State Of Washington v. Johnnie G. Brown

• Court: Court of Appeals of Washington
• Decided: March 11, 2014
• Docket: 43040-1
• Status: Unpublished

Opinion

r ILEO . 0` OF APFTALU T ISiC1R S 1114 MAR I I AID R: ' iq

s

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON

DIVISION II

STATE OF WASHINGTON, No. 43040 -1 - II

Respondent,

u

JOHNNIE GERARD BROWN, UNPUBLISHED OPINION

JOHANSON, J. — Johnnie G. Brown appeals his jury conviction of one count of bail

jumping. He argues that we should reverse his conviction because the criminal statute of

limitations -is jurisdictional -and- the three- year -- statute - of limitations expired. before_the -State_

commenced prosecution. We conclude that the criminal statute of limitations is not

jurisdictional, and remand to the trial court for an evidentiary hearing to determine if the statute

of limitations has expired.

FACTS

In 2001, the State charged Brown with three counts of child rape and incest. State v.

Brown, _ Wn. App. , 312 P. 3d 1017, 1019 ( 2013). 1 After an initial jury venire was called

1 On November 19, 2013, we published an opinion affirming his convictions but vacating his sentence because the trial court failed to consider a presentence report mandated by former RCW 9. 94A. 110 ( 2000). We remanded for resentencing. Brown, 312 P. 3d 1017. No. 43040 -1 - II

and sworn in, Brown failed to appear for a subsequent court date and the trial court- issued a

warrant for his arrest on May 6, 2002. Brown, 312 P. 3d at 1019. Brown was tried in absentia

and convicted on all three counts. Brown, 312 P. 3d at 1019.

In August 2011, Brown was found in another state and extradited to Washington for

sentencing. Brown, 312 P. 3d at 1018 -19. In early September, Brown appeared before Judge

Orlando for sentencing. The State asked Judge Orlando to arraign Brown on. one count of bail

jumping, filed that day under a separate cause number, for failure to appear in court in May 2002. Richard Whitehead from the Department of Assigned Counsel ( DAC) was present, but he

3 was not assigned or retained to represent Brown. Referring to the new bail jumping charge,

Whitehead noted that he " expect[ ed]' the statute of limitations ha[ d] run on that." Report of

Proceedings ( RP) ( Sept. 2, 2011) at 10. Judge Orlando responded, " It' s probably three years

from the time you' re found, as opposed to if you are absconding. I think it would seem to toll

the statute." RP ( Sept. 2, 2011) at 10 -11. Brown was sentenced for the rape and incest

convictions. Brown, 312 P. 3d at 1019. Judge Orlando declined to arraign Brown on the bail

On September 6, Brown, now represented by Whitehead, appeared before Judge Steiner

for arraignment; without objection to lack of jurisdiction or on the basis of the statute of

limitations, Brown pleaded not guilty. On October 10, an omnibus order was entered. In the

omnibus order, Brown did not indicate his intent to raise subject matter jurisdiction or the statute

2 Judge Orlando presided over Brown' s 2002 trial. He also testified in Brown' s later bail jumping trial. Because there. are several judges referred to in the record, we refer to each judge by name for clarity.

3 He later filed a notice of appearance in the case on September 8, 2011.

Oil No. 43040 -1 - II

of limitations, and the line for " OTHER PRE -TRIAL MOTIONS" was left blank. Clerk' s

Papers ( CP) at 124.

In early December, Judge, Cuthbertson heard pretrial motions for Brown' s bail jumping

trial. Whitehead represented Brown. Whitehead moved to dismiss the bail jumping charge as

violating CrR 4. 3( b), the mandatory joinder rule. Judge Cuthbertson denied the motion. 4 Trial on the bail jumping charge was brief. On the second day of trial, Whitehead

notified the State that he intended to call a witness who had seen Brown in Pierce County in

2008. The State argued that Brown' s witness had no relevant testimony. Whitehead responded

that the testimony was relevant because the case was over nine years old, and the State was

required to prove at trial why the statute of limitations had tolled and not expired. Whitehead

explained, " I raised this at Mr. Brown' s arraignment up in Judge Felnagle' s Court on September

2nd." RP ( Dec. 8, 2011) at 17. He then corrected himself that it was Judge Orlando' s court, not

Judge Felnagle' s. The State argued that the statute of limitations was a legal issue that Judge

Orlando already ruled on at Brown' s arraignment, 5 and the superior court' s ruling was the law of 6— the- case. Judge -Cuthbertson- ruled-thatBrovM' switness- had - ot-been -timely disclosed; -stated - - -- -- --- -- - -- - n

4 Because the substantive facts are not relevant to the arguments made on appeal, we do not recount those facts here.

5 This appears to be a misstatement. Judge Orlando presided over Brown' s sentencing hearing for his rape ana incest convictions when the State asked him to arraign Brown on the bail jumping. But Judge Orlando specifically declined to arraign Brown and instead Judge Steiner later presided over the arraignment.

6 The prosecutor was not the same prosecutor who had appeared for Brown' s hearing on September 2 in front of Judge Orlando, so he apparently did not know exactly what had transpired: State]: If Superior Court has made a ruling on it, which they obviously have because we are all here right now, then I think it' s the law of the case, and I ' don' t see that this witness has any relevance for the jury. Certainly, he could 3 No. 43040- 1- 11

Brown' s whereabouts were not relevant, and granted the State' s motion to exclude the witness.

After additional argument, Judge Cuthbertson responded that Judge Orlando had already ruled

on the jurisdictional issue.

Whitehead did not call any witnesses at trial, but did make an offer of proof of Brown' s

whereabouts during the time period at issue. The next morning, the jury returned a guilty

verdict.

That same day, Whitehead filed a motion to dismiss for lack of jurisdiction, arguing that

the statute of limitations of three years for bail jumping had expired, the statute of limitations in a

criminal case was jurisdictional, and the State bore the burden of establishing that sufficient time

had tolled. The parties argued the motion at sentencing a few months later. The court implicitly

denied the motion and sentenced Brown. Brown appeals.

ANALYSIS

Brown argues that his conviction must be reversed because the three -year statute of

limitations is jurisdictional, and the State failed to meet its burden to prove that the statute had

been- tolled.- The Stateargues - that _ the-statute- of l- imitations is not jurisdictional, prior - Court -o--- --- - - - - --

Appeals cases that hold contrary are erroneous, and the statute was tolled in Brown' s case. We

agree with the State that the statute of limitations is not jurisdictional, but we remand for an

evidentiary hearing to determine whether the statute of limitations had tolled.

file] a declaration that would probably be something that an appellate court could use on the issue of the Statute of Limitations, which Mr. Whitehead has raised. RP ( Dec. 8, 2011) at 18.

0 No. 43040 -1 - II

STANDARD OF REVIEW

We review de novo questions of a court' s subject matter jurisdiction and pure questions

of law. State v. Peltier, 176 Wn. App. 732, 737 n. 6, 309 P. 3d 506 ( 2013) ( citing Robb v. City of

Seattle, 176 Wn.2d 427, 433, 295 P. 3d 212 ( 2013); Cole v. Harveyland, LLC, 163 Wn. App. 199,

205, 258 P. 3d 70 ( 2011)), review granted, No. 89502 -3 ( Wash. Feb. 5, 2014).

DISCUSSION

The statute of limitations for criminal cases is found in RCW. 9A.04. 080, which provides,

1) Prosecutions for criminal offenses shall not be commenced after the periods prescribed in this section.

h) No other felony may be prosecuted more than three years after its commission....

2) The periods of limitation prescribed in subsection'( 1) of this section do not run during any time when the person charged is not usually and publicly resident within this state.

Subsection ( 2) is known as the tolling provision. State v. Willingham, 169 Wn.2d 192, 194 -95,

234 P. 3d 211 ( 2010).

Bail jumping falls under RCW 9A.04.080( 1)( h) because it is a felony and is not otherwise

provided for in the statute. See also RCW 9A.76. 170. Here, the State' s information alleged that

Brown jumped bail in May 2002. Therefore, Brown' s bail jumping charge could not be

prosecuted later than May 2005 unless the statute of limitations had tolled.

A. THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS IS NOT JURISDICTIONAL

Brown argues that we must dismiss the charges because the statute of limitations is

jurisdictional; absent proof that the statute was tolled, the superior court.did not have jurisdiction

and his case must be dismissed with prejudice. We follow Division One of this court and

acknowledge that the state constitution grants superior courts original jurisdiction over criminal

5 No. 43040 -1 - II

felony matters, and a statute cannot defeat what the constitution grants. Accordingly, we agree

that the criminal statute of limitations is not jurisdictional.

In Peltier, Division One explained,

For over 30 years, Washington' s Courts of Appeal have consistently held that the expiration of a statutory limitation period, in a criminal case, deprives the trial court of subject matter jurisdiction over that controversy. The trial court

understandably followed this authority in ordering the case dismissed. However, an opinion of our Supreme Court, issued 13 years ago [ In re Personal Restraint of Stoudmire, 141 Wn.2d 342, 5 P. 3d 1240 ( 2000)], indicates that the holdings of these appellate court cases are no longer viable. Nevertheless, in that same opinion, our Supreme Court made clear that a superior court judge has no authority to sentence a defendant and enter judgment in a criminal case in which the statutory limitation period expired before the charge was brought. Thus, we affirm the order of dismissal, albeit on a different basis than that relied upon by the trial court.

176 Wn. App. at 737. Division One explained the Stoudmire case: " Put simply, Stoudmire

claimed that, because the applicable statutory limitation period had expired prior to him being

charged with indecent liberties, the superior court had lost subject matter jurisdiction over the

charges and was, therefore, not a court of competent jurisdiction when he was sentenced and

judgment entered." Peltier, 176 Wn. App. at 742. The Supreme Court has disagreed,

explaining,

A court does not lack subject matter jurisdiction solely because it may lack authority to enter a given order. A court has subject matter jurisdiction where the court has the authority to adjudicate the type of controversy in the action, and it does not lose subject matter jurisdiction merely by interpreting the law erroneously."

Peltier, 176 Wn. App. at 743 ( citations omitted) ( quoting Stoudmire, 141 Wn.2d at 353).

Because the state constitution gives superior courts original jurisdiction in felony cases, superior

courts have subject matter jurisdiction over all felony proceedings; a statute, such as a statute of

limitations, cannot take away that jurisdiction. Peltier, 176 Wn. App. at 743 -45. Instead, when a

0 No. 43 040 -1 - II

statute of limitations runs, the court no longer has statutory authority to enter a judgment or 7 sentence against the defendant. Peltier, 176 Wn. App. at 750. The Peltier court determined that

the statute of limitations does not present a jurisdictional issue. Peltier, 176 Wn. App. at 747.

Peltier and Stoudmire make clear that the statute of limitations is not a jurisdictional issue

in Washington. Because the statute of limitations is not a jurisdictional issue, we next consider

the appropriate remedy here.

B. REMEDY

Brown asks us to dismiss his. conviction because the State failed to prove at trial that the

statute of limitations was tolled. The State asks us to remand for an evidentiary hearing on

tolling of the statute of limitations. Remand is the appropriate remedy here.

In State v. Walker, 153 Wn. App. 701, 708, 224 P. 3d 814 ( 2009), the record was

incomplete because neither party had the opportunity to present evidence at the superior court

about whether the statute of limitations had run. Division Three explained that while typically

the remedy would be for a defendant to bring a personal restraint petition, it believed that remand for the superior courtto-consider the - statute of limitations- challenges- was - the most-efficient-use - - - -

of judicial resources. Walker, 153 Wn. App. at 709 ( citing RAP 7. 38). 9

7 The Peltier court discussed that a statute of limitations argument is not waived because if the statute of limitations has expired, then the superior court has lost its statutory authority to enter judgment in that case. 176 Wn. App. at 749 -50. Likewise, Brown has not waived his statute of limitations argument here.

8 RAP 7. 3 provides, " The appellate court has the authority to determine whether a matter is properly before it, and to perform all acts necessary or appropriate to secure the fair and orderly review of a case. The Court of Appeals retains authority to act in a case pending before it until review is accepted by the Supreme Court, unless the Supreme Court directs otherwise." 9 It further explained that "[ t]he trial court shall grant the parties a reasonable time to gather and present evidence on the issue of whether Mr. Walker was not `publicly and usually resident' in 7 No. 43040 -1 - II

Here, the record shows that Judge Cuthbertson mistakenly believed that Judge Orlando

had previously ruled on the tolling of the statute of limitations. After argument from counsel

regarding the statute of limitations, Judge Cuthbertson responded that Judge Orlando had already

ruled on the jurisdictional issue. But the record shows that no evidentiary hearing was held, and

Judge Orlando did not rule on the tolling.of the statute of limitations. At Brown' s first scheduled

sentencing hearing on the child sex offense convictions regarding the newly - iled bail jumping f

offense, Judge Orlando noted that "[ the statute of limitations is] probably three years from the

time you' re found, as opposed to if you are absconding. I think it would seem to toll the statute."

RP ( Sept. 2, 2011) at 10 -11. But this was simply a passing comment. The sentencing hearing

ended without further discussion of the statute of limitations and there were no further hearings

in front of Judge Orlando on the issue. Based on the record, the trial court was under the

io erroneous belief that Judge Orlando had made a prior controlling ruling.

We agree with Walker' s rationale regarding remand. Because we are an error -correcting

court, and there is no ruling on the tolling of the statute of limitations for us to review, we

remand -to the superior - court foran evidentiary- hearing -to -determine -whether -the -statute- of - - - -

limitations was tolled.

Washington during the charging period and enter appropriate findings of fact and conclusions of law, which should be transmitted to this court. If the court dismisses any counts, Mr. Walker should be resentenced and any aggrieved party can file a new appeal from that judgment. If the

trial court does not grant any relief, Mr. Walker' s counsel can seek permission by motion to brief any challenges to the court' s findings and conclusions." Walker, 153 Wn. App. at 709 ( footnote omitted).

io After some confusion at the trial level, the parties agree on appeal that Judge Orlando did not previously rule on the tolling of the statute of limitations. 8 No. 43040 -1 - II

BURDEN OF PROOF

Both parties ask this court to provide procedural guidance on remand. Because this issue

has not been fully briefed by both parties, we are reluctant to do so, and we lack a ruling to

review.

The parties argue that a threshold question is whether the State bears the burden to prove

that the statute was tolled. Brown argues that because the statute of limitations is jurisdictional,

the State bears the burden to prove jurisdiction at trial. But we rejected Brown' s argument that

the statute of limitations is jurisdictional, and Brown presents no alternative argument. The State

argues that the statute of limitations is not . urisdictional but instead is an affirmative defense. j

Therefore, according to the State, Brown should bear the burden to prove the, statute of

limitations has expired. But Brown neither briefed nor discussed who has the burden of proof in

the event we determined that the statute of limitations is not jurisdictional. Because this

important issue is neither directly before us ( there has been no ruling at the trial court level), nor

has it been fully briefed by both parties, we decline to fully address who bears the burden to

prove tolling under - CW 9A-. 4-. 80. - - - - -- _ -- - -- — - -_- R 0 0

RCW 9A.04. 080 does not assign the burden of establishing whether the statute was, or

was not, tolled. Walker, 153 Wn. App. at 706. In Walker, Division Three of this court held the

proponent of an exception to the statute should bear the burden of proving that the exception

exists. 153 Wn. App. at 707. But the court noted, " That is especially the case where, as here,

that exception is critical to the court' s jurisdiction." Walker, 153 Wn. App. at 707 ( emphasis

added). Therefore, the court concluded that when a statute of limitations issue is raised, the State

bears the burden of establishing that sufficient time is tolled to permit the prosecution to proceed.

Walker, 153 Wn. App. at 707.

The State argues that we should disagree with Walker and hold that the defendant has the

burden of proving that he was not usually and publicly a resident within this state because other

jurisdictions have apparently done so. The State explains that "[ i]mposing the burden on the

State would have the absurd result of nullifying the tolling provision in the majority of cases."

Br. of Resp' t at 26. It is worth noting- that Walker was abrogated in part by Peltier. Peltier

disagreed with Walker' s underlying position that the statute of limitations is jurisdictional. Since

the ruling in Peltier, it is unclear whether the Walker court will continue to place the burden of

proving a nonjurisdictional statute of limitations exception on the State. We refrain from giving

an advisory opinion on this issue for the reasons given above.

We remand for proceedings consistent with this opinion.

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.

JOHANSON We rnnr. nr-