State v. Ralph Vernon G.

950 P.2d 971, 90 Wash. App. 16, 1998 Wash. App. LEXIS 61
CourtCourt of Appeals of Washington
DecidedJanuary 27, 1998
Docket15467-0-III
StatusPublished
Cited by18 cases

This text of 950 P.2d 971 (State v. Ralph Vernon G.) 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. Ralph Vernon G., 950 P.2d 971, 90 Wash. App. 16, 1998 Wash. App. LEXIS 61 (Wash. Ct. App. 1998).

Opinions

Brown, J.

When the State amends an information the day before the date set for trial, adding new charges of sexual abuse involving additional victims, and the record shows the State was aware of the factual basis for the charges for nearly a month, is a defendant’s right to a speedy trial violated if the defendant must agree to a continuance beyond the speedy trial date to enable defense counsel to prepare to meet the new charges? We decide this violates the speedy trial provisions of CrR 3.3 and reverse.

We also decide whether the trial court abused its discretion by requiring Ralph G. to proceed with a Ryan1 hearing concerning the statements of D.G., a victim in one of the newly added charges, on the day before the original trial date immediately after the filing of the amended information. We decide because the court granted him a continuance at the end of thé State’s presentation of evidence, Mr. G. had an opportunity to meet and contest the admission of D.G.’s statements and attack their trustworthiness. Thus, any error relative to the newly added charges was cured by the continuance of both the Ryan hearing and the trial to a time within the speedy trial requirements. We therefore, affirm the trial court’s ruling admitting D.G’s statements to her therapist.

We also consider other contentions relating to witness tampering by influencing testimony without finding error. [19]*19Accordingly, we reverse the conviction for the original charges relating to T.W.G. and affirm the convictions for the new charges relating to D.G. and T.VG.

FACTS

Ralph G.’s three children were removed from the family home on May 30, 1995. In a physical examination of the three children in July, Dr. James Jantzen found evidence “suspicious for sexual abuse.” On July 12, the State filed an information charging Mr. G. with one count each of first-degree rape of a child and first-degree child molestation, relating to his 9-year-old son, T.WG. At Mr. G.’s arraignment on July 24, the court determined he was entitled to a speedy trial not later than September 22.

On August 16, caseworker Kate Carrow interviewed Mr. G.’s daughter, D.G., who disclosed her father had molested her. Police Detective Robert Perez and a deputy prosecutor were present at that interview. The next day, during an interview with their mother’s attorney, all three children gave similar statements.

Trial was scheduled for September 19, 1995. Counsel for Mr. G. first interviewed the children on September 11. On September 14, upon learning Mr. G. would not accept the State’s plea offer and would not waive his right to a speedy trial, the prosecutor informed Mr. G.’s attorney the State would be amending the information to add additional charges. The same day, the State filed a notice of intent to seek a Ryan hearing for the admission of D.G.’s hearsay statements to Ms. Carrow.

On September 18, the State filed an amended information adding one count of rape and two counts of child molestation involving Mr. G.’s other son, T.VG., and one count of first-degree child molestation involving his daughter, D.G. At the September 18 hearing, counsel for Mr. G. objected to the amendment of the information, stating he was not prepared to meet the additional charges and that Mr. G. would not waive his right to a speedy trial. He asked [20]*20to have the additional charges severed. The court denied the motions and arraigned Mr. G. on the additional charges.

Mr. G. also objected to proceeding with the Ryan hearing regarding D.G.’s hearsay statements. Although the prosecutor related he had advised Mr. G.’s attorney of the September 18 Ryan hearing, Mr. G.’s attorney advised the court that he had talked to the prosecutor the previous Thursday (September 14) about it and only received the written notice on that day or the following day. He further stated he was not prepared and renewed his request to sever the new charges. The court proceeded with the Ryan hearing and after taking the available evidence, following a discussion off the record in chambers, Mr. G. agreed to waive his right to a speedy trial on all counts. State v. Ryan, 103 Wn.2d 165, 691 P.2d 197 (1984). The court continued the Ryan hearing to allow Mr. G.’s attorney additional time for preparation. After taking additional evidence on October 16, the court determined that D.G.’s hearsay statements were admissible.

The three children testified at trial. Dr. Jantzen testified about his examination of the children and the physical evidence indicating they had been sexually abused. Ms. Car-row testified about her interview with D.G. and related D.G.’s statements indicating she had had sexual contact with her father. The jury found Mr. G. guilty of all six charges.

ANALYSIS

1. Speedy trial issue on original charges. Mr. G. contends the court, by permitting amendment of the information the day before trial, violated his right to a speedy trial. He is correct as to the original charges, but not so for the amended charges, as they were tried within the speedy trial limits as determined from the date of their filing.

The trial court is responsible for assuring a speedy trial under CrR 3.3. State v. Carson, 128 Wn.2d 805, 912 P.2d 1016 (1996). Failure to strictly comply with the speedy trial rule requires dismissal, regardless of whether the [21]*21defendant can show prejudice. State v. Greenwood, 57 Wn. App. 854, 860, 790 P.2d 1243 (1990), aff’d on other grounds, 120 Wn.2d 585, 845 P.2d 971 (1993); see State v. Helms, 72 Wn. App. 273, 275, 864 P.2d 23 (1993), review denied, 124 Wn.2d 1001 (1994). Defense counsel must assert a client’s speedy trial rights and attempt to assure compliance before the time for trial expires. Carson, 128 Wn.2d at 815.

When the State, without excuse, delays filing an amended information until a point when this action will compel the defendant to seek a continuance, the resulting period of delay is not excluded in calculating the time elapsed before trial under CrR 3.3. State v. Price, 94 Wn.2d 810, 814, 620 P.2d 994 (1980). This rule recognizes that the State may not, without excuse, compel defendants to choose between their right to assistance by an attorney who has had an opportunity to adequately prepare for trial, and their right to a speedy trial. Price, 94 Wn.2d at 814. The Supreme Court recently condemned similar prosecutorial delay that forced a defendant to waive his speedy trial right in order to prepare a defense:

[T]he State expressly admits that it had all of the information and evidence necessary to file all of the charges in July 1993. Despite this, the State delayed bringing the most serious of those charges for months, and did so only five days (three business days) before the scheduled trial. Even though the resulting prejudice to Defendant’s speedy trial right may not have been extreme, the State’s dealing with Defendant would appear unfair to any reasonable person.

State v. Michielli,

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State v. Ralph Vernon G.
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Bluebook (online)
950 P.2d 971, 90 Wash. App. 16, 1998 Wash. App. LEXIS 61, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-ralph-vernon-g-washctapp-1998.