State Of Washington v. Sylvester James Mahone, Jr.

• Court: Court of Appeals of Washington
• Decided: March 1, 2016
• Docket: 46913-8
• Status: Unpublished

Opinion

Filed Washington State Court of Appeals Division Two

March 1, 2016

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON

DIVISION II STATE OF WASHINGTON, No. 46913-8-II

Respondent,

v.

SYLVESTER JAMES MAHONE, Jr. UNPUBLISHED OPINION

Appellant.

MAXA, J. ― Sylvester Mahone appeals the denial of his motion to credit time he spent

erroneously at liberty to his postrelease supervision term. However, because Mahone has

completed his postrelease supervision term, we dismiss his appeal as moot.

FACTS

In 1995, Mahone pleaded guilty to second degree murder and was sentenced to 178

months of confinement to be followed by two years of community placement. In December

2009, Mahone began serving the postrelease supervision portion of his community placement

sentence. However, he violated the terms of his supervision several times, resulting in 248 days

of sanction time. This sanction time tolled his postrelease supervision term.

On April 3, 2013, Mahone petitioned the superior court to credit his sanction time to his

postrelease supervision term based on the language of RCW 9.94A.171(3)(a), which states that

confinement pursuant to a sanction for violation of sentence conditions does not toll a

community custody term. No. 46913-8-II

On April 8, the superior court agreed with Mahone, finding that RCW 9.94A.171(3)(a)

applied to his postrelease supervision and that his sanction time in confinement should be

credited to his community placement term. As a result, the superior court issued an order

terminating Mahone’s community placement term.

However, the Department of Corrections (DOC) petitioned this court to vacate the

superior court’s April 8 order, arguing that (1) under former RCW 9.94A.170(4) (1993) DOC

and not the superior court had authority to determine tolling, (2) the superior court lacked

jurisdiction to enter the order because Mahone failed to serve his motion on DOC, and (3) the

plain language of RCW 9.94A.171(3)(a) does not apply to community placement.

On March 12, 2014, we agreed with DOC and vacated the superior court’s April 8, 2013

termination order. On March 18, 2014, after spending approximately 11 months erroneously at

liberty, Mahone reported to the DOC field office for check in and began serving the remaining

postrelease supervision term.

On September 23, Mahone filed a motion to credit his erroneous time at liberty against

his postrelease supervision term. On October 17, the superior court denied Mahone’s motion.

Mahone filed a motion for reconsideration, which the superior court denied.

Mahone appealed the denial of his motion to credit time and his motion for

reconsideration. However, on May 1, 2015, Mahone completed his postrelease supervision term.

ANALYSIS

Mahone concedes that because he has completed his sentence, his appeal is rendered

technically moot. However, he argues that we nevertheless should consider his appeal because it

presents an issue of continuing and substantial public interest. We disagree.

2 No. 46913-8-II

1. No Effective Relief Available

A case is moot if the court can no longer provide effective relief. State v. Hunley, 175

Wn.2d 901, 907, 287 P.3d 584 (2012). As a general rule, we do not review moot cases. In re

Det. of H.N., 188 Wn. App. 744, 749, 355 P.3d 294 (2015).

Mahone sought to complete his remaining postrelease supervision term by way of his

motion to credit his time at liberty. However, Mahone already has completed his postrelease

supervision and has been released from community placement. Therefore, we cannot grant

effective relief, which means that Mahone’s appeal is technically moot. See In re Pers. Restraint

of Stevens, ___ Wn. App. ___, 361 P.3d 252, 255-56 (2015) (finding case technically moot

where issue was whether appellant was entitled to early release credit, but appellant had already

completed his sentence and been released).

2. No Continuing and Substantial Public Interest

We may review technically moot cases that present issues of continuing and substantial

public interest. H.N., 188 Wn. App. at 749. However, a review of the factors and the facts of the

case indicate that this case does not contain an issue of continuing and substantial public interest.

In determining whether a moot case presents an issue of continuing and substantial public

interest, we consider (1) whether the issue is public or private in nature, (2) whether an

authoritative determination is desirable to provide future guidance to public officers, and

(3) whether the issue is likely to recur. Id. We may also consider the quality of the advocacy

and the likelihood that the issue will escape review because the facts of controversy are

necessarily short-lived. Id. at 749-50.

3 No. 46913-8-II

Here, whether to credit or not credit Mahone’s time at liberty to his postrelease

supervision sentence is a private issue that only affects Mahone. And because this case involves

the application of sentencing provisions from 1995, which no longer are in effect, there is little

need for this court to provide guidance to officials. Finally, the issue here is unlikely to recur

because Mahone’s erroneous release was the result of an error by the superior court, which DOC

acted to correct through petition to this court. As a result of the clarification already provided by

this court, the superior court is unlikely to commit the same error again. Therefore, this case is

unique and is not of continuing and substantial public interest. Accordingly, we decline to apply

the continuing and substantial public interest exception.

We dismiss Mahone’s appeal as moot.

A majority of the panel having determined that this opinion will not be printed in the

Washington Appellate Reports, but will be filed for public record in accordance with RCW 2.06.040,

it is so ordered.

MAXA, J.

We concur:

MELNICK, J.

SUTTON, J.