State Of Washington, V Brian Daniel Bonbright

CourtCourt of Appeals of Washington
DecidedApril 16, 2013
Docket42091-1
StatusUnpublished

This text of State Of Washington, V Brian Daniel Bonbright (State Of Washington, V Brian Daniel Bonbright) 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.

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State Of Washington, V Brian Daniel Bonbright, (Wash. Ct. App. 2013).

Opinion

FILED COURT OF APPEALS f IVISlopq iI

200133 APR 16 AM g.Q$ IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WAS STMT ' INGTON DIVISION II E3 Y TY STATE OF WASHINGTON, No. 42091 1 II - -

Respondent,

V.

BRIAN DANIEL BONBRIGHT, UNPUBLISHED OPINION

PENOYAR, J. — Brian Daniel Bonbright appeals his convictions of three counts of third

degree child rape, one count of third degree child molestation, and one count of felony communication with a minor for immoral purposes. Bonbright argues that a public trial right violation occurred when the trial court met in chambers, without him, to discuss a jury question

with counsel. He also challenges the trial court's imposition of a community custody term that

exceeded the statutory maximum sentence when combined with the term of confinement

imposed. Finally, Bonbright challenges several community custody conditions. There was no

public trial right violation, but we remand for resentencing because the trial court did not have the statutory authority to (1)impose a community custody term that, when combined with the

term of confinement imposed, exceeded the statutory maximum sentence; 2) ( prohibit Bonbright

from contacting SMK's family members for life; or (3)order Bonbright to obtain a substance . abuse evaluation.

I In violation of RCW 9A. 4. 079. 4

2 In violation of RCW 9A. 4. 089. 4

3 In violation of RCW 090( 8A. 9. ) 2 6 42091 1 II - -

FACTS

In 2009, Bonbright lived in Olympia with his wife and two young daughters. SMK,

Bonbright's wife's 15- old cousin, frequently visited the Bonbright home while her parents year -

were divorcing. SMK went to the Bonbright home after school approximately three times a

week; she also spent the night between five and six times per month. SMK " ecame part of [ he] b t

family like she was another daughter."3 Report of Proceedings ( P)at 173. R

After SMK's spring break, the nature of her relationship with Bonbright changed.

Bonbright began sending SMK text messages with " irty pictures," d including photographs of his

penis, or " alking about stuff' that he wanted to do with SMK. 2 RP at 19. t

One night, Bonbright was lying on a couch and told SMK he was waiting for her. She

lay next to him; Bonbright then.ook SMK's hand, put it down his pants, and rubbed it against t his penis. He also put his hand up SMK's shirt. Approximately a week later, Bonbright had

sexual intercourse with SMK. Bonbright had sexual intercourse with SMK on two more

occasions.

In February 2010, SMK met with her mother and a counselor, Becky Cox. At one point

during the appointment; SMK spoke with the counselor alone. SMK told Cox that she had had sexual intercourse with Bonbright three times. Cox told SMK that she was required to report

what SMK had told her to law enforcement.

The State charged Bonbright with three counts of third degree child rape, one count of

third degree child molestation, and one count of communication with a minor for immoral

purposes. The jury found Bonbright guilty as charged. .

4 At the time of his trial,in April 2011, Bonbright was 37 years old. 2 42091 1 II - -

During deliberations, the jury sent the judge a written question. The judge, prosecutor,

and defense counsel met in chambers to discuss their response. The question asked the court:

What. is the legal immoral purposes "? definition of " Does the jury have to unanimously agree to the specific date and time of a specific text message that is immoral, or can the jury. unanimously agree that an immoral photograph or message was sent by the.Defendant without specific agreement as to a specific message? Can the jury unanimously agree that it was sent within a time frame?

Clerk's Papers (CP)at 86. The trial court responded, The Court cannot answer your questions. "

Please re read your instructions."CP at 86. -

The trial court imposed a sentence of 60 months' confinement for each count and 36

months of community custody. The trial court ordered Bonbright to comply with several

conditions during the community custody term. Bonbright appeals. ANALYSIS

I. PUBLIC TRIAL

Bonbright contends that a public trial right violation occurred when the trial court and

counsel conferred in chambers to determine how to respond to a jury inquiry. On this record, we

hold that the trial court did not violate Bonbright's or the public's right to an open and public trial.

Whether a public trial right violation exists is a question of law we review.de novo. State

v. Brightman, 155 Wn. d 506, 514, 122 P. d 150 (2005). The state and federal constitutions 2 3

guarantee criminal defendants and the public the right to open and public trials. U. . CONST. S amends. I,VI; WASH. CONST. art. I, §§ 22; State 10, v. Bennett, 168 Wn. App. 197, 201, 275

P. d 1224 (2012). The 3 right to a public trial "applies to all judicial proceedings." State v.

Momah, 167 Wn. d 140, 148, 217 P. d 321 ( 2009). T] e requirement of a public trial is 2 3 "[ h

primarily for the benefit of the accused: that the public may see he is fairly dealt with and not 3 42091 1 II - -

unjustly condemned and that the presence of interested spectators may keep his triers keenly

alive to a sense of the responsibility and to the importance of their functions." Momah, 167

Wn. d at 148. 2

Our Supreme Court has recently addressed whether an in- chambers conference to discuss

a jury question seeking clarification of a jury instruction implicates the public trial right. State v

Sublett, 176 Wn. d 58, 292 P. d 715 (2012).In Sublett, the jury submitted a question to the trial 2 3

court seeking clarification of a jury instruction. 176 Wn. d at 67. 2 The trial court met with

counsel in chambers to address the question. Sublett, 176 Wn. d at 67. Counsel agreed to the 2

trial court's answer to the jury question, which stated that the jury must reread its instructions.

Sublett, 176 Wn. d at 67. The Supreme Court applied the experience and logic test and held that 2

a public trial right violation had not occurred. Sublett, 176 Wn. d at 72. The experience prong 2

asks "` hether the place and process have historically been open to the press and general w

public. "' Sublett, 176 Wn. d at 73 (quoting Press- 2 Enterprise Co. v. Superior Court, 478 U. . 1, S

8, 106 S. Ct. 2735, 92 L.Ed. 2d 1 ( 1986)). logic prong asks "` The whether public access plays a

significant positive role in the functioning of the particular process in question."' Sublett, 176

Wn. d at 73 (quoting Press, 478 U. . at 8). court concluded that: Because the jury asked a 2 S The "

question concerning the instructions, we view this as similar in nature to proceedings regarding

jury instructions in general. Historically, such proceedings have not necessarily been conducted

in an open courtroom."Sublett, 176 Wn. d at 75. 2

As in Sublett, here, the in- chambers conference involved a jury inquiry regarding a jury

instruction. Historically, open court proceedings have not been required to discuss inquiries

regarding jury instructions. Further, no witnesses or testimony were involved and the question

0 42091 1 II - -

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Related

State v. Skillman
809 P.2d 756 (Court of Appeals of Washington, 1991)
State v. Knowles
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State v. Combs
102 Wash. App. 949 (Court of Appeals of Washington, 2000)
State v. McKee
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State v. Berg
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158 Wash. App. 576 (Court of Appeals of Washington, 2010)
State v. Stephenson
950 P.2d 38 (Court of Appeals of Washington, 1998)

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