State Of Washington v. Paul Ashton Hollingworth ( 2015 )

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
STATE OF WASHINGTON,
No. 71614-0-1
Respondent,
v. DIVISION ONE
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PAUL ASHTON HOLLINGWORTH, UNPUBLISHED OPINION
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Appellant. FILED: July 27, 2015
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Leach, J. — Paul Ashton Hollingworth appeals his conviction for two
counts of communicating with a minor for immoral purposes. He claims that the
prosecutor committed misconduct by writing "confession" at the top of a
PowerPoint slide shown to the jury and by improperly appealing to the jury's
emotions rather than reason during closing argument. In a statement of
additional grounds for review, Hollingworth makes additional claims, including a
constitutional vagueness challenge to the statute under which he was convicted.
Because the trial court offered a curative instruction, Hollingworth cannot
show prejudice from the PowerPoint slide. And the context of the prosecutor's
closing argument shows that she did not appeal to the passions and prejudices
of the jury but asked it to review the evidence and reach a conclusion based on
that evidence. As a result, Hollingworth's prosecutorial misconduct claims fail, as
does his claim of cumulative misconduct. The Washington Supreme Court has
rejected Hollingworth's constitutional challenge to RCW 9.68A.090. And
because Hollingworth bases the remaining issues raised in his statement of
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additional grounds on facts or evidence not in the record, we decline to review
them. We affirm.
Background
Hollingworth entered online chat rooms and engaged "Ashton Michaels" in
chats on September 30, 2011, January 12, 2012, February 14, 2012, and
February 28, 2012. Renton police officer Ryan Rutledge had created Ashton,
posing as a 12-year-old girl living in Renton and creating the username
"sounderchick12." Ashton repeatedly referenced her age while chatting with
Hollingworth. During Hollingworth's chats with Ashton, he discussed sexual acts,
sent photos of himself naked, and sent a live video of himself masturbating.
Hollingworth also requested a photo of Ashton, and Rutledge sent him a photo of
a clothed undercover police officer who appeared young and who had consented
to participate.
On February 28, 2013, Renton police arrested Hollingworth and seized his
computer. The State charged Hollingworth with two counts of communicating
with a minor for immoral purposes.
At trial, the State played an audio recording of Rutledge's interrogation of
Hollingworth after his arrest. Hollingworth also wrote a signed statement that
Rutledge read to the jury:
I admit to talking to someone over the Internet whom was not at the
age of consent about indecent proposals. I infrequently use the
Internet for lewd picture exchange & chat. I have never pursued
anyone from the Internet, let alone a minor. I only chatted with
them after because they kept pursuing me months later and I had
forgotten who they were. I chatted with them after they said they
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were 13 as a joke. I run into a lot of people that present to be
someone, and I was not interested in them because of their age. I
thought they were another fake so I "messed around." I have 2
children, have been a youth sports official since 16, and only have
the best recommendations of conduct involving minors. Everyone
on the Internet says things that aren't true, and I had thought this
was just another. I, upon reviewing the chats were disgusted, and
do not carry over that attitude. I realized that "getting my rocks off'
while chatting to ANYONE, that would, and I've chatted with 10
screens at once, not caring who it was, just the interaction.
The State's PowerPoint slide containing this statement shown to the jury
as Rutledge read it included the word "confession" written in the upper left-hand
corner. Afterward, outside the presence of the jury, Hollingworth objected,
moved to strike, and argued that the State was commenting on and
characterizing the evidence. The trial court granted Hollingworth's motion and
instructed the jury that "the document that you previously viewed on the screen
was intended to be a visual aid only. Exhibit 7 is the admitted evidence and
anything inconsistent, you must disregard." The State described the statement
as a "confession" during its closing argument.
During the State's closing argument, the prosecutor quoted part of what
Hollingworth said during his interrogation: "I know it's not comfortable to sit here
and do it, but it's kind of a wake-up call too just as to how kind of sick it is. Not in
the moment, because when you're in the moment, you're like oh, hey, I'm just-
it's kind of stomach turning." The prosecutor also stated during closing that
"ultimately there are only two counts charged and five incidents to choose from,
so you get to decide which chats perhaps you find the most offensive and would
like to have him found guilty of." At the end of the State's closing argument,
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outside the presence of the jury, Hollingworth objected and moved for mistrial.
He claimed that the prosecutor's comment pitted an officer's credibility against
his own and identified additional errors, including the State's violation of pretrial
orders and writing "confession" on the PowerPoint slide, that cumulatively
warranted a mistrial. The trial court denied the motion.
Ajury found Hollingworth guilty as charged. Hollingworth appeals.
Analysis
Hollingworth claims prosecutorial misconduct denied him a fair trial. This
court reviews a claim of prosecutorial misconduct under an abuse of discretion
standard.1 We evaluate the propriety of the prosecutor's conduct and, if
improper, whether that conduct prejudiced a defendant, reviewing a prosecutor's
statements in the context of the entire case.2 To show prejudice, a defendant
must demonstrate a substantial likelihood that the prosecutor's misconduct
affected the outcome of the trial.3 Where a defendant fails to object to the
challenged conduct, the defendant must show that conduct was so flagrant and ill
intentioned that a jury instruction could not have cured any resulting prejudice.4
A prosecutor's misconduct may deny a defendant his or her constitutional right to
a fair trial.5
1 State v. Ish, 170 Wn.2d 189, 195-96, 241 P.3d 389 (2010).
2 State v. Thoraerson, 172 Wn.2d 438, 442-43, 258 P.3d 43 (2011).
3 In re Pers. Restraint of Glasmann, 175 Wn.2d 696, 704, 286 P.3d 673(2012).
4 Thorgerson, 172 Wn.2d at 443 (quoting State v. Russell, 125 Wn.2d 24,
86, 882 P.2d 747 (1994)).
5 Glasmann, 175 Wn.2d at 703-04.
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First, Hollingworth contends that the prosecutor committed misconduct by
including the word "confession" on the PowerPoint slide containing Hollingworth's
statement that was shown to the jury. He argues that the label "confession"
communicated to the jury the prosecutor's belief in Hollingworth's guilt and
weakened Hollingworth's argument that this statement was not a confession and
that he didn't believe he was engaging with a minor. The State responds that the
prosecutor simply labeled the slide to distinguish it from other evidence, rather
than present images found improper in Glasmann.6
A prosecutor may not submit evidence to the jury not admitted at trial.7
When a reasonable ground exists to believe that reference to unadmitted
evidence prejudiced the defendant, the jury's verdict may not stand.8 In
Glasmann, the court found misconduct where the State presented multiple
PowerPoint slides of the defendant's booking photograph, one with the word
"guilty" written across it three times in red capital letters and another with the
caption, "WHY SHOULD YOU BELIEVE ANYTHING HE SAYS ABOUT THE
ASSAULT?"9 The court held that the prosecutor presented unadmitted evidence
to the jury by showing it these modified photographs.10 It found that this,
combined with the prosecutor's expression of personal opinion, prejudiced the
defendant and that no instruction could have cured this prejudice.11
6 In re Pers. Restraint of Glasmann, 175 Wn.2d 696, 286 P.3d 673 (2012).
7 Glasmann, 175 Wn.2d at 705.
8 Glasmann, 175 Wn.2d at 705.
9 Glasmann, 175 Wn.2d at 702, 706.
10 Glasmann, 175 Wn.2d at 706.
11 Glasmann, 175 Wn.2d at 706-08.
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While the prosecutor did not alter an admitted exhibit as dramatically as in
Glasmann, she improperly showed the jury a modified exhibit. However,
Hollingworth must also demonstrate prejudice. The trial court immediately
instructed the jury that the prosecutor's PowerPoint slides were only a visual aid
not to be considered evidence. And the trial court further instructed the jury that
it was not to consider the lawyer's statements as evidence, that it was only to
consider evidence the trial court admitted, and that only that evidence would go
back with them to the jury room. Because the court's curative instruction
adequately obviated any potential prejudice, Hollingworth cannot show that the
outcome of the trial would have been different but for the prosecutor's error, and
his argument fails.
Hollingworth next argues that the prosecutor committed more misconduct
with her statements in closing argument "designed to prejudice the jury against
Hollingworth by appealing to jurors' emotions rather than reason." Prosecutors
have wide latitude during closing argument to draw reasonable inferences from
the evidence.12 But references to evidence not in the record and appeals merely
to the jury's passion and prejudice constitute misconduct.13 A prosecutor
represents the people in a quasi-judicial capacity and must temper courtroom
zeal in fairness to the defendant.14
12 In re Pers. Restraint of Yates, 177Wn.2d 1, 58, 296 P.3d 872 (2013).
13 State v. Fisher, 165 Wn.2d 727, 747, 202 P.3d 937 (2009).
14 Thorqerson, 172 Wn.2d at 443.
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Hollingworth argues that the prosecutor's comments during closing asked
the jury to reach a verdict based on its feelings about the acts rather than on the
evidence. The State responds that the context makes clear that the prosecutor
was simply quoting Hollingworth's statement to Rutledge. Indeed, the prosecutor
quoted exactly the same statement Hollingworth made during interrogation. She
did this while arguing that this and other statements Hollingworth made during
interrogation, admitted at trial, showed that he knew Ashton was a minor.
Because the prosecutor argued a reasonable inference from the evidence,
including Hollingworth's statement, the challenged argument does not constitute
misconduct.
Hollingworth next contends that the prosecutor merely appealed to the
jury's emotions when she argued that "you get to decide which chats perhaps
you find the most offensive and would like to have him found guilty of." The State
responds that the context of this argument makes clear that the prosecutor
appealed to reason and not merely the jury's passion.
At the point in her closing argument when the prosecutor made this
statement, she was explaining jury instruction 11. This instruction informed the
jury that when the evidence shows that a defendant committed several distinct
criminal acts but the State charged the defendant with only one count of criminal
conduct and does not elect which act it will rely on for conviction, the court must
instruct the jury that all jurors must agree that the same underlying criminal act
has been proved beyond a reasonable doubt. The prosecutor here explained
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that the jurors needed unanimity on the act they understood to support each
count and how the instruction worked. She then made the challenged statement.
But immediately afterward she pointed out the pivotal issue in the case: did
Hollingworth believe he was talking to a minor at the time of each act? She then
explained how the evidence showed that he did: "And the best evidence of that
is his conduct, is his words. ... So you'll be able to go through the chats and his
oral statement and his written statement yourself." The prosecutor then
explained why certain evidence supported the charged offenses, concluding that
"[a]t the end of the day, the Defendant's own words and conduct are the
proverbial smoking gun."
Thus, the context of the prosecutor's argument makes clear that she did
not encourage the jury to find Hollingworth guilty simply because the jury found
certain acts offensive. Rather the prosecutor, in explaining instruction 11,
encouraged the jury to look at the issue and then at the evidence to reach a
guilty verdict. Because the prosecutor did not appeal to the jury's passions or
prejudices with this argument, she did not commit misconduct.
Hollingworth argues that the cumulative effect of prosecutorial misconduct
requires reversal. Where "repetitive prejudicial prosecutorial misconduct may be
so flagrant that no instruction or series of instructions can erase their combined
prejudicial effect," this cumulative effect may constitute reversal.15 But here,
15 Glasmann, 175 Wn.2d at 707 (quoting State v. Walker. 164 Wn. App.
724, 737, 265 P.3d 191 (2011)).
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No. 71614-0-1/9
Hollingworth has not shown any prejudicial prosecutorial misconduct, and thus
this claim fails.
Hollingworth raises several issues in his pro se statement of additional
grounds under RAP 10.10. We limit our review of issues raised in a statement of
additional grounds to issues that inform the court of the nature and occurrence of
the alleged errors.16 We do not address issues involving facts or evidence not in
the record, as those are properly brought in a personal restraint petition and not a
statement of additional grounds.17
In his statement of additional grounds, Hollingworth asks this court to
reverse based on new evidence from a polygraph test he argues exonerates him.
He also argues that Rutledge falsified evidence, made a false official statement,
and violated Yahoo's terms and conditions by creating a profile of a 12-year-old.
But he bases these arguments on facts and evidence outside the record, and we
decline to address them here.
He also raises a constitutional claim, arguing that the statute for
communication with a minor for immoral purposes, RCW 9.68A.090, is
unconstitutionally vague. He appears to challenge the "immoral purposes"
language. But the Washington Supreme Court has addressed this issue and
held that the statute is not vague because "[t]he scope of the statutory prohibition
is . . . limited by its context and wording to communication for the purposes of
16 State v. Calvin, 176 Wn. App. 1, 26, 316 P.3d 496 (2013), petition for
review filed, No. 89518-0 (Wash. Nov. 12, 2013).
17 Calvin, 176 Wn. App. at 26.
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No. 71614-0-1/10
sexual misconduct."18 Thus, the arguments raised in Hollingworth's statement of
additional grounds fail.
Conclusion
Because Hollingworth fails to identify any prejudicial prosecutorial
misconduct and his statement of additional grounds raises no meritorious issue,
we affirm.
A~//
WE CONCUR:
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18 State v. McNallie, 120 Wn.2d 925, 931-32, 846 P.2d 1358 (1993)
(quoting State v. Schimmelpfenniq, 92 Wn.2d 95, 102, 594 P.2d 442 (1979)).
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