State Of Washington, V. Brennaris Marquis Johnson ( 2024 )

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
DIVISION ONE
STATE OF WASHINGTON, No. 83738-9-I
Respondent,
ORDER DENYING MOTION
v. FOR RECONSIDERATION,
WITHDRAWING OPINION,
BRENNARIS MARQUIS JOHNSON, AND SUBSTITUTING
Appellant. OPINION
Appellant Brennaris Johnson has moved for reconsideration of the
published opinion filed on October 16, 2023. The respondent State of
Washington has filed an answer. The panel has considered the motion pursuant
to RAP 12.4 and has determined that the motion should be denied, the opinion
should be withdrawn, and a substitute opinion be filed.
Now, therefore, it is hereby
ORDERED that the appellant’s motion for reconsideration is denied; and it
is further
ORDERED that the published opinion filed on October 16, 2023, is
withdrawn; and it is further
ORDERED that a substitute published opinion be filed.
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
STATE OF WASHINGTON, No. 83738-9-I
Respondent, DIVISION ONE
v. PUBLISHED OPINION
BRENNARIS MARQUIS JOHNSON,
Appellant.
SMITH, C.J. — Brennaris Marquis Johnson appeals a jury verdict finding
him guilty of second degree assault and felony violation of a no-contact order.
On appeal, Johnson contends that the trial court erred by (1) instructing the jury
that fourth degree felony assault was a lesser degree offense to second degree
assault, (2) admitting evidence of prior assaults against the victim in this case,
(3) imposing an exceptional sentence, (4) making an impermissible factual
finding when it imposed an exceptional sentence, and (5) imposing a longer than
statutorily permitted sentence on the no-contact order violation. Not finding his
first four arguments persuasive, we affirm the convictions. However, we agree
that Johnson’s sentence for the violation of the no-contact order is longer than
statutorily permissible and remand for the court to correct the sentence.
FACTS
Brennaris Marquis Johnson and Nicole Trichler began dating in early
2020. Following an incident in August 2020, Johnson was arrested and a
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no-contact order protecting Trichler was entered. Despite the no-contact order,
the parties stayed in contact.
In late January 2021, while the no-contact order was still in place, Trichler
picked Johnson up from jail and the two spent a handful of days at Trichler’s
apartment. During this time, Johnson was “very argumentative” and accused
Trichler of stealing his stimulus check1 and cheating on him. When Trichler
denied stealing the check, Johnson responded by hitting her under the jaw.
Trichler asked Johnson why he had hit her, but Johnson just walked away before
then turning around and punching Trichler repeatedly on her head, like he would
hit a punching bag. Trichler again asked Johnson why he had hit her. In
response, Johnson again struck Trichler on her temple. He then told Trichler that
he could “do this and nobody would ever see a bruise.” Trichler’s head started to
hurt and she asked Johnson if she could take some aspirin. Trichler testified at
trial that at this point in time, she was trying not to get upset because she didn’t
want Johnson to accuse her of playing the victim. Trichler took four aspirin for
the pain.
About 15 minutes later, Trichler described hearing a buzzing noise and
feeling an intense pressure in her head. Trichler told Johnson to call 911
because she felt like she was “going to die.”2 By the time emergency personnel
responded, Trichler was “crawling around” on her hands and knees. One of the
1 During the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government issued
“Economic Impact Payments,” commonly known as “stimulus checks” to eligible
recipients as part of the pandemic relief.
2 Johnson had taken Trichler’s phones away from her at this point.
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responding emergency medical technicians (EMTs) checked Trichler’s vital
signs, concluded she was not in danger of serious injury, and advised her to visit
a walk-in clinic. Trichler did not report any assault to the EMTs or tell them that
she and Johnson had been arguing.
Once the EMTs departed, Trichler’s condition steadily deteriorated. She
began to vomit and asked Johnson to call 911 again. When the EMTs returned,
Johnson or Trichler3 told them that Trichler had used methamphetamine and had
been drinking rum that day. The EMTs changed their impression of the incident
to one involving substance abuse, reasoning that Trichler’s headache was from
her drug and alcohol use. The EMTs then drove Trichler to the hospital.
At the hospital, Trichler told staff she had used methamphetamine and
immediately developed a severe headache. She denied any assault or trauma.
A CT4 scan revealed Trichler had a subdural hematoma, a type of inner brain
bleed. Trichler was transferred to the trauma and acute care surgery team for
brain surgery to remove the hematoma. After the surgery, Trichler spent several
days recovering in the hospital.
Trichler initially blamed the aspirin for her condition. But after talking with
her mother, Trichler realized the severity of her injuries and decided to report the
assault to police. Johnson was subsequently charged with second degree
assault and felony violation of a no-contact order.
3 Trichler testified that Johnson relayed this information to the EMTs but
EMT Galen Wallace testified that Trichler told him herself.
4 Computerized tomography.
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Before trial, during motions in limine, the State moved to admit evidence of
Johnson’s prior assaults against Trichler. The State argued that Trichler’s
credibility would be a primary issue because of her delay in reporting and general
denial of the assault. After hearing pretrial testimony from Trichler, the court
granted the State’s motion, subject to a limiting instruction. The State also
requested that the jury be instructed on fourth degree felony assault as a lesser
degree offense of second degree assault. Johnson objected. The court noted
that the jury could conclude Trichler’s injuries were caused by something other
than the assault, such as a fall, and preliminarily granted the State’s request.
The jury found Johnson guilty as charged, and the trial court sentenced
him to a total of 168 months of confinement and 30 months of community
custody. Johnson appeals.
ANALYSIS
Lesser Degree Offense
Johnson contends that the court violated his due process rights by
instructing the jury on fourth degree felony assault as a lesser degree offense of
second degree assault, denying that it is a lesser degree offense. He maintains
that even if fourth degree felony assault is a lesser degree offense, the evidence
did not support such an instruction. He also argues that, although the jury did not
convict him of fourth degree felony assault, he suffered substantial prejudice
because the State introduced evidence to support that instruction. We conclude
that the instruction was not given in error.
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Criminal defendants are generally entitled to notice of the charges they
are to meet at trial and may be convicted only of the crimes charged in the
information. State v. Tamalini, 134 Wn.2d 725, 731, 953 P.2d 450 (1998). But
when a defendant is charged with an offense consisting of different degrees, the
jury may find the defendant guilty of a lesser degree5 of the charged offense.
RCW 10.61.003. A trial court may instruct the jury on a lesser degree offense
when
“(1) the statutes for both the charged offense and the proposed
[lesser] degree offense proscribe but one offense; (2) the
information charges an offense that is divided into degrees, and the
proposed offense is a [lesser] degree of the charged offense; and
(3) there is evidence that the defendant committed only the [lesser]
offense.”
State v. Fernandez-Medina, 141 Wn.2d 448, 454, 6 P.3d 1150 (2000) (internal
quotation marks omitted) (quoting State v. Peterson, 133 Wn.2d 885, 891, 948
P.2d 381 (1997)).
“The standard of review applied to a trial court’s decision to give a jury
instruction depends on whether that decision was based on an issue of law or
fact.” State v. Loos, 14 Wn. App. 2d 748, 760, 473 P.3d 1229 (2020). The first
two prongs of the Fernandez-Medina test are legal questions, which we review
de novo. Loos, 14 Wn. App. 2d at 760. The third prong presents a question of
5 A lesser degree offense is a close cousin of a lesser included offense.
A lesser included offense instruction is warranted where (1) each of the elements
of the lesser offense are a necessary element of the offense charged and (2) the
evidence in the case supports an inference that the lesser crime was committed.
State v. Workman, 90 Wn.2d 443, 447-48, 584 P.2d 382 (1978). The legal prong
of the Workman test is not implicated in a lesser degree analysis. State v.
Fernandez-Medina, 141 Wn.2d 448, 455, 6 P.3d 1150 (2000).
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fact that we review for an abuse of discretion. Loos, 14 Wn. App. 2d at 760.
Only the first and third prongs are at issue here.6
1. Offense Proscribed
To determine whether criminal statutes “ ‘proscribe but one offense,’ ”
Washington courts look to whether the statutes criminalize the same or different
conduct. Tamalini, 134 Wn.2d at 732-33 (quoting State v. Foster, 91 Wn.2d 466,
472, 589 P.2d 789 (1979)). For example, in Tamalini, our Supreme Court
concluded that first and second degree manslaughter were not lesser degree
offenses of second degree felony murder because “the manslaughter statutes
and the felony murder statutes proscribe significantly different conduct and thus
define separate and distinct crimes.” 134 Wn.2d at 732. The court examined the
statutory elements of manslaughter and felony murder and reasoned that,
although both statutes generally proscribe killing another human, they are
“directed to significantly differing conduct of defendants.” Tamalini, 134 Wn.2d
at 733. Similarly, in State v. McJimpson, this court concluded that second
degree felony murder and second degree manslaughter were not the same
offense because “they prohibit significantly different conduct with regard to such
killing” and the statutes involve different mens rea requirements. 79 Wn. App.
164, 171-72, 901 P.2d 354 (1995).
6 Johnson does not appear to contest the second element of the
Fernandez-Medina test, that the information charges an offense divided into
degrees.
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Here, Johnson was charged under RCW 9A.36.021(1), which provides:
A person is guilty of assault in the second degree if he or she,
under circumstances not amounting to assault in the first degree:
(a) Intentionally assaults another and thereby recklessly inflicts
substantial bodily harm.
The jury instructions reflect this iteration of second degree assault.
Under RCW 9A.36.041(1), a person is guilty of fourth degree assault “if, under
circumstances not amounting to assault in the first, second, or third degree, or
custodial assault, he or she assaults another.”
Fourth degree assault is a class C felony if the defendant, within the
preceding decade, has been convicted of two or more of the following offenses,
for which domestic violence against an intimate partner was proved:
(i) Repetitive domestic violence offense as defined in
RCW 9.94A.030;
(ii) Crime of harassment as defined by RCW 9A.46.060;
(iii) Assault in the third degree;
(iv) Assault in the second degree;
(v) Assault in the first degree; or
(vi) A municipal, tribal, federal, or out-of-state offense
comparable to any offense under (b)(i) through (v) of this
subsection.
RCW 9A.36.041(3)(b). Similarly, the jury instructions reflect this type of fourth
degree felony assault.
Assault is undefined in our criminal code, and courts apply the common
law definition. State v. Walden, 67 Wn. App. 891, 894, 841 P.2d 81 (1992).
Here, the jury was instructed that an “assault” is “an intentional touching or
striking of another person that is harmful or offensive regardless of whether any
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physical injury is done to the person. A touching or striking is offensive if the
touching or striking would offend an ordinary person who is not unduly sensitive.”
Comparing the conduct covered by each criminal statute, it is apparent
that RCW 9A.36.021(1)(a) and RCW 9A.36.041(1) and (3) proscribe the same
conduct. Both statutes proscribe acting with intent to achieve the same result:
causing harmful contact to another. That the two crimes require the same mens
rea is particularly relevant, since case law has often distinguished offenses
because they require different mens rea. See Loos, 14 Wn. App. 2d at 762-73
(holding fourth degree intentional assault is not a lesser degree offense to third
degree assault of a child when the latter was based on criminal negligence). We
conclude that fourth degree felony assault is a lesser degree offense to second
degree assault.
Still, Johnson attempts to distinguish the two offenses by arguing fourth
degree felony assault is not the same offense because it “requires proof of an
additional fact not required for second degree assault,” that being proof of prior
convictions. We disagree. Only in the context of lesser included offenses must
the lesser offense contain all the elements of the greater offense. State v.
Coryell, 197 Wn.2d 397, 411-12, 483 P.3d 98 (2021). Lesser degree offenses
can have an element that is not an element of the greater offense. Coryell, 197
Wn.2d at 411.
2. Evidence of Lesser Offense
The third Fernandez-Medina prong is satisfied “only if based on some
evidence admitted, the jury could reject the greater charge and return a guilty
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verdict on the lesser.” Coryell, 197 Wn.2d at 407. But it is not enough that the
jury might simply disbelieve the State’s evidence; some evidence presented must
affirmatively establish the defendant’s theory on the lesser degree offense.
Fernandez-Medina, 141 Wn.2d at 456. When determining on appeal whether the
evidence at trial was sufficient to support a lesser degree instruction, we “view[]
the ‘supporting evidence in the light most favorable to the party that requested
the instruction.’ ” Coryell, 197 Wn.2d at 415 (quoting Fernandez-Medina, 141
Wn.2d at 455-56). Specifically, “a requested jury instruction on a lesser included
or inferior degree offense should be administered ‘if the evidence would permit a
jury to rationally find a defendant guilty of the lesser offense and acquit him of the
greater.’ ” Fernandez-Medina, 141 Wn.2d at 456 (quoting State v. Warden, 133
Wn.2d 559, 563, 947 P.2d 708 (1997)).
Here, the evidence could have supported that Johnson assaulted Trichler
but did not cause her substantial bodily harm. At trial, Detective Maiya Atkins
testified that during a police interview, Johnson told the detective that he called
911 because Trichler had “been falling all over the place.” Detective Atkins also
relayed that Johnson mentioned Trichler had “been using methamphetamine and
thought that might have been an issue [that caused her to fall]” and that Trichler’s
“use of aspirin . . . might have been a reason why” Trichler had fallen. Dr. Eric
Kinder also testified that he believed Trichler’s symptoms might have been
caused by her methamphetamine use, which could have raised her blood
pressure enough to trigger “a very rare kind of aneurysmal hemorrhage.”
Dr. Amy Walker’s testimony further supported this view; she noted that Trichler
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reported the headache’s onset as coming immediately after using
methamphetamine. And an emergency medical services (EMS) responder,
Galen Wallace, testified that he changed his impression of Trichler at the second
EMS visit to substance use because Trichler admitted to “using
methamphetamine and to drinking rum that day.”
This evidence affirmatively supported an inference that Johnson assaulted
Trichler. But the conflicting testimony about the origin of Trichler’s symptoms left
it for the jury to determine whether it was Johnson’s assault or, instead, Trichler’s
drug use, drinking rum, and falling that caused her subsequent brain injury.
Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the State, the party requesting
the lesser degree instruction, the evidence could have allowed the jury to reject
the greater charge and return a verdict only on the lesser.
We briefly note that Johnson misconstrues the “light most favorable”
standard. He contends that viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to
the State, the jury would conclude that Johnson assaulted Trichler and that this
assault was the sole cause of Trichler’s injuries. In support of this conclusion,
Johnson points to Trichler’s testimony that Johnson punched her, her testimony
that she did not fall, and medical testimony that head trauma likely caused
Trichler’s injuries. But because fourth degree felony assault does not require
Johnson to have caused Trichler substantial injury, the proper inquiry is whether
the evidence could support an inference that something other than Johnson
caused Trichler’s injuries. In this case, it can. As already noted, there were
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many possible causes of Trichler’s injuries that the jury could have believed as
being the proximate cause of her injuries.
Johnson also contends that the court erred by granting the State’s request
for the lesser degree offense before hearing any evidence. This is inaccurate.
During motions in limine, the State requested that the jury be instructed on fourth
degree felony assault as a lesser degree offense of second degree assault. The
parties then discussed what evidence they intended to proffer and whether that
evidence could support the lesser degree offense. Johnson argued that the prior
conviction evidence necessary to support the lesser degree offense violated
ER 404(b) and that the court should first consider pretrial testimony from Trichler
before making a ruling. The court then overruled the State’s motion, finding that
probative value of the prior offense evidence did not outweigh its prejudicial
effect. The court noted that it was open to reconsidering its ruling.
The next day, the court heard pretrial testimony from Trichler. The court
then acknowledged that it had erred in overruling the State’s request for a lesser
degree instruction because it had misunderstood the applicable law and asked
both parties to reargue their positions. After the parties presented their positions,
the court concluded that based on the facts presented, there was sufficient
evidence for the lesser degree instruction and granted the State’s request.
Later on, at the close of evidence, Johnson again objected to fourth
degree felony assault as a lesser degree offense. The court overruled the
objection and allowed the instruction.
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Contrary to Johnson’s contention, the court heard evidence before initially
ruling on the jury instruction. The State also described the evidence it intended
to offer to support the lesser degree instruction before the court made its ruling.
The court then reconsidered its ruling at the close of trial and reaffirmed that the
instruction was proper. The court properly determined on both occasions that an
instruction on fourth degree felony assault was warranted. Such an instruction
was not error.
3. Substantial Prejudice
Johnson maintains that the court’s instruction on fourth degree felony
assault resulted in substantial prejudice because (1) the jury was instructed on
an uncharged offense and (2) this instruction permitted admittance of prejudicial
evidence. We disagree.
Generally, a defendant is entitled to notice of the charges they will face at
trial and may be convicted of only charges contained in the information.
Tamalini, 134 Wn.2d at 731. But RCW 10.61.003 provides sufficient notice to
defendants that they may be convicted of any lesser offense to the charged
crime. Foster, 91 Wn.2d at 472. Thus, there is no prejudice and a jury may
properly find a defendant guilty of any lesser degree crime of the crimes included
in the original information. Peterson, 133 Wn.2d at 893.
In this case, the jury was instructed on a lesser degree offense to second
degree assault, so the fact that the lesser offense was not charged is a nonissue.
Johnson’s argument that evidence related to the lesser degree offense was
wrongly admitted is also unconvincing. That evidence—namely, that there were
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two prior assaults—was subject to a limiting instruction: the jury was not
permitted to consider evidence of Johnson’s prior convictions if it found him guilty
of second degree assault. The jury found him guilty of second degree assault,
and we presume the jury followed instructions and did not consider the prior
convictions as evidence. State v. Mohamed, 186 Wn.2d 235, 244, 375 P.3d
1068 (2016) (“We presume that a jury will follow the instructions provided to it.”).
ER 404(b)
Johnson asserts that evidence of prior assaults between him and Trichler
was not relevant to Trichler’s credibility and that the court erred by admitting it.
Because this evidence helped explain Trichler’s inconsistent statements and her
conduct following the assault at issue here, we disagree.
We review the trial court’s determination to admit or exclude evidence for
an abuse of discretion. State v. Foxhoven, 161 Wn.2d 168, 174, 163 P.3d 786(2007). A trial court abuses its discretion if its decision is manifestly
unreasonable, or is exercised on untenable grounds or for untenable reasons. In
re Marriage of Littlefield, 133 Wn.2d 39, 46-47, 940 P.2d 1362 (1997). The
appellant bears the burden of proving the court abused its discretion. State v.
Wade, 138 Wn.2d 460, 464, 979 P.2d 850 (1999).
ER 404(b) provides that “[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.” But this evidence may be used for another purpose, such
as proof of motive, plan, or identity. Foxhoven, 161 Wn.2d at 175. Evidence that
a defendant previously assaulted a victim is generally inadmissible if the
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No. 83738-9-I/14
defendant assaults the same victim on a later occasion. State v. Harris, 20 Wn.
App. 2d 153, 157, 498 P.3d 1002 (2021), review denied, 199 Wn.2d 1016, 510
P.3d 1001 (2022). However, such evidence may be admissible to “assist the jury
in judging the credibility of a recanting victim.” State v. Magers, 164 Wn.2d 174,
1886, 189 P.3d 126 (2008) (plurality opinion). And the victim’s credibility need
not be an element of the charged offense. See, e.g., Harris, 20 Wn. App. 2d at
158 (evidence of prior assaults admissible to help jury determine recanting
witness’s credibility in case involving violation of a no-contact order charge). To
determine if ER 404(b) evidence is admissible, Washington courts use a four-part
test:
“(1) find by a preponderance of the evidence that the misconduct
occurred, (2) identify the purpose for which the evidence is sought
to be introduced, (3) determine whether the evidence is relevant to
prove an element of the crime charged, and (4) weigh the probative
value against the prejudicial effect.”
State v. Gresham, 173 Wn.2d 405, 421, 269 P.3d 207 (2012) (quoting State v.
Vy Thang, 145 Wn.2d 630, 642, 41 P.3d 1159 (2002)). “The party seeking to
introduce the evidence has the burden of establishing the first, second, and third
elements.” State v. Ashley, 186 Wn.2d 32, 39, 375 P.3d 673 (2016). “This
analysis must be conducted on the record.” Foxhoven, 161 Wn.2d at 175. If the
evidence is admitted, the court must give a limiting instruction to the jury. Ashley,
186 Wn.2d at 39. A court’s decision to admit evidence of prior bad acts depends
heavily on the facts of the case and the purpose for which the evidence is sought
to be introduced. Ashley, 186 Wn.2d at 44.
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In this case, the trial court conducted the appropriate four-step analysis on
the record and gave a limiting instruction to the jury. However, neither party cites
or addresses this four-part test on appeal. The State relies on an older, two-part
test that concerns only relevance and prejudice, and Johnson argues generally
that any evidence of past incidents of domestic violence is categorically
impermissible, irrelevant, and unduly prejudicial. Johnson’s argument largely
tracks the second, third, and fourth prongs of the four-part test. Because neither
party challenges or addresses the first prong, we address only the other three.
1. Second Prong: Purpose for Introducing Evidence
The State sought to introduce evidence of past domestic violence
incidents and how Trichler responded to those incidents to help the jury assess
Trichler’s credibility. This clearly satisfies the second prong of the ER 404(b)
inquiry, which only requires a party to identify a purpose for offering the evidence.
See, e.g., Magers, 164 Wn.2d at 185-86 (prior acts of domestic violence
admissible to support a witness’s credibility after their testimony changed).
2. Third Prong: Relevance
Evidence is relevant if it has “any tendency to make the existence of any
fact that is of consequence to the determination of the action more probable or
less probable that it would be without the evidence.” ER 401. Evidence of prior
incidents of domestic violence is probative of a witness’s credibility in cases
where a witness gives conflicting statements about the defendant’s conduct.
State v. Gunderson, 181 Wn.2d 916, 923-25, 337 P.3d 1090 (2014); cf. Ashley,
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186 Wn.2d at 47 (trial court improperly admitted prior assault evidence where
victim’s trial testimony was consistent with prior statements to police).
Here, the trial court found that, “with regard to [Trichler’s] credibility and
her allegation in this case,” evidence of prior domestic abuse was “relevant as to
how she behaves in this relationship.” The State contends that evidence of prior
assaults and Trichler’s response to those assaults were relevant to explain her
inconsistent statements and conduct. We agree.
Johnson contends that the prior assaults are not relevant because they
show only that “sometimes [Trichler] reports alleged assaults and sometimes she
does not.” But Trichler’s inconsistent reporting is exactly what is relevant. As is
reflected in this case, victims of domestic violence often minimize, deny, or lie
about abuse in an effort to protect themselves and avoid repeated violence from
their batterer. Anne L. Ganley, Domestic Violence: The What, Why, and Who, as
Relevant to Criminal and Civil Court Domestic Violence Cases, in DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE MANUAL FOR JUDGES ch. 2, at 41 (2016), https://www.courts.wa.gov/
content/manuals/domViol/chapter2.pdf [https://perma.cc/UA2L-STVU]. This is
particularly true when domestic violence issues go public, such as in court
proceedings, and batterers try to increase their coercive control over the abused
party. Ganley, supra, ch. 2 at 41. And sometimes, the abused party’s
minimization or denial is actually a survival mechanism: when asked by others if
they were injured, they may honestly answer no because they have been so
successful in blocking out the event. Ganley, supra, ch. 2, at 42. This is not to
say that victims of domestic violence are less credible. We merely acknowledge
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the tremendous emotional toll that a relationship plagued by domestic violence
may have on a person.
These dynamics are present in this case. The State offered evidence of
two prior assaults to demonstrate that Trichler had a pattern of inconsistently
reporting past abuse and later recanting. After the first prior assault, Trichler
decided not to report it to authorities, despite Johnson having strangled her until
she was “out cold.” And after the second prior assault, Trichler reported the
incident to police but “ran off” before they arrived. She later wrote a letter to the
trial court recanting her earlier report of assault.
Trichler’s conduct in this case mirrors her past conduct. After the present
assault, Trichler denied repeatedly to emergency medical personnel and hospital
staff that she had been assaulted or suffered any trauma. But at trial, Trichler
testified repeatedly that Johnson had hit her. Trichler also waited several days to
report the assault, and testified that she did not initiate the reporting—her mother
called the police for her. Moreover, once Trichler was discharged from the
hospital, she continued to communicate with Johnson and even went to his
apartment. Trichler’s inconsistent statements before and at trial, along with her
actions after the assault, undercut her credibility at trial. Contrary to Johnson’s
assertion that evidence of past abuse “does nothing” to assist the jury, this
evidence allows the jury to evaluate Trichler’s credibility in the context of a
relationship marked by domestic violence.
Johnson also argues that our Supreme Court announced a domestic
violence exception to ER 404(b) in Magers that was later rejected in Gunderson.
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We disagree. Magers did not announce a “domestic violence exception” and
Gunderson did not reject the Magers plurality holding. Rather, Gunderson
clarified the Magers plurality holding. The Gunderson court explained:
In State v. Magers, we took great care to specifically establish that
“evidence that [the defendant] had been arrested for domestic
violence and fighting and that a no-contact order had been entered
following his arrest was relevant to enable the jury to assess the
credibility of [the complaining witness] who gave conflicting
statements about [the defendant’s] conduct.”
181 Wn.2d at 923-24 (alterations in original) (quoting Magers, 164 Wn.2d at
186). The court noted that unlike in Magers, the victim in Gunderson did not give
any conflicting statements—there was only evidence from other sources that
contradicted the victim’s account. 181 Wn.2d at 924. The court then explained
the effect of Gunderson on Magers: “Accordingly, we decline to extend Magers to
cases where there is no evidence of injuries to the alleged victim and the witness
neither recants nor contradicts prior statements.” Gunderson, 181 Wn.2d at 925.
And in a footnote, the court clarified that it was not announcing a domestic
violence exception and rejected Johnson’s assertion that Magers stood for such
a proposition: “The blanket extension of Magers proposed by the dissent would
create a domestic violence exception for prior bad acts that is untethered to the
rules of evidence.” Gunderson, 181 Wn.2d at 925 n.3. In another footnote, the
court clarified that its opinion “should not be read as confining the requisite
overriding probative value exclusively to instances involving a recantation or an
inconsistent account by a witness.” Gunderson, 181 Wn.2d at 925 n.4.
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Here, there was evidence of injuries to Trichler and Trichler also
contradicted her previous statements at trial. The rule set forth in Magers and
Gunderson applies here; evidence of prior assaults was properly admitted for the
jury to judge Trichler’s credibility in light of her inconsistent statements about the
assault.
3. Fourth Prong: Probative Value versus Prejudicial Effect
Finally, Johnson argues that the probative value of the prior assault
testimony is outweighed by its prejudicial effects. He also contends the jury
relied on Trichler’s testimony as propensity evidence.
This prong implicates ER 403. Ashley, 186 Wn.2d at 43. In domestic
violence cases, “courts must be careful and methodical in weighing the probative
value against the prejudicial effect of prior acts . . . because the risk of unfair
prejudice is very high.” Gunderson, 181 Wn.2d at 925. “To guard against this
heightened prejudicial effect, we confine the admissibility of prior acts of
domestic violence to cases where the State has established their overriding
probative value, such as to explain a witness’s otherwise inexplicable recantation
or conflicting account of events.” Gunderson, 181 Wn.2d at 925.
Here, the State succeeded in showing the overriding probative value of
the evidence for credibility purposes because Trichler gave inconsistent
statements about the abuse. She denied any abuse to various medical
personnel but then later testified at trial that Johnson had assaulted her.
Therefore, the court did not err in admitting the domestic violence evidence for
credibility purposes. Cf. Gunderson, 181 Wn.2d at 925 (court erred in admitting
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No. 83738-9-I/20
past domestic violence evidence where victim’s testimony before and at trial was
consistent); Ashley, 186 Wn.2d at 47 (court erred in admitting domestic violence
evidence where trial testimony was consistent with prior statements to police).
Johnson’s contention that the jury improperly relied on the evidence as
propensity evidence is similarly unavailing. Johnson overlooks a limiting
instruction that prohibited the jury from considering Trichler’s testimony for
anything other than determining her credibility. Again, we presume juries follow
instructions. Mohamed, 186 Wn.2d at 244.
Exceptional Sentence
Johnson contends that the court relied on an invalid factor in imposing an
exceptional sentence and that it is unclear whether the court would have
imposed the same sentence based on the remaining valid factors, requiring
reversal. The State concedes that the court relied on an invalid factor, but
asserts that the record makes clear that the court considered two other factors as
independent bases for an exceptional sentence. We conclude the sentence is
valid because, based on the court’s written findings, at least one other valid
factor provided an independent basis for the exceptional sentence.
A trial court may impose an exceptional sentence outside the standard
range if it concludes that “there are substantial and compelling reasons justifying
an exceptional sentence.” RCW 9.94A.535. Whenever the court imposes an
exceptional sentence, it must set forth the reasons for its decision in written
findings of fact and conclusions of law. RCW 9.94A.535. However, “ ‘[o]ther
than the fact of a prior conviction, any fact that increases the penalty for a crime
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beyond the prescribed statutory maximum must be submitted to a jury, and
proved beyond a reasonable doubt.’ ” Blakely v. Washington, 542 U.S. 296, 301,
124 S. Ct. 2531, 159 L. Ed. 2d 403 (2004) (quoting Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530
U.S. 466, 490, 120 S. Ct. 2348, 147 L. Ed. 2d 435 (2000)). The statutory
maximum is “the maximum sentence a judge may impose solely on the basis of
the facts reflected in the jury verdict or admitted by the defendant.” Blakely, 542
U.S. at 303 (emphasis omitted). Thus, any exceptional sentence that exceeds
the statutory maximum is subject to the two Blakely requirements.
On appeal, an exceptional sentence may be upheld “even where all but
one of the trial court’s reasons for the sentence have been overturned.” State v.
Gaines, 122 Wn.2d 502, 512, 859 P.2d 36 (1993). Remand is necessary “where
it is not clear whether the trial court would have imposed an exceptional sentence
on the basis of only the one factor upheld.” Gaines, 122 Wn.2d at 512; see also
State v. Parker, 132 Wn.2d 182, 189, 937 P.2d 575 (1997).
Here, the court imposed an exceptional sentence based on three factors:
(1) that Johnson reoffended shortly after being released from incarceration (the
“rapid recidivism” aggravator); (2) that Johnson’s prior unscored criminal history
resulted in a sentence that was clearly too lenient; and (3) that Johnson had
committed multiple current offenses and his high offender score resulted in some
of the current offenses going unpunished.7 RCW 9.94A.535(3)(t), (2)(b), (c). Of
7 Though the State argues that the court did not conclude the sentence
was “too lenient,” the court’s written conclusions of law say otherwise: “This court
has discretion under RCW 9.94A.535(2)(b) & (c) to impose a sentence outside
the standard range where the prior unscored criminal history results in a
sentence that is clearly too lenient.” (Emphasis added.)
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No. 83738-9-I/22
the three factors, the first and the second require either a jury finding or a
stipulation from the defendant. See RCW 9.94A.535(3)(t) (rapid recidivism factor
must be considered by jury); State v. Saltz, 137 Wn. App. 576, 583-84, 154 P.3d
282 (2007) (RCW 9.94A.535(2)(b) subject to Blakely requirements); cf. State v.
Newlun, 142 Wn. App. 730, 742-43, 176 P.3d 529 (2008) (RCW 9.94A.535(2)(c)
does not require courts to look beyond facts reflected in jury verdict or admitted
by defendant).
Johnson asserts, and the State concedes, that the second factor—
whether unscored crimes rendered the sentence “too lenient”—is invalid because
the jury did not consider it and Johnson did not stipulate to facts supporting it.8
Thus, the crux of the matter is whether, absent the invalid factor, the court clearly
intended to impose an exceptional sentence. The record indicates that it would
have. The court’s conclusions of law for an exceptional sentence list the first
factor separately from the other two:
1. The court has discretion under RCW 9.94A.535 to impose a
sentence outside the standard range because the aggravating
circumstance under RCW 9.94A.535(3)(t) has been pled and
proved.
8 Johnson also contends that the court did not make a finding that the
presumptive sentence would be too lenient. Rather, he claims the court
impermissibly invented a new aggravating factor based on the following finding:
There are three prior unscored misdemeanor domestic violence
court order violation convictions from 2011. These convictions are
similar in character to the conduct alleged in count two, but do not
alter the standard range for either count.
Though the court did not use the words “too lenient” in this finding, it did use
those words in its corresponding conclusion of law. And contrary to Johnson’s
assertion, it appears the court was describing the “too lenient” factor, not creating
a new factor.
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No. 83738-9-I/23
2. The court has discretion under RCW 9.94A.535(2)(b)&(c) to
impose a sentence outside the standard range where the prior
unscored criminal history results in a sentence that is clearly too
lenient and where the defendant has committed multiple current
offenses and the high offender score results in some offenses
going unpunished.
(Emphasis added.) The second conclusion of law does, admittedly, blur the lines
between the second and third factors. But even absent these factors, the court’s
first conclusion of law, determining that RCW 9.94A.535(3)(t) provides an
independent basis to impose an exceptional sentence, and its division into a
separate conclusion supports that the trial court would have relied on it alone.
The court’s oral ruling at sentencing also supports this outcome. The
court delineated factors one and three as bases for an exceptional sentence:
The State has requested for an exceptional upward [sentence]
based on, A, rapid recidivism, and B, the three crimes argument
that the offender score is so high that the maximum doesn’t go up
that high, and that he would be allowed basically to get away with a
crime without some sort of punishment. Having taken all of this into
consideration, I do find that there is grounds for an exceptional
upward sentence.
(Emphasis added.) We affirm the imposition of an exceptional sentence.9
Constitutionality of Exceptional Sentences
Johnson argues that the imposition of any exceptional sentence under the
SRA (Sentencing Reform Act of 1981, ch. 9.94A RCW) violates the Sixth and
Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution because it requires
the court to make a factual determination that facts found by the jury are
9 Johnson also contends that the State failed to provide him notice of the
“too lenient” aggravating factor. But as the court’s oral ruling makes clear, the
State did not ask for this aggravating factor to be imposed—the court did it sua
sponte.
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No. 83738-9-I/24
substantial and compelling reasons justifying an exceptional sentence. We
disagree. This court previously addressed this same issue in State v. Sage, 1
Wn. App. 2d 685, 407 P.3d 359 (2017), and determined that this secondary
inquiry is a legal one, not a factual one.
The Sixth Amendment provides criminal defendants with a right to a jury
trial. This right, in conjunction with the due process clause of the Fourteenth
Amendment, requires that each element of a crime be proved to a jury beyond a
reasonable doubt. Alleyne v. United States, 570 U.S. 99, 104, 133 S. Ct. 2151,
186 L. Ed. 2d 314 (2013) (plurality opinion). As previously noted, “any fact that
‘expose[s] the defendant to a greater punishment than that authorized by the
jury’s guilty verdict’ is an ‘element’ that must be submitted to the jury.” Hurst v.
Florida, 577 U.S. 92, 97, 136 S. Ct. 616, 193 L. Ed. 2d 504 (2016) (alteration in
original) (quoting Apprendi, 530 U.S. at 494).
The imposition of an exceptional sentence under the SRA is a two-step
process prescribed by statute. First, the jury must find “unanimously and beyond
a reasonable doubt, one or more of the facts alleged by the state in support of an
aggravated sentence” exist. RCW 9.94A.537(6). Then, the court may impose an
exceptional sentence “if it finds, considering the purposes of this chapter, that the
facts found [by the jury] are substantial and compelling reasons justifying an
exceptional sentence.” RCW 9.94A.537(6) (emphasis added).
This court previously addressed the constitutionality of the SRA’s
exceptional sentencing scheme in the context of the Sixth and Fourteenth
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No. 83738-9-I/25
Amendments and concluded that it met due process requirements. Sage, 1 Wn.
App. 2d at 710.
Like Johnson, the defendant in Sage argued that the trial court engaged in
prohibited fact-finding, in violation of his Sixth Amendment right to a jury trial, by
concluding an exceptional sentence was warranted. This court disagreed,
concluding that, despite the statute’s imprecise word choice,
[t]he only permissible “finding of fact” by a sentencing judge on
an exceptional sentence is to confirm that the jury has entered by
special verdict its finding that an aggravating circumstance has
been prove[d] beyond a reasonable doubt. Then it is up to the
judge to make the legal, not factual, determination whether those
aggravating circumstances are sufficiently substantial and
compelling to warrant an exceptional sentence.
1 Wn. App. 2d at 709 (emphasis added) (footnote omitted).
Johnson’s argument that the SRA is akin to the Florida sentencing
scheme deemed unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in Hurst is also rejected
in Sage:
But the Florida statute at issue expressly state[d] that the jury
findings were “advisory.” [Former] FLA. STAT. § 921.141 (2010). By
contrast, under Washington procedure here, the jury exclusively
resolves the factual question whether the aggravating
circumstances have been prove[d] beyond a reasonable doubt.
1 Wn. App. 2d at 710 n.86.
We reject Johnson’s constitutional argument and conclude that the court
did not engage in impermissible fact finding by determining the jury’s findings
supported an exceptional sentence.
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No-Contact Order Sentence
Johnson argues the court erred by sentencing him to more time than
statutorily permitted on the no-contact order violation. The State concedes that
the court erred. We agree that the court erred and remand for the court to
correct the sentence.
RCW 9.94A.505(5) provides that, except in limited circumstances, the
court may not impose a sentence that exceeds the statutory maximum for a
given crime. Here, the statutory maximum on Johnson’s no-contact order
violation was 60 months. RCW 7.105.450(5) (no-contact order violation is a
class C felony); RCW 9A.20.021(1)(c) (statutory maximum for class C felony is 5
years). Despite this, the court sentenced Johnson to 60 months of confinement
and 12 months of community custody. This sentence clearly exceeds the
statutory maximum and remand is warranted.
We affirm Johnson’s convictions but remand for the court to resentence
Johnson on the no-contact order violation conviction.
WE CONCUR:
26