State Of Washington v. Demario Samuel Roberson

CourtCourt of Appeals of Washington
DecidedMay 14, 2018
Docket74539-5
StatusUnpublished

This text of State Of Washington v. Demario Samuel Roberson (State Of Washington v. Demario Samuel Roberson) 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. Demario Samuel Roberson, (Wash. Ct. App. 2018).

Opinion

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON

STATE OF WASHINGTON, No. 74539-5-1 Respondent, DIVISION ONE V. UNPUBLISHED OPINION DEMARIO SAMUEL ROBERSON,

Appellant. FILED: May 14, 2018

TRICKEY, J. — A jury convicted Demario Roberson of felony violation of a

court order and assault in the second degree. He argues that the court was

required to vacate the assault conviction to avoid a double jeopardy violation.

But there was no double jeopardy violation. The court properly entered judgment

on the lesser Included offense of misdemeanor violation of a court order because

assault in the second degree cannot elevate a violation of a court order to a

felony under ROW 26.50.110(4). Roberson also challenges the court's

admission of evidence of a prior assault against the same victim and alleges that

the trial court conducted three sidebar conferences in violation of his right to a

public trial. Finding no error, we affirm.

FACTS

Demario Roberson and Krystal Rodriguez met and became a couple in

2007, when Rodriguez was 17 years old. In early 2008, Rodriguez moved into

Roberson's family's home. No. 74539-5-1/ 2

Some months later, in May 2008, Rodriguez and Roberson had an

argument that led to a domestic violence charge. They were visiting some I friends and Rodriguez wanted to leave. She waited in the car for Roberson but I then decided to take the bus and leave on her own. Roberson and Rodriguez

were arguing and Rodriguez was crying. When Rodriguez tried to walk away,

Roberson grabbed her hand. A man driving by in a truck observed the struggle,

stopped, and confronted Roberson. Another eyewitness persuaded Rodriguez to

get into her car and called 911. When he heard sirens approaching, Roberson

left. He pleaded guilty to assault. On May 14, 2008, the court entered a no-

contact order prohibiting contact between Roberson and Rodriguez in connection

with the charge.

The convictions at issue in this appeal stem from an incident that took

place on September 22,2008. On that day, Roberson took Rodriguez to enroll in

school. Roberson drove Rodriguez in his mother's car, which he often drove, a

lavender PT Cruiser. They were unable to complete the enrollment, however,

because they could not locate the address after spending more than an hour

driving around.

Eventually, Roberson pulled into a cul de sac in Skyway, south of Seattle,

where he used to live. There were two houses in the cul de sac. Monica Green

and her family lived in one of the houses. Teresa Mugamuga lived with her

family in the upper unit of the house next door. Roberson and his family

previously lived in one of the rental units and a family friend of Roberson's had

2 No. 74539-5-1 / 3

also lived there until a few weeks earlier. Both Green and Mugamuga were

familiar with Roberson from when his family lived there.

Mugamuga was watching television facing the window when she heard a

car pull up quickly onto the gravel parking area. She recognized the PT cruiser.

Roberson was gesticulating and it appeared that he was arguing with his female

passenger. Mugamuga then saw Roberson punch the female in the face with a

closed fist. The passenger's head jerked back and she covered her face with her

hands. Roberson threw her a towel.

Green also noticed Roberson's car and went out to investigate after her

sons, who had been playing outside, came inside and told her that a woman in

the car was bleeding. Green went to Roberson's car and heard him yelling at

Rodriguez, telling her she was "okay" and to "clean herself up."1 Rodriguez was

crying and holding a towel over her bloody face. Green demanded to know what

had happened and accused Roberson of hitting Rodriguez. Roberson said that

"nothing" happened, "everything's fine," and "it's cool," and eventually told her to

mind her own business.2 Green directly asked Rodriguez what happened and

she did not answer.

The argument between Roberson and Green became heated. Green's

husband came outside and he and Green got Rodriguez out of the car.

Rodriguez was crying, shaking, and holding her face. Green told Rodriguez to

come inside the house and that she would help her. Rodriguez responded,"you

1 4 Report of Proceedings(RP)at 671. 24 RP at 672. 3 No. 74539-5-I /4

don't understand," and explained, "I live with him, I have to go."3 Meanwhile,

Roberson ordered Rodriguez to get back in the car and threatened Green and

her husband that he would return with a gun. Rodriguez got back into the car,

Green called 911, and Roberson sped off.

King County sheriffs deputies responded and eventually determined that

Rodriguez might be at Roberson's home in Seattle. When deputies went to the

house, Roberson's mother told them that neither Roberson nor Rodriguez was

home. Concerned about Rodriguez's safety, the deputies entered the home over

Roberson's mother's objection. Inside, the deputies came upon a locked

bedroom door. Roberson's mother denied that Rodriguez was in the room and

said that she did not have a key. No one responded when the deputies knocked

on the bedroom door. They kicked down the door to find Rodriguez standing by

the bed holding a towel to her bruised and swollen face.

The deputies escorted Rodriguez from the house. They insisted that

medics examine her, but she refused to go to the hospital. Rodriguez told one of

the deputies that the injury occurred when Roberson slammed on the brakes

while driving and that she hit her face on the dashboard of the car. The deputy

took Rodriguez to her mother's house. Eventually a physician examined

Rodriguez and determined that she had a nasal fracture.

The State charged Roberson with felony violation of a court order, assault

in the second degree, kidnapping in the second degree, and felony harassment.

At the 2009 trial, Rodriguez was five months pregnant with Roberson's

child. Rodriguez testified and denied that Roberson hit her and said her injury

34 RP at 693. 4 No. 74539-5-1 / 5

was caused by an accidental traffic-related incident. Her description of the

accident was different from the account she initially gave to the deputy. She said

she loved Roberson and wanted to marry him. In his testimony, Roberson also

said that Rodriguez hit her face on the dashboard when he had to slam on the

brakes to avoid hitting a car in front of him.

The jury convicted Roberson of felony violation of a court order and

assault in the second degree, but acquitted him of the kidnapping and

harassment charges. At sentencing, the State proposed that the court enter

judgment for a misdemeanor violation of a court order because the statute

defining the crime of felony violation of a court order, RCW 26.50.110(4),

precluded a felony conviction when the defendant was also convicted of second

degree assault. Defense counsel did not object.

In March 2009, the court entered judgment on a misdemeanor violation of

a court order and suspended the sentence. The court imposed a standard range

sentence on Roberson's conviction of assault in the second degree, and after

awarding credit for time served, ordered his immediate release.

Roberson appeals.4

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State Of Washington v. Demario Samuel Roberson, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-of-washington-v-demario-samuel-roberson-washctapp-2018.