State v. Codiga

175 P.3d 1082
CourtWashington Supreme Court
DecidedJanuary 31, 2008
Docket79127-9
StatusPublished
Cited by43 cases

This text of 175 P.3d 1082 (State v. Codiga) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Washington Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Codiga, 175 P.3d 1082 (Wash. 2008).

Opinion

175 P.3d 1082 (2008)

STATE of Washington, Respondent,
v.
John Shannon CODIGA, Petitioner.

No. 79127-9.

Supreme Court of Washington, En Banc.

Argued September 25, 2007.
Decided January 31, 2008.

*1083 David N. Gasch, Gasch Law Office, Spokane, WA, for Petitioner.

John Dietrich Knodell, III, Grant County Prosecutor's Office, Teresa Jeanne Chen, Ephrata, WA, for Respondent.

*1084 BRIDGE, J.P.T.[*]

¶ 1 John Shannon Codiga pleaded guilty to three counts of first degree child molestation, in exchange for the dismissal of two additional counts. When he entered his plea, the prosecutor and the defense agreed (1) that Codiga had two prior felonies, (2) that one of the prior felonies had washed out, and (3) that his offender score was seven. The presentence investigation report from the Department of Corrections (DOC), however, uncovered several misdemeanor convictions. Based on these misdemeanor convictions, the report concluded that neither felony had washed out and that the proper offender score was eight, thereby increasing the standard sentencing range. Codiga seeks to withdraw his guilty plea based on mutual mistake. Codiga also asserts that he did not knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily plead guilty because the trial judge did not orally confirm that Codiga understood several of the elements of his plea.

¶ 2 Discovery of additional criminal history, rather than legal error, caused the increased offender score in this case. Codiga's plea form contains a clause that plainly provides that Codiga assumed the risk that the discovery of additional criminal history would increase his standard sentencing range. The record also establishes that Codiga understood the nature of the charges, the application of the law to the facts in this case, and the specific consequences of his plea. We therefore affirm the Court of Appeals.

I

Facts and Procedural History

¶ 3 In 2004, Codiga's nine-year-old and sixyear-old nieces disclosed that he had sexually abused them. The nine year old described six to eight instances, while the six year old said it had happened twice. Codiga agreed to speak with detectives and admitted to having had sexual contact with both girls. He admitted that the girls' descriptions were accurate, but claimed he had had sexual contact with the older girl only three times and with the younger girl twice. Codiga signed a written statement to that effect. Codiga was charged with five counts of child molestation in the first degree, pursuant to RCW 9A.44.083. Codiga agreed to plead guilty to three counts in exchange for dismissal of the remaining two.

¶ 4 Codiga's written statement of the defendant on the plea of guilty (plea form) recites the elements of each count. Instead of making a statement in the plea form, Codiga agreed that the court could review the police reports and statement of probable cause to establish a factual basis for the plea. Those documents, including a statement signed by Codiga, contain facts that meet the elements of the crimes listed in the plea form.

¶ 5 The plea form also lists the prosecuting attorney's statement of Codiga's criminal history. It includes only a 1997 conviction for manufacturing marijuana by complicity. The form provides, "[u]nless I have attached a different statement, I agree that the prosecuting attorney's statement is correct and complete." Clerk's Papers (CP) at 9. It defines criminal history as "prior convictions and juvenile adjudications or convictions, whether in this state, in federal court, or elsewhere." Id.[1]

¶ 6 Based on the listed criminal history, the plea form explains that the offender score for each count was seven, the standard range for each count would be 108-144 months, and the maximum term would be life. The form also provides:

If I am convicted of any new crimes before sentencing, or if any additional criminal history is discovered, both the standard sentence range and the prosecuting attorney's recommendation may increase. Even so, my plea of guilty to this charge is binding upon me. I cannot change my mind if additional criminal history is discovered even though the standard sentencing range and the prosecuting attorney's recommendation increase or a mandatory *1085 sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole is required by law.

Id. at 9 (emphasis added). This language tracks language contained in the plea forms set forth in CrR 4.2(g). Because this was a sex offense committed after 2001, the plea form explains that the judge would impose a maximum term of confinement consisting of the statutory maximum sentence. The judge would also impose a minimum term of confinement within the standard range. The minimum term could then be increased by the Indeterminate Sentencing Review Board. In addition, after confinement but before the expiration of the maximum sentence, Codiga would be subject to community custody.

¶ 7 The plea form reflects that the prosecutor would make no sentencing recommendation in this case. The form also explains that the judge would determine whether Codiga was eligible for the special sex offender sentencing alternative (SSOSA). The plea form recites, "I understand that if the PSI [pre-sentence investigation] writer, victim, or other interested party does not agree with the State's sentencing recommendations, it will not be grounds for me to withdraw from this agreement."

¶ 8 At the plea hearing, the following exchange took place regarding Codiga's criminal history:

[Prosecutor]: Mr. Codiga has one prior— we believe one prior felony out of this court in '97, it's a B felony, so we believe that he has one point There may be another Class C felony that predates that one by a year, but that one we believe would wash out.
[Defense Counsel]: That's correct.
[Prosecutor]: So that is not included on the statement. With that, your Honor, there is an offender score of seven. He's very close to the top end of the range. It's 108 to 144 months.

Report of Proceedings (RP) (Nov. 30, 2004) at 4-5.

¶ 9 At the end of the plea hearing the judge spoke directly with Codiga. The judge recited the charges. He also confirmed that Codiga had read the plea form carefully and that he had had a full opportunity to discuss the plea with his attorney. The judge then confirmed that Codiga understood he was giving up his right to trial by jury, the right to a jury determination of facts supporting an exceptional sentence, the right to hear and see evidence against him, the right to examine witnesses against him, the right to call witnesses, the right to remain silent, the right to testify, the right to a burden of proof beyond a reasonable doubt, and the right to appeal. With regard to the anticipated sentence, the judge explained that he would not be bound by any recommendation and was free to impose any sentence allowed by law. The court then confirmed that no one had pressured Codiga to enter this plea, Codiga believed the plea to be in his best legal interest, Codiga did not need more time to consult with his lawyer, and he had no questions for the judge. Codiga pleaded guilty to each of the three counts. The judge found that the plea was knowing, intelligent, and voluntary. The judge also noted that Codiga had adopted the probable cause statement and additionally stipulated that there was a sufficient factual basis for the plea.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
175 P.3d 1082, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-codiga-wash-2008.