State v. Brown

• Decision Date: 27 March 1958
• Docket Number: No. 34314
• Citation: State v. Brown, 323 P.2d 239, 52 Wn.2d 92 (Wash. 1958)
• Parties: The STATE of Washington, Appellant, v. Howard H. BROWN, Respondent.
• Court: Washington Supreme Court

Page 92

52 Wn.2d 92

323 P.2d 239

The STATE of Washington, Appellant, v.Howard H. BROWN, Respondent.

No. 34314.

Supreme Court of Washington, Department 1.

March 27, 1958.

Paul Klasen, Jr., Ephrata, for appellant.

Charles O. Carroll, Eugene F. Hooper, Lynwood Fix, Don P. W. Taylor, Seattle, amicus curiae.

John Moberg, Moses Lake, for respondent.

MALLERY, Justice.

The defendant, Howard H. Brown, married the complaining witness in February, 1945.A daughter, Deborah Jean, was born of the marriage in October, 1951.The parents were divorced in King county in February, 1955.The complaining witness was awarded custody of the child and granted an award for child support.In April, 1955, the complaining witness married Mr. Schwendeman and moved to Grant county, where the child has been entirely supported by the new community, with the exception of thirty-five dollars paid in installments by the defendant during the period of October, November, and December, 1956.

In September, 1956, the defendant was cited into the nonsupport division of the King county prosecuting attorney's office to discuss the matter of the support of the child.On October 19, 1956, the complaining witness swore out a complaint, in the justice court of Grant county, charging the defendant with the crime of nonsupport under the provisions of RCW 26.20.030,Laws of 1955, chapter 249, § 1, p. 1025.

The defendant was arrested and admitted to bail.A hearing was held on January 4, 1957, in the justice court sitting as a committing magistrate.At that time, the defendant said he would be able to make monthly payments of sixty dollars for the child's support.The committing magistrate agreed that if the defendant commenced making monthly support payments in that amount the cause would be dismissed; otherwise, the defendant would be bound over to the superior court for trial.

No support money having been paid as promised, the matter was again set for hearing on March 7, 1957, before the committing magistrate, at which time the defendant was bound over to the superior court for trial.The cause was brought on for jury trial in the superior court on May 20, 1957, upon an amended information couched in the language of the statute.

In addition to the foregoing facts, the evidence showed that the complaining witness had no separate income; that the cost of supporting the child was ninety-eight dollars a month; and that the child was adequately supported solely from the income of the stepfather.

The trial court granted an order of dismissal at the close of the state's case, upon the ground that a prima-facie case has not been made.This was predicated upon the state's failure to show that the child was in need because of a lack of food, clothing, shelter, or medical attendance.The state appeals.

The issue presented in this appeal is very narrow and relates only to the elements that constitute a prima-facie case.It specifically...