State of Washington v. Jesus Torres ( 2014 )

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FILED
OCT 21, 2014
In the Office of the Clerk of Court
WA State Court of Appeals, Division m
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
DMSION THREE
STATE OF WASHINGTON, )
) No. 31643-2-III
Respondent, )
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v. )
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JESUS TORRES, ) UNPUBLISHED OPINION
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Appellant. )
KORSMO, J. - Jesus Torres challenges two aspects of his judgment and sentence,
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arguing that the trial court exceeded its authority under the facts of his case. The trial
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court acted within its authority and, therefore, we affirm.
FACTS t
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Mr. Torres pleaded guilty to one count of possession of methamphetamine and one
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count of witness tampering on February 19,2013. A jury was present that day for the
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anticipated trial. At sentencing two months later, the court imposed a sentence of24
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months' incarceration on the methamphetamine count and 60 months of incarceration on
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the witness tampering charge. The court also imposed 12 months of community custody
on the drug conviction. In addition, the court imposed a $250 jury demand fee for the I
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jury's appearance on February 19.
After imposition of sentence, Mr. Torres appealed to this court.
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No. 31643-2-III
State v. Torres
ANALYSIS
Mr. Torres challenges two conditions of the judgment and sentence. He argues
that the court was without authority to impose the term of community custody or to
impose the jury demand fee. We address each claim in tum.
Community Custody
Mr. Torres argues that the combined term of incarceration and community custody
exceeds the statutory maximum sentence. He mistakenly combines the wrong sentences
to reach his conclusion.
A sentence includes periods of total or partial confinement, as well as any term of
community custody imposed by the court. RCW 9.94A.030(8); RCW 9.94A.505(2)(a)(i),
(ii). RCW 9 .94A. 70 I (9) provides that the period of community custody "shall be
reduced" when the "standard range term of confinement in combination with the term
of community custody exceeds the statutory maximum for the crime as provided in
RCW 9A.20.021." (emphasis added). Both possession of methamphetamine and witness
tampering are class C felonies. RCW 9A.72.120(2); RCW 69.50.40l3(2). The
maximum sentence for a class C felony is five years. RCW 9A.20.021(1)(c).
Seizing upon the command ofRCW 9.94A.701(9), Mr. Torres argues that his
period of community custody must be eliminated because he was sentenced to the
maximum term of 60 months for the witness tampering conviction. However, he was
sentenced to only 24 months on the drug conviction in addition to a 12 month period of
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No. 31643-2-III
State v. Torres
community custody on that charge. While he was sentenced to a 60-month term of
imprisonment on the witness tampering count, there was no community custody attached
to that conviction. RCW 9.94A.701(9) is clear that it is the combined periods of
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incarceration and community custody for "the crime" that must not exceed the statutory
maximum. The combined terms for "the crime" of possession of methamphetamine do
not exceed the 60-month statutory maximum for that offense.
The trial court had authority to impose the term of community custody.
Jury Demand Fee
Mr. Torres next argues that the trial court erred by imposing the jury demand fee
because there was no trial. 1 This argument also misses the mark. The fee was imposed
because Mr. Torres demanded a jury and one was summoned for his trial. The fact that
the jury did not serve is irrelevant.
RCW 10.01.160(1) reads in part that a "court may require a defendant to pay costs."
In turn, costs can include ajury fee of$250. RCW 10.01.160(2); RCW 10.46.190;
RCW 36.1 8.0 16(3)(b); State v. Hathaway, 161 Wash. App. 634, 652-53, 251 P.3d 253,
review denied, 172 Wash. 2d 1021 (2011). A trial court's decision to impose court costs is
reviewed for abuse of discretion. State v. Moon, 124 Wash. App. 190, 193, 100 P.3d 357
1 Pro se, Mr. Torres submitted a Statement of Additional Grounds that alleges his
trial counsel did not represent him competently. However, the statement does not explain
how the alleged defect effected his guilty plea to these charges. We therefore will not
consider it further. RAP 10.10(c).
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No. 31643-2-II1
State v. Torres
(2004). Discretion is abused when it is exercised on untenable grounds or for untenable.
reasons. State ex rei. Carroll v. Junker, 79 Wash. 2d 12, 26~ 482 P.2d 775 (1971).
The court had tenable grounds for imposing the jury demand fee. The jury had
appeared for trial before Mr. Torres decided he would no longer utilize its services. The'
expense to the county of summoning the jurors for the trial had already occurred. While
the decision to forego the trial undoubtedly saved the county some money, it had already
incurred the expenses for summonsing the jurors and paying their appearance and travel ..
costs. Since the costs had been incurred, the court had tenable grounds for imposing the
jury demand fee. There was no abuse of discretion.
The convictions and sentence are affirmed.
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.
WE CONCUR:
40,J.
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