Opinion ID: 2629208
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Sufficiency of the EvidencePossession of Firearm Conviction

Text: Evidence is sufficient to support a conviction if, viewed in the light most favorable to the prosecution, it permits any rational trier of fact to find the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. State v. Salinas, 119 Wash.2d 192, 201, 829 P.2d 1068 (1992). A claim of insufficiency admits the truth of the State's evidence and all inferences that reasonably can be drawn therefrom. Id. Circumstantial evidence and direct evidence are equally reliable. State v. Delmarter, 94 Wash.2d 634, 638, 618 P.2d 99 (1980). Credibility determinations are for the trier of fact and are not subject to review. State v. Camarillo, 115 Wash.2d 60, 71, 794 P.2d 850 (1990). This court must defer to the trier of fact on issues of conflicting testimony, credibility of witnesses, and the persuasiveness of the evidence. State v. Cord, 103 Wash.2d 361, 367, 693 P.2d 81 (1985). Thomas contends that the State failed to prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that he unlawfully possessed a firearm. To convict Thomas of unlawful possession of a firearm in the first degree, the jury had to find each of the following elements proved beyond a reasonable doubt: (1) That on or about the 27th day of March, 1998, the defendant owned a firearm or had a firearm in his possession or control; (2) That the defendant had previously been convicted of Residential Burglary, which is a serious offense; and (3) That the ownership or possession or control of the firearm occurred in the State of Washington. CP at 1483. There is extensive evidence and testimony tying Thomas to the events of March 27, 1998, including the murder of Geist. Horyst testified that he had seen Thomas with a .38 caliber, wooden-handled revolver at the time Thomas solicited Horyst's help in robbing Geist. Horyst also testified that Thomas admitted that he (Thomas) may have to kill Geist. In addition to Horyst, Thomas had also described to Ducharme his plan to rob and maybe shoot Geist. Ducharme also testified that she had often seen Thomas with a gun during the time period surrounding the night of the murder, although not on that particular night. She described the gun as a .35 revolver long barrel although she was not sure of the caliber. RP at 3807. Ducharme did not see Thomas with this gun again after the night of the murder; Thomas had also told her that he had gotten rid of the gun later on March 27, 1998, after the murder. Looking at this evidence in a light most favorable to the State, and all reasonable inferences thereof, there is sufficient evidence to indicate that on or about March 27, 1998, Thomas owned a firearm or had one in his possession or control. We therefore affirm the jury's guilty verdict for first degree unlawful possession of a firearm.