State Of Washington v. Tonya Quinata ( 2014 )

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S TATE
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
DIVISION II
STATE OF WASHINGTON, No. 43075 -4 -II
Respondent,
v.
TONYA NADINE QUINATA, UNPUBLISHED OPINION
Appellant.
JOHANSON, J. — Tonya Nadine Quinata appeals her jury trial conviction for first degree
assault. She argues that ( 1) the first degree assault statute is unconstitutional because it was
enacted in violation of Wash. Const. art. II, § 19; ( 2) the trial court erred in admitting
testimonial hearsay" in violation of her U.S. Const. amends. VI and XIV right to confront
witnesses; ( 3) the trial court erred in admitting the same hearsay statement under the medical
treatment and diagnosis exception to the hearsay rule; and ( 4) the State engaged in prosecutorial
misconduct in closing argument. Because the 1997 amendment to the first degree assault statute
cured any potential art. II, § 19 defect, any potential confrontation clause or hearsay error was
not prejudicial, and the prosecutor' s remarks in closing argument either were not improper or
were or could have been cured by proper jury instructions, we affirm.
No. 43075 -4 -II
FACTS
I. THE STABBING
On October 14, 2010, Quinata called 911 and reported that her live -in boyfriend, Samuel
Kama, had stabbed himself in an attempted suicide.' During the call, Quinata told the 911
dispatcher that Kama was " trying to say [ Quinata was] the one that did .it." 2 Report of
Proceedings ( RP) at 347.
When the paramedics and police arrived, Quinata was waiting for them outside. She told
one of the paramedics that Kama had a knife wound, but she then " became distraught and was
unable to relay any information to the [ ambulance] crew." lA RP at 64.
When the police and paramedics entered the home, Kama was on his back in a hallway.
He had blood on his shirt and the paramedics found a stab wound in his chest that was about one -
half to three -quarters of an inch wide. On the way to the hospital, Kama told one of the
paramedics that he did not stab himself, but according to the paramedic, Kama was unable to
relay who did. Medical personnel then intubated Kama to assist with his breathing, and he was
unable to speak Doetors operated on Kama to repair life threatening injuries.
Meanwhile, several officers from the Clark County Sheriff's Office arrived at the scene
after Kama had been transported. Quinata told Sergeant Bill Roberts that she and Kama had
argued that night and she told Kama that he had to move out. Quinata also told Detective Wayne
Phillips and Deputy Eric Dunham that she and Kama had been arguing and she had asked him to
leave. She stated that after she had asked Kama to leave, he walked from the kitchen to the
1
At trial, Quinata admitted that Kama had not attempted to stab himself. Instead, she testified
that she had accidentally " poked" Kama in the chest as he came around a corner and walked into
her as she was eating her dinner. 3 RP at 489.
2
No. 43075 -4 -II
carport a few times as she prepared and started to eat her dinner; at some point after he had gone
in and out a few times, she then realized that he had blood or " a liquid" in " his stomach area"
and Kama then collapsed in the hallway between the kitchen and the carport. 1A RP at 137.
Quinata also told Detective Phillips that Kama " had mentioned about killing himself previously"
and that he had also told her he would tell the officers that she had stabbed him. 1A RP at 138.
In addition, she told Deputy Dunham that after she called 911 and started to apply pressure to the
wound, Kama insisted she remove some of his clothing, hit her several times in the leg, pulled
her hair, and said, "` I' m going to tell the cops you tried to kill me,' or something to that effect."
1B RPat217.
II. PROCEDURE
The State charged Quinata with attempted second degree murder and first degree assault.
The State' s witnesses testified as described above, and the jury heard the 911 tape.
A. HEARSAY EVIDENCE
During trial, the State sought to introduce some of Kama' s through physician
assistant" Cassandra Sappington. Sappington first testified -hat Kama was unable to talk from the
t
time he was admitted until after he was extubated following his surgery. When he was able to
talk, " psych services evaluate[ d] him and [ made] a written record of what he said to them." 1B
RP at 306. When the State asked Sappington what Kama had said, Quinata objected on hearsay
2 Kama did not appear at trial to testify.
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3
grounds. The State argued that these statements were admissible as having been made for
medical diagnosis and treatment. The trial court overruled the objection.
Sappington then testified that " psychiatry had an opportunity to assess" Kama based on
concerns about " suicidal ideations." 1B RP at 307. Sappington then read from psychiatric
4
services nurse practitioner Patricia Morgan' s report:
In quotation marks it says, " Never." The patient denies having a history of
depression ever. " Never any pills." The patient states that this was his
girlfriend" that stabbed him. The [ registered nurse] also provided information to
me regarding this and also states that this is the same information that was
provided to her. That the patient did not have a suicide attempt but it was the
patient' s significant other that stabbed him. The patient has been in a
marriage... .
The patient has been in a marriage but he also has a significant other.
He has been in this relationship for one year. The patient does state that he has a
history of physical abuse with the girlfriend but he minimizes this. He states that
his girlfriend and he were arguing day of this stab wound. He came
on the
around the corner ", that' s in quotation marks, and " I was poked" is in quotation
marks. " I do [ sic] not even know I was hurt until I saw the blood," quotation
marks. I woke up today and was told you were coming and I wanted to tell my
story.
1B RP at 307 -10. Sappington, who had no independent knowledge of Kama' s statements, also
testified that the information in quotations in the report were probably direct quotes from the
patient, whereas the rest of the report was likely " just a generalized impression of what [ the
patient was] saying." 1B RP at 311.
3 Quinata objected again later because Sappington was not the person to whom Kama had
spoken. The State argued that Sappington' s testimony was admissible because she was testifying
about " medical records made in the regular course of business." 1B RP at 308. The trial court
overruled Quinata' s objection.
4
Morgan dictated this report on October 16, 2010; she " authenticated" it the next day. 1B RP at
313.
4
No. 43075 -4 -II
B. QUINATA' S TESTIMONY
Quinata was the sole defense witness. She testified that while she was eating her dinner
on the night of the incident, she and Kama had been arguing and she had asked Kama to leave.
She asserted that she had' been eating her sandwich with a sharp knife and fork and she had
accidentally " poked" Kama in the chest as he came around a corner and walked into her. 3 RP at
489. She did not realize that Kama was injured until he collapsed after walking in and out of the
house. Quinata stated that she was on the phone with her son when Kama collapsed and she
called 911 after examining Kama and noticing blood on his shirt.
Quinata explained that she told the 911 dispatcher that Kama had tried to kill himself
because she ( Quinata) panicked when Kama started to scream that she was trying to kill him.
Quinata also admitted that she told the emergency responders that Kama had tried to commit
suicide. She testified that she told the emergency responders this because Kama was " screaming
that [ she] was trying to kill him," and she did not " want to get in trouble" because that was not
what happened. 3 RP at 501 -02.
Quinata further testified that she did not tell any of the investigating officers that she had
poked" Kama or mention this in her written statement because she was scared. Quinata was
unsure of what she had done with the knife, but she believed that it was either on the kitchen
counter or in the kitchen sink.
Defense counsel also asked Quinata whether she had " had a long time to think about this
incident." 3 RP at 509. She responded that she had and that she realized that she shouldn' t have
lied and that she likely would not be on trial if she had just told the truth.
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No. 43075 -4 -
II
C. CLOSING ARGUMENTS
In closing argument, the prosecutor played the 911 call ( which included Quinata telling
the 911 dispatcher that Kama had stabbed himself) and told the jury that Quinata was now telling
a very different story. The prosecutor argued that although Quinata claimed to be telling the
truth now and trying to take " responsibility," she was, in fact, just changing her story to fit the
evidence the jury had heard "[ a]fter watching three days of testimony in which every little piece
was picked apart." 3 RP at 584 ( emphasis added). Throughout her argument and the rebuttal,
the prosecutor asserted that Quinata had changed her story in response to the evidence she had
heard during the trial because she realized that the jury would not have believed her original
claim that Kama had stabbed himself. The prosecutor also argued that Quinata' s claim that the
stabbing was an accident was not " reasonable" because it did not make sense based on Quinata' s
and Kama' s relative heights and the nature of Kama' s injuries. 3 RP at 597.
Defense counsel argued that Kama' s statement to Morgan was not inconsistent with
Quinata' s testimony, that all Kama told Morgan was that he came around a corner and was
poked," that Kama did not realize until later that he was injured, and that this statement did not
establish that Quinata had intentionally stabbed him with intent to kill him. 3 RP at 609.
Defense counsel also argued that the State had not presented any evidence about the amount of
force it would have taken to stab Kama or whether the knife Quinata said she had been using was
capable of inflicting such injury.
In rebuttal, the prosecutor argued that the jury could rely on common sense when
determining whether Kama' s injuries were consistent with Quinata' s testimony and that the State
was not required to present testimony about this issue from a doctor. The prosecutor further
argued,
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No. 43075 -4 -II
The State does not -- did not bring in a -- a person to testify about how much
force it would take for someone to accidently [ sic] stab someone in the chest
because the State did not know that the Defendant was going to change her story
until today, until you sat here today. That was the first time. So, there was no
witness to come in and talk about force. But, you know what? There are the
twelve of you, there' s a jury that gets to use your common sense.
3 RP at 632 ( emphasis added). Quinata did not object to any of the prosecutor' s argument.
The jury found Quinata not guilty of attempted murder, but found her guilty of first
degree assault. Quinata appeals her conviction.
ANALYSIS
I. No ART. II, § 19 VIOLATION
Quinata first contends that the first degree assault statute, RCW 9A.36. 011, is
unconstitutional because it was enacted in violation of Wash. Const. art. II, § 19, which provides
that "[ n] o bill shall embrace more than one subject, and that shall be expressed in the title."
Specifically, she argues that ( 1) the 1986 legislation enacting former RCW 9A.36. 011 ( 1986),
which altered the mens rea required to commit the crime of first degree assault and added a third
alternative means of committing the offense, violated the single subject rule because RCW
9A.36. 011 was not within the scope of the bill' s title, which addressed only the sentencing of
adult felons; and ( 2) this error was not cured by the 1997 amendment to the 1986 version of the
statute because that legislation also violated the single subject rule. We disagree.
A. STANDARD OF REVIEW AND ART. II, §19
We review constitutional issues de novo. Bellevue Sch. Dist. v. E.S., 171 Wn.2d 695,
702, 257 P. 3d 570 ( 2011). -` A statute is presumed constitutional and the parties challenging its
must demonstrate its unconstitutionality beyond a reasonable doubt." Belas v.
constitutionality
Kiga, 135 Wn.2d 913, 920, 959 P. 2d 1037 ( 1998).
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No. 43075 -4 -II
Article II, section 19 contains two prohibitions: ( 1) no bill shall embrace more
than one subject ( single subject rule), and ( 2) that the bill' s title shall express the
bill' s subject ( subject -in -itle
t rule). Citizens for Responsible Wildlife Mgmt. v.
State, 149 Wn.2d 622, 632, 71 P. 3d 644 ( 2003) ( citing State ex rel. Wash. Toll
Bridge Auth. v. Yelle, 32 Wn.2d 13, 23, 200 P. 2d 467 ( 1948)). A violation of
either the single subject or the subject - -itle requirement renders the bill
in t
unconstitutional. Patrice v. Murphy, 136 Wn.2d 845, 852, 966 P.2d 1271 ( 1998).
State v. Stannard, 134 Wn. App. 828, 834, 142 P. 3d 641 ( 2006).
Our Supreme Court has, however, stated, "[ T] hat when a statute is challenged on the
basis that its title violates article II, section 19, a later amendment to or reenactment of the statute
supersedes and therefore ` cure[ s] any defect' in the earlier legislation." Morin v. Harrell, 161
Wn.2d 226, 231, 164 P. 3d 495 ( 2007) ( second alteration in original) ( quoting Pierce County v.
State, 159 Wn.2d 16, 39 -41, 148 R3d 1002 ( 2006)). Because the legislature amended former
RCW 9A.36. 011 in 1997, we do not need to address the 1986 legislation. Thus, Quinata must
show that the 1997 legislation violated the single subject rule; this she fails to do.
B. NO CONSTITUTIONAL VIOLATION
Quinata argues that the 1997 legislation did not cure the 1986 defect because the 1997
titled, " AN ACT
bill was " Relating to crimes," and this title was not broad enough to encompass -
the portions of the bill that related to changes to civil detention hearings for human
5
infected people who in behaviors dangerous to public health.
immunodeficiency virus - engage
See LAws OF 1997, ch. 196, § 5. But Quinata fails to recognize that even if we assume the civil
detention portion of the 1997 bill went beyond the bill' s title, the other portions of the bill could
be severed from the arguably objectionable portion of the bill. See State v. Thomas, 103 Wn.
5The governor vetoed this section of the bill. See LAws OF 1997, ch. 196, § 5.
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No. 43075 -4 -II
800, 813 - 14, 14 P. 3d 854 ( 2000), denied, 143 Wn.2d 1022 ( 2001). As we stated in
App. review
Thomas,
W] here the proposed legislation with a single subject title contains multiple
subjects, those provisions not encompassed within the title are invalid but the
remainder is constitutional if: ( 1) the objectionable portions may be severed such
that a court can presume the enacting body would have enacted the valid portion
without the invalid portion; and ( 2) elimination of the invalid part would not
render the remainder of the act incapable of accomplishing the legislative
purpose. [ State v. Broadaway, 133 Wn.2d 118, 128, 942 P. 2d 363 ( 1997).] In
short, when an act contains provisions not fairly within the single subject of its
title, such provisions are void. [ Power, Inc. v. Huntley, 39 Wn.2d 191, 200, 235
P. 2d 173 ( 1951).] See also Price v. Evergreen Cemetery Co. ofSeattle, 57 Wn.2d
352, 354, 357 P. 2d 702 ( 1960).
103 Wn. App. at 813 - 14 ( footnote omitted). Here, even presuming that the civil detention
portions of the legislation went beyond the bill' s title, those portions of the 1997 amendment can
easily be severed. Quinata does not argue, nor does it appear, that the remaining portions of the
legislation are not within the bill' s title. Because Quinata does not show that the 1997 legislation
failed to cure any alleged defect in the 1986 legislation, she cannot show that RCW 9A.36.011 is
unconstitutional under art. II, § 19, and this argument fails.
II_ CONFRONTATION CLAUSE CHALLENGE
Quinata next argues that the trial court violated her Sixth and Fourteenth Amendment
right to confront witnesses by admitting testimonial hearsay in the form of Sappington' s
testimony about Morgan' s report, which, in turn, contained hearsay about what Kama had said.
She argues that there were " multiple layers of testimonial hearsay, one produced by Kama, a
second by Patty Morgan of ` psych services,' and a third by an unnamed transcriptionist who
typed up Morgan' s dictated report." Br. of Appellant at 20. Regardless of whether Quinata has
9
No. 43075 -4 -II
6
properly preserved these arguments, and assuming but not deciding that Morgan' s report
contained testimonial hearsay, Quinata' s confrontation clause argument fails because the record
establishes that the admission of this testimony was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt.
C] onfrontation clause violations are subject to harmless error analysis." State v.
Beadle, 173 Wn.2d 97, 119, 265 P. 3d 863 ( 2011) ( citing State v. Koslowski, 166 Wn.2d 409,
431, 209 P. 3d 479 ( 2009)). Although we presume that a constitutional error is prejudicial, a
constitutional error is harmless if we are assured beyond a reasonable doubt that the jury verdict
is unattributable to the error. State v. Watt, 160 Wn.2d 626, 635, 160 P. 3d 640 ( 2007). The State
bears the burden of establishing that the error was harmless. Watt, 160 Wn.2d at 635.
Although no other witnesses testified that Kama had stated that Quinata had " poked"
him, one of the paramedics testified that on the way to the hospital, Kama stated, "[ H] e did not
stab himself but he was unable to relay who did." 1 A RP at 66. Although this statement did not
identify who had " stabbed" Kama, there was no one else in the house and there was no allegation
at trial that another person was present when Kama was injured. Additionally, in her 911 call
and her statements to Deputy Dunham and Detective Phillips, Quinata herself stated that Kama
was accusing her of having stabbed him. Quinata did not challenge any of this evidence.
Because the jury heard this other evidence and Kama' s statement to Morgan is merely
cumulative, we hold beyond a reasonable doubt that the jury' s verdict was not attributable to
6
See RAP 2. 5( a).
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No. 43075 -4 -II
Kama' s statement to Morgan. Because the State can establish any potential error was harmless,
Quinata' s confrontation clause argument fails.
III. HEARSAY CHALLENGE
Quinata further argues that the trial court erred when it admitted Sappington' s testimony
about Kama' s statements to Morgan as statements for medical diagnosis or treatment under ER
8
803( a)( 4). Again, we disagree.
We review a trial court' s evidentiary rulings for abuse of discretion. State v. Ellis, 136
Wn.2d 498, 504, 963 P. 2d 843 ( 1998). A court abuses its discretion when its evidentiary ruling
is "' manifestly unreasonable, or exercised on untenable grounds, or for untenable reasons '
State v. Downing, 151 Wn.2d 265, 272 -73, 87 P. 3d 1169 ( 2004) ( quoting State ex. rel. Carroll
v. Junker, 79 Wn.2d 12, 26, 482 P. 2d 775 ( 1971)), or if "no reasonable person would take the
view adopted by the trial court." State v. Castellanos, 132 Wn.2d 94, 97, 935 P. 2d 1353 ( 1997)
citing State v. Huelett, 92 Wn. 2d 967, 969, 603 P. 2d 1258 ( 1979)). Evidentiary error is grounds
for reversal only if it results in prejudice. State v. Neal, 144 Wn.2d 600, 611, 30 P. 3d 12552001). " An error is prejudicial if, `
within reasonable probabilities had the error not occurred,
the outcome of the trial would have been materially affected.'" Neal, 144 Wn.2d at 611 ( quoting
7 Furthermore, because Quinata admitted that she had been eating her sandwich with a sharp
knife and fork and she had accidentally " poked" Kama in the chest as he came around a corner
and walked into her, 3 RP at 489, who stabbed Kama was not at issue at trial and the medical
records did not address whether the stabbing was intentional or accidental, these records are even
less harmful.
8
ER 803( a)( 4) establishes the following exception to the hearsay rule:
Statements for Purposes of Medical Diagnosis or Treatment. Statements made
for purposes of medical diagnosis or treatment and describing medical history, or
past or present symptoms, pain, or sensations, or the inception or general
character of the cause or external source thereof insofar as reasonably pertinent to
diagnosis or treatment.
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No. 43075 -4 -II
State v. Smith, 106 Wn.2d 772, 780, 725 P. 2d 951 ( 1986)). And a trial court' s erroneous
admission of hearsay statements is harmless when the jury has heard substantially similar
testimony without objection. State v. Weber, 159 Wn.2d 252, 276, 149 P. 3d 646 ( 2006) ( quoting
Ashley v. Hall, 138 Wn.2d 151, 159, 978 P. 2d 1055 ( 1999)), cert. denied, 551 U.S. 1137 ( 2007).
Hearsay" is a statement " offered in evidence to prove the truth of the matter asserted."
ER 801( c). Hearsay evidence is not admissible unless it fits under a recognized exception to the
hearsay rule, in which case we presume its reliability. 9 State v. Athan, 160 Wn.2d 354, 383, 158
P. 3d 27 ( 2007). In instances of multiple hearsay, each level of hearsay must be independently
admissible. ER 805. Here, Sappington' s testimony is double hearsay —Kama' s statements to
Morgan are the first level of hearsay, and Morgan' s report to Sappington is the second level.'°
See ER 801( c).
One exception to the hearsay rule is ER 803( a)( 4). Under this rule, admissible statements
include those " reasonably pertinent to diagnosis or treatment." ER 803( a)( 4). " To be
admissible, the declarant' s apparent motive must be consistent with receiving treatment, and the
statements must- be information on which the medical provider- reasonably relies to make a
diagnosis." State v. Fisher, 130 Wn. App. 1, 14, 108 P. 3d 1262 ( 2005), review denied, 156
Wn.2d 1013 ( 2006). " The rationale is that we presume a medical patient has a strong motive to
9 " The hearsay prohibition serves to prevent the jury from hearing statements without giving the
opposing party a chance to challenge the declarants' assertions." Brundridge v. Fluor Fed.
Servs., Inc., 164 Wn.2d 432, 451 -52, 191 P. 3d 879 ( 2008).
1°
On appeal, Quinata argues that this hearsay ": Kama to Morgan, Morgan
evidence was " triple
to a transcriptionist, and Morgan' s report through Sappington. During the trial, Quinata arguably
objected to two layers of hearsay, but she did not argue that the fact that Morgan' s report was
transcribed was an additional layer of hearsay. Accordingly, we treat this argument as a double
hearsay argument. See RAP 2. 5( a).
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No. 43075 -4 -II
be truthful and accurate. This provides a significant guarantee of trustworthiness." State v.
Perez, 137 Wn. App. 97, 106, 151 P. 3d 249 ( 2007). Kama' s statements to Morgan that he had
not injured himself were clearly for the purpose of diagnosis and treatment —Morgan was
attempting to ensure that Kama was not suicidal. And Kama' s statement to Morgan that Quinata
had stabbed him were relevant to Kama' s treatment and diagnosis because the identity of his
assailant could affect his treatment. State v. Williams, 137 Wn. App. 736, 746, 154 P. 3d 3222007) ( " In domestic violence ... situations, a declarant' s statement disclosing the identity of a
closely -related perpetrator is admissible under ER 803( a)( 4) because part of reasonable treatment
and therapy is to prevent recurrence and future injury." ( citing State v. Ackerman, 90 Wn. App.
11477, 482, 953 P. 2d 816 ( 1998); State v. Sims, 77 Wn. App. 236, 239, 890 P. 2d 521 ( 1995))).
Accordingly, the trial court did not abuse its discretion when it admitted Kama' s
statements as statements for medical diagnosis or treatment under ER 803( a)( 4).
Furthermore, as we discussed above, the admission of this evidence was harmless,
particularly in light of the other, similar evidence to which Quinata did not object. Accordingly,
this argument also fails.
11
Another exception to the hearsay rule is the business records exception. State v. Garrett, 76
Wn. App. 719, 725 -26, 887 P. 2d 488 ( 1995). A record of an act, condition or event, shall in so
far as relevant, be competent evidence if the custodian or other qualified witness testifies to its
identity and the mode of its preparation, and if it was made in the regular course of business,
method and time justify its admission. RCW 5. 45. 020. At trial,
of preparation were such as to
Quinata asserted a general hearsay objection, and the State relied on the medical treatment
exception as well as the business record exception. Quinata now argues that the State failed to
foundation to the a business record. But Quinata did not
lay a sufficient establish report was
object at trial on this ground; accordingly, we do not address this argument. See RAP 2. 5( a).
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IV. PROSECUTORIAL MISCONDUCT
Quinata next argues that the prosecutor engaged in prosecutorial misconduct in closing
argument. Specifically, she argues that the prosecutor improperly ( 1) commented on Quinata' s
right to be present and to confront the prosecution witnesses, and ( 2) argued facts not in
evidence. Quinata contends that each of these errors was flagrant and ill intentioned, and
because these errors pervaded the State' s entire closing argument, would not have been cured by
any objection. Again, we disagree.
A. STANDARD OF REVIEW
To establish prosecutorial misconduct, Quinata has the burden of establishing that the
challenged conduct was both improper and prejudicial. State v. Cheatam, 150 Wn.2d 626, 652,
81 P. 3d 830 ( 2003). We review the prosecutor' s conduct " by examining that conduct in the full
trial context, including the evidence presented, ` the context of the total argument, the issues in
the case, the evidence addressed in the argument, and the instructions given to the jury. "' State
v. Monday, 171 Wn.2d 667, 675, 257 P. 3d 551 ( 2011) ( internal quotation marks omitted)
quoting State 52, 134 P. 3d 221 ( 2006)) "
v. McKenzie, 157 Wn. 2d 44, - Once [ the] defendant has
demonstrated that the prosecutor' s conduct was improper, we evaluate the defendant' s claim of
prejudice on the merits under two different standards of review depending on whether the
defendant objected at trial." State v. Sakellis, 164 Wn. App. 170, 183, 269 P. 3d 1029 ( 2011),
review denied, 176 Wn.2d 1004 ( 2013).
Because Quinata failed to object to the portions of the prosecutor' s argument that she
now challenges, she is deemed to have waived any error " unless the prosecutor' s misconduct
was so flagrant and ill intentioned that an instruction could not have cured the resulting
prejudice." State v. Emery, 174 Wn.2d 741, 760 -61, 278 P. 3d 653 ( 2012). " Under this
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No. 43075 -4 -II
heightened standard, [ Quinata] must show that ( 1) ` no curative instruction would have obviated
any prejudicial effect on the jury' and ( 2) the misconduct resulted in prejudice that ` had a
substantial likelihood of affecting the jury verdict. ' Emery, 174 Wn.2d at 761 ( quoting State v.
Thorgerson, 172 Wn.2d 438, 455, 258 P. 3d 43 ( 2011). When applying this standard, our focus is
less on whether the prosecutor' s misconduct was flagrant or ill intentioned and more on whether
the resulting prejudice could have been cured." Emery, 174 Wn.2d at 762.
B. TAILORING
Quinata argues that the prosecutor improperly commented on Quinata' s art. I, § 22 right
to appear and defend in person and to confront witnesses. This is essentially a " tailoring"
12
argument.
Quinata appears to argue that under State v. Martin, 171 Wn.2d 521, 252 P. 3d 8722011), prosecutors are never allowed to make a tailoring argument in closing argument because
such arguments violate Wash. Const. art. I, § 22. We disagree.
Martin addressed a prosecutor' s questioning of a defendant in cross -examination, not, as
is the case here, a prosecutor' s statement in closing argument. See 171- Wn. 2d at 533 -34. - The
Martin court held that " our state constitution was not violated when a deputy prosecutor, in
response to testimony [ the defendant] had given on direct examination, asked [ the defendant] if
he had tailored his testimony to conform to testimony given by other witnesses," because the
12 Quinata appears to argue that the prosecutor' s argument went beyond an assertion that Quinata
had tailored her testimony to fit the evidence she had heard during the trial because the
prosecutor suggested that Quinata had " created her whole version of events from the testimony
she heard at trial." Br. of Appellant at 31. We see no distinction between an assertion that a
defendant has " tailored" some of his or her testimony to fit the evidence presented at trial and an
assertion that the defendant has invented an entirely new story based on the evidence presented
at trial. In both instances the defendant has presented the jury with facts based on the previously
presented evidence. Accordingly, we consider this argument to be a " tailoring" argument.
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defendant' s testimony included a statement that he based his testimony in part on other evidence
presented at trial, squarely placing the defendant' s credibility at issue. 171 Wn.2d at 537 -38.
But Martin did not address whether a prosecutor may argue tailoring in closing argument and,
apart from its pronouncement that art. I, § 22 is more protective than its federal counterpart, is
not particularly informative here.
Unlike Martin, State v. Berube, 171 Wn. App. 103, 116, 286 P. 3d 402 ( 2012), review
denied, 178 Wn.2d 1002 ( 2013), a case from Division One of this court, is directly on point. In
Berube, the court rejected the same argument Quinata now makes. Noting that the Martin court
had expressly declined to address " generic tailoring arguments," the court held that it was not
prosecutorial misconduct for a prosecutor to assert in closing argument that a defendant had
tailored his or her testimony "[ w]hen tailoring is alleged based on the defendant' s testimony on
direct examination, the argument is a logical attack on the defendant' s credibility and does not
burden the right to testify." Berube, 171 Wn. App. at 116 -17. We agree.
Here, it was clear that Quinata' s trial testimony was substantially different than the
statements she made at the time of the incident, therewas no evidence that Quinata had claimed
the stabbing was accidental before the trial, and Quinata used the same words to describe the
incident that Kama used in describing it to Morgan. The prosecutor' s tailoring argument was
based on Quinata' s testimony, which was the type of argument that the Berube court approved.
171 Wn. App. at 106 ( " Nor does a prosecutor commit misconduct by arguing that the defendant
tailored his account of events in response to other witnesses' testimony where the argument is
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based on defendant' s testimony on direct examination. "). Quinata fails to establish prosecutorial
misconduct on this ground. 13
C. ARGUING FACTS OUTSIDE THE RECORD AND PERSONAL OPINION
Finally, Quinata argues that the prosecutor' s argument stating that Quinata had changed
her defense theory that same day and that the State was unaware of that change in time to present
a witness to testify about the amount of force necessary to stab a person in the chest was
improper because this evidence was not before the jury. Although these facts were not in the
record, 14 the trial court instructed the jurors that the prosecutor' s argument was not evidence and
that they must disregard any statement or argument not supported by the record. We presume
the jury follows the trial court' s instructions. State v. Foster, 135 Wn.2d 441, 472, 957 P. 2d 7121998). Thus, even presuming the prosecutor engaged in misconduct, we hold that Quinata does
not show prejudice under the heightened prejudice standard.
To the extent Quinata also argues that the prosecutor' s arguments amounted to personal
opinion of Quinata' s guilt when it advised the jury that Quinata had changed her defense that day
andthat the State was unaware of that change in time to obtain a witness who could testify about
13 Because Quinata does not show that the prosecutor engaged in misconduct, we need not
address whether she has shown prejudice. See Sakellis, 164 Wn. App. at 183.
Furthermore, given that ( 1) the evidence clearly showed that Quinata' s trial defense was
distinctly different from the account she had previously given; ( 2) the jury was well aware that
Quinata was present during the trial and heard all of the evidence; and ( 3) Quinata' s use of some
of the same language from Morgan' s report, the jury could have easily concluded on its own that
Quinata was tailoring her testimony to fit the trial evidence. Thus, the prosecutor' s tailoring
argument, to the extent it was improper, did not have a substantial likelihood of affecting the
verdict under the heightened prejudice standard. Emery, 174 Wn.2d at 761; see also Sakellis,
164 Wn. App. at 183.
14 The State did not present any evidence establishing that it had not had time to seek an expert
witness. But the record does reflect that the State had attempted to locate such a witness after
presenting its rebuttal witness.
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the amount of force the stabbing took, that argument has no merit. Not only could such an error
have easily been cured by an instruction advising the jury to disregard this portion of the
argument, nothing in the prosecutor' s argument suggests that the prosecutor was offering her
personal belief of Quinata' s guilt.
We affirm.
A majority of the panel having determined that this opinion will not be printed in the
Washington Appellate Reports, but will be filed for public record in accordance with RCW
2. 06. 040, it is so ordered..
18