State Of Washington v. Joseph Ingals Guenther

CourtCourt of Appeals of Washington
DecidedJune 6, 2017
Docket48946-5
StatusUnpublished

This text of State Of Washington v. Joseph Ingals Guenther (State Of Washington v. Joseph Ingals Guenther) 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. Joseph Ingals Guenther, (Wash. Ct. App. 2017).

Opinion

Filed Washington State Court of Appeals Division Two

June 6, 2017

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON

DIVISION II STATE OF WASHINGTON, No. 48946-5-II

Respondent,

v.

JOSEPH INGALS GUENTHER, UNPUBLISHED OPINION

Appellant.

JOHANSON, P.J. — Joseph Ingals Guenther appeals his jury trial conviction for first degree

trafficking in stolen property and his legal financial obligations (LFOs). He argues that (1) the

State committed prosecutorial misconduct by arguing facts not in evidence and by asking a witness

to comment on another witness’s credibility, (2) his trial counsel’s failure to object to the State’s

arguing facts not in evidence amounted to ineffective assistance of counsel, and (3) the trial court

erred when it denied his motion for a mistrial based on a witness’s comments on another witness’s

credibility. He also argues that the trial court erred when it imposed LFOs without first considering

his ability to pay and asks that we not impose appellate costs. Because Guenther’s arguments have

no merit and he invited any error with respect to his LFOs, we affirm. No. 48946-5-II

FACTS

I. BACKGROUND

On December 21, 2015, Jefferson County Deputy Sheriff Gordon Tamura was running

some personal errands when he noticed two vehicles parked near a wooded area close to his home.

After observing a freshly felled maple tree in the wooded area, Deputy Tamura suspected someone

was trying to steal the tree.

When Deputy Tamura returned home, he determined that the parcel was owned by a family

trust located in the Seattle area. He then contacted Sergeant Mark Lawrence Apeland and told him

what he had seen. A short while later, after hearing a saw in the general area where he had observed

the tree, Deputy Tamura went to investigate.

When he arrived at the wooded area, Deputy Tamura found Guenther sawing the maple

tree. Deputy Tamura asked Guenther if he had permission to be on the property and a permit to

harvest trees. Gunther appeared nervous and was initially “unable to answer” these questions.

Report of Proceedings (RP) at 125. At one point, Guenther told the deputy that he did not know

he had to have a permit and that a friend of a friend had told him that he could fell the tree. He

stated that his friend was the one who had permission, but he could not identify his friend.

Guenther also told Deputy Tamura that he was cutting firewood, but Deputy Tamura thought that

was inconsistent with the “blocking”1 on the tree. RP at 131. Based on Guenther’s answers,

Deputy Tamura “detained” Guenther while they waited for assistance. RP at 126.

1 “Blocking” is the term used for sectioning a tree into smaller parts.

2 No. 48946-5-II

Apeland arrived and took over the investigation. While Apeland was talking to Guenther,

Guenther’s friend, Peter K. Smith, who had been working with Guenther, returned to the area and

provided a witness statement.

When Guenther gave Sergeant Apeland inconsistent stories about who owned the property

and whether he had permission to be there, Sergeant Apeland arrested Guenther. According to

Sergeant Apeland, after he arrested Guenther, Guenther told him that he did not know who the

land owner was and that he was going to try to sell the “figured”2 portion of the tree to the Faith

Farm, a mill that cuts “maple blocks down into . . . billets for sale for musical instruments.” RP at

147, 153. Guenther said he was planning to cut the remainder of the tree into firewood.

II. PROCEDURE

The State charged Guenther with first degree trafficking in stolen property. 3 The case

proceeded to a jury trial. Smith, Deputy Tamura, Sergeant Apeland, and the trustee of the trust

that owned the property testified for the State. Jason D. Cecil, an arborist, was the only defense

witness.

A. TESTIMONY

1. SMITH’S TESTIMONY

Smith, who had known Guenther since childhood, testified that he worked in residential

tree removal, that he had once tried to sell a harvested maple tree, and that only “one in a million

trees is worth selling.” RP at 106. Smith further testified that if it was “a particularly good cut”

2 Figured wood has a specific type of grain pattern and can be more valuable. 3 The State also charged Guenther with second degree criminal trespassing, but that charge was dismissed before trial.

3 No. 48946-5-II

of wood, it would “be worth money” and that maple could be used “[f]or instrument wood.” RP

at 106.

Smith also testified about his activities with Guenther on the day of Guenther’s arrest. He

testified that Guenther had contacted him and asked if he would “give him a hand” cutting some

firewood. RP at 107. When Smith joined Guenther at the wooded lot, Guenther showed him

“some stuff” that he (Guenther) thought “might look like it was better than firewood” and told

Smith that there might be figuring in the tree.4 RP at 108. Smith agreed that before the tree was

cut Guenther had mentioned that if the tree was figured, he wanted to sell it as “music wood.” RP

at 110. Smith further testified that once he cut the tree down and they determined that it was not

figured, Guenther wanted it to be cut into firewood.

2. DEPUTY TAMURA’S TESTIMONY

In addition to the facts above, Deputy Tamura testified that the tree was marked in such a

way that it was to be cut in sections of “several feet in length, which is more typical with furniture

or . . . musical instruments.” RP at 122. It was “definitely larger than you would cut for firewood.”

RP at 122. But he admitted that someone could have continued to cut it into smaller pieces.

3. SERGEANT APELAND’S TESTIMONY

In addition to the facts above, Sergeant Apeland testified that it is common for Western

big-leaf maple to be used for furniture or musical instruments. Sergeant Apeland also agreed that

the sectioning marks on the tree were wider than what is typical for firewood.

4 Smith testified that figuring “makes [the wood] really, really pretty and they use it for instruments.” RP at 108.

4 No. 48946-5-II

The State then questioned Sergeant Apeland about Smith’s behavior, demeanor, and

appearance when Smith gave his statement.5 Sergeant Apeland testified that Smith seemed “a

little shaken but he was very cooperative.” RP at 139. The following then ensued:

[State] And did [Smith] appear forthright? [Apeland] He did. [DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Objection. Vouching for the witness’s credibility, Judge. THE COURT: Sustained. Um, the jury -- .... -- the jury will ignore that last question and answer. Go ahead. BY [THE STATE]: [State] Was there anything about Mr. Smith’s behavior at that time that indicated deception? [DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Objection, Judge. Can you excuse the jury, please? THE COURT: Okay.

RP at 139.

After the jury left the courtroom, defense counsel moved for a mistrial based on the State’s

questioning Sergeant Apeland about Smith’s appearance and behavior and the sergeant’s response.

The trial court denied the motion for mistrial. Instead, the trial court sustained the second

objection. Defense counsel asked for a curative instruction reminding the jury that it was the sole

judge of credibility.

The trial court gave the jury the following curative instruction:

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