Opinion ID: 887766
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: facts

Text: ¶ 6 The State of Montana charged High Elk with accountability for assault with a weapon. The Information alleged High Elk committed the offense on or about May 1, 2003, by holding Lynn Allen's arms and/or punching him while Charlotte Rodarte stabbed him. ¶ 7 The State's first two witnesses at trial responded to Allen's calls for help from the hallway of their apartment building on the night of May 1, 2003. The first witness testified he was awakened by Allen's shouting, and opened his apartment door to find Allen standing in the hall with blood running down his arms and dripping off the tips of his fingers. The witness called 911. The State's second witness  a roommate of the first  testified he helped Allen staunch the blood flow from what appeared to be puncture wounds until an ambulance arrived to transport Allen to a hospital. ¶ 8 Allen testified next. He told the jury that, on the evening of May 1, 2003, he, Carrie Diggins, George High Elk and Charlotte Rodarte went to a bar in Missoula, Montana, for a few drinks. Near the end of the evening, Allen was cited for disorderly conduct in the bar parking lot. Afterward, he and Diggins were sitting in her car in the parking lot, talking or whatever, when High Elk came out of the bar, accused Allen of being involved with the arrest of High Elk's cousin earlier that night, and challenged Allen to a fight. Allen testified that High Elk stood outside the open passenger-side door of the car and began punching him. He testified he could not get out of the car because of the force of High Elk's blows. Allen further testified that, at the same time, Rodarte was in the back seat poking at him from behind with what he then thought was her finger or a pen. According to Allen, after High Elk stopped punching him, High Elk asked Rodarte, Did you get him? ¶ 9 Allen further testified that he remained in the car because he did not realize the seriousness of his injuries and he hoped they would talk it over and work [it] out. According to Allen, the foursome left the parking lot to avoid police officers whom they anticipated would be returning soon. Allen realized Rodarte had stabbed him when he felt his shirt sticking to the car seat and to his skin as a result of being wet with his blood. He testified Diggins stopped the car, and he got out and ran to a nearby apartment building for help. The stab wounds to his chest, back, neck and shoulder required twelve stitches. ¶ 10 Diggins also testified at trial. According to her, High Elk and Rodarte did not punch and stab Allen until after the foursome had left the bar parking lot in her car. She testified she was driving, Allen was in the front passenger seat and Rodarte and High Elk were in the back seat. High Elk and Allen argued loudly as they drove away from the parking lot, and she stopped the car and told them all to get out. High Elk got out and, standing outside the open door to the front passenger seat, began punching Allen and blocking his exit from the vehicle. Diggins testified that she got out of the car and pulled High Elk back from punching Allen, then saw Rodarte lean forward from the back seat and  she thought  hit Allen several times. Diggins said Allen then got out of the car and fled, and she and High Elk got back into the car with Rodarte. After she drove away, Diggins noticed blood on her car seat. She testified that High Elk did not say anything and that Rodarte's reaction was disbelief. Scared. Kind of like being sorry. Like she was sorry. Diggins, Rodarte and High Elk were later apprehended at Diggins' house. ¶ 11 Two police officers testified. One stated he was dispatched to the apartment building in response to the 911 call. In connection with his testimony, the court admitted four photographs of Allen's stab wounds taken at the hospital into evidence over objection. The other police officer testified that he joined the investigation the next morning, at which time he observed blood in Diggins' car and heard Diggins' description of the assault. ¶ 12 The jury found High Elk guilty of accountability for felony assault with a weapon, based on Rodarte's actions. The District Court sentenced him and entered judgment. High Elk appeals.