In Re Reise

192 P.3d 949
CourtCourt of Appeals of Washington
DecidedSeptember 16, 2008
Docket34879-9-II
StatusPublished
Cited by33 cases

This text of 192 P.3d 949 (In Re Reise) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Washington primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In Re Reise, 192 P.3d 949 (Wash. Ct. App. 2008).

Opinion

192 P.3d 949 (2008)

In re the Personal Restraint Petition of Michael John REISE, Petitioner.

No. 34879-9-II.

Court of Appeals of Washington, Division 2.

September 16, 2008.

*952 Susan F. Wilk, Lila Jane Silverstein, Washington Appellate Project, Seattle, WA, for Petitioner.

Michael J. Reise, Clallam Bay, WA, pro se.

James C. Powers, Thurston County Prosecuting Attorney Office, Olympia, WA, for Respondent.

BRIDGEWATER, J.

¶ 1 Michael John Reise seeks relief from personal restraint to withdraw his straight guilty plea to second degree murder due to newly discovered evidence of a witness. We hold that under the general rule, a defendant pleading guilty (not by a Newton plea), renders irrelevant the question of whether the State could have proved guilt—either that the newly discovered evidence would change the result or is not sufficient. Thus, Reise's guilty plea generally bars a later collateral attack based on newly discovered evidence. And although a superior court must allow a defendant to withdraw a guilty plea whenever "necessary to correct a manifest injustice," we would only permit the withdrawal where the newly discovered evidence would destroy the factual basis for the plea as a manifest injustice. See CrR 4.2(f). Here, Reise bases his claim upon an alleged factual witness who would have been a witness presenting testimony supporting self-defense; it does not destroy Reise's choice to enter a straight guilty plea. Also, his claim of ineffective assistance of counsel fails. We deny his petition and affirm his conviction.

FACTS

¶ 2 On October 26, 2004, after an earlier physical altercation, Reise shot and killed Austin Hardison at the Bailey's Motor Inn. At the time, Reise managed the restaurant affiliated with the motel. After shooting Hardison, Reise left the scene and did not contact the police. He discarded the gun and the coat he had been wearing. When the police contacted him, Reise initially denied any dispute with Hardison. In a second statement, he admitted the dispute but denied using a gun. In a third statement, he admitted the shooting but claimed he acted in self-defense. Specifically, Reise said that he intended to detain Hardison for assaulting him earlier but shot Hardison when Hardison advanced on him brandishing a club or walking stick, refusing to stop even though Reise was displaying a gun. Various witnesses saw or heard parts of the earlier fight and the fatal confrontation. Toxicology reports revealed Hardison was under the influence of drugs. There was also evidence that he was visiting the motel in an effort to obtain drugs. Witnesses reported that Reise was under the influence of alcohol.

¶ 3 The State initially charged Reise with first degree premeditated murder with a firearm enhancement. Reise hired a lawyer, James Dixon, to represent him. After negotiations, Reise pleaded guilty to second degree intentional murder with no firearm enhancement. In doing so, Reise did not deny factual guilt in a Newton[1] guilty plea; instead he admitted facts matching the elements of the crime charged, stating: "On October 26, 2004, in Thurston County, Washington, I intentionally shot, and caused the death of, AUSTIN G. HARDISON," State's Response to PRP (appendix C at 6—Statement of Defendant on Plea of Guilty).

¶ 4 Both the guilty plea form and the sentencing court told Reise that the court was not bound by the agreed 156-month sentencing recommendation but could instead impose any sentence within the 123-to 220-month standard range. Neither the guilty plea form nor the court discussed Reise's eligibility to earn good time or eligibility for parole.

*953 ¶ 5 At sentencing, both parties indicated that the uncertainty surrounding Reise's potential self-defense claim led them to settle. Though it believed Reise's post-shooting actions disproved self-defense, the State indicated it could not definitively establish Hardison's precise actions immediately before Reise shot him. Reise's lawyer, Dixon, indicated that he and his investigator had interviewed all witnesses in the police reports as well as additional witnesses. He told the court that many of the witnesses were under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the shooting and that they provided conflicting versions of events. Dixon further indicated that Reise had a viable self-defense claim but that it was badly hindered by his post-shooting actions. The sentencing court imposed a 180-month sentence, above the agreed recommendation but within the standard range. Reise did not appeal. But he later filed this personal restraint petition (PRP) on March 10, 2006.

¶ 6 In his PRP, Reise contended that newly discovered evidence, a witness declaration supporting his self-defense claim, requires withdrawal of his guilty plea. He also sought to withdraw his guilty plea, alleging that he pleaded guilty involuntarily and his lawyer ineffectively represented him. We determined that the issue of whether Reise's straight guilty plea barred his newly discovered evidence claim was not a frivolous one. Accordingly, we referred Reise's petition to a panel of judges for a determination on the merits. We also appointed an attorney to represent Reise on appeal.

ANALYSIS

PERSONAL RESTRAINT PETITION STANDARDS

¶ 7 When, as here, a personal restraint petitioner has or could have sought previous judicial review, we will not consider the merits of claimed constitutional error unless the petitioner demonstrates actual prejudice. In re Pers. Restraint of Isadore, 151 Wash.2d 294, 298-99, 88 P.3d 390 (2004); In re Pers. Restraint of Rice, 118 Wash.2d 876, 884, 828 P.2d 1086, cert. denied sub nom., Rice v. Washington, 506 U.S. 958, 113 S.Ct. 421, 121 L.Ed.2d 344 (1992). We will not consider claimed non-constitutional error unless the petitioner establishes "that the claimed error constitutes a fundamental defect which inherently results in a complete miscarriage of justice." In re Pers. Restraint of Cook, 114 Wash.2d 802, 812, 792 P.2d 506 (1990).

¶ 8 A personal restraint petitioner must state "with particularity facts which, if proven, would entitle him to relief." In re Rice, 118 Wash.2d at 886, 828 P.2d 1086. Bald assertions and conclusory allegations alone are insufficient. RAP 16.7(a)(2)(i); In re Rice, 118 Wash.2d at 886, 828 P.2d 1086. Further, a "petitioner must demonstrate that he has competent, admissible evidence to establish the facts that entitle him to relief." In re Rice, 118 Wash.2d at 886, 828 P.2d 1086. Claims as to what others would say must be supported by "their affidavits or other corroborative evidence" consisting of competent and admissible evidence. In re Rice, 118 Wash.2d at 886, 828 P.2d 1086. The petitioner cannot satisfy this evidentiary support requirement with inadmissible hearsay or the petitioner's own speculation and conjecture. In re Rice, 118 Wash.2d at 886, 828 P.2d 1086.

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Bluebook (online)
192 P.3d 949, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-reise-washctapp-2008.