State Of Washington, V Joshua M. Wingate ( 2013 )

9 EL E- !
COURT OF APPEA S
2013 APP 23 12: 02
ASHN TOa
2 Y.
CAFF .. \
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTO.
DIVISION II
STATE OF WASHINGTON, No. 42857 1 II
- -
Respondent,
FM
JOSHUA MATTHEW WINGATE,
HUNT, J. — Joshua Matthew Wingate appeals the trial court's denial of his CrR 7.
8
motion to vacate his two second degree assault convictions almost one year after our mandate
issued following his first appeal. He argues that ( he received ineffective assistance when ( )
1) a
his trial counsel failed to request a lesser included jury instruction on unlawful display of a
weapon, and (b) previous appellate counsel failed to raise the same claiuring Wingate's
his - --
first direct appeal; and ( ) trial court erred in concluding at the recent CrR 7. hearing that it
2 the 8
would have denied a lesser included instruction at trial even if counsel had requested one. The
State cross -appeals the trial court's denial of its motion to transfer Wingate's CrR 7. motion to
8
the court of appeals as a personal restraint petition (PRP) under CrR 7. (
c)(arguing that
2),
8
Wingate's CrR 7. motion
8 was untimely.
No. 42857 1 II
- -
We hold that Wingate's CrR 7. motion was timely, the trial court did not err in denying
8
the State's motion to transfer Wingate's CrR 7. motion as a PRP, and Wingate fails to show that
8
he received ineffective assistance of trial and appellate counsel. We affirm.
FACTS
I. ORIGINAL CONVICTIONS AND SENTENCES FOR ASSAULTS
In 2001, a jury convicted Joshua Matthew Wingate of one count of first degree assault
and two counts of second degree assault with firearm sentencing enhancements. In his first
appeal, we described the facts underlying his convictions as follows:
On June 21, 2001, Stephen Park discovered that his good friend, James
Koo, was dating Park's former girlfriend, Elizabeth Kim. Park called Koo and
told him he was "[ c] oming down" to Koo's house to confront him about his
involvement with Kim. Three of Park's friends, Joseph Feist, Chad Scott, and
Marco Poydras, followed Park to Koo's house. Park had in mind that he might
get into a fight with Koo.
Wingate had been at an internet cafe playing computer games with friends.
A friend told Wingate that Park was going to Koo's house "to pick a fight over
Elizabeth." Wingate, who had a concealed weapons permit, took his handgun
and went to "see what was going on"at Koo's house. Wingate knew of Park's
reputation for violence and using weapons. When Wingate arrived, only Koo was
present.
When Parkarrived, - there were approximately 10 to 15 people at Koo s -
- "
house. According to Wingate, Park pulled a sawed off shotgun from the trunk of
-
his car, cocked it, andput it back into the trunk, leaving the trunk lid open.
Koo saw Park "pump"something from his trunk and put something in his
back pocket before leaving his car to pursue him (Koo).Park denied having a
shotgun or any other weapon. Nonetheless, Koo believed that Park intended to
shoot him. When Koo refused to face Park or to let Park confront him, Park
became frustrated and began chasing Koo around a truck parked in Koo's
driveway. When Kim tried to stop Park, he pushed her to the ground.
Wingate saw Feist, Scott, and Poydras standing by Park's car while Park
was chasing Koo; Wingate thought the three men were "guarding" Park's open
trunk and the sawed off shotgun inside. Believing that Park was "getting out of
-
control,"Wingate approached the three men guarding Park's trunk, pulled out
s
Wingate does not challenge his first degree assault conviction in the instant appeal.
2
No. 42857 1 II
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his gun to scare them so he could retrieve Park's shotgun and remove it from
Park's reach, and told them to move away from the car..After the trio obliged,
Wingate removed the shotgun from Park's trunk.
Park saw Wingate pointing a gun at his three friends, went.over to the car,
and challenged Wingate. Feist pulled a large black gun from his waistband.
Wingate threatened to shoot if Feist did not drop the gun; Feist put his gun in
Park's still open trunk, and Wingate's friend took Park's shotgun from Wingate.
-
Wingate pointed the gun at Park's chest, told Park that he (Park)and his friends
were "acting like a bunch of little kids," explained that Koo did not want to
and
fight. Park retorted that the matter was none of Wingate's business.
Park understood that Wingate was pointing the gun at him in an attempt to
persuade him to leave Koo alone and to leave the scene. But instead of leaving, .
or at least retreating, Park advanced toward Wingate, taunting, What are you
"
going to do? You going to shoot me ?" Thinking that Park was pulling a gun
from the back of his waistband, Wingate lowered his gun away from Park's chest
and shot him in the leg.
State v. Wingate,.123 Wn. App. 415, 417 19, 98 P. d 111 ( 2004) alteration in original),
- 3 (
reversed in part by 155 Wn. d 817, 122 P. d 908 (2005)emphasis added).
2 3 (
The trial court imposed concurrent exceptional downward sentences, totaling 120 months
of confinement (10 years). The trial court denied the State's motion to reconsider Wingate's
exceptional downward sentences, but it did correct the sentences to run the firearm
enhancements consecutively, resulting in 192 months ( 16 years) of total confinement. See
Wingate, 123 Wn. App.at 420 21,n. ,6.
- 4
H. FIRST APPEAL; REMAND TO RECONSIDER EXCEPTIONAL SENTENCE
The State appealed Wingate's exceptional downward sentence. Wingate cross -appealed
all three of his assault convictions, arguing that ( ) trial court erred in giving a first-
1 the aggressor
jury instruction, 2)trial counsel had rendered ineffective assistance in failing to propose an
(
3
No. 42857 1 II
- -
actual danger"jury instruction, 3)the evidence was insufficient to support his convictions,
(
and (4)prosecutorial misconduct prejudiced his case. State v. Wingate, noted at 133 Wn. App.
review
1027 ( 2006), denied, 160 Wn. d 1003 ( 2007). We rejected his insufficient evidence
2
claim but agreed that it was error for the trial court to have given the first-
aggressor instruction;
we reversed all three convictions and remanded for a new trial,without addressing the remaining
issues. Wingate, 123 Wn.App. at 423 24.
-
The Supreme Court reversed our holding that the first-
aggressor instruction was error,
thus reinstating Wingate's convictions; the Court remanded the case to us to address his
remaining appellate issues. Wingate, 155 Wn. d at 823 24.
2 - Rejecting Wingate's ineffective
assistance of trial counsel claim, we affirmed his convictions and remanded to the trial court for
reconsideration of his exceptional downward sentences and for possible resentencing. State v.
Wingate, noted at 133 Wn. App. 1027. The Supreme .Court denied Wingate's petition for
review. On May 8,2007, we issued a mandate terminating review.
III. REMAND; INTERIM SECOND APPEAL
remand, -Wingate moved the trial treat - his
I
At the hearing on -- court - sentencing
enhancements as "deadly weapon,"
rather than " irearm,"
f enhancements. Clerk's Papers (CP)at
188. The trial court found that there was no evidence of any other weapon used during the
commission of the crimes, and it denied this motion. The trial court considered our decision in
Wingate, noted at 133 Wn.App. 1027, and left intact Wingate's previous exceptional sentences.
2
Wingate did not include in his ineffective assistance of trial counsel claim that defense counsel
had failed to request a lesser included jury instruction on unlawful display of a weapon. He later
raised that argument for the first time in his CrR 7. motion to vacate, almost a year after we
8
remanded his case to the trial court following his first appeal. Wingate, noted at 133 Wn. App.
1027; Clerk's Papers (CP)at 258.
No. 42857 1 II
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Wingate appealed the trial court's denial of his sentencing motion; we affirmed. State v.
Wingate, noted at 148 Wn. App. 108 (2009),
review denied, 169 Wn. d 1007 (2010). On July
2
20, 2010, we again issued a mandate terminating review.
IV. CrR 7. COLLATERAL ATTACK; THIRD APPEAL
8
Back in the trial court almost a year later, on June 10, 2011, Wingate moved under CrR
7. to vacate his two second degree assault convictions and firearm sentencing enhancements.
8
He argued in the alternative that ( ) trial counsel had rendered ineffective assistance in failing
1 his
to request a lesser included offense jury instruction for unlawful display of a weapon, or (2)
his
appellate counsel had rendered ineffective assistance in failing to raise this error in Wingate's
first appeal. The State argued that Wingate's CrR 7. motion was untimely and moved to
8
transfer it to the court of appeals for treatment as a personal restraint petition ( RP).
P
The trial court denied the State's motion to transfer, ruled that Wingate's CrR 7. motion
8
was timely, and addressed its merits. The trial court concluded that (1) motion was timely
the
because it was filed within one year of our July 20, 2010 mandate terminating review; 2)
( our
earlier MaY 8 - 2007 -
mandate following
g aPP eal was not the date that the
- gg
CrR 7. one year time limit; 3)
8 - ( Wingate had received effective representation at trial; 4)
( there
was insufficient evidence to warrant a jury instruction on unlawful display of a weapon as a
lesser included offense; and ( )
5 even if Wingate's trial counsel had requested such an instruction,
the trial court would have denied it. The trial court did not address Wingate's alternative
ineffective assistance of appellate counsel argument.
Wingate now appeals the trial court's denial of his CrR 7. motion. The State cross-
8
appeals the trial court's ruling that Wingate's CrR 7. motion was timely and its denial of the
8
5
No. 42857 1 II
- -
State's motion to transfer the motion to our court for treatment as a PRP. After the parties filed
their briefs in the instant appeal, our Supreme Court issued In re Pers. Restraint of Crace, 174
Wn. d 835, 280 P. d 1102 (2012).We requested supplemental briefing on the effect, if any, of
2 3
Crace on the issues pending in the instant appeal. We received the parties' supplemental briefs
in January 2013.
ANALYSIS
I. STATE'S CROSS APPEAL: TIMELINESS OF CrR 7. MOTION COLLATERAL ATTACK
8
The State argues that the trial court erred in (1)concluding that Wingate's CrR 7.
8
motion was timely, and (2)denying the State's motion to transfer Wingate's CrR 7. motion to
8
the court of appeals for treatment as a PRP. We disagree.
A. Standard of Review
We review a trial court's timeliness determination and a CrR 7. ruling for abuse of
8
discretion. State v. Perala, 132 Wn. App. 98, 111, 130 P. d 852, review denied, 158 Wn. d
3 2
1018 (2006)citing Kreidler v. Eikenberry, 111 Wn. d 828, 832, 766 P. d 438 (1989)). trial
,( 2 2 A
court - abuses its discretion when -it exercises -its --
- discretion in a manner -that is manifestly - - -- - -- ---
- -
unreasonable or based on untenable grounds. State v. Quismundo, 164 Wn. d 499, 504, 192
2
P. d 342 (2008).
3
B. Timeliness
A criminal defendant may collaterally attack his judgment and sentence within one year
3"
Collateral attack" means any form of postconviction relief other than a direct appeal. The
term includes, but is not limited to, a personal restraint petition, a habeas corpus petition, a
motion to'vacate judgment, a motion to withdraw guilty plea, a motion for a new trial, and a
motion to arrest judgment. RCW 10. 3.
090( 2
7 ).
2
No. 42857 1 II
- -
of its becoming final. In re Pers. Restraint of Skylstad, 160 Wn. d 944, 947 48, 162 P. d 413
2 - 3
2007).
RCW 10. 3.provides:
090
7
1) No petition or motion for collateral attack on a judgment and sentence in a
criminal case may be filed more than one year after the judgment becomes final if
the judgment and sentence is valid on its face and was rendered by a court of
competent jurisdiction.
3) For the purposes of this section, a judgment becomes final on the last
of the following dates:
a)The date it is filed with the clerk of the trial court;
b) The date that an appellate court issues its mandate disposing of a
timely direct appealfrom the conviction; or
c)The date that the United States Supreme Court denies a timely petition
for certiorari to review a decision affirming the conviction on direct appeal.
Emphasis added). In short, a judgment becomes final when review of both the conviction and
the sentence is terminated, i..,
e when all litigation on the merits ends. Skylstad, 160 Wn. d at
2
948 49. In a criminal proceeding, a final judgment "`
- ends the litigation, leaving nothing for the
court to do but execute the judgment "'; if the trial court still has to determine a sentence,
however, then there is something more for the court to do than simply to execute the judgment.
Skylstad, 160 Wn. d at 949 (internal quotation marks omitted) quoting State v. Taylor, 150
2 (
Wn. d 599, 601 02,80 P. d 605 (2003)).
2 - 3
The State argues that because the trial court refused to alter Wingate's original
exceptional sentence following our remand for ! possible
" resentencing, "' his original sentence
became final once the original mandate issued on May 8, 2007, despite that the remand hearing
had yet to occur. Br. of Resp't at 11 (quoting CP at 177).. disagree. A "`
We mandate disposing
of a timely direct appeal from the conviction, "' means the mandate that terminates review of
"
both conviction and sentence only then can the appeal be entirely disposed of."
= Skylstad, 160
Wn. d at 953 (quoting RCW 10. 3.We issued the May 8, 2007 mandate before the
2 b)).
090(
3)(
7
7
No. 42857 1 II
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trial court conducted the hearing on remand. Because there was a possibility of resentencing,
this mandate did not terminate review of both Wingate's convictions and sentences.
C. Denial of Transfer as PRP to Court of Appeals
CrR 7. (
c)(
2)
8 requires the trial court to transfer a CrR 7. motion to the Court of Appeals
8
for consideration as a personal restraint petition unless the trial court determines that (1)RCW
090
10. 3.does not bar the. motion as untimely; and (2)either (a)the defendant has made a
7
substantial showing that he is entitled to relief, or (b)resolution of the motion will require a
factual hearing. We have already affirmed the trial'court's ruling that Wingate timely filed his
CrR 7. motion; thus, the trial court was justified in denying the State's motion under the first
8
prong of the CrR 7. (
c)(
2)
8 transfer test.
But the record before us is silent with respect to the second prong of this CrR 7. (
c)(
2)
8
test: The record neither reflects an express trial court finding that Wingate had made a
substantial showing " that he was entitled to relief nor shows that the trial court conducted a
factual hearing on remand. The record does show, however, that the trial court conducted a
remand hearirrg at-
it-
addressed, and
which--, ultimately denied Wingate's argument that his
-
trial counsel had rendered ineffective assistance in failing to request a lesser included instruction.
4
CrR 7. (
c)(
2).
8
s
The State does not argue this latter point as a reason for holding that the trial court abused its
discretion in refusing to transfer Wingate's motion to the court of appeals as a PRP.
6
At the remand hearing, the trial court stated:
Here's what I think.... that I' going to find it this way: I would like to
I think m
reach the merits of this. I think that ... there was no ineffective assistance of
counsel. I will rule in favor of the defense.with respect to the timeliness issue.
That way you both have something to appeal. We will see what they have to say
about that.
Verbatim Report of Proceedings (VRP)Oct. 14, 2011) at 25 (emphasis added).
(
8
No. 42857 1 II
- -
As our analysis below demonstrates, the record is sufficient to show that both prongs of the CrR
c)(
7. ( were met and, therefore, this rule did not require the trial court to transfer the case
2)
8 test
to us as a PRP. We hold, therefore, that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying the
State's motion to transfer and in reaching the merits of Wingate's arguments.
II. WINGATE'S DIRECT APPEAL; EFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL .
,
Wingate argues that the trial court should have granted his CrR 7. motion to vacate his
8
two second degree assault convictions because (1) trial counsel was ineffective in failing to
his
request a lesser included offense jury instruction on unlawful display of a weapon; or ( in the
2)
alternative, his previous appellate counsel rendered ineffective assistance in failing to raise this
ineffective assistance of trial counsel argument in his first appeal. These arguments fail. The
State counters that, even if we reach the merits of Wingate's ineffective assistance claims, he
does not present a new claim for relief, but a reformulation of an old one that has previously
been rejected by the court."Br. of Resp't at 26. Ultimately, we agree with the State.
A. Standard of Review
I - - - -- Having already forth -
the of review of atrialcourt'
- s 7. ruling,we
8
only that CrR b)(allows
7. (
5)
8 us to grant relief from judgment for "` a] y other reason justifying
[ n
relief from the operation of the judgment "' and that "`
other reason "' here includes ineffective
assistance of counsel. State v. Martinez, 161 Wn. App. 436, 440 441, 253 P. d 445, alteration
- 3 (
in original) quoting
( CrR b)( review denied,
7. (
5)),
8 172 Wn. d 1011 ( 2011). A claim of
2
ineffective assistance of counsel is a mixed question of fact and law, which we review de novo.
Martinez, 161 Wn. App. at 441.
9
No. 42857 1 II
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B. New Grounds for Challenging Trial Counsel
The State is correct that a defendant may not raise an issue that he previously raised and
that the appellate court rejected on direct appeal unless the interests ofjustice require relitigation
of that issue. In re Pers. Restraint ofLord,.
123 Wn. d 296, 303, 868 P. d 835 (1994)citing In
2 2 (
re Pers. Restraint of Taylor, 105 Wn. d 683, 688, 717 755 (1986)). issue is considered
2 An
raised and rejected on direct appeal if the same ground was determined adversely in the appeal
and the prior determination was on the merits. In re Pers. Restraint of Davis, 152 Wn. d 647,
2
671 n.4, 101 P. d 1 (
1 3 2004) citing Taylor, 105
( Wn. d at
2 687). But where "doubts arise in
particular cases as to whether two grounds are different or the same, they should be resolved in
favor of the [defendant]."
Taylor, 105 Wn. d at 688. "[
2 G] round"means a distinct legal basis for
granting relief. Taylor, 105 Wn. d at 688.
2
In Wingate's first appeal, he claimed ineffective assistance of trial counsel based on
counsel's failure to propose an " ctual danger"jury instruction. Wingate, noted at 133 Wn. App.
a
1027, slip op. at 2. In the 'instant appeal, Wingate again claims ineffective assistance of trial
time, - he bases -his claim oil trial"counsel's failure to request a lesser -
Counsel; -
this however,
--
included offense jury instruction for unlawful display of a weapon. We agree with the State that
1)Wingate appears to be attempting to raise an ineffective assistance of trial counsel claim a
second time, based a second time on trial counsel's failure to request a jury instruction, albeit
asserting a different omitted instruction this time; and (2)case law precludes reformulation of
this claim, which we previously rejected, especially where, other than asserting ineffective
assistance of his first appellate counsel, Wingate does not explain why he could not have
included this newly asserted trial counsel failure as a basis for his ineffective assistance of trial
10
No. 42857 1 II
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counsel claim in his first appeal. See, e. .,
g Davis, 152 Wn. d at 671 n.4; Lord, 123 Wn. d at
2 1 2
303.
Nevertheless, an issue may become appealable if, as here, the trial court exercised its
independent judgment and ruled on a particular issue. State v. Barberio, 121 Wn. d 48, 50, 846
2
P. d 519 (1993)citing RAP 2. ( the trial court exercised its discretion on remand
2 ( c)(Here,
1)).
5
when it addressed ineffective assistance of trial counsel based on Wingate's failure to request the
lesser included instruction and ruled on his CrR 7. motion. Thus, it appears that the trial court's
8
ruling is appealable under RAP 2. (
c)(
1);
5 accordingly, we address the legal basis for this ruling
in the instant appeal, namely Wingate's ineffective assistance of counsel argument.
C. Effective Assistance of Counsel
To prevail on a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, trial or appellate, a defendant
must show that ( ) counsel's representation was deficient, falling below an objective standard
1 his
of reasonableness; and (2)the deficient performance prejudiced him. State v. Sutherby, 165
Wn. d 870, 883, 204 P. d 916 (2009) citing State v. McFarland, 127 Wn. d 322, 334 35,899
2 3 ( 2 -
P. d 1251 -1995)citing Strickland 6% 80 L.
2 -- ( ( 104 S. - 2052; -
Ct. Ed. -
A
2d 674 ( 1984))). petitioner's failure to prove either prong ends our inquiry. State v.
Hendrickson, 129 Wn. d 61, 78, 917 P. d 563 (1996). Because Wingate cannot show that he
2 2
was entitled to a lesser included instruction on display of a weapon, he fails to show that
7
RAP c)(provides: "If a trial court decision is otherwise properly before the appellate
2. (
1)
5
court, the appellate court may at the instance of a party review and determine the propriety of a
decision of the trial court even though a similar decision was not disputed in an earlier review of
the same case."
8
We note, however, that the trial court did not rule on Wingate's ineffective assistance of
appellate counsel claim; therefore, there is no trial court ruling on this issue for us to review.
Ultimately, however, this lack of trial court ruling on this claim is of no consequence here.
11
No. 42857 1 II
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previous trial and appellate counsel were deficient in performance or that such failure prejudiced
him.
A defendant is entitled to an instruction on a lesser included offense if 1)
( each element
of the lesser offense is necessarily included in the charged offense, and (2) evidence in the
the
case supports an inference that the defendant_
committed only the lesser crime. State v. Gamble,
168 Wn. d 161, 181, 225 P. d 973 (2010)citing State v. Workman, 90 Wn. d 443, 447 48, 584
2 3 ( 2 -
P. d 382 (1978)). facts of the instant case, however, do not rise to this level.
2 The
A person is guilty of second degree assault if he assaults another with a deadly weapon
under circumstances not amounting to first degree assault; a "[ d] weapon" includes any
eadly
loaded or unloaded firearm."RCW 9A. 6.
a),( 9A. 4.To convict a
021(
c); 6
1)( 0 ).
3 RCW 110(
defendant of second degree assault, the jury must find specific intent to create reasonable fear
"
and apprehension of bodily injury."State v. Ward, 125 Wn. App. 243, 248, 104 P. d 670 (2004)
3
citing State v. Byrd, 125 Wn. d 707, 713, 887 P. d 396 (1995)),
2 2 abrogated on other grounds by
State v. Grier, 171 Wn. d 17, 38, 3d 1260 (2011).A defendant's intent,however, may be
2 P.
pointing -
inferredfrom a gun; butnot from mere display. Ward; Wn App.248. - -- - - -- - - - --
- 1
To convict a defendant of unlawful display of a weapon, the State must prove that the
defendant
9
The legislature amended RCW 9A. 6.in the LAWS of 2011, ch. 166, § l;
021 3 LAWS of 2007,
ch. 79 § 2; LAWS of . ch. 12 § 355. These
2003, ch. 53 § 64; and LAWS of 2001, 2nd Spec. Sess.,
amendments did not alter the statute in any way relevant to this case; accordingly, we cite the
current version of the statute.
io
The legislatureamended RCW 9A. 4.in the LAWS of 2011, ch. 336, § 350, ch. 166, § 2;
110 0
LAWS of 2007, ch. 79 § 3; and LAWS of 2005, ch. 458 § 3. These amendments did not alter the
statute in any way relevant to this case; accordingly, we cite the current version of the statute.
12
No. 42857 1 II
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carr[ed],
i exhibit[ d],
e display[ d], [drew] any firearm, dagger, sword, knife
e or
or other cutting or stabbing instrument, club, or any other weapon apparently
capable of producing bodily harm, in a manner, under circumstances, and at a
time and place that either manifest[ed]an intent to intimidate another or that
warrant[ed]alarm for the safety of other persons.
RCW 9.1. Because all elements of unlawful display of a weapon are also necessary
270(
1
4 ).
elements of second degree assault, unlawful display of a weapon is a lesser included offense of
second degree assault. RCW 9.1.RCW 9A. 6.Ward, 125 Wn. App. at 248; see
270(
1
4 ); 021;
3
State v. Fowler, 114 Wn. d 59, 67, 785 P. d 808 (1990),
2 2 overruled on other grounds by State v.
Blair, 117 Wn. d 479, 486 87,816 P. d 718 (1991).
2 - 2
To justify a lesser included offense instruction for unlawful display of a weapon under
the Workman/ amble test, the evidence had to support an inference that Wingate displayed the
G
firearm only without the intent to create reasonable fear or apprehension of bodily injury, i.
e.,
that he committed only the lesser offense. See Ward, 125 Wn. App. at 248. Thus, a lesser
included offense instruction is warranted only "` the evidence would permit a jury to rationally
if
find a defendant guilty of the lesser offense and acquit him of the greater."'
State v. Fernandez-
Medina 141 Wn: d 448 456 6P. d1 150 2000 ( quoting State v:
2 - 3 - - - Warden --133 Wn 2d 559
-
563, 947 P. d 708 (1997)).
2
Wingate argues that the evidence supported an inference that he committed only the
lesser offense because there was, at least to a small degree, potentially conflicting evidence based
on one witness's testimony that she did riot see him point the gun at anyone and because the
State "seemed to use the words `display' and `point' interchangeably at times." Suppl. Br. of
Appellant at 3 ( quoting VRP at 528, 530). The mere existence of conflicting testimony,
however, does not, by itself, create the necessary inference to satisfy the WorkmanGamble lesser
/
13
No. 42857 1 II
- -
included instruction test; again, the evidence must show that the defendant committed only the
lesser offense. Gamble, 168 Wn. d at 181. Such is not the case here.
2
Wingate himself testified that he pointed a firearm at Park's friends, Feist and Scott, the
victims of the second degree assault convictions, negating any potential inference from other
witnesses' testimonies that he committed only the lesser offense of unlawful display of a
weapon:
WINGATE]: I went to where the trunk was, where [ Park's]friends were,
basically. When I was watching him,they were guarding the car, that's what they
were doing. And.I did not pull my firearm out until I was right upon them, so if
they were armed, they will not be able to pull theirs out. And then after I was
upon them and pulled mine out,told them to back up,I went and took the shotgun
out the trunk, and the trunk was still open.
Defense Counsel] : Once they backed up and you received the shotgun, did you
put your gun down or was it still up?Do you recall?
WINGATE]:Yes, I pointed it down.
WINGATE]: T]en [Park] started trying to get me to fight him. I said I won't
[ h
fight him, you guys need to go home, and. that's when [Feist],
who was right
behind the trunk, I saw like movement on the right side and he was pulling out a
gun. And this is the only time I threatened him. I said, You better drop that gun
"
or I' going to shoot."And that's the only time I threatened them, and he put it
m
in the trunk. - -- - -- - --
VRP ( ec. 3,2001)at 516, 518, 519.
D
Despite Wingate's assertion that the prosecutor used the terms "display" and "point"
interchangeably, Wingate provided clear testimony on cross -examination that he did point the
gun at the victims of the underlying second degree assault convictions:
THE STATE] : [A] you pointed the gun at [Park]s' friends, he then came
fter
over towards you, didn't he?
WINGATE] :Yes.
THE STATE]:Mr.Wingate, you elevated things, didn't you?
WINGATE]:As in how?
14
No. 42857 1 II
- -
THE STATE]:Nobody was pointing a gun at anybody until you did it.
WINGATE]: Yeah, so I could get the shotgun.
THE, TATE]: The shotgun was not involved in this altercation or this dispute at
S
all at the time you pointed your gun at his friends and took it?
WINGATE]: See, that's why I thought they should just leave.
THE STATE]: You elevated the situation by taking a gun and pointing it at
somebody. This shotgun had never been pointed at anybody, right?
WINGATE]:Yes.
THE STATE]:And you are the one that elevated the situation by pointing a live,
armed gun at people there.
WINGATE]: Yes.
THE STATE]: ... Stephen Park is chasing James Koo around the truck here.
You go over and disarm or take the shotgun from the trunk of Joseph Feist's
—
car.
WINGATE]:Yes.
THE STATE]: It appears to you that Stephen Park sees you because he walks
over as you have your gun pointed at his friends. Correct?
WINGATE]:Yes.
THE STATE]:Have I gotten anything wrong there?
WINGATE]:No.
VRP (Dec. 3, 2001) at 530, 534 36 (
- emphasis added). In testifying that he pointed the gun at
people, Wingate admitted that he did not commit only the lesser -included weapon -display
offense.
Nevertheless; Wingate ar
- es that- - he pointed firearm at the -
testified that
second degree assault victims, he was entitled to a lesser included offense instruction because
there was sufficient evidence "to create an ` inference "' that his mental state was " the less
culpable, i`ntent to intimidate' or cause 'alarm."' of Appellant at 17. He is incorrect. The
Br.
test is not whether the evidence created a mere inference; again, it is whether the evidence
created an inference that he committed only the lesser crime. Gamble, 168 Wn. d at 181.
2
Wingate's testimony that he pointed the gun at the victims precluded any inference that he
committed only the lesser offense of unlawful display of a weapon.
15
No. 42857 1 II
- -
Our Supreme Court recently addressed, and rejected, a similar argument in Crace,
reiterating its Grier caveat about deference to trial counsel's strategy in matters of requesting,
or not requesting, lesser included offense instructions:
With respect to prejudice, we noted in Grier that the court must assume "that
the jury would not have convicted [the defendant] unless the State had met its
burden of proof." 171 Wn. d at 43- 4. And, we must assume that "the
2 4
availability of a compromise verdict would not have changed the outcome of the][
trial." Id. at 44 ( quoting Strickland's admonishment that "` a court should
presume ... that the judge or jury acted according to the law, "' alteration in
(
original)466 U. .at 694).
S
Assuming without deciding that counsel was deficient, consistent with
Grier, we cannot say in all reasonable probability that counsel's error —failure to
seek the lesser included offense —contributed to Crace's conviction on attempted
second degree assault. There was sufficient evidence from which a juror could
conclude Crace committed this offense. [...] Indeed, if failing to request the
lesser -included instruction was deficient performance, it occurred during an
otherwise strategic and tactically driven presentation by counsel. In light of the
presumptions we recognized in Grier, it would be difficult to show prejudice in
such a context, and Crace has failed to do so here.
12
In re Crace, 174 Wn. d
2 - some alterations in
at 847 48 ( original).
Similarly here, Wingate's ineffective assistance of trial and appellate counsel claims fail.
At the remand hearing, the trial court noted that it would not have given this lesser included
offense instruction even if Wingate's defense counsel had requested it at trial; and we agree with
the trial court that the evidence did not warrant such instruction. Thus, Wingate failed to show
11
Grier, 171 Wn. d 38.
2
12
In his supplemental brief, Wingate argues that strict application of Crace would mean that a
defendant's failure to request a lesser included offense instruction could never constitute
ineffective assistance because (1) "there was sufficient evidence to convict[,] we presume
if and
the jury impossible to show prejudice "; and (2)
followed instructions, it would be such a reading
conflicts with the U. . Supreme Court's decision in Keeble v. United States, 412 U. .205, 93 S.
S S
Ct. 1993, 36 L. Ed. 2d 844 (1973). Suppl. Br. of Appellant at 7. We need not reach this issue
here because Wingate fails to show that the evidence entitled him to the lesser included
instruction.
IV
No. 42857 1 II
- -
both deficient performance of trial counsel and prejudice. Accordingly, we hold that the trial.
court did not abuse its discretion in denying Wingate's CrR 7. motion to vacate on this ground.
8
We further note that, although the trial court on remand did not rule on Wingate's claim
of ineffective assistance of appellate counsel in his first appeal, that claim is predicated on
Wingate's failed claims that his trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance. Because Wingate
cannot show both prongs of the ineffective assistance of counsel test —deficient performance and
prejudice, his ineffective assistance of appellate counsel argument also fails.
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 in accordance with RCW
040,
2.6.it is so ordered.
0
Hunt, J.
We concur:
17