Summary
In Bowen, the defendants were convicted of gross misdemeanors and sentenced to the statutory maximum of one year in jail.
Summary of this case from State v. OslakovicOpinion
Nos. 7322-0-III; 8369-1-III.
April 7, 1988.
[1] Appeal — Decisions Reviewable — Moot Questions — Test. An appellate court may choose to decide a moot issue if it involves a public controversy and is likely to recur and a decision will provide guidance for public officers in the future.
[2] Appeal — Decisions Reviewable — Moot Questions — Collateral Effects. An appellate court may choose to decide a moot issue if a decision could affect a collateral matter of consequence to one of the litigants.
[3] Criminal Law — Punishment — Equal Protection — Lesser Offense Longer Than Greater Offense. Sentencing a person convicted of a misdemeanor to a period of confinement longer than the higher end of the presumptive sentence range for a felony of which the misdemeanor is a lesser included offense does not violate the defendant's right to equal protection of the laws.
[4] Criminal Law — Punishment — Sentence — Reform Act — Validity — Limitation to Felonies. Making the Sentencing Reform Act of 1981 (RCW 9.94A) applicable to felony convictions but not misdemeanor convictions is supported by substantial policy reasons.
[5] Criminal Law — Punishment — Cruel Punishment — Proportionality — Related Offenses. When determining whether a sentence constitutes cruel and unusual punishment because it is not proportionate to the sentence that may be imposed for a related offense, a court will compare the statutory maximum sentences for the offenses rather than the presumptive sentance ranges established by the sentencing reform act.
Nature of Action: In separate prosecutions, the defendants were charged with assault for engaging in domestic violence.
Superior Court: The Superior Court for Asotin County, No. 18229, Jay R. Jones, J., on August 20, 1985, entered a judgment on a verdict finding defendant Bowen guilty of the lesser included offense of simple assault. The Superior Court for Spokane County, No. 86-1-00413-1, Harold D. Clarke, J., on January 15, 1987, entered a judgment finding defendant Kuster guilty of simple assault. Both defendants were sentenced to 1 year in jail.
Court of Appeals: Holding that defendant Bowen's appeal, although moot, should be decided and that the 1-year sentences did not violate the defendants' right to equal protection of the laws or constitute cruel and unusual punishment, the court affirms the judgments.
Richard Kayne and Kayne Kitching, for petitioner.
James D. Bowen, pro se, and Clinton Henderson, for appellant.
Joshua F. Grant, Special Prosecuting Attorney for Asotin County; Donald C. Brockett, Prosecuting Attorney for Spokane County, and James Sweetser, Deputy, for respondent.
The issue presented in these consolidated cases is whether it is unconstitutional to sentence someone convicted of a gross misdemeanor to a sentence greater then the highest presumptive sentence for someone, with the same criminal history, convicted of a felony. We affirm.
State v. Bowen
In May 1985, Dr. Bowen and his wife became involved in an argument at their home during which Dr. Bowen punched his wife in the face. After an intense struggle, Mrs. Bowen fled to a neighbor's home. When seen shortly thereafter by doctors at the hospital, she had swelling and bruising around the eyes and cuts on her eyelids.
Dr. Bowen was arrested and charged with first degree assault, a felony. At trial, the State attempted to establish through expert medical testimony that the force used by Dr. Bowen was likely to cause death. The jury, however, found him guilty of the lesser included gross misdemeanor, simple assault.
The trial judge, noting the severity of the attack, sentenced Dr. Bowen to the statutory maximum confinement of 1 year in the county jail. Dr. Bowen has since served the entire sentence. He appeals both through counsel and pro se, contending primarily that the 1-year sentence denied him equal protection and was cruel and unusual punishment. Pro se, he also contends the conviction should be set aside.
State v. Kuster
On March 25, 1986, Mr. Kuster was found guilty of simple assault arising out of domestic violence. He was sentenced to 365 days in jail, the statutory maximum. Mr. Kuster had no prior felony convictions, but this was his third for simple assault. He sought discretionary review, contending the sentence denied him equal protection of the laws. Discretionary review was granted.
MOOTNESS
[1] First, we must decide whether the challenge to Dr. Bowen's sentence should be dismissed as moot. Dr. Bowen has served his entire 1-year sentence. Arguably, this court cannot grant meaningful relief. However, the issue is also of substantial public interest in that the constitutional arguments have not been addressed in this state. The issues will likely recur. Though a case may be subject to dismissal because of mootness, we may decline to do so where (1) the nature of the controversy is public rather than private; (2) there is need for a judicial determination for future guidance of public officers; and (3) there is a likelihood of future recurrence of the issue. In re Myers, 105 Wn.2d 257, 714 P.2d 303 (1986).
[2] In addition, Dr. Bowen argues in his pro se brief his medical license hangs in the balance, and thus he could suffer collateral consequences. This is also a recognized exception to the mootness rule. See Sibron v. New York, 392 U.S. 40, 57, 20 L.Ed.2d 917, 88 S.Ct. 1889 (1968); Canal Zone v. Castillo, 568 F.2d 405 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, 436 U.S. 910 (1978).
We conclude while a reversal would not regain the year he spent in jail, it could affect collateral matters of consequence to Dr. Bowen. In addition, the case presents issues which meet the Myers criteria. Thus, we do not dismiss for mootness.
EQUAL PROTECTION
Did the court deny Dr. Bowen and Mr. Kuster equal protection of the law by imposing sentences on convictions for gross misdemeanors in excess of the presumptive range for a person with the same criminal history who is convicted of a felony? Arguendo, we assume the 1-year sentences imposed on both Dr. Bowen and Mr. Kuster for simple assault were greater than the maximum presumptive sentences for second degree assault for persons with similar criminal histories. Second degree assault is a felony, whereas simple assault is a gross misdemeanor. See RCW 9A.36.020, .030, .040. The maximum penalty for second degree assault, a class B felony, is 10 years and a $20,000 fine; for simple assault, 1 year and a $5,000 fine. RCW 9A.20.021.
Both defendants argue the Sentencing Reform Act of 1981 (SRA), RCW 9.94A, grants certain "rights" to felons which are denied those convicted of misdemeanors or gross misdemeanors. Felons must be sentenced within a range determined by the seriousness level of the crime, and the criminal history of the defendant. The SRA applies only to the sentencing of felony offenders. RCW 9.94A.010. Dr. Bowen and Mr. Kuster point out a court may sentence a defendant to the statutory maximum for a gross misdemeanor without the fact-finding "substantial or compelling reasons" as required before exceeding the presumptive range in sentencing a felon. They argue this could lead to disparity in sentences and that it denies them the equal protection of the law.
A violation of the equal protection of the laws guaranteed by the federal and state constitutions requires dissimilar treatment of persons similarly situated with respect to the legitimate purposes of the law. In re Knapp, 102 Wn.2d 466, 687 P.2d 1145 (1984); State v. Phelan, 100 Wn.2d 508, 512, 671 P.2d 1212 (1983). The State contends a defendant convicted of a felony is not similarly situated to a defendant convicted of a gross misdemeanor, for purposes of an equal protection analysis. The State argues that all defendants convicted of gross misdemeanors are treated alike and all defendants convicted of felonies are treated alike; each class is similarly situated to itself but not to each other.
[3] Even assuming the two classes, felons and misdemeanants, are similarly situated, the dissimilarity in treatment is constitutionally permissible. While the SRA structures the discretion to sentence, it does not eliminate it. RCW 9.94A.010. The court has discretion to impose a sentence outside the presumptive range "if it finds, considering the purpose of [the SRA], that there are substantial and compelling reasons justifying an exceptional sentence". RCW 9.94A.120(2). Thus, since discretion may still be exercised, the felon is not guaranteed a sentence within the presumptive range. The felon faces a much higher statutory maximum than the person convicted of a gross misdemeanor.
[4] The enactment of the SRA, and its application only to felons, is constitutionally permissible, and based upon substantial and compelling reasons. Recently In re Mayner, 107 Wn.2d 512, 516, 730 P.2d 1321 (1986) emphasized " [e]qual protection does not require identity of treatment, if there is reasonable ground for a difference in policy" (quoting In re George, 90 Wn.2d 90, 93, 579 P.2d 354 (1978)). The policy reasons for distinguishing between felony sentencing and sentencing for gross misdemeanors are apparent from the different treatment and consequences which flow from conviction. Various factors differentiate the two classes.
1. A felony conviction can result in confinement in the state penitentiary up to the statutory maximum for the specific felony offense, while persons convicted of gross misdemeanors can be sentenced to a maximum of 1 year in the county jail.
2. A felony conviction has future consequences for calculation of a defendant's offender score, while gross misdemeanor offenses do not. RCW 9.94A.360.
3. For a felony conviction, the court has jurisdiction for a longer period to impose punishment, restitution, and community supervision than the duration for gross misdemeanor offenses.
4. The statutory maximum monetary fine provisions which may be imposed for a felony conviction exceed the statutory maximums for misdemeanors.
5. A felony conviction affects a defendant's civil rights, while conviction of a gross misdemeanor does not.
Policy reasons for dissimilar treatment are substantial. Thus, the SRA's exclusion of gross misdemeanors from its provisions does not deny Dr. Bowen or Mr. Kuster equal protection of the law.
CRUEL AND UNUSUAL PUNISHMENT
Next, both contend the imposition of a 1-year sentence for simple assault constitutes cruel and unusual punishment. The federal and state constitutions prohibit punishment which is grossly disproportionate to the gravity of the offense. See State v. Fain, 94 Wn.2d 387, 617 P.2d 720 (1980) (proportionality under Const. art. 1, § 14); Solem v. Helm, 463 U.S. 277, 77 L.Ed.2d 637, 103 S.Ct. 3001 (1983) (Eighth Amendment). Dr. Bowen contends his sentence is disproportionate because, had he been convicted of second or third degree assault, his presumptive sentence would have been less than the 1-year sentence imposed. He argues this makes punishment for the lesser included offense more severe than the greater offense, a practice denounced in Solem v. Helm, 463 U.S. at 293.
[5] However, when comparing sentences for proportionality analysis, courts have looked to the statutory penalty. See Solem v. Helm, supra. The statutory maximum is 5 times greater for a class C felony than for a gross misdemeanor, and 10 times greater for a class B felony. Though the SRA requires reasons for exceeding the presumptive range, felony sentencing decisions involve discretion as do those for gross misdemeanors. Additionally, there is no showing that a sentence of 1 year for simple assault is disproportionate to sentences in this or other jurisdictions under similar facts. Imposition of the statutory maximum for a gross misdemeanor does not constitute cruel and unusual punishment.
We affirm both convictions.
Pursuant to RCW 2.06.040, the remaining contentions and the court's answers to those contentions, having no precedential value, will not be published.
McINTURFF, C.J., and GREEN, J., concur.
Review denied by Supreme Court October 4, 1988.