State v. Weller

• Decision Date: 31 January 2017
• Docket Number: C/w No. 48106-5-II,No. 48056-5-II,48056-5-II
• Court: Washington Court of Appeals
• Parties: STATE of Washington, Respondent, v. Sandra Doreen WELLER, aka Sandra Graf; Jeffrey Wayne Weller, Appellants.

197 Wash.App. 731

391 P.3d 527

STATE of Washington, Respondent,

v.Sandra Doreen WELLER, aka Sandra Graf; Jeffrey Wayne Weller, Appellants.

No. 48056-5-II

C/w No. 48106-5-II

Court of Appeals of Washington, Division 2.

January 31, 2017

Oliver Ross Davis, Washington Appellate Project, 1511 3rd Ave., Ste. 701, Seattle, WA, 98101-3647, Jodi R. Backlund, Backlund & Mistry, P.O. Box 6490, Olympia, WA, 98507-6490, for Appellants.

Anne Mowry Cruser, Clark County Prosecuting Attorney, P.O. Box 5000, Vancouver, WA, 98666-5000, for Respondent.

Worswick, J.¶1 Sandra and Jeffrey¹ Weller appeal their exceptional sentences following a resentencing hearing. In the published portion of this opinion, we hold that the sentencing court did not exceed its statutory authority by imposing no-contact orders of 45 and 30 years on Sandra and Jeffrey, respectively. In the unpublished portion of this opinion we consider and reject the Wellers' arguments regarding the sentencing court's imposition of exceptional sentences, the denial of the Wellers' request for discovery material, and the denial of Sandra's request for new counsel at resentencing. We affirm.

FACTS

¶2 Following a jury trial, Sandra and Jeffrey were convicted of several felony crimes involving abuse of their children. Sandra was convicted of four counts of second degree assault and one count of unlawful imprisonment. Jeffrey was convicted of five counts of second degree assault, one count of unlawful imprisonment, and one count of third degree assault of a child. All counts were domestic violence offenses. The jury found the Wellers' conduct manifested deliberate cruelty to the victims. The jury also found the offenses were part of an ongoing pattern of abuse. Based on the jury's finding of the two aggravators, Sandra and Jeffrey were sentenced to exceptional sentences of 20 years and 20 years plus one year, respectively.

¶3 The Wellers appealed their convictions and sentences. In State v. Weller , 185 Wash.App. 913, 931, 344 P.3d 695, review denied , 183 Wash.2d 1010, 352 P.3d 188 (2015) we affirmed their convictions, but reversed the jury's finding of the ongoing pattern of abuse aggravating factor and remanded for resentencing.

¶4 At the resentencing hearing, the sentencing court imposed exceptional sentences on Sandra and Jeffrey of 20 years based on the jury's finding that the offenses manifested deliberate cruelty. Sandra's four counts of second degree assault and one count of unlawful imprisonment ran consecutively to each other. Jeffrey's sentence included two counts of second degree assault running consecutively to each other and to three additional counts of second degree assault, one count of unlawful imprisonment, and one count of third degree assault, which ran concurrently.

¶5 The sentencing court imposed no-contact orders between Sandra and the victims for 45 years, and between Jeffrey and the victims for 30 years. Sandra requested that the sentencing court impose a 10-year no-contact order. The sentencing court denied Sandra's request, explaining that the victims requested a no-contact order and did not desire any contact, but noted that in the future the victims could request a modification if they wanted to.

ANALYSIS

¶6 The Wellers argue that the sentencing court exceeded its statutory authority by imposing no-contact orders in excess of the maximum penalty for their most serious offense. We disagree.

¶7 A sentencing court may impose crime-related prohibitions, including no-contact provisions, when sentencing an offender for a felony conviction. State v. Armendariz , 160 Wash.2d 106, 119, 156 P.3d 201 (2007) ; former RCW 9.94A.505(8) (2010). We review a sentencing court's imposition of crime-related prohibitions for abuse of discretion. State v. Warren , 165 Wash.2d 17, 32, 195 P.3d 940 (2008). However, the key question here is whether the duration of the crime-related prohibition exceeded the sentencing court's statutory authority. Consequently, we review this issue de novo. See State v. France , 176 Wash.App. 463, 469, 308 P.3d 812 (2013).

¶8 Generally, the crime-related prohibition may not be for a period of time longer than the statutory maximum sentence for the crime.

Warren , 165 Wash.2d at 32, 195 P.3d 940. However, when imposing an exceptional sentence the court has discretion to sentence defendants to the statutory maximum of each individual crime and run multiple convictions consecutively.² See State v. Cubias , 155 Wash.2d 549, 556, 120 P.3d 929 (2005) ; RCW 9.94A.589(1)(a). In such a situation, the total maximum allowable sentence exceeds the statutory maximum for each individual conviction.

¶9 The Wellers contend that the duration of the no-contact orders exceeded the sentencing court's authority. However, the jury's finding of an aggravating factor triggered the sentencing court's statutory authority to impose exceptional sentences on the Wellers. See RCW 9.94A.535, .589. The sentencing court issued exceptional sentences by imposing standard range sentences for each individual conviction and running them consecutively. So, while a single conviction of second degree assault (the Wellers' most serious crime) has a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years, the statutory maximum for the exceptional sentences at issue here is equal to the sum total of the statutory maximums for the consecutively run convictions.

¶10 Because Sandra was convicted of four counts of second degree assault (10 year maximum/count) and one count of unlawful imprisonment (5 year maximum), and the sentencing court ran all five sentences consecutively, the maximum allowable exceptional sentence was 45 years. Jeffrey's sentence included two counts of second degree assault running consecutively to each other and to three other counts of second degree assault, one count of unlawful imprisonment, and one count of third degree assault, which ran concurrently, for a total maximum allowable exceptional sentence of 30 years. Thus, the sentencing court did not exceed its statutory authority by imposing the no-contact orders against Sandra for 45 years and against Jeffrey for 30 years.

¶11 In each of their SAGs, Sandra and Jeffrey also argue that the lengthy no-contact orders violate their constitutional right to parent. In re Pers. Restraint of Rainey , 168 Wash.2d 367, 377, 229 P.3d 686 (2010). "A defendant's fundamental rights limit the sentencing court's ability to impose sentencing conditions." Rainey , 168 Wash.2d at 377, 229 P.3d 686. The Wellers' argument is meritless because their parental rights to the parties protected by the no-contact order have been terminated. See In re Interest of E.J.W. , No. 47545–6–II, slip op. at 3 n.1, 2016 WL 4045061 (Wash. Ct. App. July 26, 2016) (unpublished), http://www.courts.wa.gov/opinions. Consequently, their fundamental right to parent is not implicated.

¶12 We affirm.

¶13 A majority of the panel having determined that only the foregoing portion of this opinion will be printed in the Washington Appellate Reports and that the remainder shall be filed for public record in accordance with RCW 2.06.040, it is so ordered.

ADDITIONAL FACTS

¶14 At the resentencing hearing, Sandra requested a new attorney. Sandra told the sentencing court that her counsel was prejudiced against her, was ineffective, and refused to communicate with her. Sandra's defense counsel explained that he had reviewed the materials from the prosecution and the court, the court of appeals' opinion, evidence, and case law. He also explained that he had met with Sandra once in court and spoken to her a few times on the phone. After inquiring into Sandra's counsel's qualifications, the sentencing court denied Sandra's request for new counsel.

¶15 Sandra and Jeffrey both argued for a reduction in their original sentences based on our prior opinion striking one of the two aggravating factors. Nonetheless, the sentencing court imposed exceptional sentences on Sandra and Jeffrey of 240 months based on the jury's finding that the offenses manifested deliberate cruelty. The sentencing court entered findings of fact and conclusions of law for the imposition of the exceptional sentences, noting that the jury's finding of deliberate cruelty was supported by evidence admissible at trial, and as such the court had the authority to order exceptional sentences.

¶16 At the end of the resentencing hearing, the Wellers both requested copies of the police reports and other discovery, citing CrR 4.7. The State objected, arguing the Wellers were not entitled to copies of discovery given the status of the case, and suggested the Wellers file a public records request for such documents. The sentencing court denied the Wellers' requests.

ADDITIONAL ANALYSIS

I. JUDICIAL FACT FINDING

¶17 The Wellers argue that the sentencing court violated their Sixth and Fourteenth Amendment rights to a jury determination of all facts by imposing exceptional sentences based on judicial fact finding. Sandra and Jeffrey urge us to reconsider our earlier decision "in the interests of justice" pursuant to RAP 2.5(c)(2). Br. of Appellant (S.W.) at 9; Br. of Appellant (J.W.) at 5. Because our previous decision was correct, we decline to readdress the issue.

¶18 An exceptional sentence may be imposed if the sentencing court finds there are "substantial and compelling" reasons to go outside the standard range. RCW 9.94A.535. An exceptional sentence above the standard range must be based on a statutorily recognized aggravating factor. RCW 9.94A.535(2), (3). A sentencing court may not impose an exceptional sentence based on judicial fact finding. Blakely v. Washington , 542 U.S. 296, 303, 124 S.Ct. 2531, 159 L.Ed.2d 403 (2004). Whether an aggravating factor exists is a factual question for jury determination. RCW 9.94A.535, .537(6). The sentencing court must enter written findings of fact and conclusions of law if it imposes an exceptional sentence. RCW 9.94A.535.

¶19 Here, the jury unanimously found that Sandra and Jeffrey's conduct during the...