Opinion
No. 36978-1-III
04-08-2021
STATE of Washington, Respondent, v. Johnathon James HANCOCK, Appellant.
Gregory Charles Link, Washington Appellate Project, 1511 3rd Ave., Ste. 610, Seattle, WA, 98101-1683, for Appellant. Larry D. Steinmetz, Brett Ballock Pearce, Spokane County Prosecutor's Office, 1100 W. Mallon Ave., Spokane, WA, 99260-2043, for Respondent.
Gregory Charles Link, Washington Appellate Project, 1511 3rd Ave., Ste. 610, Seattle, WA, 98101-1683, for Appellant.
Larry D. Steinmetz, Brett Ballock Pearce, Spokane County Prosecutor's Office, 1100 W. Mallon Ave., Spokane, WA, 99260-2043, for Respondent.
PUBLISHED OPINION
Pennell, C.J. ¶ 1 Johnathon Hancock appeals his convictions for first degree child rape and first degree child molestation. He argues convictions for both offenses violate his right to be free from double jeopardy and that the trial court should have excluded the child witness from testifying based on incompetence. We disagree. Mr. Hancock's two convictions were imposed under different statutes and were justified by different evidence. In addition, the trial court had a tenable basis for its competency decision. The judgment of conviction is affirmed.
FACTS
¶ 2 In 2016, four-year-old K.F. reported being sexually assaulted by her mother's friend, an individual eventually identified as Johnathon Hancock. K.F. disclosed multiple instances of abuse occurring over a period of time. Some incidents involved penetration, others did not.
To protect the privacy interests of K.F., a minor, we use her initials throughout this opinion. Gen. Order 2012-1 of Division III, In re the Use of Initials or Pseudonyms for Child Victims or Child Witnesses , (Wash. Ct. App. June 18, 2012), https://www.courts.wa.gov/appellate_trial_courts/?fa=atc.genorders_orddisp&ordnumber=2012_001&div=III.
¶ 3 In 2018, the State charged Mr. Hancock with one count of first degree child rape and one count of first degree child molestation. Both counts covered the same time period: January 1, 2016 to September 1, 2016. Trial did not take place until 2019, when K.F. was seven years old.
¶ 4 At the outset of trial, the court held a hearing to determine K.F.’s competence and the admissibility of child hearsay statements. K.F. testified at the hearing, along with other witnesses. During her testimony, K.F. could not make an in-court identification of Mr. Hancock or recall any acts of sexual assault. However, she did recall other details about her life occurring during the time period in question. After hearing from the witnesses, the trial court ruled K.F. was presumed competent and the defense had not met its burden of showing otherwise. The court also admitted K.F.’s hearsay statements over Mr. Hancock's objection.
¶ 5 The jury convicted Mr. Hancock as charged. Mr. Hancock now appeals. ANALYSIS
Double jeopardy
¶ 6 Mr. Hancock argues his two convictions encompass the same offense in violation of his right to be free from double jeopardy. We disagree.
¶ 7 Both the United States Constitution and Washington State Constitution protect the right of individuals to be free from double jeopardy. U.S. CONST. amend. V, XIV ; WASH. CONST. art. I, § 9. The three components of this protection are: (1) the right not to be prosecuted a second time for the same offense after acquittal, (2) the right to be free from a second prosecution for the same offense after conviction, and (3) the right not to be punished multiple times for the same offense. State v. Fuller , 185 Wash.2d 30, 33-34, 367 P.3d 1057 (2016). The third component is at issue here.
The fact that multiple punishments are ordered to run concurrently does not change the double jeopardy analysis. State v. Calle , 125 Wash.2d 769, 773, 888 P.2d 155 (1995).
¶ 8 The right to be free from multiple punishments is a unique constitutional protection. The State has broad authority to extract multiple punishments for the same conduct. State v. Villanueva-Gonzalez , 180 Wash.2d 975, 980, 329 P.3d 78 (2014). Double jeopardy provides no defense, so long as multiple punishments are consistent with legislative intent. Id . The question presented by a double jeopardy/multiple punishment challenge is, therefore, purely a matter of statutory interpretation. Id . The constitutional hook is that unlike other statutory rights, a double jeopardy challenge can be raised for the first time on appeal. See State v. Adel , 136 Wash.2d 629, 631-32, 965 P.2d 1072 (1998).
¶ 9 When analyzing legislative intent, our reference point is statutory language. State v. Freeman , 153 Wash.2d 765, 771-72, 108 P.3d 753 (2005). If the legislature has expressly authorized multiple punishments for the same offense, then our analysis ends; double jeopardy is no bar to multiple punishments. The prime example of express legislative intent is the anti-merger provision in Washington's burglary statute, RCW 9A.52.050. This provision "explicitly provides that burglary shall be punished separately from any related crime." Freeman , 153 Wash.2d at 772, 108 P.3d 753. Unfortunately, the legislature does not generally provide express intent. Thus, the double jeopardy analysis must go further.
¶ 10 Our courts have developed a multi-pronged, cyclical test for discerning legislative intent in the double jeopardy context. The test is complex and its components are frequently misapplied. A road map is in order.
¶ 11 The rules for analyzing legislative intent in the double jeopardy context depend on the type of claim at issue. When a defendant challenges multiple convictions under the same statute, double jeopardy turns on the unit of prosecution analysis. See, e.g. , Villanueva-Gonzalez , 180 Wash.2d at 980-81, 329 P.3d 78. But when, as here, a defendant is challenging convictions under more than one statute, double jeopardy looks to the same evidence test. In re Pers. Restraint of Borrero , 161 Wash.2d 532, 536-37, 167 P.3d 1106 (2007).
The unit of prosecution analysis asks whether the legislature intended to punish a course of conduct or separate discrete acts. Villanueva-Gonzalez , 180 Wash.2d at 982, 329 P.3d 78. Double jeopardy does not prohibit the State from filing multiple counts under the same statute to cover several discrete acts; however, in such circumstances double jeopardy generally requires the jury to be instructed that its verdict on each count must be based on separate and distinct acts. State v. Mutch , 171 Wash.2d 646, 662, 254 P.3d 803 (2011).
¶ 12 The same evidence test mirrors the test outlined by the United States Supreme Court in Blockburger v. United States , 284 U.S. 299, 304, 52 S. Ct. 180, 76 L. Ed. 306 (1932) ; State v. Louis , 155 Wash.2d 563, 569, 120 P.3d 936 (2005). The same evidence test asks, in a nonabstract manner, whether two offenses are the same in law and in fact. Freeman , 153 Wash.2d at 772, 108 P.3d 753. "If each offense includes an element not included in the other, and each requires proof of a fact the other does not, then the offenses are not constitutionally the same under this test." State v. Hughes , 166 Wash.2d 675, 682, 212 P.3d 558 (2009).
¶ 13 The results of the same evidence test create a strong presumption of the legislature's intent regarding multiple punishments. Louis , 155 Wash.2d at 570, 120 P.3d 936. But it is not dispositive. The presumption can be overcome "by clear evidence of contrary intent." State v. Calle , 125 Wash.2d 769, 780, 888 P.2d 155 (1995). ¶ 14 One way the same evidence presumption can be rebutted is under the doctrine of merger. See Louis , 155 Wash.2d at 570, 120 P.3d 936. "Under the merger doctrine, when the degree of one offense is raised by conduct separately criminalized by the legislature, we presume the legislature intended to punish both offenses through a greater sentence for the greater crime." Freeman , 153 Wash.2d at 772-73, 108 P.3d 753.
¶ 15 The outcome of a formal merger analysis is also not dispositive. Even when two statutory violations appear to merge on an abstract level, "they may be punished separately if the defendant's particular conduct demonstrates an independent purpose or effect of each" offense. State v. Kier , 164 Wash.2d 798, 804, 194 P.3d 212 (2008).
The double jeopardy analysis is distinct from the same criminal conduct analysis under RCW 9.94A.589(1)(a). The same criminal conduct test applies at sentencing when multiple separate offenses involve "the same criminal intent, are committed at the same time and place, and involve the same victim." RCW 9.94A.589(1)(a)
¶ 16 Here, Mr. Hancock was convicted of first degree rape of a child in violation of RCW 9A.44.073(1) and first degree child molestation in violation of RCW 9A.44.083(1). The legislature has not expressly stated whether child rape and child molestation should be punished separately when committed during the same charging period. Thus, we must engage in statutory interpretation to discern the legislature's intent.
¶ 17 Because Mr. Hancock's double jeopardy challenge involves violations of different statutes, we turn to the same evidence test. We begin by noting there are technical differences between the offense of child rape and child molestation. Child rape requires proof of sexual intercourse, child molestation does not; child molestation requires specific intent (acting with the purpose of sexual gratification), while child rape does not. State v. Wilkins , 200 Wash. App. 794, 807-08, 403 P.3d 890 (2017). But technical differences are not always sufficient to distinguish two crimes under the same elements test. See Hughes , 166 Wash.2d at 682-84, 212 P.3d 558. The real question is whether, under the circumstances of a case, each charged offense required proof of a fact that the other did not. Freeman , 153 Wash.2d at 772, 108 P.3d 753. We look to the entire record to make this determination. See In re Pers. Restraint of Knight , 196 Wash.2d 330, 341-42, 473 P.3d 663 (2020).
Mr. Hancock spends most of his brief arguing the trial court should have instructed the jury that the two charged offenses needed to be proven by separate and distinct conduct. But this analysis is part of the unit of prosecution test, applicable when the State brings multiple charges based on the same criminal statute. Here, Mr. Hancock was charged with violations of different statutes. Accordingly, the legal issues pertaining to the unit of prosecution analysis are not applicable.
¶ 18 In Mr. Hancock's case, the State made clear the rape charge was factually distinct from the child molestation charge. The State did not argue Mr. Hancock committed the crimes of child rape and child molestation during the same specific act of abuse. The evidence at trial was Mr. Hancock sexually assaulted K.F. on multiple occasions. During summation, the prosecutor explained child rape referred to those instances where Mr. Hancock engaged in sexual intercourse. Child molestation occurred when the encounter "didn't rise to the level of sexual intercourse." 3 Report of Proceedings (June 24, 2019) at 601.
An instruction advised the jury it must unanimously agree which act served as the basis of each conviction. Mr. Hancock does not raise a unanimity challenge.
¶ 19 Mr. Hancock's two convictions were not based on the same evidence. We therefore invoke a strong presumption that double jeopardy does not bar his two convictions. Mr. Hancock has not attempted to rebut this presumption with any clear evidence of contrary legislative intent. Nor does the merger doctrine apply. We therefore affirm Mr. Hancock's judgment against his double jeopardy challenge.
Competency of child witness
¶ 20 Relying on State v. S.J.W. , 149 Wash. App. 912, 206 P.3d 355 (2009) ( S.J.W. I ), Mr. Hancock argues the trial court used the wrong standard to assess K.F.’s competence. According to Mr. Hancock, S.J.W. I stands for the rule that the party offering a witness's testimony—in this case the State—has the burden to prove competence. Mr. Hancock claims K.F.’s memory problems prohibited the State from meeting its burden. Thus, K.F. should not have been allowed to testify and her child hearsay statements should have been excluded.
The standard for admission of child hearsay statements is less onerous if the child testifies at trial. See RCW 9A.44.120(c)(i).
¶ 21 In S.J.W. I, Division One of this court ruled the proponent of a witness statement has the burden of proving competence. 149 Wash. App. at 922, 206 P.3d 355. Our court assessed the circumstances of S.J.W.’s case and determined the trial court improperly assigned the burden of proof to the defense—the party challenging the witness's testimony. Nevertheless, we held this error was harmless because the record as a whole showed the witness was competent.
¶ 22 Even though our court upheld S.J.W.’s conviction, the State filed a petition for review, arguing we had misstated the burden of proof. The Supreme Court granted review and agreed with the State that the party challenging a witness's competence bears the burden of proof. State v. S.J.W. , 170 Wash.2d 92, 100, 239 P.3d 568 (2010) ( S.J.W. II ). The Supreme Court's decision in S.J.W. II did not technically reverse our court's disposition of the appeal, given we had upheld S.J.W.’s conviction. Nevertheless, the Supreme Court reversed our holding as to burden of proof. Given the Supreme Court's ruling, our decision in S.J.W. I regarding the burden of proof on witness competence is not good law and should not be cited as such.
¶ 23 The trial court here accurately understood the burden of proof and had a tenable basis for finding Mr. Hancock had not rebutted the presumption of K.F.’s competence. At the competency hearing, the trial court went through the factors relevant to competence under State v. Allen , 70 Wash.2d 690, 424 P.2d 1021 (1967). The only real issue was K.F.’s memory problems. The trial court correctly noted that despite her memory problems, K.F. retained the ability to detail events occurring contemporaneously to the incidents of abuse. State v. Woods , 154 Wash.2d 613, 620, 114 P.3d 1174 (2005) (plurality opinion). This suggested K.F. had the mental ability to perceive and recall things that happened to her during the relevant time period. State v. Przybylski , 48 Wash. App. 661, 665, 739 P.2d 1203 (1987). This satisfies the competency standard. Id . The trial court therefore had an appropriate basis for allowing K.F.’s testimony over Mr. Hancock's objection.
A trial court's competency decision is reviewed for manifest abuse of discretion. State v. Brousseau , 172 Wash.2d 331, 340, 259 P.3d 209 (2011).
The Allen factors are: (1) an understanding of the duty to speak the truth, (2) mental capacity at the time of the occurrence to retain an independent recollection, (3) sufficient memory to retain an independent recollection of the occurrence, (4) ability to express memory in words, and (5) ability to understand simple questions about the occurrence. 70 Wash.2d at 692, 424 P.2d 1021.
CONCLUSION
¶ 24 The judgment of conviction is affirmed.
WE CONCUR:
Siddoway, J.
Fearing, J.