State Of Washington, V. Tedgy C. Wright ( 2021 )

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
DIVISION ONE
THE STATE OF WASHINGTON, ) No. 80348-4-I
)
Respondent, ) ORDER GRANTING MOTION
) TO REPLACE VICTIMS’ NAMES
v. ) WITH INITIALS IN THE
) COURT’S OPINION AND
TEDGY CARNELL WRIGHT, ) WITHDRAWING AND
) SUBSTITUTING OPINION
Appellant. )
Respondent the State of Washington filed a motion to withdraw the
published-in-part opinion filed in this case on July 6, 2021 and substitute the
opinion with one that replaces the living adult victims’ names with initials. The
panel has determined that the motion should be granted and that the opinion filed
on July 6, 2021 be withdrawn and a substitute opinion filed using the victims’
initials. Now, therefore, it is hereby
ORDERED that the opinion filed in this case on July 6, 2021 shall be
withdrawn and a substitute opinion shall be filed that replaces the victims’ names
with initials.
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
DIVISION ONE
THE STATE OF WASHINGTON, ) No. 80348-4-I
)
Respondent, )
)
v. ) PUBLISHED IN PART OPINION
)
TEDGY CARNELL WRIGHT, )
)
Appellant. )
BOWMAN, J. — Tedgy Carnell Wright appeals several convictions resulting
from a jury trial involving joined charges for two separate victims. Wright
contends reversal is required because a jury question amounted to a statement
of deadlock and the trial court violated his constitutional right to be present when
it consulted with counsel in his absence. We hold that the jury question was not
a declaration of deadlock prompting a critical stage in the proceedings and the
court did not violate Wright’s right to be present. In the unpublished part of this
opinion, we conclude that the trial court did not abuse its discretion by denying
Wright’s motion to sever his charges and his counsel’s failure to renew that
motion did not prejudice Wright based on the evidence as it developed at trial.
And the trial court did not deprive Wright of confrontation clause protections by
excluding impeachment evidence, the prosecutor did not commit reversible
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misconduct during closing, and the court did not abuse its discretion by admitting
two photomontages using Wright’s booking photograph. Finally, cumulative error
did not deprive Wright of a fair trial. We affirm.
FACTS
Wright appeals joined charges related to two separate incidents, one
involving J.B. and one involving N.F.
J.B. Incident
J.B. is a single mom with a young son. She started working as an escort
in 2018, advertising her services on websites. On May 29, 2018, a man, later
identified as Wright, asked about engaging her services. She agreed to meet
him at her home in Auburn.
J.B. let Wright in the house and he “immediately” began undressing.
When Wright was undressed, J.B. noticed that “his body was saggy,” as if he had
“lost a lot of weight.” Wright “said something about oral . . . without a condom,”
and J.B. “told him no.” Wright “got upset” and began putting his clothes on. As
he dressed, Wright took a silver gun out of his jacket. J.B. told him to leave
because she did not allow guns in her home. Wright “refused,” took J.B.’s cell
phone out of her hand, and told her to go upstairs. Wright threatened that if she
“said anything about what’s going on, . . . he’d kill [her] and [her] son.”1
1J.B. testified that her son was not home, but there were photographs of J.B. and her
son on the walls.
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Once they were upstairs, Wright “started basically telling [J.B.] what to do”
while pointing the gun at her. He forced her to give him oral sex. Then Wright
put on a condom and forced her to have vaginal sex. Afterward, Wright had J.B.
walk with him to the bathroom, where she thought he put the condom in the toilet
and washed his hands.
Wright returned to the bedroom and put on his clothes. He began
searching J.B.’s room and her dresser while holding the gun. He took a pair of
black Air Jordan tennis shoes with pink soles, two gold and diamond “grills,”2 a
picture of J.B. and her “ex,” and J.B.’s wallet. He returned J.B.’s cell phone
before he left in what “looked like” a black “newer Chrysler.”
After Wright left, J.B. was “scared” to call the police so she “called
somebody close to [her].” The friend went to J.B.’s home and told her that she
“needed to call the police.” J.B. then called the police, who came to her home to
take her statement and photographs. She also went to the hospital for a sexual
assault examination. A forensic scientist from the Washington State Patrol Crime
Laboratory (WSPCL) later testified that male DNA3 obtained from the perineal
swabs in J.B.’s sexual assault kit matched a reference sample from Wright.
2 Mouthpieces.
3 Deoxyribonucleic acid.
3
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N.F. Incident
N.F. was not actively working as an escort. But she had advertised escort
services online in the past, and some of her posts remained on the Internet. N.F.
communicated with Wright over social media for a few months before they met.
Wright would text N.F. asking to meet, but she ignored him because she had a
boyfriend. In early June 2018, N.F. texted Wright that she was “ready and
available” for sexual services because she was single. She agreed to meet him
on June 17.
N.F. met Wright at a Subway restaurant in SeaTac. She parked her car
and got into Wright’s gray/silver Chrysler 200, where they talked for a while.
Wright told N.F. he had friends that would pay her for sex. Wright offered to take
N.F. for a drink, but N.F. did not want to leave her car at the Subway. So they
decided to drop off N.F.’s car at her home and then “go by the water and just
drink.”
Rather than drive to the water, Wright drove N.F. to an apartment in
Skyway. Once there, they listened to music and drank. Wright got “frisky” and
offered N.F. $100 for oral sex. N.F. agreed. Wright gave her a $100 bill, and
they went to the bedroom, where N.F. performed oral sex. At some point, Wright
took off his shirt. N.F. made “a look of disgust” after seeing that Wright had a lot
of “extra skin . . . hanging down.” Wright became “upset” and asked for his
money back. When N.F. refused, Wright “went crazy.” He “threw [her] on the
ground,” choked her with both hands around her neck, and vaginally raped her.
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Afterward, N.F. went to the bathroom to check if Wright had been wearing
a condom. She did not find one. When she returned to the bedroom to get
dressed, she saw that Wright had a silver gun with a black handle and was going
through her purse. N.F. and Wright fought over her purse. During the struggle,
N.F. ripped the window blinds in the bedroom. Wright pulled off N.F.’s wig and
false eyelashes and struck her in the head multiple times with his gun. N.F. tried
to “sneakily” call 911 from her cell phone, but Wright “caught” her, took her
phone, and “pistol whipped” her more. Wright then told N.F. that he saw her
identification in her purse and if she did not “follow[ ] his directions,” “I know
where you live, I’ll kill you and your whole family.”
Wright ultimately gave N.F. her wig and clothing back and told her to get
dressed. “He kept the gun in his hand the whole time.” He told her to get in his
car and then left her in Tukwila. Wright returned her two cell phones but kept her
purse. N.F. called 911 and later directed officers to the Skyway apartment,
identifying the unit by its broken blinds. Police took N.F. to a hospital, where she
underwent a sexual assault examination, received stitches for the wounds on her
head, and gave a statement to a detective.
The detective testified that at an interview the next day, N.F. said that
Wright had taken $1,300 in cash from her purse and that she had marked the
$20 and $100 bills with a “P” on the bottom right-hand corner of each bill. At a
later search of the Skyway apartment, officers recovered $1,240 in $20 and $100
bills marked with a “P” and a locked toolbox containing a black and silver
handgun. The detective also testified that officers found “black and pink
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Jordan’s” in the Skyway apartment. The shoes appeared to be the same as
those worn by J.B. in a photograph and matched her description of the shoes
Wright stole from her apartment.
A WSPCL forensic scientist testified that vaginal swabs from N.F.’s sexual
assault kit showed female DNA that matched N.F. and male DNA that matched
Wright.
Trial
The State charged Wright with rape in the second degree of N.F.; robbery
in the first degree of N.F. with a firearm enhancement; assault in the second
degree of N.F. with a deadly weapon and a firearm enhancement; unlawful
possession of a firearm in the first degree, committed on or about June 17, 2018;
rape in the first degree of J.B. with a firearm enhancement; and unlawful
possession of a firearm in the first degree, committed on or about May 29, 2018.
Wright moved to sever the two counts related to J.B. from the four counts
related to N.F.. He also moved to sever the two unlawful firearm possession
counts from the other charges involving each alleged victim. The trial court
denied Wright’s motion to sever the counts as to each victim but bifurcated trial
on the two unlawful possession of a firearm charges from trial on the other
counts. After the court considered the strength of the State’s cases, Wright’s
defense of “general denial” for both victims, the court’s ability to instruct the jury,
the cross admissibility of evidence, and judicial economy, the court concluded:
The important consideration of judicial economy is served by trying
these cases together. There already will be a bifurcated trial on
firearms charges. Given the cross-admissibility of the evidence,
there is no need for two trials involving such similar cases.
6
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During discovery, Wright saw documentation that J.B. received $15,000 in
lost wages benefits through the Department of Labor and Industries Crime
Victims Compensation Program (CVCP). He told the court that there were “some
questions” about “the veracity” of her application to CVCP. Wright later
subpoenaed a CVCP claims consultant to testify at trial, intending to offer
“relevant evidence that goes to [J.B.’s] bias of financial interest in the outcome of
this case.” Wright also intended to show that J.B. falsely represented that she
worked as a receptionist for City Live Barbershop on her CVCP benefits
application. The trial court quashed the subpoena. The court told defense,
“[Y]ou can certainly ask [J.B.] about the representation she made to [CVCP] . . .
as part of assessing her credibility,” but “we’re not litigating whether the claim
was properly paid or not, because that is collateral.”
Before trial, the State moved to preclude defense counsel from asking
whether J.B. had reported any income from City Live Barbershop to the IRS.4
The State argued the question “has no bearing on the issues of this case” and
“its probative value is super low.” Defense counsel asserted that the evidence
“would establish that [J.B.] has no corroboration of her claim that she did in fact
receive payment as she claims from City Live Barbershop” and that it was
“relevant and material to the Defense that [J.B.] is not a credible person.” The
trial court granted the State’s motion, noting that defense counsel already
planned to call Gloria Wimberly, the barbershop’s owner, to testify that J.B. was
not in fact employed at the barbershop. The trial court also granted the State’s
4 United States Internal Revenue Service.
7
No. 80348-4-I/8
motion to exclude all evidence or questioning about the Wells Fargo debit card
that J.B. reported stolen by Wright. The court allowed defense only to “cross-
examine [J.B.] about what she told the investigators and . . . if her story has
changed over time.”
After jury selection began but before the court empaneled a jury, defense
counsel renewed Wright’s motion to sever the counts related to J.B. from those
related to N.F. to preserve the issue for appeal. Defense counsel did not provide
any more argument about the motion. The court denied the renewed motion to
sever but noted that Wright had preserved the issue for appeal.
Trial testimony began on March 26, 2019 and continued for two weeks.
Wright did not testify but the court admitted a recorded statement he made to a
detective on the day officers arrested him for the N.F. incident. Wright’s defense
theory as to the rape counts was consent. Defense counsel argued that Wright
had paid J.B. for sex, pointing to evidence that at her defense interview, J.B. said
Wright gave her two $100 bills “upon his entering her residence.” Defense
counsel also argued that J.B. was not credible, pointing out the inconsistencies in
her various accounts of the incident and that she lied on her CVCP application
about working for City Live Barbershop. As to N.F., defense counsel pointed out
that although N.F. testified she was not posting advertisements as an escort at
the time, she texted Wright that she was “ready and available” for sex work.
Defense counsel also argued that N.F. agreed to go into the Skyway apartment
and later agreed to perform oral sex.
8
No. 80348-4-I/9
On Thursday, April 11, 2019, the parties made closing arguments on all
but the unlawful possession of firearm counts. After the State’s closing, Wright
moved for a mistrial. He asserted that during closing argument, the prosecutor
impermissibly vouched for the victims’ credibility, commented on facts outside the
record, and improperly argued that “one crime proved the other.” The court
denied the motion.
The jury began deliberating Thursday afternoon. On the morning of the
following Tuesday, the jury inquired, “If we are unable to reach a verdict on a
count, what happens?” The trial court conferred with defense counsel and the
State, and they agreed to tell the jury, “See your instructions, particularly
instructions #10 and #28.” Wright was not present during the conference.5
On Tuesday afternoon, the jury returned guilty verdicts on the rape,
robbery, and assault counts as charged.6 By special verdict, the jury found
Wright guilty of the firearm enhancements related to the assault and two rape
charges.7
Wright moved to arrest the judgment and for a new trial on multiple
grounds. He argued among other things that “a new trial should be granted
because the trial court erred in failing to have [Wright] present upon its
5 The conference itself is not in the record, and the trial court did not promptly
memorialize the conference on the record. Instead, the only reference to the conference is during
a later hearing on Wright’s motion for a new trial.
6
The trial court later vacated the conviction for assault of N.F. in the second degree
based on the parties’ agreement that it merged into the robbery charge.
7 The trial then proceeded on the two unlawful possession of a firearm charges. The jury
found Wright guilty of both unlawful possession of a firearm counts. Wright does not appeal
these convictions or the court’s decision to sever the unlawful possession of a firearm counts
from the other charges.
9
No. 80348-4-I/10
consideration and response to a jury question that arose during jury
deliberations.” The trial court denied Wright’s motion. The court acknowledged
that Wright was not present at the conference but concluded that the law is
“pretty clear that the matter of a jury question, at least on a point of law as was
involved here, is not considered a critical phase of the proceeding for which the
Defendant’s presence is required.”
The trial court sentenced Wright to an indeterminate sentence of 438
months. Wright appeals.
ANALYSIS
Right To Be Present
Wright contends the trial court deprived him of his right to be present
during “a ‘critical stage’ of the trial” when it consulted with counsel about a jury
question in his absence. We review de novo whether a trial court violated a
defendant’s constitutional right to be present. State v. Irby, 170 Wn.2d 874, 880,
246 P.3d 796 (2011).
A criminal defendant has a constitutional right to be present at all critical
stages of a trial under article I, section 22 of the Washington State Constitution
as well as the due process clause8 and the Sixth Amendment to the United
States Constitution. Irby, 170 Wn.2d at 874. The core of this right is “the right to
be present when evidence is being presented or whenever the defendant’s
presence has ‘a relation, reasonably substantial,’ to the opportunity to defend
against the charge.” State v. Bremer, 98 Wn. App. 832, 834, 991 P.2d 1188 U.S. CONST. amend. XIV.
10
No. 80348-4-I/11
(2000) (quoting In re Pers. Restraint of Lord, 123 Wn.2d 296, 306, 868 P.2d 835(1994)). But the right is not absolute. Irby, 170 Wn.2d at 881. Rather, “ ‘the
presence of a defendant is a condition of due process to the extent that a fair and
just hearing would be thwarted by his absence.’ ” Irby, 170 Wn.2d at 881(quoting Snyder v. Massachusetts, 291 U.S. 97, 107-08, 54 S. Ct. 330, 78 L. Ed.
674 (1934)). A defendant does not have a right to be present when his
“ ‘presence would be useless, or the benefit but a shadow.’ ” Irby, 170 Wn.2d at
881 (quoting Snyder, 291 U.S. at 106-07).
Generally, a defendant does not have the right to be present during in-
chambers or bench conferences on legal matters that do not require the
resolution of disputed facts. Lord, 123 Wn.2d at 306. For example, in State v.
Sublett, 156 Wn. App. 160, 178, 231 P.3d 231 (2010), aff’d, 176 Wn.2d 58, 292
P.3d 715 (2012), a deliberating jury submitted a question to the court seeking
clarification about the definition of “intent.” Counsel and the judge met in
chambers without the defendant to address the jury’s question. Counsel agreed
to answer the question by referring the jury back to their instructions. Sublett,
156 Wn. App. at 178. Sublett appealed his conviction, arguing that he had a right
to be present when the court and counsel addressed the jury’s question. Sublett,
156 Wn. App. at 181. We held that the conference “was not a critical stage of the
proceedings because it involved only the purely legal issue of how to respond to
the jury’s request for a clarification in one of the trial court’s instructions.” Sublett,
156 Wn. App. at 183.
11
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By contrast, a defendant has a constitutional right to be present when the
court is responding to a declaration from a jury that they are “deadlocked.” State
v. Burdette, 178 Wn. App. 183, 201, 313 P.3d 1235 (2013). In Burdette, the jury
sent a message to the court that stated, “ ‘Jury is deadlocked over several issues
relating to the defendant’s intent.’ ” Burdette, 178 Wn. App. at 189. This “bald
assertion of deadlock” came only a few hours after the jury began deliberating.
Burdette, 178 Wn. App. at 196. After consulting with counsel in chambers
without the defendant, the court instructed the jury, “ ‘[P]lease continue to
deliberate in an effort to reach verdicts.’ ” Burdette, 178 Wn. App. at 189.9 The
jury acquitted Burdette of one charge but returned a guilty verdict on the other.
Burdette, 178 Wn. App. at 189.
Burdette appealed his conviction, arguing he had a right to be present
when the court discussed its response to the jury’s communication. Burdette,
178 Wn. App. at 189-90. We held that although the communication did not
require the resolution of facts, “the defendant’s presence at this stage has a
direct relation to the fullness of his opportunity to defend against the charge.”
Burdette, 178 Wn. App. at 201. We explained:
To a defendant, all may pivot on how long the court will require a
deadlocked jury to continue deliberations before declaring a
mistrial. In some situations, a defendant may desire a quick mistrial
and in others more deliberations in hope of an acquittal. Whatever
the case, much is at stake at this stage and a defendant may
reasonably wish to actively participate by making his opinion known
to his lawyer or, if allowed, to the judge.
Burdette, 178 Wn. App. at 201.
9 Alteration in original.
12
No. 80348-4-I/13
Wright argues that Burdette should control here because “[l]ike the jury’s
question in Burdette, the question from Mr. Wright’s jury related to deadlock.”
But the jury in Burdette did not pose a question. It made a “bald assertion of
deadlock,” which required the defendant’s presence for participation in strategic
decision-making about whether to seek a mistrial. Burdette, 178 Wn. App. at
195-96.
Here, the jury heard testimony from several witnesses over two weeks
about four separate charges involving two victims. After one and a half days of
deliberations, the jury asked the trial court, “If we are unable to reach a verdict on
a count, what happens?” Unlike Burdette, the jury’s question was not an
assertion of deadlock. Rather, it was a question about how to proceed in the
event they were unable to reach a verdict on one of four separate counts.10
Resolution of the jury’s question called for clarifying the court’s instructions
related to the deliberation process—a purely legal question. The court and
counsel agreed to answer the question by referring the jury back to the
instructions as a whole, and “particularly” instructions 10 and 28.
Jury instruction 10 stated, “A separate crime is charged in each count.
You must decide each count separately. Your verdict on one count should not
control your verdict on any other count.” Instruction 28 stated, in pertinent part:
When you begin deliberating, you should first select a
presiding juror. The presiding juror’s duty is to see that you discuss
10 The dissent contends this case is similar to Burdette because “the jury indicated that it
was having trouble agreeing even though it did not use the term ‘deadlock.’ ” Even if that were
true, it still ignores that the jury question related to only one of four counts. Any discussion about
whether to declare a mistrial and discharge the jury—the critical stage identified in Burdette—
would not occur until after the jury had fully considered all four counts separately.
13
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the issues in this case in an orderly and reasonable manner, that
you discuss each issue submitted for your decision fully and fairly,
and that each one of you has a chance to be heard on every
question before you.
....
You must fill in the blank provided in each verdict form the
words “not guilty” or the word “guilty,” according to the decision you
reach.
Because this is a criminal case, each of you must agree for
you to return a verdict. When all of you have so agreed, fill in the
verdict forms to express your decision. The presiding juror must
sign the verdict forms and notify the bailiff. The bailiff will bring you
into court to declare your verdict.
Because the jury question did not amount to a declaration of deadlock, the
parties did not discuss “how long the court will require a deadlocked jury to
continue deliberations before declaring a mistrial.” Burdette, 178 Wn. App. at
201. As such, Wright’s presence had no “relation, reasonably substantial,” to his
opportunity to defend against his charges. Lord, 123 Wn.2d at 306. The trial
court did not violate Wright’s constitutional right to be present at all critical stages
of the proceedings.11
The rest of this opinion has no precedential value and should not be
published in accordance with RCW 2.06.040.
11 Wright also complains that the trial court’s answer to the jury’s question was error. He
contends that the court should have also emphasized jury instruction 2, which explains jurors
should not “surrender [their] honest belief about the value or significance of evidence solely
because of the opinions of [their] fellow jurors” or “change [their] mind just for the purpose of
reaching a verdict.” We first note that the court referred the jury to their instructions as a whole.
In any event, the adequacy of the court’s response to the jury’s question is a different inquiry
altogether than the nature of the jurors’ communication itself. And Wright does not claim
instructional error on appeal. Instead, he argues that the violation of his right to be present is not
harmless because the court’s answer was unfair. Because we conclude that the court did not
violate Wright’s constitutional right to be present, we do not reach harmless error.
14
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Severance
Wright contends the trial court erred by denying his motion to sever the
counts related to J.B. from those involving N.F..12 We disagree.
“Severance” refers to “dividing joined offenses into separate charging
documents.” State v. Bluford, 188 Wn.2d 298, 306, 393 P.3d 1219 (2017).
“Severance may be ordered on a party’s motion where ‘the court determines that
severance will promote a fair determination of the defendant’s guilt or innocence
of each offense.’ ” Bluford, 188 Wn.2d at 306 (quoting CrR 4.4(b)).
“ ‘Defendants seeking severance have the burden of demonstrating that a trial
involving both counts would be so manifestly prejudicial as to outweigh the
concern for judicial economy.’ ” State v. Moses, 193 Wn. App. 341, 359-60, 372
P.3d 147 (2016) (quoting State v. Bythrow, 114 Wn.2d 713, 718, 790 P.2d 154(1990)).
“Severance of charges is important when there is a risk that the jury will
use the evidence of one crime to infer the defendant’s guilt for another crime or
12 Wright also argues that the trial court should have severed the N.F. and J.B. charges
based on evidence and testimony that developed after the trial court denied his initial motion. But
as Wright acknowledges, defense counsel did not call the trial court’s attention to any relevant
change in circumstances when he renewed Wright’s severance motion during jury selection. And
Wright did not renew his severance motion at or before the close of the evidence. Wright cites
State v. Jones, 93 Wn. App. 166, 172 n.8, 968 P.2d 888 (1998), for the proposition that on
appeal, “all arguments for severance . . . supported by [the] record were ‘subsumed within
[defendant’s] assertion at trial that severance should be granted because of the prejudice which
would result from a joint trial.’ ” Jones is distinguishable because the defendant moved to sever
based on the evidence as it developed at trial. Jones, 93 Wn. App. at 170. Wright did not. And
Wright renewed his severance motion during jury selection in front of the trial judge who did not
decide Wright’s initial severance motion. The trial court would have had no reason to know of
any relevant evidentiary developments unless Wright specifically argued them. We conclude
Wright waived his argument that the trial court erred by not severing the charges based on the
evidence as it developed at trial. See CrR 4.4(a)(2) (severance is waived by failure to renew the
motion before or at the close of all the evidence); RAP 2.5(a) (an argument not made below is
waived on appeal).
15
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to infer a general criminal disposition.” State v. Sutherby, 165 Wn.2d 870, 883,
204 P.3d 916 (2009).
In determining whether the potential for prejudice requires
severance, a trial court must consider (1) the strength of the State’s
evidence on each count; (2) the clarity of defenses as to each
count; (3) court instructions to the jury to consider each count
separately; and (4) the admissibility of evidence of the other
charges even if not joined for trial.
State v. Russell, 125 Wn.2d 24, 63, 882 P.2d 747 (1994). Additionally, “any
residual prejudice must be weighed against the need for judicial economy.”
Russell, 125 Wn.2d at 63. “The failure of the trial court to sever counts is
reversible only upon a showing that the court’s decision was a manifest abuse of
discretion.” Bythrow, 114 Wn.2d at 717.
(1) Strength of State’s Evidence on Each Count
Wright contends that the strength of the State’s evidence on each count
favored severance “because the case involving [J.B.] was much weaker than the
case involving [N.F.].” The State counters that “the trial court reasonably found
that the evidence in both cases was . . . independently strong.” We agree with
the State.
Wright asserts that “the single piece of evidence corroborating [J.B.]’s
accusations” was the pair of Air Jordans officers photographed at the Skyway
apartment “that detectives speculated might be women’s shoes and might be the
pair [J.B.] reported stolen.” But Wright is incorrect. The trial court’s ruling on
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No. 80348-4-I/17
Wright’s initial severance motion lists the corroborating evidence
it relied on in detail:
[T]he presence of the defendant’s DNA on both N.F. and J.B.’s
genitals after a sexual assault examination, photo[ ]montages
shown to N.F. and J.B. where they each identified the defendant as
their assailant, and a firearm recovered from the defendant’s
residence that matches the description of the firearm provided by
N.F. and J.B. show, on balance, that the State’s case is relatively
strong as to [N.F.’s] Counts . . . and as to [J.B.’s] Counts.
The evidence in the J.B. counts was not weak enough to make it
“necess[ary] for the jury to base its finding of guilt on . . . one count on the
strength of the evidence on another count.” State v. Smith, 74 Wn.2d 744, 755,
446 P.2d 571 (1968), vacated in part on other grounds, Smith v. Washington,
408 U.S. 934, 92 S. Ct. 2852, 33 L. Ed. 2d 747 (1972). The trial court did not
abuse its discretion by concluding that consideration of the first factor did not
favor severance.
(2) Clarity of Defenses as to Each Count
The purpose of the second factor in the severance inquiry is to prevent
“[t]he likelihood that joinder will cause a jury to be confused as to the accused’s
defenses.” Russell, 125 Wn.2d at 64. This likelihood is “very small” when the
defenses are identical on each charge. Russell, 125 Wn.2d at 64. Wright
concedes that his defenses of “consent” to the rape charges and “general denial”
as to the other charges “are consistent with one another.” The trial court did not
abuse its discretion when it determined this factor did not favor severance.
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No. 80348-4-I/18
(3) Court’s Instructions To Consider Each Count Separately
“The third factor to consider is whether the court properly instructed the
jury to consider each count separately.” Russell, 125 Wn.2d at 66. Here, in
denying Wright’s initial motion to sever, the trial court stated it would “instruct the
jury that its verdict on one count should not affect its decision as to any other
count charged.” And the trial court properly instructed the jury, “A separate crime
is charged in each count. You must decide each count separately. Your verdict
on one count should not control your verdict on any other count.” For these
reasons, the trial court did not abuse its discretion by concluding that the third
factor did not support severance.
Wright disagrees and contends the trial court’s instruction was insufficient
because the prosecutor improperly encouraged consideration of the counts
together by “telling the jury that Mr. Wright carefully selected his victims and
attacked them in ‘almost the exact same’ manner.” Wright points out that in the
context of alleged crimes sexual in nature, “there is a recognized danger of
prejudice to the defendant even if the jury is properly instructed to consider the
crimes separately.” Sutherby, 165 Wn.2d at 884.
Sutherby involved joining counts of possession of child pornography with
counts of child rape and molestation where it was “highly likely” that evidence of
the child pornography charges and evidence of the other charges was not cross
admissible because the images were not of the victim.13 Sutherby, 165 Wn.2d at
13The Sutherby court considered cross admissibility in the context of determining
whether the defendant’s trial counsel was ineffective for failing to seek severance of the charges.
Sutherby, 165 Wn.2d at 877.
18
No. 80348-4-I/19
886. The prosecutor capitalized on joinder by “consistently argu[ing] that the
presence of child pornography on Sutherby’s computers proved he sexually
abused his granddaughter.” Sutherby, 165 Wn.2d at 885.14 The prosecutor also
argued:
“And how do you know that this man has a problem with sex with
children and he fantasized about it and this was a present for him?
You . . . saw a representative sample from the child pornography
on that screen. We know he is predisposed to touching children in
a sexual manner.”
Sutherby, 165 Wn.2d at 885-86.15
Here, as discussed in the fourth factor below, evidence of the incident
involving each victim was cross admissible as probative of a common scheme or
plan. As a result, it was not improper for the prosecutor to suggest that
similarities between the two incidents were probative of “ ‘a design (not a
disposition) to rape.’ ” State v. Lough, 125 Wn.2d 847, 858-59, 889 P.2d 487(1995) (quoting 2 JOHN H. W IGMORE, EVIDENCE IN TRIALS AT COMMON LAW § 357,
at 335 (James H. Chadbourn rev. ed. 1979)). The prosecutor’s argument here,
which urged the jury to consider the evidence for a proper purpose, is
distinguishable from Sutherby, where the prosecutor affirmatively argued the jury
should consider the evidence for an improper purpose.16 Wright fails to establish
14 Emphasis added.
15 Emphasis added.
16 And an ER 404(b) limiting instruction would have mitigated any risk that the jury
considered evidence of one incident as propensity evidence related to the other incident. The
trial court invited the parties “to come up with a limiting instruction that you feel comfortable with,”
but there is no indication in the record that Wright proposed one. Nor does he cite persuasive
authority that the trial court must give one. “A trial court is not required to sua sponte give a
limiting instruction for ER 404(b) evidence, absent a request for such a limiting instruction.” State
v. Russell, 171 Wn.2d 118, 124, 249 P.3d 604 (2011).
19
No. 80348-4-I/20
that the trial court erred by not severing the charges based on the prosecutor’s
statements at trial.
(4) Cross Admissibility of Evidence
The fourth severance factor asks whether “evidence of each count would
be cross admissible under ER 404(b) if severance were granted.” Russell, 125
Wn.2d at 66. Wright argues the trial court “erroneously believed that random
similarities” between the two incidents “were sufficient to show a ‘common plan
or scheme.’ ”
Under ER 404(b), “[e]vidence of other crimes, wrongs, or acts is not
admissible to prove the character of a person in order to show action in
conformity therewith.” “The same evidence may, however, be admissible for any
other purpose, depending on its relevance and the balancing of its probative
value and danger of unfair prejudice.”17 State v. Gresham, 173 Wn.2d 405, 420,
269 P.3d 207 (2012). Relevant here, evidence of other misconduct is admissible
to show a “common scheme or plan.” Gresham, 173 Wn.2d at 421.
There are two categories of common scheme or plan evidence:
(1) “[W]here several crimes constitute constituent parts of a plan in
which each crime is but a piece of the larger plan” and (2) where
“an individual devises a plan and uses it repeatedly to perpetrate
separate but very similar crimes.”
Gresham, 173 Wn.2d at 421-22 (quoting Lough, 125 Wn.2d at 854-55).
Evidence of the second type of common scheme or plan is admissible “because
it is not an effort to prove the character of the defendant. Instead, it is offered to
17 Wright does not argue that the trial court abused its discretion in its ER 403 balancing
of the cross admissible evidence’s probative value against its potential for prejudice.
20
No. 80348-4-I/21
show that the defendant has developed a plan and has again put that particular
plan into action.” Gresham, 173 Wn.2d at 422; cf. State v. York, 50 Wn. App.
446, 457, 749 P.2d 683 (1987) (“Demonstration of th[e] plan makes it more
probable that the acts occurred as charged.”).
This case involves only the second category. To introduce evidence of
the second type of common scheme or plan, the prior misconduct and the
charged crime “must demonstrate ‘such occurrence of common features that the
various acts are naturally to be explained as caused by a general plan of which’
the two are simply ‘individual manifestations.’ ” Gresham, 173 Wn.2d at 422(quoting Lough, 125 Wn.2d at 860). Mere similarity in results is insufficient.
Gresham, 173 Wn.2d at 422. Still, “while the prior act and charged crime must
be markedly and substantially similar, the commonality need not be ‘a unique
method of committing the crime.’ ” Gresham, 173 Wn.2d at 422 (quoting State v.
DeVincentis, 150 Wn.2d 11, 20-21, 74 P.3d 119 (2003)).
Here, the trial court found that “[b]ased on the State’s offer o[f] proof, when
analyzed together the two separate incidents were of such striking similarity as to
warrant a finding of common scheme or plan on the part of the defendant.” The
court listed the similarities between the N.F. and J.B. incidents in its findings:
1. The defendant met both women through social media within
days of meeting in-person
2. The defendant had casual conversations with both women prior
to any sexual activity
3. The defendant requested vaginal sexual intercourse and both
women refused such activity
4. The defendant’s demeanor became violent prior to vaginal
sexual intercourse
5. The defendant threatened physical violence prior to vaginal
sexual intercourse
21
No. 80348-4-I/22
6. Defendant used physical violence or the threat thereof during
vaginal sexual intercourse
7. Both women were engaged in commercial sexual activity
8. Both women were African-American females between 28 and
30 years old
9. Defendant used a condom during both incidents of vaginal
sexual intercourse
10. Defendant disposed of condom in toilet after completing vaginal
sexual intercourse
11. Defendant took property belonging to both women after
completing vaginal sexual intercourse
12. Defendant threatened both women about reporting incident to
anyone
13. Defendant took a photo of both women or their family prior to
leaving
14. Defendant ceased contact and erased his social media
presence after both incidents
15. Defendant utilized a firearm that was a silver handgun as
described by both women.
Wright advances several arguments to support his assertion that these
similarities were insufficient for cross admission as evidence of a common
scheme or plan. But none of his arguments establishes that the trial court
abused its discretion.
First, Wright argues that the first, second, eighth, ninth, and tenth
similarities found by the trial court “are explainable as normal behavior in the age
of online dating—they suggest only that Mr. Wright wanted to socialize and have
protected sex with women of his same general age and race.” Wright contends
that these similarities are merely random and favored severance because “they
do not indicate any criminal premeditation.”
But the authority is to the contrary. See DeVincentis, 150 Wn.2d at 22(similarities included defendant’s getting to know young people through a safe
channel and bringing them into his home); State v. Slocum, 183 Wn. App. 438,
22
No. 80348-4-I/23
455, 333 P.3d 541 (2014) (not abuse of discretion to admit evidence that
defendant had, “in what would be perceived as grandfatherly behavior,” invited
both victims to sit with him in his recliner). The standard requires that the two
incidents being compared have enough features in common to show “a general
plan,” not a criminally premeditated plan. DeVincentis, 150 Wn.2d at 21; see
People v. Ewoldt, 7 Cal. 4th 380, 399, 867 P.2d 757 (1994) (rejecting the
premise that “a common design or plan cannot be established by evidence
reflecting that the defendant committed markedly similar acts of misconduct
against similar victims under similar circumstances, unless all of these acts are
part of a single, continuing conception or plot”), cited with approval in Lough, 125
Wn.2d at 855-56. We need not consider whether there is a plausible innocent
explanation for each similarity.
Next, Wright challenges the trial court’s third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and twelfth
findings. Wright asserts that these similarities “describe essentially every vaginal
rape, pre-planned or otherwise,” and so they “tend to show only that Mr. Wright
commits rape, not that he has developed a ‘plan or scheme’ for doing so.” We
reject the suggestion that every vaginal rape is similar.18 Even so, our Supreme
Court has rejected the proposition that similarities must be “unique” or
“uncommon to the way the crime is typically committed” to support admission as
18 A perpetrator’s plan or scheme to commit sexual assault may vary depending on who
the perpetrator chooses as a victim—a stranger, an acquaintance, an intimate partner, a family
member, etc. And perpetrators use different forms of violence to commit sexual assault—use of
force, threat of force, enticement, display of a weapon, or preying on those unable to consent.
The suggestion that every vaginal rape is similar brushes aside these dynamics of sexual assault
and presumes that every perpetrator of sexual violence exerts power and control over their victim
in the same manner.
23
No. 80348-4-I/24
evidence of a common scheme or plan. DeVincentis, 150 Wn.2d at 18. The
court held, “Although a unique method of committing the bad acts is a potential
factor in determining similarity, uniqueness is not required.” DeVincentis, 150
Wn.2d at 21.
The trial court did not err by considering similarities between the N.F. and
J.B. incidents as evidence of a common scheme or plan, even if that plan was
not elaborate or based on special expertise. As a result, the trial court did not
abuse its discretion in determining that evidence of the two incidents was cross
admissible under the fourth severance factor.
(5) Judicial Economy
The final consideration in the severance analysis requires the court to
weigh any prejudice to the defendant resulting from joinder against the concerns
for judicial economy. Russell, 125 Wn.2d at 63. Judicial economy is always a
consideration, whether or not the State specifically argues it. See Bluford, 188
Wn.2d at 311 (“[I]f judicial economy is irrelevant, the justification for joinder
disappears, and defendants would essentially be entitled to separate charging
documents and trials on each alleged offense as a matter of right.”). “Foremost
among these concerns is the conservation of judicial resources and public
funds.” Bythrow, 114 Wn.2d at 723. “A single trial obviously only requires one
courtroom and judge. Only one group of jurors need serve, and the expenditure
of time for jury voir dire and trial is significantly reduced when the offenses are
tried together.” Bythrow, 114 Wn.2d at 723. “Furthermore, the reduced delay on
24
No. 80348-4-I/25
the disposition of the criminal charges, in trial and through the appellate process,
serves the public.” Bythrow, 114 Wn.2d at 723.
Here, Wright fails to show that prejudice from joinder was likely under any
of the other severance factors. And by bifurcating the trials on the two unlawful
possession of firearm counts from the other counts, the trial court alleviated any
potential prejudice from Wright’s criminal history. The jury did not receive
evidence of Wright’s criminal history until after it considered the other charges.
For these reasons, the trial court did not abuse its discretion by determining that
considerations of judicial economy outweighed any prejudice from joinder.
We conclude that the trial court did not abuse its discretion by denying
Wright’s motion to sever.19
Ineffective Assistance of Counsel
Wright raises an ineffective assistance of counsel claim on the severance
issue. He argues that counsel’s performance was deficient because he made
only a “perfunctory and procedural” renewal of Wright’s motion to sever the J.B.
counts from the N.F. counts with no new substantive argument and failed to
renew the motion later. We disagree.
Ineffective assistance of counsel requires both deficient performance and
prejudice. Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687, 104 S. Ct. 2052, 80 L.
Ed. 2d 674 (1984). But we need not “address both components of the inquiry if
19 In a statement of additional grounds for review, Wright cites three additional cases for
the proposition that the trial court erred by denying his severance motion. See United States v.
Lewis, 787 F.2d 1318 (9th Cir. 1986); United States v. Ragghianti, 527 F.2d 586 (9th Cir. 1975);
United States v. Bronco, 597 F.2d 1300 (9th Cir. 1979). These cases are not binding on this
court, and we decline to consider them. See Cantu v. City of Seattle, 51 Wn. App. 95, 99, 752
P.2d 390 (1988); Home Ins. Co. of N.Y. v. N. Pac. Ry. Co., 18 Wn.2d 798, 808, 140 P.2d 507(1943).
25
No. 80348-4-I/26
the defendant makes an insufficient showing on one.” Strickland, 466 U.S. at
697. “If it is easier to dispose of an ineffectiveness claim on the ground of lack of
sufficient prejudice, . . . that course should be followed.” Strickland, 466 U.S. at
697. A defendant alleging ineffective assistance of counsel shows prejudice
when there is a reasonable probability that but for counsel’s error, the result of
the trial would have been different. State v. Hendrickson, 129 Wn.2d 61, 78, 917
P.2d 563 (1996).
(1) Strength of State’s Evidence on Each Count
Wright contends the evidence at trial was much stronger on the N.F.
charges because “some of [N.F.]’s testimony was corroborated by separate
evidence,” while “the case involving [J.B.] hinged entirely on her credibility.” But
testimony at trial later confirmed the corroborative evidence that the trial court
relied on when considering Wright’s initial severance motion. And despite
Wright’s attempt to impeach J.B., other evidence corroborated her testimony.
There is not a substantial likelihood that had his attorney renewed the
motion, the trial court would have concluded the evidence was so
disproportionate as to favor severance. See In re Pers. Restraint of Lui, 188
Wn.2d 522, 539, 397 P.3d 90 (2017) (In context of ineffective assistance, “ ‘[t]he
likelihood of a different result must be substantial, not just conceivable.’ ”)20
(quoting Harrington v. Richter, 562 U.S. 86, 112, 131 S. Ct. 770, 178 L. Ed. 2d
624 (2011)); cf. State v. MacDonald, 122 Wn. App. 804, 815, 95 P.3d 124820 Alteration in original.
26
No. 80348-4-I/27
(2004) (“When one case is remarkably stronger than the other, severance is
proper.”).
(2) Cross Admissibility of Evidence
Wright contends that of the five similarities the court found “are properly
regarded as probative of a common plan theory,” all but one “were undermined
or contradicted by the testimony at trial.” He asserts, “In the end, the only
remaining similarity between the two alleged offenses was that Mr. Wright may
have taken property from both women.” But Wright failed to establish the trial
court abused its discretion by considering similarities that he argues were
“features of either (1) virtually every vaginal rape or (2) typical dating or sexual
behavior.” And Wright is incorrect that testimony at trial undermined the
remaining similarities to the point that the entire common plan or scheme
analysis was no longer tenable.
The first of the court’s challenged findings stated that both N.F. and J.B.
“were engaged in commercial sexual activity.” The testimony at trial supported
this finding. J.B. admitted to working as an escort. While N.F. testified she was
not advertising sexual services at the time, text messages admitted at trial
showed Wright asked whether N.F. was still posting advertisements, saying, “I
might have a move for you,” and N.F. responded, “I’m not posted but I’m ready
and available.” N.F. also acknowledged on cross-examination that although she
was no longer posting as an escort when she met Wright, some of her older
advertisements remained on the Internet.
27
No. 80348-4-I/28
The testimony also supported the court’s finding that Wright “utilized a
firearm that was a silver handgun as described by both women.” Wright points
out that J.B. testified he merely displayed the gun to secure her cooperation,
while N.F. testified Wright did not produce the gun until after the rape and then
used it to strike her. But the relevant fact is that each woman described a silver
gun that Wright used to secure her cooperation. Wright fails to explain how
differences in the way he used the gun are material in the context of a common
scheme or plan analysis, as opposed to a modus operandi analysis. See
DeVincentis, 150 Wn.2d at 18 (explaining that modus operandi is used to prove
identity, while a common scheme or plan is probative of whether the charged
crime occurred).
Wright also challenges the similarity that he “took a photo of both women
or their family prior to leaving.” Wright asserts there was no testimony that he
“took a photo of [N.F.] or her family.” But the evidence showed that Wright had a
photograph of N.F.’s Washington State identification card on his cell phone.
The final similarity that Wright claims supported a renewed motion to
sever was the court’s finding that he “ceased contact and erased his social media
presence after both incidents.” The State concedes that it did not present this
evidence at trial. But we agree with the State that “this does not meaningfully
detract from the other substantial similarities between the cases.” We also agree
with the State that taken together, the other similarities were probative of a
common scheme or plan in Wright’s selection of victims (women engaged in
commercial sex work who might be less likely to report or be believed), his
28
No. 80348-4-I/29
method of meeting them in person by promising they could earn money, using a
gun to secure compliance, and threatening them and their families if they said
anything. For these reasons, even if Wright had renewed his severance motion
at the close of the evidence, it is not reasonably probable the trial court would
have granted severance. As a result, Wright cannot show prejudice, and his
ineffective assistance of counsel claim fails.21
Confrontation
Wright contends the trial court violated his confrontation rights by
excluding three categories of relevant impeachment testimony about J.B.’s Wells
Fargo debit card, about whether she reported any income from City Live
Barbershop on her tax return, and from the CVCP claims consultant. We
disagree.
“Both the federal and state constitutions protect a defendant’s right to
confront an adverse witness.” State v. Lee, 188 Wn.2d 473, 486, 396 P.3d 316(2017); U.S. CONST. amend. VI; W ASH. CONST. art. I, § 22. “Confrontation”
means “more than mere physical confrontation.” Lee, 188 Wn.2d at 487 (citing
Davis v. Alaska, 415 U.S. 308, 315, 94 S. Ct. 1105, 39 L. Ed. 2d 347 (1974)).
“ ‘The main and essential purpose of confrontation is to secure for the opponent
21 Wright argues that because one judge heard his pretrial severance motion and a
different judge presided over the trial, “it was particularly unreasonable” for his attorney not to
make “new substantive argument.” He asserts that “the basis for [the pretrial judge]’s ruling
denying severance had been substantially eroded [ ] by the close of the State’s” case in chief.
But as discussed above, based on the evidence at trial, Wright fails to show that the presiding
trial judge “likely would have granted a renewed motion to sever.”
29
No. 80348-4-I/30
the opportunity of cross-examination.’ ” Lee, 188 Wn.2d at 48722 (quoting Davis,
415 U.S. at 315-16).
That said, “the right to confront a witness through cross-examination is not
absolute.” Lee, 188 Wn.2d at 487. “ ‘[T]he Confrontation Clause guarantees an
opportunity for effective cross-examination, not cross-examination that is
effective in whatever way, and to whatever extent, the defense might wish.’ ”
Lee, 188 Wn.2d at 48723 (quoting Delaware v. Fensterer, 474 U.S. 15, 20, 106 S.
Ct. 292, 88 L. Ed. 2d 15 (1985)). Accordingly, trial judges have wide latitude “ ‘to
impose reasonable limits on such cross-examination based on concerns about,
among other things, harassment, prejudice, confusion of the issues, the witness’
safety, or interrogation that is repetitive or only marginally relevant.’ ” Lee, 188
Wn.2d at 487 (quoting Delaware v. Van Arsdall, 475 U.S. 673, 679, 106 S. Ct.
1431, 89 L. Ed. 2d 674 (1986)).
We apply a three-part test to determine whether the trial court exceeded
its discretion by limiting the scope of cross-examination:
“First, the evidence must be of at least minimal relevance. Second,
if relevant, the burden is on the State to show the evidence is so
prejudicial as to disrupt the fairness of the fact-finding process at
trial. Finally, the State’s interest to exclude prejudicial evidence
must be balanced against the defendant’s need for the information
sought, and only if the State’s interest outweighs the defendant’s
need can otherwise relevant information be withheld.”
Lee, 188 Wn.2d at 488 (quoting State v. Darden, 145 Wn.2d 612, 622, 41 P.3d
22 Internal quotation marks omitted.
23 Alteration in original.
30
No. 80348-4-I/31
1189 (2002)). But we recognize that “[n]o state interest is sufficient to preclude
highly probative evidence.” Lee, 188 Wn.2d at 488.
(1) Wells Fargo Testimony
Wright sought to attack J.B.’s “character for being untruthful” through
evidence that the Wells Fargo fraud department investigated her bank account
and revoked her debit card. Wright contends the trial court erred by not allowing
him to elicit testimony on cross-examination that J.B. “had a history [of] making
false stolen-debit-card claims,” the “exact same claim” she made against Wright.
We disagree.
The Wells Fargo evidence was only minimally probative. The State did
not charge Wright with robbing J.B., only N.F. And Wright did not offer the
evidence to show bias or that J.B. had a motive to lie about whether Wright stole
her wallet. See ER 404(b).24 Instead, he offered it only for a collateral purpose—
to invite the jury to infer that because J.B. lied about her debit card in the past,
she also lied that Wright stole it. “Contradictory or impeaching testimony is
collateral if it could not be shown in evidence for any purpose independent of
contradiction.” State v. Alexander, 52 Wn. App. 897, 901-02, 765 P.2d 321(1988). And Wright points to no evidence suggesting that J.B. believed she
would gain any benefit from reporting that Wright stole her debit card. As the
24 ER 404(b) provides:
Evidence of other crimes, wrongs, or acts is not admissible to prove the
character of a person in order to show action in conformity therewith. It may,
however, be admissible for other purposes, such as proof of motive, opportunity,
intent, preparation, plan, knowledge, identity, or absence of mistake or accident.
31
No. 80348-4-I/32
State points out, a detective later testified that J.B. denied any fraudulent or
suspicious activity on her cards after Wright stole them.
In contrast to the low probative value of the evidence, the potential for
prejudice was high. Admitting the evidence solely to show J.B.’s “character for
being untruthful” would invite the jury to infer improperly that she had a
propensity to lie. This is exactly the kind of inference our evidence rules are
designed to prevent—“specifically because of its potentially prejudicial effect.”
Lee, 188 Wn.2d at 494 (citing ER 404(b)).
Moreover, Wright could still attack J.B.’s credibility. Defense counsel
elicited testimony that several days elapsed before J.B. told the detective that
she “just realized” Wright stole a small black pouch containing her debit card.
But J.B. also testified that during a defense interview, she told counsel that she
saw Wright take her wallet on the day of the incident.
Because the Wells Fargo evidence had minimal probative value and
Wright had a chance to impeach J.B. through other testimony, the State’s
interests in excluding the prejudicial evidence outweighed Wright’s need for it.
(2) Income Reporting Testimony
Wright next contends the trial court violated his confrontation rights by
barring him from asking J.B. whether she reported any income from City Live
Barbershop on her federal tax return. He claimed that the evidence was
“relevant and material to the Defense that Ms. J.B. is not a credible person.” We
disagree.
32
No. 80348-4-I/33
As with the evidence on J.B.’s Wells Fargo debit card, this evidence was
of minimal probative value. The uncontroverted evidence that J.B. received
$15,000 in CVCP funds for income from a job that she did not have already
established her bias or motive to fabricate. Whether she reported the fabricated
income to the IRS was a collateral matter. And Wright had a full opportunity to
attack J.B.’s credibility about her income because the trial court allowed Wright to
call Wimberly, the barbershop owner, who testified that J.B. did not work at the
barbershop.25
The prejudicial nature of the evidence inviting the jury to infer improperly
that J.B. had the propensity to lie outweighed its minimal probative value.
(3) CVCP Claims Consultant Testimony
Finally, Wright contends the trial court violated his confrontation rights by
precluding him from calling the CVCP claims consultant, “who would have
testified for the defense about her office’s process for vetting claims.” But Wright
fails to explain how barring the consultant’s testimony implicates his right to
confront J.B.
While barring a defense witness’ testimony may implicate Wright’s right to
compulsory process or his due process right to present a defense, Wright does
not argue that the trial court violated those rights. See State v. Hudlow, 99
25 J.B. testified that Markell Patton was her supervisor at the barbershop. On appeal,
Wright points out that when Wimberly took the stand, she admitted on cross-examination that she
did not know how much money Patton earned as an independent contractor and so “did not know
how much money [Patton] might have paid a receptionist.” But Wimberly’s testimony was still of
meaningful impeachment value given that J.B. testified she was a “receptionist” at City Live
Barbershop and that her supervisor was the “manager, Markell Patton”; whereas Wimberly
testified that the barbershop did not employ any receptionists, that J.B. never worked for her in
any capacity, and that Patton was a barber who merely rented a chair weekly.
33
No. 80348-4-I/34
Wn.2d 1, 14-15, 659 P.2d 514 (1983) (The Sixth Amendment and article I, § 22
“grant criminal defendants two separate rights: (1) the right to present testimony
in one’s defense, and (2) the right to confront and cross-examine adverse
witnesses.”);26 United States v. Jinwright, 683 F.3d 471, 482-83 (4th Cir. 2012)
(“A defendant’s Fifth Amendment [to the United States Constitution] right to due
process guarantees ‘the right to a fair opportunity to defend against the State’s
accusations,’ which, under the Sixth Amendment, includes the ‘rights to confront
and cross-examine witnesses and to call witnesses in one’s own behalf.’ ”)27
(quoting Chambers v. Mississippi, 410 U.S. 284, 294, 93 S. Ct. 1038, 35 L. Ed.
2d 297 (1973)). Wright does not show that precluding testimony from the CVCP
claims consultant implicates his confrontation rights.28
Prosecutorial Misconduct
Wright argues the prosecutor committed reversible misconduct during
closing argument by improperly vouching for J.B., arguing adverse inferences
from Wright’s right not to testify, and abandoning its common scheme or plan
theory. We disagree.
Prosecutorial misconduct may deprive a defendant of his guarantee to a
fair trial under the Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments and article I, section 22. In
re Pers. Restraint of Glasmann, 175 Wn.2d 696, 703-04, 286 P.3d 673 (2012).
26 (Emphasis added.) We have observed that “[c]ourts and litigants often refer to these
rights, collectively, as the ‘right to present a defense,’ although this phrase does not appear in our
state or federal constitutions.” State v. Bedada, 13 Wn. App. 2d 185, 193 n.2, 463 P.3d 125(2020).
27 Emphasis added.
28As with the debit card and income reporting testimony, even if Wright’s confrontation
rights were at issue, the CVCP claims consultant’s testimony would go to only a collateral
matter—whether J.B. made misrepresentations on her CVCP application.
34
No. 80348-4-I/35
To prevail on a claim of prosecutorial misconduct, the defendant must establish
that the prosecutor’s conduct was both improper and prejudicial in the context of
the entire record and the circumstances at trial. State v. Thorgerson, 172 Wn.2d
438, 442, 258 P.3d 43 (2011); State v. Magers, 164 Wn.2d 174, 191, 189 P.3d
126 (2008)). “We review a prosecutor’s comments during closing argument in
the context of the total argument, the issues in the case, the evidence addressed
in the argument, and the jury instructions.” State v. Boehning, 127 Wn. App. 511,
519, 111 P.3d 899 (2005).
If the defendant establishes that a prosecutor’s statements are improper,
“we determine whether the defendant was prejudiced under one of two standards
of review.” State v. Emery, 174 Wn.2d 741, 760, 278 P.3d 653 (2012). If the
defendant objected at trial, he “must show that the prosecutor’s misconduct
resulted in prejudice that had a substantial likelihood of affecting the jury’s
verdict.” Emery, 174 Wn.2d at 760. If the defendant did not object at trial, he “is
deemed to have waived any error, unless the prosecutor’s misconduct was so
flagrant and ill intentioned that an instruction could not have cured the resulting
prejudice.” Emery, 174 Wn.2d at 760-61.
(1) Improper Vouching
Wright asserts the prosecutor improperly told the jury that J.B. “falsified
her CVC[P] claim only to hide her history of sex work,” that “her decision to testify
was brave because she might face prosecution for the falsified claim,” and that “if
she had fabricated the allegations against Mr. Wright she would not have
testified” because CVCP “did not require it.” Wright argues no testimony
35
No. 80348-4-I/36
supported any of these claims, but “they painted a sympathetic picture of a
woman, struggling to support her family, who would seek justice at great
personal risk.”
Although it is improper for a prosecutor to vouch for a witness’ credibility,
“a prosecutor has wide latitude in closing argument to draw reasonable
inferences from the evidence and may freely comment on witness credibility
based on the evidence.” State v. Lewis, 156 Wn. App. 230, 240, 233 P.3d 891(2010). “Thus, closing argument does not constitute improper vouching unless it
is clear that the prosecutor is not arguing an inference from the evidence, but
instead is expressing a personal opinion about credibility.” Lewis, 156 Wn. App.
at 240.
Wright asserts several specific examples of improper vouching. First,
after conceding that J.B. lied on her CVCP application, the prosecutor asked the
jury:
Could it have been, because she didn’t want to list prostitute as the
nature of her employment. Was it easier to put down receptionist?
Was it an opportunity for money for her family, an opportunity that
literally [m]ailed itself to her door, five months after she was raped?
Second, the prosecutor argued:
Despite obtaining that money from [CVCP], [J.B.] still walked into
this courtroom. She not only testified about what this man did to
her, but she also answered the questions about her participation in
that document, and she did so freely. She told you full well, she
doesn’t have [an] immunity agreement. She came to this
courtroom knowing full well, she herself may have to see a
courtroom just like this, because of what she did.
And third, the prosecutor argued, “Heck, think about it to[o] — if all [J.B.]
wanted was that [CVCP] money, why the heck did she show up here? You
36
No. 80348-4-I/37
heard she was paid out in January, so why show up? That program literally
didn’t require that she testify.”
None of these arguments rose to the level of the prosecutor expressing an
opinion about J.B.’s credibility. Rather, the prosecutor, who was on notice that
defense counsel intended to use J.B.’s false CVCP claim to impeach her
credibility, properly used his closing argument to engage in anticipatory witness
rehabilitation.
And with one exception, each of the prosecutor’s arguments constituted a
reasonable inference from the evidence. J.B. testified that she was a single
mother and that she did not want to work as an escort, but did so because she
was “behind on bills” and “just got kind of desperate.” She testified later that she
originally did not tell officers the truth about how she met Wright because she
“was embarrassed and ashamed” and did not want the police to judge her for
inviting someone she did not know into her home. And J.B. testified that the
prosecutor “never” offered her immunity in exchange for her testimony.
Furthermore, Wimberly testified that she never employed J.B. in any capacity.
Based on this testimony, it was not improper for the prosecutor to concede that
J.B. lied on her CVCP application but argue a reasonable inference that she did
so because she saw CVCP as a chance to support her family without disclosing
her actual occupation.
It also was not improper for the prosecutor to argue the reasonable
inference that J.B. risked the consequences of lying by testifying without
immunity. This is particularly so given the context in which the prosecutor made
37
No. 80348-4-I/38
his argument—while discussing the instruction that the jury could consider “any
personal interest that the witness might have in the outcome or the issues” when
considering a witness’ testimony. The prosecutor made reasonable inferences in
arguing that testifying went against J.B.’s personal interests. This was not
misconduct.
That said, the prosecutor improperly argued a fact not in evidence when
he stated that CVCP did not require J.B. to testify. There was no testimony in
this regard. But we conclude that given the prosecutor’s argument as a whole,
this isolated statement did not have a substantial likelihood of affecting the jury’s
verdict.
(2) Arguing Adverse Inferences from Exercising Right Not To Testify
Wright contends the prosecutor committed misconduct when he “told the
jury that Mr. Wright’s not-guilty plea was a ‘lie[ ].’ ”29 He asserts that after
acknowledging J.B. falsified her CVCP application, “the prosecutor contrasted
that lie with Mr. Wright’s not-guilty plea, arguing that the plea was more
dishonest.” “A prosecutor violates a defendant’s Fifth Amendment rights if the
prosecutor makes a statement ‘of such character that the jury would naturally
and necessarily accept it as a comment on the defendant’s failure to testify.’ ”
State v. Fiallo-Lopez, 78 Wn. App. 717, 728, 899 P.2d 1294 (1995)30 (quoting
State v. Ramirez, 49 Wn. App. 332, 336, 742 P.2d 726 (1987)).
29 Alteration in original.
30 Internal quotation marks omitted.
38
No. 80348-4-I/39
According to Wright, the prosecutor urged the jury to make an adverse
inference from Wright’s exercise of his constitutional right not to testify. He
points to the following argument from the prosecutor:
It’s not the same folks, because what [J.B.] lied about, compare that
to what he lied. [J.B.] lied about where she was working, and how
much she got paid to a program. Not to a detective, not to you and
the court, she — but what he lied about was essential to this case.
We reject Wright’s contention because it takes the prosecutor’s argument
out of context. The prosecutor made his argument while discussing Wright’s
recorded statement to a detective first about N.F., then about both victims, which
the trial court admitted into evidence. The prosecutor argued:
[Wright’s] statement [to the detective] is dripping with self-serving
statements. It actually starts out with a flat lie. I wasn’t with a
female on Father’s Day, I was with my family. Then of course, he
has to back pedal a little bit, well I didn’t know it was someone I
paid her for sex. I talked about getting a job for [N.F.]. I certainly
didn’t hurt her. I didn’t pistol whip her, cause if I were to pistol whip
her, she wouldn’t [have] been able to walk away.
Then of course he lies, I don’t mess with guns. And, of
course . . . the gun [is] recovered in his house, matching the
description given by these two women before they found the
gun[.] . . .
....
Tedgy Wright’s statement [to the detective] is one that
should not be credible for multiple reasons, personal interests is
just one. But, maybe you’re still saying, but you had lied, isn’t that
[the] same, a lie is a lie, is a lie? It’s not the same folks, because
what [J.B.] lied about, compare that to what he lied. [J.B.] lied
about where she was working, and how much she got paid to a
program. Not to a detective, not to you and the court, she — but
what he lied about was essential to this case. Did you have a gun?
. . . Did you . . . rape [N.F.]? Did you assault her? Did you rob her?
In short, the prosecutor argued, based on Wright’s admitted statement,
that some of the things he said to the detective were not true. The prosecutor did
not suggest that Wright’s plea of not guilty was a lie, and Wright fails to explain
39
No. 80348-4-I/40
how the jury would “ ‘naturally and necessarily’ ” accept anything in the
prosecutor’s argument as a comment on Wright’s decision not to testify. Fiallo-
Lopez, 78 Wn. App. at 72831 (quoting Ramirez, 49 Wn. App. at 336). Wright fails
to establish that the prosecutor’s argument constituted misconduct.
(3) Abandoned Common Plan or Scheme Theory
Wright contends the prosecutor committed misconduct “when he suddenly
abandoned the State’s ‘common plan or scheme’ theory and argued that Mr.
Wright ‘snap[ped].’ ”32 He points to the following argument from the prosecutor,
who was discussing the elements the jury must consider for the rape charges:
One of the elements that’s not on here, and the State did not have
to prove to you beyond a reasonable doubt, is when he met up with
both women, was he trying to rape them? Did he go in knowing
that he was going to rob them, unclear? The evidence doesn’t
show that answer beyond a reasonable doubt, that the State
doesn’t have to prove that. Maybe he really did just get frustrated,
when a [prostitute] was saying no to him. Maybe that’s what made
him snap. Because the only questions you need to answer, the
only questions the State is required to prove to you beyond a
reasonable doubt are those elements we just went over.
Wright contends the prosecutor’s argument constituted “an invitation to
convict Mr. Wright because he is the kind of person who rapes, robs, and
assaults.” He asks us to equate the prosecutor’s argument with “deliberately
violating a pre-trial ruling in limine.” But Wright does not point to any ruling in
limine that the prosecutor’s closing statement violated.
Wright also argues the prosecutor’s argument “was particularly prejudicial
in light of the jury instructions, none of which limited the cumulation of evidence
31 Internal quotation marks omitted.
32 Alteration in original.
40
No. 80348-4-I/41
to the issue of a common plan.” But he cites no authority for the proposition that
the prosecutor must tailor his argument around a limiting instruction that was not
proposed or given.
Furthermore, the jury instructions directed the jury to consider “each count
separately.” They also directed the jury that it could convict only if it found each
element of each crime satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt. To this end, the
prosecutor made his argument just after he walked the jury through the to-convict
instructions for the charged crimes. The prosecutor then correctly pointed out
that none of the to-convict instructions required the State to prove why Wright
raped each woman or whether he planned to do so when he first met them. The
jury could consider similarities between the two incidents as probative to whether
each crime was an individual manifestation of a common scheme or plan, but the
prosecutor properly argued that a common scheme or plan was not an element
of either crime.
For these reasons, we reject Wright’s argument that the prosecutor’s
closing statement constituted misconduct.
Booking Photographs
Wright contends the trial court erred by admitting two photomontages that
contained his booking photograph. Wright does not argue that the
photomontages were not relevant. See ER 402. Instead, he asserts his
portrayal in jail clothes constituted evidence of a prior crime or conviction, was
inherently prejudicial, and outweighed the minimal probative value of the photos.
We disagree.
41
No. 80348-4-I/42
The court may exclude even relevant evidence “if its probative value is
substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice.” ER 403. “A trial
judge has wide discretion in balancing the probative value of evidence against its
potentially prejudicial impact.” State v. Rivers, 129 Wn.2d 697, 710, 921 P.2d
495 (1996).
Wright relies on Rivers to support his assertions. In that case, our
Supreme Court held that admission of a booking photograph was not unduly
prejudicial. Rivers, 129 Wn.2d at 711-12. The court held:
Because Defendant Rivers raised the issue of identity during
opening statements, the photograph of the Defendant on the day of
the crime was relevant as it tended to show that the victim’s
description to police matched the man arrested shortly after the
robbery. The admission of the photo was not prejudicial because
the jury knew the Defendant was arrested for the crime on which he
was being tried, and the jury would reasonably have been aware
that a booking procedure, including photographing the Defendant,
would have existed.
Rivers, 129 Wn.2d at 712.
In contrast to Rivers, Wright claims his “[i]dentity was not in dispute, since
Mr. Wright admitted to sexual contact with both accusers and argued only that it
was consensual.” But his citation to the record to support that assertion contains
no such admission. And the parties did not stipulate as to identity. The State
bore the burden to prove identity beyond a reasonable doubt. Because Wright
denied guilt, the State had the right to present “ample evidence” proving identity.
State v. Rahier, 37 Wn. App. 571, 574, 681 P.2d 1299 (1984).
42
No. 80348-4-I/43
Additionally, “[a] booking photograph is not necessarily prejudicial.” State
v. McCreven, 170 Wn. App. 444, 485, 284 P.3d 793 (2012). Here, the
photomontages showed only each pictured person’s head and upper shoulders.
Although it is apparent in one photomontage that each person is wearing the
same orange shirt,33 the pictures used did not bear other identifiable aspects of
“mug shots” that would likely invite an inference of a past arrest. See State v.
Tate, 74 Wn.2d 261, 267, 444 P.2d 150 (1968) (admission of mug shot not
unfairly prejudicial where the prosecutor removed identifying numbers from the
photos and never used the words “mug shot” in the presence of the jury). Nor
does Wright argue that any witness testified that the photomontages were
assembled using booking photographs. Under these circumstances, we cannot
say the trial court abused its discretion by admitting the photomontages.
Cumulative Error
Wright argues that he is entitled to a new trial under the cumulative error
doctrine. Application of the cumulative error doctrine “is limited to instances
when there have been several trial errors that standing alone may not be
sufficient to justify reversal but when combined may deny a defendant a fair trial.”
State v. Greiff, 141 Wn.2d 910, 929, 10 P.3d 390 (2000). Here, the only error
was the prosecutor’s isolated statement that CVCP did not require J.B. to testify,
and we concluded that statement did not have a substantial likelihood of affecting
the jury’s verdict. As a result, the cumulative error doctrine does not apply.
33 The other photomontage was black and white.
43
No. 80348-4-I/44
We affirm Wright’s convictions.
I CONCUR:
44
No. 80348-4-I/1
COBURN, J. (concurring in part and dissenting in part) — I respectfully
dissent because the majority’s decision today effectively establishes a higher
threshold defendants must meet to trigger the right to presence at trial than what
the constitution demands. Wright was denied his constitutional right to be
present during a critical stage. Thus, I would hold that reversal is required
because the State fails to show that Wright’s absence was harmless beyond a
reasonable doubt. I concur with the majority’s resolution of the remaining issues.
After having the opportunity to deliberate for multiple days, the jury
inquired, “If we are unable to reach a verdict on a count, what happens?” The
majority holds that this inquiry did not implicate Wright’s right to be present while
the court considered its response because the jury did not declare it was, in fact,
deadlocked. While a communication indicating a jury deadlock is certainly
sufficient to trigger a defendant’s right to be present, it is not necessary.
Wright contends the trial court violated his rights under the Sixth and
Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution and article I, section
22 of the Washington State Constitution by consulting with counsel about the jury
inquiry while Wright was absent. Wright does not separately analyze his federal
and state constitutional claims. But I am nonetheless obliged to examine those
claims separately “because [our Supreme Court] has previously interpreted the
right to ‘appear and defend’ [under our State constitution] independently of
federal due process jurisprudence.’ ” State v. Irby, 170 Wn.2d 874, 885, 246
P.3d 796 (2011). I begin my analysis with Wright’s federal constitutional claim.
“Under the Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments [to the United States
1
No. 80348-4-I/2
Constitution], a criminal defendant has the right to attend all critical stages of his
trial.” State v. Pruitt, 145 Wn. App. 784, 798, 187 P.3d 326 (2008). A “critical
stage” is a stage “ ‘for which [the defendant’s] presence has a relation,
reasonably substantial, to the ful[l]ness of his opportunity to defend against the
charge.’ ” Pruitt, 145 Wn. App. at 798 (internal quotation marks omitted, second
alteration in original) (quoting State v. Rice, 110 Wn.2d 577, 616, 757 P.2d 889(1988)). The right extends even to those situations when the defendant is not
actually confronting witnesses or evidence against him. Pruitt, 145 Wn. App. at
798.
The right to be present is not unlimited. For example, the defendant has
no right to be present “ ‘when presence would be useless, or the benefit but a
shadow.’ ” Pruitt, 145 Wn. App. at 798 (quoting Kentucky v. Stincer, 482 U.S.
730, 745, 107 S. Ct. 2658, 96 L. Ed. 2d 631 (1987)). “But an accused ‘is
guaranteed the right to be present at any stage of the criminal proceeding that is
critical to its outcome if his presence would contribute to the fairness of the
procedure.’ ” Pruitt, 145 Wn. App. at 798 (quoting Stincer, 482 U.S. at 745).
Indeed, “ ‘[t]he presence of a defendant is a condition of due process to the
extent that a fair and just hearing would be thwarted by his absence.’ ” Pruitt,
145 Wn. App. at 798 (internal quotation marks omitted) (quoting State v. Wilson,
141 Wn. App. 597, 604, 171 P.3d 501 (2007)).
In State v. Burdette, we considered whether a conference about a jury
inquiry was a critical stage implicating the defendant’s right to be present under
the federal constitution. There, less than an hour after the court provided the jury
2
No. 80348-4-I/3
with a corrected instruction as to one of the charges, the jury submitted a
communication stating, “ ‘Jury is deadlocked over several issues relating to the
defendant’s intent.’ ” 178 Wn. App. 183, 195-96, 313 P.3d 1235 (2013). On
appeal, we recognized that despite the inquiry’s use of the term “deadlocked,”
the jury’s communication “was not that it was hopelessly deadlocked on the case
or any of its aspects, but rather was its first communication that it was having
trouble agreeing.” Burdette, 178 Wn. App. at 197. We also recognized the jury’s
communication “was not a direct request for clarification of the jury instructions,
but rather appears to be a request for instructions about how to proceed when
the jury feels it is deadlocked on a specific issue.” Burdette, 178 Wn. App. at 195
(emphasis added). The court thus distinguished the jury communication from
one involving “only a purely legal question” and held the trial court violated the
defendant’s right to be present by consulting with counsel about the jury
communication in the defendant’s absence. Burdette, 178 Wn. App. at 200; cf.
State v. Sublett, 156 Wn. App. 160, 183, 231 P.3d 231 (2010) (holding that in-
chambers conference involving “only the purely legal issue of how to respond to
the jury’s request for a clarification in one of the trial court’s instructions” was not
a critical stage of trial), aff’d on other grounds, 176 Wn.2d 58 (2012). The
Burdette court explained,
[T]he essence of the . . . jury communication was an inquiry as to
how the jury should proceed when it felt deadlocked on the
defendant’s intent. To a defendant, all may pivot on how long the
court will require a deadlocked jury to continue deliberations before
declaring a mistrial. In some situations, a defendant may desire a
quick mistrial and in others more deliberations in hope of an
acquittal. Whatever the case, much is at stake at this stage and a
defendant may reasonably wish to actively participate by making
3
No. 80348-4-I/4
his opinion known to his lawyer or, if allowed, to the judge. For
these reasons, the defendant’s presence at this stage has a direct
relation to the fullness of his opportunity to defendant against the
charge. Therefore, . . . [the defendant] had a right under the . . .
federal constitution[ ] to be present when the response to the . . .
communication from the jury was discussed.
Burdette, 178 Wn. App. at 201 (emphasis added).
Here, as in Burdette, the jury indicated that it was having trouble agreeing
even though it did not use the term “deadlock.” Cf. State v. Smith, 320 N.C. 404,
422, 358 S.E.2d 329 (1987) (observing, with regard to jury’s inquiry about what
would happen if its decision was not unanimous, “The jury here obviously was
not unanimous when it posed the question; otherwise, it would not have inquired
as to the effect of its failure to attain unanimity.”). Furthermore, the jury
submitted its inquiry more than four and a half days after it received the case and
after one and a half days of active deliberation.1 The jury was not just inquiring
out of procedural curiosity. Thus, like the jury inquiry in Burdette, the inquiry here
was not a purely legal inquiry but rather “a request for instructions about how to
proceed” when the jury feels it cannot come to an agreement. Burdette, 178 Wn.
App. at 195. And as the Burdette court observed, “much is at stake at this stage”
in terms of the defendant’s opportunity to weigh in on the matter. 178 Wn. App. at
201. Particularly relevant here is the determination of what, if any, jury
instructions should be emphasized in response to the inquiry. 178 Wn. App. at
201.
1The jury commenced deliberations the afternoon of Thursday, April 11,
2019. The record suggests the jury did not deliberate on Friday, April 12.
However, the record reflects the jury was in deliberations the following Monday.
The jury inquiry was dated Tuesday, April 16, 2019, at 11:06 a.m.
4
No. 80348-4-I/5
The majority concludes that the stakes are only high enough to trigger the
right to presence if the jury actually indicates it is deadlocked. But the stakes are
equally high when the jury indicates it is having trouble agreeing. This is
because, just as is the case when the jury indicates a deadlock, the court’s
response could have the effect of either nudging the jury toward a verdict or
increasing the chances of a mistrial. The majority’s requirement that the jury use
magic language to affirmatively indicate its disagreement—even when it is clear
from the context the jury is having trouble agreeing—effectively sets a higher
threshold to trigger the defendant’s right to presence than what the constitution
demands, i.e., that the defendant’s presence have a reasonably substantial
relation to the fullness of his opportunity to defend.
Because the jury’s inquiry was not an inquiry involving only a purely legal
question, the fact that Wright’s attorney was present is irrelevant.2 Just as in jury
selection, where the defendant’s right to be present is well recognized, a
defendant may, despite being a non-lawyer, actively contribute to a conference
about a jury’s inability to agree by providing input to his counsel. See State v.
Bennett, 168 Wn. App. 197, 203, 274 P.2d 1224 (2012) (recognizing that the
defendant’s right to be present encompasses jury selection where the defendant
may actively contribute to his own defense by offering input to counsel). Indeed,
it is not difficult to imagine that had Wright been present for the discussion in this
2 Perhaps recognizing this, the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure,
which require the defendant’s presence at every trial stage, make an exception
for conferences on legal questions, but not for conferences on non-legal
questions. Fed. R. Crim. P. 43(a), (b)(3).
5
No. 80348-4-I/6
case, he would have discussed the jury’s inquiry with his attorney and could have
advocated for a mistrial or at least questioned why the court was elevating some
instructions over others.
For the foregoing reasons, I would hold that the conference regarding the
jury’s inquiry was a critical stage of trial, and the trial court violated Wright’s
federal constitutional right to be present by consulting with counsel in Wright’s
absence.
I would also hold that the court violated Wright’s state constitutional right
to be present. “Unlike the United States Constitution, article I, section 22 of the
Washington Constitution provides an explicit guaranty of the right to be present:
‘In criminal prosecutions the accused shall have the right to appear and defend in
person, or by counsel.’ ” Irby, 170 Wn.2d at 884-85 (quoting CONST. art. 1, § 22).
Our Supreme Court has long recognized that this right applies “at every stage of
the trial when [the defendant’s] substantial rights may be affected.” State v.
Shutzler, 82 Wash. 365, 367, 144 P. 284 (1914), overruled on other grounds. In
other words, the right to be present under our state constitution does not turn on
what the defendant could contribute by his presence but on the effect of the
proceeding on the defendant’s substantial rights.
Here, the conference at which the court and counsel discussed the jury’s
inquiry was one at which Wright’s substantial rights could be affected because,
as discussed, the response to the inquiry could have the effect of either nudging
the jury toward a verdict or increasing the chances of a mistrial. Accordingly,
Wright was entitled to be present during that conference, and the trial court
6
No. 80348-4-I/7
violated Wright’s right to presence under article I, section 22 by conducting it in
his absence.
Because I would hold the trial court erred by violating Wright’s right to be
present, I next consider whether that error was harmless. See Burdette, 178 Wn.
App. at 201 (“A violation of the right to be present at trial, whether anchored in
due process or article I, section 22 of our state constitution, is subject to
harmless error analysis.”). “ ‘[T]he burden of proving harmlessness is on the
State and it must do so beyond a reasonable doubt.’ ” Irby, 170 Wn.2d at 886.
The State points out that even though the Burdette court found a violation
of the defendant’s right to be present, it ultimately concluded the error was
harmless because “the facts show it very unlikely that [the defendant]’s absence
had any effect on the judge’s response to the . . . jury communication.” 178 Wn.
App. at 201-02. The State argues that “[t]he same is true here.”
I disagree. In Burdette, we concluded the defendant’s absence was
unlikely to have had any effect because (1) the jury’s inquiry “could have come
only after short deliberations,” so the judge’s response directing the jury to
continue deliberating seemed “nearly inevitable” and (2) the defendant did not
argue “what he would have said or done had he been present when the . . . jury
communication was discussed.” 178 Wn. App. at 202. Here, by contrast, the
jury had been deliberating for more than a day and a half. Accordingly, this is not
a case where it was “nearly inevitable” that the court would respond in a
particular way to the jury’s communication indicating it was having trouble
agreeing as to “a count.”
7
No. 80348-4-I/8
Furthermore, I agree with Wright that the trial court’s response to the jury
likely had the effect of emphasizing the need for a verdict. Specifically, the
court’s response did not, as the State asserts, merely direct the jury to refer to its
instructions. Rather, the trial court responded, “See your instructions, particularly
instructions #10 and #28.” (Emphasis added.) Instruction 10 stated, “A separate
crime is charged in each count. You must decide each count separately. Your
verdict on one count should not control your verdict on any other count.”
(Emphasis added.) Instruction 28 concluded by stating:
You must fill in the blank provided in each verdict form the
words “not guilty” or the word “guilty,” according to the decision you
reach.
Because this is a criminal case, each of you must agree for
you to return a verdict. When all of you have so agreed, fill in the
verdict forms to express your decision. The presiding juror must
sign the verdict forms and notify the bailiff. The bailiff will bring you
into court to declare your verdict.
(Emphasis added.)
As Wright correctly points out, both of these instructions presume the jury
will reach a verdict. By emphasizing these instructions, the trial court
deemphasized other instructions, including Instruction 2, which directed the
jurors: “You should not . . . surrender your honest belief about the value or
significance of evidence solely because of the opinions of your fellow jurors. Nor
should you change your mind just for the purpose of reaching a verdict.”
(Emphasis added.) In other words, even assuming a neutral response would
have constituted harmless error, the court’s response here was not neutral. Cf.
Jasper, 158 Wn. App. at 543 (holding that the court’s error in responding to jury
inquiry without consulting counsel was harmless because “[t]he trial court’s
8
No. 80348-4-I/9
response was neutral, did not convey any affirmative information, and did not
communicate to the jury any information that was harmful to” the defendant);
State v. Langdon, 42 Wn. App. 715, 717-18, 713 P.2d 120 (1986) (a court’s
instruction is neutral when it “simply refer[s] the jury back to the previous
instructions”). Instead, the trial court emphasized instructions that could have
had the effect of nudging the jury toward a verdict.3 The jury returned guilty
verdicts less than two and a half hours after receiving the trial court’s response,
including, presumably, the lunch hour.4
The State asserts that “Wright does not explain how any input from him
would have likely changed the proposed response.” But under a constitutional
harmless error standard, it is the State’s burden to show that Wright’s input would
not likely have changed the outcome and not the other way around.5
Furthermore, if Wright had been present, he likely would have, in discussing the
jury’s inquiry with his attorney, asked what could be done to try to ensure that
jurors leaning toward acquittal would not give in to pressure from other jurors so
3 In State v. Besabe, we held that, even assuming the trial court failed to
consult counsel before answering a jury inquiry about a potential contradiction
between two instructions, that error was harmless where the court responded,
“ ‘Please follow all of the instructions, including instruction 30.’ ” 166 Wn. App.
872, 882-83, 271 P.3d 387 (2012) (emphasis added). But a response directing
the jury to “follow all” instructions, “including” certain instructions, is
distinguishable from a response directing the jury to “[s]ee your instructions,
particularly instructions #10 and #28.” (Emphasis added.) .
4 The trial court responded to the jury at 11:37 a.m. on April 16, 2019, and
the jury was summoned to the courtroom at 2:06 p.m. that same day to read its
verdict.
5 The State does not argue that there was overwhelming untainted
evidence of Wright’s guilt. See State v. Barry, 183 Wn.2d 297, 303, 352 P.3d
161 (2015) (constitutional harmless error standard “can be met if there is
overwhelming evidence of the defendant’s guilt that is not tainted by the error”).
9
No. 80348-4-I/10
as to increase the likelihood of a mistrial. This discussion would naturally have
prompted defense counsel to request that Instruction 2 be included in the court’s
response to the jury, or at the very least, that the response simply refer to all of
the instructions without emphasizing any particular ones.
Finally, the State, which merely asserts incorrectly that “the trial court
responded, as trial courts usually do, that the jury should refer to its instructions,”
fails to persuade me that had the court’s response been different, the jury would
nonetheless have reached a verdict beyond a reasonable doubt. Cf. State v.
A.M., 194 Wn.2d 33, 41, 448 P.3d 35 (2019) (“A constitutional error is harmless if
‘it appears beyond a reasonable doubt that the error complained of did not
contribute to the verdict obtained.’ ” (internal quotation marks omitted) (quoting
State v. Brown, 147 Wn.2d 330, 341, 58 P.3d 889 (2002))). Put another way, I
cannot assume, as the State appears to, that had Wright been present, “nothing
would have changed—not defense counsel’s arguments, the court’s response, or
the outcome in this . . . case.” See Roberts v. United States, 213 A.3d 593, 598
(D.C. Ct. App. 2019) (rejecting the government’s argument that constitutional
error was harmless because there was no evidence that defense counsel’s
arguments would have changed had the error not occurred). Thus, the State
fails to establish that the trial court’s error was harmless. Cf. Smith, 320 N.C. at
422 (reversing where the court responded to the jury’s inquiry about what would
happen if it was unable to reach a unanimous verdict “by reiterating the need for
the jurors to confer together without violating individual judgments and again
informing the jury that its decision must be unanimous,” explaining that this
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No. 80348-4-I/11
response, in the context of the jury’s inquiry, “probably resulted in coerced
unanimity” and “probably conveyed the erroneous impression that a unanimous
decision . . . was required”).
I would hold that the trial court violated Wright’s right to be present under
both the federal and state constitutions by consulting with counsel about the jury
inquiry in Wright’s absence, and the State does not meet its burden to establish
that the error was not harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. I would reverse on
this basis, and thus, I respectfully dissent.
11