State v. Kalebaugh

¶1 Chadwick Leonard Kalebaugh appeals his first degree child molestation conviction and claims reversible error based on the trial judge’s misstatements regarding the meaning of “reasonable doubt” in his preliminary remarks to the jury venire. Kalebaugh did not object and raises the issue for the first time on appeal. We reach the unpreserved error because it is a manifest constitutional error under RAP 2.5(a)(3), but we affirm because the error was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt.

Facts and Procedural History

¶2 On October 28, 2011, Kristal Strong had a birthday party for her son at their…