FILED OCTOBER 19, 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STATE OF WASHINGTON, ) No. 37154-9-III ) Respondent, ) ) v. ) UNPUBLISHED OPINION ) CHRISTOPHER TRACY FELCH, ) aka CHRISTOPHER TRACEY FELCH, ) ) Appellant. )
LAWRENCE-BERREY, J. — Christopher Felch appeals after he was convicted of
attempted murder in the second degree, first degree assault, second degree assault, and
first degree unlawful possession of a firearm. We accept the State’s concession that the
trial court erred when it imposed a mandatory minimum term of 60 months’ confinement
on count 3, first degree assault. We remand for the trial court to enter an order modifying
the judgment and sentence by striking that phrase. We otherwise affirm. No. 37154-9-III State v. Felch
FACTS
The shooting
On May 17, 2018, Daisymae Fowler, Joshua Reimers, and Everardo Sanchez were
drinking beer on Reimers’s second-story porch. Fowler noticed Christopher Felch
walking back and forth on the street near the apartment complex. Felch was Fowler’s
recent ex-boyfriend and their relationship had been abusive.
Reimers and Sanchez came down from the porch and told Felch he was not
welcome there. They were concerned for Fowler’s safety. They were near Felch for
about 20 seconds before Sanchez saw that Felch had a pistol, told Reimers, and the two
ran back upstairs. Felch remained silent and kept standing in the street.
Once upstairs, Sanchez told Felch, “Get the hell out of here.” Report of
Proceedings (RP) (Sept. 10, 2019) at 108. Felch mumbled something back at him and
stood there for 30 to 45 seconds in silence. Felch then pulled out the pistol and started
shooting at the upstairs apartment. As Sanchez and Reimers ran inside, one bullet hit
Sanchez in the left toe and several bullets came within feet of Reimers.
Both Fowler and Reimers called 911. When the police arrived, Felch was no
longer there. The police recovered five shell casings from the scene. The shooting was
captured by a video surveillance system, which the police reviewed that evening.
2 No. 37154-9-III State v. Felch
On May 21, 2018, the Spokane police department located and arrested Felch. The
State charged Felch by amended information with first degree attempted murder and first
degree assault as to Reimers (counts 1 and 2), first degree assault as to Sanchez (count 3),
first degree assault as to Fowler (count 4), and first degree unlawful possession of a
firearm (count 5).
Before trial, Felch moved to sever count 5 from the remaining charges. The State
opposed the motion. The court denied severance, finding any prejudice did not outweigh
the concern for judicial economy.
On the morning of trial, Felch pleaded guilty to the unlawful possession of a
firearm charge. He proceeded to trial on the remaining counts.
Trial
The State’s case
The State played video surveillance from the apartment complex for the jury. The
footage shows Felch pacing back and forth on the street, Sanchez and Reimers coming
down the stairs, their subsequent retreat, their reemergence from the apartment, and shots
fired at the second-story porch. The State called several witnesses including Sanchez,
Reimers, Fowler, and the responding police officers.
3 No. 37154-9-III State v. Felch
Sanchez’s testimony
Sanchez testified that he, Reimers, and Fowler were drinking beer when Fowler
pointed out Felch pacing the street. Sanchez came down from the porch to tell Felch to
leave because he was not welcome there. When Sanchez was about five feet away from
Felch and saw the gun, he was scared. Felch did not point the gun at Sanchez initially,
but he later heard Felch say, “‘you messed up’” before opening fire. RP (Sept. 10, 2019)
at 132. Sanchez ran into the apartment when Felch started shooting. He received medical
treatment that evening for the bullet wound to his big toe. It was not a life-threatening
injury.
On cross-examination, Sanchez acknowledged that his 12-year-old son came out
and stood on a nearby second-story porch with a baseball bat before the shots were fired.
Reimers’s testimony
Reimers testified that he initially approached Felch to tell him to leave. He
maintains that he did not threaten Felch during the approximately 20 seconds he was near
Felch. Reimers did not see Felch’s gun, but heard Sanchez say, “‘he’s got a gun’” or
something about a strap.1 RP (Sept. 11, 2019) at 162. He and Sanchez ran back onto the
upstairs porch and went inside the apartment, but neither of them retrieved a weapon.
1 “Strap” is slang for gun.
4 No. 37154-9-III State v. Felch
When they came back outside, they started yelling at Felch to leave. Felch still said
nothing and then opened fire.
Fowler’s testimony
Earlier on the day of the shooting, Fowler saw Felch at a grocery store. Felch told
Fowler “to tell your [racial slur] boyfriend that next time he walks past my house I’m
going to shoot him.” RP (Sept. 11, 2019) at 241. That evening, she told Reimers about
this interaction that she took seriously but then “shrugged it off.” RP (Sept. 11, 2019) at
241.
When Fowler saw Felch pacing below the apartment that evening, she was
concerned. She heard Reimers and Sanchez tell Felch to stop scaring her; they did not
threaten Felch. One of them said, “‘he’s packing’” as they ran upstairs from the street.
RP (Sept. 11, 2019) at 254. Fowler stood in the doorway to the porch. When Reimers
and Sanchez went back outside to see if Felch had left, Fowler heard the shots. She ran
inside the apartment when the shots were fired.
The defense’s case
Felch’s testimony
On the night of the shooting, Felch was pacing the street and waiting for a friend.
Felch heard people yell from the porch that he “needed to leave or else they were going to
5 No. 37154-9-III State v. Felch
make [him] leave.” RP (Sept. 12, 2019) at 48. He saw Reimer and Sanchez, who were
bigger than him, and he was scared they were going to beat him up. Felch pulled his gun
so “they would leave [him] alone,” but he “didn’t want to hurt nobody.” RP (Sept. 12,
2019) at 50. He heard them say something about a strap when they ran upstairs. He
testified, “I was thinking they armed themselves because they were yelling about a strap,
and I couldn’t see anybody coming back out when someone had a gun. That’s crazy
behavior.” RP (Sept. 12, 2019) at 52. When Reimer and Sanchez came back out of the
apartment, they continued yelling. Felch was “[w]orried about dying or being beat up.”
RP (Sept. 12, 2019) at 52. He explained, “[T]hey came back out and I had a gun. I figure
they must have had one, too. Why would someone do that if they didn’t have a weapon?
That’s nuts. It scared me to death.” RP (Sept. 12, 2019) at 53.
Felch saw someone on a nearby porch come out with a baseball bat. He thought
someone would hit him with the bat, which would do a lot of damage to the metal plate in
his arm. He testified, “I pulled the trigger on my gun. I didn’t know if they were coming
at me or what. They hollered at me that they would—” RP (Sept. 12, 2019) at 56. His
intent upon firing was “[t]o get out of there alive.” RP (Sept. 12, 2019) at 57. He “wasn’t
really aiming” and was “just pointing [in] that direction.” RP (Sept. 12, 2019) at 68. He
6 No. 37154-9-III State v. Felch
intended to shoot once, but after the first shot the “gun started going” and “jumped in
[his] hand.” RP (Sept. 12, 2019) at 65, 73.
On cross-examination, Felch explained he was disappointed that Fowler was
staying with Reimer. Although he had broken up with Fowler one month prior to the
shooting, he had been in love with her and had previously asked her to marry him. He
wanted to see if Fowler’s stuff would be safe if he brought it to Reimer’s house. He also
wanted to talk to Reimer to tell him that Fowler was still hanging around his house
sometimes.
Felch did not leave immediately after the shooting because he was in shock. He
testified that he was terrified, but acknowledged that he stayed there after Reimers and
Sanchez went inside—rather than going home or calling for help.
Jury instructions, verdict, and sentencing
The jury was instructed on first and second degree murder, first and second degree
assault, and the following defense:
It is a defense to a charge of attempted murder, (any degree), and assault, (any degree) that the attempted murder, or assault was justifiable as defined in this instruction. Any attempted murder, and any assault is justifiable when committed in the lawful defense of the defendant when: (1) the defendant reasonably believed that the person attempted to be slain or assaulted or others whom the defendant reasonably believed were acting in concert, intended to inflict death or great personal injury;
7 No. 37154-9-III State v. Felch
(2) the defendant reasonably believed that there was imminent danger of such harm being accomplished; and (3) the defendant employed such force and means as a reasonably prudent person would use under the same or similar conditions as they reasonably appeared to the defendant, taking into consideration all the facts and circumstances as they appeared to him, at the time of and prior to the incident. The State has the burden of proving beyond a reasonable doubt that the attempted murder, and assault was not justifiable. If you find that the State has not proved the absence of this defense beyond a reasonable doubt, it will be your duty to return verdicts of not guilty.
Clerk’s Papers (CP) at 256. The next instruction provided that the law imposes no duty to
retreat.
The jury found Felch (1) not guilty of attempted murder in the first degree of
Reimers as charged in count 1 but guilty of the lesser included crime of attempted murder
in the second degree, (2) guilty of first degree assault of Reimers as charged in count 2,
(3) guilty of first degree assault of Sanchez as charged in count 3, and (4) not guilty of
first degree assault of Fowler as charged in count 4, but guilty of the lesser included
offense of second degree assault. By special verdicts, the jury found that Felch and
Fowler were members of the same family or household and that Felch was armed with a
firearm for each count.
The trial court found that counts 1 and 2 merged. At sentencing, Felch requested
an exceptional sentence downward. He first argued that Reimers and Sanchez were the
8 No. 37154-9-III State v. Felch
“initiators or aggressors or provokers” and his failed self-defense could be a basis for a
downward sentence. RP (Oct. 17, 2019) at 265. Second, he argued the multiple offense
policy results in a clearly excessive sentence—the State asked for 485 months when the
midpoint range for attempted second degree murder is 194 months.
Felch also requested the court revisit the mandatory minimum on count 3. He
argued that under State v. Dyson, 189 Wn. App. 215, 360 P.3d 25 (2015), any mandatory
minimum requirement has to be submitted to the jury for specific findings.
The State asked the court to impose the high end within the standard sentencing
range. It reminded the court that Felch both brought a gun to the victims’ home that night
and argued they were not the initiators.
After allowing Felch to make a statement, the following exchange took place:
THE COURT: . . . What the Court saw is that you and [Fowler] had a relationship, didn’t work out for you, and you’re pacing in front of her new boyfriend’s apartment complex. You don’t live there, and you got a gun on you, and it shows you went back and forth across several times. .... . . . Then they come down to confront you to tell you to leave and you pull out a gun, and they run back to their apartment. You should have left. [FELCH]: I was trying to leave when they came back out and started yelling at me again. THE COURT: Listen to what I’m saying. You could have left. Instead they came back out, and they’re thinking they’re out on their porch. Even if you take your scenario that they’re yelling at you from the second floor, you still could have left, but instead you pull it out and start shooting
9 No. 37154-9-III State v. Felch
at an apartment complex that could have resulted in a lot more deaths in that building, and then you got a kid who hears the shots and comes out with a baseball bat on the second floor. [FELCH]: Ma’am, he was out with the bat before I fired. THE COURT: And you continued to walk, and then you stopped and shot again. .... So when the Court looks at that with the weapons enhancement, you got a lot of time just on the minimums. I probably think considering this crime that you probably should get the high end, but based on your history and the amounts you’ve got here, I think I’m going to end up just giving you the low end on each of these.
RP (Oct. 17, 2019) at 272-73.
The court imposed a total term of 380.25 months’ imprisonment with a mandatory
60-month minimum for count 3.
Felch timely appealed.
ANALYSIS
SUFFICIENCY OF EVIDENCE
Felch contends the State brought insufficient evidence to disprove his self-defense
claim. We disagree.
Self-defense claims are defined by statute. Homicide is justifiable when it is
committed:
10 No. 37154-9-III State v. Felch
In the lawful defense of the slayer . . . when there is reasonable ground to apprehend a design on the part of the person slain . . . to do some great personal injury to the slayer . . . and there is imminent danger of such design being accomplished.
RCW 9A.16.050.
To raise a self-defense claim, “the defendant must first offer credible evidence
tending to prove self-defense.” State v. Graves, 97 Wn. App. 55, 61, 982 P.2d 627
(1999). That evidence must show (1) the defendant subjectively feared imminent danger
of death or great bodily harm, (2) this belief was objectively reasonable, (3) the defendant
used no greater force than was reasonably necessary, and (4) the defendant was not the
aggressor. State v. Callahan, 87 Wn. App. 925, 929, 943 P.2d 676 (1997). The first
element “requires the jury to stand in the shoes of the defendant and consider all of the
facts and circumstances known to him or her” while the second element “requires the jury
to use this information to determine what a reasonably prudent person similarly situated
would have done.” State v. Walden, 131 Wn.2d 469, 474, 932 P.2d 1237 (1997).
When a defendant brings evidence supporting self-defense, the burden shifts to the
State to disprove the claim beyond a reasonable doubt. State v. Miller, 89 Wn. App. 364,
367-68, 949 P.2d 821 (1997). A defendant claiming the State failed to disprove self-
defense must show that the evidence, when viewed in the light most favorable to the
State, would convince no reasonable person to find the essential elements of the crime
11 No. 37154-9-III State v. Felch
beyond a reasonable doubt. See State v. Sweany, 174 Wn.2d 909, 914, 281 P.3d 305
(2012) (sufficiency of evidence standard generally).
The jury was instructed on self-defense. Felch’s self-defense evidence does not
meet the four-element standard articulated above. First, the evidence of his subjective
fear was weak. Although he testified that he was “terrified” when Sanchez and Reimers
confronted him, they retreated when he brandished a gun. He alleges they continued
yelling at him from the porch, but he chose not to leave. Nor did he leave when Reimers
and Sanchez went back into the apartment. This evidence tends to show Felch was not
afraid for his life despite his testimony to the contrary. The jury determined Felch’s
testimony was not credible and such determinations are not subject to appellate review.
State v. Thomas, 150 Wn.2d 821, 874, 83 P.3d 970 (2004).
Second, Felch’s conduct was not objectively reasonable. Sanchez, Reimers, and
Fowler testified consistently about the events leading up to the shooting. Felch testified
inconsistently with their accounts. The jury watched the video footage. Evidently, the
jury determined a reasonably prudent person in Felch’s situation would not have
reasonably feared imminent danger from Sanchez and Reimers. Felch’s decision to stay
where he was after brandishing his weapon and then shoot at an apartment complex
12 No. 37154-9-III State v. Felch
almost one minute after Reimers and Sanchez retreated does not support his claim that his
fear of harm was objectively reasonable.
Third, Felch used more force than reasonably necessary to defend himself.
Although he saw Sanchez’s 12-year-old son with a bat, Sanchez’s son was many yards
away from Felch on a second-story porch. Neither Reimer nor Sanchez was armed, and
they too were quite far from Felch on a second-story porch. His use of force (shooting)
was certainly greater than necessary given these circumstances.
Fourth, Felch likely was the aggressor. Generally, “the right of self-defense cannot
be successfully invoked by an aggressor or one who provokes an altercation, unless he or
she in good faith first withdraws . . . .” State v. Riley, 137 Wn.2d 904, 909, 976 P.2d 624
(1999). Here, Felch was armed and pacing by his ex-girlfriend’s house, refused to leave
when asked, and escalated the situation by brandishing his gun. Although Reimers and
Sanchez approached Felch first and yelled at him to leave, they testified—consistent with
Fowler—that they did not threaten him. Felch could have left but he instead initiated
violence by drawing and later shooting his gun. See id. at 910 (when “the defendant
made the first move by drawing a weapon” the aggressor instruction is warranted).
13 No. 37154-9-III State v. Felch
Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the State, we conclude that a
reasonable person could find that the State disproved Felch’s self-defense claim beyond a
reasonable doubt.
EXCEPTIONAL SENTENCE
Felch argues the trial court erred in failing to consider his request for an
exceptional sentence downward. We disagree.
“Under the Sentencing Reform Act of 1981 [(SRA), chapter 9.94A RCW], a trial
court must impose a sentence within the standard range unless it finds substantial and
compelling reasons to justify a departure.” State v. Smith, 82 Wn. App. 153, 160-61, 916
P.2d 960 (1996); RCW 9.94A.535. Generally, appellate review is precluded for
defendants challenging sentences that fall within the standard sentencing range. State v.
Garcia-Martinez, 88 Wn. App. 322, 329, 944 P.2d 1104 (1997). However, a defendant
may challenge such a sentence if the trial court “has refused to exercise discretion at all or
has relied on an impermissible basis for refusing to impose an exceptional sentence below
the standard range.” Id. at 330. Such a refusal must be “categorical,” i.e., the court
“takes the position that it will never impose a sentence below the standard range.” Id.
When “a trial court that has considered the facts and has concluded that there is no basis
for an exceptional sentence,” a defendant may not appeal that discretionary ruling. Id.
14 No. 37154-9-III State v. Felch
This court will not reverse a trial court’s discretionary decision unless it is manifestly
unreasonable, made on untenable grounds, or with untenable reasons. State ex rel.
Carroll v. Junker, 79 Wn.2d 12, 26, 482 P.2d 775 (1971).
Citing State v. Korum, 157 Wn.2d 614, 141 P.3d 13 (2006), Felch argues the trial
court abused its discretion by not meaningfully considering his request for an exceptional
sentence downward on the record. Korum does not stand for that proposition. The
Korum court noted, “Even though it was not required to do so, the sentencing court did
consider a downward departure . . . .” Id. at 637 (emphasis added). It reiterated that a
trial court “has the discretion to determine whether the circumstances warrant an
exceptional sentence downward.” Id.
Felch argued that two mitigating factors supported an exceptional sentence
downward. First, Reimers and Sanchez were the initial aggressors, and, second, the
multiple offense policy resulted in a presumptive sentence that is clearly excessive.
See RCW 9.94A.535(1)(a), (g).
The trial court implicitly rejected Felch’s claim that Reimers and Sanchez were the
initial aggressors. It noted that Felch was pacing outside his ex-girlfriend’s house, where
he did not live, was told to leave, and could have left after displaying his weapon. Instead
of leaving, he escalated the situation by standing outside, waiting for the victims to
15 No. 37154-9-III State v. Felch
reemerge, and shooting at an apartment complex. The trial court’s rejection of Felch’s
self-defense argument was not impermissible and its imposition of a sentence within the
standard range was reasonable.
The trial court also implicitly rejected Felch’s argument that the presumptive
sentence was clearly excessive. After noting that Felch could have killed many people
and he probably should get a high-end sentence, it instead imposed a low-end sentence,
noting the amount of time he was facing.
Finally, contrary to Felch’s contention, the trial court did not refuse to exercise its
discretion. That is, it did not take a position that it would never impose a sentence below
the standard range. The court explained the facts and exercised its discretion in a
reasonable manner. The court had discretion to consider an exceptional sentence, but was
“in no way required to depart from the presumptive sentence.” Korum, 157 Wn.2d at
637. We will not reverse such a decision absent abuse of discretion or misapplication of
the law, neither of which occurred here. See State v. Graciano, 176 Wn.2d 531, 536, 295
P.3d 219 (2013).
MANDATORY MINIMUM
Felch contends the trial court erred in imposing the mandatory minimum sentence
for count 3 without the jury making a separate factual finding that he used force likely to
16 No. 37154-9-III State v. Felch
result in death or intended to kill the victim. The State concedes this issue. We accept
the State’s concession but disagree that remand is necessary.
In Dyson, this court addressed the issue Felch raises here. There, we held that the
imposition of a mandatory minimum based on judicial findings not submitted to the jury
violates a defendant’s constitutional rights. 189 Wn. App. at 227-28. We explained that,
under Alleyne v. United States, 570 U.S. 99, 228, 133 S. Ct. 2151, 186 L. Ed. 2d 314
(2013), “a jury must find beyond a reasonable doubt those facts that trigger a mandatory
minimum sentence.” Dyson, 189 Wn. App. at 228. Mandatory minimums prejudice
defendants because they preclude the ability to apply for early release, thus potentially
resulting in a longer imprisonment. See id.
Here, the jury did not make the required factual finding provided for in
RCW 9.94A.540(1)(b).2 The court cannot impose a mandatory minimum without the
jury’s finding. However, the 60-month mandatory minimum sentence imposed on count
3 represents substantially less than Felch’s 153-month standard range sentence on that
count. To order resentencing would serve no useful purpose. Instead, we remand for the
trial court to enter an order modifying paragraph 4.1(a) of Felch’s judgment and sentence
2 “An offender convicted of the crime of assault in the first degree . . . where the offender used force or means likely to result in death or intended to kill the victim shall be sentenced to a term of total confinement not less than five years.”
17 No. 37154-9-III State v. Felch
by striking the language that imposes a 60-month minimum term of confinement on count
3.
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL GROUNDS FOR REVIEW
In his statement of additional grounds for review (SAG), Felch raises two issues,
both of which are framed as instances of judicial bias. We lay out the relevant standards
before addressing each issue.
“At a minimum, due process ‘requires a fair trial in a fair tribunal, before a judge
with no actual bias against the defendant or interest in the outcome of his particular
case.’” In re Pers. Restraint of Davis, 152 Wn.2d 647, 692, 101 P.3d 1 (2004) (internal
quotation marks omitted) (quoting Bracy v. Gramley, 520 U.S. 899, 904-05, 117 S. Ct.
1793, 138 L. Ed. 2d 97 (1997)). We presume a trial court performs its duties without
bias. In re Marriage of Meredith, 148 Wn. App. 887, 903, 201 P.3d 1056 (2009). The
party alleging bias must overcome that presumption with specific facts to evince actual or
apparent bias. Davis, 152 Wn.2d at 692; State v. Post, 118 Wn.2d 596, 619, 826 P.2d
172, 837 P.2d 599 (1992). “Judicial rulings alone almost never constitute a valid showing
of bias.” Davis, 152 Wn.2d at 692.
18 No. 37154-9-III State v. Felch
SAG #1: Judicial bias—prejudice
Felch contends the trial judge demonstrated prejudice against him at sentencing
because when he brought up the portion of his testimony that was struck from the record
(due to hearsay issues), the judge told him the rules were different because he was the
defendant. Felch argues this statement shows the judge believed Felch was guilty before
trial. We disagree.
The hearsay rules treat a party differently than a witness. ER 801 provides in
relevant part:
(d) Statements Which Are Not Hearsay. A statement is not hearsay if— .... (2) Admission by Party-Opponent. The statement is offered against a party and is (i) the party’s own statement . . . .
Therefore, the trial judge properly permitted witnesses to testify about what Felch said
while not allowing Felch to testify about what witnesses said. The trial judge did not
show bias. Instead, the judge correctly applied this rule of evidence.
Felch also says the trial judge would not permit him to bring up that he is disabled.
He does not provide specific facts evincing actual or apparent bias nor does he provide
citation to the record or authority. We decline to review this claim. RAP 10.3(a)(6).
19 No. 37154-9-III State v. Felch
SAG #2: Judicial bias—family member
Felch next argues that the trial judge went to high school with the mother of his
nephew.3 Felch’s point is unclear. We do not see how a judge going to high school with
a distant relative of a defendant creates any improper risk of bias. Judges should
disqualify themselves when they are within three degrees of relationship to a party or
material witness. CJC 2.11(A)(2). But having gone to high school with a party’s
extended relative is not prohibited by the ethics rules.
Felch also argues the trial judge conceded bias when the judge instructed the jury
several times to ignore the judge’s behavior because the Washington Constitution forbade
the judge from assuming guilt. Again, he does not cite to the record. We are confident,
however, that the trial judge’s instruction to the jury was a standard cautionary one
routinely given throughout trial. The instruction, given as a concluding instruction before
the jury deliberated, states:
Our state constitution prohibits a trial judge from making a comment on the evidence. It would be improper for me to express, by words or conduct, my personal opinion about the value of testimony or other evidence. I have not intentionally done this. If it appeared to you that I
3 His SAG reads: “Judge Plese went to high school with Michelle Dietz . . . mother of Maria Constance Schlienger mother of my nephew Paul David Felch’s daughter whom Judge Plese is not suppose to have anything to do with. My nephew that is, so this might have influenced the Judge’s behavior . . . .”
20 No. 37154-9-111 State v. Felch
have indicated my personal opinion in any way, either during trial or in giving these instructions, you must disregard this entirely.
CP at 224. The giving of this or a similar standard instruction does not establish
the trial judge was biased. We reject Felch's claims of judicial bias.
Affirm, but remand for entry of order striking minimum term on count 3.
A majority of the panel has determined this opinion will not be printed in the
Washington Appellate Reports, but it will be filed for public record pursuant to
RCW 2.06.040.
Lawrence-Berrey, J.\ j WE CONCUR:
Q. ~~».:r. Pennell, C.J. Fearing, J.