State v. Hosier

103 P.3d 217
CourtCourt of Appeals of Washington
DecidedDecember 20, 2004
Docket51972-7-I
StatusPublished
Cited by7 cases

This text of 103 P.3d 217 (State v. Hosier) 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. Hosier, 103 P.3d 217 (Wash. Ct. App. 2004).

Opinion

103 P.3d 217 (2004)
124 Wash.App. 696

STATE of Washington, Respondent,
v.
Richard Leon HOSIER, Appellant.

No. 51972-7-I.

Court of Appeals of Washington, Division 1.

December 20, 2004.

*219 Eric Nielsen, Sea., WA, for Appellant.

Seth Fine, Everett, WA, for Respondent.

APPELWICK, J.

Richard Hosier was convicted of two counts of communication with a minor for immoral purposes (CMIP), one count of attempted CMIP, and two counts of harassment. The convictions were based on sexually explicit messages Hosier wrote, and placed where it was likely that children and/or young women would find them. Hosier challenges his convictions on all five counts on the grounds that there is insufficient evidence to support them. He also challenges the trial court's denial of his motion to suppress evidence found during a search of his residence pursuant to a search warrant. We affirm.

FACTS

On May 2, 2002, several three- and four-year-old children notified staff at the Kids N Us Day Care (day care) that they had found a pair of girl's underwear on the chain link fence that encircled the day care's playground. The following message was written on the underwear:

I love baby sitting this little girl 7 yr old and already as nasty as most big girls ever get she does everything but fuck and real soon I'll be getting it all she is ready and willing just got to open up the gold mine to heaven ... daddy.

On June 24, 2002, Mr. Smith, whose house was across the street from Hosier's residence, was mowing his yard when he discovered two notes on the grass. One note read "I love to eat young fat girls pussys (sic)." The second note read: "Has your pussy ever played with by a stranger who just wanted to be as nasty as he could get. Baby I want to play with yours right now while I stick my tounge (sic) in and out of your tight asshole."

Smith notified the police. Based on a comparison of the notes with samples of Hosier's handwriting on file from his registration as a sex offender, a handwriting examiner opined that there was a 75 percent chance that Hosier had written the notes. Smith was worried that the notes were intended for his 13- year-old daughter, M.S., who frequently played on the lawn and had been playing on the lawn earlier that day.

On July 15, 2002, a teacher at the day care found a second pair of underwear in the day care parking lot. Written on them was the message, "She said she liked me to play with pussy and let me lick and suck on it to (sic) so nice and sweet."

On July 29, 2002, a student at the Everett School of Cosmetology (cosmetology school) found a note in the school's designated smoking area which read:

I want to catch some real young girls and take them someplace where I can do anything I want to them!!!! (At least 2)
First I would tie them up between eather (sic) trees or stakes cut all thier (sic) clothing off of them and play with thier (sic) pussys licking, sucking, maybe even finger fucking them.
Then I'd make them play with each other eating pussys. Just being real nasty with each other.
I'd get all kinds of kinky toys to play with and make movies of them useing (sic) them on each other I'd keep them for at least (sic) a week and do everything to them. Spankings all kinds of things in thier (sic) pussys ass holes, and mouthes (sic). When I had thier (sic) pussys stretched big enough to put my whole hand in side them open and close it
I'd let them go.

On July 31, 2002, an employee at a Bartell Drug Store in Everett (Bartells) found a note *220 near a cash register which read, "I love licking the tight little ass hole of a young girl — slipping my tounge (sic) in and out while I finger fuck her pussy." Ms. Swint, a student at the cosmetology school, who sometimes smoked in the designated smoking area, also worked at Bartells. She was the only student at the school who also worked at the store, which was approximately a twenty minute drive from the school.

On August 1, 2002, Hosier was arrested. Also on August 1, 2002, the police sought and received a warrant to search Hosier's residence. In a taped interview with the police, Hosier admitted to putting the notes on the Smith's lawn, and stated that the note about the fat girl was intended for M.S. On January 31, 2003, Hosier was charged by second amended information with three counts of CMIP and two counts of harassment. For each of the three CMIP counts, the State alleged that Hosier had a prior conviction for a felony sex offense, rendering the charged counts felonies. The two harassment charges were misdemeanors.

Prior to trial, Hosier filed a motion to suppress the evidence obtained in the search of his residence. The trial court denied his motion. Following a bench trial, Hosier was convicted of two counts of CMIP, one count of attempted CMIP and two counts of harassment. The trial court sentenced Hosier to 60 months in prison and two years of probation for each of the three misdemeanors on his convictions. Hosier appeals.

ANALYSIS

I. Communication with a Minor for Immoral Purposes

Hosier asserts that there was insufficient evidence before the trial court to support his convictions for CMIP and attempted CMIP under RCW 9.68A.090.

A criminal conviction violates a defendant's constitutional right to due process unless each element is supported by sufficient evidence. State v. Green, 94 Wash.2d 216, 221, 616 P.2d 628 (1980). Where the sufficiency of evidence is challenged, this court on review determines whether a reasonable finder of fact could find that the challenged element of the charged crime was proved beyond a reasonable doubt. Green, 94 Wash.2d at 220-21, 616 P.2d 628. The evidence is taken in the light most favorable to the state. Green, 94 Wash.2d at 221, 616 P.2d 628.

RCW 9.68A.090 is part of a legislative effort to prohibit sexual misconduct. State v. McNallie, 120 Wash.2d 925, 931, 846 P.2d 1358 (1993). The statute states:

A person who communicates with a minor for immoral purposes is guilty of a gross misdemeanor, unless that person has previously been convicted under this section or of a felony sexual offense under chapter 9.68A., 9A.44, or 9A.64 RCW or of any other felony sexual offense in this or any other state, in which case the person is guilty of a class C felony punishable under chapter 9A.20 RCW.

Chapter 9.68A RCW provides ample notice of the Legislature's intent to prohibit sexual exploitation and misconduct with persons under the age of eighteen. McNallie, 120 Wash.2d at 932-33, 846 P.2d 1358. It "prohibits communication with children for the predatory purpose of promoting their exposure to and involvement in sexual misconduct." McNallie, 120 Wash.2d at 933, 846 P.2d 1358.

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Bluebook (online)
103 P.3d 217, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-hosier-washctapp-2004.