IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON DIVISION ONE or.
STATE OF WASHINGTON, No. 72111-9-1 S I; Respondent,
v. UNPUBLISHED OPINION ^ B^
TYRA ELEANOR SCHY,
Appellant. FILED: September 21, 2015
Schindler, J. — Tyra Eleanor Schy appeals her convictions for first degree
burglary while armed with a deadly weapon in violation of RCW 9A.52.020 and RCW
9.94A.825 and second degree assault while armed with a deadly weapon in violation of
RCW 9A.36.021 and RCW 9.94A.825. Schy argues her attorney provided ineffective
assistance of counsel by failing to move for a mistrial. Because Schy cannot establish
ineffective assistance of counsel, we affirm.
In December 2012, Nicholas Eckert and Michael Oakley lived in a house in
Everett. The night of December 28, Eckert drove Oakley to meet some friends at a
McDonald's in Arlington. After Eckert dropped off Oakley, he returned home to Everett.
Oakley and his friend Austin Clouatre arrived at Eckert's house in the early morning
hours of December 29. No. 72111-9-1/2
Several minutes later, Oakley heard a tap on the window of his room. Oakley
looked out the window and saw a friend on the front porch. As Oakley opened the front
door, he saw five people on the porch, including Tyra Eleanor Schy, Jerome Poulon,
and Iran Ramirez. Seconds later, Schy punched Oakley in the left side of his face and
then went into the house carrying a knife. Poulon, who was carrying a metal pipe,
followed Schy inside. Eckert heard the "scuffle" on the porch and began yelling at Schy
and Poulon to leave. Schy advanced toward Eckert, threatening him with a knife.
Eckert backed into a bathroom and pushed the door shut.
Meanwhile, Oakley ran out the front door of the house and began pounding on
the door of a neighboring house for help. After Schy left Eckert's house, Oakley started
running down the street. Schy chased Oakley with the knife in her hand. A neighbor
called 911.
While Schy was chasing Oakley outside, Poulon went into Oakley's bedroom,
grabbed a laptop, and left the house. Clouatre followed Poulon but Poulon told him to
return to the house. Clouatre waited in Eckert's house for several minutes and then
went home.
The State charged Schy, Poulon, and Ramirez with first degree burglary while
armed with a deadly weapon. Poulon and Ramirez pleaded guilty to the charge and
agreed to testify at trial. By amended information, the State charged Schy with first
degree burglary while armed with a deadly weapon and second degree assault while
armed with a deadly weapon.
The three-day jury trial began on May 19, 2014. Before voir dire, the defendant
moved to exclude testimony that Schy was "always known to carry a knife around with No. 72111-9-1/3
her prior to this alleged incident." In specific, Ramirez had previously stated that Schy
"always carried a knife." The prosecutor argued that if Schy were known to carry a knife
in her purse, it would be relevant and more probative than prejudicial. The court
reserved ruling on the motion. The court ruled the prosecutor would need to make an
offer of proof.
The State called Eckert, Oakley, and Clouatre to testify. Eckert, Oakley, and
Clouatre each testified that a woman entered the house holding a knife. Eckert testified
the knife was 16 to 18 inches long. Oakley testified the knife was about 7 inches long.
Clouatre testified the knife was 5 to 6 inches long.
The State called Poulon. Poulon testified that neither Schy nor Ramirez had
consumed alcohol or ingested drugs that night. Poulon testified that he did not
remember Schy or Ramirez entering Eckert's house. On cross-examination, Poulon
stated he never saw Schy with a knife during the incident. On redirect, Poulon said he
could not see Schy's hands while they were at the front door but he saw Schy's right
hand pointing at Oakley.
The State called Ramirez to testify. Ramirez testified through a certified Spanish
interpreter. Ramirez testified that in December 2012, he was in a relationship with
Schy. Shortly after Ramirez began testifying, the defense attorney requested a sidebar
about the order in limine. The court reminded the State that it must make an offer of
proof before Ramirez could testify that Schy always carries a knife. The prosecutor said
the State "was not intending to ask this witness about any knife-carrying other than this
particular day." No. 72111-9-1/4
Following the sidebar, Ramirez testified that while at Poulon's house on
December 28, he used methamphetamines, and Schy consumed alcohol and used
methamphetamines and marijuana. Ramirez testified he agreed to drive the group to
Eckert's house that night. Ramirez remembered seeing Poulon with a large "Rambo
type" knife and that Poulon put the knife in the backseat of the car where Schy was
sitting. Ramirez then testified he saw Schy that night with a "folding knife that opens
up." The prosecutor then asked, "Okay. When did you see her with a knife on that
night?" The interpreter translated, "She always —" before the court interrupted and
excused the jury.
The court explained to the attorneys that "I speak Spanish" and confirmed with
the interpreter that Ramirez had stated that "she always carries a knife" in violation of
the order in limine. The prosecutor stated the answer was "obviously" not in response
to the question. The defense attorney expressed concern that a juror could have
understood what Ramirez said, "I think that we should somehow find that out. .. . [I]f
somebody did [understand his statement], I mean, automatically, I'd move for a mistrial."
On the other hand, the defense attorney stated, "[l]f nobody heard what was being said
in Spanish and they didn't interpret it, I guess I'd move to strike it at this point." With the
agreement of the parties, the court decided to continue Ramirez's testimony and after a
break, ask the jurors if any of them speak Spanish.
Before resuming the testimony of Ramirez, the court instructed the jury "to
disregard that last question and partial answer." Ramirez testified that Schy had a
folding knife with her that evening and that the blade of the knife was slightly shorter
than the length of a pen. No. 72111-9-1/5
After the lunch recess, the defense attorney asked the court to determine
whether any juror understood Spanish. The defense attorney stated that "if there is
something where somebody has heard something, there is a potential violation, I'm
going to have to move for a mistrial. I don't want to, of course, but like I said, that's a
duty to my client." Before resuming Ramirez's examination, the court asked the jurors,
"[Djoes anybody here speak Spanish?" After no juror responded, the court stated, "All
right. That seems to address the problem." During a recess, the defense attorney
stated that "the Court did a great job of curing that," that he did not "see anything that
would prejudice the jury or impact the jury with anything that was said," and that he was
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IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON DIVISION ONE or.
STATE OF WASHINGTON, No. 72111-9-1 S I; Respondent,
v. UNPUBLISHED OPINION ^ B^
TYRA ELEANOR SCHY,
Appellant. FILED: September 21, 2015
Schindler, J. — Tyra Eleanor Schy appeals her convictions for first degree
burglary while armed with a deadly weapon in violation of RCW 9A.52.020 and RCW
9.94A.825 and second degree assault while armed with a deadly weapon in violation of
RCW 9A.36.021 and RCW 9.94A.825. Schy argues her attorney provided ineffective
assistance of counsel by failing to move for a mistrial. Because Schy cannot establish
ineffective assistance of counsel, we affirm.
In December 2012, Nicholas Eckert and Michael Oakley lived in a house in
Everett. The night of December 28, Eckert drove Oakley to meet some friends at a
McDonald's in Arlington. After Eckert dropped off Oakley, he returned home to Everett.
Oakley and his friend Austin Clouatre arrived at Eckert's house in the early morning
hours of December 29. No. 72111-9-1/2
Several minutes later, Oakley heard a tap on the window of his room. Oakley
looked out the window and saw a friend on the front porch. As Oakley opened the front
door, he saw five people on the porch, including Tyra Eleanor Schy, Jerome Poulon,
and Iran Ramirez. Seconds later, Schy punched Oakley in the left side of his face and
then went into the house carrying a knife. Poulon, who was carrying a metal pipe,
followed Schy inside. Eckert heard the "scuffle" on the porch and began yelling at Schy
and Poulon to leave. Schy advanced toward Eckert, threatening him with a knife.
Eckert backed into a bathroom and pushed the door shut.
Meanwhile, Oakley ran out the front door of the house and began pounding on
the door of a neighboring house for help. After Schy left Eckert's house, Oakley started
running down the street. Schy chased Oakley with the knife in her hand. A neighbor
called 911.
While Schy was chasing Oakley outside, Poulon went into Oakley's bedroom,
grabbed a laptop, and left the house. Clouatre followed Poulon but Poulon told him to
return to the house. Clouatre waited in Eckert's house for several minutes and then
went home.
The State charged Schy, Poulon, and Ramirez with first degree burglary while
armed with a deadly weapon. Poulon and Ramirez pleaded guilty to the charge and
agreed to testify at trial. By amended information, the State charged Schy with first
degree burglary while armed with a deadly weapon and second degree assault while
armed with a deadly weapon.
The three-day jury trial began on May 19, 2014. Before voir dire, the defendant
moved to exclude testimony that Schy was "always known to carry a knife around with No. 72111-9-1/3
her prior to this alleged incident." In specific, Ramirez had previously stated that Schy
"always carried a knife." The prosecutor argued that if Schy were known to carry a knife
in her purse, it would be relevant and more probative than prejudicial. The court
reserved ruling on the motion. The court ruled the prosecutor would need to make an
offer of proof.
The State called Eckert, Oakley, and Clouatre to testify. Eckert, Oakley, and
Clouatre each testified that a woman entered the house holding a knife. Eckert testified
the knife was 16 to 18 inches long. Oakley testified the knife was about 7 inches long.
Clouatre testified the knife was 5 to 6 inches long.
The State called Poulon. Poulon testified that neither Schy nor Ramirez had
consumed alcohol or ingested drugs that night. Poulon testified that he did not
remember Schy or Ramirez entering Eckert's house. On cross-examination, Poulon
stated he never saw Schy with a knife during the incident. On redirect, Poulon said he
could not see Schy's hands while they were at the front door but he saw Schy's right
hand pointing at Oakley.
The State called Ramirez to testify. Ramirez testified through a certified Spanish
interpreter. Ramirez testified that in December 2012, he was in a relationship with
Schy. Shortly after Ramirez began testifying, the defense attorney requested a sidebar
about the order in limine. The court reminded the State that it must make an offer of
proof before Ramirez could testify that Schy always carries a knife. The prosecutor said
the State "was not intending to ask this witness about any knife-carrying other than this
particular day." No. 72111-9-1/4
Following the sidebar, Ramirez testified that while at Poulon's house on
December 28, he used methamphetamines, and Schy consumed alcohol and used
methamphetamines and marijuana. Ramirez testified he agreed to drive the group to
Eckert's house that night. Ramirez remembered seeing Poulon with a large "Rambo
type" knife and that Poulon put the knife in the backseat of the car where Schy was
sitting. Ramirez then testified he saw Schy that night with a "folding knife that opens
up." The prosecutor then asked, "Okay. When did you see her with a knife on that
night?" The interpreter translated, "She always —" before the court interrupted and
excused the jury.
The court explained to the attorneys that "I speak Spanish" and confirmed with
the interpreter that Ramirez had stated that "she always carries a knife" in violation of
the order in limine. The prosecutor stated the answer was "obviously" not in response
to the question. The defense attorney expressed concern that a juror could have
understood what Ramirez said, "I think that we should somehow find that out. .. . [I]f
somebody did [understand his statement], I mean, automatically, I'd move for a mistrial."
On the other hand, the defense attorney stated, "[l]f nobody heard what was being said
in Spanish and they didn't interpret it, I guess I'd move to strike it at this point." With the
agreement of the parties, the court decided to continue Ramirez's testimony and after a
break, ask the jurors if any of them speak Spanish.
Before resuming the testimony of Ramirez, the court instructed the jury "to
disregard that last question and partial answer." Ramirez testified that Schy had a
folding knife with her that evening and that the blade of the knife was slightly shorter
than the length of a pen. No. 72111-9-1/5
After the lunch recess, the defense attorney asked the court to determine
whether any juror understood Spanish. The defense attorney stated that "if there is
something where somebody has heard something, there is a potential violation, I'm
going to have to move for a mistrial. I don't want to, of course, but like I said, that's a
duty to my client." Before resuming Ramirez's examination, the court asked the jurors,
"[Djoes anybody here speak Spanish?" After no juror responded, the court stated, "All
right. That seems to address the problem." During a recess, the defense attorney
stated that "the Court did a great job of curing that," that he did not "see anything that
would prejudice the jury or impact the jury with anything that was said," and that he was
"fine with moving on."
Schy testified. Schy denied that she had a knife and denied that she assaulted
Eckert. Schy stated that during the altercation on the front porch, Oakley "pushed" her
to the ground and Eckert yelled at her. Schy testified she had her purse and her phone
in her left hand but had "nothing" in her right hand. Schy denied entering the house that
evening.
The jury found Schy guilty as charged of first degree burglary and second degree
assault. By special verdict, the jury found Schy was armed with a deadly weapon
during the commission of the crimes. Schy appeals.
Schy claims her attorney provided ineffective assistance of counsel by failing to
move for a mistrial after a violation of the court's order in limine.
To establish ineffective assistance of counsel, a defendant must show both that
counsel's performance was deficient and that the performance prejudiced the
defendant's case. Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687, 104 S. Ct. 2052, 80 L. No. 72111-9-1/6
Ed. 2d 674 (1984); State v. Thomas, 109 Wn.2d 222, 225-26, 743 P.2d 816 (1987). To
show deficient performance, Schy must satisfy the "heavy burden" of showing that her
attorney" 'made errors so serious that counsel was not functioning as the "counsel"
guaranteed the defendant by the Sixth Amendment.'" State v. Howland. 66 Wn. App.
586, 594, 832 P.2d 1339 (1992); Thomas. 109 Wn.2d at 225 (quoting Strickland, 466
U.S. at 687). The attorney's performance must have fallen below "an objective standard
of reasonableness based on consideration of all the circumstances." State v.
McFarland, 127 Wn.2d 322, 334-35, 899 P.2d 1251 (1995). To satisfy the prejudice
prong, a defendant must show a "reasonable probability that, except for counsel's
unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding would have been different."
McFarland, 127 Wn.2d at 334-35.
Schy cannot establish deficient performance of counsel or prejudice. Schy
claims her attorney's performance was deficient because the attorney did not move for a mistrial on the grounds that Ramirez's testimony violated the court's order in limine.
" 'The trial court should grant a mistrial only when the defendant has been so
prejudiced that nothing short of a new trial can insure that the defendant will be tried fairly.'" State v. Johnson, 124Wn.2d 57, 76, 873 P.2d 514 (1994) (quoting State v.
Hopson. 113 Wn.2d 273, 284, 778 P.2d 1014 (1989)).
"In determining the effect of an irregular occurrence during trial, we examine '(1)
its seriousness; (2) whether it involved cumulative evidence; and (3) whether the trial court properly instructed the jury to disregard it.'" Johnson, 124Wn. 2d at 76 (quoting
Hopson, 113 Wn.2d at 284). No. 72111-9-1/7
The trial irregularity—a partially translated statement that violated the court's
order in limine—was not serious and the court cured the irregularity by sustaining the
motion to strike. The court instructed the jury that "[i]f evidence was not admitted or was
stricken from the record, then you are not to consider it in reaching your verdict." The
jury is presumed to follow instructions to disregard improper evidence. State v. Russell,
125 Wn.2d 24, 84, 882 P.2d 747 (1994). Accordingly, if Schy's attorney had moved for
a mistrial, the court would not have abused its discretion in refusing to grant the motion.
See State v. Wade, 186 Wn. App. 749, 773-75, 346 P.3d 838 (2015) (trial court did not
abuse its discretion in denying a motion for mistrial where the violation was not serious
and any resulting prejudice was cured). Schy cannot show that she received ineffective
assistance of counsel.
We affirm Schy's convictions for first degree burglary while armed with a deadly
weapon and second degree assault while armed with a deadly weapon.
wa&>v' WE CONCUR: