State of Washington v. Julian Almaguer ( 2021 )

FILED
MARCH 4, 2021
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. 36995-1-III
Respondent, )
)
v. )
) UNPUBLISHED OPINION
JULIAN ALMAGUER, )
)
Appellant. )
FEARING, J. — Julian Almaguer appeals his conviction for forgery arising from his
attempt to cash a fraudulent check. We reverse and grant Almaguer a new trial because
of prejudice resulting from the introduction of inadmissible hearsay and the State’s
attorney’s reference to facts not in evidence during closing statement.
FACTS
We garner our facts from trial testimony.
On June 14, 2016, a gentleman entered a Spokane Moneytree to cash a check. The
State contends this gentleman was the accused, Julian Almaguer, but Almaguer denies
this. We refer to the gentleman as the “presenter of the check” or the “presenter.” The
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check was purportedly written by Becky Nance to “Julian Almaguer” for $156. The
presenter handed the check and an identification card of Julian Almaguer to a Moneytree
teller, Sara Scott. Scott observed alterations on the check. At the request of Scott, the
presenter signed the name of Julian Almaguer to the back of the check. Scott deemed the
check, the signature, or both to be illegitimate. The presenter told Scott that he received
the check for work performed for Nance.
A concerned Sara Scott announced to the presenter of the check that she would
contact Becky Nance to verify the check. The presenter responded that Nance had a
disconnected phone. Scott, however, found Nance’s listed phone number, called her, and
spoke with her. Based on Scott’s phone call to Nance, the writing on the check, and
Almaguer’s identification card, Scott concluded that the presenter tendered a fraudulent
check and that Julian Almaguer was the presenter. She copied the check and Almaguer’s
identification card and informed the presenter that Moneytree would give the copy of the
check to law enforcement. The presenter of the check left the store. Sara Scott sent a
written report of the incident with the copy of the check and driver’s license to Crime
Check.
On June 21, 2016, Officer Michele Kernkamp of the Spokane Police Department
reviewed Sara Scott’s report and began investigating the presentment of the check.
Officer Kernkamp reviewed the Moneytree’s surveillance footage, which showed the
presenter’s interaction with Scott. Kernkamp determined that the individual depicted in
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the footage was the same individual pictured on the copy of Julian Almaguer’s driver’s
license.
PROCEDURE
The State of Washington charged Julian Almaguer with one count of forgery. As
previously mentioned, Almaguer denied that he was the individual who presented the
fraudulent check. Trial took place on May 8, 2019. Almaguer did not testify at trial.
During the State’s direct examination of Officer Michele Kernkamp during trial,
Kernkamp identified Julian Almaguer as the individual she saw on Moneytree’s
surveillance footage and on the identification card presented to Sara Scott:
Q. Okay. And so based on that, do you believe Mr.—that individual
is in the courtroom today?
A. I do, yes.
Q. Where is he sitting, just for the record?
A. Just to your right.
Q. What is he wearing?
A. Gray sweatshirt or type of sweatshirt.
MR. JOLSTEAD [the State’s attorney]: Your Honor, I’d ask the
record to reflect that she’s identified Mr. Almaguer in the courtroom.
THE COURT: The record would reflect the same.
Report of Proceedings (RP) at 134-35. Almaguer did not object to the trial court’s
comment. The State did not offer as an exhibit or show the surveillance video.
During trial, Sara Scott also identified Julian Almaguer as the individual who
attempted to cash the fraudulent check on June 14, 2016.
Q. Okay. And is that person in the courtroom today?
A. Yes.
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Q. Okay. Have you had the opportunity to see Mr. Almaguer today?
A. Yes.
Q. Okay. And do you believe that’s the same individual?
A. Yes.
Q. Okay. And where is Mr. Almaguer sitting in the courtroom?
A. Right there.
Q. Okay.
MR. JOLSTEAD: Your Honor, I’d ask the record to reflect that she
has identified Mr. Almaguer.
THE COURT: The record will reflect the same.
RP at 153. Almaguer did not object to the trial court’s confirmation by Scott of
Almaguer as the man who presented the check.
On questioning by the State, Sara Scott, over Julian Almaguer’s objection,
explained why she concluded that the check Almaguer presented to her was fraudulent:
Q. Okay. And so based on talking to [Becky Nance], based on your
concerns about the check and based on Mr. Almaguer saying you weren’t
going to be able to get ahold of her, what was your opinion about this
check?
MR. WHALEY [defense counsel]: Objection, your Honor. It would
require her to rely upon what would be hearsay in this case, the check
person that she called.
THE COURT: Any response from the State?
MR. JOLSTEAD: I’m asking her based on her investigation what is
her opinion of this check.
MR. WHALEY: Which is partially based upon evidence which is
not before the Court and which isn’t going to be before the Court if that
person doesn’t testify.
THE COURT: Overruled. She can answer.
Q. (BY MR. JOLSTEAD) So, based on your investigation, what was
your opinion concerning this check?
A. Based on my investigation, I concluded that it was a fraudulent
check.
RP at 154-55.
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During trial, Sara Scott also testified that Julian Almaguer wore a black flat-billed
hat when he presented the check at Moneytree.
Q. Let me stop you really quick here. So what—do you remember
what Mr. Almaguer was wearing that day?
A. No.
Q. So you wrote a report on this, correct?
A. Yes.
Q. Okay. Would looking at that report refresh your memory?
A. Yes.
[Scott reviewed the report]
....
Q. So, Ms. Scott, did that refresh your memory as to what Mr.
Almaguer was wearing that day?
A. Yes.
Q. What was he wearing?
A. A black flat bill, basketball shorts, and a big sweatshirt.
Q. A black flat bill, what is that?
A. A black flat-billed hat.
RP at 149-50 (emphasis added).
The State contends that, during trial, Julian Almaguer carried a hat in his hands
and placed the hat on counsel’s table on multiple occasions. Nevertheless, the State did
not ask Sara Scott to identify the hat possessed by Almaguer in the courtroom as the hat
he donned when he entered Moneytree. The State did not seek to introduce the hat as an
exhibit.
The trial court instructed the jury that, to convict Julian Almaguer of forgery, the
State needed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he “possessed, offered, disposed of
or put off as true a written instrument which had been falsely made, completed or
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altered.” Clerk’s Papers (CP) at 21; See RCW 9A.60.020(1)(a). The court also delivered
the standard jury instruction that informs the jury to “disregard any evidence which either
is not admitted or which may be stricken by the Court.” RP at 116.
During the State’s rebuttal closing argument, the State’s attorney referenced Julian
Almaguer’s hat:
One of the things that’s also interesting is the fact that—and Mr.
Whaley touched on this—is that Ms. [Scott], while she was up here
speaking and talking about what Mr. Almaguer had worn that day, and she
said that he had a black flat-billed cap. And the defendant in court has had
possession of that exact same hat, whether or not you’ve noticed it.
RP at 200 (emphasis added). Almaguer objected to the State’s comment. The trial court
sustained Almaguer’s objection. The court did not, however, provide a curative
instruction after sustaining Almaguer’s objection. Almaguer did not then move for
mistrial.
The jury found Julian Almaguer guilty of forgery.
Julian Almaguer moved for a new trial. He asserted prosecutorial misconduct
based on the State’s attorney’s mentioning, during summation, Almaguer’s hat. The trial
court denied Almaguer’s motion. In its oral ruling, the trial court noted that Almaguer
brought the hat to the courtroom, the hat was only one piece of evidence, the prosecuting
attorney’s mention of the hat was no different from the attorney stating that Sara Scott
identified Almaguer as the culprit, the court earlier instructed the jury that argument of
the lawyer did not constitute evidence, and presumably the hat rested on the table when
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the State’s attorney’s mentioned the hat in closing.
The trial court entered written findings of fact in response to the motion for new
trial. Finding of fact 3 relates to Julian Almaguer’s hat and reads:
That during closing arguments the State made mention of a Black
billed hat which was in the possession of the defendant during trial and
which had been discussed during presentation of evidence.
CP at 61. The trial court also entered some conclusions of law:
XI. That the hat was discussed at trial very specifically.
XII. That on [page.] 36 of the trial transcript the State questioned
[Ms. Scott] as to what the defendant was wearing.
—That [Ms. Scott] responded that he was wearing a black flat bill.
—That the State asked, “a black flat billed what?”
—That [Ms. Scott] responded, “a black flat billed hat”.
XIII. That the hat was a fact that had been put in evidence by the
State during its direct examination.
....
XV. That the State made its comments, regarding the black hat that
was present with the defendant during trial, within the same instance of
pointing out the defendant’s features; and that these comments were in
response to defense comments regarding how features were not the same.
XVI. That the State was not arguing facts not in evidence as the hat
had been a fact that had been submitted into evidence.
....
XIX. That the hat was evidence and it was not error to discuss the
hat in closing arguments.
XX. That the hat was only one piece of evidence that the jury saw,
and that the defendant chose to bring it into the courtroom; that it is not
often that defendants bring evidence into the courtroom.
CP at 62-63.
LAW AND ANALYSIS
On appeal, Julian Almaguer assigns three errors from the trial. First, the trial court
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erroneously allowed Moneytree employee Sara Scott to rely on hearsay evidence when
opining that the check presented to her by the presenter was forged. Second, the trial
judge improperly asserted himself as a witness when confirming for the record that Sara
Scott identified Almaguer as the forger. Third, the State engaged in prosecutorial
misconduct when arguing to the jury that a hat brought by Almaguer to court was the
same hat mentioned by witness Sara Scott as being worn by the forger who entered
Moneytree. Almaguer adds that cumulative error prejudiced him and requires a new trial.
Julian Almaguer also contends that the sentencing court committed error when
calculating his offender score. Because we find reversible trial error, we do not address
any purported sentencing error.
Hearsay Evidence
Issue 1: Whether the trial court committed error when allowing Sara Scott to
testify to an opinion based on hearsay?
Answer 1: Yes.
Julian Almaguer asserts that the trial court should have sustained his objection to
Sara Scott’s testimony regarding her conclusion that the check presented to Moneytree
was fraudulent. He emphasizes that Scott based her conclusion of forgery on her out-of-
court conversation with the check’s maker, Becky Nance. The State responds that the
trial court did not allow introduction of hearsay because Scott proffered none of Nance’s
statements.
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Hearsay is an out-of-court statement offered to prove the truth of the matter
asserted. ER 801(c). Hearsay is inadmissible unless an exception or exclusion applies.
ER 802. “Inadmissible evidence is not made admissible by allowing the substance of a
testifying witness’s evidence to incorporate out-of-court statements made by a declarant
who does not testify.” State v. Martinez, 105 Wn. App. 775, 782, 20 P.3d 1062 (2001),
overruled on other grounds by State v. Rangel-Reyes, 119 Wn. App. 494, 81 P.3d 157(2003).
In State v. Johnson, 61 Wn. App. 539, 811 P.2d 687 (1991), a police officer
testified that he had reason to know that defendant Jody Johnson engaged in drug
trafficking. When testifying, the officer relied on an affidavit containing the contents of
an informant’s statement. The trial court overruled Johnson’s hearsay objection to the
testimony. This court held that the challenged testimony was hearsay. We followed the
rule that, when the inescapable inference from the testimony is that a nontestifying
witness has furnished the police with evidence of the defendant’s guilt, the testimony is
hearsay notwithstanding that the testifying witness does not repeat the actual statements
made by the non-testifying witness. The Johnson court concluded that the police
officer’s testimony created this inescapable inference.
Similarly, in State v. Martinez, 105 Wn. App. 775 (2001), this court reversed a
conviction because a police officer testified to his knowledge of how an informant
obtained his drugs. The officer’s knowledge came from talking to an informant. We
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rejected the State’s argument that the officer’s knowledge was admissible because the
officer did not repeat the comments of the informant. We reasoned that the State should
not be permitted to circumvent the hearsay rule.
In State v. Hudlow, 182 Wn. App. 266, 281, 331 P.3d 90 (2014), this court held
that the State’s rephrasing of questions to avoid direct quotations of what an informant
told a law enforcement officer “still only echoed what [the officer] may have heard the
informant utter.” We reversed another conviction based, in part, on hearsay evidence.
Sara Scott’s testimony parallels the testimony of law enforcement officers in these
two Washington decisions. Scott testified that she spoke with Becky Nance. The State
then asked: “And so based on talking to [Becky Nance], based on your concerns about
the check and based on Mr. Almaguer saying you weren’t going to be able to get ahold of
her, what was your opinion about this check?” RP at 154-55. After the court overruled a
hearsay objection, Scott testified that, based on her investigation, the presented check was
fraudulent. The State did not extract from Scott any of Nance’s statements, but the jury
would necessarily infer that Nance told Scott that the check was illegitimate. If Nance
had indicated otherwise, Scott would not have concluded that the check was fraudulent.
Thus, the trial court should have sustained Julian Almaguer’s hearsay objection. We later
address whether the inadmissible hearsay testimony created reversible error.
Judicial Comment on the Evidence
Issue 2: Whether the trial court committed error when confirming that witnesses
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Sara Scott and Michele Kernkamp pointed to Julian Almaguer in the courtroom when the
State asked each to identify the gentleman who presented the forged check to Moneytree?
Answer 2: We decline to address this question.
When asked during trial by the State to identify Julian Almaguer, witnesses
Officer Michele Kernkamp and Sara Scott respectively pointed to Julian Almaguer as he
sat at counsel table. On each occasion, the prosecuting attorney asked the trial court to
confirm each witness’s fingering of Almaguer. The trial court so confirmed without
objection from trial defense counsel.
On appeal, Julian Almaguer contends that whether the witnesses identified him
was an issue of fact for the jury, not the trial court, to resolve. According to Almaguer,
the trial court impermissibly commented on the evidence by its confirmation. The State
responds that the trial court did not comment on the evidence, but rather stated a fact that
had occurred inside the courtroom.
Under the Washington Constitution:
Judges shall not charge juries with respect to matters of fact, nor
comment thereon, but shall declare the law.
CONST. art. IV, § 16. Pursuant to the Washington State Constitution, judges may not
comment on evidence presented at trial. State v. Deal, 128 Wn.2d 693, 703, 911 P.2d
996 (1996).
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In State v. Jones, 171 Wn. App. 52, 54, 286 P.3d 83 (2012), Division Two of this
court ruled that the trial court committed no error when confirming that the arresting
officer identified the defendant Lorin Jones in court. Julian Almaguer distinguishes
Jones in that Lorin Jones, contrary to Almaguer, did not assert an identity defense.
Our panel is split as to whether to follow Division Two’s lead in State v. Jones.
Because the assignment of error to the trial court’s confirmation of the identification is
not outcome determinative, we decline to address the assignment.
Prosecutorial Misconduct and a Black Flat-Bill Hat
Issue 3: Whether the trial court erred by entering finding of fact 3 and conclusions
of law 11-13, 15-16, and 19-20, all of which relate to Julian Almaguer’s flat-billed hat?
Answer 3: The trial court erred by entering the finding of fact and some of the
conclusions of law.
We now turn to Julian Almaguer’s assignment of error that the State’s attorney
engaged in prejudicial misconduct when arguing to the jury that Almaguer brought to
court the same black flat-bill hat, to which Sara Scott testified as being worn by the
presenter of the check inside the Moneytree. Before addressing the merits of this
question, we need to answer two questions underlying the arguments of the parties in
support of the assignment of error and in opposition to the assignment: (1) whether any of
the findings of fact and conclusions of law entered by the trial court are erroneous; and
(2) whether, as argued by the State, its attorney’s testimony and argument about the hat
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concerned demeanor evidence and a prosecuting attorney’s comment on the defendant’s
demeanor? Our answers to these questions impact our response to whether prosecutorial
misconduct occurred.
Julian Almaguer contends that the record does not support the trial court’s finding
of fact 3. Finding of fact 3 mentions that, during closing arguments, the State referenced
a black billed hat, which Julian Almaguer possessed during trial and which a witness
mentioned during testimony. We agree that the State mentioned, during summation, that
Julian Almaguer brought a hat to court, but the record does not confirm the accuracy of
the State’s comment. The trial record nowhere mentions the presence of any hat, let
alone a witness or counsel giving a description of the hat. Sara Scott testified that
Almaguer wore a black flat-billed hat during his entry into Moneytree. She did not
testify that Almaguer was wearing or had a black hat in his possession during trial. If the
trial court meant that some black hat was mentioned during presentation of evidence, then
the record supports the finding. But any finding that Scott’s testimony mentioned the
hat’s presence in the courtroom is mistaken.
The trial court’s conclusions of law included statements that the hat was discussed
during trial “very specifically,” that Sara Scott testified that Julian Almaguer wore a
black flat-bill hat when inside the Moneytree, that the State introduced into evidence the
fact that Almaguer wore a hat when he entered Moneytree, that the State’s attorney told
the jury about the hat after defense counsel argued that Almaguer’s features were not the
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same as the forger, that the prosecutor commented about Almaguer bringing the hat to
court at the same time that the prosecuting attorney commented on Almaguer’s features,
that the jury saw Almaguer’s hat because he brought the hat into the courtroom, and that
the hat was in evidence and thus commenting about the hat in closing was not error.
Some of these conclusions of law may be more in the nature of a finding of fact. We
disagree with the conclusions that the jury saw the hat. Nothing in the trial record
confirms the presence of the hat, let alone any member of the jury seeing the hat.
Assuming the trial court concluded that Sara Scott testified that the hat Almaguer brought
to court was the same hat that he wore in the Moneytree, the record does not support this
conclusion either. Assuming that the trial court justified the prosecutor referencing the
hat because defense counsel asserted that Almaguer did not meet the feature of the forger,
we also disagree. A hat is unrelated to a person’s features.
We agree with Julian Almaguer that the evidence does not support finding of fact
3 and that finding of fact 3 and the other parts of the record do not support conclusions of
law XIII, XVI, XIX, and XX.
Issue 4: Whether the hat constituted demeanor evidence?
Answer 4: No.
In response to Julian Almaguer’s contention that the prosecution committed
misconduct by mentioning, during closing argument, Almaguer’s bringing to court the
same hat worn by the presenter, the State contends that the hat comprised demeanor
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evidence that constituted fair game during closing. We now address the narrow question
of whether the wearing of a hat or the identity of that hat constitutes demeanor evidence.
The Washington Supreme Court, in State v. Barry, 183 Wn.2d 297, 352 P.3d 161(2015), defined “demeanor” for purposes of trial. The court, while relying on
dictionaries, wrote:
Webster’s defines “demeanor” as “behavior toward others: outward
manner: CONDUCT” or, alternatively, “BEARING, MIEN: facial
appearance.” Webster’s Third New International Dictionary 599 (2002).
The American Heritage Dictionary provides a similar definition—“[t]he
way in which a person behaves; deportment”—and directs readers to the
entry for “bearing” for a list of synonyms. The American Heritage
Dictionary of the English Language 496 (3d ed.1994). Other suggested
synonyms include “behavior,” Roget’s II The New Thesaurus 299
(expanded ed.1997), as well as “manner” and “comportment.” The
Random House Dictionary of the English Language 529 (2d ed.1987).
State v. Barry, 183 Wn.2d 297, 308 (2015) (some capitalization omitted) (alteration in
original) (footnote omitted). Clothing or accessories worn by a person do not match any
of the definitions.
We question whether the prosecution may reference for the jury the demeanor of
the accused during the trial when the accused does not testify. Although courts likely
lack an ability to enforce the proscription, we doubt whether the jury may consider the
demeanor of a non-testifying defendant when adjudging guilt or innocence. So even
assuming the presence of a hat constituted “demeanor” evidence, the State’s argument
probably fails anyway since Julian Almaguer did not testify. In State v. Barry, 183
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Wn.2d 297 (2015), the Washington Supreme Court faced this very question, but declined
to answer because the defendant did not object to reference to his demeanor and the court
found no prejudice. The Supreme Court warned the State, however, to avoid inviting the
jury to consider a non-testifying defendant’s demeanor.
Issue 5: Whether the prosecuting attorney engaged in misconduct when arguing to
the jury that Julian Almaguer brought to court the same hat worn by the presenter and
when the presence of the hat in the courtroom was not mentioned by any witness?
Answer 5: Yes.
Julian Almaguer argues that the State committed prejudicial prosecutorial
misconduct when mentioning his hat during closing rebuttal. According to Almaguer, the
State’s attorney thereby expressed her personal opinion that the hat in the courtroom was
the same hat as the one worn by the culprit inside Moneytree. Julian Almaguer frames
the issue in terms of whether the trial court should have granted a new trial. We address
the question of prosecutorial misconduct directly and later discuss any prejudice. We
note that Almaguer objected to the prosecuting attorney’s reference to the hat at the time
of the utterance, although Almaguer did not then ask for a curative instruction or a
mistrial.
To resolve a claim of prosecutorial misconduct, we first inquire whether the
prosecutor made improper comments. State v. Lindsay, 180 Wn.2d 423, 431, 326 P.3d
125 (2014). Julian Almaguer bears the burden of proving that the prosecuting attorney’s
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remarks were improper. State v. Thorgerson, 172 Wn.2d 438, 442, 258 P.3d 43 (2011).
Criminal defendants have a constitutional right to a fair trial by jury. U.S. CONST.
amend. VI, XIV; WASH. CONST. art. I., § 3, 21-22. A jury’s verdict must be based on the
evidence developed at the trial. Turner v. Louisiana, 379 U.S. 466, 472, 85 S. Ct. 546, 13
L. Ed .2d 424 (1965). The State commits error when, during summation, it submits
evidence to the jury not admitted at trial. In re Personal Restraint of Glasmann, 175
Wn.2d 696, 705, 286 P.3d 673 (2012).
The prosecutor’s reference to the hat violated other principles. The State’s
attorney expressed her opinion that the hat in the courtroom was the “exact same hat,
whether or not you’ve noticed it” that Julian Almaguer allegedly wore at the time of the
incident. RP at 200. The prosecutor purported to speak of her own percipient
knowledge. The prosecuting attorney inserted herself as a witness into the case. The
prosecutor suggested that her perception of the hat confirmed the guilt of Julian
Almaguer.
A prosecuting attorney testifying at trial is disfavored and can be reversible error.
United States v. Torres, 503 F.2d 1120, 1126 (2d Cir. 1974); State v. Sierra, 337 S.C.
368, 523 S.E.2d 187, 191 (Ct. App. 1999); State v. Barksdale, 266 Kan. 498, 973 P.2d
165, 174-75 (1999). A prosecutor should avoid expressing his or her personal opinion on
a defendant’s guilt. In Re Personal Restraint of Glasmann, 175 Wn.2d 696, 706-07
(2012).
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Prejudice
Issue 6: Whether cumulative error deprived Julian Almaguer of a fair trial?
Answer 6: Yes.
Julian Almaguer argues that the cumulative effect of the errors alleged above
resulted in an unfair trial. The State concedes no error, but responds that none of the
alleged errors individually or collectively prejudiced Almaguer. The cumulative error
doctrine “may warrant reversal, even if each error standing alone would otherwise be
considered harmless.” State v. Weber, 159 Wn.2d 252, 279, 149 P.3d 646 (2006).
The jury faced two factual questions. First, was Julian Almaguer the gentleman
who presented the check to Sara Scott at the Moneytree? Second, was that check forged
and fraudulent? The State needed to prove both facts beyond a reasonable doubt. The
prosecuting attorney’s improper reference to the black hat impacted the jury’s
deliberation as to the first question. Sara Scott’s impermissible hearsay testimony
affected the jury’s decision as to the second question. We separate the two errors,
beginning with the black flat-billed hat argument, for purposes of analysis of prejudice
before we address their cumulative effect.
To prevail on appeal on a claim of prosecutorial misconduct when the defense
objected below, the accused must show that the prosecuting attorney’s comments were
prejudicial. State v. Warren, 165 Wn.2d 17, 26, 195 P.3d 940 (2008); State v. Yates, 161
Wn.2d 714, 774, 168 P.3d 359 (2007) abrogated on other grounds by State v. Gregory,
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192 Wn.2d 1, 427 P.3d 621 (2018). If the defense failed to object, the reviewing court
decides in part whether a curative instruction could have remedied any prejudice. State v.
Loughbom, 196 Wn.2d 64, 74, 470 P.3d 499 (2020); State v. Emery, 174 Wn.2d 741, 762,
278 P.3d 653 (2012). The efficacy of a curative instruction plays no role in determining
prejudice when the defense objected at trial.
Consideration of any material by a jury not properly admitted as evidence vitiates
a verdict when the court concludes that defendant suffered prejudice. In re Personal
Restraint of Glasmann, 175 Wn.2d 696, 705 (2012). When a prosecutor’s improper
argument directly violates a constitutional right, the constitutional harmless error
standard applies. State v. Espey, 184 Wn. App. 360, 369, 336 P.3d 1178 (2014). “A
constitutional error is harmless only if the reviewing court is convinced beyond a
reasonable doubt that any reasonable jury would reach the same result absent the error
and where the untainted evidence is so overwhelming it necessarily leads to a finding of
guilt.” State v. Burke, 163 Wn.2d 204, 222, 181 P.3d 1 (2008).
On the one hand, Sara Scott procured identification from the presenter and that
identification was a card with a picture of Julian Almaguer thereon. She then compared
the photograph identification to the gentleman before her and confirmed the two
matched. She copied the identification card. Sara Scott identified Julian Almaguer in the
courtroom. Surveillance video captured the gentleman presenter. Officer Kernkamp
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confirmed that the video pictured Julian Almaguer. Almaguer presented no evidence to
the contrary.
On the other hand, Officer Michele Kernkamp’s and Sara Scott’s identifications of
Julian Almaguer in court took place nearly three years after Almaguer allegedly
committed forgery. The surveillance footage depicting Almaguer as the presenter was
not introduced as evidence.
Julian Almaguer suffered some prejudice by the State's attorney’s reference to the
black hat. We might not consider that prejudice to alone demand a reversal and new trial.
Nevertheless, we add that harm to the prejudice resulting from hearsay testimony when
concluding cumulative error demands reversal.
If a trial court erroneously admits evidence, reversal is proper only if the error
prejudiced the defendant. State v. Bourgeois, 133 Wn.2d 389, 403, 945 P.2d 1120(1997). An error is prejudicial if, within reasonable probabilities, the trial’s outcome
would have been materially affected absent the error. State v. Bourgeois, 133 Wn.2d at
403.
We deem the admission of the hearsay testimony through Sara Scott to constitute
prejudicial error even on its own. To convict Julian Almaguer of forgery, the jury needed
to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he “possessed, offered, disposed of or put off as
true a written instrument which had been falsely made, completed or altered.” CP at 21.
The only testimony presented by the State as to the forgery came through Sara Scott’s
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opinion of the check being fraudulent. Yet, Scott based her opinion on a conversation
with Becky Nance, the purported maker of the check. The questions posed by the State
to Scott confirmed that Scott based her opinion on a conversation with Nance. The State
presented no testimony from Becky Nance that she did not issue the check to Julian
Almaguer. Although Scott also based her opinion on the altered look of the check, the
State likely could not prove the fraudulent nature of the check beyond a reasonable doubt
without Scott’s reliance on Becky Nance’s hearsay comment.
CONCLUSION
We reverse Julian Almaguer’s conviction for forgery and remand for a new trial.
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.
_________________________________
Fearing, J.
WE CONCUR:
______________________________
Pennell, C.J.
______________________________
Staab, J.
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