Opinion ID: 2598598
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Merger of Sentences for Aggravated Assault and Attempted First-Degree Murder

Text: [¶ 50] Mr. Urbigkit claims the sentences for aggravated assault and attempted first-degree murder against Deputy Holbrook, Deputy Arnold, Patrolman Dye, and Officer Adkins must merge because the facts reveal a single criminal act rather than multiple or distinct offenses. Bilderback v. State, 13 P.3d 249, 254 (Wyo.2000). Having already reversed the aggravated assault and battery convictions arising out of the acts committed against those law enforcement officials, we do not address Mr. Urbigkit's merger claim. J. Failure to Give All Jury Instructions Before Closing Arguments [¶ 51] At the beginning of the trial, the trial court read Instruction Nos. 1 through 7 to the jury. At the close of the evidence, the trial court did not reread those instructions but read only Instruction Nos. 8 through 46. Citing Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 7-11-201 (Lexis-Nexis 2001) and W.R.Cr.P. 30, Mr. Urbigkit claims it was error for the trial court not to read all the instructions after the close of the evidence. Because no objection was made, the plain error doctrine appliesMr. Urbigkit must demonstrate that a clear and unequivocal rule of law was violated in a clear and obvious way and he was denied a substantial right or materially prejudiced as a result. [¶ 52] Section 7-11-201(a)(vi) provides in relevant part as follows: (a) After the jury has been impaneled and sworn, the trial shall proceed in the following order: ... (vi) Before the argument of the case is begun, the court shall immediately, and before proceeding with other business, charge the jury. W.R.Cr.P. 30 provides in part as follows: (a) ... Before the argument of the case to the jury has begun, the court shall give to the jury such instructions on the law as may be necessary.... (b) ... Before opening statements, the court shall provide jurors with any general and case-specific instructions that would seem likely to help jurors understand their function during trial, and the issues that they will be required to decide. These preliminary instructions should include any pertinent case-specific instructions that the court anticipates including in the final jury instructions, if the court concludes that it would be helpful to jurors to receive the instructions both at the beginning of the case and again before closing arguments. Mr. Urbigkit argues these provisions required the trial court to give all the instructions at the close of the evidence, even those previously given before opening statements. Given the language of the provisions, he cannot show that the trial court violated a clear and unequivocal rule of law in a clear and obvious way. [¶ 53] Section 7-11-201(a)(vi) provides only that the trial court must charge the jury before argument of the case begins. It does not preclude the court from giving some instructions before opening statements or require that all instructions be given again just before closing arguments. W.R.Cr.P. 30 likewise requires the court to give instructions before closing arguments but does not prevent the court from reading some instructions before opening statements. In fact, the rule expressly authorizes the court to give preliminary instructions likely to help the jury understand its function before opening statements. Under both the statute and the rule, it was well within the trial court's discretion to give the presumption of innocence instruction before opening statements. While it may be advisable to also give the instruction again before closing arguments, it was not plain error for the trial court not to reread the instruction. The instruction was read before opening statements, defense counsel had the opportunity to remind the jury of the instruction during closing arguments, and the instruction was given to the jury along with the other instructions when it retired to the jury room to deliberate so it had the opportunity to review it. We find no reversible error on this issue.