State v. Burmaster

96 Wash. App. 36
CourtCourt of Appeals of Washington
DecidedJune 1, 1999
DocketNos. 40841-1-I; 42972-8-I; 41922-6-I; 42781-4-I; 42782-2-I; 42783-1-I; 42853-5-I
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 96 Wash. App. 36 (State v. Burmaster) 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. Burmaster, 96 Wash. App. 36 (Wash. Ct. App. 1999).

Opinion

Baker, J.

These consolidated appeals involve challenges to restitution orders. Some of the orders were entered more than 60 days after sentencing and others were entered as ex parte orders. Motions to strike those orders were filed more than a year after sentencing became final. Burmaster and Murphy appeal the trial court’s denial of their motions to strike restitution. The State appeals the trial court’s grant of motions to strike restitution by Hunter, Washington, Hastings, Hardaway and Agena, contending that such motions are untimely. Hardaway cross-appeals the trial court’s denial of her motion to refund restitution paid.

We hold that the non-final ex parte restitution orders of Murphy, Hunter, Washington, Hastings, Hardaway and [40]*40Agena are invalid and that the motions to strike these orders are timely. Because the State has not demonstrated that Burmaster waived the right to appeal his restitution order and because that order was invalid when entered, we reverse the trial court order that denied Burmaster’s motion to strike. Finally, we affirm the denial of Hardaway’s motion to refund restitution because she has not perfected this issue for appeal.

I

BURMASTER

Charles Burmaster pleaded guilty to theft and trafficking in stolen property, and was sentenced on May 5, 1989. At the time of sentencing, Burmaster’s attorney agreed that restitution might be $4,000 to $5,000. The judgment and sentence stated that restitution will be set “[ajccording to the Order of Restitution to be filed with the court at a future date.” On August 8, 1990, 455 days after sentencing, the Prosecuting Attorney notified Burmaster that the restitution amount has been determined to be $5,741.15, and that:

If you do not agree with this amount a hearing has been set for Aug. 17, 1990 at 9:30 a.m. ... At this hearing a date may be set for you to contest the restitution amount.
IF YOU FAIL TO APPEAR AT THE HEARING AND YOU FAIL TO MAKE A WRITTEN CHALLENGE TO THE ENTRY OF THE ‘ORDER OF RESTITUTION’, THE ORDER WILL BE SIGNED BY THE JUDGE AND BECOME EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY.

Burmaster did not appear at the restitution hearing and the proposed order was entered. The record does not indicate that Burmaster ever agreed to the amount of restitution in the proposed order. In July 1996, Burmaster filed a motion to striké the restitution order. Burmaster appeals the trial court’s denial of that motion.

[41]*41MURPHY

A jury convicted Ivan Murphy of second degree assault, and he was sentenced on June 10, 1994. The court imposed restitution in an amount to be determined later “as established by separate order of this court.” On August 30, 1994, 81 days after sentencing, the trial court entered an ex parte restitution order for $31,864.57. The record does not show that Murphy had notice of the hearing. The order stated:

A defendant objecting to the total amount shown must file a motion for a restitution hearing with the Court Clerk, and serve a copy on the Prosecuting Attorney. Defendant must contact the Judge or the Judge’s bailiff to schedule a hearing on the motion.

On September 14, 1994, Murphy filed an objection that failed to state any grounds for his objection. No hearing was scheduled. On February 24, 1995, the trial court entered an amended ex parte order raising the total amount of restitution to $47,171.71. On November 12, 1997, in response to the State’s Notice of Violation, Murphy filed a motion to strike restitution. Murphy appeals the trial court’s denial of that motion.

HUNTER

Jeffrey Hunter pleaded guilty to burglary, and was sentenced on February 13, 1987. The court imposed restitution in an amount to he determined later “as established by separate order of this Court.” Sixty-six days after sentencing, the court entered an ex parte restitution order for $59,293.93. The record does not show that Hunter had notice of the hearing. The order stated:

A defendant objecting to the total amount shown must file a motion for a restitution hearing with the Court Clerk, and serve a copy on the Prosecuting Attorney. Defendant must contact the Judge or the Judge’s bailiff to schedule a hearing on the motion.

On May 6, 1987, Hunter filed an objection that failed to state any grounds for his objection. No hearing was [42]*42scheduled. On May 14, 1998, in response to the State’s Notice of Violation, Hunter filed a motion to strike restitution. In granting Hunter’s motion, the trial court held:

In Mr. Hunter’s case, the state failed to establish restitution within the statutory period. Mr. Hunter objected to the order. Therefore, the ex parte order did not establish the amount of restitution. Furthermore, by that time it was not possible for the court to establish restitution in a timely fashion. The ex parte restitution order should be vacated.

The State appeals the trial court’s order.

WASHINGTON

William Washington pleaded guilty to vehicular assault, and was sentenced on June 30, 1992. The court imposed restitution of $45, a $100 victim assessment, and $485 in recoupment for attorney fees, which total $630. Thirteen days later, the court entered an amended ex parte restitution order raising the total amount to $28,584.16. The record does not show that Washington had notice of the hearing. The order stated:

A defendant objecting to the total amount shown must file a motion for a restitution hearing with the Court Clerk, and serve a copy on the Prosecuting Attorney. Defendant must contact the Judge or the Judge’s bailiff to schedule a hearing on the motion.

On July 17, 1992, Washington filed an objection that failed to state any grounds for his objection. No hearing was scheduled. On May 6, 1998, in response to the State’s Notice of Violation, Washington filed a motion to strike restitution. In granting Washington’s motion, the trial court held that:

Pursuant to State v. Ryan, 78 Wn. App. 758, 899 P.2d 825 (1995), restitution is not determined until an objecting defendant receives a restitution hearing. In this case, the defendant filed an objection to the ex parte restitution order signed on July 10, 1992. Because no restitution hearing was provided within sixty days of sentencing, restitution has never been [43]*43“determined” under State v. Ryan. This restitution order was not a final, enforceable order.

Former RCW 9.94A. 142(1), which was in effect at the time this ex parte restitution order was signed, required that restitution be determined within sixty days of sentencing. Because it has been much longer than sixty days since sentencing, holding a restitution hearing today would serve no practical value. Similarly, because the remedy had expired by the time of any community supervision violation hearings, the defendant did not waive his objection.

The State appeals the trial court’s order which granted Washington’s motion to strike.

HASTINGS

Michael Hastings pleaded guilty to burglary, and was sentenced on January 11, 1994.

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Bluebook (online)
96 Wash. App. 36, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-burmaster-washctapp-1999.