State Of Washington v. Christopher N. Maynard ( 2013 )

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IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF W.
DIVISION II
STATE OF WASHINGTON, No. 43204 -8 -II
Appellant,
V.
CHRISTOPHER NELSON MAYNARD, PART PUBLISHED OPINION
JOHANSON, A. C. J. — This case involves the loss of juvenile court jurisdiction. The State
initially charged 17- year -old Christopher Nelson Maynard in juvenile court with six counts of
malicious mischief. Although Maynard turned 18 while the case was pending, the juvenile court
did not extend jurisdiction. Accordingly, the juvenile court dismissed, without prejudice, the
charges for lack of jurisdiction. The State refiled the charges in adult criminal court. That court
dismissed, with prejudice; the charges based on the State' s preaccusatorial. delay and ineffective -
assistance of defense counsel.
The State appeals, arguing that ( 1) the trial court erred by concluding that there was
preaccusatorial delay, ( 2) dismissal is not the appropriate remedy for ineffective assistance of
counsel, and ( 3) substantial evidence does not support several factual findings. In the published
portion, we hold that ineffective assistance of counsel and not preaccusatorial delay caused the
loss of juvenile court jurisdiction; we reverse because retrial, not dismissal, is the appropriate
No. 43204 -8 - II
remedy for a successful ineffective assistance claim. In the unpublished portion, we hold that
substantial evidence supports the court' s factual findings.
FACTS
Police arrested 17- year -old Maynard in August 2010, for painting graffiti on several
businesses' and in Woodland. The prosecutor' s office received the police report in
September 2010. The prosecutor asked the police for more information about the specific
locations of painted property and requested photos in order to obtain probable cause to support a
diversion referral. In November 20103, the prosecutor forwarded the police reports to the
juvenile court probation department for consideration for diversion. On December 10, 20104, the
juvenile court rejected Maynard' s case for diversion. After reviewing the case again, the
prosecutor determined that it needed more information to file charges and requested this
information from police. Between January and June 2011, the State corresponded with police
about restitution amounts owed to victims. The State charged Maynard with six counts of
malicious mischief on July 7, 2011. Maynard was summoned to appear on July 12.
At Maynard' s July 12 appearance, the juvenile court appointed counsel and scheduled an
arraignment for the next week. On July 19, Maynard appeared and pleaded not guilty, and the
court set pretrial for August 9, and trial for September 15. At Maynard' s initial appearance and
Woodland Auto Supply and Columbia Mega Storage ( a U -haul location).
2
Rolling Freedom Skate Park and a shed, both located in Horseshoe Lake Park and owned by the
city of Woodland, and also Baseball fields of Woodland Little League.
3
Finding of fact 8 states the year as 2011. This is a scrivener' s error.
4
Finding of fact 9 states the year as 2011. This is a scrivener' s error.
2.
No. 43204 -8 - II
arraignment, nobody mentioned that he would turn 18 on August 1. On July 25, the prosecutor
sent an offer to Maynard' s attorney recommending a deferred disposition. The offer was set to
expire on August 9. Maynard told his attorney that he would accept a deferred disposition.
After sending the offer, the prosecutor noticed that Maynard was about to turn 18. The
prosecutor then e- mailed Maynard' s attorney asking how she wanted to proceed, but Maynard' s
attorney did not respond. On August 1, Maynard turned 18 years old. At the pretrial hearing on
August 9, the juvenile court dismissed, without prejudice, the charges for lack of jurisdiction.
The State filed an information with the same charges in superior court, and the court
appointed Maynard a new attorney. Maynard moved to dismiss all charges, arguing negligent
preaccusatorial delay and ineffective assistance of counsel. The trial court dismissed the
charges, with prejudice, finding that the delay violated Maynard' s due process rights and that
defense counsel was ineffective. The State appeals.
ANALYSIS
I. PREACCUSATORIAL DELAY
The State argues that the trial court erred by dismissing Maynard' s charges with
prejudice due to preaccusatorial delay. We agree because preaccusatorial delay did not cause the
loss of juvenile court jurisdiction.
We review de novo whether preaccusatorial delay violates a party' s due process rights.
State v. Oppelt, 172 Wash. 2d 285, 290, 257 P.3d 653 ( 2011). To determine whether
preaccusatorial delay violates a party' s due process rights, courts apply a three -
prong test: ( 1)
the defendant must show actual prejudice from the delay; ( 2) if the defendant shows actual
prejudice, the court must determine the reasons for the delay; and ( 3) the court must then weigh
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the reasons and the prejudice to determine whether fundamental conceptions of justice would be
violated by allowing prosecution. Oppelt, 172 Wash. 2d at 295.
Although a defendant has no constitutional right to be tried in juvenile court, the loss of
juvenile jurisdiction subjects a defendant to higher penalties and the loss of juvenile system
benefits. State v. Hodges, 28 Wn. App. 902, 904, 626 P.2d 1025 ( 1981). Thus, a defendant has
carried his burden of showing actual prejudice when a delay causes loss of juvenile court
jurisdiction. State v. Dixon, 114 Wash. 2d 857, 860 -61, 792 P.2d 137 ( 1990).
But, as the State argues, all cases affirming dismissal for preaccusatorial delay involve
the loss of juvenile court jurisdiction before the State filed charges, and here, the juvenile court
did not lose jurisdiction until after the State filed charges. That is a significant difference. The
concept of " preaccusatorial delay" means before the accusation, or, stated another way, delay
before the charging. See, e. g., State v. Calderon, 102 Wash. 2d 348, 353, 684 P.2d 1293 ( 1984)
Preaccusatorial delay in bringing charges may violate due process). Importantly, the Oppelt
court derived the three -prong test we use to determine if a delay violates due process from
Calderon. 172 Wash. 2d at 289 -90. Thus, under those cases, if the State files charges before
juvenile jurisdiction expires and there is still an opportunity for the defendant to extend
jurisdiction, then the Oppelt three -prong test is inapplicable. See Oppelt, 172 Wash. 2d at 290;
Calderon, 102 Wash. 2d at 353.
Here, because the State filed charges 24 days before juvenile jurisdiction expired and
Maynard had an opportunity to extend jurisdiction, the Oppelt test is inapplicable. The juvenile
court lost jurisdiction because of defense counsel' s failure to request a simple extension of
juvenile court jurisdiction at Maynard' s arraignment or any time before his 18th birthday. The
El
No. 43204 -8 -II
juvenile court did not lose jurisdiction because of the State' s delay in filing the charges. While
the trial court pointed out that everybody missed Maynard' s birth date in the necessary rush to
get through the juvenile docket, defense counsel maintained a duty to provide competent
representation to Maynard and reasonably inform him about matters affecting his case. See RPC
1. 1, 1. 4. We do not require prosecutors to give special treatment to juvenile defendants and keep
track of every juvenile' s birthday. Dixon, 114 Wash. 2d at 866. The first opportunity to extend
jurisdiction was at Maynard' s July 12 appearance, although it is uncertain whether defense
counsel was present at that time. But, certainly his counsel was present on July 19, when
Maynard appeared and pleaded not guilty, and during this time Maynard' s attorney should have
moved to extend juvenile court jurisdiction; but at no time while Maynard' s case was pending
did his attorney make that motion.
We reject the conclusion that preaccusatorial delay caused the loss of juvenile court
jurisdiction when the State filed the charges 24 days before Maynard' s 18th birthday.
Additionally, we note that all cases cited by the parties involve instances in which the State did
not file charges until after the defendant' s 18th birthday, an important distinction here. Thus,
because the juvenile court did not lose jurisdiction because of preaccusatorial delay, the trial
court erred by dismissing Maynard' s charges with prejudice.
II. INEFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL
Next, the parties agree that defense counsel was ineffective, but they disagree whether the
proper remedy is remand or dismissal with prejudice. We agree with the State that the proper
remedy for a successful ineffective assistance of counsel claim is remand for a new trial.
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No. 43204 -8 -II
Generally, the remedy for ineffective assistance of counsel is remand for a new trial. See
State v. Sutherby, 165 Wash. 2d 870, 888, 204 P.3d 916 ( 2009); State v. Thomas, 109 Wash. 2d 222,
232, 743 P.2d 816 ( 1987); State v. Powell, 150 Wn. App. 139, 158, 206 P.3d 703 ( 2009).
Similarly, where an adult trial court errs and a juvenile court has since lost jurisdiction, the
remedy is to remand to the adult trial court for further proceedings. See In re Pers. Restraint of
Dalluge, 152 Wash. 2d 772, 786 -87, 100 P.3d 279 ( 2004). In Dalluge, Dalluge challenged his
superior court felony convictions, arguing that because he was 17 years old when the State
charged him with crimes that did not automatically mandate adult court jurisdiction, the trial
court erred by failing to remand to juvenile court for a decline hearing. 152 Wash. 2d at 776 -77.
Our Supreme Court held that although the trial court erred by not remanding for a decline
hearing, because Dalluge turned 18 and the juvenile court no longer had jurisdiction over him,
the proper remedy was to remand to the adult trial court for further proceedings. Dalluge, 152
Wash. 2d at 786 -87.
Here, Maynard' s attorney failed to move to extend jurisdiction before Maynard turned
18. Like Dalluge, because the juvenile court no longer has jurisdiction over Maynard, the proper
remedy is to remand to the adult trial court for further proceedings. Therefore, we reverse and
remand for proceedings consistent with this opinion.
A majority of the panel having determined that only the foregoing portion of this opinion
will be printed in the Washington Appellate Reports and that the remainder shall be filed for public
record in accordance with RCW 2. 06. 040, it is so ordered.
No..43204 -8 -II
III. SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE
Finally, the State argues that substantial evidence did not support many of the trial court' s
findings of fact.5 We hold that substantial evidence supports the findings of fact, in all material
respects, and where they are not supported, they do not materially affect a conclusion of law.
Thus, reversal is not necessary on this ground.
We review findings of fact to determine whether substantial evidence supports them.
State v. Stevenson, 128 Wn. App. 179, 193, 114 P.3d 699 ( 2005). Substantial evidence is
evidence sufficient to persuade a fair -
minded, rational person of the finding' s truth. Stevenson,
128 Wn. App. at 193. Circumstantial evidence receives the same consideration as direct
evidence. State v. Delmarter, 94 Wash. 2d 634, 638, 618 P.2d 99 ( 1980). An erroneous finding of
fact that does not materially affect a conclusion of law is not prejudicial and does not warrant
reversal. State v. Caldera, 66 Wash. App. 548, 551, 832 P.2d 139 ( 1992).
The State argues that finding of fact 10 is erroneous because it indicates the prosecutor
already had the information it continued to request from the police. Although the first August
26, 2010 police report did not contain all of the damage information for all of the victims, any
error in finding of fact 10 is harmless because it does not materially affect the court' s conclusion
that there was preaccusatorial delay.
Finding of fact 10 states:
Between December 10, 2011, and June 16, 2011, the prosecutor
exchanged a number of e -mails with the Woodland Police [ D] epartment, seeking
more information, specifically in regards to restitution amounts owed to the
victims." The [ S] tate made these repeated requests in spite of the fact that the
5
Specifically, the State argues that substantial evidence does not support the following findings
of fact: 7, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, and 21.
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No. 43204 -8 -II
police reports and the probable cause statements already provided contained a
detailed statement of the damages each victim has sustained.
Clerk' s Papers ( CP) at 108 ( citations omitted). The information filed in juvenile court lists four
victims: the city of Woodland, Woodland Little League, Woodland Auto Supply, and Columbia
Mega Storage ( U- Haul). The police report lists restitution amounts for three of the victims: the
city of Woodland, Woodland Little League, and Columbia Mega Storage ( U- Haul). The State
argues that it needed information on all of the victims before making a charging decision. But,
the final police report filed in superior court on September 21, 2011, does not contain any
estimates additional to those included in the initial police report. CP at 108 ( FF 11); compare CP
at 57 with CP at 9. Moreover, the trial court concluded that, even if the prosecutor could justify
the delay, the prejudice to Maynard outweighed it. Thus, although the first probable cause
statement and police reports did not contain estimates for all of the victims, the error in finding
of fact 10 is not prejudicial because it does not materially affect the trial court' s conclusion about
preaccusatorial delay.
I The State next assigns error to findings of fact 11 and 15 because they misstate the
number of charges. Finding of fact 11 states that Maynard was charged with five counts of
malicious mischief when he was actually charged with six counts of malicious mischief, and
finding of fact 15 states that the State' s recommendation of deferred disposition required
Maynard to plead guilty to two of the charges when it actually required him to plead guilty to all
of the charges. Those errors do not affect any of the trial court' s conclusions of law; thus, they
are harmless.
No. 43204 -8 -II
The State assigns error to finding of fact 12 because the finding states that Maynard was
summoned 19 days before he turned 21 years old. That finding is in error because he was
summoned 19 days before he turned 18 years old. But, that is a harmless scrivener' s error.
Other findings correctly state Maynard' s age and birth date.
Next, the State assigns error to finding of fact 13 because it argues that there is not
substantial evidence to show ( 1) what the normal procedure of the court is or (2) that none of the
parties mentioned Maynard' s age. We disagree. Finding of fact 13 states, in relevant part,
Although the normal procedure during the first appearance would have been for
the court to extend jurisdiction for an offender such as the defendant who was
close to turning eighteen years of age, the court did not do so in this case. Neither
the court, the prosecutor[, nor] the probation officer in charge of the case
mentioned that the defendant would be eighteen years old within a few weeks.
WWIT- lug
I
Substantial evidence supports the finding that the court' s normal procedure is to extend
jurisdiction at the defendant' s first appearance. Maynard' s juvenile court counsel testified that-
the normal-procedure when a juvenile is nearing his 18th birthday is for the probation officer to
move to extend jurisdiction at the juvenile' s initial appearance. Although defense counsel was
not present at Maynard' s initial appearance, she had worked as either a prosecutor or defense
counsel in juvenile court for over 10 years. Given her experience and testimony, substantial
evidence supports the finding that the normal procedure is to move to extend jurisdiction at the
initial appearance. Substantial evidence also supports the finding that no one mentioned
Maynard' s age at his initial appearance. As defense counsel testified, the probation officer
would normally have moved to extend jurisdiction if he knew that Maynard' s 18th birthday was
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No. 43204 -8 -II
approaching, and he did not do so here. Additionally, the first mention in the record of
Maynard' s approaching birthday was the e -mail the prosecutor sent at the end of July 2011.
Similarly, the State argues that substantial evidence does not support findings of fact 14
and 20 because they require the court to speculate. Both findings state that the court could have
entered an order extending jurisdiction and note that this would be the usual practice. As
discussed above, substantial evidence shows that the juvenile court could have extended
jurisdiction and that the usual practice was to do so when the juvenile' s 18th birthday was
approaching. Additionally, finding of fact 20 states that Maynard could have entered into a plea
agreement with the State and obtained a deferred sentence. This is also supported by substantial
evidence: the State sent Maynard an offer recommending a deferred disposition. Substantial
evidence supports both findings.
The State next argues that there is not substantial evidence to support finding of fact 16
because defense counsel could not remember when she read the prosecutor' s e -mail. Finding of
fact 16 states, " The defendant' s attorney did not read [ the prosecutor' s e -mail notifying her that
Maynard was about to turn 18] until after the defendant' s eighteenth birthday." CP at 109.
Defense counsel testified that she could not remember when she received this e -mail, but she
also testified that she did not know Maynard had turned 18 until he came into her office on
August 3, two days after his birthday. If defense counsel had read the e -mail before Maynard' s
have known he. had turned 18 before he her on August 3. There
birthday, then she would visited
is substantial evidence to support finding of fact 16.
Finally, the State assigns error to findings of fact 19 and 21 because they contain
conclusions of law. We treat incorrectly labeled findings of fact as conclusions of law if they
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No. 43204 -8 -I1
resolve the ultimate issue. In re Det. ofM.K., 168 Wash. App. 621, 623 n.3, 279 P.3d 897 ( 2012).
Finding of fact 19 states, " Juvenile court defense counsel' s failure to note the defendant' s age at
arraignment and failure to then move to extend jurisdiction fell below the standard of a
reasonably prudent attorney." CP at 110. Finding of fact 21 states, " Juvenile court defense
counsel' s failure to note the defendant' s age at arraignment and failure to then move to extend
jurisdiction caused prejudice to the defendant through ( 1) the loss of juvenile court jurisdiction,
and ( 2) the loss of an opportunity to obtain a deferred sentence." CP at 110. The' State is correct
that these findings are actually legal conclusions. But, the State does not assign error to the
conclusions; it merely argues that they are improperly labeled. None of the errors in the findings
6
here require reversal.
I.
Johanson, A.C.J.
I concur:
Fearilw, J.
6
The State also argues that substantial evidence does not support finding of fact 7. But, the State
does not provide any argument - to support this claim. We do not consider unsupported
assignments of error. RAP 10. 3( a)( 6); State v. Goodman, 150 Wash. 2d 774, 782, 83 P.3d 410
2004).
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No. 43204 -8 -II
PENOYAR, J. ( Dissent) — I write separately because it is clear from the record that the
main cause for Christopher Maynard' s loss of a chance to have his case resolved as a juvenile
accusatorial
was unjustified pre - delay. The trial court correctly applied the Oppelt test and
dismissed the case.
The State argues that all the cases affirming dismissal for pre -accusatorial delay involved
situations where the juvenile court lost jurisdiction before the information was filed, and here,
the juvenile court did not lose jurisdiction until after the information was filed. But it offers no
reason why this should change the test from Oppelt. I conclude that the test is the same and the
fact that the information was filed before Maynard turned 18 only goes to the issue of actual
prejudice, which the trial court addressed in its conclusion of law 2.
While a defendant has no constitutional right to be tried in juvenile court, the loss of
juvenile jurisdiction subjects a defendant to higher penalties and the loss of juvenile system
benefits. State v. Hodges, 28 Wn. App. 902, 904, 626 P.2d 1025 ( 1981). Thus, our Supreme
Court has held that a defendant has carried his burden of showing actual prejudice when a delay
causes loss of juvenile court jurisdiction. State v. Dixon, 114 Wash. 2d 857, 861, 792 P.2d 137
1990).
Here, pre -accusatorial delay combined with other factors caused the loss of juvenile court
jurisdiction. As the trial court pointed out "[ e] verybody missed [ Maynard' s birth date] in the
the juvenile docket." 1 Report Proceedings 51. But,
necessary rush to get through a day on of at
clearly, the delay in filing was largely responsible for the loss ofjurisdiction, which occurred less
than three weeks after Maynard' s arraignment. Maynard had agreed to the State' s
7
State v. Oppelt, 172 Wash. 2d 285, 257 P.3d 653 ( 2011).
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No. 43204 -8 -II
recommendation, a fact that would have come out at the August 9 hearing. Resolution of the.
case would have followed soon thereafter. But the delay in filing meant there simply was not
enough time for the mistake to be noticed and rectified.
Because Maynard can show prejudice, I now consider the reasons for the delay. The
State argues that it needed additional information about the victims before charging Maynard.
Therefore, it is necessary to weigh the prosecutor' s need for more information and the prejudice
to Maynard in losing his right to be tried in juvenile court.
Here, the prejudice to Maynard is considerable and the State' s reason for delay is
unjustified. The State had offered Maynard a deferred disposition, which he was willing to take.
Instead, because of the State' s delay, Maynard is now faced with a possible felony conviction in
adult criminal court. Further, the State' s reason for. delay is not justified. The police included
victim information in the report written on August 26, 2010. The State received this report on
September 15, 2010, but did not charge Maynard until July 7, 2011. The State argues that it was
waiting for more information from the police, but the probable cause statement filed in superior
court on September 21, 2011, does not contain any additional victim information. The trial court
did not err by dismissing Maynard' s case for pre -accusatorial delay. I would not reach the issue
of ineffective assistance of counsel and would affirm the trial court' s dismissal.
f`
Penoyar,
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