State Of Washington, V. Ernest Lee West, Jr.

• Court: Court of Appeals of Washington
• Decided: June 21, 2023
• Docket: 57468-3
• Status: Unpublished

Opinion

Filed Washington State Court of Appeals Division Two

June 21, 2023

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON

DIVISION II STATE OF WASHINGTON, No. 57468-3-II

Respondent,

v.

ERNEST LEE WEST, JR., UNPUBLISHED OPINION

Appellant.

VELJACIC, J. — Ernest Lee West Jr. appeals his conviction and sentence for residential

burglary. West argues that he is entitled to a new trial because the trial court abused its discretion

in denying his motion for a mistrial. West also argues that he is entitled to resentencing because

the trial court abused its discretion in denying his request for an exceptional sentence below the

standard range.

We hold that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying West’s motion for a

mistrial. We also hold that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying West’s request

for an exceptional sentence. Accordingly, we affirm West’s conviction and sentence for residential

burglary.

FACTS

I. THE UNDERLYING INCIDENT

On January 10, 2021, Richard Sollom visited one of his rental properties in downtown

Bremerton because his tenant, Forrest Findley, had been out of the country on naval deployment

for an extended period of time. Sollom did not expect to see anybody at the home during the visit. 57468-3-II

Sollom entered the home and noticed that things were different despite visiting three days

prior. He noticed food on the kitchen counter and wrappers of some kind thrown about the area.

When he went to the bedroom, he found “the closet door had been open[ed], and stuff rifled

through and stuff [placed] on the bed.” Report of Proceedings (RP) at 325.

Sollom walked out to the living room and discovered West sleeping underneath a blanket

on the couch. West woke up and introduced himself. West told Sollom that he had permission

from his friend to be in the home. However, West could not identify the friend. After this brief

interaction, Sollom walked outside and called the police.

At about 9:30 A.M., Alexander George, an officer for the Bremerton Police Department,

arrived on the scene. Sollom and West were standing in front of the residence. George detained

West and placed him in the back of the patrol vehicle.

Detective Beau Ayers arrived on the scene shortly thereafter. After Miranda1 warnings,

Ayers asked West if he had permission to be in the home. West replied that he did because “the

forest people provided him a green vacant form.” RP at 302. Ayers eventually understood West’s

reference to the “forest people” to mean the name “Forrest Findley”—Sollom’s tenant—because

his investigation revealed that name ascribed to multiple forms, documents, and papers found in

opened dressers. West also told Ayers that he had been staying at the home for several days by

this time.

Ayers asked West where he could find the vacant form. West replied that the document

could be found in a black bag in the bedroom. West told Ayers that “there may be some of his

items or his belongings in the backpack as well as a firearm.” RP at 303. The firearm was not

1 Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 86 S. Ct. 1602, 16 L. Ed. 2d 694 (1966).

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functional because it appeared to be missing the firing pin. West told Ayers that he found the

firearm in one of the dressers and placed it in the bag for safety.

During the investigation, Ayers also observed a partially opened window with a palm print

on it. West admitted to Ayers that the palm print was his and that he entered the residence through

that window. When Ayers asked West why he did not enter through the front door, West could

not provide a reason.

On January 11, the State charged West with one count of burglary in the second degree.

On May 3, 2022, the State amended the information and charged West with one count of residential

II. THE TRIAL

On May 4, the case proceeded to a jury trial.

A. Pretrial Order

Prior to trial, West moved “[f]or an order prohibiting any mention of Mr. West legally not

[being] allowed to be in possession of a firearm.” RP at 309. The trial court granted the motion.

B. Ayers’s Testimony and Mistrial Motion

Ayers was the first witness in the trial. On redirect, the State elicited the following

testimony from Ayers:

Q. Detective, did [West] volunteer information about the firearm immediately? A. No, he did not. Q. Did it appear that he was hesitant to discuss the firearm? A. Yes. Q. What led you to believe that he wasn’t eager to discuss the firearm? A. After he did disclose, I asked him if he was supposed to be in possession or obtain a firearm and he said no. [DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Objection, Your Honor. THE COURT: Sustained. [THE STATE]: Nothing further, Your Honor.

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[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Your Honor, I’d ask to be heard outside the presence of the jury.

RP at 307-08. The court excused the jurors from the courtroom.

West moved for a mistrial. West argued that Ayers’s testimony relating to West’s right to

possess a firearm was highly prejudicial and that a limiting instruction could not remedy the

prejudice.

The State argued that it “didn’t try to elicit anything about the illegality of possessing the

firearm” with its line of questioning and that it “forgot to admonish [the] Detective not to mention

any kind of [Department of Corrections] DOC supervision status.” RP at 308. The State also

argued that that a curative instruction could remedy any resulting prejudice because the jury did

not hear anything about West’s conviction status, DOC supervision status, or prison release.

The trial court found that the State violated the pretrial order discussed above, but did not

believe that there has been enough for a mistrial in this case. Accordingly, the court denied the

motion.

The court then provided the following curative instruction to the jury: “Ladies and

gentlemen, you are to disregard the last question as asked of this witness as well as the answer that

was provided by this witness. The testimony that was provided is not to be used for any purpose

in your deliberations.” RP at 317.

C. Testimony (Continued)

Findley testified that the only individuals with permission to enter the home were Sollom,

Tiffany Gaul (his girlfriend), and maybe his brother. He was not aware of his brother authorizing

anyone else to enter the home.

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Findley also testified that he owned the black bag and normally kept it in the closet. The

firearm was a gift from his brother and he was in the process of building it. He usually stores the

firearm in his nightstand. He has never stored the firearm in his black bag.

Gaul similarly testified that Findley usually keeps the firearm “in the nightstand on his side

of the bed.” RP at 363. She was not aware that he kept the firearm anywhere else, including the

black bag.2

D. Closing Arguments

During closing argument, the State argued that West was guilty of residential burglary

because he entered and remained unlawfully, and intended to commit theft of Findley’s partially

assembled firearm. More specifically, the State argued that it proved West’s intent to deprive

Findley of the firearm based on his actions in moving the firearm from the nightstand and

“slipping” it into the black bag. RP at 419.

West did not dispute that he entered or remained unlawfully in the residence such that he

would be guilty of criminal trespass in the first degree. Instead, West argued that the State failed

to prove that he intended to commit a crime therein because the evidence established that he placed

the firearm in the bag for “safekeeping purposes.” RP at 423.

III. JUDGMENT AND SENTENCE

The jury found West guilty of residential burglary. At sentencing, West asked the court to

impose an exceptional sentence below the standard range under RCW 9.94A.535(1)(e). Despite

being found competent, West argued that his capacity to appreciate the wrongfulness of his

conduct, or to conform his conduct to the requirements of the law, was significantly impaired

2 George testified that he might have left the firearm on the bed after examining it during his investigation.

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because his current and previous competency evaluations clearly established a history of mental

illness. West’s counsel also expressed that she struggled to understand West’s decision making as

it related to the plea offers made to him by the State.

The trial court denied West’s request for an exceptional sentence. The court reasoned: “I

don’t believe that there is significant or sufficient enough record for establishing a departure

downward under [RCW 9.94A.535(1)(e)]. I don’t think that’s available to me.” RP at 456.

Accordingly, the court sentenced West to 63 months of confinement, which is the bottom

end of the standard range. West appeals his conviction and sentence.

ANALYSIS

I. MOTION FOR A MISTRIAL

West argues that the trial court abused its discretion in denying his motion for a mistrial

because Ayers’s errant testimony was a serious trial irregularity, not cumulative, and could not be

remedied by a curative instruction. We disagree.

A. Standard of Review

We review a trial court’s denial of a mistrial for abuse of discretion. State v. Emery, 174

Wn.2d 741, 765, 278 P.3d 653 (2012). “[W]e find abuse only ‘when no reasonable judge would

have reached the same conclusion.’” Id. (quoting State v. Hopson, 113 Wn.2d 273, 284, 778 P.2d

1014 (1989)).

“A mistrial should be granted when the defendant has been so prejudiced that nothing short

of a new trial can insure that the defendant will be tried fairly.” State v. Gamble, 168 Wn.2d 161,

177, 225 P.3d 973 (2010). We will overturn a trial court’s decision denying a motion for a mistrial

“only when there is a substantial likelihood that the prejudice affected the verdict.” Id. “Thus,

when a trial irregularity occurs, the court must decide its prejudicial effect.” Id.

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B. The Hopson Factors

“We examine three factors—the Hopson factors—when determining whether an

irregularity warrants a mistrial: ‘(1) its seriousness; (2) whether it involved cumulative evidence;

and (3) whether the trial court properly instructed the jury to disregard it.’” State v. Garcia, 177

Wn. App. 769, 776, 313 P.3d 422 (2013) (quoting Emery, 174 Wn.2d at 765). These factors are

considered with deference to the trial court because the trial court is in the best position to discern

any prejudice. Garcia, 177 Wn. App. at 776-77.

“The first Hopson factor is the seriousness of the irregularity.” Id. at 777. “[A] violation

of a pretrial order is a serious irregularity . . . [The] intentional introduction of inadmissible

evidence relating to criminal history is more serious than an unintentional interjection of

inadmissible testimony.” Gamble, 168 Wn.2d at 178 (internal citation omitted). But ultimately,

“[t]he question is whether the irregularity was ‘serious enough to materially affect the outcome of

the trial.” Garcia, 177 Wn. App. at 777 (quoting Hopson, 113 Wn.2d at 286). In Hopson, the

Supreme Court held that the trial irregularity at issue was not serious enough to materially affect

the outcome of the trial because the challenged testimony revealed “no information concerning the

nature or number of prior convictions” and because “the jury had overwhelming evidence favoring

conviction.” 113 Wn.2d at 286.

“The second Hopson factor is whether the trial irregularity involved cumulative evidence.

If the evidence was cumulative, a mistrial may not be necessary.” Garcia, 177 Wn. App. at 781.

“The third Hopson factor is whether the trial court properly instructed the jury to disregard

the irregularity.” Id. “Our Supreme Court has restated this factor as ‘whether the irregularity

could be cured by an instruction.’” Id. (internal quotation marks omitted) (quoting State v. Perez-

Valdez, 172 Wn.2d 808, 818, 265 P.3d 853 (2011)). As a general rule, “[w]e presume that juries

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follow the instructions and consider only evidence that is properly before them.” Perez-Valdez,

172 Wn.2d at 818-19.

C. The Trial Court Did Not Abuse Its Discretion

Here, the first Hopson factor weighs against a mistrial because Ayers’s testimony—while

a serious trial irregularity because it introduced highly prejudicial character evidence and involved

the violation of a pretrial order—was not serious enough to materially affect the outcome of the

trial. Ayers only testified that “After [West] did disclose, I asked him if he was supposed to be in

possession or obtain a firearm and he said no.” RP at 308. Like Hopson, and contrary to West’s

contention otherwise, this statement revealed no information concerning the nature or number of

his prior convictions.3 113 Wn.2d at 284-86. Additionally, like Hopson, the jury had

overwhelming evidence of guilt. Id. at 286. West conceded to entering and remaining in the home

unlawfully. The evidence also showed a strong inference from which the jury could conclude

beyond a reasonable doubt that West intended to commit theft (the crime in the residence required

to amount to burglary) because he moved Findley’s firearm from the nightstand and into the black

bag.

West contends this evidence of intent is “weak,” but in doing so, he omits mentioning that

the bag also contained his belongings. Br. of Appellant at 19-20; Reply Br. of Appellant at 3. He

also omits mentioning that Findley and Gaul both testified that the firearm is ordinarily placed in

the nightstand and that Findley testified that he has never placed the firearm in the bag. Thus, this

evidence gave rise to the inference of intent—not the fact that West had a propensity for criminal

activity based on Ayers’s improper testimony. Accordingly, in the context of the entire record and

3 For this reason, West’s reliance on State v. Young, 129 Wn .App. 468, 119 P.3d 870 (2005), is misplaced.

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with deference to the trial court’s finding, we conclude that Ayers’s statement is unlikely to have

swayed the jury.

The second Hopson factor weighs in favor of a mistrial. Ayers’s testimony was not

cumulative of other evidence in the record because no other witness testified to West not being

allowed to possess a firearm.

The third Hopson factor weighs against a mistrial. Contrary to West’s contention, the error

was remedied when the trial court specifically instructed the jury to disregard Ayers’s last answer

and also instructed that such testimony is not to be used for any purpose in deliberations. The

challenged portion of Ayers’s testimony was not discussed in front of the jury, and the court

“minimized its impact by moving the trial along.” Hopson, 113 Wn.2d at 287. “We presume that

juries follow the instructions and consider only evidence that is properly before them.” Perez-

Valdez, 172 Wn.2d at 818-19.

Because the Hopson factors weigh against a mistrial, we conclude that the trial court did

not abuse its discretion in denying West’s motion for a mistrial. Accordingly, we affirm West’s

conviction for residential burglary.

II. EXCEPTIONAL SENTENCE

West argues that the trial court abused its discretion because “it failed to recognize it could

depart from the standard range based on [his] mental [health] condition.” Br. of Appellant at 23.

We disagree.

A. Legal Principles

“Under the Sentencing Reform Act of 1981, 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). The trial court “may impose an

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exceptional sentence below the standard range if it finds that mitigating circumstances are

established by a preponderance of the evidence.” RCW 9.94A.535(1). It is a mitigating

circumstance if a “defendant’s capacity to appreciate the wrongfulness of his or her conduct, or to

conform his or her conduct to the requirements of the law, was significantly impaired.” RCW

9.94A.535(1)(e).

When a defendant requests an exceptional sentence, our “review is limited to circumstances

where the 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.” State v. Garcia-Martinez,

88 Wn. App. 322, 330, 944 P.2d 1104 (1997). “A court refuses to exercise its discretion if it

refuses categorically to impose an exceptional sentence below the standard range under any

circumstances.” Id. But a court that considered the facts of a case and found no basis for an

exceptional sentence has exercised its discretion, and the defendant may not appeal that ruling. Id.

B. The Trial Court Did Not Abuse Its Discretion

Here, West mischaracterizes the record by contending that “the court erroneously believed

it could not issue a downward departure based on [his] psychosis and schizoaffective disorder.”

Br. of Appellant at 28. The record demonstrates that the court was aware that it had the ability to

depart from the standard range based on West’s history of mental illness. However, after

considering West’s arguments and the competency evaluations, the court concluded that there was

not a sufficient enough record for an exceptional downward sentence under RCW 9.94A.535(1)(e).

Thus, the court exercised its discretion by considering the facts and concluding that no basis for

an exceptional sentence existed.

West does not show that the trial court abused its discretion when it declined to impose the

exceptional sentence. Accordingly, we affirm West’s standard range sentence.

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CONCLUSION

We affirm West’s conviction and sentence for residential burglary.

A majority of the panel having determined that this opinion will not be printed in the

Washington Appellate Reports, but will be filed for public record in accordance with RCW 2.06.040,

it is so ordered.

Veljacic, J.

We concur:

Lee, J.

Cruser, A.C.J.