FILED COURT OF APPEALS I3MS I ON111I 2013 A R 23 PM 12: 03 IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHIM, 4AS , T ON
DIVISION II . 8
STATE OF WASHINGTON, No. 42057 1 II - -
Respondent, PART PUBLISHED OPINION V.
SANTONIO BONDS,
Appellant:
BRIDGEWATER, J. . T. P Santonio Bonds appeals from his conviction for felony
violation of a no- contact order. We hold that law enforcement officers performed a
lawful warrantless traffic stop of a car in which Bonds was a passenger, based on their
reasonable suspicion that the car's registered owner had committed the offense of failure
to transfer title and their reasonable suspicion that Bonds was the car's passenger and that
he had an active arrest warrant. Thus, the traffic stop was not pretextual. We further hold
that Bonds failed to preserve for review the argument that his pockets were unlawfully
searched contemporaneously and incident to his arrest, that sufficient evidence supports
his conviction and that Bonds fails to demonstrate ineffective assistance of counsel.
Therefore, we affirm his conviction.
FACTS
After Bonds's arrest by law enforcement officers after a traffic stop, the State charged
him with a felony violation of a no- contact order. Before trial,Bonds moved to suppress
1 Judge C. C. Bridgewater is serving as a judge pro tempore of the Court of Appeals, Division II, pursuant to CAR 21( ). c No. 42057 1 II - -
evidence of his identification obtained by the officers after the traffic stop, arguing that they had
no reasonable basis for suspecting that a failure to transfer title offense had occurred or that
Bonds was the car's passenger, and they stopped the car for pretextual reasons.
At the suppression hearing,Tacoma Police Department Officer Timothy Caber testified
that on July 31, 2009, he was on patrol with Officer Randy Frisbie. A random license plate
records check Caber ran on a car returned results with a " ehicle v sold tag "; such a tag indicated
that title to the vehicle had been sold and the new owner had failed to title the car in his own
name within 45 days, a misdemeanor offense. Report of Proceedings (RP)at 16 17. -
At the same time Caber ran the records check, Frisbie " elieved"he recognized the car's b
passenger as Bonds. RP at 18. Both officers worked on a daily basis with a Department of
Corrections (DOC)officer who sometimes gave them a warrant list;based on this, both Caber
and Frisbie believed Bonds had an active warrant for his arrest. Although Frisbie " asn't a w
hundred percent certain"that Bonds was the vehicle's passenger, he " elieved it enough that [he] b
would have stopped the car." at 29. RP
Based on the " ehicle sold"records check result and their belief that Bonds was the - v
passenger and had a warrant for his arrest, the officers stopped the car. RP at 25 26. Caber -
approached the passenger's side of the car•, when the passenger looked up, Caber recognized him
as Bonds from a photograph Caber had previously seen. Caber asked Bonds to produce a form
of identification " o t basically just his] suspicions that [Bonds] was the ... confirm [ passenger."
IIS . MI
After Bonds said he had no identification with him, Caber'asked him to step out of the
car; when Bonds did so, Caber placed him in " rist restraints"and arrested him because he w
11 No. 42057 1 II - -
believed Bonds was lying about not possessing any identification. RP at 29, 77. 176- After
searching Bonds, Caber discovered identification confirming his identity "[ n one of his i]
pockets."RP at 21.
While Caber contacted Bonds, Frisbie contacted the car's driver; at some point,the
officers identified her as Surina Crumble. After Caber detained Bonds, Frisbie spoke with
Records"on his radio and learned that the car's new owner had properly transferred its title. RP
at 21. Caber then checked Bonds's records, confirmed that he had an active DOC arrest warrant,
and discovered that a no- contact order prohibited Bonds from having contact with Crumble. The
officers subsequently transferred Bonds to jail.
The trial court denied Bonds's motion to suppress evidence. It entered the following
relevant findings of fact:
I.
That on July 31, 2009, Tacoma Police [O] fficers Frisbie and Caber were working in there [sic] official capacity. Officer Frisbie was driving and Officer Caber was in the passenger seat operating a laptop computer. II. That on July 31, 2009, in the early afternoon a vehicle passed by Officers Frisbie and Caber. Officer Caber ran the license plate and learned that the vehicle had been sold over a year ago and the title had not been transferred within 45 days as required. At the same time, Officer Frisbie observed the defendant in the passenger seat of the car. III.
That Officer Frisbie was not 100 percent sure it was the defendant but reasonably believed it was the defendant in the vehicle. Officer Frisbie and Caber knew the defendant from previous contacts and knew he had a felony DOC warrant at the time. IV. That Officers Frisbie and Caber turned there [ sic] vehicle around and contacted the vehicle for the failure to transfer violation and because the defendant had a warrant for his arrest.
3 No. 42057 1 II - -
V. That the vehicle stopped and Officer Frisbie contacted the driver and Officer Caber contacted the defendant. Officer Caber recognized the defendant on site [sic]because of the prior contacts and knew he was Santorio Bonds. VI. That Officer Caber asked the defendant for identification. The defendant said he did not have identification. At the time of this question and answer, the defendant was still seated in the vehicle and was not handcuffed. VII. That after the conversation about identification, Officer Caber detained the defendant in handcuffs. Officer Caber then confirmed that the defendant had a DOC warrant for his arrest[.] Officer Caber would also learn from a records check that the defendant was the respondent of a valid, served no contact order. The order prohibited contact with Surina Crumble. VIII. That at the .same time Officer Caber was contacting the defendant[,] Officer Frisbie contacted the driver and identified her as Surina Crumble. IX. That a record check revealed that Surina Crumble's license to drive was suspended in the [third] degree. X. That Officer Caber would later contact Surina Crumble and recognized her from prior contacts with her. Officer Caber has had subsequent contacts with Surina Crumble and it was the same person as the driver. XI. That Surina Crumble was the protected party of the no contact order with the defendant. XII. That Officer Caber would later confirm that the failure to transfer title issue was a computer error from DOC and the vehicle was properly titled. XIII. That Officer Caber did not cite Surina Crumble with driving with a suspended license because she was the victim of a domestic violence no contact order. XIV. That Officer Caber identified Santorio Bonds as the defendant. XV. That the Court found the testimony of Caber credible.
Clerk's Papers (CP)at 132 35. The trial court entered the following relevant conclusions of law: - IV.
The Court finds that the [o] had a reasonable, articulable basis to fficers stop the vehicle. The officers had a reasonable belief the defendant was in the
rd No. 42057 1 II - -
vehicle and he had a warrant for his arrest. The officers also had a reasonable belief that the title to the vehicle had not been transferred and that was a crime. Either of these reasons provided a basis for the officers to stop the vehicle. V. The Court finds that the stop in this case was not a pretextual stop. The vehicle was stopped to deal with the title issue and the defendant's warrant. The officers had no other reason for stopping the car. [State v. Ladson[,138 Wn. d ] 2 343, 979 P. d 833 (1999)] 2 does not apply to the case. The stop was lawful.
CP at 136 37. -
At trial,Frisbie testified about the traffic stop. According to Frisbie,when he contacted
the car's driver and informed her of the failure to transfer title issue, she produced a Washington
State identification card belonging to Crumble; Frisbie confirmed that the car's driver was the
same person pictured on the identification card. The driver also said that the car belonged to her
father; a check of the car's registration showed that it was registered to a person named Howard
Crumble. Finally, Frisbie stated he had contact with Surina Crumble twice after Bonds's arrest,
and she was the same person driving the vehicle on the day of the stop.
According to Caber, after the records check revealed the no- contact order, he contacted
the car's driver. He was familiar with Crumble before the stop and, when he saw the driver,
knew that she was Crumble.
The State also showed Crumble's driver's license to Caber and Frisbie during trial.
Caber testified that the person in the license's photograph was Crumble. Frisbie testified that the
license's photograph matched the photograph on the identification card produced by the car's
driver during the traffic stop and that the same person depicted in both photographs had been
driving the car.
R No.42057 1 II - -
Finally, the trial court admitted the no- contact order prohibiting Bonds from having
contact with Crumble. The order was effective for five years from April 14, 2006, and Bonds
had signed to indicate he had received copies of it.
Bonds stipulated that he had two prior convictions for violation of no- contact orders. He
also testified that he knew about the no- contact order and had signed it but that Crumble was not
the car's driver. Instead, before the traffic stop, he had been at an apartment with Tanya Tucker
and Cozetta Booth. After Crumble called and asked if someone could pick up her daughter,
Tucker allowed Booth and Bonds to borrow a car that Bonds believed belonged to Tucker.
Booth drove. When shown Crumble's license at trial,Bonds admitted that the person in its
photograph was Crumble.
The jury convicted Bonds as charged.
ANALYSIS
I. SUPPRESSION MOTION
Bonds argues that the trial court erred in denying his motion to suppress evidence
because the evidence produced at the suppression hearing did not support its findings, Caber and
Frisbie had no basis justifying the warrantless traffic stop, and the officers unlawfully stopped
the car for pretextual reasons. Also, for the first time on appeal, Bonds contends that Caber
unlawfully searched his pocket incident to his arrest. We disagree.
A. Findings of Fact
When reviewing a trial court's denial of a suppression motion,we review its findings of
fact for whether substantial evidence supports them and whether its findings support its
conclusions of law. State v. Garvin, 166 Wn. d 242, 249, 207 P. d 1266 (2009).Substantial 2 3 "
D No. 42057 1 II - -
evidence exists where there is a sufficient quantity of evidence in the record to persuade a fair -
minded,rational person of the truth of the finding."State v. Hill, 123 Wn. d 641, 644, 870 P. d 2 2
313 (1994). Unchallenged findings of fact are verities on appeal. Hill, 123 Wn. d at 644. 2
Bonds assigns error to the trial court's findings 2, 3,4,and 5. Thus, all other findings are
verities on appeal. Hill, 123 Wn. d at 644. 2
Bonds argues that substantial evidence does not support finding 2's statement that "[ alt
the same time [that Caber discovered the failure to title issue with Crumble's car], Officer Frisbie
observed the defendant in the passenger seat of the car"because, at that time, Frisbie only
believed Bonds was the passenger. CP at 132; Br. of Appellant at 15 16. But Bonds's argument -
consists of pure semantics. Finding 2 did not state that Frisbie knew at that time that Bonds was
the car's passenger; instead, finding 3 addressed Frisbie's level of certainty about the passenger's
identity before the stop. Thus, finding 2 merely stated that the passenger Frisbie saw was Bonds,
a fact supported by Caber's undisputed suppression hearing testimony. Substantial evidence
supports finding 2.
Bonds next argues that substantial evidence does not support finding 3's statement that
Officer Frisbie and Caber knew the defendant from previous contacts and knew he had a
felony DOC warrant at the time. "' Br. of Appellant at 16 17 ( uoting CP at 16 17). also - q - He
contests finding 5' statement that "` s Officer Caber recognized the defendant on site [sic]because
of the prior contacts and knew he was Santorio Bonds. "' Br. of Appellant at 18 (quoting CP at
133).But substantial evidence supports that the officers knew Bonds from prior contacts. Both
findings 3 and 5 use the phrases " revious"or " rior"contacts."Neither finding specifies that p p "
these past contacts were with Bonds. Both officers knew of Bonds through the DOC officer with
7 No. 42057 1 II - -
whom they worked on a daily basis, and Caber also knew his appearance through a photograph
Caber had previously seen, presumably through the warrant list the DOC officer provided. Thus,
the findings' use of contacts"can be read to encompass either the officers' work with the DOC "
officer, the photograph Caber viewed, or both based on the testimony at the suppression hearing.
Thus, substantial evidence would support that the officers knew Bonds through past " ontacts" c
within that meaning.
Bonds further argues that substantial evidence does not support finding 4's statement that contacted the vehicle ... the officers "` because the defendant had a warrant for his arrest."' Br.
of Appellant at 17 (quoting CP at 133).But Caber's testimony established that they believed
Bonds was the car's passenger and they knew he had a warrant for his arrest. Substantial
evidence supports finding 4.
B. Conclusions of Law
Bonds challenges the trial court's conclusions of law 4 and 5 that the officers had a
reasonable, articulable basis for stopping the car and that the stop was not pretextual. We
disagree. _
We review the trial court's conclusions of law de novo. Garvin, 166 Wn. d at 249. Both 2
the Fourth Amendment to the federal constitution and article I,section 7 of our state constitution
prohibit warrantless searches unless one of the narrow exceptions to the warrant requirement
applies. Garvin, 166 Wn. d at 249 50. Article I,section 7 provides more extensive privacy 2 -
protections than the Fourth Amendment and creates "` almost absolute bar to warrantless an
arrests, searches, and seizures. "' State v. Valdez, 167 Wn. d 761, 772, 224 P. d 751 (2009) 2 3 S
N. No. 42057 1 II - -
quoting State v. Ringer, 100 Wn. d 686, 690, 674 P. d 1240 (1983), 2 2 overruled in part by State
v. Stroud, 106 Wn. d 144, 150 51,710 P. d 436 (1986)). 2 - 2
A traffic stop is a "seizure"under constitutional analysis. State v. Ladson, 138 Wn. d 2
343, 350, 979 P. d 833 (1999).But warrantless seizures are constitutional if they are reasonable 2
under the Fourth Amendment and if they are undertaken with " uthority of law"under article I, a
section 7 of the state constitution. See State v. Williams, 171 Wn. d 474, 484 85,251 P. d 877 2 - 3
2011).Thus, both constitutions permit a warrantless investigative detentionto which traffic —
stops are analogous— whenever a law enforcement officer has a reasonable suspicion, based on
specific and articulable facts and rational inferences from those facts, that the stopped person has
been or is about to be involved in a crime. State v. Snapp, 174 Wn. d 177, 197 98,275 P. d 289 2 - 3
2012)applying state constitution); ( State v. Acrey, 148 Wn. d 738, 747, 64 P. d 594 (2003) 2 3
applying federal constitution); Ladson, 138 Wn. d at 350 (traffic stops analogous to 2
investigative detentions). In evaluating the reasonableness of an investigative detention, we
consider " he totality of the circumstances, including the officer's training and experience, the t
location of the stop, and the conduct of the person detained."Acrey, 148 Wn. d at 747 (footnote 2
omitted).The State bears the burden of demonstrating that a warrantless search or seizure falls
within an exception to the warrant requirement. State v. Hendrickson, 129 Wn. d 61, 70, 917 2
P. d 563 (1996). 2
i. Failure to Transfer Title
Bonds argues that,because the officers could not arrest Crumble for failure to transfer the
car's title,a completed misdemeanor offense, they similarly could not stop her car for the same
offense. Because Bonds relies on outdated case law,we disagree.
G No. 42057 1 II - -
The authority relied on by Bonds, State v. Green, 150 Wn. d 740, 743 44,82 P. d 239 2 - 3
2004), inapplicable. On June 12, 2008, amendments to the failure to transfer title statute went is
into effect. LAWS of 2008, ch. 316, § 1. The amended statute provided:
Failure or neglect to make application to transfer the certificate of ownership and license registration within forty five days after the date of delivery - of the vehicle is a misdemeanor and a continuing offense for each day during which the purchaser or transferee does not make application to transfer the certificate of ownership and license registration. Despite the continuing nature of this offense, it shall be considered a single offense, regardless of the number of days that have elapsedfollowing the forty five day time period. -
Former RCW 46. 2. 101( 6 2008)emphasis added). 1 ) ( (
Thus, unlike in the earlier version of the statute relied on by the Green court, former
RCW 46. 2. 101( 6 contained language expressly stating that.failure to transfer title is a 1 )
continuing offense. And, because it was the statute in effect during the 2009 traffic stop in this
case, it applies to Bonds's case. Thus, because failure to transfer title was a continuing offense
under that statute, it was a misdemeanor occurring in the officers' presence.
Accordingly, when Caber's license plate check of the car returned a "vehicle sold tag," he
had specific and articulable facts that the registered owner had failed to transfer the car's title
and, thus, a misdemeanor offense was being committed in Caber's presence. Therefore, Caber
had lawful authority to stop the car and investigate whether the car's driver was also its
registered owner. See State v. Phillips, 126 Wn. App. 584, 588, 109 P. d 470 (2005)law 3 (
2 In 2010, the legislature recodified the statute governing transfers of vehicle titles as RCW 46. 2. LAWS 650. 1 of 2010, ch. 161, § 1211. RCW 46. 2. 650( 7 currently provides: " 1 ) The misdemeanor is a single continuing offense for each day that passes regardless of the number of days that have elapsed following the forty five day time period." - 10 No. 42057 1 II - -
enforcement officers with notice that a person's driver's license is suspended may,stop any
vehicle registered to that person and investigate whether the driver is the vehicle's registered
owner).Caber's warrantless traffic stop of the car was justified because failure to transfer title is
a continuing misdemeanor offense occurring in the officer's presence, and Bonds's claim fails.
ii. Bonds's Suspected Arrest Warrant
Bonds further contends that Frisbie's belief that Bonds was the car's passenger and had a
warrant for his arrest did not justify the traffic stop because Frisbie's beliefs did not amount to
the necessary reasonable suspicion. We disagree.
In the investigative detention context, a reasonable suspicion requires only sufficient
probability, not absolute certainty. New Jersey v. T. . U. .325, 346, 105 S. Ct. 733, 83 O., S L 469
L.Ed. 2d 720 (1985).The trial court's findings demonstrate that, although Frisbie was not
absolutely certain that Bonds was the car's passenger, he believed it enough to perform a traffic
stop. And Frisbie's belief in Bonds's identity and both officers' belief that he had an outstanding
warrant were based on information learned from the DOC officer with whom they daily worked.
Thus,their beliefs were based on specific and articulable facts, not a mere hunch. Accordingly,
the trial court's findings support its conclusion that reasonable suspicion that Bonds was the
passenger and had an outstanding arrest warrant justified the investigative detention. Bonds's
claim fails.
3 Bonds also cites United States v. Hensley, 469 U. . 221, 229, 105 S. Ct. 675, 83 L.Ed. 2d 604 S 1985), the proposition that an investigative detention " o investigate a past crime, as for t distinguished from present or suspected future criminal activity, can only be made based on a reasonable suspicion, grounded in specific and articulable facts, that a person they encounter is wanted in connection with a completed felony." of Appellant at 14 (boldface omitted) Br. emphasis added).Bonds's citation is not well taken. The Hensley court did hold that the Fourth Amendment to the federal constitution permits investigative detentions to investigate a person's 11 No. 42057 1 II - -
iii. Pretextual Stop
Bonds argues that the traffic stop was pretextual because its true purpose was to confirm
his identity. But our Supreme Court has observed that the " ssence"of every pretextual stop "is e
that the police are pulling over a citizen, not to enforce the traffic code, but to conduct a criminal
investigation unrelated to the driving." Ladson, 138 Wn. d at 349. " he question [is]whether 2 T
the fact that someone has committed a traffic offense ... justifies a warrantless seizure which
would not otherwise be permitted absent that ` authority of law' represented by a warrant."
Ladson, 138 Wn. d at 352 (footnotes omitted).Here, the officers expressly stated that they had 2
two, concurrent reasons for stopping the car: investigating the failure to transfer title offense and
whether the car's passenger had an outstanding arrest warrant. As discussed above, both reasons
were based on specific and articulable facts, were reasonable suspicions, and either justified the
stop. Pretextual stop analysis is inapplicable here, and Bonds's claim fails.
connection with a completed felony. Hensley, 469 U. .at 229. But the Hensley court also S expressly stated, We " need not and do not decide ... whether [investigative detentions] to investigate all past crimes, however serious, are permitted."Hensley, 469 U. .at 229. S Bonds provides no further argument or citation to authority supporting his assertion that law enforcement officers may not perform an investigative detention to investigate a person's involvement with a completed, non -felony crime. We do not consider claims unsupported by argument or citation to legal authority. RAP 10. a)(Cowiche Canyon Conservancy v. 6); 3( Bosley, 118 1992).Moreover, p] ... Wn. d 801, 809, 828 P. d 549 ( 2 2 "[ arties raising constitutional issues must present considered arguments to this court." State v. Johnson, 119 Wn.2d 167, 171, 829 P. d 1082 (1992).N] castings into the constitutional sea are not 2 "'[ aked sufficient to command judicial consideration and discussion. "' Johnson, 119 Wn. d at 171 2 quoting In re Request ofRosier, 105 Wn. d 606, 616, 717 P. d 1353 (1986)). 2 2 Because Bonds fails to provide citation to relevant authority and sufficient argument on this issue, he fails to demonstrate that the alleged error is truly of constitutional magnitude. Thus,we will not consider it for the first time on appeal. RAP 2. ( a)( 3). 5 12 No. 42057 1 II - -
iv. Search Incident to Arrest
Finally,Bonds argues for the first time on appeal that Caber unlawfully searched him
incident to arrest by searching his pocket. RAP 2. ( a) 5 generally does not allow parties to raise
claims for the first time on appeal. State v. Robinson, 171 Wn. d 292, 304, 253 P. d 84 (2011); 2 3
see also State v. Jones, 163 Wn. App. 354, 365, 266 P. d 886 (2011)We do not generalize 3 (
specific objections such that the existence of a pretrial motion to suppress evidence seized
preserves any claim of error with respect to that evidence), review denied, 173 Wn. d 1009 2
2012).But RAP 2. ( a)(allows appellants to raise claims for the first time on appeal if such 3) 5
claims constitute manifest error affecting a constitutional right.
To determine whether an error is truly of constitutional dimension, appellate courts first
look to the asserted claim and assess whether, if the claim is correct, it implicates a constitutional
interest as compared to another form of trial error. State v. O' ara, 167 Wn. d 91, 98, 217 P. d H 2 3
756 (2009).. an unlawful warrantless search would have violated the Fourth Amendment's Here,
and article I,section 7's protections against warrantless searches. His alleged error is
constitutional in nature.
Next,Bonds must demonstrate that the alleged error was manifest. To establish manifest
error allowing appellate review, appellants must demonstrate actual prejudice resulting from the
error, i. that the e., error practical and identifiable consequences "' at trial. State v. Gordon, had "`
172 Wn. d 671, 676, 260 P. d 884 (2011)internal quotation marks omitted) quoting O' ara, 2 3 ( ( H
167 Wn. d at 99).An appellant demonstrates actual prejudice when he establishes from an 2
adequate record that the trial court likely would have granted a suppression motion. State v.
Contreras, 92 Wn. App. 307, 313 14,966 P. d 915 (1998). - 2
13 No. 42057 1 II - -
We have specifically addressed the issue of pocket searches of an arrested person's
clothing and found them to be lawful as a search incident to arrest. State v. Jordan, 92 Wn.App.
25, 31, 960 P. d 949 (1998).We based this holding on Chimel v. California, 395 U. .752; 762- 2 S
63, 89 S. Ct. 2034, 23 L.Ed. 2d 685 (1969), stating the underlying justifications for searches of
an arrestee's person:
The Fourth Amendment limits the permissible scope of a warrantless search incident to arrest to the area within the arrestee's immediate control, i.., e places from which the individual might obtain a weapon or destroy incriminating evidence.
Jordan, 92 Wn. App. at 29 (quoting State v. Mitzlaff,- Wn. App. 184, 186, 907 P. d 328 80 2
1995)) ( citing Chimel, 395 U. . at 763), S review denied, 129 Wn. d 1015 (1996).Thus, we held 2
that the scope of a search incident to arrest clearly, included Jordan's clothing and pockets
because they were in his immediate control. Jordan, 92 Wn.App. at 29.
Our holding in Jordan is consistent with past and relatively recent cases decided after
Chimel. In 1973, the United States Supreme Court again addressed searches of an arrestee's
person. United States v. Robinson, 414 U. . 218, 221 23,94 S. Ct. 467, 38 L.Ed. 2d 427 (1. S - 973).
Robinson approved a search by a law enforcement officer who searched the defendant incident to
his arrest by patting him down, reaching into his coat pockets, and opening a cigarette pack
discovered in one of those pockets; the cigarette pack contained heroin. Robinson, 414 U. .at S
221 24. The Robinson court observed that the authority to search an arrestee's person does not -
require a showing of some particular level of probability that weapons or evidence would be
found on the person. Robinson, 414 U. .at 235. S
14 No.42057 1 II - -
More recently,Arizona v. Gant, 556 U. . 332, 340 43, 129 S. Ct. 1710, 173 L.Ed. 2d S -
485 (2009)and its progeny, are inapplicable here because they involved searches of the
passenger compartments of cars, which may or may not be under an arrestee's control at the time
of a search, depending on whether the arrestee is secured and removed from the car
Furthermore, in Valdez, 167 Wn. d at 768 69,our Supreme Court discussed the Fourth 2 -
Amendment and reaffirmed Chimel's validity, observing thatunder the twin Chimel —
justifications of officer safety and the preservation of evidence of the crime prompting arrest " — "
an officer may conduct a search incident to arrest of the arrestee's person and the area within
his or her immediate control."When the Valdez court turned to article I,section 7,it observed
that searches incident to arrest arose from and are permitted for the same justifications Valdez,
167 Wn. d at 773, 777. 2
Unlike searches of vehicles incident to arrest, the arrestee's person, including the clothing
he is wearing at the time of the search, is always under his immediate control, giving rise to a
concern that he may access a weapon or destroy evidence concealed on his person. See United
States v. Chadwick, 433 U. . 1; 14 15,97 S. Ct. 2476, 53 L.Ed. 2d 538 (1977), S - overruled on
other grounds by California v. Acevedo, 500 U. . 565, 111 S. Ct. 1982, 114 L.Ed. 2d 619 S
1991).Handcuffing a defendant does not change this fact. As Division One of this court
recently observed, Cases exist where handcuffed individuals have acted extraordinarily, "
threatening officers and public safety."State v. MacDicken, 171 Wn. App. 169, 175, 286 P. d 3
413 (2012).
Albeit difficult, it is by no means impossible for a handcuffed person to obtain and use a weapon concealed on his person or within lunge reach, and in so doing to cause injury to his intended victim, to a bystander, or even to himself. Tinally, like any mechanical device, handcuffs can and do fail on occasion. "'
15 No. 42057 1 II - -
MacDicken, 171 Wn. App. at 417 n.7 (internal quotation marks omitted)quoting United States 1 (
v. Shakir, 616 F.d 315, 321 (3rd Cir.), denied, _ 3 cent. U. . , S 131 S. Ct. 841, 178 L.Ed. 2d
571 (2010)). Thus, our holding in Jordan that law enforcement officers may perform warrantless
searches of an arrestee's person, including his clothing, is still valid under the federal and state
constitutions.
Here, Caber searched Bonds's pockets incident to his arrest, which was a lawful
warrantless search of Bonds's person. Accord Jordan, 92 Wn. App. at 29. Thus, Bonds fails to
demonstrate manifest error and accordingly this issue is not preserved for our review.
A majority of the panel having determined that only the foregoing portion of this opinion
will be printed in the Washington Appellate Reports and that the remainder shall be filed for public
record in accordance with RCW 2.6.it is so ordered. 040, 0
II. SUFFICIENCY OF THE EVIDENCE
Bonds argues that because the trial court should have suppressed evidence obtained
subsequent to the traffic stop and his search incident to arrest, sufficient evidence does not
support his conviction for felony violation of a no- contact order.
Sufficient evidence supports a conviction if,when viewed in the light most favorable to
the State, any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the charged crime
proved beyond a reasonable doubt. State v. Hosier, 157 Wn. d 1, 8, 133 P. d 936 (2006).On 2 3
appeal, we draw all reasonable inferences from the evidence in the State's favor and interpret
them most strongly against the defendant. Hosier, 157 Wn. d at 8. In the sufficiency context, 2
we consider circumstantial evidence as probative as direct evidence. State v. Goodman, 150
2 3 2004).We may infer Wn. d 774, 781, 83 P. d 410 ( specific criminal intent of the accused from No.42057 1 II - -
conduct that plainly indicates such intent as a matter of logical probability. Goodman, 150
Wn. d at 781. We defer to the fact finder on issues of conflicting testimony, witness credibility, 2
and persuasiveness of the evidence. State v. Thomas, 150 Wn. d 821, 874 75,83 P. d 970, 2 - 3
abrogated in part on other grounds by Crawford v. Washington, 541 U. . 36, 124 S. Ct. 1354, S
158 L.Ed. 2d 177 (2004).
To convict Bonds of felony violation of a no- contact order, the State had to prove: ( on 1)
July 31,a no- contact order applicable to Bonds existed; 2) ( Bonds knew of the order's existence;
3) July 31, Bonds violated a provision of the order; 4) on ( Bonds had twice been previously
convicted of violating provisions of a court order; and (5) s act occurred in Washington Bonds'
state. As discussed above, the trial court did not err in denying Bonds's motion to suppress
evidence. The State admitted a court order applying to Bonds on July 31, 2009, and prohibiting
him from having contact with Crumble. Bonds testified that his signature was on the order and
he knew of its existence. Caber and Frisbie, both familiar with Crumble from contacts with her
before or after the stop, identified her as the car's driver. And Bonds stipulated at trial to two
previous convictions for violating no- contact orders. Sufficient evidence supports his
conviction, and his claim fails.
III. STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL GROUNDS (SAG)
In his SAG, Bonds argues that defense counsel was ineffective for failing to file a witness
list or subpoenas to secure the testimony of Booth, Tucker, and his community corrections
officer, Russell Alfaro, in his defense at trial.
The record provides that, as part of Alfaro's, investigation of Bonds's sentence violations
following the traffic stop and his arrest, Alfaro received sworn and notarized statements from
17 No. 42057 1 II - -
Crumble and Tucker and a statement allegedly from Booth. According to Alfaro's report, the
statements provided that Booth, not Crumble, drove the car on July 31, and Booth falsely
claimed she was Crumble during the traffic stop because she thought Crumble had a valid
driver's license. Defense counsel demonstrated before and during trial that he was aware of
Booth, Tucker, and the contents of their statements to Alfaro. He informed the trial court that,
despite his efforts, he was unable to locate or contact Booth. Although he had located Tucker
and contacted her, he was unable to serve her with a subpoena; every time service was attempted
at her apartment, no one answered the door. Defense counsel continued contacting Tucker until
the last day of trial in attempts to secure her presence as a witness, to no avail. And the trial
court ultimately ruled that Alfaro's anticipated testimony was inadmissible because it was
irrelevant and double hearsay.
We review claims of ineffective assistance of counsel de novo. State v. McFarland, 127
Wn. d 322, 334 35, 899 P. d 1251 (1995).To prevail on an ineffective assistance of counsel 2 - 2
claim, the defendant must show that defense counsel's objectively deficient performance
prejudiced him. McFarland, 127 Wn. d at 334 35. We strongly presume that counsel is 2 -
effective and the defendant must show no legitimate strategic or tactical reason supporting
defense counsel's actions. McFarland, 127 Wn. d at 336. 2
To demonstrate prejudice, the defendant must show that a reasonable probability exists,
absent trial counsel's inadequate performance, the proceeding would have resulted in a different
outcome. McFarland, 127 Wn. d at 335. A failure to demonstrate either deficient performance 2
or prejudice defeats an ineffective assistance claim. See McFarland, 127 Wn. d at 334 35;see 2 -
also Strickland v. Washington, 466 U. .668, 700, 104 S. Ct. 2052, 80 L.Ed. 2d 674 (1984). S
18 No. 42057 1 II - -
First, defense counsel stated that he made unsuccessful efforts to locate and contact
Booth. The limited record before us does not indicate that those efforts were objectively
deficient. Moreover, Bonds fails to demonstrate what Booth would have testified to at trial.
Alfaro never personally spoke with her or directly received a written statement from her. Thus,
he also fails to demonstrate prejudice.
Second, the record reflects defense counsel's repeated attempts to serve Tucker with a
subpoena and,through the last day of trial,his attempts to secure her presence as a witness. The
record does not reflect objectively deficient performance.
Finally,the trial court ruled that Alfaro's anticipated testimony was inadmissible because
it.as irrelevant and hearsay. Bonds did not challenge those rulings below. Accordingly, w
because Alfaro's testimony was inadmissible, he fails to demonstrate prejudice. His claims fail.
We affirm.
Bridgewat_ , JPT We concur:
G iJ ° " l Hunt, J. l-
hanson, A. . J. C