Opinion ID: 2544396
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: State v. Brown; State v. Harris

Text: Jacob Brown's convictions were based on seven counts committed against Lewis Brown, Thomas Boyd, and Jelani and Jerel Tackett, in three separate incidents. Co-defendant Marshall Harris was convicted as a result of his participation in the Lewis Brown incident. Lewis Brown Porsche Washington and Lewis Brown (Lewis) were involved in an intimate relationship. On September 30, 1996, Porsche called Lewis and arranged to meet him at a Seattle motel. Lewis arrived at about 2 a.m. the following morning, and he complied with Porsche's request that he take off his clothes. Then three men, who Lewis later identified as Jacob Brown (not related to Lewis), Marshall Harris, and Tesino Barber, suddenly came out of the bathroom. Brown was armed with a revolver. Brown hit Lewis in the chest with his fist, and Barber struck him in the face with a gun that he took from Lewis's coat. Brown and Barber also took Lewis's watch, rings, cell phone, cash, and other personal belongings. Lewis testified that Washington hit him in the face and applied a substance to his anus before Barber forced a dildo into Lewis's anus and mouth and burned Lewis's arm with a hot iron. Harris signed the motel registration card. Lewis testified that Harris blocked the door to the motel room during the incident and that Harris threatened to beat Lewis. After Lewis got dressed, Barber took him from the motel room at gunpoint. Barber drove Lewis's car to the Rainier Valley, told the victim to get out, and then drove away. Lewis sought help at a convenience store. He was taken to a hospital and treated for lacerations and burns. When police found Lewis's car several days later, the stereo and speakers had been removed. Lewis was able to identify Brown, Harris, and Barber in police photo montages. Thomas Boyd In the early morning of October 6, 1996, police responded to reports of gunshots near a residence in Auburn. They discovered the body of Thomas Boyd lying just inside the front door of his home. When Porsche Washington was arrested on another matter two weeks later, she made a statement to police about Boyd's shooting. As a result, an arrest warrant was issued for Jacob Brown. Brown gave conflicting accounts of Boyd's death, but both Washington and Brown admitted being at or near the residence when Boyd was shot. In his third statement to police, Brown said that he and Washington had gone to Boyd's house to steal money from him. Brown described how he and Washington worked together. She would pose as a prostitute; he would feign hysteria and demand money for drugs. Victims usually paid Brown in order to get rid of him, but Boyd fought with Brown. Brown stated that while the men were struggling, Washington shot Boyd. Jelani and Jerel Tackett The final incident began in the late evening of October 14, 1996, when Porsche Washington and Ramona Rigney went for a ride with Jelani Tackett and his brother, Jerel. The women asked Jelani to drive them to an apartment and then to a nearby convenience store in Seattle. At the store, Ramona got out. Jacob Brown and Tesino Barber approached the car, and Washington introduced Brown as her brother. At Washington's request, Jelani agreed to take Brown and Washington to their mother's house. Washington, Brown, and Barber rode in Jelani's car, and Brown directed Jelani to pull to the curb in a residential area. Barber got into the front seat beside Jelani; Washington and Brown conferred behind the parked car. Brown suddenly appeared at the driver's side window and pointed a gun at Jelani's head. At the same time, Barber demanded his money and jewelry. While Jelani wrestled with Barber, Jerel got out of the car. Brown then grabbed Jerel, put the gun to Jerel's head, and ordered Jelani to get out of the car. Washington and Barber fled. Brown threatened Jerel and Jelani and told them to walk away. When Jelani pursued Brown and demanded the return of his car keys, Brown ran and fired several shots. The cases against Brown and Harris were consolidated for trial. On July 31, 1997, a jury found Brown guilty of first degree murder, two counts of first degree robbery, first degree rape, and three counts of first degree assault, with a firearm enhancement rendered on each count. Harris was convicted, in the same court, of first degree robbery, first degree rape, and first degree assault, with a firearm enhancement for each count.