State v. Ramirez
State v. Ramirez
Opinion
*716
*734
¶ 1 In
State v. Blazina
,
¶ 2 The trial court in David A. Ramirez's case failed to conduct an adequate individualized inquiry before imposing LFOs on Ramirez. While this Blazina error would normally entitle Ramirez to a resentencing hearing on his ability to pay discretionary LFOs, such a limited resentencing is unnecessary in this case. Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 1783, 65th Leg., Reg. Sess. (Wash. 2018) (House Bill 1783), which amended two statutes at issue and now prohibits the imposition of certain LFOs on indigent defendants, applies prospectively to Ramirez's case on appeal. We reverse the Court of Appeals and remand for the trial court to strike the improperly imposed LFOs from Ramirez's judgment and sentence.
FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
¶ 3 A jury convicted Ramirez of third degree assault and possession of a controlled substance, and found by special verdict that he committed the assault with sexual motivation and displayed an egregious lack of remorse. Clerk's Papers (CP) at 63-66.
¶ 4 At sentencing, the State sought an exceptional sentence of 10 years based on Ramirez's prior record and offender score. 2 Verbatim Report of Proceedings (Mar. 7, 2016) (VRP) at 346. Following the State's argument for imposing an exceptional sentence, Ramirez took the opportunity *736 to directly address the trial court. Ramirez explained to the court that despite the State's representations, he "was doing everything right" before his arrest. Id. at 360. Ramirez shared that prior to his arrest, he was working a minimum wage job at Weyerhaeuser as part of a "temporary service team" and paying all his household bills, including a DirecTV subscription that included Seattle Seahawks games. Id. at 359-60, 362-63. Ramirez had opened a bank account for the first time in his life, was planning on getting his driver's license, and had moved into his own apartment with the help of his wife. Id. at 360, 362. Ramirez discussed these favorable aspects of his life in an effort to show that despite his criminal history, he did not deserve an exceptional sentence. Suppl. Br. of Pet'r at 3. He lamented that because of his drug relapse and arrest, "I missed out on all of that." VRP at 363. 1
¶ 5 The trial court sentenced Ramirez to five years for the third degree assault conviction and two years for possession of a controlled substance, to be served consecutively. Id. at 372-73. The trial court also imposed $2,900 in LFOs, including a $500 victim assessment fee, a $100 DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) collection fee, a $200 criminal filing fee, and discretionary LFOs of $2,100 in attorney fees, and set a monthly payment amount of $25. Id. at 375-76. After the court announced the sentence, Ramirez presented a notice of appeal and a motion for an order of indigency, which the court granted. Id. at 373; Suppl. CP at 1-4. According to the financial statement in his declaration of indigency, Ramirez had no source of income or assets and no savings, and owed more than $10,000 at the time of sentencing (apparently previously *717 imposed court costs and fees). Suppl. CP at 2-4.
¶ 6 Prior to imposing LFOs, the trial court asked only two questions relating to Ramirez's current and future ability to *737 pay, both of which were directed to the State. First, the court asked, "And when he is not in jail, he has the ability to make money to make periodic payments on his LFOs, right?" VRP at 348. The State responded that Ramirez had the ability to pay his LFOs "[w]hen he's not in jail and when he is in jail," noting that Ramirez could work while incarcerated. Id. The trial court then asked the State to once more confirm that LFOs were appropriate in Ramirez's case: "But as far as you are concerned, the LFOs should be imposed." Id. The State answered, "Yes." Id.
¶ 7 The trial court did not directly ask Ramirez or his counsel about his ability to pay at any point during sentencing. The only statement made by Ramirez concerning his ability to pay came after the trial court announced its decision to impose discretionary costs. After finding that Ramirez had "the ability to earn money and make small payments on his financial obligations," the court listed the specific costs imposed and ordered Ramirez to pay "25 bucks a month starting [in] 60 days." Id. at 375-76. Ramirez then asked, "How am I going to do that from inside?" Id. at 376. Ramirez's counsel responded, "I will explain." Id. The discussion then moved on to a different subject. 2
¶ 8 On appeal, Ramirez argued that the trial court failed to make an adequate individualized inquiry into his ability to pay before imposing discretionary LFOs, contrary to
Blazina
,
¶ 9 In dissent, Chief Judge Bjorgen argued that the question of whether a trial court made an adequate inquiry into a defendant's ability to pay discretionary LFOs should be reviewed de novo, not for an abuse of discretion. Id. at 16 (Bjorgen, C.J., dissenting). Applying the de novo standard, Chief Judge Bjorgen concluded that the trial court's inquiry into Ramirez's financial status fell short of the Blazina standards. Id. at 19.
¶ 10 On March 7, 2018, we granted Ramirez's petition for review "only on the issue of discretionary [LFOs]." Order Granting Review, No. 95249-3 (Wash. Mar. 7, 2018). On March 27, 2018, just weeks after we granted Ramirez's petition, House Bill 1783 became law. LAWS OF 2018, ch. 269. House Bill 1783's amendments relate to Washington's system for imposing and collecting LFOs and are effective as of June 7, 2018. House Bill 1783 is particularly relevant to Ramirez's case because it amends the discretionary LFO statute to prohibit trial courts from imposing discretionary LFOs on defendants who are indigent at the time of sentencing. Id. at § 6(3).
ANALYSIS
¶ 11 This case concerns Washington's system of LFOs, specifically the imposition of discretionary LFOs on individuals who lack the current and future ability to pay them.
*718 State law requires that trial courts consider the financial resources of a defendant and the nature of the burden *739 imposed by LFOs before ordering the defendant to pay discretionary costs. See RCW 10.01.160(3).
¶ 12 We addressed former RCW 10.01.160(3) in
Blazina
and held that the statute requires trial courts to conduct an individualized inquiry into the financial circumstances of each offender before levying any discretionary LFOs.
¶ 13 After we granted review, the legislature enacted House Bill 1783, which amends former RCW 10.01.160(3) to categorically prohibit the imposition of any discretionary costs on indigent defendants. LAWS OF 2018, ch. 269, § 6(3). House Bill 1783 also amends the criminal filing fee statute, former RCW 36.18.020(2)(h) (2015), to prohibit courts from imposing the $200 filing fee on indigent defendants. LAWS OF 2018, ch. 269, § 17(2)(h). According to Ramirez's motion for an order of indigency, which the trial court granted, Ramirez unquestionably qualified as indigent at the time of sentencing: Ramirez had no source of income or assets and no savings, and owed more than $10,000 at the time of sentencing. Suppl. CP at 3-4.
¶ 14 This case presents two issues. The primary issue is whether the trial court conducted an adequate individualized inquiry into Ramirez's ability to pay, as required under Blazina and former RCW 10.01.160(3). A separate but related issue is whether House Bill 1783's statutory amendments apply to Ramirez's case on appeal.
I. The Trial Court Did Not Conduct an Adequate Individualized Inquiry into Ramirez's Current and Future Ability To Pay LFOs
¶ 15 The threshold issue in this case is whether the trial court performed an adequate inquiry into Ramirez's present *740 and future ability to pay before imposing discretionary LFOs. In addressing this issue, we must decide what standard of review applies to a trial court's decision to impose discretionary LFOs. The Court of Appeals was seemingly split on this question, with the majority applying an overall abuse of discretion standard and the dissenting judge applying de novo review. We address the proper standard of review before turning to the merits of Ramirez's argument.
A. The Adequacy of the Trial Court's Individualized Inquiry into a Defendant's Ability To Pay Discretionary LFOs Should Be Reviewed De Novo
¶ 16 As Ramirez correctly points out, the question of whether the trial court adequately inquired into his ability to pay discretionary LFOs involves both a factual and a legal component. Suppl. Br. of Pet'r at 16. On the factual side, the reviewing court determines what evidence the trial court actually considered in making the
Blazina
inquiry. Chief Judge Bjorgen aptly observed that the factual determination can be decided by simply examining the record for supporting evidence.
4
Ramirez
, slip op. at 17 (Bjorgen, C.J., dissenting). On the legal side, the reviewing court decides whether the trial court's inquiry complied with the requirements of
Blazina
. Both the majority and dissenting opinions below recognized that this legal inquiry merits de novo review.
See
*719
*741
¶ 17 Given their shared recognition that de novo review applies to the question of whether the trial court complied with
Blazina
, the split in the Court of Appeals may be more a difference in emphasis than in substance.
Blazina
establishes what constitutes an adequate inquiry into a defendant's ability to pay under state law, and the standard of review for an issue involving questions of law is de novo.
State v. Hanson
,
¶ 18 That said, the trial court's ultimate decision whether to impose discretionary LFOs is undoubtedly discretionary. The trial court must balance the defendant's ability to pay against the burden of his obligation, which is an exercise of discretion.
State v. Baldwin
,
B. The Trial Court's Inquiry into Ramirez's Ability To Pay Discretionary LFOs Was Inadequate under Blazina
¶ 19 The legal question before us is whether the trial court's inquiry into Ramirez's current and future ability to pay discretionary LFOs was adequate under
Blazina
. In
Blazina
, we held that former RCW 10.01.160(3) requires the trial court to conduct an individualized inquiry on the record concerning a defendant's current and future ability to pay before imposing discretionary LFOs.
¶ 20 Here, the record shows that the trial court asked only two questions concerning Ramirez's ability to pay LFOs, both of which were directed to the State. First, the court asked, "And when he is not in jail, he has the ability to make money to make periodic payments on his LFOs, right?" VRP at 348. The State responded, "When he's not in jail and when he is in jail," noting that Ramirez could work while incarcerated.
¶ 21 The court made no inquiry into Ramirez's debts, which his declaration of indigency listed as exceeding $10,000 at the time of sentencing (apparently previously imposed court costs and fees). Suppl. CP at 4. Nor does the record reflect that the trial court inquired into whether Ramirez met the GR 34 standard for indigency. Had the court looked to GR 34 for guidance, as required under
Blazina
, it would have confirmed that Ramirez was indigent at the time of sentencing-his income fell below 125 percent of the federal poverty guideline. As we explained in
Blazina
, "if someone does meet the GR 34 standard for indigency, courts should seriously question that person's ability to pay LFOs."
¶ 22 The trial court also failed to consider other "important factors" relating to Ramirez's current and future ability to pay discretionary LFOs, such as Ramirez's income, his assets and other financial resources, his monthly living expenses, and his employment history.
Blazina
,
¶ 23 Consistent with Blazina 's instruction that courts use GR 34 as a guide for determining whether someone has an ability to pay discretionary costs, we believe the financial statement section of Ramirez's motion for indigency would have provided a reliable framework for the individualized inquiry that Blazina and RCW 10.01.160(3) require. In determining a defendant's indigency status, the financial statement section of the motion for indigency asks the defendant to answer questions relating to five broad categories: (1) employment history, (2) income, (3) assets and other financial resources, (4) monthly living expenses, and (5) other debts. See Suppl. CP at 2-4. These categories are equally relevant to determining a defendant's ability to pay discretionary LFOs.
¶ 24 Regarding employment history, a trial court should inquire into the defendant's present employment and past work experience. The court should also inquire into the defendant's income, as well as the defendant's assets and other financial resources. Finally, the court should ask questions about the defendant's monthly expenses, and as identified in Blazina , the court must ask about the defendant's other debts, including other LFOs, health care costs, or education loans. To satisfy Blazina and RCW 10.01.160(3) 's mandate that the State cannot collect costs from defendants who are unable to pay, the record must reflect that the trial court inquired into all five of these categories before deciding to impose discretionary costs. That did not happen here.
¶ 25 The State argues, and the Court of Appeals majority agreed, that despite any lack of inquiry by the trial court into Ramirez's ability to pay, statements by Ramirez during his allocution were adequate to support the imposition of discretionary LFOs. Resp't's Br. at 4. In opposing the State's request for an exceptional sentence, Ramirez told *745 the court he was "doing everything right" prior to his arrest-he was working a minimum wage job at Weyerhaeuser on a "temporary service team," his wife had helped him get his own apartment, he was paying his household bills, including a DirecTV subscription, and he had opened a bank account for the first time in his life and was hoping to get a driver's license. VRP at 359-363. Ramirez did not offer this information in the context of assessing his current and future ability to pay LFOs, but rather in *721 an effort to "counter the State's negative portrayal of him and direct the court's attention to his accomplishments in order to persuade the court he was deserving of a lesser sentence." Suppl. Br. of Pet'r at 19.
¶ 26 Notably, while the Court of Appeals majority viewed Ramirez's statements as supporting imposition of discretionary costs, there is no indication in the record that the trial court actually relied on any of Ramirez's statements. See Ramirez , slip op. at 13. 5 Nor would reliance on Ramirez's statements be reasonable, given that Ramirez was describing his circumstances and the positive strides he had made in the months prior to his arrest. As his statements at sentencing and his declaration of indigency make clear, all of that changed. Indeed, Ramirez lamented that after being on the right track, he "screwed up" and lost everything. VRP at 363.
¶ 27 RCW 10.01.160(3) requires the trial court to inquire into a person's present and future ability to pay LFOs. This inquiry must be made on the record, and courts should be *746 cautious of any after-the-fact attempt to justify the imposition of LFOs based on information offered by a defendant for an entirely different purpose. Judges understand that defendants want to appear in their best light at sentencing. It is precisely for this reason that the judge's obligation is to engage in an on-the-record individualized inquiry into the defendant's ability to pay discretionary LFOs.
¶ 28 We hold that the trial court failed to make an adequate individualized inquiry into Ramirez's current and future ability to pay prior to imposing discretionary LFOs. Normally, this Blazina error would entitle Ramirez to a full resentencing hearing on his ability to pay LFOs. The timing of Ramirez's appeal, however, makes this case somewhat unusual. After we granted review, the legislature passed House Bill 1783, which amends two LFO statutes at issue. LAWS OF 2018, ch. 269. House Bill 1783 amends the discretionary LFO statute, former ROW 10.01.160, to prohibit courts from imposing discretionary costs on a defendant who is indigent at the time of sentencing as defined in RCW 10.101.010(3)(a) through (c). LAWS OF 2018, ch. 269, § 6(3). House Bill 1783 also amends the criminal filing fee statute, former RCW 36.18.020(h), to prohibit courts from imposing the $200 filing fee on indigent defendants. LAWS OF 2018, ch. 269, § 17(2)(h).
¶ 29 Ramirez argues that House Bill 1783's amendments apply to his case on appeal because he qualified as indigent at the time of sentencing and his case was not yet final when House Bill 1783 was enacted. Suppl. Br. of Pet'r at 8-10. As for the remedy, Ramirez asks us to strike the discretionary LFOs and the $200 criminal filing fee from his judgment and sentence rather than remand his case for resentencing. For the reasons discussed below, we agree that House Bill 1783 applies on appeal to invalidate Ramirez's discretionary LFOs (and the $200 criminal filing fee) and that resentencing is unnecessary in this case.
*747 II. House Bill 1783 Applies Prospectively to Ramirez's Case Because the Statutory Amendments Pertain to Costs and His Case on Direct Review Is Not Yet Final
¶ 30 House Bill 1783's amendments modify Washington's system of LFOs, addressing some of the worst facets of the system that prevent offenders from rebuilding their lives after conviction. For example, House Bill 1783 eliminates interest accrual on the nonrestitution portions of LFOs, it establishes that the DNA database fee is no longer mandatory if the offender's DNA has been collected because of a prior conviction, and it provides that a court may not sanction an offender for failure to pay LFOs unless the failure to pay is willful. LAWS OF 2018, ch.
*722
269, §§ 1, 18, 7. Relevant here, House Bill 1783 amends the discretionary LFO statute, former RCW 10.01.160, to prohibit courts from imposing discretionary costs on a defendant who is indigent at the time of sentencing. LAWS OF 2018, ch. 269, § 6(3). It also prohibits imposing the $200 filing fee on indigent defendants.
¶ 31 At the time of Ramirez's sentencing in 2016, the discretionary cost statute provided that "[t]he court shall not order a defendant to pay costs unless the defendant is or will be able to pay them." Former RCW 10.01.160(3). In making this determination, the statute instructed the trial court to "take account of the financial resources of the defendant and the nature of the burden that payment of costs will impose."
¶ 32 House Bill 1783 amends former RCW 10.01.160(3) to expressly prohibit courts from imposing discretionary costs on defendants who are indigent at the time of sentencing: "The court shall not order a defendant to pay costs if the defendant at the time of sentencing is indigent as defined in RCW 10.101.010(3)(a) through (c)." LAWS OF 2018, ch. 269, § 6(3). Under RCW 10.101.010(3)(a) through (c), a person is "indigent" if the person receives certain types of public assistance, is involuntarily committed to a public mental health facility, or receives an annual income after taxes of 125 percent or less of the current federal poverty level. If the defendant is not indigent, the amendment instructs the court to engage in the same individualized inquiry into the defendant's ability to pay as previously required under former RCW 10.01.160(3), i.e., to assess "the financial resources of the defendant and the nature of the burden that payment of costs will impose."
¶ 33 As noted, House Bill 1783 also amends the criminal filing fee statute, former RCW 36.18.020(2)(h), to prohibit charging the $200 criminal filing fee to defendants who are indigent at the time of sentencing. LAWS OF 2018, ch. 269, § 17. Thus, if House Bill 1783's amendments apply to Ramirez's case on appeal, the trial court improperly imposed both the discretionary costs of $2,100 and the criminal filing fee.
¶ 34 This is not our first occasion to consider the prospective application of cost statutes to criminal cases on appeal. In
State v. Blank
,
¶ 36 Applying House Bill 1783 to the facts of this case, we hold that the trial court impermissibly imposed discretionary LFOs of $2,100, as well as the $200 criminal filing fee, *750 on Ramirez. We reverse the Court of Appeals and remand for the trial court to amend the judgment and sentence to strike the improperly imposed LFOs.
CONCLUSION
¶ 37 In Blazina , we held that under former RCW 10.73.160(3), trial courts have an obligation to conduct an individualized inquiry into a defendant's current and future ability to pay discretionary LFOs before imposing them at sentencing. Today, we articulate specific inquiries trial courts should make in determining whether an individual has the current and future ability to pay discretionary costs. Trial courts must meaningfully inquire into the mandatory factors established by Blazina , such as a defendant's incarceration and other debts, or whether a defendant meets the GR 34 standard for indigency. Trial courts must also consider other "important factors" relating to a defendant's financial circumstances, including employment history, income, assets and other financial resources, monthly living expenses, and other debts. Under this framework, trial courts must conduct an on-the-record inquiry into the mandatory Blazina factors and other "important factors" before imposing discretionary LFOs.
¶ 38 We reverse the Court of Appeals and hold that the trial court failed to conduct an adequate Blazina inquiry into Ramirez's current and future ability to pay. Although this Blazina error would normally entitle Ramirez to a resentencing hearing on his ability to pay, resentencing is unnecessary in this case. House Bill 1783, which prohibits the imposition of discretionary LFOs on an indigent defendant, applies on appeal to invalidate Ramirez's discretionary LFOs (and the $200 criminal filing fee). We remand for the trial court to strike the $2,100 discretionary LFOs and the $200 filing fee from Ramirez's judgment and sentence.
WE CONCUR:
Fairhurst, C.J.
Johnson, J.
Madsen, J.
Owens, J.
Wiggins, J.
González, J.
Gordon McCloud, J.
Yu, J.
Ramirez's full statement was, "I missed out on all of that because I screwed up before even the first Seahawk game. That was the weekend that I screwed up. It was the Saturday before the first Seahawk game." VRP at 363.
Ramirez's counsel made only one mention of LFOs, in correcting the trial court's original estimate of the amount of attorney fees. The court initially stated that these discretionary costs totaled $900, but Ramirez's counsel clarified that $2,100 was the correct amount. VRP at 375.
Ramirez's appeal additionally raised several guilt-phase claims of error, which the Court of Appeals rejected.
State v. Ramirez
, No. 48705-5-II, slip op. at 7-11, 13-15,
Ramirez criticizes Chief Judge Bjorgen for embracing a "clearly erroneous" standard of review for factual determinations, based on prior appellate decisions.
See
Suppl. Br. of Pet'r at 17 & n.6. Ramirez insists that "substantial evidence" is the correct Washington standard, while "clear error" applies in federal courts.
The Court of Appeals inferred that the trial court's decision was based on Ramirez's statements:
Here, the court considered that Ramirez had recently been released from custody, was working in a minimum wage job, and had been paying his household bills. Ramirez also told the court that he had opened a bank account for the first time in his life and "was just getting on track[.]" He added that although he was working a minimum wage job "it was fine because it took care of everything." Thus, we hold that the court conducted an adequate individualized inquiry and did not err in imposing the discretionary LFOs.
Ramirez , slip op. at 13 (citations omitted).
Reference
- Full Case Name
- STATE of Washington, Respondent, v. David Angel RAMIREZ, Petitioner.
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