State Of Washington, V Dennis Carlos Oya ( 2020 )

Filed
Washington State
Court of Appeals
Division Two
November 3, 2020
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
DIVISION II
STATE OF WASHINGTON, No. 53092-9-II
Respondent,
v.
DENNIS CARLOS OYA, UNPUBLISHED OPINION
Appellant.
MELNICK, J. — Dennis Carlos Oya appeals from the $100 deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)
collection fee and interest on non-restitution legal financial obligations (LFOs) imposed following
resentencing on his assault in the first degree and unlawful possession of a firearm in the first
degree convictions. In his statement of additional grounds (SAG) for review, Oya contends his
appellate counsel rendered ineffective assistance by not raising his requested issues on appeal, the
trial court unlawfully imposed an exceptional sentence above the standard range, the trial court
miscalculated his offender score during Oya’s resentencing, and the State withheld criminal history
information in violation of Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83, 83 S. Ct. 1194, 10 L. Ed. 2d 215(1963). We remand to the trial court to strike the DNA collection fee and interest accrual provision
except to restitution and affirm all other aspects of Oya’s sentence.
53092-9-II
FACTS
In 2009, Oya pled guilty to assault in the first degree with a firearm enhancement and
unlawful possession of a firearm in the first degree. Oya stipulated to an offender score of 8 and
agreed that the prosecutor had a correct statement of his criminal history. The trial court sentenced
Oya to 300 months of total confinement based on an offender score of 8. The court also imposed
24-48 months of community custody.
In 2018, we granted Oya’s personal restraint petition (PRP), accepting the State’s
concessions that Oya’s offender score should have been 7 and his term of community custody
should have been 36 months. See In re Pers. Restraint of Oya, No. 51355-2-II slip op. at 2 (Wash.
Ct. App. Nov. 6, 2018) (unpublished), https://www.courts.wa.gov/opinions/. We remanded for
resentencing with the correct offender score of 7 and the correct community custody term of 36
months. Oya, No. 51355-2-II, slip op. at 3.
Oya’s total sentencing range was 238-296 months, with a maximum sentence of life. The
court resentenced Oya to a standard range sentence of 267 month, based on an offender score of
7, and 36 months of community custody. As to LFOs, the court imposed a $100 DNA collection
fee. The court also did not strike the provision on Oya’s judgment and sentence that stated,
“INTEREST The financial obligations imposed in this judgment shall bear interest from the date
of the judgment until payment in full, at the rate applicable to civil judgments.” Clerk’s Papers
(CP) at 101. Oya appeals.
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53092-9-II
ANALYSIS
I. LFOS
Oya argues that because of the 2018 amendments to the LFO statutes, we should strike the
DNA collection fee and interest accrual provision that the trial court imposed on him.1
In 2018, the legislature amended a number of statutes concerning LFOs, including the
statute governing the DNA collection fee. LAWS OF 2018, ch. 269, § 18. The current version of
the statute provides that qualifying sentences must include the DNA collection fee “unless the state
has previously collected the offender’s DNA as a result of a prior conviction.” RCW 43.43.7541.
The legislature also amended RCW 10.82.090(1)(a), which now states that no interest will accrue
on nonrestitution LFOs after June 7, 2018.
We remand to the trial court to strike the DNA collection fee and the interest accrual
provision except on restitution.
II. SAG
Turning to Oya’s SAG, he contends his appellate counsel rendered ineffective assistance
by not raising his requested issues on appeal, the trial court unlawfully imposed an exceptional
sentence above the standard range, the trial court miscalculated his offender score, and the State
violated Brady by withholding criminal history information. We disagree with all of his
contentions.
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The State objects, arguing that the imposition of the DNA collection fee cannot be raised for the
first time on appeal and that the challenge to the imposition of interest is frivolous. We reject both
of the State’s arguments. Based on State v. Blazina, 182 Wn.2d 827, 834-35, 344 P.3d 680 (2015),
an appellant can challenge the imposition of LFOs for the first time on appeal. Regarding the
interest accrual provision, Oya has a legitimate argument that this provision in his judgment and
sentence conflicts with the 2018 legislation. This argument is not frivolous.
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53092-9-II
A. Ineffective Assistance of Appellate Counsel
Oya first contends that appellate counsel rendered ineffective assistance by not raising the
issues that Oya wanted to be presented on appeal. We disagree.
To establish relief, Oya must show both deficient performance and prejudice. State v.
Estes, 188 Wn.2d 450, 457-58, 395 P.3d 1045 (2017). Oya’s criticisms of appellate counsel turn
on facts outside the record. As such, they must be resolved through a PRP, not a direct appeal.
State v. McFarland, 127 Wn.2d 322, 335, 899 P.2d 1251 (1995). Accordingly, we decline to
address this issue further.
B. Exceptional Sentence
Oya characterizes his sentence as an exceptional sentence above the standard range and
contends that the State failed to provide him notice it was seeking an exceptional sentence, the trial
court erred by not impaneling a jury to consider whether there were aggravating factors to support
an exceptional sentence, and the trial court failed to enter findings of fact and conclusions of law
to support the exceptional sentence. We disagree.
The State must provide notice to a defendant if it is seeking an exceptional sentence above
the standard range. RCW 9.94A.537(2). Certain aggravating circumstances must be found by a
jury beyond a reasonable doubt to support an exceptional sentence above the standard range.
Blakely v. Washington, 542 U.S. 296, 301-04, 124 S. Ct. 2531, 159 L. Ed. 2d 403 (2004). If the
court decides to impose an exceptional sentence, the court “shall set forth the reasons for its
decision in written findings of fact and conclusions of law.” RCW 9.94A.535.
Here, Oya did not receive an exceptional sentence above the standard range. Oya’s total
sentencing range was 238-296 months, with a maximum sentence of life. The court resentenced
Oya to a standard range sentence of 267 months.
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53092-9-II
Oya appears to argue that because the combination of his term of confinement (267
months) and his term of community custody (36 months) exceeds his standard sentence range, his
sentence is an exceptional sentence, but Oya misinterprets the law. While a trial court cannot
impose a sentence that exceeds the statutory maximum when combining the term of confinement
and community custody, the court may still impose a standard range sentence with a term of
community custody that combined exceeds the standard rage. RCW 9.94A.505(5).
Accordingly, the trial court did not impose an exceptional sentence. Oya’s assertions are
without merit.
C. Miscalculated Offender Score
Oya next contends his offender score was miscalculated and that it should be 6 instead of
7. We disagree.
A trial court calculates a defendant’s offender score for sentencing purposes by counting
current offenses and past convictions. RCW 9.94A.589(1)(a).
Oya sets forth 6 prior convictions in his SAG and counts 1 point for each prior conviction;
he then argues his offender score is 6 instead of 7. Oya, however, fails to count 1 point for his
current offense as required under RCW 9.94A.589(1)(a). Thus, the trial court properly calculated
his offender score as 7 at resentencing.
D. Brady Violation
Oya lastly contends that the State committed a Brady violation by withholding evidence of
his criminal history at resentencing. Because this contention is outside the record, we do not
consider it.
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53092-9-II
A Brady violation requires proof of three elements: “‘The 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.’” State v. Mullen, 171 Wn.2d 881, 895, 259 P.3d 158 (2011) (quoting
Strickler v. Greene, 527 U.S. 263, 281-82, 119 S. Ct. 1936, 144 L. Ed. 2d 286 (1999)).
Oya’s allegation relies on matters outside our record. Because the record is insufficient to
review Oya’s claim, we do not consider it. McFarland, 127 Wn.2d at 335.
We remand to the trial court to strike the DNA collection fee and interest accrual provision
except on restitution and affirm all other aspects of Oya’s 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.
Melnick, J.
We concur:
Maxa, P.J.
Cruser, J.
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