State Of Washington v. Steven Pemberton ( 2020 )

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
STATE OF WASHINGTON, No. 81366-8-I
Respondent, DIVISION ONE
v.
UNPUBLISHED OPINION
STEVEN ALLEN PEMBERTON,
Appellant.
CHUN, J. — The Washington State Patrol’s Missing and Exploited Children
Task Force (MECTF) posted an advertisement on the “Casual Encounters”
section of Craigslist. Steven Pemberton responded. An MECTF officer replied,
pretending to be a 13-year-old girl. Pemberton set up a time and place to meet,
at which officers arrested him. A jury convicted him of attempted rape of a child
in the second degree, attempted commercial sexual abuse of a minor,
communication with a minor for immoral purposes, and possession of a
controlled substance. Pemberton raises several issues on appeal and through a
statement of additional grounds (SAG) and Personal Restraint Petition (PRP).
We affirm Pemberton’s convictions and remand for the trial court to strike two
community custody conditions and to correct two scrivener’s errors.
I. BACKGROUND
MECTF commenced a “Net Nanny” sting operation in Kitsap County. In
such an operation, MECTF works undercover using different personas, such as a
Citations and pin cites are based on the Westlaw online version of the cited material.
No. 81366-8-I/2
13-year-old runaway girl or boy, to go on social media sites and “contact people
who are interested in having sex with kids.” For the operation in Kitsap County,
MECTF used the “Casual Encounters” section of Craigslist to post an ad. The
Craigslist site conveyed that, to use this section, one must be 18 or older.
MECTF titled the ad “crazy and young. looking to explore.” The ad also
provided, that the person was looking for a guy “that can teach [her] what its like
to be an adult.”
Pemberton responded to the ad through email, expressing interest and
sending two photos of his penis. The person wrote back, saying, among other
things, “Im 13, but I know what to do.” The person also purported to attach a
photo of herself and a friend, which was actually a photo of two law enforcement
officers who looked young. After exchanging emails, the two began texting. The
person who posted the ad identified themselves as “Brandi.” Brandi, however,
was actually a Kitsap County Sheriff’s detective. Brandi asked Pemberton, “you
down with me being 13[?]” Pemberton did not respond to the question.
Brandi and Pemberton texted over a two-day period. Brandi said that she
was “looking for a daddy who [she] can have some fun with and get [her] some
roses,” and clarified that “roses” meant money. Brandi texted that she thought
Pemberton “wanted some fun” with her, to which he responded that they “would
have to discuss that in person.” Later, when Brandi texted after her phone had
died, she told Pemberton “maybe I can suck you for a phone charger” and that
she “could do more to [him]” if he wanted. Pemberton again said that they would
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have to “talk in person” because he was “not even trying to catch some criminal
charges.”
In later texts, Pemberton said that he was “the one that has everything you
want.” Brandi responded, “have a big dick that what i want.” When Brandi asked
Pemberton if she had scared him off, he replied, “You haven’t scared me one bit
your not big enough to scare me.”
The two planned to meet up the next day. On that day, Brandi said that
she thought she, her friend “Anna,” and Pemberton “were gonna do some
condom testing.” Brandi also asked for $40 to get more minutes for her phone.
Brandi told Pemberton to come to her friend Anna’s home because the latter’s
mother was out of town. Pemberton asked Brandi if she drank alcohol or did
drugs for fun. Brandi said she was curious about “meth” because a friend told
her “sex on meth was amazing.” Pemberton responded, “That is a very true
statement.” The two eventually agreed to meet at a Starbucks.
The police located Pemberton near the Starbucks where he was to meet
Brandi. They pulled Pemberton over in his truck and arrested him. The police
then searched Pemberton’s truck and collected his cellphone and “a little orange
straw” that contained methamphetamine.
The State charged Pemberton with attempted rape of a child in the second
degree, attempted commercial sexual abuse of a minor, communication with a
minor for immoral purposes, and possession of a controlled substance.
A jury convicted Pemberton as charged. Pemberton appeals.
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II. ANALYSIS
A. Sufficiency of the Evidence
Pemberton argues that the State presented insufficient evidence for
count 2, attempted commercial sex abuse of a minor, because the evidence did
not show that he offered to exchange anything of value for sex. We disagree.
When a defendant challenges the sufficiency of the evidence on appeal, “we
draw all inferences in favor of the State and interpret them most strongly against
the defendant.” State v. Garbaccio, 151 Wn. App. 716, 742, 214 P.3d 168(2009). “Evidence is sufficient to support a conviction if, when viewed in the light
most favorable to the State, any rational trier of fact could have found the
essential elements of the charged crime proved beyond a reasonable doubt.”
Garbaccio, 151 Wn. App. at 742.
To prove attempt under RCW 9A.28.020(1), the State must prove the
defendant “with intent to commit a specific crime, . . . d[id] any act which is a
substantial step toward the commission of that crime.” A substantial step is an
action strongly corroborative of the defendant’s criminal purpose. State v.
Johnson, 173 Wn.2d 895, 899, 270 P.3d 591 (2012). Additionally, a person
commits the crime of commercial sexual abuse of a minor if “[they] provide[] or
agree[] to provide anything of value to a minor or a third person pursuant to an
understanding that in return therefore such minor will engage in sexual conduct
with [them].” RCW 9.68A.100(1)(b).
Pemberton asserts the State failed to provide sufficient evidence because
“[he] never agreed to provide anything of value in exchange for sex.” But the
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State needed to prove only that Pemberton, with the requisite intent, took a
substantial step toward agreeing to provide anything of value to a minor in
exchange for sexual conduct. RCW 9A.28.020(1); 9.68A.100. Brandi brought up
the exchange of sex for money when she messaged, “im looking for a daddy who
I can have some fun with and get me some roses.” After Brandi clarified that
“roses” meant “money,” Pemberton said that they “would have to discuss that in
person.” A few texts later, Brandi told Pemberton “maybe I can suck you for a
phone charger.” Pemberton replied, “Oh really now,” and then again said that
they would “talk in person” because he was “not even trying to catch some
criminal charges.” Finally, Brandi and Pemberton discussed him giving her
money for more minutes on her phone:
[Brandi:] thought the three of us were gonna do some condom
testing lol
[Pemberton:] Oh is that what you’re needing
[Brandi:] [Y]es babe. And a few bucks for it that cool?
[Pemberton:] Hmmmmmm..... What’s a few bucks????
[Brandi:] 40 it will get me more minutes for my phone
[Pemberton:] Interesting. Very interesting
...
[Brandi:] Anna’s mom job takes out of town for like a week a few
months then we get to do our own thing.
What u think w’re [sic] able to fuck a guy three way with
my in the kitchen
[Pemberton:] Freeway huh. So you get money and Anna doesn’t?
[Brandi:] im the one that needs a phone card if you want to pay
her for sex you can lol
[Pemberton:] I never said I was paying for sex. I was just helping
you out with some phone time
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[Brandi:] I didn’t ask for money for sex why when we want it i just
need a phone card
Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the State, Pemberton
knew that Brandi sought various things of value–money, a phone charger, $40
for phone minutes–in exchange for sexual conduct. Though Pemberton did not
explicitly agree to such an arrangement, he did not refuse to provide these things
in exchange for sexual relations. Instead, Pemberton told them they would need
to speak in person so that he would not “catch some criminal charges.”
Furthermore, Pemberton seemingly acknowledged the money-for-sex
arrangement when he texted, “What’s a few bucks” and “So you get money and
Anna doesn’t.” Drawing all reasonable inferences in favor of the State, a rational
trier of fact could conclude that through these text messages, Pemberton took a
substantial step toward agreeing to provide something of value in exchange for
sexual conduct beyond a reasonable doubt.
Pemberton also argues that the fact that he did not have any money or a
phone card on his person when he was arrested shows that he did not commit
the crime. But Pemberton made this argument to the jury, and they rejected it.
We defer to the trier of fact on the persuasiveness of the evidence. State v.
Hernandez, 85 Wn. App. 672, 675, 935 P.2d 623 (1997). We determine
sufficient evidence supported Pemberton’s conviction for attempted commercial
sex abuse of a minor.
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B. Sufficiency of the Charging Language for Attempted Commercial Sex
Abuse of a Minor
Pemberton claims that we should reverse his conviction for attempted
commercial sex abuse of a minor because the use of outdated charging
language failed to apprise him of the essential elements of the crime. The State
contends that we should uphold the conviction because the unartful charging
language did not prejudice Pemberton. We agree with the State.
The language charging attempted commercial sex abuse of a minor in
Pemberton’s amended information provides that he took a substantial step to
pay, or agree to pay, a “fee” in exchange for sexual conduct with a minor. But
earlier in 2017, the legislature had revised RCW 9.68A.100, regarding
commercial sex abuse of a minor.1 LAWS OF 2017, ch. 231. While the statute
had required before that the defendant had paid or agreed to pay a fee, the
legislature amended the statute to require that the defended provided or agreed
to provide “anything of value.” LAWS OF 2017, ch. 231, § 3. The legislature made
this change to account for the “practical reality” of the crime, “which often involve
an exchange of drugs or gifts for the commercial sex act.” LAWS OF 2017,
ch. 231, § 1.
Pemberton asserts that the use of the outdated charging language failed
to put him on notice of all the essential elements of the charged crime. “We
review challenges to the sufficiency of a charging document de novo.” State v.
Lindsey, 177 Wn. App. 233, 244, 311 P.3d 61 (2013).
1
The revision became effective on July 23, 2017. S.B. 5030, 65th Leg., Reg. Sess.
(Wash. 2017).
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A charging document must include all essential elements of a crime, both
statutory and nonstatutory, to notify the accused of the nature and cause of the
accusation against them. State v. Kjorsvik, 117 Wn.2d 93, 97, 812 P.2d 86(1991). If the information fails to allege each essential element, the charged
crime must be dismissed. State v. Pry, 194 Wn.2d 745, 752, 452 P.3d 536(2019). “An ‘essential element is one whose specification is necessary to
establish the very illegality of the behavior’ charged.” Pry, 194 Wn.2d at 752
(quoting State v. Johnson, 119 Wn.2d 143, 147, 829 P.2d 1078 (1992)). But “it
has never been necessary to use the exact words of a statute in a charging
document.” Kjorsvik, 117 Wn.2d at 108. Instead, “it is sufficient if words
conveying the same meaning and import are used.” Kjorsvik, 117 Wn.2d at 108.
To determine whether the amended information sufficiently charged
attempted commercial sex abuse of a minor, we apply a two-pronged test: “(1) do
the necessary elements appear in any form, or by fair construction, on the face of
the document and, if so, (2) can the defendant show [they were] actually
prejudiced by the unartful language.” State v. Zillyette, 178 Wn.2d 153, 162, 307
P.3d 712 (2013) (citing Kjorsvik, 117 Wn.2d at 105-06). The State meets the first
prong if the charging language “would reasonably apprise an accused of the
elements of the crime charged.” Kjorsvik, 117 Wn.2d at 109. When making this
determination, we read the words in the charging document as a whole and
construe them according to common sense. Kjorsvik, 117 Wn.2d at 109. If the
State cannot satisfy the first prong, we presume prejudice and reverse. Pry, 194
Wn.2d at 753.
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Because Pemberton challenges the sufficiency of the charging document
for the first time on appeal, we construe it liberally. See Pry, 194 Wn.2d at 752.
Under such liberal construction, “when an objection to an indictment is not timely
made the reviewing court has considerable leeway to imply the necessary
allegations from the language of the charging document.” Kjorsvik, 117 Wn.2d at
104.
Liberally construing the amended information, the charging language
reasonably apprised Pemberton of the essential elements of the crime. Though
the amended information used “fee” instead of “anything of value,” the
information did not need to restate the precise statutory language. See Pry, 194
Wn.2d at 752 (“the information need not restate the precise language of the
essential elements of a crime”). The use of “fee” conveyed that the State
believed Pemberton had taken a substantial step toward agreeing to provide
something of value in exchange for sexual conduct. This is not a case in which
specifying exactly what Pemberton would agree to provide in exchange for
sexual conduct is necessary to establish the illegality of the behavior charged.
See, e.g., Zillyette, 178 Wn.2d at 160 (quoting State v. Ward, 148 Wn.2d 803,
811, 64 P.3d 640 (2003) (“However, because not all controlled substances can
be the basis for controlled substances homicide, some degree of specification ‘is
necessary to establish the very illegality of the behavior charged’ in order to
charge a person with controlled substances homicide.”). Thus, when reading the
charging language in a commonsense manner, a fair construction of the
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amended information conveyed the necessary element of exchanging something
of value in exchange for sexual conduct of a minor.
Having concluded that the State meets the first prong, we would typically
next consider whether the charging language still prejudiced Pemberton. But
because Pemberton has the burden of raising and showing prejudice and fails to
address this issue, we will not consider the issue further. See Lindsey, 177 Wn.
App. at 246 (refusing to consider the prejudice prong when the defendant did not
argue it). We determine the charging language was sufficient.
C. CrR 3.5
Pemberton contends that because the trial court did not enter written
findings of fact and conclusions of law (FFCL) after the CrR 3.5 hearing, we must
remand. The State asserts that the error was harmless and therefore does not
require remand. We agree with the State.
CrR 3.5(c) requires that “[a]fter the [CrR 3.5] hearing, the court shall set
forth in writing: (1) the undisputed facts; (2) the disputed facts; (3) conclusions as
to the disputed facts; and (4) conclusion as to whether the statement is
admissible and the reasons therefore.” Thus, a trial court’s failure to enter written
FFCL after a CrR 3.5 hearing constitutes error. State v. France, 121 Wn. App.
394, 401, 88 P.3d 1003 (2004). But such error “is harmless as long as oral
findings are sufficient to allow appellate review.” State v. Thompson, 73 Wn.
App. 122, 130, 867 P.2d 691 (1994).
Although the trial court below did not enter written findings, its oral ruling
sufficed to permit appellate review and Pemberton does not argue otherwise. In
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admitting Pemberton’s statements, the court noted that police had advised him of
his rights more than once, he signed an advisement form, and no evidence
showed that he was under the influence. Additionally, it recognized that
Pemberton was cooperative, gave appropriate answers to questions, and did not
ask for an attorney. The court also stated that Pemberton asking to speak to
officer constituted further indicia of the voluntariness of his statements.
As Pemberton does not explain how the court’s failure to enter the findings
prejudiced him, or even challenge the findings and conclusions made at the
hearing, we determine the error was harmless. We decline to remand for entry of
written FFCL.
D. Community Custody Provisions
Pemberton challenges two of his community custody provisions. First, he
asserts that a provision preventing him from entering locations where the primary
product is alcohol is not sufficiently crime-related. Second, he claims that a
provision requiring him to inform his Community Corrections Officer of any
romantic relationships to verify there are no victim-age children involved is
unconstitutionally vague. We address each challenge in turn.
“We review community custody conditions for an abuse of discretion and
will reverse them if they are manifestly unreasonable.” State v. Nguyen, 191
Wn.2d 671, 678, 425 P.3d 847 (2018). It is manifestly unreasonable for a trial
court to impose an unconstitutional condition. Nguyen, 191 Wn.2d at 678.
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1. Alcohol Community Custody Provision
Pemberton challenges a community custody condition preventing him
from entering any location where alcohol is the primary product. He claims the
condition is not statutorily authorized because it is not directly related to the
circumstances of his crimes. We agree.
The court attached an appendix titled “Additional Conditions of Sentence”
to Pemberton’s Judgment and Sentence. Under “Crime Related Prohibitions,”
the fifth condition stated, “Do not enter any location where alcohol is the primary
product, such as taverns, bars and/or liquor stores.”
RCW 9.94A.703(3)(f) permits sentencing courts to exercise their discretion
to impose any crime-related prohibitions as community custody provisions. “A
‘crime-related prohibition’ means an order of a court prohibiting conduct that
directly relates to the circumstances of the crime for which the offender has been
convicted.” Nguyen, 191 Wn.2d at 683 (quoting RCW 9.94A.030(10)). We
typically uphold community custody conditions if a reasonable relationship exists
between the crime and the condition. Nguyen, 191 Wn.2d at 684. “The
prohibited conduct need not be identical to the crime of conviction, but there must
be ‘some basis for the connection.’” Nguyen, 191 Wn.2d at 684 (quoting State v.
Irwin, 191 Wn. App. 644, 558-59, 364 P.3d 830 (2015)).
The State does not assert any facts showing that alcohol related to the
circumstances of Pemberton’s crimes or contributed to his commission of them.
Instead, the State merely argues that Nguyen “expanded the universe” so that
“[t]hings that go to the particular defendant’s character, like impulsivity, may be
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considered by the trial court in imposing conditions of sentence.” While Nguyen
provided that sentencing courts may use “their discretion to impose prohibitions
that address the cause of the present crime or some factor of the crime that
might cause the convicted person to reoffend,” it maintained that a sufficient
connection must exist between the prohibition and the convicted crime. 191
Wn.2d at 684-86. The State fails to point to any evidence in the record
connecting alcohol to any of Pemberton’s convicted crimes. Because no
reasonable relationship exists between Pemberton’s crimes and the prohibition
on him entering locations where alcohol is the primary product, the trial court
abused its discretion by imposing it. See State v. Morgan, noted at 10 Wn. App.
2d 1033, slip op. at 6 (2019) (determining a trial court erred in imposing a
community custody provision to not enter locations where alcohol is the primary
source of business because “nothing in the record indicates that alcohol
contributed to the [defendant’s] offenses”). We remand for the trial court to strike
the provision.2
2
The State also contends that because Pemberton possessed
methamphetamine at the time of his arrest, the prohibition on entering places where
alcohol is the primary product was reasonably related to his crimes. The State provides
that it “sees little difference between one drug or the other–alcohol is a drug.” This
argument, however, contradicts courts holding that alcohol is not interchangeable with
other substances. See State v. Munoz-Rivera, 190 Wn. App. 870, 893, 361 P.3d 182(2015) (noting that if alcohol, but not another substance, contributed to a crime then
evaluation and treatment for substances other than alcohol are not crime related); State
v. Jones, 118 Wn. App. 199, 202, 207-08, 76 P.3d 258 (2003) (holding that trial court
erred by imposing a community custody provision that required the defendant to
participate in alcohol counseling where no evidence demonstrated that alcohol
contributed to the crimes, even though the defendant was under the influence of
methamphetamine at the time of his crime). As a result, we reject this argument.
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2. Romantic Relationships Community Custody Provision
Pemberton also challenges as unconstitutionally vague a community
custody provision requiring him to inform his Community Corrections Officer of
any romantic relationships to verify there are no victim-age children involved. We
agree.
Condition 19 under the “Crime Related Prohibitions” section of
Pemberton’s Additional Conditions of Sentence stated that he “[s]hall inform [his]
Community Corrections Officer of any romantic relationships to verify that there
are no victim-age children involved.”
“A community custody condition is unconstitutionally vague if it ‘(1) ... does
not define the criminal offense with sufficient definiteness that ordinary people
can understand what conduct is proscribed, or (2) ... does not provide
ascertainable standards of guilt to protect against arbitrary enforcement.’”
Nguyen, 191 Wn.2d at 678 (quoting City of Spokane v. Douglass, 115 Wn.2d
171, 178, 795 P.2d 693 (1990)) (alterations in original). A community custody
provision is not unconstitutionally vague simply because a person cannot predict
with absolute certainty the exact point at which their actions would constitute
prohibited conduct. Nguyen, 191 Wn.2d at 679.
Pemberton argues that “[t]he term ‘romantic relationship’ lacks sufficient
definiteness such that an ordinary person would understand what conduct is
proscribed.” Our Supreme Court addressed a similar argument in Nguyen, and
determined that “a person of ordinary intelligence can distinguish a ‘dating
relationship’ from other types of relationships.” 191 Wn.2d at 682 (quoting
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RCW 26.50.010(2). The Court noted, however, that, rather than the term
“dating,” the term “‘romantic’ [was a] highly subjective qualifier[].” Nguyen, 191
Wn.2d at 683. Division III similarly held that the term “romantic relationships” is
unconstitutionally vague. State v. Peters, 10 Wn. App. 2d 574, 590, 455 P.3d
141 (2019). Because it is often difficult to determine at what point a relationship
becomes “romantic,” the term “romantic relationships” is not definite enough for
an ordinary person to understand what conduct is proscribed. We adhere to the
analysis from Nguyen and the holding in Peters and conclude that the “romantic
relationship” community custody provision here is unconstitutionally vague.
Because imposing an unconstitutional condition constitutes an abuse of
discretion, the trial court abused its discretion by imposing it. See Nguyen, 191
Wn.2d at 678. We remand for the sentencing court to strike the provision from
Pemberton’s Judgment and Sentence.
E. Scrivener’s Error
Pemberton asks us to remand for correction of two scrivener’s errors on
his Judgment and Sentence. The State agrees that the Judgment and Sentence
contains two scrivener’s errors that the trial court should correct. We agree and
remand for correction of the errors.
Pemberton points to two portions of his Judgment and Sentence that he
identifies as scrivener’s, or clerical, errors. First, the Judgment and Sentence
says that he pleaded guilty, even though a jury convicted him after a trial.
Second, the criminal history portion provides that the date of a crime for
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possession of a dangerous weapon was January 19, 2015, but that he was
sentenced for the crime nearly two years earlier on February 12, 2013.
CrR 7.8 provides that “[c]lerical mistakes in judgments, orders or other
parts of the record and errors therein arising from oversight or omission may be
corrected by the court at any time of its own initiative or on the motion of any
party and after such notice, if any, as the court orders.” CrR 7.8(a). When a
scrivener’s error occurs in a Judgment and Sentence, the remedy is to remand to
the trial court for correction. In re Pers. Restraint Petition of Mayer, 128 Wn.
App. 694, 701-02, 117 P.3d 353 (2005).
The errors pointed out by Pemberton constitute clerical mistakes covered
under CrR 7.8. For these reasons, we remand for the trial court to correct the
errors.
F. SAG
1. Brady3 Violation
Pemberton asserts that the State committed a Brady violation related to
“text message exhibits” because he “did not receive evidence that admitted at the
trial until 90 days after [his] trial was over.” A Brady violation has three
components: “‘[t]he evidence at issue must be favorable to the accused, either
because it is exculpatory, or because it is impeaching; that evidence must have
been suppressed by the State, either willfully or inadvertently; and prejudice must
have ensued.’” In re Pers. Restraint of Stenson, 174 Wn.2d 474, 486-87, 276
3
Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83, 83 S. Ct. 1194, 10 L. Ed. 2d 215 (1963).
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P.3d 286 (2012) (quoting Strickler v. Greene, 527 U.S. 263, 281-82, 119 S. Ct.
1936, 144 L. Ed. 286 (1999)).
In his SAG, Pemberton fails to identify which text message exhibits the
State allegedly suppressed, but his PRP suggests that he refers to exhibits 5 and
6.4 The exhibits appear to be text messages sent from Pemberton’s phone, but
do not include all the text messages sent between him and Brandi. Though
Pemberton labels these exhibits as “key evidence,” he does not explain how the
evidence is exculpatory or impeaching. Additionally, exhibit 4 includes all the text
messages from exhibits 5 and 6, and Pemberton does not claim that the State
suppressed or withheld exhibit 4. Because Pemberton cannot establish the
elements necessary to show a Brady violation, we reject his claim.
2. Right to Choose Defense - Entrapment
Pemberton claims that his Sixth Amendment rights were violated because
his attorney would not argue entrapment as a defense. We disagree.
We review de novo allegations of constitutional violations. State v. Lynch,
178 Wn.2d 487, 491, 309 P.3d 482 (2013).
A criminal defendant’s right to control their defense is implicit in the Sixth
Amendment. Lynch, 178 Wn.2d at 491. Encompassed in this right is the
decision to present an affirmative defense. State v. Coristine, 177 Wn.2d 370,
376, 300 P.3d 400 (2013). But this right has limits. Coristine, 177 Wn.2d at 377.
4
Pemberton also appears to claim that the exhibits constitute newly discovered
evidence. But as the court admitted the exhibits at trial, he cannot show that they were
newly discovered. See CrR 7.8(b)(2) (“Newly discovered evidence which by due
diligence could not have been discovered in time to move for a new trial under
rule 7.5.”).
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To present an affirmative defense, a defendant “must offer sufficient admissible
evidence to justify giving the jury an instruction on the defense.” State v. Ginn,
128 Wn. App. 872, 879, 117 P.3d 1155 (2005).
RCW 9A.16.070 defines the entrapment defense:
(1) In any prosecution for a crime, it is a defense that:
(a) The criminal design originated in the mind of law enforcement
officials, or any person acting under their direction, and
(b) The actor was lured or induced to commit a crime which the
actor had not otherwise intended to commit.
(2) The defense of entrapment is not established by a showing
only that law enforcement officials merely afforded the actor an
opportunity to commit a crime.
Here, the evidence did not support an entrapment defense. MECTF
created an advertisement on Craigslist that conveyed a “crazy and young” girl
was looking for someone to teach her “what its like to be an adult.” Pemberton
initiated contact by answering the advertisement and then continued the contact
through text messages. Pemberton kept talking to Brandi even though she told
him she was 13 years old. This evidence demonstrates that the police afforded
Pemberton the opportunity to commit the crimes, but did not lure or induce him
to. Because Pemberton failed to show sufficient evidence to justify an
entrapment defense, his lawyer’s decision to not use the defense at trial did not
violate Pemberton’s Sixth Amendment rights.5
5
Pemberton also argues in his PRP that the police improperly targeted him. But
Pemberton fails to explain how MECTF posting an ad and waiting for responses
amounted to targeting. He also does not provide any citations to case law for this
argument. Thus, we reject this claim.
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3. Sufficiency of the Evidence
a. Attempted Rape of a child in the second degree
Pemberton asserts that his driving to Bremerton did not constitute a
substantial step toward the crime of attempted rape of a child. We disagree.
As discussed above, a person attempts a crime if they take a substantial
step towards its commission. RCW 9A.28.020(1). An action strongly
corroborative of the defendant’s criminal purpose constitutes a substantial step.
Johnson, 173 Wn.2d at 899. “Evidence is sufficient to support a conviction if,
when viewed in the light most favorable to the State, any rational trier of fact
could have found the essential elements of the charged crime proved beyond a
reasonable doubt.” Garbaccio, 151 Wn. App. at 742.
Under RCW 9A.44.076 (1), a person commits rape of a child in the second
degree “when the person has sexual intercourse with another who is at least
twelve years old but less than fourteen years old and not married to the
perpetrator and the perpetrator is at least thirty-six months older than the victim.”
Pemberton responded to the Craigslist ad with photos of his penis. He
then continued to text Brandi about having sexual relations with her even though
she told him she was 13 years old. Pemberton continued to text with Brandi after
she said she wanted “a big dick,” to “do some condom testing,” and to “fuck a
guy three way.” The two exchanged several text messages setting up a time and
place to meet. When it came time to meet, Pemberton told Brandi that it was
“[t]ime to put up or shut up.” Pemberton then drove to nearby a park at the time
Brandi said she was walking there. The two discussed having sex on
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No. 81366-8-I/20
methamphetamine and Pemberton had the drug when arrested. Viewing these
facts in the light most favorable to the State, a rational juror could have found
beyond a reasonable doubt that Pemberton’s conduct was strongly corroborative
of the criminal purpose of having sex with a person between 12 and 14 years old.
b. Communication with a minor for immoral purposes
Additional Ground 5 of Pemberton’s SAG provides, “Next I want to
challenge the validity of count 3 communication with a minor for immoral
purposes. To be convicted of this a defendant must believe that the other person
was a minor.” Pemberton’s statement appears to challenge the sufficiency of the
evidence for his conviction for communication with a minor for immoral purposes
because he did not believe Brandi was a minor. Indeed, RCW 9.68A.090(1)
provides that a person is guilty of the crime if “a person who communicates with
someone the person believes to be a minor for immoral purposes.”
But the evidence shows that after Pemberton responded to Brandi’s
Craigslist advertisement through e-mail, she responded “Im 13, but I know what
to do.” Later, through text message, Brandi again told Pemberton that she was
13. Given that Brandi told Pemberton that she was 13 at least twice, a rational
juror could find beyond a reasonable doubt that Pemberton believed Brandi was
a minor. Other evidence suggests Brandi may have been over 18 years old,
such as one needing to affirm that they are 18 to enter the Casual Encounters
section on Craigslist and that the photo Brandi sent of herself was actually a
photo of a young-looking law enforcement officer. But we defer to the trier of fact
on the persuasiveness of the evidence. Hernandez, 85 Wn. App. at 675.
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No. 81366-8-I/21
Drawing all inferences and viewing all facts in favor of the State, we
determine the sufficient evidence supported the jury’s conclusion that Pemberton
committed communication with a minor for immoral purposes.
4. Police Misconduct
Pemberton contends that “[l]aw enforcement violated [his] Fifth and
Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution due process right to
fundamental fairness with its illegal actions and illegal tactics.” We disagree.
We review de novo constitutional issues. Zillyette, 178 Wn.2d at 158.
A police officer’s conduct may violate due process principles if it is so
outrageous that it shocks the universal sense of fairness. State v. Lively, 130
Wn.2d 1, 19, 921 P.2d 1035 (1996). If law enforcement acts in such a manner,
then due process principles would bar the State from using the judicial process to
convict the defendant. Lively, 130 Wn.2d at 19. Courts evaluate the totality of
the circumstances when reviewing a defense of outrageous government conduct.
Lively, 130 Wn.2d 21. Five factors guide a court’s analysis:
There are several factors which courts consider when determining
whether police conduct offends due process: whether the police
conduct instigated a crime or merely infiltrated ongoing criminal
activity; whether the defendant’s reluctance to commit a crime was
overcome by pleas of sympathy, promises of excessive profits, or
persistent solicitation; whether the government controls the criminal
activity or simply allows for the criminal activity to occur; whether the
police motive was to prevent crime or protect the public and whether
the government conduct itself amounted to criminal activity or
conduct “repugnant to a sense of justice.”
Lively, 130 Wn.2d at 22 (internal citations omitted) (quoting People v. Isaacson,
44 N.Y. 2d 511, 378 N.E. 2d 714, 719, 406 N.Y. 2d 714 (1978)).
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No. 81366-8-I/22
Below, Pemberton filed several post-conviction motions under CrRs 7.4
and 7.5. After a hearing, the trial court entered written FFCL. The court made
several findings on the five factors related to the outrageous government conduct
defense:
1) The police, in this case, infiltrated ongoing criminal activity.
Sergeant Rodriguez has investigated instances of child
exploitation and sexual abuse through the internet for several
years. The current form of investigation was designed to infiltrate
the already extensive sexual exploitation of children on our
internet. The investigations are created using information
obtained from other criminal investigations. In this case, the
defendant choose [sic] to respond to and communicate with
someone he believed was a 13 year old despite the undercover’s
attempts to end communications.
2) Law Enforcement did not engage in persistent solicitation to
overcome the defendant’s reluctance to commit the crime
because the defendant was never reluctant to commit the crime.
The defendant repeatedly communicated with the undercover
and pursued the conversation, eventually driving across town to
meet with, who he believed, was a 13-year-old girl.
3) The government did not control the criminal behavior but simply
allowed for the criminal activity to occur. Although law
enforcement made the initial post and engaged in sexual
conversation, it was the defendant who decided what the terms
were for meeting the undercover. The defendant decided the
location and when he would meet with the undercover. The
undercover’s attempts to discontinue the conversation were
quickly rebuffed by the defendant who indicated that he wished
to pursue the conversation.
4) The current investigation was designed to prevent crime and
protect the public.
5) The government’s conduct did not amount to criminal activity and
was not repugnant to a sense of justice. The investigation gave
the defendant several opportunities to abandon his criminal
intent, yet the defendant choose [sic] to continue the conversation
and criminal behavior.
Pemberton does not explain how the court’s findings are incorrect or challenge
them on appeal. Unchallenged findings of fact are verities on appeal. State v.
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No. 81366-8-I/23
Pillon, 11 Wn. App. 2d 949, 971, 459 P.3d 339 (2020). Accepting the trial court’s
findings as verities, we can conclude only that the government did not act
outrageously. Indeed, given that the police posted an advertisement, waited for
a response, and even purportedly attempted to discontinue conversation,6 its
actions do not shock the universal sense of fairness. Pemberton’s outrageous
police conduct defense fails.7
We affirm Pemberton’s convictions and remand for corrections to his
Judgment and Sentence consistent with this opinion.
WE CONCUR:
6
Pemberton texted “???” when Brandi did not respond for 11 minutes; “Sooo”
after Brandi texted “gotcha have a nice day,” and when Pemberton wanted to meet at
7 a.m., Brandi texted “i’ll pass to early for me.”
7
Pemberton’s PRP raises the same issues that he raised in his SAG–i.e., Brady
violation, entrapment, and outrageous police conduct. For the reasons explained in our
analysis, these arguments fail on their merits.
To the extent Pemberton’s PRP raises ineffective assistance of counsel
arguments in relation to his claims of Brady violation, entrapment, and outrageous police
conduct, these arguments fail because, as we rejected these claims on their merits, he
cannot show prejudice. See State v. Grott, 195 Wn.2d 256, 274, 458 P.3d 750 (2020)
(providing that to succeed on an ineffective assistance of counsel claim the defendant
must establish both deficient performance and prejudice).
Finally, Pemberton argues in his PRP that the court violated CrR 7.8 by failing to
transfer to the Court of Appeals two other motions that he filed on September 1, 2018
and September 11, 2018. But Pemberton did not include these motions in the appellate
record. As the appellant, Pemberton has the burden to provide an adequate record to
establish error. State v. Hernandez, 6 Wn. App. 2d 422, 429, 431 P.3d 126 (2018).
Because we do not have an adequate record to review this claim, we do not address it.
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