority of the panel has determined this opinion will not be printed in the
Washington Appellate Reports, but it will be filed for public record pursuant to RCW
2.06.040.
WE CONCUR:
Lawrence-Berrey, A.C ..
j
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