State Of Washington, V Aaron Jason Thomas ( 2020 )

Filed
Washington State
Court of Appeals
Division Two
December 8, 2020
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
DIVISION II
STATE OF WASHINGTON, No. 53002-3-II
Respondent,
v.
UNPUBLISHED OPINION
AARON JASON THOMAS,
Appellant.
SUTTON, A.C.J. — Aaron Jason Thomas appeals his jury trial conviction for felony
violation of a domestic violence no-contact order. He argues that (1) the evidence was insufficient
to prove his knowledge of the no-contact order, (2) his trial counsel provided ineffective assistance
of counsel by failing to move to exclude a witness during the jury selection process, (3) the
prosecutor committed misconduct during closing argument by repeatedly expressing his personal
opinion about the evidence, (4) the trial court abused its discretion by refusing to consider the
mitigating circumstance of the protected party’s initiation of the contact when considering
Thomas’s request for an exceptional sentence downward, and (5) cumulative error denied him his
due process right to a fair trial. In his statement of additional grounds for review1 (SAG), Thomas
further argues that his trial counsel provided ineffective assistance by failing to question during
voir dire a potential juror who was familiar with the county prosecutor and that the trial court erred
by not removing this juror.
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No. 53002-3-II
We hold that (1) the evidence was sufficient to prove Thomas’s knowledge of the no-
contact order, (2) Thomas fails to establish that the presence of a witness during voir dire was
prejudicial, (3) because Thomas failed to object to the alleged prosecutor’s statements of personal
opinion and fails to show that these comments were so flagrant and ill-intentioned that they could
not have been cured by a proper instruction, Thomas has waived his prosecutorial misconduct
claim, (4) the trial court abused its discretion by refusing to consider the proposed mitigating
factor, (5) cumulative error did not deny Thomas his due process right to a fair trial, and (6)
Thomas’s SAG arguments fail. Accordingly, we affirm Thomas’s conviction, but we remand to
the trial court for resentencing.
FACTS
I. BACKGROUND
Thomas and Brittany Elzinga had periodically been involved in a relationship since 2009.
In March 2015, Thomas was convicted of violating a no-contact order related to Elzinga. As a
result of this conviction, the superior court entered a domestic violence no-contact order that
prohibited Thomas from contacting Elzinga for five years. In November 2018, Elzinga contacted
Thomas and asked him to meet her.
On November 20, Officers Kyle Hoffman and Chad Pearsall of the Aberdeen Police
Department responded to a call reporting that two people were having sex in a car parked behind
a local store. Upon arriving, the officers found a man and a woman in a car. The woman initially
gave the police a different name and date of birth date, but she later identified herself as Elzinga.
The man identified himself as Aaron Thomas. After discovering and confirming the March 2015
no-contact order, the officers arrested Thomas for violating the no-contact order.
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The State charged Thomas with a felony violation of a domestic violence no-contact order.
The case proceeded to a jury trial.
II. PROCEDURE
A. JURY SELECTION
During voir dire of the potential jurors, Pearsall was seated with the prosecutor. The
prosecutor introduced Pearsall and told the potential jurors that Pearsall would be “assisting” or
“helping” the prosecutor that day. Report of Proceedings (RP) (Jan. 25, 2019) at 8, 19. Defense
counsel did not object to Pearsall’s presence or move to exclude any witnesses from the voir dire.
The trial court asked the potential jurors whether anyone knew any prosecutors or criminal
defense attorneys or anyone employed by these offices. Juror 8 responded that he knew Grays
Harbor County Prosecutor Katie Svoboda because he had been the Grays Harbor County Treasurer
for 35 years. Neither party questioned Juror 8 further about his relationship with Svoboda or
challenged Juror 8 for cause. Juror 8 was seated as a juror.
B. TRIAL TESTIMONY AND EXHIBITS
At trial, the State presented testimony from Hoffman, Pearsall, and Elzinga. Thomas did
not present any evidence, and defense counsel did not cross-examine any of the witnesses.
The two officers testified about finding Thomas and Elzinga together in the car,
discovering the no-contact order, and arresting Thomas. Elzinga testified that despite being aware
of the no-contact order, she “initiated [a] conversation” with Thomas because she “felt like [she]
needed closure,” and then met with Thomas. RP (Jan. 25, 2019) at 93.
In addition to this testimony, the State offered and the trial court admitted three exhibits:
(1) a certified copy of the March 23, 2015 domestic violence no-contact order prohibiting Thomas
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from contacting Elzinga for five years, (2) a redacted copy of a certified copy of the March 23,
2015 judgment and sentence showing that Thomas had been convicted of a felony violation of
court order, and (3) a redacted copy of a certified copy of the December 9, 2011 judgment and
sentence showing that Thomas had been convicted of five counts of felony violation of a court
order.
The March 2015 domestic violence no-contact order, which was filed under the same cause
number and on the same day as the March 2015 judgment and sentence, identified Elzinga as the
protected party. The no-contact order also warned Thomas that he could be arrested for violating
the order even if Elzinga invited or allowed him to violate the order. Thomas signed the no-contact
order, acknowledging that he had either read the order or someone had read the order to him, that
he understood the order, and that he had received a copy of the order.
C. CLOSING ARGUMENT
In its closing argument, the State argued that Thomas had knowledge of the no-contact
order and knowingly violated it by contacting Elzinga. The State also argued that Thomas and
Elzinga were members of the same household. We describe the relevant portions of this argument
in more detail below.
Defense counsel’s argument focused on reasonable doubt and challenged the State’s
assertion that Thomas’s convictions for similar offenses had any relevance related to his
knowledge of the relevant no-contact order.
The jury found Thomas guilty of violating the no-contact order. It also found by special
verdict that Thomas and Elzinga had been part of the same family or household.
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D. SENTENCING
At sentencing, defense counsel requested an exceptional sentence downward under RCW
9.94A.535(1)(a) based on Elzinga’s initiation of the contact. Defense counsel asserted that Elzinga
was one of the only people Thomas knew and that she had potentially “manipulated [him] into
having sex with her.” RP (Feb. 8, 2019) at 4.
The State argued against the exceptional sentence downward, noting that Thomas had been
convicted for violating such orders before and that he knew that he should not violate the court
order. Defense counsel responded that Thomas knew what he did was wrong but that they were
hoping the court would “show him mercy” because Elzinga had initiated the contact. RP (Feb. 8,
2019) at 8.
After hearing argument, the trial court declined to consider as a mitigating factor the fact
Elzinga may have initiated and willingly participated in the illegal conduct, noting that defense
counsel had not cited any cases supporting this mitigating factor and the court was unaware of any
such cases:
All right. So, I am not aware of any case that actually found on a -- after on appeal
that a person protected by a no contact order that a sentence could be -- that that
could be found a mitigating circumstance and that is somehow the instigation for
the crime; I’m not aware. Defense didn’t cite anything. So, I think that’s an
interesting argument.
....
We have a lot of interesting legal arguments with no legal support. It’s a common
problem. Unfortunately, that’s -- the court orders say what they say, and you are
well aware of the terms and conditions of the court orders. So that’s, you know,
that’s where we are.
....
All right. Mr. Thomas, you know, it’s a difficult situation, but I am -- I think
the factors go both ways, and, you know, there is really no range for me. So you
are well above the maximum [offender score], nine, you got 22, there will be all
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No. 53002-3-II
sorts of reasons for the court not to grant a mitigating factor. Just out of prison
and other things, those things weren’t plead, but really, what your attorney is
arguing, it’s a good argument, but I just don’t see any legal authority for it, because
you would be creating an appeal by the state, and then maybe you can get some
authority for that, but that’s not something I am -- we do that in every case right
from the beginning when you are enforcing a no contact order.
RP (Feb. 8, 2019) at 12-15 (emphasis added).
The trial court sentenced Thomas to 60 months of confinement. Thomas appeals his
conviction and sentence.
ANALYSIS
I. SUFFICIENCY OF THE EVIDENCE
Thomas first argues that the evidence was insufficient to prove his knowledge of the no-
contact order. We disagree.
Evidence is sufficient to support a verdict if, after viewing the evidence in the light most
favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have found the elements of the crime
beyond a reasonable doubt. State v. Homan, 181 Wn.2d 102, 105, 330 P.3d 182 (2014). In
evaluating a sufficiency of the evidence claim, we assume the truth of the evidence offered by the
State and all reasonable inferences drawn from that evidence. Homan, 181 Wn.2d at 106. We
defer to the trier of fact’s resolution of conflicting testimony and evaluation of the persuasiveness
of the evidence. Homan, 181 Wn.2d at 106. And circumstantial evidence and direct evidence are
equally weighted. State v. Miller, 179 Wn. App. 91, 105, 316 P.3d 1143 (2014).
A person knows or acts knowingly when “he or she is aware of a fact, facts, or
circumstances or result.” RCW 9A.08.010(1)(b)(i). A jury is permitted to find that a person knew
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No. 53002-3-II
or acted knowingly when “[h]e or she has information which would lead a reasonable person in
the same situation to believe that facts exist.” RCW 9A.08.010(1)(b)(ii).
Taking the evidence in the light most favorable to the State, the March 2015 no-contact
order itself was sufficient for the jury to find that Thomas knew about the order because Thomas
signed the order, which stated that he had reviewed and understood the no-contact order. And
there was no evidence suggesting that the signature on the no-contact order was not Thomas’s or
that he did not understand the nature of what he was signing. Thus, the evidence, taken in the light
most favorable to the State, was sufficient to allow a jury to have found that Thomas had
information that would have led a reasonable person in the same situation to know about the March
2015 no-contact order. Accordingly, Thomas’s sufficiency of the evidence argument fails.
II. INEFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL
Thomas next argues that defense counsel’s failure to move under ER 615 to exclude
Pearsall from the voir dire constituted ineffective assistance of counsel. Thomas does not show
that the failure to move to exclude Pearsall was prejudicial.
To prevail on an ineffective assistance of counsel claim, Thomas must show that (1)
defense counsel’s representation was deficient, and (2) this deficient representation was
prejudicial. State v. Estes, 188 Wn.2d 450, 457-58, 395 P.3d 1045 (2017). Counsel’s
representation is deficient if, after considering all the circumstances, it falls below an objective
standard of reasonableness. Estes, 188 Wn.2d at 458. Prejudice exists if there is a reasonable
probability that except for counsel’s errors, the result of the proceeding would have differed. Estes,
188 Wn.2d at 458. Reasonable probability in this context means a probability sufficient to
undermine confidence in the outcome. Estes, 188 Wn.2d at 458. Because Thomas must show
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both prongs, a failure to demonstrate either prong ends our inquiry. State v. Classen, 4 Wn. App.
2d 520, 535, 422 P.3d 489 (2018).
Even presuming, but not deciding that a motion to exclude Pearsall from voir dire would
have been successful, Thomas does not establish a reasonable probability that the result of the
proceedings would have been different had defense counsel made such a motion and the trial court
granted it. Pearsall’s testimony was only relevant to whether Thomas was found with Elzinga and
whether a no-contact order existed. As to Thomas’s contact with Elzinga, the uncontested
evidence from the two remaining witnesses, Hoffman and Elzinga, established the contact. And
as to the existence of the no-contact order, the jury was presented with a copy of the no-contact
order, and Elzinga testified about the no-contact order.
Because Pearsall did not testify about facts that were not supported by other, uncontested
evidence, Thomas does not establish a reasonable probability that the result of the proceedings
would have been different if defense counsel had successfully moved to exclude Pearsall from voir
dire. Accordingly, Thomas does not establish the required prejudice, and this argument fails.
III. PROSECUTORIAL MISCONDUCT
Thomas next argues that the prosecutor committed misconduct during closing argument
by repeatedly expressing his personal opinion about the case and improperly commenting on the
evidence.
A. LEGAL PRINCIPLES
To prevail on his claim of prosecutorial misconduct, Thomas must establish that the
prosecutor’s alleged conduct was both improper and prejudicial. State v. Emery, 174 Wn.2d 741,
756, 278 P.3d 653 (2012). When, as is the case here, a defendant fails to object to alleged
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No. 53002-3-II
misconduct, the defendant waives the error unless he can show that the misconduct was so flagrant
and ill-intentioned that no instruction could cure the prejudice and that the prejudice had a
“‘substantial likelihood of affecting the jury verdict.’” Emery, 174 Wn.2d at 760-61 (quoting State
v. Thorgerson, 172 Wn.2d 438, 455, 258 P.3d 43 (2011)).
B. ARGUMENT AT ISSUE
Thomas points to four statements that the prosecutor made during closing argument as
improper expressions of his personal opinion. Two of the statements relate to Thomas’s
knowledge of the no-contact order, and two relate to the special verdict, which required the jury
to find whether Thomas and Elzinga were members of the same “household.” 2 Clerk’s Papers
(CP) at 51; RP (Jan. 25, 2019) at 118-20.
Frist, when discussing the evidence relevant to Thomas’s knowledge of the no-contact
order, the prosecutor, apparently referring to the exhibits, stated, “So what information in this case
2
The jury instructions defined “household member” as follows:
For purposes of this case, family or household members means adult
persons who are presently residing together or who have resided together in the past
or persons sixteen years of age or older who are presently residing together or who
have resided together in the past and who have or have had a dating relationship or
a person sixteen years of age or older with whom a person sixteen years of age or
older has or has had a dating relationship.
“Dating relationship” means a social relationship of a romantic nature. In
deciding whether two people had a “dating relationship,” you may consider all
relevant factors, including (a) the nature of any relationship between them; (b) the
length of time that any relationship existed; and ( c) the frequency of any interaction
between them.
CP at 47 (Jury Instruction 7).
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No. 53002-3-II
would lead the defendant to have knowledge that the [no-contact] order existed? I think that’s
right here, right here, and right here.”3 RP (Jan. 25, 2019) at 115 (emphasis).
Second, the prosecutor then emphasized that to determine whether Thomas knew about the
no-contact order, the jury would need to consider “the context and the documents and the evidence
that [the jury had.]” RP (Jan. 25, 2019) at 115. The prosecutor then continued, “It would - it seems
to me, and you’re the ones who have to decide, it would seem rather absurd that you would go
through two criminal convictions for the same thing and not know that you shouldn’t do that.” RP
(Jan. 25, 2019) at 115-16 (emphasis added).
Third, when discussing the special verdict requiring the jury to determine whether Thomas
and Elzinga were members of the same family or household, the prosecutor stated, “Now, that’s
the only question that you have to answer with respect to domestic violence. And you have that -
the - there’s a definition of that in your jury instructions. And it’s a little bit - it’s - I don’t know.
It’s a little more - that’s just my opinion.” RP (Jan. 25, 2019) at 118-119 (emphasis added).
Immediately following this argument, the prosecutor reminded the jury that his argument was not
evidence and that his argument merely represented “how [the State] see[s] the case and hopefully
[how] you see it.” RP (Jan. 25, 2019) at 119. The prosecutor then asked the jury to refer to its
own notes and memories to determine what the evidence was.
3
Even if Thomas had not waived this argument, this statement, taken in context, was no more than
the prosecutor directing the jury to consider the exhibits as evidence of Thomas’s knowledge of
the no-contact order. It was not an expression of the prosecutor’s opinion, and defense counsel
was not deficient for failing to object to this argument.
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And fourth, when discussing the special verdict, the State argued, “So I think based on Ms.
Elzinga’s testimony you can conclude beyond a reasonable doubt that they were in a domestic
relationship. This is a domestic violence case.” RP (Jan 25, 2019) at 120 (emphasis added).
Defense counsel did not object. RP (Jan. 25, 2019) at 120. Thomas did not object to any of the
prosecutor’s statements. RP (Jan. 25, 2019) at 115-16, 118-20.
C. WAIVER
Thomas asserts that the frequency of the prosecutor’s improper statements shows that they
were flagrant and ill-intentioned and that their combined effect was prejudicial. But the prosecutor
made these statements in the context of asking the jury to consider the evidence. And an objection
and an instruction to the jury to remind it that it was the sole judge of credibility and the value and
weight of the evidence, and that counsels’ remarks and argument were not argument would have
cured any potential prejudice despite their frequency.4
Because Thomas fails to show that the prosecutor’s statements were flagrant and ill-
intentioned, he waived his prosecutorial misconduct claim.
IV. EXCEPTIONAL SENTENCE
Thomas further argues that the trial court abused its discretion by denying Thomas’s
request for an exceptional sentence downward based on Elzinga initiating the contact with Elzinga.
He asserts that the court refused to consider the proposed mitigating circumstance. We agree that
4
The trial court had already instructed the jury that it was the sole judge of credibility and to the
value and weight of the evidence.
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No. 53002-3-II
the trial court erred by refusing to consider the mitigating factor of Elzinga’s initiation of the
contact.5
Although “‘no defendant is entitled to an exceptional sentence below the standard range,
every defendant is entitled to ask the trial court to consider such a sentence and to have the
alternative actually considered.’” State v. Bunker, 144 Wn. App. 407, 421, 183 P.3d 1086 (2008),
(quoting State v. Grayson, 154 Wn.2d 333, 342, 111 P.3d 1183 (2005)), aff’d, 169 Wn.2d 571, 238
P.3d 571 (2010). “A trial court’s erroneous belief that it lacks the discretion to depart downward
from the standard sentencing range is itself an abuse of discretion.” Bunker, 144 Wn. App. at 421.
Washington courts have held that although a protected party’s consent is not a defense to
violating a no-contact order, the protected party’s willing presence is a mitigating factor that the
court may consider at sentencing. Bunker, 144 Wn. App. at 421 (rejecting the State’s argument
that because consent is not a defense to the crime of violating a no-contact order, the trial court is
prohibited from considering the victim’s willing participation in the crime when sentencing the
defendant). And the legislature has provided that sentencing courts may consider a mitigated
sentence when “[t]o a significant degree, the victim was an initiator, willing participant, aggressor,
or provoker of the incident.” RCW 9.94A.535(1)(a).6 Here, the trial court’s statements show that
if it understood that there was a legal basis for this mitigating factor, it would have considered this
5
Thomas also argues that the trial court erred by relying on his recent recidivism, which he
characterizes as an impermissible aggravating factor not found by the jury; Thomas’s inappropriate
language during his statement to the court; and Thomas’s decision to proceed to trial. Because we
remand for resentencing on other grounds, we do not reach these issues.
6
The legislature amended this statute in 2019, but the amendment did not change this subsection.
Laws of 2019, ch. 219 § 1. Accordingly, we cite to the current version of the statute.
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No. 53002-3-II
factor when weighing the factors in favor of and against imposing a sentence below the standard
range.
Although the trial court is not required to impose a mitigated exceptional sentence, we
remand Thomas’s case for resentencing to allow the trial court to exercise its discretion in
determining whether an exceptional sentence is appropriate in light of this mitigating factor. See
State v. O’Dell, 183 Wn.2d 680, 358 P.3d 359 (2015) (remanding for resentencing after holding
that trial court erred when it concluded it could not consider a defendant’s youth as a mitigating
factor); Bunker, 144 Wn. App. at 422 (remanding for trial court to consider this same mitigating
factor).
V. CUMULATIVE ERROR
Thomas further argues that cumulative error denied him his due process right to a fair
trial. We disagree.
“The cumulative error doctrine applies where a combination of trial errors denies the
accused of a fair trial, even where any one of the errors, taken individually, would be harmless.”
In re Pers. Restraint of Cross, 180 Wn.2d 664, 690, 327 P.3d 660 (2014). “Under the cumulative
error doctrine, a defendant may be entitled to a new trial when cumulative errors produce a trial
that is fundamentally unfair.” Emery, 174 Wn.2d at 766.
Other than the sentencing issue, the only potential errors in this case are the prosecutor’s
statements and the officer’s presence during voir dire. But in light of the uncontroverted evidence
establishing both the offense and the domestic violence special verdict, these potential errors
would not have rendered Thomas’s trial fundamentally unfair. Accordingly, Thomas does not
establish cumulative error.
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VI. SAG
In his SAG, Thomas argues that he received ineffective assistance of counsel when defense
counsel failed to challenge Juror 8, who stated that he had a “close friendship” with the Grays
Harbor County Prosecutor Katie Svoboda. SAG (Additional Ground 1). Thomas also argues that
the trial court should not have allowed Juror 8 to remain on the jury because of Juror 8’s “close
relationship[]” with Svoboda and the fact Juror 8 had worked in the county courthouse for more
than 35 years as the county treasurer. SAG (Additional Ground 2).
Juror 8 did not state that he had a “close friendship” with Svoboda, instead, he stated that
he knew Svoboda because he had worked as the treasurer in Grays Harbor County for 35 years.
Without additional information, we cannot determine if there would have been a different outcome
if defense counsel had further questioned Juror 8 on this matter. Accordingly, based on this record,
Thomas does not show prejudice and does not establish ineffective assistance of counsel based on
defense counsel’s failure to further question Juror 8. Estes, 188 Wn.2d at 458.
Thomas’s claim, that the trial court should have addressed whether it had a mandatory duty
to dismiss Juror 8 even after it seated this juror, fails. “Both RCW 2.36.110 and CrR 6.4(c)(1)
create [in the trial court] a mandatory duty to dismiss an unfit juror even in the absence of a
challenge.” State v. Lawler, 194 Wn. App. 275, 284, 374 P.3d 278 (2016). But without knowing
more about Juror 8’s relationship with Svoboda, the trial court had no basis upon which to dismiss
Juror 8.
Accordingly, Thomas’s SAG arguments fail.
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CONCLUSION
We hold that (1) the evidence was sufficient to prove Thomas’s knowledge of the no-
contact order, (2) Thomas fails to establish that the presence of a witness during voir dire was
prejudicial, (3) because Thomas failed to object to the alleged prosecutor’s statements of personal
opinion and fails to show that these statements were so flagrant and ill-intentioned that they could
not have been cured by a proper instruction, Thomas has waived his prosecutorial misconduct
claim, (4) the trial court abused its discretion by refusing to consider the proposed mitigating
factor, (5) cumulative error did not deny Thomas his due process right to a fair trial, and (6)
Thomas’s SAG arguments fail. Accordingly, we affirm Thomas’s conviction, but we remand to
the trial court for resentencing.
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.
SUTTON, J.
We concur:
LEE, C.J.
MAXA, J.
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