State Of Washington, V Warren Diego Blockman ( 2022 )


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  •                                                                                                 Filed
    Washington State
    Court of Appeals
    Division Two
    April 19, 2022
    IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
    DIVISION II
    STATE OF WASHINGTON,                                                 No. 54242-1-II
    Respondent,
    v.
    WARREN DIEGO BLOCKMAN,                                        UNPUBLISHED OPINION
    Appellant.
    CRUSER, J. – Warren Blockman met Katrina Mandera on a dating website shortly after
    Mandera moved to Tacoma. One night when the two of them were together, Blockman got angry
    when he saw that another man had sent Mandera a text message. Blockman choked Mandera,
    kicked her in the head, and threatened to kill her friends if she left his residence. Blockman was
    convicted of felony harassment, unlawful imprisonment, and second degree assault.
    Blockman appeals his convictions, arguing that (1) the trial court erred by overruling his
    objection under GR 37 to one of the State’s peremptory challenges; (2) he was denied effective
    assistance of counsel because Mandera’s medical records contained a sentence that was
    inadmissible hearsay; (3) the trial court’s “knowledge” instruction deprived him of due process;
    (4) the trial court’s “threat” instruction violated the First Amendment; and (5) the trial court erred
    by imposing a community custody supervision fee.
    No. 54242-1-II
    We hold that Blockman’s GR 37 argument is waived, that he was not denied effective
    assistance of counsel, that his challenges to the jury instructions are waived, and that his
    community custody supervision fee should be stricken based on the State’s concession.
    Accordingly, we affirm Blockman’s convictions but remand to the trial court to strike the
    supervision fee.
    FACTS
    I. UNDERLYING INCIDENT
    Blockman and Mandera met on a dating website about two weeks after Mandera moved to
    Tacoma. At the time, Blockman was staying with his daughter, Bianca Newton.
    One night, Mandera went to Newton’s apartment to visit Blockman and stayed overnight.
    The next day, Blockman’s friends were visiting at the apartment, and Mandera made a comment
    that Blockman “didn’t like.” 3 Verbatim Report of Proceedings (VRP) at 386. Mandera went to
    the bathroom to get ready to leave, and Blockman “cornered” her in the bathroom. Id. He stood in
    front of the door and told her that she couldn’t leave. Later that night, one of Mandera’s male
    friends texted her around midnight. Blockman saw Mandera’s phone light up, took the phone, and
    began texting the friend pretending to be Mandera.
    Mandera tried to get her phone back, and Blockman threw the phone across the room.
    Blockman then held Mandera down, put one of his hands around her neck, and threatened to kill
    her. Mandera testified that she could not breathe and that she lost consciousness. When Mandera
    awoke, Blockman was still texting her friend, and she asked Blockman once again to give her
    phone back so she could leave. When she sat up, Blockman kicked her in the head. Blockman held
    Mandera down and told her that she was “not going nowhere” and was “going to stay here.” Id. at
    2
    No. 54242-1-II
    392-93. Blockman told her that if she left, he would go to Mandera’s friend’s house “and kill
    everybody.” Id. at 393.
    Mandera believed Blockman’s threats, so she stayed at Newton’s apartment the entire next
    day. Newton was also at the apartment all day, but Blockman was not. Blockman told Mandera
    that she could not leave until he found someone to come pick her up. Blockman eventually texted
    Mandera that one of his friends was going to meet her outside.
    Once outside, Mandera located Blockman’s friend and got into her car. Mandera and the
    friend spent all night together and drove to various places. The following morning, Blockman
    called Mandera and told her to walk home. After arriving at home, Mandera took herself to the
    hospital and subsequently made a report with law enforcement.
    Blockman was charged with second degree assault, two counts of felony harassment,
    unlawful imprisonment, and first degree robbery.
    II. JURY SELECTION
    During jury selection, both Blockman and one of the jurors expressed concern about the
    lack of diversity on the venire. Following the State’s first peremptory challenge, defense counsel
    objected under GR 37. Outside the presence of the venire, the trial court stated it was “a bit taken
    aback” by the objection. 1 VRP at 181. The court noted that the defense was “operating under a
    presumption, it would seem, that Juror Number 9 is a person of color. And he is not perceptively
    so to the Court, which really puts [it] in a bit of quandary right here.” Id.
    Defense counsel explained that he asked Blockman, “Does Juror Number 9 look like he’s
    a minority to you? That he’s not Caucasian? And he said: Yes.” Id. at 182. Despite being uncertain
    that Juror 9 was a person of color, defense counsel objected because he “felt it incumbent upon
    3
    No. 54242-1-II
    [him] to raise that issue on behalf of [Blockman].” Id. In response, the State indicated that it did
    not anticipate a GR 37 challenge because “Juror Number 9 appears to be a Caucasian, white male,”
    and the State did not believe that the issue fell under GR 37. Id. The State used a peremptory
    challenge for Juror 9 because “[h]e didn’t seem to be paying attention.” Id. at 183.
    Defense counsel explained that the State’s basis for the peremptory was not legitimate “if
    the Court has felt the first prong of the [GR 37] analysis has been satisfied,” meaning that the
    potential juror “is a member of an ethnic group.” Id. at 185. The court stated that “this person does
    not appear to be a person of color,” but decided to bring Juror 9 into the court under the guise of
    individual questioning so that the court could “lay eyes on him.” Id. at 189. After the individual
    questioning, the court again stated that “[t]his person, to the Court, is just not a person of color.”
    2 VRP at 205. The court concluded: “I do not find that an objective observer could view race or
    ethnicity as a factor in the use of this peremptory challenge because there’s nothing noteworthy
    about the race or ethnicity of this person.” Id. at 206-07.
    III. TRIAL
    1. Testimony
    Mandera testified to the facts set forth above.
    Sharon Lemoine, a nurse practitioner, treated Mandera at Tacoma General Hospital.
    During Lemoine’s testimony, the State offered Mandera’s medical records into evidence. Defense
    counsel did not object to the admission of the medical records, and the records were admitted.
    Lemoine used the medical records to describe Mandera’s injuries and treatment. She explained
    that Mandera had a hematoma, or swelling, on the side of her head. She also said that “everything
    4
    No. 54242-1-II
    [about Mandera’s neck] looked normal, with the exception that there was noted bruising and
    swelling to the left side of the neck.” 3 VRP at 361.
    The State asked Lemoine to explain why there was a line in her notes that read, “Status
    post-assault with choking,” even though her initial notes did not include anything about choking.
    Id. at 359. Lemoine explained that sometimes, as patients are being treated, they give more
    information, and she assumed that “at some point . . . something must have been said” for her to
    put in her order of the CAT scan of Mandera’s neck. Id.1
    On cross examination, Lemoine again stated that she had to “assume something was said”
    about choking. Id. at 365. She also said that if Mandera had told her she had been choked, she
    would have put it in her initial notes. Defense counsel questioned Lemoine on different aspects of
    the medical records, including the hematoma on one side of Mandera’s head, the bruising on one
    side of her neck, and that Mandera denied having a loss of consciousness.
    2. Jury Instructions
    The trial court’s “Instruction No. 15” defined threat:
    To be a threat, a statement or act must occur in a context or under such
    circumstances where a reasonable person, in the position of the speaker, would
    foresee that the statement or act would be interpreted as a serious expression of
    intention to carry out the threat rather than as something said in jest or idle talk.
    Clerk’s Papers (CP) at 52. Blockman did not object to this instruction.
    In addition, “Instruction No. 17” defined knowledge:
    A person knows or acts knowingly or with knowledge with respect to a fact,
    circumstance, or result when he or she is aware of that fact, circumstance, or result.
    1
    The same note (“Status post assault with choking”) appears in the notes by the radiologist who
    took Mandera’s CAT scan. Ex. 19A at 13. Lemoine’s notes state elsewhere, “[s]tatus post assault
    with head injury.” Id. at 8.
    5
    No. 54242-1-II
    It is not necessary that the person know that the fact, circumstance, or result is
    defined by law as being unlawful or an element of a crime.
    Id. at 54. Blockman also did not object to this instruction.
    “Instruction No. 20” listed the elements that the State needed to prove beyond a reasonable
    doubt for the crime of false imprisonment, which included, “(3) [Blockman’s restraint of Mandera]
    was without legal authority;” and “(4) [t]hat with regard to elements (1), (2), and (3), the defendant
    acted knowingly.” Id. at 57.
    3. Closing Argument
    During closing, defense counsel argued that the medical records were inconsistent with
    Mandera’s testimony, and that the records do “not corroborate Ms. Mandera’s testimony, they
    seriously call into question its reasonableness, given all the circumstances.” 4 VRP at 666. Counsel
    also argued that the records show no injury to Mandera’s neck.
    V. VERDICT AND SENTENCING
    The jury convicted Blockman on all counts except for first degree robbery.2
    At the sentencing hearing, the court stated that it was “going to impose only the mandatory
    sanction that exists, and that’s the $500 crime victim penalty assessment.” VRP (Jan. 10, 2020) at
    15. The court then asked whether the sentence included community custody. The State responded
    that the second degree assault conviction required 18 months community custody, and the court
    said, “so be it, 18 months community custody as relates to Count 1.” Id. at 16. The court did not
    mention any fees associated with community custody.
    2
    This included only one count of felony harassment because the other count was dismissed at the
    close of the State’s evidence.
    6
    No. 54242-1-II
    The parties and the court signed Blockman’s judgment and sentence. Under the legal
    financial obligation (LFO) section, the court imposed only the mandatory $500 crime victim
    assessment. However, the community custody conditions paragraph, on a different page, included
    a line indicating that the defendant shall “pay supervision fees as determined by [Department of
    Corrections (DOC)].” CP at 82.
    Blockman appeals.
    DISCUSSION
    I. PEREMPTORY CHALLENGE
    Blockman argues that the trial court erred by overruling his GR 37 objection. We hold that
    Blockman has waived this challenge.
    A. GR 37
    GR 37 was enacted with the goal of “eliminat[ing] the unfair exclusion of potential jurors
    based on race or ethnicity.” GR 37(a). Under the rule, either a party or the court “may object to the
    use of a peremptory challenge to raise the issue of improper bias.” GR 37(c). Upon objection, the
    party that exercised the peremptory challenge at issue must articulate the reasons for which the
    peremptory challenge was used. GR 37(d). The court must then evaluate the reasons under the
    totality of the circumstances. GR 37(e). If “an objective observer could view race or ethnicity as a
    factor in the use of the peremptory challenge, then the peremptory challenge shall be denied.” Id.
    “[T]he question of whether an objective observer could view race or ethnicity as a factor in a
    peremptory challenge is subject to de novo review.” State v. Listoe, 15 Wn. App. 2d 308, 321, 
    475 P.3d 534
     (2020).
    7
    No. 54242-1-II
    B. ANALYSIS
    Blockman raises a different argument on appeal than he raised at the trial court. In the trial
    court, Blockman argued that Juror 9 was a member of a racial or ethnic minority, and, therefore,
    the prosecutor’s stated reason for excluding Juror 9 (inattentiveness) was invalid. The trial court
    explained that Juror 9 did not appear to be a member of a racial or ethnic minority and concluded
    that an objective observer, therefore, could not have viewed racial bias as a motivating factor in
    the State’s peremptory challenge.
    On appeal, Blockman does not renew his argument that Juror 9 was a member of a racial
    or ethnic minority or that the proposed peremptory strike was based on Juror 9’s race or ethnicity,
    and he does not challenge the trial court’s conclusion that an objective observer would have viewed
    racial bias as a basis for the State’s peremptory strike. Rather, Blockman argues that GR 37 does
    not require the peremptory exclusion of a juror to be based on race or ethnicity. He contends that
    the prohibition under GR 37(i) against excluding a juror for inattentiveness without first notifying
    the court and counsel so that such conduct can be verified applies to all potential jurors, and thus
    to all peremptory challenges, not just those which are alleged to be based on race or ethnicity. This
    was not the basis of Blockman’s objection below and is raised for the first time on appeal.
    We may decline to review issues that were not raised in the trial court. RAP 2.5(a).
    Blockman does not acknowledge that this argument is brought for the first time on appeal, and he
    does not argue or attempt to demonstrate that this issue, which is premised on the trial court’s
    alleged violation of a court rule, is a manifest constitutional error which should be considered for
    the first time on appeal under RAP 2.5(a)(3). “The purpose underlying issue preservation rules is
    to encourage the efficient use of judicial resources by ensuring that the trial court has the
    8
    No. 54242-1-II
    opportunity to correct any errors, thereby avoiding unnecessary appeals.” State v. Hamilton, 
    179 Wn. App. 870
    , 878, 
    320 P.3d 142
     (2014). See also State v. Kirkman, 
    159 Wn.2d 918
    , 926, 
    155 P.3d 125
     (2007) (“A party may assign evidentiary error on appeal only on a specific ground made
    at trial,” which gives the trial court the opportunity to cure the error by striking testimony or
    providing a curative instruction).
    Because Blockman did not argue below that the peremptory exclusion of a juror need not
    be based on race or ethnicity in order to invoke the provisions set forth in GR 37, and does not
    demonstrate here that the trial court’s alleged misapplication of GR 37 should be reviewed for the
    first time on appeal, the claim is waived.
    II. INEFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL
    Blockman argues that he was denied effective assistance of counsel when defense counsel
    failed to object “to wholesale admission” of Mandera’s medical records. Br. of Appellant at 23.
    We disagree.
    A. LEGAL PRINCIPLES
    The right to counsel includes the right to effective assistance of counsel. State v. Grier, 
    171 Wn.2d 17
    , 32, 
    246 P.3d 1260
     (2011). To prevail on a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, a
    defendant must show “(1) that defense counsel’s conduct was deficient . . . and (2) that the deficient
    performance resulted in prejudice.” State v. Reichenbach, 
    153 Wn.2d 126
    , 130, 
    101 P.3d 80
    (2004).
    Performance is deficient if it falls below an objective standard of reasonableness based on
    the record established at trial. State v. McFarland, 
    127 Wn.2d 322
    , 334-35, 
    899 P.2d 1251
     (1995).
    There is a strong presumption that a defendant received effective assistance, but this presumption
    9
    No. 54242-1-II
    can be overcome when “there is no conceivable legitimate tactic explaining counsel’s
    performance.” Reichenbach, 
    153 Wn.2d at 130
    . To establish prejudice, the defendant must show
    that “ ‘there is a reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s deficient performance, the outcome
    of the proceedings would have been different.’ ” Grier, 
    171 Wn.2d at 34
     (quoting State v. Kyllo,
    
    166 Wn.2d 856
    , 862, 
    215 P.3d 177
     (2009)). We need not address both prongs of the test when the
    defendant’s showing on one prong is insufficient. State v. Foster, 
    140 Wn. App. 266
    , 273, 
    166 P.3d 726
     (2007).
    B. ANALYSIS
    Mandera’s medical records included a note saying, “[s]tatus post assault with choking.”
    Ex. 19A at 9. Blockman argues that the reference to choking corroborated Mandera’s testimony,
    which was the only evidence the State presented that Blockman choked Mandera, and that this
    renders counsel’s performance ineffective.
    Blockman cannot show prejudice from the admission of the medical records, specifically
    the line “[s]tatus post assault with choking.” Ex. 19A at 9. Blockman must show a reasonable
    probability that the trial outcome would have been different. Grier, 
    171 Wn.2d at 34
    . As an initial
    matter, it is not clear that an objection would have had any effect on the admission of the statement
    in the medical records. Blockman concedes that the medical records were admissible as business
    records, but argues that the statement at issue was inadmissible hearsay within hearsay. However,
    the statement was written by either Lemoine or the radiologist as part of their notes on Mandera’s
    visit. It is not different from other similar statements within the medical records, like “[s]tatus post
    assault with head injury” Ex. 19A at 8. To the extent that Blockman argues the statement is hearsay
    10
    No. 54242-1-II
    because it came from Mandera, a statement such as this would fall under the hearsay exception for
    statements made for medical diagnosis and treatment. ER 803(a)(4).
    Furthermore, despite Blockman’s contention that the only evidence that Blockman choked
    Mandera, other than “[s]tatus post assault with choking,” was Mandera’s own testimony, other
    portions of the medical records and Lemoine’s testimony also provided this evidence. For example,
    Lemoine noted bruising to Mandera’s neck in the records. She confirmed this at trial by stating,
    “everything [about Mandera’s neck] looked normal, with the exception that there was noted
    bruising and swelling to the left side of the neck.” 3 VRP at 361. Based on this evidence, and the
    fact that the note in the records was admissible, Blockman cannot show the requisite prejudice
    from counsel’s failure to object to the admission to the records.
    We hold that Blockman was not denied effective assistance of counsel.
    III. JURY INSTRUCTIONS
    Blockman argues that two of the court’s instructions were constitutional error. We decline
    to review these claims for the first time on appeal.
    A. LEGAL PRINCIPLES
    We may decline to review claims of error that the defendant did not raise in the trial court.
    RAP 2.5(a). “Generally, a party who fails to object to jury instructions below waives any claim of
    instructional error on appeal.” State v. Knight, 
    176 Wn. App. 936
    , 950, 
    309 P.3d 776
     (2013).
    However, a defendant can raise a “manifest error affecting a constitutional right” for the first time
    on appeal. RAP 2.5(a)(3). We do not assume an alleged error is of constitutional magnitude; rather,
    “[w]e look to the asserted claim and assess whether, if correct, it implicates a constitutional interest
    11
    No. 54242-1-II
    as compared to another form of trial error.” State v. O’Hara, 
    167 Wn.2d 91
    , 98, 
    217 P.3d 756
    (2009).
    After determining whether the alleged error is of constitutional magnitude, we look to
    whether the error is manifest. Id. at 99. Error is manifest under RAP 2.5(a) if the appellant can
    show actual prejudice, demonstrated by a “ ‘plausible showing by the [appellant] that the asserted
    error had practical and identifiable consequences in the trial of the case.’ ” O’Hara, 167 Wn.2d at
    99 (alteration in original) (internal quotation marks omitted) (quoting State v. Kirkman, 
    159 Wn.2d 918
    , 935, 
    155 P.3d 125
     (2007)). The defendant bears the burden of demonstrating that the alleged
    error is both manifest and of constitutional magnitude. Knight, 176 Wn. App. at 950-51. Claims
    raising an error of constitutional magnitude are still subject to a harmless error analysis. O’Hara,
    167 Wn.2d at 98.
    B. KNOWLEDGE INSTRUCTION
    Instruction No. 17 stated that, in order for someone to have acted with knowledge, “[i]t is
    not necessary that the person know that the fact, circumstance, or result is defined by law as being
    unlawful or an element of a crime.” CP at 54. Because Blockman did not object to Instruction No.
    17 below, we will review the alleged error in the instruction only if it constitutes a manifest error
    affecting a constitutional right. Knight, 176 Wn. App. at 950-51.
    Jury instructions that relieve the State of its burden to prove all elements of a crime beyond
    a reasonable doubt, or that omit an element of the charged crime, are of sufficient constitutional
    magnitude to be raised for the first time on appeal. State v. Weaver, 
    198 Wn.2d 459
    , 465, 
    496 P.3d 1183
     (2021); O’Hara, 167 Wn.2d at 103; State v. Clark-El, 
    196 Wn. App. 614
    , 619, 
    384 P.3d 627
    (2016); State v. Smith, 
    174 Wn. App. 359
    , 365, 
    298 P.3d 785
     (2013).
    12
    No. 54242-1-II
    Blockman argues that the State was relieved of its burden to prove that Blockman knew he
    was acting without legal authority because Instruction No. 17 informed the jury that it was not
    necessary that Blockman “knew any ‘fact, circumstance, or result’ at issue ‘[was] defined by law
    as being unlawful.’ ” Br. of Appellant at 31 (quoting CP at 54). Blockman does not quote the full
    sentence in Instruction No. 17, which states, “[i]t is not necessary that the person know that the
    fact, circumstance, or result is defined by law as being unlawful or an element of a crime.” CP at
    54. Our supreme court recently addressed this issue in Weaver in the context of a to-convict
    instruction for criminal trespass, which required “that the defendant knew that the entry or
    remaining was unlawful.” Weaver, 198 Wn.2d at 467. The knowledge instruction in that case was
    identical to Instruction No. 17 here, and the issue before the court was whether the knowledge
    instruction relieved the State of its burden to prove that the defendant knew his entry was unlawful
    for the criminal trespass charge. Id. at 463-64.
    The court rejected the argument that Blockman makes here. Id. at 469. It explained that the
    knowledge instruction “is intended to explain that ignorance of the law is no excuse.” Id. at 467.
    “Therefore, it is meant to clarify that while it was necessary to demonstrate that Mr. Weaver
    subjectively knew he was not allowed to be on the property, it is not necessary that Mr. Weaver
    subjectively knew that his actions constituted a defined crime.” Id. Similarly, here, the knowledge
    instruction did not negate or conflict with any element in the to-convict instruction for unlawful
    imprisonment because Instruction No. 17 merely instructed the jury that it was not necessary that
    13
    No. 54242-1-II
    Blockman knew his actions were “specifically defined in the RCW as an element of” unlawful
    imprisonment. See Id. at 468.3
    Therefore, Blockman’s argument that he was deprived due process because Instruction No.
    17 relieved the State of its burden to prove all elements beyond a reasonable doubt fails.
    Accordingly, no constitutional error occurred and we decline to review this claim for the first time
    on appeal.
    C. THREAT INSTRUCTION
    Instruction No. 15 explained that a statement is a threat when “in a context or under such
    circumstances where a reasonable person, in the position of the speaker, would foresee that the
    statement or act would be interpreted as a serious expression of intention to carry out the threat
    rather than as something said in jest or idle talk.” CP at 52. Once again, Blockman did not object
    to this instruction below.
    Blockman argues that Instruction No. 15 violates the First Amendment. Specifically, he
    argues that the objective, reasonable person standard in this instruction disregards First
    Amendment precedent requiring the speaker to intend to communicate an act of violence. This
    3
    Blockman relies on State v. Warfield, 
    103 Wn. App. 152
    , 
    5 P.3d 1280
     (2000), to support his
    contention that the State needed to prove he knew he was acting without legal authority. In doing
    so, Blockman ignores case law explaining that this is only an essential element where the defendant
    had a good faith belief that he or she had legal authority to restrain the victim. See, e.g., State v.
    Johnson, 
    180 Wn.2d 295
    , 304, 
    325 P.3d 135
     (2014) (“The Warfield court’s logic does not extend
    to most unlawful imprisonment cases—particularly those involving domestic violence—where
    there is no indication that the defendants believed they actually had legal authority to imprison the
    victim.”); State v. Dillon, 12 Wn. App. 2d 133, 142, 
    456 P.3d 1199
    , review denied, 
    192 Wn.2d 1022
     (2020). The to-convict instruction in Dillon required the jury to find that the defendant knew
    that the restraint was without legal authority, which added an unnecessary mens rea requirement
    that the State was required to prove under the law of the case doctrine. Dillon, 12 Wn. App. 2d at
    142-43. Regardless, the court held that the defendant’s threats toward the victim demonstrated that
    he “knew he was acting without legal authority.” Id. at 143.
    14
    No. 54242-1-II
    argument implicates a constitutional interest, but Blockman must still show actual prejudice from
    this instruction in order to demonstrate this alleged error is manifest. See O’Hara, 167 Wn.2d at
    98-99.
    Blockman acknowledges that our supreme court recently affirmed the objective, reasonable
    person standard in State v. Trey M., 
    186 Wn.2d 884
    , 
    383 P.3d 474
     (2016). In that case, a juvenile
    defendant sought reversal of convictions for felony harassment. Trey M., 
    186 Wn.2d at 888
    . The
    defendant asked the court to overrule Washington’s objective, reasonable person test for true
    threats. 
    Id. at 893
    . Like Blockman, the defendant asserted that Virginia v. Black, 
    538 U.S. 343
    ,
    
    123 S. Ct. 1536
    , 
    155 L. Ed. 2d 535
     (2003), required the court to apply a subjective intent standard
    under the First Amendment. Id. at 891. Our supreme court rejected this argument, noting that the
    “intent to intimidate” element at issue in Black was a statutory requirement, “but nothing in Black
    imposes in all cases an ‘intent to intimidate’ requirement in order to avoid a First Amendment
    violation.” Id. at 899-900.
    We are bound by the precedent set by the Washington Supreme Court. 1000 Virginia Ltd.
    P’ship v. Vertecs Corp., 
    158 Wn.2d 566
    , 578, 
    146 P.3d 423
     (2006). Because this constitutional
    argument has been rejected by our supreme court, Blockman cannot show the requisite prejudice.
    Accordingly, we hold that Blockman has waived this challenge.
    IV. COMMUNITY CUSTODY SUPERVISION FEES
    Blockman asks us to order that the community custody supervision fee be stricken from
    his judgment and sentence, and the State joins in that request. Based on the State’s agreement with
    Blockman on this issue, we remand this matter to the trial court to strike the community custody
    supervision fee.
    15
    No. 54242-1-II
    A defendant is required to pay the community custody supervision fee unless the court
    waives the fee. RCW 9.94A.703(2)(d).4 Because the supervision fee is waivable, it is a
    discretionary LFO, and it is not error for the trial court to impose the supervision fee despite a
    defendant’s indigent status. State v. Starr, 16 Wn. App. 2d 106, 109, 
    479 P.3d 1209
     (2021).
    By its concession here, the State, as the proponent of the fee below, is effectively
    withdrawing its request that Blockman pay this fee as part of his sentence. We grant that request
    and remand this matter to the trial court to strike the fee.
    CONCLUSION
    We hold that Blockman’s challenge to the trial court’s decision not to remove Juror 9 from
    the venire under GR 37 is waived, and that he was not denied effective assistance of counsel. We
    decline to review Blockman’s challenges to the trial court’s “knowledge” instruction and “threat”
    instruction. Finally, we grant the joint request of the parties to strike the community custody
    supervision fee.
    Accordingly, we affirm Blockman’s convictions but remand to the trial court to strike the
    supervision fee.
    A majority of the panel having determined that this opinion will not be printed in the
    Washington Appellate Reports, but will be filed for public record in accordance with RCW 2.06.040,
    it is so ordered.
    4
    RCW 9.94A.703 was amended in 2018. See LAWS OF 2018, ch. 201, § 9004. Because this
    amendment does not affect our analysis, we cite to the current version of the statute.
    16
    No. 54242-1-II
    CRUSER, J.
    We concur:
    WORSWICK, J.
    GLASGOW, C.J.
    17