State Of Washington v. Andrew F. Hieb

CourtCourt of Appeals of Washington
DecidedJune 9, 2020
Docket51874-1
StatusUnpublished

This text of State Of Washington v. Andrew F. Hieb (State Of Washington v. Andrew F. Hieb) 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
State Of Washington v. Andrew F. Hieb, (Wash. Ct. App. 2020).

Opinion

Filed Washington State Court of Appeals Division Two

June 9, 2020

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON

DIVISION II STATE OF WASHINGTON, No. 51874-1-II

Respondent,

v.

ANDREW FLOYD HIEB, UNPUBLISHED OPINION

Appellant.

SUTTON, J. — Andrew Floyd Hieb appeals his convictions for two counts of first degree

child rape, one count of first degree child molestation, one count of first degree attempted rape of

a child, and one count of second degree child molestation.

Hieb argues that the State’s arguments during closing were improper and prejudicial, and

violated his right to a fair trial. The asserted improper arguments made by the prosecutor included:

(1) describing the victim’s testimony by speaking in the first person; (2) arguing that Hieb told the

victim that the abuse was her fault; (3) claiming that Hieb’s counsel asked the jury to blame the

victim; (4) implying that the victim suffered from a torn hymen; (5) arguing the jury should

consider what the victim endured; (6) misstating the burden of proof when she compared

reasonable doubt to a jury having confidence in its decision; (7) vouching for the victim’s

credibility; and (8) arguing that the justice due Hieb was also due to the victim. Hieb claims that

the cumulative effect of these asserted improper arguments violated his right to a fair trial. No. 51874-1-II

We agree that the first four arguments were improper. We assume without deciding that

the next two arguments were improper but conclude that the trial court’s instruction cured any

prejudice. We conclude that the last two arguments were not improper. Our ultimate holding is

that none of the arguments standing alone are sufficiently prejudicial to warrant reversal and Hieb

fails to show that the cumulative effect of the errors denied him a fair trial. Thus, we affirm the

convictions.

FACTS

I. BACKGROUND

The State charged Hieb with one count of first degree rape of a child (count I) and three

counts of first degree child molestation (counts II-IV). The State filed an amended information

adding one count of second degree child molestation (count V), one count of first degree child

molestation (count VI) and amending count III to include the alternative means of first degree

attempted rape of a child.

At trial, the State’s case was based on the testimony of the victim. Defense counsel argued

that there was reasonable doubt because there was evidence that impeached the victim’s testimony,

there was no corroborating evidence, and the State failed to adequately investigate the allegations.

II. THE VICTIM’S TESTIMONY

The victim testified at trial that she knew Hieb her entire life because he was her mother’s

childhood friend and lived up the road from their house. The victim saw Hieb five days a week.

She would often go to his house for dinner when she was younger. Hieb worked in landscaping

and helped the victim’s mother with the house.

2 No. 51874-1-II

The victim testified that Hieb sexually abused her repeatedly when she was in elementary

school. She gave extremely detailed accounts of each incident.

The victim testified that she never reported the abuse because Hieb told her not to and she

thought it was her fault. On October 9, 2016, the victim’s mother was informed of an incident

involving allegations of improper conduct by Hieb with the victim’s young niece. The victim’s

mother asked her if Hieb had ever touched her after learning what had happened to her niece. The

victim told her mother that Hieb had been sexually touching her for her entire life. Shortly

thereafter, she and her mother called the police. An officer came to their house and the victim

spoke with a child forensic interviewer.

III. JURY INSTRUCTIONS

During trial, the State proposed the standard Washington Pattern Jury Instruction, 4.01,

regarding reasonable doubt which includes the “abiding belief” language. Hieb proposed a jury

instruction explicitly omitting the “abiding belief” language.

The trial court accepted Hieb’s proposed instruction omitting the “abiding belief” to which

the State took exception. The State argued, “My understanding is that the court is not allowing

the State to use the words ‘abiding belief,’ which I would argue to the court that ‘abiding belief’

is an accurate statement of the law. The State should be allowed to argue that even if the court is

going to give the defense[’s] proposed instruction of ‘beyond a reasonable doubt.’” Report of

Proceedings (RP) at 976. To which the court responded, “Well, if I was going to give ‘abiding

belief,’ then it would be perfectly fine to argue that. Since I’m not, you can’t. You have to argue

the law based on the instructions of the court.” RP at 976.

3 No. 51874-1-II

The court’s instruction on reasonable doubt stated,

A reasonable doubt is one for which a reason exists and may arise from the evidence or lack of evidence. It is such a doubt as would exist in the mind of a reasonable person after fully, fairly, and carefully considering all of the evidence or lack of evidence.

Clerk’s Papers (CP) at 46.

IV. CLOSING ARGUMENTS

A. SPEAKING IN THE FIRST PERSON TO DESCRIBE THE VICTIM’S TESTIMONY

The prosecutor began closing arguments as follows:

[STATE]: Thank you, Your Honor. “When it happened, I didn’t understand what he was doing to me. I didn’t understand the gravity --”

[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Objection, Your Honor. At this time, counsel is speaking in the first person. She is playing to the prejudice and passions of the jury. This is inappropriate.

THE COURT: Overruled. You may proceed.

[STATE]: Thank you. “I didn’t understand the gravity of what was happening to me. I trusted him. I didn’t want to make my mom mad. I thought it was my fault.”

[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Objection.

THE COURT: Objection is overruled.

[STATE]: “He stopped when I told him to stop. He never touched me again.” [The victim] testified and told you that she held on to what the defendant had done to her, kept it to herself for over eight years of sexual abuse.

RP at 995-96.

B. ARGUMENT THAT HIEB TOLD THE VICTIM THE ABUSE WAS HER FAULT

The prosecutor argued the following:

[STATE]: Defense counsel make[s] the comments about the shortcomings of the law enforcement investigation. I submit to you that those shortcomings don’t

4 No. 51874-1-II

change what happened to [the victim]. [The victim] has been blamed for the defendant’s actions by him telling her that it is her fault. She is the one in trouble.

[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Objection, Your Honor. There is no testimony to support that. Assumes facts not in evidence.

THE COURT: The jury will determine what the facts are. They have been advised previously that the lawyer’s remarks, statements, and arguments are not evidence. They determine what the evidence was.

RP at 1086 (emphasis added).

C. DEFENSE COUNSEL ASKED THE JURY TO BLAME THE VICTIM

The prosecutor’s above quoted argument implied that defense counsel was advocating for

the jury to blame the victim.

D. IMPLYING THAT THE VICTIM SUFFERED FROM A TORN HYMEN

In his closing argument, defense counsel argued that there was insufficient evidence

because law enforcement failed to conduct additional investigation. The prosecutor argued on

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