Opinion ID: 2623133
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Application of Section 18-8-707(1)(a)

Text: On the tampering charge, the jury was instructed that the elements of the crime were: 1. [T]hat the defendant, 2. in the State of Colorado, at or about the date and place charged, 3. intentionally, 4. attempts, without bribery or threats, 5. to induce a witness or a victim, or a person he believes is to be called to testify as a witness or victim in any official proceeding to, 6. testify falsely or to unlawfully withhold any testimony. The People offered evidence at trial that assault charges were pending against the defendant as to which Ms. Cunefare was the named victim. Ms. Cunefare had given a statement to the police concerning the charges. While those charges were pending, Cunefare contacted Ms. Cunefare and convinced her to sign a letter to the District Attorney on April 6 recanting the charges and stating that the events of that evening on March 21, 1998[sic] never happened. Ms. Cunefare testified that she felt under duress from Cunefare to sign that letter, that the events actually had occurred, and that the recantation was therefore false. She further testified that in August, Cunefare again contacted her and attempted to persuade her to sign a second letter to the District Attorney restating the false recantation. At that time, she declined to sign the letter. Such evidence is sufficient to sustain the conviction for tampering. Ms. Cunefare was the named victim/witness in the assault proceeding. It is reasonable to conclude from her earlier statements that defendant attempted to induce her to recant her previous truthful statements. Further it is reasonable to infer that the defendant intended for her to continue to claim falsely that the events of March 21st did not happen if the matter went to trial. Thus, reasonable inferences from Ms. Cunefare's testimony support the statutory requirement that at the time of defendant's actions, he believed that the victim/witness may be called to testify in the case and he intentionally attempted to cause that victim/witness to testify falsely. We conclude that the evidence presented to the jury was sufficient to sustain the tampering conviction.