Van Deren, J.
In this personal restraint petition (PRP), Kurtis William Monschke asks us to order a new trial or a reference hearing regarding his conviction for aggravated first degree murder. He argues that (1) his trial counsel were ineffective when they did not do a proper investigation or pretrial preparation of his defense expert witness who, in testifying, undermined key elements of Monschke's defense and (2) it was prosecutorial misconduct for the State to reach a plea agreement with Monschke's codefendant Tristain Frye based on a personal friendship between the elected prosecutor and Frye's defense attorney and to allow Frye to testify against him, knowing that she would commit perjury. We deny Monschke's personal restraint petition.
On March 23, 2003, Kurtis Monschke; Tristain Frye Scotty Butters; and David Pillatos assaulted Randall Townsend, a homeless man who lived under the interstate near the Tacoma Dome. State v. Monschke, 133 Wn.App. 313, 318-20, 135 P.3d 566 (2006). After 20 days on life support, Townsend died. Monschke, 133 Wn. App. at 320. The State charged Monschke, Frye, Butters, and Pillatos with aggravated first degree murder under RCW 9A.32.030 and RCW 10.95.020(6). Monschke, 133 Wn. App. at 321. The State alleged as an aggravating circumstance that "Townsend was murdered so that the defendants could obtain or maintain their membership or advance their position in the hierarchy of an organization or identifiable group, namely, `white supremacists.'" Monschke, 133 Wn. App. at 321 (quoting 1 Clerk's Papers at 84).
Monschke and his codefendants were held at the Pierce County Jail, where it was jail procedure to open and screen inmate mail for contraband and other illegal activity. During this routine screening, jail staff discovered that Monschke had received a letter from a white supremacist group. The jail sent a copy of the letter to the Pierce County prosecutor's office. The State then requested that the jail photocopy all incoming and outgoing mail belonging to the four defendants, with the exception of legal mail. The State distributed copies of the defendants' mail to defense counsel so that all parties had copies of the inmate mail before trial. Through this process, the State discovered that Frye and Pillatos were violating a no-contact order by sending mail to each other through a third party. In these letters, Frye expressed a desire for guidance from Pillatos on how to proceed ("I need to know what [Pillatos] wants me to do." Br. of Resp't, App. S at 1721) and Pillatos attempted to persuade Frye to testify against him, but to make sure to emphasize that he did not seem like himself in order to help with his insanity defense.
Before trial, Monschke's three codefendants entered into plea agreements with the State. Monschke, 133 Wn. App. at 321. Frye agreed to plead guilty to second degree murder. Monschke, 133 Wn. App. at 321. Her plea agreement was conditioned on her being truthful and honest with prosecutors at all times and that she "testify truthfully and fully at the trial or trials" of her codefendant(s). Br. of Resp't, App. E at 2. The State filed a statement that explained its reasons for amending Frye's information to allege lesser charges, including:
Br. of Resp't, App. G at 2.
Pillatos and Butters pleaded guilty to first degree murder. Monschke, 133 Wn. App. at 321. Monschke refused the offer Pillatos and Butters accepted and, thus, was the only one of the four defendants to go to trial. All four testified at Monschke's trial.
Frye testified that on March 22, 2003, Pillatos wanted to take her, his fiancée, out to earn her red shoelaces,
They parked near the Tacoma Dome and walked under Interstate 705 so Frye and Pillatos could show Monschke graffiti that they had painted under the overpass.
Butters and Pillatos then left to find Monschke. When they returned with Monschke to where Townsend lay, Monschke began hitting him in the head with the other bat. Monschke, 133 Wn. App. at 324. According to Frye, Monschke hit Townsend 10 to 15 times.
As discussed in the published portion of our opinion from Monschke's direct appeal, both parties presented expert testimony on white supremacists at trial:
Monschke, 133 Wn. App. at 326-28 (citations omitted).
The jury convicted Monschke of aggravated first degree murder. Monschke, 133 Wn. App. at 318. He was sentenced to life without possibility of parole. Monschke appealed, challenging "the constitutionality of RCW 10.95.020(6), the sufficiency of the evidence, the trial court's refusal to bifurcate the trial, and the court's order requiring him to wear a stun belt at trial." Monschke, 133 Wn. App. at 318-19. We affirmed his conviction.
A petitioner may request relief through a PRP when he is under an unlawful restraint.
The petitioner must support the petition with facts or evidence and may not rely solely on conclusory allegations. RAP 16.7(a)(2)(i); Cook, 114 Wn.2d at 813-14; In re Pers. Restraint of Williams, 111 Wn.2d 353, 365, 759 P.2d 436 (1988). For allegations "based on matters outside the existing record, the petitioner must demonstrate that he has competent, admissible evidence to establish the facts that entitle him to relief." In re Pers. Restraint of Rice, 118 Wn.2d 876, 886, 828 P.2d 1086 (1992). "If the petitioner's evidence is based on knowledge in the possession of others, he may not simply state what he thinks those others would say, but must present their affidavits or other corroborative evidence. The affidavits . . . must contain matters to which the affiants may competently testify." Rice, 118 Wn.2d at 886. The petitioner must show that the "factual allegations are based on more than speculation, conjecture, or inadmissible hearsay." Rice, 118 Wn.2d at 886.
"Once the petitioner makes this threshold showing, the court will then examine the State's response," which must "answer the allegations of the petition and identify all material disputed questions of fact." Rice, 118 Wn.2d at 886. "[T]o define disputed questions of fact, the State must meet the petitioner's evidence with its own competent evidence" and only after "the parties' materials establish the existence of material disputed issues of fact" will we direct the trial court "to hold a reference hearing in order to resolve the factual questions." Rice, 118 Wn.2d at 886-87.
Thus, when reviewing a PRP, we have three options:
In re Pers. Restraint of Hews, 99 Wn.2d 80, 88, 660 P.2d 263 (1983).
Monschke first argues that his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to adequately interview and prepare his defense expert, Dr. Randy Blazak, before trial. The State responds that Monschke is merely second guessing his attorneys' decision to call an expert witness because there is no evidence of lack of trial preparation or investigation, especially in that Monschke's trial counsel consulted the expert witness more than once before trial.
We review claims of ineffective assistance of counsel de novo. State v. Cross, 156 Wn.2d 580, 605, 132 P.3d 80 (2006). To prove ineffective assistance of counsel, a defendant must show that (1) counsel's performance was deficient, i.e., that it fell below an objective standard of reasonableness and (2) the deficient performance prejudiced him, i.e., that there is a reasonable possibility that, but for the deficient conduct, the outcome of the proceeding would have differed. State v. Thomas, 109 Wn.2d 222, 225-26, 743 P.2d 816 (1987). This standard is "highly deferential and courts will indulge in a strong presumption of reasonableness" until the defendant shows in the record the absence of legitimate or tactical reasons supporting trial counsel's conduct. Thomas, 109 Wn.2d at 226. But "[t]his presumption can be overcome by showing, among other things, that counsel failed to conduct appropriate investigations, either factual or legal, to determine what matters of defense were available, or failed to allow himself enough time for reflection and preparation for trial." State v. Jury, 19 Wn.App. 256, 263, 576 P.2d 1302 (1978).
At oral argument and in its statement of additional authority, the State contended that, because this is a PRP, Monschke must show prejudice beyond "a reasonable probability that, but for counsel's unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding would have been different" as Strickland requires. Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 694, 104 S.Ct. 2052, 80 L. Ed. 2d 674 (1984). Generally, in a PRP, the petitioner must demonstrate by a preponderance of the evidence that a constitutional error resulted in actual and substantial prejudice or a nonconstitutional error resulted in a complete miscarriage of justice. Davis, 152 Wn.2d at 672. But, as we held in In re Pers. Restraint of Crace, a personal restraint petitioner need not "satisfy a heightened prejudice requirement under actual and substantial prejudice that exceeds the showing of prejudice necessary to successfully establish the Strickland prejudice prong" when the PRP is based on ineffective assistance of counsel. 157 Wn.App. 81, 112-14, 236 P.3d 914 (2010), petition for review filed, No. 85131-0 (Wash. Oct. 1, 2010).
Moreover, "[i]n Davis, our Supreme Court . . . equated the Strickland prejudice standard with actual and substantial prejudice," holding that "`Davis cannot establish actual and substantial prejudice . . . . Because there was overwhelming evidence of his guilt, he cannot show there was a reasonable probability that, but for his counsel's deficient performance by not objecting, the outcome of his trial would have been different.'" Crace, 157 Wn. App. at 111 n.16 (second alteration in original) (quoting Davis, 152 Wn.2d at 700). Thus, a petitioner need not establish prejudice beyond that required by Strickland to satisfy "actual and substantial prejudice" in a PRP.
Additionally, the State's statement of additional authority "on whether a petitioner in a collateral attack must make a higher showing of prejudice on an ineffective assistance of counsel claim than a defendant on direct appeal" cites Rice, 118 Wn.2d at 889, as "describing [the] St[r]ickland test as a prima facie showing that might entitle a petitioner in a collateral attack to an evidentiary hearing." Resp't's Statement of Additional Authority at 1-2 (emphasis omitted). But our examination of our Supreme Court's response to Rice's ineffective assistance of counsel claim shows that the court applied the Strickland standard; thus, Rice does not support the State's argument that a heightened showing of prejudice is necessary in the PRP context. 118 Wn.2d at 888-89 ("No evidentiary hearing is required in a collateral proceeding if the defendant fails to allege facts establishing the kind of prejudice necessary to satisfy the Strickland test."). Accordingly, we again hold that a petitioner need not satisfy a "heightened prejudice requirement under actual and substantial prejudice that exceeds the showing of prejudice necessary to successfully establish the Strickland prejudice prong" in the ineffective assistance of counsel context. Crace, 157 Wn. App. at 112.
Generally, an attorney's decision to call a witness to testify is "a matter of legitimate trial tactics," which "will not support a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel." State v. Byrd, 30 Wn.App. 794, 799, 638 P.2d 601 (1981). But a petitioner can overcome this presumption by demonstrating that counsel failed to adequately investigate or prepare for trial. Byrd, 30 Wn. App. at 799.
To support his claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, Monschke submitted declarations from Blazak and Erik Bauer, one of his two defense counsel. Blazak's declaration states that (1) before he testified, he spoke to Monschke's counsel by phone and in person; (2) nothing he testified to was inconsistent with what he told defense counsel in pretrial preparations; (3) he was not asked to prepare a report of his proposed testimony before trial; and (4) Monschke's counsel did not engage Blazak in a mock trial exercise to prepare for direct and cross-examination.
Monschke's trial attorneys made a strategic and tactical decision to call an expert witness to explain that white supremacists are not an identifiable group and that Volksfront was a nonviolent white supremacist group. Thus, Monschke's attorneys planned to "negate[] the prosecution's efforts to establish Mr. Monschke's membership and advancement as required by the [aggravating circumstance] statute." PRP Decl. of Eric L. Bauer (Dec. of Bauer) at 2-3. But, according to defense counsel, at trial, Blazak "presented opinions that he had not presented in pretrial interviews" and he "volunteered [the damaging information] without being prompted." Dec. of Bauer at 3. Even though this unexpected testimony allegedly "damaged the defense on every critical point," Monschke's counsel's performance does not rise to the level of ineffective assistance of counsel. Dec. of Bauer at 3.
In In re Personal Restraint of Pirtle, 136 Wn.2d 467, 488, 965 P.2d 593 (1998), our Supreme Court held that "there is no absolute requirement that defense counsel interview witnesses before trial" and ruled that trial counsel was not ineffective for failing to conduct pretrial interviews of the witnesses. The court noted that, although Pirtle's counsel did not conduct formal witness interviews, "counsel spent considerable time reviewing evidence and obtaining answers to various questions" with detectives and Pirtle failed to show how his counsel's approach was inadequate. Pirtle, 136 Wn.2d at 488. Our Supreme Court reiterated this proposition in In re Pers. Restraint of Stenson, 142 Wn.2d 710, 754-57, 16 P.3d 1 (2001).
In Stenson, the court declined to hold the petitioner's trial counsel ineffective for not personally interviewing Dr. Brady, the medical examiner, before trial but, instead, relied on his investigator's pretrial interview of the witness. 142 Wn.2d at 754. Similar to what Monschke points to here, at Stenson's trial, Dr. Brady offered unexpected, damaging testimony. In Stenson, the court stated that Stenson's attorney's "cross-examination of Brady did not go well because Brady was a difficult witness, not because of deficient preparation." Stenson, 142 Wn.2d at 755. Bauer declares that Blazak volunteered information without prompting by questions during his testimony. In any attorney's experience, this behavior by a witness is problematic, making the person a difficult witness. But Monschke points to nothing that would have ensured that Blazak did not volunteer information on the stand, even if his counsel had done a mock trial or practiced Blazak's testimony, since Blazak volunteered his testimony without prompting, and Blazak declared he testified to nothing inconsistent with what he told Monschke's defense counsel before trial.
Monschke does not argue that defense counsel is held to a higher standard in preparing for an expert witness than the standard applicable to an alibi witness or any other indispensable witness. The record does not disclose the details of Monschke's trial counsel's pretrial interviews with Blazak, but we do know that they met with him more than once. From the record before us, Monschke's trial counsel's preparation of Blazak did not fall below the standard discussed in Stenson or Pirtle. Therefore, we hold that, because Monschke's counsel made a strategic tactical decision to call an expert to rebut the State's expert testimony, met with Blazak before trial, and then Blazak volunteered information from the witness stand, Monschke has not met his burden of establishing that trial counsel's performance was deficient based on inadequate expert witness preparation.
Additionally, Monschke has failed to meet his burden to show that Blazak's unexpected testimony prejudiced him. Monschke must show that there is a reasonable probability that, but for an error by his attorney, the result of the proceeding would have differed. See Strickland, 466 U.S. at 695. First, Blazak provided both expected testimony that helped the defense as well as, unexpected, damaging testimony. Throughout his testimony, Blazak remained consistent in putting forth his views that supported Monschke's position that "white supremac[ists]" were not an "identifiable group" because there is too much disagreement among the people who share the white supremacist ideology. 34 RP at 2891. Blazak also testified that Volksfront has a hierarchy in which members "gain status . . . through hard work and dedication." 34 RP at 2920.
Additionally, he explained how a person might obtain notoriety among people who are white supremacists by murdering someone inferior, but he maintained that white supremac[ists] do not have a formal hierarchy or status structure. Blazak further testified that Volksfront may secretly promote violence, but he also stated that, "having monitored [Volksfront,] we couldn't come up with any incidents of anybody who has been promoted because of any act of violence." 34 RP at 2914. Blazak also testified that Volksfront e-mailed Blazak, saying that they "condemn acts of violence and [Monschke's] membership . . . had been terminated," that "the movement of Volksfront is to say these violent offenders are hurting [their] larger cause," that "newer members of the Volksfront are less violent," and that he believes Randall Craiger, the leader of Volksfront, "is sincere in his desire to take Volksfront into this new [nonviolent] territory of white supremacy." 34 RP at 2914, 2964, 2970, 2972.
It is unclear whether Monschke is arguing that his trial attorneys should have called another expert or no expert at all. But even without Blazak's testimony, there was sufficient evidence for a reasonable jury to have found the aggravating circumstance based on other trial testimony. For example, the State's expert witness testified that many white supremacist groups internally advocate violence but publicly profess nonviolence to avoid civil liability. Monschke, 133 Wn. App. at 327. Thus, the State had already offered testimony similar to Blazak's. Additionally, Monschke admitted his involvement in Volksfront. Frye's testimony about going out with Monschke, Butters, and Pillatos to earn her red shoelaces, which would mean increased notoriety among white supremacists, also supports the aggravating circumstance.
Because we hold that Monschke's counsel was not deficient and did not prejudice Monshke's right to a fair trial, his ineffective assistance of counsel claim fails.
Monschke also argues that the prosecutor committed misconduct by having Frye testify at Monschke's trial, "knowing [she and Pillatos] had concocted a false story." Br. of Pet'r at 34 (emphasis omitted). The State responds that the prosecutor did not "offer a plea agreement to Ms. Frye . . . for any improper purpose" and that Ms. Frye did not commit perjury, or, if she did, the prosecution did not know about it. Br. of Resp't at 18.
To prevail on a prosecutorial misconduct claim, a petitioner "`must establish both improper conduct by the prosecutor and prejudicial effect.'" Pirtle, 136 Wn.2d at 481-82 (quoting State v. Pirtle, 127 Wn.2d 628, 672, 904 P.2d 245 (1995)). To establish prejudice, the petitioner must show a substantial likelihood that the misconduct affected the jury's verdict. Pirtle, 136 Wn.2d at 481-82. Additionally, the petitioner must show actual and substantial prejudice arising from a violation of his constitutional rights or by a fundamental error of law. Pirtle, 136 Wn.2d at 482.
Monschke claims that the prosecutors encouraged Frye to commit perjury by entering a favorable plea agreement that required her to testify against Monschke. Monschke further alleges that Frye's favorable plea agreement was obtained because Pierce County Prosecutor Gerald Horne was friends with Judith Mandel, Frye's defense attorney. Monschke also argues that correspondence between Pillatos and Frye indicated that they were "`fabricating a story in an attempt to perpetrate a fraud on the Court and the prosecutor's office.'" Br. of Pet'r at 35 (quoting PRP, Decl. of Barbara Corey (Dec. of Corey) at 2).
In support of his claim of prosecutorial misconduct, Monschke submitted an affidavit from Barbara Corey, a former prosecutor who represented the State in this case before Frye, Butters, and Pillatos entered the plea agreements. Corey opines that (1) Pillatos and Frye "were indeed fabricating a story in attempt to perpetrate a fraud on the Court and the prosecutor's office"; (2) Prosecutors Horne, Costello, and Greer knew of Pillatos and Frye's plan to manipulate the trial; and (3) Frye's favorable plea agreement was based on a personal friendship between Mandel and Horne. Dec. of Corey at 2.
The State's affidavits from the two prosecutors, Gregory Greer and Gerald Costello, who executed the plea agreement with Frye, maintain that (1) Corey had personal animosity against Mandel; (2) Horne was not involved in the decision to offer Frye a plea; and (3) the plea offered to Frye was not based on any personal relationship with Frye's attorney but, because she "was least culpable of the four co-defendants." Br. of Resp't at 18, App. M at 5. These affidavits demonstrate the State's legitimate purpose in offering Frye a plea agreement. Br. of Resp't, App. O at 2 ("Mr. Greer and I decided to enter into an agreement with Ms. Frye because she was convincing, credible, and the least culpable."). Additionally, the State provided Frye's plea agreement to the defense, which they used to cross-examine Frye.
Moreover, even if Frye had not testified against Monschke, the State would have offered the testimony of Butters, Pillatos, and two other witnesses to the crime, Terry Hawkins and Cindy Pitman.
Monschke also argues that the State committed misconduct by having Frye testify when it knew that Frye and Pillatos had communicated about their testimony. "It is fundamentally unfair for a prosecutor to knowingly present perjury to the jury" and "the use of known lies to get a conviction deprives a defendant of his constitutional right to due process of law." U.S. v. LaPage, C.A. 9 (Cal.), 231 F.3d 488, 491 (9th Cir. 2000). Conflicting witness testimony does not demonstrate that the witnesses committed perjury or that the prosecutor knew of any alleged perjury. Additionally, "[c]redibility determinations are for the trier of fact and cannot be reviewed on appeal." State v. Camarillo, 115 Wn.2d 60, 71, 794 P.2d 850 (1990).
Here, Monschke; Frye, Butters; and Pillatos all testified at Monschke's trial. And although their testimony differed about the sequence of events the night of the murder and Monschke's participation in the assault on Townsend, the defense had the opportunity to cross-examine and impeach all of Monschke's codefendants, particularly Frye and Pillatos, using the known content of their communications before they entered their pleas and before they testified. On cross-examination, Monschke's counsel confronted Frye about only one letter she had written from jail, and it was one she had written to Monschke, not Pillatos.
Our review of other jail correspondence Frye wrote shows that, although she wanted direction from Pillatos, she also demonstrated remorse and repeatedly discussed her intention to tell the truth and her desire for Pillatos to support her decision to testify truthfully.
Furthermore, Monschke has not demonstrated that Frye committed perjury, as he failed to identify what portion of Frye's testimony constituted perjury. He points only to the prosecutors' knowledge that Pillatos and Frye communicated about assisting each other, which knowledge the prosecutors shared with the court and defense when they discovered these communications, making all aware of their violation of the court's order. Monschke's prosecutorial misconduct claims fail.
Because Monschke fails to establish prejudice arising from constitutional error, a fundamental defect which inherently results in a complete miscarriage of justice or the existence of material disputed issues of fact, we deny his personal restraint petition.
A majority of the panel having determined that this opinion will not be printed in the Washington Appellate Reports but will be filed for public record pursuant to RCW 2.06.040, it is so ordered.
ARMSTRONG, J., and HUNT, J., concur.
Monschke, 133 Wn. App. at 333-34.
157 Wn. App. at 110-12 (footnote omitted).
Monschke, 133 Wn. App. at 319.