State of Washington v. Richard Francis Klepacki

FILED
FEBRUARY 1, 2018
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. 33983-1-III
)
Respondent, )
)
v. )
) UNPUBLISHED OPINION
RICHARD F. KLEPACKI, )
)
Appellant. )
)
ANTHONY J. TUDOR, )
)
Defendant. )
LAWRENCE-BERREY, A.C.J. — Richard F. Klepacki appeals his conviction for first
degree murder with a firearm enhancement. He claims that numerous errors below entitle
him to a new trial. We disagree and affirm.
FACTS
Background facts
On January 4, 2014, at approximately 9:15 p.m., Gary Wright heard a loud knock
on the front door of his friend Ed Giesbrecht’s apartment in Deer Park, Washington. As
Giesbrecht approached the door to open it, someone on the other side kicked it open and
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off its hinges. Wright witnessed one person come through the doorway and fire one shot
at Giesbrecht, killing him. Wright later described the shooter as a young stocky male,
wearing a dark blue hoodie, baseball cap, and a blue bandana that covered his face.
Bernhard Dedicos was at the same apartment complex that night. He heard what
sounded like fireworks. When he went outside he saw two men run by him. The men
headed north and then turned east down an alley between C and D Streets. One of the
two men appeared to have a pistol in his hand. When Dedicos learned that Giesbrecht
had been shot, he called 911.
Deputy Robert Brooke responded to the call. As he was driving along C Street, he
saw a man run into a wooded area. Deputy Brooke reported on the radio what he saw and
pursued the man on foot. K-9 Deputy Steven Stipe assisted and found Klepacki lying
face down in bushes near the entrance to Deer Park Middle School, one-fifth of a mile
from Giesbrecht’s apartment. Klepacki had blood on his face. The patrol dog found a
nylon pistol holster in the bushes near Klepacki. The holster did not have snow or dew on
it, indicating that someone had recently left it there.
Detective James Dresback interviewed Klepacki shortly after his arrest. The
interview was recorded. During the interview, Klepacki admitted that he ran and hid
when he saw law enforcement, and attributed his actions to “instinct.” Clerk’s Papers
(CP) at 51. When told that he had blood on his face, Klepacki claimed the blood had
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been there since New Year’s Day, even though he had showered several times since then.
He later said that he likely hurt himself when he hid from law enforcement. He denied
that he owned a pistol and denied that the holster found near him belonged to him. He
said he had been at his girlfriend Tracy Tudor’s house that night and decided to go for a
long walk. He claimed he had been walking alone for several hours that night. He denied
going into any store that night. Soon after, Detective Dresback handed a receipt found in
Klepacki’s coat that showed he had purchased alcohol about an hour before the murder.
Klepacki then admitted that he went to the store that night. Later, Klepacki denied being
at the store. When reminded of the receipt, Detective Dresback asked Klepacki if he was
at the store alone. Klepacki answered that he was alone.
Store surveillance video showed that around 8:00 p.m., Klepacki and Tracy
Tudor’s 23-year-old son, Anthony Tudor, were in the store. Klepacki was wearing a
jacket, and Tudor had on a black hoodie. Klepacki had no blood on his face.
Investigation
Giesbrecht’s front door had at least one visible footprint. A spent bullet was
recovered in the drywall in the living room. A few days later, a shell casing was found.
Law enforcement obtained a search warrant to search 306 C Street, Tracy and
Anthony Tudor’s house. The address was approximately one block north of Giesbrecht’s
apartment. The search found a blue bandana, several baseball caps, and a pair of tennis
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shoes with a tread pattern similar to the tread prints on Giesbrecht’s front door. No pistol
was found.
On January 23, 2014, Hazel McGillivary contacted law enforcement. Her son had
directed her to a gun that had earlier been found by another child between B and C Streets
near Deer Park Middle School. Law enforcement obtained the gun from McGillivary. It
was a .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol.
Forensic examination of the evidence established that the .45 caliber pistol was the
murder weapon. A forensic witness explained why deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and
fingerprints would not be found on a pistol exposed to extreme cold and moisture for
weeks. A forensic witness confirmed that the tread of the tennis shoes recovered at
Tudor’s house was similar to the tread prints on Giesbrecht’s front door. A DNA analysis
established that blood found on the coats of Tudor and Klepacki was Klepacki’s blood.
Procedural facts
The State charged Klepacki and Tudor with first degree murder of Giesbrecht.
The State later amended the charge to add the alternative charge of felony murder
committed during the commission of first degree burglary. Klepacki filed a motion to
sever the trials based on the fact that Tudor made incriminating statements that were
prejudicial to Klepacki. The motion was unopposed, and the trial court severed the case
into two trials.
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Tudor’s trial occurred first and resulted in his conviction for first degree murder.
His sister, Cheyeanne Woods, briefly testified at his trial. She denied having any
information about the murder.
Klepacki’s trial
1. Lack of hearsay objection to McGillivary’s testimony
Klepacki’s trial began October 26, 2015. During its case in chief, the State called
McGillivary. The State asked McGillivary what she did once the gun was brought to her.
McGillivary answered,
Well, Logan, the eight—I think he was about ten at the time—a little boy
found the gun and he brought it to the bus stop. Then my son run across the
street and said, Mom, it’s a real gun. So I took a bag and went over there
. . . . And it was in the alley—in the gutter after Logan had dropped it there.
3 Report of Proceedings (RP) (Nov. 2, 2015) at 387. McGillivary then used a diagram
and showed the jury the alleyway and bus stop where she retrieved the gun. Klepacki did
not object during this testimony.
2. Hearsay objection to Detective Dresback’s testimony
The State also called Detective Dresback. The State asked the detective if he had
done any research about the holster, and he answered that he had. The State began to ask
Detective Dresback if he had consulted a firearms expert about the holster, and Klepacki
objected. However, Klepacki withdrew his objection and said he would wait until the
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State finished its question. The State restated the question and asked Detective Dresback
about his own research. Detective Dresback replied the holster, “[a]n Uncle Mike’s
holster No. 5 was designed to hold a firearm that is a large frame semi-automatic with a
four-and-a-half to five-inch barrel, which was the kind of gun that was the murder
weapon.” 5 RP (Nov. 4, 2015) at 801.
The State then asked if Detective Dresback discussed that research with a firearms
expert, and Detective Dresback responded that he had. The State asked the detective to
relate that conversation, and Klepacki objected on the basis of hearsay. The State
represented that the firearms expert had already testified about the holster and had been
subject to cross-examination on the issue. The trial court agreed with the State and,
believing that any confrontation clause issue was satisfied by the expert’s earlier
examination, overruled the objection. However, the record shows that neither party
questioned the firearms expert about the holster.
3. Lack of hearsay objection to Detective Dresback’s demonstration
During Detective Dresback’s redirect, the following colloquy occurred:
[The State:] Detective, with respect to your interview with Mr.
Wright, [did] Mr. Wright during that interview demonstrate for you how the
shooter was holding the gun?
[Detective Dresback:] Yes, he did.
[The State:] And how that demonstration—I mean, what was the
demonstration?
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[Detective Dresback:] He held his finger up like a gun in a fashion
that he recalls seeing the shooter, he believed the shooter held the gun.
[The State:] How did he demonstrate; what was it that you saw?
Left hand, right hand?
[Detective Dresback:] It was the right hand up over his shoulder,
like this (indicating).
5 RP (Nov. 5, 2015) at 845-46. Klepacki did not object during this colloquy. Although
Wright had earlier testified at trial, neither attorney asked him how the shooter had held
the gun.
4. Alleged prosecutorial misconduct
Three days before Klepacki’s trial began, the State notified Klepacki that Tudor’s
sister, Cheyeanne Woods, would testify against Klepacki. According to the State, Woods
would testify that her brother called her about 15 minutes after the murder, was very
emotional, and told her that Klepacki had just shot someone.
The State filed a motion seeking to have Woods’s testimony deemed admissible.
Klepacki objected. The trial court ruled that Woods could testify what her brother said,
subject to the State laying a proper foundation for an excited utterance.
Defense counsel interviewed Woods on October 29, prior to her testifying. After
this interview, and once the jury was excused, defense counsel voiced a concern. Counsel
said he thought the State was committing prosecutorial misconduct in offering Woods’s
testimony to the jury. The court noted that defense counsel had not provided any
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authority, briefing, or motion on the subject. Defense counsel said he would bring a
CrR 8.3(b) motion to dismiss for misconduct. No such motion was brought.
Woods testified as anticipated. During her examination, Woods admitted that her
new testimony was inconsistent with the testimony she gave in her brother’s trial, that she
told the State very recently she did not know anything about the murder, and that she
spoke with her brother after that discussion with the State. Woods explained that she had
withheld the substance of her brother’s January 4 phone calls because her brother’s claim
at trial and in the pending appeal was that he was not present during the murder. She
acknowledged that her present testimony hurt her brother’s pending appeal.
The State presented call logs that verified Woods received calls from her brother
the night of the murder, including a call around 9:30 p.m.
5. State’s theory explained
The State explained its theory of the case during closing. The State argued that
Tudor had kicked Giesbrecht’s front door open and that Klepacki, standing behind and
reaching over Tudor, fired the .45 caliber pistol. The State’s theory therefore accounted
for Tudor’s shoe prints on the door, Wright’s testimony that the shooter was a younger
person wearing a dark hoodie and holding the pistol above his shoulder, and the fact that
the gun’s holster was found near Klepacki in the bushes.
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6. Verdict and posttrial motions
The jury found Klepacki guilty of first degree murder and entered a special
finding that Klepacki had possessed a firearm at the time of the crime. Klepacki filed a
CrR 7.4(a)(3) motion for arrest of judgment, challenging the sufficiency of the evidence.
The trial court denied that motion.
Klepacki also filed a CrR 7.5(a)(2) motion for a new trial, claiming prosecutorial
misconduct. Klepacki asserted that the prosecutor improperly offered leniency in
exchange for Woods’s testimony. Klepacki’s motion was based on defense counsel’s
affidavit. Paraphrasing for brevity, the affidavit explained:
After his conviction and sentencing, Tudor’s attorney contacted the
State and asked, “What will you give Tudor for coming forward and saying
what happened?” The State said it would listen to Tudor only if it could be
corroborated.
The State scheduled an interview with Tudor’s sister and mom. The
interview occurred on October 15 and was videotaped. The State asked
both women how they felt about Tudor serving time for murdering
Giesbrecht while the person who actually shot Giesbrecht, Klepacki, would
probably go free. The State also told them about the call it received from
Tudor’s attorney, and its response that it needed corroboration. Both
women adamantly insisted throughout the videotaped interview that they
knew nothing.
After the interview, Woods called her brother in prison. After this
call, she contacted the State and offered new information. The State
scheduled a second interview, although not recorded. Woods told the State
that her brother had called her shortly after the murder, sounded freaked out
and scared, and told her that Klepacki had just shot and killed someone.
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See CP at 163. The trial court considered defense counsel’s affidavit and reviewed
Woods’s October 15 videotaped interview. The trial court concluded that Klepacki had
not established prosecutorial misconduct and denied his CrR 7.5(a)(2) motion for a new
trial.
Klepacki appealed.
ANALYSIS
Klepacki raises four arguments in his direct appeal: (1) the trial court abused its
discretion when it denied his CrR 8.3(b) motion to dismiss for prosecutorial misconduct,
(2) the trial court erred in admitting Detective Dresback’s hearsay testimony that the
murder weapon could fit in the holster found near Klepacki, (3) he was denied effective
assistance of counsel when defense counsel failed to object to McGillivary’s hearsay
statement about how the gun was found, and (4) he was denied effective assistance of
counsel when defense counsel failed to object to Detective Dresback’s demonstration of
Wright’s reenactment of how the shooter held the gun.
A. PROCURING WOODS’S TESTIMONY WAS NOT PROSECUTORIAL MISCONDUCT
Klepacki argues the trial court abused its discretion when it denied his CrR 8.3(b)
motion to dismiss for prosecutorial misconduct. We note that Klepacki never brought a
CrR 8.3(b) motion to dismiss. Rather, Klepacki brought a motion for a new trial under
CrR 7.5(a)(2). The State does not raise this discrepancy as an issue. We treat Klepacki’s
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claim of error as pertaining to the trial court’s denial of his motion for a new trial under
CrR 7.5(a)(2).
CrR 7.5(a)(2) authorizes a trial court to grant a defense motion for a new trial if it
appears that a substantial right of the defendant was materially affected by prosecutorial
misconduct. State v. McKenzie, 157 Wn.2d 44, 52, 134 P.3d 221 (2006). The decision to
grant or deny a new trial is within the discretion of the trial court, and this court will not
disturb that decision unless there is a clear abuse of discretion. Id. at 51. A trial court
abuses its discretion when no reasonable judge would have reached the same conclusion.
Id. at 52.
To show prosecutorial misconduct, the defendant has the burden of establishing
that (1) the State acted improperly, and (2) the State’s improper act prejudiced the
defendant. State v. Emery, 174 Wn.2d 741, 756, 278 P.3d 653 (2012). Misconduct is
prejudicial if there is a substantial likelihood it affected the verdict. Id. at 760-61.
Klepacki argues that the State acted improperly because it procured Woods’s
testimony by offering leniency to someone else, her brother. Klepacki cites United States
v. Singleton, 165 F.3d 1297, 1301-02 (10th Cir. 1999) to support his argument. We do
not read Singleton as supporting his argument.
In Singleton, the government had promised a co-conspirator leniency in exchange
for the co-conspirator’s testimony. Id. at 1298. The defendant appealed the lower court’s
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refusal to suppress the testimony. Id. at 1297. The defendant argued that the
government’s offer to the witness violated the federal anti-gratuity statute. 1 Id. at 1299.
In rejecting the argument, the Singleton court stated:
[T]he defendant implies Congress must have intended to subject the United
States to the provisions of section 201(c)(2), and, consequently, like any
other violator, to criminal prosecution. Reduced to this logical conclusion,
the basic argument of the defendant is patently absurd.
Id. at 1300.
The Singleton court held that the longstanding practice of exchanging leniency for
truthful testimony was not prohibited under the anti-gratuity statute. Id. at 1302. The
Singleton court clarified that its holding did not permit the government to offer a witness
something beyond a concession normally granted:
Our conclusion in no way permits an agent of the government to step
beyond the limits of his or her office to make an offer to a witness other
than one traditionally exercised by the sovereign. A prosecutor who offers
something other than a concession normally granted by the government in
exchange for testimony is no longer the alter ego of the sovereign and is
divested of the protective mantle of the government. Thus, fears our
decision would permit improper use or abuse of prosecutorial authority
simply have no foundation.
1
18 U.S.C. § 201(c)(2) provides that whoever corruptly gives, offers, or promises
anything of value to any person, or offers or promises such person to give anything of
value to any other person with intent to influence the testimony under oath of such first-
mentioned person as a witness upon a trial shall be fined under this title or imprisoned for
not more than two years, or both.
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Id.Klepacki asserts that Singleton prohibits the State from offering leniency to anyone
but the witness, i.e., Woods. We disagree. Singleton was concerned with what the
government offered, not who might benefit from the government’s offer. Singleton
focused on the type of concession the government offered and concluded that the
longstanding governmental practice of exchanging leniency for testimony was not
improper.
Here, the record does not establish that the State offered leniency to Woods’s
brother. But even if the State did offer leniency to him, it is of no consequence. We
conclude that the trial court did not abuse its discretion when it denied Klepacki’s
CrR 7.5(a)(2) motion for a new trial. 2
B. ADMITTING HEARSAY TESTIMONY ABOUT THE HOLSTER WAS HARMLESS
ERROR
1. Hearsay
2
After oral argument, Klepacki filed a “Memorandum Re Statement of Additional
Authorities.” In the two-page memorandum, Klepacki clarifies his prosecutorial
misconduct argument. We understood his argument without the need for clarification.
The State has moved to strike the memorandum as an improper post-argument
submission. We agree and grant the State’s motion to strike.
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Klepacki argues the trial court erred in admitting Detective Dresback’s testimony
that the firearms expert confirmed to him that the .45-caliber pistol could fit inside the
holster found near Klepacki.
The State does not dispute that Detective Dresback’s testimony was hearsay. The
State instead argues that Klepacki failed to object. We disagree. Klepacki did object.
But the trial court allowed the testimony because it wrongly believed the firearms expert
had already testified on the issue. Regardless of whether the firearms expert had earlier
testified on the issue, the detective’s recitation of the expert’s opinion still was hearsay.
The trial court, therefore, erred by admitting Detective Dresback’s hearsay
testimony.
The State alternatively argues that admission of the hearsay was harmless. We
agree. Error in admitting hearsay may be harmless if there is a reasonable probability that
the error did not materially affect the verdict. State v. Owens, 128 Wn.2d 908, 914, 913
P.2d 366 (1996). Here, Detective Dresback testified about his own research and stated
that his research confirmed that the .45-caliber pistol could fit inside the holster. This
was proper nonhearsay testimony. An error is not prejudicial if similar testimony was
admitted. State v. Ramirez-Estevez, 164 Wn. App. 284, 293, 263 P.3d 1257 (2011).
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2. Confrontation clause
Klepacki further argues that the admission of the hearsay statement violated his
rights under the confrontation clause. Under the Sixth Amendment to the United States
Constitution’s confrontation clause, “[i]n all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall
enjoy the right . . . to be confronted with the witness against him.” In general, the
confrontation clause prohibits the admission of an unavailable declarant’s out-of-court
statement if the hearsay qualifies as testimonial. Davis v. Washington, 547 U.S. 813, 821,
126 S. Ct. 2266, 165 L. Ed. 2d 224 (2006).
The parties present a thorny issue of whether Klepacki’s failure to assert a specific
confrontation clause objection waives his right to review. The issue presented is thorny
given that the trial court glossed over the hearsay objection and focused on the
confrontation clause when it erred in admitting the evidence.
We note that both the .45-caliber pistol and the holster were in the courtroom
throughout most of the trial. The hearsay statement of Detective Dresback did not
prevent Klepacki from confronting his absent accuser. The best evidence of whether the
absent accuser’s opinion was true was available to Klepacki within the four walls of the
courtroom. If there was a bona fide question whether the pistol fit the holster, the
question could have been irrefutably answered without resort to any absent witness. One
only would have had to place the pistol inside the holster. For this reason, we reject
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Klepacki’s claim that the admission of the hearsay violated his rights under the
confrontation clause.
C. COUNSEL NOT INEFFECTIVE FOR FAILING TO OBJECT TO MCGILLIVARY
HEARSAY
Klepacki argues he received ineffective assistance of counsel when his attorney
failed to object to McGillivary testifying where a child had originally found the murder
weapon. We disagree.
To meaningfully protect an accused’s right to counsel, an accused is entitled to
effective assistance of counsel. Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 104 S. Ct. 2052,
80 L. Ed. 2d 674 (1984). Courts apply a two-prong test to determine if counsel provided
effective assistance: (1) whether counsel performed deficiently, and (2) whether the
deficient performance prejudiced the defendant. Id. at 687. If a defendant fails to
establish one prong of the test, this court need not address the remaining prong. State v.
Hendrickson, 129 Wn.2d 61, 78, 917 P.2d 563 (1996). This is a mixed question of law
and fact, reviewed de novo. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 698.
To satisfy the first prong, the defendant must show that, after considering all the
circumstances, counsel’s performance fell below an objective standard of reasonableness.
State v. McFarland, 127 Wn.2d 322, 334-35, 899 P.2d 1251 (1995). The burden is on the
defendant to show deficient performance. State v. Grier, 171 Wn.2d 17, 33, 246 P.3d
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1260 (2011). This court gives great deference to trial counsel’s performance and begins
the analysis with a strong presumption counsel performed effectively. State v. West, 185
Wn. App. 625, 638, 344 P.3d 1233 (2015). A counsel’s failure to object to evidence is a
classic example of trial tactics; only in egregious circumstances will it constitute deficient
performance. State v. Madison, 53 Wn. App. 754, 763, 770 P.2d 662 (1989).
McGillivary explained that she retrieved the murder weapon and called police
because a child had found a gun near the school and dropped it in an alleyway nearby at a
bus stop. By testifying that a child had originally found the gun near the school, it places
the gun closer to where law enforcement found Klepacki.
Had Klepacki raised a hearsay objection, the State would have been required to
call the boy who found the gun as a witness. Having a boy testify that he found a gun on
the way to school would not have benefited Klepacki. It would have emphasized the
danger a gun poses. We determine that defense counsel’s failure to object to
McGillivary’s testimony was a legitimate tactical decision.
D. COUNSEL NOT INEFFECTIVE FOR FAILING TO OBJECT TO DETECTIVE
DRESBACK’S DEMONSTRATION OF WRIGHT’S PORTRAYAL OF HOW SHOOTER
HELD GUN
Klepacki contends he received ineffective assistance of counsel when his attorney
failed to object to Detective Dresback’s demonstration of Wright’s portrayal of how the
shooter held the gun. The State does not dispute Klepacki’s valid contention that the
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detective’s demonstration constitutes nonverbal hearsay. See, e.g., In re Dependency of
Penelope B., 104 Wn.2d 643, 652, 709 P.2d 1185 (1985). Instead, the State obliquely
argues that defense counsel’s lack of objection was a legitimate trial strategy. With the
following explanation, we agree.
In closing, the State argued Klepacki was the shooter largely based on Detective
Dresback’s demonstration of how Wright portrayed to him the shooter holding the gun
above his shoulder. The State argued that Wright saw Tudor because Tudor was in front
and that Wright saw the gun over Tudor’s shoulder because Klepacki was reaching over
Tudor with the gun.
Klepacki countered the State’s argument in his closing:
Shot over the shoulder? What did Mr. Wright say, shot over the
shoulder? Did you hear Mr. Wright say anything like that when he’s giving
his observations about the shooter? Where did that come from, a shot over
the shoulder? Did you hear any testimony about that in here? Detective
Dresback tried to say something to that effect, but it wasn’t from a witness.
5 RP (Nov. 5, 2015) at 947.
Klepacki, by not objecting to Detective Dresback’s demonstration, allowed him to
argue that the evidence of how the shooter held the gun was unbelievable because the
evidence did not come from a witness to the shooting. This is a classic example of trial
tactics, the kind we will not second-guess absent extreme circumstances. This is not an
extreme circumstance. Defense counsel’s closing argument on this point was sufficiently
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sound to not warrant reversal.
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL GROUNDS FOR REVIEW
RAP 10.10 permits a defendant to file a pro se statement of additional grounds for
review (SAG) if the defendant believes his appellate counsel has not adequately
addressed certain matters. RAP 10.10(d) directs that the defendant should file his SAG
within 30 days of receiving his appellate counsel’s brief and notice of the substance of
rights and obligations under RAP 10.10.
Here, Klepacki’s appellate counsel mailed the appellant’s brief to Klepacki and
notified him of the substance of RAP 10.10 on December 12, 2016. Klepacki filed his
first SAG on February 13, 2017 (raising 21 distinct arguments in his 5 grounds for
review) and his supplemental SAG on July 25, 2017. We deem the supplemental SAG in
substantial violation of RAP 10.10(d) and address only those issues raised in the
February 13, 2017 SAG. 3
SAG Ground 1:
A. Bias of judge/charging in the alternative
Klepacki asserts, “Bias application of discretion and failing to protect the rights of
the defendant, thereby handicapping the defense by allowing the state a wide latitude with
3
We nevertheless reviewed the issues raised in the July 25, 2017 SAG and
conclude they lack merit.
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and to objections to the prosecution.” SAG at 1. Klepacki’s assertion does not inform us
of the nature and occurrence of the claimed error. We, therefore, decline to review it.
State v. Clark-El, 196 Wn. App. 614, 625, 384 P.3d 627 (2016).
Klepacki also complains that the court allowed the State to charge him by
alternative means, which prevented him from knowing the exact nature of the charges.
CrR 2.1(a)(1) permits charging in the alternative. Klepacki fails to explain how the
charges were confusing. His mere assertion that the information was confusing is
insufficient to warrant our review.
B. Improper instructions
Klepacki argues the instructions were improper and confused the jury. But we will
not review a claimed instructional error in the absence of a preserved objection at trial.
State v. Hickman, 135 Wn.2d 97, 104-05, 954 P.2d 900 (1998). Here, Klepacki did not
object or take any exception to the trial court’s instructions.
SAG Ground 2:
1A. Prosecutorial misconduct: Charging decision
Similar to his argument above, Klepacki argues the prosecutor committed
misconduct because he did not know what statute to charge. Because the law permits
charging in the alternative, we reject Klepacki’s argument of prosecutorial misconduct.
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1B. Prosecutorial misconduct: Prosecuting a knowingly false case
Klepacki argues that the prosecutor committed misconduct by prosecuting a case
against him that the prosecutor knew was false. Klepacki points to the October 15
videotaped interview in which the prosecutor told Woods that Klepacki might not be
convicted. This statement does not establish that the prosecutor knew the case against
Klepacki was false. Up until Woods’s testimony, the State’s case against Klepacki relied
on circumstantial evidence. The State had a store video that showed Klepacki and Tudor
together shortly before the murder. The State also had a witness who saw two men, one
with a gun, running away from the murder scene soon after the shooting. In addition, a
deputy who responded to the call saw Klepacki running in the opposite direction from the
murder scene and found a freshly placed gun holster near where Klepacki was hiding.
The evidence does not support Klepacki’s argument that the prosecutor knew the case
against Klepacki was false.
2A. Prosecutorial misconduct: Giving testimony during closing
Klepacki argues that the prosecutor committed misconduct during closing
arguments by testifying how the events happened on January 4. We disagree. The
prosecutor used the evidence admitted during trial to argue how the crime likely occurred.
For instance, although no one actually testified that Klepacki reached over Tudor to shoot
Giesbrecht, the evidence did permit the argument to be made. The jury was free to
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believe or disbelieve the State’s various arguments. To assure that the conviction was
based only on evidence admitted during the trial, and not on the lawyers’ arguments, the
trial court instructed the jury:
The lawyers’ remarks, statements and arguments are intended to help
you understand the evidence and apply the law. It is important, however,
for you to remember that the lawyers’ statements are not evidence. The
evidence is the testimony and the exhibits. . . . You must disregard any
remark, statement or argument that is not supported by the evidence or the
law in my instructions.
5 RP (Nov. 5, 2015) at 909. We presume that the jury followed the court’s instructions.
State v. Kalebaugh, 183 Wn.2d 578, 586, 355 P.3d 253 (2015). Because the prosecutor’s
arguments were not evidence, but instead were arguments based on trial testimony, we
reject Klepacki’s claim that the prosecutor committed misconduct by testifying.
2B. Prosecutorial misconduct: Explanation of Klepacki’s injury
Klepacki argues the prosecutor committed misconduct by telling the jury during
closing argument that he cut his head by either being hit with the gun or running into a
guide wire. Again, the trial court explained to the jury that the attorneys’ statements
during closing are not facts and any statements not supported by the evidence should be
disregarded. If the prosecutor’s statements to the jury were not supported by the
evidence, we presume that the jury followed the court’s instructions and disregarded the
argument. Id.22
No. 33983-1-III
State v. Klepacki
2C. Prosecutorial misconduct: How shooter held gun
Klepacki argues the prosecutor committed misconduct by misstating the testimony
how Wright described the shooter holding the gun. Klepacki claims that Wright
described the shooter as holding the gun at shoulder level, not above the shoulder. As
noted above, if the evidence did not support the prosecutor’s argument, we presume the
jury disregarded it. Also, the jury was permitted to believe Detective Dresback’s
description of how Wright portrayed the shooter.
2D. Prosecutorial misconduct: Argument that Klepacki admitted that
holster fell out of his pocket
Klepacki argues the prosecutor committed misconduct by misstating that Klepacki
admitted to Detective Dresback that the holster fell out of his pocket. Klepacki argues the
evidence clearly showed that he said his cell phone may have fallen out of his pocket. We
presume the jury disregarded the prosecutor’s misstatement of the record. Nevertheless,
the evidence showed that the holster had been recently discarded in the vicinity where
Klepacki was hiding from law enforcement. The jury could have reasonably believed that
Klepacki discarded the holster.
SAG Ground 3:
3A. Ineffective assistance of counsel: Failure to file suppression motion
23
No. 33983-1-III
State v. Klepacki
Klepacki argues he received ineffective assistance of counsel because his
counsel’s “failure to file a motion for a [CrR] 3.6(a) Suppression of Evidence Hearing.”
SAG at 3. We are unable to determine what Klepacki believes should have been
suppressed. Because we are unable to determine the nature of the claimed error, we will
not review it.
3B. Ineffective assistance of counsel: Failure to object at trial
Klepacki argues he received ineffective assistance of counsel because his attorney
did “[n]ot object[ ] to any of the evidence the state admitted during trial.” SAG at 3. The
record refutes Klepacki’s argument. Defense counsel objected throughout the entire trial.
3C. Ineffective assistance of counsel: Not hiring forensic expert
Klepacki argues he received ineffective assistance of counsel because his attorney
did not provide “forensic expert for defense rebuttal to state’s findings and testimony.”
SAG at 3. Klepacki does not explain whether the evidence he thinks should have been
challenged relates to the gun, the shoes, the holster, or the DNA evidence. Because we
are unable to determine the nature of the claimed error, we will not review it.
3D. Ineffective assistance of counsel: Detective Lyle Johnston’s
speculation
Klepacki argues he received ineffective assistance of counsel because his attorney
did not ask the trial court to strike Detective Johnston’s speculation that a guide wire
24
No. 33983-1-III
State v. Klepacki
could have caused Klepacki’s head injury. Here, the trial court sustained defense
counsel’s objection that Detective Johnston’s opinion was speculation, but did not
explicitly tell the jury to disregard the evidence. Nevertheless, the trial court instructed
the jury to not consider evidence that was stricken or “not admitted.” 5 RP (Nov. 5,
2015) at 907. Again, we presume the jury followed the trial court’s general instruction.
3E. Ineffective assistance of counsel: Not objecting at closing
Klepacki argues he received ineffective assistance of counsel because his attorney
failed to object to the prosecutor’s description of how the shooter held the gun. Here,
there was an issue of fact. Detective Dresback testified that Wright portrayed to him that
the shooter held the gun above his shoulder. Defense counsel was not deficient for failing
to object to an argument supported by the record.
SAG Ground 4:
4A/B. Irrelevant evidence: Lack of DNA/prints on gun
Klepacki argues the trial court erred when it admitted irrelevant evidence that
forensics did not recover his or Tudor’s DNA/prints on the gun. Klepacki did not object
to this testimony. He, therefore, waived his right to review on this issue. State v. Guloy,
104 Wn.2d 412, 422, 705 P.2d 1182 (1985); see also State v. Blake, 172 Wn. App. 515,
530, 298 P.3d 769 (2012).
4C/D. Irrelevant evidence: Clothing not worn by him
25
No. 33983-1-III
State v. Klepacki
Klepacki argues the trial court erred when it admitted irrelevant evidence of
pictures of hats and the bandana from Tudor’s residence because there was no evidence
that he wore the hat or the bandana on the night of the murder. Again, Klepacki did not
object to this testimony. He, therefore, waived his right to review on this issue. Blake,
172 Wn. App. at 530.
4E. Irrelevant evidence: Nike shoes
Klepacki argues the trial court erred when it admitted the Nike shoes because
forensic evidence was inconclusive about whether the tread print matched the prints on
the victim’s front door. Klepacki’s failure to object to this evidence precludes our
review. Id.
4F. Irrelevant evidence: Holster
Klepacki argues the holster was irrelevant because there was no evidence linking
him to the holster. We disagree. The holster was recently placed where he was hiding
from law enforcement. A jury could draw the reasonable inference that Klepacki hid the
holster.
26
No. 33983-1-III
State v. Klepacki
SAG Ground 5: Brady 4 violation
Klepacki argues the State violated Brady by refusing to admit into evidence his
boots or that he was wearing them. The record does not support this argument.
Brady imposes a duty on the State to disclose material evidence favorable to the
defendant. See Brady, 373 U.S. at 87. If the State suppresses such evidence, this violates
due process regardless of whether the State acted in good faith or bad faith. Id. To
establish a Brady violation, a defendant must demonstrate the existence of each of three
necessary elements: (1) the State must have suppressed the evidence, either willfully or
inadvertently, (2) the evidence at issue must be favorable to the accused, either because it
is exculpatory, or because it is impeaching, and (3) prejudice must have ensued such that
there is a reasonable probability that the result of the proceeding would have differed had
the State disclosed the evidence to trial counsel. State v. Mullen, 171 Wn.2d 881, 895,
259 P.3d 158 (2011). A defendant’s Brady claim fails if he or she fails to demonstrate
any element. Id.As to the first element, the State elicited testimony that Klepacki was wearing
boots when Detective Dresback interviewed him. The State also admitted an exhibit that
showed Klepacki wearing boots the night of his interview. The State did not suppress any
evidence. We, therefore, reject Klepacki’s claim that the State committed a Brady
4
Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83, 83 S. Ct. 1194, 10 L. Ed. 2d 215 (1963).
27
No. 33983-1-111
State v. Klepacki
violation.
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, A.CJ.
j
WE CONCUR:
1
Siddoway, J. Pennell, J.
28