State Of Washington v. Ronald W. Mcneal ( 2013 )

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IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
DIVISION II
STATE OF WASHINGTON,
Respondent, No. 43290 -1 - 1I
0
RONALD WILLIAM McNEAL, UNPUBLISHED OPINION
MAXA, J. — Ronald McNeal appeals his convictions for methamphetamine possession and
methamphetamine delivery. He argues: ( 1) the trial court violated the right to a public trial by
discussing jury instructions with counsel in chambers and by responding to a jury question in a
closed courtroom, ( 2) the admission of a criminal docket notice bearing his name violated his
due process rights, ( 3) his counsel was ineffective by failing to object to the criminal docket
notice and by failing to propose a jury instruction limiting the use of that evidence, and ( 4) the
accomplice liability statute is unconstitutionally overbroad.
We affirm and hold that ( 1) under State v. Sublett, 176 Wash. 2d 58, 75 -77, 292 P.3d 715
2012), discussing jury instructions and responding to jury questions does not implicate the
public trial right; ( 2) McNeal did not object to the admission of the criminal docket notice and
we will not review an evidentiary challenge made for the first time on appeal; ( 3) McNeal' s
ineffective assistance of counsel claim fails because he cannot show that the admission of the
criminal docket notice prejudiced him and because defense counsel' s failure to request a limiting
No. 43290 -1 - II
instruction may have been a legitimate trial tactic; and ( 4) under State v. Ferguson, 164 Wn.
App. 370, 375 -76, 264 P.3d 575 ( 2011), review denied, 173 Wash. 2d 1035 ( 2012), the accomplice
liability statute is not overbroad.
FACTS
On November 16, 2011, an informant working with Centralia police made a controlled
purchase of methamphetamine from Ronald McNeal at McNeal' s residence, which was a trailer
owned by Donald Pender. The officers obtained a search warrant for Pender' s trailer and
executed it the following day. When the officers arrived at the trailer to execute the warrant,
they arrested McNeal and his girl friend, Roxanne Chipman. The search revealed a backpack in
the trailer' s bedroom containing a small " baggie" of methamphetamine, a man' s hygiene kit, a
set of clothes, and two prescription bottles bearing McNeal' s name. Officers also discovered a
canvas bag containing two digital scales, numerous baggies with a pit bull logo on theirs identical
to the one the officers received from the informant, a methamphetamine smoking device, and a
larger baggie containing methamphetamine. The officers found paperwork in the bedroom
bearing McNeal' s name, including a Lewis County Superior Court criminal docket notice.
The State charged McNeal with unlawful possession of a controlled substance —
methamphetamine — and delivery' of methamphetamine.
At trial, the State introduced a copy of the criminal docket notice to McNeal that the
officers found in Pender' s trailer as evidence to establish McNeal' s control over the trailer. The
notice stated, " This is to notify you that the above entitled matter has been set for:... Sentencing
hearing: / formal entry of J& S ...... Ex. 37 ( capitalization omitted). McNeal did not object or
request a limiting instruction.
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During a recess on the second day of trial, the trial court told counsel on the record that it
would meet with them in chambers to discuss jury instructions. After the recess, the trial court
returned and stated on the record, " All right. We' re back on State versus McNeal after a recess
for the jury instructions. I prepared a set of jury instructions that are basically as proposed."
Report of Proceedings ( Mar. 14, 2012) at 121. The trial court then asked whether counsel had
the opportunity to review the instructions, and counsel responded that they had and that there
were no objections.
The State claimed that McNeal and Chipman were accomplices in the crime of unlawful
methamphetamine delivery, and the trial court instructed the jury on accomplice liability.
During deliberations the trial court received the following question from the jury, " Was
finger prints [ sic] taken on scales? DNA on pipe? [ A] re there phone records or confiscate [ sic]
his phone for incoming calls to Hayden[ s] phone[ ?]" Clerk' s Papers ( CP) at 55. On a printed
form stating that the trial court had consulted with counsel, the trial court instructed the jury,
You have all of the evidence that was admitted." CP at 55. There is no indication that either
the discussion with counsel or the written response occurred in open court.
A jury found McNeal guilty as charged, and he appeals.
ANALYSIS
A. PUBLIC TRIAL RIGHT
McNeal argues that the trial court violated the right to a public trial by meeting with
counsel in chambers to discuss jury instructions and a jury question and by responding to the jury
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question inclosed court.' We disagree.
The Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution and article I, section 22 of the
Washington State Constitution guarantee a defendant the right to a public trial. State v. Wise,
176 Wash. 2d 1, 9, 288 P.3d 1113 ( 2012). We review this issue de novo. Wise, 176 Wash. 2d at 9.
The threshold determination when addressing an alleged violation of the public trial right
is whether the proceeding at issue even implicates the right. Sublett, 176 Wash. 2d at 71. "[ N] ot
every interaction between the court, counsel, and defendants will implicate the right to a public
trial, or constitute a closure if closed to the public." Sublett, 176 Wash. 2d at 71. In Sublett, our
Supreme Court adopted a two -
part " experience and logic" test to address this issue: ( 1) whether
the place and process historically have been open to the press and general public (experience
prong) and ( 2) whether public access plays a significant positive role in the functioning of the
particular process in question ( logic prong). 176 Wash. 2d at 72 -73. Only if both questions are
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answered in the affirmative is the public trial right implicated. Sublett, 176 Wash. 2d at 73.
Sublett is dispositive. In Sublett, the trial court responded in chambers to a jury question
regarding one of the instructions with only counsel present. 176 Wash. 2d at 67. The question and
response were then put in the record. Sublett, 176 Wash. 2d at 67. Our Supreme Court determined
that a judge' s discussion with the parties about jury questions and any response was not
McNeal did not object when informed that the trial court had discussed the jury instructions in
chambers or to the trial court' s written statement regarding the jury question. However, " a
defendant does not waive his right to a public trial by failing to object to a closure at trial." State
v. Wise, 176 Wash. 2d 1, 15, 288 P.3d 1113 ( 2012). Accordingly, we address this issue despite the
absence of McNeal' s objection below.
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Our Supreme Court has held that a personal restraint petitioner has the burden of satisfying the
experience and logic test. In re Pers. Restraint of Yates, 177 Wash. 2d 1, 29, 296 P.3d 872 ( 2013).
It remains unclear whether the same rule applies in a direct appeal.
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historically a proceeding to which the public trial right attached. Sublett, 176 Wash. 2d at 77. In
reaching this conclusion, the court also compared the trial court' s response to the jury question to
in- chambers conferences to discuss jury instructions, which historically have not been held in
open court. Sublett, 176 Wash. 2d at 75.
Consistent with Sublett, we hold that both the trial court' s in- chambers discussion
regarding jury instructions and the trial court' s resolution of the jury question fail the experience
prong of the Sublett test. Therefore, they were not proceedings to which the public trial right
attached, and McNeal' s public trial right claim fails.
B. ADMISSION OF CRIMINAL DOCKET NOTICE
McNeal argues that the trial court violated his due process rights because the admission
of his criminal docket notice, coupled with the absence of an instruction limiting the use of that
evidence, allowed the jury to convict him based in part on propensity evidence. Although he did
not object to this evidence below, he argues that this was a manifest error affecting a
constitutional right that we may review for the first time on appeal under RAP 2. 5( a)( 3). We
disagree.
McNeal did not object to either the admission of the criminal docket notice or to the jury
instructions. Although generally we will not review a claim of error raised for the first time on
appeal, RAP 2. 5( a)( 3) permits a party to raise such a claim if it amounts to a " manifest error
affecting a constitutional right." " Issues of constitutional interpretation and waiver are
questions of law, which courts review de novo." State v. Robinson, 171 Wash. 2d 292, 301, 253
P.3d 84 ( 2011).
To determine the applicability of RAP 2. 5( a)( 3), we first must determine whether the
alleged error is constitutional. State v. Powell, 166 Wash. 2d 73, 84, 206 P.3d 321 ( 2009). McNeal
No. 43290 -1 - II
argues that the admission of the criminal docket notice violated his due process rights because
the trial court did not instruct the jury to consider the evidence for its intended purpose, which
permitted the jury to consider it as substantive evidence of guilt. In support of this argument,
McNeal relies on Garceau v. Woodford, 275 F.3d 769 ( 9th Cir. 2001), overruled on other
grounds by Woodford v. Garceau, 538 U.S. 202, 123 S. Ct. 1398, 155 L. Ed. 2d 363 ( 2003). In
Garceau, the trial court admitted evidence of the defendant' s past crimes and instructed the jury
that it could consider that evidence for any purpose, including the defendant' s " `` character or any
trait of his character' " and " `` conduct on a specific occasion.' " 275 F.3d at 773. The court held
that this instruction allowed the jury to consider past crimes to prove the defendant' s propensity
to commit the crime at issue and violated the defendant' s due process rights. Garceau, 275 F.3d
at 775.
McNeal argues that the trial court violated his due process rights because, as in Garceau,
the trial court' s instructions permitted the jury to use his criminal docket notice to show that he
had the propensity to commit the crimes with which he was charged. The challenged instruction
provided: " In order to decide whether any proposition has been proved, you must consider all of
the evidence that I have admitted that relates to the proposition." CP at 32. However, unlike the
instruction in Garceau, this instruction did not reference evidence of other crimes and did not
explicitly instruct the jury that the criminal docket notice could be used to prove McNeal' s
conduct on a specific occasion. Accordingly, we hold that there was no due process issue raised
by the admission of the criminal docket notice.
In the absence of any due process issue, McNeal' s claim relates only to the admission of
ER 404(b) evidence. An alleged evidentiary error, including an erroneous admission of ER
404(b) evidence, is not an error of constitutional magnitude. Powell, 166 Wash. 2d at 84.
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Accordingly, we hold that RAP 2. 5( a)( 3) does not apply and decline to review McNeal' s claim
for the first time on appeal.
C. INEFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL
McNeal argues that his counsel was ineffective for failing to object to the introduction of
the criminal docket notice, for failing to request that it be redacted, and for failing to propose a
limiting instruction regarding the notice. We disagree.
1. Standard for Ineffective Assistance
We review claims of ineffective assistance of counsel de novo. State v. Sutherby, 165
Wash. 2d 870, 883, 204 P.3d 916 ( 2009). To prevail on an ineffective assistance of counsel claim,
the defendant must show both that ( 1) defense counsel' s representation was deficient and ( 2) the
deficient representation prejudiced the defendant. Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687,
104 S. Ct. 2052, 80 L. Ed. 2d 674 ( 1984); State v. Grier, 171 Wash. 2d 17, 32 =
33, 246 P.3d 1260
2011). The failure to show either element ends our inquiry. State v. Hendrickson, 129 Wash. 2d
61, 78, 917 P.2d 563 ( 1996), overruled on other grounds by Carey v. Musladin, 549 U.S. 70, 127
S. Ct. 649, 166 L. Ed. 2d 482 ( 2006). Representation is deficient if, after considering all the
circumstances, it falls below an objective standard of reasonableness. Grier, 171 Wash. 2d at 33.
Prejudice exists if there is a reasonable probability that except for counsel' s errors, the result of
the proceeding would have been different. Grier, 171 Wash. 2d at 34.
We give great deference to trial counsel' s performance and begin our analysis with a
presumption that counsel' s performance was reasonable. Grier, 171 Wash. 2d at 33. A
strong
claim that trial counsel was ineffective does not survive if trial counsel' s conduct can be
characterized as legitimate trial strategy or tactics. Grier, 171 Wash. 2d at 33. To rebut the strong
presumption that counsel' s performance was effective, " the defendant bears the burden of
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establishing the absence of any `` conceivable legitimate tactic explaining counsel' s
performance.' " Grier, 171 Wash. 2d at 42 ( quoting State v. Reichenbach, 153 Wash. 2d 126, 130,
101 P.3d 80 ( 2004)).
The decision of when or whether to object is a classic example of trial tactics." State v.
Madison, 53 Wn. App. 754, 763, 770 P.2d 662 ( 1989). Therefore, we presume that " the failure
to object was the product of legitimate trial strategy or tactics, and the onus is on the defendant to
rebut this presumption." State v. Johnston, 143 Wn. App. 1, 20, 177 P.3d 1127 ( 2007). " Only in
egregious circumstances, on testimony central to the State' s case, will the failure to object
constitute incompetence of counsel justifying reversal." Madison, 53 Wn. App. at 763. In order
to show that defense counsel was ineffective for failing to make a particular objection, the
defendant must show that ( 1) failure to object fell below an objective standard of reasonableness,
2) the proposed objection would likely have been sustained, and ( 3) the result of the trial would
have differed had the objection been made. Grier, 171 Wash. 2d at 33;
2. Failure To Object
The trial court admitted, without objection, a criminal docket notice for McNeal stating
that he had an upcoming court date for a sentencing hearing. McNeal argues that this evidence
was inadmissible under ER 402, ER 403, and ER 404( b). Therefore, he argues, there was no
strategic reason for trial counsel not to object to or to seek redaction of the document, and the
trial court likely would have sustained an objection to its introduction. However, here the
evidence was admissible to show McNeal' s control over items found in the search and likely
would have been admitted.
Under ER 402, relevant evidence is generally admissible. Evidence is "[ r] elevant" if it
makes " the. existence of any fact that is of consequence to the determination of the action more
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probable or less probable." ER 401. Officers discovered the document on the nightstand in the
trailer' s bedroom where officers discovered McNeal' s canvas bag and backpack containing
methamphetamine. The existence of papers bearing McNeal' s name in the room in which the
drugs and drug paraphernalia were found was relevant to show McNeal' s occupancy of the room
and possession of the items within it. Accordingly, the trial court would not have sustained an
objection to the evidence on this ground.
It also was unlikely that the trial court would have sustained an ER 403 objection. Under
ER 403, otherwise relevant evidence can be excluded if its. probative value is " substantially
outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice." Because there was conflicting testimony at trial
regarding whether McNeal was living in the trailer' s bedroom at the time the contraband was
discovered, the evidence was highly probative of his occupancy. And the danger of unfair
prejudice was not great. The docket notice did not state the type of conviction for which McNeal
was being sentenced, other than that it was a criminal conviction. Although this evidence may
have been prejudicial, it was not so prejudicial that the trial court would likely have sustained an
objection given the document' s relevance.
Finally, it is unlikely that the trial court would have excluded the evidence
under ER 404( b). Under ER 404( b), [ e] vddence of other crimes, wrongs, or acts is
not admissible to prove the character of a person in order to show action in
conformity therewith." But this evidence may be admissible " for other purposes,
such as proof of motive, opportunity, intent, preparation, plan, knowledge,
identity, or absence of mistake or accident.
The list of other purposes for which evidence of a defendant' s prior misconduct may be
introduced is not exclusive. State v. Baker, 162 Wash. App. 468, 473, 259 P.3d 270, review
denied, 173 Wash. 2d 1004 ( 2011).
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Here, the State introduced the evidence not to show McNeal' s conformity with previous
criminal behavior but, rather, to show that he occupied the bedroom where the contraband was
discovered. And as already discussed, the trial court was unlikely to find that the probative value
of the evidence was outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice. Accordingly, the trial court
would not have sustained an objection to the evidence on any of the grounds McNeal asserts.
McNeal also fails to show that the docket notice' s admission prejudiced him in light of
the overwhelming evidence against him. McNeal sold methamphetamine to an informant in a
controlled buy monitored by police officers. Upon executing a search warrant on the trailer in
which McNeal was living, officers discovered methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia in a
room containing documents belonging to McNeal and in a canvas bag belonging to McNeal
containing two prescription pill bottles bearing his naive.
McNeal has failed to show how the admission of the criminal docket notice requiring his
presence at a sentencing hearing for an unspecified crime affected the outcome of the case in
light of this overwhelming evidence against him. Therefore, McNeal cannot show that he was
prejudiced by his trial counsel' s failure to object to the document or to request that it be redacted.
We hold that the failure to object to admission of the criminal docket notice did not
constitute ineffective assistance of counsel because the trial court likely would not have
sustained such an objection and McNeal cannot show that admission of the docket notice
prejudiced him.
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3. Failure To Redact
McNeal also argues that his counsel was ineffective for failing to request that the criminal
docket notice be redacted. We disagree.
Although McNeal fails to specify which portions of the docket notice should have been
redacted, we assume that he refers to the portions of the docket referencing his involvement in
criminal activity. Those portions included the caption stating that it was a " criminal" docket
notice and that there was to be a " sentencing hearing: / formal entry of J & S." Ex. 37. However,
the problem with redaction is that it could have allowed the jury to speculate as to the purpose of
the court document, leading to confusion and possibly greater prejudice to McNeal. Therefore, it
may have been a legitimate trial tactic for McNeal' s counsel to have declined to seek redaction
of those portions of the docket notice.
We hold that failing to request redaction of the criminal docket notice did not constitute
ineffective assistance of counsel.
4. Failure To Propose Limiting Instruction
McNeal argues that his counsel was ineffective for failing to propose an instruction
prohibiting the jury from considering the criminal docket notice as evidence of McNeal' s
propensity to engage in criminal behavior. We disagree.
McNeal argues that his counsel should have proposed an instruction based on WPIC
5. 30, which provides, " Certain evidence has been admitted in this case for only a limited
purpose. This [ evidence consists of and] maybe considered by you only for the
purpose of You may not consider it for any other purpose." 11 WASHINGTON
PRACTICE: WASHINGTON PATTERN JURY INSTRUCTIONS: CRIMINAL5. 30, at 180 ( 3d ed. 2008)
WPIC) (boldface omitted) ( alterations in original). However, whether to request a limiting
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instruction is a matter of trial tactics. State v. Yarbrough, 151 Wash. App. 66, 90, 210 P.3d 1029
2009). Failure to propose the instruction could have been a legitimate trial tactic because had
defense counsel proposed this instruction, he could have risked reemphasizing the evidence. See
Yarbrough, 151 Wn. App. at 90 ( "[ F] ailure to request a limiting instruction for evidence
admitted under ER 404(b) may be a legitimate tactical decision not to reemphasize damaging
evidence. ").
We hold that the failure to request a limiting instruction relating to the criminal docket
notice did not constitute ineffective assistance of counsel.
D. ACCOMPLICE LIABILITY STATUTE AND INSTRUCTION
The State claimed that McNeal and Chipman were accomplices in the crime of unlawful
methamphetamine delivery, and the trial court instructed the jury on accomplice liability.
McNeal argues that Washington' s accomplice liability statute, RCW 9A.08. 020, is
unconstitutionally overbroad because it criminalizes speech protected by the First Amendment.
He also challenges the trial court' s accomplice liability instruction for the same reason. We
disagree.
1. Statute
We presume that statutes are constitutional and review challenges to them de novo. State
v. Lanciloti, 165 Wash. 2d 661, 667, 201 P.3d 323 ( 2009). Under RCW 9A. 08. 020( 3)( a), a person
is guilty as an accomplice if "[ ith knowledge that it will promote or facilitate the commission
w]
of [a] crime," he "[ s] olicits, commands, encourages, or requests [ another] person to commit [ the
crime]" or "[ a] ids or agrees to aid such other person in planning or committing [ the crime]."
McNeal argues that Washington' s accomplice liability statute does not meet the standard set
forth in Brandenburg v. Ohio, 395 U.S. 444, 447, 89 S. Ct. 1827, 23 L. Ed .2d 430 ( 1969), in
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which the United States Supreme Court held that the First Amendment protects speech
advocating criminal activity unless it "is directed to inciting or producing imminent lawless
action and is likely to incite or produce such action." Because " aid" is not defined in the statute,
McNeal argues that the statute criminalizes speech other than that " `` directed to inciting or
producing imminent lawless action.' " Br. of Appellant at 27 ( quoting Brandenburg, 395 U.S. at
447).
We rejected this same challenge in Ferguson. 164 Wash. App. at 375 - 76 ( citing State v.
Coleman, 155 Wn. App. 951, 960 - 61, 231 P.3d 212 ( 2010)). In Coleman, Division One of this
court held that
t] he accomplice liability statute ... requires the criminal mens rea to aid or agree
to aid the commission of a specific crime with knowledge that the aid will further
the crime. Therefore, by the statute' s text, its sweep avoids protected speech
activities that are not performed in aid of a crime and that only consequentially
further the crime.
155 Wn. App. at 960 -61. In Ferguson, we adopted the reasoning in Coleman and addressed the
Brandenburg standard, holding that "[ b] ecause the statute' s language forbids advocacy directed
at and likely to incite or produce imminent lawless action, it does not forbid the mere advocacy
of law violation that is protected under the holding of Brandenburg." 164 Wash. App. at 376.
We adhere to our decision and analysis in Ferguson and hold that McNeal' s challenge to the
accomplice liability statute fails.
2. Instruction
McNeal also argues that the trial court' s accomplice liability instruction was erroneous
because its definition of "aid" violated the Brandenburg rule. We review jury instructions de
novo and in the context of the instructions as a whole. State v. Levy, 156 Wash. 2d 709, 721, 132
P.3d 1076 ( 2006).
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The trial court' s accomplice liability instruction, modeled after WPIC 10. 51, defined
aid" as
all assistance whether given by words, acts, encouragement, support, or presence.
A person who is present at the scene and ready to assist by his or her presence is
aiding in the commission of the crime. However, more than mere presence and
knowledge of the criminal activity of another must be shown to establish that a
person present is an accomplice.
CP at 46. See WPIC 10. 5 1, at 217. McNeal argues that the instruction' s inclusion of "words" or
encouragement" in the definition of "aid" was contrary to Brandenburg because it criminalized
a vast amount of pure speech." Br. of Appellant at 28.
But the trial court' s accomplice liability instruction contains the same mens rea
requirement as the statute. Therefore, regardless of the definition of "aid ", the instruction as a
whole passes constitutional muster because any aid, including " words" or " encouragement ",
must be given with knowledge that it will further the crime. See Coleman, 155 Wash. App. at 960-
61. Accordingly, applying the reasoning in Ferguson and Coleman, we hold that the trial court' s
accomplice liability instruction was not erroneous.
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We affirm.
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 pursuant to RCW 2. 06. 040, it is
so ordered.
MAXA, J.
uTa rnnnrtr-
S INDLER,
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