FILED
AUGUST 24, 2023
In the Office of the Clerk of Court
WA State Court of Appeals Division III
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
DIVISION THREE
STATE OF WASHINGTON, )
) No. 38671-6-III
Respondent, )
)
v. )
)
RAYMOND LAPEER BELL, ) UNPUBLISHED OPINION
)
Appellant. )
SIDDOWAY, J.P.T. — Raymond Bell appeals his conviction for first degree assault
with a deadly weapon, challenging the sufficiency of the evidence and alleging a
violation of his right to a fair and impartial jury, evidentiary error, and an abuse of
discretion in denying his request for an exceptional mitigated sentence. The evidence
was sufficient, his standard range sentence is not appealable, and he fails to identify any
error or abuse of discretion. For those reasons, and because he raises no meritorious
issues in a statement of additional grounds, we affirm his judgment and sentence other
than to grant his request for relief from the victim penalty assessment based on a
recently-effective change in the law.
Judge Laurel H. Siddoway was a member of the Court of Appeals at the time
argument was held on this matter. She is now serving as a judge pro tempore of the court
pursuant to RCW 2.06.150.
No. 38671-6-III
State v. Bell
FACTS AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
On an evening in March 2019, a woman who identified herself as “Shanna” called
911 to report that she had just been assaulted. The call was transferred by the 911
operator to a Spokane police dispatcher. Shanna had just begun speaking to the
dispatcher when she abruptly told the dispatcher that her attacker had come back into the
apartment. She ceased responding to questions. All the dispatcher could hear were
muffled voices. Spokane police responded to the address provided to the 911 operator
and found Shanna Delcambre in an upstairs apartment with a deep head wound and her
right hand almost completely severed. She told police that Raymond Bell had repeatedly
attacked her with a machete.
Mr. Bell was located in a first-floor hallway of the apartment building and was
taken into custody. The State charged him with first degree assault with a deadly
weapon, later amending the information to add a charge of attempted first degree murder.
The case proceeded to trial in October 2021. Among Mr. Bell’s pretrial motions
in limine were several related to the then-ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)
pandemic. He moved for two additional alternate jurors, the explanation being, “There
should be additional alternates on the jury due to the risk of COVID-19 Delta infection.”
Clerk’s Papers (CP) at 18. He requested “additional time to investigate juror biases and
strike jurors for cause,” including “for those who indicate they will be distracted by the
surrounding issues with the COVID[-]19 pandemic.” Id. at 19 (boldface omitted). He
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No. 38671-6-III
State v. Bell
submitted that “[j]urors who concede that their ability to focus on the testimony is
impaired by the pandemic must be stricken for cause.” Id. at 22.
He objected to witnesses wearing masks while testifying as violating his right of
confrontation. Finally, he objected to jurors wearing N95 or other face masks during voir
dire, asking that they wear face shields instead.
It was the practice of the superior court at the time for witnesses not to wear face
masks when testifying. For jurors and prospective jurors, the practice was for them to
wear face masks. When the parties’ motions in limine were heard, Mr. Bell’s request that
the jurors not wear face masks was his only COVID-related request that was not
accommodated or resolved with defense agreement. The court explained:
The record should reflect that—so sad I had to update this because it
was the fourth wa[ve], now it’s the fifth wa[ve], our community is currently
in what’s been characterized as the fifth [wave] of a global pandemic
caused by the deadly Corona virus, which has killed—and back then it was
over a half million, but I know that we are at 700-and-something-thousand
U.S. citizens and infected millions more. Spokane County Health
Department figures reflect, and this was yesterday’s numbers, so I’m sure
that, or I would not be surprised if it did clear 67,000 cases because as of
yesterday evening, it was 66,988 cases with 4,219 overall hospitalizations.
Less than half of Spokane County is vaccinated.
While the defendant has a right to a timely jury trial, I also have to
weigh the safety of the citizens that the court is compelling to attend jury
service. CDC[1] face shield provided sufficient protection while advising
N95 mask with social distancing provides the best protection against
transmission, particularly important with the even more contagious Delta
1
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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State v. Bell
variant. And in addition to that, Governor Inslee has instituted an indoor
mask mandate.
For those reasons, I am going to deny defense number 9. I can’t tell
you how much I wish we weren’t in this position still, but, unfortunately,
we are.
1 Rep. of Proc. (1 RP) at 26-27 (emphasis added).2
In jury selection the next week, the court began by talking to prospective jurors
about the pandemic-related safety protocols in place. Face masks were provided, and
jurors were told by the court that “[f]ace coverings are required for protection in the
courtroom.” 1 RP at 59-60. The court added, “I will not have my face covering on while
I’m talking during voir dire, and counsel will be allowed to remove their face covering
while speaking.” Id. at 60. When the time came for jurors to answer questions, the court
said, “[W]e’ll start with Juror No. 1. If you could lower your face covering while you’re
speaking. It will help with the court reporting.” Id. at 67. During the questioning,
prospective jurors were periodically reminded or requested to lower their face coverings
when speaking. See, e.g., 1 RP at 78, 81, 97, 109.
After the jury was selected, three days of testimony ensued. There had been three
witnesses to the assault: the victim, Shanna Delcambre; the defendant, Mr. Bell; and
2
Our record on appeal includes three separately paginated reports of proceedings.
We refer to the volume that includes the hearing on the parties’ motions in limine and the
first day of trial (reported by Rebecca J. Weeks) as “1 RP.” We refer to the volume that
includes the remainder of trial, the sentencing hearing, and a couple of early pretrial
hearings (reported by Terri Rosadovelazquez) as “2 RP.” We refer to the volume that
includes other hearings discussed in addressing Mr. Bell’s statement of additional
grounds (reported by Korina C. Cox) as “3 RP.”
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No. 38671-6-III
State v. Bell
Dorothea George, Mr. Bell’s longtime girlfriend and his roommate at the time of the
assault. Ms. George and Ms. Delcambre were called as witnesses in the State’s case.
Dorothea George testimony
Of the witnesses to the assault, Ms. George testified first. She testified that on the
day of the assault, Mr. Bell had been awake and upset for days, following a suspension
from work. For four days, he had been drinking and smoking crack cocaine. She
testified she had finally gotten Mr. Bell to sleep when, late in the afternoon, she heard an
altercation in a parking area below their upstairs apartment. She looked out a window
and saw Ms. Delcambre, who she recognized; she, Ms. Delcambre, and Mr. Bell had
been friends, decades earlier, in high school. Ms. George shook Mr. Bell awake and
together they went downstairs to calm down whatever was going on between Ms.
Delcambre and a man with whom she was arguing. After things settled, Ms. George and
Mr. Bell walked across the street to purchase beer and malt liquor and invited Ms.
Delcambre to join them upstairs. The three began drinking and smoking weed in the
apartment. Ms. George estimated that Ms. Delcambre was with them in the apartment for
about three hours.
Ms. George testified that an argument started when Ms. Delcambre mentioned a
girl they had gone to school with and Mr. Bell commented that the girl had been “pretty
back in the day,” which Ms. Delcambre felt disrespected Ms. George. 2 RP at 38. When
Ms. Delcambre asked Mr. Bell how he would feel if Ms. George talked wistfully about
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No. 38671-6-III
State v. Bell
her old boyfriend’s “stuff,” 2 RP at 38, Mr. Bell told her to be quiet, which made Ms.
Delcambre angrier. According to Ms. George, the argument between Mr. Bell and Ms.
Delcambre escalated and became a physical fight. Mr. Bell told Ms. Delcambre, “Get the
‘F’ out of my house,” but Ms. Delcambre did not leave. 2 RP at 40. Ms. George then
yelled for them both to leave, but only Mr. Bell walked out. Ms. Delcambre began to call
the police, while Ms. George pleaded with her not to.
Ms. George assumed Mr. Bell heard Ms. Delcambre calling the police, because he
came back into the apartment and followed Ms. Delcambre into the bedroom. Ms.
George testified that she stayed in the living room until she heard Ms. Delcambre
screaming her name. When she entered the bedroom, she thought the two were fighting
like before, but she soon saw that Mr. Bell was “just chopping and chopping” at Ms.
Delcambre with a machete. 2 RP at 43. Ms. George jumped in front of Mr. Bell, yelling
at him to stop. She testified that his eyes were blank and he appeared not to hear her;
according to Ms. George, “[H]e didn’t know what the hell he was doing.” 2 RP at 79.
When she grabbed him and called him “Daddy,” he “stop[ped], froze, and looked around,
and he was like, What the . . . .” 2 RP at 80. Ms. George testified Mr. Bell then left the
apartment and never returned. Ms. George saw Ms. Delcambre was holding her wrist so
she wrapped her hand in a shirt while calling 911.3
3
No recording of this 911 call was offered as evidence, but a dispatcher testified
that the caller stated her friend needed help and then hung up.
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No. 38671-6-III
State v. Bell
According to Ms. George, Mr. Bell “wasn’t even mentally there” during the
assault, and did not know what was going on. 2 RP at 42. She believed Mr. Bell was
“blacked out” that night. 2 RP at 55. She had seen Mr. Bell black out before and said he
would go entirely blank and be nonresponsive until he was shaken.
Shanna Delcambre testimony
Ms. Delcambre testified that she had been at the apartment building on the
afternoon and early evening of the assault with her cousin, who was helping to change
tires on the car of one of Ms. Delcambre’s friends. It took “at least a couple hours.”
2 RP at 116. The altercation that caused Ms. George to look out the window happened
when Ms. Delcambre’s friend’s boyfriend started flirting with Ms. Delcambre, and she
“told him off.” 2 RP at 113. According to Ms. Delcambre, Ms. George came to a
window and yelled down, “Oh girl, I thought that was you; I heard your voice.” 2 RP at
115. The two talked briefly from that distance and then Ms. George came down to the
parking lot. They shared a beer and chatted. Shortly after, Mr. Bell also came down and
briefly joined them before leaving to buy beer.
When the tires were finally changed, it was about dusk and Ms. Delcambre needed
to use a bathroom. She accepted Ms. George’s invitation to use the bathroom in her and
Mr. Bell’s apartment and stayed to visit with them when she was done. Ms. George
offered Ms. Delcambre another beer and the three sat and talked, telling jokes and
laughing. According to Ms. Delcambre, Mr. Bell and Ms. George continued to drink
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No. 38671-6-III
State v. Bell
heavily even though, by her account, they were already “pretty drunk.” 2 RP at 121. Ms.
Delcambre believed she only had two beers total that night.
About an hour and a half into the visit, there was a sudden shift in the mood,
according to Ms. Delcambre. She recalled them all laughing at something Ms. George
said and then Mr. Bell stood up and “shook me really hard,” demanding to know what
Ms. Delcambre was laughing at. 2 RP at 123. Ms. Delcambre was irritated and said
something like, “Hey, don’t shake me like that. You know, keep your hands off me; I’m
not Dorothea.” 2 RP at 181. Ms. Delcambre acknowledged at trial that she has a strong
personality and does not back down easily.
Ms. George told Ms. Delcambre, “Don’t pay him no mind, you know, don’t
leave,” so Ms. Delcambre decided to ignore Mr. Bell. 2 RP at 125. She shifted her
attention back to Ms. George while Mr. Bell got up and went to the bedroom. When he
returned, he was carrying a machete in a sheath. Initially, she assumed he was just going
to show it to them. However, she became worried when he took it out of the sheath,
started playing with it, and was laughing.
Ms. Delcambre struggled to remember her 911 call, testifying she believed she
called 911 while running into the bedroom. The recorded 911 call was admitted into
evidence and played for the jury. On it, Ms. Delcambre sounds calm and reports that she
was just assaulted and Mr. Bell had a machete. She seems to say that Mr. Bell was
“jumping on” Ms. George as well. Ex. P-12, at 59 sec. to 1 min., 4 sec.; see also 2 RP at
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No. 38671-6-III
State v. Bell
194 (“I’m calling because I think my friend is in danger.”). The recording ends as the
call is being transferred to dispatch and Ms. Delcambre says she was just “socked” in the
head multiple times. Ex. P-12, at 2 min., 2 sec. to 2 min., 6 sec.
Ms. Delcambre did remember that after the call she ran to the bedroom and tried to
shut the door but was followed by Mr. Bell who kicked the door in. She described the
attack that followed:
I went into the bedroom. He came in. I was trying to close the door. He
kicked in the door. So when he came in, there was nowhere else to go, so I
went towards the closet. I went into the closet. I was in the corner of the
closet, and that’s—I just kept saying, Okay, Raymond, the police are on
their way. You should just leave. Raymond, the police are on their way.
And he started chopping at me. And when he hit my hand, I just was so
puzzled that he had did it. He was still laughing. So I just was, like,
Raymond, you really—like, you really did—like, my hand’s on the
ground—or seemed like it was on the ground to me. I’m, like, it was gone
from my wrist.
So I just kept trying to talk him down and tell him that the police
were leaving—I mean, were coming, whatever.
And so he had attacked me. And I don’t know if the door closed,
like, because I was in the closet, so I don’t know if it kind of closed or if it
kind of came off of the track, but I kept trying to crawl in further and like,
leave my—oh, God, I was so scared to have any limbs out. I just didn’t
want him to cut another one off.
So I was just trying to get in the closet as tight as I could. And it just
seemed like he got tired and the door kind of got in his way, and he just
walked away. And I just thought, Oh, God, it’s over, like, God, they should
be here soon, like—and then the next thing I know, he was coming back.
2 RP at 132-33. She said Mr. Bell “looked like the Joker” and “act[ed] like he was
jousting and laughing” as he jabbed her. 2 RP at 183, 174. Following the blow to her
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No. 38671-6-III
State v. Bell
wrist, Ms. Delcambre said it “just kept squirting like a faucet.” 2 RP at 143. She had
never seen so much blood.
Ms. Delcambre estimated it was only minutes after he left that Mr. Bell came back
and started attacking her again. He chopped her in the head, cutting through her skull and
slicing off some of her hair. During the second attack, Ms. Delcambre “felt then that he
was trying to kill me,” so she pretended he had, after the first blow. 2 RP at 142. When
Mr. Bell struck her again, she kept her eyes closed and acted like she did not feel
anything even though she did. Mr. Bell finally left when Ms. George came into the
bedroom and told him to stop.
Other State witnesses
The State’s other witnesses were the Spokane Police Department dispatcher, three
Spokane police officers who responded to the 911 call, the assigned detective, an
emergency physician from Sacred Heart Hospital in Spokane, and a hand surgeon from
Harborview Medical Center.
The first police officer to respond to the 911 call found Ms. Delcambre in the
Bell/George apartment, lying inside the back-bedroom closet blood soaked, and holding a
towel to her hand. He immediately applied a tourniquet, which her doctors testified
saved Ms. Delcambre from dying from loss of blood.
Medical witnesses testified that Ms. Delcambre’s injuries were extensive and life-
threatening. Her right hand was nearly entirely cut off at the wrist and required multiple
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No. 38671-6-III
State v. Bell
surgeries to reattach. She had a laceration on her left thumb and a laceration to her scalp
that was two and a half to three inches deep. Both required staples to repair. She
suffered a traumatic brain injury and continued to have memory issues.
Responding officers found Mr. Bell in the first-floor hallway of the building.
Officers testified that he appeared intoxicated, but also described him as not incapacitated
in any respect. Corporal Brandon Lynch observed Mr. Bell’s communications with
others, and testified that Mr. Bell was responsive, cooperative, and not confused. Officer
Benjamin Yinger observed Mr. Bell comply with directions to show his hands and get on
the ground. He, too, testified that Mr. Bell did not appear confused. When Officer
Yinger interviewed Ms. George, she told him Mr. Bell had been on a four-day bender,
but did not tell Officer Yinger about any blackout.
Detective Paul Lebsock testified that if Mr. Bell had needed medical clearance or
treatment for intoxication, it would have been documented, and there is no indication that
anything of that sort occurred. The topic of intoxication came up in the detective’s direct
examination. The prosecutor was questioning him about defenses he considers when
engaged in an investigation, and the following testimony is identified as an issue on
appeal:
Q. So in general, what types of defenses do you think of as part of your
investigation?
A. Sure. Well, everybody has the right to defend themselves and
another person from being attacked or unlawful injury, unlawful
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No. 38671-6-III
State v. Bell
assault. So you consider physical size. You do consider gender
differences. You consider available weapons. You consider who
might be the primary physical aggressor and then an appropriate
level of defense to the point of self-defense without crossing the line
into counteractive assault.
. . . Let’s say you have two individuals and one individual
comes up and kind of shoulder bumps a kid in a hallway of the high
school. . . . And the kid that gets shoulder bumped pulls a gun and
shoots the guy. That’s an example of overstepping one’s boundary
of self-defense.
Q. Pursuant to law enforcement evaluation?
A. Yes. The way we would interpret the law. We don’t write the law,
but we try to interpret the law and work within the law with what the
legislative branch has put forward.
Q. But these are the types of things you look—you consider when
you’re going into any type of an incident such as one like this?
A. Sure. You evaluate levels of force that’s appropriate in defense of
one’s self or another.
Q. And then what about intoxication, does that ever play into your
analysis?
A. So our role is to look at the law the way the law is written, and,
really, intoxication is not—
[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Objection, Your Honor. This is law that the
judge is going to be instructing on, not testimony of this witness.
THE COURT: Right. If we could shift to a different . . .
[PROSECUTOR]: Will do.
2 RP at 292-94. Defense counsel did not move to strike the aborted testimony or request
any curative instruction.
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No. 38671-6-III
State v. Bell
Raymond Bell testimony
Mr. Bell was the only witness called in the defense case. He testified that he could
not remember what happened on the night he assaulted Ms. Delcambre because he was
drunk and had been binge drinking for a few days. He testified that he had also been
smoking crack cocaine for about a day.
He recalled seeing Ms. Delcambre outside in the parking lot, and knew she came
up to his apartment with her dog. He remembered going to the store to buy beer. He
remembered sitting on the couch with Ms. George while Ms. Delcambre sat on a chair.
He remembered watching television, smoking a cigarette, talking, and drinking a beer.
He said the last thing he remembered before blacking out was the three of them just
talking.
He testified he did not recall being snapped out of the blackout by Ms. George.
He claimed his next memory after just talking was someone putting handcuffs on him,
and sleeping in the jail for four days. He had no injuries from the incident. He testified
he had not wanted to hurt or kill Ms. Delcambre and did not intentionally assault her.
Verdict, sentence and appeal
The jury was unable to reach a verdict on the attempted murder charge, but found
Mr. Bell guilty of first degree assault with a deadly weapon.
At sentencing, Mr. Bell’s offender score of 8 resulted in a standard range of 209-
277 months. With the 24-month deadly weapon enhancement, his total standard range
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No. 38671-6-III
State v. Bell
was 233-301 months. The State recommended a high end sentence of 301 months, while
Mr. Bell requested consideration of an exceptional sentence below the standard range.
He offered five possible mitigating factors, the first being his age—55—which he
argued meant he had, or soon would, age out of criminal behavior. He argued that a
lengthy sentence would waste State resources by burdening it with medical expenses and
others costs, and fail to give Mr. Bell “the chance of an opportunity to improve himself.”
2 RP at 436. He submitted that the fact that he came from a low socioeconomic class,
was a person of color, and had a criminal history spanning the majority of his life, should
call into question “how the system and failures in our criminal justice system had affected
his offender score.” 2 RP at 437. He argued that the trial evidence revealed Ms.
Delcambre to be “an initiator, willing participant, aggressor, or provoker of the incident.”
2 RP at 437-38. Finally, he expressed remorse and testified that the assault was “not
something he ever intended to do.” 2 RP at 439.
The trial court denied the request for an exceptional sentence and sentenced Mr.
Bell to 250 months for the first degree assault conviction and 24 months for the deadly
weapon enhancement, for a total period of confinement of 274 months. Mr. Bell appeals.
He recently filed a motion seeking leave to file a supplemental assignment of error, and
we have granted him leave to assign error supplementally to the trial court’s imposition
of the $500 victim penalty assessment provided by former RCW 7.68.035(1)(a) (2018).
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No. 38671-6-III
State v. Bell
ANALYSIS
Mr. Bell makes four assignments of error. He challenges the denial of his motion
to require face shields rather than face masks for jurors, Detective Lebsock’s interrupted
answer to the question about intoxication, the sufficiency of the evidence, and the court’s
refusal to impose an exceptional sentence.
I. USE BY PROSPECTIVE JURORS OF FACE MASKS DURING VOIR DIRE DID NOT VIOLATE
MR. BELL’S RIGHT TO AN IMPARTIAL JURY
Mr. Bell’s first assignment of error is that the trial court violated his constitutional
right to a fair trial before an impartial jury by denying his objection to prospective jurors
wearing N95 or other masks during voir dire.4
Both the United States and Washington State Constitutions provide a right to trial
by an impartial jury in all criminal prosecutions. U.S. CONST. amend. VI; WASH. CONST.
art. I, § 22. Seating a biased juror violates the right. State v. Guevara Diaz, 11 Wn. App.
2d 843, 851, 456 P.3d 869 (citing State v. Irby, 187 Wn. App. 183, 193, 347 P.3d 1103
(2015)). A juror demonstrates actual bias when he exhibits “a state of mind . . . in
reference to the action, or to either party, which satisfies the court that the challenged
person cannot try the issue impartially and without prejudice to the substantial rights of
the party challenging.” RCW 4.44.170(2). Voir dire, the part of jury selection wherein
4
He characterizes his motion as having objected to jurors wearing masks
throughout the entirety of the criminal case, but his motion in limine spoke only of voir
dire and relied on reasoning that applied only to voir dire. See CP at 24-26. Any
objection to jurors wearing face masks during trial is unpreserved. RAP 2.5(a).
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No. 38671-6-III
State v. Bell
the parties ask questions and engage in discussion with potential jurors to draw out
potential bias, is central to securing the right to an impartial jury. State v. Bell, ___ Wn.
App. 2d ___, 529 P.3d 448, 454 (2023) (citing State v. Momah, 167 Wn.2d 140, 152, 217
P.3d 321 (2009)). The ability to assess the demeanor of the venire, and of the individuals
who compose it, is a factor of critical importance in assessing the attitude and
qualifications of potential jurors. Uttecht v. Brown, 551 U.S. 1, 9, 127 S. Ct. 2218, 167
L. Ed. 2d 1014 (2007).
A second purpose of voir dire is to “gain[ ] knowledge to enable an intelligent
exercise of peremptory challenges.” State v. Lupastean, 200 Wn.2d 26, 35, 513 P.3d 781
(2022) (quoting CrRLJ 6.4(b)). Unlike constitutionally-required challenges for cause,
however, peremptory challenges are “merely one rule-based component of the trial
process, which must be limited by courts and may be eliminated altogether.” Id. at 43.
Trial courts are vested with broad discretion to see that voir dire is effective in
obtaining an impartial jury and that this result is obtained with reasonable expedition.
State v. Brady, 116 Wn. App. 143, 146-47, 64 P.3d 1258 (2003) (citing State v.
Frederiksen, 40 Wn. App. 749, 753, 700 P.2d 369 (1985)). The court’s discretion is
limited only by the need to assure a fair trial by an impartial jury. Brady, 116 Wn. App.
at 147 (citing Frederiksen, 40 Wn. App. at 752). We review a trial court’s ruling on the
conduct of voir dire for an abuse of discretion. Id.
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No. 38671-6-III
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Mr. Bell provides no legal authority from any jurisdiction holding that requiring
face masks for public safety during voir dire violates a criminal defendant’s right to an
impartial jury. The issue has been addressed, as pointed out by the State’s response brief,
and the universal response has been that a defendant is able to assess a juror’s credibility
and demeanor while the juror is wearing a face mask. See Br. of Resp’t at 36-40
(collecting cases).
Following the parties’ briefing on appeal, Division One of our court addressed an
identical challenge by a different defendant named Bell, who also moved his trial court to
employ face shields rather than face masks for the voir dire process. Bell, 529 P.3d at
454. Like the State’s briefing in this case, Division One observed that courts that have
seen challenges to their jurisdiction’s pandemic-induced jury selection procedures “have
uniformly rejected these challenges.” Id. at 456. Bell points out that a common theme in
courts’ treatment of such challenges, with which the Bell court agreed, is that “parties’
inability to see a juror’s mouth and nose deprives them of access to only a small part of
their demeanor.” Id. at 457 (citing cases). Another common theme with which Division
One agreed is the “countervailing need to provide for safety of all participants in the
midst of a pandemic.” Id. at 457-58 (citing cases).
As recounted in Bell, Washington courts adopted a variety of strategies to ensure
that trials could go forward safely during the pandemic. In an order issued in June 2020,
the Washington State Supreme Court required courts to “conduct all [jury trial]
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No. 38671-6-III
State v. Bell
proceedings consistent with the most protective applicable public health guidance in their
jurisdiction.” Ord. re: Modification of Jury Trial Proc., In re Statewide Response by
Washington State Courts to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, No. 25700-B-631,
at 3 (Wash. June 18, 2020). As pointed out in Bell, the Supreme Court’s order
contemplated face masking and explicitly permitted the use of remote technology in jury
selection, a dramatic change to the usual voir dire procedure, to reduce the risk of
coronavirus exposure. Bell, 529 P.3d at 455.
The reasoning of Bell is sound, and we follow it. Evaluated in light of its
reasoning, Raymond Bell’s is a particularly weak challenge. Since prospective jurors
were instructed before voir dire questioning began to lower their masks when speaking,
defense counsel was prevented from seeing only the lower faces of venire members who
were not speaking, but listening. The constitutional concern is with “for cause”
challenges, and it is hard to imagine that a venire member’s frowning, grimacing,
smiling, or laughing that was revealed only by their lower face, while listening to others,
would support a challenge for actual bias.
It is also the case that safety concerns were very real at the time and place of
Raymond Bell’s trial. This was demonstrated by defense counsel’s own request for
additional alternate jurors and the ability to excuse for cause a juror whose ability to
focus on the evidence would be impaired by pandemic-related concerns. As pointed out
in the record made by the trial court, Spokane County had a low vaccination rate and was
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No. 38671-6-III
State v. Bell
experiencing high numbers of Delta variant cases and hospitalizations. Like the trial
court in Division One’s Bell decision, the trial court in this case did not abuse its
discretion by requiring jurors to wear face masks during jury selection.
II. NO TRIAL COURT ERROR IS IDENTIFIED BY MR. BELL’S SECOND ASSIGNED ERROR
Mr. Bell’s second assignment of error is that “[e]videntiary and constitutional
error . . . occurred” when the jury heard a statement from Detective Lebsock that Mr. Bell
characterizes as “intoxication does not matter to Mr. Bell’s guilt.” Appellant’s Opening
Br. at 1. What occurred was that after the detective answered questions about how he
evaluates the possibility that a suspect has a valid defense against a charge (and
specifically, a defense of self-defense), the prosecutor’s next question and the beginning
of an answer drew an objection:
Q. And then what about intoxication, does that ever play into your
analysis?
A. So our role is to look at the law the way the law is written, and,
really, intoxication is not—
[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Objection, Your Honor. This is law that the
judge is going to be instructing on, not testimony of this witness.
THE COURT: Right. If we could shift to a different . . .
[PROSECUTOR]: Will do.
2 RP at 293. As can be seen, the question was never fully answered, and the defense
objection was sustained. There was no motion by defense counsel to strike the partial
answer. The State makes these points in its response brief.
19
No. 38671-6-III
State v. Bell
In reply, Mr. Bell baldly asserts that no one “was under any illusion that Officer
Lebsock’s opinion was one that mocked the idea that intoxication was pertinent to
wrongdoing,” that the partial statement was “improper opinion testimony on guilt,” and
that it was “manifest constitutional error.” Reply Br. at 9-11. None of these contentions
is adequately explained. We reject all of them.
Given his decades of law enforcement work, Detective Lebsock could have been
familiar with how the jury would be instructed, and he might have been about to say
something like, “intoxication is not something that automatically relieves a person of
criminal responsibility, but it can be relevant to whether he acted with intent.”5 Of
course, if the detective was about to testify to whether intoxication was a defense, or how,
then anything he had to say would be objectionable. The objection was properly
sustained.
Defense counsel could have asked the court to strike the partial answer and
instruct jurors that they would receive their instruction on the law from the court.6 The
5
The jury was later instructed by the trial court’s instruction 23, “No act
committed by a person while in a state of voluntary intoxication is less criminal because
⎯by reason of that condition. However, evidence of intoxication may be considered in
determining whether the defendant acted with premeditated intent and/or intent.” 2 RP at
368.
6
Before its deliberations, the jury was instructed, “It is also your duty to accept
the law from my instructions regardless of what you personally believe the law is or what
you think it should be. You must apply the law from my instructions to the facts that you
20
No. 38671-6-III
State v. Bell
court was not required to do either, because the defense did not ask it to. E.g., State v.
Severns, 19 Wn.2d 18, 20, 141 P.2d 142 (1943) (appellant did not see fit to move to strike
at trial, and could not complain on appeal); accord State v. Gallo, 20 Wn. App. 717, 728,
582 P.2d 558 (1978) (citing State v. Jones, 70 Wn.2d 591, 424 P.2d 665 (1967)). No
error by the trial court is shown.
III. THE EVIDENCE OF FIRST DEGREE ASSAULT WAS SUFFICIENT
Mr. Bell’s third assignment of error is that the evidence was insufficient to support
the jury’s verdict that he was guilty of first degree assault, and specifically insufficient on
the element of intent. In reviewing a challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence, we
view the evidence and all reasonable inferences in a light most favorable to the State to
determine whether any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the
crime beyond a reasonable doubt. State v. Green, 94 Wn.2d 216, 221, 616 P.2d 628
(1980). A claim of insufficiency admits the truth of the State’s evidence and all
reasonable inferences that a trier of fact can draw from the evidence. State v. Salinas,
119 Wn.2d 192, 201, 829 P.2d 1068 (1992). Circumstantial evidence and direct evidence
are equally reliable. State v. Delmarter, 94 Wn.2d 634, 638, 618 P.2d 99 (1980). We
defer to the trier of fact on issues of conflicting testimony, credibility of witnesses, and
decide have been proved and in this way decide the case,” 2 RP at 356, and later, “The
law is contained in my instructions to you. You must disregard any remark, statement, or
argument that is not supported by the evidence or the law in my instructions.” Id. at 358.
Jurors are presumed to follow the court’s instructions. State v. Kalebaugh, 183 Wn.2d
578, 586, 355 P.3d 253 (2015).
21
No. 38671-6-III
State v. Bell
the persuasiveness of the evidence. State v. Camarillo, 115 Wn.2d 60, 71, 794 P.2d 850
(1990), abrogated in part on other grounds, State v. Crossguns, 199 Wn.2d 282, 505
P.3d 529 (2022).
To convict Mr. Bell of first degree assault, the State was required to present
evidence that with the intent to inflict great bodily harm, he assaulted Ms. Delcambre
with a deadly weapon. RCW 9A.36.011(1)(a). “Great bodily harm” means “bodily
injury which creates a probability of death, or which causes significant serious permanent
disfigurement, or which causes a significant permanent loss or impairment of the function
of any bodily part or organ.” RCW 9A.04.110(4)(c). Evidence of intent to inflict great
bodily harm “‘is to be gathered from all of the circumstances of the case, including not
only the manner and act of inflicting the wound, but also the nature of the prior
relationship and any previous threats.’” State v. Ferreira, 69 Wn. App. 465, 468-69, 850
P.2d 541 (1993) (quoting State v. Woo Won Choi, 55 Wn. App. 895, 906, 781 P.2d 505
(1989)). “Specific intent cannot be presumed, but it can be inferred as a logical
probability from all the facts and circumstances.” State v. Wilson, 125 Wn.2d 212, 217,
883 P.2d 320 (1994).
Mr. Bell points to the evidence that he had experienced blackouts in the past and
that he had been up for four days, drinking and smoking crack cocaine, to argue that the
jury could not have found he was “capable of desiring and purposefully trying to achieve
the outcome of great bodily harm.” Appellant’s Opening Br. at 30. A further reason he
22
No. 38671-6-III
State v. Bell
argues the jury could not find that he acted with the specific intent to harm Ms.
Delcambre was because “[t]here was no showing of prior threats or altercations, or
enmity between the two.” Id. at 31. This was a plausible defense theory, and it was
reasonable for Mr. Bell to argue that he lacked the required specific intent based on the
evidence he identifies. But the State presented countervailing evidence and argument.
Mr. Bell’s testimony and that of Ms. George that he was in a blackout state and
did not know what he was doing could have been viewed by the jury as biased and self-
serving. The jury could view police officers who dealt with Mr. Bell immediately after
the assault as more reliable witnesses to his condition. While the officers agreed that Mr.
Bell appeared intoxicated, they described him as not requiring medical intervention for
his intoxication and as fully able to cooperate with instructions, perform physical tasks,
and communicate with the officers. Officer Yinger was one of the first two officers to
arrive at the apartment building in response to the 911 calls, encountering Mr. Bell in the
first-floor hallway on entering the building. Asked by the prosecutor whether Mr. Bell
appeared “vacant,” or “blank,” as described by Ms. George, Officer Yinger answered, no
to both questions. 2 RP at 200.
The jurors were presented with evidence that decades earlier, while in high school,
Mr. Bell had been friends with Ms. Delcambre, and before the night of the assault
nothing had happened to alter their relationship. More compelling to jurors, however,
could have been that on that March evening, Mr. Bell had been dressed down by Ms.
23
No. 38671-6-III
State v. Bell
Delcambre, had responded by telling her to be quiet, had told her to “[g]et the ‘F’ out of
my house,” 2 RP at 40, and, after fighting with her physically without his machete,
retrieved the machete, returned, and unsheathed it. Those facts, the severity of the
injuries inflicted, Ms. Delcambre’s testimony, and even Ms. George’s description of Mr.
Bell “chopping and chopping” at Ms. Delcambre, 2 RP at 43, was ample evidence from
which to find the required specific intent.
IV. MR. BELL’S STANDARD RANGE SENTENCE IS NOT APPEALABLE
Mr. Bell’s final assignment of error is that the court erroneously deemed the facts
he identified as supporting an exceptional sentence not to be compelling. He
acknowledges that by statute, a sentence within the standard range shall not be appealed.
But he argues that we should treat his case as presenting an exception that exists for
“categorical refusals” to impose such a sentence. He asks us to “deem” the court’s
findings that Mr. Bell’s case for mitigation was not compelling as “a categorical
statement that the factors could not support a sentence below the standard range.”
Appellant’s Opening Br. at 36.
The fixing of legal punishments for criminal offenses is a legislative function, and
includes the power of the legislature to provide a minimum and maximum term within
which a trial court can exercise discretion. State v. Ammons, 105 Wn.2d 175, 180, 713
P.2d 719, 718 P.2d 796 (1986) (citing State v. Le Pitre, 54 Wash. 166, 169, 103 P. 27
(1909)). The power of the legislature in this respect “‘is plenary and subject only to
24
No. 38671-6-III
State v. Bell
constitutional provisions against excessive fines and cruel and unusual punishment.’” Id.
(quoting State v. Mulcare, 189 Wash. 625, 628, 66 P.2d 360 (1937)).
The Sentencing Reform Act of 1981 (SRA), chapter 9.94A RCW, provides that
“[t]he court may impose a sentence outside the standard sentence range for an offense if
it finds, considering the purpose of this chapter, that there are substantial and compelling
reasons justifying an exceptional sentence.” RCW 9.94A.535 (emphasis added). It
provides that “[t]he court may impose an exceptional sentence below the standard range
if it finds that mitigating circumstances are established by a preponderance of the
evidence.” RCW 9.94A.535(1) (emphasis added). It provides a nonexclusive list of
mitigation circumstances, one being that “[t]o a significant degree, the victim was an
initiator, willing participant, aggressor, or provoker of the incident.” RCW
9.94A.535(1)(a).
RCW 9.94A.585(1) provides that “[a] sentence within the standard range . . . for
an offense shall not be appealed.” As a matter of constitutional avoidance (given the
constitutional right to appeal in criminal cases)7, the Supreme Court held in Ammons that
the provision “only preclud[es] appellate review of challenges to the amount of time
imposed when the time is within the standard range,” and “[w]hen the sentence given is
within th[at] . . . range, then as a matter of law there can be no abuse of discretion.”
7
Article I, section 22 of the Washington Constitution provides, in part, “In
criminal prosecutions the accused shall have . . . the right to appeal in all cases.”
25
No. 38671-6-III
State v. Bell
Ammons, 105 Wn.2d at 182-83; accord State v. Delbosque, 195 Wn.2d 106, 126, 456
P.3d 806 (2020). A trial court abuses its discretion when it refuses categorically to
impose an exceptional sentence below the standard range under any circumstances or
consider it for a class of offenders—both are, effectively a failure to exercise discretion.
Id. Another example of an impermissible basis for denying such a sentence occurs where
the court operates under the mistaken belief that it lacks discretion. State v. McFarland,
189 Wn.2d 47, 56-57, 399 P.3d 1106 (2017). In cases in which an impermissible basis
for refusing to impose such a sentence is found, it is because the appellant is able to point
to evidence in the record that there was or could have been a categorical refusal or a
misapprehension by the court of its discretion.
Mr. Bell does not point to any evidence that the trial court categorically refused to
consider the theories of mitigation he advanced, or that it misapprehended its discretion.
The court’s decision denying an exceptional sentence reveals that it was complying with
RCW 9.94A.535’s requirement that to impose a sentence outside the standard range, it
must “find[ ], considering the purpose of [the SRA], that there are substantial and
compelling reasons justifying an exceptional sentence.” The court explained:
That body camera was some of the most horrific images I’ve ever seen. I
appreciated the fact that you demonstrated remorse. And I actually believe
it was genuine, as opposed to playing up to the jury, because it is so
disturbing to watch.
....
26
No. 38671-6-III
State v. Bell
. . . As it relates to the request for a downward, the aging out of
criminal behavior, unfortunately, the past speaks for what you’ve done.
And most folks age out before they’re 55. They’re not doing this when
they’re in their mid 50s. So that’s not a particularly compelling argument
for me.
With release motivating—potential for an early release motivating
you for an opportunity to improve yourself, as I went through the prior
convictions, they sort of graduated in severity instead of taking the
advantage of being out and not committing further crimes. And probably
a good example of that is why I respectfully disagree with you on the
washing out of the juveniles, because you couldn’t go five consecutive
years without being convicted of another crime. And that’s problematic.
It’s also problematic that you were on probation at the time, because
the whole point of probation is serving your sentence outside the prison
walls, so to speak, even though it’s a misdemeanor, to help people so that
they can stop—they can fix whatever’s going on that’s making them make
bad choices.
So I don’t think that any of the mitigating circumstances support a
substantial or a compelling reason to justify an exceptional downward.
....
And I agree that the criminal—excuse me, the court system, I
believe Ms. Delcambre said it, it’s not just, especially for people of color.
And you do have to kind of wonder what it would be like if that weren’t the
case. So that’s factoring into my mind too.
I’m also taking into account—because I’m sure—I believe you when
you say you didn’t intend to do that. I don’t think you intended to try to kill
her or cut off her hand. So I think that, when you’re sober, you probably
are a really good guy who has a lot of potential. And I hope that you take
advantage of that.
Unfortunately, I get to see people at their worst. But I am taking
into account that there is some potential for you, especially—in my box that
I have to work with, it’s a very lengthy sentence. And I’m well aware of
that. In taking into consideration your age, starting at—what I do is I look
at the midpoint, which is 242 months, and then sort of say, Okay, are there
things that go either way, up or down. One of the things that doesn’t go
down for me is that there was evidence at trial that the ruckus, for lack of a
27
No. 38671-6-III
State v. Bell
better word, in the living room had ceased and that it was the coming back
that did it. Sort of like whatever beef you had with Ms. Delcambre
stopped, and then it was a light switch, and I believe “going ballistic” was
the testimony.
And I know Ms. George has been supportive of you, and I
understand that, but I remember her testimony in particular when she talked
about how you kept chopping. And certainly, the crime scene was
consistent with that. So that sort of puts it out.
And like I said, that was one of the most horrific body-worn cameras
that I had seen. Frankly, I was surprised—I had no idea that Ms.
Delcambre’s hand was able to be reconnected after looking at the pictures.
So when she came in to testify, I was, frankly, kind of surprised that she
had a hand there. So this was a horrific, horrific situation. So that moves it
up from the midrange.
So I am imposing 250 months with the 24 months of—based on the
deadly weapon enhancement.
And I know that you folks—there’s never enough time that’s going
to make you whole or make you unsee what you saw, but I am taking into
account your age. It’s a significant sentence for a significant crime.
2 RP at 470-74.
Mr. Bell’s argument that the court’s finding that his reasons were not compelling
is a “categorical refusal” would make the denial of an exceptional sentence appealable in
every case. His arguments on appeal are foreclosed by RCW 9.94A.585(1).
V. SUPPLEMENTALLY ASSIGNED ERROR TO VICTIM PENALTY ASSESSMENT
Following the effective date of Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1169, which was
passed by the Washington Legislature in its 2023 regular session, Mr. Bell requested
leave to file a supplemental assignment of error to the sentencing court’s imposition of
the $500 victim penalty assessment provided by former RCW 7.68.035(1)(a). The bill
28
No. 38671-6-III
State v. Bell
adds a new subsection (4) to the statute, which provides, “The court shall not impose the
penalty assessment under this section if the court finds that the defendant, at the time of
sentencing is indigent as defined in RCW 10.01.160(3).” LAWS OF 2023,
ch. 449, § 1. The record reflects that the sentencing court found Mr. Bell to be indigent.
He is entitled to the benefit of the change, which became effective while his case was
pending on appeal. State v. Ramirez, 191 Wn.2d 732, 749, 426 P.3d 714 (2018). We
granted Mr. Bell leave to assign error to the assessment, and we will remand to the trial
court with directions to make the ministerial correction striking the assessment.
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL GROUNDS
In a pro se statement of “additional grounds” (SAG), Mr. Bell raises four.
SAG 1: Inferior Degree Instruction
Mr. Bell’s jury was instructed on the inferior degree offense of second degree
assault.8 Citing State v. Coryell, 197 Wn.2d 397, 483 P.3d 98 (2020), and State v. Foster,
91 Wn.2d 466, 589 P.2d 789 (1979), Mr. Bell argues that “[w]hen a crime has been
proven against a person and there exist[s] a reasonable doubt as to which of the 2 or
more degrees he or she is guilty, he or she shall be convicted only of the lowest degree.”
SAG at 2. Those cases discuss when a defendant is entitled to an inferior degree
8
The court’s instructions defined second degree assault, identified its elements,
and told jurors, “The defendant is charged in Count II with first-degree assault. If, after
full and careful deliberation on this charge, you are not satisfied beyond a reasonable
doubt that the defendant is guilty, then you will consider whether the defendant is guilty
of the lesser crime of second-degree assault.” 2 RP at 368 (Jury Instruction 24).
29
No. 38671-6-III
State v. Bell
instruction and the notice required to subject a defendant to conviction of an inferior
degree offense. See Coryell, 197 Wn.2d at 400 (“This case concerns the test to be
applied when determining whether to instruct the jury on a lesser included or lesser
degree offense.”); Foster, 91 Wn.2d at 471-73 (holding defendant had sufficient notice,
in light of the charging documents and jury instructions).
Since Mr. Bell’s jury was instructed on second degree assault, his SAG argument
appears to be, in substance, an argument that substantial evidence does not support the
verdict that he was guilty of first degree assault. That argument was adequately
presented by Mr. Bell’s counsel, and we have rejected it. See RAP 10.10(a) (SAGs are to
be addressed to matters not adequately addressed by counsel’s brief).
SAG 2: Violation of CrR 4.7
Mr. Bell argues that CrR 4.7 was violated because he did not receive any
paperwork on his case until 30 days after the third omnibus hearing. “CrR 4.7 is a
reciprocal discovery rule that separately lists the prosecutor’s and defendant’s obligations
when engaging in discovery.” State v. Blackwell, 120 Wn.2d 822, 826, 845 P.2d 1017
(1993). Under CrR 4.7, prosecutors have “a duty to disclose and to preserve evidence
that is material and favorable to the defendant.” Id. “If the State fails to disclose such
evidence or comply with a discovery order, a defendant’s constitutional right to a fair
trial may be violated; as a remedy, a trial court can grant a continuance, dismiss the
action, or enter another appropriate order.” State v. Barry, 184 Wn. App. 790, 796, 339
30
No. 38671-6-III
State v. Bell
P.3d 200 (2014). To support a motion to dismiss based on a discovery violation, a
defendant must show not only that the State failed to act with due diligence and withheld
material facts, but also that the discovery violation “‘essentially compelled the defendant
to choose between two distinct rights’: the right to a speedy trial and the right to
adequately prepared counsel.” Id. at 797 (quoting State v. Woods, 143 Wn.2d 561, 583,
23 P.3d 1046 (2001)).
While Mr. Bell is not required to reference the record in an SAG, he must “inform
the court of the nature and occurrence of alleged errors.” RAP 10.10(c). He does not;
nevertheless, we identified two points in the record where Mr. Bell complained to the
court about delayed discovery. In December 2019, he complained about not receiving
discovery from his attorney, who he was asking the court to replace:
THE DEFENDANT: . . . Well, I haven’t received no discovery,
no—none of my paperwork’s—since I been here nine months, I haven’t
received no police reports, no discovery, no kind of papers from them, even
to come at me with any kind of offer. And I just feel that I need a new
attorney to represent me.
[THE STATE]: And, Your Honor, for clarification, I did sign off on
an agreed order for—to provide redacted police reports to Mr. Bell. That
was at Mr. Zeller’s request. Mr. Poston, I think, had initially asked for that,
but then he left the public defender’s office and the case had to be
reassigned. So that should be provided to Mr. Bell with the proper order
that says that he can’t, you know, take back to his cell and whatnot. And
we have made an offer to Mr. Zeller. Mr. Poston and I didn’t even get that
far as far as negotiation.
31
No. 38671-6-III
State v. Bell
2 RP at 8-9. Five months later, and well more than a year before his October 2021 trial,
Mr. Bell presented another motion to replace his counsel and repeated similar discovery
grievances:
THE DEFENDANT: I’m here today to exercise my constitutional
rights to address the Court regarding this injustice inflicted upon me during
these judicial proceedings. Time after time I have been stonewalled in my
attempts to be involved in my case. I have been denied proper access to the
last evidence against me and adequate counsel to represent me.
....
On November—on November 22nd my attorney tried to persuade
me to take a plea offer because the prosecutor gave me a two-week
deadline. My last omnibus hearing was on 10/25/2019, trial readiness call
on November 4th, 2019. I have not received a police report, affidavit of
facts, bill of particular, or discovery. I got a speedy note on December 4th
of 2019 saying I would be getting ready active police report. That’s a
violation of my Criminal Rule 4.7 discovery and a violation of my
constitutional rights to a fair trial. Conflict of interest, effective
assistance—ineffective assistance by counsel, refusal to help me correct my
offender score history because I pointed out in my juvenile records, 1984, I
have been walking through it, he won’t correct it. And I’m—I’ve been
asking him to fix it. . . .
....
MR. ZELLER: . . . We got Mr. Bell’s police reports that he
requested, I believe, in December of 2019. There’s a protective order on
them, but they should be at the jail for him to access if he needs those.
3 RP at 4-6, 9.
Nevertheless, we find no evidence that Mr. Bell ever filed a motion seeking a
remedy for an alleged violation of CrR 4.7, and he fails to identify resulting prejudice.
Any issue is unpreserved. RAP 2.5(a).
32
No. 38671-6-III
State v. Bell
SAG 3: Prosecutorial Misconduct
Mr. Bell next argues that the prosecutor committed misconduct by trying to force
a plea deal in October 2019 and that its amendment of the information in February 2020
to add the attempted first degree murder charge was “improper,” as “[o]vercharging.”
SAG at 4-6.
The history and nature of plea negotiations is not reflected in the record. If Mr.
Bell has evidence to support a tenable claim that the prosecutor committed misconduct in
making the plea offer, his remedy is to seek relief by a personal restraint petition. See
State v. Norman, 61 Wn. App. 16, 27-28, 808 P.2d 1159 (1991).
As for the amendment to the information, under CrR 2.1(d), “[t]he court may
permit any information or bill of particulars to be amended at any time before verdict or
finding if substantial rights of the defendant are not prejudiced.” It is not evident if Mr.
Bell ever argued that his substantial rights were prejudiced when the amendment was
made. As for overcharging, we note that at least some of the jurors were prepared to find
Mr. Bell guilty of the attempted murder charge.
We decline review because the nature and occurrence of the alleged errors are not
clearly identified. RAP 10.10(c).
SAG 4: Ineffective Assistance of Counsel
Finally, Mr. Bell claims that he received ineffective assistance of counsel on four
occasions: (1) when counsel refused to argue wash-out for his juvenile convictions and
33
No. 38671-6-III
State v. Bell
tried to persuade him to enter a plea agreement, (2) when counsel failed to provide
discovery in a timely manner, (3) when counsel “refuse[d] to work with me” at a trial
readiness hearing, and, (4) when counsel told him to “be quiet and let the prosecutor
amend an improper amendment.” SAG at 4, 7-8. The claim of ineffective assistance is
based on factual allegations outside the record. If Mr. Bell has evidence to support his
allegations, and can demonstrate the required prejudice, he may seek relief by a personal
restraint petition. See Norman, 61 Wn. App. at 27-28.
Mr. Bell’s judgment and sentence are affirmed, with the exception of the
assessment of the $500 victim penalty assessment. We remand to the trial court with
directions to make the ministerial correction striking the assessment.
A majority of the panel has determined this opinion will not be printed in the
Washington Appellate Reports, but it will be filed for public record pursuant to RCW
2.06.040.
Siddoway, J.P.T.
WE CONCUR:
Lawrence-Berrey, A.C.J. Pennell, J.
34