IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
STATE OF WASHINGTON, ) No. 80648-3-I ) Appellant/Cross-Respondent, ) DIVISION ONE ) v. ) UNPUBLISHED OPINION
J.J.W.D., ) Respondent/Cross-Appellant. ) FILED: March 2, 2020
SMITH, J. — J.J.W.D. was 17 years old when the State charged him with
three counts of rape of a child in the second degree. The parties stipulated that
the facts were sufficient to support the juvenile court’s retention of jurisdiction,
and the juvenile court waived a decline hearing. The trial proceeded in the
juvenile court despite the fact that J.J.W.D. turned 18 prior to trial and the
defense counsel failed to request an order extending the court’s statutory
authority under the Juvenile Justice Act of 1977, chapter 13.40 RCW (JJA). The
court found J.J.W.D. guilty as charged. However, at the disposition hearing, the
State argued that the case needed to be dismissed and refiled in superior court.
The court disagreed and, “[ejxercising its Superior Court authority over th[e]
matter,” extended its authority under the JJA nunc pro tunc. The court then
sentenced J.J.W.D. pursuant to the JJA.
The State appeals. It concedes that J.J.W.D.’s counsel was ineffective for
failing to move to extend the juvenile court’s jurisdiction before J.J.W.D. turned No. 80648-3-1/2
18. But it contends that the trial court could not thereafter extend its jurisdiction
on a nunc pro tunc basis, and therefore, we must remand for dismissal. In his
cross appeal, J.J.W.D. argues that the trial court erred by (1) admitting out-of-
court statements from various witnesses and (2) denying his motion to suppress
his statement that he did not know A.G. or her friend J.B.
We agree that some of the out-of-court statements were inadmissible
hearsay but conclude that J.J.W.D. failed to rebut the presumption that the judge
did not consider inadmissible evidence in reaching the verdict. We also conclude
that although the trial court erred in admitting J.J.W.D.’s statement, the error was
harmless. Finally, with regard to the trial court’s jurisdiction, we agree that
J.J.W.D.’s counsel was ineffective and accept the State’s concession. Because
we are required to remedy the violation of J.J.W.D.’s right to effective assistance
of counsel by putting him in the same position he would have been in had his
counsel been effective, we conclude that the trial court did not err by upholding
the trial and sentencing J.J.W.D. pursuant to the JJA. Therefore, we affirm.
FACTS
On August 7, 2017, the State charged J.J.W.D. with three counts of rape
of a child in the second degree. The information alleged that sometime between
September 1, 2016, and May 16, 2017, when J.J.W.D. was 16 and 17 years old,
he engaged in sexual intercourse with A.G., who was 12 years old. On
September 25, 2017, while J.J.W.D. was still 17 years old, the parties stipulated
that there were sufficient facts for the court to retain juvenile jurisdiction. The
court agreed, adopted the parties’ stipulated facts, waived the mandatory decline
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hearing, and concluded that J.J.W.D. “should remain under the jurisdiction of the
Pierce County Juvenile Court.”
On January 5, 2018, J.J.W.D. turned 18. The parties failed to note
J.J.W.D.’s birthday and proceeded under the JJA without formally moving for a
written order extending its application. Trial before the juvenile court began on
February 27, 2018.
According to the testimony at trial, J.J.W.D. met A.G. after her friend J.B.
established a relationship with J.J.W.D. via an online social media platform,
Snapchat. One evening in late March or early April 2016, J.J.W.D. picked up
J.B. and A.G. with his car to go to the Des Moines waterfront together. A.G.
testified that she and J.B. told J.J.W.D. that they were 15 years old.
The day after their initial meeting, A.G. reached out to J.J.W.D. on
Snapchat and they began communicating. A.G. testified that about a week later,
J.J.W.D. picked her up from her home in the early evening. She testified that
J.J.W.D. drove to a park, and she testified in detail that they “ended up having
sex in the back of his car.” Conversely, J.J.W.D. testified that he picked up A.G.
after school, and they drove around, parked at a park, and talked. He answered
no when asked whether he “kiss[ed] or ma[d]e out [with A.G.] or touch[ed] any
parts of her body for gratification.”
A.G. testified at trial that she “eventually told [J.J.W.D. her] real age” when
they “were dating,” but she did not remember exactly when she told him. She
further testified that in response, J.J.W.D. “wasn’t happy . . . but he said as long
as [they] didn’t tell people about the relationship, he would be fine with it.” On the
3 No. 80648-3-114
other hand, J.J.W.D. testified that about a week after their first meeting, his friend
Z.D.W. told him thatA.G. was only 12 years old. J.J.W.D. testified that he then
picked up A.G. after school “to confirm it [him]self.” According to J.J.W.D., they
stopped at a park and listened to music. He asked her how old she was, and
“[A.G.] adamantly continued to deny that she was 12 years old.” But she
eventually told him her true age. J.J.W.D. testified that he told her they could
have no contact “in any way, shape or form.” J.J.W.D. testified that in response
“[AG] seemed like she understood but wasn’t very happy.” When asked whether
A.G. “might have gotten a little bit upset after [he] told her that [he] didn’t want to
see her anymore,” J.J.W.D. testified that it was “very possible.” At this second
encounter, J.J.W.D. again denied having sexual intercourse with A.G. A.G., on
the other hand, testified that J.J.W.D. picked her up late at night and again the
two of them had sexual intercourse in his car and “[t]he same thing as last time
[happened].”
A.G.’s friend J.B. testified that about two weeks after this second meeting,
she found A.G.’s journal and confronted her. J.B. testified that A.G. then told her
that J.J.W.D. “tried to like do stuff with her and did stuff with her.” D.S., A.G.’s
friend, testified that around the same time, in May 2017, A.G. told her that she
and “an older guy. . . had sex in the car.” M.S., A.G.’s friend, and A.G. also
testified that A.G. told her that “[s]he was raped.” The trial court, over J.J.W.D.’s
objection, held that if the prior consistent statement exception to hearsay applied,
it would admit the testimony from A.G., J.B., D.S., and M.S. regarding what A.G.
said.
4 No. 80648-3-1/5
D.S. and M.S. further testified that they then told Sumner Middle School
counselor Donna Knutsen “that [AG.] had told them that she had been raped.”
Knutsen testified that she brought AG. to her office and asked her about what
M.S. and D.S. had said. She testified that A.G. originally denied that she was
sexually violated. Knutsen testified that she then said to A.G.: “Your friends are
concerned because of what you’ve shared with them. And if it’s true, we need to
report it. And if it’s not, we need to let them know because they are very upset.”
Knutsen testified that at that point, A.G. expressed anger toward her friends but
told Knutsen, “[Y]es, Ms. Knutsen, it did happen,” and answered yes when asked
whether she had been sexually violated. Knutsen reported the incident to
Assistant Principal Harris, where it was eventually relayed to the Sumner Police
Department. Sergeant Jason Temple, a detective at the time, was assigned to
the case.
Ken Arnold, a forensic child interviewer who interviewed A.G., testified at
trial. The prosecutor asked Arnold a series of questions, such as whether A.G.
disclosed any form of sexual abuse, whether AG. was certain of what happened,
and whether she was able to tell Arnold when it happened. Arnold answered yes
to these questions. J.J.W.D. objected, and the State argued it was “going
through an interview process” and wanted to know “whether or not there were
disclosures made for purposes of her investigation.” The court admitted the
testimony. The court also permitted Sergeant Temple to testify that at the
forensic interview, he was told that the nature of the contact he was investigating
“was sexual intercourse.”
5 No. 80648-3-116
Shortly thereafter, Sergeant Temple—dressed in plain clothes—went to
Puyallup High School to talk with J.J.W.D. Present with Sergeant Temple was
Student Resource Officer (SRO) Matthew Eller and Assistant Principal Harris.
Sergeant Temple testified that he told J.J.W.D. that he was investigating a case
but that J.J.W.D. did not have to talk with him. He informed J.J.W.D. that he was
a detective with the Sumner Police Department. He did not give J.J.W.D. a
Miranda1 warning. But he asked J.J.W.D. whether he knew A.G. or J.B.
J.J.W.D. responded that he did not know either of them. J.J.W.D. testified that
Sergeant Temple initially misstated J.B.’s name, so he did not know to whom he
was referring. After J.J.W.D.’s initial denial, Sergeant Temple then told J.J.W.D.
that A.G. alleged that they had sex. Following a CrR 3.5 hearing on the
admissibility of J.J.W.D.’s statement to Sergeant Temple, the court admitted
Sergeant Temple’s testimony that J.J.W.D. said he did not know A.G. or J.B.
The court also admitted testimony from Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
Shawna Hood, who had examined A.G. Hood testified that A.G. told her “she
had told a couple of friends at school that she had been raped a few months
ago.” Hood further testified that A.G. told her that “she had had some vaginal
discharge, some vaginal discomfort, dysuria, which is kind of burning when she
peed, but that they. . . weren’t present” at the time of the examination. She
testified that A.G.’s exam was “normal”2 but that it did not surprise her because it
1 Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 86 S. Ct. 1602, 16 L. Ed. 2d 694 (1966). 2 “The examination revealed no signs of acute injury or healed trauma.”
6 No. 80648-3-1/7
was common for any post intercourse symptoms to “heal[] without any visible
sign that there was ever any injury.”
The court found J.J.W.D. guilty of three counts of rape of a child in the
second degree. Before disposition, the State pointed out that J.J.W.D. was 18
years old during trial and that juvenile jurisdiction had not been extended. The
State argued that the court did not have jurisdiction over the matter or J.J.W.D.,
and the State moved to dismiss the disposition without prejudice such that the
case could be refiled in superior court. J.J.W.D. objected on the ground that
dismissal would result in a constitutional error. The court recessed and later held
a subsequent hearing. The State conceded that “both parties clearly intended
that this matter stay within the juvenile justice realm” and that had the State, the
probation department, or the court noticed that J.J.W.D. had turned 18 before
trial, “[the] order extending jurisdiction would have been granted.” The court
concluded it could “remedy any ineffective assistance of counsel in failing to
extend jurisdiction by allowing [J.J.W.D] to both be prosecuted and adjudicated
under the [JJA].” The court observed that extreme prejudice to J.J.W.D. would
occur if he were subjected to a second trial. The court “[e]xercis[ed] its Superior
Court authority” and retroactively extended its authority to adjudicate the matter
under the JJA by entering a nunc pro tunc order. It accepted the verdict and
sentenced J.J.W.D. under the JJA. The State appeals, and J.J.W.D. cross
appeals.
7 No. 80648-3-1/8
ANALYSIS Admissibility of Testimony J.J.W.D. asserts that the testimony of seven witnesses was hearsay not
within any exception and that the trial court erred in admitting such testimony.3
We disagree that the court erred in admitting the testimony of Knutsen, Sergeant
Temple, and Arnold. However, we agree that the testimony of A.G., M.S., D.S.,
and J.B. was improper hearsay testimony.
As an initial matter, the State claims that J.J.W.D. did not raise the
necessary objections during trial to preserve certain challenges for appeal. ‘The
appellate court may refuse to review any claim of error which was not raised in
the trial court.” RAP 2.5(a). Under ER 103(a)(1), when an error is raised based
on admitting evidence, the adverse party must make “a timely objection or motion
to strike . . . [and] stat[e] the specific ground of objection, if the specific ground
was not apparent from the context.” ER 103.
J.J.W.D. did not object to Knutsen’s testimony pertaining to what she told
A.G. when she confronted her or A.G.’s response that she had been sexually
violated. Additionally, the court sustained J.J.W.D.’s objections or the State
moved on without an answer with regard to the State’s questions to Arnold:
“From your interview, approximately how many incidents occurred?” and “When
did she say the incidents had occurred?” Finally, J.J.W.D. objected with “lack of
foundation” or “[c]ontinuing objection” to the State’s questions to Arnold as to (1)
whether AG. “seem[ed] at any point unsure of what happened to her,”
~ J.J.W.D. originally claimed nine witnesses gave improper testimony, but in his reply brief, J.J.W.D. conceded that his arguments with regard to Michael Payne, A.G.’s father, and Hood were not preserved for appeal.
8 No. 80648-3-1/9
(2) whether A.G. “seem[ed] in any way confused about who had done these
things,” and (3) whether A.G. ‘was . . . able to tell [Arnold] about when these
things occurred.” “[L]ack of foundation” is insufficient to preserve error for review
on appeal. See City of Seattle v. Carnell, 79 Wn. App. 400, 402, 902 P.2d 186
(1995) (holding that the statement “lack of a ‘sufficient foundation” without
“indicat[ion of] what specific foundational requirement was lacking” does not
preserve error for appeal). Therefore, we do not address the merits of these
challenges. However, J.J.W.D. sufficiently objected to the hearsay statements
that we discuss below.4
Testimony of Sergeant Temple and Knutsen
J.J.W.D. argues the testimony of Sergeant Temple and Knutsen was
inadmissible because any relevance was outweighed by the testimony’s unfair
prejudicial impact. We disagree.
Hearsay is inadmissible absent an exception. ER 802. However, ‘“[w]hen
a statement is not offered for the truth of the matter asserted but is offered to
show why an officer conducted an investigation, it is nat hearsay and is
admissible.” State v. Chenoweth, 188 Wn. App. 521, 533, 354 P.3d 13(2015)
(quoting State v. Iverson, 126 Wn. App. 329, 337, 108 P.3d 799 (2005)). “of course, as with any other evidence, the offered testimony must be relevant to an
issue in controversy” to be admissible. State v. Edwards, 131 Wn. App. 611,
614, 128 P.3d 631 (2006). And even when evidence is relevant, “evidence may
~ We disagree with the State’s contention that J.J.W.D.’s brief fails to properly present error with regard to the hearsay testimonies.
9 No. 80648-3-1/10
be excluded if its probative value is substantially outweighed by the danger of
unfair prejudice.” ER 403.
In Chenoweth, Chenoweth was convicted of first degree incest committed
against his 19-year-old son, C.C. 188 Wn. App. at 524-25. C.C.’s sister, the
investigating officer, and a social worker testified at trial that they learned of the
“allegations” against Chenoweth. Chenoweth, 188 Wn. App. at 532, 534 n.36.
The trial court admitted the testimony “to show only how the allegations came to
the attention of law enforcement.” Chenoweth, 188 Wn. App. at 533. This court
concluded that testimony of “allegations’. . . without reference to any of the
specifics . . . [were] not offered for the truth of the allegations, but to show what
the witnesses did next and to provide a basis for their testimony.” Chenoweth,
188 Wn. App. at 534. Thus, we concluded that the testimony was admissible.
Here, Knutsen testified that A.G.’s friends “came to [her] and said that
[A.G.J had told them that she had been raped.” The court ruled on J.J.W.D.’s
objection that “[i]t is hearsay” but admitted it “for the purpose of what the
counselor did” and “not. . . for the purpose of the truth of the matter asserted.”
Sergeant Temple testified that the nature of the conduct he was investigating
was “sexual intercourse.” The court originally sustained J.J.W.D.’s objection, but
ended up allowing it to show Sergeant Temple’s investigation and next steps, or
his “state of mind[ and] what he did after he received the information.”
Unlike Chenoweth, there was a truth to be asserted, namely that A.G.
alleged sexual contact. However, the statements had relevance in that they
explained why Knutsen contacted A.G. and why Sergeant Temple contacted and
10 No. 80648-3-Ill I
interviewed J.J.W.D. at his school. Like in Chenoweth, the statements were only
admitted to show how the allegations came to the attention of Knutsen and to
explain why Sergeant Temple conducted the investigation. The testimony was
not admitted for the truth of the matter asserted. Therefore, the testimony
admitted was not improper.
J.J.W.D. relies on Edwards for the proposition that “Washington courts
have repeatedly rejected . . . attempts to introduce highly prejudicial hearsay
under the pretext that it is being offered for some other marginally relevant or
irrelevant purpose.” In Edwards, Olin Edwards was convicted of possession of a
controlled substance with intent to deliver. 131 Wn. App. at 613. At trial, a police
detective testified that a confidential informant told him that someone named Olin
was dealing cocaine. Edwards, 131 Wn. App. at 613. Division Three concluded
that the detective’s testimony was irrelevant hearsay and should not have been
admitted because it was “only [relevant] if it [wa]s admitted for its truth—that
‘Olin’ was involved in drug activity.” Edwards, 131 Wn. App. at 614-15.
Here, as discussed, the testimony did have relevance other than for the
truth of the matter asserted: to explain the process of the witnesses’
investigations. And the testimony’s probative value is not outweighed by the risk
of unfair prejudice because the likelihood of prejudice is “greatly reduce[d]” in a
proceeding without a jury. State v. E.J.Y., 113 Wn. App. 940, 952, 55 P.3d 673
(2002). Thus, Edwards is distinguishable and does not control.
11 No. 80648-3-1112
Testimony of Arnold
J.J.W.D. contends that Arnold’s yes-or-no responses to the State’s
questions were inadmissible hearsay. We disagree.
“Hearsay’ is a statement, other than one made by the declarant while
testifying at the trial or hearing, offered in evidence to prove the truth of the
matter asserted.” ER 801(c). “A ‘statement’ is (1) an oral or written assertion or
(2) nonverbal conduct of a person, if it is intended by the person as an assertion.”
ER 801 (a). Whether or not a statement is hearsay is a question of law that we
review de novo. State v. Neal, 144 Wn.2d 600, 607, 30 P.3d 1255 (2001).
The court allowed Arnold only to answer yes or no to the State’s question
as to whether A.G. disclosed any form of sexual abuse, whether A.G. was certain
or unsure of what happened, and whether she was able to tell Arnold when it
happened. The court allowed the testimony for the purpose of “whether or not
there were disclosures made for purposes of her investigation.” The State also
asked whether A.G. was able to tell Arnold what had happened, when it had
happened, and whom it happened with. The court ruled: “These are yes-or-no
questions. I am going to allow. I haven’t allowed her to tell what specifically she
said because I believe that would be hearsay.” Because Arnold did not testify
regarding the content of any specific assertions made by A.G., but instead
testified only as to whether or not A.G. made disclosures for purposes of the
investigation, the statements were not hearsay. Like in Chenoweth, the
testimony “was no[t] testimony about the content of disclosures.” 188 Wn. App.
at 534-35. Thus, the responses were admissible.
12 No. 80648-3-1/13
Testimony of D.S., M.S., J.B., and A. G.
J.J.W.D. contends that the trial court improperly admitted the testimony of
D.S., M.S., J.B., and AG. regarding A.G.’s out-of-court statements. The State
offered the testimony as potential prior consistent statements. We conclude that
the testimonies were inadmissible.
“A statement is not hearsay if. . . [t]he declarant testifies at the trial or
hearing and is subject to cross examination concerning the statement, and the
statement is. . . consistent with the declarant’s testimony and is offered to rebut
an express or implied charge against the declarant of recent fabrication or
improper influence or motive.” ER 801(d)(1)(ii). To qualify as a prior consistent
statement, a statement must be “made at a time the declarant did not have a
motive to fabricate.” State v. Ellison, 36 Wn. App. 564, 568, 676 P.2d 531
(1984); Tome v. United States, 513 U.S. 150, 158, 115 S. Ct. 696, 130 L. Ed. 2d
574 (1995). However, “prior consistent statements are not admissible to merely
reinforce or bolster the testimony,” State v. Purdom, 106 Wn.2d 745, 750, 725
P.2d 622 (1986), “for the simple reason that repetition is not generally a valid test
for veracity.” State v. Harper, 35 Wn. App. 855, 857, 670 P.2d 296 (1983). “A
trial court’s determination that a hearsay exception applies is judged on an abuse
of discretion standard.” State v. Maqers, 164 Wn.2d 174, 187, 189 P.3d 126
(2008).
Here, in closing arguments, J.J.W.D. stated: [W]e can’t say that there couldn’t be a possible motive because, again, [A.G.J was rejected and perhaps felt humiliated when . . .
[J.J.W.D.] dropped her off and said, “I don’t want to see you again.
13 No. 80648-3-1/14
• That’s a very humiliating experience especially for a person that’s .“
very insecure. J.J.W.D.’s counsel argued at trial that A.G. became upset when J.J.W.D. refused
further contact with her and that this supplies a motive to make false allegation of
rape. On the other hand, the State asserts that the motive put forth by J.J.W.D.
during trial instead pertained to the inconsistencies between A.G.’s statements to
Knutsen. The State argues that “one of the two statements had to be a recent
fabrication.” Because pointing to inconsistencies in statements does not create a
charge of motive for recent fabrication, we disagree with the State and conclude
that in order to have been prior consistent statements, the statements must have
been made prior to the termination of the relationship between J.J.W.D. and A.G.
D.S., M.S., and J.B. testified respectively that A.G. said J.J.W.D. raped
her, had sex with her, and “did stuff-to her.” A.G. also testified to what she told
M.S. Over J.J.W.D.’s objections, the court allowed the testimony because “it
may be that there is an exception [for prior consistent statements] that applies,”
and if it determined that the exception did not apply, it would disregard the
testimony.
J.J.W.D. claims that the prior consistent statements testimony of D.S.,
M.S., J.B., and A.G. were made weeks following the last date of contact between
A.G. and J.J.W.D. The last date of contact between J.J.W.D. and AG. was
around the end of April or the beginning of May. Each statement to a friend was
made in the beginning or the middle of May, i.e., after the time A.G. and J.J.W.D.
stopped seeing one another. Thus, the statements were made after the charge
of motive for recent fabrication. And therefore, the testimonies were inadmissible
14 No. 80648-3-1/15
because they were not prior consistent statements. See Purdom, 106 Wn.2d at
750 (‘“Evidence which merely~shows that the witness said the same thing on
other occasions when his motive was the same does not have much probative
force.” (quoting State v. Harner, 35 Wn. App. 885, 858, 670 P.2d 296 (1983))).
However, “in the absence of evidence to the contrary, we presume the
judge in a bench trial does not consider inadmissible evidence in rendering a
verdict.” State v. Read, 147 Wn.2d 238, 242, 53 P.3d 26 (2002). “The
presumption is based on the notion that the trial judge knows and applies the law
it is ‘a presumption on appeal that the trial judge, knowing the applicable
rules of evidence, will not consider matters which are inadmissible when making
[their] findings.” Statev. Gower, 179 Wn.2d 851, 855, 321 P.3d 1178 (2014)
(quoting State v. Miles, 77 Wn.2d 593, 601, 464 P.2d 723 (1970)). “A defendant
can rebut the presumption by showing the verdict is not supported by sufficient
admissible evidence, or the trial court relied on the inadmissible evidence to
make essential findings that it otherwise would not have made.” Read, 147
Wn.2d at 245-46.
J.J.W.D. does not sufficiently rebut this presumption. The trial judge
stated on multiple occasions that (1) she would not consider the prior consistent
statement testimony for the truth of the matter asserted and (2) she would
“disregard” the testimony entirely if it turned out that it was inadmissible. In
closing arguments, when the State mentioned the consistency of A.G.’s
testimony and J.J.W.D. objected, the court noted the objection “consistent with
[its] prior rulings.” The court’s prior rulings merely stated that it would determine
15 No. 80648-3-1/16
admissibility and if it “ultimately determine[d] that that exception [wa]s not
applicable,” it would not consider it. The trial judge made no explicit findings
regarding the admissibility of the testimony. However, it was clear from its
rulings that it understood that the testimony would only be admissible if the prior
consistent statement standard was satisfied. And even then, the court
understood it would not be admitted for the truth of the matter asserted, but only
to rebut the fabrication motive. At the disposition, the court noted: “[T}his is a
bench trial, and the Court took its Findings very seriously and very carefully
based [its verdict] on the Findings presented.”
J.J.W.D. asserts that the case depends on credibility of either A.G. or
J.J.W.D. and that therefore the admission of the testimony improperly bolstered
A.G.’s testimony. The trial court did find “A.G.’s testimony credible.” And “we
defer to the trier of fact on issues of conflicting testimony, witness credibility, and
persuasiveness of the evidence.” State v. Ramirez-Estevez, 164 Wn. App. 284,
294, 263 P.3d 1257 (2011). But J.J.W.D. points to no evidence that the court
determined A.G.’s credibility by considering the inadmissible testimony, and there
is no evidence in the record that the court did so. To this end, we conclude that
J.J.W.D. failed to show that the evidence was insufficient to support the
conviction. In short, J.J.W.D. failed to overcome the Read presumption that the
court did not consider the improper testimony. As such, we have no reason to
decide whether or not any errors were harmless or whether we must reverse
based on cumulative errors.5
~ Furthermore, any reference to the State’s use of the improper testimony during
16 No. 80648-3-1/17
CrR 3.5 Hearings
Finally with regard to J.J.W.D.’s cross appeal, he contends that the court
violated Miranda when it admitted his statement to Sergeant Temple that he did
not know A.G. or J.B. We agree but conclude the error was harmless.
Miranda warnings must be given “when the interview or examination is (1)
custodial (2) interrogation (3) by a state agent.” State v. Post, 118 Wn.2d 596,
605, 826 P.2d 172, 837 P.2d 599 (1992); see Miranda, 384 U.S. at 444. A
defendant is in custody for purposes of Miranda if “the suspect reasonably
supposed his freedom of action was curtailed,” State v. Short, 113 Wn.2d 35, 41,
775 P.2d 458 (1989), ‘“to a degree associated with formal arrest.” State v.
Harris, 106 Wn.2d 784, 789-90, 725 P.2d 975 (1986) (internal quotation marks
omitted) (quoting Berkemer v. McCarty, 468 U.S. 420, 440, 104 S. Ct. 3138, 82
L. Ed. 2d 317 (1984)). A defendant is subjected to interrogation when there is “a
measure of compulsion above and beyond that inherent in custody itself.” Rhode
Island v. Innis, 446 U.S. 291, 300, 100 S. Ct. 1682, 64 L. Ed. 2d 297 (1980).
D.R. is instructive. 84 Wn. App. 832, 930 P.2d 350 (1997). In D.R., the
State charged D.R., a 14-year-old, with having sexual intercourse with his 13-
year-old sister. 84 Wn. App. at 834. D.R. “was summoned to the aésistant
principal’s office,” where Detective Matney, a social worker, and the assistant
principal were present. D.R., 84 Wn. App. at 834. Detective Matney, dressed in
plain clothes without his gun visible, showed D.R. “his badge and told him he was
closing arguments is futile because the presumption should apply, and we conclude that the trial judge did not consider the improper testimony or the State’s arguments referencing it.
17 No. 80648-3-1/18
not required to answer questions.” D.R., 84 Wn. App. at 834. Detective Matney
did not provide D.R. his Miranda warnings. D.R., 84 Wn. App. at 834. D.R.
testified that he did not believe he was free to leave and that Detective Matney
never told him he was free to do so. D.R., 84 Wn. App. at 834. D.R. said
Detective Matney “confronted him by saying, ‘[W]e know you’ve been havin’
sexual intercourse with your sister,” and Detective Matney admitted that “his
questions were ‘leading.” D.R., 84 Wn. App. at 834 (alteration in original). At
trial, Detective Matney was permitted to testify that D.R. stated that he had
sexual intercourse with his sister. D.R., 84 Wn. App. at 835. D.R. testified that
he did not make the statement and did not have intercourse with his sister. D.R.,
84Wn.App. at 835.
On appeal, D.R. claimed that the statement was admitted in violation of
Miranda. D.R., 84 Wn. App. at 834. Division Three held that it was not relevant
whether “D.R. subjectively believed he was free to leave or even understood the
potential consequences of his conversation.” D.R., 84 Wn. App. at 836. Instead,
the court concluded that “the sole question is whether a 14-year-old in D.R.’s
position would have ‘reasonably supposed his freedom of action was curtailed.”
D.R., 84 Wn. App. at 836 (quoting Short, 113 Wn.2d at 41). The court held “that
D.R. was in custody, in light of Detective Matney’s failure to inform him he was
free to leave, D.R.’s youth, the naturally coercive nature of the school and
principal’s office environment for children of his age, and the obviously
accusatory nature of the interrogation.” D.R., 84 Wn. App. at 838. The court
concluded that the testimony’s admission violated Miranda. D.R., 84 Wn. App. at
18 No. 80648-3-1/19
838. The court held that the error was not harmless because the only evidence
introduced at trial was Detective Matney’s testimony and a witness who testified
that he “was not able to verify that he witnessed penetration.” DR., 84 Wn. App.
at 838.
Here, the case is similar to D.R. The court determined that J.J.W.D. “was
not under arrest. . . [and] was told he didn’t need to answer any questions.” But
a 17-year-old in J.J.W.D.’s situation would reasonably suppose his freedom of
action was curtailed. Like in D.R., Sergeant Temple, a state agent, did not tell
J.J.W.D. he was free to leave and did not provide him Miranda warnings, but told
him he did not have to answer any questions. The questioning here also took
place in the assistant principal’s office, a “naturally coercive” environment for a
17-year-old. See D.R., 84 Wn. App. at 838. And Sergeant Temple asked
J.J.W.D. questions in the presence of J.J.W.D.’s assistant principal and SRO
Eller, who was in full police uniform. Because J.J.W.D. was not told he could
leave, was surrounded by two law enforcement officers and an authoritative
adult, was brought to the assistant principal’s office, and was a minor at the time,
J.J.W.D. was in custody. Sergeant Temple asked J.J.W.D. whether or not he
knew A.G. and J.B. and told him that A.G. alleged that they had sex. Because
Sergeant Temple made it clear that the conversation revolved around an
allegation of sexual contact with A.G., the interrogation involved a measure of
compulsion for a 17-year-old beyond custody itself. Sergeant Temple should
have known the likelihood of an incriminating response from J.J.W.D. And
therefore, the statement was admitted in violation of Miranda.
19 No. 80648-3-1/20
Because the admission of the statement made to Sergeant Temple in the
assistant principal’s office violated J.J.W.D.’s constitutional rights, “we apply the
constitutional harmless error standard.” State v. Hudson, 150 Wn. App. 646,
656, 208 P.2d 1236 (2009). In a constitutional harmless error analysis, we
presume prejudice. Hudson, 150 Wn. App. at 656. A “[cjonstitutional error is
harmless only if the State establishes beyond a reasonable doubt that any
reasonable jury would have reached the same result absent the error.” State v.
Quaale, 182 Wn.2d 191, 202, 340 P.3d 213 (2014); Nederv. United States, 527
U.S. 1, 15, 119 S. Ct. 1827, 144 L. Ed. 2d 35(1999).
The testimony at trial establishes beyond a reasonable doubt that any
reasonable jury would have reached the same result absent the error. First,
J.J.W.D.’s and A.G.’s testimonies were in direct conflict many times, and the
court had to make a determination as to the credibility of each. But unlike in
D.R., the statement admitted was not an admission of guilt that contradicted
J.J.W.D.’s testimony at trial, and the victim testified to the incident. Here,
J.J.W.D. merely said he did not know AG. or J.B. However, J.J.W.D. explained
that Sergeant Temple misspoke originally, misstating J.B.’s name, and that when
Sergeant Temple referenced A.G. in relation to sexual contact, he could not
remember A.G. because he never had sexual contact with her. The issue of
whether he lied about knowing A.G. or J.B. or simply misunderstood Sergeant
Temple does not affect the verdict and was therefore harmless. Specifically,
given the evidence presented at trial, including A.G.’s testimony, the testimony of
forensic interviewer, Arnold, and the nurse practitioner, Hood, the trier of fact
20 No. 80648-3-1/21
‘would have reached the same result absent the error.” Quaale, 182 Wn.2d at
202. Therefore, we turn to whether the court had authority to convict and
sentence J.J.W.D. under the JJA.
Authority under the JJA
The State contends that the juvenile court’s jurisdiction lapsed when
J.J.W.D. turned 18 and “that the dispositional order entered in this case is void.”
We disagree.
“[T]he juvenile courts in this state shall have exclusive original jurisdiction
over all proceedings” involving most juvenile defendants. RCW 13.04.030(1)(e).
“[l]n this context, the word ‘jurisdiction’ is more properly understood as authority[,
because j]urisdictionally, juvenile courts and superior courts are not separate and
distinct.” State v. Maynard, 183 Wn.2d 253, 263, 351 P.3d 159 (2015). Rather,
“juvenile courts exist as a division of the superior court.” Maynard, 183 Wn.2d at
263.
When the State files charges prior to the defendant’s 18th birthday, “[the]
juvenile defendant has the statutory right to be prosecuted under the [protection]
of the JJA” and “the juvenile division of the superior court [must] apply the JJA.”
Maynard, 183 Wn.2d at 262-63. These entitlements lapse “[w]hen a juvenile
cause is pending and not heard on its merits prior to the time the juvenile
reaches 18.” State v. Kramer, 72 Wn.2d 904, 907, 435 P.2d 970 (1967); see
RCW 13.40.300. But a trial court has the authority to extend the JJA “beyond a
defendant’s 18th birthday for a variety of explicit reasons.” Maynard, 183 Wn.2d
at 263. There is “no prohibition to extending the trial court’s authority to apply
21 No. 80648-3-1/22
provisions of the JJA as a remedy for the violation of a juvenile’s right to effective
assistance of counsel.” Maynard, 183 Wn.2d at 263.
Maynard is dispositive here. Maynard was charged in juvenile court 25
days before his 18th birthday. Maynard, 183 Wn.2d at 258. Seven days before
his 18th birthday, the State sent Maynard’s attorney a plea proposal, which
Maynard intended to accept. Maynard, 183 Wn.2d at 258. After the State
realized that Maynard would turn 18 before the plea expired, it sent an email
informing Maynard’s attorney. Maynard, 183 Wn.2d at 258. Maynard’s attorney
did not read the email prior to Maynard’s 18th birthday and failed to move for the
juvenile court to extend jurisdiction under the JJA. Maynard, 183 Wn.2d at 258.
The juvenile court granted the State’s request for dismissal, and the State then
filed charges in the superior court. Maynard, 183 Wn.2d at 256. When the
superior court dismissed the charges with prejudice, the State appealed.
Maynard, 183 Wn.2d at 256.
Our Supreme Court held that “the juvenile court’s statutory authority
lapsed” when defense counsel failed to move for an extension of jurisdiction,
which constituted ineffective assistance of counsel depriving Maynard of his Sixth
Amendment right. Maynard, 183 Wn.2d at 261 (emphasis added). The court
held that the only adequate remedy for the constitutional violation was for the
case to be remanded “for further proceedings in accordance with the JJA” and for
the State to reoffer the plea. Maynard, 183 Wn.2d at 264. The court also
concluded that if Maynard were convicted, “the trial court may still impose a
juvenile sentence.” Maynard, 183 Wn.2d at 264. ~n fashioning a remedy, the
22 No. 80648-3-1/23
court observed that when remedying a deprivation of effective assistance of
counsel “‘remedies should be tailored to the injury suffered from the constitutional
violation and should not unnecessarily infringe on competing interests.”
Maynard, 183 Wn.2d at 262 (quoting United States v. Morrison, 449 U.S. 361,
364, 101 5. Ct. 665, 66 L. Ed. 2d 564 (1981)).
Here, as in Maynard, J.J.W.D.’s counsel failed to move for an extension of
jurisdiction before J.J.W.D. turned 18. And we accept the State’s concession
that this failure constituted ineffective assistance of counsel. We therefore must
determine the appropriate remedy, and the parties agree that jurisdiction would
have been extended had J.J.W.D.’s counsel been effective. Pursuant to
Maynard, we must fashion a remedy that will put J.J.W.D. “in the same position
he was in before the violation of his right to effective representation” and thus
before the “statutory time to extend juvenile court jurisdiction elapsed.” 183
Wn.2d at 262, 264; see also, Morrison, 449 U.S. at 364 (“[R]emedies should be
tailored to the injury suffered from the constitutional violation.”); Lafler v. Coorer,
566 U.S. 156, 170, 132 S. Ct. 1376, 182 L. Ed. 2d 398 (2012) (‘[A] remedy must
‘neutralize the taint’ of a constitutional violation, . . . while at the same time not
grant a windfall to the defendant or needlessly squander the considerable
resources the State properly invested in the criminal prosecution.” (quoting
Morrison, 449 U.S. at 365)). J.J.W.D. is in the same position he would have
been in had his counsel properly moved for an extension of jurisdiction. Thus,
we may affirm the judgment and sentence.
23 No. 80648-3-1124
To this end, Posey is instructive. There, following a jury trial in adult court,
Posey was acquitted of the charged offense of first degree assault, which
triggered the automatic decline of juvenile court jurisdiction, but he was found
guilty of offenses that did not trigger the automatic decline provision of the JJA.
State v. Posey, 161 Wn.2d 638, 641, 167 P.3d 560 (2007) (Posey I). The trial
court sentenced Posey under adult sentencing guidelines, failing to remand to
the juvenile court fora decline hearing. Posey I, 161 Wn.2d at 647. Our
Supreme Court remanded to the juvenile court for further proceedings. Posey I,
161 Wn.2d at 649. Upon remand to the juvenile court, Posey argued that no
court had authority to sentence him because he was now 21 years old, and he
moved to dismiss. State v. Posey, 174 Wn.2d 131, 133-34, 272 P.3d 840 (2012)
(Posey II). The juvenile court agreed with Posey and “acted in her role as a
superior court judge,” sentencing Posey “as an adult but impos[ing] a sentence
consistent with the standard juvenile range.” Posey II, 174 Wn.2d at 133. Our
Supreme Court upheld the judgment and sentence. Posey Il, 174 Wn.2d at 142.
We may do the same. First, a court may act as a superior court to impose
a juvenile sentence and conviction pursuant to the JJA. ~ Posey II, 174
Wn.2d 131; Maynard, 183 Wn.2d 253. Second, “[t]he only absolute prohibition
we see to applying the [Juvenile Justice Act] is when the defendant allegedly
committed the crime after the age of 18.” Maynard, 183 Wn.2d at 263. Finally,
as mentioned, pursuant to Maynard, to remedy the constitutional violation, the
superior court had to act and proceed under the JJA, which it did throughout the
24 No. 80648-3-1/25
trial, even if it believed it was acting as a juvenile court. Thus, we affirm the
judgment and sentence on this basis.
The State distinguishes Maynard primarily on the basis that the trial court
in Maynard was the adult division of the superior court. In effect, the State
argues that the adult division, not the juvenile division, may act under the
authority of the JJA in order to remedy an ineffective assistance of counsel claim.
Like in Posey II, the State’s “argument wrongly assumes that the juvenile court
and the superior court are different courts with different jurisdictional
requirements.” 174 Wn.2d at 141. But because they are not distinct, the State’s
argument fails.
The State next contends that “[t]his case falls squarely within State v.
Nicholson,” 84 Wn. App. 75, 925 P.2d 637 (1996). In Nicholson, Nicholson was
charged in juvenile court with six counts of burglary and two counts of theft. 84
Wn. App. at 76. The State moved for the juvenile court to decline jurisdiction.
Nicholson, 84 Wn. App. at 76. But before the decline hearing, Nicholson turned
18 and the State presented an ex parte order to dismiss the charges, which the
court granted. Nicholson, 84 Wn. App. at 76-77. The court subsequently
entered findings of fact and conclusions of law in support of a nunc pro tunc
order, finding that the prosecutor had acted in bad faith and was thus “estopped
from denying that jurisdiction was extended.” Nicholson, 84 Wn. App. at 77.
Division Two concluded that the State was not estopped and that because the
juvenile court failed to “enter a written order extending jurisdiction before
Nicholson turned 18,” the court held “that juvenile court jurisdiction [had] lapsed.
25 No. 80648-3-1/26
Nicholson, 84 Wn. App. at 78. The court reversed and vacated the nunc pro tunc
order. Nicholson, 84 Wn. App. at 79.
In doing so, the Nicholson court relied on State v. Rosenbaum for the
proposition that “[ojnce juvenile court jurisdiction has lapsed, the court can not
enter a written order extending jurisdiction, even with the consent of both
parties.” Nicholson, 84 Wn. App. at 78; Rosenbaum, 56 Wn. App. 407, 784 P.2d
166 (1989). In Rosenbaum, we concluded that a nunc pro tunc order “record[sJ
some prior act of the court which was actually performed but not entered into the
record at that time.” 56 Wn. App. at 410-11. We determined that because there
was no evidence that “there was even any discussion regarding the extension of
jurisdiction prior to Rosenbaum’s 18th birthday,” the nunc pro tunc order was
improper. Rosenbaum, 56 Wn. App. at 411.
We agree with the State that the nunc pro tunc order retroactively
extending the juvenile court’s jurisdiction was improper. However, Nicholson and
Rosenbaum are distinguishable because they did not involve ineffective
assistance of counsel claims. Furthermore, both cases were decided prior to our
Supreme Court’s decision in Maynard. And as discussed, we affirm the court’s
ruling on grounds distinct from the issuance of the nunc pro tunc order. Thus,
Nicholson and Rosenbaum do not require reversal.
As a final matter, the State contends we must reverse and remand for
proceedings in the superior court because J.J.W.D. was not afforded his right to
trial by jury. But J.J.W.D. does not bring this challenge on appeal and because
that challenge is not before us, we decline to reverse on that basis.
26 No. 80648-3-1/27
In short, because the court could have exercised superior court authority
to enter the judgment and sentence, because the parties acted below as though
JJA authority was properly extended, and because Maynard requires the court to
put J.J.W.D. in the position he would have been in had his counsel not been
ineffective, the result of the trial and sentencing may stand despite the
impropriety of the nunc pro tunc order.
We affirm.
WE CONCUR:
/ FtCr