Opinion ID: 2262565
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Westfall Incident [10]

Text: ¶ 39 The Westfall incident consisted of four distinct episodes, each separated by a significant interruption of Kintz's contact with Westfall. The first episode consists of Kintz's initial attempt to make contact with Westfall in the parking lot. It ended when Westfall walked down the trail. The second episode consists of Kintz's first pass and ended when Kintz drove out of Westfall's view. At this point, Westfall testified that she became frightened. The third episode encompasses Kintz's second pass, three-point turn, and third pass, at which point Kintz again drove away, leaving Westfall very scared and angry. VRP (June 28, 2006) at 221. The fourth episode includes Kintz's fourth pass (second three-point turn), and fifth pass (the encounter at the stop sign), and finally a sixth pass. During each episode, Kintz deliberately maintain[ed] visual and physical proximity to Westfall. Thus, each episode constitutes a separate occasion of following under RCW 9A.46.110(6)(b). Viewed in the light most favorable to the State, a rational trier of fact could easily have found Kintz guilty of stalking Westfall by following her on two or more separate occasions. [11] ¶ 40 Episodes two, three, and four also constitute separate occasions of unlawful harassment as defined by RCW 10.14.020. Each represents a course of conduct directed at Westfall, which seriously alarmed her, served no lawful purpose, was such as would cause a reasonable person to suffer substantial emotional distress, and actually caused substantial emotional distress, as evidenced by Westfall's very real fear. Each would also cause a reasonable parent to fear for the well-being of her children; especially episode four, when Westfall crossed in front of Kintz's idling van with her three children. Based on the breaks in contact between these episodes, the jury could have found that they constituted two or more separate occasions of harassment. Thus, the Court of Appeals properly concluded that sufficient evidence supported Kintz's conviction on the charge of stalking Westfall.