Learn About the Law
Get help with your legal needs
FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
STATE of Washington, Respondent, v. Lisa D. JUNGERS, Appellant.
PART PUBLISHED OPINION
Lisa D. Jungers appeals her conviction for unlawful possession of methamphetamine. She argues (1) the trial court erred in admitting evidence seized during an illegal search of probationer Michael Hodgkins' residence, (2) the prosecutor committed misconduct in eliciting and arguing inadmissible opinion evidence, and (3) the trial court abused its discretion in denying Jungers' motion for a mistrial based on prosecutorial misconduct. Holding that the search and seizure were legal, we affirm the trial court's ruling that the methamphetamine was admissible. Holding further that prosecutorial misconduct required a mistrial, we reverse.
FACTS
I. Search and Seizure
Michael Hodgkins was a convicted drug offender on community supervision. He had signed a community supervision form requiring him (1) to submit to searches of his person and residence when ordered to do so by his community corrections officer (CCO), and (2) not to use or to possess controlled substances.
A Tacoma police officer contacted CCO William McDonough about several hotline 1 reports of illegal drug activity at Hodgkins' residence. During the two weeks preceding the search at issue here, police contacted a person who asserted there was illegal activity at Hodgkins' residence.
CCO McDonough went with police Officers Mettler and Bowers to Hodgkins' residence to talk to Hodgkins about potential community supervision violations. After the officers explained their presence, Hodgkins denied any drug activity. When CCO McDonough asked if he could look around, Hodgkins stated it was not a problem and McDonough could look around.
Hodgkins, another male, and defendant Lisa Jungers were present. Hodgkins told the officers that another person lived with him, a handicapped person. McDonough told Hodgkins that the search was authorized only for his (Hodgkins') personal living area and the common areas. Hodgkins indicated which bedroom was his.
In Hodgkins' bedroom, Officer Mettler found women's lingerie and a pair of women's shoes. Under the mattress, CCO McDonough found a small bag of white powder, later determined to be methamphetamine, and a pipe. Hodgkins denied owning the drugs.
Officer Mettler asked who owned the items. Jungers asked Mettler where the pipe and drugs were found; then, after learning the items had been under Hodgkins' mattress, she stated they belonged to her. Mettler advised Jungers of her Miranda2 rights. Jungers acknowledged her rights and repeated that the drugs were hers. The officers arrested Jungers.
II. Procedure3
The State charged Jungers with unlawful possession of a controlled substance.
A. Suppression Hearings
Finding the search and seizure lawful, the trial court denied Jungers' CrR 3.6 motion to suppress the methamphetamine and pipe. The trial court granted in part and denied in part Jungers' CrR 3.5 motion to suppress her statements to police, excluding statements she made before being given Miranda warnings and admitting statements she made after the Miranda warnings. Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 86 S.Ct. 1602, 16 L.Ed.2d 694 (1966).
B. Trial
During the State's direct examination, Officer Mettler testified that he believed the seized drugs belonged to Jungers. The trial court sustained Jungers' objection and struck Mettler's testimony about this belief. But later, the prosecutor asked Mettler why he believed Jungers when she said the drugs were hers. This time, the trial court sustained Jungers' objection before Mettler answered the question.
Jungers testified (1) she did not live at Hodgkins' residence, but she had spent the previous night there; (2) the underwear and shoes found in Hodgkins' bedroom were hers; (3) the drug items did not belong to her; and (4) she had claimed ownership of the drugs at the time of the search and seizure because she knew Hodgkins would go to jail if the officers thought the drugs were his. After all evidence was in, the trial court granted Jungers' motion to dismiss the unlawful use of drug paraphernalia charge, leaving only the possession of methamphetamine charge for the jury to consider.
In closing, the prosecutor argued that Jungers had admitted the drugs were hers and the officers believed Hodgkins when he said he was “clean.” Jungers again objected, and the trial court heard arguments at sidebar, after which Jungers asked for a mistrial based on the prosecutor's improper reference to previously stricken testimony.
Jungers further objected to the demonstrative chart the State used in closing argument. The first page of the chart, labeled “constructive possession” at the top, displayed a list of facts, including the phrase “admission real.” A second page listed several facts, including the words “three officers believed.” Report of Proceedings (RP) at 133-34. During a sidebar conference, the trial court ordered the State to black out the word “believed” and to replace it with “heard admission,” which the prosecutor did.
The trial court denied Jungers' request for a mistrial, noting that (1) it had sustained Jungers' objections and had stricken the officer's testimony; (2) the jury would disregard the stricken testimony as instructed; and (3) the jury should also be trusted to follow the court's instruction to disregard any argument the evidence did not support. Accordingly, the trial court gave no additional instructions to the jury about the prosecutor's improper argument.
In Jungers' closing, she argued that although she was guilty of lying to the officers at the scene, she was not guilty of possessing the methamphetamine. In rebuttal, the State argued it was the jury's job to decide who was credible; stressing that Jungers' admission at the scene was believable.
The jury found Jungers guilty of unlawful possession of methamphetamine. She appeals.
ANALYSIS
I. Prosecutorial Misconduct
Jungers argues (1) the prosecutor committed misconduct by eliciting inadmissible credibility testimony and arguing stricken credibility testimony to the jury, and (2) the trial court erred by denying her motion for a mistrial based on this prosecutorial misconduct.
A. Standard of Review
A criminal defendant's right to a fair trial is denied when the prosecutor makes improper comments and there is a substantial likelihood that the comments affected the jury's verdict. State v. Reed, 102 Wash.2d 140, 145, 684 P.2d 699 (1984). Such is the case here.
A defendant claiming prosecutorial misconduct bears the burden of demonstrating that the conduct was improper and that it prejudiced her defense. State v. Harvey, 34 Wash.App. 737, 740, 664 P.2d 1281, review denied, 100 Wash.2d 1008 (1983). We review allegedly improper comments in the context of the prosecutor's entire argument, the issues in the case, the evidence addressed in the argument, and the instructions given to the jury. State v. Bryant, 89 Wash.App. 857, 873, 950 P.2d 1004 (1998), review denied, 137 Wash.2d 1017, 978 P.2d 1100 (1999).
Issues of witness credibility are for the jury alone to decide. State v. Alexander, 64 Wash.App. 147, 154, 822 P.2d 1250 (1992). Whether an opinion of guilt is expressed directly or through inference, such opinion is equally improper and equally inadmissible because it invades the province of the jury. See State v. Haga, 8 Wash.App. 481, 492, 507 P.2d 159, review denied, 82 Wash.2d 1006 (1973).
A trial court should grant a mistrial only when the defendant has been so prejudiced that nothing short of a new trial can insure that the defendant receives a fair trial. State v. Johnson, 124 Wash.2d 57, 76, 873 P.2d 514 (1994). We review the trial court's denial of a motion for a mistrial for abuse of discretion. State v. Lewis, 130 Wash.2d 700, 707, 927 P.2d 235 (1996).
We hold that the prosecutor's comments here so prejudiced Jungers, whose credibility was the central issue, that a mistrial was necessary to insure her right to a fair trial.
B. State's Witness Opinion of Jungers' Credibility
1. Mettler's “belief” the drugs belonged to Jungers
Jungers argues the prosecutor improperly elicited opinion testimony about her credibility. On direct examination of Mettler, the prosecutor asked, “And what happened next, Officer Mettler, after you found the evidence?” RP at 89. Mettler responded, “I talked to some individuals in the residence and through my investigation I determined I believed it belonged to Ms. Jungers.” RP at 89. Sustaining Jungers' objection, the trial court struck Officer Mettler's response and instructed the jury to disregard the testimony.
We do not characterize this question, however, as prosecutorial misconduct. Although the officer's response could be characterized as an improper comment on Jungers' credibility or guilt, the prosecutor's question did not elicit this nonresponsive answer from the officer. Moreover, in light of the trial court's striking Mettler's response, this first instance of improper opinion testimony by itself did not create prejudice mandating a new trial.
2. Prosecutor's attempt to elicit from Mettler his belief in Jungers' credibility at the scene
Later, however, in spite of the trial court's previous ruling, the prosecutor directly attempted to elicit an improper response when she asked Officer Mettler, “Why did you believe her [Jungers]?” inviting the officer's comment on Jungers' credibility. But because the trial court sustained Jungers' objection before Mettler responded, there was no improper testimony given that prejudiced the jury. RP at 90.
Even then, however, the prosecutor did not cease focusing on the impermissible subject-the officer's opinion about Jungers' credibility (when she said at the scene that the drugs belonged to her). On the contrary, the prosecutor raised the issue twice more during closing argument.
C. Closing Argument
During the State's closing argument, the prosecutor asserted,
[B]ecause the defendant has said that in fact she was covering for her boyfriend, we are also submitting to you facts that bolster our opinion that her admission is real at the time she made it, when she said it she meant it.
RP at 128 (emphasis added). And later, the prosecutor argued,
Hodgkins, who [Jungers] says she was covering for, her boyfriend, the officer believed he was clean. He had put on weight, he put on 20 to 30 pounds. He told the officers he was clean and they believed him. If Officer McDonough, who's very, very experienced corrections officer․
RP at 129-30 (emphasis added). Jungers objected and requested another sidebar.
Jungers further objected to the butcher paper demonstrative chart that the prosecutor displayed to the jurors during closing argument, addressing each point in sequential order. The chart contained the words “admission real” at the top and “three officers believed” in point number four, which point the prosecutor had not yet reached when Jungers objected and the trial court excused the jury. Jungers then moved for a mistrial based on the prosecutor's misconduct in arguing stricken evidence. The trial court heard argument and admonished the prosecutor that it had already sustained Jungers' objection to and had stricken from the jury's consideration Mettler's testimony that he believed Hodgkins' hearsay statement when he told Mettler the drugs were not his.
The prosecutor explained to the court that the fourth point on the chart, “three officers believed,” referred to “the admission of the defendant.” RP at 133. The trial court responded, “They believed the defendant,” RP at 134; to which the prosecutor replied, “Statement of her drugs, which is why they arrested her and not him.” RP at 134. But the trial court noted it had also previously sustained Jungers' objection to this improper opinion testimony and had stricken it.
The trial court denied Jungers' motion for a mistrial, RP at 134, but it directed the State to change its chart to read, “[T]hree officers heard admission,” and “she was arrested.” RP at 139-40. Jungers again objected, “The belief of another witness as to somebody else's credibility is never admissible. And it was-I move to have it stricken. It was stricken, and now they're raising stricken evidence again in closing.” RP at 138. Jungers also asked if the court was going to give additional instruction to the jury to offset the State's emphasis on the officers' beliefs.
The trial court reiterated, “[T]he State is not going to be allowed to argue what anybody believed and not going to be able to argue evidence that was stricken.” RP at 137. But when the jury was brought back in, the trial court gave no cautionary or curative instruction. Instead, the prosecutor immediately resumed closing argument. She did not, however, make additional improper comments about the stricken opinion testimony.
We acknowledge that in closing argument a prosecutor has wide latitude to draw reasonable inferences from the evidence and to express such inferences to the jury. State v. Stenson, 132 Wash.2d 668, 727, 940 P.2d 1239 (1997), cert. denied, 523 U.S. 1008, 118 S.Ct. 1193, 140 L.Ed.2d 323 (1998). But here, the prosecutor went too far. The jury's verdict turned on whether they believed Jungers was being truthful when (1) she told the officers at the scene that the drugs belonged to her; or (2) when she testified at trial that the drugs belonged to her boyfriend, Hodgkins, and she had said they were hers at the scene merely to cover for him and to prevent his return to jail. Thus, it was Jungers' conflicting stories and credibility that both sides debated during closing arguments.
We cannot say the jury probably would have reached the same conclusion-finding Jungers guilty of methamphetamine possession-without the prosecutor's improper comments. The State's improper argument resurrected Officer Mettler's stricken inadmissible opinion about Jungers' and Hodgkins' respective credibilities. The trial court did not mitigate this improper argument by reminding the jury to disregard this previously stricken testimony. We acknowledge that the trial court had previously instructed the jury to disregard argument unsupported by the evidence. But under the circumstances here, credibility was central and there was evidence arguably supporting Jungers' version of the events such that absent the State's uncured, improper argument, the jury likely could have believed that the drugs belonged to Hodgkins. And, if the jury had believed the drugs belonged to Hodgkins, it could reasonably have acquitted Jungers.
There is evidence in the record tending to show that Hodgkins, not Jungers, was the more likely possessor of the methamphetamine. The drugs were found under Hodgkins' mattress in his bedroom in his apartment. Jungers had merely spent the night; she did not live there. Both had used drugs in the past. Absent the prosecutor's improper emphasis of the officer's belief in Jungers' credibility at the scene, the jury could reasonably have decided that she was telling the truth at trial and had lied to the officers at the scene simply to protect Hodgkins (who would have been in violation of his community supervision and sent back to jail if police believed the drugs were his). Either way, a determination of Jungers' credibility was critical.
We view the prosecutor's improper attempt to elicit credibility testimony and her closing argument reference to the officer's stricken credibility opinions about Jungers and Hodgkins in the context of (1) the trial court's repeated sustaining of Jungers' objections, evidentiary rulings, and admonitions to the State; (2) the jury instructions; and (3) the critical nature of the central issue for the jury-whether Jungers was telling the truth in (a) claiming the drugs were hers at the scene or (b) in claiming at trial that the drugs were not hers and that she had claimed possession at the scene merely to protect Hodgkins from returning to jail. In our view, the prosecutor's improper, uncured emphasis of the officer's stricken opinion (that Jungers and Hodgkins were both telling the truth about drug ownership at the scene) could reasonably have affected the jury's decision to abandon their role as judges of witness credibility, to overcome Jungers' presumption of innocence, and to find her guilty.
Finding there is a substantial likelihood that the cumulative effect of the prosecutor's improper conduct usurped the jury's fact-finding and credibility-determination functions, we hold that a mistrial was required to ensure Jungers a fair trial. Accordingly, we reverse and remand for a new trial.
A majority of the panel having determined that only the foregoing portion of this opinion will be printed in the Washington Appellate Reports and that the remainder shall be filed for public record pursuant to RCW 2.06.040, it is so ordered.
II. Search and Seizure
Because the suppression issues will arise on retrial, we address them here. Jungers argues that the officers searched Hodgkins' residence illegally because (1) Hodgkins' consent was not valid; (2) Jungers' consent was required; and (3) officers did not have reasonable cause to search Hodgkins' residence. We disagree.
A. Standard of Review
We review findings of fact on a motion to suppress for substantial supporting evidence. State v. Hill, 123 Wash.2d 641, 647, 870 P.2d 313 (1994). Substantial evidence is evidence sufficient to persuade a fair minded, rational person of the truth of the findings. Hill, 123 Wash.2d at 644, 870 P.2d 313. We review de novo conclusions of law pertaining to suppression of evidence. State v. Johnson, 128 Wash.2d 431, 443, 909 P.2d 293 (1996).
B. Hodgkins' Consent to Search
Warrantless searches are per se unreasonable under the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution and article I, section 7 of the Washington Constitution, unless they fall within a few specifically established and well-delineated exceptions. State v. Ross, 141 Wash.2d 304, 312, 4 P.3d 130 (2000); State v. Hendrickson, 129 Wash.2d 61, 70, 917 P.2d 563 (1996). A warrantless search is constitutional when valid consent is granted. State v. Cantrell, 124 Wash.2d 183, 187, 875 P.2d 1208 (1994). Here, Hodgkins granted valid consent twice: once in advance and again at the scene immediately preceding the search.
As a condition of Hodgkins' community supervision, he agreed to “[s]ubmit to a search of [his] person, residence, vehicle, and other belongings when ordered to do so by the community corrections officer.” Exhibit (Ex.) 1. Hodgkins' previously signed consent authorized CCO McDonough to search Hodgkins' residence. In addition, at the time of the search at issue here, McDonough had reasonable suspicion 4 to believe there was illegal drug activity occurring at Hodgkins' house, thus, supporting the reasonableness of this previously authorized search.
In addition, Hodgkins verbally consented to the search on the day in question. When McDonough arrived at his residence and asked Hodgkins for permission to search, Hodgkins agreed.
We hold, therefore, that (1) both of Hodgkins' consents to search were valid; and (2) the trial court's Finding of Fact No. 7 and Conclusions of Law Nos. 2 and 3, upholding the search and denying Jungers' motion to suppress, were proper.
C. Jungers' Consent Not Required
Only when two people possessing approximately equal control over the premises are present and able to object, must the police obtain the consent of both parties before searching without a warrant. State v. Leach, 113 Wash.2d 735, 744, 782 P.2d 1035 (1989). Such was not the case here.
Here, the trial court found that (1) Hodgkins was the home's resident and, as such, he could consent to the search; and (2) Jungers, in contrast, was only temporarily on the property as Hodgkins' overnight guest. Substantial evidence supports these findings. First, Jungers referred to Hodgkins' bedroom as “his room,” not “their” room or “her” room. Second, when CCO McDonough was at the door seeking consent to search, he asked Hodgkins if anyone else lived in the house. Hodgkins mentioned a handicapped person or someone else, but he did not mention Jungers.
That there were women's underwear and a pair of women's shoes in Hodgkins' bedroom, did not convert guest Jungers into a tenant with equal control over the premises. On the contrary, Hodgkins, a host with dominion and control over the home, could consent to the warrantless search for purposes of arrest or seizure of evidence. Hodgkins' consent thus vitiated guest Jungers' expectation of privacy, and her consent was not necessary to legitimize the search. See State v. Thang, 145 Wash.2d 630, 639, 41 P.3d 1159 (2002).
D. Reasonable Cause for CCO To Search
Under the federal and state constitutions, an exception to the warrant requirement exists for searches of probationers. State v. Patterson, 51 Wash.App. 202, 204-07, 752 P.2d 945, review denied, 111 Wash.2d 1006 (1988). Parolees and probationers have a diminished right of privacy because of the State's continuing interest in the defendant and supervision of the defendant as a probationer. State v. Lucas, 56 Wash.App. 236, 240, 783 P.2d 121 (1989) review denied, 114 Wash.2d 1009, 790 P.2d 167 (1990). Community supervision is the functional equivalent of probation. State v. Parramore, 53 Wash.App. 527, 529, 768 P.2d 530 (1989).
This warrant exception is codified in RCW 9.94A.631, which states in part,
If there is reasonable cause to believe that an offender has violated a condition or requirement of the sentence, an offender may be required to submit to a search and seizure of the offender's person, residence, automobile, or other personal property.
“Reasonable cause” need be only a well-founded suspicion of a violation, not probable cause.5 State v. Fisher, 145 Wash.2d 209, 224-28, 35 P.3d 366 (2001).6
Hodgkins' conditions of release were more extensive than simply prohibiting criminal law violations in general, as in Fisher. Hodgkins signed conditions of community supervision expressly prohibiting his contact with drugs, drugs dealers, or drug users.7 As a condition of community supervision, Hodgkins also agreed, in writing, to “submit to a search of [his] person, residence, vehicle, and other belongings when ordered to do so by the community corrections officer.” Ex. 1 (emphasis added). The police had information from the tip line and from recent citizen contact that specifically identified drug activity in Hodgkins' house; this information created reasonable cause to believe that Hodgkins was violating his community supervision conditions, regardless of who was possessing, dealing, or using drugs at his residence.
These circumstances are analogous to those in Lucas, 56 Wash.App. 236, 783 P.2d 121. Lucas was released pending appeal of several felony convictions. Lucas, 56 Wash.App. at 237-38, 783 P.2d 121. As a condition of his release, he signed a Department of Corrections Standard Conditions and Sentence Requirements form. Lucas, 56 Wash.App. at 237, 783 P.2d 121. Condition 5 included the requirement that Lucas “ ‘submit to a search of [his] person, residence, vehicle and other belongings when ordered to do so by the community corrections officer.’ ” Lucas, 56 Wash.App. at 237-38, 783 P.2d 121. Through glass doors, probation officers observed a container of marijuana and rolling paper in plain view inside Lucas's house. Lucas, 56 Wash.App. at 238, 783 P.2d 121. Four days later, the officers went back to interview Lucas, who acted very nervous and uneasy. Lucas, 56 Wash.App. at 238, 783 P.2d 121. Lucas let the officers inside, and they conducted a warrantless search of Lucas's house. Lucas, 56 Wash.App. at 238, 783 P.2d 121. The trial court found the search valid because there was well-founded suspicion that Lucas had violated his probation. Lucas, 56 Wash.App. at 244-245, 783 P.2d 121.
Here, there were several anonymous calls on the crack hotline, coupled with police contact with a citizen who identified Hodgkins' residence as a place where illegal drug activity was taking place. The number of tips and sources are indicia of reliability, as compared to the single, unsubstantiated tip held insufficient in State v. Simms, 10 Wash.App. 75, 88, 516 P.2d 1088 (1973), review denied, 83 Wash.2d 1007 (1974). Moreover, Officer Mettler was familiar with Hodgkins' history of drug use because he had previously arrested Hodgkins several times for methamphetamine-related charges. Such knowledge of a probationer's history and his terms of probation are appropriate factors to consider in determining the reasonableness of a warrantless search. State v. Lampman, 45 Wash.App. 228, 233, 724 P.2d 1092 (1986). Here, the record supports the trial court's finding of sufficient reasonable cause for Hodgkins' CCO to conduct a warrantless search of the residence.
Accordingly, we affirm the trial court's denial of Jungers' motions to suppress. But based on the cumulative, prejudicial effect of prosecutorial misconduct, we reverse the trial court's denial of Jungers' motion for mistrial, reverse her conviction, and remand for a new trial.
FOOTNOTES
1. The Tacoma Police Department maintains a “crack” hotline for citizens to report drug activity anonymously.
2. See Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 86 S.Ct. 1602, 16 L.Ed.2d 694 (1966).
3. A Rule 9 intern, supervised by a deputy prosecutor, appeared on behalf of the State for the suppression motions and trial. The record does not reflect what actions, if any, the supervising attorney took after the trial court had stricken the opinion and after the Rule 9 intern asked the officer his opinion of Jungers' credibility.
FN4. In State v. Massey, 81 Wash.App. 198, 200-01, 913 P.2d 424 (1996), Division One of our court focused on whether an order from the sentencing court must include language of reasonableness for searches based on reasonable suspicion. 81 Wash.App. at 201, 913 P.2d 424. The court found that the order need not include the language of reasonableness, nonetheless, the search must be based on reasonable suspicion. Massey, 81 Wash.App. at 201, 913 P.2d 424. The court stated:Even if we were to reach the merits of the case, the court's order did not violate Washington law. Washington courts have recognized an exception to the search warrant requirement to search parolees or probationers and their homes or effects. State v. Campbell, 103 Wash.2d 1, 22, 691 P.2d 929 (1984), cert. denied, 471 U.S. 1094, 105 S.Ct. 2169, 85 L.Ed.2d 526 (1985). Warrantless searches of parolees or probationers must, however, be reasonable. RCW 9.94A.195. The search is reasonable if an officer has a well-founded suspicion that a violation has occurred․ Thus, officers must have a well-founded suspicion, not probable cause, to conduct searches of probationers and parolees.Massey, 81 Wash.App. at 200-01, 913 P.2d 424.. FN4. In State v. Massey, 81 Wash.App. 198, 200-01, 913 P.2d 424 (1996), Division One of our court focused on whether an order from the sentencing court must include language of reasonableness for searches based on reasonable suspicion. 81 Wash.App. at 201, 913 P.2d 424. The court found that the order need not include the language of reasonableness, nonetheless, the search must be based on reasonable suspicion. Massey, 81 Wash.App. at 201, 913 P.2d 424. The court stated:Even if we were to reach the merits of the case, the court's order did not violate Washington law. Washington courts have recognized an exception to the search warrant requirement to search parolees or probationers and their homes or effects. State v. Campbell, 103 Wash.2d 1, 22, 691 P.2d 929 (1984), cert. denied, 471 U.S. 1094, 105 S.Ct. 2169, 85 L.Ed.2d 526 (1985). Warrantless searches of parolees or probationers must, however, be reasonable. RCW 9.94A.195. The search is reasonable if an officer has a well-founded suspicion that a violation has occurred․ Thus, officers must have a well-founded suspicion, not probable cause, to conduct searches of probationers and parolees.Massey, 81 Wash.App. at 200-01, 913 P.2d 424.
FN5. See Massey, in which the court ruled that a sentencing court order need not include language of reasonableness, but searches must be based on reasonable suspicion. 81 Wash.App. at 201, 913 P.2d 424.. FN5. See Massey, in which the court ruled that a sentencing court order need not include language of reasonableness, but searches must be based on reasonable suspicion. 81 Wash.App. at 201, 913 P.2d 424.
FN6. Fisher was convicted of drug-related felonies and released pending sentencing on condition that he violate no criminal laws, imposed under CrR 3.2(j)(1). Fisher, 145 Wash.2d at 212-13, 35 P.3d 366. Shortly thereafter, a deputy prosecutor prepared an application and affidavit for an arrest warrant based on Fisher's alleged violation of this condition of release, based on tips from two known citizens and an officer, that Fisher was associating with known drug users and was overheard stating she would not appear for sentencing. Fisher, 145 Wash.2d at 213, 35 P.3d 366. The Court concluded that only reasonable cause was necessary for the warrant, not probable cause, because Fisher was on probation. Fisher, 145 Wash.2d at 227-28, 35 P.3d 366. The Court further determined, however, that there was not reasonable cause for defendant's arrest because the bench warrant affidavit contained only a vague suggestion that Fisher might have violated the law-abiding behavior condition, without indicating what law he might have violated. Fisher, 145 Wash.2d at 228, 35 P.3d 366.. FN6. Fisher was convicted of drug-related felonies and released pending sentencing on condition that he violate no criminal laws, imposed under CrR 3.2(j)(1). Fisher, 145 Wash.2d at 212-13, 35 P.3d 366. Shortly thereafter, a deputy prosecutor prepared an application and affidavit for an arrest warrant based on Fisher's alleged violation of this condition of release, based on tips from two known citizens and an officer, that Fisher was associating with known drug users and was overheard stating she would not appear for sentencing. Fisher, 145 Wash.2d at 213, 35 P.3d 366. The Court concluded that only reasonable cause was necessary for the warrant, not probable cause, because Fisher was on probation. Fisher, 145 Wash.2d at 227-28, 35 P.3d 366. The Court further determined, however, that there was not reasonable cause for defendant's arrest because the bench warrant affidavit contained only a vague suggestion that Fisher might have violated the law-abiding behavior condition, without indicating what law he might have violated. Fisher, 145 Wash.2d at 228, 35 P.3d 366.
FN7. These conditions stated, in part, “[N]o use or possession of controlled substances; no association with drug users or sellers; law abiding behavior.” Ex. 1.. FN7. These conditions stated, in part, “[N]o use or possession of controlled substances; no association with drug users or sellers; law abiding behavior.” Ex. 1.
HUNT, J.
A free source of state and federal court opinions, state laws, and the United States Code. For more information about the legal concepts addressed by these cases and statutes visit FindLaw's Learn About the Law.
Docket No: No. 30110-5-II.
Decided: February 15, 2005
Court: Court of Appeals of Washington,Division 2.
Search our directory by legal issue
Enter information in one or both fields (Required)
Harness the power of our directory with your own profile. Select the button below to sign up.
Learn more about FindLaw’s newsletters, including our terms of use and privacy policy.
Get help with your legal needs
FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
Search our directory by legal issue
Enter information in one or both fields (Required)