State Of Washington, V Brian Daniel Bonbright ( 2013 )

FILED
COURT OF APPEALS
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200133 APR
16 AM g.Q$
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WAS
STMT ' INGTON
DIVISION II E3 Y
TY
STATE OF WASHINGTON, No. 42091 1 II
- -
Respondent,
V.
BRIAN DANIEL BONBRIGHT, UNPUBLISHED OPINION
PENOYAR, J. — Brian Daniel Bonbright appeals his convictions of three counts of third
degree child rape, one count of third degree child molestation, and one count of felony
communication with a minor for immoral purposes. Bonbright argues that a public trial right
violation occurred when the trial court met in chambers, without him, to discuss a jury question
with counsel. He also challenges the trial court's imposition of a community custody term that
exceeded the statutory maximum sentence when combined with the term of confinement
imposed. Finally, Bonbright challenges several community custody conditions. There was no
public trial right violation, but we remand for resentencing because the trial court did not have
the statutory authority to (1)impose a community custody term that, when combined with the
term of confinement imposed, exceeded the statutory maximum sentence; 2)
( prohibit Bonbright
from contacting SMK's family members for life; or (3)order Bonbright to obtain a substance .
abuse evaluation.
I
In violation of RCW 9A. 4.
079.
4
2
In violation of RCW 9A. 4.
089.
4
3
In violation of RCW 090( 8A.
9. )
2
6
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FACTS
In 2009, Bonbright lived in Olympia with his wife and two young daughters. SMK,
Bonbright's wife's 15- old cousin, frequently visited the Bonbright home while her parents
year -
were divorcing. SMK went to the Bonbright home after school approximately three times a
week; she also spent the night between five and six times per month. SMK " ecame part of [ he]
b t
family like she was another daughter."3 Report of Proceedings ( P)at 173.
R
After SMK's spring break, the nature of her relationship with Bonbright changed.
Bonbright began sending SMK text messages with " irty pictures,"
d including photographs of his
penis, or " alking about stuff' that he wanted to do with SMK. 2 RP at 19.
t
One night, Bonbright was lying on a couch and told SMK he was waiting for her. She
lay next to him; Bonbright then.ook SMK's hand, put it down his pants, and rubbed it against
t
his penis. He also put his hand up SMK's shirt. Approximately a week later, Bonbright had
sexual intercourse with SMK. Bonbright had sexual intercourse with SMK on two more
occasions.
In February 2010, SMK met with her mother and a counselor, Becky Cox. At one point
during the appointment; SMK spoke with the counselor alone. SMK told Cox that she had had
sexual intercourse with Bonbright three times. Cox told SMK that she was required to report
what SMK had told her to law enforcement.
The State charged Bonbright with three counts of third degree child rape, one count of
third degree child molestation, and one count of communication with a minor for immoral
purposes. The jury found Bonbright guilty as charged. .
4
At the time of his trial,in April 2011, Bonbright was 37 years old.
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During deliberations, the jury sent the judge a written question. The judge, prosecutor,
and defense counsel met in chambers to discuss their response. The question asked the court:
What. is the legal immoral purposes "?
definition of " Does the jury have to
unanimously agree to the specific date and time of a specific text message that is
immoral, or can the jury. unanimously agree that an immoral photograph or
message was sent by the.Defendant without specific agreement as to a specific
message? Can the jury unanimously agree that it was sent within a time frame?
Clerk's Papers (CP)at 86. The trial court responded, The Court cannot answer your questions.
"
Please re read your instructions."CP at 86.
-
The trial court imposed a sentence of 60 months' confinement for each count and 36
months of community custody. The trial court ordered Bonbright to comply with several
conditions during the community custody term. Bonbright appeals.
ANALYSIS
I. PUBLIC TRIAL
Bonbright contends that a public trial right violation occurred when the trial court and
counsel conferred in chambers to determine how to respond to a jury inquiry. On this record, we
hold that the trial court did not violate Bonbright's or the public's right to an open and public
trial.
Whether a public trial right violation exists is a question of law we review.de novo. State
v. Brightman, 155 Wn. d 506, 514, 122 P. d 150 (2005). The state and federal constitutions
2 3
guarantee criminal defendants and the public the right to open and public trials. U. . CONST.
S
amends. I,VI; WASH. CONST. art. I, §§ 22; State
10, v. Bennett, 168 Wn. App. 197, 201, 275
P. d 1224 (2012). The
3 right to a public trial "applies to all judicial proceedings." State v.
Momah, 167 Wn. d 140, 148, 217 P. d 321 ( 2009). T] e requirement of a public trial is
2 3 "[ h
primarily for the benefit of the accused: that the public may see he is fairly dealt with and not
3
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unjustly condemned and that the presence of interested spectators may keep his triers keenly
alive to a sense of the responsibility and to the importance of their functions." Momah, 167
Wn. d at 148.
2
Our Supreme Court has recently addressed whether an in-
chambers conference to discuss
a jury question seeking clarification of a jury instruction implicates the public trial right. State v
Sublett, 176 Wn. d 58, 292 P. d 715 (2012).In Sublett, the jury submitted a question to the trial
2 3
court seeking clarification of a jury instruction. 176 Wn. d at 67.
2 The trial court met with
counsel in chambers to address the question. Sublett, 176 Wn. d at 67. Counsel agreed to the
2
trial court's answer to the jury question, which stated that the jury must reread its instructions.
Sublett, 176 Wn. d at 67. The Supreme Court applied the experience and logic test and held that
2
a public trial right violation had not occurred. Sublett, 176 Wn. d at 72. The experience prong
2
asks "`` hether the place and process have historically been open to the press and general
w
public. "' Sublett, 176 Wn. d at 73 (quoting Press-
2 Enterprise Co. v. Superior Court, 478 U. . 1,
S
8, 106 S. Ct. 2735, 92 L.Ed. 2d 1 ( 1986)). logic prong asks "``
The whether public access plays a
significant positive role in the functioning of the particular process in question."'
Sublett, 176
Wn. d at 73 (quoting Press, 478 U. . at 8). court concluded that: Because the jury asked a
2 S The "
question concerning the instructions, we view this as similar in nature to proceedings regarding
jury instructions in general. Historically, such proceedings have not necessarily been conducted
in an open courtroom."Sublett, 176 Wn. d at 75.
2
As in Sublett, here, the in-
chambers conference involved a jury inquiry regarding a jury
instruction. Historically, open court proceedings have not been required to discuss inquiries
regarding jury instructions. Further, no witnesses or testimony were involved and the question
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and answer were placed on the record. See Sublett, 176 Wn. d at 77. On this record, we hold
2
that the conference did not implicate either Bonbright's or the public's right to open proceedings.
H. COMMUNITY CUSTODY TERM
Bonbright correctly asserts that the trial court erred by ordering 60 months of
confinement and 36 months of community custody when the maximum sentence was 60 months.
The trial court did not have statutory authority to impose this sentence.
A court's sentencing authority is limited to that granted by statute. State v. Skillman, 60
Wn. App. 837, 838, 809 P. d 756 ( 1991). We review de novo questions of statutory
2
interpretation. Bennett, 168 Wn. App. at 207.
A]court may not impose a sentence providing for a term of confinement or community
custody that exceeds the statutory maximum for the crime as provided in chapter 9A. 0 RCW."
2
RCW 505( 4A. Bonbright committed five class C felonies; the statutory maximum
9. 5).
9
sentence for each of those crimes is 60 months. RCW 9A. 4.
079(
2 RCW 089(
4 );9A. 4.
2 RCW
4 );
090( 8A.RCW 021(
9. );9A. 0.
2
6 c) 1)(
2
Under former RCW 9. )( the trial( required to sentence
a)
701( 5A. 2009),
1
9 court was
Bonbright to three years of community custody. But t] term of community custody specified
"[ he
by this section shall be reduced by the court whenever an offender's standard range term of
confinement in combination with the term of community custody exceeds the statutory
maximum for the crime as provided in RCW 9A. 0.Former RCW 9. ).
021."
2 701( 4A.
8
9
Here,the trial court sentenced Bonbright to 60 months' confinement. The trial court also
ordered Bonbright to serve 36 months of community custody. Bonbright's standard range term
of confinement in combination with the term of community custody exceeds the statutory
maximum. We "remand to the trial court to either amend the community custody term or
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resentence [ Bonbright] ... consistent with [former RCW 9.
701( 4A. State v. Boyd, 174
8)]."
9
Wn. d 470, 473, 275 P. d 321 (2012).
2 3
III. COMMUNITY CUSTODY CONDITIONS
A. No Contact
First, Bonbright contends that the trial court erred by imposing the community custody
condition ordering "[ o contact with the victim, SMK[,] immediate family for life and or as
n] and /
noted by the Court."CP at 74. Bonbright contends that the condition is unauthorized because it
exceeds the statutory maximum sentence. Because the judgment and sentence orders Bonbright
not to contact the victim for five years, the maximum statutory sentence, we conclude that the
trial court did not err with regard to its prohibition of contact with SMK; however, the judgment
and sentence is silent as to her family, and we remand to the trial court to clarify that Bonbright
shall not contact SMK's immediate family for five years.
RCW 9. )( the trial court to impose " rime-
f)
703( 4A.authorizes
3
9 c related prohibitions"as
part of any community custody term. A "[ rime-
c] related prohibition" is "an order of a court
prohibiting conduct that directly relates to the circumstances of the crime for which the offender
has been convicted."Former RCW 9.0).
030( 4A. Crime -related prohibitions are subject to the
1
9
same time limit as the statutory maximum for the defendant's crime. See State v. Armendariz,
160 Wn. d 106, 119, 156 P. d 201 (2007). We review crime -related prohibitions to determine
2 3
whether the trial court's decision is manifestly unreasonable or based on untenable grounds or
reasons. State v. Corbett, 158 Wn. App. 576, 597, 242 P. d 52 (2010).
3
5 The State asks us to order the trial court to amend the judgment and sentence to provide for a
term of community custody to coincide with the period of earned release. Bonbright contends
that the trial court must impose a fixed determinate sentence that does not vary according to the
amount of early release. We decline to restrict the resentencing court's discretionary authority
on remand and thus do not address this issue.
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Bonbright's felony judgment and sentence reads, The defendant shall not have contact
"
with S. .
K.... limited to, personal, verbal, telephonic, written or contact
M including, but not
through a third party for 5 years (not to exceed the maximum statutory sentence)." at 65.
CP
Accordingly, as noted by the Court,"
" Bonbright may not have contact with SMK for five years;
this is the statutory maximum for the crimes. See RCW 9A. 0.
c); );
021(
1)(
2 RCW 9A. 4.
079(
2
4
RCW 9A. 4.
089(
2 RCW 090( 8A. However, the judgment and sentence do not mention
4 ); 9. ).
2
6
SMK's immediate family; therefore, we remand to clarify that Bonbright shall not contact
SMK's immediate family for five years.
B. Right to Parent
Bonbright contends that the condition prohibiting him from having unsupervised contact
with minors unconstitutionally infringes on his fundamental right to parent. Bonbright has three
daughters; the children were ages 5, 7, and 16 at the time of Bonbright's trial. Because
Bonbright viewed SMK as a member of his family, we conclude that the condition is reasonably
necessary.to further the State's compelling interest in preventing harm and protecting children.
Parents have a fundamental right to raise their children without State interference.
Corbett, 158 Wn. App. at 598. "Sentencing courts can restrict fundamental parenting rights by
conditioning a criminal sentence if the condition is reasonably necessary to further the State's
compelling interest in preventing harm and protecting children."Corbett, 158 Wn. App. at 598.
Accordingly, we must determine whether the record supports the proposition that prohibiting
Bonbright from unsupervised in-
person contact with his biological minor children is reasonably
necessary to prevent harm to his children.
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This case is factually similar to Corbett, 158 Wn. App. 576, and State v. Berg, 147 Wn.
App. 923, 198 P. d 529 (2008),
3 abrogated on other grounds by State v. Mutch, 171 Wn. d 646,
2
254 P. d 803 (2011).In Corbett, we upheld a community custody provision that prohibited the
3
defendant from contact with his biological minor sons when the defendant sexually abused his
minor stepdaughter while she was living in his home. 158 Wn. App. at 599. We affirmed the
provision, which prohibited the defendant from contacting all minors, because the defendant had
a history of using the trust established in a parental role to sexually abuse his stepdaughter.
Corbett, 158 Wn. App. at 599. Similarly, in Berg, Division One of this court affirmed the trial
court's order prohibiting the defendant from contact with female minors when the victim lived in
the home where the defendant was acting as her parent when the sexual abuse occurred. 147
Wn. App. at 942 43.
-
SMK was treated like a member of the family when the sexual abuse occurred. At trial,
Bonbright's wife testified that SMK " ecame part of the] family like she was another daughter.
b [
We treated her just that way."3 RP at 173. Bonbright testified that SMK " ecame basically an
b
intricate member of the family." 3 RP at 202. SMK spent the night at the Bonbright home
several times per month and visited the house approximately three times each week. Bonbright
abused his role as a parental figure during this time. Because Bonbright's victim was treated as a,
member of his family, we conclude that the trial court did not err by prohibiting Bonbright from
unsupervised person contact with his
in- biological minor children.
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C. Sexual Deviancy Treatment
Bonbright argues that the trial court erred by ordering him to participate in a sexual
deviancy treatment program. Bonbright alleges that (1) condition is not sufficiently crime-
the
related because there is no evidence he has a sexual deviancy and (2) court did not make the
the
requisite findings to order his participation in such a program. He contends that a sex offense
conviction is not "per se sufficient to show an offender has a sexual deviancy." Reply Br. of
Appellant at 8. Because there is evidence that Bonbright has a sexual deviancy and the treatment
program requirement is sufficiently crime related, we hold that the trial court did not err by
ordering the treatment.
Bonbright relies on State v. Bahl, 164 Wn. d 739, 193 P. d 678 (2008), support his
2 3 to
assertion. His reliance on Bahl is inapposite. In Bahl, our Supreme Court concluded that a
condition prohibiting the defendant from possessing or controlling sexual stimulus for his
particular deviancy, as defined by the supervising Community Corrections Officer and therapist,
was unconstitutionally vague. 164 Wn. d at 761. Bonbright's challenge, in contrast, is not a
2
vagueness challenge.
Here, a jury convicted Bonbright of 'third degree child rape, third degree child
molestation, and felony communication with a minor for immoral purposes. Under RCW
c),
703( 4A.the court may order an offender to "[
9. 3)(
9 p] articipate in crime -related treatment or
counseling services" as part of any term of community custody. Contrary to Bonbright's
assertions, there is evidence that Bonbright has a sexual deviancy: his sexual contact with SMK
was criminal. The sexual deviancy treatment program is related to his crime. We conclude that
the trial court had authority to order Bonbright to participate in a sexual deviancy treatment
program
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D. Sexually Explicit Material
Bonbright also argues that the condition prohibiting him from possessing or perusing
sexually explicit material is unconstitutionally vague. He contends that "`` exually explicit
s
material' does not provide ordinary persons with clear warning of what is proscribed." Br. of
Appellant at 41. Because the phrase is sufficiently clear, we hold that the condition is not
unconstitutionally vague.
The due process vagueness doctrine under the Fourteenth Amendment and article I,
section 3 of the state constitution requires that citizens have fair warning of proscribed conduct.
Bahl, 164 Wn. d
2 at 752. "A statute is unconstitutionally vague if it ``(
1) ... not define the
does
criminal offense with sufficient definiteness that ordinary people can understand what conduct is
2) ... not provide ascertainable standards of guilt to protect against arbitrary
proscribed, or ( does
enforcement. "' Bahl, 164 Wn. d at 752 53 (quoting City of Spokane v. Douglass, 115 Wn. d
2 - 2
171, 178, 795 P. d 693 ( 1990)). statute is presumed to be constitutional unless it appears
2 A
unconstitutional beyond a reasonable doubt, and the party challenging a statute carries the burden
of proving its unconstitutionality. State v. Halstien, 122 Wn. d 109, 118, 857 P. d 270 (1993).
2 2
I]
mpossible standards of specificity' ... are not required because some degree of vagueness is
inherent in the use of language."Kalstien, 122 Wn. d at 118 (quoting City of Seattle v. Eze, 111
2
Wn. d 22,26, 759 P. d 366 (1988)).
2 2
Both parties rely on Bahl, 164 Wn. d 739. In Bahl, our Supreme Court held that the
2
phrase "sexually explicit" in a community custody condition prohibiting the defendant from
frequenting establishments whose primary business pertains to sexually explicit or erotic
material was not unconstitutionally vague. 164 Wn. d at 760. The Supreme Court concluded
2
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that the condition was sufficiently clear when all of the challenged terms, with their dictionary
definitions, were considered together. Bahl, 164 Wn. d at 759 60.
2 -
First, the Bahl court examined the dictionary definition of sexually explicit:"
"
The dictionary definition of "explicit" is "characterized by full clear
expression: being without vagueness or ambiguity . . . UNEQUIVOCAL."
WEBSTER'S THIRD NEW INTERNATIONAL DICTIONARY 801 ( 2002)].
[
The defendant] says that adding "sexual" to the term does not make it any
clearer, because a "clear expression of sexuality" or "unequivocal sexual" is not
illuminating. [The defendant's] parsing of the phrase is artificial. Implementing
the dictionary definition, the phrase more correctly is "clearly expressed sexual"
materials or materials that are unequivocally sexual in nature.
164 Wn. d at 758 59.
2 -
The Supreme Court also noted that the phrase "sexually explicit" is defined in RCW
130.
9.8. Bahl, 164 Wn. d at 759. Under RCW 9.8. is unlawful to display " exually
6 2 130(
l it
6 ), s
explicit material if the actor] knowingly exhibits such material on a viewing screen so that the
[
sexually explicit material is easily visible from a public thoroughfare, park or playground or
from one or more family dwelling units." RCW 9.8. defines "[sexually explicit
130(
2
6 ) ]
material"as
any pictorial material displaying direct physical stimulation of unclothed genitals,
masturbation, sodomy (i. bestiality or oral or anal intercourse),flagellation or
e.
torture in the context of a sexual relationship, or emphasizing the depiction of
adult human genitals: PROVIDED HOWEVER, That works of art or of
anthropological significance shall not be deemed to be within the foregoing
definition.
Further, the Supreme Court noted that other courts, including the Ninth Circuit, have
concluded that the phrase "sexually explicit conduct" is neither vague nor overly broad. See
United States v. Rearden, 349 F. d 608, 620 (9th Cir. 2003). Although the community custody
3
provision at issue in Bahl is different from the condition at issue here, the Supreme Court's
analysis is helpful. The dictionary definition and the statutory definition of sexually explicit
11
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material provide Bonbright with sufficient notice of what conduct is prohibited. We conclude
that the condition Bonbright challenges is not unconstitutionally vague.
E. Overbreadth
Bonbright asserts that the conditions ordering him to "[s] out of business
tay
establishments offering sexually explicit material or entertainment" and to "[ ] t frequent or
no
loiter in areas where children congregate (including, but not limited to, fast food establishments,
shopping malls, parks, playgrounds, schools, video arcades, etc.)" unconstitutionally
are
overbroad. Br. of Appellant at 42. Because the prohibitions are crime -related conditions of
community custody, we reject his overbreadth challenge.
A criminal statute that ``sweeps constitutionally protected free speech activities within its
prohibitions' may be overbroad and thus violate the First Amendment."State v. Stephenson, 89
Wn. App. 794, 800, 950 P. d 38 (1998) quoting City of Seattle v. Abercrombie, 85 Wn. App.
2 (
393, 397, 945 P. d 1132 (1997). When considering whether a criminal statute is overbroad,
2
courts consider whether (1)the challenged statute reaches constitutionally protected speech or
expression and ( 2)whether it proscribes a real and substantial amount of speech. State v.
Knowles, 91 Wn. App. 367, 372, 957 P. d 797 (1998). However, an offender's constitutional
2 "
rights during community placement are subject to SRA-
authorized infringements, including
crime -
related prohibitions." State v. McKee, 141 Wn. App. 22, 37, 167 P. d 575 ( 2007)
3
rejecting defendant's argument that community custody conditions relating to pornography were
overbroad because they were crime -related conditions).
Here, Bonbright is not challenging criminal statutes. He is challenging conditions
imposed as a
part of his community custody sentence. He does not argue that the trial court
imposed conditions that do not reasonably relate to the circumstances of his offense, his risk of
12
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reoffending, or the 703( 4A. We reject Bonbright's
community's safety. See RCW 9.
d).3)(
9
claims that the conditions at issue are overbroad.
F. Substance Abuse
Bonbright contends that the trial court erred when it imposed conditions ordering him to
1)s] to random urinalysis andor breathalyzer at the direction of a Community
"[ ubmit /
Corrections Officer" and (2)O]tain a Substance Abuse evaluation and comply with any
"[ b
recommended treatment." CP at 75. We conclude that the trial court had statutory authority to
prohibit Bonbright from consuming alcohol and to impose related monitoring conditions;
however, the trial court did not have statutory authority to order Bonbright to obtain a substance
abuse evaluation when it played no part in his crimes.
As part of any term of community custody, the court may order an offender to .. .
r]
efrain from 703( 4A. A court has authority to impose
consuming alcohol." RCW 9.
e).3)(
9
that compliance with community custody conditions. See RCW
requirements ensure
d)
703( 4A. As part
9. )( of any term of community custody, the court may order an offender to
3
9 ( "
p] in rehabilitative programs or otherwise perform affirmative conduct reasonably
articipate
related to the circumstances of the offense, the offender's risk of reoffending, or the safety of the
community. ");State v. Combs, 102 Wn. App. 949, 952, 10 P. d 1101 (2000) concluding that
3 (
trial court had statutory authority to order defendant to submit to polygraph testing to monitor
compliance with the community placement order).
The State concedes that because substance abuse played no part in Bonbright's crimes,
the trial court erred by ordering Bonbright to obtain a substance abuse evaluation. We agree.
Without evidence that substance use or abuse contributed to Bonbright's crimes, the court could
not impose any substance abuse evaluation or treatment conditions.
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We affirm Bonbright's convictions but remand for resentencing.
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
040,
2.6.it is so ordered.
0
We concur:
Quinn -
Brintnall, J.
Worswick, O. .
J
14