State Of Washington, V Maua Muasau, Damos Handson, Michael Smith

CourtCourt of Appeals of Washington
DecidedNovember 13, 2013
Docket42509-2
StatusUnpublished

This text of State Of Washington, V Maua Muasau, Damos Handson, Michael Smith (State Of Washington, V Maua Muasau, Damos Handson, Michael Smith) 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 Maua Muasau, Damos Handson, Michael Smith, (Wash. Ct. App. 2013).

Opinion

IL FD I_ S SfribPE . 13 15

WON 13),

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IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTO

DIVISION II

STATE OF WASHINGTON, No. 42509 -2 -II

Respondent

V.

Consolidated with: MAUA SIAMUPENI MUASAU,

STATE OF WASHINGTON, No. 42522 -0 -II

Respondent,

Consolidated with: DAMOS L. HANDSOM,

STATE OF WASHINGTON, No. 42708 -7 -II

MICHAEL ANTONIO SMITH, UNPUBLISHED OPINION

Al

JOHANSON, A.C. J. — A jury found Maua Siamupeni Muasau, Damos L. Handsom, and

Michael Antonio Smith guilty of first degree burglary. It also found Muasau guilty of felony

harassment and fourth degree assault. In this consolidated appeal, we hold that ( 1) the trial court No. 42509- 2- II/No. 42522- 0- 11/ No. 42708 -7 -II

did not violate Smith' s CrR 3. 3 time for trial rights, ( 2) sufficient evidence supports Handsom' s

and Muasau' s first degree burglary convictions and Muasau' s felony harassment and fourth

degree assault convictions, and ( 3) Smith and Muasau' s ineffective assistance of counsel claims

fail. Smith also filed a statement of additional grounds ( SAG), claiming additional CrR 3. 3

violations, contesting witness credibility, and claiming jury instruction errors, jury trial

violations, and ineffective assistance. Because we find no reversible error, we affirm.

FACTS

Bill Edmiston; his girlfriend, Lois Hopkins; and Hopkins' s cousin, Rusty Parrott lived

together in Parrott' s trailer. Hopkins' s son, Cody Davis, also temporarily lived there until Parrott

ordered him to move out. When Davis moved, he left no personal belongings in Parrott' s trailer.

In August 2010, shortly after Davis moved out of Parrott' s trailer, Davis, Handsom,

Muasau, and Smith returned and started banging on the trailer doors. Davis said he wanted to

collect his things, though he had nothing in the home. Edmiston and Parrott refused to allow the

men inside; but the men kicked in the doors to gain entry. Handsom and Smith wore black

masks covering their faces, and Handsom wore a military -style ballistic flak vest; Handsom also

carried an 47 AK - assault rifle while Smith carried a . 380 pistol. The men believed that Davis' s

father had hidden gold bars for Davis in the trailer.

When Parrott attempted to phone 911, Muasau took the phone and smashed it against the

wall. The men then ordered Edmiston and Parrott onto their hands and knees at gunpoint, and

Muasau told the other men to "[ s] moke ` em." 3 Verbatim Report of Proceedings ( VRP) at 225.

Davis, however, intervened and said not to kill his cousin. Then, Muasau and Davis demolished

2 No. 42509- 2- II/No. 42522 -0 -II/ No. 42708 -7 -II

Davis' s former bedroom but found nothing. Before leaving, Muasau hit Parrott in the right

cheek with his fist. Edmiston was also hit twice with something metal that Parrott believed was

the butt of Smith' s pistol.

Minutes after the intruders left Parrott' s trailer, Lakewood police contacted them in their

vehicle. Smith was carrying a set of brass knuckles, and officers found the AK - 7 assault rifle, 4

the . 380 pistol, and ammunition.

The State charged Handsom, Muasau, and Smith with numerous crimes relating to these

events and the State tried them in a consolidated trial.' On September 16, 2010, the trial court

granted Smith' s defense counsel' s continuance motion, noting, " Defense counsel has been on a

planned vacation[,] pre - this is a 3rd strike, several co- defendant case & counsel needs more time

to negotiate/ & prepare / investigate." Clerk' s Papers ( CP) at 267. The trial court also indicated

that it granted the continuance motion upon the parties' agreement pursuant to CrR 3. 3( f)(1).

But Smith' s counsel told the trial court that Smith refused to sign the continuance order.

A jury found Handsom, Smith, and Muasau guilty of first degree burglary with a deadly

weapon enhancement,because at least one of them was armed during the burglary. The jury also 2 found Muasau guilty of felony harassment and fourth degree assault. The trial court then

sentenced each of the defendants, and the trial court found that Smith fell within Washington' s

Davis pleaded guilty.

2 The jury acquitted Smith of fourth degree assault.

9 No. 42509- 2- II/ No. 4. 522 -0 -II/ 2 No. 42708 -7 -II

persistent offender statute and sentenced him to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Handsom, Smith, and Muasau now each raise claims on appeal.

ANALYSIS

I. CRR 3. 3 TIME FOR TRIAL

Smith argues that the trial court violated his CrR 3. time for trial right when it entered

its September 16, 2010 order continuing his trial because Smith had not signed the continuance

order. We disagree because the court granted the continuance in the interest of justice.

A. Standard of Review and Rules of Law

The decision to grant or deny a continuance motion rests with the sound discretion of the

trial court. State v. 011ivier, No. 86633 -3, slip. op. at 5 ( Wash. Oct. 31, 2013). A trial court

abuses its discretion if its decision is based on untenable grounds or is made for untenable

reasons. State v. Andrews, 66 Wn. App. 804, 810, 832 P. 2d 1373 ( 1992), review denied, 120

Wn.2d 1022 ( 1993). It is not a manifest abuse of discretion for a court to grant a continuance to

allow defense counsel more time to prepare for trial, even over defendant' s objection, to ensure

effective representation and a fair trial. See State v. Campbell, 103 Wn.2d 1, 15, 691 P. 2d 929

1984), cent. denied, 471 U. S. 1094 ( 1985).

An in-custody defendant must be tried within 60 days after the " commencement date,"

typically the arraignment date. CrR 3. 3( b)( 1). Periods of time excluded from this 60 -day limit

include those required by the administration of justice so long as the continuance will not

3 RCW 9. 94A.570. 4 CrR 3. 3 time for trial rights may be distinguished from the constitutional speedy trial right.

M No. 42509- 2- II/No. 42522- 0- 11/ No. 42708 -7 -II

prejudice the defendant. CrR 3. 3( e)( 3), ( f)(). 2 Under CrR 3. 3( f)(1), trial courts may grant

continuances "[ u] pon written agreement of the parties, which must be signed by the defendant."

B. Analysis

Here, 38 days into Smith' s 60 -day trial period, Smith' s counsel sought a continuance

because she needed additional time to investigate and to prepare for trial. Smith opposed the

continuance and refused to sign the order continuing trial.

The trial court granted the continuance request because "[ d] efense counsel has been on a

planned vacation[,] pre - this is a 3rd strike, several co- defendant case & counsel needs more time

to negotiate/ & prepare / investigate." CP at 267. The order also indicates that ( 1) the

continuance was based on the parties' agreement but (2) that one party refused to sign and voiced

an objection. This inconsistency appears to be a scrivener' s error or clerical mistake. 5 Had the

trial court intended to enter the order based on the parties' written agreement, it would have

needed Smith' s signature. CrR 3. 3( f)(1). And here, the trial court knew that Smith refused to

sign.

Based on the trial court' s articulated rationale, we conclude that it intended to grant the

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Related

Strickland v. Washington
466 U.S. 668 (Supreme Court, 1984)
State v. Davis
835 P.2d 1039 (Washington Supreme Court, 1992)
State v. Andrews
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State v. Campbell
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