State of Washington v. Thomas Robert Hudlow ( 2014 )

FILED
July 15,2014
In the Office of the Clerk of Court
WA State Court of Appeals, Division III
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
DIVISION THREE
STATE OF WASHINGTON, )
) No. 31027-2-III
Respondent, )
)
v. )
) ORDER GRANTING
THOMAS ROBERT HUDLOW, ) MOTION TO PUBLISH
)
Appellant. )
The court has considered appellant's motion to publish the court's opinion of
May 13,2014, and the record and file herein and is of the opinion the motion to publish
should be granted. Therefore,
IT IS ORDERED the motion to publish is granted. The opinion filed by the court
on May 13,2014, shall be modified on page 1 to designate it is a published opinion and
on page 26 by deletion of the following language:
A majority of the panel has determined this opinion will not be
printed in the Washington Appellate Reports, but it will be filed for
public record pursuant to RCW 2.06.040.
DATED: July 15,2014
PANEL: Judges Brown, Siddoway, Fearing
FOR THE COURT:
FILED
MAY 13,2014
In the Office of the Clerk of Court
WA State Court of Appeals, Division III
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
DIVISION THREE
STATE OF WASHINGTON, )
) No. 31027-2-111
Respondent, )
)
v. )
)
THOMAS ROBERT HUDLOW, ) UNPUBLISHED OPINION
)
Appellant. )
FEARING, J. -Thomas Hudlow appeals from his conviction for delivery of a
controlled substance. He assigns numerous errors, but we only address two of the
claimed errors, the harmful admission of hearsay and the sufficiency ofthe evidence. We
reverse the conviction and remand for a new trial because the trial court admitted
testimonial hearsay in violation of the confrontation clause and evidence rules. We rule
that the hearsay was prejudicial because, based upon a jury instruction, the State needed
to prove that Hudlow knew he was selling methamphetamine, not just a controlled
substance. The evidence as to Hudlow's knowledge of the nature of substance is not
overwhelming. We also address Hudlow's contention of insufficient evidence to convict
No. 31027-2-III
State v. Hudlow
him, since we would need to dismiss the charges if he was correct. We rule there was
sufficient evidence and thus remand for a new trial rather than dismiss.
FACTS
Thomas Hudlow was convicted of selling methamphetamine based on a sting
operation by the Tri-City Metro Drug Task Force. On the afternoon of February 25,
2011, a confidential informant and Hudlow agreed to meet in a parking lot shared by
Winco and Jack in the Box in Kennewick, to conduct an illicit transaction. As planned,
the informant then purchased a controlled substance from Hudlow.
The Metro Drug Task Force performed standard procedures leading to the
controlled buy. Task Force detectives viewed a photograph of Thomas Hudlow to
identifY the target ofthe operation. Detectives Todd Carlson and Berry Duty searched
the confidential informant to ensure he or she did not already possess drugs. Detective
Carlson gave the informant $110 with which to purchase methamphetamine from
Hudlow.
In route to the controlled buy, the confidential informant and Detective Todd
Carlson rode in an unmarked police car driven by Detective Berry Duty. From the back
seat of the car, the informant called someone on his or her cell phone. Todd Carlson
overheard this conversation and his testimony concerning the conversation gives rise to
one of the assigned errors. At trial, the following colloquy occurred between the State
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No. 31027-2-II1
State v. Hudlow
and Carlson:
Q Based on the information that you received, did you witness a
phone call shortly before this purchase of methamphetamine from this
defendant?
A I did.
Q And what arrangements did you understand had been made?
[Defense counsel]: Based on hearsay.
[Prosecution]: Not being admitted for the truth. It's
being admitted on how he contacted.
[Defense counsel]: Still hearsay.
[Court]: Sustained. He can indicate what he observed.
[Prosecution]: (Continuing)
Q There was a phone call; is that right?
A Correct.
Q And did you listen in on that phone call?
A I did.
Q Were arrangements made to purchase drugs?
A Correct.
Q Were arrangements made to purchase a specific drug?
A Correct.
Q What was that drug specifically?
A Specifically the drug that was intended to be purchased on
this day was methamphetamine.
Q Were arrangements made to purchase that specific drug at a
specific place?
A It was.
Q What was that place?
A That specific place was the Jack in the Box located on West
Clearwater Avenue in Kennewick.
Q And subsequently were arrangements made to have that
transaction occur at a specific time?
A It was.
Q And what was that time?
A Somewhere around 1430 hours.
Q 2:30 in the afternoon on February 25th, right?
A Correct.
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No. 31027-2-III
State v. Hudlow
Report of Proceedings (RP) at 15-16.
Under cross-examination, Detective Carlson further testified:
Q How many people were in that vehicle?
A Three.
Q And is it in that vehicle that a phone call was placed?
A It was.
Q You didn't actually observe the number dialed?
A No, I did not.
Q You did not specifically hear the context of the phone call just
the nature of the phone call; is that a fair statement?
A That's fair.
Q In your report you do not indicate any of the specific words or
conversation that took place?
A No, I do not.
Q So in your police report you don't differentiate whether or not
the request was meet me at the Jack in the Box or can you meet me where
we usually meet or anything of that nature, correct?
A No, the location had already been set.
Q Prior to the phone call?
A Yes, I believe so.
Q And you were not privy to that phone call?
A No, I was not.
Q So the nature of that phone call was just are you on your way,
are you coming, something like that?
A Correct.
Q And if [you] actually specifically heard the term or usage of
drug phrases like, hey, bring me a teener then you would have written that
down in your report, wouldn't you?
A Yeah, anything specific.
Q And that is not there?
A No.
RP at 64-65.
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NO.31027-2-III
State v. Hudlow
After the phone call, Detectives Todd Carlson and Berry Duty and the confidential
informant arrived at Winco at 2:49 p.m. The informant exited the unmarked car near
Winco.
Detective Carlson watched the confidential informant walk 300 to 500 yards from
Winco towards Jack in the Box. Police Detective Christopher Lee watched the
informant's conduct from an unmarked vehicle parked near Jack in the Box. Sergeant
Kirk Isakson watched from inside Jack in the Box. Isakson saw the informant walk
across the Jack in the Box parking lot and stop at an island. The informant waited for
Thomas Hudlow on the parking lot island for less than nine minutes.
From his vantage point, Sergeant Kirk Isakson viewed a white car enter the
parking lot. Isakson noticed the white car had a broken back left rear window and an
exterior spare tire. Both Isakson and Detective Christopher Lee recognized the white
car's driver as Thomas Hudlow.
Detectives Isakson and Lee continued their surveillance and saw the confidential
informant leave the island and enter Thomas Hudlow's car. Isakson testified at trial "the
CI and Mr. Hudlow looked like they were engaged in a little bit of conversation." RP at
95. Isakson further testified:
From the chest up to the head because I could see through the front
windshield and I could see the two were kind of looking down and I could
see the shoulder and hand kind of like moving back and forth. All that
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No. 31027-2-III
State v. Hudlow
happened over a matter of seconds and then the CI ended up shaking hands
and getting out and Mr. Hudlow left.
RP at 95. After a one minute interaction, the informant exited Hudlow's car and Hudlow
drove from the parking lot.
Methamphetamine typically sells for $10 per decigram or 0.1 grams. The
confidential informant paid $110. The substance Hudlow sold the informant weighed
1.28 grams including its packaging. Hudlow and the confidential informant shook hands
during the sale, indicating agreement.
After Thomas Hudlow drove from the parking lot, Kirk Isakson and Christopher
Lee watched the confidential informant walk from near Jack in the Box back to Winco.
The informant returned to Detectives Carlson and Duty'S unmarked car at 3:06 p.m., 17
minutes after he or she first exited the car. Upon returning to the police car, the
informant gave the detectives a small bag containing 1.28 grams of methamphetamine.
Todd Carlson again searched the confidential informant and did not recover the $110
earlier given to the informant.
PROCEDURE
The State charged Thomas Hudlow with delivering a controlled substance within
1,000 feet ofa school bus stop. Prior to trial, Hudlow moved to suppress Detective Todd
Carlson's testimony of the confidential informant's phone call on the road to the
controlled buy. The trial court declined to rule, stating, "I need to know exactly what the
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No. 31027-2-III
State v. Hudlow
question will be before I can rule on it." RP at 7. The confidential informant did not
testify at trial, so the participant in the conversation did not relate its content.
Jury instruction 10, given by the trial court, is critical to this appeal. The
instruction read:
To convict the defendant of the crime of delivery of a controlled
substance, each of the following elements of the crime must be proved
beyond a reasonable doubt:
(1) That on or about February 25, 2011 the defendant delivered a
controlled substance;
(2) That the defendant knew that the substance delivered was a
controlled substance methamphetamine; and
(3) That this act occurred in the State of Washington.
If you find from the evidence that each of these elements has been
proved beyond a reasonable doubt, then it will be your duty to return a
verdict of gUilty.
On the other hand, if, after weighing all the evidence, you have a
reasonable doubt as to anyone of these elements, then it will be your duty
to return a verdict of not guilty.
CP at 64 (emphasis added).
A jury found Hudlow guilty of delivering a controlled substance. The trial court
sentenced Hudlow to 38 months' confinement, 14 months for delivering
methamphetamine plus another 24 months as a school-zone sentence enhancement.
LAW AND ANALYSIS
HEARSAY
We first address the admissibility of and prejudice to Thomas Hudlow of
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No.31027-2-Ill
State v. Hudlow
Detective Todd Carlson's testimony concerning the conversation between the
confidential informant and Hudlow. The State contends that Detective Carlson overheard
Hudlow speak, so a hearsay analysis is not needed. The State also contends that the
testimony was admissible to show Detective Carlson's state of mind and, if erroneously
admitted, harmless error. Finally, the State argues that Hudlow may not object to the
testimony on appeal because his counsel failed to object at trial.
Detective Carlson's Testimony
We encounter difficulty parsing the testimony of Detective Carlson outlined above
and challenged by Thomas Hudlow. Often times, one present during testimony may
understand the import of the questions and answers because of the witness' and counsel's
tone of voice and mannerisms and other verbal clues, while another encounters difficulty
comprehending the same testimony when reading the trial transcript. Todd Carlson
overheard at least one conversation, during which the confidential informant spoke on the
phone. This conversation occurred during the drive to the Jack in the Box and during
which the confidential informant and Hudlow agreed to a time for the purchase. A
previous conversation likely occurred during which Hudlow and the informant agreed to
buy and sell methamphetamine at the Jack in the Box. We do not know if Detective
Carlson overheard the informant's side of this earlier conversation. But Carlson never
claimed to have heard Hudlow speak directly during any of the conversations that
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No. 31027~2-II1
State v. Hudlow
occurred. Thus, we conclude that any understanding of Todd Carlson as to an agreement
reached between Hudlow and the informant must be based upon what someone other than
Hudlow said. The testimony of Carlson as to any agreement is not permissible as an
admission against a party in interest under ER 801(d)(2).
Appealability of Hearsay Error
We will address the substance of Thomas Hudlow's assignment of error, despite
the State's argument that his counsel failed to object to Todd Carlson's testimony.
Counsel objected twice to the testimony. Counsel first remonstrated through a pretrial
motion in limine. Assuming he needed to object again because the trial court refused to
rule on the motion, he objected a second time when Carlson was asked as to his
understanding of the agreement. We would consider the merits of the assignment
anyway, because of the constitutional nature of the assignment and the rule that manifest
constitutional error may be asserted for the first time on appeal. RAP 2.5(a)(3); State v.
Neal, 144 Wn.2d 600,607,30 P.3d 1255 (2001). Also, since any failure to object was of
constitutional magnitude, we would hold that any failure to object to be ineffective
assistance of counsel. In re Pers. Restraint a/Gentry, 137 Wash. 2d 378, 400-01, 972 P.2d
1250 (1999).
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No. 31027-2-II1
State v. Hudlow
State Evidence Rules
We conclude Detective Todd Carlson's testimony was inadmissible hearsay.
Although he testified to his understanding of the agreement between Thomas Hudlow and
the confidential informant, his understanding was based upon what one or more persons,
other than Hudlow, told him. Also, Detective Carlson's "understanding" was irrelevant
to any issue in the prosecution.
"Hearsay is a statement, other than one made by the declarant while testifYing at
the trial or hearing, offered in evidence to prove the truth of the matter asserted." ER
80I(c). Unless an exception or exclusion applies, hearsay is inadmissible. ER 802. The
use of hearsay impinges upon a defendant's constitutional right to confront and cross-
examine witnesses. Neal, 144 Wash. 2d at 607.
The State argued to the trial court that Todd Carlson's testifYing to the
conversation between Thomas Hudlow and the confidential informant was not offered to
prove the truth of the matter asserted but to explain how "he contacted." Thus, the State
sought to introduce the testimony through ER 803 (a)(3), to show the existing mental
condition of Detective Carlson. We are confused as to who "he" is in the context of the
prosecutor's comments. Nevertheless, we know that Todd Carlson never heard Thomas
Hudlow say that he intended to sell to the informant and probably never even heard the
informant agree to a purchase. Regardless, the State has not explained the relevance of
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No. 31027-2-II1
State v. Hudlow
Carlson's mental condition. Whether Thomas Hudlow sold to the confidential informant
was the issue at trial, and the state of mind of a law enforcement officer had no bearing
on the issue. Thus, the testimony remains hearsay.
"A statement is not hearsay if it is used only to show the effect on the listener,
without regard to the truth ofthe statement." State v. Edwards, 131 Wash. App. 611, 614,
128 PJd 631 (2006) (emphasis added). Out-of- court declarations made to a law
enforcement officer may be admitted to demonstrate the officer's or the declarant's state
of mind only if their state of mind is relevant to a material issue in the case; otherwise,
such declarations are hearsay. State v. Johnson, 61 Wash. App. 539, 545, 811 P.2d 687
(1991); State v. Aaron, 57 Wash. App. 277, 279-81, 787 P .2d 949 (1990); State v. Stamm,
16 Wash. App. 603, 610-12, 559 P.2d 1 (1976). Hearsay is always hearsay, but admissible
hearsay, like relevance, depends on the issues in the case.
Several analogous decisions compel a conclusion that Todd Carlson's testimony
was inadmissible hearsay. In State v. Lowrie, 14 Wn. App. 408,542 P.2d 128 (1975), a
detective testified that an informant told him the defendant was involved in the crimes
that were the subject of the prosecution. Although the trial court indicated that the
testimony was not admitted for the truth of the matter asserted, but only to show that the
statement was made and that it in tum resulted in police action, the appellate court held
the statement was inadmissible hearsay. The court reasoned that neither the making of
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No. 31027-2-111
State v. Hudlow
the statement by the informant nor the resultant police action was relevant to any issue in
the case, except to prove the truth of the matter asserted.
In Aaron, 57 Wash. App. at 279-81, an officer testified to an out-of-court declaration
made by a police dispatcher. The court reasoned that if the legality of the search and
seizure was being challenged, the information available to the officer as the basis for his
action would be relevant and material. Nevertheless, the officer's state of mind in
reacting to the information he learned from the dispatcher was not at issue and did not
make determination of the action more probable or less probable than it would be without
the evidence.
I
In Johnson, 61 Wash. App. 539, an officer testified to information from a
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confidential informant recorded in a search warrant affidavit. The State argued that the
lieutenant's testimony was not offered to prove the truth of the matter asserted, but only
I
to show the officer's state of mind at the time the search warrant was executed. The
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defendant did not challenge the validity or execution of the search warrant, so the
lieutenant's state of mind in executing it was therefore not at issue.
Most on point is Edwards, 131 Wash. App. at 614, in which a detective testified that
he initiated his investigation of the defendant based on the statements of a confidential
informant. Thus, the state argued this testimony was not offered to prove the truth of the
confidential informant's statement to the detective, but only to explain why the detective
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No.31027-2-Ill
State v. Hudlow
began to investigate that particular person. The Edwards court ruled the statement
inadmissible hearsay because it was only relevant if offered for its truth, since the
detective's motive for starting his investigation "was not an issue in controversy."
Edwards, 131 Wash. App. at 614.
Todd Carlson never repeated verbatim what either the confidential informant or
someone else told him. Thus, the State could argue that Detective Carlson's testimony
was not hearsay since no one's statement was repeated in court. But Johnson, 61 Wn.
App. 539, discussed above, demands an opposite conclusion.
In Johnson, the lieutenant did not testify to the contents of the informant's
statement, but the trial court allowed testimony, based on the statement that he had reason
to suspect the appellant was involved in drug trafficking. The Washington Court of
Appeals noted that cases from other jurisdictions have held that a law enforcement
officer's testimony concerning an informant's or eyewitness's statement is inadmissible
hearsay even where the officer does not repeat the contents of the statement, but only
testifies that the statement led police to investigate or arrest the defendant. See State v.
Irving, 114 N.J. 427, 555 A.2d 575, 584-86 (1989); State v. Hardy, 354 N.W.2d 21, 23
(Minn. 1984); Postell v. State, 398 So. 2d 851, 854 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1981); Favre v.
Henderson, 464 F.2d 359 (5th Cir. 1972). The Johnson court held that where the
inescapable inference from the testimony is that a nontestifying witness has furnished the
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No. 31027-2-III
State v. Hudlow
police with evidence of the defendant's guilt, the testimony is hearsay, notwithstanding
that the actual statements made by the nontestifying witness are not repeated. Johnson,
61 Wash. App. at 547.
Detective Carlson's testimony is hearsay if offered to prove that the confidential
informant and Thomas Hudlow arranged to meet at the Jack in the Box for Hudlow to sell
the informant methamphetamine at about 2:30 p.m., on February 25. The State argues
that many of these details are unimportant and "what is important is that [Hudlow]
confirmed that he was coming to meet the confidential informant for the drug deal, a fact
directly heard by Detective Carlson." Br. of Resp't at 6. We question whether Carlson
even heard what the confidential informant said, but he never heard what Hudlow said.
By its argument, the State impliedly concedes that Carlson's testimony is relevant only if
offered to prove Hudlow planned to sell the illicit drugs and that Detective Carlson
learned these facts by hearing the informant's out-of-court statements. While the State
rephrased its questions to avoid direct quotations from the informant, Carlson's testimony
still only echoed what he may have heard the informant utter. "Inadmissible evidence is
not made admissible by allowing the substance of a testifying witness's evidence to
incorporate out of court statements by a declarant who does not testify." State v.
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I Martinez, 105 Wash. App. 775, 782, 20 P.3d 1062 (2001), overruled on other grounds by
I
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State v. Rangel-Reyes, 119 Wash. App. 494, 499 n.l, 81 P.3d 157 (2003). The State
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No. 31027-2-111
State v. Hudlow
offered the informant's out-of-court statements, through Carlson's testimony, for no other
purpose than to show that Hudlow and the informant agreed to meet for Hudlow to sell
the confidential informant methamphetamine.
This court reviews many evidentiary decisions for manifest abuse of discretion.
State v. Bourgeois, 133 Wn.2d 389,399,945 P.2d 1120 (1997). Nevertheless, this court
reviews whether or not a statement was hearsay de novo. Neal, 144 Wash. 2d at 607. We
conclude that Todd Carlson's testimony was inadmissible as hearsay under Washington
evidence rules. To assess the scope of this error, and determine which harmless error
analysis should apply, we reach Thomas Hudlow's assertion that the testimony's
admission also violated his rights under the confrontation clause.
Confrontation Clause and Testimonial Hearsay
In addition to violating the hearsay rule, the testimony of Detective Carlson
violated the constitutional confrontation clause. This court also reviews de novo "an
alleged violation of the confrontation clause." State v. Jasper, 174 Wn.2d 96,108,271
P.3d 876 (2012). Under the Sixth Amendment's confrontation clause, "[i]n all criminal
prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right ... to be confronted with the witnesses
against him." U.S. CONST. amend. VI. Even hearsay with an applicable exception
becomes inadmissible in violation of the clause ifit is testimonial hearsay. Davis v.
Wash., 547 U.S. 813, 126 S. Ct. 2266, 165 L. Ed. 2d 224 (2006).
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No.31027-2-II1
State v. Hudlow
A declarant's out-of-court statement is testimonial if, in the absence of an ongoing
emergency, "the primary purpose of the interrogation is to establish or prove past events
potentially relevant to later criminal prosecution." Davis, 547 U.S. at 822. The
admission of testimonial hearsay statements of a witness who does not appear at a
criminal trial violates the confrontation clause of the Sixth Amendment unless (1) the
witness is unavailable to testify and (2) the defendant had a prior opportunity for cross-
examination. Crawfordv. Wash., 541 U.S. 36, 53-54,124 S. Ct. 1354, 158 L. Ed. 2d 177
(2004); State v. Beadle, 173 Wn.2d 97,107,265 P.3d 863 (2011); 5C KARLB. TEGLAND,
WASHINGTON PRACTICE: EVIDENCE LAW AND PRACTICE, § 1300.8, at 498 (5th ed. 2007).
Before addressing the two exceptions permitting introduction of testimonial
hearsay, we must first determine if the confidential informant's remarks sought to be
introduced were "testimonial." Crawford, the leading United States Supreme Court
decision on the subject, did not comprehensively define "testimonial," but it provided
some guidance to lower courts. State v. Chambers, 134 Wash. App. 853, 860, 142 P.3d 668
(2006). Crawford's few definitions of "testimonial" all contemplate formal statements
given to police to help their investigations or formal testimony in a court setting. See
Crawford, 541 U.S. at 51-52. Crawford specifically distinguished these formal
I
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statements from casual remarks. Chambers, 134 Wash. App. at 862.
,
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No. 31027-2-III
State v. Hudlow
In Chambers, our court summarized three nonexclusive definitions for
"testimonial" offered by Crawford:
(1) ex parte in-court testimony or its functional equivalent, such as
affidavits, custodial examinations, and prior testimony that the defendant
was unable to cross-examine; (2) extrajudicial statements contained in
formalized testimonial materials, such as affidavits, depositions, prior
testimony, or confessions; and (3) statements made under circumstances
that would lead an objective witness reasonably to believe that the
statement would be available for use at a later trial.
Chambers, 134 Wash. App. at 860-61 (citing Crawford, 541 U.S. at 51-52). We find that
the third definition applies in this appeal. Under the circumstances of a controlled buy, a
reasonable confidential informant would believe his or her statement would further police
I
investigations toward~ future criminal prosecutions and specifically that such statements
I
"would be available for use at a later trial." Chambers, 134 Wash. App. at 861.
Chambers, despite the opposite outcome, is illustrative. William Chambers
I purchased methamphetamine through an intermediary. Chambers, with his friend Jeremy
Drouin, drove to a known methamphetamine dealer's home for Chambers to purchase
drugs. Fortuitously, undercover officers were present at the home executing a search
warrant, by which they had confiscated methamphetamine. Chambers sent Drouin to the
home's front door, as Chambers sat in his car. An enterprising officer answered the door
and asked Drouin whether he "had the money." Drouin replied that he "had the money,"
and asked how much "it was?" The inventive officer said a "teener" cost $80, and
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No. 31027-2-111
State v. Hudlow
Drouin walked back to the van. Drouin obtained the purchase price from Chambers and
returned to the home's front door to finalize the transaction.
On appeal, Chambers asserted his confrontational clause rights were violated
when the State introduced, through the undercover officer, the remarks made by Jeremy
Drouin to the officer. Our court rejected the argument since the hearsay was not
"testimonial" in nature. Drouin did not know he spoke to a law enforcement officer.
Thus, he had no expectation that his comments would be used to further a criminal
investigation. Contrary to the Chambers facts, the out of court statement to Detective
Todd Carlson was from a confidential informant who knew he was participating in a
criminal investigation. An informant knows or should know that anything he or she says
can and will be used against the target of the controlled buy.
Since we conclude the hearsay on appeal is testimonial hearsay, we must complete
the confrontational clause analysis. The State has not shown that the confidential
informant was unavailable to testify at trial. Also, Thomas Hudlow had no prior
opportunity to cross-examine the informant. Thus, the trial court admitted testimonial
hearsay in violation of Hudlow's right to confront witnesses against him.
Harmless Error Analysis
Since we rule that Detective Carlson's testimony was inadmissible, we must next
decide if the error in admitting the testimony was harmless or prejudicial. The admission
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No. 31027-2-II1
State v. Hudlow
of the evidence raises confrontation clause concerns. See, generally, Crawford, 541 U.S.
36. A constitutional error is harmless if the appellate court is assured beyond a
reasonable doubt that the jury verdict is unattributable to the error. State v. Anderson,
171 Wash. 2d 764, 770, 254 P .3d 815 (2011). This court employs the'" overwhelming
untainted evidence'" test and looks to the untainted evidence to determine if it is so
overwhelming that it necessarily leads to a finding of guilt. Anderson, 171 Wash. 2d at 770
(quoting State v. Guloy, 104 Wn.2d 412,426, 705 P.2d 1182 (1985)).
Thomas Hudlow argues that the State did not prove beyond a reasonable doubt
that he knew the substance he delivered to the confidential informant was
methamphetamine. He also contends that, because jury instruction 10 specified that the
jury must find he delivered methamphetamine, the State, under the law of the case
doctrine, needed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he specifically knew the
substance he delivered was methamphetamine. According to Hudlow, if we exclude the
testimonial hearsay from Detective Carlson, the State's remaining evidence only shows
that the confidential informant made a call, Hudlow parked near Jack in the Box, and the
informant gave police a package containing methamphetamine. Hudlow contends this
evidence does not support a finding beyond a reasonable doubt that he knew the package
contained methamphetamine. We agree.
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No. 31027-2-III
State v. Hudlow
Ordinarily, to be guilty of delivery of a controlled substance, the accused need
only know that the substance was a controlled substance. State v. Nunez-Martinez, 90
Wash. App. 250, 255-56, 951 P.2d 823 (1998). He need not know the nature of the
forbidden substance. If this general rule controlled our decision, we would hold that the
hearsay testimony from Detective Todd Carlson was harmless. But under the law of the
case doctrine, the State assumes the burden of proving otherwise unnecessary elements of
the offense when such added elements are included without objection in the "to convict"
instruction. State v. Hickman, 135 Wash. 2d 97, 102,954 P.2d 900 (1998). In tum, on
appeal, a defendant may challenge the sufficiency of evidence of an element in the "to
convict" instruction, even if that element is not part of the underlying statute. Hickman,
135 Wash. 2d at 102; State v. Ong, 88 Wash. App. 572, 577-78,945 P.2d 749 (1997).
Here, the trial court instructed the jury, without objection, that to convict Thomas
Hudlow it must find "[t]hat the defendant knew that the substance delivered was a
controlled substance methamphetamine." CP at 64. Thus, the State assumed the burden
of proving Hudlow specifically knew the substance he delivered was methamphetamine.
Hudlow likens this case to Ong. In Ong, the State accused Steven Ong of giving a
morphine tablet to a child. Like here, the law of the case doctrine operated to require the
state to prove Ong knew the tablet was morphine. The State presented evidence of, (1)
Ong's five felony convictions; (2) Ong's drug paraphernalia of syringes, a straw,
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No. 31027-2-II1
State v. Hudlow
smoking device, and cotton; (3) the small numbers marked on the tablets; (4) his
testimony that he knew the pills were "pain medication"; (5) his testimony that he stole
the pills; and (6) his flight to Bremerton, showing consciousness of guilt. But nothing in
this evidence pointed to knowledge that the substance was morphine rather than any other
controlled substance. Thus, even viewing this evidence in a light most favorable to the
state, it was insufficient to support Ong's conviction for delivery of a controlled
substance. Ong, 88 Wash. App. at 577-78.
The State argues that specific criminal intent may be inferred where a defendant's
conduct plainly indicates the requisite intent as a matter of logical probability, citing State
v. Stearns, 61 Wash. App. 224, 229,810 P.2d 41 (1991). The State points to Thomas
Hudlow's behavior, the location and duration of the meeting, the confidential infonnant's
acquisition of methamphetamine, and the informant's loss of buy funds to show Hudlow
knew he had methamphetamine. But like Ong, this evidence only shows that Hudlow
intentionally sold methamphetamine. The evidence does not point to knowledge that the
substance was methamphetamine rather than any other controlled substance. The only
evidence that directly ties Thomas Hudlow to knowledge of methamphetamine is the
testimony of Detective Todd Carlson's understanding that the confidential infonnant and
Thomas Hudlow agreed to buy and sell the specific illicit item. Therefore, Carlson's
testimony was both violative of Hudlow's right to confront witnesses and hannful.
21
I
I No. 31027-2-111
State v. Hudlow
1
SUFFICIENCY OF EVIDENCE
Although we rule that the untainted evidence was not strong enough to overcome
the harmless error analysis, we disagree with Thomas Hudlow that the evidence, after
excluding the inadmissible hearsay, was not sufficient to convict him. Therefore, we
remand for a new trial, rather than dismiss the prosecution.
Evidence is sufficient to support a jury's verdict if, after viewing the evidence in
the light most favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have found the
essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S.
307,319, 99 S. Ct. 2781, 61 L. Ed. 2d 560 (1979); State v. Green, 94 Wn.2d 216,221,
616 P.2d 628 (1980). This standard is nearly the reverse of the constitutional harmless
error standard. We may not consider, however, inadmissible hearsay when determining
whether the trial testimony is sufficient for a conviction. State v. Nation, 110 Wn. App.
651,666,41 P.3d 1204 (2002); State v. Lewis, 04-1074 (La. App. 5 Cir. 10/06/05); 916
l So. 2d 294); McCrary v. State, 124 Ga. App. 649, 185 S.E.2d 586,587 (1971).
I
t
The jury convicted Thomas Hudlow of delivering methamphetamine in violation
ofRCW 69.50AOl(1)(2)(b), which reads:
1
I [I]t is unlawful for any person to manufacture, deliver, or possess with
intent to manufacture or deliver, a controlled substance.
I
Any person who violates this section with respect to ...
methamphetamine, including its salts, isomers, and salts of isomers,
is guilty of a class B felony.
I 22
1
I
t
No. 31027-2-III
State v. Hudlow
Thomas Hudlow claims that State v. Mace, 97 Wash. 2d 840, 842-43,650 P.2d 217
(1982), requires dismissal of the delivery charge since the State presented no direct
evidence that he knew he delivered methamphetamine. In Mace, the State charged Mace
with burglary for entering a home and stealing bank cards. The State presented evidence
that police found a receipt and bag that bore Mace's fingerprints near a cash machine
where the stolen bank cards were used, but no evidence connected Mace to the burgled
home. While this evidence likely sufficed to show receipt of stolen property, the court
held it was insufficient to support the burglary conviction, noting "[t]here was no direct
evidence, only inferences, that he had committed second degree burglary by entering the
premises in Richland." Mace, 97 Wash. 2d at 843.
Mace is based upon the rule that proof of possession of recently stolen property,
unless accompanied by other evidence of guilt, is not prima facie evidence of burglary.
Thus, its requirement of direct proof does not fit a prosecution for delivery of controlled
substances.
To sustain charges of delivery of a controlled substance, the State need not present
direct evidence. "The elements of a crime may be established by either direct or
circumstantial evidence, and one type of evidence is no more or less trustworthy than the
other." Rangel-Reyes, 119 Wash. App. at 499; Green, 94 Wash. 2d at 220. Circumstantial
evidence in this case showed Hudlow knew he delivered methamphetamine.
23
No. 31027-2-III
State v. Hudlow
The strongest evidence of knowledge is the price Thomas Hudlow accepted in
exchange for the small package. Detective Carlson testified methamphetamine typically
sells for $10 per decigram (0.1 grams), and, for the controlled buy, Carlson handed the
confidential informant $110. The substance Hudlow sold the informant weighed 1.28
grams including its packaging. Hudlow and the informant shook hands indicating
agreement. Based on Hudlow accepting a price suitable for the amount of
methamphetamine sold, the jury could reasonably infer that Hudlow knew the substance
delivered was methamphetamine.
Thomas Hudlow also claims an insufficiency of evidence showing he gave the
methamphetamine to the confidential informant. Substantial evidence shows to the
contrary. Detective Carlson searched the confidential informant, before the drive to
Winco, and watched him or her walk from Winco towards Jack in the Box. Detective
Lee parked in between Winco and Jack in the Box. From there, Lee also watched the
informant walk from Winco towards Jack in the Box to arrive at the parking lot island
where the informant met Hudlow. Between Detectives Carlson and Lee, the confidential
informant was always in sight. After being searched, the informant had no opportunity to
recover previously hidden drugs.
Both Detectives Kirk Isakson and Christopher Lee saw the confidential informant
leave the island and enter Thomas Hudlow's car. Both detectives identified Hudlow as
24
I
No. 31027-2-III
State v. Hudlow
the car's driver. Isakson saw Hudlow and the informant exchange small items, but could
not see what they exchanged. Hudlow and the informant shook hands, the informant
exited Hudlow's car, and then Hudlow drove away. Isakson and Lee watched the
I confidential informant walk from Jack in the Box back towards Winco. The confidential
informant had no opportunity to obtain the methamphetamine from any other source than
Hudlow.
The informant returned to Detectives Carlson and Duty and gave them the small
package containing methamphetamine. Carlson again searched the informant and did not
recover the $110. While no witness testified he or she directly saw Hudlow sell the
confidential informant methamphetamine, the circumstantial evidence is overwhelming.
OTHER ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR
Thomas Hudlow also argues the prosecution engaged in misconduct during the
closing argument and that the trial court erroneously imposed legal financial obligations
and community custody requirements upon him. Because we reverse on other grounds,
we do not address the purported misconduct. Because we remand for a new trial, we do
not address any sentencing errors.
CONCLUSION
Sufficient evidence, unrelated to the impermissible hearsay, supports the jury's
verdict, but this evidence is not overwhelming. Therefore, the admission of testimonial
25
No. 31027-2-111
State v. Hudlow
hearsay was harmful. Based on the evidentiary error, we reverse and remand for a new
triaL
A majority of the panel has determined this opinion will not be printed in the
Washington Appellate Reports, but it will be filed for public record pursuant to
RCW 2.06.040.
---'2 . /)
J~ '-1.
Fearing, J. 1
WE CONCUR:
Brown, J.
~.,C
Siddoway, C.J. F
26