State Of Washington v. Eric Charles Mason

fILE0
COURT OF APPEALS DIV I
STATE OF WASHINGTON -
2018 FEB 12 Ati 10: 50
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
STATE OF WASHINGTON,
No. 75408-4-1
Respondent,
DIVISION ONE
V.
ERIC CHARLES MASON, PUBLISHED IN PART
Appellant. FILED: February 12, 2018
SPEARMAN, J. — Eric Mason hid a video camera in the bathroom he
shared with his stepsister and her husband. Over the course of a few months he
filmed his stepsister on one occasion and her husband on three occasions. Once
the filming did not capture anyone. A jury convicted Mason of four counts of
voyeurism and one count of attempted voyeurism. On appeal, he claims that his
multiple convictions for the same victim violated his double jeopardy rights, and
that there was insufficient evidence that he filmed for the purpose of sexual
gratification. He also argues that the prosecutor engaged in misconduct, that his
counsel was ineffective, and that several of his conditions of community custody
are unlawful. We agree with Mason's challenges to the conditions of community
custody, but conclude that his other claims lack merit. We affirm his conviction,
but remand for the trial court to strike, and/or amend the unlawful community
custody conditions.
No. 75408-4-1/2
FACTS
In the early morning hours of November 28, 2015, Jack Keend used the
bathroom that he shared with his wife, Hannah, and her stepbrother, Eric Mason.
He noticed a camera inside a wicker decoration on top of the toilet. Jack
removed the camera and brought it to his father in law, Doug Peterson. They
confronted Mason, who denied responsibility. Jack and Doug turned the camera
on and watched video of Mason setting it up. Doug called the police. An officer
came to the house and arrested Mason. In reference to the camera, Mason said
to the officer, "[t]here's nothing on there." Verbatim Report of Proceedings(VRP)
at 132.
A detective analyzed the contents of the camera, which contained five
separate videos, four of which recorded Hannah or Jack in the bathroom. In the
beginning of the first video, recorded on October 4, 2015 at 10:32 p.m., Mason is
seen setting up the camera. The camera points toward the shower, and Hannah
is seen from the shoulders up entering and exiting the shower.
Three other videos show Jack using the bathroom. Each begins with
Mason setting up and angling the camera toward the door, so the whole
bathroom can be seen. At a certain point, Jack enters the bathroom, urinates,
and exits. These videos were recorded on October 6 at 9:50 p.m., October 7 at
10:41 p.m., and November 27 at 11:53 p.m. One video, recorded November 22
at 9:42 p.m., shows only Mason setting up the camera, with no other person
entering the bathroom.
Mason was charged with four counts of voyeurism, one count of attempted
voyeurism, and possession of methamphetamine. At trial, Mason admitted
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filming, but said the videos were "not sexual at all." VRP at 227. He explained
that his purpose was to make Jack feel violated because Jack had previously
walked into Mason's room while his girlfriend was partially dressed. Mason also
said that he was collecting video evidence that Jack cooked the family dinner
after urinating and not washing his hands. Mason intended to make a
presentation to the family "so they can digest their own dysfunction." VRP at 226.
Hannah testified that she always showered between 10:30pm and
midnight. In closing, the State urged that the jury infer that the timing of Mason's
recordings, all initiated between 9:42 p.m. and 11:53 p.m., showed his intent to
capture Hannah undressed in the bathroom. The State also argued that the jury
could infer Mason's purpose from his careful readjustment of the camera after his
first attempt failed to capture Hannah's full body.
The jury convicted Mason as charged. His sentence included community
custody conditions. The court also ordered that he pay a $500 victim assessment
and $200 criminal filing fee. Mason appeals.
DISCUSSION
Double Jeopardy
Mason argues that the unit of prosecution for voyeurism is per victim, so
his three voyeurism convictions for Jack violate double jeopardy. The State
argues that the unit of prosecution here is per viewing, so the three recordings
support three convictions. Because both parties are correct, Mason's claim fails.
Mason's double jeopardy claim raises an issue of statutory interpretation,
which we review de novo. State v. Thomas, 150 Wash. 2d 666, 670, 80 P.3d 168
(2003). The constitutional guaranty against double jeopardy protects a defendant
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against multiple punishments for the same offense. U.S. Const. amend. V; Wash.
Const. art. I, § 9. Double jeopardy is implicated when the court exceeds its
authority and imposes multiple punishments where the legislature has not
authorized them. State v. Calle, 125 Wash. 2d 769, 776, 888 P.2d 155(1995).
"When the Legislature defines the scope of a criminal act(the unit of
prosecution), double jeopardy protects a defendant from being convicted twice
under the same statute for committing just one unit of the crime." State v. Adel,
136 Wash. 2d 629, 634, 965 P.2d 1072(1998). The unit of prosecution may be an
act or a course of conduct. State v. Tvedt, 153 Wash. 2d 705, 710, 107 P.3d 728
(2005). To determine the unit of prosecution, we first examine the statute's plain
language. Id.
The voyeurism statute reads:
(2) A person commits the crime of voyeurism if, for the
purpose of arousing or gratifying the sexual desire of any person, he
or she knowingly views, photographs, or films:
(a) Another person without that person's knowledge and
consent while the person being viewed, photographed, or filmed is in
a place where he or she would have a reasonable expectation of
privacy; or
(b) The intimate areas of another person without that person's
knowledge and consent and under circumstances where the person
has a reasonable expectation of privacy, whether in a public or
private place.
Former RCW 9A.44.115(2)(2003). "Photographs" or "films" is defined as "the
making of a photograph, motion picture film, videotape, digital image, or any
other recording or transmission of the image of a person." RCW 9A.44.115(1)(b).
The plain language of the statute criminalizes "the making of a ... film." Id.
This shows legislative intent that the unit of prosecution be an instance of filming.
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This reasoning was approved in State v. Ose, 156 Wash. 2d 140, 146, 124 P.3d 635
(2005), which examined the second degree possession of stolen property statute
and concluded that "the legislature unambiguously defined the unit of prosecution
... as one count per access device by using the indefinite article 'a' in the clause
'a stolen access device." Similarly here, the legislature defined the unit of
prosecution in the voyeurism statute as one count per filming by defining "films"
as the making of a film. It unambiguously makes each instance of filming a
separate violation of the statute.
Mason disputes that the statute permits a unit of prosecution that is per
instance of filming. He contends that the correct unit of prosecution is per victim.
In his view, the three counts involving Jack should have been charged as one
count. In support of this contention, he relies on State v. Diaz-Flores, 148 Wn.
App. 911, 201 P.3d 1073(2009). In that case, Diaz-Flores was convicted of two
counts of voyeurism after watching two people have sex with each other from
outside the couple's apartment on a single occasion. Diaz-Flores, 148 Wash. App.
at 913. We held that "[t]he plain language of the voyeurism statute establishes
that the legislature intended the unit of prosecution to be each victim whose right
to privacy is violated." Id. at 917. Mason's reliance on the case is misplaced,
however, because there, unlike in this case, neither victim was viewed more than
once. Thus we did not have occasion to consider whether double jeopardy
precluded multiple punishments for the same victim viewed multiple times. As
discussed above, now having considered that question in light of the statute, we
conclude it does not. In addition to establishing the unit of prosecution to be each
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No. 75408-4-1/6
victim, as we held in Diaz-Flores, the statute also clearly makes each instance of
filming a separate criminal act.
Here, Mason made each recording separated by at least 24 hours, which
are clearly distinct instances of filming that support multiple convictions. We hold
that the convictions do not violate the prohibition against double jeopardy.
The remainder of this opinion has no precedential value. Therefore, it will
be filed for public record in accordance with the rules governing unpublished
opinions. See RCW 2.06.040.
Sufficiency of the Evidence of Sexual Gratification
Next, Mason argues that there was not sufficient evidence to prove that he
filmed for the purpose of sexual gratification. The State argues that there was
sufficient circumstantial evidence of sexual gratification based on evidence that
the filming began around the time that Hannah was known to take a shower.
On a sufficiency of the evidence challenge, we determine whether any
rational fact finder could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a
reasonable doubt. State v. Engel, 166 Wash. 2d 572, 576, 210 P.3d 1007 (2009). A
claim of insufficiency "admits the truth of the State's evidence and all inferences
that reasonably can be drawn therefrom." State v. Salinas, 119 Wash. 2d 192, 201,
829 P.2d 1068(1992).
The State must show that Mason filmed the bathroom "for the purpose of
arousing or gratifying the sexual desire of any person. . ." Former RCW
9A.44.115."[A] defendant's purpose of arousing or gratifying sexual desire can
be readily inferred from circumstantial evidence." State v. Hatch, 165 Wash. App.
212, 221, 267 P.3d 473(2011). In a sufficiency analysis, circumstantial evidence
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is not considered any less reliable than direct evidence. State v. Delmarter, 94
Wash. 2d 634, 638,618 P.2d 99(1980)(citing State v. Gosby, 85 Wash. 2d 758, 539
P.2d 680 (1975)).
Over a two month period, Mason surreptitiously filmed the bathroom five
times. Hannah showered between 10:30 p.m. and midnight, and the filming
always began between 9:42 p.m. and 11:53 p.m. A rational juror could
reasonably infer from this timing that Mason intended to film Hannah during her
shower, and that his purpose was sexual gratification. In addition, Mason first
pointed the camera straight toward the shower, and captured only brief, blurry
images of Hannah from the shoulders up. Mason then adjusted the camera for a
clear view of the entire bathroom.
Mason cites his own testimony to argue that he filmed for a nonsexual
purpose. But Mason's explanations are immaterial to the sufficiency challenge.
We consider the evidence in the light most favorable to the State, which provides
sufficient circumstantial evidence to support a rational juror concluding beyond a
reasonable doubt that Mason filmed for the purpose of sexual gratification.
Prosecutorial Misconduct
Mason argues that the prosecutor engaged in misconduct during closing
statements by improperly shifting the burden to Mason to prove that he did not
act for the purpose of sexual gratification.
To prove prosecutorial misconduct, the defendant must show that the
prosecuting attorney's conduct was both improper and prejudicial. State v.
Weber, 159 Wash. 2d 252, 270, 149 P.3d 646(2006). If the defendant does not
object to the alleged misconduct at trial, the issue is usually waived unless the
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No. 75408-4-1/8
misconduct was "'so flagrant and ill-intentioned that it evinces an enduring and
resulting prejudice that could not have been neutralized by an admonition to the
jury." Id. (Quoting State v. Stenson, 132 Wash. 2d 668, 719, 940 P.2d 1239 (1997)).
A prosecuting attorney's alleged improper remarks must be reviewed in the
context of the total argument, the issues in the case, the evidence addressed in
the argument, and the instructions given to the jury. State v. Brown, 132 Wash. 2d
529, 561, 940 P.2d 546 (1997). In closing argument, the prosecutor has wide
latitude to argue reasonable inferences from the evidence, including evidence on
the credibility of witnesses. State v. Thorgerson, 172 Wash. 2d 438, 448, 258 P.3d
43(2011).
During closing arguments in Mason's trial, the prosecutor discussed the
instruction that members of the jury are the sole judges of the credibility of each
witness. The prosecutor talked about Mason's credibility as a witness, providing
the example of his initial denial when confronted by his family about the camera.
The prosecutor then said,
Does that sound like somebody who has a reasonable
explanation for what they were doing?
Sounds to me like somebody who is trying to distance
themselves from the facts and circumstances of this case as
much as they possibly can.
And now he's saying that he was doing it for one of a
number of reasons. To get back at Jack for walking into his
bedroom. To prove that Jack wasn't washing his hands. To, you
know, dysfunction. Prove dysfunction. Show the family that -
that he was being wronged.
Well, he's had about four months to think about it. It's an
awfully convenient story at this point. Fills in the gaps quite
nicely.
VRP at 301-02. The prosecutor went on to argue that this initial denial
demonstrated that Mason's testimony about a nonsexual motive was not
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No. 75408-4-1/9
credible. Mason argues that the quoted portion of the closing statement
constitutes prosecutorial misconduct. In isolation, that section does ask the
defendant to explain a lack of culpability. But viewed in the context of the
argument as a whole that the State was discussing the defendant's credibility,
which Mason placed at issue through his testimony. The State was entitled to
rebut the defense theory in closing by discussing the defendant's credibility.
There was no error.1
Conditions of Community Custody
Mason argues that the trial court abused its discretion when imposing
certain community custody conditions. He contends that these conditions are not
crime-related, are unconstitutionally vague, or violate his first amendment rights.
Mason challenges the following conditions:
4. Do not possess or access pornographic material, as defined by the
supervising CCO.
5. Do not enter any establishments whose primary business pertains to
sexually explicit or erotic material.
6. Do not possess or control sexual stimulus material for your particular
deviancy as defined by the supervising CCO and/or therapist except as
provided for therapeutic purposes.
7. Do not possess cameras and video equipment, or any devices used to
access the Internet on any computer or device unless such access is
approved in advance by the supervising CCO and/or therapist. Any
computer device is subject to search.
10. Participate in polygraph and plethysmograph examinations as directed
by the supervising CCO.
1 Mason also argues that his counsel's failure to object to this portion of the closing
statement constitutes ineffective assistance of counsel. But because we conclude the comments
were not improper, Mason cannot show that the failure to object was deficient representation.
Accordingly, we reject his ineffective assistance claim.
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No. 75408-4-1/10
Clerk's Papers(CP)at 48-49.(Emphasis added). The State concedes that
conditions four and six must be stricken, as well as the portion of condition seven
relating to the internet.(The State's concessions are underlined above.) We
accept those concessions. We address the remaining contested conditions.
We review community custody conditions for abuse of discretion, and will
reverse them only if they are manifestly unreasonable. State v. Irwin, 191 Wn.
App. 644, 652, 364 P.3d 830(2015). An unconstitutional condition is manifestly
unreasonable. Id. Sentencing courts may impose crime-related conditions of
community custody. RCW 9.94A.505(9). This includes conditions that are
reasonably related to the crime. Irwin, 191 Wash. App. at 656 (citing State v. Kinzle,
181 Wash. App. 774, 785, 326 P.3d 870 (2014)). In addition to being related to the
crime, conditions of community custody may not be unconstitutionally vague, with
standards definite enough to protect against arbitrary enforcement. Id. at 652.
Mason argues that condition five, prohibiting entry into sex-related
businesses, is not crime-related, is unconstitutionally vague, and violates his first
amendment rights. In State v. Norris, 1 Wash. App. 2d. 87, 98, 404 P.3d 83(2017),
this court struck a similar condition for a defendant convicted of two counts of
second degree rape of a 13 year old boy. This court reasoned that "there is no
evidence in the record showing that frequenting sex-related businesses is
reasonably related to the circumstances of the crime. . . ." Id. Similarly here,
there is no evidence that Mason frequented sex-related businesses, intended to
distribute his recordings, or had consumed voyeuristic material made by others.
The trial court must strike condition five.
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No. 75408-4-1/11
Mason argues that condition seven's contested portion, the prohibition
against possessing recording devices, violates his first amendment rights. This
community custody condition is reasonably necessary to accomplish the need of
the State to protect its citizens from intrusion, and sufficiently specific and
necessary to justify a potential restriction of Mason's freedom of speech. It does
not violate the first amendment.
Mason argues that condition ten must be struck because plethysmograph
testing may only be used for crime-related treatment. State v. Johnson, 184 Wn.
App. 777, 340 P.3d 230(2014) affirmed a condition identical to condition ten, but
clarified that under State v. Riles, 135 Wash. 2d 326, 345, 957 P.2d 655(1998),
plethysmograph testing may only be ordered for the purpose of sexual deviancy
treatment. We decline the State's request that we uphold the condition with the
clarification that plethysmograph testing may not be used for monitoring. As
written, the condition is unlawful and unenforceable. But on remand the trial court
may reimpose the requirement of plethysmograph testing so long as the testing
is permitted for treatment purposes only.
Legal Financial Obligations
We review a decision to impose legal financial obligations(LF0s)for
abuse of discretion. State v. Clark, 191 Wash. App. 369, 372, 362 P.3d 309(2015),
rev. granted, 187 Wash. 2d 1009, 388 P.3d 487 (2017)).
Mason challenges the trial court's imposition of mandatory LF0s, arguing
that the imposition conflicts with State v. Blazina, 182 Wash. 2d 827, 344 P.3d 680
(2015). He maintains that the trial court erred in assessing the mandatory $500
victim assessment and $200 court costs without a determination of whether he
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No. 75408-4-1/12
had the future ability to pay. Mason relies on Blazina, which requires an
individualized inquiry for discretionary LF0s. The trial court here did not impose
discretionary LF0s. We have previously held that Blazina does not apply to
mandatory LF0s, and that a challenge to whether a LFO violates due process is
not ripe for review until the State attempts to collect the obligation. State v.
Shelton, 194 Wash. App. 660, 673-74, 378 P.3d 230(2016), rev. denied, 187
Wash. 2d 1002, 386 P.3d 1088 (2017)). The trial court did not err in assessing
mandatory LF0s.
Statement of Additional Grounds
Mason advances several additional arguments in his statement of
additional grounds. His arguments on sufficiency of the evidence and double
jeopardy were adequately addressed by his counsel in the opening brief, so they
are not proper for a statement of additional grounds under RAP 10.10. His
remaining arguments lack merit.
Mason first argues that the prosecutor's objection to defense counsel's
closing argument relieved the State of its burden and eroded the presumption of
innocence. Mason objects to the following exchange:
[Defense counsel:] The issue of arousal, gratification is a
completely different issue. And the State has not introduced any
evidence to show that my client would try to be aroused by his
stepsister, by seeing his stepsister.
Mr. Anderson: Objection, Your Honor. 1 think that's a
misstatement of the law.
The Court: Sustained.
VRP at 294. Mason contends that the trial court's ruling augmented the potential
prejudice, because it gave judicial imprimatur to the prosecution's objection. We
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No. 75408-4-1/13
fail to see how either the objection or the court's ruling thereon, shifted the
burden of proof or eroded the presumption of innocence. We reject Mason's
argument.
Mason next argues that the information was insufficient because it did not
identify a specific victim for attempted voyeurism in count four. In addition to
adequately identifying the crime charged, the charging document must allege
facts supporting every element of the offense. State v. Nonog, 145 Wash. App. 802,
806, 187 P.3d 335(2008)(citing State v. Leach, 113 Wash. 2d 679, 689, 782 P.2d
552(1989)). The charge must be defined sufficiently to apprise an accused with
reasonable certainty of the nature of the accusation, such that the accused may
prepare a defense and plead the judgment as a bar to any subsequent
prosecution for the same offense. Id.
The charging document here alleged that Mason "did knowingly view,
photograph, or film (a) another person, to wit:[INITIALS], 09/29/1968, without
that person's knowledge and consent. . . ."2 CP at 140. Where a crime involves a
victim, but not a specific person, the identity of the victim is not an essential
element of the crime. City of Seattle v. Termain, 124 Wash. App. 798, 805, 103
P.3d 209(2004)(crime of violation of no-contact order involves a specific person,
so the identity of the victim must be alleged in the information). So even without
identifying the victim by name,the information adequately apprised Mason of the
essential elements of the crime and the nature of the accusation.
2 This date of birth does not correspond to Hannah or Jack, but Mason does not argue
that he was misled or prejudiced by this misidentification of the victim. Regardless, if the crime
involving a private injury describes and identifies the act with sufficient certainty, an erroneous
allegation as to the person injured is not material. ROW 10.37.090; State v. Plano, 67 Wash. App.
674, 680 n.2, 838 P.2d 1145(1992).
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No. 75408-4-1/14
Last, Mason argues his conviction should be reversed due to the
cumulative effect of errors at trial. Under the cumulative error doctrine, a
defendant may be entitled to a new trial when cumulative errors results in a trial
that is fundamentally unfair. State v. Emery, 174 Wash. 2d 741, 766, 278 P.3d 653
(2012). Because Mason's challenges fail, he is not entitled to a new trial under
the cumulative error doctrine.
We affirm in part, reverse in part, and remand for proceedings consistent
with this opinion.
,
CiP 1IV\.4.- N____
WE CONCUR: )
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