State Of Washington v. Jarray Fransiscus White ( 2013 )

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON^
o
STATE OF WASHINGTON,
DIVISION ONE
Respondent,
No. 69064-7-1
v.
UNPUBLISHED OPINION
JARRAY FRANSISCUS WHITE,
Appellant. FILED: November 12, 2013
Dwyer, J. — Jarray White appeals from the judgment entered on a jury's
verdict finding him guilty of one count of unlawful possession of a firearm in the
first degree. White contends that his conviction should be reversed both
because a witness uttered the phrase "DOC hearing" even though the use of the
terms "DOC" and "Department of Corrections" was prohibited by the trial court's
in limine ruling and because, in White's view, the prosecutor engaged in
misconduct by improperly shifting the burden of proof in closing argument to the
jury. In his statement of additional grounds, White also contends that the trial
court erred by (i) denying his Knapstad1 motion, (ii) by denying his motion to
suppress evidence of the firearm as being the product of a pretextual stop,
unlawful seizure, and unlawful search, and (iii) by imposing legal financial
obligations as part of his sentence. Finding no error, we affirm.
State v. Knapstad. 107 Wash. 2d 346, 729 P.2d 48 (1986).
No. 69046-7-1/2
Around 1:30 a.m. on August 24, 2011, White was driving a white
Chevrolet El Camino on 64th Avenue S. in an unincorporated area of King
County known as Skyway. King County Sheriff's Deputies Robert Nishimura and
Joseph Eshom, on patrol on 64th Avenue S., observed White fail to signal before
making a left turn. Deputy Nishimura made a u-turn and initiated a traffic stop of
White's vehicle. Both deputies then exited the patrol vehicle, with Deputy Eshom
assuming a cover position at the rear of the El Camino after determining that
there were no passengers in that car.
Deputy Nishimura approached the driver's side of the vehicle and
informed White of the reason he had been pulled over. Deputy Nishimura then
asked White for his driver's license. After White gave Deputy Nishimura his
license, White began reaching into his right vest pocket. Deputy Nishimura
asked White what he was doing, but White did not respond. Deputy Nishimura
requested that White stop reaching into his pocket; White again did not respond,
but instead kept reaching into his pocket and blankly stared straight ahead.
Deputy Nishimura believed that White might be reaching for a weapon.
Concerned for his safety, Deputy Nishimura asked White to step out of the
vehicle. Deputy Nishimura opened the car door and asked White if he had any
weapons on him. White responded, "What did I do?"
Deputy Nishimura attempted to putWhite's hands behind his back in order
to perform a pat-down. According to Deputy Nishimura, White let out an
"animalistic" scream, and assumed a fighting stance with his fists raised. Deputy
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Nishimura grabbed White by the collar and attempted to throw him to the ground,
but White escaped the deputy's grasp, turned around, and took off running.
Deputies Nishimura and Eshom pursued White on foot, yelling for him to
stop. White again reached into his right vest pocket while he ran. Deputy Eshom
saw White pull a gun from his vest pocket, and shouted, "Gun." Deputy Eshom
witnessed White throw the gun aside, and saw the gun hit a fence.2 Deputy
Nishimura, upon hearing his partner's warning, fired his stun gun, already in his
hand, at White. White continued to struggle with the deputies, but the deputies
eventually subdued and handcuffed him. Deputy Eshom retrieved the firearm, a
loaded semi-automatic .380 caliber pistol, from near the fence.
The State charged White with one count of unlawful possession of a
firearm in the first degree, with predicate offenses of assault in the second
degree and burglary in the first degree, serious offenses under RCW 9.41.010.3
White filed a Knapstad motion to dismiss for insufficient evidence, contending
that the 1996 burglary and assault convictions could not serve as predicate
offenses because White was not given notice at the time of the entry of judgment
2
Deputy Nishimura also saw the gun hit the fence, but did notsee itleave White's hand.
' "A person, whether an adult or juvenile, is guilty of the crime of unlawful possession of a
3 ...
firearm in the first degree, if the person owns, has in his or her possession, or has in his or her
control any firearm after having previously been convicted or found not guilty by reason of
insanity in this state or elsewhere of any serious offense as defined in this chapter." RCW
9.41.040(1 )(a). "'Serious offense' means any of the following felonies or a felony attempt to
commit any of the following felonies, as now existing or hereafter amended: (a) Any crime of
violence." RCW 9.41.010(16).
The State initially planned to introduce evidence of a 1992 conviction for assault in the
second degree; however, itopted not to use that conviction as a predicate offense because the
attached fingerprints could not be verified. White was also convicted of assault in the second
degree in 1996 and it is this assault conviction that the State used as a predicate offense, along
with the burglary conviction. Reference to the 1996 assault conviction appears in the judgment
and sentence for the burglary conviction, a copy of which was admitted into evidence.
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No. 69046-7-1/4
that he had lost his right to possess firearms.4 The trial court, relying on State v.
Carter. 127 Wash. App. 713, 112 P.3d 561 (2005), denied the motion, holding that
White did in fact have notice that he no longer had the right to possess firearms,
as he had been so advised when he was convicted of other felonies between
1996 and 2011.5
Prior to trial, White moved to suppress evidence of the firearm, contending
that the traffic stop was pretextual, that Deputy Nishimura unlawfully seized
White when he asked him to step out of the vehicle, and that Deputy Nishimura
lacked a sufficient basis to lawfully frisk White. After a hearing on the motion, the
trial court made the following pertinent findings of fact:
d) Deputy Nishimura and Deputy Eshom observed the defendant
make a left turn without signaling.
e) Deputy Nishimura's attention was initially drawn to the vehicle
because 1-2 days earlier he had seen a similar car "duck him,"
meaning he had seen a car that he was looking for a traffic stop
[sic] and was considering pulling the car over but the car had
escaped his line of sight by the time he was able to attempt a
traffic stop.
f) Upon seeing the defendant fail to signal the turn, Deputy
Nishimura immediately turned his patrol car around to pursue
the defendant.
g) Deputy Eshom ran the defendant's license plate.
I) Deputy Nishimura advised the defendant of the reason for the
traffic stop and asked him for his driver's license and proof of
insurance.
n) The defendant was repeatedly reaching in his right vest pocket,
o) Deputy Nishimura told the defendant to stop reaching in his
pocket and asked the defendant "What are you reaching for?"
4Judgment was entered for both convictions at the same hearing.
5 The trial court also held that notice is an affirmative defense that White could raise at
trial. Defense counsel opted not to pursue that affirmative defense.
No. 69046-7-1/5
q) Deputy Nishimura ordered the defendant to step out of the car
and asked the defendant if he had a gun.
The trial court also made the following pertinent conclusions of law:
a) The officers were justified in making a traffic stop of the
defendant based on probable cause to believe the defendant
had committed the infraction of failing to signal a turn, as
required by RCW 46.61.305.
b) Deputy Nishimura was subjectively and objectively concerned
for his safety based on the defendant reaching into his pocket,
ignoring the officer's demands to stop and ignoring the officer's
request, "What are you reaching for?"
c) Deputy Nishimura reasonably ordered the defendant out of the
vehicle based on his reasonable concern for his safety.
f) The traffic stop was not pretextual as it was justified at its
inception.
The trial court therefore denied White's motion to suppress.
White also filed a motion in limine to exclude the testimony of Kurt Saase,
a fingerprint examiner, on the basis that his testimony was irrelevant and
prejudicial, because it would inform the jury of White's prior incarcerations, given
that the fingerprints Saase analyzed were obtained by the Department of
Corrections (DOC). The trial court ruled that the testimony was admissible, so
long as Saase omitted reference to who originally obtained the fingerprints. In
order to avoid unnecessary prejudice to White, the trial court ruled that "they're
not to refer to the DOC prints as coming from DOC or while he was
incarcerated." At a later pretrial hearing, White's counsel requested that she be
permitted to question Deputy Nishimura about his prior testimony at a DOC
hearing without specifying the nature of the hearing. The State had no objection
to defense counsel questioning Deputy Nishimura in this manner.
No. 69046-7-1/6
At the jury trial, White's counsel asked Deputy Nishimura, "Do you recall
testifying in a prior hearing related to this in September of 2011?" Deputy
Nishimura responded, "I - you'd have to refresh my memory of what, specifically,
ma'am," at which time, White's counsel asked for a side bar. After the trial court
conducted the side bar, White's counsel asked Deputy Nishimura, "Do you recall
testifying in an earlier hearing related to this matter?" Deputy Nishimura
responded, "Is this the DOC hearing you're asking about? If it's on a court
hearing, I recall a 3.6 hearing a couple weeks ago." Defense counsel did not
object to this response, nor did she move to strike the answer at any time.6
When the court took its midday recess, White's counsel moved for a
mistrial. The trial court denied the motion, stating,
[l]n the balance of things that I don't believe this is sufficient for me
to grant a mistrial. Based upon what I heard and the questioning
that was asked, I would be more than willing to be given instruction
to the juryto disregard anything he said about a DOC hearing. . . .
And he did not make a reference to being in department of
corrections or jail hearing. So, you called it an administrative
hearing immediately thereafter, and then he responded to that in
[an] appropriate way.
Defense counsel declined the offer of a curative jury instruction.
White testified at trial, denying that he ever reached into his vest pocket
during the traffic stop or was in possession ofa firearm that night. White also
testified that Deputy Eshom punched the back of his head and threatened to
blow his head off, and that Deputy Nishimura used his stun gun on him more
than five times. White admitted that he had been convicted of attempted theft in
6 Counsel later stated that she "chose not to" object because she "didn'twant to highlight
what had just occurred."
No. 69046-7-1/7
the first degree in 2004. The State asked White if he ever filed a complaint
against the deputies or hired an attorney in response to the alleged assault;
White replied that he had not. Defense counsel objected only to the question
regarding whether White had ever hired an attorney.
During closing argument, the prosecutor explained the meaning of
"reasonable doubt" to the jury as follows:
So, let's talk about reasonable doubt. When you're looking at
those three elements and you're pondering and examining whether
the State has met its burden, what is reasonable doubt? As Jury
Instruction No. 3 has told you now, it is not beyond all doubt. You
can't decide this case beyond all doubt because you weren't there.
If you were there, you wouldn't be a juror. So it's beyond a
reasonable doubt.
It's got to be based on it's [sic] evidence or lack of evidence,
and it's a reasonable doubt - it's a doubt for which a reason exists.
It's not mere speculation.
The instructions talk about an objective and reasonable
examination of the evidence. The instructions talk about leaving
passions or prejudice aside in deciding this case facts based on the
evidence of this case. But what the instructions do not tell and you
[sic] what you're not required to do is to check your common sense
at the door. It's your collective, objective reasoning. It's your
collective, reasonable basis and reasonable examination of the
evidence. That's what a reasonable doubt is.
White did not object.
The jury found White guilty of unlawful possession ofa firearm in the first
degree. The trial court entered judgment, sentenced White to 50.75 months in
custody, and imposed a $500 victim assessment fee and a $100 DNA collection
fee.
White appeals.
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No. 69046-7-1/8
II
White contends that the trial court erred by denying his motion for a
mistrial, based on Deputy Nishimura's use of the phrase "DOC hearing" after use
of the terms "DOC" and "Department of Corrections" was prohibited by the trial
court. White asserts that Deputy Nishimura's use of the phrase "DOC" was so
serious and prejudicial that it denied him his right to a fair trial. We disagree.
We review the trial court's decision to deny a motion for a mistrial for an
abuse of discretion. State v. Williams, 159 Wash. App. 298, 321, 244 P.3d 1018,
review denied, 171 Wash. 2d 1025 (2011).
In determining whether a trial court abused its discretion in
denying a motion for mistrial, this court will find abuse "only 'when
no reasonable judge would have reached the same conclusion.'"
"The trial court should grant a mistrial only when the defendant has
been so prejudiced that nothing short of a new trial can insure that
the defendant will be tried fairly. Only errors affecting the outcome
of the trial will be deemed prejudicial." In determining the effect of
an irregular occurrence during trial, we examine "(1) its
seriousness; (2) whether it involved cumulative evidence; and (3)
whether the trial court properly instructed the jury to disregard it."
State v. Johnson, 124 Wash. 2d 57, 76, 873 P.2d 514 (1994) (footnotes omitted)
(quoting State v. Hopson, 113 Wash. 2d 273, 284, 778 P.2d 1014(1989)).
The three factors articulated in Johnson all support the trial court's denial
of White's motion for a mistrial. Use of the phrase "DOC" by Deputy Nishimura
was not serious—as the trial court noted, Deputy Nishimura did not use the
words "Department of Corrections" or "jail," which would have indicated the
meaning of "DOC." The comment was not highlighted by either party and the
phrase "DOC" was not again mentioned during the trial. Evidence that White had
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No. 69046-7-1/9
previously been incarcerated was cumulative—White admitted that he had
previously been convicted of attempted theft in the first degree, and evidence of
White's 1996 convictions for assault in the second degree and burglary in the first
degree was admitted to prove the element of a predicate conviction for a serious
offense. The first two factors thus clearly support the trial court's denial of
White's motion for a mistrial.
Moreover, while the trial court did not instruct the jury to disregard the
comment, defense counsel did not request that the trial court do so. The trial
court offered to issue a curative instruction, but White's counsel declined the
offer. Additionally, defense counsel neither objected to nor moved to strike
Deputy Nishimura's reference to "DOC." Thus, the third factor also supports the
trial court's denial of White's motion for a mistrial.
The remark made by Deputy Nishimura here—"Is this the DOC hearing
you're asking about?"—is substantially similar to a remark made by a witness in
State v. Hopson, 113 Wash. 2d 273. In that case, a witness testified that "the victim
had known the defendant 'three years before he went to the penitentiary the last
time,'" even though the trial court had excluded references to the defendant's
criminal record. Hopson, 113 Wash. 2d at 284, 286. The trial court denied the
defendant's motion for a mistrial, because "the statement was 'not of such
significance as to affect the fair trial. . .'" Hopson, 113 Wash. 2d at 284. The
Supreme Court agreed, noting that "[t]here was no information concerning the
nature or number of prior convictions, and the jury had overwhelming evidence
favoring conviction." Hopson, 113 Wash. 2d at 286.
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No. 69046-7-1/10
Here, Deputy Nishimura's reference to "DOC" similarly provided no
information about the nature or number of White's prior convictions. As the trial
court noted, Deputy Nishimura did not even use the words "Department of
Corrections" or "jail," and responded appropriately when defense counsel
referred to the DOC hearing as an "administrative hearing." Additionally, the jury
heard ample testimony supporting its finding that White possessed a firearm.
Deputies Nishimura and Eshom both testified that they witnessed White
repeatedly reaching into his right vest pocket during the encounter. Deputy
Eshom testified that he witnessed White pull a firearm from that pocket and throw
it toward the fence. The only evidence to the contrary was White's own
testimony, which the jury did not find to be credible. Similarly, the State's
documentary evidence of White's prior convictions for serious offenses went
essentially unrebutted. There is virtually no possibility that the jurors assigned
significance to the deputy's single utterance of the letters "DOC." The trial court
did not abuse its discretion by denying White's motion for a mistrial.
Ill
White next contends that his conviction should be reversed because in
closing argument the prosecutor committed misconduct so flagrant that it could
not have been cured by a limiting instruction. This is so, he asserts, because the
prosecutor improperly shifted to White the State's burden of proof by stating, "It's
your collective, objective reasoning. It's your collective, reasonable basis and
10
No. 69046-7-1/11
reasonable examination of the evidence. That's what a reasonable doubt is."7
We disagree.
"A defendant claiming prosecutorial misconduct must show that the
prosecutor's conduct was both improper and prejudicial in the context of the
entire record and circumstances at trial." State v. Miles, 139 Wash. App. 879, 885,
162 P.3d 1169 (2007). "'Counsel may not remain silent, speculating upon a
favorable verdict, and then, when it is adverse, use the claimed misconduct as a
life preserver on a motion for new trial or on appeal.'" State v. Russell, 125
Wash. 2d 24, 93, 882 P.2d 747 (1994) (quoting Jones v. Hoqan, 56 Wash. 2d 23, 27,
351 P.2d 153 (1960)). Consequently, where a defendant chooses not to object
and request a curative instruction, the argument is waived unless the
prosecutor's comment "'is so flagrant and ill-intentioned that it causes an
enduring and resulting prejudice that could not have been neutralized by a
curative instruction to the jury.'" State v. McKenzie, 157 Wash. 2d 44, 52, 134 P.3d
221 (2006) (quoting State v. Brown, 132 Wash. 2d 529, 561, 940 P.2d 546 (1997)).
Here, the prosecutor did not engage in misconduct when she stated, "It's
your collective, objective reasoning. It's your collective, reasonable basis and
reasonable examination of the evidence. That's what a reasonable doubt is."
7In his statement of additional grounds, White also contends that the prosecutor
improperly shifted the burden of proof when she stated in rebuttal that White never reported that
he was assaulted or hired an attorney to file a claim against the deputies. The prosecutor made
no such statement during either closing argument or rebuttal. Rather, the prosecutor asked
White on cross-examination whether he had filed a complaint or hired an attorney in regard to his
claim that the deputies had assaulted him. Contrary to White's assertion, this line of questioning
did not shift the burden of proof on any element of the charged offense. The prosecutor's
questions were a proper means of impeaching White's testimony. As White fails to demonstrate
either misconduct or prejudice, his contention lacks merit.
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No. 69046-7-1/12
This statement must be read in context with the rest of the prosecutor's closing
argument. See Miles, 139 Wash. App. at 885. Immediately prior to this statement,
the prosecutor told the jury, "[W]hat the instructions do not tell and you [sic] what
you're not required to do is to check your common sense at the door." The
prosecutor encouraged the jurors to reasonably examine the evidence and
discuss the case amongst themselves. Such an argument is not improper.8
Moreover, even if this comment had constituted misconduct, it was not "so
flagrant and ill-intentioned" that it "could not have been neutralized by a curative
instruction to the jury." McKenzie, 157 Wash. 2d at 52. Nothing in the record
indicates any ill intent on behalf of the prosecutor. Moreover, the trial court
properly instructed the jury as to the meaning of reasonable doubt: "A reasonable
doubt is one for which a reason exists and may arise from the evidence or lack of
evidence. It is such a doubt as would exist in the mind of a reasonable person
after fully, fairly, and carefully considering all of the evidence or lack of evidence."
Jury Instruction 3. The trial court also properly instructed the jury that they
should deliberate collectively:
As jurors, you have a duty to discuss the case with one
another and to deliberate in an effort to reach a unanimous verdict.
Each of you must decide the case for yourself, but only after you
consider the evidence impartially with your fellow jurors. During
your deliberations, you should not hesitate to reexamine your own
views and to change your opinion based upon further review of the
evidence and these instructions. You should not, however,
surrender your honest beliefabout 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
8"We want juries to deliberate, not merely vote their initial impulses and move on." State
v. Cross. 156Wn.2d580, 616, 132 P.3d 80 (2006).
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No. 69046-7-1/13
verdict.
Jury Instruction 2. The jury is presumed to follow the court's instructions. State
v. Gamble, 168Wn.2d 161, 178, 225 P.3d 973 (2010). Accordingly, in the event
that the prosecutor had engaged in misconduct by making the challenged
argument, any such misconduct would have been neutralized by the trial court's
correct articulation of the reasonable doubt standard in its instructions to the jury.
A request for the court to remind the jury of these instructions in response to the
prosecutor's argument would have cured any conceivable prejudice.
In summary, there was no misconduct. Furthermore, even if there had
been, White waived this claim of error. He cannot obtain appellate relief on these
grounds.
IV
White contends, in his statement of additional grounds, that the trial court
erred by failing to grant his Knapstad motion to dismiss for insufficient evidence.
This is so, he contends, because his conviction for burglary in the first degree
could not validly serve as a predicate offense because the State in that case
failed to provide notice of his loss of his right to possess firearms upon his
conviction. However, "a defendant who goes to trial may not appeal the denial of
a Knapstad motion." State v. Jackson, 82 Wash. App. 594, 608, 918 P.2d 945
(1996). Accordingly, White is not entitled to relief on this claim.9
9White also contends that the trial court erred by instructing the jury that they could
consider White's convictions for burglary in the first degree and assault in the second degree
when assessing White's credibility. The trial court gave no such instruction. The trial court
instructed the jury that it could consider White's attempted theft conviction when assessing
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No. 69046-7-1/14
V
In his statement of additional grounds, White also contends that the trial
court erred by denying his motion to suppress the firearm, alleging that the traffic
stop was pretextual and that he was unlawfully seized when Deputy Nishimura
asked him to step out of the vehicle.10 He is wrong.
We review de novo whether a warrantless stop is constitutional. State v.
Martinez, 135 Wash. App. 174, 179, 143 P.3d 855 (2006) (citing State v. Rankin,
151 Wash. 2d 689, 694, 92 P.3d 202 (2004)). Similarly, we review de novo whether
the trial court's conclusions of law are supported by the findings of fact.
Martinez, 135 Wash. App. at 179 (citing State v. Mendez, 137 Wash. 2d 208, 214, 970
P.2d 722 (1999)). Unchallenged findings of fact are verities on appeal. State v.
Luther, 157 Wash. 2d 63, 78, 134 P.3d 205 (2006). As White does not challenge
the trial court's findings of fact, those findings are verities on appeal.
White contends that the traffic stop made by the deputies was pretextual.
As the Supreme Court has explained, a pretextual stop occurs when
the police [pull] over a citizen, not to enforce the traffic code, but to
conduct a criminal investigation unrelated to the driving. Therefore
the reasonable articulable suspicion that a traffic infraction has
occurred which justifies an exception to the warrant requirement for
an ordinary traffic stop does not justify a stop for criminal
investigation.
White's credibility, butthat the jurors could consider White's burglary and assault convictions only
in considering whether the elements of unlawful possession of a firearm in the first degree were
proved.
10 White additionally contends that the trial court erred by denying his motion to suppress
the firearm because Deputy Nishimura had no justification for frisking him. However, the firearm
was not obtained as a result of a frisk, but rather was obtained after White threw the firearm at a
fence. Thus, there is no factual basis for White's challenge to the denial of his motion to
suppress on this ground.
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No. 69046-7-1/15
State v. Ladson, 138 Wash. 2d 343, 349, 979 P.2d 833 (1999). Pursuant to Ladson,
the trial court determines whether a stop is pretextual by considering the totality
of the circumstances. 138 Wash. 2d at 358-59. In doing so, the court must
consider "both the subjective intent of the officer as well as the objective
reasonableness of the officer's behavior." Ladson, 138 Wash. 2d at 359. Even if
"the legitimate reason for the stop is secondary and the officer is motivated
primarily by a hunch or some other reason," the stop is not pretextual where the
officer has an "actual, conscious, and independent" reason to make the stop.
State v. Chacon Arreola, 176 Wash. 2d 284, 297-300, 290 P.3d 983 (2012).
Here, the trial court found that the deputies had not only a reasonable,
articulable suspicion that a traffic infraction had occurred, but indeed had
probable cause to believe that White had committed a traffic infraction. The trial
court clearly considered the deputies' subjective intent and objective
reasonableness, as evidenced by its findings of fact that "Deputy Nishimura and
Deputy Eshom observed the defendant make a left turn without signaling,"
"[u]pon seeing the defendant fail to signal the turn, Deputy Nishimura
immediately turned his patrol car around to pursue the defendant," and "Deputy
Eshom ran the defendant's license plate." Although, as the trial court
recognized, "Deputy Nishimura's attention was initially drawn to the vehicle
because 1-2 days earlier he had seen a similar car 'duck him,"' the deputies had
a legitimate and independent reason to stop the vehicle when they saw itfail to
signal before making a left turn.
Neither was White unlawfully seized when asked to step out of the vehicle.
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No. 69046-7-1/16
Once a driver has been lawfully stopped, a police officer may order him or her to
get out of the vehicle, "regardless of whether the driver is suspected of being
armed or dangerous or whether the offense under investigation is a serious one."
State v. O'Neill, 148 Wash. 2d 564, 582, 62 P.3d 489 (2003) (quoting Charles W.
Johnson, Survey of Washington Search and Seizure Law: 1998 Update, 22
Seattle U. L. Rev. 337, 461 (1998)). Such an intrusion is de minimis, especially
when officer safety is at issue. Pennsvlvania v. Mimms, 434 U.S. 106, 111, 98 S.
Ct. 330, 54 L. Ed. 2d 331 (1977) ("What is at most a mere inconvenience cannot
prevail when balanced against legitimate concerns for the officer's safety."); see
also O'Neill, 148 Wash. 2d at 582 (stepping out of the vehicle is a de minimis
intrusion). Here, the trial court found that Deputy Nishimura was both objectively
and subjectively concerned for his safety when White reached into his pocket
and was unresponsive to the deputy's questions during the traffic stop. This
conclusion is adequately supported by the trial court's findings that White "was
repeatedly reaching in his right vest pocket" and that Deputy Nishimura told
White to stop and asked him what he was reaching for before ordering White out
of the vehicle. As the traffic stop was justified at its inception, and Deputy
Nishimura was objectively and subjectively concerned for his safety, Deputy
Nishimura was lawfully entitled to order White out of the vehicle. The trial court
did not err by denying White's motion to suppress.
VI
White finally contends, in his statement of additional grounds, that the trial
court erred by imposing legal financial obligations (LFOs) on him as part of his
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No. 69046-7-1/17
sentence. He claims that the record does not support the factual finding that he
has the ability to pay such obligations. However, White fails to distinguish
between mandatory and discretionary LFOs. "[F]or mandatory legal financial
obligations, the legislature has divested courts of the discretion to consider a
defendant's ability to pay when imposing these obligations." State v. Lundy,
Wn. App. , 308 P.3d 755, 758 (2013). The only costs imposed by the trial
court here were a victim assessment fee of $500 and a DNA collection fee of
$100. The $500 victim assessment is required by RCW 7.68.035, irrespective of
the defendant's ability to pay. State v. Curry, 62 Wash. App. 676, 681, 814 P.2d
1252 (1991), affd, 118 Wash. 2d 911, 829 P.2d 166 (1992). The $100 DNA
collection fee is required by RCW 43.43.7541, also irrespective of the
defendant's ability to pay. State v. Thompson, 153 Wash. App. 325, 336, 223 P.3d
1165 (2009). Accordingly, the trial court acted properly in imposing these costs
on White.
Affirmed.
We concur:
Wf^frCt V^ri<&-fc
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