State v. Eaton

177 P.3d 157
CourtCourt of Appeals of Washington
DecidedFebruary 12, 2008
Docket34911-6-II
StatusPublished
Cited by19 cases

This text of 177 P.3d 157 (State v. Eaton) 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. Eaton, 177 P.3d 157 (Wash. Ct. App. 2008).

Opinion

177 P.3d 157 (2008)

STATE of Washington, Respondent,
v.
Thomas Harry EATON, Appellant.

No. 34911-6-II.

Court of Appeals of Washington, Division 2.

February 12, 2008.

*158 Anne Mowry Cruser, Law Office of Anne Cruser, Vancouver, WA, for Appellant.

Michael C. Kinnie, Attorney at Law, Vancouver, WA, for Respondent.

BRIDGEWATER, P.J.

¶ 1 A jury convicted Thomas Eaton of one count of driving while under the influence (DUI) and one count of unlawful possession of a controlled substance, namely methamphetamine. Eaton does not appeal either of his underlying convictions, but argues that the trial court erred in imposing a sentence enhancement under RCW 9.94A.533(5) for possessing methamphetamine while in a county jail. Because officers discovered the methamphetamine only after Eaton had been arrested for DUI, transported to the county jail, and searched in the county jail, we hold that Eaton committed no actus reus, i.e., the voluntary act of possessing methamphetamine in a sentence enhancement zone. Therefore, we vacate the sentence enhancement and remand for resentencing.

FACTS

¶ 2 After arresting Eaton for DUI, a police officer transported Eaton to the Clark County jail, where another officer searched him. During this search, the officer observed "what appeared to be a plastic bag taped to the top of [Eaton's] sock." 1 RP at 99. Inside this plastic bag, the officers discovered methamphetamine. The State charged Eaton with one count of DUI and one count of possession of a controlled substance, namely methamphetamine, under RCW 69.50.4013(1).[1] Because Eaton possessed the methamphetamine while in a county jail or state correctional facility, the State sought a sentence enhancement for this count under RCW 9.94A.533(5)(c).[2]

¶ 3 Although Eaton disputed the applicability of the sentence enhancement, the trial court found that RCW 9.94A.533(5) "doesn't make a distinction about inside the facility." 2 RP at 157. The trial court explained:

As [the State] rightfully points out, he's inside the jail. Whether he's been admitted inside the jail or is walking through the *159 jail, he's inside the secure facility. He's under arrest. And he has possession. And if you read the statute, it says, mere possession inside the facility gives rise to the enhancement.

2 RP at 157. Thereafter, the trial court noted, "I'm going to have to go with the plain reading of the statute." 2 RP at 159.

¶ 4 The jury found Eaton guilty as charged, specially finding that he possessed methamphetamine while in a county jail or state correctional facility. Based on this finding, the State added 12 months to his standard sentence range. Thus, Eaton's standard sentence range increased from 0 to 6 months to 12 to 18 months. And the trial court sentenced him to 12 months and one day of confinement.

ANALYSIS

¶ 5 Eaton claims that the sentence enhancement under RCW 9.94A.533(5)(c), a zone-enhancement, cannot stand because he did not voluntarily introduce the methamphetamine into the county jail. "The State should not be allowed to physically force a subject into an enhancement zone and then be permitted to choose whether he will be penalized for possessing contraband in the enhancement zone or the non-enhancement zone in which his possession could also be established." Br. of Appellant at 8. We agree.[3]

¶ 6 We initially note that Eaton does not challenge the lawfulness of his DUI arrest, the reasonableness of the warrantless search under either the United States Constitution or the Washington State Constitution, or his conviction for possession of methamphetamine under RCW 69.50.4013(1). Therefore, our inquiry is limited to determining whether the legislature intended RCW 9.94A.533(5) to punish a defendant for his involuntary possession of a controlled substance in a county jail or state correctional facility. Our holding is strictly limited to this `enhancement statute, not RCW 9.94.041 (knowing possession of a narcotic drug or controlled substance by prisoners) or RCW 9.94.045 (knowing possession of a narcotic drug or controlled substance by a person not a prisoner).

¶ 7 In interpreting a statute, our primary duty is to discern and implement the legislature's intent. State v. J.P., 149 Wash.2d 444, 450, 69 P.3d 318 (2003). The starting point is always "`the statute's plain language and ordinary meaning.'" J.P., 149 Wash.2d at 450, 69 P.3d 318 (quoting Nat'l Elec. Contractors Ass'n v. Riveland, 138 Wash.2d 9, 19, 978 P.2d 481 (1999)). If the statute's meaning is plain on its face, then we must give effect to that meaning as an expression of what the legislature intended. State v. J.M., 144 Wash.2d 472, 480, 28 P.3d 720 (2001). Nevertheless, in interpreting a statute, we avoid unlikely, absurd, or strained consequences. State v. Stannard, 109 Wash.2d 29, 36, 742 P.2d 1244 (1987); Mortell v. State, 118 Wash.App. 846, 851, 78 P.3d 197 (2003).

¶ 8 Furthermore, as a general rule, every crime must contain two elements: (1) an actus reus and (2) a mens rea. State v. Utter, 4 Wash.App. 137, 139, 479 P.2d 946 (1971); see also United States v. Apfelbaura, 445 U.S. 115, 131, 100 S.Ct. 948, 63 L.Ed2d 250 (1980). The actus reus is "Mlle wrongful deed that comprises the physical components of a crime." Black's Law Dictionary 39 (8th ed.2004). The mens rea is "[t]he state of mind that the prosecution must prove that a defendant had when committing a crime." Black's Law Dictionary 1006 (8th ed.2004).

¶ 9 Some crimes, though, including the crime of possession of a controlled substance, have no mens rea requirement. See RCW 69.50.4013(1). Our Supreme Court has "specifically: construed the statute not to include knowledge." State v. Bradshaw, 152 Wash.2d 528, 538, 98 P.3d 1190 (2004), cert. denied, 544 U.S. 922, 125 S.Ct. 1662, 161 L.Ed.2d 480 (2005). Thus, the State simply has the burden of proving the nature of the controlled substance and the fact of possesion. *160

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Bluebook (online)
177 P.3d 157, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-eaton-washctapp-2008.