State Of Washington v. Maryann Rehaume

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IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON % g$
DIVISION ONE ge m^
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STATE OF WASHINGTON, No. 72831-8-1 % fVn
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Respondent,
v. UNPUBLISHED OPINION £
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MARYANN REHAUME,
Appellant. FILED: March 23, 2015
Schindler, J. — A jury found Maryann Rehaume guilty of eight counts of theft in
the second degree, one count of theft in the third degree, and one count of
misappropriation by a public officer. Rehaume appeals the order of restitution, arguing
the court did not have the authority to impose restitution for court costs and restitution
for checks not causally connected to the charged crimes. Because the issue of whether
the court may order restitution for the cashier's checks is not yet ripe for review, we do
not address it. Because restitution may not be imposed for costs incurred solely as the
result of a criminal trial because such costs are not the result of the charged crime, we
reverse the imposition of restitution for attendance at trial of the assistant fraud audit
manager, subpoena service fees, and witness costs.
FACTS
Maryann Rehaume worked as the head secretary of the Cowlitz County
Corrections Department Probation Services Division (Probation Department). Her
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duties included supervising the Probation Department cashiers, processing financial
collection data, and preparing deposits. Every morning, Rehaume sent the previous
day's deposits to the Cowlitz County Treasurer's Office (County Treasurer).
On January 5, 2011, Probation Department Office Assistant Cim Cogburn
notified Cowlitz County Corrections Department Director Marin Fox Hight that the
Probation Department had not made any deposits since November 18, 2010 and, as a
result, its year-end numbers "were going to be off." Hight estimated roughly $46,000
was missing. Rehaume denied knowing anything about missing deposits.
On January 6, Rehaume's supervisor placed Rehaume on unpaid administrative
leave pending an investigation. That same day, Rehaume asked her father-in-law,
Robert Rehaume, if he could "help [her] out with some money problems." Robert1 gave
Rehaume a cashier's check for $31,000.
On January 10, Rehaume's attorney delivered a letter and 28 deposit envelopes
to the County Treasurer. The total amount in the envelopes was $50,333.80—
$35,022.25 in cash and $15,311.55 in cashier's checks. The letter states, in pertinent
part:
As a result of her abrupt dismissal [on January 6] and your office closure
on Friday, Mrs. Rehaume directed me to ensure secure delivery of the
deposits accompanying this letter, which she had not yet justified for
acceptance by your office. To Mrs. Rehaume's knowledge, these deposits
are in order and up to date for treasurer reconciliation.
Washington State Auditor's Office Assistant Fraud Audit Manager Sherrie Ard
conducted an audit of the Probation Department and determined that $51,816 was
missing.
1We use Robert's first name for clarity and mean no disrespect in doing so.
2
No. 72831-8-1/3
The State charged Rehaume with eight counts of theft in the second degree, one
count of theft in the third degree, and one count of misappropriation of accounts by a
public officer. The information alleged Rehaume committed the thefts, totaling
$9,006.28, between July 3, 2007 and January 10, 2011. As an aggravating factor, the
information alleged the eight counts of theft in the second degree and one count of
misappropriation of accounts by a public officer constitute major economic offenses
under RCW 9.94A.535(3)(d).
A number of witnesses testified during the four-day jury trial, including Ard,
Cogburn, Hight, and Robert. The jury found Rehaume guilty as charged. The court
imposed an exceptional sentence of 36 months on each of the eight counts of theft in
the second degree and the one count of misappropriation of accounts by a public officer
to run concurrently.2 The court ordered Rehaume to pay legal financial obligations,
including a victim assessment fee of $500, fees for court costs in the amount of $600, a
DNA3 collection fee of $100, and restitution but scheduled a hearing to determine the
amount.
The State requested a total of $59,390.81 in restitution. In addition to the
charged thefts totaling $9,006.28, the State requested $26,730.58 for the cost of the
audit; $6,186.40 for the cost of Ard's attendance at trial; $786.00 for subpoena service
fees; and $1,570.00, including a per diem for Robert and his daughter who traveled with
him from Arizona, his airfare, mileage to and from the airport, and lodging. The State
also requested restitution of $15,111.55 for the cashier's checks Rehaume's attorney
delivered to the County Treasurer on January 10 "as a special expense of
2 The court imposed a suspended sentence of 364 days for theft in the third degree.
3 Deoxyribonucleic acid.
No. 72831-8-1/4
investigation." The State attached invoices showing the costs of the subpoena service
fees, the audit, and the costs for Ard's attendance at trial. In his declaration, the
prosecutor states that cashier's checks "expire after a certain date" and that "[n]one are
now negotiable."
At the restitution hearing, the State called Cowlitz County Prosecutor's Office
Administrative Assistant Crystal Iverson to testify about the costs associated with
bringing Robert from Arizona to testify and the subpoena service fees. The State also
called Cowlitz County Auditor Kris Swanson to testify about the cost of the audit to
investigate the missing funds and the costs for Ard to attend the trial.
Rehaume's attorney argued the costs for Ard's attendance at trial, the subpoena
service fees, and the costs incurred in obtaining Robert's testimony resulted from "the
constitutional exercise of the constitutional right to trial" and were not compensable as
restitution. Rehaume also objected to the imposition of restitution for the cashier's
checks, arguing the State had not established when the checks expired or that they
were no longer negotiable.
The court awarded restitution to the State in the amount of $59,146.03. The
court order states that "[s]ince all monies ordered herein are to be paid to Cowlitz
County, the Court labels them all restitution for accounting convenience." In addition to
awarding restitution for the amount stolen and the cost of the audit, the court awarded
the State $6,186.40 for the costs of Ard's attendance at trial, ruling that "it is appropriate
to award as restitution ... the expense of State Auditor Sherrie Ard attending the trial at
the prosecutor's side throughout as investigating assistant." The court also awarded
$786.00 in costs for subpoena service fees and $1,325.22 in travel costs for Robert, but
No. 72831-8-1/5
denied the State's request for reimbursement of the per diem for his daughter and the
cost to change Robert's flight because that was incurred "in part through the State's
failure to immediately go through the interstate subpoena procedure." The court also
granted the State's request for $15,111.55 in restitution to replace the cashier's checks,
but required the State to submit the checks for payment and ordered any amount
honored deducted from the restitution obligation.
ANALYSIS
Rehaume argues the court did not have the authority to order her to pay
restitution for costs incurred as a result of her criminal trial. Rehaume also argues the
restitution ordered by the court to replace the cashier's checks is not causally connected
to the charged crimes.
The authority to impose restitution is statutory. State v. Griffith, 164 Wash. 2d 960,
965, 195 P.3d 506 (2008). Under RCW 9.94A.753(5), the court shall order restitution
"whenever the offender is convicted of an offense which results in . . . damage to or loss
of property." The award must be "based on easily ascertainable damages for injury to
or loss of property, actual expenses incurred for treatment for injury to persons, and lost
wages resulting from injury." RCW 9.94A.753(3).4
Restitution "is allowed only for losses that are 'causally connected' to the crimes
charged." State v. Tobin, 161 Wash. 2d 517, 524, 166 P.2d 1167 (2007). "Losses are
causally connected if, but for the charged crime, the victim would not have incurred the
4 RCW 9.94A.753(3) states, in pertinent part:
[Restitution ordered by a court pursuant to a criminal conviction shall be based on easily
ascertainable damages for injury to or loss of property, actual expenses incurred for
treatment for injury to persons, and lost wages resulting from injury. Restitution shall not
include reimbursement for damages for mental anguish, pain and suffering, or other
intangible losses, but may include the costs of counseling reasonably related to the
offense. The amount of restitution shall not exceed double the amount of the offender's
gain or the victim's loss from the commission of the crime.
No. 72831-8-1/6
loss." Griffith. 164 Wash. 2d at 966 (citing Tobin, 161 Wash. 2d at 524). The trial court
cannot impose restitution based on a defendant's " 'general scheme'" or acts
" 'connected with'" the crime charged when those acts are not part of the charge. State
v. Woods, 90 Wash. App. 904, 907-08, 953 P.2d 834 (1998) (quoting State v. Miszak, 69
Wash. App. 426, 428, 848 P.2d 1329 (1993)).
We review a trial court's order of restitution for abuse of discretion. Griffith, 164
Wash. 2d at 965. The court abuses its discretion if its decision is manifestly unreasonably
or exercised on untenable grounds for untenable reasons. State v. Harris, 181 Wn.
App. 969, 973, 327 P.3d 1276 (2014). The court's application of an incorrect legal
analysis or other error of law can constitute an abuse of discretion. Tobin, 161 Wash. 2d at
523.
Rehaume contends the court erred in imposing the costs of Ard's attendance at
trial, the subpoena service fees, and the witness costs as restitution. We agree with
Rehaume.
A criminal trial occurs only where the defendant chooses to exercise his or her
right to a jury trial. The decision to exercise the right to a jury trial, while "connected
with" the crime charged, is not an act constituting a part of the charge. See Woods. 90
Wn. App at 907-08. Because the defendant's criminal trial does not directly result from
the defendant's crimes, costs that arise solely as a result of the trial are not
compensable as restitution. See State v. Goodrich, 47 Wash. App. 114, 115, 733 P.2d
1000 (1987) (reversing imposition of restitution for victim's lost wages where losses
resulted from victim's attendance at trial and not from injury).
No. 72831-8-1/7
The case the State relies on to argue court costs are compensable as restitution,
State v. Christensen, 100 Wash. App. 534, 997 P.2d 1010 (2000), is inapposite. In
Christensen, an attorney was convicted of stealing from his clients. Christensen, 100
Wash. App. at 535. Before the restitution hearing, one of the victims hired an attorney to
sue the defendant. The victim eventually settled with the defendant for less than the
amount of her loss. Christensen, 100 Wash. App. at 535. At the restitution hearing, the
trial court ordered the defendant to pay the difference between the amount of the
victim's loss and the amount she recovered from the settlement minus her attorney fees
and costs. Christensen, 100 Wash. App. at 536. The defendant appealed, arguing the
restitution amounted to reimbursing the victim for attorney fees in a civil case in violation
of "the 'American rule' on attorney fees." Christensen, 100 Wash. App. at 537. This court
affirmed. The court held that because the victim had to pay attorney fees to get any
recovery in the civil suit, incurring the fees was a direct result of the offense.
Christensen, 100 Wash. App. at 538.
Here, unlike in Christensen, because the costs of Ard's attendance at trial, the
subpoena service fees, and the witness costs were incurred solely as a result of the
criminal trial and not the result of the charged crimes, we reverse the court's decision to
include these costs as restitution.
Rehaume also argues the State failed to establish a causal connection between
the restitution ordered for the cashier's checks and the charged crimes. Rehaume
contends there is no causal connection because the checks did not expire as a result of
her crimes. The State argues Rehaume's challenge is not ripe. We agree with the
State.
No. 72831-8-1/8
In its oral ruling, the court noted that the State had not established when the
checks expired or whether the checks were still valid when Rehaume's attorney
delivered them to the County Treasurer's office.
The only one I still have some unanswered questions about itwas money
orders, because I don't — you know certainly we can substitute a copy of
an exhibit for the original at any point in time. I don't know what efforts if
any were made to get money orders cashed when this whole thing broke,
before they were no longer valid, or which ones were available to be
cashed. I guess that's the only information that I think would still need to
— is there — were there any in there that were still valid at the point the
police got a hold of (inaudible).
The order specifically provides that before any restitution for the cashier's checks
may be imposed, the State must make a "reasonable effort" to cash the checks, and
"[a]ny amount honored" will be deducted from the restitution obligation. The order also
states that after the State submits the checks for payment, Rehaume "may request
reconsideration" of the restitution obligation. Further, the court explicitly stated in its oral
ruling that it would "leave . . . open the issue of credit on whether or not those [cashier's
checks] should have been cashed earlier or if they could be cashed as — or still could
and credited."
Because the State must take further steps, the question of whether the court can
order restitution for the cashier's checks is not ripe. See State v. Sanchez Valencia,
169 Wash. 2d 782, 788-91, 239 P.3d 1059 (2010) (claim is ripe for appeal if the issues
raised are primarily legal, they do not require further factual development, the
challenged action is final, and the defendant is burdened by the condition without further
action by the State).
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No. 72831-8-1/9
We reverse the court's decision to impose restitution of $6,186.40 for the cost of
Ard's attendance at trial, $786.00 for subpoena service fees, and $1,325.22 in witness
costs, and remand.
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WE CONCUR:
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