State v. Brown

658 P.2d 44, 33 Wash. App. 843, 1983 Wash. App. LEXIS 2176
CourtCourt of Appeals of Washington
DecidedFebruary 1, 1983
Docket4544—7—III; 5058-1-III
StatusPublished
Cited by11 cases

This text of 658 P.2d 44 (State v. Brown) 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. Brown, 658 P.2d 44, 33 Wash. App. 843, 1983 Wash. App. LEXIS 2176 (Wash. Ct. App. 1983).

Opinions

Roe, C.J.

Christopher Dean Brown appeals his conviction of the unlawful possession of a controlled substance— diazepam. His appeal has been consolidated with his personal restraint petition since it involves the conviction [845]*845appealed from.

Brown, a previously convicted felon, was an inmate at the Geiger Pre-Release Facility in Spokane, having been sent there from the Washington State Penitentiary at Walla Walla. On January 20, 1981, following a visit by his wife, he was strip searched and two Valium pills were discovered. Brown contends the pills were planted on him by the guards.1 Representing himself at his bench trial, he was found guilty of violating RCW 69.50.401(d),2 the unlawful possession of a controlled substance—diazepam.

First, Brown contends he was denied his right to a speedy trial under CrR 3.3. After the search he was transferred to the Spokane County Jail. An arrest warrant was not served until February 4, 1981. On March 31, 1981, 1 day before his scheduled trial, Brown requested and was granted a continuance. He contends the speedy trial clock commenced running on January 20, 1981, the day he was transferred to the county jail.3 Assuming arguendo the speedy trial clock began that day, 70 days elapsed from the date of the search to the date of the continuance being granted. When a defendant is incarcerated on other unrelated charges, the 90-day rule of CrR 3.3 applies. State v. Keith, 86 Wn.2d 229, 232, 543 P.2d 235 (1975); State v. [846]*846Champion, 28 Wn. App. 281, 284 n.4, 622 P.2d 905 (1981); State v. Christianson, 17 Wn. App. 264, 562 P.2d 671 (1977). Here, Brown was incarcerated on other unrelated charges and only 70 days elapsed from the date of the search to the date of the continuance being granted; thus, there can be no violation of the speedy trial rule.

Next, Brown contends RCW 69.50.210(c)(7) violates his procedural due process rights because it outlaws the compound diazepam without reference to the name "Valium", which is the trade name and familiar name of diazepam. He contends the common man has no way of knowing that Valium is outlawed.

First, Brown makes no pretense that he did not know Valium is a controlled substance. This would only be reasonable because of his penitentiary experience and his immediate disclaimer of any knowledge of the presence of the pills. He alleges no prejudice personal to him.4

Procedural due process requires that citizens be given fair notice of conduct forbidden by a penal statute. The statutory language must convey a sufficiently definite warning as to the proscribed conduct when measured by common understanding and practice. The test is whether a person of common intelligence can, with reasonable certainty, determine what substances are designated or scheduled as controlled substances. State v. Dougall, 89 Wn.2d 118, 121, 570 P.2d 135 (1977); In re McCrea, 28 Wn. App. 777, 781, 626 P.2d 992 (1981). Impossible standards of specificity are not required. Blondheim v. State, 84 Wn.2d 874, 878, 529 P.2d 1096 (1975).

A person of common intelligence could discover that [847]*847Valium is diazepam or that diazepam is Valium by simply referring to the Physicians' Desk Reference, a well known dictionary of drugs which is commonly found in reference libraries, doctors' offices and pharmacies. Other publications about drugs readily available for consumers could provide the same information. An examination of the substances listed in the schedules in RCW 69.50 indicates that none of the substances are listed by their common trade names; rather, they are listed by definite chemical names. To demand trade, common or street name listing would require the Legislature to continually update its schedules with any new name in the marketplace. This would require continual monitoring with its notice problems and attendant costs. The law would never catch up with the criminal activity. We hold the Legislature's action in listing only the chemical names of controlled substances satisfies due process.5

Our position is supported by State v. Dougall, 89 Wn.2d 118, 121, 570 P.2d 135 (1977), which struck down a controlled substances conviction, noting the crime appeared by reference to the Federal Register only and "without [it] appearing in either a state statute or the state administrative code." Here, diazepam appeared in the state statute.

In his pro se brief, Brown appears to argue that the State has the burden of proving he did not have a valid prescription for the drug. This contention is contrary to the law. RCW 69.50.401(d) makes the possession of a controlled substance a crime and the State has the burden of proving the defendant possessed the controlled substance. However, under the exception therein, the defendant has the burden [848]*848of coming forward with some evidence that the substance was possessed unwittingly or by means of a valid prescription. RCW 69.50.506; State v. Cleppe, 96 Wn.2d 373, 381, 635 P.2d 435 (1981), cert. denied, 456 U.S. 1006 (1982); State v. Sainz, 23 Wn. App. 532, 539, 596 P.2d 1090 (1979). Brown failed to meet this burden.

Brown further contends that his right against self-incrimination was violated. He argues the pills were obtained by compelled custodial coercion and that he was arrested without being given his Miranda warnings and subjected to an impermissible search.

At the time of the search, Brown had just completed a visit with his wife where there had been a considerable amount of personal contact. The reasonableness of an inmate search must be determined by balancing the need for the particular search against the invasion of personal rights which the search entails. State v. Baker, 28 Wn. App. 423, 623 P.2d 1172 (1981). Under these circumstances, the search of Brown was reasonable. Since Brown was not given his Miranda warnings at the time of the search, the trial court suppressed his reply to the guard. This reply was not raised by the prosecution at trial. Because the State did not, nor attempt to, use any custodial statements made by Brown, there was no violation of his right against self-incrimination.

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Bluebook (online)
658 P.2d 44, 33 Wash. App. 843, 1983 Wash. App. LEXIS 2176, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-brown-washctapp-1983.