State of Washington v. Michael Duke Coombes (Majority)

Annotate this Case

Download PDF

FILED NOVEMBER 10,2015 In the Office of the Clerk of Court W A State Court of Appeals, Division III IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON DIVISION THREE STATE OF WASHINGTON, Respondent, v. ) ) ) ) No. 32806-6-111 (consolidated with No. 32903-8-111) ) MICHAEL DUKE COOMBES, Appellant. In the Matter of the Personal Restraint of MICHAEL DUKE COOMBES, Petitioner. LAWRENCE-BERREY, J. ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) PUBLISHED OPINION - After withdrawing his guilty plea, Michael Coombes was convicted of first degree murder while armed with a firearm. Mr. Coombes appeals, contending (1) the trial court erred in imposing a 36-month term of community custody, (2) the trial court erred by imposing a community custody condition prohibiting Mr. Coombes from having any association or contact with gang members or their associates, and (3) the judgment and sentence improperly omitted the jury's finding that Mr. Coombes used a firearm in the No. 32806-6-111; No. 32903-8-111 State v. Coombes; P RP ofCoombes commission of the first degree murder. In his consolidated personal restraint petition (PRP), Mr. Coombes contends that the sentencing court erred in including a conviction for unlawful possession of a firearm in its calculation of his offender score. We affirm Mr. Coombes's conviction and dismiss his PRP. We remand for the trial court to (1) correct the community custody term to be consistent with the law in effect in 2007, (2) conduct a hearing to consider the gang association prohibition, and (3) include in the judgment and sentence the jury's finding that Mr. Coombes used a firearm in the commission of the first degree murder. FACTS In September 2007, the State charged Michael Duke Coombes with first degree murder while armed with a firearm and first degree unlawful possession of a firearm. In June 2008, Mr. Coombes pleaded guilty to first degree murder without a weapon enhancement and to first degree unlawful possession of a firearm. In the plea statement, the State made the following recommendation: (g) ... 300 months in prison, credit for time served, dismiss weapon enhancement. Dismiss Intimidation of Witness charge, 08-1-00556-0, plead to Unlawful Possession of a Firearm charge on a different day, $500.00 crime victims compensation assessment, $200.00 court costs, $100.00 DNA [deoxyribonucleic acid] collection fee, restitution, 24-48 months community custody. 2 No. 32806-6-111; No. 32903-8-111 State v. Coombes; P RP 0/ Coombes Clerk's Papers (CP) at 13,21. On June 16,2008, the trial court entered a judgment and sentence as to the first degree murder charge and a separate judgment and sentence as to the unlawful possession of a firearm charge. In April 2009, Mr. Coombes filed a motion for writ of habeas corpus in superior court alleging his plea was invalid. The superior court transferred the writ to this court for consideration as a PRP. In an unpublished opinion filed January 27,2011,1 this court granted Mr. Coombes's PRP and remanded the case back to the trial court to allow him to withdraw his guilty plea because he was not informed that early release credits were unavailable during the first 240 months of his first degree murder sentence. Mr. Coombes then withdrew his guilty plea and the case was set for a jury trial. Before trial, Mr. Coombes moved in limine to exclude any mention of his alleged gang affiliation. In response, the State stipulated that it would not elicit testimony from its law enforcement witnesses regarding any gang affiliation but that it wanted to reserve the right to raise gang-related evidence for purposes of impeachment of witnesses related to the witness intimidation charge. 1 In re Pers. Restraint o/Coombes, No. 28036-5-111, 2011 WL 240687, 159 Wn. App. 1044. 3 No. 32806-6-III; No. 32903-8-II1 State v. Coombes; PRP ofCoombes At trial, the State called April Atkinson to testify for purposes of the witness intimidation charge. During her testimony, the State asked Ms. Atkinson whether she recalled Mr. Coombes saying, '" I got Cryps, [sic] Blood, mafia, whatever gangs you can think of after [witness Jamie Hall], so [Ms. Hall] better watch her back[.]'" Report of Proceedings (RP) at 420. Ms. Atkinson replied that she did not remember Mr. Coombes making the statement. The State later called Detective Theresa Ferguson to testify regarding her investigation. Detective Ferguson testified that Ms. Atkinson had told her that Mr. Coombes made the above-quoted threat concerning Ms. Hall. Detective Ferguson also testified that Ms. Atkinson had told her that Mr. Coombes believed certain people had "ratted him out." RP at 586. The State called Detective Timothy Madsen to testify for purposes of the first degree murder charge. Detective Madsen testified that Mr. Coombes made the following pretrial statements to him about the murder victim: Q A Q And what did Mr. Coombes tell you next about Mr. Nichols? He told us that Mr. Nichols, whom he described as Red, had been arguing with Mr. Coombes' nephew, Chris ..... During the argument between Chris and Red, or Mr. Nichols, Chris had hit Mr. Nichols in the head after throwing an empty beer can at him. What did Mr. Coombes say happened after that? 4 No. 32806-6-111; No. 32903-8-111 State v. Coombes; PRP o/Coombes A Q A Q A He told us that Red, or Mr. Nichols, had walked over to Mr. Coombes and stated, quote, "You keep that fucker away from me or I'll stab him." Stab who? And he was referring to his-that Red was telling Mr. Coombes to keep Chris, Mr. Coombes' nephew, away from Red, or Mr. Nichols. What did he say next? Mr. Coombes told us that at one point, Red had threatened Mr. Coombes by saying he knew some gypsy jokers that would take care of them, and then he told us heMR. COMPTON: Objection. Your Honor, can we approach on this? THE COURT: Yes. (BENCH CONFERENCE HELD.) MR. COMPTON: My objection is the next words out of the detective's mouth is going to be about Mr. Coombes' gang affiliation, which he claims to have some Aryan connection. THE COURT: Is this going to be part of his statements as threats, but not the detective did not write any statements that heMR. TREECE: I'm sorry, Your Honor. I thought we went over this in the [CrR] 3.5. This is after he had been [read his Miranda 2 rights]. THE COURT: Right, but when we specifically talked about gang affiliation, I didn't hear the statement corne out at the [CrR] 3.5 hearing this was the specific statement. So I would [sustain the objection] because we ruled on that [during the motions in limine]. RP at 603-04. 2 Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 86 S. Ct. 1602, 16 L. Ed. 2d 694 (1966). 5 No. 32806-6-III; No. 32903-8-III State v. Coombes; PRP o/Coombes At the end of trial, the jury found Mr. Coombes guilty of first degree murder while armed with a firearm and of tampering with a witness but not guilty of intimidating a witness. Mr. Coombes appealed the convictions for first degree murder and tampering with a witness. In an unpublished opinion filed June 18, 2013, 3 this court affirmed the conviction for first degree murder and reversed and remanded the tampering with a witness conviction because of an erroneous jury instruction. On remand, the trial court resentenced Mr. Coombes on the first degree murder charge, lowering his offender score from a six to a five after removing the conviction for tampering with a witness pursuant to this court's June 2013 decision. In the judgment and sentence entered after resentencing, the trial court imposed a 36-month term of community custody. The trial court also imposed a community custody condition "[t]hat the defendant not be allowed to have any association or contact with known felons or gang members or their associates." CP at 110. The judgment and sentence does not indicate the jury's finding that Mr. Coombes used a firearm in the commission of the first degree murder. Mr. Coombes appeals. State v. Coombes, Nos. 30550-3-III, 30551-1-III, 2013 WL 3148180,175 Wn. App. 1025. 3 6 No. 32806-6-III; No. 32903-8-III State v. Coombes; P RP ofCoombes ANALYSIS 1. Whether the sentencing court erred in imposing a 36-month term of community custody Mr. Coombes contends, and the State concedes, that the trial court erred by imposing a 36-month tenn of community custody under RCW 9.94A.701, where the law in effect at the time of the offense, fonner RCW 9.94A.715 (2006), provided a variable term of 24 to 48 months of community custody for serious violent crimes. This court reviews de novo whether the trial court had the requisite statutory authority to impose community custody conditions. State v. Armendariz, 160 Wn.2d 106, 110, 156 P.3d 201 (2007). While Mr. Coombes challenges the tenn of community custody for the first time on appeal, such a challenge is appropriate because courts must correct an erroneous sentence upon discovery. In re Pers. Restraint ofCall, 144 Wn.2d 315, 331-32, 28 P.3d 709 (2001). The Sentencing Refonn Act of 1981 (SRA), chapter 9.94A RCW, governs a court's imposition of community custody. The SRA provides that any sentence imposed under its authority must be in accordance with the law in effect when the offense was committed. RCW 9.94A.345. Mr. Coombes's crime occurred between August 30,2007, and September 2,2007, so fonner RCW 9.94A.715 7 No. 32806-6-III; No. 32903-8-II1 State v. Coombes; PRP ofCoombes governs. RCW 10.01.040 would also support this conclusion, as it provides, "Whenever any criminal or penal statute shall be amended or repealed, all offenses committed ... while it was in force shall be punished or enforced as if it were in force, notwithstanding such amendment or repeal, unless a contrary intention is expressly declared in the amendatory or repealing act." This court analyzed a similar issue in State v. Snedden, 166 Wn. App. 541, 544-45,271 P.3d 298 (2012), citing RCW 10.01.040. This court concluded that the legislature had expressed the requisite "contrary intent" in the amendatory act. Id. at 544. The legislature had directed courts "to apply the provisions of the current community custody law to offenders sentenced after July 1,2009, but who committed their crime prior to August 1,2009 to the extent that such application is constitutionally permissible." LAWS OF 2008, ch. 231, § 6. Therefore, because Mr. Snedden fit within this category and made "no argument that the application of the current statute is constitutionally impermissible," this court concluded that the trial court properly relied on RCW 9.94A.701 even though it was not in effect when he committed his crime. Snedden, 166 Wn. App. at 544. But, unlike the offender in Snedden, Mr. Coombes contends the trial court's application of RCW 9.94A.701 is constitutionally impermissible as a violation of the prohibition 8 No. 32806-6-III; No. 32903-8-II1 State v. Coombes; PRP o/Coombes on ex post facto laws because the law in effect when he committed the crime called for a 24 to 48 month range of community custody. This court reviews de novo alleged violations of the prohibition of ex post facto laws. State v. Pillatos, 159 Wn.2d 459,469,474-77,150 P.3d 1130 (2007). The party disputing the constitutionality of a statute bears the burden of proving that the statute is unconstitutional beyond a reasonable doubt. State v. Enquist, 163 Wn. App. 41, 45, 256 P.3d 1277 (2011). Both the United States and Washington Constitutions prohibit ex post facto laws. U.S. CONST. art. I, § 10; CONST. art. I, § 23. The State violates the prohibition on ex post facto laws when it imposes punishment for conduct that was not punishable when committed or when it increases the quantum of punishment. In re Pers. Restraint 0/ Flint, 174 Wn.2d 539, 545, 277 P.3d 657 (20 12) (quoting In re Pers. Restraint o/Hinton, 152 Wn.2d 853,861,100 P.3d 801 (2004)). In order to bring a successful ex post facto claim, Mr. Coombes must show that the law he is challenging (1) is operating retroactively, and (2) increases the quantum of punishment from the level he was subject to on the date of the crime. Id. at 545,554. Mr. Coombes satisfies both prongs of this test. First, RCW 9.94A.701 by its own terms operates retroactively. The session law amending former 9 No. 32806-6-III; No. 32903-8-III State v. Coombes; PRP o/Coombes RCW 9.94A.701 that pennits variable terms of community custody included the same statement of legislative intent as that of 2008, chapter 231, quoted above. LAWS OF 2009, ch. 375, § 10. It also added this statement: "This act applies retroactively and prospectively regardless of whether the offender is currently on community custody or probation with the department, currently incarcerated with a term of community custody or probation with the department, or sentenced after the effective date of this section." LAWS OF 2009, ch. 375, § 20. Additionally, the statute operates retroactively as to Mr. Coombes because Mr. Coombes committed his offense before the legislature amended the statute. Thus, Mr. Coombes has satisfied the first prong of the test. As for the second prong, the applicable quantum of punishment increases when a statute makes a fonnerly discretionary punishment mandatory. Lindsey v. Washington, 301 U.S. 397,401-02,57 S. Ct. 797, 81 L. Ed. 1182 (1937). In Lindsey, at the time of the offense, the sentencing court had discretion to impose a penalty of imprisonment for at least 6 months and up to 15 years. Jd. at 398. Before sentencing, the legislature made the maximum penalty mandatory, and the offender then received the required 15-year sentence. Id. at 398-99. The United States Supreme Court held that the new law impermissibly increased the severity of punishment and invalidated the offender's sentence. Id. at 401-02. 10 No. 32S06-6-III; No. 32903-S-II1 State v. Coombes; PRP ofCoombes Here, when Mr. Coombes committed the offense in late 2007, the SRA imposed a discretionary range of community custody of 24 to 4S months. See Former RCW 9.94A.7IS(l) (stating that a sentencing court was required to sentence an offender "to community custody for the community custody range established under RCW 9.94A.SSO or up to the period of earned release awarded pursuant to RCW 9.94A.72S(l) and (2), whichever is longer"); former RCW 9.94A.SSO(S) (200S) (establishing a sentencing guidelines commission empowered to recommend community custody ranges); former RCW 9.94A.030(41)(a)(i) (2006) (classifying first degree murder as a "serious violent offense"); and former WAC 437-20-010 (listing the community custody range for serious violent offenses as 24 to 4S months). The legislature repealed RCW 9.94A.71S in 200S and added RCW 9.94A.701, which maintained the language from former RCW 9.94A.715 authorizing variable terms of community custody. LAWS OF 200S, ch. 231, §§ 6, 7. 4 Then, in 2009, the legislature amended former RCW 9.94A.701 by removing the language permitting variable terms of community custody. LAWS OF 2009, ch. 37S, § 5. The legislature replaced the Subsequently, the legislature reenacted former RCW 9.94A.71S and then repealed it once again. LAWS OF 200S, ch. 276, § 305 (reenactment); LAWS OF 2009, ch. 2S, § 42(2) (second repeal). 4 11 No. 32806-6-III; No. 32903-8-III State v. Coombes; PRP ofCoombes variable tenns with fixed terms of 36, 18, or 12 months of community custody, depending on the type of offense. LAWS OF 2009, ch. 375, § 5; RCW 9.94A.701(l)-(3). For Mr. Coombes's offense, the community custody tenn is 36 months under the amended statute. RCW 9.94A.701(1)(b). Per Lindsey, the new community custody law increased the punishment because it changed a previously discretionary tenn to a mandatory tenn. Because Mr. Coombes has satisfied both prongs for establishing an unconstitutional ex post facto law, we vacate the community custody portion of Mr. Coombes's sentence and remand for imposition of a tenn consistent with the law in effect in 2007. 2. Whether the trial court erred by imposing a community custody condition prohibiting Mr. Coombes from having any association or contact with gang members or their associates Mr. Coombes challenges the trial court's imposition of a community custody condition prohibiting him from having any association or contact with gang members or their associates. Mr. Coombes did not object to this condition at sentencing. Citing State v. Jones, 118 Wn. App. 199, 76 P.3d 258 (2003), he argues he may raise this issue for the first time on appeal. We disagree that Jones supports his argument. In Jones, the defendant argued that the trial court did not have authority to impose certain community custody conditions. Although Everett Jones did not 12 No. 32806-6-111; No. 32903-8-111 State v. Coombes; PRP ofCoombes object to the community custody conditions at sentencing, the Jones court stated that he could raise the conditions for the first time on appeal. To support its statement, Jones cited State v. Julian, 102 Wn. App. 296, 9 P.3d 851 (2000). Jones, 118 Wn. App. at 204 n.9. In Julian, we held that a sentence imposed without statutory authority could be addressed for the first time on appeal. Julian, 102 Wn. App. at 304. Here, however, the trial court had authority to impose a gang association prohibition term as a community custody condition. Former RCW 9.94A.700(5) (2003) of the SRA permitted trial courts to impose certain discretionary conditions during the course of community custody. One such condition was prohibiting contact with "a specified class of individuals," and another was imposing other "crime-related prohibitions." Former RCW 9.94A.700(5)(b), (e).5 5 The judgment and sentence does not cite the statute under which the sentencing court exercised its discretion to impose the gang-related prohibition. In his analysis, Mr. Coombes cites RCW 9.94A.700(5)(b), which allows the court to prohibit contact with a "specified class of individuals," while the State cites RCW 9.94A.700(5)(e), which permits the court to impose other general "crime related prohibitions." The cases interpreting each type of condition use essentially the same standard for both, requiring that the condition relate to the crime. See State v. Riles, 135 Wn.2d 326,350, 957 P.2d 655 (1998), abrogated on other grounds by State v. Valencia, 169 Wn.2d 782, 792,239 P.3d 1059 (2010) (interpreting former RCW 9.94A.120(9)(c)(ii) (1998), which permitted courts to prohibit offenders from having contact with a "specified class of individuals"); State v. Cordero, 170 Wn. App. 351, 373, 284 P.3d 773 (2012) (interpreting 13 No. 32806-6-III; No. 32903-8-II1 State v. Coombes; PRP ofCoombes The question actually presented here is whether the condition was appropriate under the facts of this case. The appropriateness of this particular community custody condition involves a trial court's discretion. Former RCW 9.94A.700(5). An alleged error involving a trial court's discretion, such as the one raised here, is susceptible to waiver. In re Pers. Restraint ofShale, 160 Wn.2d 489,494, 158 P.3d 588 (2007) (citing In re Pers. Restraint ofGoodwin, 146 Wn.2d 861, 873-74, 50 P.3d 618 (2002)). Because we are remanding this case to correct errors in the judgment and sentence, we exercise our discretion to not review the issue on appeal; rather, we remand to the trial court to consider argument on this issue, so as to afford us a better record for review, ifnecessary.6 former RCW 9.94A.505(8) (2006), which permitted courts to impose "crime related prohibitions"). For this reason, we cite both and do not analyze them separately. 6 Mr. Coombes additionally contends the condition prohibiting him from having any association or contact with gang members or their associates violates his First Amendment right of free association. Were we to reach this issue, we would note that while on community custody, a defendant's constitutional rights are subject to the infringements authorized by the SRA. In re Pers. Restraint of Waggy, 111 Wn. App. 511, 517,45 P.3d 1103 (2002). Freedom of association may be restricted if reasonably necessary to accomplish the essential needs of the State and public order. Id. (quoting State v. Riley, 121 Wn.2d 22,37-38, 846 P.2d 1365 (1993)). 14 No. 32806-6-III; No. 32903-8-III State v. Coombes; PRP ofCoombes 3. Whether the trial court improperly omitted afinding that Mr. Coombes used afirearm during the commission ofthe offense Both parties agree that the judgment and sentence entered after Mr. Coombes's resentencing improperly omitted a finding of the jury. The remedy for clerical or scrivener's errors in judgment and sentence forms is remand to the trial court for correction. In re Pers. Restraint ofMayer, 128 Wn. App. 694, 701, 117 P.3d 353 (2005). At the end of trial, the jury found by special verdict that Mr. Coombes had used a firearm in the commission of the murder. While the judgment and sentence entered in January 2012 after the jury trial indicated this finding, the judgment and sentence entered in August 2014 after resentencing failed to include this finding. We accept the State's concession of error and remand to the trial court for correction of Mr. Coombes's judgment and sentence to reflect the jury's finding that Mr. Coombes used a firearm in the commission of the murder. We therefore remand this case for resentencing consistent with this opinion. PERSONAL RESTRAINT PETITION In his personal restraint petition, Mr. Coombes contends that when he withdrew his plea to the first degree murder charge in accordance with this court's opinion, he also withdrew his plea to the unlawful possession of a firearm charge 15 No. 32806-6-III; No. 32903-8-II1 State v. Coombes; PRP ofCoombes as both were part of the same plea agreement. He further argues that because he was never retried for the unlawful possession of a firearm charge, it is no longer part of his criminal history and cannot be included in the calculation of his offender score. To prevail in this personal restraint petition, Mr. Coombes must show either a "constitutional error that results in actual prejudice or nonconstitutional error that results in a miscarriage ofjustice." In re Pers. Restraint of Waggy, 111 Wn. App. 511, 518,45 PJd 1103 (2002). Bare, unsupported allegations will not satisfy this burden of proof. Id. at 518-19. Rather, he must show that more likely than not he was prejudiced by the error. Id. at 518. "A petition that fails to meet this basic level of proof and argument may be dismissed summarily." Id. at 519. Mr. Coombes asks this court to conclude that he withdrew both his first degree murder plea and his unlawful possession of a firearm plea in August 2011 following the decision of this court. "This remedy is available to a defendant only where, as part ofa 'package deal,' the defendant was correctly informed of the consequences of one charge, but not of another charge." In re Pers. Restraint of Bradley, 165 Wn.2d 934,941,205 PJd 123 (2009) (quoting State v. Turley, 149 Wn.2d 395,399-401,69 PJd 338 (2003)). A plea bargain is such a deal "if the agreements as to the individual charges are indivisible from one another." Id. 16 No. 32806-6-III; No. 32903-8-III State v. Coombes; PRP ofCoombes Appellate courts look "to objective manifestations of intent in determining whether a plea agreement was meant to be indivisible." Id. "Where 'pleas to multiple counts or charges were made at the same time, described in one document, and accepted in a single proceeding,' the pleas are indivisible from one another." Id. at 941-42 (quoting Turley, 149 Wn.2d at 400). While this case is in a different procedural posture than other cases that have considered the issue of divisibility of a plea agreement, these other cases are helpful in determining whether Mr. Coombes's petition has merit. First, Mr. Coombes signed two separate statements of defendant on plea of guilty for each of the charges. These statements were signed on different days, but they were both filed on June 16, 2008. Each of the separate documents made only one reference to the other charge. 7 Specifically, in each plea statement, the State made the following recommendation encompassing the whole plea agreement: (g) ... 300 months in prison, credit for time served, dismiss weapon enhancement. Dismiss Intimidation of Witness charge, 08-1-00556-0,plead to Unlawful Possession ofa Firearm charge on a different day, $500.00 crime victims The judgment and sentence for the firearm charge also made one reference to the sentence for the murder charge, stating that the sentence of 41 months for the firearm charge should run "concurrent with Count 1." CP at 34. The murder charge was labeled as count I on the separate judgment and sentence for that charge. 7 17 No. 32806-6-III; No. 32903-8-III State v. Coombes; PRP ofCoombes compensation assessment, $200.00 court costs, $100.00 DNA collection fee, restitution, 24-48 months community custody. CP at 13,21 (emphasis added). The recommendation that the firearm charge be entered on a different day is an indication that the parties intended the unlawful possession of a firearm charge to be divisible from the murder charge. Additionally, while the Bradley court considered the fact that there were crossreferences to other charges in the separate plea documents, it determined such references were not dispositive of an indivisible plea deal. 165 Wn.2d at 943. Second, Mr. Coombes committed the crimes on different days, with the murder occurring between August 30, 2007, and September 2, 2007, and the unlawful possession of a firearm occurring September 4, 2007. While this difference of a few days alone does not establish an indivisible plea deal, it is a distinction from Turley worth noting. State v. Chambers, 176 Wn.2d 573, 581, 293 P.3d 1185 (2013); Bradley, 165 Wn.2d at 943. Third, while the record does not include the report of proceedings from Mr. Coombes's sentencing following the guilty pleas, the dates the two judgment and sentences were entered by the court suggest that the pleas were accepted in two separate proceedings, which is another important difference from Turley. The 18 No. 32806-6-III; No. 32903-8-111 State v. Coombes; PRP o/Coombes judgment and sentence for the murder charge was dated June 9, 2008, while the judgment and sentence for the firearm charge was dated June 16,2008. Finally, the documentary record itself evidences an intent to create two separate pleas. Significantly, Mr. Coombes's habeas corpus petition and this court's unpublished opinion focus only on Mr. Coombes's plea to first degree murder. In his petition and in this court's unpublished opinion, there is no mention of Mr. Coombes's separate and later plea to unlawful possession ofa firearm. Based on the above considerations, especially the documentary record, we conclude that the sentencing court properly considered Mr. Coombes's guilty plea to unlawful possession of a firearm as part of his criminal history. We therefore dismiss Mr. Coombes's personal restraint petition. Lawrence-Berrey, 1. WE CONCUR: Siddoway, C.J. 19

Some case metadata and case summaries were written with the help of AI, which can produce inaccuracies. You should read the full case before relying on it for legal research purposes.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.