State Of Washington, V. Michael Joseph Brady

Court of Appeals of Washington·Decided December 6, 2022·No. 55675-8·Unpublished

Opinion

Filed Washington State Court of Appeals Division Two

December 6, 2022

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON

DIVISION II

STATE OF WASHINGTON, No. 55675-8-II

Respondent,

v.

MICHAEL JOSEPH BRADY, UNPUBLISHED OPINION

Appellant.

WORSWICK, P.J. ⎯ Several years after he was convicted of multiple crimes, Michael

Joseph Brady filed two motions to remit certain financial legal obligations (LFOs) and a motion

for clarification of his judgment and sentence concerning his community custody. The trial court

issued an order modifying Brady’s judgment and sentence that struck some of the LFOs, but the

court denied his motion for clarification. Brady appeals both orders.

We hold that: (1) the trial court was without authority to modify Brady’s judgment and

sentence in response to a motion to remit, (2) the trial court erred in determining that it did not

have authority to remit appellate costs, (3) the trial court did not err when it failed to reallocate

the funds Brady paid prior to making his motion, and (4) the trial court did not err when it denied

his motion to clarify whether his community custody sentence was imposed under RCW

9.94A.715(1)(a) or (b). Accordingly, we affirm in part, reverse in part, and remand for further

proceedings. No. 55675-8-II

FACTS

In October 2002, a trial court found Michael Brady guilty of 7 counts of first degree child

molestation, 17 counts of first degree rape of a child, and 6 counts of sexual exploitation of a

minor, following a bench trial. Brady was originally sentenced to 636 months of confinement

and 36-48 months of community custody.1 The trial court found Brady indigent for purposes of

appeal. Following a successful personal restraint petition (PRP), the court vacated Brady’s 2002

sentence and remanded the case for resentencing. The trial court again found Brady indigent for

purposes of appeal. Brady was resentenced to 318 months of confinement and 36-48 months of

community custody. The trial court also imposed $1,151.92 in LFOs for restitution, crime victim

assessment, and criminal filing fees.

Following several PRPs and direct appeals the Washington Supreme Court and this court

approved the State’s appellate cost bills. Subsequently, the trial court issued orders imposing

over $8,000 in appellate costs. State v. Brady, No. 52120-2-II at 1 (Wash. Ct. App. Jan. 22,

2020) (unpublished).2

1 Brady’s 2002 judgment and sentence is not included in the record, however, the parties do not dispute the length and conditions of Brady’s original sentence. 2 https://www.courts.wa.gov/opinions/pdf/D2%2052120-2-II%20Unpublished%20Opinion.pdf

2 No. 55675-8-II

In 2018, Brady filed two motions to remit his LFOs under former RCW 10.01.160 and

former RCW 10.73.160 (2015).3 Brady, No. 52120-2-II at 2.4 Under former RCW 10.73.160(4)

(2015), a “[d]efendant who has been sentenced to pay costs and who is not in contumacious

default in the payment may at any time petition the court” for remission. Brady, No. 52120-2-II

at 2. The trial court, relying on amended RCW 10.73.160(4), denied Brady’s motion.5 Brady,

No. 52120-2-II at 1, 4. In 2020, this court held that “[b]ecause the precipitating event—Brady

filing his motion—occurred before . . . the effective date of the amendment, the trial court erred

by applying the statute retroactively to deny Brady’s motion to remit LFOs.” Brady, No.

52120-2-II at 3. This court remanded “to the trial court to conduct a hearing under former RCW

10.73.160.” Brady, No. 52120-2-II at 4.

In 2021, Brady filed a motion to clarify his 2006 judgment and sentence. Specifically,

Brady asked the trial court to clarify whether his community custody was ordered under RCW

9.94A.715(1)(a) or RCW 9.94A.715(1)(b). Brady argued that under RCW 9.94A.715(1)(a), his

community custody would begin after he completes his term of confinement, and under RCW

9.94A.715(1)(b), his community custody would begin when he “is transferred to community

custody in lieu of earned release.” Clerk’s Papers (CP) at 9. Brady argued that his 2006

3 Brady filed two motions to remit. The first motion was filed May 08, 2018, and was based on 10.01.160. The second motion was filed May 29, 2018 and was based on 10.73.160. Brady, No. 52120-2-II at 2. This court’s prior opinion considered Brady’s May 29th motion. Brady, No. 52120-2-II at 2. However, the May 29th motion is not in the record on appeal. The record contains only the May 8th motion and this court’s opinion addressing the May 29th motion. 4 https://www.courts.wa.gov/opinions/pdf/D2%2052120-2-II%20Unpublished%20Opinion.pdf 5 Amended RCW 10.73.160(4) provides that a defendant may petition the court for remission after being released from total confinement.

3 No. 55675-8-II

judgment and sentence was not sufficiently specific in this regard, and that if he was sentenced

under RCW 9.94A.715(1)(a), his sentence would be unconstitutional because it would exceed

the statutory maximum sentence in violation of Blakely v. Washington.6

On remand from this court’s 2020 opinion, the trial court conducted a hearing to

determine whether a manifest hardship existed in consideration of Brady’s motion to remit his

LFOs. The trial court also heard Brady’s motion to clarify his judgment. VRP at 39.

In considering Brady’s motion to remit, the trial court remarked that it was “inclined to

find that [Brady is] unable to pay.” Verbatim Transcript of Proceedings (VRP) at 18. The court

recognized “the amount of time that [Brady] still has to serve” and stated, “[T]hat that in and of

itself can be a basis for [the court] to waive any discretionary fines and fees.” VRP at 18.

Accordingly, the court orally ruled that

[A]ny costs that are remaining would be waived. The crime victim penalty by statute is mandatory, so that would remain. Any restitution on the costs and fees that were previously imposed would be waived; and if there’s any interest calculated on the restitution, if the restitution hasn’t been paid then that restitution interest would not be waived.

VRP at 18. The court further clarified its ruling stating

The court costs are waived. Any remaining court costs are waived. .... Any remaining fees—which I don’t see any other fees—are waived. Any interests related to those court costs and fees is waived. The mandatory—the appellate fees are not waived, [the court] think[s] that those are mandatory. The crime victim penalty assessment remainder is not waivable, I believe that’s mandatory. As far as restitution is concerned, if there’s still restitution owing, any interest on that restitution cannot be waived until there’s confirmation that the restitution has been paid.

6 Blakely v.

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