140 Wash. 2d 436 | Wash. | 2000
Petitioner State of Washington seeks review of a decision by the Court of Appeals, Division Two, which reversed a Thurston County Superior Court conviction of Respondent Gregory Wayne Chapman for a class C felony violation of a domestic violence protection order under RCW 26.50.110(5). The Court of Appeals concluded Respondent was not subject to criminal prosecution for violation of the protection order which prohibited him from coming within one mile of Ms. Lisa Titchell’s residence. We granted review. We reverse.
QUESTIONS PRESENTED
The questions presented in this case are: (1) whether a third violation of a domestic violence protection order, which prohibits Respondent from coming within one mile of a named person’s residence, when Respondent has two prior convictions for violation of domestic violence no-contact orders, constitutes a class C felony under RCW 26.50.110(5) although Respondent did not enter the residence; and (2) whether there is a basis for sanctions against Petitioner State of Washington under RAP 18.9 for filing a petition for review which Respondent asserts was “unfounded in law and improper in purpose.”
STATEMENT OF FACTS
The facts in this case are not in dispute. On April 8, 1998, the Thurston County Superior Court, Commissioner Pro Tempore Jean E. Meyer, granted Ms. Lisa Titchell’s petition for an order of protection against Respondent Gregory W Chapman.
*439 Respondent is RESTRAINED from causing physical harm, bodily injury, assault, including sexual assault, and from molesting, harassing, threatening, or stalking [Lisa Titchell, Gregory Chapman, Jr., and Christina Echevarria]:
Respondent is RESTRAINED from coming near and from having any contact whatsoever, in person or through others, by phone, mail, or any means, directly or indirectly, except for mailing of court documents, with [Lisa A. Titchell, Gregory Wayne Chapman, Jr., and Christina Echevarria]:
If both parties are in the same location, respondent shall leave.
Respondent is EXCLUDED from entering or coming within one mile (distance) of petitioner’s residence. At present petitioner’s address is the following: 8030 S.E. 3rd Ave., Apt. B, Lacey, WA, and any other residence.
Restrain respondent from entering or being within one mile (distance) of my [sic] [Lisa A Titchell’s] residence, school, daycare or school of the minors . . . SPCCC; Olympic View Elementary, Creative Discovery Day Care.[2 ]
(Emphasis added.)
On June 7, 1998, Ms. Rosanna L. Cowan observed Respondent twice, while her mother, Ms. Gwen H. Abba, observed him three times on that day.
The mother, Ms. Abba, went downstairs, looked around the corner, and verified it was Respondent.
On June 17, 1998, the Thurston County Prosecuting Attorney filed an information in the Thurston County Superior Court charging Respondent with one count of felony violation of a no-contact order under RCW 26.50-.110(5) (later amended to charge violation of an “order of protection”).
At trial, the parties stipulated that Respondent had been convicted of two previous violations of no-contact orders.
Respondent proposed two jury instructions consistent with his assertion that he committed no crime when he stood across the street from Ms. Titchell’s residence. The trial court declined to give the instructions. The jury found Respondent “guilty” of a class C felony violation of a protection order as charged in the amended information.
On August 26, 1998, Respondent filed a notice of appeal to the Court of Appeals, Division Two,
Here, as in Jacques, the geographic scope of the order excludes [Respondent] Chapman from more than [Ms.] Titch-ell’s residence, workplace, school or day care. RCW 26.50.060(l)(b) does not authorize a court to exclude a respondent from any particular distance from such sites. Because we cannot read words into a statute that are not there, see Henley v. Henley, [citation omitted] we conclude that [Respondent] was not subject to criminal prosecution for coming within one mile of [Lisa] Titchell’s residence.[26 ]
DISCUSSION
Violation of a Third Domestic Violence Protection Order
RCW 26.50.110 under the Domestic Violence Protection Act provides that:
(1) Whenever an order for protection is granted under this chapter and the respondent or person to be restrained knows of the order, a violation of the restraint provisions or of a provision excluding the person from a residence, workplace, school, or day care is a gross misdemeanor except as provided in subsections (4) and (5) of this section. Upon conviction, and in addition to any other penalties provided by law, the court may require that the respondent submit to electronic monitoring. . . .
(2) A peace officer shall arrest without a warrant and take into custody a person whom the peace officer has probable cause to believe has violated an order issued under this chapter that restrains the person or excludes the person from a residence, workplace, school, or day care, if the person restrained knows of the order. . . .
(3) A violation of an order for protection shall also constitute contempt of court, and is subject to the penalties prescribed by law.
(4) Any assault that is a violation of an order issued under this chapter and that does not amount to assault in the first or second degree under RCW 9A.36.011 or 9A.36.021 is a class C felony, and any conduct in violation of a protective order issued under this chapter that is reckless and creates a substantial risk of death or serious physical injury to another person is a class C felony.
(5) A violation of a court order issued under this chapter is a class C felony if the offender has at least two previous convictions for violating the provisions of a no-contact order issued under chapter 10.99 RCW, a domestic violence protection order issued under chapter 26.09, 26.10, or 26.26 RCW or this chapter, or any federal or out-of-state order that is comparable*444 to a no-contact or protection order issued under Washington law. The previous convictions may involve the same victim or other victims specifically protected by the no-contact orders or protection orders the offender violated.
(Emphasis added.)
RCW 26.50.060 provides in pertinent part that:
(1) Upon notice and after hearing, the court may provide relief as follows:
(a) Restrain the respondent from committing acts of domestic violence;
(b) Exclude the respondent from the dwelling which the parties share, from the residence, workplace, or school of the petitioner, or from the day care or school of a child;
(c) On the same basis as is provided in chapter 26.09 RCW the court shall make residential provision with regard to minor children of the parties. However, parenting plans as specified in chapter 26.09 RCW shall not be required under this chapter;
(d) Order the respondent to participate in batterers’ treatment;
(e) Order other relief as it deems necessary for the protection of the petitioner and other family or household members sought to be protected, including orders or directives to a peace officer, as allowed under this chapter;
(f) Require the respondent to pay the administrative court costs and service fees, as established by the county or municipality incurring the expense and to reimburse the petitioner for costs incurred in bringing the action, including a reasonable attorney’s fee;
(g) Restrain the respondent from having any contact with the victim of domestic violence or the victim’s children or members of the victim’s household;
*445 (h) Require the respondent to submit to electronic monitoring. . . .[27 ]
(Emphasis added.)
At trial, Respondent Gregory Wayne Chapman twice moved to dismiss the charge of felony violation of a protection order under RCW 26.50.110(5). He argued his June 4, 1998 violation of the protection order prohibiting him from coming within one mile of Ms. Titchell’s residence subjected him only to a contempt citation under RCW 26.50.110(3) and not to criminal prosecution.
Respondent also asserts that although RCW 26.50-.060(l)(b) does give the court authority to exclude him from a “location,” it does not authorize the court to exclude him from coming within a “geographical area or distance” from Ms. TitchelTs residence,
While a court is authorized under RCW 26.50.060(l)(e) to impose terms in an order of protection as it “deems necessary for the protection of the petitioner . . the trial court in this case denied Respondent’s motions to dismiss, citing only RCW 26.50.060(l)(b), but not referring to (l)(e). The court interpreted the term “residence” to include a “reasonable area surrounding the dwelling.”
Petitioner State of Washington argues the conviction of Respondent under RCW 26.50.110(5) was proper because the trial court’s interpretation of RCW 26.50.060(l)(b) was
RCW 26.50.110(1) reads: “[A] violation of the restraint provisions or of a provision excluding the person from a residence, workplace, school, or day care is a gross misdemeanor except as provided in subsections (4) and (5) of this section. . . .” The Court of Appeals, Division One, in Jacques v. Sharp examined the legislative history of RCW 26.50.110(1)
This Court has not previously interpreted the language of RCW 26.50.110(5), which reads: “A violation of a court order issued under this chapter is a class C felony if the offender has at least two previous convictions for violating the provisions of a no-contact order .... [or] a domestic violence protection order . . . .” Subsection (5) speaks only in general terms, as does subsection (3), which reads: “A violation of an order for protection shall also constitute contempt of court . . . .”
Under rules of statutory construction each provision of a statute should be read together (in para materia) with other provisions in order to determine the legislative intent underlying the entire statutory scheme.
RCW 26.50.110(1) is not inconsistent with RCW 26.50-.110(5). Reading the two provisions together, one logically concludes violation of a no-contact or protection order
The only statutory definition of “conviction” is contained in RCW 9.94A.030(10) which defines the term “conviction” as “an adjudication of guilt pursuant to Titles 10 or 13 RCW and includes a verdict of guilty, a finding of guilty, and acceptance of a plea of guilty.”
Any act which is calculated to embarrass, hinder, or obstruct court in administration of justice, or which is calculated to lessen its authority or dignity. Committed by a person who does any act in willful contravention of its authority or dignity, or tending to impede or frustrate the administration of justice, or by one who, being under the court’s authority as a party to a proceeding therein, willfully disobeys its lawful orders or fails to comply with an undertaking which he has given.
Contempts are also classed as civil or criminal. The former*450 are those quasi contempts which consist in the failure to do something which the party is ordered by the court to do for the benefit or advantage of another party to the proceeding before the court, while criminal contempts are acts done in disrespect of the court or its process or which obstruct the administration of justice or tend to bring the court into disrespect. A civil contempt is not an offense against the dignity of the court, but against the party in whose behalf the mandate of the court was issued, and a fine is imposed for his indemnity. But criminal contempts are offenses upon the court such as wilful disobedience of a lawful writ, process, order, rule, or command of court, and a fine or imprisonment is imposed upon the contemnor for the purpose of punishment.[49 ]
(Emphasis added.)
Respondent stipulated at trial to “two prior convictions” for violation of no-contact orders. Upon committing a third violation, in this instance violation of a domestic violence protection order, he was properly charged with and convicted of a class C felony under RCW 26.50.110(5), despite his assertion the court had no authority to enter that order. He chose to ignore the protection order at his peril.
To determine the meaning of a statute, courts apply the general rules of statutory construction to ascertain and carry out the intent of the Legislature.
Petitioner State of Washington seeks to distinguish Jacques v. Sharp which the Court of Appeals relied upon in this case. Petitioner argues the one-mile restriction around a petitioner’s residence constitutes a reasonable exclusion of Respondent from Ms. Titchell’s residence.
The interpretation of RCW 26.50.060(l)(b) by the Court of Appeals is at least supported by examination of chapter 10.99 RCW, which authorizes “no-contact” orders. Chapter 10.99 RCW contains two provisions substantially similar in language to RCW 26.50.110(5), except the chapter 10.99 provisions refer to “willful violation.”
Respondent was properly charged with and convicted of a class C felony violation under RCW 26.50-.110(5). But the trial court in denying his motions to dismiss the charge erroneously based its decision only upon RCW 26.50.060(l)(b). Actually, the trial court had authority under RCW 26.50.060(l)(e) to prohibit Respondent from coming within a geographical distance or area of a named person’s residence,
The Court of Appeals in this case based its decision solely upon application of RCW 26.50.060(l)(b) and RCW 26.50-.110(5). But it should instead have harmonized subsections (1) and (5) of RCW 26.50.110 and considered subsection
Sanctions
Respondent requested sanctions against Petitioner State of Washington under RAP 1.2(b).
This Court has stated that although “[a] case is woefully lacking in compliance with the theory or spirit of these rules [RAP 10.3(a)(3), (a)(5) and 13.4(c)(5)] [and] . . . identifying] the issues without analysis of the underlying legal theory giving rise to [them] means that an adversary expects the court to research all possible theories of legal liability and apply them to the hypothetical facts[,] [i]t is not the function of trial or appellate courts to do counsel’s thinking and briefing.”
Although Respondent Chapman does not cite RAP
Under RAP 18.9(a), “[a]n appeal is frivolous if there are no debatable issues upon which reasonable minds might differ and it is so totally devoid of merit that there [is] no reasonable possibility of reversal.”
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS
Under rules of statutory construction, each provision of
The Court of Appeals could properly rely upon the Division One decision in Jacques v. Sharp when construing RCW 26.50.110(1) under the Domestic Violence Protection Act. Subsection (1) is not inconsistent with subsection (5). Subsection (5) unambiguously states that where a person who has been convicted of . two previous violations of a no-contact order or domestic violence protection order comes before the court on a third violation of a no-contact order or domestic violence protection order, the person is subject to a class C felony charge under RCW 26.50.110(5). The violation constituting a person’s third charge of violation of a court no-contact or protection order need not, of itself, subject the person to criminal prosecution under RCW 26.50.110(1) for subsection (5) to apply.
The Court of Appeals was not correct in reversing Respondent’s conviction of a class C felony for violation of the domestic violence protection order with two prior convictions for violation of no contact orders. Its decision is reversed and Respondent’s conviction is reinstated.
Respondent’s request for sanctions against Petitioner under RAP 1.2(b), 13.4(c) and 18.9(a) is without merit. While the petition for review by Petitioner State of Washington is brief in the extreme, this Court nevertheless accepted review of a debatable nonfrivolous issue concerning application of RCW 26.50.060(l)(b) to violation of a protection order and its impact on a respondent’s criminal liability for a class C felony prosecution under RCW 26.50-.110(5).
We deny the request of Respondent Gregory Wayne Chapman for sanctions against Petitioner State of Washington under RAP 1.2(b), 13.4(c) and 18.9(a) for filing a petition for review he claims was unfounded in law and improper in purpose.
Guy, C.J., and Johnson, Alexander, Talmadge, Sanders, Ireland, and Bridge, JJ., concur.
Madsen, J., concurs in the result.
Reconsideration denied June 28, 2000.
Order for Protection, Thurston County Super. Court (Apr. 8, 1998); see also Report of Proceedings, Thurston County Superior Court (Aug. 12, 1998) at 113-14, 122-131. (Ms. Titchell testified she obtained the order of protection because she feared for her safety and that of her children. She stated that Respondent, in addition to being verbally and physically abusive, was convicted of committing an assault in the fourth degree upon her in 1993. She had a 10-year relationship with Respondent, who is the father of her son, Gregory Wayne Chapman, Jr.).
See also Report of Proceedings at 115.
Ms. Cowan and Ms. Abba are friends and neighbors of Ms. Titchell.
Report of Proceedings at 55-61. Ms. Titchell had lived at the apartment complex at 8030 Southeast Third Avenue, Apartment B, in Lacey, Washington for approximately two years. Id. at 116, 129.
Id. at 63-64.
id.
id. at 79.
Id. at 116-18.
Id. at 119.
Id. at 118.
Id. at 143-45.
Because the information stated Respondent was charged with a felony violation of a “No-Contact Order” under RCW 26.50.110(5), and because “no-contact orders” are authorized only under chapter 10.99 RCW, defense counsel requested clarification of the charge to distinguish this case from an allegation of noncompliance with a separate no-contact order “tracking with this case.” The Prosecuting Attorney then amended the information to charge violation of an “order of protection” under chapter 26.50 RCW. Id. at 11-13.
Id. at 14-20.
The trial court also denied Respondent’s subsequent motion for an emergency interlocutory appeal to the Court of Appeals, Division Two. Id. at 28-30.
Exhibit Number 3, Thurston County Superior Court, Cause Number 98-1-01109-6, August 12, 1998. The previous violations dated November 8, 1989 and February 28, 1991 occurred in Pierce County. Id. at 147-48.
Report of Proceedings at 150-51.
Id. at 172.
Id.
Verdict Form, Thurston County Superior Court (Number 98-1-01109-6); see also Appellant’s [Resp’t Chapman’s] Br. (Court of Appeals, Division II) at 2. Respondent was sentenced to five months in jail.
See Appellant’s [Resp’t’s] Br. (Court of Appeals, Division ID at 1-2.
Notice of Appeal filed in the Court of Appeals, Division II, on August 26, 1998.
Motion to Shorten Time under RAP 18.8(a) filed in the Court of Appeals, Division II, on October 28, 1998. Respondent filed a document entitled “Motion to Shorten Time under RAP 18.8” prior to filing the October 28, 1998 motion under RAP 18.8(a).
The Court of Appeals, Division Two, treated Respondent’s Motion to Shorten Time under RAP 18.8(a) as Appellant’s [Respondent’s] Brief.
State v. Chapman, 96 Wn. App. 495, 980 P.2d 295 (1999).
83 Wn. App. 532, 922 P.2d 145 (1996).
Chapman, 96 Wn. App. at 499-500.
Although not material to this case, this statute was later amended in 1999 to revise section (l)(d) which now reads “(d) Order the respondent to participate in a domestic violence perpetrator treatment program approved under RCW 26.50.1S0L]” (Emphasis added.) However, under chapter 10.99 RCW, the Domestic Violence Act — Official Response, “domestic violence” is defined by RCW 10.99.020(3)(s) to include “[violation of the provisions of a protection order or no-contact order restraining the person or restraining the person from going onto the grounds of or entering a residence . . . .” (citing RCW 26.50.060, 26.50.070, 26.50.130, 10.99.040, 10.99.050). •
In his defense, Respondent relied upon the decision of the Court of Appeals, Division One, in Jacques v. Sharp and argued he did not violate any of the three types of provisions that authorize criminal prosecution under RCW 26.50.110(1). In Jacques, Division One concluded only violations of RCW 26.50.060(l)(a), (l)(b), or (l)(g) constitute crimes under RCW 26.50.110(1).
Appellant’s [Resp’t’s] Br. (Court of Appeals, Division II) at 4.
Resp. to Pet. for Review at 4.
Appellant’s [Resp’t’s] Br. (Court of Appeals, Division II) at 5.
See RCW 7.21.010 (1), 7.21.040 and .050.
Report of Proceedings at 172.
Chapman, 96 Wn. App. at 500.
See Br. of Resp’t [Pet. State of Washington] (Court of Appeals, Division ID at 1-2; Report of Proceedings at 163-64.
See Pet. for Review at 3-4; Br. of Resp’t [Petitioner State of Washington] (Court of Appeals, Division II) at 2; Report of Proceedings at 163-64. Petitioner actually argued insistently before this Court that a one-mile radius was within the residence of Ms. Lisa Titchell.
Supplemental Br. of Pet’r at 3-4.
Pet. for Review at 4.
In Jacques v. Sharp, the Court of Appeals examined RCW 26.50.110(1) in relation to RCW 26.50.060 in addressing the question whether a police officer had probable cause to arrest without a warrant a former husband for violating a provision of an agreed order for protection that restrained him “from entering the area known as ‘Magnolia’ in Seattle, Washington.” In that case, the Court of Appeals concluded (1) there was no probable cause to arrest the husband because the conduct did not refer to domestic violence, to respondent’s spouse or to her children and (2) the geographic scope was too broad to constitute exclusion from the Magnolia residence. Jacques, 83 Wn. App. at 534, 542-43.
Jacques, 83 Wn. App. at 538, 542-43. (The Court of Appeals also determined that violations of other provisions of a protection order do not constitute crimes, hut may subject a person to contempt proceedings under RCW 26.50.110(3).)
Under RCW 26.50.110(1) and (3), violation of no-contact or protection orders is punishable as a misdemeanor and also constitutes contempt of court.
In re Estate of Kerr, 134 Wn.2d 328, 336, 949 P.2d 810 (1998).
Id. (citing State v. Williams, 94 Wn.2d 531, 547, 617 P.2d 1012, 24 A.L.R.4th 1191 (1980) (quoting State v. Wright, 84 Wn.2d 645, 650, 529 P.2d 453 (1974))).
Waste Management of Seattle, Inc. v. Utilities & Transp. Comm’n, 123 Wn.2d 621, 630, 869 P.2d 1034 (1994).
Monroe v. Soliz, 132 Wn.2d 414, 425, 939 P.2d 205 (1997) (citing State v. Fairbanks, 25 Wn.2d 686, 690, 171 P.2d 845 (1946)) (“It is a cardinal rule that two statutes dealing with the same subject matter will, if possible, be so construed as to preserve the integrity of both.”).
RCW 26.50.110(5).
See also State v. Jackson, 91 Wn. App. 488, 490 & n.1, 957 P.2d 1270 (1998), review denied, 137 Wn.2d 1038, 980 P.2d 1285 (1999) (“[T]he Legislature has unambiguously provided that ‘conviction,’ as used in RCW 10.99.040(4)(c), occurs when a plea of guilty has been accepted or when a verdict of guilty has been filed. . . . Violations of orders issued under RCW chapter 26.50 and RCW 10.99.050 similarly become felonies ‘if the offender has at least two previous convictions for violating the provisions of a no-contact order.’ ”).
Black’s Law Dictionary 333 (6th ed. 1990) (emphasis added).
Black’s Law Dictionary 319 (6th ed. 1990) (emphasis added).
State v. Chester, 133 Wn.2d 15, 21, 940 P.2d 1374 (1997).
Rettkowski v. Department of Ecology, 128 Wn.2d 508, 515, 910 P.2d 462 (1996); Sidis v. Brodie/Dohrmann, Inc., 117 Wn.2d 325, 329, 815 P.2d 781 (1991).
Roberts v. Johnson, 137 Wn.2d 84, 92, 969 P.2d 446 (1999).
State v. Mollichi, 132 Wn.2d 80, 87, 936 P.2d 408 (1997).
Pet. for Review at 1; Report of Proceedings at 172 (The trial court also stated that a “reasonable area would depend upon individual facts in any given case . . . [and a] one mile area is reasonable under the facts in this case .... “).
There is an inherent flaw in the language of the preprinted protection order in this case. It was not brought to the Court’s attention by either party. We thus disregard it. The Prosecuting Attorney would be well advised to carefiilly review every word of the form order.
The only relevant difference in the language of RCW 26.50.110(5), RCW 10.99.040(4)(c) and .050(2) is the absence of the term “willful” from RCW 26.50.110(5).
RCW 10.99.040(4)(c) reads: “A willful violation of a court order issued under this section is a class C felony if the offender has at least two previous convictions for violating the provisions of a no-contact order issued under this chapter, a domestic violence protection order issued under chapter 26.09, 26.10, 26.26, or 26.50 RCW, or any federal or out-of-state order that is comparable to a no-contact order or protection order issued under Washington law. The previous convictions
RCW 10.99.050(2) reads: “Willful violation of a court order issued under this section is a gross misdemeanor. Any assault that is a violation of an order issued under this section and that does not amount to assault in the first or second degree under RCW 9A.36.011 or 9A.36.021 is a class C felony, and any conduct in violation of a protective order issued under this section that is reckless and creates a substantial risk of death or serious physical injury to another person is a class C felony. A willful violation of a court order issued under this section is also a class C felony if the offender has at least two previous convictions for violating the provisions of a no-contact order issued under this chapter, or a domestic violence protection order issued under chapter 26.09, 26.10, 26.26, or 26.50 RCW, or any federal or out-of-state order that is comparable to a no-contact order or protection order that is issued under Washington law. The previous convictions may involve the same victim or other victims specifically protected by the no-contact orders or protection orders the offender violated.” (Emphasis added.)
See Resp. to Pet. for Review at 6-8.
Pet. for Review at 4.
Orwick v. City of Seattle, 103 Wn.2d 249, 256, 692 P.2d 793 (1984).
Id.
RCW 26.50.110 was amended by Laws of 1996, ch. 248, § 16. RCW 10.99.040 and .050 were amended by Laws of 1996, ch. 248, §§ 7 and 8. The three statutes share the same legislative histoiy under EHB 2472.
International Commercial Collectors, Inc. v. Carver, 99 Wn.2d 302, 307, 661 P.2d 976 (1983).
This opinion does not approve the one-mile restriction as an absolute. We conclude only that the trial court had authority to impose a restriction in a domestic violence protection order as “other relief ... it deems necessary for . . . protection of . . . petitioner” (RCW 26.50.060 (l)(e)) and that violation of its order subjected an offender to penalties under RCW 26.50.110 (5).
RAP 18.9(a) provides in pertinent part: “The appellate court on its own initiative or on motion of a party may order a party or counsel. . . who uses these rules for the purpose of delay, files a frivolous appeal, or fails to comply with these rules to pay terms or compensatory damages to any other party who has been harmed by the delay or the failure to comply or to pay sanctions to the court. . . .”
Respondent states that after being sentenced he made it clear he would be bringing such a claim. Resp. to Pet. for Review at 7.
Id.
State ex rel. Quick-Ruben v. Verharen, 136 Wn.2d 888, 905, 969 P.2d 64 (1998) (citing Presidential Estates Apartment Assocs. v. Barrett, 129 Wn.2d 320, 330, 917 P.2d 100 (1996) (quoting Fay v. Northwest Airlines, Inc., 115 Wn.2d 194, 200-01, 796 P.2d 412 (1990))); State v. Rolax, 104 Wn.2d 129, 136, 702 P.2d 1185 (1985).