In Re Echeverria

6 P.3d 573
CourtWashington Supreme Court
DecidedJuly 27, 2000
Docket68017-5
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 6 P.3d 573 (In Re Echeverria) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Washington Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In Re Echeverria, 6 P.3d 573 (Wash. 2000).

Opinion

6 P.3d 573 (2000)
141 Wash.2d 323

In the Matter of the Personal Restraint of Jose ECHEVERRIA, Petitioner

No. 68017-5.

Supreme Court of Washington, En Banc.

Argued May 31, 2000.
Decided July 27, 2000.

*574 Allen, Hansen & Maybrown, Todd Maybrown, Seattle, Amicus Curiae on Behalf of Washington Association of Criminal Defense.

Christine Gregoire, Attorney General, John Samson, Asst., Olympia, Amicus Curiae on Behalf of Attorney General.

Jose P. Echeverria, Nielsen, Broman & Assoc., Eric J. Nielsen, Eric Broman, Seattle, for Petitioner.

Steven M. Lowe, Franklin County Prosecutor, Page L. Sully, Deputy, Pasco, Washington Association of Prosecuting Attorneys, Pamela Loginsky, Olympia, for Respondent.

SMITH, J.

Petitioner Jose Echeverria seeks review of a decision of the Court of Appeals, Division III, which dismissed his personal restraint petition in which he claimed his exceptional sentence for murder in the second degree is unlawful because the Superior Court for Benton and Franklin Counties denied him his right of allocution during his sentencing hearing. The Court of Appeals concluded that Petitioner's sentence was not subject to collateral attack by personal restraint petition because denial of his right of allocution was "non-constitutional error" which did not inherently result in a "complete miscarriage of justice."[1] This Court granted review. We affirm.

QUESTION PRESENTED

The question presented in this case is whether Petitioner's exceptional sentence for murder in the second degree is subject to collateral attack by personal restraint petition in which he claims the trial court denied him his right of allocution during his sentencing hearing.

*575 STATEMENT OF FACTS

On May 1, 1996, Petitioner Jose Echeverria,[2] then sixteen years old, pleaded "guilty" in the Superior Court for Benton and Franklin Counties to murder in the second degree under RCW 9A.32.050(1)(b).[3]

The "Statement of Defendant on Plea of Guilty" provided in part:[4]

6. IN CONSIDERING THE CONSEQUENCES OF MY GUILTY PLEA, I UNDERSTAND THAT:
(a) The crime with which I am charged carries a maximum sentence of life years imprisonment and a $50,000 fine. The standard sentence range is from 144 months to 192 months confinement, based upon the prosecuting attorney's following understanding of my criminal history:
1994 Juvenile Malicious Mischief 2
1994 Juvenile Theft 2
1995 Juvenile Malicious Mischief 2
1995 Juvenile Minor in Possession of Firearm
. . . .
(f) The prosecuting attorney will make the following recommendation to the judge:
State will ask for an exceptional sentence of 32 years; Defense can argue sentencing and appeal an exceptional sentence; State will reduce charges to Felony Murder 2
. . . .

During his sentencing hearing on June 18, 1996 before the Honorable Carolyn A. Brown, Petitioner was examined extensively by his own counsel on direct examination, during which his counsel asked him whether there was "something [Petitioner] wanted to tell the [c]ourt about [Petitioner's] participation" in the shooting.

Petitioner's statement to the court then followed:
Q Are you Jose Echeverria and are you the defendant in this action?
A Yes, sir.
Q Okay. And you've previously pled guilty to Murder in the Second Degree?
A Yes, sir.
Q And the death of Mr. [Andres] Elizondo?
A Yes, sir.
. . . .

Q Okay. Now, you handed me a handwritten note that you wrote. Is there something that you wanted to tell the [c]ourt about your participation in this thing?

A Yeah. You know, I think that I, you know, I deserve to get —
Q You can look at the Judge, okay?
A You know, first of all, you know, Your Honor, I would like to say that I'm sorry, you know, for what happened to Mr. Andres Elizondo, you know, because see this guy he tried to say I wasn't remorseful and everything, but he don't know. He don't know what's really going on inside my heart.
And I really do, you know, deep down inside I feel that, you know, that I should be punished, you know, because I was there, you know? But I just don't think that I should get that much time, as much as the Prosecutor is trying to give me because, you know, that's like taking my whole future away. And, you know, I'm still young and everything, you know?
I wish that I could have a second opportunity in life because I know I could be changed, you know, if only I could be given the opportunity because when I was out, you know, I was young, drunk and stupid. I'm still young, but I'm no longer drunk or stupid, you know?

And I know that if I could just have that chance to change my life around, I would do it because I don't gang bang no more. You know, I told everybody I don't gang bang. I get along with some of the *576 guys from 18th Street, now. You know, they get locked and they put them with me sometimes. We get along. I don't respect them no more and they don't respect me. That's the way it goes, you know?

I know that if I do get that time, you know, I'm not gonna have an opportunity in life. You know, I've got a daughter and everything and I haven't even got to hold her in my arms and everything. You know, I just feel sad, you know because I know, you know, deep inside my heart I don't think — I don't think I shot or anything, you know. But it's just I can't tell you that I did or not because I just don't remember.
And, you know, that's why I think I should, you know, get just a little bit of time, but I don't think I deserve that. Because I was there and everything, but I'm trying to change my life around, you know, and I'm still young. So I think, you know, I hope and pray, you know, that maybe you can give me a chance and everything and give me a second opportunity in life because thirty-two years —
You know, sixteen years, man, that's way too long. That's more than what I lived. You know, like everybody, he try to say that I was a leader in the plan. I'm no leader. I was just, you know, I was just, you know a young kid trying to have some fun and I just — I love partying, you know? I love drugs, you know? Just alcohol, though. You know?
So and I hope and pray that you give me another chance and everything. Thank you.[5]
. . . .
(Emphasis added.)

Petitioner was cross-examined at some length by the Prosecuting Attorney and gave further details concerning his involvement in the offense.[6] After hearing other testimony, Judge Brown imposed upon Petitioner an exceptional sentence of 384 months.[7]

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Related

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116 P.3d 391 (Washington Supreme Court, 2008)
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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
6 P.3d 573, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-echeverria-wash-2000.