State Of Washington, Resp. v. Jorell A. Hicks, App. ( 2013 )

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COURT OF APPEALS Dlv
STATE OF WASHINGTON
2013 NOV 18 AHI0=5i*
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
STATE OF WASHINGTON,
No. 68809-0-1
Respondent,
DIVISION ONE
v.
JORELL AVERY HICKS, UNPUBLISHED OPINION
Appellant. FILED: November 18. 2013
Spearman, A.C.J. —A jury convicted Jorell Hicks of several crimes based on
evidence of a drug-related robbery and shooting. Hicks claims the trial court violated
double jeopardy principles by entering convictions for first degree robbery and drive-by
shooting because the underlying conduct was also the basis for his first degree assault
conviction involving the same victims. Hicks also contends he was denied the effective
representation of counsel at sentencing because counsel failed to argue that his
robbery and assault convictions encompassed the same criminal conduct. We reject
his arguments, and affirm.
FACTS
Coletin Kittleson was, at times, a drug supplier to Erin Gunder. In August 2011,
in need of money, Kittleson and his friend Jorell Hicks devised a plan to rob Gunder of
drugs and resell the drugs for cash. Kittleson arranged for Gunder to procure two
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ounces of heroin and sell it to him. Another friend of Kittleson's, Devan Bermodes,
agreed to drive Kittleson and Hicks to meet Gunder.
Upon arriving at the Walmart parking lot where Kittleson had arranged to meet
Gunder, Kittleson noticed police cars in the vicinity. Kittleson contacted Gunder and
told her to meet him at the Old Spaghetti Factory parking lot instead. Bermodes parked
in a parking lot below the Old Spaghetti Factory parking lot with a staircase connecting
the two lots. Kittleson and Hicks walked up the stairs together and Kittleson pointed out
Gunder to Hicks. Kittleson went back to the car to wait.
Gunder was out of the car, facing the trunk, when Hicks approached her from
behind and said "'Give me your shit.'" Verbatim Report of Proceedings (VRP) at 31.
Hicks pointed a gun at Gunder, and she gave him the drugs. When Hicks was not
satisfied and continued to demand that she give him everything she had, Gunder
handed Hicks her wallet and purse. Hicks then pointed the gun at Edward Straw,
Gunder's boyfriend, who was sitting in the front passenger's seat. Straw said he had
nothing to give. Hicks ordered Gunder to get in the car. He closed the car door after
her and took off running.
Gunder immediately started the car, and as she pulled out of the parking lot, she
saw a Cadillac starting to pull out of the lower parking lot. Since itwas the only car in
the parking lot below and Hicks ran in that direction, Gunder assumed the robber must
be in that car. She decided to follow it. Both vehicles pulled out onto the street, and
Gunder got behind the Cadillac and followed it while Straw spoke to a 911 dispatch
operator. Gunder was able to see three people in the car: the person who robbed her
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sitting in the front passenger's seat, the driver, who appeared to be Hispanic and had a
shaved head, and a white male in the back seat.
The group in the Cadillac realized Gunder was following them and tried to elude
her by making several turns. When Gunder continued to follow, Hicks leaned his upper
body out of the window, pointed the gun at Gunder's car, and fired two shots. One bullet
struck the hood of the car on the passenger's side. Gunder stopped the car and flagged
down a passing police officer.1
A short time later, police officers stopped Bermodes and Kittleson in the
Cadillac described by Gunder and Straw. Gunder's wallet was in the car. Gunder and
Straw identified Bermodes as the driver and Kittleson as the back seat passenger.
Police arrested Hicks at his residence. In the residence, the police recovered a .40
caliber firearm, a hoodie, a bandana, Gunder's purse, a prescription bottle in Gunder's
name, and a package containing nearly an ounce of heroin, in addition to some other
drugs.2 Hicks's right hand tested positive for gunpowder residue.
The State charged Hicks with five counts: first degree assault, first degree
robbery, unlawful possession of a firearm, drive-by shooting, and possession of a
controlled substance with intent to deliver. With respect to three counts: assault,
robbery, and possession with intent to deliver drugs, the State alleged that Hicks was
armed with a firearm at the time he committed the crimes.
1Two .40 calibershell casings were recovered from the area where Gunder stopped.
2 Kittleson testified that he threw his share of the stolen drugs out the window. A second package
was never recovered.
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Kittleson and Bermodes entered guilty pleas and testified at Hicks's trial.3 Hicks
also testified and denied that he had anything to do with the robbery and shooting.
Hicks said that on the day in question, he helped Kittleson move out of his apartment in
the afternoon and then Kittleson showed up at his house later in the evening. The jury
convicted Hicks as charged.
At sentencing, Hicks's counsel argued that the drive-by shooting and assault
counts encompassed the same criminal conduct. The trial court agreed and counted
those crimes as a single offense for purposes of calculating Hicks's offender score on
the assault count. The court imposed standard range concurrent sentences on four of
the five counts plus three firearm enhancements.4
Double Jeopardy
Hicks challenges his convictions for robbery and drive by-shooting on double
jeopardy grounds.
Both the United States and Washington State constitutions protect persons from
being twice put in jeopardy for the same offense. State v. Turner, 169 Wn.2d 448, 454,
238 P.3d 461 (2010); U.S. Const amend, v; Const art. I, § 9. This includes, "being (1)
prosecuted a second time for the same offense after acquittal, (2) prosecuted a second
time for the same offense after conviction, and (3) punished multiple times for the same
offense." State v. Linton, 156 Wn.2d 777, 783, 132 P.3d 127 (2006) (citing State v.
3 Kittleson pleaded guilty to second degree robbery with a firearm enhancement and Bermodes
pleaded guilty to second degree robbery.
4The sentencing court did not impose a sentence on the drive-by shooting conviction,
presumably because of the finding of same criminal conduct. Considering that the State did notobject
below and imposition of a separate concurrentsentence on this count would not change the total
confinement, the State does not assert a cross appeal.
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Graham. 153 Wn.2d 400, 404, 103 P.3d 1238 (2005)). However, the State may bring
multiple charges arising from the same criminal conduct in a single proceeding without
offending double jeopardy. State v. Freeman. 153 Wn.2d 765, 770, 108 P.3d 753(2005). Our supreme court has consistently rejected the notion that "offenses
committed during a 'single transaction' are necessarily the 'same offense'" for purposes
of double jeopardy. State v. Vladovic. 99 Wn.2d 413, 423, 662 P.2d 853 (1983).
Because double jeopardy is a question of law, our review is de novo. Freeman, 153
Wn.2d at 770.
Our courts employ a three-part framework for double jeopardy analysis.
Freeman, 153 Wn.2d at 771-73. First, if there is clear express or implicit legislative
intent to punish the crimes separately, then we look no further. Freeman, 153 Wn.2d at
771-72. If the legislative intent is unclear, we turn to the "same evidence" test which
asks ifthe crimes are the same in law and in fact.5 State v. Calle, 125 Wn.2d 769, 777-
78, 888 P.2d 155 (1995). Third, if applicable, the merger doctrine may help determine
legislative intent. Vladovic, 99 Wn.2d at 419. Even ifthe two offenses appear to be the
same, when each one has an independent purpose or effect, then the two offenses may
be punished separately. Freeman, 153 Wn.2d at 773.
Hicks makes no attempt to establish that the offenses of first degree assault, first
degree robbery, and drive-by shooting are legally identical. Instead, Hicks asserts that
the offenses are the same in fact because his single act of firing a gun at Gunder and
Straw was an element of all three offenses.
5Washington's "same evidence" test is sometimes referred to as the "same elements" test or "the
Blockburaer test." Freeman. 153 Wn.2d at 772 (citing Blockburaer v. United States. 284 U.S. 299, 304,
52 S.Ct. 180, 76 L.Ed. 306 (1932).
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The same evidence test considers "whether each provision requires proof of a
fact which the other does not." Blockburaer v. United States, 284 U.S. 299, 304, 52
S.Ct. 180, 76 L.Ed. 306 (1932). "Ifeach crime contains an element that the other does
not, we presume that the crimes are not the same offense for double jeopardy
purposes." Freeman, 153 Wn.2d at 772. Offenses are not the same in fact and law if
there is an element in each offense which is not included in the other, and proof of one
offense would not necessarily also prove the other. Calle, 125 Wn.2d at 777; Vladovic,
99 Wn.2d at 423. We view the elements "as charged and proved," not in the abstract.
Freeman, 153 Wn.2d at 777.
As charged in this case, drive-by shooting, first degree assault, and first degree
robbery each contain a statutory element that is absent from the others. See RCW
9A.36.011(1); RCW 9A.36.045; RCW9A.56.190, RCW9A.56.200(1)(a)(i). The
offenses are not the same in law and Hicks does not argue otherwise.
However, comparison of the statutoryelements at an abstract level does not end
the analysis. In re Pers. Restraint of Orange, 152 Wn.2d 795, 818, 100 P.3d 291(2004); State v. Nvsta, 168 Wn. App. 30, 46-47, 275 P.3d 1162 (2012). review denied,
177Wn.2d 1008 (2013). We must look at the statutory elements and the facts used to
prove those elements to determine whether each offense required "proof of a fact which
the other d[id] not." Blockburger, 284 U.S. at 304.
As the offenses were charged and proved in this case, evidence that Hicks fired
a gun was required to prove both his convictions for drive-by shooting and first degree
assault. But each offense also required proof of a fact that the other did not. With
respect to first degree assault, the State was required to prove that Hicks's shooting
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was directed at Gunder and Straw with the intent to inflict great bodily harm. To prove
drive-by shooting, the State was required to prove that Hicks discharged a weapon from
a vehicle or in proximity to a vehicle in a manner that created a substantial risk of death
or serious injury to another person.
As to the robbery, Hicks points out that the jury could have relied on the evidence
that he fired a gun at Gunder's car, and concluded that by doing so, he not only
assaulted the occupants, but also satisfied one of the elements of robbery by using
force to retain their property. But, to prove robbery, the State was also required to
demonstrate that Hicks took property from Gunder's person against her will by using
force or threatening force, violence, or injury.
In re Pers. Restraint of Orange, 152 Wn.2d at 814-20, is instructive. In that case,
the State charged Orange with both attempted murder and first degree assault for the
single shot that hit a single victim. In the charging document, the State alleged that
Orange committed attempted first degree murder when he acted with premeditated
intent to cause the death of another and "did attempt to cause the death of [M.W.]. In re
Orange, 152 Wn.2d at 814. The State alleged that Orange committed first degree
assault when he "'at the same time as the fattempted murderl, then and there, with
intent to inflict great bodily harm upon another person did intentionally assault [M.W.]
with a firearm.'" In re Orange, 152 Wn.2d at 815 (quoting Opening Br. of Pet'r, App. A
(Second Am. Information) at 1-2). Our supreme court held that in order to determine
whether an attempt crime is the same offense as another crime, the court must
substitute the generic element of a '"substantial step'" for the specific conduct relied
upon to prove the substantial step. Orange, 152 Wn.2d at 818. Because the
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substantial step toward murder, shooting the victim, was the same evidence that proved
the assault, and the evidence required to prove attempted murder was sufficient to
prove first degree assault, the crimes were the same offense. Orange, 152 Wn.2d at
820.
Unlike the circumstances in Orange, this is not a case where evidence of a single
act was required to prove multiple offenses and was the sole available evidence to
prove those charges. The evidence that Hicks fired one bullet at Gunder's car was all
that was required to prove first degree assault. This evidence was available, but not
required, to support either ofthe other two convictions. The crime of drive-by shooting
was also established by evidence that Hicks fired a second bullet. The crime of robbery
was established by the evidence that Hicks robbed Gunder at gunpoint, threatening the
use of force by displaying a firearm, and deploying that threat offorce for the purpose of
obtaining her property and preventing any resistance.
In sum, first degree robbery, first degree assault, and drive-by shooting were not
the same offenses. It follows that the three convictions did not violate the prohibition
against double jeopardy.
Same Criminal Conduct
Hicks argues that his trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance because he
failed to argue at sentencing that the robbery and assault counts encompassed the
same criminal conduct.6 To prevail on a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, a
defendant must show that counsel's performance fell below an objective standard of
6Adefendant may raise the issue ofsame criminal conduct for the first time on appeal in the
context ofan ineffective assistance of counsel claim, even if he did not raise the argument in the trial
court. See State v. Saunders. 120 Wn. App. 800, 825, 86 P.3d 232 (2004).
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No. 68809-0-1/9
reasonableness based on consideration of all the circumstances, and that the deficient
performance caused prejudice. Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687,104 S.Ct.
2052, 80 LEd.2d 674 (1984). If one of the two prongs of the test is absent, we need not
inquire further. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 697; State v. Foster, 140 Wn. App. 266, 273, 166
P.3d 726 (2007).
We presume effective representation and the defendant bears the burden of
showing the absence of legitimate strategic or tactical reasons for the challenged
conduct. State v. McFarland, 127 Wn.2d 322, 336, 899 P.2d 1251 (1995). To show
prejudice, the defendant must prove that, but for the deficient performance, there is a
reasonable probability that the outcome would have been different. In re Pers. Restraint
of Pirtle, 136 Wn.2d 467, 487, 965 P.2d 593 (1998). In this context, Hicks must show
that it was objectively unreasonable not to raise a same criminal conduct argument, and
that there is a strong probability such an argument would have been successful had it
been raised.
Multiple current offenses are presumptively counted separately in determining a
defendant's offender score unless the trial court finds that current offenses encompass
the "same criminal conduct." RCW 9.94A.589(1)(a). Crimes constitute the "same
criminal conduct" when they "require the same criminal intent, are committed at the
same time and place, and involve the same victim." RCW 9.94A.589(1)(a). The
legislature intended the phrase "same criminal conduct" to be construed narrowly, State
v. Flake, 76 Wn. App. 174, 180, 883 P.2d 341 (1994); ifany one of the factors is
missing, the multiple offenses do not encompass the same criminal conduct. State v.
Lesslev, 118 Wn.2d 773, 778, 827 P.2d 996 (1992). Moreover, because a finding by the
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sentencing court of same criminal conduct always favors the defendant, "it is the
defendant who must establish [that] the crimes constitute the same criminal conduct."
State v. Graciano. 176 Wn.2d 531, 539, 295 P.3d 219, 223 (2013).
Hicks cannot establish a likelihood that counsel's argument would have
prevailed. It is likely the court would have concluded that the assault occurred after the
robbery was complete and some blocks away from the parking lot where Hicks took
property from Gunder at gunpoint. There was also evidence that the occupants of the
Cadillac noticed Gunder was following them and had some discussion about what to do.
This evidence suggests that after robbing Gunder, Hicks had the opportunity to reflect
and form a new intent to commit assault. See State v. Wilson. 136 Wn. App. 596, 615,
150 P.3d 144 (2007) (where defendant had time to complete the assault and form a
new intent to threaten the victim, assault and felony harassment had different objective
intents). Also, in assaulting Gunder and Straw with a firearm, Hicks had the objective
intent of inflicting physical injury or fear of injury. When he earlier pointed a gun at them
and demanded their property, he manifested a different intent—to deprive them of
personal property by force.
Defense counsel had argued successfully that Hicks's convictions for drive-by
shooting and assault were the same criminal conduct for scoring purposes.
Considering that these offenses took place at the same time and place, it was
reasonable for counsel to conclude that this was Hicks's strongest argument and focus
on the issue most likely to benefit his client. Although Hicks claims there was no
legitimate tactical reason for counsel to refrain from making a second same criminal
conduct argument, he overlooks the possibility it could have detracted from his better
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argument. Because Hicks fails to meet his burden to show that counsel was deficient or
the result of sentencing probably would have been different had counsel raised the
argument, the claim of ineffective assistance of counsel fails.
We affirm.
\fKX)Q.
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