State Of Washington v. Andrew Jason Trotman ( 2017 )

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IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
STATE OF WASHINGTON, )
) DIVISION ONE
Respondent, )
) No. 74549-2-1
v. )
) UNPUBLISHED OPINION
ANDREW JASON TROTMAN, )
)
Appellant. ) FILED: April 24, 2017
)
DWYER, J. — Andrew Trotman appeals from the judgment entered on a
jury's verdict finding him guilty of rape in the second degree, assault in the fourth
degree, and two counts of supplying liquor to a minor. Trotman was sentenced
to a standard-range indeterminate sentence of 280 months to life imprisonment.
On appeal, Trotman contends that the trial court erred by denying his motion for
a mistrial, by admitting evidence that he fled from police, and by imposing various
community custody conditions. Finding no error, we affirm.
1
In March of 2015, 17-year-old A.M.C. was dating Anthony Cox—Trotman's
20-year-old son. A.M.C. lived at home with her mother. Cox would frequently
visit A.M.C. and stay the night. On March 28, A.M.C. spent the day with her
close friend, B.E., who returned home with A.M.C. to spend the night. That
evening, Cox called and text messaged A.M.C. to convince her and B.E. to come
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out. Cox told A.M.C. that he had a bottle of Fireball whiskey and was already
outside.
When A.M.C. and B.E. went outside, they discovered that Trotman was in
the car with Cox. Trotman drove the group around South King County and the
four of them shared the whiskey. Ultimately, the car got a flat tire and Trotman
pulled over to the side of the road. A.M.C. started feeling sick and vomited
outside of the car. The girls decided to telephone B.E.'s older sister and ask her
to pick them up. B.E.'s sister picked up the two girls and dropped A.M.C. off at
her home for the night. B.E. returned home with her sister.
After arriving home, A.M.C. text messaged Cox to let him know that her
bedroom window was unlocked in case he wanted to come over. During the
night, A.M.C. received five telephone calls coming from Trotman's cell phone.
She answered three of these calls, assuming that Cox was trying to contact her
using his father's cell phone, but there was no response from the caller. Each
time, she went back to sleep.
A.M.C. awakened around 9:00 a.m. and noticed someone next to her in
bed. A.M.C. got out of bed and went into the bathroom, where she noticed that
there was semen leaking out of her vagina. A.M.C. went back into her bedroom
and realized that the person in her bed was Trotman. A.M.C. searched around
the house for her boyfriend, but he was not there. A.M.C. telephoned her older
sister to pick her up. Later, A.M.C. went to the hospital. A DNA swab revealed
that the semen found inside of A.M.C. belonged to Trotman.
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At trial, A.M.C. testified as the State's final witness. During direct
examination, A.M.C. testified that Trotman would usually wait in the car or in the
living room when Cox would come to visit. The prosecutor asked A.M.C. why
Trotman would wait in the car and she replied, "I just didn't want him in my
house." The prosecutor asked A.M.C. why she did not want Trotman in the
house and she replied,"Because he just got out of jail." Immediately after
A.M.C.'s statement, Trotman's counsel moved for a mistrial. The trial court
deferred ruling on the motion in order to allow the parties an opportunity to brief
the issue.
The trial resumed and the court instructed the jury to disregard A.M.C.'s
statement. Previously, Trotman's counsel had agreed with the proposed wording
of the instruction, stating, "I don't think there's anything stronger than that, your
honor." The trial court later denied the motion for a mistrial.
The jury found Trotman guilty of rape in the second degree, assault in the
fourth degree, and two counts of supplying liquor to a minor. Trotman timely
appealed.
II
Trotman contends that the trial court erred by denying his motion for a
mistrial. This is so, Trotman asserts, because A.M.C.'s testimony that "he just
got out of jail" effectively denied him a fair trial. We disagree.
We review a trial court's decision to deny a motion for a mistrial for abuse
of discretion. State v. Williams, 159 Wash. App. 298, 321, 244 P.3d 1018(2011).
"A mistrial should be granted only when 'nothing the trial court could have said or
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done would have remedied the harm done to the defendant." State v. Gilcrist,
91 Wash. 2d 603, 612, 590 P.2d 809(1979)(quoting State v. Swenson,62 Wn.2d
259, 280, 382 P.2d 614 (1963)).
"The trial court should grant a mistrial only when the defendant has
been so prejudiced that nothing short of a new trial can insure that
the defendant will be tried fairly. Only errors affecting the outcome
of the trial will be deemed prejudicial." In determining the effect of
an irregular occurrence during trial, we examine "(1) its
seriousness;(2) whether it involved cumulative evidence; and (3)
whether the trial court properly instructed the jury to disregard it."
State v. Johnson, 124 Wash. 2d 57, 76, 873 P.2d 514(1994)(footnote and internal
quotation marks omitted)(quoting State v. Hopson, 113 Wash. 2d 273, 284, 778
P.2d 1014 (1989)). We presume that the jurors followed the court's instructions.
State v. Stenson, 132 Wash. 2d 668, 729-30, 940 P.2d 1239(1997).
Here, in considering the motion for a mistrial, the trial court first
determined that A.M.C.'s statement was not a serious irregularity. In so
concluding, the trial court relied on our decision in State v. Condon,72 Wn. App.
638, 865 P.2d 521 (1993). In Condon, we noted that the "mere fact that
someone has been in jail does not indicate a propensity to commit" the charged
crime. 72 Wash. App. at 649. Indeed, the fact that someone has been in jail "does
not necessarily mean that he or she has been convicted of a crime." Condon, 72
Wash. App. at 649.
The trial court then determined that A.M.C.'s statement did not involve
cumulative evidence and that its instruction to the jury was sufficient to cure any
prejudice. The trial court concluded:
Based on the Condon case, combined with the type of
irregularity that occurred here, and the fact that there was an
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immediate sustaining of the objection and then an instruction to
disregard the information, Ifind that the irregularity was not so
serious that the instruction could not prevent an unfair trial for Mr.
Trotman.
The trial court's ruling was tenable. A.M.C. was the State's final witness.
Although she testified that Trotman had been in jail, the statement was entirely
ambiguous. No details surrounding the circumstances of Trotman's incarceration
were given. Contra State v. Escalona, 49 Wash. App. 251, 742 P.2d 190(1987)
(witness testified that the defendant had previously committed a crime similar to
the charged crime). Upon objection, the trial court immediately and emphatically
instructed the jury to disregard A.M.C.'s statement.
Ladies and gentlemen, I sustained the objection to the last
statement that was made by [A.M.C.]. Let me go further and
instruct as follows: you are not to consider that statement in any
way. You are to disregard it in its entirety and consider only the
other information that's provided during the course of this trial.
Trotman's counsel agreed that the trial court's instruction was properly worded.
Following closing argument, the jury was again instructed to disregard evidence
that was stricken from the record. We presume that the jurors followed the trial
court's instructions. Stenson, 132 Wash. 2d at 729-30. Accordingly, Trotman has
failed to establish error.
III
Trotman next contends that the trial court erred by admitting evidence that
he attempted to flee arrest. This is so, he asserts, both because the arrest
occurred 11 days after the commission of the crime and because he was sought
pursuant to an unrelated arrest warrant at the time of the arrest. Trotman is
wrong.
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"Under ER 404(b) evidence of other crimes, wrongs, or acts is
presumptively inadmissible to prove character and show action in conformity
therewith." State v. Powell, -126 Wn.2d 244, 258, 893 P.2d 615(1995)(citing ER
404(b); Carson v. Fine, 123 Wash. 2d 206, 221, 867 P.2d 610(1994)). However,
such evidence may "be admissible for other purposes, such as proof of motive,
opportunity, intent, preparation, plan, knowledge, identity, or absence of mistake
or accident." ER 404(b). We review a trial court's ruling pursuant to ER 404(b)
for an abuse of discretion. State v. Fualaau, 155 Wash. App. 347, 356, 228 P.3d
771 (2010)(citing State v. Dennison, 115 Wash. 2d 609, 627-28, 801 P.2d 193
(1990)). Abuse of discretion occurs "only where the decision of the trial court
was manifestly unreasonable or based on untenable grounds." State v.
Freeburg, 105 Wash. App. 492, 497, 20 P.3d 984(2001)(citing Powell, 126 Wash. 2d
at 258).
Admissibility of evidence pursuant to ER 404(b) requires a three-part
analysis.
The court must identify the purpose for which the evidence will be
admitted; the evidence must be materially relevant to that purpose;
and the court must balance the probative value of the evidence
against any unfair prejudicial effect the evidence may have upon
the fact finder.
Freeburg, 105 Wash. App. at 497 (citing State v. Saltarelli, 98 Wash. 2d 358, 362-66,
655 P.2d 697 (1982)).
Generally,"evidence of the flight of a person, following the commission of
a crime, is admissible and may be considered by the jury as a circumstance,
along with other circumstances of the case, in determining guilt or innocence."
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State v. Bruton, 66 Wash. 2d 111, 112, 401 P.2d 340(1965). Evidence of flight is
admissible when it creates "'a reasonable and substantive inference that
defendant's departure from the scene was an instinctive or impulsive reaction to
a consciousness of guilt or was a deliberate effort to evade arrest and
prosecution." Freeburg, 105 Wash. App. at 497(quoting State v. Nichols, 5 Wn.
App. 657, 660, 491 P.2d 677 (1971)).
"[The probative value of evidence of flight as circumstantial
evidence of guilt depends upon the degree of confidence with
which four inferences can be drawn:(1)from the defendant's
behavior to flight; (2)from flight to consciousness of guilt;(3)from
consciousness of guilt to consciousness of guilt concerning the
crime charged; and (4)from consciousness of guilt concerning the
crime charged to actual guilt of the crime charged."
State v. McDaniel, 155 Wash. App. 829, 854, 230 P.3d 245(2010)(alteration in
original)(quoting Freeburg, 105 Wash. App. at 498).
Here, two police officers encountered Trotman in the parking lot of a
convenience store 11 days after the rape. One of the officers recognized
Trotman because there was a bulletin out for his arrest That officer called
Trotman's name and told him that he was under arrest.1 Trotman ignored the
officer and entered a nearby vehicle. A woman in the vehicle then appeared to
tell Trotman to get out of her car. Trotman exited the car and then attempted to
flee the area. But he was caught and arrested.
Prior to trial, the State sought the court's permission to admit evidence at
trial showing that Trotman had attempted to flee from the police. The trial court
1 The arresting officer's report was admitted during pretrial motions. The report states
that the officer told Trotman "to put his hands up and that he was under arrest for Rape First and
Burglary First Degree."
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began its analysis by determining that there was "no question that from Mr.
Trotman's behavior you can infer flight." The trial court then determined that a
reasonable inference of consciousness of guilt could be drawn from Trotman's
flight.
The trial court then considered the flight in the context of Trotman's other,
unrelated warrant. The trial court found that the officers told Trotman that he was
under arrest for the specific crime charged.
They didn't tell him he was under arrest, period. [They} didn't tell
him that they had a warrant. They didn't tell him anything more
general than that. They told him he was under arrest for the
specific crimes charged. And based on that, he ran. And therefore
it is possible to infer guilt of the crime charged from consciousness
of guilt.
The trial court then considered whether actual guilt could be inferred from
consciousness of guilt. The trial court was less persuaded as to this factor, but
ultimately determined that actual guilt could reasonably be inferred. Accordingly,
the trial court authorized admission of the evidence that Trotman had attempted
to flee from the police. However, the trial court excluded from this showing
evidence of a physical confrontation between Trotman and the arresting officers.
The court determined that such evidence was highly prejudicial and was not
relevant to Trotman's guilt.
The trial court's ruling was tenable. The record establishes that the trial
court considered whether the jury could infer an instinctive reaction to
consciousness of guilt or a deliberate effort to evade arrest and prosecution. In
answering in the affirmative, the trial court considered the length of time that
passed between the rape and the arrest as well as the fact that Trotman had a
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separate and unrelated warrant out for his arrest. Accordingly, Trotman has
failed to establish error.
IV
Finally, Trotman contends that the sentencing court erred by imposing
certain community custody conditions. We address each condition in turn.
A
Trotman first contends that two of the community custody conditions
imposed by the sentencing court exceeded the court's statutory authority. This is
so, he asserts, because these conditions are not crime-related. Trotman is
wrong.
The sentencing court herein imposed various community custody
conditions related to sex offenses. Pertinent here are the conditions prohibiting
Trotman from entering "sex-related businesses, including: x-rated movies, adult
bookstores, strip clubs, and any location where the primary source of business is
related to sexually explicit material," as well as the prohibition against
possessing, using, accessing, or viewing "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)" without the prior approval of a sexual devianCy treatment
provider.
We review community custody conditions for an abuse of discretion. State
v. Sanchez Valencia, 169 Wash. 2d 782, 791-92, 239 P.3d 1059 (2010). A
sentencing court abuses its discretion if its decision is manifestly unreasonable or
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if exercised on untenable grounds or for untenable reasons. State v. Riley, 121
Wash. 2d 22, 37, 846 P.2d 1365(1993). We review the factual bases of crime-
related conditions for substantial evidence. State v. Irwin, 191 Wash. App. 644,
656, 364 P.3d 830(2015).
Pursuant to RCW 9.94A.505(9) and RCW 9.94A.703(3)(f), a sentencing
court may impose crime-related prohibitions while a defendant is in community
custody. A "[c]rime-related prohibition' means an order of a court prohibiting
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." Irwin, 191 Wash. App. at 656
(quoting State v. Kinzie, 181 Wash. App. 774, 785, 326 P.3d 870 (2014)).
Here, the community custody conditions imposed by the sentencing court
are reasonably related to the crimes for which Trotman was convicted. Because
Trotman was convicted of a sex offense, conditions regarding access to sex-
related businesses and access to sexually explicit materials are crime-related
and properly imposed. See, e.q., State v. Maqana, 197 Wash. App. 189, 389 P.3d
654(2016)(holding that a community custody condition prohibiting the
offender—convicted of rape of a child—from accessing x-rated movies, adult
book stores, and sexually explicit materials was crime-related). There was no
abuse of discretion.
Trotman next contends that the community custody condition requiring
him to "Inform the supervising CCO [community corrections officer] and sexual
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deviancy treatment provider of any dating relationship," is unconstitutionally
vague. We disagree.
The guarantee of due process requires that laws not be vague. U.S.
CONST. amend. XIV,§ 1; WASH. CONST. art. I, § 3. "The laws must(1) provide
ordinary people fair warning of proscribed conduct and (2) have standards that
are definite enough to 'protect against arbitrary enforcement." Irwin, 191 Wn.
App. at 652-53 (internal quotation marks omitted)(quoting State v. Bahl, 164
Wash. 2d 739, 752-53, 193 P.3d 678 (2008)). "[A] community custody condition is
not unconstitutionally vague merely because a person cannot predict with
complete certainty the exact point at which his actions would be classified as
prohibited conduct." Sanchez Valencia, 169 Wn.2d at 793(internal quotation
marks omitted)(quoting State v. Sanchez Valencia, 148 Wash. App. 302, 321, 198
P.3d 1065 (2009)). If "persons of ordinary intelligence can understand what the
[law] proscribes, notwithstanding some possible areas of disagreement, the [law]
is sufficiently definite." City of Spokane v. Douglass, 115 Wash. 2d 171, 179, 795
P.2d 693(1990).
Trotman asserts that "dating relationship" is vague because it covers a
wide range of activities and gives too much discretion to the CCO to determine
when a violation has occurred. In support of this assertion, Trotman relies on
United States v. Reeves, 591 F.3d 77(2nd Cir. 2010). The court in Reeves
concluded that a condition requiring the offender to notify the probation
department "when he establishes a significant romantic relationship" was
insufficiently clear. 591 F.3d at 80.
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We easily conclude that people of common intelligence (or,
for that matter, of high intelligence) would find it impossible to agree
on the proper application of a release condition triggered by entry
into a "significant romantic relationship." What makes a relationship
"romantic," let alone "significant" in its romantic depth, can be the
subject of endless debate that varies across generations, regions,
and genders. For some, it would involve the exchange of gifts such
as flowers or chocolates; for others, it would depend on acts of
physical intimacy; and for still others, all of these elements could be
present yet the relationship, without a promise of exclusivity, would
not be "significant."
Reeves, 591 F.3d at 81.
Trotman's reliance on Reeves is misplaced. The condition in Reeves did
not require the offender to report relationships—or even romantic relationships—
but, rather, significant romantic relationships. 591 F.3d at 81. In concluding that
the qualifiers "significant" and "romantic" were too vague to inform the offender of
the type of relationship that he was required to report, the court noted that there
were no objective criteria with which to tether the terms. Reeves, 591 F.3d at 81.
Indeed, the terms left complete discretion in the hands of probation officers to
independently determine whether the condition had been violated.
Contrary to Trotman's assertions, "dating relationship" is easily
distinguishable from the condition challenged in Reeves. A "date" is commonly
defined as "an appointment between two persons of the opposite sex for the
mutual enjoyment of some form of social activity," "an occasion (as an evening)
of social activity arranged in advance between two persons of opposite sex."
WEBSTER'S THIRD INTERNATIONAL DICTIONARY 576 (2002). Significantly, the
phrase "dating relationship" has a statutory definition in the context of domestic
relations: "a social relationship of a romantic nature." RCW 26.50.010(2).
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"Terms must be considered in the context in which used." Bahl, 164
Wash. 2d at 759. Moreover, li]mpossible standards of specificity' are not required
since language always involves some degree of vagueness." Bahl 164 Wash. 2d at
759 (internal quotations omitted)(quoting State v. Halstien, 122 Wash. 2d 109, 118,
857 P.2d 270(1993)). When the challenged terms are considered together and
in light of their dictionary and statutory definitions, the condition is sufficiently
clear. The condition is not unconstitutionally vague.
V
Trotman requests that no costs associated with his appeal be assessed
against him, as he was found indigent by the trial court. Should the State seek
an award of appellate costs, recently amended RAP 14.2 will govern the request.
Affirmed.
We concur:
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