State Of Washington, Resp. v. Russell Loven, App. ( 2013 )

HLFD
^;'.L4"„AP^£ALS D!V
• •-• i w , ,
20!3f1ARI8 AN 9= 13
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
STATE OF WASHINGTON,
No. 66005-5-1
Respondent,
DIVISION ONE
v.
RUSSELL EARL LOVEN, UNPUBLISHED OPINION
Appellant. FILED: March 18. 2013
Spearman, A.C.J. — Russell Loven was convicted of several counts of rape of
a child, one count of child molestation, one count of sexual exploitation of a minor,
and one count of possessing depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit
conduct. On appeal, he claims the trial court erred in (1) denying his for-cause
challenges to two potential jurors; (2) denying his request for a multiple-acts
unanimity instruction for the depictions count; and (3) considering his prior
convictions for rape of a child as predicate offenses during sentencing. Concluding
that the first two issues are controlled by case law adverse to Loven's position and
that his prior convictions are not constitutionally invalid on their face, we affirm.
FACTS
Loven lived in two different apartments owned by Chris Nyhus from 2004 until
October 2008. Loven worked as a handyman for Nyhus in exchange for rent. Nyhus's
stepson, R.B., met Loven in 2004, when R.B. was 10 years old. Loven engaged in
No. 66005-5-1/2
sexual acts with R.B. starting from when the latter was 10years old until he was 14.1
Loven told his roommate, Christina Evans, that his relationship with R.B. "was just
touching and oral, nothing else." Verbatim Report of Proceeding (VRP) at 901, 931.
Loven told Evans he did not think the relationship was wrong because he considered
it to be consensual. Over the course of four years, Loven took photographs and
videos of R.B., posting some of these images on the internet.
When R.B. was 14 years old, he introduced Loven to his 15-year-old friend
C.J. Loven gave R.B. and C.J. marijuana and alcohol. On one occasion when R.B.
and C.J. were at Loven's apartment, Loven told C.J. that R.B. and Loven were going
into the bedroom to have oral sex. Loven touched C.J.'s penis with his hand on
several occasions and asked C.J. repeatedly to allow Loven to perform fellatio on
him. C.J. refused at first but eventually agreed.
Loven had an extensive collection of child pornography, including images of
children between the approximate ages of 4 to 14 engaging in sexual acts with adults
and other children. Loven told Evans that he kept some of these materials in one of
his cars because he did not want to get caught with them inside the apartment.
In October 2008, Evans' friend Julie Leach called the police and took Evans to
speak to Detective Keith Savas about Loven. Savas interviewed Loven on October
24, 2008. During this interview, Loven denied having sexual contact with R.B. but
admitted to possessing child pornography.
The State charged Loven with one count of rape of a child in the first degree
(victim R.B.), one count of rape ofa child in the second degree (R.B.), two counts of
During this four-year period, Loven was between 39 and 43 years old.
No. 66005-5-1/3
rape of a child in the third degree (R.B. and C.J.), one count of child molestation in
the third degree (C.J.), one count of sexual exploitation of a minor (R.B.), and one
count of possessing depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
A jury trial on these charges took place in January 2010. Before trial,
prospective jurors answered the following questions:
13. Are you able to sit on a jury in a case involving an accusation
of sexual misconduct by an adult male against two male children?
14. Are you able to sit on a jury in a case involving an accusation
of rape of a child?
15. Are you able to sit on a jurywhere you would view graphic
images of children engaged in sexual conduct?
Clerk's Papers (CP) at 285, 297. Jurors 25 and 47 answered each of these questions
"no." jd. During voir dire, these jurors elaborated on the difficulties they would have in
sitting on the case.2 Loven challenged jurors 25 and 47 for cause. The court denied
the challenges. The defense later used two peremptory challenges to excuse jurors
25 and 47 and ultimately used all six allotted peremptory challenges.
2Juror 25 stated that she would tend to believe a child witness and the child's allegations of
sexual abuse. She expressed uncertainty when the court asked her whether she could "listen to
evidence regarding this topic and assess witnesses' credibility and be a fair and unbiased juror."
Defense counsel brought up hercomments thatshe would startfrom the position thata child's
allegations of sexual abuse were true unless she were shown evidence to the contrary and asked,
"Sort ofin this kind ofcase guilty until proven innocent, right?." She responded, "Yeah." When the
court attempted to clarify her position, she said she would probably lean toward believing the child but
"would find outwhat's true" and "wouldn't just assume it's right." She responded "yes" when the court
asked if she could presume the defendant innocent until proven guilty and hold the Stateto its burden
of proof. VRP at 559-68.
Juror 47 revealed that her husband had taken photographs of their 13- and 14-year-old
daughter "as she went into adolescence, and he insists that it was art, but Ithought it was very
inappropriate[.]" VRP at 388, 392. She believed she could not sit on a case involving similar
accusations because it would bring up feelings thatshe had at that earlier time. She also said she
believed children most often tell the truth. When the court asked whether she could be a fair and
impartial juror, she answered, "I probably could." VRP at 389. The court again asked, "Do you think
you can be a fair and impartial juror for both the defense and the State given what's happened? Can
you setaside what happened with your daughter and only listen to the evidence in this case?" Juror
47 said, "I believe I can." VRP at 389.
No. 66005-5-1/4
At trial, the State presented testimony from R.B. and C.J., who testified that
Loven had oral sex with them during the charging periods. Police witnesses testified
that Loven possessed over 4,000 still images and 40 videos of children. Savas
testified these consisted of, "[ajmong other things, numerous, thousands of images of
children engaged in sex acts with other children, children engaged in sex acts with
adults, photographs that depict naked, partially clothed, or fully clothed children in
sexually suggestive poses we call child erotica." VRP at 1408. The State admitted 26
CDs and DVDs containing images and videos. The images and videos that were
admitted and shown to the jury included images and videos of R.B., including
depictions of him performing fellatio on Loven; a video of a 5- or 6-year-old girl having
anal sex with an adult male; and a photograph depicting young boys with erect
penises.
Loven asked the trial court to instruct the jury that it must be unanimous as to
which act supported a guilty verdict on each of the seven counts. Regarding the
depictions count, Loven argued that because the evidence for the depictions count
and the exploitation count was being presented to the jury in the same trial, the jury
could convict him of both counts based on the same image. He expressed concerns
that this might violate double jeopardy. The State opposed such an instruction for the
depictions count, asserting there was only one "unit of prosecution" which could be
based on "one photo, maybe 5,000 photos." VRP at 1493. The court denied a
unanimity instruction for the depictions count.3 In closing argument, the prosecutor
did not elect an image to support the depictions count, making a general reference to
1The court approved a unanimity instruction for the six other counts.
No. 66005-5-1/5
the thousands of images and videos found in Loven's possession and then
discussing the photographs of R.B. and the video of the 5- or 6-year-old child.
The jury convicted Loven as charged. At sentencing, the trial court found that
Loven had previously been convicted of two counts of rape of a child in the first
degree and imposed the mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of
parole.4 Loven appeals, assigning error to (1) the denial of his for-cause challenges
to jurors 25 and 47, (2) the denial of his request for a multiple-acts unanimity
instruction, and (3) the consideration of his previous convictions for rape of a child as
predicate offenses at sentencing.
DISCUSSION
For-Cause Challenge to Jurors
The denial of a challenge for cause is reviewed for abuse of discretion. State
v. Gonzales, 111 Wash. App. 276, 278, 45 P.3d 205 (2002). A defendant has the right
to an impartial jury under both the state and federal constitutions. State v. Roberts,
142 Wash. 2d 471, 517, 14 P.3d 717 (2000). A prospective juror should be removed for
cause when the juror's views or opinions would "'prevent or substantially impair the
performance of his duties as a juror in accordance with his instructions and his oath.'"
State v. Hughes. 106 Wash. 2d 176, 181, 721 P.2d 902 (1986) (quoting Wainwright v.
Witt, 469 U.S. 412, 424, 105 S. Ct. 844, 83 L. Ed. 2d 841 (1985)). This "actual bias"
is defined by statute as "the existence ofa state of mind on the part ofthe juror in
reference to the action, or to either party, which satisfies the court that the challenged
4The State alleged Loven had previously been convicted of rape ofa child in the first degree.
Asecond conviction for rape ofa child in the first or second degree thus resulted in a sentence oflife
without parole. RCW 9.94A.030(37)(b); RCW 9.94A.507.
No. 66005-5-1/6
person cannot try the issue impartially and without prejudice to the substantial rights
of the party challenging!.]" RCW 4.44.170(2).
This case is controlled bv State v. Fire. 145 Wash. 2d 152, 34 P.3d 1218 (2001).
Fire was charged with child molestation. Id. at 154. He brought a for-cause challenge
against a juror who expressed that he might have difficulty putting aside his strong
feelings about the type of accusation against the defendant in determining guilt or
innocence. JU at 155-56. After the trial court denied the for-cause challenge, Fire
used a peremptory challenge to excuse the juror and subsequently used all of his
peremptory challenges. Id, at 156. There was no evidence that a biased juror sat on
the jury, and Fire was convicted as charged. Id, at 156, 159.
On appeal, this court held that the juror had demonstrated actual bias and
should have been excluded by the trial court. State v. Fire, 100 Wash. App. 722, 729-
30, 998 P.2d 362 (2000). We reversed Fire's convictions, noting that under State v.
Parnell. 77 Wash. 2d 503, 463 P.2d 134 (1969), a trial court's erroneous denial of a for-
cause challenge requires reversal regardless ofwhether the juror was ultimately
removed by a peremptory challenge. Fire, 100 Wn. App. at 727 (citing Parnell. 77
Wn.2d at 508).
The Washington Supreme Court granted review and reversed this court.
Abrogating Parnell in relevant part, the court held there was no basis for reversal of
the conviction under those circumstances:
We find that even if that juror should have been dismissed for
cause, Fire exercised one of his peremptory challenges to remove
the juror, and there is no showing that a biased juror, against whom
the peremptory challenge might have been used, sat on his panel.
Following the reasoning in United States v. Martinez-Salazar. 528
U.S. 304, 307, 315-16, 120 S. Ct. 774, 145 LEd.2d 792 (2000) and
No. 66005-5-1/7
State v. Roberts. 142 Wash. 2d 471, 517-18, 14 P.3d 713 (2000), we
conclude that Fire did not lose a peremptory challenge, but
exercised it. Therefore, he has not demonstrated prejudice and has
not been deprived of any constitutional right. Without having to
decide whether the juror should have been removed for cause, we
reverse the Court of Appeals and remand for actions consistent
with this opinion.151
Fire. 145 Wn.2d at 154.
Fire is directly on point. As in Fire, even if juror 25 or juror 47 should have
been dismissed for cause, Loven has not alleged that a biased juror sat on the panel
and has not demonstrated prejudice.6 Loven contends Fire was wrongly decided and
argues we should follow pre-Fire cases, including Parnell.7 But Parnell was
abrogated by Fire, and this court may not overlook binding precedent of the
Washington Supreme Court. State v. Hunlev. 161 Wash. App. 919, 932, 253 P.3d 448(2011), affd, 175 Wash. 2d 901, 287 P.3d 584 (2012).
5The cited portion of Fire is from the lead opinion, which was signed by four justices and
concluded that Washington case law had tacitly abandoned Parnell's rule that the erroneous
deprivation ofa peremptory challenge in itself required reversal. Fire, 145 Wn.2d at 159-63. Justice
Alexander, concurring in the result, expressed the view that the Parnell rule had not yet been
abandoned butthat itshould be in light of Martinez-Salazar. Fire. 145 Wn.2d at 165-68 (Alexander,
C.J., concurring). Thus, a majority ofthe court agreed thatwithout a showing of prejudice, the mere
use ofa peremptory challenge to cure an erroneously denied for-cause challenge did not violate the
defendant's right to an impartial jury.
6Also as in Fjre, we do not reach the issue ofwhether the jurors should have been removed
for cause.
7 He also cites McMahon v. Carlisle-Pennell Lumber Co.. 135 Wash. 27, 30, 236 P. 797(1925); State v. Stentz. 30 Wash. 134, 70 P. 241 (1902), abrogated by Fire, 145 Wn.2d at 163; State
v Lattin 19 Wash. 57, 60-61, 52 P. 314 (1898); State v. Moody. 18 Wash. 165, 170-72, 51 P. 356(1897); State v. Rutten. 13 Wash. 203, 43 P. 30 (1895); State v. Wilcox. 11 Wash. 215, 223, 39 P. 368(1895); State v. Murphy. 9 Wash. 204, 37 P. 420 (1894); and State v. Stackhouse. 90 Wash. App. 344,
351-52, 957 P.2d 218 (1998).
No. 66005-5-1/8
Loven also argues Fjre should be overruled on state constitutional grounds,
providing briefing ofthe Gunwall8 factors and contending article I, section 21 and
article I, section 22 of the Washington Constitution provide greater protection of "the
right to an impartial jury as protected by our state right to appeal" than does the Sixth
Amendment. Specifically, he cites the right to an impartial jury under article I, section
22; the right to appeal under article I, section 22; and the inviolate right to trial by jury
under article I, section 21.9 He appears to argue that these provisions create a hybrid
independent right that was violated in his case. But Loven cites no authority in
support of this argument. Moreover, it is evident that Loven was tried by a jury in this
case and he is before us now on appeal of the jury's verdicts. Thus, we conclude that
neither article I, section 21 nor the right to appeal under article I, section 22 was
violated in this case.
Turning to Loven's claim that the "impartial jury" guarantee under article I,
section 22 provides greater protection than the Sixth Amendment in this case, we
reject this claim because a majority of the Washington Supreme Court has concluded
8State v. Gunwall, 106 Wash. 2d 54, 720 P.2d 808 (1986) sets forth six nonexclusive factors to
guide Washington courts in determining whether a state constitutional provision affords greater rights
than its federal counterpart: (1) the textual language of the state constitution; (2) significant differences
in the texts of the parallel provisions of the federal and state constitutions; (3) state constitutional and
common law history; (4) preexisting state law; (5) differences in structure between the federal and
state constitutions; and (6) matters of particular state interest or local concern. Jd. at 61-62.
9Wash. Const., art. I, § 21 states:
The right of trial by jury shall remain inviolate, but the legislature may
provide for a jury of any number less than twelve in courts not of record,
and for a verdict by nine or more jurors in civil cases in any court of record,
and for waiving of the jury in civil cases where the consent of the parties
interested is given thereto.
Wash. Const, art. I, § 22 provides, in relevant part:
In criminal prosecutions the accused shall have the right... to have a
speedy public trial by an impartial jury of the county in which the offense is
charged to have been committed and the right to appeal in all cases ....
8
No. 66005-5-1/9
that the Parnell rule (i.e., that a defendant is presumed to be prejudiced when he is
compelled to exhaust his peremptory challenges to remove a juror who should have
been removed for cause) is not a constitutional rule. While the lead opinion
expressed the view that the rule in Parnell. Rutten. and Stentz was based on
constitutional rather than common law grounds, Justice Alexander opined that the
Parnell rule was not constitutionally based but rather based on the broader purpose
of peremptory challenges, to allow a party to exclude a potential juror for which no
reason need be given. Fire, 145 Wn.2d at 164-65 (plurality); 168 (Alexander, J.,
concurring). Justice Sanders, in a dissenting opinion joined by three other justices,
concluded, "The basis for the rule that a defendant is presumed to be prejudiced
when he is compelled to exhaust his peremptory challenges to remove a juror who
should have been removed for cause is found in neither the state nor the federal
constitution. Rather it is firmly ensconced in Washington common law." Id at 177
(Sanders, J., dissenting). Thus, the rule in Parnell has been interpreted by a majority
of our supreme court as not rooted in our state constitution, and Gunwall is therefore
of no assistance.
Jury Unanimity
A defendant has a right to a unanimous jury verdict under the Sixth
Amendment to the United States Constitution and article I, section 22 of the
Washington Constitution. State v. Kitchen, 110 Wash. 2d 403, 409, 756 P.2d 105(1988). To protect this right in cases where the evidence indicates that more than one
distinct criminal act has been committed but the defendant is charged with only one
count of criminal conduct, either (1) the State may elect the act upon which itwill rely
No. 66005-5-1/10
for conviction or (2) jurors must be instructed that they must agree that the same
underlying criminal act has been proved beyond a reasonable doubt. State v. Petrich.
101 Wash. 2d 566, 572, 683 P.2d 173 (1984).
Loven claims the trial court erred in denying a Petrich instruction for the count
of possessing depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. He first
contends as a general matter that possession can occur at different times and
places, and can be constructive, actual, or unwitting. He asserts that, in his case,
rational jurors could have found that he did not possess all of the images (believing
the defense's suggestion at trial that Leach planted some of the images or gave them
to police under the pretense that they were Loven's). But he does not specify how the
numerous photographs, digital images, and videos found in his case broke down into
multiple distinct acts. His argument simply rests on the notion that each image
presented to the jury was a separate act and that the jury was required to agree as to
the image upon which its conviction was based.
We rejected this notion in State v. Furseth. 156 Wash. App. 516, 233 P.3d 902,
rev, denied. 170 Wash. 2d 1007 (2010). There, Furseth was charged with one count of
possessing depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. ]d at 518. At
trial, multiple images found stored on his computer were introduced into evidence,
some depicting apparently prepubescent children engaged in sexual intercourse and
others depicting young men and boys in various stages of undress. ]d at 519. The
jury convicted him as charged. ]d On appeal, Furseth argued his conviction was
invalid because the jury was not instructed it had to unanimously agree as to which
image out of several constituted child pornography found in his possession, and the
10
No. 66005-5-1/11
State did not elect a particular image. ]d We rejected this argument based on State
v. Sutherbv. 165 Wash. 2d 870, 204 P.3d 916 (2009), where the court held that
regardless of the number of images involved or the number of minors depicted,
possession of multiple images of child pornography constitutes a single "unit of
prosecution."10 Furseth. 156Wn. App. at 520-21 (citing Sutherbv. 165Wn.2d at 882).
We held in Furseth that "because the State could not have charged Furseth with
multiple, separate counts of possession of child pornography, evidence that he
possessed multiple images does not constitute evidence of multiple criminal acts,"
and therefore a unanimity instruction was not required.11 Furseth. 156 Wn. App. at
522.
Loven argues that Furseth was wrongly decided, citing State v. Adel. 136
Wash. 2d 629, 965 P.2d 1072 (1998), and State v. King. 75 Wash. App. 899, 878 P.2d 466(1994). Furseth is not inconsistent with these cases. In Adel. the defendant was
convicted of two counts of misdemeanor marijuana possession for possessing
marijuana simultaneously in two different locations, in his car and in his store. Adel.
136 Wn.2d at 631. The issue was whether Adel's possession of marijuana in two
10 The legislature subsequently amended the statute defining possession ofdepictions of
minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct by dividing it into two degrees based on the content ofthe
material involved. Laws of 2010, ch. 227 § 6. The unitof prosecution for the first-degree offense is now
"each depiction or image" possessed by a defendant. RCW 9.68A.070(1)(c). The unit ofprosecution
for the second-degree offense is"each incident ofpossession ofone or more depictions or images."
RCW 9.68A.070(2)(c). These amendments occurred after the events in Loven's case.
11 We do not read Furseth as holding, as a matterof law, that an allegation of possessing child
pornography can never involve multiple acts. We noted in Furseth that "[w]e do not address situations
in which spatial or temporal differences might give rise to allegations ofmultiple acts ofpossession."
Furseth, 156 Wn. App. at 522 n.5. Loven's argument that possession can occur at different times and
places and can be actual orconstructive could relate to the "spatial orand temporal differences" issue
we mentioned in Furseth. But he does not explain how spatial or temporal issues created distinct
multiple acts of possession in his case.
11
No. 66005-5-1/12
places constituted one criminal act (or "unit of prosecution"), in which case his two
convictions violated double jeopardy. Jd. at 632. The court stated:
The proper question for this case is what act or course of conduct
has the Legislature defined as the punishable act for simple
possession of a controlled substance? When the Legislature defines
the scope of a criminal act (the unit of prosecution), double jeopardy
protects a defendant from being convicted twice under the same
statute for committing just one unit of the crime.
]d at 634. The court concluded that the pertinent statute failed to indicate whether
the Legislature intended to punish a person multiple times for possession based on
drugs being kept in multiple places. Under the rule of lenity, therefore, Adel could be
found guilty on only one count of possession where all of the drugs were within his
domain and control at the same time. ]d at 635-36. Adel holds that the unit of
prosecution analysis defines the criminal act thatforms the basis for a conviction for
a given crime and is consistent with Sutherbv. upon which ourdecision in Furseth
was based.
Next, King is distinguishable from this case and Furseth. King was convicted
of one count of cocaine possession based on evidence that he possessed cocaine
(1) in a car in which he was a passenger (constructive possession) and (2) in a fanny
pack he was wearing (actual possession). King, 75 Wn. App. at 901. King claimed
the cocaine in the fanny pack was planted by the police and that the cocaine in the
car belonged to the driver. Id at 901-04. At trial, the court initially offered to submit a
written unanimity instruction, but denied King's subsequent requestfor a unanimity
instruction after the prosecutor agreed to make an election as to the specific instance
of possession. The prosecutor did not make an election, however, and the trial court
did not give a unanimity instruction. Id. at 903.
12
No. 66005-5-1/13
King claimed on appeal that the trial court erred in failing to provide a Petrich
instruction because the State agreed to elect but failed to do so. Id at 900. The State
argued on appeal that King's conviction was based on a continuing course of
conduct, and thus, no unanimity instruction was required. ]d at 902-03. This court
agreed with King:
If the State claims it will elect one out of multiple incidents to rely
on for conviction it may not later equivocate. In such a case, the
trial court must remedy the State's error by issuing a unanimity
instruction. Here, as a result of the State's comment and the
court's inaction, we cannot say that the jury acted with unanimity
as to one act of possession.
]d at 903.
Here, unlike in King, the State never agreed to elect. Furthermore, King
allegedly possessed cocaine in two different ways (constructive versus actual) and
presented different defenses as to each, |d at 903-04. These facts distinguish King
from Furseth. As noted, in this case Loven never explained how the many images in
his case broke down into separate multiple acts. In fact, defense counsel conceded
in closing argument that Loven was guilty of possessing depictions of children
engaged in sexually explicit conduct, and asserted no defenses that distinguished
between any purportedly separate acts of possession as in King.12
Predicate Conviction
In a statement of additional grounds, Loven claims his two 1994 convictions
for rape of a child in the first degree, which were used as predicate offenses for a
sentence of life under RCW 9.94A.507, were invalid and suffer from constitutional
12 Defense counsel argued that Leach gave police some images that did not belong to Loven,
but this was presented to discredit Leach's testimony as it might relate to the counts Loven argued he
did not commit.
13
No. 66005-5-1/14
defects. Primarily he contends his counsel misadvised him as to his eligibility for a
Special Sex Offender Sentencing Alternative and provided ineffective assistance,
rendering his plea to those offenses facially invalid, involuntary, and unconstitutional.
A prior conviction that has "previously determined to have been
unconstitutionally obtained or which is constitutionally invalid on its face may not be
considered" in a sentencing proceeding. State v. Ammons. 105 Wash. 2d 175, 187-88,
713 P.2d 719 (1986). "Constitutionally invalid on its face means a conviction which
without further elaboration evidences infirmities of a constitutional magnitude." ]d at
188. The Ammons court explained that "[t]o require the state to prove the
constitutional validity of prior convictions before they could be used would turn the
sentencing proceeding into an appellate review of all prior convictions." Id
Here, Loven's 1994 convictions have not previously been determined to have
been unconstitutionally obtained. And, as the trial court found, the judgment and
sentence appears valid on its face. 8/27/10 RP 6. His conviction does not, without
further elaboration, show infirmities of a constitutional magnitude. Loven does not
point specifically to anything in the document to show its facial invalidity, and the
defects he alleges cannot be determined from the judgment and sentence. His
recourse, if any, is to challenge the constitutionality of his guilty pleas collaterally in a
personal restraint petition under RAP 16.3. State v. Lewis. 141 Wash. App. 367, 397
n.21, 166 P.3d 786 (2007).
14
No.. 66005-5-i/15
Affirmed.
^unv\i^J\\^\,
WE CONCUR:
ctw —*
Z
\%