State v. Sheets

128 Wash. App. 149
CourtCourt of Appeals of Washington
DecidedJune 21, 2005
DocketNo. 22926-2-III
StatusPublished
Cited by10 cases

This text of 128 Wash. App. 149 (State v. Sheets) 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. Sheets, 128 Wash. App. 149 (Wash. Ct. App. 2005).

Opinions

¶1 When a mistrial is granted without the defendant’s consent and after jeopardy has attached, a [152]*152retrial is barred by double jeopardy principles unless the mistrial was justified by a “ ‘manifest necessity.’ ” State v. Graham, 91 Wn. App. 663, 667, 960 P.2d 457 (1998) (quoting State v. Eldridge, 17 Wn. App. 270, 276, 562 P.2d 276 (1977)). Jayson P Sheets was charged with attempted second degree rape. During the trial, a State’s witness testified that the victim appeared intoxicated and he further testified that he based this opinion upon his perception that the victim had been flirting with him. Arguing that the testimony violated RCW 9A.44.020, the rape shield statute, the State successfully requested that the court declare a mistrial. We hold a mistrial over Mr. Sheets’s objection was improper because there was not a manifest necessity for the mistrial. Because a retrial is barred by double jeopardy principles, we reverse and remand to the trial court for the entry of an order of dismissal with prejudice.

Kurtz, J.

[152]*152FACTS

¶2 After celebrating a birthday at a local restaurant and bar, T.M. and her friends returned to Ryan Young and Jared Campbell’s apartment. While there, T.M. became sleepy and asked to sleep in Mr. Young’s bed. Mr. Young agreed to give his bed to T.M. for the night.

¶3 Sometime after T.M. went to sleep, Mr. Young met Mr. Sheets at a nearby convenience store. The two bought beer and returned to Mr. Young’s apartment. They drank the beer and then Mr. Young went to sleep on the couch. Mr. Young thought Mr. Sheets was either going to take a cab home or sleep at the apartment, something he had done numerous times before.

¶4 Early the next morning, T.M. awoke and discovered Mr. Sheets on top of her. Both were naked from the waist down. T.M. exited the bedroom and told the other individuals at the apartment what happened. When Mr. Campbell confronted Mr. Sheets, he denied forcing himself on T.M. Mr. Sheets was charged with attempted second degree rape.

[153]*153¶5 During opening statements at trial, counsel for Mr. Sheets mentioned T.M. flirting with Mr. Young on the night in question. A side bar was held. The court then instructed the jury to disregard this statement.

¶6 The State called Mr. Young. During cross-examination, Mr. Sheets’s counsel asked Mr. Young if he had a girl friend, for the apparent purpose of establishing why Mr. Young had not slept in the same bed as T.M. The inquiry caused the prosecutor to call for another side bar to confirm that the parties were “still operating under the understanding that the rape shield law [was] in effect.” Report of Proceedings (RP) at 241. Later in the cross-examination, defense counsel questioned Mr. Young about T.M.’s degree of intoxication. He asked:

Q Did you see anything to indicate that [T.M.] was exceptionally intoxicated that evening?
A Yes.
Q What?
A She had fallen down the stairs.
Q Was that the first time that you noticed that she might have been more intoxicated than the others?
ANo. Like I said we had been friends all through high school. And that night when we had gotten home, she was pretty flirtatious towards me.
Q The time that she went down the stairs—

RP at 244-45. The prosecutor then requested another side bar, stating: “It looks like we have a redo on our hands.” RP at 245.

¶7 Initially, the court indicated that it would provide the jury with a limiting instruction. After listening to counsel, the court ordered a recess to consider the issue. At that time, both the prosecutor and defense counsel stated they did not want a mistrial. The court returned, deciding not to call a mistrial. The prosecutor then requested to make a record, arguing “it will be a manifest [injustice] if a mistrial is not declared in this case.” RP at 251-52. Defense counsel had “nothing further to add.” RP at 252. The court then [154]*154changed its mind, concluding the jury “wouldn’t hear anything” and declared a mistrial. RP at 252.

¶8 Mr. Sheets unsuccessfully requested dismissal of the charge against him based on double jeopardy. This appeal follows.

ANALYSIS

¶9 This court reviews a trial court’s order denying a motion to dismiss for manifest abuse of discretion. State v. Gary J.E., 99 Wn. App. 258, 261, 991 P.2d 1220 (2000) (citing State v. Hanna, 123 Wn.2d 704, 715, 871 P.2d 135 (1994)). “A trial court abuses its discretion if its decision is based on untenable grounds or is made for untenable reasons.” State v. Andrews, 66 Wn. App. 804, 810, 832 P.2d 1373 (1992) (citing Davis v. Globe Mach. Mfg. Co., 102 Wn.2d 68, 77, 684 P.2d 692 (1984)).

¶10 A retrial is permitted when the mistrial is based on a “manifest necessity.” State v. Melton, 97 Wn. App. 327, 331, 983 P.2d 699 (1999). “The trial judge is Vested with broad discretionary power to determine whether a trial should be aborted prior to verdict.’ ” Id. at 331-32 (quoting Eldridge, 17 Wn. App at 276-77). However, the court must “engage in a ‘ “scrupulous exercise of judicial discretion” ’ before foreclosing a defendant’s ‘ “valued right to have his trial completed by a particular tribunal.” ’ ” Id. at 332 (quoting State v. Browning, 38 Wn. App. 772, 775, 689 P.2d 1108 (1984) and Arizona v. Washington, 434 U.S. 497, 519, 98 S. Ct. 824, 54 L. Ed. 2d 717 (1978)) (footnote omitted). Moreover, a court’s discretion is not so wide when the State seeks a mistrial over the defendant’s objection; in those circumstances, “ ‘extraordinary and striking circumstances’ must exist before the judge’s discretion can come into play.” State v. Jones, 97 Wn.2d 159, 164, 641 P.2d 708 (1982).

¶11 A basic tenet of our constitutional freedoms is the prohibition against a second trial for the same offense: No person shall be “twice put in jeopardy of life or limb” for the [155]*155same offense. U.S. Const, amend V. Mirroring the federal constitution, article I, section 9 of the Washington Constitution provides: “No person shall... be twice put in jeopardy for the same offense.”

¶12 Once a jury has been empanelled and sworn, jeopardy attaches. Once jeopardy has attached, the court must determine whether a retrial is barred.

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Bluebook (online)
128 Wash. App. 149, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-sheets-washctapp-2005.