State Of Washington v. Heath Landon McMillian

CourtCourt of Appeals of Washington
DecidedFebruary 12, 2021
Docket53247-6
StatusUnpublished

This text of State Of Washington v. Heath Landon McMillian (State Of Washington v. Heath Landon McMillian) 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. Heath Landon McMillian, (Wash. Ct. App. 2021).

Opinion

Filed Washington State Court of Appeals Division Two

February 12, 2021

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON

DIVISION II STATE OF WASHINGTON, No. 53247-6-II

Respondent,

v.

HEATH LANDON MCMILLIAN, UNPUBLISHED OPINION

Appellant.

CRUSER, J. – Heath Landon McMillian pled guilty to two counts of third degree rape of a

child. He appeals the sentencing court’s denial of his request for a special sex offender sentencing

alternative (SSOSA) sentence, several community custody conditions, and the imposition of a

community custody supervision fee. He argues that the sentencing court abused its discretion by

not giving great weight to the minor victim TTC’s opinion about the SSOSA request as required

under RCW 9.94A.670(4). He further argues that two community custody conditions are not crime

related, that one condition is vague, and that because he is indigent the sentencing court erred when

it required him to pay community custody supervision fees. In addition, McMillian raises several

claims in his statement of additional grounds for appeal (SAG).

We (1) hold that the sentencing court gave great weight to both the minor victim’s and the

victim’s mother’s opinions, (2) accept the State’s concessions that the curfew and hitchhiking

conditions were not crime related and that the requirement that McMillian report “any romantic No. 53247-6-II

relationships” was impermissibly vague, (3) hold that the community supervision fee was properly

imposed, and (4) reject McMillian’s SAG claims because they either lack merit or cannot be

considered on this record. Accordingly, we affirm the convictions and the trial court’s denial of

McMillian’s SSOSA request, but we remand for the sentencing court to strike the curfew and

hitchhiking community custody conditions and to revise the romantic relationship reporting

requirement.

FACTS

I. GUILTY PLEAS

The State originally charged McMillian with four counts of third degree rape of a child

involving the same victim, his step-daughter TTC. McMillian pleaded guilty to the amended

charges of two counts of third degree rape of a child.

McMillian’s plea statement advised him that he was giving up any “speedy” trial rights

and that his right to appeal his guilty plea was “limited.” Clerk’s Papers (CP) at 7-8. The plea

statement further provided that the State would recommend a SSOSA sentence, but it also

cautioned McMillian that the trial court did not have to follow the sentencing recommendation.

McMillian also initialed the following special provision in the plea statement that related

to the SSOSA:

In addition to other eligibility requirements under RCW 9.94A.670, to be eligible for the special sex offender sentencing alternative, I understand that I must voluntarily and affirmatively admit that I committed all of the elements of the crime(s) to which I am pleading guilty. I make my voluntary and affirmative admission in my statement in paragraph 11 [of the plea statement].

Id. at 13.

2 No. 53247-6-II

McMillian provided the following statement:

The judge has asked me to state what I did in my own words that makes me guilty of this crime, including enhancements and domestic violence relationships if they apply. This is my statement: On or between February 1, 2017, and December 31, 2017, on two separate and distinct occasions, I did engage in sexual intercourse (digital penetration of her vagina) with T.T.C., who did not consent to such sexual intercourse because there were no actual words or conduct indicating freely given agreement to have sexual intercourse, and such lack of consent was clearly expressed by T.T.C.’s conduct. This plea is also being made pursuant to In re Barr,[1] as the specific acts that occurred may not directly implicate the elements of the crime, but I wish to take advantage of the State’s offer

Id. at 16. McMillian signed the plea agreement, acknowledging that he had read the entire

agreement and understood it in full.

At the change of plea hearing, the superior court acknowledged that the State was

recommending a SSOSA sentence. The court also asked McMillian if he understood that the court

“doesn’t need to follow any recommendation but can impose any sentence allowed under the law.”

Report of Proceedings (RP) (Jan. 7, 2019) at 7. McMillian confirmed that he understood. After

finding a factual basis for the pleas, the court accepted the guilty pleas and ordered the Department

of Corrections (DOC) to conduct a presentence investigation (PSI).

II. SENTENCING

A. PRESENTENCE INVESTIGATION AND PSYCHOSEXUAL EVALUATION

Before the sentencing hearing, the DOC submitted the PSI report. As part of the PSI, the

investigator asked TTC’s mother what type of sentence McMillian should receive. The PSI

investigator described this conversation as follows:

In closing, I asked [TTC’s mother] what type of sentencing [McMillian] should receive. I explained to her the difference between receiving a SSOSA and being sentenced to prison. She feels that he should pay for what he has done. She believes

1 In re Pers. Restraint of Barr, 102 Wn.2d 265, 267, 684 P.2d 712 (1984). 3 No. 53247-6-II

he has inflicted a lot of emotional pain on T.T.C and the family. She feels deceived and manipulated by [McMillian]. On the other hand, she said her and [McMillian] have a daughter in common. She wants the daughter to have contact with her father. She said that [McMillian] has contributed financially to her and the children and she would lose that income.

CP at 24.

The PSI investigator expressed concern about whether McMillian was admitting to or

taking responsibility for his actions, noting that his admission merely mirrored his plea statement

and that McMillian was still asserting that any sexual contact was accidental, that TTC had initiated

the massages that had led to the sexual contact, and the he was merely pleading guilty so TTC

would not have to testify. The investigator further noted that TTC’s mother characterized

McMillian’s behavior as “grooming” and had stated that McMillian was “deceptive” and

“manipulative.” Id. at 28. The investigator recommended that the sentencing court deny the

SSOSA request under these circumstances.

McMillian also underwent a psychosexual evaluation (PSE). In the PSE report, the

evaluator also noted that McMillian had denied engaging in any sexual activity with TTC and that

he asserted that the touching that had occurred was at TTC’s request. The evaluator concluded,

however, that “[d]enial is not necessarily a preclusion to successful treatment” and that “[t]here is

nothing other than this to indicate [McMillian] is not an acceptable candidate for the [SSOSA]

program.” Id. at 39.

B. SENTENCING HEARING

At sentencing, the sentencing court2 reviewed the PSI and the PSE. The State advised the

sentencing court that the parties had agreed to recommend a SSOSA sentence.

2 The sentencing took place before a different judge than the one who entered the guilty plea. 4 No. 53247-6-II

The sentencing court then invited TTC’s mother to speak. TTC’s mother characterized

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State Of Washington v. Heath Landon McMillian, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-of-washington-v-heath-landon-mcmillian-washctapp-2021.