Case ID: f-appx_509/html/0625-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Eugene J. COFSKY, Petitioner-Appellant, v. Charles L. RYAN, et. al., Respondents-Appellees.
    No. 09-16189.
    United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.
    Submitted Feb. 11, 2013.
    
    Filed Feb. 19, 2013.
    Stephen Christopher Kunlde, Law Office of Stephen C. Kunkle, Phoenix, AZ, for Petitioner-Appellant.
    Deborah Ann Bigbee, Esquire, Scottsdale, AZ, for Respondents-Appellees.
    Before: FARRIS, THOMAS, and N.R. SMITH, Circuit Judges.
    
      
       The panel unanimously concludes this case is suitable for decision without oral argument. See Fed. R.App. P. 34(a)(2).
    
   MEMORANDUM

Arizona state prisoner Eugene J. Cofsky appeals the district court’s denial of his 28 U.S.C. § 2254 habeas petition challenging his conviction for conspiracy to commit first-degree murder. We affirm.

The Arizona state courts’ finding — that sufficient evidence supported Cofsky’s conviction for conspiracy to commit first-degree murder — was not contrary to, or an unreasonable application of, clearly established federal law. Neither the postcon-viction review court nor the Arizona Court of Appeals on direct review provided reasoning for their respective conclusions that sufficient evidence was presented to convict Cofsky of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder. Where a state court rules on the issue at hand, but does not supply reasoning for its decision, we “perform an independent review of the record to ascertain whether the state court decision was objectively unreasonable.” Himes v. Thompson, 336 F.3d 848, 853 (9th Cir.2003) (internal quotation marks omitted). “Independent review of the record is not de novo review of the constitutional issue, but rather, the only method by which we can determine whether a silent state court decision is objectively unreasonable.” Id.

Under clearly established federal law, when considering a sufficiency of the evidence challenge, we ask “whether the record evidence could reasonably support a finding of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.” Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 318, 99 S.Ct. 2781, 61 L.Ed.2d 560 (1979). In other words, “whether, after viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt.” Id. 443 U.S. at 319, 99 S.Ct. 2781. Where conflicting inferences may be supported by the record, we presume “that the trier of fact resolved any such conflicts in favor of the prosecution, and [we] must defer to that resolution.” Id. 443 U.S. at 326, 99 S.Ct. 2781. Moreover, “[a]fter AEDPA, we apply the standards of Jackson with an additional layer of deference.” Juan H. v. Allen, 408 F.3d 1262, 1274 (9th Cir.2005) (citing 28 U.S.C: § 2254(d)).

An independent view of the record demonstrates that neither state court decision finding sufficient evidence was objectively unreasonable. Considering the evidence presented against Cofsky in the context of the elements of the crime, Juan H., 408 F.3d at 1275, and viewing that evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution, Cofsky has not demonstrated that “any rational trier of fact could [not] have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt.” Jackson, 443 U.S. at 319, 99 S.Ct. 2781. To the contrary, the record reflects sufficient evidence to allow any reasonable factfinder to find (1) intent to promote the murder of the corrections officer, and (2) an agreement between Cof-sky and the other conspirators to kill the corrections officer if he resisted. See Evanchyk v. Stewart, 202 Ariz. 476, 47 P.3d 1114, 1117 (2002) (en banc). Although evidence of Cofsky’s involvement is circumstantial, considering the evidence of (1) Cofsky’s known involvement in the jailbreak planning, including his role of keeping track of the conspirator tasked with killing the guard if necessary, (2) the close proximity of events and physical evidence on Cofsky’s property, and (3) Cofsky’s appearance in the designated courtroom at the planned time, a reasonable factfinder could have concluded that Cofsky agreed to the jailbreak with the other conspirators and agreed that a corrections officer would be shot if necessary. Accordingly, we must uphold the jury’s verdict.

AFFIRMED. 
      
       This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.
     
      
      . Cofsky no longer challenges whether conditional intent is sufficient to show the specific intent needed to prove a conspiracy to commit first-degree murder. Accordingly, this argument is abandoned.