State Of Washington v. Dakota A. Absher ( 2020 )

Filed
Washington State
Court of Appeals
Division Two
April 7, 2020
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
DIVISION II
STATE OF WASHINGTON, No. 52456-2-II
Respondent,
v.
DAKOTA AUSTIN ABSHER, UNPUBLISHED OPINION
Appellant.
GLASGOW, J.—Dakota Austin Absher was driving when his car spun off the roadway
rolling over at least once. One of his passengers suffered a head wound. Absher was charged with
vehicular assault while driving under the influence of alcohol.
Absher moved to dismiss the charge because the State provided him with the Washington
State Patrol Crime Laboratory’s report establishing his blood alcohol level on the night of the
accident, as well as other discovery, only a few days before trial. The trial court found government
misconduct and suppressed much of the State’s evidence, but the trial court did not exclude the
crime lab report, and it denied the motion to dismiss for lack of prejudice.
Absher appeals, arguing that the trial court erred when it denied his motion to dismiss.
Absher also argues that the trial court erred when it imposed the $200 criminal filing fee at
sentencing. The State concedes that the filing fee should be stricken.
We hold that the trial court did not abuse its discretion by denying Absher’s motion to
dismiss. We accept the State’s concession and remand to the trial court to strike the $200 criminal
filing fee from Absher’s judgment and sentence.
No. 52456-2-II
FACTS
On May 17, 2018, Absher was driving at night with two passengers when his car spun off
the road, rolling over at least once. His uncle was a passenger in the car and suffered a head wound.
A Washington State Patrol trooper arrived at the scene and administered a field sobriety test.
According to the statement of probable cause, the trooper smelled alcohol and, after the test, he
believed that Absher was intoxicated. At the scene, Absher took a voluntary preliminary breath
test that gave a result of .124.
After being taken into custody, Absher had his blood drawn for toxicology analysis at the
crime lab. The State charged Absher with vehicular assault while driving under the influence of
alcohol before the crime lab returned the results of the blood test.
At his omnibus hearing on July 10, 2018, Absher asked for a copy of the crime lab report.
The trial court set trial for August 6, 2018.
On July 19, 2018, the State contacted the crime lab in an effort to get the toxicology results.
On July 26, 2018, the State provided other documents to Absher, but still did not have the crime
lab report. On July 31, 2018, the State gave Absher notice of which toxicologist would testify at
trial. The next day, the State forwarded an e-mail from the toxicologist to Absher indicating the
test was still not complete. On Friday, August 3, 2018—only two full days before trial—the State
received and forwarded the crime lab report to Absher. The crime lab results indicated that Absher
had a .10 blood alcohol content on the night of the accident, but the test detected no drugs. Absher’s
speedy trial period was set to expire on August 16, 2018.
Absher filed a motion to dismiss the charges under CrR 4.7 (Discovery) and 8.3 (Dismissal)
to be heard on the day of trial. Absher argued that the late disclosure of the crime lab report and
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several additional documents in the State’s possession amounted to government misconduct that
warranted dismissal of the charges. Although the trial court made a finding that the prosecutor’s
office “did everything in its power to get the lab results sooner,” the trial court agreed that late
disclosure of these documents so close to trial amounted to government misconduct. Verbatim
Report of Proceedings (VRP) (Aug. 7, 2018) at 51-52.
Absher argued that the late disclosure prejudiced him because he needed to have an expert
examine the crime lab’s underlying data supporting the blood alcohol level test result in order to
prepare an appropriate defense. Defense counsel said that although she had contacted at least two
experts, they could not review the validity of the crime lab test and provide an independent analysis
before the expiration of the speedy trial period. One expert asserted that a data audit of the blood
alcohol result would take approximately six to seven hours to complete, but they would need at
least three weeks to complete the audit due to other commitments.
The trial court commented that Absher had been on notice that blood test evidence would
be introduced, so “the defense could have been preparing on how to properly cross-examine those
results earlier.” Id. at 52. The trial court noted that the defense could have sought an independent
blood test or arranged to interview the crime lab toxicologist. The defense could have procured an
expert earlier. Absher’s counsel responded that she could not have an expert waiting to evaluate
the crime lab’s procedures until she had the underlying data from the crime lab. But defense
counsel also acknowledged that she did not request underlying data until after she received the
crime lab report.
The trial court ultimately suppressed several items, including late disclosed police reports,
victim and witness statements, and an expert’s accident reconstruction report. But the trial court
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determined that the crime lab report would not be suppressed because its late disclosure did not
prejudice Absher. The trial court offered a continuance up to the speedy trial date of August 16,
2018, to allow Absher time to obtain an expert to review the crime lab report. Absher argued the
continuance was insufficient. The trial court denied Absher’s motion to dismiss as well as his
motion to reconsider.
Absher then proceeded to a bench trial on stipulated exhibits where the trial court found
Absher guilty of vehicular assault. One of the stipulated exhibits that the trial court relied on was
the crime lab report indicating that Absher’s blood alcohol content was .10. The trial court found
that the State had proved that Absher had an alcohol concentration of .08 or higher within two
hours of the incident, shown by reliable blood analysis.
The trial court sentenced Absher to four months of confinement and $1,000 in legal
financial obligations including a $200 criminal filing fee. The trial court subsequently found
Absher indigent for purposes of appointing counsel for appeal.
Absher appeals.
ANALYSIS
I. MOTION TO DISMISS UNDER CRR 4.7 AND 8.3
Absher claims that late disclosure of the crime lab report amounted to government
misconduct that prejudiced him, requiring the charges against him to be dismissed. Absher argues
that he also needed the underlying documentation supporting the crime lab report so an expert
could evaluate the results. Absher claims this was necessary for counsel to be adequately prepared
for trial.
We disagree and affirm the trial court’s ruling.
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A. CrR 4.7 and 8.3 Violations and Standard of Review
CrR 4.7 sets forth general discovery obligations for prosecutors. The rule requires timely
disclosure to the defendant of certain documents, including reports and the results of scientific
tests, and imposes a continuing obligation to disclose. See CrR 4.7. Appropriate remedies for
violating the criminal discovery rules include granting a continuance, dismissing the action, or
issuing other appropriate orders. State v. Barry, 184 Wash. App. 790, 796, 339 P.3d 200 (2014); see
CrR 4.7(h)(7)(i).
Under CrR 8.3(b), a court has discretion to dismiss a case due to government misconduct
if there has been prejudice to the rights of a defendant. Barry, 184 Wash. App. at 796. “Governmental
misconduct can be something as basic as simple mismanagement.” Id. at 797 (citing State v.
Michielli, 132 Wash. 2d 229, 239, 937 P.2d 587 (1997)). A defendant has the burden to show they
suffered actual prejudice to justify dismissal. State v. Krenik, 156 Wash. App. 314, 320, 231 P.3d
252 (2010). “Prejudice under CrR 8.3(b) includes the right to a speedy trial and the right to
adequately prepared counsel.” Barry, 184 Wash. App. at 797. The defendant has the burden to show
mismanagement and prejudice by a preponderance of the evidence. State v. Brooks, 149 Wash. App.
373, 387, 203 P.3d 397 (2009).
“Dismissal under CrR 4.7 or CrR 8.3 for a violation of a discovery order is an extraordinary
remedy.” Barry, 184 Wn. App, at 797. “We review discovery violation sanctions for an abuse of
discretion.” Id.
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B. Government Mismanagement
Absher argues the trial court’s finding of government mismanagement was proper. The
State does not appear to contest that finding. We agree that the late disclosure of the crime lab
report amounted to government mismanagement under the court rules.
Late disclosure of material facts in discovery, particularly so close to trial, can constitute
government misconduct. See CrR 4.7(h)(7); State v. Salgado-Mendoza, 189 Wash. 2d 420, 433, 403
P.3d 45 (2017). The failure to disclose material facts does not have to be “‘evil or dishonest’” to
amount to misconduct. Salgado-Mendoza, 189 Wn.2d at 431(quoting State v. Dailey, 93 Wash. 2d
454, 457, 610 P.2d 357 (1980)).1
For example, in Brooks, the State was late in providing discovery of witness statements,
reports from law enforcement, and recorded interviews of witnesses and defendants. 149 Wash. App.
at 378-79. The defense received a significant amount of discovery only days before trial was
scheduled to start. Id. at 377-78. On appeal, we concluded that the trial court did not abuse its
discretion when it found government misconduct in these circumstances. Id. at 387.
Similarly, Absher was not provided reports of accident reconstruction until 11 days before
trial. Additional police reports and technical analysis of the scene were provided a week before
trial, and the crime lab report was provided the Friday before a Monday trial. The State did not
1
The State seems to contend that the defendant must show the State acted with willful or gross
negligence to justify dismissal under CrR 4.7. But the State has conflated CrR 4.7(h), which relates
to regulation of discovery in superior court, with CrRLJ 4.7(g), which regulates discovery in courts
of limited jurisdiction. The limited jurisdiction rule allows dismissal if the court determines that
noncompliance with discovery rules was the result of willful or grossly negligent conduct.
Compare CrRLJ 4.7(g)(7)(i)-(ii), with CrR 4.7(h)(7)(i). Here, the applicable rule is CrR 4.7(h).
The superior court rule does not contain the same language. See CrR 4.7(h)(7). Willful violation
or gross negligence is not necessary to allow dismissal under CrR 4.7(h)(7).
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No. 52456-2-II
behave maliciously, but it did provide a significant amount of discovery, some of it central to the
State’s case, only days before trial was scheduled to begin.
We conclude that the trial court did not abuse its discretion when it found government
mismanagement in this case.
C. Prejudice
Absher argues that the late disclosure of the crime lab report caused prejudice because he
did not have enough time to prepare an expert to address the crime lab report before the speedy
trial deadline. The trial court did not abuse its discretion when it determined that Absher suffered
no actual prejudice because he was on notice that the crime lab results would be used in this case,
he could have partially prepared an expert in advance, and he did not seek a continuance to the
speedy trial deadline even though a continuance was offered.
A defendant seeking dismissal under CrR 8.3 must prove prejudice by a preponderance of
the evidence. Brooks, 149 Wash. App. at 387. Actual prejudice is more than just the mere possibility
of prejudice. Krenik, 156 Wash. App. at 320. Prejudice can be shown if new facts interjected into
the case force a choice “between the right to a speedy trial and the right to prepare an adequate
defense.” Id. at 321.
In Krenik, a witness revealed for the first time at trial the existence of a camera that could
have recorded the incident in question. Id. at 317. Krenik argued that the recording might include
evidence that would help her case. Id. at 321. Krenik moved for dismissal and the trial court denied
the motion. Id. at 316. Division One affirmed, concluding that Krenik was not entitled to dismissal
because she did not show actual prejudice. Id. at 321-22. Krenik needed to show more than just
the possibility that exculpatory information could be on the recording. Id. at 321. She could have
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No. 52456-2-II
asked for a continuance to request access to the recording to determine if the contents were, in fact,
prejudicial, but she did not do so. Id.
Absher relies on Michielli, 132 Wash. 2d 229, where the State added four additional charges
five days before trial was set to begin. The trial court dismissed for government misconduct under
CrR 8.3. Id. at 233-34. The Washington Supreme Court affirmed, concluding that the surprise
addition of new charges so soon before trial forced the defendant to choose between his right to a
speedy trial and his right to effective assistance of counsel. Id. at 245-46.
In contrast, in State v. Cannon, 130 Wash. 2d 313, 922 P.2d 1293 (1996), the Supreme Court
affirmed the trial court’s conclusion that there was no prejudice. In that case, trial was delayed in
part to allow for lab analysis of Cannon’s blood and some paint chips. Id. at 327-28. Despite the
fact that the lab results for both tests were returned on the eve of trial, the court concluded that
there was no surprise and that no new facts were interjected by the reports. Id. at 328-29. Trial
counsel had been “placed on notice from the time of charging that the State intended to introduce
scientific evidence relating to blood samples and paint chips in order to tie Cannon to the crime.”
Id. at 329.
This case is more like Cannon and Krenik than Michielli. As in Cannon, the defense was
aware that Absher’s blood alcohol content was going to be an issue at trial and that the State would
present the crime lab’s results. The defense also knew the results of Absher’s preliminary breath
test taken that evening before his blood was drawn. Thus, the crime lab report interjected no new
facts that required making a choice between Absher’s speedy trial rights and his right to effective
assistance of counsel. The trial court noted that Absher could have taken numerous steps in
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No. 52456-2-II
advance of receiving the crime lab results in order to be properly prepared for cross-examination
and for an expert to verify the test results.
Moreover, as in Krenik, Absher did not request a continuance up to the end of his speedy
trial period. Absher argues the speedy trial period was insufficient to allow an expert to adequately
prepare by reviewing underlying crime lab documents and procedures. But the trial court made
multiple findings on the record to contradict the assertion that Absher was deprived of sufficient
time to prepare. With 13 days remaining in the speedy trial period, Absher’s expert said a data
audit of the blood alcohol result would take approximately 6 to 7 hours to complete. Absher was
on notice that lab tests would be used, he did not prepare to cross-examine the crime lab
toxicologist by requesting background documents earlier, he made no attempt to procure an expert
witness who could do an independent test or observe the crime lab process, he did not seek to
interview the crime lab toxicologist, and he did not ask for a continuance within the speedy trial
deadline to attempt to prepare an expert witness.
“[D]ismissal for a discovery violation is an extraordinary remedy” that applies only in rare
cases. State v. Vance, 184 Wash. App. 902, 911, 339 P.3d 245 (2014). Because Absher did not prove
he was prejudiced by a preponderance of the evidence, we conclude that the trial court did not
abuse its discretion when it declined to dismiss the charges against him.
II. LEGAL FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS
Absher challenges the imposition of the criminal filing fee because he is indigent.
Courts are specifically prohibited from imposing a $200 criminal filing fee on indigent
defendants. RCW 36.18.020(2)(h); State v. Ramirez, 191 Wash. 2d 732, 746, 426 P.3d 714 (2018).
Absher was sentenced after this restriction became effective. “Indigence” is defined as a person
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on certain types of public assistance or who has an annual income after taxes below 125 percent
of the federal poverty level. RCW 10.101.010(3)(a), (c).
The State concedes that Absher was indigent, noting the trial court entered an order of
indigency for this proceeding. In light of the State’s concession, the criminal filing fee must be
stricken from his judgment and sentence.
CONCLUSION
We affirm the trial court’s ruling denying Absher’s motion to dismiss. We remand to the
trial court to strike the $200 criminal filing fee from Absher’s judgment and sentence.
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 2.06.040,
it is so ordered.
Glasgow, J.
We concur:
Maxa, C.J.
Sutton, J.
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