State Of Washington, Respondent/cr-appellant v. Brian T. Decker, Appellant/cr-respondent ( 2017 )

FILED
cour,r C7 P.HEA, F.
STA." E OF WASHINGTON
20171-:1',R 27 r" '2: 23
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
STATE OF WASHINGTON, ) NO. 73949-2-1
)
Respondent, ) DIVISION ONE
)
v. )
) UNPUBLISHED OPINION
BRIAN THOMAS DECKER, )
)
Appellant. ) FILED: March 27, 2017
)
LEACH, J. — The State charged Brian Decker with two counts of assault in
the third degree after he pepper sprayed two young men in the parking lot of his
apartment complex. The jury found Decker not guilty of count 1 and guilty of
count II. It then made a specific finding that Decker had acted in self-defense for
count I. Because Decker succeeded in this self-defense claim, the court
awarded him reasonable attorney fees.
Decker appeals his conviction and the amount of attorney fees awarded.
The State cross appeals the award of fees. Because Decker fails to show any
trial court error or violation of his constitutional rights affecting his trial, we affirm
Decker's conviction. But because Decker did not show that he actually paid or is
legally obligated to pay any fees, the trial court abused its discretion in awarding
him attorney fees. Thus, we reverse the trial court's fee award.
No. 73949-2-1 /2
FACTS
Substantive Facts
On December 20, 2014, Brian Decker, a tenant of an apartment complex,
returned home from work and consumed three or four whiskey drinks. Around
midnight Decker went to the parking lot to smoke. He had a flashlight and a can
of pepper spray in his pockets.
Decker claims he became suspicious when he saw brake lights "go off" at
the end of the parking lot where he had parked his car that night. Due to past
issues with car prowling and vandalism in the parking lot, Decker had concerns
about his own car. So he approached the source of the brake light and shined
his flashlight on that vehicle.
The vehicle belonged to Theodore Chandler. He and Camryne O'Brien
were sitting in it, sharing a cigarette. O'Brien got out and shouted at Decker,
asking what he was doing. Decker walked away without responding. As Decker
walked away, a neighbor drove up and parked her car. Decker told her to call
the police.
Meanwhile, both Chandler and O'Brien tried to leave the parking lot in
their respective vehicles. But Decker stood in the lane that served as the parking
lot's only exit. Although Decker claims he was returning to his apartment, he
admits that he was blocking the exit.
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O'Brien got out of his car and approached Decker, yelling at him. Decker
responded by spraying him with pepper spray. O'Brien returned to his car and
tried to drive away over a grass hill but got stuck in the mud.
Decker then sprayed Chandler through the window of Chandler's car.
Chandler got out of his car, hit Decker in the face, and returned to his car. As he
drove away, he crashed into another vehicle.
Both O'Brien and Decker called 911 to report the incident.
The police arrested Decker at the scene.
Procedural Facts
The State started this case by filing an information that charged Decker
with one count of assault in the third degree. The information alleged,
That the defendant BRIAN THOMAS DECKER in King
County, Washington, during a period of time intervening between
December 20, 2014 and December 21, 2014, with criminal
negligence did cause bodily harm to Camryne Jon Obrien [sic] and
Theodore F. Chandler, human beings, by means of a weapon or
other instrument or thing likely to produce bodily harm, to-wit:
pepper spray.
The State also filed a certification for determination of probable cause,
which included a sworn statement by Detective Sergeant Magnan. Based on this
statement, the trial court found probable cause to believe that Decker committed
the charged crime and ordered the court clerk to issue a summons.
On June 12, 2015, the State amended the information to charge two
counts of assault in the third degree, one for O'Brien and one for Chandler. On
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July 13, the day trial was set to begin, the State again amended the information
to add the statement that the two charges "are of the same or similar character,
and.. . are based on the same conduct or a series of acts connected together or
constituting parts of a common scheme or plan."
The jury found Decker not guilty of count I (assaulting O'Brien) and guilty
of count 11 (assaulting Chandler). By special verdict, the jury found that Decker
had proved by a preponderance of the evidence that his use of force against
O'Brien was lawful. Decker submitted an affidavit and demand for attorney fees,
requesting $78,400. The trial court awarded 15 percent of the fees requested.
Decker appeals his conviction and the amount of his attorney fee award.
The State cross appeals the award of any fees.
ANALYSIS
Confrontation Clause
We first consider Decker's claim that the trial court violated his
confrontation clause rights. We review an alleged violation of the confrontation
clause de novo.1
Decker claims that the trial court violated his right to confront a witness
against him when it found probable cause that he committed the charged crime
based on Detective Sergeant Magnan's declaration without giving Decker the
1 State v. Jasper, 174 Wash. 2d 96, 108, 271 P.3d 876(2012).
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opportunity to confront the detective at or before trial. The State responds that
(1) Decker waived the issue by not raising it to the trial court and (2)the
confrontation clause does not apply at pretrial hearings. We agree with the
State.
First, Decker waived the confrontation clause issue when he failed to
present it to the trial court. The confrontation clause of the Sixth Amendment
provides a defendant with the right "to be confronted with the witnesses against
him."2 The admission of testimonial hearsay at trial violates this confrontation
right unless the defendant had an earlier opportunity to examine the absent
witness.3 But a defendant must challenge this evidence at or before tria1.4
"[W]hen a defendant's confrontation right is not timely asserted, it is lost."5
Decker contends that the State has the burden of calling Magnan and
providing Decker with the opportunity to cross-examine the detective.6 Decker
reasons that because the law does not require him to call any witness, his failure
to call this witness does not waive his confrontation claim. But the United States
2 U.S. CONST. amend. VI; CONST. art. 1, § 22.
3 Crawford v. Washington, 541 U.S. 36, 54-55, 124 S. Ct. 1354, 158 L. Ed.
2d 177(2004).
4 State v. O'Cain, 169 Wash. App. 228, 241, 279 P.3d 926 (2012).
5 O'Cain, 169 Wash. App. at 240 (discussing Melendez-Diaz v.
Massachusetts, 557 U.S. 305,129 S. Ct. 2527, 174 L. Ed. 2d 314 (2009)).
6 See 5C KARL B. TEGLAND, WASHINGTON PRACTICE: EVIDENCE UM AND
PRACTICE § 1300.19, at 528 (6th ed. 2016)("The State cannot avoid its duty [to
produce a declarant for cross-examination at trial] by simply telling the defendant
to call the declarant as an adverse witness.").
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Supreme Court has said "the defendant always has the burden of raising his
Confrontation Clause objection."7 And as this court has noted, "'[a]lways' means
always. It means every time. It means without exception. And it means always,
every time, without exception, in the trial court."8 Decker did not raise a
confrontation clause issue to the trial court; thus, he waived that right.
Second, Decker's claim fails because the confrontation clause does not
apply to the trial court's probable cause decision. We have previously decided
that the confrontation clause and Crawford v. Washington9 apply only to
evidence presented at tria1.10 Decker cites no authority supporting his position,
so we assume that he has none. And an overwhelming majority of state courts
7 Melendez-Diaz, 557 U.S. at 327.
8 O'Cain, 169 Wash. App. at 239.
9 541 U.S. 36, 124 S. Ct. 1354, 158 L. Ed. 2d 177(2004).
10 See State v. Fortun-Cebada, 158 Wash. App. 158, 172-73, 241 P.3d 800
(2010) (noting that "nothing in Crawford suggests that the Supreme Court
intended to change its prior decisions allowing the admission of hearsay at
pretrial proceedings, such as a suppression hearing. See McCray v. Illinois, 386
U.S. 300, 311-13, 87 S. Ct. 1056, 18 L. Ed. 2d 62(1967)(no confrontation clause
violation where defendant was denied the chance to discover an informant's
name at pretrial hearing); see also Pennsylvania v. Ritchie, 480 U.S. 39, 52, 54
n.10, 107 S. Ct. 989, 94 L. Ed. 2d 40 (1987) (plurality opinion) (Noting that to
accept a broader interpretation would transform the confrontation clause into a
constitutionally compelled rule of discovery and further recognizing the Court
"normally has refused to find a Sixth Amendment violation when the asserted
interference with cross-examination did not occur at trial."); California v. Green,
399 U.S. 149, 157, 90 S. Ct. 1930; 26 L. Ed. 2d 489 (1970)("it is this literal right
to 'confront' the witness at the time of trial that forms the core of the values
furthered by the Confrontation Clause"); Barber v. Page, 390 U.S. 719, 725, 88
S. Ct. 1318, 20 L. Ed. 2d 255(1968)("The right to confrontation is basically a trial
right.")).
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No. 73949-2-1 /7
have decided that Crawford does not apply to preliminary hearings.11 The trial
court did not violate Decker's confrontation rights.
Decker waived any confrontation clause claim by not objecting to the trial
court. Even if he had objected, he identifies no violation of his right to
confrontation. His confrontation clause claim fails.
Probable Cause Determination
Decker also challenges the trial court's probable cause finding. He claims
that the State's probable cause statement establishes self-defense. Thus, he
reasons, the probable cause statement itself defeats the State's case against
him. We disagree.
First, evidence of self-defense in a probable cause statement does not
diminish evidence of probable cause.12 Division Two dealt with a similar
challenge in McBride v. Walla Walla County.13 There, McBride sued the county
for an alleged violation of his civil rights, claiming that the county did not have
probable cause to arrest him "because the uncontroverted facts, known to the
officer, established self-defense."14 The court rejected McBride's claim,
11 Fortun-Cebada, 158 Wash. App. at 173 (observing that "[t]he
overwhelming majority of state courts that have addressed the question of
whether Crawford applies to a preliminary hearing such as a motion to suppress
have also held that the right of confrontation is not implicated").
12 McBride v. Walla Walla County, 95 Wash. App. 33, 40, 975 P.2d 1029
(1999).
13 95 Wash. App. 33, 40, 975 P.2d 1029 (1999).
14 McBride, 95 Wash. App. at 35-36, 40.
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observing that the arresting officer does not decide whether a defendant has
acted in self-defense: "Self-defense is an affirmative defense which can be
asserted to render an otherwise unlawful act lawful. But the arresting officer
does not make this determination. The officer is not judge or jury; he does not
decide if the legal standard for self-defense is met."15 Like in McBride, when the
court made its probable cause determination, Decker's claim of self-defense
"was then a mere assertion, not faCt."16
*Further, Decker's claim fails because the probable cause statement alone
does not describe sufficient facts to support a self-defense claim. A prima facie
showing of self-defense requires evidence of a confrontation, not instigated by
the defendant, which would induce a reasonable person to believe he was in
imminent danger of great bodily harm.17 This requires the defendant to show that
he had a reasonable apprehension of great bodily harm.15 Here, the probable
cause statement says O'Brien "confronted" Decker but includes no information
about Decker's state of mind when the confrontation took place. Moreover, while
the probable cause certification states that O'Brien "confronted" Decker, it
contains no statement about Chandler confronting Decker. The jury convicted
15 McBride, 95 Wash. App. at 40.
16 McBride, 95 Wash. App. at 40.
17 State v. Walker, 40 Wash. App. 658, 662, 700 P.2d 1168 (1985).
18 State v. Walker, 136 Wash. 2d 767, 772, 966 P.2d 883(1998).
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No. 73949-2-1 / 9
Decker of assaulting only Chandler. The probable cause statement provides
insufficient facts to support a self-defense claim for either count.
For these reasons, Decker's challenge to the trial court's probable cause
decision fails.
Amended Information
We next consider Decker's challenge to the trial court's decisions that
permitted the State to amend the information on the first day of trial and denied
his request for a continuance. We review each of these decisions for abuse of
discretion.19
The trial court may permit the State to amend the information any time
before verdict or finding if the substantial rights of the defendant are not
prejudiced or the amendment is one of mere form, not substance.2° "The
defendant has the burden of showing specific prejudice to a substantial right."21
A defendant might be prejudiced if the amendment leaves him without adequate
time to prepare a defense to the charge.22 In State v. Purdom,23 for example, the
19 State v. Purdom, 106 Wash. 2d 745, 748, 725 P.2d 622 (1986) ("The
decision on a motion for a continuance rests within the sound discretion of the
trial court"); State v. Schaffer, 120 Wash. 2d 616, 621-22, 845 P.2d 281 (1993)
(reviewing the trial court's decision on a motion to amend the information for
abuse of discretion).
29 CrR 2.1(d); State v. Allyn, 40 Wash. App. 27, 35, 696 P.2d 45(1985).
21 State v. Thompson,60 Wn. App. 662, 666, 806 P.2d 1251 (1991). •
22 Purdom, 106 Wash. 2d at 749.
23 106 Wash. 2d 745, 746, 725 P.2d 622(1986).
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State originally charged the defendant with conspiracy to deliver a controlled
substance. But on the first day of trial, the State amended the information,
replacing the conspiracy charge with an accomplice charge.24 Our Supreme
Court concluded that the trial court should have granted the defense's request for
a continuance to prepare to defend against this new charge.25
By contrast, in cases where the amendment was not material, courts have
properly allowed the State to amend the information while denying the defense's
continuance request.26 For example, in State v. Schaffer,27 the court correctly
permitted a midtrial amendment that added an additional theory of criminal
liability when the defendant was aware that the State might pursue that theory
before the amendment, the theory arose from the same general factual
circumstance, and the defendant had the opportunity to cross-examine the key
witness with full knowledge of the proposed amendment.
Here, like in Schaffer, the State's amendment is not material and did not
prejudice Decker. The State sought merely to add joinder language so that the
two counts could be tried together. It did not add additional charges or even
24 Purdom, 106 Wash. 2d at 746.
25 Purdom, 106 Wash. 2d at 749.
26 See Schaffer, 120 Wash. 2d 621-22; Allyn, 40 Wash. App. at 35.
27 120 Wash. 2d 616, 622, 845 P.2d 281 (1993).
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additional facts. So Decker has not shown that he was "'misled or surprised" by
this amendment.28
Because Decker does not show prejudice to any substantial right, the trial
court did not abuse its discretion in permitting the amendment and denying the
continuance.
Defense of Property Jury Instruction
Next, we consider Decker's challenge to the trial court's refusal to give his
proposed jury instruction on defense of property based on insufficient evidence to
support the defense. When a trial court refuses to give a jury instruction based
on lack of evidence supporting an affirmative defense, this court reviews that
decision de novo.29
A defendant is entitled to a jury instruction on his theory of the case if
some evidence supports each element of that theory.3° Therefore, to have the
jury instructed on defense of property, some evidence must support the
conclusion that Decker used force ,in an attempt to prevent malicious trespass or
malicious interference with real or personal property lawfully in his possession.31
Here, the evidence is insufficient to show defense of property.
28 Schaffer, 120 Wash. 2d at 622 (quoting State v. Mahmood, 45 Wash. App.
200, 205, 724 P.2d 1021 (1986)).
29 State v. Fisher, 185 Wash. 2d 836, 849, 374 P.3d 1185 (2016).
30 Fisher, 185 Wash. 2d at 848-49.
31 RCW 9A.16.020(3).
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No. 73949-2-1/12
First, no evidence shows "malicious trespass." "Malice" is "an evil intent,
wish, or design to vex, annoy, or injure another person."32 Nothing suggests that
Chandler and O'Brien had a malicious intent or were doing anything but minding
their own business. Further, no evidence shows that Chandler and O'Brien did
not have the right to be in the parking lot.33
Second, no evidence shows that Decker used force to protect his
property. Although Decker claims he initially approached Chandler and O'Brien
out of concern for his car, by the time he used the pepper spray, he was walking
away and claims to have pepper-sprayed O'Brien in response to being
threatened.
Because the record includes no evidence of malicious trespass or that
Decker acted in defense of property lawfully in his possession, insufficient
evidence supports these elements of his defense of property theory. The trial
court correctly declined to give a jury instruction on defense of property.
Discovery Violations
Next, Decker claims that the State committed discovery violations.
Discovery decisions are within the sound discretion of the trial court.34 Appellate
32 RCW 9A.04.110(12). ,
33 State v. Rose, 128 Wash. 2d 388, 393, 909 P.2d 280 (1996) (observing
that access routes are impliedly open to the public).
34 State v. Hutchinson, 135 Wash. 2d 863, 882, 959 P.2d 1061 (1998).
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No. 73949-2-1 /13
courts will not disturb a trial court's discovery decision absent manifest abuse of
that discretion.35
First, Decker claims that the State's failure to turn over evidence in
response to Decker's discovery requests forced him to waive his speedy trial
rights.
[1]f the State inexcusably fails to act with due diligence, and material
facts are thereby not disclosed to defendant until shortly before a
crucial stage in the litigation process, it is possible either a
defendant's right to a speedy trial, or his right to be represented by
counsel who has had sufficient opportunity to adequately prepare a
material part of his defense, may be impermissibly prejudiced.1361
But the defendant "must prove . by a preponderance of the evidence that
interjection of new facts into the case when the State has not acted with due
diligence will compel him to choose between prejudicing either of these rights."37
Decker's briefing does not identify what evidence the State failed to turn over or
how the State did not act with due diligence. Because Decker did not adequately
brief this challenge, we decline to consider it.
Decker also claims the State failed to provide information about
statements that witnesses made to the prosecution. Decker asked the trial court
to exclude the testimony of witnesses with whom the State had contact, but the
court refused. CrR 4.7 requires the prosecution to disclose "any written or
36 State v. Blackwell, 120 Wash. 2d 822, 826, 845 P.2d 1017(1993).
36 State v. Price, 94 Wash. 2d 810, 814,620 P.2d 994 (1980).
37 Price, 94 Wash. 2d at 814.
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No. 73949-2-1 / 14
recorded statements and the substance of any oral statements" of witnesses the
prosecuting attorney intends to cal1.38 The prosecutor admitted that she spoke
with the witnesses in the case before trial, but she said that those conversations
were about scheduling and she did not talk with any witness about the facts of
the case. Decker's counsel asked ieveral witnesses about their contact with the
prosecutor but did not establish that they discussed anything of substance.
Because Decker does not show that the State failed to turn over any substantive
statements by witnesses, we find no error.
We also find no merit in Decker's claims about witness coaching. Citing to
the witness tampering statute,39 Decker contends that the trial court should have
dismissed the charges against him because the State coached witnesses.
Specifically, he objects to the State telling O'Brien "not to bring up his prior
criminal history no matter what." However, the prosecutor's direction was
consistent with the trial court's evidentiary rulings. Pretrial, the court had granted
the State's motion to exclude evidence of O'Brien's criminal history. "It is the
duty of every trial advocate to prepare witnesses for friar° We find that it was
not improper for the prosecutor to direct O'Brien to avoid inadmissible testimony.
38 CrR 4.7(a)(1)(ii).
RCW 9A.72.120.
40 State v. Montgomery, 163 Wash. 2d 577, 592, 183 P.3d 267(2008).
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Statement of Additional Grounds for Review
Decker raises several pro se arguments.
First, Decker has not provided a sufficient record to permit review of his
claims about the admissibility of 911 calls or O'Brien's deposition testimony
because the record does not contain transcripts of the calls and testimony.'"
Similarly, we cannot review Decker's claim that the State committed a Brady
violation42 by failing to turn over Corporal Kramp's police report sooner. To
establish a Brady violation, the defendant must show (1)the evidence is
favorable to him or her because it is either exculpatory or impeaching, (2)the
evidence was willfully or inadvertently suppressed by the State, and (3) the
evidence is materia1.43 Because the report is not part of the record, we cannot
decide whether the report was material or exculpatory.
Because the court does not have an adequate record to review these
issues, we do not consider them." Decker's remaining pro se arguments have
no merit.
41 The transcripts of the 911 calls were attached to Decker's statement of
additional grounds for review but are not included in the clerk's papers. "Only
documents that are contained in the record on review should be attached or
referred to in the statement." RAP 10.10(c).
42 Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83, 83 S. Ct. 1194, 10 L. Ed. 2d 215
(1963).
43 State v. Davila, 184 Wash. 2d 55, 69, 357 P.3d 636 (2015).
44 Decker also asserts a claim about the propriety of the deputy
prosecuting attorney's presence at his citizen's complaint hearing. The basis of
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CrR 3.5 Hearing
Decker challenges the court's finding after a CrR 3.5 hearing that he was
not in custody when he made certain statements to the police and its decision to
admit those statements as evidence at trial. This court reviews challenged
findings of fact entered after a CrR 3.5 hearing for substantial evidence and
reviews de novo whether the trial court's conclusions of law are supported by its
findings of fact.45 Appellate courts treat "unchallenged findings of fact and
findings of fact supported by substantial evidence as verities on appeal."46
When an officer briefly detains a suspect during an investigatory stop, the
suspect is not in custody for purposes of Miranda warnings.47 Courts consider
three factors to determine whether an intrusion is permissible: "(1) the purpose
of the stop; (2) the amount of physical intrusion upon the suspect's liberty; and
(3) the length of time the suspect is detained."48 Applying these factors,
substantial evidence supports the trial court finding that Decker was not in
custody.
this claim is unclear, and the record contains no evidence about this hearing.
Whatever Decker's claim is, it is unreviewable.
45 State v. Rosas-Miranda, 176 Wash. App. 773, 779, 309 P.3d 728 (2013).
46 State v. Homan, 181 Wash. 2d 102, 106, 330 P.3d 182(2014).
47 Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 86 S. Ct. 1602, 16 L. Ed. 2d 694
(1966); State v. Marcum, 149 Wash. App. 894, 909-10, 205 P.3d 969(2009).
48 State v. Wheeler, 108 Wash. 2d 230, 235, 737 P.2d 1005 (1987).
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No. 73949-2-1 / 17
First, the purpose of the stop justified the intrusion in this case. "The
purpose of a stop must be related to an investigation focused on the
defendant."49 Here, the police believed that a crime had been committed and
that the crime involved pepper spray. Thus, the investigatory stop had two
purposes: to identify the suspect and to ensure officer safety.
Second, the degree of intrusion was not disproportionate under the
circumstances. "[T]he degree of intrusion must also be appropriate to the type of
crime under investigation and to the probable dangerousness of the suspect."5°
In State v. Wheeler,51 for example, officers handcuffed a suspect and placed him
in a patrol car to drive him two blocks back to the crime scene for a witness
identification. Although the intrusion in Wheeler was "'significant," it was not
excessive.52 Similarly here, although Decker was handcuffed, the intrusion was
an appropriate action to take when investigating an assault.
Finally, at 10 to 15 minutes, the length of the intrusion was brief.53
Substantial evidence supports the trial court's conclusion that Decker was
not in custody.
49 Wheeler, 108 Wash. 2d at 235.
5° Wheeler, 108 Wash. 2d at 235.
51 108 Wash. 2d 230, 233, 737 P.2d 1005 (1987).
52 Wheeler, 108 Wash. 2d at 235.
53 The trial court's findings of fact do not contain information about the
length of the stop, but it made a finding that "Corporal Herzog, Corporal Kramp,
and Officer Derr are credible," and Corporal Kramp estimated that the length of
the investigatory stop was 10 to 15 minutes.
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Exclusion ofImpeachment Evidence
Decker also appeals the trial court's decision to exclude an edited video of
his arrest. The trial court has broad discretion in deciding whether to admit or
exclude evidence.54 In addition, "the trial court... has discretion to control the
scope of cross-examination and may reject lines of questions that only remotely
tend to show bias or prejudice."55
Decker sought to introduce an edited video to impeach Corporal Herzog.
Decker claims that the video contradicts Corporal Herzog's testimony at the CrR
3.5 hearing that he had read Decker his Miranda rights. Decker's counsel
indicated an intention to examine Corporal Herzog about the statements made at
the 3.5 hearing and then introduce the video as impeachment evidence. The
court decided not to allow cross-examination about what happened at a CrR 3.5
hearing or impeachment of the CrR 3.5 hearing testimony. Decker does not
show that these decisions were wrong.
ER 607 permits any party to attack the credibility of a witness. But a
witness cannot be impeached on Matters collateral to the principal issues being
tried.56 A "matter is collateral if the evidence is inadmissible for any purpose
independent of the contradiction."57 The question of whether Corporal Herzog
54 State v. Lubers, 81 Wash. App. 614, 623, 915 P.2d 1157 (1996).
55 State v. Kilgore, 107 Wash. App. 160, 185, 26 P.3d 308 (2001).
56 State v. Dickenson, 48 Wash. App. 457, 468, 740 P.2d 312(1987).
57 Dickenson, 48 Wash. App. at 468.
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No. 73949-2-1 / 19
read Decker his Miranda rights is collateral to the central issues because (a) it is
not a question for the jury and (b) Decker's counsel admitted that he was not
bringing it up to question Miranda.58 The trial court did not abuse its discretion in
excluding the edited video or preventing Decker from attacking Corporal
Herzog's credibility this way.
Attorney Fees
Finally, we consider whether the trial court abused its discretion when it
decided to award 15 percent of the attorney fees Decker requested under
RCW 9A.16.110. This court reviews an interpretation of RCW 9A.16.110 de
novo but reviews a determination of the amount of an award for abuse of
discretion.58 A trial court abuses its discretion when it makes a manifestly
unreasonable decision or bases its decision on untenable grounds or reasons.8°
A court bases its decision on untenable grounds or reasons when it applies the
wrong legal standard or relies on unsupported facts.81
55 The trial court must make a preliminary determination of the
admissibility of a confession or statement. State v. Rice, 24 Wash. App. 562, 565,
603 P.2d 835(1979).
69 State v. Villanueva, 177 Wash. App. 251, 254 & n.1, 311 P.3d 79 (2013);
McGreevy v. Or. Mut. Ins. Co., 90 Wash. App. 283, 289, 951 P.2d 798 (1998),
overruled on other grounds by Panorama Vill. Condo. Owners Ass'n Bd. of Dirs.
v. Allstate Ins. Co., 144 Wash. 2d 130, 26 P.3d 910(2001).
69 State v. Cavetano-Jaimes, 190 Wash. App. 286, 295, 359 P.3d 919
(2015).
61 Cayetano-Jaimes, 190 Wash. App. at 295.
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Decker seeks to recover fees for the entire trial. The State claims that the
trial court erred in awarding any fees. We agree with the State.
RCW 9A.16.110 permits a criminal defendant to recover attorney fees
from the State when the jury finds by a preponderance of the evidence that the
defendant acted in self-defense:
When a person charged with [assault] is found not guilty by reason
of self-defense, the state of Washington shall reimburse the
defendant for all reasonable costs, including loss of time, legal fees
incurred, and other expenses involved in his or her defense. ... To
award these reasonable costs the trier of fact must find that the
defendant's claim of self-defense was sustained by a
preponderance of the evidence. If the trier of fact makes a
determination of self-defense, the judge shall determine the amount
of the award.[62]
A defendant has the burden of proving the facts necessary to support a statutory
reimbursement claim.63 First, he must prove two events: (1)that a jury acquitted
and (2) that the same jury found by a preponderance of the evidence that he
acted in self-defense.64 The defendant must then show that he incurred fees to
establish self-defense.65
Here, Decker's demand for attorney fees presented a lodestar
calculation66 to show a reasonable amount of fees for litigating the entire case.
62 RCW 9A.16.110(2).
63 State v. Anderson, 72 Wash. App. 253, 260, 863 P.2d 1370 (1993).
64 State v. Jones, 92 Wash. App. 555, 561, 964 P.2d 398 (1998).
65 Anderson, 72 Wash. App. at 260.
66 Mahler v. Szucs, 135 Wash. 2d 398, 433-34, 957 P.2d 632(1998).
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Decker does not challenge the trial court finding that he presented no evidence of
legal fees he had paid or legal fees he owes but has not paid. The trial court
decided that Decker was entitled only to fees incurred in his defense of count 1,
the charge for which he was acquitted. Because Decker did not provide any
information about the actual fees he incurred, the court said it "must attempt to
ascertain a reasonable award from the information provided." It awarded 15
percent of the total requested.
First, the trial court erred in concluding that its duty was to "ascertain a
reasonable award." In State v. Anderson,67 Division Two held that
"RCW 9A.16.110 is an indemnification-reimbursement statute" and not a
reasonable attorney fee statute. In other words, the State must reimburse
Decker for legal fees that he has already paid and indemnify him for fees that he
has become legally obligated to pay in the future "pursuant to an enforceable
contract,"68 subject to the limitation that amount is reasonable. A trial court may
award reasonable fees only after the defendant has shown that he actually paid
fees or is legally obligated to pay fees. Decker admits that he did not meet this
burden.68
67 72 Wash. App. 253, 263, 863 P.2d 1370 (1993).
68 Anderson, 72 Wash. App. at 263-64.
69 Contra Jones, 92 Wash. App. at 559-60 (where the defendant provided
the court with bills he had received from law firms who defended him and one
attorney submitted an affidavit ,stating that Jones had paid him $1,000);
Anderson, 72 Wash. App. at 257 (where the trial court had entered findings of fact
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The trial court abused its discretion in awarding fees that Decker had not
shown that he paid or was legally obligated to pay. We reverse the trial court's
award. As a result, we need not consider the reasonableness of the fee amount
awarded.
CONCLUSION
We affirm in part and reverse in part. Because Decker's arguments fail,
we affirm his conviction. But because Decker did not show that he actually paid
any legal fees or is legally obligated to pay his privately retained counsel any
fees, the trial court abused its discretion in awarding statutory fees. Accordingly,
we reverse the trial court's award of fees.
WE CONCUR:
that one of the two appellants had been billed by his defense attorneys and had
partially paid that bill).
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