Opinion ID: 6105180
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Fleeing or evading in the first degree.

Text: Corbin’s first claim involves the charge of fleeing or evading in the first degree. Under KRS6 520.095(1), a person is guilty of fleeing or evading police in the first degree, (a) When, while operating a motor vehicle with intent to elude or flee, the person knowingly or wantonly disobeys a direction to stop his or her motor vehicle, given by a person recognized to be a police officer, and at least one (1) of the following conditions exists: 5 Kentucky Rules of Criminal Procedure. 6 Kentucky Revised Statutes. 5 1. The person is fleeing immediately after committing an act of domestic violence as defined in KRS 403.720[.] Domestic violence, in turn, is defined in KRS 403.720(1) as “physical injury, serious physical injury, stalking, sexual abuse, strangulation, assault, or the infliction of fear of imminent physical injury, serious physical injury, sexual abuse, strangulation, or assault between family members or members of an unmarried couple[.]” Corbin argues that he was entitled to a directed verdict of acquittal on this charge because his text messages, by themselves, do not qualify as domestic violence pursuant to KRS 403.720(1). When, as here, we are confronted with a question of statutory interpretation, that is, whether Corbin’s text messages satisfied KRS 403.720(1)’s definition for domestic violence, “[o]ur primary goal is to discern the intent of the General Assembly, and we discern that intent, if at all possible, simply from the language the General Assembly chose[.]” Ballinger v. Commonwealth, 459 S.W.3d 349, 354 (Ky. 2015). In doing so, “[w]e have a duty to accord to words of a statute their literal meaning unless to do so would lead to an absurd or wholly unreasonable conclusion.” Univ. of Louisville v. Rothstein, 532 S.W.3d 644, 648 (Ky. 2017) (quoting Cosby v. Commonwealth, 147 S.W.3d 56, 59 (Ky. 2004)). Therefore, if the language of the statute is clear, our inquiry must end because “we assume that the ‘[Legislature] meant exactly what it said, and said exactly what it meant.’’’ Id. (quoting Revenue Cabinet v. O’Daniel, 153 S.W.3d 815, 819 (Ky. 2005)). Applying these principles, the Commonwealth did not allege any history of domestic abuse, nor did it assert that any physical violence occurred on the 6 day of the text messages. Consequently, the only portion of the definition of domestic violence which Corbin could have met was an “infliction of fear of imminent physical injury [or] serious physical injury[.]” Despite Corbin’s assertions regarding the lack of imminency in his threats to Michelle, the Commonwealth presented sufficient evidence to survive a motion for a directed verdict. When Corbin arrived home, and found his belongings on the front porch, he yelled at Michelle, and, as she stated in her testimony, he threatened her through the doorway.7 When Michelle still refused to open the door, Corbin began assaulting it, prompting Michelle to dial 911. Crucially, Corbin did not relent until Michelle had called the police. Moreover, even after Corbin left the house he continued to threaten Michelle. For the next several hours Corbin texted Michelle messages such as: “U took allu taking of mine give it back or I’m gonna get very nasty that’s your last warn g thief,” “give me my gun I pass you on by,” and “got me sks 4 30 roundclips and my pistol.” The specificity and rancor of Corbin’s text messages satisfies KRS 503.010(3)’s definition for “imminent”8 because Corbin placed Michelle in ongoing fear of death or serious physical injury all the while being sought by the Adair County Sheriff’s Department. Since Corbin’s threats were 7 During Michelle’s testimony, she stated that Corbin’s text messages to her after he had left the house largely reflected the language he used while still at the house. 8 KRS 503.010(3) defines “imminent” as an “impending danger,” which this Court has acknowledged as synonymous with “[a]bout to occur at any moment.” Lickliter v. Commonwealth, 142 S.W.3d 65, 71 (Ky. 2004). The Oxford American Dictionary also defines imminent as “about to occur, likely to occur at any moment.” Imminent, Oxford American Dictionary, 327 (1980). 7 imminent, his conduct is properly classified as domestic violence under KRS 403.720(1). Accordingly, the trial court did not err by denying Corbin’s motion for a directed verdict of acquittal on the first-degree fleeing or evading charge.