State v. Cruz

Sanders, J.

The Persistent Offender Accountability Act (POAA), RCW 9.94A.120(4), mandates life without possibility of parole when the offender is convicted of a third “most serious offense” after two separate prior convictions. RCW 9.94A.030(25). Sabas Cruz appealed such a sentence to the Court of Appeals claiming the offense for which he was sentenced was his second, not his third, and one of the prior convictions had previously “washed out” and thus could not be calculated as part of his offender score. The Court of Appeals affirmed, but we reverse the Court of Appeals and remand for resentencing.

I

FACTS

In 1994 Cruz was charged by an amended information with one count of rape of a child in the first degree. See RCW 9A.44.073. He waived his right to a trial by jury and was subsequently found guilty by the court. He had two prior convictions, both based on pleas of guilty: a December 1975 conviction of rape and a February 1989 conviction of attempted burglary in the first degree. Cruz was paroled for the 1975 offense on December 23, 1977, and was not convicted of another felony until February 17, 1989. By the time of Cruz’s 1989 conviction the 1975 conviction had “washed out” (i.e., it was not counted as a prior offense for purposes of calculating Cruz’s offender score) as a matter of law because Cruz had gone 10 years since his release without further felony conviction.

In his statement on plea of guilty to the 1988 offense Cruz evidenced his understanding that his sentencing range would be between 11.5 and 15 months “based upon my criminal history which I understand the Prosecuting Attorney says to he none.” Statement of Def. on Plea of Guilty (Feb. 10, 1989). However in 1990 the legislature amended the statute by eliminating sex offenses from the washout provision. Laws of 1990, ch. 3, § 706.

Assuming the previously amended washout provisions would not benefit Cruz, the 1994 trial court held Cruz was a persistent felon predicated on the two prior convictions, and sentenced him to life without possibility of parole pursuant to the POAA. Division One affirmed. State v. Cruz, 91 Wn. App. 389, 404, 959 P.2d 670 (1998). We granted his petition for review. 137 Wn.2d 1008, 978 P.2d 1089 (1999).

II

ISSUE¹

Are 1990 amendments to the Sentencing Reform Act of 1981, chapter 9.94A RCW, retroactive?

III

ANALYSIS

Cruz’s first conviction was in 1975 on an information charging one count of rape in violation of then RCW 9.79.010.² Thereafter the state adopted the Sentencing Reform Act of 1981 (SRA). By the time of Cruz’s 1989 conviction, the SRA provided Class B felonies would not count toward an offender’s score for purposes of sentence determination if the offender had spent 10 years in the community since release from confinement without being convicted of any felonies. Former RCW 9.94A.360 (Supp. 1988).³ At that time, removal of a “washed out” conviction from the offender score was automatic and not subject to judicial discretion. David Boerner, Sentencing in Washington § 5.6[d] (1985). The trial judge in 1989 correctly determined Cruz’s 1975 felony was a Class B conviction which had “washed out”⁴ and correctly sentenced him as a first offender.

But in 1990 the legislature amended the SRA to except sex offenses from washout provisions of the SRA. Laws of 1990, ch. 3, § 706. It is the application of this change to his prior conviction that forms the gravamen of Cruz’s challenge because but for the 1975 conviction Cruz would not be a persistent offender subject to a term of life imprisonment without parole. Such is necessarily the case because a conviction for purposes of implementing the POAA must also be a conviction that forms part of a defendant’s offender score. RCW 9.94A.030(27)(a)(ii); State v. Morley, 134 Wn.2d 588, 604, 952 P.2d 167 (1998).

The Court of Appeals concluded that Cruz’s previously washed out conviction was not only resurrected by the 1990 amendments to the SRA, but this resurrection of his criminal history did not violate the state and federal prohibitions on ex post facto legislation.⁵ Cruz, 91 Wn. App. at 399. But as we conclude this legislation is not retroactive, we need not reach the question of whether such a revival would run afoul of the constitutional prohibition against ex post facto legislation.

The presumption against retroactive application of a statute “is an essential thread in the mantle of protection that the law affords the individual citizen. That presumption ‘is deeply rooted in our jurisprudence, and embodies a legal doctrine centuries older than our Republic.’ ” Lynce v. Mathis, 519 U.S. 433, 439, 117 S. Ct. 891, 895, 137 L. Ed. 2d 63 (1997) (quoting Landgraf v. USI Film Prods., 511 U.S. 244, 265, 114 S. Ct. 1483, 1497, 128 L. Ed. 2d 229 (1994)). See also In re Personal Restraint of Shepard, 127 Wn.2d 185, 193, 898 P.2d 828 (1995) (court presumes newly enacted statutes operate prospectively). The constitutional prohibition against ex post facto legislation is but a further manifestation of the repugnance with which such retroactive legislation is viewed. See Landgraf, 511 U.S. at 266. Nonetheless, an amendment to a statute, such as the 1990 change to the SRA, will be applied retroactively if: (1) the legislature so intended; (2) it is “curative”; or (3) it is remedial, provided, however, such retroactive application does not run afoul of any constitutional prohibition. In re F.D. Processing, Inc., 119 Wn.2d 452, 460, 832 P.2d 1303 (1992).

Legislative intent for retroactivity must be clearly found within the statute’s language. See Landgraf, 511 U.S. at 268; State v. Douty, 92 Wn.2d 930, 935, 603 P.2d 373 (1979).

But the legislature has not stated any intention to apply the 1990 change regarding sex offenses retroactively, either expressly or impliedly. Rather this statute is unequivocally prospective:

Sec. 706. . . .

The offender score is measured on the horizontal axis of the sentencing grid. The offender score rules are as follows:

The offender score is the sum of points accrued under this section rounded down to the nearest whole number.

(1) A prior conviction is a conviction which exists before the date of sentencing for the offense for which the offender score is being computed. Convictions entered or sentenced on the same date as the conviction for which the offender score is being computed shall be deemed “other current offenses” within the meaning of RCW 9.94A.400.

(2) Except as provided in subsection (4) of this section, class A and sex prior felony convictions shall always be included in the offender score. Class B prior felony convictions other than sex offenses shall not be included in the offender score, if since the last date of release from confinement (including full-time residential treatment) pursuant to a felony conviction, if any, or entry of judgment and sentence, the offender had spent ten consecutive years in the community without being convicted of any felonies.

Sec. 1406. ...

(2) Sections 201 through 203, 301 through 305, 701 through 706, and 901 through 904 shall take effect July 1, 1990, and shall apply to crimes committed on or after July 1, 1990.

Laws of 1990, ch. 3, §§ 706, 1406(2) (emphasis added). Section 706 embodies relevant amendments to the washout provisions of the SRA at issue here. Laws of 1990, ch. 3, § 706. Section 1406 is a legislative command to apply the statute prospectively.

Likewise there is no argument that this change to the washout provision is “curative.” A curative amendment is one that “clarifies or technically corrects an ambiguous statute.” F.D. Processing, 119 Wn.2d at 461 (citation omitted). But here there is no question under the version of the SRA in effect in 1989 that a Class B felony, even for a sex offense, was subject to washout provisions. The 1990 amendment therefore effected a substantive, not curative, change.

Nor is the 1990 amendment remedial. A remedial change is one that relates to practice, procedures, or remedies, and does not affect a substantive or vested right. F.D. Processing, 119 Wn.2d at 462-63. This amendment is not remedial but substantive. The amendment imposes an affirmative disability; it promotes the retributive aim of punishment, and there is no rational basis or nonpunitive purpose for the change. See State v. Ward, 123 Wn.2d 488, 499, 869 P.2d 1062 (1994); Miller v. Florida, 482 U.S. 423, 433-34, 107 S. Ct. 2446, 96 L. Ed. 2d 351 (1987) (increase of 20 percent in offender points assigned to sex offense substantive); Collins v. Youngblood, 497 U.S. 37, 45, 110 S. Ct. 2715, 2720, 111 L. Ed. 2d 30 (1990) (logical to think term “procedural” refers to changes in the procedures by which a criminal case is adjudicated as opposed to changes in substantive law of crime); Ward, 123 Wn.2d at 498 n.5 (change in criminal code, as opposed to change in sections of RCW dealing with criminal or civil procedure, is assumed to be a substantive change).

The Court of Appeals reasoned a statute is not applied retroactively where the previously washed out offense is used only to calculate the offender score for the crime committed after the amendment. Cruz, 91 Wn. App. at 399. However the issue here is not the calculation of Cruz’s offender score in 1994, but whether or not his washed out 1975 conviction could figure into that calculation. Absent revival it could not.

Under the SRA a defendant’s offender score is determined by the “offenses for which the defendant was convicted and by the defendant’s ‘criminal history’ as that term is defined in the SRA.” In re Personal Restraint of Williams, 111 Wn.2d 353, 357-58, 759 P.2d 436 (1988) (emphasis added). See also Boerner, supra, § 5.4 (“[Tjhere are three steps involved in determining the ‘offender score’; determining the number and nature of past convictions which may be included, including any other current convictions, and then determining the score or weight to be given to each such conviction.” (emphasis added)). Part of the definition of “criminal history” is the washout provision. Former RCW 9.94A.360(2) (Supp. 1988). A prior conviction is one that exists before the date of sentencing for the current offense. Former RCW 9.94A.360(1) (Supp. 1988). The 1990 change to the SRA would not serve to change Cruz’s existing criminal history (which did not include the 1975 rape as it had washed out in 1987) unless it was applied retroactively. But absent explicit legislative command such legislation is prospective only.

IV

CONCLUSION

The 1990 amendment to the washout provisions of the SRA applies prospectively only and did not revive Cruz’s previously washed out conviction. The contrary decision below is reversed. We remand for resentencing using an offender score that does not include the washed out conviction.

Smith, Johnson, Madsen, and Alexander, JJ., concur.

1 Cruz raised a number of other attacks upon his persistent offender sentence; however, as we conclude that the 1990 amendments to the SRA did not revive Cruz’s previous conviction, we need not address his other arguments.

2 Rape was not codified into class A, B, and C felonies until after Cruz’s 1975 crime. Laws op 1975, 1st ex. sess., ch. 14, §§ 4-6.

3 The statute stated in relevant part:

9.94A.360. Offender score. The offender score is measured on the horizontal axis of the sentencing grid. The offender score rules are as follows:

The offender score is the sum of points accrued under this section rounded down to the nearest whole number.

(1) A prior conviction is a conviction which exists before the date of sentencing for the offense for which the offender score is being computed. Convictions entered or sentenced on the same date as the conviction for which the offender score is being computed shall be deemed “other current offenses” within the meaning of RCW 9.94A.400.

(2) Except as provided in subsection (4) of this section, class A prior felony convictions shall always he included in the offender score. Class B prior felony convictions shall not he included in the offender score, if since the last date of release from confinement (including full-time residential treatment) pursuant to a felony conviction, if any, or entry of judgment and sentence, the offender had spent ten consecutive years in the community without being convicted of any felonies. . . .

Former RCW 9.94A.360 (Supp. 1988).

4 The Court of Appeals did not disagree with this conclusion. State v. Cruz, 91 Wn. App. 389, 397, 959 P.2d 670 (1998), review granted, 137 Wn.2d 1008, 978 P.2d 1098 (1999). Below, the State argued that Cruz’s 1975 conviction could have been a first degree rape, and thus never subject to wash out, but has not brought the issue to this court. Even if the issue were before us, it is too late for the State to challenge the court’s 1989 decision to wash out Cruz’s 1975 conviction. State v. Sherwood, 71 Wn. App. 481, 486-88, 860 P.2d 407 (1993). Also, on the record before us, Cruz could not have been guilty of first degree rape, which requires either a kidnapping, a felonious entry, or the use or threatened use of a deadly weapon. RCW 9A.44.040. To determine whether Cruz committed first degree rape would require a “mini-trial” to determine the facts of Cruz’s 1975 conviction — an outcome we find unacceptable when examining pre-SRA convictions under the SRA. See State v. Wiley, 124 Wn.2d 679, 686, 880 P.2d 983 (1994).

5 “No state shall. . . pass any ... ex post facto law . . . .” U.S. Const, art. I, § 10; “No ... ex post facto law . . . shall ever be passed.” Wash. Const, art. I, §23.