State v. Rawson

971 P.2d 578, 94 Wash. App. 293
CourtCourt of Appeals of Washington
DecidedFebruary 12, 1999
Docket22951-0-II, 22952-8-II
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 971 P.2d 578 (State v. Rawson) 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. Rawson, 971 P.2d 578, 94 Wash. App. 293 (Wash. Ct. App. 1999).

Opinion

Bridgewater, C.J.

— Daniel S. Rawson appeals orders amending his sentences for firearm and drug convictions to include 12 months’ community placement. Because Raw-son was not explicitly informed that community placement was mandatory, we reverse and remand for him to withdraw his guilty pleas.

The State charged Rawson with two firearm and two drug offenses arising out of an October 7, 1996, incident. While he was free on bail, he was arrested on October 22 and subsequently charged with another drug offense. After losing his suppression motion relating to the earlier charge, Rawson entered a Newton plea to reduced charges: possession of a firearm in the first degree and possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine). State v. Newton, 87 Wn.2d 363, 552 P.2d 682 (1976). At the same time, he also entered a Newton plea to the methamphetamine charge arising from the latter arrest. In exchange for his pleas, the State agreed to recommend that all three sentences run concurrently and it would recommend 102 months for the firearm conviction. Rawson’s offender score was 8, and the standard range for possession of a firearm in the first degree, with this score, was 77 to 102 months.

When Rawson entered the Newton pleas, the trial court did not inform him that, under ROW 9.94A.120(9)(a), the court was required to impose 12 months’ community placement. 1 But his plea forms contained the following paragraph, which was not stricken:

*295 In addition to confinement, the Judge may sentence me to community placement for at least 1 year. During the period of community placement, I will be under the supervision of the Department of Corrections, and I will have restrictions placed on my activities. (If not applicable, this paragraph should be stricken and initialed by the defendant and the Judge.)

In addition, Rawson’s attorney stated that he went over “each and every paragraph” of the forms with Rawson, and “[w]e have stricken the paragraphs that do not apply.”

Rawson asked for an exceptional sentence below the standard range. The court imposed the two judgments and concurrent sentences, with the longer sentence amounting to 90 months. The court did not impose the mandatory community placement in either sentence.

A few months later, the Department of Corrections notified the court of the discrepancy. On motion by the prosecutor, the court amended the sentences to provide for community placement. The orders were entered nunc pro tunc to the date of the original sentencing. Rawson, speaking on his own behalf, objected and requested that he be allowed to file certain motions and to withdraw his guilty plea. The court denied his request.

A defendant may withdraw a guilty plea if the defendant is not explicitly informed of mandatory community placement. State v. Ross, 129 Wn.2d 279, 284-86, 916 P.2d 405 (1996). “Mandatory community placement produces a definite immediate and automatic effect on a defendant’s range of punishment.” Id. at 284. A defendant is unable to enter an intelligent, voluntary plea when the defendant is not informed that mandatory community placement will be imposed. Id. at 287-88.

In Ross, the defendant was sentenced with the aid of an outdated plea form lacking a community placement warning. 129 Wn.2d at 282. Ordinarily, a defendant receives a plea form indicating, in appropriate cases: “In addition to confinement, the judge will sentence me to community *296 placement for at least 1 year. . . .” See CrR 4.2(g)(6)(k). In Ross, the trial court did not address the mandatory community placement during its colloquy with the defendant. 129 Wn.2d at 283. The trial court imposed an 89-month sentence but then the court added the 12-month mandatory community placement and certain other conditions recommended by the presentence investigator. Id. Ross moved to withdraw his guilty plea as involuntary under CrR 4.2. Id.

Part of the Supreme Court’s rationale in Ross included consideration that the defendant’s total sentence (after the addition of community placement) exceeded the term of his plea agreement:

The plea to which Defendant agreed was not the plea the State now seeks to enforce. Defendant signed a plea agreement believing the State was recommending a total sentence of 89 months, not 101 months. More significantly, mandatory community placement enhanced Defendant’s minimum sentence and altered the standard of punishment applicable. Although Defendant knew the State’s recommendation did not bind the trial court, he claims he would not have agreed to such a plea.

129 Wn.2d at 287-88. Because the addition of the mandatory 12 months’ community placement increased Ross’ total sentence beyond the Staté’s recommendation in the plea agreement, the Supreme Court concluded that Ross had not entered an intelligent, voluntary plea. Ross, 129 Wn.2d at 287-88.

The Supreme Court refined its position in State v. Acevedo, 137 Wn.2d 179, 970 P.2d 299 (1999). There, the court held that community placement was not a direct consequence of the defendant’s plea because he was an undocumented alien and would be deported upon his release from prison. Id. at 196, 203. For an error to be a manifest constitutional error, the defendant must identify the error to show actual prejudice. Id. at 194.

The court established a threshold inquiry: Did the plea *297 form omit the community placement warning and did the defendant state that he would not have agreed to plead “guilty” if he had been informed of that requirement? Acevedo, 137 Wn.2d at 202-03. If that threshold is reached, then the record should be examined to determine the materiality of the omission and statement by the defendant. “If the mandatory community placement produces a ‘definite, immediate and automatic effect on a defendant’s range of punishment,’ the term of community placement will be considered a true direct consequence of a defendant’s plea of guilty.” Id. at 203.

Here, the State asserts that Ross may be distinguished because, in Ross, the plea form contained no mention of community placement. In addition, the State notes that Rawson’s attorney stated that he went over “each and every paragraph” of the form with Rawson, and “[w]e have stricken the paragraphs that do not apply.” Thus, the State urges an inference that mandatory community placement was explained to Rawson by his attorney. Finally, the State suggests, even if the warnings to Rawson were inadequate, the error was harmless. Rawson was originally sentenced to 90 months, 12 months less than the high end of the standard range, 102 months. In the plea bargain, Rawson agreed that the State would recommend 102 months.

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Related

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971 P.2d 578, 94 Wash. App. 293, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-rawson-washctapp-1999.