State Of Washington v. Jason A. Becktel ( 2019 )

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
STATE OF WASHINGTON, )
) No. 77149-3-I
Respondent,
) DIVISION ONE
v.
JASON AARON BECKTEL, ) UNPUBLISHED OPINION
Appellant. ) FILED: May 13, 2019
SMITH, J. —Jason Becktel appeals his conviction for second degree
murder with a firearm. He argues that the trial court erred by excluding evidence
that the victim, Allen Kesterson, had previously been convicted of assault. He
also challenges a number of sidebars that occurred during trial and raises
various additional issues in a statement of additional grounds for review (SAG).
Because evidence of Kesterson’s prior conviction was properly excluded under
evidence rules that are neither arbitrary nor disproportionate to the purposes they
are designed to serve, we hold that the trial court did not err by excluding that
evidence. We also hold that because Becktel has not established that the
sidebars addressed anything other than nonsubstantive procedural matters or
routine evidentiary rulings, the public trial right did not attach to them. Finally, we
hold that none of the issues raised in Becktel’s SAG require reversal. Therefore,
we affirm Becktel’s conviction. But due to recent changes in the law, we remand
to the trial court to strike the $200 criminal filing fee and interest on nonrestitution
legal financial obligations (LFO5) imposed at sentencing.
No. 77149-3-1/2
FACTS
The State charged Becktel with first degree premeditated murder with a
firearm enhancement after he shot and killed Kesterson on January 1, 2015. At
trial, the jury heard testimony that on December 31, 2014, Becktel and his then
girlfriend, Sammi Skore, attended a New Year’s Eve party hosted by Alicia
German and Dustin Walden at Walden’s home in Concrete, Washington. Skore
brought her firearm, a 40-caliber Smith & Wesson handgun, with her as a safety
precaution. Skore testified that Becktel knew she brought her handgun with her,
but that it was her desire to bring it and she was the one who placed it in the
couple’s truck. When Becktel and Skore arrived at Walden’s home, Skore left
the handgun in its case in the truck.
Walden testified that approximately 15 or 20 people attended the party,
which for the most part took place in a shop structure on his property. Several
partygoers testified that everyone had a good time drinking and dancing.
Kesterson, who was Walden’s neighbor and was older than the other partygoers,
spent much of the party tending to a fire outside the shop. Becktel had never
met Kesterson before but described him as a “lo[ ]ner.” In a statement to
detectives, Becktel later indicated that Kesterson was “creeping [him] out.”
Most of the partygoers had left by about 12:30 or 1:00 am., and Becktel,
Skore, Walden, German, and Kesterson were the last ones remaining. Becktel,
Skore, Walden, and German were in the shop. Becktel testified that he was
pouring himself a drink when he turned and noticed that Kesterson had come into
the shop and, as Becktel described it, “was standing close to me, kind of too
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No. 77149-3-1/3
close.” Becktel told Kesterson to “get the fuck away from me.” A verbal
altercation took place, and Walden intervened and asked Kesterson to leave.
After Kesterson left, German invited Becktel and Skore to stay the night.
Becktel testified that after some discussion, he and Skore decided to stay, had
another drink in the shop, and eventually went back into the house after Skore
retrieved some blankets from their truck. Once inside the house, Skore lay down
on the couch, Becktel sat at her feet, and they chatted until Skore fell asleep.
Becktel testified that after Skore fell asleep, he debated whether to stay or
go home. He remained on the couch for about 20 to 30 minutes, then pulled out
a can of tobacco, but it was empty. He got up to go outside to the truck to
retrieve a full can of tobacco. He estimated that it was after 3:00 am. when he
went outside.
Once at the truck, Becktel opened the driver’s side door and began
searching for his tobacco. When he found it, he stood up and heard a noise. He
then saw Kesterson walking down the sidewalk toward him with a knife in his
hand. Becktel, who did not know Kesterson lived next door, thought it was odd
that Kesterson was still there. Becktel “threw the can of chew on the seat and
grabbed the pistol case that was on the center where the 4-wheel Drive shifter is,
and. . . pulled the gun out of the case.” He testified that when he saw the knife
in Kesterson’s hand, he thought Kesterson was going to stab him because “I
don’t know what else he would be coming at me with a knife in his hand for,
unless he was coming to stab me.” Becktel then pulled the slide on the gun, put
a round into the chamber, stepped back, closed the door of the truck, and
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No. 77149-3-1/4
pointed the gun at Kesterson. He told Kesterson to “get the fuck away from me”
in a loud voice. Becktel testified that Kesterson turned around and went back
toward the house when he saw the gun.
Becktel testified that he followed Kesterson up the sidewalk toward the
house, but lost sight of him. Becktel was screaming Skore’s name. He testified
that the next person he saw was German, who had come out of the house onto
the porch. Becktel then heard Kesterson yelling and saw him by the corner of
the shop, about 15 or 20 feet away.
German testified that she was awakened by Becktel’s yelling, so she got
up, dressed, walked out onto the porch, and saw Becktel and Kesterson yelling
at each other. She could see that Becktel had a gun behind his back, and after
about a minute on the porch, she came off the porch and approached Becktel,
stopping a few feet away from him and trying to get everyone to calm down. She
testified that Kesterson was initially moving toward Becktel, but stopped when
Becktel raised his gun.
Becktel testified that Kesterson’s hand was by his side. He testified that
although he did not see a knife in Kesterson’s hand, he believed that Kesterson
was holding a knife because he had been holding one a short time earlier.
Meanwhile, Walden had also woken up and walked onto the porch. He
testified that he saw Becktel pointing a gun at Kesterson and German standing
about one or two feet away from Becktel. Becktel then fired three shots at
Kesterson, who fell on his back. An officer who responded to the scene testified
that Kesterson’s knife was in its sheath. Kesterson died from his gunshot
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No. 77149-3-1/5
wounds.
The State charged Becktel with first degree premeditated murder with a
firearm enhancement. Becktel’s theory at trial was that he acted in self-defense.
In support of this theory, Becktel moved in limine to introduce evidence that
Kesterson had been convicted of assault for threatening his brother-in-law with a
knife during a domestic incident that took place on December 9, 2010. The court
denied the motion.
The jury acquitted Becktel of first degree murder but convicted him of the
lesser included offense of second degree murder with a firearm enhancement.
Becktel appeals.
ANALYSIS
Evidence of Kesterson’s Prior Assault Conviction
Becktel argues that the trial court erred by excluding evidence relevant to
his self-defense theory. Specifically, Becktel asserts that evidence of
Kesterson’s prior assault would have corroborated Becktel’s testimony regarding
the confrontation that took place at Becktel’s truck. He acknowledges that ER
404 and ER 405 prohibit the use of specific instances of a victim’s conduct to
prove the victim’s character for purposes of showing conformity therewith, but
argues that this prohibition impermissibly impaired his constitutional right to
present a defense. We disagree.
Standard of Review
A trial court’s interpretation of an evidence rule is a matter of law reviewed
de novo. State v. Fisher, 165 Wash. 2d 727, 745, 202 P.3d 937 (2009). A claim of
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No. 77149-3-1/6
a denial of the right to present a defense is also a matter we review de novo.
State v. Jones, 168 Wash. 2d 713, 719, 230 P.3d 576 (2010).
Discussion
Under ER 404(a), “[e]vidence of a person’s character or a trait of character
is not admissible for the purpose of proving action in conformity therewith on a
particular occasion.” ER 404(a)(2) provides an exception to this rule for
‘[e]vidence of a pertinent trait of character of the victim of the crime offered by an
accused.” But even under this exception, “[e}vidence of other crimes, wrongs, or
acts is not admissible to prove the character of a person in order to show action
in conformity therewith.” ER 404(b). Rather, in the self-defense context,
reputation testimony is the only permissible method of proving a victim’s
character to show that the victim acted in conformity with that character. State v.
Hutchinson, 135 Wash. 2d 863, 886-87, 959 P.2d 1061 (1998). That said, evidence
of the victim’s specific acts is admissible in a self-defense case if the defendant
knew of them before he committed the crime charged. State v. Adamo, 120
Wash. 268, 271, 207 P. 7(1922). But in this context, the specific acts are not
being admitted to prove that the victim acted in conformity therewith, as
prohibited by ER 404(b). Instead, the evidence is admitted to show the
reasonableness of the defendant’s fear of the victim. State v. Burnam, 4 Wn.
App. 2d 368, 376, 421 P.3d 977, review denied, 192 Wash. 2d 1003 (2018).
The Washington State Supreme Court confirmed these rules in
Hutchinson. There, the defendant argued that he acted in self-defense when he
shot and killed a police officer. Hutchinson, 135 Wash. 2d at 867-68, 887. In
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No. 77149-3-1/7
support of his argument, the defendant attempted to introduce testimony from
witnesses who would have testified about specific violent acts allegedly
committed by the officer. Hutchinson, 135 Wash. 2d at 886. Citing ER 404(a) and
ER 405, the Supreme Court concluded that ‘[t]he trial court correctly excluded
these witnesses’ testimony because evidence of a character trait—here, [the
victim’s] allegedly violent disposition—must be in the form of reputation evidence,
not evidence of specific acts.” Hutchinson, 135 Wash. 2d at 886.
Here, the trial court relied on Hutchinson to conclude that evidence of
Kesterson’s prior assault was inadmissible under ER 404 and ER 405. The trial
court’s interpretation of these rules was correct. Because Becktel raised self-
defense, the trial court properly held that under ER 404, ER 405, and
Hutchinson, evidence of Kesterson’s prior assault was not admissible to show
that Kesterson acted in conformity therewith, i.e., by threatening Becktel with a
knife during the confrontation at Becktel’s truck.
Becktel contends that even if the trial court properly applied ER 404 and
ER 405 under Hutchinson, his constitutional right to present a full defense
“transcends the evidence rules.” He then argues that by excluding evidence of
Kesterson’s prior assault under these evidence rules, the trial court deprived him
of his right to present a defense. We disagree.
As an initial matter, Becktel asks this court to apply the wrong test to
analyze his claim. Relying on Jones, Becktel argues that “[t]he constitutional
right to present a complete defense includes the right to present evidence
relevant to the defense, even if otherwise excluded by the evidence rules.” Again
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No. 77149-3-1/8
relying on Jones, Becktel asserts that “[i]f. . evidence is relevant to the defense,
it must be admitted unless the State can show it/s so prejudicial as to disrupt the
fairness of the fact-finding process at trial.” (Emphasis added.)
But examination of Jones reveals that Becktel is incorrect. In Jones, the
defendant, Christopher Jones, was accused of forcibly raping his niece, K.D.
Jones, 168 Wash. 2d at 717. Jones wished to testify that the sexual encounter was
consensual and, specifically, that it took place during an all-night alcohol- and
cocaine-fueled sex party in which both Jones and K.D. participated. Jones, 168
Wash. 2d at 717. The trial court ruled that Jones could not so testify and also
refused to allow Jones to cross-examine witnesses about the sex party. Jones,
168 Wash. 2d at 717-18. A jury convicted Jones of second degree rape. Jones,
168 Wash. 2d at 718-19.
On appeal, our Supreme Court considered whether the trial court’s ruling
violated Jones’s right to present a defense, as well as his right to confront
witnesses. Jones, 168 Wash. 2d at 720. In ultimately reversing Jones’s conviction,
the court did state, as Becktel points out: “‘[l]f [evidence is] relevant, the burden is
on the State to show the evidence is so prejudicial as to disrupt the fairness of
the fact-finding process at trial.” Jones, 168 Wash. 2d at 720 (first alteration in
original) (quoting Statev. Darden, 145 Wn.2d 612,622,41 P.3d 1189 (2002)).
But the court quoted Darden for this proposition, and Darden was strictly a
confrontation case. Darden, 145 Wash. 2d at 619. The confrontation right and the
right to present a defense, though related, are “two separate rights.” State v.
Hudlow, 99 Wash. 2d 1, 14-15, 659 P.2d 514 (1983). And the test described in
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No. 77149-3-1/9
Darden and quoted in Jones was part of a balancing test that the Darden court
explained determines the scope of the confrontation right. Darden, 145 Wash. 2d at
621.
But here, Becktel does not argue that the exclusion of Kesterson’s prior
assault deprived him of his right to confront any witness. Instead, the thrust of
Becktel’s argument is that he was deprived of an opportunity to bolster his own
testimony with evidence of Kesterson’s assault. Therefore, the Darden test does
not apply here, and we do not consider whether the State has shown that “the
evidence is so prejudicial as to disrupt the fairness of the fact-finding process at
trial.” Darden, 145 Wash. 2d at 622.1
Rather, in the right-to-present-a-defense context, we recognize that “[tjhe
defendant’s right [to present a defense] is subject to reasonable restrictions and
must yield to ‘established rules of procedure and evidence designed to assure
both fairness and reliability in the ascertainment of guilt and innocence.” State v.
Donald, 178 Wash. App. 250, 263-64, 316 P.3d 1081 (2013) (footnote omitted)
(quoting State v. Finch, 137 Wash. 2d 792, 825, 975 P.2d 967 (1999)). We also
recognize that “state and federal rulemakers have broad latitude under the
Constitution to establish rules excluding evidence from criminal trials.” State v.
Lizarraga, 191 Wash. App. 530, 553, 364 P.3d 810 (2015) (quoting United States v.
Scheffer, 523 U.S. 303, 308, 118 S. Ct. 1261, 140 L. Ed. 2d 413 (1998)). These
1Indeed, accepting Becktel’s argument that any evidence relevant to the
defense must be admitted unless the State can show that its prejudice outweighs
the defendant’s need—even if the evidence is, as it was here, properly excluded
under a correct interpretation of the evidence rules—would render the evidence
rules meaningless.
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No. 77149-3-1110
exclusionary evidence “‘rules do not abridge an accused’s right to present a
defense so long as they are not arbitrary or disproportionate to the purposes they
are designed to serve.” Lizarraga, 191 Wash. App. at 553 (internal quotation
marks omitted) (quoting Scheffer, 523 U.S. at 308). Therefore, to analyze
Becktel’s right-to-present-a-defense claim, we consider whether ER 404 and
405—and the trial court’s exclusion of evidence in accordance with those rules—
are arbitrary or disproportionate to the purposes those rules are designed to
serve. We conclude that they are not.
Donald is instructive. There, the defendant, Harold Donald, was convicted
of assault and attempted robbery. Donald, 178 Wash. App. at 255. At trial,
Donald’s defense was that another suspect, Lorenzo Leon, had alone committed
the crimes. Donald, 178 Wash. App. at 254. In support of his theory, Donald
attempted to introduce evidence of Leon’s extensive criminal history. Donald,
178 Wash. App. at 254. The trial court excluded this evidence under ER 404(b),
which, as discussed, generally prohibits the use of prior specific acts to show
circumstantially that a person acted consistently therewith on a particular
occasion. Donald, 178 Wash. App. at 257-58.
On appeal, Donald argued that “his constitutional right to present a
defense and the policy behind ER 404(b) should cause [the court] to construe the
plain language of ER 404(b) prohibiting propensity evidence inapplicable when a
defendant offers this evidence to support his defense.” Donald, 178 Wash. App. at
258. We disagreed and explained:
Excluding Leon’s criminal history did not significantly undermine
any fundamental element of Donald’s defense. It did not exclude
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No. 77149-3-I/li
any witness with knowledge of any fact of the alleged crimes or any
part of that witness’s testimony. It did not exclude any testimony
from Donald. He still could present all of the facts relevant to
Leon’s involvement in the assault. . ER 404(b) prevented him
. .
only from presenting propensity evidence the common law
generally excludes because it is distracting, time consuming, and
likely to influence a fact finder far beyond its legitimate probative
value. Exclusion of propensity evidence furthers two goals that [the
United States Supreme Court] recognized as reasonable. It
ensures the reliability of evidence introduced at trial and avoids
litigation collateral to the primary purpose of the trial.
. . [T]he per
.
se exclusion of propensity evidence to prove how a person acted
on a particular occasion is not disproportionate to the ends it is
designed to serve.
Donald, 178 Wash. App. at 268 (emphasis added) (footnote omitted).
Here, as in Donald, the trial court’s application of ER 404 and ER 405 to
exclude evidence of Kesterson’s prior assault only prevented Becktel from
excluding propensity evidence that is generally excluded because it is
‘distracting, time consuming, and likely to influence a fact finder far beyond its
legitimate probative value.” Donald, 178 Wash. App. at 268. Specifically, evidence
that Kesterson threatened his brother-in-law with a knife during a domestic
incident that occurred four years before the shooting had little probative value
with regard to whether Becktel justifiably shot Kesterson. Furthermore, that
evidence could well influence the jury far beyond its legitimate probative value.
Therefore, as in Donald, exclusion of the evidence furthered the goals of
ensuring the reliability of evidence introduced at trial and avoiding litigation
collateral to the primary purpose of the trial, i.e., determining the reasonableness
of Becktel’s actions.
Additionally, excluding evidence of Kesterson’s criminal history did not
significantly undermine any fundamental element of Becktel’s defense. As in
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No. 77149-3-1/12
Donald, it did not exclude any witness with knowledge of any fact of Becktel’s
alleged crime, any part of that witness’s testimony, or any testimony from Becktel
himself. Rather, Becktel was able to present all of the facts relevant to his self-
defense theory. Indeed, Becktel’s account of his confrontation with Kesterson at
the truck was not contradicted. Becktel argues otherwise by pointing out that
during his cross-examination, the prosecutor questioned him “with skepticism.”
But a cross-examination is not the same as conflicting testimony from witnesses.
In short, ER 404 and ER 405 and the trial court’s application thereof were
neither arbitrary nor disproportionate to the purposes those rules are designed to
serve. Therefore, Becktel was not deprived of his right to present a defense
when the trial court applied those rules to exclude evidence of Kesterson’s prior
assault.
Relying on State v. Cayetano-Jaimes, 190 Wash. App. 286, 359 P.3d 919
(2015), Becktel argues that “[pier se rules that exclude an entire class of
testimony may violate a defendant’s constitutional right to present a complete
defense.” Becktel’s reliance on Cayetano-Jaimes is misplaced. In that case, the
defendant, Arturo Cayetano-Jaimes, was charged with first degree rape of his
niece, V. Cayetano-Jaimes, 190 Wash. App. at 289, 291. V. had reported that
Cayetano-Jaimes had once engaged in sexual contact with her while Cayetano
Jaimes and his wife were babysitting V. and her sister. Cayetano-Jaimes, 190
Wash. App. at 289-90. At trial, Cayetano-Jaimes moved to admit the telephonic
testimony of Laura Camacho, V.’s mother, who was unavailable to testify in
person. Cayetano-Jaimes, 190 Wash. App. at 289, 291. Camacho would have
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No. 77149-3-1/13
testified that she and V.’s stepfather never left their girls in Cayetano-Jaimes’
care during the time that Cayetano-Jaimes lived in Washington. Cayetano
Jaimes, 190 Wash. App. at 291. The court denied the motion and excluded
Camacho’s telephonic testimony. Cayetano-Jaimes, 190 Wash. App. at 291, 294.
A jury convicted Cayetano-Jaimes as charged. Cayetano-Jaimes, 190 Wash. App.
at 294.
On appeal, we analyzed whether, considering the constitutional rights at
issue, the trial court erred by excluding Camacho’s testimony, observing that
“[c]ourt rules may not prevent a defendant from presenting highly probative
evidence vital to the defense.” Cayetano-Jaimes, 190 Wash. App. at 297, 298. We
concluded that the trial court did err because its ruling “deprived Cayetano
Jaimes of relevant, material evidence vital to his defense.” Cayetano-Jaimes,
190 Wash. App. at 300. We observed that “Camacho’s testimony, if believed,
provided a complete defense to the charged crime. Therefore, ‘it is evidence of
extremely high probative value; it is [the defendant’s] entire defense.” Cayetano
Jaimes, 190 Wash. App. at 300 (emphasis added) (alteration in original) (quoting
Jones, 168 Wash. 2d at 721).
Here, the evidence of Kesterson’s prior crime was not, like the evidence in
Cayetano-Jaimes, highly probative. Again, evidence of Kesterson’s prior
conviction for an assault that occurred during a domestic incident four years
earlier had little probative value with regard to whether Becktel justifiably shot
Kesterson. That evidence also was not vital to Becktel’s defense: Even if the jury
believed Becktel’s testimony that Kesterson initiated the confrontation at
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No. 77149-3-1114
Becktel’s truck, it still had to decide whether Becktel acted reasonably when he
and Kesterson confronted each other again a short time later. Specifically, the
jury had to decide whether Becktel (a) “reasonably believed that [Kesterson]
intended to inflict death or great personal injury,” (b) “reasonably believed that
there was imminent danger of such harm being accomplished,” and (c)
“employed such force and means as a reasonably prudent person would use
under the same or similar conditions as they reasonably appeared to [Becktel].”
In short, the evidence of Kesterson’s prior assault was not, like the evidence in
Cayetano-Jaimes, Becktel’s entire defense.
Moreover, the trial court in Cayetano-Jaimes excluded Camacho’s
testimony “because it believed the jury could not evaluate her credibility if it could
not see her.” Cayetano-Jaimes, 190 Wash. App. at 301. In reversing the trial
court, we explained that “[o]bservations of a witness’s demeanor do not provide
the only way to evaluate that witness’s credibility” and that the State had offered
no explanation why other means of challenging Camacho’s credibility would be
insufficient. Cayetano-Jaimes, 190 Wash. App. at 301. In other words, we
recognized in Cayetano-Jaimes that by excluding highly probative evidence vital
to the defense merely because it was telephonic, the trial court applied a rule that
was disproportionate to the purposes it was designed to serve. But as
discussed, the evidentiary rules the trial court applied here to exclude evidence
of Kesterson’s prior assault were neither arbitrary nor disproportionate to the
purposes they are designed to serve. Therefore, Becktel’s reliance on Cayetano
Jaimes is misplaced.
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No. 77149-3-1/15
Becktel also relies again on Jones to argue that the trial court’s ruling
violated his right to present a defense. Like his reliance on Cavetano-Jaimes,
Becktel’s reliance on Jones is misplaced. As discussed, the defendant in Jones
wished to testify that his sexual contact with his niece was consensual and took
place during an all-night sex party in which both he and his niece participated.
Jones, 168 Wash. 2d at 717. The trial court excluded the defendant’s testimony
under the rape shield statute. Jones, 168 Wash. 2d at 717-18. The Washington
State Supreme Court ultimately concluded that the rape shield statute did not
apply, that the sex party evidence was the defendant’s “entire defense,” and that
“even if the rape shield statute did apply, the sex party testimony is of extremely
high probative value and cannot be barred without violating the Sixth
Amendment.” Jones, 168 Wash. 2d at 724. In other words, Jones simply
recognizes that rules that prevent a defendant from introducing highly probative
evidence vital to his defense may be unconstitutionally arbitrary or
disproportionate to the purposes they are designed to serve. Cf Scheffer, 523
U.S. at 308 (observing that United States Supreme Court has found exclusion of
evidence to be unconstitutionally arbitrary or disproportionate only when it
infringes on “a weighty interest of the accused”). But as discussed, the evidence
Becktel sought to introduce here was neither highly probative nor vital.
Therefore, Jones does not require reversal.
Becktel next suggests that Chambers v. Mississippi, 410 U.S. 284, 93 S.
Ct. 1038, 35 L. Ed. 2d 297 (1973), and Washinc~ton v. Texas, 388 U.S. 14, 87 5.
Ct. 1920, 18 L. Ed. 2d 1019 (1967), support reversal. But neither case is
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No. 77149-3-1/16
persuasive here. Chambers involved Mississippi’s “party witness” or “voucher”
rule, which barred a party from impeaching its own witness. Chambers, 410 u.s.
at 294. As a result of that rule, the defendant in Chambers was prohibited from
cross-examining a witness who had confessed to the crime charged but who
later repudiated his confession. Chambers, 410 U.S. at 294. In concluding that
the defendant was deprived of due process, the United States Supreme Court
observed that the defendant was also barred from presenting other witnesses
who would have discredited the confessing witness’s repudiation. Chambers,
410 U.S. at 292, 294. It also noted that Mississippi failed to explain the
underlying rationale for the voucher rule, which the Court observed “appears to
be a remnant of primative English trial practice.” Chambers, 410 U.S. at 296-97.
Washington involved Texas statutes that barred a person charged as a
participant in a crime from testifying on behalf of another alleged participant.
Washington, 388 U.S. at 16-17. The Court held that the Texas statutes, which it
characterized as absurd, violated the Sixth Amendment by arbitrarily excluding
entire categories of defense witnesses from testifying based on a presumption
that they were unworthy of belief. Washington, 388 U.S. at 22.
As the United States Supreme Court itself later observed, both Chambers
and Washington involved the exclusion of evidence that “significantly undermined
fundamental elements of the defendant’s defense.” Scheffer, 523 U.S. at 315.
Furthermore, Chambers and Washington both involved rules that the Court
described as primitive, arbitrary, or absurd. As already discussed, that was not
the case here. Therefore, Chambers and Washington are distinguishable and do
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No. 77149-3-1117
not control.
Becktel next argues that we should follow the lead of other states that
allow, in self-defense cases, the admission of the victim’s specific acts—whether
or not the defendant knew of them—to prove the victim’s character for purposes
of showing that the victim was the first aggressor. But Becktel did not know of
Kesterson’s prior assault conviction before shooting him, and Washington has
long followed the rule that for a victim’s specific acts to be admissible in a self-
defense case, the defendant must have known of those specific acts before the
time he committed the crime charged. Adamo, 120 Wash. at 271; cf. State v.
Duarte Vela, 200 Wash. App. 306, 323-24, 402 P.3d 281 (2017) (holding that trial
court violated defendant’s right to present a defense by excluding evidence of
victim’s prior threats that were known to the defendant), review denied, 190
Wash. 2d 1005 (2018). That some other states have adopted a different rule that
allows admission of the victim’s specific acts—whether or not the defendant
knew of them—does not mean that Washington’s rule is arbitrary or
disproportionate to the purposes it is designed to serve. Becktel’s argument fails.
As a final matter, Becktel argues that because Washington permits
reputation evidence to prove character under ER 405, prior acts should also be
admissible to prove character because they are “more probative” than reputation
evidence. He relies on an advisory committee note to Federal Rule of Evidence
405 that states: “Of the three methods of proving character provided by the rule,
evidence of specific instances of conduct is the most convincing.” FED. R. EvID.
405 Advisory Committee’s Note, 56 F.R.D. 183, 222 (1973). But Becktel omits
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No. 77149-3-1/18
the remainder of that committee note, which explains that evidence of specific
acts is also the most prejudicial:
At the same time[, evidence of specific acts] possesses the
greatest capacity to arouse prejudice, to confuse, to surprise, and
to consume time. Consequently the rule confines the use of
evidence of this kind to cases in which character is, in the strict
sense, in issue and hence deserving of a searching inquiry. .
This treatment is, with respect to specific instances of conduct and
reputation, conventional contemporary common law doctrine.
56 F.R.D. at 222 (emphasis added). In other words, the committee clearly
considered the potential probative value of specific acts, weighed it against their
likely prejudicial effect, and deemed them inadmissible for purposes of showing
character except when the issue of character is strictly at issue. Therefore, the
committee’s note does not support Becktel’s argument here. Rather, the
committee’s weighing of the probative value of specific acts against their
prejudicial effects confirms that ER 405 is neither arbitrary nor disproportionate to
the purpose it is designed to serve. The trial court did not deprive Becktel of the
right to present a defense by applying this rule, together with ER 404, to exclude
evidence of Kesterson’s prior assault.
Public Trial
Becktel argues that the trial court violated his right to a public trial by
holding 20 sidebars that were neither recorded nor memorialized for the record.
Because Becktel has not established that the public trial right attached to these
sidebars, we disagree.
Both the state and federal constitutions guarantee criminal defendants the
right to a public trial. State v. Briqhtman, 155 Wash. 2d 506, 514, 122 P.3d 150
(2005). “The public trial right serves to ensure a fair trial, to remind the officers of
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No. 77149-3-1119
the court of the importance of their functions, to encourage witnesses to come
forward, and to discourage perjury.” Briqhtman, 155 Wash. 2d at 514. “A public trial
right violation may be raised for the first time on appeal.” State v. Karas, 6 Wn.
App. 2d 610, 617, 431 P.3d 1006 (2018).
The public trial right is not absolute. State v. Wise, 176 Wash. 2d 1, 9, 288
P.3d 1113 (2012). “[W]hile openness is a hallmark of our judicial process, there
are other rights and considerations that must sometimes be served by limiting
public access to a trial.” Wise, 176 Wash. 2d at 9. To that end, we use a three-step
analysis to determine whether a defendant’s public trial right has been violated.
Statev. Love, 183 Wash. 2d 598, 605, 354 P.3d 841 (2015). First, we ask whether
the public trial right attaches to the proceeding at issue. Love, 183 Wash. 2d at 605.
Second, if the right attaches, we then ask whether the courtroom was closed.
Love, 183 Wash. 2d at 605. Third, if the courtroom was closed, we ask whether the
closure was justified. Love, 183 Wash. 2d at 605. ‘The appellant carries the burden
on the first two steps; the proponent of the closure carries the third.” Love, 183
Wash. 2d at 605.
Washington courts apply the experience-and-logic test to determine
whether the public trial right attaches to a particular proceeding. State v. Smith,
181 Wash. 2d 508, 514, 334 P.3d 1049 (2014). “‘The first part of the test, the
experience prong, asks whether the place and process have historically been
open to the press and general public. The logic prong asks whether public
access plays a significant positive role in the functioning of the particular process
in question.” Smith, 181 Wash. 2d at 514 (internal quotation marks omitted)
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No. 77149-3-1/20
(quoting State v. Sublett, 176 Wash. 2d 58, 73, 292 P.3d 715 (2012)). “The guiding
principle is ‘whether openness will enhance[ } both the basic fairness of the
criminal trial and the appearance of fairness so essential to public confidence in
the system.” Smith, 181 Wash. 2d at 514-15 (alteration in original) (internal
quotation marks omitted) (quoting Sublett, 176 Wash. 2d at 75).
In Smith, the Washington State Supreme Court held that the public trial
right does not attach to “proper” sidebars because (1) sidebars deal with
“mundane issues implicating little public interest,” (2) sidebars “have traditionally
been held outside the hearing of both the jury and the public,” and (3) “allowing
the public to ‘intrude on the huddle’ would add nothing positive to sidebars in our
courts.” Smith, 181 Wash. 2d at 516, 519. The court held that the sidebars at issue
in that case, which dealt with evidentiary rulings, were proper sidebars. Smith,
181 Wash. 2d at 519. It reasoned, “[E]videntiary rulings that are the subject of
traditional sidebars do not invoke any of the concerns the public trial right is
meant to address regarding perjury, transparency, or the appearance of
fairness.” Smith, 181 Wash. 2d at 518. The court also noted that the sidebars at
issue were contemporaneously memorialized and recorded, which negated any
concern about secrecy. Smith, 181 Wash. 2d at 518. The court later confirmed in
State v. Whitlock, 188 Wash. 2d 511, 396 P.3d 310 (2017), that “proper” sidebars
are those that (1) deal with mundane issues implicating little public interest, (2)
are done only to avoid disrupting the flow of trial, and (3) are promptly
memorialized for the record. Whitlock, 188 Wash. 2d at 522.
Here, Becktel, who bears the burden of demonstrating that the public trial
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No. 77149-3-1/21
right attaches, has not shown that the sidebars extended beyond “mundane
issues implicating little public interest.” ~ Whitlock, 188 Wash. 2d at 522 (quoting
Smith, 181 Wash. 2d at 516). Indeed, Becktel concedes that 8 of the sidebars
“apparently involved mundane topics such as scheduling, use of the courtroom
recording equipment, or other non-substantive procedural issues.” He asserts
that the remaining 12 sidebars involved evidentiary matters but does not point to
anything in the record indicating that these sidebars addressed anything other
than routine evidentiary rulings, which are within the traditional province of
sidebars. Smith, 181 Wash. 2d at 518. Although the court certainly should have
recorded or memorialized each sidebar under Smith, it does not follow that the
trial court violated Becktel’s public trial right by not doing so. C1~ Karas, 6 Wn.
App. 2d at 620 (rejecting argument that anything that is not a proper sidebar
implicates the public trial right).
Becktel chiefly relies on Whitlock to argue that the public trial right
attached to the sidebars at issue here. But that reliance is misplaced. Whitlock
involved an in-chambers conference during which the trial court ruled on the
prosecutor’s objection to the defense’s line of cross-examination of a witness.
Whitlock, 188 Wash. 2d at 516. The prosecutor objected because he viewed the
cross-examination as an attempt to intimidate the witness by revealing she was a
police informant. Whitlock, 188 Wash. 2d at 516. On appeal, the Washington State
Supreme Court held that the in-chambers proceeding violated the public trial
right. Whitlock, 188 Wash. 2d at 524. It reasoned that the proceeding involved “a
matter easily accessible to the public: informants and their motives to curry favor
21
No. 77149-3-1/22
with authority.” Whitlock, 188 Wash. 2d at 523. Additionally, the in-chambers
proceeding in Whitlock took place during a bench trial; therefore, “[tjhe entire
objection could have been argued on the record at any time with no
inconvenience to anyone.” Whitlock, 188 Wash. 2d at 523.
Here, unlike in Whitlock, the sidebars at issue did not take place in
chambers and did not occur during a bench trial. Furthermore, the sidebar at
issue in Whitlock was eventually memorialized, so the subject matter of the
sidebar was part of the record on appeal. Whitlock, 188 Wash. 2d at 522-23. Here,
by contrast, none of the sidebars were memorialized. Therefore, Becktel cannot
establish on this record that the sidebars addressed anything other than
nonsubstantive procedural matters or routine evidentiary rulings. Ct State v.
McFarland, 127 Wash. 2d 322, 338, 899 P.2d 1251 (1995) (on direct appeal,
reviewing court will not consider matters outside the trial record; personal
restraint petition is proper vehicle for bringing those matters before the court).
Accordingly, Whitlock is distinguishable and does not control.
Statement of Additional Grounds
Becktel raises several issues in his SAG. None require reversal.
First, Becktel asserts that the trial court erred by not providing him a new
jury panel “after an employee from the sheriff’s office informed the entire panel
[he] was incarcerated.” But he does not indicate where in the record this alleged
incident occurred, nor does he point to anything in the record suggesting that any
jurors were prejudiced thereby. Therefore, this claim fails. See State v. Ollison,
68 Wash. 2d 65, 69, 411 P.2d 419 (1966) (rejecting challenge to trial court’s denial
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No. 77149-3-1/23
of mistrial motion when the only evidence regarding whether potential jurors were
prejudiced by possibly having seen the defendant in handcuffs was defense
counsel’s statements); ~ RAP 10.10(c) (appellate court not obligated to
search record in support of claims made in SAG).
Second, Becktel asserts that the prosecutor “in his closing statement
intentionally gave false and misleading information to the jury and then at the end
of his statement revealed that what he said wasn’t factual, just what he thought
may have happened.” But “[tb prevail on a claim of prosecutorial misconduct,
the defendant must establish ‘that the prosecutor’s conduct was both improper
and prejudicial in the context of the entire record and the circumstances at trial.”
State v. Thorgerson, 172 Wash. 2d 438, 442, 258 P.3d 43 (2011) (internal quotation
marks omitted) (quoting State v. Maqers, 164 Wash. 2d 174, 191, 189 P.3d 126
(2008)). Becktel neither specifies the comments he argues were improper nor
explains how those comments prejudiced him. Therefore, his claim fails.
Third, Becktel argues that the trial court erred by denying his motion to
suppress statements he made to law enforcement. He contends that the court’s
conclusion that he was in custody was based on contradictory statements made
by the judge and by an officer who testified that Becktel was not free to leave
when he made his statement. But the trial court concluded that even if Becktel
were in custody at the time of his statements, he was properly advised of—and
waived—his Miranda2 rights. Therefore, Becktel’s argument is without merit.
2 Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 86 S. Ct. 1602, 16 L. Ed. 2d 694
(1966).
23
No. 77149-3-1124
Fourth, Becktel asserts that he “was never informed by [his] attorney that
the photos of the alleged victim after death could be suppressed and not shown
to the jury.” But a defendant alleging ineffective assistance of counsel must
establish both that his counsel’s performance was deficient and that the
deficiency prejudiced him. State v. Kyllo, 166 Wash. 2d 856, 862, 215 P.3d 177
(2009). Here, Becktel does not specify how his counsel’s alleged failure
prejudiced him. Therefore, his claim fails.
Finally, Becktel asserts that “[t]he Court suggested that because [Becktel]
was larger in size than Kesterson [he] should not have been afraid of him with a
knife brandished or not.” But Becktel does not state where in the record the
court’s statement occurred. Therefore, we decline to consider this additional
ground for review because it does not adequately inform us of the nature and
occurrence of the error that Becktel alleges, and we are not obligated to search
the record in support of Becktel’s claim. RAP 10.10(c).
Criminal Filing Fee and Interest on Nonrestitution LFOs
As a final matter, Becktel argues that the trial court should be instructed to
strike the $200 criminal filing fee and interest on nonrestitution LFOs from the
judgment and sentence. We agree.
When Becktel was sentenced, the trial court assessed a mandatory
criminal filing fee and ordered that all LFOs would bear interest from the date of
judgment. During the pendency of this appeal, the relevant LFO statutes were
amended as follows: Former RCW 36.18.020(2)(h) (2015) was amended to
provide that the filing fee “shall not be imposed on a defendant who is indigent.”
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No. 77149-3-1/25
LAWS OF 2018, ch. 269, § 17, at 1632. And former RCW 10.82.090 (2015) was
amended to provide that “no interest shall accrue on nonrestitution legal financial
obligations.” LAWS OF 2018, ch. 269, § 1, at 1615. In State v. Ramirez, 191
Wash. 2d 732, 426 P.3d 714 (2018), the Washington State Supreme Court held that
these amendments apply to cases that were pending on direct review and not yet
final when the amendments were enacted. Ramirez, 191 Wash. 2d at 747.
The State does not dispute that Becktel is indigent, and it concedes that
the criminal filing fee and interest on nonrestitution LFOs should be stricken. We
accept the State’s concession.
We affirm Becktel’s conviction but remand to the trial court to strike the
$200 criminal filing fee and interest on nonrestitution LFOs.
WE CONCUR:
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