State v. Acosta

123 Wash. App. 424
Court of Appeals of Washington·Decided September 21, 2004·No. No. 29512-1-II·Published·Cited by 33 cases

Opinion

Van Deren, J.

Louis Roger Acosta, Jr., appeals his convictions for first degree robbery, second degree theft, taking a motor vehicle without permission (TMVOP), and methamphetamine possession. Acosta’s defense was diminished capacity. He asserts that the trial court erred by (1) admitting arrest and conviction evidence, (2) suppressing sexual abuse evidence, (3) miscalculating his offender score, and (4) not finding that some of the current convictions constitute the same criminal conduct. Acosta also contends that the evidence was insufficient for the possession conviction, that he was subjected to double jeopardy, and that he received ineffective assistance of counsel. We affirm the trial court’s rulings on admissibility of sexual abuse evidence, hold that there was no double jeopardy or same criminal conduct error, and conclude that he had effective assistance of counsel. But we reverse and remand based on the erroneous admission of arrest and conviction evidence and incorrect offender score calculation.

FACTS

This appeal stems from events that occurred on November 7,2001, at the home of Acosta’s sister, Wendy McClearie (Wendy). That morning Acosta called Wendy and told her that they “kicked [him] out” of detox and he wanted to come to her home to see her and do his laundry. Report of Proceedings (RP) at 92. Acosta stayed at Wendy’s home while she went to work for the morning.

That afternoon, the two smoked marijuana and ate pizza. At trial, Wendy related the following events: (1) Acosta left the room while Wendy watched television. Wendy then smelled something burning, entered the kitchen, and found papers burning on the stove. As she attempted to put out the fire, Acosta wrapped a black nylon around her head; (2) a struggle ensued and Acosta alternately beat and sexually assaulted her as they moved toward the front door. Acosta gave Wendy choices as to how she wanted to die: by knife, gun, hammer or she could let him take her to “West Park [429] where [he would] have some black guys fuck [her] in the ass”; (3) as Acosta continued to sexually assault Wendy, she broke free and ran out the front door. RP at 121. Acosta tackled her on the front lawn and resumed his assault until her screams caused him to let her go. At some point Wendy’s car keys came out of her pocket and Acosta retrieved them.

Wendy ran to a neighbor’s home and called 911. The neighbors observed Acosta leave in Wendy’s car. After the police arrived, Wendy noticed her purse was missing. It contained two checks totaling $600.

Police arrested Acosta four days later as he was walking near the stolen vehicle. They handcuffed him and placed him in a police vehicle. Deputy Logdahl noticed a small baggie on the ground near the police vehicle, which he later confirmed contained methamphetamine. The police recovered the two missing checks from Wendy’s purse in the stolen car.

The State charged Acosta with six counts: second degree assault, second degree attempted rape, first degree robbery, second degree theft, TMVOP, and possession of a controlled substance (PCS).

Acosta asserted the defense of diminished capacity. He claimed that his actions were a “psychotic episode” triggered by two events: first, Wendy had sexually abused him as a child, and second, just before Acosta assaulted Wendy they had been arguing about James McClearie’s1 (James) sexual abuse of Acosta’s niece. RP at 4.

At trial, the court allowed Acosta to present evidence of diminished capacity, including the testimony of Dr. George Harris, a physician and psychiatrist. The State responded by calling Dr. Roman Gleyzer, a psychiatrist who, over defense objections, testified that Acosta had the following criminal history:

[430] _Arrests_ Year State Result
Possession of stolen property 1990 CA Arrest
Concealed weapon 1990 CA Misdemeanor Conviction
Possession of burglary tools 1990 CA Arrest
DUI 1991 CA Arrest
Carrying a concealed weapon in vehicle 1991 CA Arrest
Obstructing/resisting a public officer_ 1991 CA Arrest
Burglary 1991 CA Arrest
Impersonation to make other liable 1991 CA Misdemeanor Conviction
Possession of burglary tools 1991 CA Misdemeanor Conviction
Burglary 1991 CA Arrest
Possession of a controlled substance & hypodermic needle 1993 CA Arrest
PCS 1992 CA Felony Conviction
PCS or stolen property 1994 CA Felony Conviction
Petty theft 1996 CA Felony Conviction
Burglary 1996 CA Arrest
Parole violation 1998 CA Felony Conviction
Possession of burglary tools 1998 CA Misdemeanor Conviction
Burglary 1999 CA Felony Conviction
Parole violation 1999 CA Arrest
Violation of Uniformed Controlled Substance Act (VUCSA) 2000 WA Felony Conviction
PCS 2000 WA Arrest
PCS 2000 WA Arrest
PCS 2000 WA Arrest

The court suppressed all testimony regarding James’ alleged sexual abuse of the niece, ruling that the evidence was “substantially designed to appeal to the passion and prejudice of the jurors,” and allowed only limited testimony about Wendy’s sexual abuse of Acosta, reasoning that the evidence was admissible only to the extent that it played a role in the doctors’ diminished capacity diagnosis. RP at 832.

The jury convicted Acosta on four counts: first degree robbery, second degree theft, TMVOP, and PCS. It could not [431] reach a verdict on the assault and attempted rape charges. The jury also determined that the robbery, theft, and TMVOP charges were committed against a family or household member.

The trial court sentenced Acosta to 144 months in prison using an offender score of eight. This offender score included three points for three out of state convictions. He then timely filed this appeal.

The issues on appeal include whether the trial court properly (1) admitted and excluded evidence of arrests, convictions, and sexual abuse testimony; (2) calculated his offender score; (3) refused to apply a same criminal conduct analysis for sentencing; and whether (4) the evidence was sufficient to convict him of possession of a controlled substance; (5) his theft and robbery convictions subjected him to double jeopardy; and (6) he received effective assistance of counsel.

Evidence of Diminished Capacity

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State v. Acosta, 123 Wash. App. 424 (Wash. Ct. App. 2004).

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