State v. Badger

827 P.2d 318, 64 Wash. App. 904, 1992 Wash. App. LEXIS 449
CourtCourt of Appeals of Washington
DecidedApril 7, 1992
Docket11256-0-III
StatusPublished
Cited by35 cases

This text of 827 P.2d 318 (State v. Badger) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Washington primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Badger, 827 P.2d 318, 64 Wash. App. 904, 1992 Wash. App. LEXIS 449 (Wash. Ct. App. 1992).

Opinion

Munson, J.

Robert Badger was charged by information with first degree child molestation, RCW 9A.44.083(1). He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 30 months in jail, which was conditionally suspended under the special sexual offender sentencing alternative (SOSA), RCW 9.94A.120-(7)(a). As a condition of the SOSA, he served a 6-month sentence in the county jail. After his release, he violated other conditions and the original sentence was reimposed. Mr. Badger appeals, challenging the court's (1) rebanee, in part, on hearsay in making its decision; (2) revocation of the conditions of supension; and (3) refusal to impose 60-day jail sanctions instead of the original sentence. We remand for reconsideration of the sentence.

*906 The State accepts Mr. Badger's statement of the case. On January 29, 1990, Robert Badger was charged by information with first degree child molestation committed on June 27, 1989. Mr. Badger pleaded guilty and received a suspended sentence under the SOSA. The relevant conditions of the suspended sentence were: (1) 6 months' confinement; (2) successful completion of sexual offender treatment; (3) no contact with minor children absent a responsible adult preapproved by his community corrections officer (CCO); and (4) approval by his CCO of his residence.

On August 22, 1990, shortly after Mr. Badger's release from jail, Les Patton, Mr. Badger's CCO, filed a notice of violation. A show cause order was issued. A supplemental notice of violation was filed on September 19. Mr. Badger was arrested and incarcerated. On September 24, a second supplemental notice of violation was filed. The alleged violations were: (1) failure to enter sex offender treatment; (2) contact with a minor child without a preapproved responsible adult; (3) contact with minor females without the required adult; and (4) changing residence without notifying his CCO.

At the November 7 hearing, the CCO testified he had informed Mr. Badger of the conditions of his probation on June 27, while Mr. Badger was in jail. The violation reports prepared by the CCO were then admitted into evidence over Mr. Badger's hearsay objection. The court specifically limited the portions of the reports on which it would rely. Because of the hearsay exclusions, violation 2, contact with a minor child without a preapproved adult, was dismissed without prejudice. The court did not rely on portions of the reports relating to violation 3, contact with minor females without a preapproved adult, because it deemed the information unreliable hearsay. The court found three statements by Tammy Robertson, a 15-year-old, to the probation officer rehable.

Mr. Badger testified he did not have the money to pay for sex offender treatment or transportation to Wenatchee for treatment. He testified he had notified the probation office *907 of his change of address while the CCO was absent. He admitted he visited the juvenile, Tammy Robertson, with his 18-year-old friend, Christopher Aldridge. He admitted he was informed of and acknowledged by signature the conditions of his suspended sentence, including the prohibition of contact with a minor absent a preapproved adult. He admitted he had $400 at one point for the treatment program but spent it on other things, including stereo payments. He admitted he canceled his only appointment for sex offender treatment.

The court found by a preponderance of evidence Mr. Badger had willfully failed to enter sex offender treatment and contacted a minor without proper supervision. Violation 4, failure to notify his CCO of change of residence, was dismissed for lack of evidence. Based on these findings and conclusions, the court revoked the suspended sentence and imposed the original sentence, with credit granted for time served. Mr. Badger appeals.

Mr. Badger first contends the violation reports contain inadmissible hearsay and the court's written findings were inadequate under Gagnon v. Scarpelli, 411 U.S. 778, 36 L. Ed. 2d 656, 93 S. Ct. 1756 (1973). The State asserts the court based its findings on rehable hearsay, admissible in a revocation hearing under Gagnon and State v. Nelson, 103 Wn.2d 760, 765, 697 P.2d 579 (1985).

An offender serving a conditional suspended sentence has minimal due process rights at a revocation hearing. Nelson, at 763 (citing Morrissey v. Brewer, 408 U.S. 471, 489, 33 L. Ed. 2d 484, 92 S. Ct. 2593 (1972)); Gagnon, 411 U.S. at 786. These rights include (1) the right to confrontation unless good cause to deny it is specifically found and (2) a written finding as to the evidence relied on and reasons for the revocation of probation or parole. In re Boone, 103 Wn.2d 224, 231, 691 P.2d 964 (1984) (citing Gagnon, 411 U.S. at 786). 1 "Good cause has thus far been defined in *908 terms of difficulty and expense of procuring witnesses in combination with 'demonstrably rehable' or 'clearly reliable' evidence." Nelson, at 765. The Ninth Circuit has held hearsay evidence from state probation reports is sufficiently reliable under this test. United States v. Miller, 514 F.2d 41, 42 (9th Cir. 1975).

The sentencing court specifically excluded as unreliable the statements of Mr. Aldridge and his girl friend. Mr. Badger's statements were admitted as substantive evidence. Admissions of a party-opponent are admissible for substantive purposes under ER 801(d)(2)(i). The statements of the CCO were likewise admitted. The CCO testified he had contacted Mr. Badger, and Mr. Badger had failed to comply with his directions to enter into treatment. Three of Tammy Robertson's undisputed statements contained in the violation report were admitted: (1) she was 15 years old; (2) she was Mr. Badger's girl friend until August of 1990; (3) Mr. Badger came to her house; and (4) she was a special education student at a junior high school. Mr. Badger was allowed to cross-examine the CCO. The court also considered testimony from Mr. Badger and Dr. Zimberoff. The record contains written findings of the evidence relied on and the reasons for revocation. This satisfies Gagnon and Nelson.

The court did not err in admitting the violations report and considering portions of the report in making its determination.

Mr. Badger next contends the decision to revoke was based on insufficient evidence.

Revocation of a suspended sentence rests within the discretion of the court.

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Bluebook (online)
827 P.2d 318, 64 Wash. App. 904, 1992 Wash. App. LEXIS 449, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-badger-washctapp-1992.