State Of Washington, V. Jerry George Wood, Jr.

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
STATE OF WASHINGTON, ) No. 80692-1-I
) (consolidated with No.
Respondent, ) 81660-8-I)
)
v. ) DIVISION ONE
)
JERRY GEORGE WOOD, JR., ) PUBLISHED OPINION
)
Appellant. )
)
ANDRUS, A.C.J. — Jerry Wood, Jr. appeals his convictions and sentence for
solicitation of first degree murder and solicitation of first degree kidnapping. We
affirm the convictions, concluding that Wood was not denied his Sixth Amendment
right to effective assistance of counsel when his attorney turned over inculpatory
evidence to the State. We reverse Wood’s sentence and remand to the trial court
to determine whether Wood’s out-of-state convictions are comparable to
Washington crimes and properly included in his offender score.
FACTS
On January 14, 2017, K.M. met Wood and his friend, Abdulaziz Mohamed,
in a Shoreline bar. K.M. testified she left the bar with them when they offered to
drive her home. Mohamed, however, testified that K.M. agreed to travel to
Arlington with the men to visit Wood’s friend, Rick Walton.
No. 80692-1-I/2
(consolidated w/81660-8-I)
K.M. testified that when she got into the front passenger seat of Wood’s car,
Mohamed was in the driver’s seat and Wood was in the back. She turned to thank
Wood for giving her a ride home and he punched her in the face. According to
K.M., Wood then pulled her into the back seat, grabbed her by the hair, and forced
her to perform oral sex on him.
Mohamed described these events differently. He testified that Wood was
initially in the driver’s seat and there was no physical altercation between Wood
and K.M. as they drove to a gas station in Everett. En route, Mohamed switched
seats with Wood and took over driving. K.M. moved to the back seat with Wood
when Mohamed got into the driver’s seat. Mohamed described Wood as “drunk
and excited” because he thought he was “going to do something sexual with this
girl tonight.” When they stopped at the gas station, Wood became agitated and
Mohamed described Wood’s mood as having “changed.”
Wood instructed Mohamed to head to Walton’s house. As Mohamed drove
north on I-5, he realized Wood was very mad. He heard Wood begin to argue with
K.M. and could feel the car shaking. When he looked back to see what was
happening, he saw Wood placed K.M. in a headlock. Mohamed attempted to grab
Wood’s arm to stop him from assaulting K.M., but was unsuccessful. When
Mohamed tried a second time to separate Wood and K.M., Wood showed him a
gun. Mohamed became frightened for both himself and K.M. K.M. appeared
scared and began screaming. Mohamed did not feel he could stop in the middle
of the road and leave K.M. with Wood, so he decided to “punch the gas” and get
-2-
No. 80692-1-I/3
(consolidated w/81660-8-I)
to Walton’s house “to get [K.M.] to some safe place.” Mohamed called Walton
before arriving to tell him they were on their way.
Once they arrived at Walton’s house, Mohamed got out of the car in a panic
and went to find Walton. Mohamed told Walton that Wood was in the car getting
violent with K.M. and asked him to intervene. Together, they planned a way to get
K.M. to safety and to get Wood off the property.
According to K.M., after Mohamed got out of the car, Wood ripped off her
pants and underwear and forced her to have vaginal sex with him. Wood disputed
K.M.’s version of events. He testified that they engaged in consensual intercourse
and after they finished, K.M. asked Wood to take her home. When he refused,
she hit him in the face. Wood admitted he became angry at K.M. and hit her in the
face.
When Mohamed returned to the car, he found K.M. sobbing and naked from
the waist down, with blood on her chest and marks on her face. Walton’s girlfriend,
Tara Lien, helped Mohamed get K.M. out of the car and into the house. K.M.
realized at that point that she was not wearing any underwear or pants. Mohamed
reached into the car to grab K.M.’s pants and purse and helped K.M. get dressed.
He described her as “in distress . . . , very confused, and shaking, [and] it was hard
for her to stand straight.” Wood remained in the backseat of his car.
K.M. recalled entering Walton’s house, lying down on a couch, and seeing
blood on her jacket and clumps of her hair on her clothes. K.M. insisted she did
not want to call 911, and Lien used K.M.’s cellphone to call Amber Simpson and
Jay Gaudina, K.M.’s friends, to ask them to come and take K.M. home.
-3-
No. 80692-1-I/4
(consolidated w/81660-8-I)
Walton wanted Wood off his property. Once he knew K.M. was safely inside
the house, Walton convinced Wood to accompany him and Mohamed to a nearby
casino. Walton and Mohamed left in Walton’s car and Walton’s friend drove
Wood’s car because Wood had, by this time, passed out in the back seat.
Simpson and Gaudina picked K.M. up from Walton’s house and drove her
to a friend’s nearby home. They later took her to the hospital because of the
severity of K.M.’s injuries. K.M. had visible bruises under her nose, on her right
eyelid, and around her mouth. Her lip was swollen and bleeding. At the hospital,
the forensic nurse who examined K.M. noted bruising and redness over her right
cheek and eyelid, blood in her right eye, and a disruption to the skin of her vagina.
Semen samples collected from K.M.’s vagina and from the back of the car were
consistent with Wood’s DNA.
When the police subsequently executed a search warrant at Wood’s home,
they discovered the underwear K.M. had been wearing that night and her credit
card in Wood’s bedroom. They also found K.M.’s hair in the back seat of his car.
On February 3, 2017, the State charged Wood with a single count of second
degree rape by forcible compulsion under RCW 9A.44.050(1)(a).
In January 2018, while in the Snohomish County Jail awaiting trial, Wood
was confined in a maximum security unit known as “the hole” at the same time as
Anthony Baldonado, a man Wood had met in jail in 2017. Baldonado, who was
trying to raise money for bail, testified that Wood promised to help him with bail
money if Baldonado would help Wood with something. Wood asked Baldonado
-4-
No. 80692-1-I/5
(consolidated w/81660-8-I)
how much he needed and told him he would have the money dropped off with a
bail bond company.
Later, Wood left the unit for a visit and when he returned, he told Baldonado
that the money had been dropped off. Baldonado asked Wood if he had anything
to read. Wood said he would give a book to a corrections officer to pass to
Baldonado. A few hours later, while he was reading the book, Wood instructed
Baldonado to flip to specific pages to receive a message from Wood. Baldonado
followed Wood’s directions and found “little sentences” handwritten in between the
paragraphs of the book. Later that same day or the next day, Baldonado received
a second book from Wood containing additional messages.
Wood’s notes included descriptions of K.M., her house and address, and
instructions to “make her disappear by any means.” Wood stressed how important
it was for K.M. to “disappear before the 5th” (Wood’s trial date), and that Wood
was relying on Baldonado. He told Baldonado to “babysit [her] for 40 days” or
administer a lethal dose of heroin. The notes informed Baldonado that K.M. lived
with her father and told him that “if the dad say[s] she is not there go in the house
anyway [be]cause he’s lying.” Wood promised rewards including the money
Baldonado needed for bail “plus a car and 200 a day to babysit for 40 days.” Wood
assured Baldonado that “you wont [sic] have to worry about shit [be]cause I got
you with whatever work, money, house anything.” A handwriting expert confirmed
that Wood had written these notes.
At the same time that Wood passed these notes to Baldonado, Wood’s
mother, Shirley Malone, paid $450 towards Baldonado’s bail. When Baldonado
-5-
No. 80692-1-I/6
(consolidated w/81660-8-I)
learned he was going to be released, he tore Wood’s notes out of the books,
intending to turn them over to his lawyer to get a deal on his pending charges. Jail
staff, however, stopped Baldonado as he was leaving the jail and seized the notes.
Baldonado later disclosed to law enforcement that Wood had asked him to kill or
kidnap K.M. and explained how Wood had instructed him on how to read his
handwritten notes on the pages Baldonado had removed from the two paperback
books. The jail found one of the two books Wood had delivered to Baldonado and
verified that the torn pages Baldonado had in his possession came from the book.
Baldonado subsequently entered into a plea agreement on unrelated gun charges
in which he agreed to testify against Wood.
Based on Wood’s notes and Baldonado’s statement to the police, the State
amended the charges against Wood to include one count of criminal solicitation of
first degree murder under RCW 9A.28.030(1) and RCW 9A.32.030(1)(a) and one
count of solicitation of first degree kidnapping under RCW 9A.28.030(1) and RCW
9A.40.020.
After entering his guilty plea, Baldonado was incarcerated in the
Washington Corrections Center (WCC) in Shelton. Wood’s friend and fellow gang
member, Andrew Tisdale, was incarcerated at the WCC at the same time. Wood
sent a letter to Tisdale identifying Baldonado as a snitch in his case. In February
2019, several WCC inmates told Baldonado that Tisdale knew he was a snitch and
showed him paperwork from Wood’s criminal case in which Baldonado was
identified as a witness. Handwritten notes on the pleadings, subsequently
determined to be Wood’s handwriting, identified witness “A.B.” as Baldonado and
-6-
No. 80692-1-I/7
(consolidated w/81660-8-I)
called him a “rat.” The inmates informed Baldonado that Tisdale wanted him to
write an affidavit retracting any statement he had given police about Wood. They
instructed him to say he had lied and “was only cooperating with the DA in order
to get a deal out of [his] prison sentence.” Although he initially refused, Baldonado
came to believe that “they were going to try to jump” him if he refused. Tisdale
wrote out what he wanted the affidavit to say and Baldonado copied it in his
handwriting. Baldonado had his signature notarized in the law library and returned
the affidavit to Tisdale.
Tisdale then spoke with Malone on a recorded jail phone call to tell her that
he had obtained Baldonado’s affidavit and, at her instruction, mailed the affidavit
to Wood’s defense counsel, Walter Peale. Peale provided a copy of the affidavit
to the State. At the same time, Baldonado sent a letter to the prosecutor explaining
what had occurred in the WCC. Baldonado also forwarded to the prosecutor the
documents Tisdale had given him that identified him as a “rat.”
Approximately six months later, the prosecutor asked Peale if he could see
the original affidavit and the envelope in which it had arrived for purposes of
handwriting analysis. When Peale retrieved the original documents, he noticed for
the first time that there was a letter from Tisdale (the Tisdale Letter) addressed to
Wood inside the envelope. The Tisdale Letter read:
K-Doe[1]
This should help you out with your legal troubles. If there’s anything
else I can do let me know. . . .I’m in here doing bad so if you can
shoot a female my way or put a lil something on my media via JPay
I would appreciate it. But I did this off the strength.
1 “K-Doe” is Wood’s street name. Baldonado knew Wood by this nickname.
-7-
No. 80692-1-I/8
(consolidated w/81660-8-I)
Lil’ Sleepy[2]
Peale did not give the Tisdale Letter to Wood, believing that it would be a
violation of a court order prohibiting Wood from communicating with anyone other
than his legal team. Peale did, however, provide a copy of the letter to the State.
The State then amended the information against Wood to include a fourth charge
for conspiracy to intimidate a witness under RCW 9A.28.040 and RCW
9A.72.110(1).
During pretrial motions, the topic of the Tisdale Letter arose in the context
of a discussion about whether the State intended to introduce evidence that Wood
had a gang affiliation. The State argued that evidence that Wood and Tisdale
shared a gang affiliation was relevant to the conspiracy charge. The prosecutor
stated:
[T]his didn’t come together entirely until just recently when Mr. Peale
finally submitted the letter that he had received from Mr. Tisdale
weeks before, and hadn’t provided the first time I requested it – the
first time he sent things. It was only after I noticed that the return
address on the envelope in his first submission to me was missing
that I inquired of it, suspecting that this letter had come from Mr.
Tisdale. And then it was sent with this letter from Mr. Tisdale to Mr.
Wood, which solidified the gang connection that was apparent
before, but not nearly as clear.
The prosecutor said the State intended to call the lead investigator, Detective
Betts, to testify about Wood’s gang affiliation connecting him to Tisdale. Wood
objected to having a detective testify about gang affiliations and sought to exclude
this evidence. The trial court reserved ruling on the admissibility of any gang
2 Tisdale went by the monikers of “Sleep” or “Sleepy.”
-8-
No. 80692-1-I/9
(consolidated w/81660-8-I)
affiliation between Wood and Tisdale to give Peale time to interview Detective
Betts on this topic. Peale did not seek to exclude the Tisdale Letter or any
testimony relating to it.
When the prosecutor referred to the Tisdale Letter in his opening statement,
Wood moved for a mistrial. Peale argued that the prosecutor had suggested in his
opening remarks that Wood had received the Tisdale Letter and the only way to
refute this suggestion was for Peale to testify that he had intercepted the letter and
Wood had never received it. The State argued that mistrial was unnecessary and
offered to stipulate that Wood never received the letter.
The trial court denied the motion for mistrial. Peale then asked the court to
appoint independent counsel to advise Wood on what he perceived as a conflict
of interest. Although the trial court saw no actual conflict of interest, it agreed to
appoint independent counsel to evaluate the issue with Wood.
Trial continued and, three days later, the court heard argument from the
parties and Pete Mazzone, Wood’s newly appointed conflict counsel. Mazzone
contended there was a conflict of interest. He argued Peale violated the Rules of
Professional Conduct (RPC) by disclosing evidence that implicated Wood and, by
doing so, made himself a potential witness in the case, thereby hindering Wood
from presenting a complete and proper defense. Wood, through Mazzone,
indicated he did not wish to continue with Peale representing him on the solicitation
and witness intimidation counts because “that would necessarily impede his ability
to present a full and proper defense.”
-9-
No. 80692-1-I/10
(consolidated w/81660-8-I)
The trial court concluded that there was no conflict with regard to the rape
or solicitation charges because the Tisdale Letter was immaterial to these crimes.
The court then excluded all evidence regarding the Tisdale Letter in order to
resolve any potential conflict with regard to the remaining conspiracy charge. The
court denied Peale’s request to withdraw and declined to appoint new counsel.
The jury convicted Wood of solicitation of first degree murder and
solicitation of first degree kidnapping, but acquitted him of conspiracy to intimidate
a witness. The jury did not reach a verdict on the charge of second degree rape.
Wood subsequently pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of assault in the third
degree rather than face retrial on the rape charge. Wood was sentenced to 273
months of confinement and 36 months of community custody on the solicitation
convictions. Less than a month after the judgment and sentence was entered,
Wood filed a motion for a new trial under CrR 7.5 and CrR 7.8, claiming he had
newly discovered exculpatory evidence. The trial court denied his motion for a
new trial.
Wood appeals his solicitation convictions and sentence. 3
3 Wood does not challenge his guilty plea to assault in the third degree.
- 10 -
No. 80692-1-I/11
(consolidated w/81660-8-I)
ANALYSIS
1. Counsel’s Motion to Withdraw
Wood argues he was denied effective assistance of counsel when the trial
court refused to allow Peale to withdraw based on an alleged conflict of interest.
Because Peale had a duty to disclose the Tisdale Letter to the State, the trial court
did not abuse its discretion in excluding the Tisdale Letter to eliminate any need to
have Peale testify about it. We therefore reject Wood’s argument he was denied
effective assistance of counsel.
The Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees the right
to effective assistance of counsel. U.S. CONST. amend. VI; In re Pers. Restraint of
Gomez, 180 Wn.2d 337, 348, 325 P.3d 142 (2014). This includes the right to an
attorney who is free from any conflict of interest. State v. Dhaliwal, 150 Wn.2d
559, 566, 79 P.3d 432 (2003). To establish a constitutional violation based on a
conflict of interest, a defendant must demonstrate both that his attorney had a
conflict of interest and that the conflict adversely affected counsel’s performance.
Id. at 570; State v. Reeder, 181 Wn. App. 897, 909, 330 P.3d 786 (2014).
The trial court's decision on a withdrawal request is reviewed for abuse of
discretion. Kingdom v. Jackson, 78 Wn. App. 154, 158, 896 P.2d 101 (1995).
Whether a conflict exists, however, is a question of law we review de novo. State
v. O'Neil, 198 Wn. App. 537, 542, 393 P.3d 1238 (2017). “If a conflict creates a
legal duty to withdraw, denying withdrawal is an abuse of discretion.” Id. at 543.
- 11 -
No. 80692-1-I/12
(consolidated w/81660-8-I)
A. Actual Conflict of Interest
Wood argues that Peale’s disclosure of the Tisdale Letter to the State
created an actual conflict of interest because he violated RPC 1.6(a) 4 and RPC
1.8(b), 5 placing his professional interests ahead of the interests of his client. Wood
maintains that Peale’s representation was impacted by his personal interest
because he faced potential disciplinary sanctions for turning the Tisdale Letter over
to the State.
RPC 1.7(a)(2) provides in pertinent part that a conflict of interest exists if
“there is a significant risk that the representation of one or more clients will be
materially limited . . . by a personal interest of the lawyer.” Under this rule, an
actual conflict would exist if Peale’s personal interests in avoiding disciplinary
sanctions materially limited his representation of Wood.
We conclude there was no actual conflict here because under well-
established Washington Supreme Court case law, a defense attorney has a duty
to disclose incriminating evidence he receives from a non-client. In State ex rel.
Sowers v. Olwell, 64 Wn.2d 828, 833, 394 P.2d 681 (1964), attorney Olwell
possessed a knife that the State suspected Olwell’s client had used to stab and kill
a man. Id. at 830. During an inquest, the coroner sent Olwell a subpoena requiring
4 Under RPC 1.6(a), a lawyer “shall not reveal information relating to the representation of a client
unless the client gives informed consent, the disclosure is impliedly authorized in order to carry out
the representation or the disclosure is permitted by paragraph [1.6](b).” This rule covers both
information falling within the attorney-client privilege as well as “secrets” the disclosure of which
would be detrimental to a client. State v. Rogers, 3 Wn. App. 2d 1, 8, 414 P.3d 1143 (2018) (citing
RPC 1.6 cmt. 21); Dietz v. Doe, 131 Wn.2d 835, 842 n.3, 935 P.2d 611 (1997) (RPC 1.6 is
considerably broader than attorney-client privilege).
5 RPC 1.8(b) provides that “[a] lawyer shall not use information relating to the representation of a
client to the disadvantage of the client unless the client gives informed consent, except as permitted
or required by these Rules.”
- 12 -
No. 80692-1-I/13
(consolidated w/81660-8-I)
him to produce any knives relating to his client. Olwell refused to respond and was
held in contempt and ordered to spend two days in jail. Id. at 830-31.
On appeal of the order of contempt, the Supreme Court concluded that the
subpoena was invalid on its face because it required Olwell to disclose information
provided to him by his client. Id. at 833. The court went on to state:
We do not, however, by so holding, mean to imply that evidence can
be permanently withheld by the attorney under the claim of the
attorney-client privilege. Here, we must consider the balancing
process between the attorney-client privilege and the public interest
in criminal investigation. We are in agreement that the attorney-client
privilege is applicable to the knife held by appellant, but do not agree
that the privilege warrants the attorney, as an officer of the court,
from withholding it after being properly requested to produce the
same. The attorney should not be a depository for criminal evidence
(such as a knife, other weapons, stolen property, etc.), which in itself
has little, if any, material value for the purposes of aiding counsel in
the preparation of the defense of his client's case. Such evidence
given the attorney during legal consultation for information purposes
and used by the attorney in preparing the defense of his client's case,
whether or not the case ever goes to trial, could clearly be withheld
for a reasonable period of time. It follows that the attorney, after a
reasonable period, should, as an officer of the court, on his own
motion turn the same over to the prosecution.
Id. at 833–34 (emphasis added). Other states have followed the reasoning in
Olwell. See Morrell v. State, 575 P.2d 1200, 1207 (Alaska 1978) (defense attorney
who came into possession of his client’s written kidnapping plan and disclosed it
to the prosecution did not deprive client of right to effective assistance of counsel
because “a criminal defense attorney has an obligation to turn over to the
prosecution physical evidence which comes into his possession, especially where
the evidence comes into the attorney’s possession through acts of a third party
who is neither a client of the attorney nor an agent of a client.”); Hitch v. Pima
County Superior Court, 146 Ariz. 588, 594, 708 P.2d 72 (1985) (defense attorney
- 13 -
No. 80692-1-I/14
(consolidated w/81660-8-I)
who received victim’s watch from client’s girlfriend had duty to turn watch over to
law enforcement to prevent girlfriend from destroying it; duty of loyalty is
subordinate to responsibility for proper administration of law). 6
Under Olwell, Peale had a duty to disclose the Tisdale Letter to the
prosecution and did not violate either RPC 1.6 or 1.8, or his duty of loyalty to Wood,
by doing so. Peale knew the prosecutor suspected that Baldonado had been
forced to sign the affidavit and that the State was investigating Tisdale for witness
intimidation. He reasonably believed the letter was material evidence in that
investigation. Given that the affidavit constituted a recantation of Baldonado’s
statement incriminating Wood in the solicitation charges, it was foreseeable that
the Tisdale Letter might be material evidence on the credibility of Baldonado’s
recantation. Peale also realized that if he forwarded the Tisdale Letter to Wood,
he would arguably be making Wood into a co-conspirator with Tisdale. By refusing
to turn the letter over to Wood, Peale acted to advance his client’s interests, not
undermine them. And under the circumstances here, with Tisdale incarcerated
and under suspicion for additional criminal activity, it was not a viable option for
Peale to return the letter to Tisdale.
Finally, Peale turned the letter over only after the prosecutor made a specific
request to obtain copies of the materials Peale had received from Tisdale. We
6 The State argued that the disclosure was permitted under RPC 1.6(b)(6), which allows an attorney
to “reveal information relating to the representation of a client to comply with a court order.” The
State contends the letter was documentary evidence, which Peale was required to produce under
the omnibus order. But although the State asked the court to order the defendant to “[a]llow
inspection of any physical or documentary evidence in possession of defendant or his/her
attorney,” as allowed under CrR 4.7(b)(2)(x), the omnibus order contained no language requiring
Wood to disclose any documentary evidence. The record does not support the State’s contention
that Peale was complying with a court order when he disclosed the Tisdale Letter.
- 14 -
No. 80692-1-I/15
(consolidated w/81660-8-I)
have found no authority, and Wood cites none, for the proposition that a criminal
defense attorney owes a duty to a client to withhold incriminating evidence that
comes into his possession from a third party when the prosecutor has requested
to see it. Peale was obligated to disclose the Tisdale Letter to the prosecutor and
doing so did not violate any of his ethical obligations to Wood. Because Peale’s
disclosure did not violate RPC 1.6 or 1.8, he faced no risk of professional discipline
and his personal interest in avoiding such disciplinary sanctions would not have
interfered with his representation at trial.
We recognize that when an attorney receives incriminating physical
evidence and confronts the issue of whether to turn such evidence over to law
enforcement, there is a tension between the duty of loyalty the attorney owes to
his client and the duty of candor the attorney owes to the court. While there is a
potential conflict between these duties, the possibility of a conflict is not enough to
warrant reversal of a conviction. State v. Kitt, 9 Wn. App. 2d 235, 243, 442 P.3d
1280 (2019). Here, the duty of loyalty would not outweigh the duty to respond to
the prosecutor’s request with full candor, and thus, no actual conflict arose.
B. Deficiency in Representation
Even if Peale’s disclosure of the Tisdale Letter created a conflict of interest,
Wood must also show that the conflict either caused some deficiency in
representation that affected Wood's interests, or likely affected specific aspects of
Peale's advocacy on the Wood's behalf. State v. Regan, 143 Wn. App. 419, 427,
177 P.3d 783 (2008). The defendant must demonstrate that the conflict “affected
counsel’s performance—as opposed to a mere theoretical division of loyalties.’”
- 15 -
No. 80692-1-I/16
(consolidated w/81660-8-I)
Dhaliwal, 150 Wn.2d at 570 (quoting Mickens v. Taylor, 535 U.S. 162, 171, 122 S.
Ct. 1237, 152 L. Ed. 2d 291 (2002)). No such demonstration has been made here.
Wood argues Peale’s disclosure affected his representation because it
made him into a necessary defense witness who could have been called to testify
at trial. RPC 3.7(a) prohibits an attorney from acting as an advocate in a trial in
which the lawyer “is likely to be a necessary witness.” But this rule also allows a
lawyer to testify about an uncontested issue. RPC 3.7(a)(1). Here, Peale could
have testified that he received the letter directly from Tisdale and Wood never
received it because the State did not contest these facts. Had this testimony been
beneficial to Wood, Peale could have been a witness without violating RPC 3.7.
Moreover, the trial court eliminated the problem by excluding the Tisdale
Letter and accepting the State’s agreement that it would not elicit any information
about it at trial. There was nothing exculpatory in the letter and, once it was
excluded in the State’s case, we can see no reason why Wood would have wanted
to present this evidence in his defense. At that point, Peale was not a necessary
witness and, as the trial court noted, any conflict of interest was eliminated. And
the jury did acquit Wood of the witness intimidation charge.
Wood contends that Peale would have been an important witness as to
Wood’s lack of intent on the two solicitation charges. But Wood fails to explain the
nexus between Peale’s knowledge about the Baldonado affidavit and Tisdale
Letter and Wood’s state of mind when he recruited Baldonado to kidnap and
murder K.M. a year earlier. Peale had personal knowledge as to how the affidavit
and letter came to be in the State’s possession and he had personal knowledge
- 16 -
No. 80692-1-I/17
(consolidated w/81660-8-I)
that Wood did not receive these documents from Tisdale. But Peale had no
personal knowledge as to what Wood intended when he talked to Baldonado about
K.M.
Finally, Wood maintains Peale should have been permitted to withdraw
because Wood lost confidence in Peale’s ability to represent him. But a general
loss of confidence or trust alone is insufficient to justify granting a motion to
withdraw. State v. Stenson, 132 Wn.2d 668, 734, 940 P.2d 1239 (1997). At the
time of Wood’s request, the case had been pending for two and a half years, a jury
had been empaneled, and jurors had heard three days of testimony. The trial court
explored the nature of the alleged conflict and concluded that there was no
significant risk that Peale’s ability to represent Wood would be impacted or that
Wood would otherwise be adversely affected. Because there was no conflict of
interest, and no demonstrated impact on Peale’s representation of Wood at trial,
we conclude Wood was not denied his Sixth Amendment right to effective
assistance of counsel.
2. Severance
Wood next argues the trial court improperly denied his motion to sever the
rape charge from the remaining charges against him. We disagree.
We review a trial court’s ruling on a severance motion for abuse of
discretion. State v. Nguyen, 10 Wn. App. 2d 797, 814, 450 P.3d 630 (2019) (citing
State v. Bythrow, 114 Wn.2d 713, 717-18, 790 P.2d 154 (1990)). CrR 4.3(a)
permits joinder of charges where the offenses are of the same or similar character,
based on the same conduct, or are part of a single scheme or plan. State v.
- 17 -
No. 80692-1-I/18
(consolidated w/81660-8-I)
Bluford, 188 Wn.2d 298, 310, 393 P.3d 1219 (2017). Generally, joint trials are
preferred over separate trials. State v. Dent, 123 Wn.2d 467, 484, 869 P.2d 392(1994). Offenses properly joined under CrR 4.3(a) may be severed if “the court
determines that severance will promote a fair determination of the defendant's guilt
or innocence of each offense.” CrR 4.4(b).
A defendant seeking severance must show that a trial on all counts “would
be so manifestly prejudicial as to outweigh the concern for judicial economy.”
Bythrow, 114 Wn.2d at 718. To determine whether to sever charges to avoid
prejudice to a defendant, the trial court must consider “(1) the strength of the
State's evidence on each count; (2) the clarity of the defenses as to each count;
(3) court instructions to the jury to consider each count separately; and (4) the
admissibility of evidence of the other charges even if not joined for trial.” State v.
Slater, 197 Wn.2d 660, 677, 486 P.3d 873 (2021) (quoting State v. Russell, 125
Wn.2d 24, 63, 882 P.2d 747 (1994)). The court then weighs the prejudice to the
defendant against judicial economy. Russell, 125 Wn.2d at 63.
Here, the trial court did not abuse its discretion in concluding that these
factors weighed against severance. First, the State’s evidence on each of the
counts appeared to be of equivalent strength. The rape count was supported by
undisputed evidence that Wood and K.M. had had sexual intercourse. That the
sex was not consensual and the result of forcible compulsion was supported by
the testimony of K.M. and Mohamed, the forensic nurse’s examination of K.M., and
the photographic evidence of K.M.’s injuries.
- 18 -
No. 80692-1-I/19
(consolidated w/81660-8-I)
The solicitation charges were supported by Baldonado’s testimony, the
actual handwritten notes instructing Baldonado on how to kill or kidnap K.M.,
expert forensic handwriting analysis linking these notes to Wood, jail phone calls
between Wood and Malone in which they discussed paying Baldonado’s bail, and
bail records showing Malone’s subsequent payment.
Finally, the conspiracy to commit witness intimidation charge was supported
by evidence that Wood wrote a letter to Tisdale asking for his help and identifying
Baldonado as a “rat,” Baldonado’s testimony of events leading up to his execution
of the affidavit, and telephone calls between Tisdale and Malone in which they
discussed the recantation.
We cannot say that the weight of the evidence of some of the crimes was
clearly stronger than others. While K.M.’s credibility was an issue as to the rape
case, Baldonado’s credibility was an issue as to the other charges. The trial court
did not abuse its discretion by concluding that the first factor weighed against
severance. Russell, 125 Wn.2d at 64 (where strength of evidence of each count
is similar, factor weighs against severance).
Next, Wood asserts that his defenses were inconsistent. A defendant may
demonstrate prejudice by showing “ʻantagonistic defenses conflicting to the point
of being irreconcilable and mutually exclusive.ʼ” State v. Sublett, 156 Wn. App.
160, 180, 231 P.3d 231 (2010) (quoting United States v. Oglesby, 764 F.2d 1273,
1276 (7th Cir. 1985)). Wood has not made such a showing.
Wood’s defense to the rape charge was that he and K.M. engaged in
consensual intercourse. Wood generally denied the remaining charges and
- 19 -
No. 80692-1-I/20
(consolidated w/81660-8-I)
argued that, with regard to the solicitation charges, he had not made a serious
request to harm K.M. With regard to the witness intimidation charge, he argued
he had no involvement in convincing Baldonado to retract his testimony. Each of
these defenses could be equally true. The trial court was well within its discretion
to conclude that these defenses were not inconsistent, antagonistic, irreconcilable
or mutually exclusive. 7
Third, the jury was instructed that it had to decide each count separately
and its verdict on one count could not control its verdict on any other count. Wood
argues that, despite this instruction, the jury likely used evidence of one of the
charged crimes to infer guilt on the others because the trial was so long, the court
did not instruct the jury it should not consider evidence of one charge as evidence
establishing Wood’s guilt on the other charges, and evidence of the solicitation and
witness intimidation charges was admitted for the purpose of showing Wood’s
consciousness of guilt as to the rape. But the record demonstrates that the jury
did consider each count separately. The jury only convicted Wood of the two
solicitation offenses, acquitted him of conspiracy to commit witness intimidation,
and deadlocked on the rape charge.
Finally, the trial court did not err in concluding that evidence of each crime
was admissible to prove the elements of the others. Wood contends that
severance was required because evidence of the solicitation and conspiracy
7 Wood further asserts that, because of his counsel’s actual conflict of interest, he was “denied a
vital opportunity to explore his lack of intent” as to the solicitation and witness intimidation charges.
But we have concluded there was no actual conflict of interest. And even assuming that there was
a possible conflict, we cannot see how it limited his ability to deny having the intent to kidnap or kill
K.M. or the intent to force Baldonado to recant. Wood has not demonstrated that he was prevented
from raising any proposed defense to any charge.
- 20 -
No. 80692-1-I/21
(consolidated w/81660-8-I)
charges would have been inadmissible in a separate rape trial. Each crime,
however, was admissible to establish consciousness of guilt as to the preceding
crimes. Under ER 404(b), evidence of other crimes, wrongs, and acts is
admissible as proof of motive, intent, or knowledge. The evidence of the alleged
rape was admissible to demonstrate Wood’s motive for solicitation and witness
intimidation. State v. Sanders, 66 Wn. App. 878, 885, 833 P.2d 452 (1992) (“[T]he
fact of the rape charge would be relevant in a separate trial on the witness
tampering to show why the tampering occurred.”). Furthermore, “[i]t is well settled
that evidence of witness tampering is admissible as evidence of consciousness of
guilt in the trial of the charge to which the witness’s testimony pertains.” State v.
Rodriguez, 163 Wn. App. 215, 228, 259 P.3d 1145 (2011). Wood’s attempt to
have Baldonado prevent K.M. from testifying could reasonably be considered
demonstrative of his consciousness of his guilt of the rape of K.M.
Even if evidence of the solicitation and conspiracy charges were not
admissible against the rape charge, a lack of cross admissibility does not
automatically mean that the charges must be severed. See Bluford, 188 Wn.2d at
315. The defendant must still show that the prejudicial effect of trying the charges
together outweighed the need for judicial economy. Id. Wood cannot demonstrate
prejudice from the trial court’s failure to sever the charges—the jury did not convict
Wood of rape. He actually got the remedy he sought in his severance motion—
the opportunity to have a separate trial on the rape charge. Had he not chosen to
plead guilty to assault in the third degree, he would have had a separate trial.
- 21 -
No. 80692-1-I/22
(consolidated w/81660-8-I)
Because all factors weighed against severance and Wood has failed to
demonstrate prejudice, the trial court did not abuse its discretion by denying
Wood’s motion to sever.
3. Motion to Reopen Defense Case
Wood next contends that the trial court infringed his constitutional right to
testify when, after agreeing that Wood could take the stand and limit his testimony
to the rape charge, it then denied his request to reopen the defense case to allow
him to testify about the solicitation charges.
“‘A motion to reopen a proceeding for the purpose of introducing additional
evidence is addressed to the sound discretion of the trial court.’” State v. Luvene,
127 Wn.2d 690, 711, 903 P.2d 960 (1995) (quoting State v. Sanchez, 60 Wn. App.
687, 696, 806 P.2d 782 (1991)). To demonstrate reversible error based on a trial
court's ruling on a motion to reopen, the appealing party must show both a manifest
abuse of discretion and resulting prejudice. State v. Brinkley, 66 Wn. App. 844,
848, 837 P.2d 20 (1992). A trial court abuses its discretion if its decision is based
on untenable grounds or untenable reasons. Sanchez, 60 Wn. App. at 696.
Defendants have a right to testify at trial. Rock v. Arkansas, 483 U.S. 44,
51, 107 S. Ct. 2704, 97 L. Ed. 2d 37 (1987); State v. Lee, 12 Wn. App. 2d 378,
387, 460 P.3d 701, review denied, 195 Wn.2d 1032, 468 P.3d 622 (2020). Wood
exercised this right but chose to limit his testimony to the alleged rape. After the
State and Wood both rested, Wood changed his mind and asked the court to
reopen his case to allow him to testify as to the solicitation charges. The trial court
denied Wood’s motion, finding that reopening the case would prejudice the State
- 22 -
No. 80692-1-I/23
(consolidated w/81660-8-I)
because it framed its cross-examination of Wood based on his decision to limit his
testimony and it was unable to call rebuttal witnesses, including Baldonado. The
trial court further noted that, in the two and a half years that the case had been
pending, Wood had plenty of time to consider whether he would testify and had
been afforded the opportunity to offer “carefully crafted” testimony. The court
ultimately ruled that his request was “too late and prejudicial to the State.”
The trial court’s ruling was supported by tenable reasons. State v. Barnett,
104 Wn. App. 191, 16 P.3d 74 (2001), abrogated on other grounds by State v.
Epefanio, 156 Wn. App. 378, 234 P.3d 253 (2010), is instructive. In that case, the
trial court explained the right to testify to the defendant, who then made the
decision not to exercise that right. Id. at 197. The defense then rested. Id. The
following morning, when the court was prepared to instruct the jury and move to
closing arguments, the defendant asked if the court would allow him to testify,
explaining that he had been overly emotional the day before. Id. at 197-98. The
trial court refused to reopen the defense case, concluding that the defendant’s
decision to testify had been thoroughly explored before he had made his decision.
Id. at 198. This court affirmed, concluding the trial court’s decision not to disrupt
the trial schedule to accommodate the defendant was not an abuse of discretion.
Id. at 199.
Barnett is analogous to this case. Here, as there, Wood made his request
after both sides had rested and when the court was preparing to instruct the jury
and move to closing arguments. Moreover, Wood had ample time to consider his
right to testify and the scope of testimony he wanted to offer. And, unlike the
- 23 -
No. 80692-1-I/24
(consolidated w/81660-8-I)
defendant in Barnett, Wood did in fact testify and was allowed to limit that testimony
to only one charge. See also United States v. Orozco, 764 F.3d 997 (9th Cir. 2014)
(affirming denial of defense request to permit defendant to testify after both sides
rested and prosecutor had made closing argument). 8
Wood argues that the trial court’s reasons for denying his request are
unsupported by the record. He contends that the court could have granted the
State time to prepare because the jury was available for several more days and
that the State presented no evidence on how much time it would need to recall
Baldonado. But Wood does not dispute that allowing Wood to retake the stand
would have led to a delay in concluding the trial and would have required some
level of effort by the State to deal with Wood’s untimely request. Wood concedes
that “allowing the defense to reopen its case would likely have caused some
inconvenience and trial delays for both parties.” The record thus supports the trial
court’s finding of delay and prejudice to the State. The trial court did not abuse its
discretion in rejecting Wood’s motion to reopen the defense case.
4. Prosecutorial Misconduct
Wood next contends that the prosecutor committed misconduct during
closing argument. We reject this argument.
A defendant alleging prosecutorial misconduct has the burden of proving
that the conduct was both improper and prejudicial. State v. Emery, 174 Wn.2d
8 In a Statement of Additional Grounds, Wood argues he was denied the opportunity to provide an
“offer of proof” of why Wood felt the testimony was vital. This is unsupported by the record. Wood’s
counsel explained that Wood wished to testify to the solicitation charges because he felt it was
necessary to articulate a viable defense. Thus, the court knew what testimony was to be offered
and why. Moreover, the court allowed both sides ample opportunity to argue the issue before
rendering its ruling.
- 24 -
No. 80692-1-I/25
(consolidated w/81660-8-I)
741, 756, 278 P.3d 653 (2012). If the defendant objected at trial, he must show
that the prosecutor's misconduct resulted in prejudice that had a substantial
likelihood of affecting the jury's verdict. Id. at 760. If the defendant did not object,
any error is waived unless the prosecutor's conduct was “so flagrant and ill
intentioned that an instruction could not have cured the resulting prejudice.” Id. at
760-61. In the latter case, the defendant must show that (1) no curative instruction
would have alleviated any prejudicial effect on the jury and (2) the misconduct
resulting in prejudice had a substantial likelihood of affecting the jury's verdict. Id.
at 761 (quoting State v. Thorgerson, 172 Wn.2d 438, 455, 258 P.3d 43 (2011)).
During closing, the prosecutor told the jury that its job included assessing
witness credibility. He addressed Wood’s testimony and argued “[t]he defendant
offered his version of what happened with respect to Count I. And I want to
propose this: In order for you to accept as true the things that the defendant said,
the following must also be true: That Mohamed was lying.” The prosecutor
reiterated this theme with each of the witnesses associated with the rape charge:
If the defendant is telling the truth, then Rick Walton must also be
lying.
. . ..
If Mr. Wood is telling the truth, then [K.M.] must be lying.
....
If what the defendant says is true, then Deputy Moe must be lying.
....
Do you find him more credible? Is what he’s saying true, or the
alternative, are Mohamed, Rick Walton, [K.M.], and Deputy Moe all
lying?
At no point did defense counsel object.
At the end of his argument, the prosecutor summarized the testimony of
each of the witnesses, whom he described as “characters,” and argued
- 25 -
No. 80692-1-I/26
(consolidated w/81660-8-I)
[T]hese individuals, these unlikely heroes likely saved [K.M.]’s life.
What a fascinating story this is. It is a true crime story with tears and
blood and violence and lives that were and will be changed forever.
But this story isn't over yet. The last chapter remains to be
written, and that responsibility falls to you. Is there any question
about how this story ends?
There aren't any more plot twists, but there is a final and
certain resolution. Not a happy ending for anyone, but certainty. A
resolution. Ladies and gentlemen, the evidence in this case supports
only one conclusion and that is that the defendant, Jerry George
Wood, junior, is guilty beyond any reasonable doubt of all four counts
as charged.
Wood first argues that the prosecutor undermined the presumption of
innocence and shifted the burden of proof by arguing that the jury must find the
State’s witnesses are lying in order to acquit the defendant. Relying on State v.
Fleming, 83 Wn. App. 209, 214, 921 P.2d 1076 (1996) and State v. Miles, 139 Wn.
App. 879, 889, 162 P.3d 1169 (2007), Wood contends the prosecutor presented
the jury with a false choice by informing it that to acquit Wood, it had to find that
the State’s witnesses were lying. The record does not support Wood’s
characterization of the prosecutor’s comments.
In Fleming, during closing arguments the prosecutor stated that “for [the
jury] to find the defendants . . . not guilty of the crime of rape in the second degree
. . . you would have to find either that [the victim] has lied about what occurred in
that bedroom or that she was confused.” 83 Wn. App. at 213. On appeal, we
concluded this argument was improper because it misstated the law and
misrepresented both the role of the jury and the burden of proof. Id. The court
explained that “[t]he jury would not have had to find that [the victim] was mistaken
- 26 -
No. 80692-1-I/27
(consolidated w/81660-8-I)
or lying in order to acquit; instead, it was required to acquit unless it had an abiding
conviction in the truth of her testimony.” Id.
In Miles, the prosecutor told the jury that it had heard “mutually exclusive”
versions of events and explained to them that “if one is true, the other cannot be. .
. . If the State’s witnesses are correct, the defense witnesses could not be and vice
versa.” 139 Wn. App. at 889. He argued that the jury had “no choice because you
have two conflicting versions of events. One is not being candid with you . . . .” Id.
at 890. Division Two reversed, concluding that the prosecutor’s statements
presented the jury with false choice because it did not have to believe the
defendant’s testimony to acquit him; it could have found reasonable doubt even if
it did not believe Miles’s version of events. Id. at 890.
But in State v. Rafay, 168 Wn. App. 734, 837, 285 P.3d 83 (2012), this court
distinguished the improper comments in Fleming from a closing argument in which
a prosecutor points out that a defendant’s testimony is fundamentally and
obviously different from the testimony of State witnesses. In that case, the
prosecutor argued that “[y]ou must either believe everything [the defendant] told
you in order for this unbelievable story of his to be true, or it seems to me you have
to believe what [the State witnesses] told you . . . .” Id. at 836. This court held that
this argument was proper because “when the parties present the jury ‘with
conflicting versions of the facts and the credibility of witnesses is a central issue,
there is nothing misleading or unfair in stating the obvious: that if the jury accepts
one version of the facts, it must necessarily reject the other.’” Id. at 837 (quoting
State v. Wright, 76 Wn. App. 811, 825, 888 P.2d 1214 (1995)).
- 27 -
No. 80692-1-I/28
(consolidated w/81660-8-I)
The prosecutor’s argument here is more analogous to the arguments
deemed proper in Rafay than the arguments found to be improper in Fleming and
Miles. The prosecutor did not argue that the jury could acquit Wood only if they
found the State’s witnesses to be lying. Instead, the prosecutor merely pointed out
the obvious: if the jury accepted Wood’s version of the facts, it must reject the
conflicting versions presented by the State’s witnesses.
Even if the comments were improper, Wood cannot demonstrate prejudice.
The witnesses referred to by the prosecutor—Mohamed, Walton, K.M., Deputy
Moe—testified only as to the rape charges. Because the jury did not convict Wood
of rape, the prosecutor’s comments could not have prejudiced him.
Wood next asserts that the prosecutor “trivialized the State’s burden of proof
and attempted to fan the flames of passion in the jury by arguing that a guilty verdict
was necessary to end the ‘true crime story’ and provide closure for ‘the unlikely
heroes in the story.’” Wood argues these statements “served no function other
than to inflame the passions of the jury” and “encouraged the jury to render a guilty
verdict, not based on a finding the State had met its burden of proof, but because
it had a responsibility to end the ‘true crime story.’”
We cannot conclude that these statements, in context, were improper. Both
parties invoked the theme that the case was a story for which the jury would write
the ending. During opening statements, defense counsel likened the jury’s job to
a book review and said that it would “come to the last page of your book and write
in it, my review is that the State has failed to prove its case.” In closing, defense
- 28 -
No. 80692-1-I/29
(consolidated w/81660-8-I)
counsel reiterated that “[b]oth counsel have described to you that this is a kind of
mystery story.”
This argument was merely an illustrative vehicle through which both counsel
explained to the jury that they were responsible for deciding whether the State had
proven that Wood was guilty beyond reasonable doubt. Wood cites no authority
to support his contention that this analogy “evoke[d] a sense of community fear
that if the jury acquitted Wood, Jr., it would deny everyone the closure they were
due and promote lawlessness.” Wood has failed to show that the prosecutor
committed any misconduct or that any of the arguments prejudiced him at trial. 9
5. Cumulative Error
Wood next argues that the cumulative effect of all the alleged errors he has
raised on appeal compounded their prejudicial effect and deprived him of a fair
trial. The cumulative error doctrine applies “when there have been several trial
errors that standing alone may not be sufficient to justify reversal but when
combined may deny a defendant a fair trial.” State v. Greiff, 141 Wn.2d 910, 929,
10 P.3d 390 (2000). Because Wood has failed to demonstrate any trial errors, he
has not demonstrated cumulative error warranting a reversal of his convictions.
6. Motion for a New Trial
Wood argues that the trial court abused its discretion in denying his motion
for a new trial based on exculpatory evidence he claimed he discovered after trial.
9 Wood further argues that, if his prosecutorial misconduct claim fails for lack of objection, then his
counsel was ineffective for failing to take such action. When the challenged statements were not
improper, defense counsel’s failure to object cannot constitute deficient performance. State v.
Beasley, 126 Wn. App. 670, 687-89, 109 P.3d 849 (2005).
- 29 -
No. 80692-1-I/30
(consolidated w/81660-8-I)
Under CrR 7.8(b)(2), the trial court may order a new trial on the basis of
newly discovered evidence. The moving party must demonstrate that the evidence
in question “(1) will probably change the result of the trial; (2) was discovered since
the trial; (3) could not have been discovered before trial by the exercise of due
diligence; (4) is material; and (5) is not merely cumulative or impeaching.” State
v. Slanaker, 58 Wn. App. 161, 163, 791 P.2d 575 (1990) (quoting State v. Williams,
96 Wn.2d 215, 223, 634 P.2d 868 (1981)). The absence of any of these factors is
grounds to deny a new trial. State v. Statler, 160 Wn. App. 622, 632, 248 P.3d
165 (2011).
We review the decision to deny a new trial for abuse of discretion. State v.
Gassman, 160 Wn. App. 600, 608, 248 P.3d 155 (2011). If the trial court makes
findings of fact in denying a motion for a new trial, our review of those facts is
limited to whether they are supported by substantial evidence. State v. Macon,
128 Wn.2d 784, 799, 911 P.2d 1004 (1996). We then determine if the findings of
fact support the trial court’s conclusions of law. Id.A month after Wood was sentenced, he moved for a new trial under CrR
7.5 and CrR 7.8. According to Peale’s declaration submitted with the motion,
Wood told his defense team that he had retracted his request to Baldonado to
harm K.M. before Baldonado left the jail. The defense team attempted to locate
inmates who might have overheard this retraction. It obtained a court order
directing the jail to disclose identification, location, and booking photographs of
certain inmates housed near Wood in the hole. Through a process of elimination,
they identified Raymond Ruiz as someone who may have been in a position to
- 30 -
No. 80692-1-I/31
(consolidated w/81660-8-I)
hear the alleged retraction. The defense team was unable to locate Ruiz. But, as
they learned after trial, Ruiz was in the Snohomish County Jail for six months
before and during Wood’s trial.
After sentencing, Wood saw Ruiz in the jail. Counsel searched court
calendars, trial assignments, and the inmate roster and discovered that Ruiz was
in custody. The defense investigator, Bryson Alden, interviewed Ruiz, who heard
Wood and Baldonado discussing some type of deal and then claimed he heard
Wood tell Baldonado that he had changed his mind and heard Baldonado
acknowledge Wood’s comment.
The trial court denied Wood’s motion for a new trial, concluding “the
proffered evidence would not probably change the result of the trial, the evidence
was not discovered since trial, the evidence could have been discovered before
trial by exercise of due diligence, and the evidence is merely impeaching.”
Wood first argues that Ruiz’s testimony probably would have changed the
result of the trial. When considering whether newly discovered evidence will
probably change the trial's outcome, the trial court considers the credibility,
significance, and cogency of the proffered evidence. State v. Barry, 25 Wn. App.
751, 758, 611 P.2d 1262 (1980). The court may use the knowledge it gained
regarding the evidence by presiding at trial. Id. at 758-59. In evaluating the
probative force of newly presented evidence, the court may consider how the
timing of the submission and the likely credibility of the witness bear on the
probable reliability of that evidence. State v. Riofta, 166 Wn.2d 358, 372, 209 P.3d
- 31 -
No. 80692-1-I/32
(consolidated w/81660-8-I)
467 (2009) (quoting Schlup v. Delo, 513 U.S. 298, 332, 115 S. Ct. 851, 130 L. Ed.
2d 808 (1995)).
Here, the trial court found that the new evidence proffered by Wood was not
credible and “that it is improbable that this evidence, if presented to the jury, would
have changed the result of the trial.” This finding is supported by the record. First,
Riuz’s statement that he heard Wood retract his deal with Baldonado came some
two years after the event. Second, Detective Betts concluded that, based on
Ruiz’s location in the housing unit, it was highly unlikely Ruiz could have overheard
Wood and Baldonado converse; Wood would have had to shout in order for Ruiz
to hear him, in which case other witnesses—including corrections officers—would
also have heard his statements to Baldonado. Finally, Baldonado testified that
Wood never retracted his request for help in incapacitating K.M. The trial court
could reasonably decide that Baldonado’s testimony was more credible than that
of Ruiz. Based on the suspect reliability of Ruiz’s story, the trial court did not err
in finding his testimony lacked credibility and was unlikely to have affected the
jury’s verdicts.
Next, Wood contends that Ruiz’s testimony was newly discovered because
the defense team did not discover Ruiz’s identity or location before trial and it could
not have discovered it through due diligence.
Here, the court found that the evidence was not newly discovered because
Months before trial the defendant claimed that he had retracted his
solicitation of [Baldonado] and months before trial the defendant had
identified Ruiz as a person who may have overheard his retraction.
The fact that Ruiz only confirmed that information when interviewed
by the defense investigator more than a month after trial does not
mean that the evidence was only then “newly discovered.”
- 32 -
No. 80692-1-I/33
(consolidated w/81660-8-I)
This finding is supported by Peale’s declaration in which he testified that they had
identified Ruiz as a potential witness to the alleged retraction months before trial
occurred.
Wood argues that even though they were aware that Ruiz might have
exculpatory testimony, they could not locate him before trial to verify that fact. “A
previously known witness’ testimony can be newly discovered when that witness
could not be located before trial with the exercise of due diligence.” Slanaker, 58
Wn. App. at 166. But the determination of whether a party exercised due diligence
is a finding of ultimate fact and not a conclusion of law. Id. at n.3 (citing State v.
Fackrell, 44 Wn.2d 874, 880, 271 P.2d 679 (1954)).
Here, the trial court found that Wood had not exercised due diligence in
attempting to locate and interview Ruiz before trial. The court found that, prior to
January 2019, Ruiz was in custody in the Snohomish County Jail from July 2017
to February 2018, from June to August 2018, from August to September 2018,
from October to December 2018, and from April 2019 to mid-March 2020. The
court also found that Ruiz and Wood were housed in the same jail for six months
leading up to and during Wood’s trial. While Peale testified that his team searched
“out of custody history and address information” for Ruiz, the court found he
provided no more specific explanation of what efforts he undertook to locate Ruiz.
And the court found that counsel made no efforts to locate Ruiz between January
and October 2019.
These findings are supported by Peale’s declaration and by the inmate
housing reports that the State submitted to the court in response to the motion for
- 33 -
No. 80692-1-I/34
(consolidated w/81660-8-I)
a new trial. The trial court’s finding that Wood did not exercise due diligence in
attempting to locate and interview Ruiz before trial is supported by substantial
evidence. 10 The trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying Wood’s motion
for a new trial.
7. Ineffective Assistance of Counsel
Wood alternatively contends that his attorney’s failure to exercise due
diligence in searching for Ruiz constitutes ineffective assistance of counsel.
Under the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution and article I,
section 22 of the Washington State Constitution, a defendant in a criminal
proceeding is guaranteed the right to effective assistance of counsel. Strickland
v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 684-86, 104 S. Ct. 2052, 80 L. Ed. 2d 674 (1984);
State v. Grier, 171 Wn.2d 17, 32, 246 P.3d 1260 (2011). To establish ineffective
assistance of counsel, a defendant must demonstrate both (1) that counsel's
representation fell below an objective standard of reasonableness and (2) that
counsel’s representation resulted in prejudice, i.e., a reasonable probability that,
but for counsel's deficient performance, the result of the proceeding would have
been different. State v. McFarland, 127 Wn.2d 322, 334-35, 899 P.2d 1251 (1995).
Because the defendant must show both prongs, a failure to demonstrate either
10Wood further argues that the trial court erred in concluding that Ruiz’s testimony was merely
impeaching because it negated the State’s allegation that he solicited Baldonado with the intent to
facilitate the murder or kidnapping offenses. The State concedes that if this evidence were
admissible as circumstantial evidence of Wood’s state of mind, it would not be merely impeaching.
The State, however, contends the trial court made an “implicit evidentiary ruling” that Ruiz’s
testimony would have been inadmissible to prove Wood’s state of mind under State v. Stubsjoen,
48 Wn. App. 139, 738 P.2d 306 (1987). Because Wood has failed to demonstrate the trial court
abused its discretion in analyzing the first three factors, we need not decide whether the trial court
correctly concluded that the evidence was merely impeaching.
- 34 -
No. 80692-1-I/35
(consolidated w/81660-8-I)
prong will end the inquiry. State v. Classen, 4 Wn. App. 2d 520, 535, 422 P.3d
489 (2018).
Deficient performance occurs when counsel's performance cannot be
attributed to any conceivable legitimate tactic. State v. Carson, 184 Wn.2d 207,
218, 357 P.3d 1064 (2015) (quoting Grier, 171 Wn.2d at 33). There is a strong
presumption that counsel exercised reasonable professional judgment to render
adequate assistance. Id. at 216. To rebut this presumption, the defendant has the
burden to establish that there are no legitimate strategic or tactical reasons
explaining counsel's performance. McFarland, 127 Wn.2d at 335-36.
Wood argues that the failure to exercise due diligence in searching for a
potential witness is deficient performance. The State, by contrast, argues that
defense counsel made a reasonable, tactical decision to prioritize his time and
resources on other aspects of Wood’s defense. We agree with the State.
Wood relies on State v. Jones, 183 Wn.2d 327, 352 P.3d 776 (2015), for
the proposition that a lawyer’s failure to interview a witness amounts to deficient
performance. But Jones is distinguishable. In that case, Jones was convicted of
second degree assault after he fought with another man on a public street. Id. at
330. Defense counsel failed to interview several eyewitnesses who were clearly
identified in police reports and pretrial discovery. Id. at 332.
On appeal, the Washington Supreme Court concluded that “failure to
interview a particular witness can certainly constitute deficient performance” but
that it depends on the lawyer’s reasons. Id. at 340. Because trial counsel “offered
absolutely no reason” for failing to interview the witnesses, his decision was not
- 35 -
No. 80692-1-I/36
(consolidated w/81660-8-I)
informed and, therefore, could not have been strategic. Id. at 340, 342. It
concluded the attorney’s performance was deficient.
Here, Ruiz was not identified in any police reports, and his location and
contact information were not readily available to Wood’s defense team. When
counsel and his investigator were unable to find Ruiz, counsel made an informed
choice to focus their resources on locating witnesses to the rape charge. Counsel
did so because he considered the rape charge to be “the more serious one, and
we thought it required more effort.”
This was a reasonable strategic move. Rape in the second degree is a
class A felony, RCW 9A.44.050(2), and a “sex offense” subject to an indeterminate
sentence with a mandatory maximum sentence of life in prison. RCW
9.94A.507(1)(a)(i); (3)(a), (b); RCW 9A.20.021(1)(a). Wood would have served a
life sentence with the possibility, but no guaranty, of an earlier release. While
solicitation to commit murder in the first degree is also a class A felony under RCW
9A.28.030(2) and RCW 9A.28.020(3)(a), it is not subject to a mandatory life
sentence. Wood faced a standard range of 234 to 312 months in prison if
convicted of this charge. 11
As the Jones court noted, “[w]e can certainly defer to a trial lawyer’s
decision against calling witnesses if that lawyer investigated the case and made
an informed and reasonable decision against conducting a particular interview or
calling a particular witness.” 183 Wn.2d at 340. Here, defense counsel made an
11The State conceded that the two solicitation charges constituted the same criminal conduct and
the sentences would run concurrent to each other.
- 36 -
No. 80692-1-I/37
(consolidated w/81660-8-I)
informed and strategic decision, given the information available to him. Therefore,
we conclude his performance was not deficient and reject Wood’s ineffective
assistance of counsel claim.
8. Comparability Analysis in Sentencing
Wood next contends the trial court miscalculated his offender score when it
included out-of-state convictions without finding that those convictions were
comparable to Washington offenses. The State concedes the trial court erred in
failing to make a comparability determination. We accept the State’s concession
and remand for resentencing. 12
“Out-of-state convictions for offenses shall be classified according to the
comparable offense definitions and sentences provided by Washington law.” RCW
9.94A.525(3). The foreign offense must be compared to a Washington statute in
effect when the individual committed the foreign crime. State v. Morley, 134 Wn.2d
588, 606, 952 P.2d 167 (1998). If a prior foreign conviction is not comparable, the
trial court may not count the conviction toward the offender score. State v.
Thiefault, 160 Wn.2d 409, 415, 158 P.3d 580 (2007). The State bears the burden
of establishing the comparability of out-of-state convictions. State v. Ford, 137
Wn.2d 472, 479-80, 973 P.2d 452 (1999).
In this case, Wood had five prior felony convictions form New York,
including one conviction for possession of a controlled substance. The trial court
12In the alternative, Wood argues that he received ineffective assistance of counsel when defense
counsel failed to object to the inclusion of his out-of-state convictions. In light of the State’s
concession, we need not address this argument.
- 37 -
No. 80692-1-I/38
(consolidated w/81660-8-I)
counted each of these convictions as one point in calculating Wood’s offender
score without conducting a comparability analysis.
Wood further argues that the trial court should not count his New York
conviction for drug possession because, following State v. Blake, 197 Wn.2d 170,
481 P.3d 521 (2021), that conviction is no longer comparable to any valid
Washington offense. “Because penalties imposed under the invalid statute are
void, defendants who were sentenced based on an offender score that included
prior convictions under this unconstitutional statute are entitled to resentencing.”
State v. Markovich, No. 82795-2-I, slip op. at 15 (Wash. Ct. App. Aug. 2, 2021). 13
In Markovich, we held that an out-of-state conviction comparable only to former
RCW 69.50.4013(1) cannot be included in an offender score in light of Blake. On
remand, the trial court should determine if Wood’s New York drug possession
conviction is comparable only to RCW 69.50.4013 and if so, exclude it from his
revised offender score. 14
We affirm Wood’s convictions, reverse his sentence, and remand for
resentencing consistent with this opinion.
WE CONCUR:
13 http://www.courts.wa.gov/opinions/pdf/814231.pdf.
14 Wood also asks this court to strike community custody supervision fees from his judgment and
sentence. Because we remand this case for resentencing, we leave this issue for the trial court
to address at that time.
- 38 -