State Of Washington v. George M. Chapa

CourtCourt of Appeals of Washington
DecidedNovember 14, 2018
Docket50924-5
StatusUnpublished

This text of State Of Washington v. George M. Chapa (State Of Washington v. George M. Chapa) 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. George M. Chapa, (Wash. Ct. App. 2018).

Opinion

Filed Washington State Court of Appeals Division Two

November 14, 2018

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON

DIVISION II STATE OF WASHINGTON, No. 50924-5-II

Respondent,

v.

GEORGE MICHAEL CHAPA, UNPUBLISHED OPINION

Appellant.

MELNICK, J. — George Michael Chapa pleaded guilty to one count of child molestation in

the first degree. He appeals the denial of a Special Sex Offender Sentencing Alternative (SSOSA)

disposition and his community custody conditions.

Chapa argues he should get a new sentencing hearing because the trial court erroneously

gave “great weight” to the testimony of the victim’s biological mother, Marisa Blair. At the time

of sentencing, she no longer had parental rights over the victim. Chapa also argues that six of his

community custody conditions are either unconstitutionally vague, overbroad, or not crime related.

We conclude that Chapa’s challenge to Blair’s testimony is unpreserved. We affirm

Chapa’s conviction but remand to the trial court to correct the scrivener’s error and strike condition

17 and condition 20 (in part) of the judgment and sentence.

FACTS

I. INCIDENT

In the early morning of June 15, 2015, Blair reported finding inappropriate photographs of

her four-year-old daughter, AW, on her boyfriend’s, Chapa’s, cell phone. The State charged Chapa 50924-5-II

with one count of possession of depictions of minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct in the

second degree.

The Bremerton Police Department’s investigation found 234 files on Chapa’s computer

depicting children engaged in sexually explicit conduct. AW appeared in approximately one third

of the files.

Blair submitted a victim impact statement with the court, asking that Chapa receive the

maximum sentence. At that time, AW had been adopted, and Blair could only see her four times

a year.1

Approximately two years after the incident, the State filed an amended information

charging Chapa with one count of child molestation in the first degree. On the same day, Chapa

pleaded guilty to the charge.

II. SENTENCING

Chapa requested a SSOSA. He underwent both a psychosexual evaluation and a

presentence investigation (PSI). Dr. Haley D. Gummelt, Ph.D., completed Chapa’s psychosexual

evaluation and recommended a SSOSA disposition. This recommendation took into account the

inconsistencies between Chapa’s statements that the incident in question involved an isolated event

and the fact that Chapa’s computer yielded 234 additional pictures and videos of minors engaged

in sexually explicit conduct. The Department of Corrections (DOC) completed the PSI and

recommended against a SSOSA disposition; however, DOC did not have access to Chapa’s

psychosexual evaluation at the time.

1 In Washington, adoption is a two-step process: the rights and obligations of existing legal parents must be terminated before new legal parental relationships can be established. 21 SCOTT J. HORENSTEIN, WASHINGTON PRACTICE: FAMILY AND COMMUNITY PROPERTY LAW §§ 44:1, 44:10 (2d ed. 2015). See generally ch. 26.33 RCW.

2 50924-5-II

The State opposed a SSOSA disposition and argued for a sentence of 59 months, which

fell in the middle of the standard range. The State argued that Chapa had shown no remorse,

extremely minimized his behavior, and ultimately took no accountability for his actions.

Chapa submitted a sentencing memorandum. He argued that he met SSOSA’s statutory

requirements. CP at 42. Additionally Chapa argued that while “the court is required to give great

weight to the victim when considering whether or not to grant a SSOSA” sentence, the particular

facts of this case dictated that less weight be given to the victim. Clerk’s Papers (CP) at 43. For

example, Chapa argued that Blair, knowing Chapa’s guilt, continued to support him. It also

outlined Blair’s domestic violence history with Chapa, including an assault in the fourth degree

charge against Chapa as the protected party. Chapa’s memorandum also disputed many of the

facts contained in the PSI, including that Chapa never violated the conditions of his release in this

case, and that fourteen of the sixteen no contact orders to which Chapa was involved had him as a

protected party.

Both Blair and her mother spoke at Chapa’s sentencing hearing. As the court later

recognized, Blair gave a “very impassioned presentation” regarding why Chapa should not receive

a SSOSA disposition. Report of Proceedings (RP) (Aug. 28, 2017) at 20. Blair’s mother did not

make an ultimate recommendation regarding a SSOSA, but described her negative perceptions

about Chapa based on specific instances.

Chapa then advocated for a SSOSA disposition. Chapa initially conceded, in relevant part,

You know, you do have a recommendation from the victim’s mother recommending against a SSOSA, recommending prison time. And I do recognize that the statute requires that the Court does give some great weight to that opinion.

RP (Aug. 28, 2017) at 12-13. Generally, Chapa iterated the information in his sentencing

memorandum. Chapa highlighted his compliance with the court’s conditions of release, which he

3 50924-5-II

argued indicated, along with other factors, that he would comply with the SSOSA conditions

should the court grant his request.

In Chapa’s statement, he expressed his regret and acknowledged that he would “forever

live with the shame, guilt, and remorse.” RP (Aug. 28, 2017) at 19. He promised to “follow

through with [SSOSA] treatment to it’s [sic] fullest extent.” RP (Aug. 28, 2017) at 20.

The court considered all of the reports and testimony and said,

I did hear a very impassioned presentation from the victim’s mother, who obviously is very opposed to a SSOSA. .... I am still looking at the statute. I’m constrained by the statute. And so, first of all, I do consider the victim’s opinion. And according to the statute, that holds great weight in what this Court does. So I would have to find something very, very compelling for me to overcome that.

RP (Aug. 28, 2017) at 20-21. The court expressed further concerns regarding Gummelt’s

psychosexual evaluation, in particular the fact that Chapa passed a polygraph examination and

then the police found additional images and videos on his computer, and that Gummelt regarded

Chapa as a “moderate risk” for reoffending. RP (Aug. 28, 2017) at 21. Finally, the court found

Chapa’s testimony disingenuous. RP (Aug. 28, 2017) at 22 (“I have to really concern myself with

true intention and true motivation.”). The court sentenced Chapa to a low-end standard range

sentence of 51 months. It stated, “So in reviewing all the factors, I cannot find that this Court

should override the victim’s opinion. And there is risk to the community.” RP (Aug. 28, 2017) at

22.

4 50924-5-II

ANALYSIS

I. BLAIR AS A “VICTIM”

Chapa argues that the trial court abused its discretion by denying his SSOSA application

as a result of giving Blair’s testimony “great weight.”

Generally, we will not review an issue raised for the first time on appeal. RAP 2.5(a). A

party must make a timely and specific objection at trial unless the error constitutes a “manifest

error affecting a constitutional right.” RAP 2.5(a)(3). When the defendant fails to object to an

alleged error at trial, he “has the initial burden of showing that (1) the error was ‘truly of

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