State of Washington v. Patrick Elliot Pearson

FILED
Dec. 22, 2015
In the Office of the Clerk of Court
WA State Court of Appeals, Division III
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
DIVISION THREE
STATE OF WASHINGTON, ) No. 32467-2-III
)
Respondent, )
)
v. ) UNPUBLISHED OPINION
)
PATRICK ELLIOT PEARSON, )
)
Appellant. )
LA WRENCE-BERREY, J. Patrick Elliot Pearson appeals his conviction for second
degree burglary. Mr. Pearson's conviction was largely based on a surveillance video
showing a person resembling him breaking into an animal shelter, and the resulting loss
of his girlfriend's bullmastiff puppy from that shelter without her payment of a $120
recoupment fee. After reviewing Mr. Pearson's numerous contentions of error, we
affirm.
FACTS
Carmon Derting is the shelter manager for Grant County Animal Outreach. When
she arrived to work the morning of September 16, 2013, she discovered damage to several
ofthe shelter's doors and several dogs running around outside of their cages. After
No. 32467-2-III
State v. Pearson
completing an inventory, Ms. Derting discovered that a bullmastiff puppy was missing.
Ms. Derting reviewed the surveillance video from the previous night and called the
police. Officer Matthew Harum of the Moses Lake Police Department responded to the
call. He took photographs of the damage and reviewed the surveillance video with Ms.
Derting.
On January 9,2014, the State charged Patrick Elliot Pearson with one count of
burglary in the second degree. Before trial, the court granted Mr. Pearson's motion to
represent himself and to assign his then-appointed counsel to serve as standby counsel for
trial. Mr. Pearson also filed a number of motions in limine, including one to prevent any
State witness, and particularly Officer Harum, from offering any testimony that Mr.
Pearson was the person in the surveillance video. In support of this motion, Mr. Pearson
argued there were no records of any previous contacts between Officer Harum and Mr.
Pearson. The court denied the motion in limine, stating:
The officer should be permitted to testifY that he viewed the surveillance
.video and that he recognized the person depicted on that video in the same
way that he would be permitted to testifY that "I saw a man walking across
the street and I recognized that man." Mr. Pearson's appearance in court is
not evidence so the jury has no basis to look at a video and say that is or
isn't Mr. Pearson. So the officer's identification from the video, so long as
he has the basis to do that, is admissible. And he has a claimed basis to do
that. Mr. Pearson disagrees, but that goes to the weight and is subject to
cross-examination and so on.
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State v. Pearson
If I can maybe help put that [in] context. For instance, ifMr.
Pearson were to testify "I've never seen that officer before in my life
anywhere," or "Until a week before this, I lived in Florida," or anything to
that effect, that would call into question the officer's identification. But ...
so long as the officer testifies "I'm familiar with Mr. Pearson and I
recognize him on the video," that's appropriate. So [Mr. Pearson's motion
in limine] is denied.
Report of Proceedings (RP) (Apr. 9, 2014) at 14-15.
At trial, Officer Harum testified that when he viewed the surveillance video with
Ms. Derting, he observed a bald white male and a female with darker hair approaching
the back door of the building. Officer Harum stated he immediately identified Mr.
Pearson as the male in the surveillance footage. When the State asked Officer Harum,
"How sure are you that [it] was Mr. Pearson on that video?" he replied, "100 percent."
RP (Apr. 9, 2014) at 34. Officer Harum stated he recognized Mr. Pearson because he
previously had multiple contacts with Mr. Pearson while responding to other unrelated
calls involving Rebecca Fleming, who owned the property where Mr. Pearson lived.
On cross-examination, Officer Harum was not able to recall the first time he met
Mr. Pearson or ifhe had talked to him in the past. Officer Harum admitted that all of the
information he relied on in identifying Mr. Pearson came from other people. Officer
Harum also admitted that his identification of Mr. Pearson during a previous contact at
Ms. Fleming's property was based on the name that had been provided to him by
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No. 32467-2-III
State v. Pearson
someone else when responding to the call and also his review of Mr. Pearson's "previous
law enforcement database record to include a previous booking photo." RP (Apr. 9,
2014) at 38. Officer Harum had never asked Mr. Pearson to see any identification and
had never had occasion to ask Mr. Pearson for his name at any point in the past. The
booking photograph was not admitted into evidence.
Ms. Derting testified that Ms. Fleming was the registered owner of the bullmastiff
puppy that was taken from the shelter on September 15,2013. During Ms. Derting's
testimony about the history of the puppy, the court told Ms. Derting she could consult her
record to refresh her recollection if necessary. The record was identified as the data entry
from the shelter's "Animal View Report" for the dog. RP (Apr. 9, 2014) at 54. Mr.
Pearson objected arguing that the State had not provided him with the data entry report
during discovery, but the court overruled the objection. Using the data entry report, Ms.
Derting testified that the puppy was brought to the shelter on September 10, and Ms.
Fleming had not paid the $120 recoupment fee before the puppy went missing on
September 15. Ms. Derting also testified that the puppy was picked up approximately
four months after it went missing, and the street where the puppy was found was near the
street where Ms. Fleming lived.
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No. 32467-2-II1
State v. Pearson
Mr. Pearson did not testify at trial and rested his defense on the cross-examination
of Officer Harum regarding the officer's ability to identify him as the perpetrator. During
closing arguments, the prosecutor stated that the person who broke into the animal shelter
"was there to steal a ... puppy." RP (Apr. 9, 2014) at 69. The prosecutor also stated that
the offenders "damaged an inner door as well, which would be a separate crime." RP
(Apr. 9, 2014) at 69. The prosecutor then emphasized Officer Harum's testimony about
being "100 percent sure" that the person in the video was Mr. Pearson. RP (Apr. 9, 2014)
at 71. The prosecutor stated, "[A]s part of his daily work [Officer Harum is] able to
recognize who people are from looking at their faces and he's able to figure out who
people are from looking at surveillance video so he can continue investigating." RP (Apr.
9,2014) at 71. Then, the prosecutor told the jury, "We all have experience every day in
making identifications of people's faces. Some of us are better at it than others." RP
(Apr. 9, 2014) at 73. The prosecutor added, "Officer Harum had that experience with Mr.
Pearson while the rest of us don't." RP (Apr. 9, 2014) at 73. Finally, the prosecutor told
the jury:
Ladies and Gentlemen of the Jury, when you consider all of the evidence in
this case; which puppy was taken, who it belonged to, the relationship
between Mr. Pearson and Ms. Fleming, the fact that we have Officer Harum
tell us he knows with 100 percent certainty that was Mr. Pearson on that
surveillance video. There's no reasonable doubt that Mr. Pearson is the
person that committed that burglary on September 15 of 20 13.
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RP (Apr. 9, 2014) at 73-74.
After the evidence phase of trial, the court instructed the jury on reasonable doubt,
stating in part:
A reasonable doubt is one for which a reason exists, arising from the
evidence or lack of evidence. It is such a doubt as a reasonable person
would have after fully, fairly and carefully considering all of the evidence.
If, from such a consideration, you have an abiding belief in the truth of the
charge, then you are satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt.
Clerk's Papers (CP) at 19. The court also instructed the jury that:
To convict the defendant of burglary in the second degree as
charged, the State must prove each of the following elements of the crime
beyond a reasonable doubt:
(1) That on or about September 15,2013, the defendant entered or
remained unlawfully in a building;
(2) That the defendant entered or remained in such building with the
intent to commit a crime against a person or property therein; and
(3) That said acts occurred in the State of Washington.
If you find from the evidence that each of these elements has been
proved beyond a reasonable doubt, then it will be your duty to return a
verdict of guilty.
On the other hand, if, after weighing all the evidence, you have a
reasonable doubt as to anyone of these elements, then it will be your duty
to return a verdict of not gUilty.
CP at 20. The court further instructed the jury that '" [t]heft' means to wrongfully obtain
or exert unauthorized control over the property or services of another, or the value
thereof, with intent to deprive that person of such property or services." CP at 22.
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No. 32467-2-111
State v. Pearson
On April 10,2014, the jury found Mr. Pearson guilty of second degree burglary.
After the verdict, Mr. Pearson moved the court to arrest judgment or declare a mistrial
under CrR 7.4 and CrR 7.5, respectively. The court denied the motion.
On May 6, 2014, the court sentenced Mr. Pearson to 60 months of confinement. In
the judgment and sentence, the court imposed a total legal financial obligation (LFO) of
$1,606.72, including discretionary costs of$750.00 and mandatory costs of$856.72. The
judgment and sentence also contained the following finding: "The court has considered
the total amount owing, the defendant's present and future ability to pay legal financial
obligations, including the defendant's financial resources and the likelihood that the
defendant's status will change." CP at 76 (citing RCW 10.01.160).
Mr. Pearson informed the court he had potential full-time work not only "definitely
through the summer, but potentially beyond that." RP (May 6,2014) at 42. He also
stated he was close to getting his driver's license for the first time in 10 years after taking
driving tests and obtaining SR-22 insurance. The record also shows that Mr. Pearson was
41 years old at the time of trial.
Mr. Pearson appeals contending the court erred in imposing discretionary LFOs
without considering his financial resources under RCW 10.01.160(3). In a statement of
additional grounds for review (SAG), Mr. Pearson also contends (1) insufficient evidence
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No. 32467-2-111
State v. Pearson
supported his conviction for second degree burglary, (2) the State committed
prosecutorial misconduct by failing to disclose Officer Harum as an expert witness,
(3) the State committed prosecutorial misconduct by failing to disclose an old booking
photograph of him, (4) the State committed prosecutorial misconduct by improperly
bolstering Officer Harum's testimony with an "aura of reliability," (5) the trial court erred
in permitting Officer Harum to offer impermissible opinion testimony on an ultimate
issue to be determined by the jury, (6) the State violated his due process rights by failing
to disclose exculpatory evidence, (7) the trial court erred in instructing the jury on
reasonable doubt where the instruction omitted a phrase that is included in J J Washington
Practice: Washington Pattern Jury Instructions: Criminal 4.0 1 at 85 (3d ed. 2008)
(WPIC), and (8) cumulative error deprived Mr. Pearson of receiving a fair trial.
ANALYSIS
Mr. Pearson contends that the trial court improperly imposed LFOs without
considering his financial resources under RCW 10.01.160(3). He challenges $750.00 of
discretionary costs consisting of a $750.00 fee for a court-appointed attorney. Mr.
Pearson does not challenge the remaining $856.72 of mandatory LFOs consisting of the
$500 victim assessment fee, the $200 criminal filing fee, or the $156.72 fee as restitution
to the Grant County Animal Outreach in Moses Lake, Washington.
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No. 32467-2-III
State v. Pearson
Mr. Pearson did not object to imposition of LFOs at the trial court level, but he
contends that he may raise the issue for the first time on appeal under RAP 2.S(a).
RAP 2.S(a) provides, in relevant part, that an appellate court "may refuse to review any
claim of error which was not raised in the trial court." The rule goes on to provide three
exceptions that allow an appeal as a matter of right. RAP 2.S(a). Mr. Pearson does not
argue that one of the RAP 2.S(a) exceptions applies. Instead, he asks this court to
exercise its discretion to review the issue. The Washington Supreme Court recently
clarified that an appellate court's discretion under RAP 2.5(a) extends to review of a trial
court's imposition of discretionary LFOs. State v. Blazina, 182 Wn.2d 827, 834-3S, 344
P.3d 680 (201S). While such unpreserved LFO errors do not command review as a matter
of right, each appellate court is entitled to "make its own decision to accept discretionary
review." Id at 83S.
Since Blazina, the Court of Appeals has struggled to announce a consistent rule for
when it will review an unpreserved LFO argument. We recognize that there is a financial
cost of ordering a new hearing. This cost involves security and transportation of an
incarcerated person from prison to the county superior court that entered the sentence.
Sometimes the amount of the discretionary LFOs imposed are significant and the
likelihood of sentencing error is high; in such a case, the merits of ordering a new
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No. 32467-2-III
State v. Pearson
sentencing hearing outweigh the costs of security and transportation. This is not the
situation presented here, where the discretionary LFOs are $750. Nor do we consider the
likelihood of sentencing error high. To the contrary, here, the lower court did engage Mr.
Pearson in a colloquy to determine his future ability to pay. For these reasons, we use our
discretion and deny Mr. Pearson's request that we review the adequacy of the evidence
that supported the trial court's finding of present or future ability to pay LFOs.
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL GROUNDS
1. Whether insufficient evidence supported Mr. Pearson's conviction/or
second degree burglary
Mr. Pearson contends that by instructing the jury on the definition of "theft," but
not "malicious mischief," the State effectively added theft as a necessary element of the
charge for second degree burglary. Thus, the State was required to prove that Mr.
Pearson committed the theft. Because the State failed to prove such theft, Mr. Pearson
contends his conviction for second degree burglary is not supported by sufficient
evidence and must be reversed.
For the second degree burglary charge, the State had to prove beyond a reasonable
doubt that Mr. Pearson entered or remained unlawfully in a building other than a vehicle
or a dwelling with intent to commit a crime against a person or property therein.
RCW 9A.52.030. The court's to-convict instruction for second degree burglary set out
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No. 32467-2-Il1
State v. Pearson
these elements. The court also included a definitional instruction for "theft," defining it
as "wrongfully obtain[ing] or exert[ing] unauthorized control over the property or
services of another, or the value thereof, with intent to deprive that person of such
property or services." CP at 22. The court did not instruct the jury on the crime of
malicious mischief. The information did not specifY any predicate crime.
The State cites State v. Bergeron, 105 Wn.2d 1, 16, 711 P.2d 1000 (1985) for the
proposition that it need not prove the specific crime intended to be committed during the
burglary. The Bergeron court held:
[T]he specific crime or crimes intended to be committed inside the
burglarized premises is not an element of burglary that must be included in
the information, jury instructions or in the trial court's findings and
conclusions. It is sufficient if the jury is instructed ... in the language of
the burglary statutes.
105 Wn.2d at 16 (alteration in original). However, Mr. Pearson argues that under the law
of the case doctrine, the State added theft as an element of burglary when it failed to
object to the inclusion of the definitional instruction for theft.
Under the law of the case doctrine, jury instructions not objected to become the
applicable law, even if the instructions contain an unnecessary element of the crime.
State v. Hickman, 135 Wn.2d 97, 102,954 P.2d 900 (1998). Thus, if an unnecessary
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No. 32467-2-III
State v. Pearson
element is added in the to-convict instruction without objection, the State assumes the
burden of proving the added element. Id.The to-convict instruction here did not require the jury to find that Mr. Pearson
intended to commit a theft, only that he "inten[ded] to commit a crime against a person or
property therein." CP at 20 (emphasis added). We conclude that the State was not
required to prove theft as an element of second degree burglary.
2. Whether the State committed prosecutorial misconduct that prejudiced Mr.
Pearson's right to a fair trial
Mr. Pearson alleges several instances ofprosecutorial misconduct, including:
(l) failing to disclose Officer Harum as an expert witness, (2) failing to disclose a
booking photograph relied on by Officer Harum in making his identification, and
(3) improperly bolstering Officer Harum's testimony with an "aura of reliability."
"The right to a fair trial is a fundamental liberty secured by the Sixth and
Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution and article I, section 22 of the
Washington State Constitution." In re Pers. Restraint ofGlasmann, 175 Wn.2d 696, 703,
286 P.3d 673 (2012). "Prosecutorial misconduct may deprive a defendant of his
constitutional right to a fair trial." Id. at 703-04.
To prevail on a claim ofprosecutorial misconduct, Mr. Pearson must show that "in
the context of the record and all of the circumstances of the trial, the prosecutor's conduct
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No. 32467-2-III
State v. Pearson
was both improper and prejudicial." Id. at 704. To prove prejudice, he must demonstrate
a substantial likelihood that the misconduct affected the jury verdict. Id. Any errors not
objected to at trial are waived unless Mr. Pearson "establishes that the misconduct was so
flagrant and ill intentioned that an instruction would not have cured the prejudice." Id.When reviewing claims of prosecutorial misconduct, this court should review the
statements in the context of the entire case. State v. Thorgerson, 172 Wn.2d 438, 443,
258 P.3d 43 (2011). "A trial court ruling on prosecutorial misconduct will be given
deference on appeal." State v. Luvene, 127 Wn.2d 690,70.1,903 P.2d 960 (1995). '''The
trial court is in the best position to most effectively determine if prosecutorial misconduct
prejudiced a defendant's right to a fair trial.'" Id. (quoting State v. Lord, 117 Wn.2d 829,
887,822 P.2d 177 (1991)).
a. Failure to disclose Officer Harum as an expert witness
Before trial, Mr. Pearson filed a motion in limine to prevent any State witness,
including Officer Harum, from offering any testimony that Mr. Pearson was the person in
the surveillance video. In support of this motion, Mr. Pearson argued there were no
records of any previous contacts between Officer Harum and Mr. Pearson. The court
denied the motion in limine and permitted the prosecutor to elicit testimony that Mr.
Pearson "viewed the surveillance video and that he recognized the person depicted on that
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No. 32467-2-1II
State v. Pearson
video in the same way that he would be pennitted to testifY that 'I saw a man walking
across the street and 1 recognized that man.'" RP (Apr. 9,2014) at 14-15.
During the course of the trial, Officer Harum testified that he immediately
identified Mr. Pearson as the male in the surveillance footage. Officer Harum stated he
recognized Mr. Pearson because he previously had multiple contacts with Mr. Pearson
while responding to other unrelated calls involving Rebecca Fleming, who owned the
property where Mr. Pearson lived. The State then asked Officer Harum about his
experience viewing surveillance videos and the following exchange occurred:
[Prosecutor:] Okay. Now how often do you view surveillance
videos as part of your job?
[Officer Harum:] Anywhere from two to five times a week.
[Prosecutor:] Why so?
[Officer Harum:] People-other officers ask-
MR. PEARSON: Objection. Calls for the witness to
speculate.
THE COURT: The objection is overruled. You may answer.
[Officer Harum:] Other officers ask to see if any other officers
recognize the subjects in the videos.
[Prosecutor:] And do you often recognize people in videos?
[Officer Harum:] 1 do.
[Prosecutor:] How good is the quality of this video compared to
other surveillance videos you look at?
[Officer Harum:] I've seen worse and I've seen much better.
RP (Apr. 9, 2014) at 32-33. On re-direct examination, the State asked Officer Harum
about his experience identifYing people:
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No. 32467-2-III
State v. Pearson
[Prosecutor:] Would you say that being able to identify a person
from their face is an important part of your day-to-day work?
[Officer Harum:] Yes.
[Prosecutor:] And do you believe yourself to be good at that
particular skill?
[Officer Harum:] Yes.
[Prosecutor:] Better than other officers?
MR. PEARSON: Objection.
THE COURT: Sustained for lack of foundation.
[Prosecutor:] Sure.
[Prosecutor:] Do you have reason to believe that you're [sic] visual
recognition is better than your fellow officers?
MR. PEARSON: Objection.
THE COURT: Sustained. Calls for speculation.
[Prosecutor:] Do other officers often ask for your help in the field of
recognizing people from their face or recognizing people in surveillance
video?
[Officer Harum:] Yes.
[Prosecutor:] How often does that happen?
[Officer Harum:] It can happen anywhere between two to five times
a week.
[Prosecutor:] To your knowledge do other officers in your
department get asked as often to-
MR. PEARSON: Objection.
THE COURT: Sustained.
[Prosecutor:] Okay. Nothing further.
RP (Apr. 9, 2014) at 45-46.
After the jury reached its verdict, Mr. Pearson moved the court to arrest judgment
or declare a mistrial under CrR 7.4 and CrR 7.5, respectively, arguing the prosecution
committed misconduct by not revealing during discovery that it intended to call Officer
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No. 32467-2-III
State v. Pearson
Harum as an expert in identifYing people on surveillance videos. The judge denied the
motion summarily, and the transcript for the proceedings is not in the record on appeal.
Here, Mr. Pearson argues that (l) the prosecutor committed misconduct by failing
to inform the defense of the expected testimony of Officer Harum, and (2) that such
testimony impermissibly qualified as expert witness testimony.
As for the disclosure issue, erR 4.7(a)(1)(i) provides that the State must disclose,
among other things, "the names and addresses of persons whom the prosecuting attorney
intends to call as witnesses at the hearing or trial, together with any written or recorded
statements and the substance of any oral statements of such witnesses." While "[t]he
State's disobedience to a discovery rule can constitute a violation of a defendant's right to
due process," the record here does not reveal that the State committed such disobedience.
State v. Greiff, 141 Wn.2d 910,920,10 P.3d 390 (2000). The State's discovery responses
have not been included in the record. But we can and will surmise that the State complied
with its discovery obligation given Mr. Pearson's motion in limine that sought to prevent
Officer Harum from testifYing to his identity based on the surveillance video. Mr.
Pearson would not have known to file a motion in limine had the State not previous to
trial disclosed that Officer Harum would provide identification testimony based on the
video.
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As for the contention that Officer Harum was not properly disclosed as an expert
witness, we disagree with the assertion that Officer Harum's testimony was in the nature
of expert testimony. A witness may qualify as an expert if they have "scientific,
technical, or other specialized knowledge" that will assist the trier of fact to understand
the evidence. ER 702. In contrast, lay witnesses are permitted to testify about opinions
and inferences that are (a) rationally based on the perception of the witness, (b) helpful to
a determination of a fact in issue, and (c) not based on scientific, technical, or other
specialized knowledge. ER 701. A lay witness may give opinion testimony regarding the
identity of a person in a surveillance photograph if there is some basis to conclude that the
witness is more likely to be able to identify the defendant from the photograph than the
jury. State v. George, 150 Wn. App. 110, 118,206 PJd 697 (2009) (quoting State v.
Hardy, 76 Wn. App. 188, 190,884 P.2d 8 (1994), aff'd sub nom. State v. Clark, 129
Wn.2d 211,916 P.2d 384 (1996».
Officer Harum testified that his identification of Mr. Pearson was based on prior
contacts with Mr. Pearson in different contexts. There is nothing scientific, technical, or
special about Officer Harum recognizing Mr. Pearson as the person in the video after
having seen him before. Rather, Officer Harum's testimony identifying Mr. Pearson was
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No. 32467-2-II1
State v. Pearson
lay opinion, rationally based on his perception and helpful to the jury's determination of a
fact in issue.
b. Failure to disclose booking photograph
Mr. Pearson contends the State committed prosecutorial misconduct by failing to
disclose a booking photograph relied on by Officer Harum in making his identification.
A defendant's right to due process is violated if the State fails to disclose evidence
material to guilt or punishment. CrR 4.7(a)(3); In re Pers. Restraint o/Gentry, 137
Wn.2d 378,396,972 P.2d 1250 (1999) (quoting United States v. Bagley, 473 U.S. 667,
674, 105 S. Ct. 3375, 87 L. Ed. 2d 481 (1985)). The obligation on the State to disclose
this information is continuing. Greiff, 141 Wn.2d at 919.
Here, Officer Harum mentioned the booking photograph while being cross-
examined by Mr. Pearson regarding his identification of Mr. Pearson during a past
contact at Ms. Fleming's property. Mr. Pearson asked how Officer Harum was able to
identify him during that contact, and Officer Harum responded, "Based on the name that
was provided to me and your previous law enforcement database record to include a
previous booking photo, I was able to identify you from a distance." RP (Apr. 9,2014) at
38. Mr. Pearson repeated a similar question, and Officer Harum again responded,
"Because I can look at a picture in my database and compare that photograph to you
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No. 32467-2-II1
State v. Pearson
standing there, just as I can anybody else." RP (Apr. 9, 2014) at 39. Mr. Pearson did not
object during this testimony, but he did argue as part of his erR 7.4 and erR 7.5 motions
that the prosecution committed misconduct by not revealing the photograph during
discovery. Again, the judge denied the motion summarily.
Mr. Pearson has not met his burden of proving how the prosecution's conduct in
not revealing the booking photograph was improper or prejudicial. As the record
indicates, Officer Harum only mentioned the photograph during questioning by Mr.
Pearson. Furthermore, Officer Harum's testimony only reveals he used the photograph to
identify Mr. Pearson in a previous contact when he investigated another matter at Ms.
Fleming's property, not when he was reviewing the surveillance video, as Mr. Pearson
contends. Thus, Mr. Pearson has not proved the State's failure to produce the photograph
materially affected the outcome of the trial. Moreover, had the State produced and the
court admitted the booking photograph from a prior, unrelated arrest, the photograph may
have been unduly prejudicial and a basis for reversal. See State v. Sanford, 128 Wn. App.
280,285-87, 115 P.3d 368 (2005).
Finally, Mr. Pearson contends that the State had an obligation under erR 4.7 to
disclose to him all of the particulars regarding the procedures used in identifying him.
However, he has not cited to a particular subsection of erR 4.7 in support of his
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No. 32467-2-II1
State v. Pearson
argument, and a review ofCrR 4.7 reveals no such requirement. While CrR 4.7(a)(l)(v)
requires the State to disclose all books, papers, documents, photographs, or tangible
objects that the State intends to introduce into evidence at trial, the State did not introduce
the photograph here, so this subsection also does not apply.
c. Improperly bolstering Officer Harum 's testimony with an "aura o/reliability"
Mr. Pearson contends that the prosecutor committed misconduct by making
comments that improperly bolstered Officer Harum's identification testimony.
This court reviews a prosecutor's comments during arguments in the context of the
total argument, the issues in the case, the evidence addressed in the argument, and the
jury instructions. State v. Jones, 144 Wn. App. 284, 290, 183 P.3d 307 (2008). '" A
prosecutor has wide latitude in closing argument to draw reasonable inferences from the
evidence and to express such inferences to the jury.'" Id. (quoting State v. Boehning, 127
Wn. App. 511, 519,111 P.3d 899 (2005)).
During opening statements, the prosecutor commented that Officer Harum was the
"go-to person" in his department for identifying people on surveillance videos." RP
(Apr. 9, 2014) at 4. Then, during closing arguments, the prosecutor emphasized Officer
Harum's testimony about being "100 percent" sure that the person in the video was Mr.
Pearson. RP (Apr. 9, 2014) at 71. The prosecutor stated, "The evidence you do have
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No. 32467-2-111
State v. Pearson
before you is an officer who is unusually good with faces, who views two to five
surveillance videos a week, who other officers often ask to view surveillance videos to try
and make identification." RP (Apr. 9, 2014) at 70. The prosecutor also stated, "[A]s part
of his daily work [Officer Harum is] able to recognize who people are from looking at
their faces and he's able to figure out who people are from looking at surveillance video
so he can continue investigating." RP (Apr. 9, 2014) at 71. Then, the prosecutor told the
jury, "We all have experience every day in making identifications of people's faces.
Some of us are better at it than others." RP (Apr. 9, 2014) at 73. The prosecutor added,
"Officer Harum had that experience with Mr. Pearson while the rest of us don't." RP
(Apr. 9, 2014) at 73. Finally, the prosecutor told the jury:
Ladies and Gentlemen of the Jury, when you consider all of the evidence in
this case; which puppy was taken, who it belonged to, the relationship
between Mr. Pearson and Ms. Fleming, the fact that we have Officer Harum
tell us he knows with 100 percent certainty that was Mr. Pearson on that
surveillance video. There's no reasonable doubt that Mr. Pearson is the
person that committed that burglary on September 15 of 20 13.
RP (Apr. 9, 2014) at 73-74.
Mr. Pearson did not object to the above portions of the prosecutor's opening
statement and closing argument. He did, however, raise issue with such comments as part
of his post-verdict CrR 7.4 and CrR 7.5 motions, which were then summarily dismissed.
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While prosecutors "have some latitude to argue facts and inferences from the
evidence, they are not permitted to make prejudicial statements unsupported by the
record." Jones, 144 Wn. App. at 293. "And it is generally improper for prosecutors to
bolster a police witness's good character even if the record supports such argument." Id.
Mr. Pearson specifically points to the prosecutor's statement during closing
argument that Officer Hamm was "unusually good" at making identifications to show it
was not supported by the record. However, unlike other cases where the prosecutor
bolstered officers' character with particularly subjective words and emphasized awards
and commendations, the prosecutor's statements here did not go to character, but rather to
an argument supported by the evidence: Officer Hamm was particularly good at
identifYing faces from videos. The argument was not improper.
3. Whether the trial court erred in permitting Officer Harum to offer opinion
testimony on an ultimate issue to be determined by the jury
Mr. Pearson argues that the trial court erred in permitting Officer Hamm to offer
opinion testimony on an ultimate issue to be determined by the jury. Mr. Pearson
specifically takes issue with Officer Hamm's multiple responses indicating he was "100
percent" certain that Mr. Pearson was the male perpetrator in the surveillance video.
We review a trial court's decision to admit evidence using an abuse of discretion
standard. State v. Quaale, 182 Wn.2d 191,196,340 P.3d 213 (2014). '''Where
22
No. 32467-2-III
State v. Pearson
reasonable persons could take differing views regarding the propriety of the trial court's
actions, the trial court has not abused its discretion.'" ld. (quoting State v. Demery, 144
Wn.2d 753, 758, 30 P.3d 1278 (2001». However, the trial court has abused its discretion
if its ruling is contrary to law, or when its exercise of discretion is manifestly
unreasonably or based on untenable grounds or reasons. ld. at 196-97.
One area where a court can err is when it admits opinion testimony that interferes
with the jury's role in detennining guilt. "Impennissible opinion testimony regarding the
defendant's guilt may be reversible error because such evidence violates the defendant's
constitutional right to a jury trial, which includes the independent detennination of the
facts by the jury." ld. at 199. Before admitting opinion evidence in criminal trials, trial
courts must consider various factors, including (1) the type of witness involved, (2) the
specific nature of the testimony, (3) the nature of the charges, (4) the type of defense, and
(5) the other evidence before the trier of fact. ld. at 199-200 (citing State v. Montgomery,
163 Wn.2d 577, 591, 183 P.3d 267 (2008». The purpose of the inquiry is to balance the
underlying basis of the opinion with the danger that the jury might give the opinion too
much weight. For example, if the underlying factual basis of the opinion testimony is
weak, but is testified to by a witness with independent authority, the danger is too high
23
No. 32467-2-III
State v. Pearson
that a jury will ignore the lack of real evidence and find guilt based simply on the
authority of the witness.
Type of witness. Here, we have a law enforcement officer who provided opinion
testimony. Such a witness is clothed with authority, and there is an inherent risk that a
jury might substitute the lack of evidence for the officer's opinion in finding guilt. We
therefore inquire carefully concerning the factual basis of the officer's opinion testimony.
Specific nature of the testimony. Officer Harum testified to what he saw on
surveillance video. As mentioned previously, this testimony was proper based on
foundation evidence that Officer Harum had multiple previous contacts with Mr. Pearson.
The nature of the charges and the type of defense. The charges and the defense
focused on the surveillance video. Mr. Pearson's conviction or acquittal depended largely
on whether the jury believed the person in the surveillance video was him. For this
reason, there must be a substantial factual basis supporting Officer Harum' s opinion
testimony.
Other evidence before the trier of fact. Significantly, the jury was shown the same
surveillance video seen by Officer Harum. This permitted the jury to determine what
weight to give Officer Harum's identification. The video clearly shows the body, head,
and face of the person who broke into the animal shelter. The video shows the same
24
No. 32467 2-IIIw
State v. Pearson
person mUltiple times as he walked toward and away from the video camera over a period
of several minutes. A rational trier of fact could reasonably give Officer Harum's
identification testimony substantial weight. In essence, the jury's view of this critical
evidence gave it a reliable basis for determining what weight to give Officer Harum's
testimony. This assured that the jury did not abdicate its role as the ultimate finder of
fact.
We hold that Officer Harum's opinion that he was 100 percent certain that the
person in the surveillance video was Mr. Pearson did not deprive Mr. Pearson from
having a fact critical to his guilt decided by a jury.
4. Whether the State violated Mr. Pearson's due process rights by failing to
disclose exculpatory evidence
Mr. Pearson asserts the State violated his due process rights by withholding
exculpatory evidence until the day of trial in violation of Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83,
83 S. Ct. 1194, 10 1. Ed. 2d 215 (1963).
"An asserted Brady violation, which implicates due process concerns, is reviewed
de novo." State v. Davila, 183 Wn. App. 154, 166,333 P.3d 459 (2014). "The
prosecution has an affirmative duty to disclose evidence favorable to a defendant." Id. A
Brady claim has three elements: (1) the State failed to disclose evidence that is favorable
to the accused, either because it is exculpatory or impeaching, (2) the evidence must have
25
No. 32467-2-III
State v. Pearson
been suppressed by the State, either willfully or inadvertently, and (3) the undisclosed
evidence was prejudicial. Id. at 167. "In analyzing these factors, [this court is] mindful
that the fundamental purpose of Brady is the preservation of a fair trial." Id.
Mr. Pearson contends first that Grant County Animal Outreach's "Animal View
Report" was exculpatory information. Ms. Derting testified that Ms. Fleming was the
registered owner of the bullmastiff puppy that was taken from the shelter on
September 15,2013. During Ms. Derting's testimony about the history of the puppy, the
court told Ms. Derting she could consult her record to refresh her recollection. The
record was identified as the data entry from the shelter's "Animal View Report" for the
dog. RP (Apr. 9, 2014) at 54. Mr. Pearson objected arguing that the State had not
provided him with the report during discovery, but the court overruled the objection.
Using the record, Ms. Derting testified, "The animal came in to [the shelter]" on
September 10 and the shelter refused to release the animal back to Ms. Fleming until she
had paid a $120 recoupment fee. RP (Apr. 9, 2014) at 53-54.
This testimony reveals that the "Animal View Report" simply provided the
bullmastiffpuppy's history at the shelter, including the date it came to the shelter. Based
on this record, it does not appear the report provides any exculpatory or impeachment
26
No. 32467-2-111
State v. Pearson
evidence for Mr. Pearson. Instead, it establishes a foundation for the shelter's possession
of the puppy prior to the burglary.
Second, Mr. Pearson contends that testimony that an animal control officer picked
up the bullmastiffpuppy four months after the burglary near Ms. Fleming's residence was
also exculpatory information that the State suppressed. Mr. Pearson asserts this was
exculpatory information because it suggested the puppy was returned to Ms. Fleming by
whoever broke into the shelter, thereby negating the "intent to deprive the owner"
element of the predicate crime of theft. However, as analyzed above, the burglary
conviction did not require proof of a specific underlying crime. And even if it did, the
State provided sufficient evidence that the shelter had a possessory interest in the
bullmastiff puppy until the $120 recoupment fee was paid.
We conclude that the State's nondisclosure of the "Animal View Report" and
evidence that inferred that Ms. Fleming had regained possession of the bullmastiff
sometime after the burglary did not violate Brady.
5. Whether the trial court erred in instructing the jury on reasonable doubt
where the instruction omitted a redundant phrase that is included in
WPIC4.01
Mr. Pearson contends that the trial court erred in using a modified version of
WPIC 4.01 that omitted the second use of the phrase "lack of evidence" to instruct the
27
No. 32467-2-III
State v. Pearson
jury on reasonable doubt. He argues that State v. Bennett, 161 Wn.2d 303,318,165 P.3d
1241 (2007) requires trial courts to use WPIC 4.01 and that any deviation from its
language requires reversal. This court reviews de novo whether a challenged jury
instruction accurately states the law without misleading the jury. State v. Chino, 117 Wn.
App. 531, 538, 72 P.3d 256 (2003).
As a threshold matter, the State argues that because Mr. Pearson did not object to
this instruction at trial, this court should not consider the issue on appeal under its
RAP 2.5(a) authority to decline review. The record does not include either the State or
Mr. Pearson's proposed instructions, so it is impossible to verifY whether Mr. Pearson's
proposed instruction differed from the instruction ultimately given to the jury. Mr.
Pearson did not make any oral objections in the record. Nevertheless, we take this
opportunity to address this contention to clarifY this area of the law.
In Bennett, the Washington Supreme Court upheld the reasonable doubt instruction
that the trial court gave, stating that it "satisfied the minimum requirements of due
process," but directed trial courts to use only WPIC 4.01 in the future. 161 Wn.2d at 318.
The court stated it was exercising its inherent supervisory power to so instruct
Washington trial courts to use the approved pattern instruction WPIC 4.01. Id. The court
reasoned, "Even if many variations of the definition of reasonable doubt meet minimal
28
No. 32467-2-111
State v. Pearson
due process requirements, the presumption of innocence is simply too fundamental, too
central to the core of the foundation of our justice system not to require adherence to a
clear, simple, accepted, and uniform instruction." Id. at 317-18.
The reasonable doubt instruction used here provided, in relevant part:
A reasonable doubt is one for which a reason exists, arising from the
evidence or lack of evidence. It is such a doubt as a reasonable person
would have after fully, fairly and carefully considering all of the evidence.
If, from such a consideration, you have an abiding belief in the truth of the
charge, then you are satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt.
CP at 19. In contrast, WPIC 4.01 provides, in relevant part:
A reasonable doubt is one for which a reason exists and may arise
from the evidence or lack of evidence. It is such a doubt as would exist in
the mind of a reasonable person after fully, fairly, and carefully considering
all of the evidence or lack ofevidence. [If, from such consideration, you
have an abiding belief in the truth of the charge, you are satisfied beyond a
reasonable doubt.]
(Emphasis added) (alteration in original). Thus, the only substantive change is the
deletion of the second use of the phrase "lack of evidence." This is the omission that Mr.
Pearson challenges.
Erroneous jury instructions are generally subject to a constitutional harmless error
analysis. State v. Lundy, 162 Wn. App. 865, 871-72, 256 P.3d 466 (2011). An error is
harmless under this analysis if the jury verdict would have been the same beyond a
reasonable doubt absent an error. Id. at 872 (quoting State v. Bashaw, 169 Wn.2d 133,
29
No. 32467-2-III
State v. Pearson
147,234 P.3d 195 (2010». However, the other two divisions of this court are split over
whether a harmless error analysis should apply for any violation of the Bennett court's
mandate.
In State v. Castillo, 150 Wn. App. 466, 472-75, 208 P.3d 1201 (2009), Division
One of this court rejected a harmless error analysis in this context. In Castillo, the
defendant challenged the trial court's instruction defining reasonable doubt because it
greatly varied from the definition found in WPIC 4.01. In rejecting the harmless error
analysis, Division One reasoned the parties should have been aware of the Bennett
opinion, which was released eight months before trial, and the error directly violated the
Bennett mandate. Id. at 472-75. The court further reasoned that the Washington Supreme
Court never commented on harmless error in Bennett, so the Castillo court could not infer
that harmless error should apply. Id. Therefore, the Castillo court found that the offered
instruction lessened the State's burden of proof. Id.
However, Division Two expressly rejected Castillo when confronted with the same
issue in Lundy. 162 Wn. App. at 872-73. In Lundy, the trial court reversed the paragraph
order of the standard WPIC 4.01 and modified the first three sentences regarding the
State's burden of proof. Id. at 871. On appeal, the defendant argued the alterations to
WPIC 4.01 required an automatic reversal of his conviction. Division Two rejected this
30
No. 32467-2-111
State v. Pearson
proposition, reasoning (I) the court in Bennett never held that modifYing WPIC 4.01
automatically constitutes reversible error, and (2) the error was not structural and should
thus be subject to constitutional harmless error analysis. Lundy, 162 Wn. App. at 872.
For obvious reasons, the State contends that this court should follow Division
Two's decision in Lundy rather than Division One's decision in Castillo. For the reasons
stated below, we choose a middle ground.
First, we reject the notion that minor nonsubstantive errors like those unchallenged
here could be reversible error. For example, here, the trial court changed "such a doubt as
would exist in the mind of a reasonable person" to "such a doubt as a reasonable person
would have." We do not read Bennett's direction to trial courts as requiring reversal for
minor nonsubstantive changes. In saying so, we are not condoning trial courts to tinker
with WPIC 4.01. Rather, we take this opportunity to warn trial courts that tinkering with
WPIC 4.01 risks reversal if a reviewing court finds the change to be substantive.
Second, the error here is substantive because an important phrase from WPIC 4.01
was removed. Nevertheless, a comparison of the instruction given and WPIC 4.01
convinces us that the former did not lessen the State's burden. Because the substantive
change here did not lessen the State's burden, reversal is not warranted. Indeed, had the
instruction increased the State's burden, reversal would be putting form over substance.
31
No. 32467-2-III
State v. Pearson
We hold that a trial court's modification ofWPIC 4.01 that is both substantive and
that lessens the State's burden of proof is reversible error. Here, because the only
substantive change was the deletion of a redundant phrase, the trial court did not commit
reversible error.
6. Whether cumulative error deprived Mr. Pearson ofreceiving afair trial
Finally, Mr. Pearson asserts that the cumulative error doctrine applies to each of
the errors he alleges. "Cumulative error may warrant reversal, even if each error standing
alone would otherwise be considered harmless." State v. Weber, 159 Wn.2d 252, 279,
149 P.3d 646 (2006). "The doctrine does not apply where the errors are few and have
little or no effect on the outcome of the trial." Id. Here, we have rejected each of the
alleged errors raised by Mr. Pearson. We likewise reject his cumulative error argument.
Affirmed.
A majority of the panel has determined this opinion will not be printed in the
Washington Appellate Reports, but it will be filed for public record pursuant to
RCW 2.06.040.
Lawrence-Berrey, 1.
32
32467-2-II1
Korsmo, J., (specially concurring) I agree with and have signed the majority
opinion, but I write separately to note an additional reason to affirm the legal financial
obligation (LPO) ruling-the trial court had an adequate factual basis for finding that Mr.
Pearson could pay his LPOs. The topic was discussed at the sentencing hearing. Mr.
Pearson assured the court that he had potential full-time employment for the summer and
perhaps beyond that point.
This colloquy adequately established that Mr. Pearson was employable. The court
shall not impose costs "unless the defendant is or will be able to pay them." RCW
10.01.160(3). A defendant who is capable of working full-time is thereby capable of
earning money and thus would be able to pay his court costs. Capacity to work is the
simplest and most straightforward means of establishing an ability to pay. The record
reflects that ability here. The trial court's factual determination that Mr. Pearson could
pay his modest LPOs is adequately supported in this record.