State of Washington v. Jason Lee Planque ( 2020 )

FILED
MARCH 3, 2020
In the Office of the Clerk of Court
WA State Court of Appeals, Division III
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
DIVISION THREE
STATE OF WASHINGTON, )
) No. 36467-4-III
Respondent, )
)
v. )
)
JASON LEE PLANQUE, ) UNPUBLISHED OPINION
)
Appellant. )
KORSMO, J. — Jason Planque appeals from convictions for third degree assault
and resisting arrest, primarily challenging the refusal to grant a drug offender sentencing
alternative (DOSA) sentence. We affirm.
FACTS
An intoxicated Planque was accused of assaulting his mother; she called law
enforcement and reported that he had shoved her. Planque lived in a house he shared
with his mother and grandmother. Okanagan Deputy Sheriff Isaiah Holloway arrived at
the location shortly after midnight. The trial testimony painted distinctly different
versions of the ensuing encounter.
No. 36467-4-III
State v. Planque
Holloway testified that Planque refused to shake hands with him and, after seeing
that Planque wore a knife sheath, the deputy advised Planque that he would be detained
pending the investigation. When the deputy attempted to handcuff Planque, the man
wrenched his arm free and twice shoved the deputy. The deputy eventually wrestled
Planque to the ground and handcuffed him. Mr. Planque never contended that he was
injured in the scuffle or that he had any physical limitations.
In contrast, Planque testified that Holloway approached and struck him in the face.
When the deputy grabbed his arms, Planque protested that he had limited range of motion
in his arms. Because of his physical limitations, he could not have shoved the deputy.1
The prosecutor argued in closing that Planque’s physical limitation argument was
uncorroborated and that no evidence supported the theory other than the defendant’s own
testimony. The jury convicted Planque of third degree assault and resisting arrest, but
acquitted him of fourth degree assault of his mother.
At sentencing, Planque sought a residential DOSA sentence, relying on a letter
from his mother and his own allocution reporting a long-term struggle with alcoholism.
The court declined to grant the DOSA sentence, reasoning that voluntary treatment was
more appropriate in light of the lack of evidence that he was amenable to treatment. The
court imposed a standard range prison sentence.
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Planque’s mother testified at trial that she did not remember her son shoving her.
The jury acquitted Planque of assaulting his mother.
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Mr. Planque timely appealed to this court. A panel considered his appeal without
hearing argument.
ANALYSIS
Mr. Planque argues that the prosecutor committed misconduct in closing argument
and that the court erred in declining his request for a DOSA sentence. We address those
arguments in the order listed. The parties also note that the judgment and sentence
references the former third degree assault statute instead of the current statute. We direct
that the trial court correct that notation on remand and do not otherwise discuss the issue.
Prosecutorial Misconduct
Mr. Planque first argues that the prosecutor committed misconduct in closing
argument by noting that his claim of physical limitation was uncorroborated. There was
no misconduct.
Our review of this claim is in accordance with a basic principle of appellate
litigation. Appellate courts review trial court rulings; where, as here, there is no trial
court ruling to challenge, appellate review normally is not available. RAP 2.5(a). There
are certain exceptions to this doctrine that recognize a small class of errors that can be
reviewed even in the absence of a trial court challenge. The most common of those
exceptions, found in RAP 2.5(a)(3), permits review of a manifest error affecting a
constitutional right. A party claiming the existence of manifest constitutional error is first
required to establish the existence of error that is constitutional in nature. If such an error
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State v. Planque
is demonstrated, the party must then show that the error was not harmless and actually
had an identifiable and practical impact on the case. State v. Kirkman, 159 Wash. 2d 918,
934-935, 155 P.3d 125 (2007); State v. Scott, 110 Wash. 2d 682, 687-688, 757 P.2d 492
(1988).
The case law reflects the application of this principle to claims of prosecutorial
misconduct. The appellant bears the burden of demonstrating prosecutorial misconduct
on appeal and must establish that the conduct was both improper and prejudicial. State v.
Stenson, 132 Wash. 2d 668, 718, 940 P.2d 1239 (1997). Prejudice occurs where there is a
substantial likelihood that the misconduct affected the jury’s verdict. Id. at 718-719. The
allegedly improper statements should be viewed within the context of the prosecutor’s
entire argument, the issues in the case, the evidence discussed in the argument, and the
jury instructions. State v. Brown, 132 Wash. 2d 529, 561, 940 P.2d 546 (1997).
Reversal is not required where the alleged error could have been obviated by a
curative instruction. State v. Gentry, 125 Wash. 2d 570, 596, 888 P.2d 1105 (1995). The
failure to object constitutes a waiver unless the remark was so flagrant and ill-intentioned
that it evinced an enduring and resulting prejudice that could not have been neutralized
by an admonition to the jury. Id.; State v. Swan, 114 Wash. 2d 613, 665, 790 P.2d 610
(1990); State v. Belgarde, 110 Wash. 2d 504, 507, 755 P.2d 174 (1988). Finally, a
prosecutor has “wide latitude” in arguing inferences from the evidence presented.
Stenson, 132 Wash. 2d at 727. However, it is inappropriate for a prosecutor to suggest that
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State v. Planque
the defendant bears any burden of proof. State v. Fiallo-Lopez, 78 Wash. App. 717, 728-
729, 899 P.2d 1294 (1995).
Mr. Planque testified that he could not have committed the crime as alleged due to
existing injuries. The prosecutor was free to attack the quality of that evidence in closing
argument. Once a defendant presents evidence, a prosecutor can fairly comment on what
was not produced. State v. Barrow, 60 Wash. App. 869, 871-873, 809 P.2d 209 (1991);
State v. Guizzotti, 60 Wash. App. 289, 298, 803 P.2d 808 (1991); State v. Contreras, 57
Wash. App. 471, 788 P.2d 1114 (1990). Here, Mr. Planque’s mother testified at trial and
could easily have been asked about her son’s injuries and alleged inability to shove
another adult. The defense never posited the question. It was not improper for the
prosecutor to comment on the lack of corroboration.
The prosecutor did not engage in misconduct in closing argument. Because the
claim fails for that reason, we need not discuss whether this alleged error was prejudicial.
Sentencing
Mr. Planque also argues that the court erred in denying him a DOSA sentence.
Since he did not establish that he was amenable to treatment, there was no error.
Mr. Planque received a standard range sentence. By statute, affirmed by our case
law, he cannot challenge that sentence. RCW 9.94A.585(1); State v. Grayson, 154
Wash. 2d 333, 338, 111 P.3d 1183 (2005). Instead, all he can challenge is the trial court’s
failure to follow a mandatory procedure at sentencing. State v. Mail, 121 Wash. 2d 707,
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712, 854 P.2d 1042 (1993). Process-based challenges must point to a failure of the trial
court to follow a specific process required by the Sentencing Reform Act of 1981, ch.
9.94A RCW. Id. The refusal to consider a statutorily authorized procedure is an abuse of
discretion. State v. Garcia-Martinez, 88 Wash. App. 322, 330, 944 P.2d 1104 (1997).
Discretion is abused when it is exercised on untenable grounds or for untenable reasons.
State ex rel. Carroll v. Junker, 79 Wash. 2d 12, 26, 482 P.2d 775 (1971).
A DOSA sentence is available when the seven eligibility criteria are satisfied and
the court deems a DOSA sentence appropriate. RCW 9.94A.660(1), (3). The trial
court’s decision to grant or deny DOSA is not reviewable. Grayson, 154 Wash. 2d at 338;
State v. Hender, 180 Wash. App. 895, 900, 324 P.3d 780 (2014). The trial judge has the
discretion to determine whether use of the sentencing alternative is appropriate. Hender,
180 Wash. App. at 900-901. However, the trial court abuses its discretion if it does not
actually consider the request. Id.
That did not happen here. The court listened to Mr. Planque’s request, but deemed
it inappropriate. The court was not required to do more. Id. The sentence simply is not
appealable because the trial court did not fail to follow any mandatory procedure.
Grayson, 154 Wash. 2d at 338. But, even if the sentencing could be considered, there was
no abuse of discretion. Mr. Planque presented no evidence that he was amenable to
treatment. That failure was a tenable basis for declining the DOSA request.
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The court did not abuse its discretion in declining to grant a DOSA sentence.
Since he has not identified a failure of the trial court to follow a mandatory procedure,
this claim also is not reviewable.
Affirmed and remanded to correct the scrivener's error.
A majority of the panel has determined this opinion will not be printed in the
Washington Appellate Reports, but it will be filed for public record pursuant to RCW
2.06.040.
WE CONCUR:
L,., ... ,v, tl _ gw...1q ,
Lawrence-Berrey ,.J. C.' �,
Pennell, J.
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