State Of Washington v. Wendell Adams, Jr.

• Court: Court of Appeals of Washington
• Decided: July 28, 2014
• Docket: 70045-6
• Status: Unpublished

Opinion

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IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON

STATE OF WASHINGTON, DIVISION ONE Respondent, No. 70045-6-1 v.

UNPUBLISHED OPINION WENDELL OLIVER ADAMS, JR.,

Appellant. FILED: July 28, 2014

Dwyer, J. - Following a bench trial, the court found Wendell Adams guilty

of assault in the first degree while armed with a firearm and unlawful possession

of a firearm. On appeal, he challenges the voluntariness of his jury trial waiver

and the sufficiency of the evidence to support his assault conviction. The record

demonstrates, however, that Adams' jury trial waiver was knowing, intelligent,

and voluntary. Evidence that Adams followed and confronted the victim before

shooting him was sufficient to establish an intent to commit great bodily harm.

The allegations in Adams' statement of additional grounds for review are also

without merit. We therefore affirm.

The trial court's findings of fact, entered following Adams' bench trial, are

essentially unchallenged on appeal. On July 8, 2012, Everett Pitterson went to No. 70045-6-/2

the Summerwalk Apartments in Kent to repair a white Chrysler 300M that had

broken down in the parking lot. Pitterson drove to the apartments with his friend

Carolyn Smith, the owner of the Chrysler, and Smith's daughter, Shanika Mayes.

Wendell Adams, who lived in the apartment complex with his wife, was currently

dating Mayes. Adams had been driving the Chrysler earlier in the day, and a

witness had heard Adams and Mayes arguing in the Chrysler at a nearby grocery

store. Pitterson was acquainted with Adams and had seen him several times in

the previous weeks.

Shortly after Pitterson began working on the Chrysler, Mayes asked

Pitterson and Smith to help her find Adams. Pitterson knocked on several doors

but was unable to locate Adams. Mayes and Smith then contacted the

apartment maintenance supervisor and learned that Adams lived in apartment

G-6.

Pitterson accompanied Mayes and Smith to apartment G-6, which was

located on the ground floor, a few steps below the level of the parking lot.

Pitterson knocked on the door while Mayes stood behind him on the steps.

Smith waited on the sidewalk next to the parking lot.

After a few minutes, Adams opened the door and Mayes told him that

Smith wanted to talk with him. In response, Adams went back into his apartment

and closed the door. Pitterson then returned to the parking lot. No. 70045-6-/3

A short time later, Adams came out of the apartment. Adams, who was

wearing a white hooded sweatshirt, walked up to the parking level and

confronted Pitterson. Adams appeared to be angry and asked Pitterson why he

was there and what he wanted. When Pitterson noticed that Adams was holding

a handgun, he backed further into the parking lot and started walking away.

Smith stepped in between the two men and tried to calm Adams down.

Smith's efforts were unsuccessful, and Adams fired multiple shots at Pitterson.

When Pitterson heard the first shot, he turned back toward Adams. A bullet

struck Pitterson in the abdomen, and he fell to the ground. Adams fired several

more shots at Pitterson as he lay on the ground. Adams then fled.

Cybel Nava, who lived in apartment G-3, was walking to her car when she

noticed two black males who appeared to be arguing in the parking lot. When

she heard the sound of a gunshot, she turned and saw one of the men pointing a

gun at the other man, who was lying on the ground. The man with the gun was

wearing a light gray hooded sweatshirt and fired more shots at the man on the

ground before running away. Nava believed that she heard a total of three shots.

A responding police officer and several witnesses worked to control

Pitterson's bleeding until he could be transported to a hospital. The responding

medics reported that Pitterson had no detectable blood pressure. The single

bullet that struck Pitterson destroyed 50 percent of the femoral artery and nicked No. 70045-6-/4

his bladder before exiting. Pitterson's injuries required extensive emergency

surgical repair. Both Pitterson and Smith identified Adams as the shooter.

The State charged Adams with one count of first degree assault while

armed with a firearm and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm. On the

morning of trial, Adams informed the court that he wanted to waive his right to a

jury trial. After considering the comments of defense counsel and a colloquy with

Adams, the trial court granted the request.

At the conclusion of the bench trial, the court found Adams guilty as

charged and imposed a 300-month standard range sentence.

II

Adams contends that his convictions must be reversed because his jury

trial waiver was constitutionally deficient. In particular, he argues that his waiver

was not knowing and voluntary because the record fails to demonstrate that he

was expressly advised of his right to a jury trial on the firearm sentence

enhancement.

A defendant may waive the right to a jury trial as long as the record

demonstrates that he or she acted "knowingly, intelligently, voluntarily, and free

from improper influences." State v. Pierce, 134Wn. App. 763, 771, 142 P.3d 610 (2006). The State bears the burden of demonstrating a valid waiver. State v.

Wicke, 91 Wn.2d 638, 645, 591 P.2d 452 (1979). "[E]very reasonable

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presumption should be indulged against the waiver of such a right, absent an

adequate record to the contrary." Wicke, 91 Wn.2d at 645.

The validity of a jury trial waiver depends on a consideration of all relevant

circumstances, including whether the trial court informed the defendant of the

right to a jury trial, the nature of any colloquy between the court and the

defendant, and whether defense counsel affirmatively stated that the defendant

waived the right. See Pierce, 134 Wn. App. at 771. Although not determinative,

a written waiver "is strong evidence that the defendant validly waived the jury trial

right." Pierce, 134 Wn. App. at 771. We review the validity of a jury trial waiver

de novo. State v. Ramirez-Dominquez, 140 Wn. App. 233, 239, 165 P.3d 391

(2007).

Contrary to Adams' assertions, the record need not demonstrate that the

defendant understood all of the consequences of a jury trial waiver. State v.

Steqall, 124 Wn.2d 719, 725, 881 P.2d 979 (1994); see also State v. Benitez,

175 Wn. App. 116, 128-29, 302 P.3d 877 (2013). Nor does a valid jurytrial

waiver require an extensive colloquy on the record. Steqall, 124 Wn.2d at 725.

Rather, "all that is required is a personal expression of waiver from the

defendant." Steqall, 124 Wn.2d at 725. Adams has not cited any authority

supporting his claim that the record must reflect that he was expressly advised of his right to a jury trial on a firearm sentence enhancement. Cf Pierce, 134 Wn.

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App. at 773 (valid jury trial waiver does not require that defendant be advised of

his right to participate in jury selection).

Here, defense counsel informed the trial court that he had discussed the

jury trial waiver extensively with Adams and was satisfied that he had "full

knowledge of the consequences of the jury trial." Defense counsel noted that the

discussion included "all aspects of jury selection," presentation of the case,

including evidentiary and pretrial rulings, the nature of the judge's role in a bench

trial, and the contrasting aspects of the judge's and jury's determinations of

whether the State had proved guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

After defense counsel's statement to the court, Adams orally

acknowledged that he had sufficient time to discuss the consequences of a jury

trial with counsel, that he had a "full discussion" about the differences between a

bench trial and jury trial, and that he had no further questions. Adams also

signed a written waiver acknowledging his understanding that he had the right to

have a jury of 12 decide "my case" and that all 12 jurors would have to agree that

the State proved the elements of the charged crimes beyond a reasonable doubt.

At the conclusion of the colloquy with the court, Adams confirmed that the

signature on the written waiver form was his and manifested his understanding of

the statements on the form.

The foregoing circumstances, including defense counsel's representations

to the court, Adams' colloquy with the court, and the execution of a written

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waiver, established Adams' personal desire to waive a jury trial and

demonstrated that his waiver was knowing, intelligent, and voluntary. See

Benitez, 175 Wn. App. at 129-30; see also State v. Cham. 165 Wn. App. 438,

449, 267 P.3d 528 (2011), review granted and case remanded on other grounds.

175Wn.2d 1022(2012).

Ill

Adams next contends that the evidence introduced at trial was insufficient

to support his conviction for first degree assault. He maintains that the State

failed to prove that he assaulted Pitterson with the specific intent to cause great

bodily harm.

An appellate court reviews the sufficiency of the evidence to determine

whether, after viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the State, any

rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the charged crime

beyond a reasonable doubt. State v. Pirtle. 127 Wn.2d 628, 643, 904 P.2d 245

(1995). The same standard applies whether the case was tried to the bench or

to a jury. See Jackson v. Wyoming, 443 U.S. 307, 318-19, 99 S. Ct. 2781, 61 L.

Ed. 2d 560 (1979) (bench trial); State v. Green, 94 Wn.2d 216, 221-22, 616 P.2d

628 (1980) (jury trial). A claim of insufficiency admits the truth of the State's

evidence and all reasonable inferences from that evidence. State v. Kintz, 169

Wn.2d 537, 551, 238 P.3d 470 (2010). Circumstantial evidence and direct

evidence are equally reliable. State v. Delmarter. 94 Wn.2d 634, 638, 618 P.2d

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99 (1980). We defer to the trier of fact on issues of conflicting testimony,

credibility of witnesses, and the persuasiveness of the evidence. State v. Myers,

133 Wn.2d 26, 38, 941 P.2d 1102 (1997).

In order to convict Adams as charged, the State had to prove that he

assaulted Pitterson with the specific intent "to inflict great bodily harm." RCW

9A.36.011(1); State v. Elmi, 166 Wn.2d 209, 215, 207 P.3d 439 (2009). Specific

intent is the intent "to produce a specific result, as opposed to intent to do the

physical act that produces the result." Elmi. 166 Wn.2d at 215. Specific intent

cannot be presumed, but it can be inferred as a logical probability from all the

facts and circumstances. State v. Pedro. 148 Wn. App. 932, 951, 201 P.3d 398

(2009). Relevant circumstances include "'the manner and act of inflicting the

wound, ... the nature of the prior relationship and any previous threats.'" State

v. Ferreira. 69 Wn. App. 465, 468, 850 P.2d 541 (1993) (quoting State v. Woo

Won Choi, 55 Wn. App. 895, 906, 781 P.2d 505 (1989)).

A short time after Pitterson knocked on Adams' door, Adams followed him

to the parking lot and confronted him while holding a handgun. Adams, who

appeared to be angry, asked Pitterson why he was there and what he wanted. Despite the efforts of Carolyn Smith, Adams then fired several shots at Pitterson. One of the bullets hit Pitterson in the abdomen and he fell to the ground, severely

injured. Adams then stood over Pitterson and fired several more rounds at him. Viewing the evidence in the light mostfavorable to the State, a rational trier of -8- No. 70045-6-/9

fact could conclude beyond a reasonable doubt that Adams assaulted Pitterson

with the intent to commit great bodily harm. See Pedro. 148 Wn. App. at 951-52

(evidence of prior altercations and fact that defendant ran after victim and fired in

his direction were sufficient to establish intent to inflict great bodily harm).

Adams contends that the fact that all but one of his shots missed Pitterson

"suggests the absence of an intent to actually strike or injure the person; i.e., the

absence of an intent to cause great bodily harm." But this argument must be

directed to the trier of fact. It does not undermine the legal sufficiency of the

evidence, which is reviewed in the light most favorable to the State.

IV

In his statement of additional grounds for review, Adams contends that the

trial judge violated the appearance of fairness doctrine because she was

acquainted with the victim's mother, who was an attorney with a public defender

agency. But Adams raises this allegation for the first time on appeal. Because

an appearance of fairness claim is not a "constitutional" claim pursuant to RAP

2.5(a)(3), an appellate court will generally not consider it for the first time on

appeal. State v. Morqensen, 148 Wn. App. 81, 90-91, 197 P.3d 715 (2008). In

any event, Adams' contentions are without merit.

To prevail on an appearance of fairness claim, Adams must present

evidence of the judge's actual or potential bias. State v. Post. 118 Wn.2d 596,

618-19, 826 P.2d 172, 837 P.2d 599 (1992). The "critical concern in determining

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whether a proceeding satisfies the appearance of fairness doctrine is how it

would appear to a reasonably prudent and disinterested person." Chi..

Milwaukee. St. Paul. & Pac. R.R. Co. v. Wash. State Human Rights Comm'n. 87

Wn.2d 802, 810, 557 P.2d 307 (1976). Trial judges are presumed to perform

their functions regularly and properly, without prejudice or bias. Jones v.

Halvorson-Berg. 69 Wn. App. 117, 127, 847 P.2d 945 (1993).

Prior to trial, defense counsel informed the trial judge that the victim's

mother was an attorney with a public defender agency and asked if"the Court

would find that to be any reason for concern in managing this case, because the

Court has contact with [the agency] in a professional capacity." The judge

responded that "I know who she is but I don't have a personal relationship with

her." Defense counsel did not inquire further and raised no objection, and

Adams has not identified any court action or comment that reflected actual or

potential bias. A trial judge's acquaintance with an attorney who may appear

before the judge in a professional capacity does not, without more, raise an

appearance of fairness concern requiring recusal. See State v. Leon, 133 Wn.

App. 810, 812, 138 P.3d 159 (2006) (an attorney's frequency of appearance

before a judge does not, without more, create an appearance of partiality that requires recusal from a matter in which the judge would assess the credibility of

the attorney's testimony).

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Adams also contends that the evidence was insufficient to prove intent to

inflict great bodily harm. For the reasons already stated, we reject this

contention.

Affirmed.

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We concur:

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