State Of Washington v. Thyjuan T. Taplin

• Court: Court of Appeals of Washington
• Decided: July 28, 2020
• Docket: 52884-3
• Status: Unpublished

Opinion

Filed Washington State Court of Appeals Division Two

July 28, 2020

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON

DIVISION II STATE OF WASHINGTON, No. 52884-3-II

Respondent, UNPUBLISHED OPINION v. (Consolidated)

THYJUAN TOMIKIO TAPLIN,

Appellant.

In re the Matter of the Personal Restraint of: No. 53017-1-II

Petitioner.

SUTTON, A.C.J — Thyjuan Taplin pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of a

controlled substance with intent to deliver, one count of simple possession of a controlled

substance, and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm. As part of the plea agreement, he

stipulated to his criminal history and offender score and waived his right to challenge them. At

sentencing, the court imposed the statutory maximum of 60 months confinement (54 months plus

a six-month sentence enhancement), a 12-month community custody term, discretionary legal

financial obligations (LFOs), and entered a judgment and sentence on February 23, 2018. Taplin

did not appeal the February 23, 2018 judgment and sentence. No. 52884-3-II (Consolidated with 53017-1-II)

On October 15, 2018, the court granted Taplin’s CrR 7.8 motion to strike the 12-month

community custody term and entered a corrected judgment and sentence. Taplin appeals this order.

Taplin filed pro se a Statement of Additional Grounds (SAG) related to the February 23, 2018

judgment and sentence. Taplin also filed another CrR 7.8 motion which motion was transferred

to this court as a personal restraint petition (PRP) and consolidated with this direct appeal.1

On direct appeal, Taplin argues that the sentencing court erred by failing to strike LFOs

when it was revisiting the terms of the judgment and sentence on October 15, 2018. In his SAG,

Taplin raises issues related to his right to a jury trial, ineffective assistance of counsel, prosecutorial

misconduct, and sentencing issues related to the February 23 judgment and sentence. In his pro

se PRP, Taplin argues that the sentencing court erred by not conducting a same criminal conduct

analysis for the four charged offenses under RCW 9.94A.589. He also argues that the State did

not satisfy its burden of proving that Taplin’s prior out-of-state convictions were comparable to

Washington felony offenses and his correct offender score is a 5 because his 1993 robbery in the

second degree conviction washed out.

The February 23, 2018 judgment and sentence was not timely appealed and thus, any issues

in Taplin’s direct appeal or SAG related to that order are not properly before us on appeal and we

decline to consider them further. RAP 5.2(a).

Because Taplin provides no assignment of error related to the October 15, 2018 order and

fails to explain how the sentencing court erred by entering that order, we decline to consider the

issues in his direct appeal and SAG that are related to this October 2018 order. We also decline to

1 Ruling Granting Consolidation, In re Pers. Restraint of Taplin, No. 53017-1-II consolidated with No. 52884-3-II (Feb. 25, 2019).

2 No. 52884-3-II (Consolidated with 53017-1-II)

review Taplin’s offender score because Taplin stipulated that his prior out-of-state felony

convictions were comparable to Washington felony offenses, that his prior robbery conviction did

not wash out, and that his offender score of nine was correct. Thus, we hold that the court did not

err and Taplin’s PRP claims fail.

We affirm the sentencing court’s October 15, 2018 order, reject Taplin’s arguments on

direct appeal and in his SAG, and dismiss his PRP as frivolous.

FACTS

The State charged Taplin with three counts of possession of a controlled substance with

intent to deliver (methamphetamine, clonazepam, and oxycodone) with three firearm

enhancements, one count of possession of Suboxone, two counts of second degree unlawful

possession of a firearm, and one count obstructing a law enforcement officer. Taplin entered into

a plea agreement with the State wherein the State agreed to amend the information, charging two

counts of unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver (counts I and II), one

count of possession of a controlled substance with a firearm enhancement (count III), and one

count of second degree unlawful possession of a firearm (count IV), in exchange for Taplin’s

agreement to plead guilty to those charges.

At sentencing, the State provided certified copies of Taplin’s criminal history, including a

1993 robbery in the second degree conviction that occurred in California. His offender score

included 22 prior convictions. Four of these prior convictions occurred in California.

At a hearing on February 23, 2018, Taplin pleaded guilty to the charged offenses in

exchange for a standard range sentence of 60 months confinement which allowed for his release

after five years. Taplin made an express stipulation that “none of the [listed] criminal history

3 No. 52884-3-II (Consolidated with 53017-1-II)

convictions have ‘washed out’ under RCW 9.94A.360(3)/9.94A.525 unless specifically so

indicated.” Clerk’s Papers (CP) at 22. Taplin also stipulated to an offender score of nine. Defense

counsel told the court that Taplin was making this plea knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily.

After accepting Taplin’s plea, the court sentenced Taplin to 60 total months of confinement, 54

months plus 5 months for enhancements on count III, plus 12 months of community custody. The

court imposed two other conditions:

(I) The offender shall remain within, or outside of, a specified geographical boundary per [his community corrections officer][.]

....

(III) The offender shall participate in crime-related treatment or counseling services[.]

CP at 36.

The sentencing court also imposed the DNA collection fee, the criminal filing fee, and an

interest accrual provision. The court found Taplin to be indigent. The court entered the judgment

and sentence on February 23, 2018. On October 15, 2018, the court granted Taplin’s CrR 7.8

motion, struck the community custody term, and entered an order correcting the judgment and

sentence.

On December 26, 2018, Taplin filed another CrR 7.8 motion challenging his offender

score, including a claim that his 1993 California conviction for second degree robbery was not

comparable to a Washington offense, and thus, it should not have counted toward his offender

score or should have “washed out.” The superior court transferred that motion to this court as a

PRP. Accordingly, Taplin’s direct appeal was consolidated with the PRP.

4 No. 52884-3-II (Consolidated with 53017-1-II)

ANALYSIS

I. DIRECT APPEAL

Taplin argues that when the sentencing court revisited the terms of his judgment and

sentence on October 15, 2018, and entered a corrected judgment and sentence, the court erred by

failing to strike the LFOs. We disagree because when the court entered the October 15 order, the

LFO issue was not before the court.

An order denying a CrR 7.8 motion for relief from judgment is appealable as of right. State

v. Gaut, 111 Wn. App. 875, 881, 46 P.3d 832 (2002); RAP 2.2(a)(10), (13). Appellate review is

limited to the issues raised by that motion and to the trial court’s exercise of discretion in deciding

those issues. Gaut, 111 Wn. App. at 881; See also Bjurstrom v. Campbell, 27 Wn. App. 449, 450-

51, 618 P.2d 533 (1980) (The review of an order denying a CR 60(b) “motion is limited to the

propriety of the denial not the impropriety of the underlying judgment.”). “[A]n unappealed final

judgment cannot be restored to [the] appellate track by means of moving to vacate and appealing

the [decision] of [that] motion.” Gaut, 111 Wn. App. at 881.

The LFO issue was not before the sentencing court when it granted Taplin’s CrR 7.8 motion

and entered the October 15, 2018 order. Taplin fails to assign error or explain how the court erred

by entering this order. Accordingly, we hold that the sentencing court did not err by failing to

strike the LFOs because the LFO issue was not before the court when it entered the October 15

order, and thus, we affirm this order.

5 No. 52884-3-II (Consolidated with 53017-1-II)

II. SAG

In his SAG, Taplin raises a number of issues regarding his right to a jury trial, the assistance

of counsel, the State’s alleged misconduct, and issues regarding sentencing related to the February

23, 2018 judgment and sentence.

As discussed above, Taplin did not appeal the February 23 judgment and sentence, and his

appeal of the October 15, 2018 order does not revive the ability to argue error in the underlying

judgment and sentence. Accordingly, we reject Taplin’s SAG claims because he failed to timely

appeal the order related to those claims, and the SAG claims are not properly before us on this

appeal.

III. PRP

In his pro se PRP, Taplin argues that the court abused its discretion by failing to conduct a

same criminal conduct analysis for the four charged offenses Taplin pleaded guilty to for

sentencing purposes under RCW 9.94A.589. He also argues that the State did not satisfy its burden

of proving that Taplin’s four prior out-of-state convictions were comparable to Washington

offenses and his correct offender score should have been five because his 1993 robbery in the

second degree conviction should not have counted in this offender score or should have washed

out. Taplin asks us to vacate his judgment and sentence and remand for resentencing based on an

offender score of a five. None of these claims have merit, and thus, we deny his PRP.

A. PRP PRINCIPLES

Issues raised for the first time in a PRP must meet a heightened showing before a court will

grant relief. In re Pers. Restraint of Yates, 177 Wn.2d 1, 17, 296 P.3d 872 (2013). For alleged

constitutional errors, a petitioner must show actual prejudice. Yates, 177 Wn.2d at 17. For alleged

6 No. 52884-3-II (Consolidated with 53017-1-II)

nonconstitutional errors, the petitioner “‘must show a fundamental defect resulting in a complete

miscarriage of justice.’” Yates, 177 Wn.2d at 17 (quoting In re Pers. Restraint of Elmore, 162

Wn.2d 236, 251, 172 P.3d 335 (2007)). The petitioner must make these showings by a

preponderance of the evidence. Yates, 177 Wn.2d at 17.

When reviewing a PRP, a court may: “(1) dismiss the petition, (2) transfer the petition to a

superior court for a full determination on the merits or a reference hearing, or (3) grant the

petition.” Yates, 177 Wn.2d at 17. A court must dismiss a petition that fails to make a prima facie

showing of actual prejudice for alleged constitutional errors or a fundamental defect resulting in a

complete miscarriage of justice for alleged nonconstitutional errors. Yates, 177 Wn.2d at 17.

B. SAME CRIMINAL CONDUCT

Taplin argues that all four charged offenses constitute the same criminal conduct and thus,

his offender score should be a five not a nine. We hold that it is Taplin’s burden below to raise

and prove that the four charged offenses constitute the same criminal conduct, not the court’s

burden to do so sua sponte, and thus, we hold that the court did not err.

We review offender score calculations de novo while reviewing a same criminal conduct

analysis for abuse of discretion or misapplication of the law. State v. Johnson, 180 Wn. App. 92,

100, 320 P.3d 197 (2014). A trial court abuses its discretion where the court: “‘(1) adopts a view

that no reasonable person would take and is manifestly unreasonable, (2) rests on facts unsupported

in the record and is thus based on untenable grounds, or (3) was reached by applying the wrong

legal standard and is thus made for untenable reasons.’” Johnson, 180 Wn. App. at 100 (internal

quotation marks omitted) (quoting State v. Sisouvanh, 175 Wn.2d 607, 623, 290 P.3d 942 (2012).

7 No. 52884-3-II (Consolidated with 53017-1-II)

The defendant bears the burden of establishing by a preponderance of the evidence that

two or more offenses encompass the same criminal conduct. State v. Aldana Graciano, 176 Wn.2d

531, 539, 295 P.3d 219 (2013). “[E]ach of a defendant’s convictions counts toward his offender

score unless he convinces the court that they involved the same criminal intent, time, place, and

victim.” Aldana Graciano, 176 Wn.2d at 540. Multiple offenses are presumed to encompass

separate criminal conduct. Aldana Graciano, 176 Wn.2d at 539. The trial court is not required to

consider same criminal conduct sua sponte. See Aldana Graciano, 176 Wn.2d at 539.

Here, Taplin stipulated that his offender score was a nine, which included all four charged

offenses. After stipulating to a particular offender score, a defendant cannot later raise a same

criminal conduct argument under In re Personal Restraint of Goodwin, 146 Wn.2d 861, 872, 50

P.3d 618 (2002). State v. Huff, 119 Wn. App. 367, 372-73, 80 P.3d 633 (2003). Therefore, it was

not manifestly unreasonable for the court to rely on Taplin’s stipulation to an offender score of a

nine. Moreover, as noted above, a defendant is required to ask the trial court to consider whether

multiple offenses constitute the same criminal conduct, which Taplin failed to do. Accordingly,

we hold that Taplin’s argument fails.

C. COMPARABLE CONVICTIONS

Taplin next argues that the State did not satisfy its burden of proving that Taplin’s prior

out-of-state felony convictions were comparable to Washington offenses. We hold that Taplin’s

argument fails.

A pro se petitioner is held to the same responsibility as a lawyer and is required to follow

applicable statutes and rules. In re Pers. Restraint of Connick, 144 Wn.2d 442, 455, 28 P.3d 729

(2001). Bald assertions and conclusory allegations will not support a personal restraint petition.

8 No. 52884-3-II (Consolidated with 53017-1-II)

In re Pers. Restraint of Rice, 118 Wn.2d 876, 886, 828 P.2d 1086 (1992). “If the petitioner’s

allegations are based on matters outside the existing record, the petitioner must demonstrate that

he has competent, admissible evidence to establish the facts that entitle him to relief.” Rice, 118

Wn.2d at 886. If a party fails to support argument with citation to legal authority, the court is

entitled to presume that none exists. Oregon Mut. Ins. Co. v. Barton, 109 Wn. App. 405, 418, 36

P.3d 1065 (2001).

In his guilty plea, Taplin did not merely agree to the existence of his prior convictions, he

specifically stipulated to the comparability of the out-of-state convictions that the court ultimately

included in his offender score. Taplin provides no substantive argument that the convictions were

anything other than what he stipulated them to be. Because Taplin does not provide competent,

admissible evidence to support his argument, we must presume none exists. Yates, 177 Wn.2d at

18. Thus, we hold that Taplin’s argument fails.

D. WASH OUT

Taplin next claims that the sentencing court erred by including his 1993 second degree

robbery conviction in his offender score because the robbery conviction washed out. However, in

his stipulation to his offender score, Taplin made an express, factual stipulation that “none of the

above criminal history convictions have ‘washed out’ under RCW 9.94A.360(a)/9.94A.525 unless

specifically so indicated.” CP at 21. The stipulation Taplin signed did not indicate that this

robbery conviction washed out. As noted above, a defendant cannot later raise a same criminal

9 No. 52884-3-II (Consolidated with 53017-1-II)

conduct argument under In re Goodwin after stipulating to a particular offender score.2 Huff, 119

Wn. App. at 372-73. Thus, we hold that Taplin’s argument fails.

CONCLUSION

We affirm the trial court’s October 15, 2018 order, reject Taplin’s arguments on direct

appeal and in his SAG, and dismiss his PRP as frivolous.

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.

SUTTON, A.C.J. We concur:

GLASGOW, J.

CRUSER, J.

2 Taplin’s stipulation was a factual one. In re Goodwin dealt with wash-out as a legal matter. 146 Wn.2d at 872. In Goodwin, the conviction had washed out as a matter of law, which in turn rendered the judgment and sentence invalid on its face. 146 Wn.2d at 872. Here, whether the prior robbery had washed out turns entirely on facts—facts that Taplin expressly stipulated to by stipulating that the crime had not washed out. Moreover, Taplin is not arguing that the conviction had washed out by operation of law unrelated to any facts about the conviction.