Opinion ID: 2654911
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: sufficiency of the evidence

Text: Having clarified the elements of unlawful entry, we examine the evidence in this case to determine if it was sufficient to sustain Mr. Ortberg‟s conviction. 13 Viewed in the light most favorable to the government, Hemmati v. United States, 564 A.2d 739, 746 n.14 (D.C. 1989), we hold that it was. As to the first two elements of unlawful entry, it is uncontested that Mr. Ortberg entered Studio One and that he did so purposefully. Mr. Ortberg likewise never contested the third element, that he was without “lawful authority” to enter Studio One. And as to the fourth element, we conclude that there was ample evidence to establish that his entry was against the will of the lawful occupant of Studio One. This event space inside the W Hotel was rented out for a private fundraising event. The group renting this space had set up a registration table at the entrance to the room and required name tags for event guests. Indeed, Mr. Ortberg acknowledges in his brief that “[i]t may be inferred from the facts developed that the reception within this interior room of the hotel was intended to be „admission by name badge only.‟”13 13 We acknowledge Mr. Ortberg‟s and amicus‟s argument that hotels, or at least certain areas of hotels (e.g., the lobby), are “semi-public” spaces and that their status as such should have some relevance to the unlawful entry conviction. Such a designation might impact a First Amendment analysis, but it does not figure in a case where the only issue is whether the defendant was properly convicted of unlawful entry. This case simply involves a privately rented banquet hall which under no definition could be considered a semi-public space. 14 This leaves us to examine whether the evidence was sufficient to establish that Mr. Ortberg knew or should have known that his entry was unwanted — or whether, as the trial court considered sua sponte, there was sufficient evidence to disprove that Mr. Ortberg had a reasonable bona fide belief in his right to enter Studio One. We agree with the trial court that here, too, the evidence was clearly sufficient to establish Mr. Ortberg‟s guilt of unlawful entry. Under the circumstances, Mr. Ortberg should have known that he did not have permission to enter Studio One. He testified at trial that he knew from an internet search that the event was a fundraiser and he did not have an invitation. His argument on appeal seems to be that he did not know an invitation was required — that he did not know he could not walk from the lobby area of the hotel into the event space. But he also testified that he knew there was a manned registration desk just by the entrance to Studio One where name tags, or badges, were being handed out. The registration desk and distribution of name tags reasonably should have communicated to Mr. Ortberg that he could not walk in an exit or service door and join the party without an invitation. The unreasonableness of Mr. Ortberg‟s actions likewise defeated any bona fide belief defense. Moreover, the evidence clearly disproved such a defense 15 because Mr. Ortberg‟s actions were not innocent. Mr. Ortberg indicated that he understood full well the function of the individuals he saw at the registration table by describing them as the “badge checker[s].” And the fact that, when asked by the banquet server if he had a badge, he responded untruthfully to “stall” his ejection from the event space demonstrated that he actually knew he was not permitted to be in the room.14 Mr. Ortberg argues that the trial court‟s consideration of his stalling tactic was improper because it was not equivalent to “full knowledge of even a general criminal intent to violate the unlawful entry statute at the time of entry.” However, the question is not whether he intended to violate the statute but rather whether he reasonably and actually believed he was permitted to enter the room. As the trial court correctly determined, his dissembling is evidence that he did not. Finally, we address Mr. Ortberg‟s assertion that his entry into Studio One and the “brief disruption” he caused there was to be “endured” because he was engaging in protest activity. This argument is without merit. “It is no defense to a charge of unlawful entry . . . that the crime was committed out of a sincere 14 As noted supra, the government had no obligation to prove this knowledge, but the evidence of such knowledge unquestionably defeats the bona fide belief defense. 16 personal or political belief, however genuine, in the rightness of one‟s actions.” Hemmati, 564 A.2d at 745. And the bona fide belief defense “was not meant to, and does not, exonerate individuals who believe they have a right, or even a duty, to violate the law in order to effect a moral, social, or political purpose, regardless of the genuineness of the belief or the popularity of the purpose.” Gaetano, 406 A.2d at 1294. Simply stated, an individual does not have the right to enter private property against the will of the lawful occupant in order to exercise First Amendment rights.