State of Washington v. Alberto Alvarez

Court of Appeals of Washington·Decided December 9, 2021·No. 37418-1·Unpublished

Opinion

FILED

DECEMBER 9, 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. 37418-1-III Respondent, )

)

v. )

) UNPUBLISHED OPINION ALBERTO ALVAREZ, )

)

Appellant. )

FEARING, J. — A jury convicted Alberto Alvarez of extortion in the second degree. On appeal, we affirm his conviction. We direct the superior court to strike the imposition of community custody supervision fees imposed on Alvarez.

FACTS

Alberto Alvarez engaged in an intimate relationship with Esther, a pseudonym.

After the relationship ended, Alvarez sent intimate pictures of Esther to third parties and posted them to social media accounts created in her name, in an attempt to extort money from her.

PROCEDURE

The State of Washington charged Alberto Alvarez, by information, with one count each of extortion in the second degree, disclosing intimate images, and cyberstalking.

State v. Alvarez

The State later filed a substantively similar amended information.

On the first day of trial, the State submitted a second amended information. This second amendment replaced the word “photographs” with the word “money” in the description for the count of second degree extortion. The modified language read that Alberto Alvarez “obtained or attempted to obtain property or services, money, from [Esther].” Clerk’s Papers (CP) at 37 (emphasis added). Alvarez objected to the State’s last-minute amendment to the information. The trial court reasoned that the late amendment did not prejudice Alvarez because the information, as amended, remained consistent with the probable cause affidavit. Still, the court allowed defense counsel to request a continuance. Defense counsel responded that Alvarez desired to proceed to trial that day.

During jury selection, defense counsel moved to exclude juror 72, former prosecutor Kevin Page, for cause. Counsel explained that Page previously prosecuted him for driving under the influence (DUI). The State agreed to exclude Page. RP 59. The trial court granted defense counsel’s request.

During Esther’s testimony, the State asked her about events occurring before she and Alberto Alvarez ended their intimate relationship:

And then things got—out of hand, abusively, and—one day particular [sic]—he put his hands on me and—

State v. Alvarez

Report of Proceedings (RP) (Jan. 30, 2020) at 185. In the middle of Esther’s answer, defense counsel objected and moved to strike Esther’s statement based on a previous order in limine prohibiting discussion of Alvarez’s prior bad acts. Esther’s response would likely have mentioned an incident, about which the State charged Alvarez with assault. The State later dismissed the assault charge. With defense counsel’s objection, the trial court removed the jury from the courtroom.

The appellate record does not contain the motion or order in limine defense counsel referenced. Although the trial court granted the motion in limine, the court, during Esther’s testimony, did not recall the motion being as specific as counsel claimed. The court remembered the order as only excluding events related to pending charges against Alvarez for prior domestic violence against Esther. Defense counsel insisted that he specifically sought to exclude mention of all of Alvarez’s earlier bad conduct. After the jury returned following a recess, a prudent trial court sustained defense counsel’s objection and instructed the jury to disregard Esther’s “last response.” RP (Jan. 30, 2020) at 226.

At trial, the State presented, as evidence, more than 500 printout pages of snippets of texts between Alberto Alvarez and Esther. During the State’s direct examination of Esther, the prosecuting attorney asked about specific text messages with Alvarez. Defense counsel, finding the State’s strategy problematic, moved to publish the entirety

State v. Alvarez

of exhibits 8 through 11 and requested the court to direct the jury to read through the entire exhibits. The trial court granted defense counsel’s request.

The State sought to publish social media messages sent between Alberto Alvarez and Esther with photographs of Esther redacted. Defense counsel objected to redacting the photos. The State withdrew its request to publish redacted versions of the photos.

At the prosecution’s request, Esther read aloud, to the jury, a portion of the social media messages between her and Alberto Alvarez:

I [Esther] said, “No, you’re trying to fuck me over,” and he [Alvarez] said, “Lazy.” And I said, “Like I can’t defend myself.”

And he said, “Said the bitch breaking windows.”

And then I said “LMAO,” laugh my ass off, “You’re threatening me for money.[”]

And he said, “Fuck you. My money.”

RP (Jan. 31, 2020) at 54-55 (emphasis added). The State sought to establish that Alberto Alvarez’s motive for extorting Esther for money was based on his belief that Esther’s brother broke Alvarez’s car windows.

After the State rested its case, the trial court questioned whether the State had failed to establish a jurisdictional element for the charge of disclosing intimate images. But the court dismissed the charge anyway due to insufficient evidence that any third parties received the images Alberto Alvarez allegedly sent.

The trial court asked Alberto Alvarez a series of questions to verify his understanding about his right to testify. RP (Jan. 31, 2020). Alvarez affirmed that he

State v. Alvarez

understood his rights and that defense counsel addressed all of his questions about his right.

During its closing argument, the State argued:

Pictures were sent out in the context of that demand, “Give me more money.” And the—the threat was made explicit: “If you give me money I’ll stop sending out the pictures.”

....

But again, it’s in the evidence. It’s in the text messages.

RP (Feb. 3, 2020) at 275 (emphasis added). Defense counsel did not object to the State’s remarks.

The jury could not reach a verdict on the charge of cyberstalking. Thus, the trial court declared a mistrial on that count. The jury returned a verdict of guilty on the remaining count of extortion in the second degree.

The trial court held a sentencing hearing on February 21, 2020. The court sentenced Alberto Alvarez to fourteen months’ confinement and twelve months’ community custody on his sole conviction for second degree extortion.

At the end of the sentencing hearing, the trial court discussed the imposition of legal financial obligations. The court imposed the mandatory $500 victim penalty assessment. Then, pursuant to State v. Blazina, 182 Wn.2d 827, 839, 344 P.3d 680 (2015), the sentencing court inquired into Alberto Alvarez’s ability to pay discretionary costs. The court found Alvarez indigent and waived all discretionary financial

State v. Alvarez

obligations. The trial court stated:

And with regard to the Blazina factors, Mr. Alvarez, it looks like the only finding is that the fine that is requesting to be imposed is mandatory, so I don’t think I have to make so much of an assessment as far as your ability to pay.

RP (Feb. 21, 2020) at 7 (emphasis added).

In the judgment and sentence, all of the provisions in the “Community Custody”

section were marked as applicable. One of these provisions ordered that, while on community custody, Alberto Alvarez must pay supervision fees as determined by the Department of Corrections.

LAW AND ANALYSIS

Community Custody Fees

Alberto Alvarez requests, based on his indigency, we remand to the sentencing court to vacate his obligation to pay community custody supervision fees. The State correctly concedes the need for the vacation in accordance with State v. Dillon, 12 Wn. App. 2d 133, 152, 456 P.3d 1199, review denied, 195 Wn.2d 1022, 464 P.3d 198 (2020). We reverse and remand for this sole purpose.

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL GROUNDS Alberto Alvarez assigns a plethora of errors in a statement of additional grounds.

State v. Alvarez

Probable Cause

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State of Washington v. Alberto Alvarez, (Wash. Ct. App. 2021).

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