Case Name: The State of Washington, Respondent, v. Robert Locke, Appellant
Court: Washington Court of Appeals
Jurisdiction: Washington
Decision Date: 2013-08-06
Citations: 175 Wash. App. 779
Docket Number: No. 42035-0-II
Parties: The State of Washington, Respondent, v. Robert Locke, Appellant.
Judges: Hunt, J., concurs.
Reporter: Washington Appellate Reports
Volume: 175
Pages: 779–813

Head Matter:
[No. 42035-0-II.
Division Two.
August 6, 2013.]
The State of Washington, Respondent, v. Robert Locke, Appellant.
Marla L. Zink (of Washington Appellate Project), for appellant.
Mark E. Lindquist, Prosecuting Attorney, and Melody M. Crick, Deputy, for respondent.

Opinion:
Bjorgen, J.
¶1 Robert Locke appeals his conviction and sentence for one count of making threats against the governor or her family. He argues that (1) sufficient evidence does not support that he made a "true threat," as defined under United States Constitution First Amendment case law, or a "threat" as defined by the jury instructions; (2) the trial court erred in not including the true threat concept in the "to convict" jury instruction, and the information does not contain all essential elements because it fails to refer to a "true threat"; (3) the trial court erred in not providing the jury with a Petrich multiple acts unanimity instruction; and (4) the trial court improperly or dered Locke to have a mental health evaluation and to follow any recommended treatment as a condition of his sentence. The State concedes that the trial court improperly imposed the mental health condition. We hold that sufficient evidence supports the finding of a true threat, consistently with the First Amendment; that the jury instructions were proper; and that a Petrich instruction was not necessary. Therefore, we affirm the conviction but remand for vacation of the improper mental health condition.
FACTS
¶2 In the early morning of January 25, 2011, Locke sent two e-mail messages to the governor through a section of the governor's web site entitled "Contact Governor Gregoire." Ex. 3, at 1,4-5. The web page required the sender's first and last name, e-mail address, physical address, city, state, and zip code as contact information.
¶3 In his first e-mail, sent at 6:09 am, Locke identified himself as "Robb Locke" and provided a phone number; an e-mail address, "robblocke2004@yahoo.com"; a zip code, 98334; and a state, Washington. Ex. 4. For his address, Locke entered "1313 Mockingbird Lane," an address used in the television comedy The Munsters. Ex. 4; Report of Proceedings (RP) at 186. For his city, he entered "Gregoiremustdie." Ex. 4. His message stated,
I hope you have the opportunity to see one of your family members raped and murdered by a sexual predator. Thank you for putting this state in the toilet. Do us a favor and pull the lever to send us down before you leave Olympia.
Ex. 4.
¶4 At 6:11 am, Locke used the web page to send a second e-mail, providing the same contact information. His second message stated, "You fucking CUNT!! You should be burned at the stake like any heretic." Ex. 5.
¶5 Finally, at 6:13 am, Locke accessed another section of the governor's web site titled, "Invite Governor Gregoire to an Event." Ex. 1. Through a form on this web page, Locke requested an event, again identifying himself as "Robb Locke," noted that he lived in Washington State, and identified his organization as "Gregoire Must DIe [sic]." Ex. 2. He requested that the event be held at the Governor's Mansion and stated the event's subject would be "Gregoire's public execution." Ex. 2. He wrote that the governor's role during the event would be "Honoree," the event would last 15 minutes, the media would be invited, and the audience's size would be greater than 150. Ex. 2.
¶6 Barbara Winkler, the Governor's executive scheduler, discovered Locke's event request when she arrived at work the morning of January 25. The request alarmed her, and she considered it serious because it occurred shortly after a recent shooting of an elected official in Arizona. She forwarded the event request to a member of the Executive Protection Unit (EPU) of the Washington State Patrol.
¶7 After speaking with Winkler, Rebecca Larsen, the governor's executive receptionist, searched the computer system for the name Locke provided in the event request and discovered the two earlier e-mails from him. Because Larsen was "alarm [ed]" by the e-mails, she printed them and gave them to the EPU. RP at 126, 128.
¶8 Washington State Patrol Sergeant Carlos Rodriguez of the EPU reviewed the e-mails and event request. After considering their content and the Arizona shootings, he interpreted them as "a serious threat to do harm to the governor." RP at 171, 178. Rodriguez reviewed the commu nications with Detective James Kirk of the state patrol, who dialed the telephone number provided with the e-mail. A male voice answered, and Kirk asked if he was speaking with Locke. Locke answered yes, and Kirk identified himself and said he wanted to discuss the e-mails. Locke replied, Yeah," and either hung up or lost cellular service. RP at 204. When Kirk called back, the call went to voice mail.
¶9 Kirk and Trooper Albert Havenner went to an address believed to be Locke's residence and saw someone matching Locke's description walking down the street. Havenner contacted the individual. Locke identified himself and replied, Yeah, I know why you're here....I figured you guys would be contacting me." RP at 197. Kirk then identified himself and said he had spoken with Locke on the telephone earlier that morning. Locke replied, "[Y]eah, I want you to know . I didn't hang up on you, I have poor cell service." RP at 207. Kirk then transported Locke to a state patrol office.
¶10 At the office, Locke acknowledged that he sent the e-mails and an event request from a computer in his residence. He stated that he did this because, while Governor Gregoire was the attorney general, he had filed a complaint with that office about an employer depriving him of his last two paychecks, and the attorney general's office failed to follow up. In October 2010, Locke became unable to work because of a back condition, and the Department of Social and Health Services twice reduced benefits he was receiving. When Locke awoke the morning of January 25, 2011, he was angry over those circumstances and having to walk three miles to physical therapy while in pain. He described his communications to the Governor as "giv[ing] her a piece of [his] mind," but he did not recall making any direct threats to her safety and had no intention of carrying out any threats. Ex. 6, at 7, 10. He "profusely apologize [d] for [his] temper" and said that "it was . . . the worst judgment" to have sent the communications but he "needed the outlet at the moment... [a]nd, it was there." Ex. 6, at 15.
¶11 The State charged Locke with one count of threats against the governor or her family. A jury convicted him as charged. The trial court sentenced him to 12 months' confinement and ordered a mental health evaluation. Locke appeals.
ANALYSIS
I. Sufficiency of the Evidence
¶12 Locke argues that sufficient evidence does not support his making a "true threat" against the governor under First Amendment case law or his making a "threat" as defined by the jury instructions. We disagree.
¶13 Sufficient evidence supports a conviction if, when viewed in the light most favorable to the State, any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the charged crime proved beyond a reasonable doubt. State v. Hosier, 157 Wn.2d 1, 8, 133 P.3d 936 (2006). Subject to the rules governing First Amendment analysis set out below, we draw all reasonable inferences from the evidence in the State's favor and interpret them most strongly against the defendant. Hosier, 157 Wn.2d at 8. In the sufficiency context, we consider circumstantial evidence as probative as direct evidence. State v. Goodman, 150 Wn.2d 774, 781, 83 P.3d 410 (2004). We may infer specific criminal intent of the accused from conduct that plainly indicates such intent as a matter of logical probability. Goodman, 150 Wn.2d at 781. Finally, we defer to the fact finder on issues of conflicting testimony, witness credibility, and persuasiveness of the evidence. State v. Thomas, 150 Wn.2d 821, 874-75, 83 P.3d 970, abrogated in part on other grounds by Crawford v. Washington, 541 U.S. 36, 124 S. Ct. 1354, 158 L. Ed. 2d 177 (2004).
A. True Threat
¶14 Locke was convicted under RCW 9A.36.090(1), which provides:
Whoever knowingly and willfully deposits for conveyance in the mail or for a delivery from any post office or by any letter carrier any letter, paper, writing, print, missive, or document containing any threat to take the life of or to inflict bodily harm upon the governor of the state or his or her immediate family... or knowingly and willfully otherwise makes any such threat against the governor . . . shall be guilty of a class C felony.
¶15 The First Amendment, applicable to the states through the Fourteenth Amendment, provides that "Congress shall make no law . . . abridging the freedom of speech." Virginia v. Black, 538 U.S. 343, 358, 123 S. Ct. 1536, 155 L. Ed. 2d 535 (2003); U.S. Const. amend. XIV. The First Amendment, though, does not extend to speech held to be unprotected, one category of which comprises "true threats." State v. Allen, 176 Wn.2d 611, 626, 294 P.3d 679 (2013) (plurality opinion).
f 16 A "true threat" is " 'a statement made in a context or under such circumstances wherein a reasonable person would foresee that the statement would be interpreted . . . as a serious expression of intention to inflict bodily harm upon or to take the life of another person.' " Allen, 176 Wn.2d at 626 (alteration in original) (internal quotation marks omitted) (quoting State v. Kilburn, 151 Wn.2d 36, 43, 84 P.3d 1215 (2004)). To avoid violating the First Amendment, our Supreme Court has held that it will "interpret statutes criminalizing threatening language as proscribing only unprotected true threats." Allen, 176 Wn.2d at 626. Consequently, we construe RCW 9A.36.090(1) as prohibiting only true threats.
¶17 A true threat is a serious threat, not one said in jest, idle talk, or political argument. Kilburn, 151 Wn.2d at 43 (citing United States v. Howell, 719 F.2d 1258, 1260 (5th Cir. 1983)). Stated another way, communications that "bear the wording of threats but which are in fact merely jokes, idle talk, or hyperbole" are not true threats. State v. Schaler, 169 Wn.2d 274, 283, 236 P.3d 858 (2010). The nature of a threat "depends on all the facts and circumstances, and it is not proper to limit the inquiry to a literal translation of the words spoken." State v. C.G., 150 Wn.2d 604, 611, 80 P.3d 594 (2003). Statements may "connote something they do not literally say . . . ." Planned Parenthood of Columbia/ Willamette, Inc. v. Am. Coal. of Life Activists, 290 F.3d 1058, 1085 (9th Cir. 2002). Consistently with this recognition, our court has held that "[w]hether a statement is a true threat or a joke is determined in light of the entire context" and that a person can indirectly threaten to harm or kill another. Kilburn, 151 Wn.2d at 46, 48. Further, "[t]he speaker of a 'true threat' need not actually intend to carry it out. It is enough that a reasonable speaker would foresee that the threat would be considered serious." Schaler, 169 Wn.2d at 283 (citation omitted).
¶18 Because our sufficiency of the evidence determination "is the heart of the 'true threat' inquiry," it "implicates core First Amendment protection." Kilburn, 151 Wn.2d at 48. Accordingly, the First Amendment demands more than application of our usual standard of review for sufficiency of the evidence. Kilburn, 151 Wn.2d at 48-49. Instead, we must independently examine the whole record to ensure that the judgment does not constitute a forbidden intrusion into the field of free expression. Kilburn, 151 Wn.2d at 50. We are required to independently review only crucial facts, that is, those facts so intermingled with the legal question that it is necessary to analyze them in order to pass on the constitutional question. Kilburn, 151 Wn.2d at 50-51. In doing so, we may review evidence in the record not considered by the lower court in deciding the constitutional question. Kilburn, 151 Wn.2d at 51. However, our review does not extend to factual determinations such as witness credibility. State v. Johnston, 156 Wn.2d 355, 365-66, 127 P.3d 707 (2006).
¶19 With these principles in mind, we turn to whether any of Locke's communications constituted a true threat. Locke's first e-mail identified his city as "Gregoiremustdie" and stated his desire for the governor to witness a family member "raped and murdered by a sexual predator." Ex. 4. The e-mail also stated that the governor had "put this state in the toilet" and requested that she "pull the lever to send us down before you leave Olympia." Ex. 4.
¶20 Although identifying his city as "Gregoiremustdie" is surely menacing, the force of the message itself is the desire that the governor see a family member raped or murdered, coupled with the opinion that the governor had put the state "in the toilet." Although crude and upsetting, this is more in the nature of hyperbolic political speech, predicting threatening personal consequences from the State's policies. Under the standards above, this does not rise to the level of a true threat, as recently defined in Allen and Kilburn.
¶21 Locke's second e-mail, sent only two minutes later, intensified in its violent tone and content. In this e-mail, Locke again identified his city as "Gregoiremustdie"; addressed the governor with an emphatic, gender-specific epithet; and expressed his opinion that she should be "burned at the stake like any heretic." Ex. 5. Unlike the first e-mail, this expresses more than the desire that the governor's policies will lead to horrible consequences to her family. Rather, its message, expressed twice, is that the governor should be killed.
¶22 Its passive phrasing, though, blunts the implication that Locke is threatening to do this himself. As the dissent points out, Locke's message is that someone should kill the governor, not that he intends to. The dissent argues also that since burning heretics at the stake is a historically political act, the second e-mail is removed from the realm of a true threat in the same way the first e-mail was protected by its political content. There is a conceptual gulf, though, between the first e-mail's hope that the governor's family would suffer harm from the governor's policies and the message of the second e-mail that the governor should be killed in a horrible way once reserved for religious and political dissenters. The ancient political or religious pedigree of burning at the stake in no way transforms its menace into legitimate political speech today.
¶23 Even so, under Allen, the passive and impersonal phrasing of this sort of statement would at best reach only the margins of a true threat; viewed in isolation, we cannot deem it unprotected speech. However, it and the event request discussed below, considered together, do cross into the territory of a true threat. See Schaler, 169 Wn.2d at 283-84; Kilburn, 151 Wn.2d at 48.
¶24 Locke's event request, sent only two minutes after the second e-mail, further escalated the violent tone and content of his communications. Locke sent the request through a section of the governor's web site entitled "Invite Governor Gregoire to an Event." Ex. 1. He identified his organization as "Gregoire Must DIe [sic]," requested that the event be held at the Governor's Mansion, and stated the subject of the event would be "Gregoire's public execution," at which she would be the "Honoree." Ex. 2.
¶25 We must consider these facts in light of Locke's own admission that he was aware of Representative Giffords's shooting 17 days earlier. In such a context, a reasonable speaker would foresee that the governor would take seriously an invitation to her own public execution from "Gregoire Must DIe [sic]," especially in light of the rapid progression of Locke's communications from expressing his displeasure with her to his blunt desire for her death. Although Locke did not directly state that he himself would kill her, a direct threat is not required for his communications to constitute a true threat. See Kilburn, 151 Wn.2d at 48; Planned Parenthood, 290 F.3d at 1085.
¶26 The menace of the communication was further heightened by its specificity. Locke requested a 15-minute event at the Governor's Mansion, with media present, with an audience of over 150, at which the governor would be the honoree, and at which she would be publicly executed. These details throw the threat into higher relief and translate it from the realm of the abstract to that of the practical. They plainly suggest an attempt to plan an execution, even though Locke may have intended nothing.
¶27 Further, Locke had no preexisting relationship or communications with the governor from which he might have an expectation that she would not take his statements seriously. See Kilburn, 151 Wn.2d at 52-53. In fact, all the witnesses from the governor's office testified that they took Locke's communications as serious threats. Finally, Locke himself seemed to acknowledge that he knew his threats would be taken seriously; he admitted that he knew why the state patrol contacted him, that he expected them to do so, and that he exercised "the worst judgment" in sending the communications. Ex. 6.
¶28 The dissent asserts that the outlandishness of the event request means that no reasonable person would take it seriously. The threat, though, lay not in the possibility that the request would actually be granted or that a fire would be kindled beneath a stake. It lay, rather, in the escalation of the communications from passive abstraction to a more detailed plan for the governor's murder, coupled with the repeated admonition that "Gregoire must die." The dissent asserts also that the short time between the e-mails shows a continuous statement, not an escalation of threats. To the contrary, the evidence shows a rapid-fire e-mail sequence of increasing specificity and menace. If anything, the short intervals between the e-mails suggest a troubling explosiveness lying behind them. That message would be taken seriously by a reasonable person.
¶29 The dissent asserts also that Locke's messages do not disclose any serious plan to harm the governor. Under lying planning, however, is not an essential element of a true threat. In Schaler, underlying planning was simply evidence of circumstances that fell into the true threat category. Further, Schaler itself held that the speaker of a true threat need not actually intend to carry it out. Schaler, 169 Wn.2d at 283. Under both Schaler's rationale and its result, Locke's statements crossed well into the precincts of unprotected speech.
¶30 Finally, the contrast between the circumstances of the threat in Kilburn and Locke's communications highlight the more serious nature of Locke's actions. On its face, the eighth grader's statement to a classmate that he was " 'going to bring a gun to school tomorrow and shoot everyone and start with you' " is chilling and serious. Kilburn, 151 Wn.2d at 39. The court pointed out, though, that the speaker and the classmate had been talking about books they were reading and Kilburn's book involved the military and guns; that Kilburn had known the classmate for two years and had always been friendly to her; that he joked around with other students, including this classmate; and that he had been laughing when he made the statement. Kilburn, 151 Wn.2d at 52-53. These circumstances led our Supreme Court to deem this not a true threat. Nothing approaching these circumstances is present here.
¶31 The dissent also asserts that Locke's e-mails are protected by the First Amendment because they are political speech. In support, the dissent cites the Supreme Court's recognition " 'of a profound national commitment to the principle that debate on public issues should be uninhibited, robust and wide[ ]open, and that it may well include vehement, caustic, and sometimes unpleasantly sharp attacks on government and public officials.' " Watts v. United States, 394 U.S. 705, 708, 89 S. Ct. 1399, 22 L. Ed. 2d 664 (1969) (quoting N.Y. Times v. Sullivan, 376 U.S. 254, 270, 84 S. Ct. 710, 11 L. Ed. 2d 686 (1964)).
¶32 As set out above, we recognize that the terms of the first e-mail are of an arguably political nature, and we, too, deem it to be protected speech. Locke's own statements, however, make clear that his motivation for sending the e-mails as a whole had nothing to do with public or political matters. He was upset at Governor Gregoire because when she was attorney general, that office failed to follow up on a private complaint he had made. He was upset more generally because his state benefits had been reduced, and he was angry at having to walk to physical therapy while in pain. Locke's threats, consequently, were an expression of undiluted ire over a private grievance with the State, of which Gregoire was then governor. The sentiments expressed in the second and third e-mails conveyed no view or position on public issues or policies. To suggest a "profound national commitment" to the protection of such threatening outbursts risks trivializing our critical commitment to uninhibited speech on public issues, even if it crosses into the vehement and caustic. The second and third e-mails were not political speech.
¶33 Finally, the dissent notes that United States v. Lincoln, 403 F.3d 703, 704-05 (9th Cir. 2005), held that a true threat was not conveyed by a letter an inmate attempted to send to the president stating, in part, 'You Will Die too George W Bush real Soon They Promissed [sic] That you would." If Locke had confined himself to the passive, indirect hopes that the governor or her family would be harmed, found in the first two e-mails, Lincoln might be dispositive. Locke continued, though, with the increasingly specific and detailed threats described above. These escalating steps forfeited any protection of his threatening speech under Lincoln's rationale.
¶34 We agree wholly with the dissent that the guaranty of free speech has its most important application to those with whom we disagree. There are limits, though, to its protection, and here those limits were crossed. Whether the event request is viewed alone or together with the second e-mail, a reasonable person would foresee that it would be interpreted as a serious expression of intention to harm or to kill another person. Thus, sufficient evidence supports the finding that Locke made a true threat.
B. Threat Jury Instruction
¶35 As part of his challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence, Locke argues also that the evidence does not support his making a "threat" as defined by the jury instructions.
¶36 Jury instruction 7 provided:
Threat means to communicate, directly or indirectly, the intent to take the life of, or to inflict bodily harm upon the governor of the state.
To be a threat, a statement or act must occur in a context or under such circumstances where a reasonable person, in the position of the speaker, would foresee that the statement or act would be interpreted as a serious expression of intention to carry out the threat rather than as something said in jest, idle talk, or political argument.
Clerk's Papers (CP) at 19.
¶37 This definition of "threat" directly included the element of true threat. Even without that, the concept of "threat" is an inherent element of the notion of "true threat." As held above, the evidence is sufficient to show that Locke made a true threat. Therefore, it is sufficient to show he made a threat.
II. Jury Instructions and the' Information
¶38 Locke contends for the first time on appeal that the trial court's decision is flawed because both the "to convict" jury instruction and the information lacked the essential element that the threat had to be a "true threat." This argument also fails.
A. Failure To Preserve Alleged Error
¶39 RAP 2.5(a) generally does not allow parties to raise claims for the first time on appeal. State v. Robinson, 171 Wn.2d 292, 304, 253 P.3d 84 (2011). RAP 2.5(a)(3), however, allows appellants to raise claims for the first time on appeal if such claims constitute manifest error affecting a constitutional right.
¶40 A claim of error is of constitutional magnitude under RAP 2.5(a)(3) when the claim, if correct, implicates a constitutional interest as compared to another form of trial error. State v. O'Hara, 167 Wn.2d 91, 98, 217 P.3d 756 (2009). An alleged error is manifest if it results in actual prejudice, that is, if it had " 'practical and identifiable consequences' " at trial. State v. Gordon, 172 Wn.2d 671, 676, 260 P.3d 884 (2011) (internal quotation marks omitted) (quoting O'Hara, 167 Wn.2d at 99).
¶41 By its nature, this threshold test under RAP 2.5 can bleed into an analysis of the merits of the claimed error. See State v. Walsh, 143 Wn.2d 1, 8, 17 P.3d 591 (2001) (in determining whether an error is manifest, we "preview [ ] the merits of the claimed constitutional error to determine whether the argument is likely to succeed"). Whichever lens is used, our Supreme Court's recent decision in Allen makes clear that the jury instructions and the information did not err in their treatment of the notions of threat and true threat. Therefore, Locke cannot meet the manifest constitutional error exception to RAP 2.5(a). Whether viewed under RAP 2.5(a) or on the merits, Locke's claims fail.
B. The Jury Instructions
¶42 Jury instruction 22, the trial court's "to convict" instruction, stated in part that
[t]o convict the defendant of the crime of threats against the governor or family each of the following elements of the crime must be proved beyond a reasonable doubt: (1) That on January 25, 2011, the defendant, knowingly and willfully, (2) makes any threat against the governor of the state.
CP at 22. The basic concept in this instruction, that of "threat," was defined in instruction 7 in the following terms:
To be a threat, a statement or act must occur in a context or under such circumstances where a reasonable person, in the position of the speaker, would foresee that the statement or act would be interpreted as a serious expression of intention to carry out the threat rather than as something said in jest, idle talk, or political argument.
CP at 19. Instruction 7 was identical to Washington's pattern jury instruction defining "threat." See 11 Washington Practice: Washington Pattern Jury Instructions: Criminal 2.24, at 72 (3d ed. 2008) (WPIC).
¶43 In Allen, the defendant was convicted of felony harassment for threatening to kill an individual. Allen, 176 Wn.2d at 614. Among his claims on appeal, Allen argued that the constitutional requirement of a "true threat" is an essential element of the crime and, therefore, must be stated in both the information and the "to convict" jury instruction. Allen, 176 Wn.2d at 626-27. Because that did not occur, Allen argued, his convictions were flawed. Allen, 176 Wn.2d at 626-27.
¶44 Our Supreme Court issued a lead opinion signed by four justices; a concurrence by Chief Justice Madsen; and a concurrence by Justice Pro Tempore Chambers, joined by Justice Fairhurst. After surveying the case law, the lead opinion held that even though the "to convict" instruction did not specifically convey the elements of a true threat, those elements were conveyed by the instruction defining "threat," a term used in the "to convict" instruction. Allen, 176 Wn.2d at 628, 630. The lead opinion distinguished the court's prior decision in Schaler, 169 Wn.2d at 287-88, which reversed a felony harassment conviction because the instruction defining "threat" was not limited to true threats. Allen, 176 Wn.2d at 628-29. The Allen court also reiterated its observation in Schaler that WPIC 2.24 had been amended to include the definition of "true threat" and that " '[c]ases employing the new instruction defining "threat" will therefore incorporate the constitutional mens rea as to the result.' " Allen, 176 Wn.2d at 629 (alteration in orginal) (quoting Schaler, 169 Wn.2d at 288 n.5). The lead opinion in Allen also drew on the Court of Appeals decision in State v. Tellez, 141 Wn. App. 479, 484, 170 P.3d 75 (2007), which held that the true threat concept is not an essential element of felony telephone harassment and need not be included in the "to convict" instruction, as long as the instruction defining "threat" is limited to true threats. Allen, 176 Wn.2d at 630. The Allen lead opinion expressly adopted the holding that "the true threat requirement is not an essential element of felony harassment and that the instruction defining 'true threat' in this case safeguarded Allen's First Amendment rights." Allen, 176 Wn.2d at 632.
¶45 As noted, instruction 22, the "to convict" instruction, stated in part that to convict the defendant it must be proved that he knowingly and willfully made a threat against the governor. Instruction 7, which is consistent with the version of WPIC 2.24 approved by Schaler, then defined "threat" in the following terms:
To be a threat, a statement or act must occur in a context or under such circumstances where a reasonable person, in the position of the speaker, would foresee that the statement or act would be interpreted as a serious expression of intention to carry out the threat rather than as something said in jest, idle talk, or political argument.
CP at 19.
¶46 This instruction's language is identical to the passage in the definitional instruction approved in Allen except for the addition of the ending reference here to "political argument." CP at 19. This ending reference, though, is expressly set out in WPIC 2.24 as approved alternative language. The constitutional contours of the notion of true threat do not vary between the crime of felony harassment at issue in Allen and Schaler and the crime of threats against the governor at issue here. Thus, under the lead opinion in Allen and under Schaler, the instructions here were not erroneous.
C. The Information
¶47 Locke contends also that the information does not contain all essential elements of the crime.
¶48 The relevant part of the information stated:
ROBERT RAY LOCKE . . . did unlawfully, feloniously, knowingly, and willfully deposit for conveyance in the mail or for delivery from any post office or by any letter carrier a letter, paper, writing, print, missive or document which contained a threat to take the life of or to inflict bodily harm upon the governor of the State of Washington . or did knowingly and willfully otherwise make any such threat against the governor.
CP at 1.
¶49 All essential elements of a crime, statutory or otherwise, must be included in an information. State v. Kjorsvik, 117 Wn.2d 93, 97, 812 P.2d 86 (1991). When a defendant challenges the sufficiency of the information for the first time on appeal, we liberally construe the document in favor of its validity. Kjorsvik, 117 Wn.2d at 105-06. We consider (1) whether the necessary facts appear in any form, or by fair construction can be found, in the charging document and, if so, (2) whether the defendant can nonetheless demonstrate actual prejudice suffered as a result of the imprecise, vague, or ambiguous charging language. Kjorsvik, 117 Wn.2d at 105-06. The primary goal of the essential elements rule is to provide constitutionally mandated notice of the charges to the defendant. Kjorsvik, 117 Wn.2d at 97, 101. This goal is met where a fair, commonsense construction of the charging document "would reasonably apprise an accused of the elements of the crime charged." Kjorsvik, 117 Wn.2d at 109. "Words in a charging document are read as a whole, construed according to common sense, and include facts which are necessarily implied." Kjorsvik, 117 Wn.2d at 109.
¶50 In Allen, a majority of the court would uphold the information against the challenge that it did not adequately set out the element of a true threat. The lead opinion held that "the true threat requirement is not an essential element of felony harassment." Allen, 176 Wn.2d at 632. It also noted that its prior decision in Schaler held that the term "knowingly threaten" satisfies the mens rea element as to the result, so long as "threat" is defined consistently with the true threat standard. Allen, 176 Wn.2d at 629 n.11 (citing Schaler, 169 Wn.2d at 287-88).
¶51 Just like the information upheld in Allen, the information in this matter charged the defendant with knowingly threatening to injure or kill the victim. Just as in Schaler, the charge in the information that Locke "knowingly" made a threat implies that he was aware that his words or actions frightened or threatened their recipient. Just as in Allen, an express definition of "true threat" was included in the jury instructions. Further, Locke was aware of and relied on the true threat concept in preparing and presenting his defense at trial. Thus, he cannot demonstrate any actual prejudice.
¶52 If the information in Allen adequately sets out the notion of threat, so does the information in this case. Under Allen and Schaler, we must uphold the information.
III. Unanimity Instruction
¶53 Locke argues for the first time on appeal that the trial court erred under Petrich, 101 Wn.2d 566, in not instructing the jury that it must be unanimous as to which act or incident constitutes the charged crime. This instruction is required, Locke argues, because the two e-mails and the event request were separate, multiple acts, any one of which could form the basis of the charge against him. The State responds that no unanimity instruction was required because Locke's crime consisted of a continuous course of conduct. We agree with the State.
¶54 As noted, RAP 2.5(a)(3) allows appellants to raise claims for the first time on appeal if they constitute manifest error affecting a constitutional right. The failure to provide a required unanimity instruction is of constitutional magnitude. State v. Bobenhouse, 166 Wn.2d 881, 893, 214 P.3d 907 (2009). The error in failing to do so is manifest if the appellant can demonstrate actual prejudice resulting from it, that is, that the error had " 'practical and identifiable consequences' " at trial. Gordon, 172 Wn.2d at 676 (internal quotation marks omitted) (quoting O'Hara, 167 Wn.2d at 99).
¶55 Each of these requirements demands that the alleged action, in this case the omission of a unanimity instruction, in fact be in error. The law is plain that where the evidence indicates that more than one distinct criminal act has been committed but the defendant is charged with only one count of criminal conduct, the jury must be unanimous as to which act or incident constitutes the charged crime. State v. Noltie, 116 Wn.2d 831, 842-43, 809 P.2d 190 (1991); Petrich, 101 Wn.2d at 572. That is, the "jury must be unanimous as to which act or incident constitutes a particular charged count of criminal conduct." State v. Borsheim, 140 Wn. App. 357, 365, 165 P.3d 417 (2007).
¶56 The determination of whether a unanimity instruction is required turns on whether the prosecution constitutes a "multiple acts case." Bobenhouse, 166 Wn.2d at 892 (emphasis omitted). A multiple acts prosecution occurs when "several acts are alleged and any one of them could constitute the crime charged." State v. Kitchen, 110 Wn.2d 403, 411, 756 P.2d 105 (1988). Multiple acts tend to be shown by evidence of acts that occur at different times, in different places, or against different victims. State v. Love, 80 Wn. App. 357, 361, 908 P.2d 395 (1996).
¶57 Courts must distinguish, though, between one continuous offense and several distinct acts, each of which could be the basis for the criminal charge. Love, 80 Wn. App. at 361. A multiple acts unanimity instruction is not required when the State presents evidence of multiple acts that indicate a "continuing course of conduct." State v. Crane, 116 Wn.2d 315, 326, 804 P.2d 10 (1991); Love, 80 Wn. App. at 361. "A continuing course of conduct requires an ongoing enterprise with a single objective." Love, 80 Wn. App. at 361. To determine whether multiple acts constitute a continuing course of conduct, we evaluate the facts in a commonsense manner. Love, 80 Wn. App. at 361.
¶58 Washington courts have found a continuing course of conduct in cases where multiple acts of the charged crime were committed with a single purpose against one victim in a short period of time. For example, the Crane court applied the continuing course of conduct exception to multiple acts of assault against a child victim over a two-hour time period, ending in the child's death. Crane, 116 Wn.2d at 330. Similarly, we held in State v. Marko, 107 Wn. App. 215, 221, 27 P.3d 228 (2001), that a defendant's statements to two different people over a period of 90 minutes constituted a continuous course of conduct for the crime of intimidating a witness.
¶59 As held above, Locke's event request and the second e-mail together constituted the charged crime of threats against the governor. Locke sent all three of his communications within the short span of four minutes. He sent them from the same location, his residence's computer, to the same location, the governor's office. Furthermore, all three communications served the same objective of communicating, at the very least, Locke's desire that the governor or her family be harmed or killed. Accordingly, the facts here demonstrate a continuous course of conduct, and no multiple acts unanimity instruction was required. Locke fails to demonstrate a manifest error allowing him to raise his claim for the first time on appeal under RAP 2.5(a).
IV. Mental Health Evaluation
¶60 Finally, Locke argues that the trial court improperly ordered a mental health evaluation and recommended treatment as a condition of his sentence without making statutorily required findings. The State concedes that the trial court improperly imposed this sentence condition. The trial court did not obtain the presentence report required by RCW 9.94B.080 before requiring a mental health evaluation. Therefore, we accept the State's concession and we remand for the trial court to vacate this sentence condition.
¶61 We affirm the conviction but remand for vacation of the mental health condition.
Hunt, J., concurs.
State v. Petrich, 101 Wn.2d 566, 569, 683 P.2d 173 (1984).
The Arizona shooting referred to by multiple witnesses in this case was the shooting of United States Representative Gabrielle Giffords. On January 8, 2011, a gunman shot Representative Giffords and 18 other people during a public meeting held in a supermarket parking lot in Arizona.
The response of law enforcement is a relevant part of the background of this appeal. It is not dispositive, however, as to whether an unprotected true threat was made.
Locke, citing State v. Weaver, 60 Wn.2d 87, 88, 371 P.2d 1006 (1962), argues that the State cannot rely on a "pyramiding of inferences" to demonstrate sufficient evidence supporting his convictions. Br. of Appellant at 9. Our Supreme Court, however, subsequently rejected the rule in Weaver, citing with approval the statement that " '[i]f the inferences and underlying evidence are strong enough to permit a rational fact finder to find guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, a conviction may be properly based on pyramiding inferences.' " State v. Bencivenga, 137 Wn.2d 703, 711, 974 P.2d 832 (1999) (internal quotation marks omitted) (quoting 1 Clifford S. Fishman, Jones on Evidence: Civil and Criminal § 5.17, at 450 (7th ed. 1992)).
We acknowledge that the Allen lead opinion was signed by a plurality of four justices. However, Justice Chambers's concurring opinion, joined by Justice Fairhurst, expressly agreed with the lead opinion that "true threat" need not be pleaded in the information or included in the "to convict" jury instruction. Allen, 176 Wn.2d at 634.
Although not multiple acts for Petrich purposes, Locke's e-mails were a "course of conduct" of increasingly specific and menacing statements as described in part IA above.
Although by its terms chapter 9.94B RCW appears to apply only to sentences imposed before July 1, 2000, an uncodified portion of the statute makes clear that the provision also applies "to all sentences imposed or reimposed on or after August 1, 2009, for any crime committed on or after the effective date of this section." Laws of 2008, ch. 231, § 55(1) (referring to Laws of 2008, ch. 231, § 53, codified at RCW 9.94B.080).