State of Washington v. Stephen Jackson

CourtCourt of Appeals of Washington
DecidedApril 16, 2026
Docket40899-0
StatusUnpublished

This text of State of Washington v. Stephen Jackson (State of Washington v. Stephen Jackson) 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. Stephen Jackson, (Wash. Ct. App. 2026).

Opinion

FILED APRIL 16, 2026 In the Office of the Clerk of Court WA State Court of Appeals, Division III

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON DIVISION THREE

STATE OF WASHINGTON, ) ) No. 40899-0-III Respondent, ) ) v. ) ) STEPHEN JACKSON, ) UNPUBLISHED OPINION ) Appellant. )

COONEY, J. — Stephen Jackson was convicted of five counts of burglary in the

second degree and one count of criminal trespassing in the second degree and sentenced

to 68 months. Mr. Jackson appeals, arguing the court abused its discretion in denying his

request for a Mental Health Sentencing Alternative (MHSA). Mr. Jackson raises

additional arguments in a statement of additional grounds for review. Finding no error,

we affirm.

BACKGROUND

On July 2, 2023, Mr. Jackson was arrested after he failed to scan merchandise

when going through self-checkout at a Walmart store in Clarkston, Washington. Mr. No. 40899-0-III State v. Jackson

Jackson had been permanently trespassed from all Walmart stores four years earlier. The

State charged Mr. Jackson with burglary in the second degree and criminal trespass in the

second degree.

Walmart later informed law enforcement officers that it had video recordings of

Mr. Jackson either under ringing items or not paying for items on May 7, 2023, June 1,

2023, June 12, 2023, and July 1, 2023. With this additional evidence, the State amended

the information to add four additional counts of burglary in the second degree.

Mr. Jackson later filed a motion to dismiss, arguing there were defects in

Walmart’s trespass form and his right to procedural due process was violated because

Walmart is a public place and could not trespass him without a court order. Mr. Jackson

contended that such defects rendered the notice invalid and incapable of being used to

prove the unlawful entry elements of criminal trespass and burglary. Further, Mr.

Jackson asserted he was denied notice and an opportunity to challenge the trespass notice.

The court denied the motion.

At a later pretrial hearing, Mr. Jackson asked the court, “Is it possible that we

can get a [CrR] 3.5 hearing[?]” Rep. of Proc. (RP) at 126. The court instructed Mr.

Jackson to discuss the issue with his attorney. At another pretrial hearing, Mr. Jackson

stated, without providing any context, “A 3.6 hearing.” RP at 142. When the court told

Mr. Jackson the hearing was over, Mr. Jackson asked, “So, you’re denying me a 3.6

hearing?” RP at 142. The court told Mr. Jackson that his attorney had not requested one.

2 No. 40899-0-III State v. Jackson

The case proceeded to a jury trial. At trial, Jamie Lockie, an asset protection

operations coach employed by Walmart, testified that she observed Mr. Jackson fail to

ring up all the items in his shopping cart while checking out on July 2, 2023. Ms. Lockie

later recovered Mr. Jackson’s cart and found that only 24 of the 41 items in the cart had

been paid for.

Officer Patrick Stilson testified that he responded to a suspected theft near

Walmart and contacted Mr. Jackson. Officer Stilson testified that Mr. Jackson had been

permanently trespassed from Walmart stores on April 26, 2019.

Asotin County Sheriff’s Deputy James Gibson, a former Walmart loss prevention

officer, testified that he trespassed Mr. Jackson from all Walmart stores on April 26,

2019. Deputy Gibson identified Mr. Jackson at trial as the individual that he trespassed.

Regarding the trespass notice, Deputy Gibson testified, “The reason for contact with Mr.

Jackson was two pronged,” one being a prior theft that took place on April 24, 2019. RP

at 353. Defense counsel objected, arguing that although the fact that Mr. Jackson had

been trespassed would be admissible, “the fact that [Mr. Jackson] was trespassed [for

theft]” was “highly prejudicial.” RP at 354-55. The court agreed and, on defense

counsel’s motion, instructed the jury “to disregard the previous testimony about the

circumstances surrounding the officer’s contact with the defendant.” RP at 358. Deputy

Gibson testified that he had read the trespass form to Mr. Jackson, explained the “trespass

process” to Mr. Jackson, and gave Mr. Jackson the form to sign as a recipient. RP at

3 No. 40899-0-III State v. Jackson

359. Rather than signing the form, Mr. Jackson wrote “UCC-1-206” and “UCC-1-208”

on the signature line. Clerk’s Papers (CP) at 34.

Walmart Asset Protection Investigator Tim Neal testified that he searched for

more of Mr. Jackson’s transactions and, through video recordings, found Mr. Jackson

under ringing items on May 7, June 1, June 12, and July 1. Mr. Neal testified he was

able to track the transactions through Mr. Jackson’s “EBT card.” RP at 403.

The jury ultimately found Mr. Jackson guilty of five counts of burglary in the

second degree and one count of criminal trespass in the second degree. Mr. Jackson filed

a motion for an MHSA prior to sentencing. In his motion, Mr. Jackson requested the

court order “a report” to aid it in determining whether to grant the MHSA. CP at 102.

Mr. Jackson’s motion also addressed the statutory requirements for an MHSA and his

willingness to participate in an MHSA.

At the January 3, 2025, sentencing hearing, Mr. Jackson’s attorney restated his

request for an MHSA and requested “that Mr. Jackson be ordered to take the evaluation.”

RP at 490. The State objected, arguing “it’s clear from the record, and from the

defendant’s criminal history, and from the history in this case that mental health is not the

issue.” RP at 491. The State claimed that chemical dependency had been an issue for

Mr. Jackson, not mental health issues. The court denied Mr. Jackson’s request for an

MHSA and sentenced Mr. Jackson to 68 months, the high end of the standard range.

Mr. Jackson appeals to this court.

4 No. 40899-0-III State v. Jackson

ANALYSIS

Mr. Jackson argues the sentencing court erred in denying his request for an MHSA

without considering the statutory factors, in considering nonstatutory factors, and in

categorically denying his request. We disagree.

As a preliminary matter, the State unpersuasively argues Mr. Jackson’s claimed

error is unpreserved because he did not seek an MHSA before the trial court. Mr.

Jackson filed a motion and declaration for an MHSA prior to sentencing. Mr. Jackson’s

attorney then brought the motion to the court’s attention at sentencing. After hearing

minimal argument, the court ruled, “I’m denying the request for the [MHSA].” RP at

492. Mr. Jackson renewed his request for an MHSA during his allocution. The court

denied Mr. Jackson’s request for a second time, stating, “I just do not believe that the

[MHSA] would be successful in this matter.” RP at 510. Because Mr. Jackson raised the

issue and the court addressed the merits of his request, this issue is preserved for our

review. See e.g., State v. Burke, 163 Wn.2d 204, 210-11, 181 P.3d 1 (2008).

Turning to the merits, a trial court must generally impose a sentence within the

standard sentencing range. State v. Osman, 157 Wn.2d 474, 480, 139 P.3d 334 (2006);

RCW 9.94A.505(2)(a)(i). “[T]he court may deviate from the standard range in statutorily

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