State Of Washington v. Joseph Jones

CourtCourt of Appeals of Washington
DecidedApril 9, 2013
Docket41638-7
StatusUnpublished

This text of State Of Washington v. Joseph Jones (State Of Washington v. Joseph Jones) 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 Jones, (Wash. Ct. App. 2013).

Opinion

FILED COURT 10F APP ALS DIV! sOp I S 2013 APR -9 AP, 9: 00 STAT o S1. - 4 PY __

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON

DIVISION II

STATE OF WASHINGTON, No. 41638 7 II - -

Respondent, Consolidated with:

V. No. 42345 6 II - -

JOSEPH CORTEZ JONES, UNPUBLISHED OPINION

JOHANSON A. . J. C Joseph Cortez Jones appeals his jury trial convictions and sentences —

for first degree burglary and second degree assault. Jones argues (1)that the State committed prosecutorial misconduct, 2) he received ineffective assistance of counsel, 3) the trial ( that ( that court violated his right to confront witnesses, 4) insufficient evidence supports his burglary ( that

conviction, and (5)improper sentencing. Jones raises additional arguments in his Statement of

Additional Grounds. Finding no trial error, we affirm the convictions. But we remand to the

trial court to issue a corrected judgment and sentence consistent with this opinion because we

hold that the trial court erred by imposing a variable period of community custody. FACTS

In 2010, Donald Barrows, a disabled veteran, and Monique Young were friends. On

April 1,Barrows and Young were getting ready to leave Young's apartment when Jones arrived No. 41638 7 II/ - - No. 42345 6 II - -

outside the door. At the time, Young and Jones had been in a two and- half year committed - one -

relationship. Jones knocked, tried to open the door, banged on it,and then kicked it in. Young

was scared and ran into the bathroom. Barrows testified that Jones pushed, punched, and choked

him. Eventually Jones ended up on top of Barrows, and Barrows thought he was dying because

Jones choked him to unconsciousness.

I. PRETRIAL AND TRIAL

The State charged Jones with first degree burglary and second degree assault. The trial

court granted Jones's request for a trial continuance from September 20 to October 4, 2010, because counsel had only recently received Dr. Yolanda Duralde's report. During pretrial

motions, the trial court denied Jones's motion to exclude Dr. Duralde's expert testimony on

strangulation.

The State also moved to admit Young's 911 call into evidence. The trial court noted that

the female on the recording was crying and hysterical, her ability to communicate with the 911 .

operator was impaired, and the caller appeared to believe there was a threat of harm because her voice was panicked. But,the trial court reserved ruling on its admission until after jury selection when it noted that it would "preliminarily rule that it' admissible." s Verbatim Report of

Proceedings (VRP)Oct. 11, 2010) at 24. The next day, the State and Jones's counsel stipulated ( that a copy of the 911 call from Young was admissible as a business record under ER 803( )( 6),a RCW 5.5. and RCW 5.5. 010 4 020. 4 It was. later played at trial, over defense counsel's

authenticity, and confrontation violation objection, during testimony from the responding officer,

2 No. 41638 7 II/ - - No. 42345 6 II - -

and again during the State's closing argument. Young did not respond to the State's subpoena

that she appear in court and testify.

Barrows testified for the State. The State introduced police photographs of Barrows's

injuries, damage to Young's apartment door, and a broken mirror. Next, Dr. Duralde testified about her training and expertise.on the effects of strangulation on the human body. Although Dr.

Duralde did not personally examine Barrows, she reviewed the police report and photos, and,

opined that Barrows's neck marks were consistent with strangulation.

Next, Sergeant Robert Carpenter testified that he responded to a 911 call to Young's

apartment. The State moved to play the 911 recording for the jury. Jones stated, " ust the J

previously'stated objections,"and the court admitted the 911 recording over Jones's objections. VRP (Oct. 12, 2010) at 109. Sergeant Carpenter testified about Barrows's physical condition

and the condition of Young's apartment.

On cross -examination, Jones asked Sergeant Carpenter about how the fight started:

Q: So you don't know how the fight got started? A: I know frombased on the evidence and the scene and the story,that I was — told

Q: I understand that. But in terms of—still don't know for certain who you started the fight? A. Well, no, I do. The person who forced that door open probably started the fight. I think if I was in my residence and somebody forced their way in, well, they would probably have a stiffer penalty.

VRP (Oct. 12, 2010) at 116 17. Jones did not object to Sergeant Carpenter's testimony either on - direct or cross -examination.

3 No. 41638 7 II/ - - No. 42345 6 II - -

Jones testified in his defense. According to Jones, although they had argued a few days

before this incident, he and Young had keys to each other's homes and they came and went

freely. Jones testified that on April 1, Jones knocked at Young's door and, not hearing a

response, he put his key in the lock. He heard noises coming from inside the apartment. When Jones tried to open the door, somebody pushed it shut. Jones did not know who did so, but he knew it had to be a man because of the strength exerted. Jones responded by pushing back.

When he got inside the door he was immediately hit twice in the face.

But on cross -examination, Jones admitted to forcing his way into Young's apartment and

damaging the front door. Jones said the marks on Barrows's neck came from him trying to hold Barrows off with one hand and that he never had two hands on Barrows's neck. Jones testified

that Barrows asked him to stop, but he admitted that he hit Barrows two or three more times in

the face before leaving. As he left,he walked by Young outside on the phone with police.

The State argued in closing that when Jones showed up at Young's apartment, he became

angry that another man was there, kicked down the door, attacked and beat up Barrows until he

had Barrows pinned down in the bedroom closet, and strangled Barrows until he lost

consciousness. The State argued that Jones had to "come up with an explanation"for the marks

on Barrows's neck as opposed to Barrows who candidly told his story and had no motivation to lie or embellish or exaggerate what happened that day. VRP (Oct. 13, 2010) at 161 The State

continued, Of the two, Mr. Barrows is the one [who] has credibility[;] Jones has none, " " Mr.

and

VRP ( ct. 13, 2010) at 181. O

4 No. 41638 7 II/ - - No. 42345 6 II - -

Obviously, Mr. Barrows told you that wasn't the case. The door came flying open, MoniqueEl Young took off for the bathroom and Mr. Jones came in and started beating the crap out of him. That is the most logical explanation. That is the most reasonable explanation and for the simple reason, it' the truth. s

VRP ( ct. 13, 2010)at 183 84. O -

In contrast, Jones's counsel argued that Jones lacked intent to commit any crime, that he

had permission to be in Young's apartment, and that he acted in self - defense. The jury returned guilty verdicts for first degree burglary and second degree intentional assault by reckless infliction of substantial bodily harm (as opposed to intentional assault by strangulation). II.

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