State v. Smith

120 P.3d 559
Washington Supreme Court·Decided September 29, 2005·No. 75928-6·Published·Cited by 93 cases

Opinion

120 P.3d 559 (2005)
155 Wash.2d 496

STATE of Washington, Respondent,
v.
Calvin M. SMITH, Petitioner.

No. 75928-6.

Supreme Court of Washington, En Banc.

Argued June 23, 2005.
Decided September 29, 2005.

*560 Eric Broman, Nielsen Broman & Koch PLLC, Seattle, for Petitioner.

Carla Barbieri Carlstrom, King County Prosecutor's Office, Seattle, for Respondent.

Cherilyn Gayle Church, Kenmore, for Amicus Curiae Washington Defender Association.

J.M. JOHNSON, J.

¶ 1 Petitioner Calvin Smith challenges on several grounds a Court of Appeals decision affirming his conviction for driving while license suspended or revoked (DWLS in the first degree) due to being found an habitual traffic offender. We hold that there is insufficient evidence to support a necessary element of that crime. Accordingly, we reverse and remand to vacate the conviction and dismiss the charge with prejudice.

I. FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

¶ 2 On May 7, 2002, Smith led police on a lengthy, high-speed car chase after they attempted to arrest him as a "wanted fugitive." Clerk's Papers (CP) (51817-8-I) at 3. The State subsequently charged Smith with numerous criminal charges,[1] including, as is relevant here, one count of DWLS in the first degree pursuant to RCW 46.20.342(1)(a). Specifically, the amended information alleged that "Smith ... did drive a motor vehicle in this state while his ... privilege to do so was suspended ... in this or any other state due to being found a habitual traffic offender." CP (51816-0-I) at 12.

¶ 3 At trial, the State offered into evidence as exhibit two a certified statement from the records custodian at the Department of Licensing (DOL). In pertinent part, the exhibit asserted that Smith "[h]ad not reinstated his ... driving privilege. Was suspended/revoked in the first degree. Subject was not *561 eligible to reinstate his ... driving privilege on the above date of arrest." State's Ex. 2.

¶ 4 When the State offered the exhibit into evidence, Smith's lawyer objected to "foundation" but was overruled. Verbatim Report of Proceedings (VRP) (Aug. 21, 2002) at 160. Despite the exhibit's statement that certain portions of Smith's driving record were attached, including an order of revocation for Smith's license, no records were attached or offered into evidence.

¶ 5 Later during trial, Smith engaged in the following exchange about the car chase with the prosecutor:

Q. You didn't stop your car?
A. Yeah, I do.
Q. Okay. You do. You don't stop when they're trying to arrest you?
A. Yeah, I do.
Q. Completely cooperative?
A. Yeah, that's why I'm suspended in the first degree.
Q. That's why you were suspended in the first degree?
A. Yeah, for driving.
Q. So you acknowledge on May 7th your license was suspended in the first degree?
A. Right.

VRP (Aug. 27, 2002) at 514-15.

¶ 6 Additionally, Smith's counsel stated during closing argument:

Driving with license suspended in the first degree is clearly set forth and in this case as an example in this charge there really isn't any dispute. The only evidence you have on this point is that the privilege to drive is bestowed upon the citizens of the State of Washington and by certain actions it is taken away. You have a set of facts that you can agree on because there's no reason not to agree. The State has met its burden. The State has proved to you beyond a reasonable doubt because nothing has been raised in evidence to create a doubt that he did not have the privilege to drive.

Id. at 548.

¶ 7 The judge instructed the jury that to convict Smith of DWLS in the first degree, it must find that on May 7, 2002, "the defendant's privilege to drive was suspended or revoked in the first degree."[2] CP (51816-0-I) at 40. The jury found Smith guilty, and the Court of Appeals affirmed. State v. Smith, 122 Wash.App. 699, 94 P.3d 1014 (2004). Smith then petitioned this court for review,[3] which we granted.

II. STANDARD OF REVIEW

¶ 8 When considering facts in a challenge to sufficiency of the evidence, courts will draw all inferences from the evidence in favor of the State and against the defendant. State v. Salinas, 119 Wash.2d 192, 201, 829 P.2d 1068 (1992). A reviewing court will reverse a conviction for insufficient evidence only where no rational trier of fact could find that all elements of the crime were proved beyond a reasonable doubt. Id.

¶ 9 We address questions of statutory construction de novo. State v. Roggenkamp, 153 Wash.2d 614, 621, 106 P.3d 196 (2005)

*562 III. ANALYSIS

A. Hearsay Challenge

¶ 10 Smith first asserts that exhibit two, the statement from the DOL custodian of records, was improperly admitted into evidence because it contained hearsay not within the scope of any exception. We would normally address this rule-based argument first before addressing the constitutional questions raised by Smith. See State v. Hall, 95 Wash.2d 536, 539, 627 P.2d 101 (1981). However, we do not reach the merits of Smith's hearsay argument because the issue was not properly preserved at trial.[4]See RAP 2.5(a).

¶ 11 When the State moved to admit exhibit two into evidence, Smith's counsel merely objected to "foundation." This is insufficient to preserve a hearsay objection for appeal. State v. Guloy, 104 Wash.2d 412, 422, 705 P.2d 1182 (1985); State v. Avendano-Lopez, 79 Wash.App. 706, 710, 904 P.2d 324 (1995); City of Seattle v. Carnell, 79 Wash.App. 400, 403, 902 P.2d 186 (1995).

¶ 12 As the State argued here, the judge reasonably reviewed the exhibit "to determine whether it had the appropriate seal from the State of Washington to establish its authenticity under ER 902." Suppl. Br. of Resp't at 11 n. 8. Having no objection requiring him to rule on hearsay, the judge allowed the exhibit into evidence.

B. Sufficiency of the Evidence

¶ 13 Smith next contends that there is insufficient evidence to prove an essential element of the crime. In a criminal prosecution, due process requires the State to prove every element of the charged crime beyond a reasonable doubt. State v. Teal, 152 Wash.2d 333, 337, 96 P.3d 974 (2004); In re Winship, 397 U.S. 358, 361-64, 90 S.Ct. 1068, 25 L.Ed.2d 368 (1970).[5]

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State v. Smith, 120 P.3d 559 (Wash. 2005).

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